Over the past twenty years, camera networks, where individual cameras can function both independently and together, have become increasingly popular. Various application fields may impose distinct requirements on camera networks. In response to these demands, several coverage models have been developed in the scientific literature, such as area, trap, barrier, and target coverage. In this paper, a new type of coverage task, the Maximum Target Coverage with k-Barrier Coverage (MTCBC-k) problem is defined. Here, the goal is to cover as many moving targets as possible from time step to time step, while continuously maintaining k-barrier coverage over the region of interest (ROI). This approach is different from independently solving the two tasks and then merging the results. Generally, multiple camera configurations can ensure k-barrier coverage. The challenge is to find, at each time step, the optimal configuration where the cameras providing barrier coverage can also assist in covering targets, while the rest of the cameras efficiently cover the remaining targets. An ILP formulation for the MTCBC-k problem is presented. Additionally, two types of camera clustering methods have been developed. This approach allows for solving smaller ILPs within clusters, and combining their solutions. Furthermore, a polynomial-time greedy algorithm has been introduced as an alternative to solve the MTCBC-k problem. The conducted simulations convincingly supported the usefulness of both the clustering and the greedy methods.

Background/Objectives: Patients receiving solid organ transplantation require lifelong immunosuppression, making them more susceptible to COVID-19. Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for HTR. The aim of the present study was to compare the course of the disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated HTR hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Slovenia and to evaluate possible hesitant groups. Methods: All SARS-CoV-2 positive HTR (N=79) between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2023 at the Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, were included retrospectively. Demographic, clinical and vaccination data were extracted from medical documentation and statistical evaluation was performed. Results: The vaccination rate in the cohort was 63.3%. We found no statistically significant difference in vaccination rates regarding gender (male 68.4% vs. female 50%, p=0.128), but there was a statistically significant higher revaccination rate in males (male 52.7% vs. female 18.2%, p=0.021). Vaccinated HRT were statistically significantly older than unvaccinated (p=0.000) and had a significantly higher Charlson Comorbidity index (p=0.001). The vaccination rate among patients who received transplants before the pandemic (prior to 2020) was statistically significantly higher (71.7% vs. 46.2%; p=0.027). Conclusions: Our results indicate no significant differences in the clinical course of COVID-19 between vaccinated and unvaccinated HRT regarding acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI), length of hospital stay (LOS), intensive care unit admission and mortality. However, our findings do suggest statistically significant differences in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates; younger HRT and those transplanted after the pandemic are more hesitant to vaccination and female HRT accept booster doses less frequently.

As global focus persists on gender variety and corporate social responsibility, the participation and influence of women in corporate governance, particularly their effect on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of corporations, have garnered extensive scrutiny. Studies have shown that women usually exhibit a more prudent approach to risk. In corporations with decision-making and tend to care more about long-term corporate interests and social responsibilities, the presence of women in executive roles confers a distinctive edge in enhancing a firm's ESG outcomes. This study explores the influence of women directors' personal characteristics on performance in ESG corporations and the findings suggest that the proportion of female directors has a significant positive impact on the ESG performance of Chinese technology companies. Furthermore, the corporate risk appetite has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between the proportion of female directors and ESG performance. The higher education that female directors get, financial professional background, and long-term experience can more effectively promote the company's ESG performance. This study enhances the theoretical framework of corporate governance and ESG studies, while also offering innovative guidance for firms to enhance their ESG scores and develop effective risk management strategies.

Maize productivity has remained low and has worsened in the wake of a changing climate, resulting in new invasive pests, with earlier designated minor pests becoming major and pathogens transported by pests and/or entering their feeding sites. A study was conducted in 2021 in Kisumu and Makueni counties, Kenya, to determine how different maize cropping systems affect insect diversity, insect damage to maize, and their ability to spread Aspergillus spores in pre-harvest maize. The field experiments used a randomized complete block design with the four treatments maize monocrop, maize intercropped with beans, maize-bean intercrop with Trichoderma harzianum, and push-pull technology. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the most damaging pest in the two regions. The push-pull and the maize-bean intercropping technologies significantly reduced the maize foliage and ear damage caused by the Fall armyworm. Beetles passively spread mycotoxigenic Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium verticillioides on pre-harvest maize. Maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Carpophilus dimidiatus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), earwigs, Forficula spp. L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) and carpenter ants, Camponotus spp. L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) carried the highest number of spores on their exoskeletons. The study stresses the role of insects in the spread of fungi on pre-harvest maize and their possible control by intercropping and other cropping technologies.

Purpose: This study evaluates the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on melanoma staging at diagnosis, treatment utilization, and 3-year mortality outcomes. The objective is to determine whether Medicaid expansion led to earlier melanoma diagnosis and improved survival rates among non-elderly adults (ages 40-64) by analyzing data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: A total of 12,667 patients, aged 40-64, diagnosed with melanoma from 2010 to 2020 were identified using the NCDB. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis was performed to analyze tumor staging at presentation between Medicaid expansion states and non-Medicaid expansion states both prior to the expansion and after the expansion. Results: Of the total patients 2,307 were from the pre-expansion time period residing in Medicaid Expansion states (MES) and 1,804 in non-Medicaid expansion states. In the post-expansion time period there were 5,571 residing in the MES and 2,985 in the non-MES. DID analysis revealed a decrease in stage IV melanoma at diagnosis (DID -0.222, p <0.001) between MES and non-MES before and after Medicaid expansion. After expansion, in stage IV, the occurrence of primary surgery was 0.42 in non-MES and 0.44 (difference 0.02), DID analysis was not statistically significant. The use of immunotherapy in MES was significantly higher than non-MES after expansion (p<0.001), although DID analysis did not reveal a statistically significant difference. DID analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in 3-year mortality (DID -0.05, p=0.001) between MES and non-MES before and after Medicaid expansion. Conclusions: This study revealed the positive impact of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion on melanoma stage at presentation showing improved access to healthcare services can facilitate the diagnosis of early-stage melanoma and decrease mortality rate.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) dysregulation is implicated in various diseases, highlighting the need for accurate quantification methods. These methods must account for the unique nature of NETs, where nuclear DNA and intracellular proteins translocate to the extracellular space. This study addresses technical approaches in the Western blot quantification of NETs-associated proteins (NAPs). Neutrophils were isolated from healthy donors, stimulated with phorbol-myristate acetate (PMA), and the expression of cathelicidin antimicrobial protein LL-37 (LL-37/hCAP18), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and β-actin was analyzed over time. LL-37/hCAP18 exhibited temporal and fraction-specific distribution patterns, while the evaluation of GAPDH and β-actin as loading controls emphasized the need for more precise tailoring when studying NETs. This work aims to improve understanding of the techniques used to measure them to make more accurate comparisons in the area of NETs research. Western blot emerges as a robust and accessible tool, shedding light on the dynamics of NAPs.

Background/Objectives: Low blood vitamin D levels have been linked to COVID-19 severity; however, data on the effects of vitamin D on vaccine immunogenicity remain limited. This study evaluated the impact of baseline serum 1α, 25-(OH)2 vitamin D, a bioactive form with controlled blood concentrations, on vaccine response. Methods: From June to September 2021, we measured active vitamin D levels in 88 Japanese workers and students before vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 IgG and IgM levels and antigen-specific INF-γ-releasing cells from pre-vaccination up to 8 months post-second dose. Results: Active vitamin D levels ranged from 33.7 to 99.8 pg/mL, 60.2% above the Japanese reference range (20–60 pg/mL). In a mixed model accounting for repeated measures and sub-cohort random effects and following fixed effects, vaccine type, weeks post-vaccination, age, sex, ALDH2 gene polymorphism, height, smoking, ethanol intake, exercise, stress, steroid use, allergies, dyslipidemia, active vitamin D was negatively associated with anti-S1 IgG and IgM (p &lt; 0.001) but positively with INF-γ-releasing cell counts (p = 0.003). Conclusions: As the robustness of cellular immunity is independent of viral mutations, 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D levels above the reference range may enhance vaccine-induced COVID-19 protection in the long term.

Machine learning (ML) is changing cybersecurity by enabling progressed discovery, anticipation and reaction instruments. This paper gives a comprehensive survey of ML's part in cybersecurity, looking at both hypothetical systems and down to earth usage. It diagrams the rising dangers focusing on ML models, such as ill-disposed assaults, information harming and show reversal assaults and examines state-of-the-art defense procedures, counting ill-disposed preparing, vigorous models and differential protection. Furthermore, the paper investigates different ML applications in cybersecurity from interruption location to malware classification, highlighting their affect on improving security measures. An peculiarity induction calculation is proposed for the early discovery of cyber-intrusions at the substations. Cybersecurity has ended up a imperative investigate range. The paper concludes with a discourse on the key inquire about bearings and best hones for making secure and versatile ML frameworks in a data-driven world. This paper dives into how Machine Learning (ML) revolutionizes cybersecurity, enabling progressed discovery, avoidance, and reaction components. It offers a exhaustive investigation of ML's urgent part in cybersecurity, enveloping hypothetical systems and viable applications. It addresses rising dangers like ill-disposed assaults and information harming, nearby cutting-edge defense techniques such as antagonistic preparing and strong models.

Chemical investigation of the Antarctic sponge Suberites sp. has previously led to the identification of new suberitane derivatives, some of which show bioactivity toward the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Our ongoing NMR-guided investigation of new specimens of the sponge resulted in the isolation of five new analogs (1-5), the previously reported suberitenones A-D (6-9) and oxaspirosuberitenone (10). Suberitenone K (1) was characterized as the 8-keto derivative of suberitenone A, while three new phenols, suberitandiol (2), abeosuberitandiol (3), and furanosuberitandiol (4), and the degraded sesterterpene norsuberitenone B (5) were also found. 3 displays a ring contraction while 4 has a new dihydrofuran ring. Structural characterization was achieved by a combination of NMR, HR-MS, and X-ray diffraction. Suberitenone D and the new metabolite suberitenone K showed moderate activity towards RSV, while norsuberitenone B and furanosuberitandiol were found to have mild activity.

The author introduces a novel theoretical framework that suggests matter and energy are both converted from curved space. In Space Theory, gravitation is generated by the flow of space, instead of being transmitted by the graviton as in String Theory. This theory also suggests that Newton's gravitational constant, denoted as G, may not be truly constant but could vary over time. The equivalent equation of space is S=Ec²=mc⁴, and the gravitation of hollow sphere space is S_μν=4πGm=(4/3)π((r+a)³-r³). The Space Theory also predicts that the surface gravitational acceleration of the neutron star Crab Pulsar (PSR B0531+21) is approximately 8.21924883×10⁶ m/s².

Adenine nucleotides (AN): adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5’-diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP) are essential for energy transfer and supply of countless processes within the cellular metabolism. Their concentrations can be expressed as adenylate energy charge (AEC), a measure of cellular metabolic energy that directly correlates with the homeostasis of the organism. AEC index can be used as a clinical health indicator with broad diagnostic potential, as a decrease in ATP levels is associated with various conditions, such as inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. We introduce a novel methodology for rapid isolation, purification, and quantification of AN from just a drop of capillary blood obtained from a healthy volunteer. Of all the stationary phases tested, activated carbon proved to be the most efficient for the purification of adenine nucleotides, using an automated micro-solid phase extraction (µ-SPE) platform. By removing interfering substances, we achieved high chromatographic selectivity and resolution, facilitating the quantification of AN. The analyzed AN concentrations from capillary blood correspond to the values found in the literature, which corroborates reliability of the developed extraction method. Overall, this study presents a streamlined and precise approach for analyzing AN from microliters of blood that offers promising applications in clinical diagnostics.

In today’s expanding cities, pipeline networks are becoming an essential part of the industrial infrastructure. Monitoring these pipelines autonomously is becoming increasingly important. Inspecting pipelines for cracks is one specific task that poses a huge burden on humans. Undetected cracks may pose multi-dimensional risks. In this paper, we introduce the Pipeline Leak Identification Emergency Robot Swarm (PLIERS) system; an industrial system that deploys Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and Neural Network technologies to detect cracks in emptied water and sewage pipelines. In PLIERS, a swarm of robots inspect emptied pipelines from the inside to detect cracks, collect images of them, and register their locations. When the images are taken, they are fed into a cloud-based module for analysis by a convolutional neural network (CNN). CNN is used to detect cracks and identify their severity. Through extensive training and testing, the CNN model performance showed promising scores for accuracy (between 80% and 90%), recall (at least 95%), precision (at least 95%), and F1 (at least 96%). Additionally, through the careful design of a prototype for a water/sewage pipeline structure with several types of cracks, the robots used managed to exchange information among themselves and convey crack images to the cloud-based server for further analysis. PLIERS is a system that deploys trendy technologies to detect and recognize cracks in pipeline grids. It adds to the efforts of improving instrumentation and measurement approaches by using robots, sensory, IoT principles, and the efficient analysis of CNN’s.

