Evolutionary Cancer Cell Biology (ECCB) reveals that the majority of cancer hallmarks trace their origins back to the premetazoic era, approximately 2300 to 1750 million years ago. These cancer hallmarks share deep homology with the oxygen-sensitive non-gametogenic NG (Urgermline), which evolved from the common ancestor of Amoebozoan, Metazoan, and Fungi (AMF). The genes, gene modules, and gene regulatory networks of the premetazoic cell system are preserved in the ancestral genome compartment of metazoans and humans. The Urgermline serves as a blueprint for all germ and stem cell lineages, including parasitic amoebae. As observed in amoebae, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) manifest in the homologous recombination (HR) genes of NG germlines and stem cell lineages when exposed to specific hyperoxic conditions, referred to as AMF hyperoxia, characterized by an oxygen content exceeding 6.0%. The cells lose their stemness and differentiation potential but persist in proliferation as low-grade polyploids (4n) through defective symmetric cell division (DSCD phenotype). Genomic integrity can be restored through homotypic cell and nuclear fusion, resulting in the formation of high-grade polyploids known as multinuclear genome repair syncytia (MGRSs), or by inductive hyperpolyploidization of more than 64n, as observed in single-celled polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). Interestingly, low-, middle-, and high-grade polyploidization are not exclusive to cancer. Therefore, we investigate (i) functional polyploidies that occur in healthy cells, including humans, mammals, and protists, (ii) dysfunctional polyploidies that occur in cells with impaired homologous recombination (HR) and irreparable DNA DSB defects, and (iii) the restoration of genome integrity through cyst-like and high-grade polyploidization events. Additionally, we explore dysfunction in aging stem cells, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes

This study investigates the pivotal areas where Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in healthcare warrants further exploration, leveraging insights from Boston Specialists, a forefront healthcare provider in AI adoption. Employing a qualitative case study approach, enriched by in-depth interviews and comprehensive literature reviews, we identify three main domains for potential AI expansion: scheduling efficiency, clinical documentation, and AI-driven medical research. Our results underscore the substantial enhancements AI brings to operational workflows and patient care, notably through improved scheduling systems, accuracy in medical documentation, and the facilitation of data-driven research methodologies. These findings suggest a critical need for healthcare institutions to further invest in AI technologies, focusing on these key areas to harness AI's full potential in personalizing care, optimizing efficiency, and advancing medical knowledge. The study concludes with a call for continued investigation into AI's integration within healthcare settings, emphasizing the importance of a supportive organizational infrastructure, ethical considerations, and data security in realizing AI's transformative impact on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

The outstanding occurrences of red wood ant nests (RWA; Formica rufa-group) at two study sites in the Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, Germany, could be confirmed by the 2023 re-inventory (a total of 5,393 nests and an increase by ≈8 %). RWA nests preferred mature and medium mature pine-dominated forests. Standing and downed dead wood do not negatively influence nests. Nest counts with woodpecker cavities and the diversity of the herb layer increased. The highly clustered nests in NW-SE direction suggests a strong interaction between nests distributions and the tectonic environment. Our developed (re-)inventory approach in combination with the comprehensive photo database is a valuable tool for a) monitoring the entire forest habitat including woodpecker cavities and dead wood in, at and around nests, and b) identifying GeoBio-Interactions. Such a comprehensive approach leads to more accurate and realistic counts of RWA nests during (re-)inventories and provides scientific evidence of the status quo of RWA occurrence. Our results disproved the unfounded and scientifically unsubstantiated blanket statement by laymen of the ASW Landesverband Bayern e.V. that RWA nest numbers in the Oberpfalz or even in the entire Bavaria are in sharp decline. We suggest seven to eight years as a suitable time interval for re-inventories.

To explore the relevant factors that affect the efficacy of consciousness-regaining therapy (CRT)for prolonged disorder of consciousness(pDOC),a retrospective analysis was conducted on the case data of 114 patients with pDOC admitted to department of functional neurosurgery of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022. Basic information on the cases,data on pDOC disease assessment, consciousness-regaining therapy methods, and efficacy evaluation were collected. A total of 114 patients were grouped and compared based on the efficacy at the end of treatment. Among them, there were 61 cases in the ineffective group and 53 cases in the effective group. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between the two groups in terms of gender, age, etiology, acute cerebral herniation, emergency craniotomy surgery, emergency decompressive craniectomy, time from onset to start of consciousness-regaining therapy , and duration of consciousness-regaining therapy(P>0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in terms of secondary hydrocephalus, , consciousness-regaining therapy methods, CRS-R grading before treatment, and GOSE score at 6 months after treatment. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the type of therapy (OR=0.169, 95% CI: 0.057-0.508) was a related factor affecting the efficacy of consciousness-regaining therapy (P<0.05).Compared with non-invasive therapy, personalized awakening therapy using various invasive consciousness-regaining therapy methods can help improve the efficacy of therapy for pDOC.

Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification based-Lateral Flow Testing (INAA-LFT) has emerged as a robust technique for on-site pathogen detection, providing a visible indication of pathogen nucleic acid amplification that rivals or even surpasses the sensitivity of real-time quantitative PCR. The isothermal nature of INAA-LFT ensures consistent conditions for nucleic acid amplification, establishing it as a crucial technology for rapid on-site pathogen detection. However, despite its considerable promise, the widespread application of isothermal INAA amplification-based lateral flow testing faces several challenges. This review provides an overview of the INAA-LFT procedure, highlighting its advancements in detecting plant viruses. Moreover, the review underscores the imperative to address existing limitations and emphasizes ongoing research efforts dedicated to enhancing the applicability and performance of this technology in the realm of rapid on-site testing.

The question of whether the early visual cortex (EVC) is involved in visual mental imagery remains a topic of debate. In this paper, I propose that the inconsistency in findings can be explained by the unique challenges associated with investigating EVC activity during imagery. During perception, the EVC processes low-level features which means that activity is highly sensitive to variation in visual details. If the EVC has the same role during visual mental imagery, any change in the visual details of the mental image would lead to corresponding changes in EVC activity. Within this context, the question should not be whether EVC is ‘active’ during imagery but how its activity relates to specific imagery properties. Studies using methods that are sensitive to variation in low-level features reveal that imagery can recruit the EVC in similar ways as perception. However, not all mental images contain a high level of visual details. Therefore, I end by considering a more nuanced view which states that imagery can recruit the EVC, but that does not mean that it always does so.

This is an exercise to explore the concentration of Lithium, Lithium-7 isotope and the possible presence of black dirty ice in the lunar surface using spectral data obtained from the Clementine mission. The main interest in tracing the lithium and presence of dark ice in the lunar surface are closely related to future human settlement missions in the Moon. We investigate the distribution of Lithium and 7 Li isotope on the Lunar surface, employing spectral data from the Clementine images. We utilized Visible (VIS-NIR) imagery at wavelengths of 450, 750, 900, 950, and 1000 nm, along with Near-Infrared (NIR-SWIR) at 1100, 1250, 1500, 2000, 2600, and 2780 nm, encompassing 11 bands in total. This dataset offers a comprehensive coverage of about 80% of the lunar surface, with resolutions ranging from 100 to 500 meters, spanning latitudes from 80°S to 80°N. In order to extract quantitative abundance of Lithium, ground truth sites were used to calibrate the Clementine images. Samples (12045, 15058, 15475, 15555, 62255, 70035, 74220 and 75075) returned from Apollo missions 12, 15, 16 and 17 have been correlated to the Clementine VIS-NIR bands and five spectral ratios. The 5 spectral ratios calculated synthesize the main spectral features of sample spectra that were grouped by their Lithium and 7 Li content using Principal Component Analysis. The ratios spectrally characterize substrates of anorthosite, silica-rich basalts, olivine-rich basalts and High-T mare basalts and Orange soils. Our findings reveal a strong linear correlation between the spectral parameters and the lithium content in the 8 Apollo samples. With the values of the 11 Clementine bands and the 5 spectral ratios for each of the 8 lunar soils we performed linear regression models to estimate the concentration of Lithium and 7 Li. Also, we calculated Digital Terrain Models (DTMs; Altitude, Slope, Aspect, DirectInsolation and WindExposition) from LOLA-DTM to discover relations between relief and spatial distribution of the extended models of lithium and 7 Li. The analysis was conducted in a mask polygon extracted from Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) and located around the Apollo 15 landing site. This analysis seeks to uncover potential 7 Li enrichment through spallation processes, influenced by varying exposure to solar wind. To explore the possibility of find ice mixed with regolithe (black ice) we used a spectral library (350-2500nm) form ices dirty with different concentration of volcanic particles.

Since 2015, the invasive alga Rugulopteryx okamurae has triggered the most serious marine macrophyte invasion in Europe. The removal of its huge coastal biomass generates health problems, strong odors, impact on tourism and high clean-up costs. As a circular economy strategy we propose composting with native terrestrial isopods that has not been previously tested. Therefore, specimens of Porcellio laevis were captured in urban parks and kept for 5 years in terrariums with adequate humidity and temperature control. A sample of 150 adult specimens was divided into six batches of 25 animals. Three batches were fed with organic household waste (control) and three with a 50% diet of waste and algae (treatment). P. laevis consumed up to 1.5 times their weight per day on the algae diet with little or no weight loss, but there was high mortality in both mancas and adults. However, the results are promising and we propose to encourage research with isopods because of their great voracity, high prolificacy and rusticity for the recycling of invasive algae. It should be explored in further work what percentage of R.okamurae avoids mortality by the diterpenes of the algae.

Background: The validation of laser usage during laparoscopic procedures, notably by Camran Nezhat in the late 1980s, has been significant. Lasers offer precision and depth control in tissue vaporization without bleeding. Surgical intervention remains central in managing endometrio-sis-associated pain and infertility, especially for patients unresponsive to hormonal therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 200 patients with SPE who underwent laparo-scopic laser vaporization. Surgery was performed using a CO2 laser, and histological confirma-tion of endometriosis was obtained for all cases. Pain scores and SF-36 questionnaire domains were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Fertility outcomes were evaluated among pa-tients desiring pregnancy. Results: Significant improvements in pain score and SF-36 questionnaire domains were ob-served postoperatively (p-value

In patients with schizophrenia, metabolic syndrome is associated with cognitive impairments. We carried out a second analysis of data from a longitudinal trial to examine the relationship between weight gain and cognitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) over the first 6-month antipsychotic treatment. Baseline and 6-month endpoint measurements were taken for both cognitive function and body weight. Linear and logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate the bidirectional relationship between weight gain and cognitive function. Clinically relevant weight gain (CRW) was defined as an increase in body weight ex-ceeding 7%. The final analysis included 337 participants. Lower baseline scores in processing speed (OR=0.837, p=0.007), working memory and attention (OR=0.889, p=0.043), and executive function (OR=0.863, p=0.006) domains were significantly associated with CRW at the 6-month endpoint. After adjusting for confounders, CRW was found to be associated with improvement in the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (p=0.036). The findings suggest that patients with lower baseline cognitive performance experienced more substantial weight gain. Conversely, weight gain was correlated with cognitive improvements, particularly in the domain of visual learning and memory. This suggested a potential bidirectional relationship between weight gain and cog-nitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

Rotational jumps are crucial techniques in sports competitions. Estimating ground reaction forces (GRFs), one of the components constituting jumps, through a biomechanical model-based approach enables analysis even in environments where force plates or machine learning training data cannot be utilized. In this study, rotational jump movements involving twists on land were measured using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and estimated GRFs and body loads using a 3D forward dynamics model. Our estimation method, based on forward dynamics and optimization calculations, generated and optimized body movements using cost functions defined by motion measurements and internal body loads. To reduce the influence of the dynamic acceleration in the optimization calculation, the 3D orientation using sensor fusion composed of acceleration and angular velocity data obtained from IMUs and an extended Kalman filter was estimated. As a result, by generating movements based on the cost function, it was possible to calculate biomechanically valid GRFs while following the measured movements even if not all joints are covered by IMUs. This estimation method allows for 3D motion analysis independent of measurement conditions or training data.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in cellular function, and their overproduction contributes to oxidative stress, fatigue, aging, and diseases. To counteract these effects, incorpo-rating antioxidant-rich nutrients is recommended. Functional waters, including electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW), are gaining attention for potential antioxidant effects through daily in-take. This study employs aquaphotomics and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the antioxidant activity of EHW. Previous investigation reported a 100% loss in antioxidant functionality through autoclaving, and a 40% decrease with hydrogen gas removal, prompting the current investigation into the mechanisms of antioxidant effects and especially the role of water molecular structure in it. Aquaphotomics analysis of near infrared (NIR) spectral data revealed that the primary characteristic of EHW associated with anti-radical function is presence of water solvation shells. Autoclaving and degassing led to loss of these water molecular species and a significant increase in free water molecules. The study suggests that water shells (solvation shells) in EHW play a crucial role in neutralizing ROS, although the specific ions or nanoparticles responsible for creating these shells remain unidentified. This concept aligns well with existing proposals of the crucial role of water solvation shells in ROS neutralization.

