Molnupiravir, a prodrug known for its broad antiviral activity, demonstrated efficacy in animal models of Covid-19, prompting clinical trials where initial results indicated a significant effect against the disease. However, subsequent clinical studies did not confirm these findings, leading to the rejection of molnupiravir for permanent market authorization in many countries. This report critically assessed 19 studies published in 17 reports that investigated the efficacy of molnupiravir in animal models of Covid-19 with the purpose of determining how well the design of these models informed human studies. We found that the administered doses of molnupiravir in most studies involving animal Covid-19 models were disproportionately higher than the dose rec-ommended for human use. Specifically, when adjusted for body surface area, half of the doses of molnupiravir used in the animal studies were more than twice as high as the human dose. Addi-tionally, the drug was frequently given prophylactically or shortly after SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in these models, in contrast to clinical trials where such timing is not consistently achieved. Furthermore, the recommended five-day treatment duration for humans was exceeded in several animal studies. Collectively, we suggest that these design elements in the reported animal studies contributed to a bias favoring molnupiravir, and thus inflated expectations for its efficacy against Covid-19. Addressing these elements may offer avenues to enhance the clinical efficacy of mol-nupiravir for treatment of Covid-19 that include dose increment, early treatment, and admin-istration by inhalation along with use of molnupiravir in antiviral combination therapy.

Private Set Intersection Cardinality(PSI-CA) is a cryptographic method in secure multi-party computation that allows entities to identify cardinality of the intersection without revealing their private data.Traditional approaches assume similar-sized datasets and equal computational power, overlooking practical imbalances.In real-world applications, dataset sizes and computational capacities often vary, particularly in the Internet of Things and mobile scenarios where device limitations restrict computational types. Traditional PSI-CA protocols are inefficient here, as computational and communication complexities correlate with the size of larger datasets. Thus, adapting PSI-CA protocols to these imbalances is crucial.This paper explores unbalanced scenarios where one party (the receiver) has a relatively small dataset and limited computational power, while the other party (the sender) has a large amount of data and strong computational capabilities.This paper, based on the concept of commutative encryption, introduces Cuckoo filter, cloud computing technology, homomorphic encryption, among other technologies, to construct three novel solutions for unbalanced Private Set Intersection Cardinality (PSI-CA): an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on Cuckoo filter, an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on single cloud assistance, and an unbalanced PSI-CA protocol based on dual cloud assistance. Depending on performance and security requirements, different protocols can be employed for various applications.

In bovine embryos, microRNA (miRNA) expression has been profiled at each stage of early development in-vitro. miRNAomic analysis of spent media has the potential to reveal characteristics of embryo health, however, applications are limited without categorizing miRNA profiles by embryo quality. Time-lapse imaging has shown the timing of embryo development in-vitro may be indicative of their developmental potential. The aim of the study was to profile miRNAs in the spent media of slow and fast-growing bovine embryos throughout the pre-implantation period. Bovine cumulus-oocyte-complexes were aspirated from ovaries, fertilized, and cultured to blastocyst stage of development. At 2-cell, 8-cell, and blastocyst stage, each microdrop of 30 presumptive-zygotes were classified as slow or fast-growing based on the percentage of embryos that had reached the desired morphological stage. Following hybridization on a GeneChip miRNA 4.0 array, comparative analysis was conducted between spent media of slow and fast-growing embryos. In total, 34 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between the comparison groups, with 14 of the miRNAs detected in the 2-cell samples, 7 miRNAs detected in the 8-cell samples, and 12 miRNAs detected in the blastocyst samples. The results demonstrate distinct miRNAs populations can be identified between slow and fast-growing embryos, highlighting novel biomarkers of developmental potential at each stage of pre-implantation development.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a groundbreaking advancement in cancer therapy, synergistically combine the precision of monoclonal antibodies with the potent destruction capabilities of cytotoxic drugs, signifying a new era in the targeted oncological treatments. This comprehensive paper delves into the evolving field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and their pivotal role in cancer therapy. We have conducted an in-depth exploration of the structural components of ADCs, including target antigens, monoclonal antibodies, chemical linkers, and cytotoxic payloads, each playing a crucial role in determining the efficacy and safety profile of these novel therapies. A detailed market analysis reveals the leading pharmaceutical companies shaping the ADC landscape, reflecting the growing interest and potential in this therapeutic approach. We further dissect the engineering intricacies of ADCs, focusing on their ability to target specific cancer cell antigens while minimizing off-target effects, thus offering a more focused treatment with reduced systemic side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. This approach holds promise in a heightened therapeutic index and decreased toxicity. The mechanisms and effector functions of ADCs are explored, highlight- ing their multifaceted strategy in combating cancer. We include a comprehensive look at how ADCs operate from initial blood circulation to the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. We also review several key ADCs currently in use or under investigation, offering insights into their unique mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and clinical implications. The discussion extends to drug creation modalities, focusing on innovative conjugation techniques that enhance ADC homogeneity and therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, the paper underscores the transformative potential of ADCs in the realm of cancer treatment, marking a shift towards more precise and targeted therapeutic approaches. By offering a thorough analysis of ADC technology, this paper sheds light on the prospects of these groundbreaking therapies in the ongoing fight against cancer.

Phenothiazine derivatives are widely studied in various fields such as biology, chemistry, and medicine research because of their pharmaceutical effects. The first reagent that was used suc-cessfully in the treatment of psychosis was a phenthiazine derivative, chlorpromazine. Apart from their activity in neurons, chlorpromazine have also been reported to display anticancer and antibacterial properties. In these studies, we present the synthesis and research on the activ-ity against A549, MDA, MiaPaCa, PC3 and HCT116 cancer cell lines and against S. aureus, S. epi-dermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa bacterial strains a series of new tetracyclic chlorpromazine ana-logues containing a quinoline scafford in their structure instead of the benzene ring and various substituents at the thiazine nitrogen. The structure of these novel molecules has been deter-mined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS spectral techniques. The seven most active of the twen-ty-four new chlorpromazine analogues tested were selected for study of the mechanism of cyto-toxic action. Their ability to induce apoptosis or necrosis in cancer cells was assessed by flow cytometry analysis. The results obtained confirmed the proapoptotic activity of selected com-pounds, especially in terms of inducing late apoptosis or necrosis in cancer cell lines A549, Mi-aPaCa-2 and HCT-116. Furthermore, studies on the induction of cell cycle arrest suggest that the new chlorpromazine analogues exert antiproliferative effects by inducing cell cycle arrest in the S phase and, consequently, apoptosis.

This study derives space travel pricing by Walrasian Equilibrium, which is logical reasoning from the general relativity theory (GRT), the accounting equation, and economic supply and demand functions. The Cobb-Douglas functions embed the endogenous space factor as new capital to form the space travel firm's production function, which is also transformed into the consumer's utility function. Thus, the market equilibrium occurs at the equivalence of supply and demand functions, like the GRT presents the equivalence between the spatial geometric tensor and the energy-momentum tensor, which explains the principles of gravity and the motion of space matter in the spacetime framework. The mathematical axiomatic set theory of the accounting equation explains the equity premium effect that causes a short-term accounting equation inequality, then reaches the equivalence by suppliers' incremental equity through the closing accounts process of the accounting cycle. On the demand side, the consumption of space travel can be assumed as a value at risk (VaR) investment to attain the specific spacetime curvature in an expected orbit. Spacetime market equilibrium is then achieved to construct the space travel pricing model. The methodology of econophysics and analogy method was applied to infer the space travel pricing by the model of profit maximization, single-minded, and envy-free pricing in unit-demand markets. A case study with simulation was conducted for empirical verification of the math models and algorithm. Results show that space travel pricing remains the principle of market equilibrium but needs to be extended to the spacetime tensor of GRT.

Smart grids represent the evolution of traditional electrical grids through the integration of digital and communication technologies. These grids are capable of monitoring and managing the distribution of electricity efficiently and resiliently. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in this context, offering advanced solutions for optimization, forecasting, and energy management. This paper explores the main AI technologies applied to smart grids, highlighting their advantages, challenges, and impacts on energy efficiency and sustainability. The methodology employed includes a comprehensive literature review, analysis of current AI applications in smart grids, and examination of case studies to illustrate the practical implementation and benefits of AI technologies in this field.

Rheometric investigations facilitate the rheological analysis of cementitious suspensions. However, the choice of the rheometric device and raw data conversion affect the results. Contrary to small gap rheometry, where the flow data shear stress

Diabetic foot is a serious complication that poses significant risks for diabetic people. The resulting reduction in protective sensitivity in the plantar region requires early detection to prevent the imminent ulceration and amputation. The primary method employed for evaluating this sensitivity loss is the 10 g f Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, commonly used as a first-line procedure. However, the lack of calibration in existing devices often introduces decision errors due to unreliable feedback. In this paper, a new equipment designed to address these limitations and enhance the assessment of the sensitivity loss using the 10 g f monofilament is introduced. The proposed system automates metrological verification and evaluation processes, ensuring accurate and reliable results. Furthermore, it simulates the practitioner’s procedure, serving both as a valuable training tool and a means to provide force-feedback information. An analytical model of the monofilament buckling and deflection is also presented. The obtained results showed that the tested monofilaments had a very high error compared to the 10 g f declared by the manufacturers. It is aimed, by introducing this advanced equipment, to improve the precision and reliability of assessing the sensitivity loss. The integration of automated verification, simulation capabilities, and precise measurements shows great promise for diabetic patients, reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes such as ulceration and amputation.