In this paper, we analyze stiffness and perform geometrical optimization of a parallel-serial manipulator with five degrees of freedom (5-DOF). The manipulator includes a 3-DOF redundantly actuated planar parallel mechanism, whose stiffness determines the stiffness of the whole mechanical system. First, we establish the kinematic and stiffness models of the mechanism and define its stiffness matrix. Two components of this matrix and the inverse of its condition number are chosen as stiffness indices. Next, we introduce an original two-step procedure for workspace analysis. In the first step, the chord method is used to find the workspace boundary. In the second step, the workspace is sampled inside the boundary by solving the point-in-polygon problem. After that, we derive stiffness maps and compute the average stiffness indices for various combinations of design variables. The number of these variables is reduced to two geometrical parameters, simplifying the representation and interpretation of the obtained results. Finally, we formulate the multi-objective design optimization problem, whose main goal is to maximize the lateral stiffness of the mechanism. We solve this problem using a hierarchical (ε-constraint) method. As a result, the lateral stiffness with optimized geometrical parameters has increased by 54.1 % compared to the initial design.

Due to the various types of land cover and large spectral differences in remote sensing images, their high-quality semantic segmentation still faces severe challenges. This study proposes a new improved model based on the TransDeepLab segmentation method. The model introduces the GAM attention mechanism in the encoding stage, which can effectively reduce the information dispersion and enlarge the global interaction features; in the decoding stage, a multi-level linear upsampling strategy is designed to gradually amplify the multi-scale features extracted from the encoder and integrate them with the low-scale features to improve the segmentation effect of different shapes and sizes. The model makes full use of the multi-level semantic information and small target detail information in high-resolution remote sensing images, which can effectively improve the segmentation accuracy of target objects. Using open-source LoveDA large remote sensing image data sets for the validation experiment, the results show that compared to the original model, its Mean Intersection Over Union (MIOU) increased by 2.68 %, Average Pixel Accuracy (aACC), and Mean Pixel Accuracy (mACC) by 3.41% and 4.65%. Compared to other mainstream models, the model also achieved a better segmentation effect.

The quality of bread is mainly affected by the three key phases of the production chain: kneading, leavening and baking. Each step contributes to the final rheological and sensory properties of the bread. However, especially during the mixing phase, the choice of ingredients and the optimization of processing parameters such as mixing time, dough temperature, mixing speed and total water content, affect the development and microstructure of the dough. In general, rheological tests measure the technological properties of doughs and represent the main analyses carried out in the bakery sector. Considering the heterogeneity and variability of raw materials and processing conditions, rheology aids in process control and in the simulation of the response of the dough to the complex deformation that it undergoes during its processing. The results obtained can be related to the final structure and the texture of the bread. Although the effects of mixing and rheological behaviour of wheat doughs have been systematically examined in the literature, there is no comprehensive review of the current knowledge about the effect of the processing on sensory quality and final texture characteristics. This paper aims to shed light on factors that affect the quality of bread, emphasizing both technological and sensory aspects.

This study introduces a novel method for optimising the size and control strategy of grid-connected, utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage aimed at energy arbitrage and frequency containment reserve (FCR) services. By applying genetic algorithms (GA), the optimal configurations of PV generators, inverters/chargers, and batteries are determined, focusing on maximising the net present value (NPV). Both DC- and AC-coupled systems are explored. The performance of each configuration is simulated over a 25-year lifespan, considering varying pricing, solar resources, battery ageing, and PV degradation. Constraints include investment costs, capacity factors, and land use. A case study conducted in Wiesenthal, Germany, is followed by sensitivity analyses, revealing that a 75% reduction in battery costs is needed to make AC-coupled PV-plus-battery systems as profitable as PV-only systems. Further analysis shows that changes in electricity and FCR pricing, as well as limits on FCR charging, can significantly impact NPV. The study confirms that integrating arbitrage and FCR services can optimize system profitability.

The P versus NP problem is a cornerstone of theoretical computer science, asking whether problems that are easy to check are also easy to solve. "Easy" here means solvable in polynomial time, where the computation time grows proportionally to the input size. While this problem's origins can be traced to John Nash's 1955 letter, its formalization is credited to Stephen Cook and Leonid Levin. Despite decades of research, a definitive answer remains elusive. Central to this question is the concept of NP-completeness. If even one NP-complete problem could be solved efficiently, it would imply that all problems in NP could be solved efficiently, proving P equals NP. This research proposes that SAT, a notoriously difficult NP-complete problem, can be solved efficiently, thereby potentially establishing the equivalence of P and NP. This work is an expansion and refinement of the article "Note for the P versus NP problem", published in IPI Letters.

Background The great saphenous vein (GSV) has long been recognized as a best conduit for vascular bypass procedures. Concomitant varicose veins disease may be a reason for GSV unavailability either due to dilatation and tortuosity of the vein or due to its destruction during invasive venous treatment. Aim - to assess the rate of varicose vein patients with concomitant lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) who have previously lost their GSV due to venous ablation. Material and methods 285 patients (76 F, 209 M) with LEAD were consecutively enrolled. Demographic data and medical history were taken. Physical examination and duplex ultrasound were performed. We registered presence of varicose veins (VVs), type of previous invasive procedure and availability of saphenous veins as possible grafts. Results Mean age of screened LEAD patients was 70.5±9.1. 62 (21.75%) patients had varicose veins or were operated on before due to varicose veins. 42 patients with varicose veins had C2 disease, 10 had C3, nine had C4 and one had C6 according to CEAP classification. Duplex ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities was performed on 111 patients (222 lower extremities). The total number of lower extremities without ipsilateral GSV was 76 (34.2%) due to varicosity, small size, previous ablation or postthrombotic intraluminal changes. 53 limbs in 32 patients had VVs. Despite the presence of varicose tributaries, the GSV was suitable for bypass in 9 lower extremities. GSV was not available as a conduit in 34 (20.1%) ipsilateral lower extremities in the LEAD group and in 42 (79.3%) ipsilateral lower extremities in the LEAD with VVs group (p= 0.0001). Varicose vein disease was associated with a higher frequency of the GSV unavailability odds ratio 18.8 (95% confidence interval 8.35 – 42.35). On the 11 ipsilateral limbs (5%) GSV was unavailable due to previous venous interventions. Conclusions Almost 20% of patients may have both LEAD and VVs. Among those with VVs, most have the ipsilateral GSV unavailable as a potential conduit. Additionally, one fifth of limbs with VVs had GSVs destroyed previously due to saphenous ablative procedures.

Field crops such as wheat, alfalfa, ryegrass, and corn play a vital role in agriculture and livestock production, particularly in the Kahramanmaras plain, irrigated by the Aksu River and the Sır Dam. Given the critical importance of irrigation water quality for optimal crop production, this study aimed to assess the impact of Karasu, Erkenez, and Oklu creeks on the water quality of the Aksu River and Sır Dam, and its subsequent effects on the germination and seedling growth of key field crop species grown in the region. The experiment was conducted in 2017 at the Field Crops Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Turkey, using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Seeds were germinated using water samples collected from various locations within the dam basin, with tap water serving as the control. Before germination, the water samples were analyzed for concentrations of heavy metals, including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd). Seeds exposed to different water treatments were germinated in a climate chamber at 20 ± 1°C. Over two weeks, daily germination counts were recorded, and at the end of the experiment, total germination and seedling growth were measured. The results demonstrated that irrigation water contaminated with heavy metals significantly affected seed germination and seedling growth. Notably, water from Karasu Creek exhibited the most pronounced negative impact on all germination and growth parameters in the tested crops.

This study investigates the preparation, characterization, and catalytic activity of a novel palladium-doped copper molybdate polyoxometalate (Pd@CuMoO₄). Using a mere 19 ppm of palladium, Pd@CuMoO4 demonstrated excellent yields in both Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira-Hagiwara coupling reactions of aryl halides with boronic acids and alkynes, respectively. The synergistic effects between the different metals in this catalyst were confirmed to be responsible for its high catalytic performance. Additionally, Pd@CuMoO₄ was successfully recovered and recycled multiple times in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with minimal loss of activity. The structural integrity of the reused catalyst was evaluated through various analytical techniques.

Recent reports have highlighted the potential anti-obesity effects of epicatechin (EC) in regulating metabolism. Most studies have primarily used rodent models housed at standard temperatures (ST) 22°C ± 2°C. However, these mice may experience chronic cold exposure at ST, which can influence energy metabolism. Housing mice at thermoneutrality (TN) 28°C ± 2°C could provide a more accurate representation of human temperature conditions. Additionally, many studies focus solely on male animals, overlooking the significance of considering sex differences in the investigation of physiological and metabolic dysregulation. In our trial, we used both male and female C57Bl/6 mice, including lean and obese individuals. The mice were treated with either 12 mg or 20 mg of EC/kg of body weight (administered by gavage) over 12 weeks, five days a week, and were housed at either ST or TN. Contrary to previous reports, we found no anti-obesity effects from EC in either male or female mice at both doses. The mice exhibited similar weight gain, adipose tissue sizes, biochemical profiles, and liver fat accumulation when compared to obese, untreated animals. Furthermore, obese male mice supplemented with 20 mg of EC and housed at TN showed increased subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) weight and worsened glucose tolerance compared to their non-EC-treated counterparts. In conclusion, epicatechin administered by gavage did not improve obesity, liver steatosis, or insulin resistance in either male or female obese mice housed at ST or TN. This suggests that the route of administration and the EC dosage could influence its anti-obesity effects.

Machine learning is revolutionizing the way we work and the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) has significant knowledge gaps for its implementation. This review synthesizes current applications across hazard identification, risk assessment, ergonomics, PPE compliance monitoring, and environmental surveillance, while identifying critical areas for future research. Even with promising advances, challenges persist in developing machine learning models that work effectively across industries, integrate multi-modal data streams, and adapt to dynamic work environments. Key limitations include the need for more robust assessment tools, personalization capabilities, and solutions to data quality and privacy concerns. The field particularly lacks standardized frameworks for data collection and sharing, as well as clear ethical guidelines for implementing machine learning in workplace safety contexts. This analysis reveals promising research directions, including the development of explainable AI systems to support OHS decision-making, learning applications to address data scarcity, and privacy-preserving learning approaches. The integration of machine learning with internet-of-things (IoT) and extended reality technologies offers additional avenues for innovation. Advancing these opportunities requires interdisciplinary collaboration between OHS professionals, computer scientists, lawyers, and subject matter experts. This review concludes that realizing the full potential of machine learning in OHS depends on addressing both technical and organizational challenges. A focus on these identified research priorities in this field can make significant advances toward creating more effective, data-driven tactics to workplace safety and health management.

Contamination by heavy metals is the global concern now-a-days. But the management of these heavy metals problems by stabilization/solidification is the most effective technique for controlling metal pollution in the soil. However, this research studies the immobilization efficiency of various phosphates-based binders (Na₃PO₄, Na₂HPO₄, NaH₂PO₄), which also includes Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), MgO, and CaO for stabilizing multi-metal contaminated soils. Moreover, the current study focused on the leachability of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd, Mn) over different time periods and with different concentrations. Therefore, batch leaching tests experiment were conducted to determine the leaching ratio and percentage of various metal concentrations along with measuring the pH values of the leachates. Our study results indicate that OPC validates because of its superior immobilization across all metals present in the soil, but more specifically the metals with high concentrations and also owing to the formation of stable hydroxides and high pH which assists in abating metal solubility. Additionally, phosphate-based binders, though are environmentally favorable, but disclosed less effectiveness, particularly for Pb and Cu, whereas, leaching beats non-hazardous waste limits. Conversely, MgO also offer a reasonable immobilization but was less effective as compared to OPC, while on the other hand, CaO exhibited and found to be an increased leaching over time. Therefore, this research highlights OPC's as a more suitable for soil remediation wherever structural and contamination control is essential. Despite the fact, phosphate-based binders are found to be more appropriate for eco-friendly, non-load-bearing applications.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy, reliability, and efficacy of elastosonography in the diagnosis of cesarean scar pregnancy. To this end, the present study will compare the elastosonography findings in patients with cesarean scar pregnancy with those obtained through definitive diagnostic methods and investigate the diagnostic potential of elastosonography. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Mardin Training and Research Hospital between October 2023 and January 2024. Patients with a cesarean scar pregnancy between six and twelve weeks of gestation were evaluated. The stiffness and elasticity of the scar tissue were assessed using elastosonography, and the diagnostic accuracy of this method was evaluated by comparing the results with those obtained through definitive diagnostic procedures. RESULTS: In this study, the demographic and clinical characteristics of 61 patients with cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 32 years, the mean gestational age was 8.4 weeks, the mean BMI was 27.2, the mean parity was 1.9, and the mean number of previous cesarean sections was 1.3. While the elasticity of the scar tissue decreased with increasing gestational week, no significant correlation was found between age, BMI, parity, and number of previous cesarean sections and elastosonography findings. The gestational sac strain ratio, myometrial shear wave velocity, and scar stiffness, as measured by elastosonography, were found to be significant in the diagnosis of CSP. Conversely, the beta-hCG and fetal heart rate parameters did not contribute significantly to the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that elastosonography has the potential to serve as a diagnostic tool for the identification of pregnancies in cases of cesarean section scar. The findings indicate that elastosonographic parameters, including the gestational sac tension ratio, myometrium shear wave velocity, and scar stiffness, may prove useful in diagnosing pregnancy in a cesarean scar. Further research is required to ascertain the full clinical utility of this technique. However, this study provides valuable information on the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of elastosonography in the evaluation of pregnancy in a cesarean scar.