In the dynamic landscape of modern education, characterized by an increasingly active involvement of IT technologies in learning, the imperative to transfer to students the skills necessary to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the process represents an important goal. This paper presents a novel framework for knowledge transfer, diverging from traditional programming language-centric approaches by integrating PSoC 6 microcontroller technology. This framework establishes a cyclical learning cycle encompassing theoretical fundamentals and practical experimentation, fostering AI literacy at the edge. Through a structured combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on experimentation, students develop proficiency in understanding and harnessing AI capabilities. Emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, this approach equips students with the tools to navigate the complexities of real-world AI applications effectively. By leveraging PSoC 6 as an educational tool, a new generation of individuals is efficiently cultivated with essential AI skills. These individuals are adept at leveraging AI technologies to address societal challenges and drive innovation, thereby contributing to long-term sustainability initiatives. Specific strategies for experiential learning, curriculum recommendations, and results of knowledge application are presented, aimed at preparing students to excel in a future where AI will be omnipresent and indispensable.

Natural host defensins, also sometimes termed antimicrobial peptides, are evolutionarily conserved. They have been studied as antimicrobials, but some pharmaceutical properties, undesirable for clinical use, led to the development of synthetic molecules with constructed peptide arrangements and/or peptides not found in nature. The leading development currently is synthetic small molecule nonpeptide mimetics, whose physical properties capture the characteristics of the natural molecules, and share their biological attributes. We studied brilacidin, an arylamide of this type, for its activity in vitro against fungi (40 clinical isolates, 20 species) that the World Health Organization has highlighted as problem human pathogens. We find antifungal activity at low concentrations for many pathogens, which indicates further screening for activity, particularly in vivo, is justified to evaluate this compound, and other mimetics, as attractive leads for development of effective antifungal agents.

Recently, Gohar et al. introduced a novel, local, and well-behaved fractional calculus. It possesses all the classical properties, and Its locality imposes simplicity and accuracy in modeling fractional order systems. In this article, we further develop the definitions and extend the classical properties of Gohar fractional calculus to address some of the open problems in Calculus. The fractional Gronwall's integral inequality, Taylor power series expansion, and Laplace transform are defined and applied to overcome some of the limitations in the classical integer-order calculus. The fractional Laplace transform is applied to solve Bernoulli-type logistic and Bertalanffy nonlinear fractional differential equations, and the criteria under which it can be applied to solve linear differential equations are investigated.

Predatory research field in science is when an emerging scientific topic destroys current topics and characterizes a main scientific change. Predatory research field can be a basic driver of scientific and technological change that generates a 'creative destruction' in science and society in contexts of knowledge-based competition and rapid changes. The prediction of proposed theory of predatory research fields is that it destroys with a fast growth other research fields. The theoretical approach is tested here in research fields of large language models (LLM) by analyzing the transformers (a deep learning architecture based on the multi-head attention mechanism) proposed in 2017 and from November 2022 started main applications in generative artificial intelligence with innovations of BERT, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot (launched on February 7, 2023) and other natural language processing tools driven by AI technology for engaging conversations, gain insights, automate tasks, etc., etc. Statistical evidence suggests that growth rate of transformer technologies is 80.58%, a high level compared to all other research fields in machine learning (having a growth rate of 13.83%). Moreover, predatory research field of transformers has a destructive power such that all other domains in LLM from 2021 to 2023 have a general reduction of scientific growth. The impact of transformers is much more drastic of previous radical technologies such as CNN having a temporal growth rate of 0.16%, lower than 0.38% by transformers, ceteris paribus. These analysis reveals that transformers have characteristics to generate a radical scientific and technological change in a not-too-distant future. Overall, then, the study suggests that predatory research field on emerging topics and technologies can generate path-breaking innovations and the examination here can clarify the essential elements of the science dynamics for a better theory of scientific and technological change, providing also main implications for knowledge policy to support promising research fields and technologies to guide economic and social change.

In Yaoundé, Cameroon, excessive and inappropriate speeding remains a major public health concern. Part of the problem are the unsafe speed limits, lack of evidence, and effective evaluation of speeding safety performance indicators (SSPIs), and the absence of speed management, hindering the city's ability to mitigate the risks associated with speeding. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by assessing SSPIs using a well-defined methodology and suggesting speed management strategies. Data on speed, traffic volumes and road attributes were collected from a random selection of 16 representative road sections in Yaoundé. Seven SSPIs were calculated, and weights were assigned to evaluate city-level SSPIs. The findings showed that 66.8% of drivers drive within the speed limit, generally operating at speeds of 54 km/h with a speed variation of 26 km/h. Based on the speed analysis, evidence-based strategies are proposed, and implementing these strategies could potentially reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 16% to 84% across study locations, as indicated by Elvik's model. These findings have significant policy implications for reducing speeding in Yaoundé, and the methodological approach can be replicated in other urban settings. Future research should extend SSPI evaluation to the national level and test the effectiveness of the recommended strategies.

Silybin is a natural compound extensively studied for its hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-cancer properties. Envisioning the enhancement of silybin potential by suitable modifications in its chemical structure, here, a series of new 7-O alkyl silybins derivatives were synthesized by Mitsunobu reaction starting from the silybins and tyrosol-based phenols, such as tyrosol (TYR, 3), 3-methoxytyrosol (MTYR, 4) and 3-hydroxytyrosol (HTYR, 5). This research sought to explore the antioxidant and anticancer properties of new eighteen derivatives and their mechanisms. In particular, the antioxidant properties of new derivatives outlined by DPPH assay, showed a very pronounced activity depending on the tyrosyl moiety (HTYR>MTYR>>TYR). A significant contribution of the HTYR moiety was observed for silybins and 2,3-dehydro-silybin based derivatives. According to the very potent antioxidant activity, 2,3-dehydro-silybin derivatives 15ab, 15a and 15b exerted the most potent anticancer activity in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis for cell cycle and apoptosis revealed that 15ab, 15a and 15b induce strong G1 phase arrest and increase late apoptotic population in PC-3 cells. Additionally, western blotting for apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 confirmed apoptosis induction by these silybin derivatives in PC-3 cells. These findings hold significant importance in the investigation of anticancer properties of silybin derivatives and strongly encourage swift investigation in pre-clinical models and clinical trials.

In recent years, large language models have demonstrated remarkable performance across various natural language processing (NLP) tasks. However, deploying these models for real-world applications often requires efficient inference solutions to handle the computational demands. In this paper, we explore the utilization of CPUs for accelerating the inference of large language models. Specifically, we introduce a parallelized approach to enhance throughput by 1) Exploiting the parallel processing capabilities of modern CPU architectures, 2) Batching the inference request. Our evaluation shows the accelerated inference engine gives an 18-22x improvement in the generated token per sec. The improvement is more with longer sequence and larger models. In addition to this, we can also run multiple workers in the same machine with NUMA node isolation to further improvement in tokens/s. Table 2, we have received 4x additional improvement with 4 workers. This would also make Gen-AI based products and companies’ environment friendly, our estimates shows that CPU usage for Inference could reduce the power consumption of LLMs by 48.9% (1252 W for A100 with AMD EPYC 7V13 vs 613 W for Intel® Xeon® Gold 6538N) while providing production ready throughput & latency.

This study investigates the influence of adding hydrogen as an additive to gasoline in a four-stroke engine, utilizing a comprehensive thermodynamic comparative analysis conducted with self-developed engine model. The research aims to assess the performance, emissions, and efficiency of the engine when using gasoline-hydrogen blends, and to provide insights into the potential benefits of this approach. First the engine performance and emissions under different hydrogen blending levels were examined. A range of different air-to-fuel ratios (rich to lean) and varying percentages of hydrogen were considered. This systematic variation allowed for a detailed evaluation of the influence of hydrogen content on combustion efficiency, power out-put, and emissions characteristics. The analysis results included key parameters such as indicated specific fuel consumption and mean effective pressure. Additionally, the study focused on range prediction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, which are a critical environmental concern asso-ciated with internal combustion engines. The analysis of pressure and temperature profiles throughout the engine cycle shed light on the combustion characteristics and efficiency im-provements associated with hydrogen addition. In terms of emissions, the study projected that all emissions were reduced except NOx, which is highly dependent on hydrogen percentage, and it might be reduced in some cases, but with higher temperatures and pressures associated with hydrogen addition in most cases there is actually NOx increase, especially at higher engine loads.

SOC stock (SOCS) changes caused by land use changes are still unclear, and understanding this response is essential for many environmental policies and land management practices. In this study, we investigated the temporal-spatial and vertical distribution characteristics of SOCS on the Western Sichuan Plateau (WSP) using the sparrow search algorithm-random forest regression (SSA-RFR) models with excellent model applicability and accuracy. The temporal-spatial varia-tions in the SOCS were modeled using 1080 soil samples and a set of nine environmental covariates. We analyzed the effect of land use changes on the SOCS on the WSP. The total SOCS increased by 18.03 Tg C from 1990 to 2020. The results of this study confirmed that the SOCS in the study area has increased significantly since 2010, with an increase of 27.88 Tg C compared to the total SOCS in 2010. We found that the spatial distribution of the SOCS increased from southeast to northwest, and the vertical distribution of the SOCS in the study area decreased with increasing soil depth. Forest and grassland are the main sources of SOCS, the total SOCS in the forest and grassland accounted for 37.53 and 59.39% of the total SOC pool in 2020, respectively. Expansion of the wetlands, forest, and grassland areas could increase SOCS in the study area.

This paper addresses the approach of fully automated intelligent control systems in production organizations, focusing on intelligent production systems research. The overview highlights a gap in control operations ahead of assembly as single-purpose control machines are frequently employed, which is precisely their drawback. Conversely, there are accurate multipurpose measurement centers that do not provide total quality control over the manufactured parts because of the cost and length of the measuring procedure. The study's primary objective was to create an intelligent modular control system, whose concept enables it to control various components. The purpose of the modular intelligent control system is to keep an eye on each module's quality during the pre-assembly phase. This system ensures exact control over the production process of modules by integrating sophisticated sensors, diagnostic tools, and intelligent control mechanisms. The technology makes it possible to monitor several parameters and important quality features. Integrated sensors and diagnostic technologies identify possible inaccuracies and disparities, guaranteeing prompt diagnosis of issues in specific modules. The system's intelligent control algorithms streamline the production process and guarantee synchronization between individual modules to achieve consistent quality and performance. One advantage of implementing the solution is that, on average, inspection time is reduced by 40 to 60% as compared to the prior manual inspection approach. In addition, full measurement data archiving was made available, and finally, the human element—which introduced a substantial error rate into this process—was removed. This system also helps to increase the project's overall efficiency, predictability, and safety while allowing for quick adjustments by standards and requirements.

We introduce a model of a passive optical cavity based on the two-dimensional Lugiato-Lefever equation, with a localized pump carrying intrinsic vorticity S, and the cubic or cubic-quintic nonlinearity. Up to S = 5, stable vortex-ring states (vortex pixels) are produced by a variational approximation and in a numerical form. Surprisingly, vast stability areas of the vortex states are found, for both the self-focusing and defocusing signs of the nonlinearity, in the plane of the pump-strength and loss parameters. When the vortex-rings are unstable, they are destroyed by azimuthal perturbations which break the axial symmetry. The results suggest new possibilities for mode manipulations in nonlinear optical media.

Hydrogen is considered as an ideal substitute to the traditional fossil fuels because of its widespread sources, high calorific value of combustion, and zero carbon emissions. The electrocatalytic water-splitting to produce hydrogen is also deemed to be the best approach, however, it is a challenge to make high-efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are considered the most promising candidate to replace the traditional noble-metal catalysts. Compared with SACs, the dual-atom catalysts (DACs) are of greater attraction including higher metal loading, more versatile active sites, and excellent catalytic activity. In the review, several general synthetic strategies and structural characterization methods of DACs are introduced, and the mechanisms of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) are discussed. The authors hope that the review has given some insights and inspiration to the researchers about DACs in electrocatalytic water-splitting.

The silos built in the 1930s for Italy’s ammasso (obligatory grain stockpile) stood as powerful symbols of the country’s fascist era. Many of them were destroyed in World War II; only a few remain today, and recent demolitions underscore the urgency of their preservation. This study adapts a methodology developed for inventorying Spanish silos based on their general features, construction, technological facilities, and socioeconomic aspects and applies it to the 30 remaining ammasso silos. These silos are located in grain-producing areas near communication routes and are mostly owned by agricultural consortia. Over half of them are disused and in disrepair. All of them have machinery for receiving, storing, and dispatching grain, and most have equipment for cleaning, sorting, weighing, and packaging if needed. These structures are part of Italy’s agro-industrial heritage and should be protected. Some have been made over into commercial spaces, leisure areas, museums, and even homes. Vertical-cell silos are challenging to convert, unlike horizontally-oriented silos and other open-plan agro-industrial buildings. Examples of silo reuse in other countries, such as Spain and Portugal, can offer useful insights for the ammasso silos. However, socio-economic indicators suggest that such projects are most viable in large population centres.