In human body, carboxylesterases (CEs) play the crucial roles in xenobiotic metabolism and lipid homeostasis. But the abnormal CEs expression is highly associated with some diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes and liver cancer. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop an efficient tool for the accurate detection of CEs in living organisms. Herein, an innovative near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe TTAP−AB has been designed for CEs detection based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism. This probe exhibits rapid response (2 min), excellent sensitivity (limit of detection = 8.14×10−6 U/mL), and high selectivity towards CEs. Additionally, owing to the good biocompatibility, probe TTAP−AB enables to monitor the dynamic changes of CEs level under drug-induced modulation in living cells and zebrafish. More importantly, probe TTAP−AB is successfully employed to image the liver tumor and assist tumor resection by the real-time monitoring of CEs, indicating that TTAP−AB is promising to guide liver cancer surgery. Therefore, probe TTAP−AB can not only enrich the strategies for CEs detection in biological systems, but also has great potential for some clinical imaging applications, including medical diagnosis, preclinical research, and imaging-guided surgery.

This study explores the potential of a deep-water hydroponic system integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enhance the production of Chinese celery (Apium graveolens), a popular leafy vegetable with culinary and medicinal properties. Traditional soil cultivation of Chinese celery can take 75-90 days and is susceptible to fungal diseases. To address these challenges, a 2 x 6 meter hydroponic greenhouse was designed and constructed to accommodate 1,000 plants. The study investigated the effects of two key factors on celery growth and yield: daily light exposure (660 nm wavelength, 6:00-11:00 p.m.) and internal temperature regulation using a fog sprayer when temperatures surpassed 35°C. The experiment was conducted in four separate hydroponic houses, each with different factor controls: House 1 (light and temperature), House 2 (temperature only), House 3 (light only), and House 4 (natural conditions). The IoT-based system maintained optimal water conductivity and pH levels, monitored through the Blynk application and regulated by an ESP32 microcontroller. Sensor data, including water conductivity, pH, internal temperature, humidity, and water temperature, were collected throughout the study. Results revealed significant differences in weight and final yield among the houses, with House 1 achieving the highest yield, 13.91% higher than House 4. A comparison between Houses 2 and 3 indicated that temperature played a more critical role than light in celery cultivation under similar conditions. An economic analysis demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of investing in the automated control system, with House 1 being 14% more profitable than House 4 and a breakeven point achieved at 27 months. This research highlights the benefits of IoT-controlled hydroponic systems in elevating Chinese celery production towards sustainable and efficient practices, offering valuable insights for modern agriculture.

Marine microalgae are a rich reservoir of natural compounds, including bioactives. Nonetheless, these organisms remain fairly unexplored despite their potential biotechnological applications. Culture collections with diverse taxonomic groups and lifestyles are a good source to unlock this potential and discover new molecules for multiple applications such as the treatment of human pathologies or the production of aquaculture species. In the present work extracts from 33 strains (including 20 dinoflagellates, 4 diatoms and 9 strains from other 7 algal classes), cultivated under identical conditions were examined for antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Among these, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities were detected in a few strains while antibacterial tests showed positive results in most assays. In turn, most trials did not show any anti-cancer activity. Wide differences were observed between species within the same class, in particular dinoflagellates which were better represented in this study. These preliminary findings pave the way for in-depth characterization of extracts with highest signals in each test, identification of compounds responsible of the biological activities found, and a further screening of the CCVIEO culture collection.

This study presents the comparison of heat transfer capacity and pressure drop characteristics between a basic fin-tube heat exchanger and a modified heat exchanger with the structural change of branch tubes and coiled turbulators. All experiments were carried out using an air-enthalpy type calorimeter based on the method described in ASHRAE standards, under heat exchanger experimental conditions. 14 different kinds of heat exchangers were used for the experiment. Cooling and heating capacities of the turbulator heat exchanger were excellent, compared to the basic one. As the insertion ratio of the coiled turbulator and the number of row increased, the heat transfer performance increased. However, the capacity per unit area was more effective in 4 rows than 6 rows, and the cooling performance of the 6 row turbulator heat exchanger (100% turbulator insert ratio) was down to about 6% than that of 4 row one. As the water flow rate and the turbulator insertion ratio increased, the pressure drop of the water side increased. This trend was more pronounced in 6 rows. In the cooling condition, the pressure drop on the air side was slightly increased due to the generation of condensed water, but was insignificant under the heating condition. The power consumption of the pump was more affected by the water flow rate than the coiled turbulator. The equivalent hydraulic diameter of a tube by the turbulator was reduced and then the heat transfer performance was improved. Thus, the tube diameter was smaller, the heat flux was better.

The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, accounts for more than 500,000 deaths worldwide per year. From 2000 to 2019, the malaria global death toll fell from 864,000 to 576,000 deaths; however, progress on reducing this toll has since slowed, with the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to an increase in the mortality rate since 2020. The emergence of widespread resistance in P. falciparum to first-line treatment drugs has highlighted the need for new antimalarial drugs, and smarter approaches, including better combination therapies and mass drug administration. Nevertheless, recent successes of the first malaria vaccine (RTS,S/AS01) and the approval of a second (R21/MM), have renewed the promise of widely applicable vaccines in the future. Since 2015, the Eastern Mediterranean Region has experienced an overall increase in malaria cases and deaths. In the Arabian Peninsula, while most of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been declared free of indigenous malaria (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates), malaria is still endemic in two GCC countries (Saudi Arabia and Oman) and its neighbors (Yemen). Furthermore, a number of factors threaten malaria control in this region, at the level of the parasite (antimalarial drug resistance), the mosquito (the emergence of highly invasive species), the environment (climate change and increasing average temperatures), and society (imported malaria). In this review, we assess the current world-wide status of malaria in terms of public health, prevention and treatment, before providing an Arabian regional perspective, with a critical evaluation of the malaria situation in the GCC countries.

Diagnosing melanocytic lesions is among the most challenging problems in the practice of pathology. The difficulty of physically masking melanin pigment and the similarity of its color to commonly used chromogens often complicate examination of the cytomorphology and immunohistochemical staining results for tumor cells. Melanin bleach can be very helpful for histopathological diagnosis of heavily pigmented melanocytic lesions. Although various depigmentation methods have been reported, no standardized methods have been developed. This study developed a fully automated platform that incorporates hydrogen peroxide-based melanin depigmentation in an automated immunohistochemical analysis. The utility of the method was tested in one cell block of malignant melanoma cells in pleural effusion, ten ocular melanoma tissue samples, and ten cutaneous melanoma tissue samples. Our results demonstrated that the proposed method, which can be performed in only 3 hours, effectively preserves cell cytomorphology and immunoreactivity. The method is particularly effective for removing melanin pigment to facilitate histopathological examination of cytomorphology and for obtaining an unmasked tissue section for immunohistochemical analysis.

In this paper, we present a novel approach for text independent phone-to-audio alignment based on phoneme recognition, representation learning and knowledge transfer. Our method leverages a self-supervised model (wav2vec2) fine-tuned for phoneme recognition using a Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) loss, a dimension reduction model and a frame-level phoneme classifier trained thanks to forced-alignment labels (using Montreal Forced Aligner) to produce multi-lingual phonetic representations, thus requiring minimal additional training. We evaluate our model using synthetic native data from the TIMIT dataset and the SCRIBE dataset for American and British English, respectively. Our proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art (charsiu) in statistical metrics and has applications in language learning and speech processing systems. We leave experiments on other languages for future work but the design of the system makes it easily adaptable to other languages.

Bicycle transport stands at the forefront of sustainable mobility initiatives, a cornerstone of European Union policy. While support for cycling is crucial, its advancement hinges upon the presence of high-quality, secure infrastructure for cyclists. Safety emerges as a paramount concern, influencing the viability of cycling as a mode of transportation, yet its perception varies among user demographics. In light of this, this article endeavors to examine and contrast cycling infrastructure across various European nations, alongside analyzing statistics pertaining to fatal traffic accidents involving cyclists. The findings underscore a substantial correlation between the quality of cycling infrastructure and the incidence of accidents. This correlation underscores the pressing need for robust infrastructure development and safety measures to bolster cycling as a safe and viable transportation option. By understanding the intricate interplay between infrastructure quality and safety outcomes, policymakers can better prioritize resources and enact measures to foster safer cycling environments, thus furthering the objectives of sustainable mobility on a continental scale.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a significant player in the pathophysiology of various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite the established link between ER stress and inflammatory pathways, there remains a need for deeper exploration of the specific cellular mechanisms underlying ER stress-mediated neuroinflammation. Methods: This study aimed to investigate how severity of ER stress can impact the release of proinflammatory cyto-kines IL-6 and IL-8 from astrocytes and microglia, comparing the effects with those induced by well-known immunostimulants - tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: Mild ER stress has a distinct effect on the cytokine release compared to more intense stress levels, i.e. diminished IL-6 production was accompanied by an increase in IL-8 level, which was significantly more pronounced in astrocytes than in microglia. On the contrary, prolonged or more severe ER stress induced inflammation in glial cells, leading to a time- and concentration-dependent buildup of pro-inflammatory IL-6 but unlike inflammatory agents, ER stress inducer diminished IL-8 secretions by glial cells. Conclusion: The differences could hold importance in identifying ER stress markers as potential drug targets for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or mood disorders, yet it requires confirmation in more complex animal studies.