Agricultural food supplies, in particular raw vegetables for example with a preference of raw foods, are susceptible to contamination by several microorganisms, which may threaten human health. The regulation of the pathogenic load on foodstuffs has been a key element in food safety. Equipment such as ultraviolet radiation or microwave irradiation could effectively, easily, but partially resolve the problem of these contamination that cannot be achieved by traditional methods such as water washing at the consumer level. Ensuring the safety and quality of food through preservation is of extreme importance. However, the incomplete pasteurization might nonetheless contribute to the development of human health with a concept of hermetic effects. Here, an innovative and alternative approach for food sanitation would theoretically be introduced for the original evaluation of risks/benefits of microbiological cause related with food consumption.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, with limited effective therapeutic interventions in patients. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and ventricular arrhythmias present substantial risks for the prognosis of these patients. Obesity is a risk factor for HFpEF and life-threatening arrhythmias. Obesity and its associated metabolic dysregulation, leading to metabolic syndrome, are an epidemic that poses a significant public health problem. More than one-third of the world population is overweight or obese, leading to an enhanced risk of incidence and mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity predisposes patients to atrial fibrillation and ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias—conditions that are caused by dysfunction in the electrical activity of the heart. To date, current therapeutic options for cardiomyopathy of obesity are limited, suggesting that there is considerable room for the development of therapeutic interventions with novel mechanisms of action that will help normalize sinus rhythms in obese patients. Emerging candidates for modulation by obesity are cardiac ion channels and Ca-handling proteins. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the impact of obesity on these channels/Ca-handling proteins remain incompletely understood. Obesity is marked by the accumulation of adipose tissue, which is associated with a variety of adverse adaptations, including dyslipidemia (or abnormal systemic levels of free fatty acids), increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, fibrosis, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance, which cause electrical remodeling and, thus, predispose patients to arrhythmias. Furthermore, adipose tissue is also associated with the accumulation of subcutaneous and visceral fat, which is marked by distinct signaling mechanisms. Thus, there may also be functional differences in the outcome of regional distribution of fat deposits on ion channel/Ca-handling protein expression. Evaluating alterations in their functional expression in obesity will lead to progress in the knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for obesity-related arrhythmias. These advances are likely to reveal new targets for pharmacological modulation. The objective of this study is to review cardiac ion channel/Ca-handling protein remodeling in the predisposition to metabolic HFpEF and arrhythmias. Understanding how obesity and related mechanisms lead to cardiac electrical remodeling is likely to have a significant medical and economic impact.

Conclusions. Perineoplasty is a frequently performed procedure. There is a wide variation on indications for- and surgical technique of- perineoplasty. Therefore research is needed to identify which patients will benefit of perineoplasty and how to optimally perform this surgery.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease and despite an increase in the available drug treatments, many patients still require surgery at some point in their disease course. Stricturing and penetrating phenotypes of Crohn’s disease are less likely to respond to our current medical treatment and therefore, surgical intervention may be required. This is most commonly elective, planned surgery, thereby affording the opportunity to optimise medications, nutritional and inflammatory status, steroid use. Poor nutritional status and previous surgery increase the risk of postoperative complications. Preoperative optimisation has three main goals: reduction of postoperative complications, reduction of reoperation rates and reduction of postoperative recurrence rates. In this narrative review, we examine the role of nutritional intervention, medical optimisation pre- and postoperatively and the role of personalised prehabilitation in the reduction of postoperative complications.

Background: An accurate diagnosis of thyroid nodules is crucial for avoiding unnecessary surgical procedures and making timely treatment possible. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB (fine-needle aspiration biopsy) using histopathological findings as the reference standards. Patients with the diagnostic categories (DCs) III, IV, V were subjected to a special analysis. In addition, the authors assessed whether other factors, i.e. age, gender, BMI (body mass index), obesity and histopathologically confirmed lymphocytic thyroiditis had an impact on the occurrence of malignant tumors. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 535 patients who underwent thyroid surgery between October 2022 and September 2023. To assess the FNAB reliability, the result obtained using the Bethesda classification was compared with the histopathological result. Results: The ROM (risk of malignancy) values for DCs I-VI were 38.1%, 15.6%, 29.8%, 18.6%, 91.0%, 93.2%, respectively. DC V (OR 62.34, p< 0.0001) and age≤50 (OR=2.31, p<0.006) had a statistically significant effect on the risk of thyroid cancer. DCs III and IV were not statistically significantly associated with the risk of malignancy (OR=1.68,p=0.16; OR=1.51,p=0.3,respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in sex, BMI and obesity between the patients with benign and malignant lesions. Conclusion: DC V is associated with a high likelihood of malignancy, especially in patients under 50 years of age, and therefore surgery is indicated in this category of subjects. In the DCs III and IV categories, the risk of malignancy is lower and conservative management with active clinical and ultrasound surveillance can be considered. In patients < 50 years of age, with the Bethesda categories III and IV, surgical treatment should be considered.

Hard yellow maize is a crucial crop in Peruvian agriculture, playing a significant role in food security and livestock production. However, intensive fertilization practices in agronomic management have negatively impacted soil health. To explore more sustainable agricultural technologies, researchers have investigated using microorganisms to enhance plant growth. This study assessed the synergistic effects of microbial inoculants and mineral fertilization on INIA 619 and Dekal B-7088 maize varieties' yield and nutritional quality. A split-plot design was employed, incorporating four inoculation treatments—no inoculant, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma viride, and Pseudomonas putida—combined with fertilization levels of 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The findings revealed that Bacillus subtilis boosted yields by 13.1% in INIA 619 and 55.5% in Dekal B-7088. Additionally, combined with 100% fertilization, microbial inoculation increased protein content by 47% and carbohydrates by 6% in INIA 619, while maintaining nutritional quality with 75% fertilization. Similarly, in Dekal B-7088, inoculation with total fertilization enhanced protein content by 54% and fiber by 27%. These results demonstrate that microbial inoculation can reduce mineral fertilization by up to 25% while sustaining high yields and improving the nutritional quality of maize.

Cut-off Low (COL) pressure systems significantly influence local weather in regions with high COL frequency, such as western North America. However, future changes in COL frequency, intensity, and precipitation patterns remain uncertain. This study examines projected COL changes and their drivers in western North America under a high-emission scenario (SSP585) using a multi-model ensemble from CMIP6 and a feature tracking algorithm. We compare historical simulations (1980-2009) and future projections (2070-2099), revealing a marked increase in COL track density during summer in the northeast Pacific and western United States, while a strong decrease is projected for winter, associated with shifts in jet streams. Climate models project an increase in COL-related precipitation in future climate, with winter and spring experiencing more intense and localized precipitation, while autumn showing a more widespread precipitation pattern. Additionally, there is an increased frequency of extreme precipitation events, though accompanied by large uncertainties. The projected increase in extreme precipitation highlights the need to understand COL dynamics for effective climate adaptation in affected areas. Further research should aim to refine projections and reduce uncertainties, supporting better-informed policy and decision-making.

Background: The rapid population aging is becoming a serious health crisis. This study aims to evaluate the effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on enhancing Secretory immunoglobulin A and health in middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: A total of 188 persons aged 50 to 85 years participated in this 90-day randomized, double-blind, controlled trial and were randomly assigned to intervention or positive control groups. The intervention group received bovine colostrum (BC) supplement containing rich probiotics and whey protein, while the positive control group received regular milk powder, both twice a day. The primary outcome was the change in the concentration of saliva secretory immunoglobulin A. Results: There were 171 participants completed the trial. The concentration of saliva secretory immunoglobulin A increased in both groups（P 0.05). The level of serum immunoglobulin A in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire results showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no differences in nutrient intake and physical activity between the two groups (P > 0.05). In self-reported health status, both groups showed significant improvements in sleep quality (P < 0.05). The incidence of oral ulcers decreased in total（19.7% vs 8.8%) (P < 0.01), and the reduction was significant in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that BC supplement powder intervention for 90 days may provide beneficial health care effects in middle-aged and elderly people and promote healthy aging, but the differences in the effects of BC supplement powder and ordinary milk powder on salivary sIgA need to be further studied.

The current study aims to test the validity of the integrated model of chronic and acute stressors within the continuous traumatic stressors Type III trauma five variants (discrimination, childhood adversities, intergroup conflict, community violence, and chronic, life-threatening health conditions). The goal is to test the differential impact of chronic, acute, and different variants of Type III subtypes on mental health and cognition. Participants included 490 adult Kuwaiti citizens (Mean age=24.97, SD=9.10), with 66.3% females. We used measures of cumulative stressors and traumas, complex PTSD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions. We conducted correlation and structural equation modeling. Chronic stressors found to have a higher association with mental health and cognitive function deficits than acute stressors. Type III (continuous traumatic stressors) and its variants of discrimination and childhood adversities have the highest association with poor mental health and cognitive function deficits compared to traumas type I (single acute past event) and II ( sequence of past events). Chronic stressors of childhood adversities and discrimination have a higher proliferation potential than other traumas. The results validated the Type III continuous trauma model and the importance of integrating stress and trauma fields and developing psychological clinical science based on this integration.

(1) Background: Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols using heavy resistance preloading may improve RSA, yet optimal preloading intensity for amateur players is still unknown. This study investigated the effects of two PAPE protocols using different preloading intensities (85% and 90% of 1RM back squat) on RSA. (2) Methods: A double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover design was used, and 18 amateur male players were included in the study. RSA was assessed using a 6 x 35m sprint protocol with 10-second rest intervals (RAST). (3) Results: While the main effect of time significantly (p=0.01, η²=0.71) influenced performance decline across all groups, there was no significant (p=0.65, η²=0.01) interaction between time and condition. Individual responses to PAPE varied, highlighting the importance of individual differences. Interestingly, the BS85% group exhibited a less pronounced decline in performance compared to the control group, while the BS90% group only showed significant differences in three sprint levels. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a lower preload of 85% of 1RM may be as adequate as a higher preload of 90% of 1RM in enhancing RSA in amateur soccer players. These results may indicate a potential fatigue-delaying effect of PAPE protocols and emphasize the importance of individualized approaches for optimizing PAPE strategies.

Cancer remains a formidable challenge, requiring the constant pursuit of novel therapeutic agents and strategies. Scorpionates, known for their unique coordination properties, have recently gained attention for their anticancer potential. Traditionally applied in catalysis, these compounds have demonstrated notable cytotoxicity across various cancer cell lines, often surpassing the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics. This review addresses recent findings on scorpionate complexes, emphasizing the impact of metal choice and ligand design on biological activity. Copper and ruthenium scorpionates show promise, leveraging redox activity and mitochondrial disruption mechanisms to selectively induce cancer cell death. Ligand modifications, including sulfur-containing heterocycles and unsubstituted pyrazoles, have proven effective in enhancing cytotoxicity and selectivity. Furthermore, dipodal ligands show unique potential, with selective binding sites that improve stability and facilitate specific cellular interactions, such as targeting metastatic pathways. These findings highlight the largely unexplored potential of scorpionate complexes, positioning them as candidates for next-generation anticancer therapies. Continued research into structure-activity relationships and precise mechanisms of action could pave the way for developing highly potent and selective anticancer agents based on scorpionate chemistry.

Triticale is recognized worldwide due to its high protein and lysine content, high production capacity and adaptability to biotic and abiotic stress conditions, these qualities being taken over from wheat and rye. Triticale is widely used in various fields such as animal feed in various forms, in medicine, the bakery, beer, alcohol, cellulose, bioethanol industry and many others. Thus, the demand for triticale grains is increasing, and this has led to the research and improvement of culture technology to obtain superior products, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The purpose of this study was to identify the best varieties of triticale cultivated in the north-west of Romania, sown in different plots and fertilized on the ground or additionally, the study being carried out over a period of two years at the Livada Agricultural Research and Development Station, Satu Mare county. The study was located on an acidic soil with a pH between 5.19 and 6.65 and a humus content of 2.82%. The climatic conditions in the reference period were extremely variable, in the first year a deficit of more than 90 mm/m2 of precipitation was registered, and in the second year of the study, an increase of more than 34 mm/m2. The effects of additional fertilization were influenced by the level of precipitation, so in the experimental variants additionally fertilized, lower productions were obtained compared to the variants fertilized only on the soil. Compared to the Negoiu control, the Utrifun variety proved to be the most productive, but this will be proven in the following years of study, under different climatic conditions.

The rigged Hilbert spaces (RHS) are the right mathematical context which includes many tools used in quantum physics, or even in some chaotic classical systems. It is particularly interesting that in RHS coexist discrete and continuous basis, abstract basis along basis of special functions and representations of Lie algebras of symmetries by continuous operators. This is not possible in Hilbert spaces. In the present paper, we study a model showing all these features, based on the one dimensional P\"oschl-Teller Hamiltonian. Also, RHS support representations of all kinds of ladder operators as continuous mappings. We give an interesting example based on one dimensional Hamiltonians with an infinite chain of SUSY partners, in which the factorization of Hamiltonians by continuous operators on RHS plays a crucial role.