Preventing the occurrence of secondary caries serves as one of the significant issues in dental clinic, thus make it indispensable to improving the properties of conventional composite resin (CR) by developing a novel CR. In present study, two groups of experimental CRs loaded with different contents of fluoride-doped nano-zirconia fillers (25 wt% and 50 wt%) were fabricated. The surface topography, mechanical performance, fluoride release, antibacterial effect, aging property and cytotoxicity of the experimental CRs were evaluated subsequently. A uniform distribution of the F-zirconia fillers over the whole surface of resin matrix could be observed. The experimental CRs showed continuous fluoride release within 28 days, which was positively correlated with the content of F-zirconia fillers. Moreover, the amount of fluoride release increased in the acidic buffer. Addition of F-zirconia fillers could improve the color stability, wear resistance and microhardness of the experimental CRs, without reducing the flexure strength. Furtherly, the fluoride ions released continuously from the experimental CRs resulted in effective contact and antibacterial properties, while they showed no cytotoxicity. As a consequence, considerations can be made to employ this new kind of composite resin loaded with fluoride-doped nano-zirconia fillers to meet clinical requirements when the antimicrobial benefits are desired.

The value of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for use in heritage research is increasingly appreciated [1]. In specific areas, notably remote sensing, data sets have increased in extent and resolution to the point that manual interpretation is problematic and availability of skilled interpreters to undertake such work is limited. Interpretation of geophysical data sets associated with prehistoric submerged landscapes is particularly challenging. Following the last glacial, sea levels rose 120 metres globally, and vast, habitable landscapes were lost to the sea. These landscapes were inaccessible until extensive remote sensing data sets were provided by the offshore energy sector. In this paper, we provide results of a research programme centred on AI applications using data from the southern North Sea. Here, an area of c.188,000 km2 of habitable terrestrial land was inundated between c. 20,000 BP and 7,0000 BP, along with the cultural heritage it contained [2]. As part of this project, machine learning tools were applied to detect and interpret features of archaeological significance from shallow seismic data. The output provides a proof-of-concept model demonstrating verifiable results and the potential for further, more complex leveraging of AI interpretation for the study of submarine palaeolandscapes. Image: Adobe Firefly Generative AI using keywords - marsh landscape deep underwater, auroch skull half-buried in peat

Background: Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma (POF) is a benign gingival tumor generally presenting as a slow-growing mass, usually not ulcerated, and without bleeding. Histopathological exam shows fibrous connective tissue with spots or extensive areas of intralesional calcifications, which can also be detectable on radiograms. Methods and case presentation: We present the case of a 4-year-old male with a retro-incisive swelling of the hard palate, associated with speaking and feeding difficulties. On CT scans, a small intralesional calcification was detected. After conscious sedation, the patient was subjected to diode laser excision (910 nm, 2W, CW, 300 m fiber) with-out post-operative complications. A review was conducted by searching the words “peripheral ossifying fibroma” AND “children” OR “infant” and including manuscripts of the last 15 years. Results: POF is an uncommon lesion of the oral mucosa and may sporadically affect the palatal mucosa in children. Considering its epidemiology and conventional clinical presentation as epu-lis, the pre-operative diagnosis may be relatively difficult. Risk factors could be represented by plaque, calculus, or trauma, all supporting a possible reactive pathogenesis, but a certain etiology is still missing. The main problem of POF is the recurrence rate, which is particularly high (8-20%), thus suggesting that a deep excision is recommended with full extension to the hard tis-sue of bone and to the adjacent periodontal ligament. Diode laser surgery may be recommended for such treatments, especially in pediatric patients, associated with intraoperative conscious se-dation. Data emerging from the relevant literature on POF management in children have been collected and discussed. Conclusions: The authors suggest the use of diode laser for the complete excision of POF, especially in less-compliant patients as children, with a low grade of comorbidi-ties and good outcomes, giving the surgeon a viable alternative to conventional surgery.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) can help to achieve multiple Water-Ecosystem-Food Nexus Do-main Objectives & Nexus Resilience Qualities, facilitating the transition to more resilient agrifood systems and providing an evidence base for a broader Nexus policy dialogue. This paper de-scribes the stepwise methodology developed in the EU-funded LENSES project to carry out a comprehensive analysis of NBSs in 6 pilot areas in 5 Mediterranean countries, and presents the results of NBSs implementation in 4 pilot areas, highlighting obstacles and opportunities. The methodology includes the development of an analytical evaluation framework and of a com-prehensive catalogue of Nexus-related NBSs, whose suitability needs to be assessed at the local level to achieve better use of protected/natural ecosystems, increase the sustainability and mul-tifunctionality of managed ecosystems and design and manage novel ecosystems. Subsequently, in a collective learning process which supported the operationalisation of the WEF Nexus, NBSs were identified that address specific contextual vulnerabilities, improve water distribution and enhance food security, while preserving ecosystems and supporting adaptation to climate change. The added value of the proposed methodology lies in the multi-stakeholder participatory approach to gain in-depth knowledge of local agri-food systems, including their main WEF-related challenges, and to facilitate overcoming barriers to NBS implementation.

Conducting quantitative research involving adolescents demands a thoughtful approach to the question of supervision, given that each option comes with its distinct set of implications. This study reviews these implications and empirically tests whether differences in data quality can be found among three modes of standardized survey research with medium sized groups of adolescents (12-17 years). Data basis is a quasi-experimental survey study testing different forms of digital, hybrid or in-person supervision, that took place in 2021 in secondary schools in Germany (N=923). Aim of this study is testing how aspects of data quality – item-nonresponse, interview duration, drop-out-rate and response patterns – differ between these forms of supervision. Results could help researchers surveying young people to decide (1) whether they allow confidants or other adults to be present during interviews, (2) if they can rely on teachers alone when surveying classrooms and (3) if it is cost-efficient to send out external supervisors for classroom sessions. While dropout-rates do not differ, item non-response, interview duration, and response patterns differ significantly, students supervised at home by external interviewers answered more questions, took more time to answer and are less likely to give potentially meaningless answers in grid questions. The implications drawn from the findings question the common approach to solely rely on teachers for survey administration without the support of external supervisors or adequate training. Recruiting respondents via schools and surveying them online in their homes during school hours shows to be a robust method with regard to the analyzed indicators.

The belief in online news has become a hot topic. Previous studies have shown the role of emotion in susceptibility to believing fake news. However, Few studies have explored the effect of empathy on belief in online news. This study investigated the relationships between trait empathy, state empathy, the belief in online news, and the potential moderating effect of the news type. One hundred and forty undergraduates evaluated 50 online news pieces (25 real, 25 fake) regarding their believability, state empathy, valence, arousal, and familiarity. Trait empathy data were collected using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. State empathy was positively correlated with affective empathy in trait empathy and believability, and affective empathy was positively correlated with believability. The influence of affective empathy on news belief was partially mediated by state empathy, regulated by the news type (fake, real). We discussed the influence of empathy on the belief in online news and its internal processes. This study explains some unique insights for researchers, practitioners, social media users, and social media platform providers.

A theoretical account of development in mesocortical anatomy is derived from the free energy principle, operating in a neural field with both Hebbian and anti-Hebbian neural plasticity. An elementary structural unit is proposed, in which synaptic connections at mesoscale are arranged in paired patterns with mirror symmetry. Exchanges of synaptic flux in each pattern form coupled spatial eigenmodes, and the line of mirror reflection between the paired patterns operates as a Markov blanket, so that prediction errors in exchanges between the pairs are minimized. The theoretical analysis is then compared to the outcomes from a biological model of cortical neurodevelopment, in which neuron precursors are selected by apoptosis for cell body and synaptic connections maximizing synchrony and also minimizing axonal length. It is shown that this model results in patterns of connection with the anticipated mirror symmetries, at micro-, meso- and inter-arial scales, among lateral connections, and in cortical depth, explaining the spatial organization and functional significance of neuron response preferences, and compatible with features of both columnar and noncolumnar cortex. Multi-way interactions of mirrored representations provide a preliminary anatomically realistic model of cortical information processing.

Predicting human trajectories poses a significant challenge due to the complex interplay of pedestrian behavior, which is influenced by environmental layout and interpersonal dynamics. This complexity is further compounded by variations in scene density. To address this, we introduce a novel dataset from the Festival of Lights in Lyon 2022, characterized by a wide range of densities (0.2-2.2 ped/m2). Our analysis demonstrates that density-based classification of data can significantly enhance the accuracy of predictive algorithms. We propose an innovative two-stage processing approach, surpassing current state-of-the-art methods in performance. Additionally, we utilize a collision-based error metric to better account for collisions in trajectory predictions. Our findings indicate that the effectiveness of this error metric is density-dependent, offering prediction insights. This study not only advances our understanding of human trajectory prediction in dense environments but also presents a methodological framework for integrating density considerations into predictive modeling, thereby improving algorithmic performance and collision avoidance.

This article discusses how, in today’s world of disruptive and dramatic social change (DSC), non-sports related coaching, which includes a wide range of services such as life coaching, career coaching, executive coaching, and team coaching, can inadvertently fuel undesirable social dynamics. There is little or no awareness of this risk among coaches and coachees. The global, fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar industry aimed at supporting people and organisations to perform better and increase wellbeing while managing and adapting to change has been developed with limited sociological input. The article is based on 15 years of social constructionist-informed reflective practice by a sociologist-turned-coach, and uses a multi-layered autoethnographic account to argue for a sociologically informed paradigm shift in coaching, as well as relevant sociological knowledge and social and human sciences research methodology in coaches’ education. It presents the rationale and key features of a new coaching approach that places DSC-relevant sociological concepts at the heart of the coaching process, helps people develop psycho-sociological awareness, and uses a learning-to-develop through research design. A new definition of coaching to address DSC is derived. Coaching practitioners will find DSC-relevant sociological concepts, critical reflections, coaching questions, and procedures to expand coaching effectiveness. Interdisciplinary research topics combining coaching sociology and coaching psychology are suggested.

The development of biofuels and biodiesel industry specifically, has resulted in the generation of large amounts of glycerol as a surplus. The conversion of glycerol, into chemicals with indus-trial interest, through anaerobic fermentation using E. coli as a biocatalyst is an attractive alter-native to improve economic performance in the biodiesel industry, for example through the bi-otransformation of residual glycerol into ethanol. For 2019, the size of the global ethanol market was valued at $ 89.1 billion US dollar. Biodiesel can be produced from several materials like rapeseed, palm, soya, corn, palm kernel, frying oil or olive-pomace oil (OPO). The last, can be extracted from alperujo, byproduct of olive oil process. However, olive-pomace oil converting into biodiesel is not enough established to achieve a global olive-oil/biodiesel derived process with minimized waste generation. Traditionally biodiesel production process produces an equivalent of 10% by mass of glycerol as a waste or by-product. This work explores the conver-sion of residual glycerol into chemicals like ethanol and hydrogen with a focus on projecting raw material potential availability from OPO, contributing to the promotion of the use of biofu-els and biodegradable compounds.

In Mexico viticulture represents the second source of employment in the agricultural area after the fruit and vegetable sector. In developed countries, remote sensing is widely used for vineyard monitoring, however, this tool is barely used in developing countries of Iberoamerica. In this re-search, our overall objective is to characterize two vineyards in the state of Queretaro (Mexico) using Sentinel-2 and meteorological data, specifically spectral and thermal indices. Results showed that spectral indices obtained from Sentinel-2 bands have characterized adequately the phenolog-ical evolution of the different varieties of the vineyards. The Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI) was adequately used to discriminate the first stages of vineyards, while the Nor-malized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was useful to monitor vineyards during the rest stages of vineyards. Thermal indices have shown that the best grape varieties were those that can adapt to both cooler and warmer temperatures, have a reasonable ripening period, and can produce wines with balanced acidity and flavors. In conclusion, the combination of meteorological (including thermal indices) and remote sensing data (NDVI and MSAVI) provide information for choosing the suitable grape variety for this region.

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a candidate for screening programs, since its prognosis is excellent when diagnosed in an early disease stage. Targeted screening of those at high risk for developing CM, a cost-effective alternative to population-wide screening, requires valid procedures to identify the high-risk group. Self-assessment of the number of nevi has been suggested as a component of such procedures, but its validity has not yet been established. We analyzed the level of agreement between self-assessments and expert assessments of the number of melanocytic nevi in the area between the wrist and the shoulder of both arms based on 4548 study subjects in whom mutually blinded double counting of nevi was performed. Nevus counting followed the IARC protocol. Study subjects received written instructions, photographs, a mirror, and a “nevometer” to support self-assessment of nevi larger than 2 mm. Nevus counts were categorized based on the quintiles of the distribution into five levels defining a nevus score. Cohen’s weighted kappa-coefficient was estimated to measure the level of agreement. In the total sample, agreement between self-assessments and expert-assessments was moderate (raw agreement: 50.29%, weighted κ=0.596). Self-assessed nevus counts were higher than those determined by experts (mean differ-ence: 3.33 nevi). The level of agreement was independent of sociodemographic and cutaneous factors; however, participants’ eye color had a significant impact on the level of agreement. Our findings show that even with comprehensive guidance, only a moderate level of agreement between self-assessed and expert-assessed nevus counts can be achieved. Self-assessed nevus information does not appear to be reliable enough to be used in individual risk assessment to target screening activities.