The article presents comparative results from 5 categories of animals (4 samples originating from pigs, 2 from cows, 1 from chicken, 1 from ostriches, 1 from horses, samples quantified with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I). These samples were collected from large, medium and small (family) farms. The results were validated by the biogas production generated by the respective samples, using the Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS II) bio-processor. The largest amounts of biogas (2,464.5 Nml, 2,262.0 Nml) were recorded for the samples from pig farms (Sample B and Sample D), whereas the lowest values were obtained in the case of Sample A (414.1 Nml) and Sample C (558.3 Nml). The heavy metals analyzed in the article are Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ca, K, As. The results corroborate that the C/N ratio can also vary to values lower than 20-30, without affecting the biogas production process, and the heavy metal content must be known especially for the full management of the wastes. All final data presented in the article are based on repeated, triplicate experiments, with less as 2% deviation between data.

Global change and human activities are altering biodiversity at an unprecedented rate worldwide, leading to sharp declines in global biodiversity and other ecological issues. Over the past 30 years, ecologists have increasingly focused on the question of whether and how the ongoing loss of biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning. This interest has led to the emergence of the field of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) as a major research area in ecology. However, historically, researchers have predominantly focused on individual ecosystem functions, neglecting the capacity of ecosystems to provide multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously, known as ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). This article reviews advances in EMF research, including the selection of functional indicators in EMF studies, different dimensions of biodiversity, the impacts of microbial diversity and biotic interactions on EMF, and drivers of EMF such as non-biological factors. By comprehensively analyzing the overall effects of aboveground biodiversity, belowground biodiversity, and non-biological factors on EMF, the study emphasizes the need to enhance research and application of ecosystem multiserviceability (EMS) approaches.

Clopidogrel; a prescription drug to reduce ischemic events in cardiovascular patients; has been extensively studied in mostly European individuals but not among Caribbean Hispanics. This study evaluated the low abundance and reduced activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in clopidogrel-resistant patients as a predictive risk biomarker of poor responders and disease severity in this population. Thirty-six patients on clopidogrel (cases; divided into poor and normal responders) were enrolled along with 11 cardiovascular patients with no clopidogrel indications (positive control) and 13 healthy volunteers (negative control). Residual on-treatment platelet function (PRU); PON1 abundance by western blotting and PON1 activity by enzymatic assays were measured. PON1 genotyping and computational haplotype phasing were performed on 512 DNA specimens for two genetic loci (rs662 and rs854560). No statistical differences in mean relative PON1 abundance were found among the groups (p> 0.05). However; a significantly lower enzymatic activity was found in poor responders (10.57 ± 6.79 µU/mL) when compared to controls (22.66 ± 8.30 µU/mL and 22.21 ± 9.66 µU/mL; p= 0.004). PON1 activity among carriers of the most prevalent PON1 haplotype (AA|AA) was significantly lower than in wild-types (7.90 µU/mL vs 22.03 µU/mL; p= 0.005). Our findings suggested that PON1 is a potential biomarker of cardiovascular disease severity in Caribbean Hispanics.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) results from infection by the protozoa Leishmania infantum and L. donovani. HIV-coinfected patients may have a relapsing course of VL, even after secondary prophylaxis with amphotericin B. This study investigated whether host factors would explain the relapses. First, susceptibility to amphotericin B of L. infantum isolates was evaluated in vitro. Then, clinical data and the lipid profile of patients with relapsing and non-relapsing VL were assessed. Susceptibility to amphotericin B was similar between the isolates. CD4+ lymphocytes were reduced in both patients in the first episode and with relapsing VL. Still, the strongest blood cell associated with relapses was low total lymphocyte counts. Total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and, uniquely, triglycerides of the six individuals in the first episode and 23 with relapsing VL were lower in relapsing patients than those in the first episode. Deceased patients had extremely low, low-density lipoprotein. After CD4+ decrease, lymphocyte CD8+ reduction seem to be the final stage of the immunological failure. The lower lipid concentrations appear to be secondary to the depletion of fat stores by inflammation-induced cachexia provoked by the co-occurrence of both diseases, which can finally lead to death.

Chagas disease is a Neglected Tropical Disease with limited and ineffective therapy. In a search for new antitrypanosomal compounds, we investigated the potential of metabolites from bacteria living in corals and sediments of the Southeastern Brazilian coast. Three corals Tubastraea coccinea, Mussismilia hispida, Madracis decactis and sediments yielded 11 bacterial strains, that were fully identified by MALDI-ToF/MS or gene sequencing, resulting in six genera - Vibrio, Shewanella, Mesoflavibacter, Halomonas, Bacillus and Alteromonas. To conduct this study, EtOAc extracts were prepared and tested against Trypanosoma cruzi. Crude extracts showed IC50 values ranging from 15 to 51 μg/mL against trypomastigotes. The bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens was selected for fractionation, resulting in an active fraction (FII) with IC50 values of 17.7 μg/mL and 23.8 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, with neither mammalian cytotoxicity nor hemolytic activity. Using NMR and ESI-HRMS analysis, FII revealed the presence of unsaturated iso-type fatty acids. Its lethal action was investigated, leading to a protein spectral profile of the parasite altered after treatment. FII also induced a rapid permeabilization of the plasma membrane of the parasite, leading to cell death. These findings demonstrate these unsaturated iso-type fatty acids as possible new hits against T. cruzi.

The vertebrate basal ganglia are thought to play an important role in action selection—the resolution of conflicts between alternative motor programs. The effective operation of basal ganglia circuitry is also known to rely on appropriate levels of tonic dopamine transmission. We show that when the tonic level of simulated dopamine in a robotic model of the basal ganglia is significantly reduced or increased, relative to an effective operating baseline, a variety of behavioral outcomes are observed that provide interesting comparisons with the results of human and animal studies. The main findings were that progressive reductions in the levels of simulated dopamine caused a slowing of the robot’s movements and eventually an inability to initiate movement. These states were partially relieved at increased salience levels (stronger sensory/motivational input). Conversely, increased levels of simulated dopamine could cause distortion of the robot’s motor acts through partially-expressed motor activity relating to losing actions; this could also lead to increased frequency of switching between behaviors. Levels of simulated dopamine that were either significantly lower or higher than baseline could cause changes to the timing of behavior switching that could cause a loss of behavioral integration, sometimes leaving the robot in a ‘behavioral trap’. That some analogous traits are observed in animals and humans affected by dopamine dysregulation suggests that embodied (robotic) models could prove useful in understanding the role of dopamine neurotransmission in basal ganglia function and dysfunction. That the effects of simulated dopamine on robot action selection were partially, but not fully, predictable from the selection properties of the non-embodied basal ganglia model, also points to the added value of using robotic models to explore the relationship between brain activity and behavior.

The structural transitions RNAs undergo during trafficking are not well-understood. Here, we used the well-developed yeast Ty1 retrotransposon to provide the first structural model of genome (g) RNA in the nucleus from a retrovirus-like transposon. Through a detailed comparison of nuclear Ty1 gRNA structure with those established in the cytoplasm, virus-like particles (VLPs), and synthesized in vitro, we detected Ty1 gRNA structural alternations that occur during retrotransposition. Full-length Ty1 gRNA serves as the mRNA for Gag and Gag-Pol proteins and as the genome that is reverse transcribed within VLPs. We show that about 60% of base pairs predicted for the nuclear Ty1 gRNA appear in the cytoplasm, and active translation does not account for such structural differences. Most of the shared base pairs are represented by short-range interactions, while the long-distance pairings seem unique for each compartment. Highly structured motifs tend to be preserved after nuclear export of Ty1 gRNA. In addition, our study highlights the important role of Ty1 Gag in mediating critical RNA:RNA interactions required for retrotransposition.

Disaggregated population counts are needed to calculate health, economic, and development indicators in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), especially in settings of rapid urbanisation. Censuses are often outdated and inaccurate in LMIC settings, and rarely disaggregated at fine geographic scale. Modelled gridded population datasets derived from census data have become widely used by development researchers and practitioners. These datasets are evaluated for accuracy at the spatial scale of the input data which is often much courser (e.g. administrative units) than the neighbourhood or cell-level scale of many applications. We simulate a realistic "true" 2016 population in Khomas, Namibia, a majority urban region, and introduce realistic levels of outdatedness (over 15 years) and inaccuracy in slum, non-slum, and rural areas. We aggregate these simulated realistic populations by census and administrative boundaries (to mimic census data), and generate 32 gridded population datasets that are typical of a LMIC setting using WorldPop-Global-Unconstrained gridded population approach. We evaluate the cell-level accuracy of these simulated datasets using the original "true" population as a reference. In our simulation, we found large cell-level errors, particularly in slum cells, driven by the use of average population densities in large areal units to determine cell-level population densities. Age, accuracy, and aggregation of the input data also played a role in these errors. We suggest incorporating finer-scale training data into gridded population models generally, and WorldPop-Global-Unconstrained in particular (e.g., from routine household surveys or slum community population counts), and use of new building footprint datasets as a covariate to improve cell-level accuracy. It is important to measure accuracy of gridded population datasets at spatial scales more consistent with how the data are being applied, especially if they are to be used for monitoring key development indicators at neighbourhood scales with relevance to small dense deprived areas within larger administrative units.