The scope of the research work described in this article involved identifying the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban public transport system in a medium-sized city and its adjacent metropolitan area, using as reference information the number of tickets effectively sold in order to determine the fluctuation in the volume of passengers on the different bus lines before, during and after the pandemic. At the methodological level, a combined approach was employed, involving, on the one hand, the collection of open access public data from institutional repositories and in-formation provided by the government and, on the other hand, network analysis and graphical mapping using GIS tools. The results obtained at the micro level (individualised study of each urban bus line) reveal a significant decrease in the number of passengers during the pandemic, showing the effect of mobility restrictions and the fear of contagion. However, a gradual recovery in post-pandemic demand has been observed, highlighting a large variability in recovery patterns between different bus lines. Such a situation could be attributable to several factors, such as the socio-demographic characteristics of the areas served, the frequency of the service, connectivity with other modes of transport and users' perception of the quality of the service. At the macro level (comparison between urban and interurban transport), lines with higher demand prior to the pandemic have shown greater resilience and faster recovery. However, urban transport has ex-perienced a more uniform and accelerated recuperation than interurban transport, with significant percentage differences in the years analysed. This disparity could be explained by the greater dependence of inhabitants on urban transport for their daily trips, due to its greater frequency and geographical coverage. Interurban transport, on the other hand, shows a more fluctuating demand and a lower dependence of users. Finally, the lack of previous research focused on the impact of the pandemic in sparsely populated rural areas restricts the ability to establish a solid frame of ref-erence and generalise the results of this study. The authors consider that more detailed future research, including a comparative analysis of different alternative transport modes in inter-urban settings and considering a broader set of socio-demographic variables of passengers, is needed to better understand mobility dynamics in these areas and their evolution in the context of the pandemic.

This article forges an unprecedented synthesis between the realms of spirituality, sustainability, and systems thinking, unveiling a transformative framework for an "integral ecology of innovation." By bridging insights from world wisdom traditions, ecological sciences, and complexity theory, the author presents a radically integrative understanding of the interconnected, sacred nature of human and natural systems. Transcending the fragmented, mechanistic worldviews that have long dominated innovation paradigms, this groundbreaking work illuminates innovative design principles, technological solutions, and collaborative processes that embody reverence for the sacredness of life and the regenerative patterns of the biosphere. The visionary ideas explored here represent a watershed moment in redefining the purpose and practice of innovation to align with humanity's highest spiritual and ecological aspirations.

The lack of in-depth analysis on the reservoir characteristics and the paleoenvironmental conditions of the Niutitang Formation in the study area has led to an unclear understanding of its geological background. In this study, core samples from well SZY1 were selected, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and quantitative elemental analysis were employed to systematically investigate the reservoir properties and paleoenvironment of the shales. The results indicate that the Niutitang Formation shales form a low-porosity, low-permeability reservoir. By utilizing indicators such as the chemical index of alteration (CIA) and elemental ratios, the study delves into the paleoclimate and paleoproductivity of the region.The (La/Yb)n ratio is approximately 1, indicating a rapid deposition rate that is beneficial for the accumulation and preservation of organic matter. The chondrite-normalized and North American Shale Composite (NASC)-normalized rare earth element (REE) distribution patterns of the shales show consistent trends with minimal variation, reflecting the presence of mixed sources for the sediments in the study area. Analysis reveals that the Niutitang Formation shales are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) with a negative europium anomaly, and the primary source rocks are sedimentary and granitic, located far from areas of seafloor hydrothermal activity. The NiEF and CuEF values suggest high paleoproductivity, and the shales were deposited in an anoxic-reducing environment. The depositional environments of the Marcellus and Utica shales in the United States, the Wufeng-Longmaxi black shales in the Changning area of the Sichuan Basin, and the shales in the study area are similar, characterized by anoxic reducing conditions and well-developed fractures. The thermal evolution degree of the study area is relatively moderate, currently in the peak gas generation stage, with the reservoir quality rated as medium to high, indicating good potential for hydrocarbon accumulation and promising exploration prospects.

This study compares the rheological, thermal, and textural characteristics of four types of chocolate—white, milk, ruby, and dark—produced by the same manufacturer. White, milk, and ruby chocolates contain 36% fat, while dark chocolate has 39%. Cocoa content varies: from 28% in white, 33% in milk, 47% in ruby, to 70% in dark chocolate. Rheological properties were assessed with a rotational rheometer, while density was measured with a gas pycnometer. Particle size distribution (PSD) was evaluated using laser diffraction, and thermal properties were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC results indicated that enthalpy increased with cocoa content, whereby dark chocolate showed the highest value (55.04 J g⁻¹) and white chocolate the lowest (35.3 J g⁻¹). PSD followed a monomodal pattern; dark chocolate had the smallest particles leading to the highest hardness. Density ranged from 1.2773 to 1.2067 g cm⁻³. Results from classical rotational rheological measurements were in accordance with oscillatory measurements. Rheological measurements confirmed that the Casson yield stress was highest for milk chocolate (17.61 Pa). The viscosity values decrease with increasing shear rate for all chocolates. All chocolate samples showed strong shear-thinning behavior up to 100 s.1 shear rate. Oscillatory measurements showed paste-like nature of all samples, i.e. storage modulus G’ dominates loss modulus G’’ at small shear stress values, and that complex modulus G*, which represents the stiffness varied as follows: milk &gt; white &gt; dark &gt; ruby.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a high prevalence of sporadic cases. Various molecular mechanisms are involved in its pathogenesis. This pilot study aimed to identify potential risk and protective human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in PD, discover candidate alleles for further research, and evaluate potential blood biomarkers. Methods: A total of 43 PD patients and 79 unrelated controls were enrolled in the study. We analysed the polymorphism of HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles, and the blood levels of biomarkers such as S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S1000A9), kynurenic acid (KYNA), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD1). Results: We found that the frequencies of the HLA-DRB1*04, -DQA1*02:01, and -DQA1*03:01 alleles were significantly higher in the PD patients than in the controls, suggesting that these alleles are potential risk factors. Furthermore, the HLA-DQA1*02:01 allele was detected more frequently in the PD group when the disease onset was at 60 years or older. On the contrary, the HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DQA1*05:01 alleles were less common in the PD patients, indicating a possible protective effect. Regarding biomarkers, the blood levels of S100 calcium-binding protein A9 were significantly higher and the kynurenic acid levels were significantly lower in the PD group. The NfL levels were also higher in the PD group but did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to the sensitivity limitations of the ELISA method used. The GAD1 levels showed no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings prove that the HLA-DRB1*01 and -DRB1*04 alleles and the HLA-DQA1*02:01, -DQA1*03:01, and -DQA1*05:01 alleles are associated with PD. Moreover, S100 calcium-binding protein A9 and kynurenic acid can be considered potential blood biomarkers for PD. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on PD and offer new directions for further research in Latvian cohorts.

This study addresses the challenge of dispersing disinfectant liquids for sanitizing people, indoor spaces, vehicles, and outdoor areas. Fine aerosol sprays with a large surface area of particles are considered the most promising solution for such tasks. The study identifies shortcomings in current spraying methods and highlights the potential of ultrasonic liquid atomization for improving disinfection processes. Innovative specialized ultrasonic atomizers are introduced, capable of producing aerosols with the required droplet size and efficiency from disinfectant liquids of varying viscosities, including those containing silver nanoparticles.

This paper introduces the concept of extreme fuzzy PUP ideals within the framework of a PUP algebra. Building on this concept, we investigate a fuzzy uniform structure applicable to PUP-algebras. We then delve into the idea of a fuzzy uniform topological PUP algebra, which is a PUP algebra equipped with a distinctive fuzzy topology that ensures the continuity of both binary operations in a fuzzy topological sense. This approach broadens the scope of fuzzy uniform topological PUP-algebra, leading to the derivation of numerous properties of fuzzy topological PUP algebras.

This laboratory manual provides essential protocols and procedures for analyzing animal feed in the Animal Nutrition Laboratory at Wollo University. It is tailored to assist researchers, technical assistants, and students in evaluating feed quality to optimize ruminant nutrition, especially under arid conditions where feed costs impact livestock productivity. The manual covers safety guidelines, sample preparation, and detailed procedures for determining moisture, dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, and ash content in animal feed samples. Special emphasis is placed on using the Kjeldahl method for protein determination and the Soxhlet apparatus for fat extraction. Additionally, the manual includes methods for producing urea molasses blocks, a valuable supplementary feed. Physical evaluation techniques such as assessing color, texture, odor, and mold presence are highlighted for rapid feed quality assessment, ensuring safe and effective diets.

In this study, we explore the use of 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for predicting internal temperature fields from the surface temperature, with a focus on applications where small temperature gradients, similar to those in the human body, are present. The network accuracy was evaluated under both ideal and non-ideal conditions which include noise and background temperature effects. In non-ideal scenarios, the network accurately reconstructed the 3D temperature field for small phantoms (e.g., 10 cm in diameter). However, as the size of the domain increased, the network’s predictive capacity diminished, particularly in regions far from the surface. To address this limitation, we introduced statistical uncertainty during training, simulating non-ideal conditions, in combination with a physics-informed loss function which embed the heat equation directly into the training process. This combination can improve the model’s performance, particularly in noisy environments, where traditional CNN architectures failed to reconstruct hot-spots in deeper regions. Our results suggest that combining deep learning with physical constraints offers a robust framework for non-invasive thermal imaging and other applications requiring high-precision temperature field reconstruction.

Each civilization and each country are influenced by its own culture, traditions, and wisdom. India is world famous for its diverse cultural heritage which is its building blocks. Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BC. This phrase shaped not only India's spiritual history but also its intellectual culture. From India, Buddhism spread throughout Asia. India has many important Buddhist sites. We have selected 15 Buddhist Indian heritage sites for our study. UNESCO defines "digital heritage" as unique resources of human knowledge and expression "created digitally or transformed from existing analogue resources into digital form". With the development of new technologies and the availability of cultural heritage in digital form. In this research work, all selected fifteen Indian Buddhist historical sites nearly two thousand years old. Due to thousands of years of any natural or human-generated disasters, as well as the overloaded tourists’ damages to the heritage sites. The purpose of digital heritage preservation is to ensure that it remain s accessible to the public and to prevent it from disappearing. In this paper we have study digital heritage and this proposed research work present the process for digitally preservation of selected cultural heritage sites.

We introduce a fully differentiable end-to-end audio transformation network designed to convert the style of one audio sample to another. This method offers three significant advantages: (a) it operates without the need for parallel utterances, transcriptions, or time alignment processes; (b) it utilizes a global conditioning mechanism, making it vocabulary agnostic and capable of transforming audio styles regardless of the target identity; and (c) it performs one-shot audio transformations without intermediate phonetic representations, thus eliminating the necessity for phonetic alignments and speaker-independent ASR networks. We assess our method against existing approaches in voice conversion and musical style transfer tasks. Subjective evaluations demonstrate the superiority of our approach. The network employs an encoder-decoder architecture that integrates neural network models known for their explainability in natural language processing tasks.

This paper examines the sustainability of the current account balances for three leading economies that play significant roles in global financial and geopolitical developments: China, the US, and Germany. Specifically, the alignment of the US, German, and Chinese current accounts with their intertemporal budget constraints is analyzed. The stationarity of the current account is considered a sufficient condition for defining sustainability. However, it is argued that the common assumption of a linear process for the current account under the alternative hypothesis of stationarity may not accurately reflect reality, as the current account may exhibit nonlinear behavior. Therefore, both linear and nonlinear unit root tests are employed to investigate current account sustainability. The objective is to determine whether the current account balances of China, Germany, and the US are sustainable independently or if achieving sustainability necessitates government intervention.

Periprosthetic fractures of the proximal femur are one of the most frequent causes of revision after total hip arthroplasty. Internal fixation may be chosen if the hip implant is stable or if a stable fixation may be obtained. Preservation of bone perfusion and adequate stability are essential for successful fracture healing. As presented in this report, a patient developed both osteonecrosis and atrophy of the cortical bone due to use of a specific plate to treat a periprosthetic fracture of the femur. An 82-year-old female sustained a periprosthetic fracture of the proximal femur two years after cemented hemiarthroplasty. The fracture was treated by plate fixation. Along the proximal femoral diaphysis, cerclages were applied to avoid interference of screws with the femoral stem. Due to postoperative restrictions and finally due to pain, the patient never could be mobilized out of a wheelchair. After 4 years, pain persisted while the fracture had healed without loosening of the joint replacement components. However, pronounced atrophy of the whole femur was present, with devitalized areas of the bone underlying the plate. When not strictly applied as an internal fixator at a distance from the bone, the plate model used in this case may disturb periosteal blood flow, causing osteonecrosis. Furthermore, high bending rigidity of the plate-bone construct may lead to stress shielding and atrophy. The case illustrates that design and mechanical properties of a plate are relevant in bone biology and healing.conclusions. Clinical trial abstracts should include items that the CONSORT group has identified as essential.

In angiosperms, paradormancy, a phenomenon that the growth of axillary buds be arrested by the biochemical signals from other organs or tissues, has been extensively investigated in deciduous perennial woody species. However, little attention has been paid to paradormancy set and release in perennial evergreen trees. Camellia sinensis cv Huangdan develops axillary floral buds and axillary shoot buds within same leaf node simultaneously, with growing floral buds repressing shoot buds leading to their paradormancy. In this study, we manually removed the axillary floral buds, then harvested the axillary shoot buds after 1- and 3- days of the floral bud removal, untargeted metabolomics were conducted to identify metabolome remodeling patterns during paradormancy-to-growth transition. Our data suggest that the restricted supply of reducing hexose and ammonium to the axillary shoot buds could be the major cause leading to their paradormancy. The axillary shoot buds were released from paradormancy one day after the axillary floral bud removal, this transition was accompanied with mobilization and reconfiguration for multiple primary and secondary metabolites. These metabolome reprogramming could help establish the reactive oxygen species gradients along leaf bud meristem, thus facilitate paradormancy set or release. This study provides novel insights about paradormancy set and release in a perennial evergreen tree species.