This paper presents laboratory devices on which experimental measurements were carried out to prove the validity of the assumption about the reduction of vibrations transmitted to the conveyor belt structure generated by the impact forces of falling material grains in the places of transfer or on the hoppers of conveyor belts. In order to limit damage to the conveyor belts caused by the impact of the sharp edges of material grains, conveyor belts are supported by impact rollers or impact rubber rods in the places of transfers and on the hoppers of belt conveyors. The flattened ends of the impact rollers are inserted into the grooves of steel brackets installed on the supports of the fixed conveyor idlers of a conventional design. In this paper, a special modification of the fixed conveyor idler is presented, which consists of inserting plastic brackets into the structurally modified roller axle holders of the fixed conveyor idler. Measurements were carried out on the first laboratory device, which showed that the specially modified fixed conveyor idler resulted in a higher damping of up to 15% of the impact forces of the falling weight on the rubberized hoop of the impact roller shell compared to the conventional fixed conveyor idler design. Measurements carried out on the second laboratory device show that the effective vibration velocity values detected at the points where the impact roller axis fits into the fixed roller table holder, i.e. points B and D, are higher than when using plastic brackets, up to 6% for a 108 mm diameter roller, compared to steel impact roller brackets.

While providing safe water for the rural poor is considered a basic human right, there are numerous issues associated with existing technologies with shortcomings. Performance issues have continued to fail to meet the needs of impoverished families due to issues including high cost, difficulties with performance, and continuing needs for maintenance. These issues have severely interfered the safe water accessibility. Key aspects of the Guelph Water Filter (GWF) system can avoid/minimize many of these issues. The GWF as described herein enables delivery of low cost, long-term performance at 3Log removal of E.coli and can deliver 1 to 3 L of treated water per hour. The GWF is simple to operate, has an ability to provide sufficient water for a family, maintains longevity of performance, is easy to maintain and has protection against breakage during the cleaning process, is repairable at village level, and operates using a sizable reservoir of water to supply raw water, meaning the technology does not need to be refilled frequently. Hence, the capability of the novel GWF technology is shown to bypass many of the troublesome features of alternative low-tech water treatment technologies. The potential for the GWF to function for 2 days continuously avoids the need for young girls to fetch raw water frequently during a day, thereby enabling them to attend school. Hence, the GWF enhances the potential to result in ‘safe water and full schools’, providing the opportunity for girls to receive education and capture socio-economic benefits for the community.

Animals are distinguished by their complex developmental programs, in which transcription factors play essential roles in coordinating the regulation of the genome. Thus, it has been hypothesized that animal origins involved the evolution of increasingly complex transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that permit greater spatiotemporal control over gene expression. Here, we revisit this hypothesis in light of new genomic and functional data from diverse phylogenetically-relevant taxa, including early branching animals (sponges, ctenophores) and close relatives of animals (choanoflagellates, filastereans, ichthyosporeans). We argue that many of the mechanisms posited to explain animal transcriptional complexity, such as large increases in transcription factor numbers, new transcription factor families, and distal enhancers, did not factor significantly into animal origins. Instead, we propose that the re-purposing of pre-existing transcriptional regulatory modules through cis-regulatory evolution and gene duplication events, combined with new protein-protein interactions among TFs, may have been fundamental to the transcriptional regulatory architecture of the first animals.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is one of the major transboundary animal diseases that severely impact livestock production and trade worldwide. An investigation was carried into the seroprevalence and risk factors of PPR in small ruminants, camels, and wild ruminants in Bahrain. A total of 1240 serum samples were collected from 119 sheep flocks and 1224 serum samples from 125 goat herds. In addition, 100 sera from camels and 38 sera from wild ruminants, were collected. Serum samples were tested for the presence of PPR specific antibodies using a competitive ELISA. Flock management and health information of the flocks and herds were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The individual prevalence of PPR in sheep and goats was 26% and 25.5%, respectively. The flock or herd level prevalence of PPR was 22.7% and 29.6% in sheep and goats, respectively. None of the tested camels or wild ruminants were positive for PPR-specific antibodies. Sheep and goats from the Northern governorate were more likely to be seropositive to PPR than in other governorates. On the individual animal level, the univariate analysis suggested; age (<12 months), sex (male), and health status (weak animals) as risk factors for PPR seropositivity. On the flock/herd level, the multivariable logistic regression analysis identified large flock/herd size and semi-intensive farming as risk factors for PPR seropositivity.

The anthropometric features offer an overall image of the nutritional status. The investigated groups were aged 19 and 21. The anthropometric measurements of height and weight were recorded following standard procedures. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the harmonious body development, the nutrition status and the body composition. The evolution of the stature increases until 20 years after which stagnation follows. The body mass index of subjects was found to be normal. The body fat may vary over time in subjects depending on age and gender. Body water and body muscle mass content increased with age. The harmony of body development was assessed by means of the Amar index. Regarding the constitutional index, the women subjects belong to the leptosome type and the male subjects belong to the picnic type. The status of the investigated subjects is within the average stature.

Byers Peninsula (62°34’-62°40’S-60°54’61°13’W), 60 km2 in size, is considered one of the largest ice-free areas in Antarctica. Since 2006, the Spanish Polar Program has taken part in a large number of environmental studies involving effects of climate changes, limnology and microbiology, live cycles, but not albedo. Surface albedo is one of the key physical parameters in the surface energy budget of polar regions. Most of Antarctica is covered by ice sheets; only about 0.44% of the area is permanently ice-free. However, in maritime Antarctica, the ice-free areas, corresponding to small islands, peninsulas, and coastal beaches, account for about 3% of the territory. To incorporate the contribution of these areas into global albedo models, it is necessary to relate the soil properties of the ice-free areas to the surface albedo response. Also, mapping soil properties and albedo have and special interest in these ice-free areas. Image classification using machine learning methods trained with georeferenced soil data could be useful for mapping soil properties and albedo in multispectral optical satellite images. A shallow neural network implemented using the Keras Python module was used to define and train models of soil properties using 15 explanatory variables corresponding to bands and spectral indices of a Sentinel image and a population of 49 soil samples taken from the top 5 centimeters of the soil profile. The soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory and a spectral library in the Vis-Nir range (350-2500 nm) was created. The albedo of the samples was integrated from the ADS spectra. At the same time, a linear regression model of albedo using the soil properties as explanatory variables was performed. The R2 fit of this new model was about 0.82 and the error of estimation was 4.1. The model was extended to the entire Byers Peninsula using the ML soil property models as explanatory variables. The RMSE of the extended models increased up to 8.2. We think that the main cause of this increase (2.6 points) is related to the error propagation, phenomenon due to the use of models as explanatory variables. However, another important part of the error increase could be due, among other reasons, to the use of an image that, although corrected, is not completely free of clouds.

We review time expansion wave theory and refine our model showing it to accurately match observed cosmological luminosity data. The theory augments general relativity to create a container within which quantum effects can be explained by treating time as an artefact of a fourth spatial dimension that we observe as the expansion of the universe. This leads us to explain mass creation, the speed of light limit, gravity, black holes without singularities and other macroscopic effects. Our model leads to an expansion velocity of 6.87 0.36 × 106 ms-1, which results in a Hubble expansion rate constant of 71.3 3.7 km/s/Mpc. Because of the finite window of time in which we exist, an extra a degree of freedom is available leading to interesting interpretations at the subatomic level. At this size range, then a spin is allowed within the time dimension explaining why wave particle duality occurs and explains the electromagnetic force and other quantum mechanical properties. It provides a solution to the double slit conundrum and can explain how quantum entangled partners can behave in a quantum way and pass seemingly time-defying information. The potential quantitative origin of the fine structure constant which governs the size of the electromagnetic force is also strongly indicated by this theory.

Space exploration is an arduous journey, with future explorations extending in duration, increasing the risk for common space-related health issues such as bone density loss due to microgravity, impaired gut microbiota, cardiovascular ailments, and exposure to cosmic radiation. These ailments can be addressed using medicinal plants. Enhancing their efficacy entails employing gene editing to target specific secondary metabolite pathways associated with therapeutic properties. Moreover, gene editing can combine multiple medicinal properties from various plants, culminating in a singular 'superplant' with enhanced therapeutic benefits. This review discusses the current usage of medicinal plants in promoting human health during space travel, the application of gene editing technology in modifying medicinal plants and presents a vision for the utilization of gene-edited medicinal plants in space to mitigate the risk of various space-related health issues.

The Diophantine equation for which p is prime 2^n = p^2 + 7 and n is integers with p > 0, is examined in this work. It is demonstrated by examining the characteristics of the equation that the only solutions meeting these requirements are p = 3 with n = 5 and p = 5 with n = 7. In order to analyze the above equation, it is necessary to look at the properties of primes and how they relate to powers of two. These results advance our knowledge of prime numbers and how they behave in certain mathematical problems.

Bridges enable communications and transportation of goods nationally and internationally, underpinning economic and social activities, thus they are pylons of our prosperity and mobility. Bridges worldwide are constantly subjected to physical wear, ageing, deterioration, hazards, environmental influences, and increased loading. Loss of performance and functionality of bridge structures would have a crucial impact on overall infrastructural resilience and would cause significant negative economic and social consequences. Monitoring their behaviour for different loading conditions relies on accurate estimations of the stress-strain state of various critical components and remaining capacities. These activities are of high importance for better planning lifespan prolongation, that is the extension of their service life and prevention of unforeseen collapses, in line with sustainability principles of well-informed maintenance. In many cases, access to the structure is limited or even impossible, which causes the need for the deployment of remote and contactless methods. One such innovative technique, which has recently attracted attention in scientific and practical applications is the digital image correlation (DIC). DIC is a contactless approach applicable for long-term measurements, which enables obtaining the full field of strains and deformations. Although the DIC approach has been widely used in world engineering practice for monitoring bridges and has proved to be a reliable and accurate method, there is a lack of systematic integral review on previous practical applications, revealing limitations and perspectives. This is the main motivation and novelty of this study, which will describe selected case studies, in which DIC was used on real full-scale bridge structures and propose improvements for the method.

Chronic kidney disease patients treated by hemodialysis present a high cardio-vascular morbidity and mortality. There is an imperative need for novel biomarkers in identifying and to offer possible therapeutically intervention in these patients. We performed a prospective observational cohort study on 77 patients in the period October 2021 – October 2023. We measured serum plasma levels of Interleukin 1-Beta, Galectin 3, human suppression of tumorigenicity factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and fibroblastic growth factor 23 at the inclusion. We evaluated the correlations of these biomarkers with cardiac function and structure evaluated by echocardiography. Mean age was 61.02 (±11.81) years, 45 (56.2%) males and with a dialysis vintage of 4.95 (2.4-7.8) years. Median ejection fraction was 51 (43-54 %) and more than two thirds of the patients presented valvular calcifications. Overall mortality was 22%. Interleukin 1-Beta correlated positively with ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain and negatively with left atrium diameter and left ventricle tele systolic diameter. Galectin 3 values negatively correlated with aortic valve fibrosis and mitral valve calcifications and human suppression tumorigenity factor 2 negatively correlated with mitral valve calcifications. Some of these novel biomarkers could be used to better asses the cardio-vascular disease in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Development of the continental shelf has accelerated significantly as nations around the world seek to harness offshore renewable energy. Many areas marked for development align with submerged palaeolandscapes. Poorly understood and difficult to protect, these vulnerable, prehistoric landscapes provide specific challenges for heritage management. Indeed, there now appears to be a schism between what underwater cultural heritage policy intends and what it is achieving in practice. Shortcomings in international and national legislature ensures that large parts of the continental shelf, including areas under development, may have little or no legal protection.

The Source Region of the Yellow River (SRYR), renowned as the "Water Tower of the Yellow River", serves as an important water conservation domain in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, significantly influencing water resources within the basin. Based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model Hydrological modeling system (WRF-Hydro) model, the key variables of the atmosphere-land-hydrology coupling processes over the SRYR during the 2013 rainy season are analyzed. The investigation involves a comparative analysis between the coupled WRF-Hydro and the standalone WRF simulations, focusing on the hydrological response to the atmosphere. The results reveal that the WRF-Hydro model's proficiency in depicting streamflow variations over the SRYR, yielding a Nash Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) of 0.44 and of  0.61 during the calibration and validation periods, respectively. Compared to the standalone WRF simulations, the coupled WRF-Hydro model demonstrates enhanced performance in soil heat fluxes simulations, reducing the mean Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of surface soil temperature by 0.96 K and soil moisture by 0.01 m\textsuperscript{\textsuperscript{3}}/m\textsuperscript{\textsuperscript{3}}. Furthermore, the coupled model adeptly captures the streamflow variation characteristics with the NSE of 0.33. This underscores the significant potential of the coupled WRF-Hydro model for delineating coupled atmosphere-land-hydrology processes in regions characterized by cold climates and intricate topography.