Port state control inspections implemented under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have become known as one of the best instruments for maritime administrations in European Union (EU) Member States to ensure that the ships docked in their ports comply with all maritime safety requirements. This paper focuses on the analysis of all inspections made between 2013 and 2018 in the top ten EU ports incorporated in the Paris MoU (17,880 inspections). The methodology consists of a multivariate statistical information system (STATIS) analysis using the inspected ship’s characteristics as explanatory variables. The variables used describe both the inspected ships (classification society, flag, age and gross tonnage) and the inspection (type of inspection and number of deficiencies), yielding a dataset with more than 600,000 elements in the data matrix. The most important results are that the classifications obtained match the performance lists published annually by the Paris MoU and the classification societies. Therefore, the approach is a potentially valid classification method and would then be useful to maritime authorities as an additional indicator of a ship’s risk profile to decide inspection priorities and as a tool to measure the evolution in the risk profile of flag over time.

We study the application of Optimal Control Theory to Ion Cyclotron Resonance. We test the validity and the efficiency of this approach for the robust excitation of an ensemble of ions with a wide range of cyclotron frequencies. Optimal analytical solutions are derived in the case without any pulse constraint. A gradient-based numerical optimization algorithm is proposed to take into account limitation in the control intensity. The efficiency of optimal pulses is investigated as a function of control time, maximum amplitude and range of excited frequencies. A comparison with adiabatic and SWIFT pulses is done. On the basis of recent results in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, this study highlights the potential usefulness of optimal control in Ion Cyclotron Resonance.

A quark nugget is a hypothetical dark-matter candidate composed of approximately equal numbers of up, down, and strange quarks. Most models of quark nuggets do not include effects of their intrinsic magnetic field. However, Tatsumi used a mathematically tractable approximation of the Standard Model of Particle Physics and found that the cores of magnetar pulsars may be quark-nuggets in a ferromagnetic-liquid state with surface magnetic field Bo = $10^(12±1) T. We have applied that result to quark-nugget dark matter. Previous work addressed the formation and aggregation of magnetized quark nuggets (MQNs) into a broad and magnetically stabilized mass distribution before they could decay and addressed their interaction with normal matter through their magnetopause, losing translational velocity while gaining rotational velocity and radiating electromagnetic energy. The two orders of magnitude uncertainty in Tatsumi’s estimate for Bo precludes the practical design of systematic experiments to detect MQNs through their predicted interaction with matter. In this paper, we examine episodic events consistent with a unique signature of MQNs. If they are indeed caused by MQNs, they constrain the most likely values of Bo = 1.65 × 10^12 T +/- 21% and support the design of definitive tests of the MQN dark-matter hypothesis.

Purpose: To assess the clinical safety and possible effectiveness of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) related to sepsis. Methods: Under FDA Investigational New Drug clearance, 8 patients with ARDS related to sepsis were treated with 50 pmole/kg/hr – 100 pmole/kg/hr of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide by intravenous infusion for 12 hours. All patients were on mechanical ventilation and full telemetery. Results: No drug-related serious adverse events were seen. Hypotension was seen in association with two infusions and diarrhea in association with one, but did not necessitate cessation of therapy. Bigeminy was seen in association with one infusion without sequelae. Seven of eight patients demonstrated a successful course during intensive care and were successfully removed from mechanical ventilation and discharged from intensive care. The eighth patient succumbed to purulent secretions in the lungs. Of those who were discharged from the ICU, six demonstrated successful 30 day survival. The seventh died from a cerebral infract at day 30, deemed unrelated to treatment with VIP. Serum levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor α were obtained in 6 patients at baseline and 24 hours and were seen to decrease with treatment in five patients. Conclusions: Initial clinical results of treatment with VIP in patients with ARDS demonstrated a safety profile consistent with previous studies in normal volunteers. The successful clinical course seen in 7 of 8 patients in the setting of an expected 50% survival may suggest that VIP shows promise in the treatment of other infectious conditions that damage the pulmonary epithelium, particularly COVID-19.

The maturity of tomato fruit is normally characterized by external color and it is often difficult to know when fruit have achieved commercial maturity or become over-mature. The internal structure of tomato fruit change during development and this study investigates the utility of nondestructive measurement of tomato fruit structure as a function of maturity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The objective of this work is to use analysis of internal tomato fruit structural measurements to characterize maturity. Intact cherry tomato fruit were harvested at six different maturity stages. At each stage of maturity, the internal structure of the fruit was measured using a series of 2D magnetic resonance (MR) images. Qualitative and quantitative image analyses were performed to correlate internal fruit structure with maturity. Internal structural changes observed in the pericarp region of the tomato fruit are highly correlated with fruit maturity. MR image information combined with classical analysis techniques provides a more complete understanding of structure and physicochemical changes in tomato fruit during maturation. This study demonstrates that MRI is a useful analytical tool to characterize internal changes in agricultural produce as the produce matures. This technique can be applied to almost any agricultural produce to monitor internal physical changes due to external impact, maturity stage, variation in climate, storage time and condition or other factor impacting quality.

The use of mixed-state ionic beams in collision dynamics investigations is examined. Using high resolution Auger projectile spectroscopy involving He-like ($1s^2\thinspace^1\!S, 1s2s\thinspace^{3,1}\!S$) mixed-state beams, the spectrum contributions of the $1s2s\thinspace^3\!S$ metastable beam component is effectively separated and clearly identified. This is performed with a technique that exploits two independent spectrum measurements under the same collision conditions, but with ions having quite different metastable fractions, judiciously selected by varying the ion beam charge-stripping conditions. Details of the technique are presented together with characteristic examples. In collisions of 4 MeV B$^{3+}$ with H$_2$ targets, the Auger electron spectrum of the separated $1s2s\thinspace^{3}S$ boron beam component allows for a detailed analysis of the formation of the $1s2s(^3\!S)nl \thinspace^2\!L$ states by direct $nl$ transfer. In addition, the production of hollow $2s2p\thinspace^{1,3}\!P$ doubly- and $2s2p^2\thinspace^2\!D$ triply-excited states, by direct excitation and transfer-excitation processes, respectively, can also be independently studied. In similar mixed-state beam collisions of 15 MeV C$^{4+}$ with H$_2$, He, Ne and Ar targets, the contributions of the $1s^2$, $1s2s\thinspace^{3,1}S$ beam components to the formation of the $2s2p\thinspace^{3,1}\!P$ states by double-excitation, $1s\rightarrow2p$ excitation and transfer-loss processes can be clearly identified, facilitating comparisons with theoretical calculations.

Conjunctival melanoma (Co-M) is an aggressive, invasive eye and eyelid cancer. Its global inci-dence of ~1 in a million is increasing at a rate ratio of ~1.4, but this rises sharply in over 65-year-olds. Although rare, Co-M has a devastating impact on the lives of those who develop it. Co-M is often misdiagnosed or overlooked leading to vision loss either from destructive effects of the tumour or side effects of therapy, facial disfigurement from radical surgery, and death from metastases. Due to its rarity, there is limited evidence for diagnosis and management; hence, there is no standardised treatment and not all cases are referred to a specialised ocular oncology centre. Recent progress in cancer immunology and genetics have revolutionised treatment of cutaneous melanoma, which share some similarities to Co-M. A better understanding of Co-M and its precursor lesions is urgently needed to lead the development of novel targeted and immuno-therapies both for local tumour control and disseminated disease. This review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical overview of the current knowledge of Co-M, its epidemiology, pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, management, and recent advances in novel biological therapies for personalised treatment of this disease.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, with few available therapies and a 5-year survival rate of 7.2%. Hence, strategies for improving GBM prognosis are urgently needed. The translocator protein 18kDa (TSPO) plays crucial roles in essential mito-chondria-based physiological processes and is a validated biomarker of neuroinflammation, which is implicated in GBM progression. The TSPO gene has a germline single nucleotide pol-ymorphism, rs6971, which is the most common SNP in the Caucasian population. High TSPO gene expression is associated with reduced survival in GBM patients; however, the relation between the most frequent TSPO genetic variant and GBM pathogenesis is not known. The present study ret-rospectively analyzed the correlation of the TSPO polymorphic variant rs6971 with overall and progression-free survival in GBM patients using three independent cohorts. TSPO rs6971 poly-morphism was significantly associated with shorter overall survival and progression-free survival in male GBM patients but not in females in one large cohort of 441 patients. We observed similar trends in two other independent cohorts. These observations suggest that the TSPO rs6971 pol-ymorphism could be a significant predictor of poor prognosis in GBM, with a potential for use as a prognosis biomarker in GBM patients. These results reveal for the first time a biological sex-specific relation between rs6971 TSPO polymorphism and GBM.

The thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of a glass fiber polyethylene terephthalate glycol (GF/PETG) continuous unidirectional (UD) tape were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The study identified five operational conditions based on Army Regulation 70-38 Standard. The DSC results revealed a glass transition temperature of 78.0 ± 0.3°C, guiding the selection of temperatures for TMA and DMA tests. TMA provided the coefficient of thermal expansion in three principal directions, consistent with known values for PETG and GF materials. DMA tests, including strain sweep, temperature ramp, frequency sweep, creep, and stress relaxation, defined the linear viscoelastic region and temperature-dependent properties of the material. The frequency sweep indicated an increase in modulus with rising frequency, identifying several natural frequency modes. Creep and stress relaxation tests showed time-dependent behavior, with strain increasing under higher loads and stress decreasing over time for all tested input values. Viscoelastic models fitted to the data yielded R² values of 0.99, demonstrating good agreement. The study successfully measured thermo-mechanical and viscoelastic properties across various conditions, providing insights into how temperature influences the material's mechanical response under extreme conditions.