Objective: To develop a synthetic process route and method more suitable for industrialscale-up production of FXIa inhibitor BAY2433334 (asundexian). Method: BAY2433334 is obtained from (2R)-2-aminobutyric acid by esterification, diazotization, condensation reaction, deacetyl deprotection, activation reaction, and Mitsunobu reaction. Results: The target compound BAY2433334 was synthesized by the above method is simple to operate, and the raw materials are inexpensive and readily available. Simultaneously, the product quality is very high: Few O-alkylated impurities are generated during the reaction, with a high N-alkylated product/O-alkylated product ratio (above 35-45:1). Meanwhile, the ee value is greater than 99%, which means that there are very few isomers present. As a result，no chiral resolution is required, which greatly reduces the cost. Conclusion: A new process route suitable for the industrial production of BAY2433334 has been developed in this paper, which avoids the patent limitations of the originator company of BAY2433334 to the preparation of BAY2433334, improves the product quality of BAY2433334, and reduces the production cost of BAY2433334.

Copper contamination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is a major global environmental problem. Copper is a metal used in many industrial and agricultural processes that is bioaccu-mulative and highly toxic, making its elimination, recovery and reuse of great interest for en-vironmental sustainability. The potential of a ubiquitous microorganism, Penicillium sp. 8L2, to retain Cu(II) ions was investigated, as well as the ability of its cellular extract to synthesise CuO nanoparticles, which were subsequently evaluated as biocidal agents against five microorgan-isms. A response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal operating conditions of the biosorption process, setting the pH at 4.8 and the biomass concentration at 0.8 g/L, ob-taining a maximum biosorption capacity at equilibrium of 25.79 mg/g for the Langmuir model. Different analytical techniques were used to study the biosorption mechanisms, which revealed the presence of surface adsorption and intracellular bioaccumulation phenomena involving dif-ferent functional groups. The fungal cell extract allowed the successful synthesis of CuO-NPs with an average size of 22 nm. The biocidal tests performed with the nanoparticles showed promising values of minimum inhibitory concentrations between 62.5 and 500 µg/ml. Penicillium sp. 8L2 showed good potential for its application in the field of heavy metal bioremediation and for the green synthesis of nanoparticles useful in biomedicine.

Background: Total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is standard for resectable esophagogastric junctional and gastric cancer, but high morbidity challenges perioperative care. ERAS guidelines advise against routine drains, yet conflicting evidence leads to inconsistent practice. Methods: The DRAG (DRains After Gastrectomy) Trial is a prospective, non-randomized study conducted from February 2020 to March 2023 at the 1st Propaedeutic Surgery Department, Hippocration General Hospital, Athens. Patients undergoing open D2 total gastrectomy had perianastomotic drains placed based on newly established criteria, offering a more tailored approach. Immediate and short-term postoperative outcomes, including recovery milestones and complications, were assessed. Results: Sixty patients were included, with 40 receiving a drain. The non-drain group had significantly lower pain scores, earlier mobilization, less postoperative nausea and vomiting, and a shorter hospital stay. Among those with complications, significant differences in surgical site infections, delayed mobilization, extra-abdominal issues, length of stay, readmissions, and reoperations suggest that drain use may increase complications and hinder recovery. Conclusion: Our study suggests that routine prophylactic drain use can be avoided in gastrectomy for esophagogastric junctional and gastric cancer when experienced surgeons in high-volume centers follow clearly defined criteria. Implementing these criteria may improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.

Advancements in the repair and protection of water and wastewater infrastructure are now focused on using an innovative material called polyurea. Distinguished by its rapid curing time and versatile applications, polyurea is applied using a spray gun with high-pressure pumps. The introduction of new building materials is part of ongoing efforts to meet stringent environmental, health, and performance standards, and polyurea offers significant improvements by eliminating solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This paper presents a technological protocol starting with inspection and cleaning, followed by drying, and ending with the application of three layers: a moisture-blocking base layer, a rigid polyurethane middle layer for structural reinforcement, and a final sealing and anti-corrosion layer. This innovative method ensures a homogeneous, seamless structure, enhances construction durability, and accelerates the repair process, allowing immediate resumption of operation. Designed specifically for aggressive wastewater environments, this system is characterized by excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for water and wastewater infrastructure elements such as reinforced concrete manholes, sewage pumping stations, and tanks. Customizable polyurea properties allow personalization based on environmental aggressiveness, structure size, and abrasion resistance, representing a significant advancement in infrastructure maintenance technology. The paper showcases this modern repair and renovation method, highlighting its applications, benefits, and potential to revolutionize water and wastewater infrastructure maintenance in challenging conditions. The effectiveness of this solution is also compared with traditional methods, demonstrating the superiority of the three-layer system in terms of waterproofing, sulfuric acid resistance, monolithic structure, and application time.

Objectives: To analyze the treatment options for peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in children. Methods: We searched PubMed and EMBASE for studies regarding treatment of PTA in children. Relevant studies were reviewed based on systematic review (PRISMA) guidelines. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the extracted data was performed. Results: A total of 12 articles with 2211 cases of PTA were found eligible. All the identified studies were retrospective cohorts. The mean age varied from 8.5 to 15.4 years without gender difference. Treatment options included broad spectrum antibiotic therapy with incision and drainage of the abscess, needle aspiration and immediate tonsillectomy in 69%, 7.6% and 7% of cases, respectively. Antibiotics alone were administered to 16.4% of the subjects. Rate of recurrence of PTA after primary treatment ranged from 2% to 15.8% of cases. Time of recurrence is considered within one or two months. Complications in children with PTA were torticollis, prolonged fever, sepsis, dyspnea and parapharyngeal involvement. Conclusions: The mainstay of treatment of PTA in children is antibiotic therapy with incision and drainage of the abscess. Alternatives include antibiotic treatment alone or in association with needle aspiration. Immediate tonsillectomy is reserved only a few high-risk patients.

Questo studio esplora l'uso di intuizioni e modelli mentali simulati artificialmente nei robot socialmente assistivi (SAR) per migliorare l'interazione uomo-robot (HRI). Viene proposto un approccio multidisciplinare, che integra le neuroscienze, l'evoluzione cognitiva e gli studi sull'empatia per affrontare i limiti della tradizionale Teoria della Mente (ToM) applicata alla SAR. L'obiettivo è quello di sviluppare modelli avanzati di robotica sociale in grado di interpretare e rispondere in modo intuitivo ai segnali umani , sfruttando i principi della cibernetica e dei sistemi complessi. Questo approccio supporta l'ipotesi che il SAR con capacità multisensoriali e intuizione simulata possa favorire l'empatia simile a quella umana, riducendo l'effetto uncanny valley e migliorando l'applicabilità del SAR nell'assistenza sanitaria, nell'istruzione e nell'assistenza personale.

The article addresses the development and evaluation of a novel environmentally-friendly cutting fluid prepared using sunflower oil and ZnO nanoparticles, specifically developed for use in metal machining processes. An experimental investigation was conducted to examine the impact of three adjustable input process factors: spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut on Mild steel. The investigation was carried out under two conditions: one with a 1%(weight) ZnO nano cutting fluid and the other with a 1.5%(weight) ZnO nano cutting fluid. The study focused on two factors: surface roughness and material removal rate (MRR), which were measured during the process of face-milling mild steel. The research aims to optimize the milling machine settings to improve the efficiency of machining mild steel as the work material. This will be achieved by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The ZnO nano-cutting fluid was created using a meticulous technique and its stability was assessed by several investigations. An investigation indicates that a ZnO nano-cutting fluid with a weight concentration of 1.5% is more stable. The process was enhanced by the use of a newly created integrated approach grounded on response surface methodology (RSM). The suitability of the model was confirmed by an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The analysis revealed that, when considering equal weights of responses, the ideal values for the input parameters of spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut were determined to be 408.081 rpm, 146.667 m/min, and 0.4878 mm accordingly, under the circumstances of using 1.5% weight of ZnO nano cutting fluid. The projected output responses were as follows: 777.920 for the MRR (Material Removal Rate) and 3.5297 for surface roughness. The composite attractiveness was calculated to be 0.61433. The suggested model in this research shows a fitting of over 80% with our studied values. This model may be used to discover the ideal states and enhance the efficiency of the milling process. The enhanced milling parameters exhibit the potential to enhance machining performance, offering useful insights for firms seeking environmentally sustainable alternatives for metal-cutting operations. This work contributes to the advancement of sustainable machining practices by developing a novel formulation for cutting fluid and providing a systematic approach to improving machining parameters.

Forestry has a profound impact on environmental protection, economic development and social welfare. With the improvement of global environmental protection awareness, the construction of platform supply chain of forest products has become the core driving force to promote sustainable development of forestry. Studying the resilience of supply chain of platform of forest products is of great importance to solve the contradiction between economic development and natural ecosystem protection. However, the existing resilience evaluation methods are not suitable for the dynamic and complex performance evaluation of the current forest products platform supply chain. Therefore, in order to make up for this shortcoming, this paper evaluates and analyzes the supply chain resilience of forest products platform based on AI recommendation and extension theory. Firstly, the paper integrates the innovative thinking method of extension into the AI recommendation technology, and constructs the resilience performance evaluation index system of the platform supply chain of forest products combined with the characteristics of forest products. Secondly, the evaluation model of the supply chain toughness of forest products platform was constructed, and the weight value of each index was obtained. Finally, in order to ensure the authenticity and credibility of the evaluation results, the resilience levels of different types of forest products platform supply chains were illustrated by numerical examples, and the effectiveness of the application of AI recommendation and extension theory in the resilience performance evaluation of forest products platform supply chains was verified. The scientific value of this paper is that it provides a new idea and a new method for the resilience performance evaluation of the forest products platform supply chain, and makes theoretical and practical contributions to the fruitful application of AI recommendation in the supply chain field. In addition, this study also provides a new practical guideline for protecting the natural environment and realizing the sustainable development of forestry.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has transformed customer behaviours, demanding deeper insights into how demographic factors shape online user preferences. To understand the impact of these changes, this study performs a threefold analysis. Firstly, the study investigates how demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, education, income) influence e-customer preferences in Serbia. From a sample of n = 906 respondents, we test conditional dependencies between demographics and user preferences – “purchase frequency”, “the most important property when buying for the first time”, “the most important property before repeating a purchase”, and “reasons for quitting an online purchase”. From a hypothetical framework of 24 tested hypotheses, the study successfully rejects 8/24 (with p < 0.05), suggesting a high association between demographics with purchase frequency (p < 0.01) and reasons for quitting the purchase (p < 0.01). However, although reported test statistics suggest an association, understanding how interactions between categories shape e-customer profiles is lacking. As a consequence, the second part considers an MCA-HCPC (Multiple Correspondence Analysis with Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components) to identify user profiles. The analysis reveals three main clusters : (1) young female unemployed e-customers driven mainly by customer reviews; (2) retirees and older adults with infrequent purchases, hesitant to buy without experiencing the product in person; (3) employed, highly educated, male midlife adults who prioritise fast and accurate delivery over price. In the third stage, the study uses identified clusters as labels for Machine Learning (ML) classification through the following algorithms: Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Decision Tree (DT), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The results suggest high classification performance of GBM (AUROC = 0.994), RF (AUROC = 0.994) and SVM (AUROC = 0.902) in identifying user profiles. Lastly, after performing Permutation Feature Importance (PFI), the findings suggest that age, work status, education, and income are the main determinants of shaping e-customer profiles and developing marketing strategies.

The therapeutic management of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, remains challenging. In the search for more effective therapeutic options, metal-based complexes are being investigated for their anticancer properties. Cisplatin was the first clinically approved plati-num-based drug and, based on its success, other metals (e.g. gold) are being used to design novel compounds. In the present work, the antimelanoma potential of a new organometallic cy-clometalated Au(III) complex [[Au(CNOxN)Cl2] (CNOxN = 2-(phenyl-(2-pyridinylmethylene)aminoxy acetic acid))] (ST004) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this new gold-based complex was associated to liposomes with the lipid composition DMPC:DOPE:DSPE-PEG (50:45:5) to overcome solubility and stability problems, as well as to promote accumulation at melanoma sites and maximize the therapeutic effect. Devel-oped liposomal formulations showed a low mean size (around 100 nm), high homogeneity (PdI100 μM). Cell cycle analysis revealed an arrest in G0/G1 phase by Free-ST004 in all cell lines. In turn, LIP-ST004 led to a G0/G1 halt in B16F10, and to an arrest in S phase in A375 and MNT-1 cells. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest gold-based inhibition of glycerol permeation through aquaglyceroporin 3 (AQP3) in human red blood cells used as a model. The proof-of-concept of the antimelanoma properties of LIP-ST004 was obtained in subcutaneous and metastatic murine melanoma models. In the latter, results showed a significant reduction on lung metastases in animals receiving LIP-ST004, com-pared to free gold complex and DTIC. Globally, this study highlights the antimelanoma potential of a new gold-based complex.