In volleyball, the jump serve is a fundamental and crucial skill that is one of the most commonly used serving techniques. This study aimed to examine the kinematic differences between straight line (SL) and diagonal line (DL) in volleyball jump serves by focusing on torso and attack arm joint motions. Three-dimensional coordinate data were captured using a motion capture system (200 Hz) in 14 right-handed male professional volleyball players who performed SL and DL jump serves. This result suggests that the pelvis and torso backward rotation angles during the arm-clocking phase were smaller when performing DL serves. During ball contact, the servers exhibited greater forward rotation angles of the pelvis and torso to control the upper body facing the diagonal direction of the target zone. In addition, lowering the forward tilt angle of the trunk helped the servers maintain body balance in the air and increased their wrist flexion angle, preventing the ball from flying out of bounds when performing DL. These findings highlight the importance of controlling pelvic and torso rotations in the transverse plane when adjusting for different serving lines. These insights can guide volleyball athletes and coaches in refining their serving techniques.

Metabarcoding of prokaryotic and fungal ribosomal DNA was used to describe the microbial communities in soils of remnant equatorial rainforest, maize-bean intercrop, and sugarcane in western Kenya. Cropping systems influenced the microbial community composition and functional traits (energy source and nutrient cycling) of bulk soil in each crop. Microbial richness and diversity tended to increase with cultivation intensity. Soil of maize-bean intercrop had lower percentages and sugarcane had higher percentages of unique amplicon sequence variants of both bacteria and fungi compared to the remnant forest. Functional traits were altered by cultivation intensity. Compared to remnant forest soils, maize-bean intercrop soil had lower percentages of aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacteria and higher percentages of N-cycling bacteria, while sugarcane had higher percentages of aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacteria and lower percentages of N-cycling bacteria. In the face of increasing forest loss and pressures for agricultural productivity, this landscape provides a rich site for studying the impacts of cropping systems on soil health.

This research investigates the application of deep learning in sentiment analysis of Canadian maritime case law. It offers a framework for improving maritime law and legal analytics policy-making procedures. The automation of legal document extraction takes center stage, underscoring the vital role sentiment analysis plays at the document level. Therefore, this study introduces a novel strategy for sentiment analysis in Canadian maritime case law, combining sentiment case law approaches with state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. The overarching goal is to systematically unearth hidden biases within case law and investigate their impact on legal outcomes. Employing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) based models, this research achieves a remarkable accuracy of 98.05% for categorizing instances. In contrast, Conventional Machine Learning techniques such as Support Vector Machines (SVM) yield an accuracy rate of 52.57%, Naive Bayes at 57.44 %, and Logistic Regression at 61.86%. The superior accuracy of the CNN and STM model combination underscores its usefulness in legal sentiment analysis, offering promising future applications in diverse fields like legal analytics and policy design. These findings mark a significant choice for AI-powered legal tools, presenting more sophisticated and sentiment-aware options for the legal profession.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prevalent autoimmune condition, yet its alignment with a specific host immunological pathway remains unclear. The THαβ host immunological pathway, recognized for its defense against viruses and prions, has recently emerged as a response to DNA, RNA, and protein pathogens. SLE patients often produce anti-double strand DNA antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies, suggesting a potential association with the THαβ host immune reaction. Throughout the course of SLE, elevated levels of type 1 interferons, type 3 interferons, interleukin-10, IgG1, and IgA1 are commonly observed. These cytokines and antibody isotypes are indicative of the THαβ host immunological pathway. Similarly, Myasthenia gravis, Grave’s disease, Graft versus host disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, dermatomyositis, and Sjogren’s syndrome are also linked to THαβ-related type 2 hypersensitivities. Considering the potential association of these diseases with dysregulated THαβ immune responses, therapeutic strategies such as anti-interleukin-10 or anti-interferons α/β could be explored to manage these disorders effectively.

This research investigates entrepreneurial attitudes among 415 students in the academic sports domain. Utilizing a 15-item questionnaire, participants were categorized into four groups based on their sports background: individual and team sports with competitive history, amateur athletes, and non-practitioners. The questionnaire exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.755). Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square Test of Homogeneity across criteria such as gender, competitive sports involvement, type of competitive sports, and engagement in amateur sports revealed significant differences in nine out of 60 comparisons. Furthermore, this study employs an explanatory approach to elucidate the distinctions among athletes, amateur, and non-athlete students in academic sports programs regarding assumption of responsibilities, proactive initiative, determination to establish their own businesses, perception of the comfort zone, and the perception of post-sports career adaptation. Additionally, a gender comparison is conducted concerning the perception of business risk, comfort and security in a stable workplace, and the applicability of sports-oriented approaches in business. These results provide valuable insights into how sports backgrounds shape entrepreneurial perspectives, thereby contributing to the development of customized entrepreneurial programs. Moreover, the study seeks to offer a nuanced comprehension of the diverse factors influencing the entrepreneurial attitudes and perceptions of students in sports academic programs.

The scientific community has shown considerable interest in Industry 4.0 due to its capacity to revolutionise the manufacturing sector through digitalisation and data-driven decision-making. However, the actual implementation of Industry 4.0 within complex industrial settings presents obstacles that are typically beyond the scope of mainstream research articles. In this paper, a comprehensive case-study detailing our collaborative partnership with a leading medical device manufacturer is presented. The study traces their evolution from a state of limited digitalisation to the development of a digital intelligence platform that leverages data and machine learning models to enhance operations across a wide range of critical machines and assets. The main business objective was to enhance the energy efficiency of the manufacturing process, thereby improving its sustainability measures while also saving costs. The project encompasses energy modelling and analytics, Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD), renewable energy integration and advanced visualisation tools. Together, these components enable informed decision making in the context of energy efficiency.

The work contains a detailed analysis of the electromagnetic field originating from a point source placed above the layered structure.The surface impedance of the multilayer dielectric structure was determined. Based on the boundary conditions, a method for determining the surface impedance of a layered structure with a perfectly conductive screen and or a magnetic screen is presented. The resonance conditions and the conditions for the excitation of surface waves are derived. The integral expression defining the generalized impedance was analyzed with a view to adapting it to numerical implementation. This allowed the development of a computer program based on which calculations were made of the effect of excitation of waves on multilayer dielectric substrates.

Image stitching is a crucial aspect of image processing. However, factors like perspective and environment often lead to irregular shapes in stitched images. Cropping or completion methods typically result in substantial loss of information. This paper proposes a method for rectifying irregularly images into rectangles using deformable meshes and residual networks. The method utilizes a convolutional neural network to quantify rigid structures of images. Choosing the most suitable mesh structure based on the extraction results, offering options such as triangular, rectangular, and hexagonal. Subsequently, the irregularly image, predefined mesh structure, and predicted mesh structure are input into a wide residual neural network for regression. The loss function comprises local and global, aimed at minimizing the loss of image information within the mesh and global target. This method not only significantly reduces information loss during rectification but also adapting to different images with various rigid structures. Validation on the DIR-D dataset shows this method outperforms state-of-the-art methods in image rectification.

Polymer-based composites are widely used in the automotive, security, aeronautical and space industries, to mention a few. This is because of their good mechanical properties, which are similar to those of metals but with the attraction of being lightweight. Kevlar® as a reinforcement is extensively used in the security industry owing to its good ballistic properties. This investigation presents the mechanical characterization based on in-plane quasi-static tensile testing of Kevlar® composite using a universal testing system. The methodology developed for the preparation of coupons is based on pressure, temperature and time. As a result of this work, elastic moduli (EL and ET), Poisson’s ratio (νLT), shear modulus (GLT) and strengths (XT, YT, S) were obtained. It is worth mentioning that there is scarce or no characterization of this material in the literature, and those studies that do characterize it do not present the coupon thermoforming conditions or the reasons of the specimen dimensions (width, length and thickness).

Chitinase 3-like 1 （also known as CHI3L1 or YKL-40）is a mammalian chitinase that has no enzymatic activity, but has the ability to bind to chitin, the polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Chitin is a component of fungi, crustaceans, arthropods including insects and mites, and parasites, but is completely absent from mammals, including humans and mice. In general, chitin-containing organisms produce CHI3L1 to protect the body from exogenous pathogen as well as hostile environments, and it was thought that it has a similar effect in mammals. However, recent studies have revealed that CHI3L1 plays a pro-inflammatory role by inducing anti-apoptotic activity in epithelial cells and macrophages. Under chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, many groups already confirmed that the expression of CHI3L1 is significantly induced on the apical side of epithelial cells, and activates many downstream pathways involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this review article, we will summarize the expression of CHI3L1 under the chronic inflammatory conditions in various disorders and would like to discuss the potential roles of CHI3L1 in those disorders on various cell types.

To advance probiotic research, a comprehensive understanding of bacterial interactions with human physiology at the molecular and cellular levels is fundamental. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG® is a bacterial strain that has long been recognized for its beneficial effects on human health. Probiotic effector molecules derived from LGG®, including secreted proteins, surface-anchored proteins, polysaccharides, and lipoteichoic acids, that interact with host physiological processes have been identified. In vitro and animal studies have revealed that specific LGG® effector molecules stimulate epithelial cell survival, preserve intestinal barrier integrity, reduce oxidative stress, mitigate excessive mucosal inflammation, enhance IgA secretion, and provide long-term protection through epigenetic imprinting. Pili on the cell surface of LGG® promote adhesion to the intestinal mucosa and ensure close contact to host cells. Extracellular vesicles produced by LGG® recapitulate many of these effects through their cargo of effector molecules. Collectively, the effector molecules of LGG® exert a significant influence on both the gut mucosa and immune system, that promotes intestinal homeostasis and immune tolerance.

The accumulation of brown algae from the genus Sargassum has been increasing over the years in coastal regions of the Caribbean, Africa, Brazil, and Mexico. This causes harmful effects to the ecosystem, health, economy, and climate due to gas emissions from its decomposition process. There is the possibility of this biomass being reused in civil construction, and few studies have been carried out on its application to common Portland cement mortar. As such, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of sargassum ash as a mineral addition to partial replacement of fine aggregates in Portland cement mortar. Characterizations of the raw materials were carried out through X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, loss on ignition, particle size distribution, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), real density, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and dispersion spectroscopy of electrons. The mortars were prepared by partially replacing the fine aggregate (sand) with sargassum ash, at 0%, 5%, 10% and 20%. Mortar performance was evaluated through water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, compressive strength after 7, 28, and 63 days after curing. Lastly, a life cycle assessment in accordance with ISO standards 14040:2006 and 14044:2006. The results showed that replacing sand with sargassum ash increases water absorption, apparent porosity, and decreases the apparent specific mass and compressive strength as replacement increases. Nevertheless, the compressive strength results after 63 days, for 5 and 10% replacement did not differ statistically from reference values. The life cycle assessment indicates that mortars with partial replacement of sand by sargassum ash showed positive environmental impacts when compared to reference values for most categories regardless of the scenario analyzed, especially for mortar with 10% replacement. As such, the use of sargassum ash at 10% does not alter compressive strength values after 63 days while reducing its environmental impact. The application of this biomass in civil construction materials provides a destination for this algae that has been causing several social, environmental, and economic problems.

Study design: Technical note. Objectives: To present a new technique of treatment for a patient with thoracolumbar focal kyphosis due to osteoporotic verte-bral fracture (OVFs). Background : OVFs are common among the elderly population. Following a severe wedged fracture, patients often experience low back pain and disruptions in activities of daily living. Reconstruction surgeries, such as corpectomy, are among the treatment options for this condition. However, corpectomy requires longer surgical times and involves a significant amount of blood loss. Materials and Methods : An 80-year-old woman presented to our hospital with severe low back pain and gait disturbance. She had experienced an L2 OVF six years prior. Although she had no neurological deficit, she could not walk more than 200m due to pain. Preoperative spinal radiographs revealed severe sagittal malalignment, with the L2 vertebra collapsed and focal kyphosis of L1-3 measuring 34 degrees. Results: The patient underwent anterior and posterior surgery in the right decubitus position using a C-arm free technique. The surgical time was 133 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 100 ml. Hyperlordotic cages were inserted in the upper and lower disc space via a lateral approach, while percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS) were inserted from a posterior approach. These procedures were performed simultaneously under navigation guidance only. Post-operative images showed excellent spinal alignment, with local kyphosis reduced from 34 to 14 degrees, and no major or severe complications occurred. At one-year follow-up, the patient was able to walk smoothly, with her visual analogue scale for low back pain improving from 73mm to 13mm, and her Oswestry Disability Index improving from 53.3% to 13.3%. Conclusions/Level of Evidence : The simultaneous use of hyperlordotic cages and PPS is an effective and innovative navigation technique that yields promising outcomes for thoracolumbar focal kyphosis resulting from OVFs. This approach not only reduces surgical time but also minimizes intraoperative blood loss. Level V.