The aim of the study was to gain deeper insights in the potential for polyclonal stimulation of PBMC from cows and pigs with banana lectin (BanLec) from Musa paradisiaca. BanLec induced a marked proliferative response in cow and pig PBMC. The response in pigs was even higher than to Concanavalin A. Molecular processes associated with respective responses were examined with differential proteome analyses. Discovery proteomic experiments was applied to BanLec stimulated PBMC and cellular and secretome responses were analyzed with label free LC-MS/MS. In PBMC, 3955 proteins were identified. After polyclonal stimulation with BanLec, 459 proteins showed significantly changed abundance in PBMC. In respective PBMC secretomes, 2867 proteins were identified with 231 differentially expressed candidates as reaction to BanLec stimulation. The transcription factor `E74 like ETS transcription factor 1 (ELF1)` was solely enriched in BanLec stimulated PBMC. BanLec induced secretion of several immune regulators, amongst them positive regulators of activated T cell proliferation and Jak-STAT signaling pathway. Top changed immune proteins were CD226, CD27, IFNG, IL18, IL2, CXCL10, LAT, ICOS, IL2RA, LAG3 and CD300C. BanLec stimulates PBMC of cows and pigs polyclonally and induces IL2 pathway and further proinflammatory cytokines. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD027505.

Bluetongue is not a contagious disease. It spreads very quickly and uncontrollably, considering that it is a vec-tor-borne disease transmitted by the genus Culicoides. Climate change has led to the fact that vectors and dis-eases have spread to the top of Northern Europe, causing great economic losses in livestock production. Even greater problem is controlling the disease, because numerous species of domestic and wild ruminants are sus-ceptible to bluetongue. The most effective tool against bluetongue disease is vaccination. There is no ideal vaccine against bluetongue virus (BTV) due to the serotype diversity of the strains. Thus, there is need for a vaccine for at least for 24 clinically significant serotypes. Sometimes it is difficult to obtain the desired amount of vaccine against a defined serotype on the market, and this led to the need for a new vaccine against blue-tongue disease. We tested an experimental inactivated novel vaccine against BTV4. Master seed BTV4 has been examined and characterized by sequencing. The novel BTV4 vaccine induce the onset of immunity at least at day 21 after the application of the first dose in more than 80% of vaccinated individuals, while specific antibodies against BTV are detected by the ELISA test for more than a year. Along with our laboratory results, the preliminary results of safety and efficacy trials are also presented. The side effects of novel vaccine are within the limits of permissible local reactions without generalized changes of health status, while the serology and challenge test leads to the conclusion that novel vaccine protects high percentage of vaccinated individuals against BTV4 or causes a significant reduction in the intensity and duration of the clinical signs in the vac-cinated sheep. Based on the trial results, new vaccine has given encouraging results in quality, safety and pre-liminary efficacy tests. Thus, we believe that a new vaccine against BTV is on the horizon. Keywords: bluetongue virus, inactivated vaccine, candidate, quality of vaccine, safety, efficacy We confirm that neither the manuscript nor any parts of its content are currently un-der consideration for publication with or published in another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to Vaccines.

Abstract: Background: The gut microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, is essential for human health, primarily through nutrient metabolism and production of anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids. Dysbiosis, a disruption in microbial composition, is linked to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and allergies. Dietary habits significantly influence gut microbiota diversity, with balanced diets crucial for maintaining microbial equilibrium. Culinary herbs and spices, known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, may positively modulate the gut microbiota by inhibiting inflammation, stimulating beneficial bacteria, and exhibiting prebiotic effects. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database to identify relevant research articles on the impact of culinary spices on the gut microbiome. The search terms included "culinary spices," "gut microbiome," "gut modulation," "gut dysbiosis," "common spices," and "gut health." Thirty-five articles published between 2016 and 2024 were reviewed, with eight directly addressing the effects of culinary spices on gut microbiome modulation. Priority was given to peer-reviewed journals and reputable scientific sources. Results: Studies demonstrate that mixed spices and individual spices like ginger, turmeric, and chili can induce favorable changes in gut microflora, promoting beneficial probiotics and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria. Spices such as turmeric and curcumin exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to their protective effects against chronic diseases like colon cancer and metabolic disorders. Conclusions: Incorporating culinary spices into dietary interventions is important for overall well-being. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action and optimize the therapeutic applications of spices in clinical settings.

Time series forecasting has been a challenging area in the field of Artificial Intel-ligence. Various approaches such as linear Neural Networks, Recurrent Linear Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks and recently Transformers have been attempted for the time series forecasting domain. Although, Trans-former-based architectures have been outstanding in the Natural Language Pro-cessing domain, especially in autoregressive language modeling, the initial at-tempts to use transformers in the time series arena have met with mixed success. One of the recent papers demonstrated that modeling the multi-variate time se-ries problem as independent channels on a transformer architecture produced lower mean square and mean absolute errors on benchmarks, however, another recent paper claimed that a simple linear neural network out-performs previous approaches including transformer-based designs. We investigate this paradox in detail comparing the linear Neural Network and Transformer based designs, provide insights to why a certain approach may be better for a particular type of problem. We also improve upon the recently proposed simple linear Neural Network based architecture by using dual pipelines with batch normalization and reversible instance normalization. Our enhanced architecture outperforms all existing architectures for time series forecasting on majority of the popular benchmarks.

The fungus Xylaria sp. Z184, harvested from the leaves of Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve, has been isolated for the first time. Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of this strain’s culture broth led to the discovery of three new pyranone derivatives fallopiaxylaresters A-C (1–3) and a new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid named fallopiaxylarol A (4), along with the first complete set of spectroscopic data for the previously-reported pestalotiopyrone M (5). Known pyranone derivatives (6–11), sesquiterpenoids (12–14), isocoumarin derivatives (15–17), and an aromatic allenic ether (18) were co-isolated. Their structures were elucidated by the interpretation of HRESIMS, 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical computation method. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of selected compounds and crude extract were evaluated in vitro. The extract inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in murine RAW264.7 macrophage cells, with an inhibition rate of 77.28 ± 0.82% at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. The compounds 5, 7 and 8 displayed weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus areus subsp. aureus at a concentration of 100 μM.

Website information security has become a critical concern in the digital age. This article explores the evolution of website information security, examining its historical development, current practices, and future directions. The early beginnings from the 1960s to the 1980s laid the groundwork for modern cybersecurity, with the development of ARPANET, TCP/IP, public-key cryptography, and the first antivirus programs. The 1990s marked a transformative era, driven by the commercialization of the Internet and the emergence of web-based services. As the Internet grew, so did the range and sophistication of cyber threats, leading to advancements in security technologies such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, password protection, and firewalls. Current practices in website information security involve a multi-layered approach, including encryption, secure coding practices, regular security audits, and user education. The future of website information security is expected to be shaped by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing, as well as the increasing importance of international cooperation and standardization efforts. As cyber threats continue to evolve, ongoing research and innovation in website information security will be essential to protect sensitive information and maintain trust in the digital world.

This study examines the relationship between teleworking, gender roles and happiness of couples using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the Understanding Society Survey (USS) during the period 1991-2012. Various approaches are followed, including Probit-adapted fixed effects, multinomial Logit and Instrumental variables (IV). The results support that both men and women who are teleworkers spend more time on housework, while teleworking increases the probability that the household chores examined in this study, such as cooking, cleaning ironing and childcare, will be shared relatively to those who are non-teleworkers. In addition, women are happier when they or their spouse is teleworker, as well as, both men and women are happier when they state that the specific household chores are shared. Thus, women teleworkers may be happier because they can face the family demands and share the household chores with their spouse, increasing their fairness belief about the household division allocation and improving their well-being, expressed by happiness.

Eddy-driven jets are of importance in the ocean and atmosphere, and to a first approximation are governed by Rossby wave dynamics. This study addresses the time-dependent flux of fluid and potential vorticity between such a jet and an adjacent eddy, with specific regard to determining zonal and meridional wavenumber dependence. The flux amplitude in wavenumber space is obtained, which is easily computable for a given jet geometry, speed and latitude, and which provides instant information on the wavenumbers of the Rossby waves which maximize the flux. This new tool enables the quick determination of which modes are most influential in imparting fluid exchange, which in the long term will homogenize the potential vorticity between the eddy and the jet. The results are validated by computing backward- and forward-time finite-time Lyapunov exponent fields, and also stable and unstable manifolds; the intermingling of these entities defines the region of chaotic transport between the eddy and the jet. The relationship of all of these to the time-varying transport flux between the eddy and the jet is carefully elucidated. The flux quantification presented here works for general time-dependence, whether or not lobes (intersection regions between stable and unstable manifolds) are present in the mixing region, and is therefore also easily computable for wave packets consisting of infinitely many wavenumbers.

Plant responses to different light and water availability are variable among species and their re-spective phenotypic plasticity, and the combination between these two abiotic factors can alleviate or intensify stressful effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of exposure time of Cedrela fissilis Vell. seedlings to different water and light availability and the interaction of these factors. Seedlings were submitted to combinations of three shading levels – SH (0, 30 and 70%) and three water regimes based on the water holding capacity (WHC) in the substrate, constituting nine cul-tivation conditions: T1 – 0% SH + 40% WHC; T2 – 0% SH + 70% WHC; T3 – 0% SH + 100% WHC; T4 – 30% SH + 40% WHC; T5 – 30% SH + 70% WHC; T6 – 30% SH and 100% WHC; T7 – 70% SH + 40% WHC; T8 – 70% SH +70% WHC; T9 – 70% SH + 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings respond to water deficit, here represented by 40% WHC, regardless of exposure time, and when cultivated in full sun, the stressful effects were enhanced, acting in a synergistic manner. The condition that provided better gas exchange performance and greater total dry mass accumulation for C. fissilis seedlings was 30% shading combined with 100% WHC. C. fissilis seedlings have physiological plasticity and resilience to survive under different water and light conditions.