Industrial buildings play vital roles in a society, from shaping the economic, technological, cultural, and social fabric of society, to contributing to its growth, development, and resilience. Hence often at the end of their lifespans, they are “preserved” for their historical value through renovation. In consideration for renovation, often included are their historical significance, structural integrity, adaptive reuse, social sustainability, financial viability and environmental impacts. Among them, the carbon emissions associated with a project are becoming increasingly a factor when a historical building is to be sensitively renovated so that it can continue to contribute to local sustainability. However, embodied carbon is often shadowed by operational carbon and overlooked in the development of renovation options. This paper aims to argue for the need to include embodied carbon in the consideration and for guidelines for doing so in a renovation process. The argument is through a systematic review of current practices in the renovations of industrial heritage buildings between selected presentative countries, the developing ones and developed ones, on the belief that the former could learn valuable lessons from the latter who has gone through the process already. The argument also shows the difference in policy between different countries and articulates how the inclusion of this might support environmental targets in developing countries. Based on quantitative comparison, the review explains why embodied carbon (EC) is missing in developing countries. The study estimates the proportion and value of EC with the total life cycle in renovations of industrial buildings to support the argument. Above all, a calculation using a standard LCA tool (ISO14040 & 14044) applied to four successful examples and quantitative comparison highlights the benefits of including embodied carbon in renovations of industrial buildings and the carbon savings in developing countries and further supports the argument.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that is crucial for human health. As a key component of various enzymes and proteins, selenium primarily exerts its biological functions in the form of selenoproteins within the body. Currently, over 30 types of selenoproteins have been identified, with more than 20 of them containing selenocysteine residues. Among these, glutathione peroxidases (GPXs), thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs), and iodothyronine deiodinases (DIOs) have been widely studied. Selenium boasts numerous biological functions, including antioxidant properties, immune system enhancement, thyroid function regulation, anti-cancer effects, cardiovascular protection, reproductive capability improvement, and anti-inflammatory activity. Despite its critical importance to human health, the range between selenium's nutritional and toxic doses is very narrow. Insufficient daily selenium intake can lead to selenium deficiency, while excessive intake carries the risk of selenium toxicity. Therefore, selenium intake must be controlled within a relatively precise range. This article reviews the distribution and intake of selenium, as well as its absorption and metabolism mechanisms in the human body. It also explores the multiple biological functions and mechanisms of selenium in maintaining human health. The aim is to provide new insights and evidence for further elucidating the role of selenium and selenoproteins in health maintenance, as well as for future nutritional guidelines and public health policies.

Poultry production in Ethiopia plays a vital role in providing high-quality protein and economic opportunities, yet it faces significant challenges due to prevalent infectious diseases that impact both animal health and human well-being. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the epidemiology and zoonotic risks associated with major poultry pathogens in Ethiopia, focusing on bacterial and viral agents. In Ethiopia, poultry production predominantly consists of traditional scavenging systems in rural areas, alongside a growing intensive farming sector utilizing exotic breeds. Despite efforts to improve biosecurity and vaccination practices, the proximity of intensively reared chickens to smallholder and backyard flocks poses challenges. This environment facilitates the transmission of pathogens such as Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp., leading causes of foodborne illnesses in humans. Viral diseases like Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) also pose significant threats to poultry health and production. These viruses not only cause substantial economic losses but can potentially infect humans, highlighting the interconnectedness of animal and human health in poultry farming settings. This review underscores the importance of integrated disease management strategies encompassing enhanced biosecurity, regular surveillance, and vaccination programs tailored to local contexts. Furthermore, the adoption of molecular epidemiology approaches could provide deeper insights into pathogen circulation and evolution, aiding in targeted control measures. Addressing the complex challenges of poultry diseases in Ethiopia requires interdisciplinary collaboration between veterinary, public health, and agricultural sectors. By mitigating disease risks in poultry populations, Ethiopia can enhance food security, improve public health outcomes, and sustainably support its growing poultry industry.

Background/Objectives: Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019, virtual clinics served as the cornerstone modality of telehealth in many health institutions. This study aimed to examine patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of audio-only gynecology virtual clinics’ integration. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A convenient sampling technique was followed for physicians and patients. The questionnaires utilized were validated. Results: During March 2021-March 2022, a total of 220 subjects participated in the study. Physicians accounted for 24.5% (n=54), while patients accounted for 75.5% (n=166). Overall, only 55.5% of the physicians agreed virtual clinics should continue after the pandemic, while 84.6% and 76.0% of the patients reported satisfaction and the wish to use virtual clinics again, respectively. Physicians who seldom found physical examination to be indicated, seldom requested patients to attend physically to the clinic, and who had a positive outlook on virtual clinics were more likely to desire continuing virtual clinics after the pandemic, p&lt;0.001. Patients who had positive outlooks regarding virtual clinics were shown to be more satisfied with virtual clinics, p&lt;0.001. Conclusions: Audio-only gynecology virtual clinics are accepted by both physicians and patients with higher satisfaction among patients. Physicians’ positive outlook yet reluctance to continue virtual clinics suggests the need to modify the conduction of virtual clinics and necessitates larger-scaled prospective studies in this topic.

Antibodies approved by the FDA are failing to treat neurological disorders, and recently, it was reported that these trials may have violated patient’s rights and subjected them to high, likely lethal risk. The challenge with developing antibodies to treat neurological orders is their almost negligible bioavailability, requiring high dosing that can be toxic. The high potency of these drugs should also be viewed considering the placebo effects since all antibodies have shown severe side effects that are not prevented by the placebo responses. In this critical and urgent advice to the FDA, I am suggesting a guideline amendment to all clinical trials requiring proof of sufficient bioavailability at the site of action, where it is known. For antibodies to cross the blood-brain barrier, there are proven solutions such as conjugating with transferrin protein, making clinical trials in its absence more questionable and unethical.

The effects of high debris content on tight sandstone reservoirs are multifaceted. Pore structure is an important factor controlling reservoir quality. Clarifying the effects of different types of rock debris on reservoirs is necessary to study the pore structure and their control factors of tight sandstones. The Western Sichuan Depression with complex rock components, containing multiple types of rock debris, leads to strong heterogeneity of pore throats, so it is necessary to study the factors controlling the development of different types of pore throats in tight reservoirs. In this paper, the Fourth member of Xujiahe Foramtion(T3x4) is taken as the research object. Based on high-pressure mercury intrusion experiments and the fractal theory, the types of pore throats and their heterogeneity in tight reservoirs were studied, the relationship of fractal dimensions with reservoir physical properties, pore structure, and rock compositions were investigated, and then the controlling factors for the development of different types of pore throats are clarified. The studies show that there are four types of pore throats developed in the T3x4 of the western Sichuan depression, including primary intergranular pore-throats, residual intergranular pore-throats, dissolution pore-throats, and intercrystalline pore-throats, among which the homogeneity of dissolution pore-throats are the best, followed by residual intergranular pore-throats and intercrystalline pore-throats, and the primary intergranular pore-throats the most heterogeneous. Brittle minerals such as quartz and metamorphic debris, as well as early developed films of chlorite and illite mainly control the development of intergranular pore-throats. Potassium feldspar mainly controls the development of dissolution pore-throats, while plastic debris, volcanic debris, and kaolinite play a destructive role for all types of pore-throats. The high-quality reservoirs in the T3x4 are controlled by the development of primary intergranular pore throats and dissolution pore throats, and they are mainly developed in environments with strong hydrodynamic conditions, large rock grain sizes, high content of brittle minerals such as quartz and metamorphic debris, extensive development of chlorite and illite films, and low content of mudstone debris, matrix, and cemented materials. This study is of guiding significance in clarifying the causes of heterogeneity in different types of pore-throat systems in tight sandstones and the formation mechanism of high-quality reservoirs in tight sandstones with high content of debris.

In response to the near-threatened status of Handroanthus impetiginosus, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal logging, this study examines how X-ray imaging and cryopreservation impact the seed quality and viability essential for conservation. Seeds initially had a moisture content of 12.3%, reduced to 6.5% through desiccation. X-ray imaging allowed detailed visualization of internal structures, identifying seeds as normal, abnormal, or dead based on damage and development. Normal seeds consistently germinated and produced healthy seedlings, while those with internal damage or excessive desiccation either resulted in abnormal seedlings or did not germinate. Various cryopreservation treatments were tested, including storage at -80°C and liquid nitrogen immersion (LN), with and without vitrification solutions (PSV2; PVS3; PSV2 + 1% phloroglucinol; PSV3 + 1% phloroglucinol). Results indicated that immersion in LN without cryoprotectants achieved the highest germination and seedling viability, whereas vitrification solutions, such as PVS2 and PVS3, negatively affected germination. The study demonstrates that X-ray imaging is an effective tool for assessing seed quality and detecting internal damage, while cryopreservation without cryoprotectants is suitable for long-term seed storage. This work highlights the benefits of combining X-ray assessment with optimized cryopreservation techniques to support conservation of threatened species.

The Schwarzschild solution of Einstein’s field equation comes in two variants, one for a single spherical mass (black hole), and one for the universe as a whole (in which dark energy prevails over matter). The cosmic variant represents a special form of expanding De-Sitter space (and is a good match with cosmic reality). In the cosmic variant, the Schwarzschild horizon of a black hole is replaced by the cosmic event horizon. The world-lines of escaping galaxies and also of photons is given by a function r(t) in which no square root of a negative number appears, so that the functionvalue is a real number even when it comes to r larger than the distance to the horizon. It turns out that no singularity exists beyond the cosmic event horizon. A surprising symmetry is thereby revealed (with the cosmic event-horizon functioning as a symmetry line). This symmetry comprises timereversals along world-lines, and the possibility of crossing the cosmic event horizon in both directions. As a consequence thereof, loop-shaped world lines of objects are within reach (similar to those in Gödel’s universe), even in the vicinity of planet Earth. As Gödel had correctly pointed out, loop-shaped world lines are proof of the static model of time, according to which present, past and future events occurring at the same spatial location are equally part of physical reality, not different from events occurring at the same time at different places. Kruskal-Szekeres charts do not obstruct any of these results. These charts have so far been used in an incorrect manner. When using them correctly, no singularity exists beyond event horizons, neither in the back-hole case, nor in the cosmic case. Doubts with regard to the existence of singularities, recently expressed by R. P. Kerr (2023), are thus proved to be justified.

We evaluated the effects of a 12-week hypocaloric ketogenic diet (KD) on glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as body mass, in overweight, obese, and healthy-weight females. One hundred adult females completed the study, including 64 obese (97.99±11.48kg), 23 overweight (75.50±5.12 kg), and 11 with optimal body mass (65.93±3.40 kg). All participants followed a KD consisting of less than 30 g of carbohydrates, approximately 60 g of protein, and 140 g of fat per day (80% unsaturated and 20% saturated fat).Methods: Glucose (Gl), insulin (I), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured before and after the intervention. Additionally, body mass (BM), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and thigh circumference (TC) were recorded. Results: After 12 weeks of the KD, significant improvements were observed in most biochemical variables across all groups. BM, TC, WC, and HC were significantly reduced in all participants. Notably, obese participants showed greater reductions in all variables compared to overweight and healthy-weight females. Conclusion: A 12-week KD led to more pronounced improvements in biochemical markers and body mass in obese females compared to other groups. A KD may be particularly beneficial for obese females with hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, and lipid profile disturbances.

Single umbilical artery (SUA) is considered an ultrasound marker of anomalies. Although it may be present in about 5% of normal gestations, it has been observed to be associated with an increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, cardiac, genitourinary and gastrointestinal malformations, as well as with the appearance of chromosomal anomalies such as trisomy 21 and 18. Objectives: This study aims to check whether the presence of isolated SUA (ISUA) is related to adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods: This is a descriptive, observational and retrospective study with a total of 1266 gestations were studied (1189 normal gestations and deliveries collected from the registry of the Hospital Univeritario de Salamanca, during the period from January 1st to August 31st, 2023 and 77 cases of ISUA). Results: The presence of ISUA was associated with a lower gestational age (38 vs 39 weeks) and a lower birth weight (3013 vs 3181 g) though not increasing the prematurity rate. No significant differences were found in the increase in malformations, genetic disorders, Apgar test, pH at birth or admissions in the neonatal ICU. Conclusions: The presence of ISUA during gestation is associated with lower gestational age and lower birth weight though this did not result in a higher rate of prematurity or an increase in the number of admissions associated with low birth weight. No significant association was found between the presence of ISUA and genetic disorders or fetal malformations. Neither were worse Apgar test scores or lower pH values found in these newborns.

The study of the emission, propagation, and reflection of balls leads to the mechanical ballistic law that applies to balls with and without mass. A natural extension of the ballistic law is to encompass massless entities such as light. According to ballistic law, a ball or light emitted by a source inherits the velocity of the source in the absolute frame. The phenomenon described by the ballistic law works in the absolute frame which acts as the background of inertial frames and governs the kinematics of balls and light in each inertial frame. It explains why the speed of emitted, propagated, and reflected light is the universal constant c in any inertial frame in which sources and mirrors are at rest, why the laws of physics have the same form in any inertial frame, and why no experiment in such a frame can prove its motion. By understanding the kinematics of light, we can understand the multiple issues rooted in Lorentz’s transformation and Einstein’s special relativity. For example, the theory of special relativity misapplies the symmetry observed in some phenomena to two inertial frames. Thus, it duplicates a physical phenomenon from one inertial frame considered stationary, to another. The Lorentz transformation imposes the speed of light c in the moving and opposite direction of the inertial frame. Simultaneously, it varies in any other direction converging to infinite. The time contraction in the moving direction of the inertial frame is different from the time dilation in the opposite direction, and both times are different from those in any other direction. Thus, each direction requires a ruler and time synchronization. Lorentz’s transformation has no length contractions to support this fundamental concept of special relativity. These unacceptable conclusions prove that the theory of special relativity is self-negating.