Background: One challenge in implant dentistry is to reduce marginal bone resorption to avoid long-term esthetic and biological complications. Sub-gingival implant placement has been suggested as a suitable strategy. Methods: 38 healthy patients were enrolled to receive bone level (BL – Control group) or 2 mm sub-crestal (SC - Test group) conical connection, platform-switched implants. An immediate tissue level abutment was used in the Test group by following a One Time Abutment (OTA) restorative procedure. Marginal Bone Modification (MBM) was calcu-latied on standardized radiographs at surgery (T0), loading (T1), and 6 months (T2) and 12 months after loading (T3), and cathegorised in Bone Loss (BL) if the resorption occurred below the implant neck and Bone Remodeling (BR) if above. Pocket probing depth (PPD), Bleeding on probing (BoP) and Plaque Index (PI) were also collected. Results: The mean MBM in the test group after 12 months was 0.61mm, compared to 0.52mm in the control group. However, no BL was observed in the test group, as the MBM completely occurred above the implant neck as BR, whilst in the control group MBM corresponded in total to BL. The average PPD was 2.38mm in the test group and 3.04mm in the control group after 12 months, BoP 50% and 43%, PI 33% and 19.44% respectively. Conclusions: Sub-crestal conical connection, platform-switched implants could be a suitable clinical choice to avoid BL with exposure of the treated implants surfaces.

Only a handful of microbial mosquito larval pathogens have been described to date. Sampling of several natural enzootic infections of mosquito larvae in southwestern Florida indicated the presence of microbial pathogens capable of extensive larval mortality. Microscopic analysis of one sample site revealed extensive apparent growth of a Pythium-like microbe on mosquito lar-vae, with highest infection observed on the siphon and head regions. Structures consistent with sporangia were seen on infected insects after lactophenol blue staining, and higher resolution scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed sporangia and encysted zoospores targeting the head and siphon regions. The isolate was single colony purified and molecular identification targeting the ITS and COX1 loci coupled to phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the isolate belonged to the Pythium genus, but was distinct from its closest characterized species, P. angusta-tum. Morphological features were characterized, with the isolate showing rapid growth on all mycological media tested and relatively high thermotolerance, capable of robust growth at 37oC, and hence was designated, P. thermoculicivorax. Sampling from a second series of natural infec-tions of mosquito larvae resulted in the molecular identification of three Trichoderma isolates, one with high similarity to T. strigosum, and the other two clustering with, but distinct from, T. asperellum. These data highlight the occurrence of natural enzootic infections of mosquito larvae, potentially as a resource for the identification of new mosquito pathogens.

When dealing with limited sample sizes or missing values in time series data, achieving high accuracy in forecasting becomes challenging. This challenge is particularly common in wind energy forecasting, where many wind farms lack complete data. In this paper, we employ the widely-used ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) model for time series forecasting. To address the difficulties posed by limited sample sizes and missing values, we adopt a unique approach by utilizing multiple ARIMA models for different datasets. A key distinction from other multiple models methods for time series forecasting lies in each model within our approach using its own dataset, making the fusion process more intricate. To overcome this, we incorporate neural networks and two techniques for model fusion: direct fusion with a learning mechanism and compensation for missing data through training. For each ARIMA model, we introduce a noise estimation method to circumvent the white noise assumptions inherent in ARIMA models. Finally, we apply these methods to wind energy prediction, and our experimental results showcase a significant enhancement in forecasting accuracy.

This study introduces an efficient strategy for synthesizing polyhydroxyurethane-based multicomponent hydrogels with enhanced rheological properties. In a single-step process, 3D materials composed of Polymer 1 (PHU) and Polymer 2 (PVA or gelatin) were produced. Polymer 1, a crosslinked polyhydroxyurethane (PHU) grew within a colloidal suspension of Polymer 2, forming an interconnected network. The synthesis of Polymer 1 utilized a Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane (NIPU) methodology based on the aminolysis of bis(cyclic carbonate) (bisCC) monomers derived from 1-thioglycerol and 1,2-dithioglycerol (monomers MA and ME, respectively). This method, applied for the first time in Semi Interpenetrating Network (SIPN) formation, demonstrated exceptional orthogonality, since the functional groups in Polymer 2 do not interfere with Polymer 1 formation. Optimizing PHU formation involved a twenty-trial methodology, identifying influential variables such as polymer concentration, temperature, solvent (an aprotic and a protic solvent), and the organo-catalyst used [a thiourea derivative (TU) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)]. The highest molecular weights were achieved under near-bulk polymerization conditions using TU-protic and DBU-aprotic as catalyst-solvent combinations. ME-based PHU exhibited higher (M_w ) ̅ than MA-based PHU (34,100 Da and 16,400 Da, respectively). Applying the enhanced methodology to prepare ten multicomponent hydrogels using PVA or gelatin as the polymer scaffold revealed superior rheological properties in PVA-based hydrogels, exhibiting solid-like gel behavior. Incorporating ME enhanced mechanical properties and elasticity (with loss tangent values of 0.09 and 0.14). SEM images unveiled distinct microstructures, including a sponge-like pattern in certain PVA-based hydrogels when MA was chosen, indicating the formation of highly superporous interpenetrated materials. In summary, this innovative approach presents a versatile methodology for obtaining advanced hydrogel-based systems with potential applications in various biomedical fields.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) or familial cavernomatosis is a rare, autosomal dominant, inherited disease characterized by the presence of vascular malformations consisting of blood vessels with an abnormal structure in the form of clusters. Based on the altered gene (CCM1/Krit1, CCM2, CCM3) and its origin (spontaneous or familial), different types of this dis-ease can be found. In this work we have isolated and cultivated primary endothelial cells (ECs) from peripheral blood of a type 1 CCM patient. Differential functional and gene expression pro-file of these cells were analyzed and compared to primary ECs from a healthy donor. The muta-tion of the familial index case consisted of a heterozygous point mutation in the position +1 splicing consensus between exons 15 and 16, causing failure in RNA processing and in the final protein. Furthermore, gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR revealed a decreased ex-pression of genes involved in intercellular junction formation, angiogenesis, and vascular ho-meostasis. Cell biology analysis showed that CCM1 ECs were impaired in angiogenesis and cell migration. Taken together, the results obtained suggest that the alterations found in CCM1 ECs are already present in the heterozygous condition, suffering from vascular impairment and someway predisposed to vascular damage.

This research aims to explore the complex interplay between supply chain resilience (SCR), digital supply chain (DSC), and sustainability, focusing on the moderating influence of supply chain dynamism. The goal is to understand how these elements interact within the framework of contemporary supply chain management and how they collectively contribute to enhancing sustainability outcomes. The sample size is 300 CEOs and managers. The study approach integrates quantitative research methods. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is utilized to quantitatively analyze the direct and indirect effects of SCR and DSC on sustainability. The numerous surveys we conduct among supply chain ecosystem stakeholders provide a rich picture of practical implications and contextual nuances. In sum, our early findings generally support a positive relationship between SCR and sustainability in and of itself decrying the need for more resilient supply networks for sustainability. We further find the beneficial impact of digital technologies in promoting sustainability via enhancing environmental control and controlling for efficiency in supply chains. We also offer evidence to show that supply chain dynamism compounds the positive logic between SCR and DSC and sustainability. As a final word, it must be noted that our work speaks to the burgeoning Supply Chain Dynamism as moderator literature by examining the direct and contingent effects of SCR and DSC on not only performance but sustainability. By shedding light on the moderating role of dynamism, the study provides fresh insights into the multifaceted nature of supply chain management and sustainability practices. The study's findings enhance theoretical understanding by elucidating the synergistic effects of SCR, DSC, and sustainability in dynamic supply chain settings. It augments existing theoretical frameworks by integrating concepts of resilience, digitalization, and sustainability into a comprehensive model. Practical and economical, the research offers actionable guidance for organizations aiming to improve sustainability performance through resilient and digitally advanced supply chains. By acknowledging the role of supply chain dynamism, managers can tailor strategies to manage disruptions effectively and leverage digital innovations. Economically, adopting sustainable practices can result in cost savings and competitive advantages. The research emphasizes the importance of aligning supply chain strategies with sustainability goals to drive long-term value and societal impact.

Chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), are difficult to manage because they demand continuous therapeutic review and monitoring. Beyond achieving the target HbA1c, new guidelines for the therapy of T2D have been introduced with the new groups of antidiabetics (GLP-1ra and SGLT2-in). Despite new guidelines, clinical inertia, that can be caused by physicians, patients or healthcare system, results in T2D not being effectively managed. This opinion paper explores the shift in T2D treatment, challenging assumptions and evidence-based recommendations, particularly for family physicians, considering the patient's overall situation in decision-making. We looked for the possible reasons of clinical inertia and poor application of guidelines in the management of T2D. Guidelines for antidiabetic drugs should be more precise, providing case studies and clinical examples to define clinical contexts and contraindications. Knowledge communication can improve confidence and should include clear statements on areas of decision-making not supported by evidence. Precision medicine initiative in diabetes aims to identify subcategories of T2D patients (including frail patients) using clustering techniques from data science applications, focusing on CV and poor treatment outcomes. Clear, unconditional recommendations for personalized T2D management may encourage drug prescription, especially for family physicians dealing with diverse patient contexts and clinical settings.

Recent research has highlighted associations between sleep and microbial taxa and pathways. However, the causal effect of these associations remains unknown. To investigate this, we performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from 412 gut microbiome traits (N = 7,738) and GWAS studies from seven sleep-associated traits (N = 345,552 to 386577). We employed multiple MR methods to assess causality, with Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We further applied Cochran’s Q statistical analysis, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO for heterogeneity and pleiotropy assessment, alongside a Bonferroni correction ((P

Chemical process control relies on a tightly controlled, narrow range of margins for critical variables, ensuring process stability and safeguarding equipment from potential accidents. The availability of historical process data is limited to a specific setpoint of operation. This challenge raises issues for process monitoring in predicting and adjusting to deviations outside of the range of operational parameters. Therefore, this paper proposes simulation-assisted deep transfer learning for predicting and optimizing the final purity and production capacity of the glycerin purification process. The proposed network is trained by the simulation domain to generate a base feature extractor, which is then fine-tuned using few-shot learning techniques on the target learner to extend the working domain of the model beyond the historical practice. The result shows that the proposed model improved prediction performance by 99% in predicting water content and 79.72% in glycerin prediction over the conventional deep learning model. Additionally, the implementation of the proposed model identified the production and product quality improvement for enhancing the glycerin purification process.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) bears a heavy burden on patients and the health care system as whole. The incidence of CKD has been increasing in the Arab world over the years due to increases in Diabetes and hypertension which are the most prominent causes of CKD. Syrians are at higher risk for diabetes and hypertension due to the crisis that the country has been going through. 297 patients’ charts were examined in the kidney surgical hospital in Damascus Syria to determine risk factors for CKD, prevalence of diabetes among them and its associating demographic factors along with changes in serum creatinine, urea, fasting blood glucose levels and MDRD score among diabetic CKD patients. 64.6% of patients were above 50, 61.6% were males and 35.4% were diabetic. Patients with diabetes had lower creatinine levels upon admission than non-diabetics. The correlation between fasting blood glucose level and serum creatinine, urea and MDRD was not statistically significant. This paper shows that the prevalence of diabetes among CKD patients is similar in Syrians to the rest of the world despite the increase of diabetes incidence.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a significant role in the aging processes, further regarding as a hallmark of aging. Despite the importance, a lack of monitoring tools has hampered the study of relationship between AGEs and aging. Here, we firstly report a novel AGEs-selective probe, AGO. AGO presented its ability to detect AGEs more sensitively than a conventional approach of measuring autofluorescence from AGEs. In addition, we confirmed that AGO can detect AGEs depending on kinetics, reflecting by a preference to ribose-derived AGEs. Finally, AGO revealed its competence to visualize glycation products in glycation mimicking model, made by collagen framework. We believe that this study will enrich molecular toolboxes to understand physiological processes of AGEs during aging processes.

Cosmography, as an integral branch of cosmology, strives to characterize the Universe without relying on pre-determined cosmological models. This model-independent approach utilizes Taylor series expansions around the current epoch, providing a direct correlation with cosmological observations and the potential to constrain theoretical models. Various observable quantities in cosmology can be described as different combinations of cosmographic parameters. Furthermore, one can apply cosmography to models with a varying speed of light. In this case, the Hubble parameter can be expressed by the same combination of cosmographic parameters for both the standard model and varying speed of light models. However, for the luminosity distance, the two models are represented by different combinations of cosmographic parameters. Hence, luminosity distance might provide a method to constrain the parameters in varying speed-of-light models.