This paper offers a theoretical and experimental examination of the concurrent production of electricity and heat using photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technology. The efficiency performance of the PV/T system is meticulously analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink software environments. Notably, the proposed PV/T system shows reliable performance, and its validity is confirmed through experimental validation on a test stand with a single PV/T panel positioned at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal and a 0-degree azimuth angle.

Live-streaming commerce (LSC) is a new shopping method that combines the characteristics of social commerce and e-commerce. Since the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the number of branded platforms is growing rapidly, and their competition is fiercer than ever. Understanding consumer needs and improving service quality become the key issue for survival. This study aims to develop and empirically validate a multi-dimensional hierarchical model for measuring service quality on LSC platforms. A hierarchical reflective construct was proposed to capture dimensions based on literature on e-retail and social commerce service quality. The pro-posed model was rigorously tested using two waves of survey data through the partial least squares method. Results showed that the service quality of LSC is a third-order, reflective con-struct and includes five primary dimensions (the streamer’s interaction quality, physical envi-ronment, website quality, outcome quality and ordering process) and twelve sub-dimensions (trustworthiness, expertise, responsiveness, telepresence, consumption scenarios, information quality, system operation quality, fulfillment and refund/compensation, privacy/security, contact and ease of use). Findings also supported the hypothesis that service quality has a significant impact on customers’ satisfaction and their behavioral intentions. Furthermore, we tested an al-ternative model, and the results showed that the relationship between dimensions and overall assessment is reflective rather than formative. We offered directions for further research on LSC service quality and discussed managerial implications stemming from the empirical findings.

Cholinesterase (ChE) and secretase (BACE) inhibitors, and fibril- and β-amyloid-suppressing medicines are used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptomatically. The prevalence and complex nature of AD have increased the urgent need for multi-targeted directed ligands (MTDLs). This is because MTDLs can prevent potential drug-drug interactions during poly-therapy and have a better therapeutic profile than single targeted agents. Using piperazine linker or spacer and two primary scaffolds, benzofuran and 8-hydroxyquinoline, a unique class of multi-targeted medicines was recently reported by our group. These compounds showed re-markable effectiveness in inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation and acting as iron chelators.The results prompted us to synthesize an additional series of compounds as multimodal anti-AD agents and investigate its inhibitor activities to ChE (AChE/BChE) and BACE1 enzymes. The resulting in-hibitory effects suggested that the compounds under study might be used to improve cognitive function. The docking analysis' findings revealed that the compounds bind to AChE and BChE by forming H-bond interactions with amino acid residues at binding sites and µ-stacking inter-actions with aromatic residues, whereas the binding to BACE1 only revealed H-bond interac-tions with amino acid residues at binding sites.

Assessing dietary inadequacies can contribute to understanding the nutritional vulnerabilities of a country. This study aimed to investigate nutrient intakes and micronutrient inadequacies in the Brazilian adult population, with an interest in different age subgroups. Cross-sectional study with 1812 individuals aged 19 to 65 years from a population-based study with a representative sample of Brazilian adults. Dietary intake was assessed by two 24-hour food recalls, and the probabilities of inadequate intake were estimated using the Dietary Reference Intake targets. Adequate macronutrient intake was over 99% for proteins, 84.7% for carbohydrates, and 80.7% for total fats. There was a high probability of inadequacy (above 90%) for vitamins D and E, but vitamin D inadequacy was very similar between sexes. In contrast, vitamin E was more likely to be inadequately consumed among women. A high probability of inadequacy (above 85%) of calcium and magnesium was found in the population, regardless of age group. Except for iron, the probability of inadequacy of other minerals increased with age. The results showed a relevant proportion of nutrient inadequacies, with those most at risk being women and older individuals, helping with better targeting and monitoring of public health policies that address nutritional problems in the population.

A comprehensive evaluation system of rural building energy consumption from the innovative composite perspective was established, which was suitable for southwest of China. The index system was established by Brainstorming method and Delphi method, the weights of the comprehensive evaluation model were calculated by Network Process (ANP) method, the scoring criteria of all evaluation indexes were leveld based on fuzzy evaluation theory. The system model was verified by case analysis, at the countryside around Chengdu Second Circle. With the highest weight, lowest comprehensive score, and broadest range of comprehensive scores taken into consideration, three key factors affecting the target layer, namely "Percentage of Clean Energy Use", "Thermal Performance of Exterior Walls", and "Implementation Rate of Energy saving Measures". The distribution of comprehensive indicators and evaluation factors has certain spatial distribution characteristics, and the overall spatial distribution shows a characteristic of "high in the southeast and low in the northwest". Finally, Based on key factors and regional distribution characteristics, energy-saving measures have been proposed from three aspects: increasing sunrooms, adding wall insulation layers, and standardizing air conditioning temperature settings.

Machine safety is not only a prerequisite for successful production, but also the foundation for sustainability and growth of any manufacturing organisation. The latest approaches in this rapidly developing field are the integration of effective risk management tools and strategies into occupational health and safety (OHS) systems. In this article, using a specific example from practice, we will show how using multi-criteria decision making (AHP) support Machinery Safety Decision Making (MSDM) from the point of reducing losses. Using Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART), we estimated the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and thus the sustainability level of the relevant safety measures. These were proposed risk reduction measures that typically raised uncertainty among managers regarding the estimation of cost-effectiveness. The advantage of application decision trees approach is possibility to identify and establish relatively homogeneous groups of undesirable events and their impact on the organisation's objectives. A comprehensive model has been developed to support management decision making in manufacturing organizations in implementing and improving safety measures in line with manufacturing sustainability goals.

Tooth decay, also known as caries, is a significant medical problem that harms teeth. Treatment is based on the removal of the carious material and then filling the cavity left in the tooth, most commonly with amalgam or composite resin. The consequences of filling failure include repeating the filling, or performing another treatment, such as a root canal, or extraction. Dental amalgam contains mercury, and there is a global effort to reduce its use. However, no consensus has been reached using randomized clinical trials, regarding whether amalgam or composite resin materials are more durable, and which is the best restorative material. To determine which material is superior, we performed a retrospective cohort study using a large database where members of the 58 dental clinics with 440 dental units were treated. The number of failures of the amalgam compared to composite resin restorations between 2014 and 2021 were compared. Our data included information from over 650,000 patients. Between 2014 - 2021, 260,905 patients were treated. 19,692 out of 113,281 first amalgam restorations failed (17.49%), whereas significantly fewer composite restorations failed (11.98%) 65,943 out of 555,671. This study indicates that composite is superior to amalgam and therefore it is reasonable to cease using mercury containing amalgam.

Risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are not well-defined in resident physicians and fellows (trainees). We aimed to identify sociodemographic, occupational and community factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among trainees during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City (NYC). In this retrospective cohort study, we administered an electronic survey between June 26 and August 31, 2020 to trainees at the Mount Sinai Health System in NYC to assess risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection between February 1 and June 30, 2020. We used Bayesian generalized linear mixed effect regression and structural equation models to examine associations. SAR-CoV-2 infection was determined by self-reported IgG antibody and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction results and confirmed with laboratory results. Among 2354 trainees invited to participate, 328 (14%) completed the survey and reported test results. The cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 20.1%. Assignment to medical-surgical units (odds ratio [OR], 2.51; 95% CI, 1.18-5.34), and training in emergency medicine, critical care and anesthesiology (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.24-6.92) were independently associated with infection. Deployment to care for unfamiliar patient populations was protective against infection (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.73). Community factors were not significantly associated with infection after adjustment for occupational factors. Our findings may inform tailored infection prevention strategies for trainees responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pregnancy planning and genetic testing (PPGT) has emerged as a tool in reproductive healthcare, offering parents-to-be insight in their risks of having a child with a genetic disorder. This paper reviews the advantages, drawbacks and challenges associated with PPGT, providing some practical guidance for health care professionals. Advantages include identification of genetic risks, a possibility to informed reproductive decision-making, and the potential to reduce the parents-to-be risk for an affected child. Challenges and drawbacks include provision of service, ethical considerations, genetic counselling complexities, and the need to increase public and professional awareness by comprehensive education and accessibility. Practical guidance involves considerations for selecting appropriate candidates, counselling strategies, and how to integrate PPGT into existing healthcare frameworks. By addressing these factors, PPGT can offer an increased reproductive informed choice for the individual and the couple reducing the burden of disease in the family.

The participation of civil society is essential for environmental health policies to be effective. The objective of this study was to know the perceptions of government officials, members of civil society, and academics about environmental health problems and its governance in Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia. In the region there is a strong citizen movement that defends the moorland ecosystem (paramo) as source of drinking water, of large-scale mining projects. A multi-method study was carried out including the review of newspaper and scientific articles, a citizen survey, and interviews and focus groups with identified key stakeholders. The findings indicate that government officials prioritize their actions on issues related to air and water pollution and environmental education. In contrast, citizens prioritize water availability from the moorland ecosystem. There are some advances in the management of environmental health, mainly related to greater citizen awareness. The participation of civil society in the environmental health governance must be enforced to broaden the issues of interest and prioritize the activities in the short- and long-term policy planning. An experience between high school students and the academy that measures air pollutants can be the first meeting point with government officials in the pathway to improve the environmental governance in the territory.