Background/Objectives: The function of adipokines, which play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of critical illness, has not been fully elucidated. We aim to investigate the sequential changes in serum adipokines and their association with clinical outcomes and nutritional parameters in ICU patients with SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This observational study was conducted prospectively in a Medical ICU. Blood samples were collected on admission and on the 7th day for analysis of adiponectin, GLP-1, resistin, visfatin, acyl ghrelin (AG), IGF-1, and leptin levels using ELISA kits. Results: This study included 30 critically ill patients and 10 healthy controls. Baseline and day 7 serum adiponectin, GLP-1, resistin, visfatin, baseline AG and day 7 IGF-1 levels are significantly lower in critically ill patients compared to the control group (p<0.05). A negative correlation was observed between time to initiate nutrition and serum adipokine levels (p<0.05). Patients with high mNUTRIC scores had elevated serum adiponectin and IGF-1 levels on day 7 (p<0.05). Positive correlations were found between MV duration and day 7 AG levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: This pilot study provides insights into serum adipokine dynamics in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Lower adiponectin, GLP-1, resistin, visfatin, AG, and IGF-1 levels suggest dysregulation in these pathways.

Rationale: Astroglial cells (astrocytes), previously considered mere support cells in the central nervous system, are now understood to be key players in integrating neuronal inputs and modulating synaptic density. Astrocytic processes surround the perikaryons and neuronal processes including dendritic spines and by extension or retraction, respectively, lyse or facilitate increases in number or size of synapses. Astrocytes express estrogen receptors and in animal models, including monkeys, have been shown to respond to estradiol by changing the disposition of their processes in a manner opposite to the number of synapses. Experimental: Our objective was to examine the effects of estradiol and two other clinically available Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs; tamoxifen and raloxifene) on astrocyte processes in human brain tissue. To accomplish this goal, we used simultaneous immunostaining of the glial cytoskeletal marker glial acidic protein (GFAP) and ezrin, a membrane-cytoskeletal linker, plus light microscopy image analysis to study the thinness and branching of randomly selected human temporal lobe neocortical astrocytes after a 60-minute incubation of 400µ temporal lobe slices. Effects of estradiol (10 nM), raloxifene and tamoxifen (1.0 µM) were compared with untreated control slices. Results: Changes were confirmed in the branchings of temporal lobe astrocytes during the 60-minute incubation period. Astrocytes in control slices extended their branches and became thinner. Parallel changes were present in tamoxifen-cultured slices. Raloxifene-treated slices showed significant reduction of astrocyte branching and thinning compared to controls (p = 0.01, 0.01, 0.06 for primary, secondary, and tertiary processes, respectively). An intermediate reduction of astroglial process size was present following estradiol treatment, but not at a statistically significant level compared to controls. Conclusions: These preliminary results support estrogen receptor modulator regulation of human astroglial processes in a manner consistent with previous reports on animals in which changes in glial spreading plays a role in synaptic changes. Neuroendocrinological implications are discussed.

We investigate a class of combinatorial sums involving reciprocals of central binomial coefficients , employing generating functions as the primary solution technique to formulate and analyze series involving the Catalan's constant. Using a direct approach, we derive new identities through integral techniques.

The Castelo Intrusive Complex (CIC), located in the southern state of Espírito Santo, southeast-ern Brazil, is a pluton inserted in the context of post-collisional magmatism of the Araçuaí Orogeny, known as Supersuite G5, related to the extensional collapse during the Brasili-ano/Pan-African Orogeny. This work presents an integration of field, petrographic, lithogeo-chemical, and isotopic data, in addition to bringing new U-Pb ages for the CIC and a new geo-logical map. The CIC presents a great compositional variety, presenting rocks of monzogranitic, granodioritic, quartz-monzodioritic, and dioritic compositions that are inserted in the context of mixed magmas. The magma mixing process is generalized in the CIC through field, petro-graphic, lithogeochemical, and isotopic data, in addition to U-Pb data in the different units that attest to the cogeneticity between them. The delamination process promoted the fusion of the asthenospheric mantle. It promoted the anatexis of different portions of the crust, evident through the values of εHf and TDM ages, where later magmatic mechanisms of physical disper-sion (mingling) and chemical diffusion (mixing) favored hybridization and promoted the com-positional diversity of the CIC.

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, the problem of traffic congestion in cities has become increasingly severe. Effectively managing traffic congestion is crucial for sustainable urban development. Previous studies have indicated that fluid dynamics theory can be applied to address flow problems in transportation, and this article aims at utilize CFD to solve congestion issues in urban road traffic. Firstly, a similarity analysis is conducted between fluids and traffic flow at the theoretical level. By converting parameters, the formula of fluid is derived into the formula of traffic flow, thus demonstrating the feasibility of using CFD in traffic flow research. On this basis, targeting recurrent congestion and non-recurrent congestion scenarios, 2D road fluid domains and constraints are constructed based on the common characteristics of each congestion type area. By using Fluent software to analyze the flow conditions under different congestion characteristics, use the smoothness of fluid motion to find out the problems causing traffic congestion and conduct analysis to reveal the microscopic mechanism behind congestion formation. For different types of congestion, in order to clarify the effectiveness of congestion mitigation measures, the geometric design of road intersections and diversion measures are discussed in depth. The traffic pressure is analyzed by adjusting the vehicle inlet angle at intersections or controlling the vehicle flow speed. Finally, the optimal design scheme is obtained by comparative analysis. The work of this article provides new ideas for optimizing urban road design and solving vehicle traffic congestion problems. The optimization measures can effectively reduce the accident rate and improve the efficiency of traffic flow.

Targeted therapy indications for actionable variants in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have primarily been studied in Caucasian populations, with limited data on Latin American patients. This study utilized a 52-gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to analyze 1,560 tumor biopsies from NSCLC patients in Chile, Brazil, and Peru. RNA sequencing reads, and DNA coverage were correlated to improve the detection of the actionable MET exon 14 skipping variant (METex14). The pathogenicity of MET variants of uncertain significance (VUS) was assessed using bioinformatic methods based on their predicted driver potential. The effects of the predicted driver VUS T992I and H1094Y on MET signaling activation, proliferation, and migration were evaluated in HEK293T, BEAS-2B, and H1993 cell lines. Subsequently, MET inhibitors were tested in 2D and 3D cell cultures, and drug affinity was determined using 3D structure simulations. The prevalence of MET variants in the South American cohort was 8%, and RNA-based diagnosis detected 27% more cases of METex14 than DNA-based methods. Notably, 20% of METex14 cases with RNA reads below the detection threshold were confirmed by DNA analysis. The novel actionable T992I and H1094Y variants induced proliferation and migration through c-Met/Akt signaling. Both variants showed sensitivity to crizotinib and savolitinib, but the H1094Y variant exhibited reduced sensitivity to capmatinib. These findings highlight the importance of RNA-based METex14 diagnosis and reveal the drug sensitivity profiles of novel actionable MET variants from an understudied patient population.

Quantum Machine Learning (QML) merges principles of Quantum Computing (QC) and Machine Learning (ML), offering improved efficiency and potential quantum advantage in data-driven tasks and solving complex problems. In binary classification, where the goal is to assign data into one of two categories, QML uses quantum algorithms to process large datasets efficiently. Quantum algorithms like Quantum Support Vector Machines (QSVM) and Quantum Neural Networks (QNN) exploit quantum parallelism and entanglement to enhance performance over classical methods. This research explores the use of QML algorithms for binary classification and compares their performance with classical ML methods. This study focuses on two common QML algorithms, Quantum Support Vector Classifier (QSVC) and QNN. We used the Qiskit software and did the experiments with three different datasets. Data preprocessing included dimensionality reduction using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and standardization using scalers. The results showed that quantum algorithms demonstrated competitive performance against their classical counterparts in terms of accuracy, while QSVC performed better than QNN. These findings suggest that QML holds potential for improving computational efficiency in binary classification tasks. This opens the way for more efficient and scalable solutions in complex classification challenges and shows the complementary role of quantum computing.

Theoretical physics addresses the fundamental principles of nature and the mysteries of the universe. In the last century, the theory of relativity challenged people's understanding of time and space, while quantum mechanics revealed various forms of energy. However, the concept of gravity remains elusive. All matter in the universe is composed of energy that can be converted into other forms, yet it is always conserved. However, achieving a state of equilibrium, represented by the equal sign, can be challenging to achieve on both macro and quantum scales. A phenomenon that can transition from one state to infinity is called collision and is essential for understanding natural phenomena and physical processes throughout the universe. In the study of general relativity cannot be three-dimensional problems to gain mathematical inspiration, understand the application of new dimensions. Here, we elucidate the nature of gravity, which inspires the solution of the Riemann hypothesis. Our results show that the conduction mode of dimensional energy is defined by Euler's formula. And a special mode of collision is derived which translates into vibration.

The search for higher energy efficiency of industrial-scale burners to attain low emission especially Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) has demanded experimental studies that are complemented with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. While there exist numerous emission control techniques, the passive control technique was the main focus of the present review study. Biodiesel fuel crude palm oil (CPO) was found to reduce emission components, particularly carbon components and particulate matter (PM). Biodiesel CPO has the capability to mitigate cavitation inside the injector’s orifice which contributes to damage reduction on the orifice. Moreover, although cavitation can improve spray atomization and produce finer spray droplets, it also causes damage to the orifice of injectors. Orifice characteristics such as orifice’s diameter and pattern can also reduce cavitation inside the orifice. Orifice’s pattern is divided into cylindrical shape orifice and conical shape orifice. The conical orifice is found to reduce the cavitation inside the orifice while cylindrical orifice was indicated as a highly cavitating orifice. Alternatively, as rapid swirling motion is capable to enhance the fuel and air mixing, a new concept of swirling fuel-air premix inside the injector is invented and it is proven to reduce emissions. It was, however, learned that spray characteristics are still playing an important role in the prediction of combustion performance, particularly droplets Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) which is a worldwide parameter that needs further investigations in order to predict the fineness of spray production and combustion.

Bladder cancer (BC) currently ranks as the 9th most common cancer worldwide. It is characterized by a very high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Most cases of BC are of urothelial origin, and due to its ability to penetrate muscle tissue, it is divided into non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). The current diagnosis of BC is still based primarily on invasive cystoscopy, which is an expensive and invasive method that carries a risk of various complications. Urine sediment cytology is often used as a complementary test, the biggest drawback of which is its very low sensitivity concerning detecting BC at early stages, which is crucial for prompt implementation of appropriate treatment. Therefore, there is a great need to develop innovative diagnostic techniques that would enable early detection and accurate prognosis of BC. Great potential in this regard is shown by epigenetic changes, which are often possible to observe long before the onset of clinical symptoms of the disease. In addition, these changes can be detected in readily available biological material such as urine or blood, indicating the possibility of constructing non-invasive diagnostic tests. Over the past few years, many studies have emerged using epigenetic alterations as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of BC. This review provides an update on promising diagnostic biomarkers for the detection and prognosis of BC based on epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and expression levels of selected non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) taking into account the latest literature data.

Dietary interventions during chemotherapy hold promise for clinical and supportive care outcomes. We systematically investigated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of nutritional counseling conducted during chemotherapy. Studies prospectively implemented nutrition counseling during chemotherapy. Articles were identified from three databases—EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS—from inception to October 1, 2024. Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of outcome data were extracted. Among 44 publications, 39 studies recruited 98±80 participants (range 15-360); 38/39 (97%) were randomized controlled trials. One-third (31%) were among patients with breast cancer. Interventions were divided into individualized nutritional counseling (n=21), nutrition counseling plus exercise (n=13), and nutrient-specific dietary patterns (n=10). Many had goals to achieve established nutrition guidelines. Feasibility was high based on attendance at counseling sessions, retention, and/or food log analysis. Overall, there were minimal adverse events related to the interventions. Many studies showed between-group differences favoring the intervention group for body weight (8/24, gain or loss, according to goals), nutritional status (8/9), quality of life (3/10 without and 6/9 with exercise), cancer-related fatigue (7/10), chemotherapy tolerance (6/11), and treatment responses (3/13). In conclusion, nutritional interventions were feasible and safe for patients undergoing chemotherapy and demonstrated preliminary efficacy to improve nutritional status, fatigue, chemotherapy tolerance, and other outcomes.

ecent interest in breath methane has demonstrated considerable growth, with a 400% increase in publications per year between 2010 and 2020 compared to the previous decade. This surge has been facilitated by advancements in measurement techniques that have improved both the precision and ease of breath methane analysis. Consequently, there has been a growing appreciation for both the routes of production as well as the physiological effects of methane within the human body, shifting from a perspective of methane as an end-product of GI microbiota to viewing it as a potentially biologically active molecule with exciting potential implications for endogenous processes. The breath methane field stands at a pivotal juncture, where new technologies enable real-time, repeated measures of breath methane for the first time, paving the way for novel insights into personalized methane levels and their interplay with health. This review explores the origins, physiological effects, and measurement techniques of breath methane, highlighting potential pathways for future research.