The increasing demand for transporting people and goods, rail system is needed for enhancement. An architectural design of train station can significantly impact investment from any government. However, a proper guideline for designing the train station in tropical climate is not publicized. This review examine railway station design through an analysis of student design theses in Thailand, from 1983 to 2022. Furthermore, the building analyses on architectural design theory were done in terms of service area, form, entrance structure, roof structure, style, and design development. The analysis reveals curved and gable roofs are most frequent, followed by 3D curved roofs. HSR stations' main entrances are designed to represent local culture and save walking distance. Curved and gabled porticos provide the most extravagant main entryway, a feeling of grandeur and beauty. A public building's overlapping portico or curving gabled portico lends majesty and refinement to its façade. Architects and designers strive to make buildings more attractive and practical. Besides, university-designed stations prioritize conceptual design and functional space over cost. Finally, railway station design should prioritize transparency, connectivity, movement, and cost- and time-efficiency. Research gaps are identified, such as designing user-friendly for thermal comfort and design-for-all the railway station in tropical climate, are critical for future evaluation.

This study delves into the intricate relationships among the constituent elements, wave speed, and energy of both mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves. By establishing connections with the string vibration equation, a compelling revelation emerges. Upon equating the energy and constituent element mass of one wave cycle of a homogeneous string with those of a single wave cycle of electromagnetic waves, it is evident that the wave speed derived from the string vibration equation consistently matches the constant speed of light. From this, a hypothesis takes root: electromagnetic waves manifest as waves resulting from the vibration of a uniform, elongated string-like material. The phenomenon of superluminal speed further fortifies the validity of this conjecture.

The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland formed in the ovary after ovulation, and it plays a critical role in reproductive processes. Tumors rely on the development of an adequate blood supply to ensure the delivery of nutrients and oxygen and the removal of waste products. While angiogenesis occurs in various physiological and pathological contexts, the corpus luteum and tumors share similarities in the signaling pathways that promote angiogenesis. In the corpus luteum and tumors, apoptosis plays a crucial role in controlling cell numbers and ensuring proper tissue development and function. Interestingly, there are similarities in the apoptotic-regulated signaling pathways involved in apoptosis between the corpus luteum and tumors. However, the regulation of apoptosis can differ due to their distinct physiological and pathological characteristics. Thus, we reviewed the biological events of the corpus luteum and tumors in similar microenvironments of angiogenesis and apoptosis for studying novel research methods.

Electric torque wrenches play a crucial role in the assembly of high-strength bolts. This study focuses on three assembly processes for high-strength bolts and introduces a statistical analysis method to assess the quality of the bolt assembly. To enhance the performance, a novel, fully digital, Internet of Things (IoT) electric torque wrench is designed, incorporating a smart meter chip. This wrench achieves integration between the current sensor control method and the torque sensor control method using a simplified hardware circuit, ensuring high precision and stability. Additionally, this study employs the AC voltage self-stabilization method and Savitzky–Golay filtering method to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the wrench. Simulation experiments using Simulink and Matlab validate the effectiveness of these two methods. Furthermore, a cloud platform is utilized to enable rapid IoT access for the wrench, facilitating seamless connectivity and data transmission.

The statistical analysis of impact of the top 50 solar flares of X-class (1997-2023) on the global seismic activity, as well as on the earthquake preparation zones located in illuminated part of the globe and in the area of 5000 km radius around the subsolar point was carried out. It is shown by a method of epoch superposition that for all cases the increase of seismicity is observed, especially in the region around the subsolar point (up to 38%) during 10 days after the solar flare in comparison with preceding 10 days. The case study of aftershock sequence of strong M=9.1 earthquake (Su-matra-Andaman Islands, 26.12.2004) after the solar flare of X7.2 class (20.01.2005) demonstrated that the number of aftershocks with magnitude M≥2.5 increases more than 20 times after the solar flare with a delay of 7 days. For the case of the Darfield earthquake (M=7.1, 04.09.2010, New Zealand) it was shown that strong solar flares of class X and M probably triggered two strong aftershocks (M>6) with the same delay of 6 days on the Port Hills fault, which is the most sensitive to external electromagnetic impact from point of view of the fault electrical conductivity and orientation. Based on the obtained results the possible application of natural electromagnetic triggering of earthquakes is discussed for a short-term earthquake prediction using confidently recorded strong external electromagnetic triggering impacts on the specific earthquake preparation zones, as well as ionospheric perturbations due to aerosol emission from the earthquake sources recorded by satellites.

Worldwide, approximately 15 million people per year suffer from stroke. With about 5 million deaths, stroke is the second most common cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability. It is estimated that about 25% of people older than 85 years will develop stroke. Cannabis sativa and derived cannabinoids are used for recreational and medical purposes for many centuries. However, due to past legal status, research faced restrictions and cannabis use was stigmatized for potential negative impacts on health. With the legalization of cannabis in many countries of the world, cannabis and cannabis-derived substances such as cannabinoids and terpenes have gained more interest in medical research. Several medical effects of cannabis have been scientifically proven and potential risks were identified. In the context of stroke, the role of cannabis is controversial. Negative impact of cannabis use on stroke has been reported through anecdotal case reports and some population-based studies. However, potential beneficial effects of specific cannabinoids are described in animal studies under certain conditions. In this review, the existing body of evidence regarding the negative and positive impacts of cannabis use prior to stroke will be critically appraised.

A Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker space-time model with all curvatures k=0,±1 is explored in f(R,T) gravity. The solutions are obtained via the parametrization of the scale factor that leads to a model transiting from a decelerated universe to an accelerating one. The physical features of the model are discussed and analysed.

Background: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) has been employed for the endoscopic treatment of common bile duct stones (CBDSs), and a high success rate of stone removal has been reported. However, EST is associated with the risk of bleeding, perforation, and sphincter of Oddi function disruption. To avoid these risks, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an option for CBDS. Sphincter of Oddi function preservation decreases long-term biliary infection and gallstone recurrence. EPBD may have advantages in children who require a long follow-up. However, there have been few reports on pediatric cases, particularly in infants. Methods: From September 2017 to December 2023, we performed EPBD for four pediatric CBDSs. The patients were aged from 5 months to 8 years; including two infants aged 5 and 6 months. Furthermore, we reviewed the stone removal rate and complications of 545 ESTs performed at high-volume centers and 13 EPBD-reported cases in children with CBDSs. Results: CBDSs of all patients who underwent EPBD in our institution were successfully removed. No bleeding or perforation was noted, and pancreatitis was observed in three patients. In an analysis of 545 ESTs in children, the stone removal rate was high, ranging from 83% to 100% (mean, 96%). The incidence of pancreatitis was 0%–9.6% (mean, 4.4%), and the grade of pancreatitis was almost mild. The bleeding frequency was 1.3%–5.4% (mean, 2.7%). According to the grade of bleeding, seven and four cases were mild (64%) and moderate (36%), respectively, Compared with adult cases who underwent EST, the frequency of pancreatitis and bleeding was almost similar in children.; however once bleeding occur, it has a higher risk of leading to blood transfusion in children. Stone removal by EPBD in children was 100% successful. All complications were pancreatitis, and its frequency was 46% (6/13 patients, including five mild cases and one moderate case), which is higher than that of EST and adult cases who underwent EPBD. In most children with pancreatitis, pancreatic enzyme levels returned to normal within 2–3 days following EPBD, and no severe cases caused by EPBD were reported. Conclusions: CBDS removal by EPBD in children has a high success rate with very low risk of bleeding and perforation. Although pancreatitis frequently occurs, most cases are mild. Sphincter of Oddi function preservation by EPBD is expected to prevent long-term stone recurrence and biliary tract infection, and EPBD is considered an effective method for CBDS removal in children.

A novel concept of a finned piston system is presented and analyzed where the compression heat is continuously extracted from the compression chamber. The resulting compression characteristic moves in direction of an isothermal process, reducing so the temperature of the compressed fluid in the compression chamber and reducing the necessary mechanical work for the process. The finned piston concept consists in an integrated heat exchanger inside of the chamber and being constituated of imbricated flat fins placed on the stator part and on the mobile piston. The internal heat exchange surface is strongly increased in comparison with a classical piston/cylinder. The energetic performance of the new system is evaluated with the help of simulation. Pressures, forces and temperature of the compressed gas are simulated as well as the mechanical work needed. The different curves are compared with adiabatic and isothermal characteristics.

Recently, the composite materials consisting of ionic liquids (ILs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a great of attention due to their fantastic properties. Many theoretical studies have been performed towards its special structures and applications. Yet, the mechanism for the diffusion of ILs inside MOFs channels still remain unclear. Here, the DFT calculations together with frontier orbital analysis, natural charge analysis, and energy decomposition analysis were performed to investigate the diffusion behavior of a typical IL, [C4mim][PF6], into the ZIF-8 SOD cage. The potential energy surface (PES) profiles indicate that it is quite difficult for the cation [C4min]+ to diffuse into the cage of ZIF-8 through the pristine pores because of its large imidazole steric hindrance. Moreover, the PES reveals that a success diffusion could be obtained by the thermal contributions, by which the pore size is enlarged through the swing effects at a higher temperature. Subsequently, electronic structure analyses reveal that the main interactions between [PF6]-or [C4mim]+ and ZIF-8 is the steric repulsion interactions. Finally, the effects of amounts of [C4mim][PF6]on the ZIF-8 were investigated, and the results show that two pairs of [C4mim][PF6] per SOD cage is more reasonable in terms of interaction energies and structural changes.

Chinese texts often feature a substantial volume of normative content, and their analysis has increasingly become a focal point in recent semantic analysis endeavors. Enhancing the effectiveness of text classification and clustering is pivotal in unveiling the intricate semantics within extensive textual data. Empirical research within the realm of computational social science has underscored the need for improved explanatory power when it comes to general text clustering methods applied to normative texts. This study introduces an innovative hierarchical clustering method that incorporates part-of-speech (POS) features and pioneers a novel semantic network model. It achieves this by amalgamating a POS-based feature weight calculation method with hierarchical clustering techniques. To assess its efficacy, the method is rigorously evaluated across three diverse text datasets, encompassing normative reports, news articles, and social media content. The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate the superior performance of the POS-HC method, surpassing the traditional TF and TF-IDF feature extraction methods in terms of clustering accuracy, and surpassing some existing clustering methods. Furthermore, its classification effectiveness exhibits notable advantages, particularly in the semantic classification of normative texts.

Hydrogen plays an important role in the implementation of Australia’s Net-Zero Strategy. It competes with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries in the electrification of Australian land transportation sector, and can provide an alternative energy storage medium for the greening of the country’s electrical grid system. This paper reviews the role hydrogen plays in the current government’s Net-Zero strategy, and investigates the potential role of other bioenergy sources. It is found that hydrogen and batteries play essentially complementary roles in reducing transport emissions, and that the former energy source is more suited to the operation of long-distance commercial service vehicles than batteries. It is suggested that bioenergy fuels such as biomethane, second generation biofuels and HVO can provide suitable bridging alternatives in the event that Australia’s EV strategy is unable to meet the 2030 target.

Introduction: The repertoire of microRNAs (miRNAs) in thyroid carcinomas starts to be elucidated. Among differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC), papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common. The assessment of miRNAs expression may contribute to refine the pre-surgical diagnosis, in order to obtain a personalized and more effective treatment of patients. Aims: This study aims to evaluated 1) miRNAs expression in a series of DTC, and the association with the presence of selected genetic mutations, in order to improve diagnosis and predict biologic behavior of DTC/PTC. 2) the reliability of molecular tests in Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (US-FNAC) for a more precise preoperative diagnosis. Material and methods: This series includes 176 samples (98 cytology samples and 78 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues) obtained from 106 patients submitted to surgery, being 13 benign lesions (controls) and 93 DTCs (cases). The microRNA expression was assessed for miR-146b, miR-221, miR-222, and miR-15a by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the results were analyzed using the 2- ΔΔCT method, using miR16 as an endogenous control. The discriminative ability of miRNAs expression regarding PTC diagnosis was evaluated using the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC). The association of miRNAs expression, clinicopatological features and genetic alterations (BRAF, RAS and TERTp) was evaluated in PTCs. Results/Discussion: All the analyzed miRNAs showed a tendency to be over expressed in DTCs/PTCs when compared with benign lesions, both in cytology and histology samples. In cytology, miRNAs expression levels were higher in malignant than in benign tumors. In histology, corresponding discriminative abilities regarding PTC diagnosis were: miR-146b (AUC0.94, 95%CI 0.87-1), miR-221 (AUC0.79, 95%CI 0.68-0.9), miR-222 (AUC0.76, 95%CI 0.63-0.89) and miR-15a (AUC0.85, 95%CI 0.74-0.97). miR-146b showed 89% sensitivity (se) and 87% specificity (sp); mi-R221 se=68.4, sp=90; miR222 se=73, sp=70, and mi-R15a se=72, sp=80. MicroRNAs were associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and tumor progression in PTCs (p < 0.05), particularly for miR-222. Our data reveals a significant association between higher expression levels of miR-146b, miR-221 and miR-222, with the presence of BRAF mutation (p<0.001), and miR-146b (p=0.016) and miR-221 (p=0.010) with the presence of RAS mutation, suggesting an interplay of these mutations with miRNAs expression. Although this study has a relatively small sample size, over expression of miRNAs in cytology may contribute to a more precise preoperative diagnosis. The miRNAs showed a good discriminative ability in PTC diagnosis. The association between the miRNAs expression profile and genetic alterations results could be useful for an accurate diagnosis of DTCs/PTCs in FNAC.