Background: The validation of measuring instruments in health is a requirement to be able to use them safely and reliably. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tool is an instrument widely used in the clinic and validated in numerous countries and languages and for different populations. The objective of this research was to determine the psychometric properties of SPPB for a sample composed of institutionalized Spanish older adults. Methods: Multicenter study of the psychometric properties of the Short Physical Performance Battery tool with a convenience sample of 194 institutionalized older adults. Reliability (internal consistency), validity (construct validity and convergent validity) tests were performed. Results: The results show a very good internal consistency, construct validity and convergent validity. In addition, the factorial structure of the SPPB is provided, which reflects that it is a unidimensional scale. Conclusions: In conclusion, the Short Physical Performance Battery is a valid and reliable tool for use with institutionalized older adults. Its use is recommended as part of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for the evaluation of the physical or functional sphere. Authors should include one of the following statements about the registration status of the manuscript here: This study was prospectively registered and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Burgos (IR 11/2018).

Ranaviruses have been associated with rising numbers of mass die-offs in amphibian populations globally. With life-stages occupying different environments and presenting distinct physiologies, amphibian of different ages are likely to play an important role in pathogen persistence. To assess the potential role of post-metamorphic amphibians as a Ranavirus reservoir, we performed a bath-exposure study on wood frogs using environmentally relevant doses (~10³ and ~10⁴ PFU/mL) of wild-type (WT) and knockout Frog virus 3 (FV3), deficient for the vIF-2α immune-evasion gene, the effects of which have never been addressed in post-metamorphic anurans. We observed 42% infection prevalence and low mortality (10%) across the virus challenges, with half of the mortalities attributable to ranavirosis. Prevalence and viral loads followed a dose-dependent pattern. Notably, when exposed to the vIF-2α knockout (DvIF-2α) FV3, individuals exhibited significantly decreased growth and increased lethargy in comparison to WT FV3 treatments. Although 85% of individuals in the virus treatments exhibited stereotypic signs of ranavirosis throughout the experiment, at termination (40 days post exposure) most individuals were clear of signs of infection. Overall, this study provides evidence that even a single short time exposure to environmentally relevant doses of Ranavirus may cause sublethal infections in post-metamorphic amphibians, thus indicating their possible role as a reservoir for this pathogen.

One important goal of research on heterogeneous catalysis for Fischer Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is to understand the connection linking catalyst morphology and its activity. Development of these effective catalysts highlights the potential for understanding the effectiveness of promoted supported catalysts and revealing their complex and dynamic effects in FTS. The metal-support interaction (MSI) is influenced by the physicochemical and textural features provided by the modified support and can directly influence the sizes of active metal crystallites, reactants and/or products mass transfer, dispersion, mechanical strength, stability and consequently the adsorption-desorption characteristics of the catalyst. Herein, this article explores the general strategies for modifying silica supports (achieved through doping, coating, or promoting the support or support precursor) and how these strategies can be manipulated to further alter catalyst performance and product selectivity by enhancing the amount of active metal species and improving the intrinsic turnover frequency (TOF). Furthermore, the review emphasises a new strategy (the inverse model of the silica support modification) aiming at overcoming the challenges posed by active metal coating or coverage, as well as pore blockages by promoters that occur during conventional preparation of promoted silica supported FT catalysts.

Benveniste’s experiments – known in the lay press as the “water memory” phenomenon – are generally considered to be a closed case. However, the amount of data generated by twenty years of well-conducted experiments prevents closing the file so simply. An issue, which has been little highlighted so far, merits to be emphasized. Indeed, if Benveniste failed to persuade his peers of the value of his experiments, it was mainly because of a stumbling block, namely the difficulty of convincingly proving the causal relationship between the supposed cause (“informed water”) and the experimental outcomes in different biological models. To progress in the understanding of this phenomenon, we abandon the idea of any role of water in these experiments (“water memory” and its avatars). In other words, we assume that “control” and “test” conditions to be evaluated were physically identical and differed only by their respective designations. We show in this article how simple probabilistic considerations allow to build a model that accounts for all aspects of Benveniste’s experiments. In this model based on probability amplitudes, constructive and destructive interferences emerge – or not – according to the experimental context. The recording of a statistical regularity shapes the intertwined whole constituted by the probability amplitudes of the states of the experimenter’s cognitive structures and of the experimental system. This model provides an alternative explanation to Benveniste’s experiments where water plays no role and where the place of the experimenter is central.

Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein that is competitively bound by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a possible biomarker for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Our group has previously shown the usage of gelsolin 1-3 (a fragment of gelsolin composed of the first three of its six subdomains) along with actin to detect the presence of lysophosphatidic acid. This histidine-tagged gelsolin 1-3 fragment is synthesized in our lab using bl21 Rosetta cells but required further characterization. This study aims to provide sufficient characterization of gelsolin 1-3 synthesized in our lab via both sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry using a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICR-MS). Both techniques show the presence of protein at the expected mass of approximately 41 kDa. Additionally, the dissociation of a smaller fragment of the complex when introduced into the gas phase which was equivalent to the approximate mass of one subdomain of gelsolin 1-3 further supports this conclusion.

The value of QuantiFERON in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and in the monitoring of the response to anti-tuberculosis treatment is unclear. The aims of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and in the monitoring of the response to anti-tuberculosis treatment in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Between January 2013 and December 2015, 128 cases with active PTB and 128 controls with no mycobacterial infection, matched by age (within 3 years) and by the week that they visited Tainan Chest Hospital, were enrolled in the study. Serial testing by QFT-GIT at baseline and after 2 and 6 months of treatment was performed. At these time points, a comparison of the performance of QFT-GIT with that of sputum culture status among study subjects was conducted. Compared to baseline, 116 (87.2%) cases showed a decreased response, whereas 17 (12.8%) showed persistent or stronger interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses at 2 months. Their IFN-γ responses declined significantly from baseline to 2 months (median, 6.32 vs. 4.12; P < 0.005). The sensitivity values of the QFT-GIT test for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis at cut-off points of 0.35 IU/ml, 0.20 IU/ml, and 0.10 IU/ml were 74.4%, 78.2%, and 80.5%, respectively. The specificity values at cut-off points of 0.35 IU/ml, 0.20 IU/ml, and 0.10 IU/ml were 66.2%, 63.9%, and 57.1%, respectively. Our results support the QFT-GIT assay as a potential tool for diagnosing tuberculosis and for monitoring the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Grape pomace (GP) is considered a natural source of bioactive compounds. To improve the ex-tractability of bioactive compounds, in this work GP was biologically treated for 15 days with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor in laboratory jars and a tray bioreactor under solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions. During SSF, the activity of lignolytic (laccase, manganese peroxi-dase) and hydrolytic (xylanase, cellulase, β-glucosidase and invertase) enzymes was measured, with the activity of laccase (2.66 U/gdb in jars and 0.96 U/gdb in the bioreactor) and xylanase (346.04 U/gdb in jars and 200.65 U/gdb in the bioreactor) being the highest. The effect of the com-plex enzyme system was reflected in the changes in the chemical composition of GP with in-creasing ash, crude protein and free fat content: 28%, 10% and 17% in the laboratory jars and 29%, 11% and 7% in the bioreactor, respectively. In addition, the biological treatment had a positive effect on the extractability of 13 individual phenolic compounds. Therefore, the applied SSF technique represents an effective strategy to improve the profile of phenolic compounds and the nutritional composition of GP, promoting their valorization and opening the door for potential application in the food industry and other sectors.

Abstract: Background: The analysis of vitamins in baby food is a challenging task given the com-plexity of the food matrix, vitamin stability, and strict regulations of the European Union regarding permissible deviations from declared values. Vitamins in food exist in different concentrations and forms and have different stabilities, and it is not straightforward to prepare samples for reliable analysis using the same procedure. Therefore, significant attention has been devoted to optimizing sample preparation in the analysis of vitamins. Methods: This study aims to determine which of the seven applied extraction methods is the most efficient for the simultaneous extraction and deter-mination of A, D, E, and K vitamins in milk and baby food using high-performance liquid chro-matography (HPLC). Different samples of baby food were prepared in seven different ways based on four methods (saponification, enzymatic hydrolysis, solvent extraction, and solid-phase extrac-tion). Results and Conclusion: The best preparation method proved to be solid-phase extraction with a C18 stationary phase, and HPLC with a UV-VIS detector was identified as a sufficiently sensitive technique for the identification and quantification of fat-soluble vitamins in milk and baby food.

The distribution of tiny sensors over a specific area was first proposed in the late 1990s as a concept known as Smart Dust. Several efforts focused primarily on computing and networking capabilities but quickly ran into problems related to power supply, cost, data transmission, and environmental pollution. To overcome these limitations, we propose using paper-based (confetti-like) chemosensors that exploit the inherent selectivity of chemical reagents, such as colorimetric indicators. In this work, cheap and biodegradable passive sensors made from cellulose could successfully indicate the presence of hazardous chemicals, e.g., strong acids, by a significant color change. A conventional color digital camera attached to a drone could easily detect this from a safe distance. The collected data was processed to define the hazardous area. Our work presents a combination of the smart dust concept, chemosensing, paper-based sensor technology, and low-cost drones for flexible, sensitive, economical, and rapid detection of hazardous chemicals in high-risk scenarios.