We present a single-shot ultrafast imaging technique named wavelength /polarization-time encoded ultrafast raster imaging (WP-URI). This innovative method harnesses the principles of raster imaging in conjunction with wavelength and polarization time encoding to achieve high frame rate, high spatial resolution imaging at the atomic time scale (10 femtoseconds to 1 picosecond). The WP-URI system employs four femtosecond laser pulses, each with distinct wavelengths and polarizations, to illuminate and capture ultrafast events. These events are subsequently sampled by a spatial sampling mask and imaged to record the wavelength/polarization-encoded raster images in a single exposure. Through numerical simulations, we demonstrate the system's capability to image uniformly moving objects and rotating sector-shaped objects at an unprecedented frame rate of 25 trillion frames per second (Tfps), with an intrinsic spatial resolution of 50 line-pairs per millimeter(lp/mm), capturing four frames in a single exposure on a femtosecond timescale, and accommodating a large imaging area. With the advantages of both high spatio-temporal resolution and high frame rate, the WP-URI system has become a powerful tool for studying the interactions of matter and carrier dynamics in plasma physics, femtosecond lasers, and semiconductor devices.

Previously helium atom scattering (HAS) has been shown to probe the electron-phonon interac-tion at conducting crystal surfaces via the temperature dependence of the specular peak intensity. This method is now extended to non-stoichiometric superconductors. The electron-phonon in-teraction, as expressed by the mass-enhancement factor λ is derived from the temperature de-pendence of the diffuse elastic scattering intensity, which specifically depends on the non-stoichiometric component responsible for superconductivity. The measured value of the mass-enhancement factor for Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ξ at the optimal doping ξ = 0.16 is λ=0.55±0.08 in good agreement with values of λ recently estimated with other methods. This confirms the relevant role of electron-phonon interaction also in high-temperature non-stoichiometric cuprate superconductors.

When a star is born, a protoplanetary disk made of gas and dust surrounds the star. The 1 disk can show gaps opened by different astrophysical mechanisms. The gap has a wall emitting 2 radiation which contributes to the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the whole system (star, disk 3 and planet) in the IR band. As these new-born stars are far away from us, its difficult to know 4 whether the gap is opened by a forming planet. I have developed RHADaMAnTe, a computational 5 astro code based on the geometry of the wall gap coming from hydrodynamical 3D simulations of 6 protoplanetary disks. With this code it is possible to make models of disks to estimate synthetic SEDs 7 of the wall gap and prove whether the gap was opened by a forming planet. I have implemented this 8 code to the stellar system LkCa 15. I found that a planet of 10 Jupiter masses is capable of opening a 9 gap with a curved wall with height of 12.9AU. However, the synthetic SED does not fit to Spitzer IRS 10 SED (ξ² ∼ 4.5) from 5µm to 35µm. This implies that there is an optically thick region inside the gap.

Thermal effects on the target surface, promoted by laser-target interaction, include boiling, vaporization and mainly phase explosion, play an important role in the surface morphological modification of the target, which in turn, originate morphological modification of the film. This article describes the phenomenology of these thermal effects when YBa2Cu3O7- films are grown by Pulse Laser Deposition. The surface morphological modification of the target includes elongated hemispherical particles in a range from 1 µm to 7 µm, cones, folds and regions that show melting processes with subsequent resolidification. YBa2Cu3O7- films exhibit spherical particles from 0.4 µm to 6 µm, terraces, bumps, and porosity. Applications in micro and nanotechnologies are limited by this film morphology. YBa2Cu3O7- films have been grown on electrolytic copper. The surface morphology of targets and films is studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the thermal effects are decisive in morphology modification and surface stoichiometric film composition.

The growing antibiotic resistance of microorganisms causing postoperative infections following orthopedic surgeries underscores the urgent need for localized antiseptic and lavage delivery systems to enhance infection control. This study evaluates the in vitro effectiveness of antiseptic and lavage solutions—including polyhexanide, povidone-iodine, low-concentration hypochlorite, Ringer’s solution, and saline—against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Cutibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium amycolatum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Using microplate models (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration, and Biofilm-Oriented Antiseptic Test assays), flow-based models (Bioflux system), and surfaces relevant to orthopedic implants (e.g., stainless steel disks/screws, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-Al-Nb orthopedic alloys, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), as well as a bio-nano-cellulose scaffold representing tissue, we assessed solutions activity. The cytotoxicity of the solutions was evaluated using osteoblast and keratinocyte cell lines, with additional in vivo insights gained through the Galleria mellonella larval model. Results show that polyhexanide-based solutions outperformed povidone-iodine in biofilm eradication in most tests applied, particularly on complex surfaces, whereas iodine demonstrated higher cytotoxicity in applied in vitro and in vivo tests. Low-concentration hypochlorite solutions exhibited minimal antibiofilm activity but also showed no cytotoxicity in cell line and G. mellonella larval models. These findings highlight the importance of careful antiseptic selection and rinsing protocols to balance infection control efficacy with tissue compatibility in orthopedic applications.

Background: The clinical and laboratory features of patients with non-criteria obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (NC-OAPS), as well as their pregnancy outcomes and ideal treatment are not clearly determined. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of pregnancies in NC-OAPS and compare them with an obstetric APS (OAPS) cohort. Methods: Retrospective study conducted in a cohort of women referred to a high-risk obstetric unit of a tertiary hospital. Women that were classified as having OAPS or NC-OAPS were included and compared in terms of clinical and laboratory characteristics, management, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Results: We identified 107 women with 143 pregnancies, 91 with NC-OAPS and 16 with OAPS. There were no differences in demographic features between both groups. Women with NC-OAPS were more likely to have recurrent implantation failure and were predominantly positive for a single antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) subtype. Both groups were treated similarly (low dose aspirin plus low molecular weight heparin in 87.4% of NC-OAPS and 83.3% of OAPS, p&gt;0.05). Live birth rate (82.4% and 75.0%, respectively, p&gt;0.05) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (31.6% vs 37.5%, p&gt;0.05) in subsequent pregnancies during follow-up were also similar between groups. Conclusions: This study revealed differences in the previous pregnancy morbidity and aPL profiles in women with NC-OAPS and OAPS, although the therapeutic approach and the outcomes of subsequent pregnancies were similar in both groups.

Pile foundations are widely employed in engineering to bolster structures and efficiently transmit loads to the underlying soil or rock. However, in karst terrains, the occurrence of multi-layered stone projections or caves can drastically affect the bearing capacity and stability of these pile foundations. In order to study the influencing factors of vertical bearing capacity of pile founda-tion in multi-layer karst cave environment, the bearing capacity test of pile foundation was carried out at the construction site. The results show that with the increase of external load eccentricity, the bearing capacity of pile foundation decreases obviously. Subsequently, we developed a finite element model for pile foundations in a double-layered karst area using the commercial general finite element software ANSYS. This model facilitated our analysis of the bearing capacity of concrete pile foundations under progressively increasing loads, accounting for variations in rock height, eccentricity, and elastic modulus. The findings reveal the following: (1) Under consistent external loading, the maximum displacement of pile foundations increases with eccentricity. (2) As concrete strength rises, the maximum displacement gradually decreases, while the corresponding peak stress remains approximately constant. (3) The height of karst caves significantly impacts the bearing capacity of pile foundations. Therefore, during construction, it is crucial to minimize or avoid traversing areas with high karst caves. In engineering applications involving multi-layered karst landforms, it is essential to assess the bearing capacity of pile foundations beforehand, paying particular attention to the effects of karst cave height, pile eccentricity, and concrete strength on the bearing capacity. This will enable the optimization of the design scheme, avoidance of high karst cave areas, and ensure the safety and stability of the structure.

Postpericardiotomy syndrome involves the development of pericardial and pleural effusion following open cardiac surgery. To date, it is not completely understood why it is more likely to develop after atrial septal defect closure. This case-based brief report describes a discrepancy in the conduit and reservoir components of atrial functions by speckle tracking echocardiography in a case following ASD closure compared to another case who had a repair of mitral cleft. This finding was associated with a mild effusion developing in ASD postoperative case. Despite the limited proofs brought by these two cases, it should encourage the implementation of larger cohort studies, testing atrial functions by STE, in patients after ASD closure, and calculating the diagnostic accuracy of different components of atrial functions in predicting PPS development.

The concentrations of pesticide residues were determined in 2,164 samples of 46 fruits species, collected over a 4-year period. Fruits originated from 59 countries, including Serbia (N = 199). Pesticide residues were determined by the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after extraction by a modified QuEChERS protocol. A total of 173 pesticide residues were detected. 62.57% of fruit samples had pesticide residues at or above 0.01 mg/kg, and 4.67% of samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the Serbian regulation. MRL values were most often exceeded in pomegranate and citrus fruits (grapefruit and mandarin). Most frequently found pesticide was imazalil (detected in 624 samples, 28.84%) with the highest concentration (93.870 mg/kg) in a grapefruit sample. Multiple pesticides were detected in 50.92% of the fruit samples, and two grapefruit samples contained up to 44 pesticide residues.

This work aims to analyze the responses of eight floating wind turbines. From this perspective, this paper will compare the response offset regarding the motions of the six degrees of freedom of the respective floating wind turbines. The applied forces these analyses consider mainly come from constant wind forces applied on the wind turbines’ blades, as well as forces from waves and currents. Different values are considered and compared regarding the constant wind speeds, as well as the velocities of waves and currents. This paper also considers a wide range of innovative references related to floating wind turbine analyses and software. Validation and verification studies are left for future work due to the complexity of the data provided in this paper.

This paper describes the specification of spatially varying coefficient (SVC) regression models using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The GAMs include Gaussian Process (GP) splines (smooths) for each covariate parameterised with observation location and generate SVC estimates that capture spatially varying relationships. The ability of the proposed GAM approach to estimate true spatially varying coefficients was compared with that of Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) using simulated data with complex spatial heterogeneities. The geographical GP GAM (GGP-GAM) was found to out-perform MGWR across a range of fit metrics and resulted in more accurate coefficient estimates and lower residual errors. The model for one of simulated datasets was investigated in detail to illustrate GAM diagnostics, model checks, spline / smooth convergence and basis evaluations, and tuning via the number knots. A larger simulated case study was investigated to explore the trade-offs between GGP-GAM complexity, performance and computation. Finally the GGP-GAM and MGWR approaches were applied to an empirical case study. The resulting models had very similar accuracies and fits, and generated subtly different spatially varying coefficient estimates. A number of areas of further work are identified.

Abstract

The pursuit of understanding the brain’s complex mechanisms is at the forefront of neuroscience, especially in developing early diagnostic tools for neurological diseases. Advances in neural fields, brain dynamics, and the integration of applied physics have opened new possibilities for identifying biomarkers indicative of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Each of these fields contributes uniquely: neural fields offer a spatially distributed model of brain activity, brain dynamics provide insights into temporal patterns and oscillations, and applied surface physics enhances the precision of neural interface technologies and imaging. Combined, they form a multidisciplinary foundation that allows researchers to study the brain’s intricate structures and functions with unprecedented clarity, revealing potential pathways for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders.

This research answers the knowledge gap regarding the explanation of the quantum jump of the electron. This scientific paper aims to complete Einstein’s research regarding general relativity and attempt to link general relativity to quantum laws.

Abstract: Background: Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine may face significant challenges to their physical, psycho-emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Aim: To identify the health needs of Ukrainian refugees seen in primary care facilities in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were obtained through a descriptive analysis of health records, while qualitative data were collected via focus group interviews and thematic analysis of testimonies. Results: The sample comprised 59 individuals (45.4% of all patients seen). Eight participants from five family groups took part in the focus group. The typical profile of a Ukrainian refugee in the Canary Islands is female (79.7%), relatively young, with a high socio-cultural background, generally in good health, travelling alone or with her minor children. The main reasons for consultation were routine health check-ups and control blood tests. The NANDA-I nursing diagnoses indicated a need for psycho-emotional care, with the most prevalent being Risk for Relocation Stress Syndrome (27.1%); Interrupted Family Processes, Disturbed sleep pattern, Risk for Impaired Resilience (13.6% each); and Anxiety (11.9%). Participants rated the healthcare system positively, but language barriers and long waiting times for access to specific services were noted as limitations. Their needs did not significantly differ from those of the local population. Conclusions: This study underscores the need for a tailored approach to refugee care, considering their unique circumstances and needs. Early provision of information about available healthcare services and protocols can facilitate access, manage expectations, and aid decision-making.

In this study, panelists in rural Bangladesh (n=150) evaluated the sensory properties of cooked and uncooked dehulled red lentils fortified with eight vitamins and two minerals. Panelists rated appearance, odor, and overall acceptability using a 9-point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely to 9 = like extremely). We also assessed the taste and texture of the cooked lentil samples, which were prepared as typical South Asian lentil meals. We noted that consumer responses varied significantly in appearance in uncooked samples but were similar in odor and overall acceptability. Meanwhile, the five attributes of cooked samples, including overall acceptability, showed significantly similar consumer responses. This suggests that the fortification process minimally affected the sensory qualities of the fortified lentil sample. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients between color measurements (L = lightness, a* = redness, and b* = yellowness) from HunterLab and sensory acceptability scores were highly significant (p < 0.0001), with values ranging from -0.98 to 0.97. The Cronbach’s alpha (CA) scores for both cooked control and fortified samples were 0.79. The average CA scores for uncooked and cooked samples were 0.71 and 0.79, respectively, demonstrating high consistency in the panelists’ evaluations using hedonic scales. Overall, the sensory qualities of multiple micronutrient fortified lentils were acceptable and did not differ significantly from unfortified lentils.

We provide an extension of the “Arbitrage Theorem” with state-dependent linear utility functions for monetary gains and losses allowing for “loss aversion” in each possible state of nature.