Use of MS Excel as a platform for teaching simple iterative solution of partial differential equations runs into issues of reliability of the computation because of the large number of calculations required. This article documents the problem and an empirical solution. The cause of this unreliability was found by detailed examination of the numerical results from three simultaneous iterations. Computers of several types from different manufacturers were found to fail occasionally in updating variables in the numerical iteration. A simple work-around is suggested and was tested on several platforms.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) has emerged as the predominant causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children. Since the declaration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic, the incidence of infectious diseases, including HFMD, has decreased markedly. When social mitigation was relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, re-emergence of HFMD was observed in Gwangju, South Korea, and seasonal characteristics of the disease appeared to have changed. To investigate the molecular characteristics of enterovirus (EV) associated with HFMD during 2022, 277 specimens were collected. Children aged under 5 years accounted for the majority of affected individuals. EV detection and genotyping were performed using real-time RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR followed by sequence analysis. EV detection rate was found to be 82.3%, and the main genotype identified was CV-A6. Sixteen CV-A6 samples were selected for whole genome sequencing. According to phylogenetic analysis, all CV-A6 strains from this study belonged to the sub-genotype D3 clade based on VP1 sequences. Analysis of 3D polymerase phylogeny showed that only the recombinant RF-A group was identified. In conclusion, circulating EV types should be continuously monitored to understand pathogen emergence and evolution during the post-pandemic era.

This article describes a novel topical composition constituted by gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and microbial chondroitin sulfate. This composition, formulated by the author and manufactured in a certified facility in the United States of America, exhibits potential for non-invasive intervention in anxiety management, sleep quality enhancement, and promotion of brain-related functions like meditation and nonlocal consciousness. The core component comprises GABA, a key inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system, complexed with a suitable carrier molecule, microbial chondroitin sulfate. This complexation aims to enhance transdermal absorption and optimize delivery of GABA to target tissues. The proposed mechanism of action involves modulation of GABAergic signal transduction pathways. Application of the topical composition allows GABA penetration into the skin and potentially deeper tissues, where it interacts with GABA receptors. This interaction leads to mental calmness and relaxation as assessed by electroencephalography. The influence of GABAergic signaling on brain circuits demonstrated in this article, when associated with meditation and nonlocal consciousness, suggests potential for the composition to support these practices. The advantage of such an approach consists in avoiding the potential systemic side effects associated with oral or injectable administration of GABA, anxiolytics or hypnotics. Furthermore, the combination of GABA and microbial chondroitin sulfate may offer synergistic benefits, potentially enhancing the overall biological effects. In conclusion, this article presents a novel topical approach for managing anxiety, enhancing sleep quality, and potentially facilitating meditation and nonlocal consciousness through modulation of GABAergic signaling pathways. While further research is necessary, the potential for a non-invasive and potentially side-effect-free intervention in these areas is promising.

A study was carried out in a Waste Sorting Plant (WSP) located in France and treating dry recyclable household waste (DRHW) as well as dry recyclable commercial and industrial waste (DRCIW). The aim was to investigate the exposure to bioaerosol and dust. The aim of the study was to assess the extent to which the measurement of concentration, species composition and particle size distribution can contribute to a better assessment of the biological risks associated with exposure. Both stationary and personal bioaerosol and dust samples were collect in the (WSP). The results confirm that waste and waste sorting activities are sources of airborne fungi. Indeed, ambient concentrations ranged from 7.3×103 to 8.5×105 CFU/m3 for culturable moulds and up to up to 4 mg/m3 for dust. Personal exposure to inhalable dust was found up to 3 mg/m3 for dust and ranged from 8.6×103 to 1.5×106 CFU/m3 for fungi. Airborne fungal communities were found to be dominated by the Penicillium genera in both bioaerosols and settled dust samples, followed by the Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Wallemia, Mucor, and Rhizopus genera. Fungi were carried by particles of aerodynamic diameters mainly between around 2.0 and 10.0 µm. The findings dealing with size distribution and biodiversity of bioaerosols suggest that employees are exposed to complex bioaerosols during their work and helps to make a finer diagnosis of the risks involved, which is often difficult in the absence of any OEL for bioaerosols in general.

Thromboprophylaxis of hospitalized patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) presents challenges owing to patient heterogeneity and lack of adoption of evidence-based methods. Intuitive practices for thromboprophylaxis have resulted in many patients being inappropriately prophylaxed. Multiple interventions for thromboprophylaxis have been tested, including use of multifaceted approaches such as national VTE prevention programs with audits, use of passive alerts (either human or electronic), and more recently use of active clinical decision support (CDS) tools incorporated into electronic health records (EHRs). Multifaceted health-system interventions have shown mixed results in their ability to increase appropriate thromboprophylaxis and reduce VTE, unless mandated through a national VTE prevention program, though the latter approach is potentially costly, effort- and time-dependent. Studies utilizing passive human or electronic alerts have also shown mixed results in increasing appropriate thromboprophylaxis and reducing VTE. The use of active CDS tools holds the greatest promise, especially with further refinement and widespread implementation within various EHRs and clinical workflows. Recent-ly a universal cloud-based and EHR-agnostic CDS VTE tool revealed high adoption and effectiveness in increasing appropriate thromboprophylaxis and reducing major thromboembolism. This narrative review summarizes the literature on system-wide thromboprophylaxis interventions in hospitalized patients, with a focus on CDS tools.

Introduction: Despite great advances in the treatment of oncological diseases, the development of medical technologies to prevent or reduce complications of therapy, in particular, those associated with surgery and the introduction of antibiotics remains relevant. The aim of the study: to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of autoprobiotics based on indigenous non-pathogenic strains of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus hirae in the complex therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the early postoperative period. Materials and methods: A total of 36 patients diagnosed with CRC were enrolled in the study. The study group (Group A) comprised 24 CRC patients who received autoprobiotic therapy in the early postoperative period, while the control group (Group C) included 12 CRC patients without autoprobiotic therapy.Prior to surgery and between days 14-16 post-surgery, comprehensive evaluations were conducted on all patients, encompassing the following: stool and gastroenterological complains analysis. examination of the gut microbiota (bacteriological study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, metagenome analysis), analysis of interleukins in serum. Results: The use of autoprobiotics led to decrease dyspeptic complaints after surgery, was associated with absence of postoperative complications, did not cause side effects, led to a decrease in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-18) in the blood serum. The use of autoprobiotics led to positive changes in the structure of escherichia and enterococci populations, the elimination of Parvomonas micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum, decrease in the quantitative content of Clostridium perfringens, Akkermansia muciniphila. Metagenomic analysis (16S rRNA) revealed an increase in alpha diversity. Conclusion: The administration of autoprobiotics in the postoperative period is highly effective and safe in the comprehensive treatment of colorectal cancer patients. Future studies will allow the discovery of additional fine mechanisms of autoprobiotic therapy and its impact on the digestive, immune, endocrine and neural systems.

Advanced lithography requires highly sensitive photoresists to improve lithographic efficiency, and it is critical yet challenging to develop high-sensitivity photoresists and imaging strategies. Here, we report a novel strategy for ultra-high sensitivity using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)-containing fluoropolymer photoresists. The incorporation of HFIP, with its strong electrophilic property and electron-withdrawing effect of the fluorine atoms, significantly increases the acidity of the photoresist after exposure, enabling imaging without conventional photoacid generators (PAGs). The HFIP-containing photoresist has been evaluated by electron beam lithography to achieve a trench of ~40 nm at an extremely low dose of 3 μC/cm2, which shows sensitivity enhancement by ~10 times to the commercial PAGs involved system, revealing its high-sensitivity and high-resolution features. Our results demonstrate a new type of PAGs and a novel approach to higher-performance imaging beyond conventional photoresist performance tuning.

This study presents the synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of nitrogen-doped vanadium oxide (N-V2O3/C) as a cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), using a hydrothermal method. Compared to undoped V2O3/C, N-V2O3/C exhibits enhanced electrical conductivity, capacity, and electrochemical kinetics, attributed to the incorporation of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen. Initial charge-discharge cycles indicate phase transitions to amorphous vanadium oxides, enhancing conductivity. N-V2O3/C shows a high specific capacity of 168.4 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and remarkable reversibility, highlighted by the transient existence of intermediate species during cycling. Optimal electrochemical performance is achieved with a vanadium to nitrogen molar ratio of 2:3, indicating the significant impact of nitrogen doping concentration on the material’s efficiency. This work underscores the potential of N-V2O3/C as a superior cathode material for AZIBs.

Osteosarcoma (OS) are the most prevalent malignant bone tumors in adolescents and young adults.. OS cells grow in a permissive local microenvironment which modulates their behavior and facilitates all steps in tumor development (e.g., proliferation/quiescence, invasion/migration, drug resistance) and contributes to their intrinsic heterogeneity. The lung parenchyma is the most common metastatic site in OS, and metastatic foci are frequently associated with a poor clinical outcome. Although multiple factors may be responsible for the disease, including genetic mutations (e.g., Rb, p53), the molecular mechanism of development of OS remains unclear and the conventional treatment for OS is still based on a sequential approach that combines chemotherapy and surgery. Also, despite the increase in clinical trials, the survival rates for OS have not improved. Non-specific targeting therapies thus show poor therapeutic effects with side effects at high doses. For these reasons, many efforts have been done to characterize the complex genome of osteosarcoma thanks to the whole exome analysis with the aim to identify predictive biomarkers to give to these patients a better therapeutic option. This review aims to summarize and discuss the main recent advances in OS molecular research for precision medicine.

This study investigated the relationship between aluminum adjuvant vaccines and the prevalence of 4 childhood diseases (Autism, Allergies, Asthma, ADD/ADHD) using data from the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) [1] and the Centers for Disease Control National Immunization Survey (CDC NIS) [2]. The study found an association with aluminum adjuvant dosage and the prevalence of each disease studied (Autism, Allergies, Asthma, ADD/ADHD) through a weighted regression analysis of disease prevalence against the summed likelihood of aluminum adjuvant vaccine uptake.

The purpose of this study is to examine the match-related performance (scores and penalties) of the athletes in the Junior EJC (European Judo Championship) and U23 EJC categories before and immediately after the Covid-19 quarantine, according to gender and weight category groups. Our sample was based on the junior and U23, male and females, 2019-2020 Junior European Judo Championships and 2019-2020 U23 European Judo Championships. A total of 1431 matches in these tournaments were analyzed: male (n=812) and female (n=619). The main findings of this study showed that most matches in both the male and female categories resulted in ippon (2019-2020 average: 64,35% for Junior male, 70,55% for U23 male and 69,3% for Junior female, 64,4% for U23 female). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between gender and age groups concerning the match scores. In the formation phase of the technique, considerations of high- and low-intensity actions, and analysis of the speed of athletes during matches in official competitions can help to better understand the dynamics of the variability of movements in judo matches. In addition, suggestions are presented to be applied to athletes in different age categories who are on the way to become Olympic athletes.

Erastin (ER) induces cell death by utilizing the process of ferroptosis via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ferroptosis is characterized by accumulation of ROS within the cell, leading to an iron-dependent oxidative damage-mediated cell death. Here, we have examined ferroptosis-dependent mechanism(s) of cytotoxicity of ER in K-RAS mutant human ovarian tumor OVCAR-8 and NCI/ADR-RES cell lines. We used these cell lines to decipher the mechanisms of ER as NCI/ADR-RES cells express higher activities of SOD, glutathione peroxidase and transferases than OVCAR-8 cells. We found that ER was equally cytotoxic to both cells; ER formed more ROS in OVCAR-8 cells than in NIH/ADR-RES cells. Ferrostatin-1, an inhibitor of ferroptosis, inhibited ER-induced cell death in both cell lines. In contrast, RSL3 (RAS-selective lethal 3), an inducer of ferroptosis, significantly enhanced cell death in both cell lines. ER induced significant lipid peroxidation only in OVCAR-8 cells. We found that RSL3 was more cytotoxic to NCI/ADR-RES cells and significantly enhanced ER-induced lipid peroxidation in both cells, indicating GPX4 was involved in the process of ER-mediated ferroptosis. ER treatment also differentially modulated several ferroptosis related genes (e.g., HMOX1/OH1, and CHAC1) in these cells, indicating ER-induced cell death may be mediated differently in OVCAR-8 and NCI/ADR-RES ovarian cells. Our studies suggest that combinations of ER and RSL3 may contribute significantly to the treatment of ovarian cancers, including those that are resistant to other therapeutic agents due to the presence of P-gp or tumors with Ras mutation in the clinic. ER induced ferroptosis may also be an important treatment modality for resistant tumors expressing MDR1 in the clinic.