: Objective-Most women stop using hormonal contraceptives due to changes in their mood. The evidence regarding the association of hormonal contraception with depression shows mixed results. Therefore, we aim to establish the association between the use of hormonal contraception and depressive symptoms. Method- This cross-sectional study was conducted on 326 women of reproductive age using hormonal contraceptives for a week to one year referred to as "hormonal contraceptive (HC) users" (n=165), and those using non-hormonal methods and not using contraceptives referred to as "HC non-users" (n=161). Beck's depression inventory (BDI-II) was used to measure depression. Result-There was no discernible difference in mean Beck's depression inventory score and degree of depression between the two groups. However, individual symptoms of depression such as sadness(p=0.01), reduced libido(p=0.0002) feelings of pessimism (p=0.02), and failure (p=0.003) were found to be significantly high in the HC user group. Conclusion- We conclude that there was no significant difference in mean depression scores between groups. However, few individual symptoms of depression were high in HC users suggesting depression as a potential side effect of hormonal contraceptive use.

This paper explores the feasibility of applying Bayesian statistical methods to study the distortion patterns induced by carburizing heat treatment. By establishing posterior and predictive distribution models for torsion bar dimensions, we aim to accurately understand and predict the expansion behavior, thus enhancing control over carburizing-induced dimensional changes. Bayesian methods allow for the integration of prior knowledge and real-time data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the distortion phenomena. This approach not only improves the precision of dimensional predictions but also contributes to optimizing the overall manufacturing process, ensuring that the torsion bars meet the rigorous standards required for high-performance applications in demanding industrial environments.

This study analyzed the dynamic spatial and temporal distribution of natural disasters in Traditional Authorities Ngabu and Lundu in Chikwawa District in the Lower Shire Valley. The study assessed the vulnerability of people to disasters, evaluated the value of losses and damages incurred when disasters strike and to locate disaster hotspots. The mixed design that embraces qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. Data collection methods such as in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussion, documentary review, structured interview and Participatory Geographical Information Systems (P-GIS) were employed. The study revealed that farming with 64%, 37% and 76% done before, during and after disasters respectively, was the main adaptive capacity to floods and drought in T/A Ngabu. In T/A Lundu, community members also valued farming with 58%, 55% and 70% done before, during and after disasters respectively. The study found that Traditional Environmental Knowledge Systems (TEKS) were highly valued in T/As Ngabu with 90% and Lundu 81%. The study also unveiled those disasters led to losses of human lives and livestock and damages to properties, environment and critical infrastructures. However, some community members still remained in the disaster-prone areas for farming, fishing, protecting the chieftaincy and ancestral reasons. The study also showed that CBDRM was highly adopted. However, disasters continued to occur and losses were increasing. Generally, CBDRM could be effective through multisectoral approach and good legal institutional framework. Therefore, the research recommends that further studies similar to this, should use GIS in assessing the efficacy of CBDRM approaches to produce hazard maps that will be used as models for disaster risk reduction in Chikwawa District in the Lower Shire Valley.

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are aggressive and invasive cancers of the brain, associated with high rates of tumor recurrence and poor patient outcomes despite initial treatment. Targeting cell migration is therefore of interest in highly invasive cancers such as GBMs, to prevent tumor dissemination and regrowth. One current aim of GBM research focusses on assessing anti-migratory properties of novel or repurposed inhibitors, including plant-based drugs which display anti-cancer properties. We investigated the potential anti-migratory activity of plant-based products with known cytotoxic effects in cancers, using a range of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) migration and invasion assays as well as immunofluorescence microscopy to determine specific anti-migratory and phenotypic effects of three plant-derived compounds, Turmeric, Indigo and Magnolia bark, on established glioma cell lines. Migrastatic activity was observed in all three drugs, with Turmeric exerting the most inhibitory effect on GBM cell migration into scratches and from the spheroid edge at all timepoints investigated (p < 0.001). We also observed novel cytoskeletal phenotypes affecting actin and focal adhesion dynamics. By determining the migrastatic activity of Turmeric, Indigo and Magnolia on GBM cell migration, we demonstrate a potential role for Turmeric as a novel GBM anti-migratory therapeutic, in combination with the current standard of care, to prevent tumor recurrence and promote patient survival.

This paper addresses the pressing concern of corporate tax evasion recognized by several nations, employing insights from public choice theory and tax compliance theory. The research aims to evaluate the ramifications of corporate tax evasion on public revenue, public expenditures, tax rates, and the prevailing budget deficit. Methodologically, the study utilizes questionnaire data and employs structural equation modeling for analysis. The findings indicate that tax evasion is significantly influenced by multiple factors, encompassing tax income, public expenditures, tax rates, and the budget deficit. The article offers a comprehensive exploration of both theoretical frameworks and practical implications, contributing valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on corporate tax evasion and its multifaceted impact on fiscal dynamics.

We report the detection of live Escherichia coli (E. coli) in liquid samples using a biosensor based on a field effect transistor (FET) biosensor with B/N co-coped graphene oxide (GO) gel (BN-GO) as the transducer material. The FET was functionalized with antibodies to detect E. coli K12 O-antigens in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The biosensor detected the presence of planktonic E. coli bacterial cells within a mere 2 minutes. The biosensor exhibited a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 cells per sample, which can be extrapolated to a limit of detection at the level of a single cell per sample and a detection range of at least 10– 108 CFU/mL. The selectivity of the biosensor for E. coli was demonstrated using Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) as a sample contaminant. We also present a comparison of our functionalized BN-GO FET biosensor with established detection methods of E. coli k12 bacteria, as well as with state-of-the-art detection mechanisms.

Background. The role of exercise programs during Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment is considered particularly supportive in fostering positive psychological and behavioral changes. The aim of this feasibility study was to explore the acute effects of cycling exercise in an immersive virtual reality (IVR) environment on attentional control and self-efficacy expectations of indi-viduals undergoing SUD treatment. Methods. A total of 20 individuals (mean age of 37.75 years) enrolled in a SUD treatment program participated in the study. They were instructed to complete a single session of cycling with a self-selected duration within the IVR system. Results. Following the cycling session, pre-post measures indicated a statistically significant im-provement in self-efficacy expectations and attentional control measured with the Stroop test. The results revealed that participants expressed high levels of intention for future use, inter-est/enjoyment, and positive attitudes toward the IVR exercise system. Qualitative data indicated that participants found the IVR exercise system enjoyable, expressed a strong intention to use it, and did not encounter technical difficulties or negative emotions. Conclusions: In conclusion, it seems that engaging in a brief period of self-selected exercise within a virtual environment can result in temporary activation of cognitive changes, heightened self-efficacy expectations, and a motivating approach to increasing physical activity participation among individuals with SUD, thus suggesting the feasibility of this approach.

Introduction: The escalating morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with invasive candidiasis pose significant challenges in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Conventional diagnostic methods fall short in effectiveness, while various risk factors exacerbate the prevalence of these infections. This study introduces a novel model that amalgamates the Candida Score with key predictors to enhance the specificity and applicability of mortality risk assessments for pediatric patients with fungemia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study aimed to develop an integrated model for estimating mortality risk in children with fungemia in PICUs. We constructed and evaluated multiple predictive models using the Candida Score and other relevant clinical and laboratory variables. The discriminative abilities of the models were assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The study cohort comprised 85 pediatric patients admitted between 2016 and 2020, with a median age of 6 months and a male predominance of 62.4%. The mortality rate was 45.9%. Candida albicans was the most prevalent causative agent, accounting for 37.55% of fungemia cases. Multivariable Logistic regression revealed the duration of mechanical ventilation, and the Candida Score were significant predictors of mortality. Each additional day of ventilation increased mortality odds by 11.5% (OR = 1.115, 95% CI: 1.025-1.212, p = 0.011), while a higher Candida Score more than doubled the odds (OR = 2.205, 95% CI: 1.359-3.578, p = 0.001).The Random Forest predictive model demonstrated superior discriminative performance, with an AUC of 0.838 (95% CI: 0.738-0.917), outperforming Gradient Boosting and Logistic Regression models, which had AUCs of 0.7759 (95% CI: 0.667-0.877) and 0.7085 (95% CI: 0.589-0.813), respectively. Although the internal validation yielded satisfactory results, external validation is warranted. Conclusion: This study presents an innovative approach for accurately assessing the risk of mortality due to fungemia in PICU patients by integrating the Candida Score with critical predictors. The Random Forest model emerged as the most effective predictive tool due to its exceptional discriminative ability.

Multiple unique environmental factors such as space radiation and microgravity (µG) pose a serious threat to human gene stability during space travel. Recently, we reported that simultaneous exposure of human fibroblasts to simulated µG and radiation results in more chromosomal aberrations than in cells exposed to radiation alone. However, the mechanisms behind this remain unknown. The purpose of this study was thus to obtain comprehensive data on gene expression using a 3D clinostat synchronized to a carbon (C)-ion or X-ray irradiation system. Human fibroblasts (1BR-hTERT) were maintained under standing or rotating conditions for 3 or 24 h after synchronized C-ion or X-ray irradiation at 1 Gy as part of a total culture time of 2 days. Among 57,773 genes analyzed with RNA sequencing, we focused particularly on the expression of 82 cell cycle-related genes after exposure to the radiation and simulated µG. The expression of cell cycle-suppressing genes (ABL1 and CDKN1A) decreased and that of cell cycle-promoting genes (MKI67, KPNA2, CCNB1, STMN1, and MCM4) increased after C-ion irradiation under µG. The cell cycle may pass through the G1/S and G2 checkpoints with DNA damage due to the combined effects of C-ions and µG, suggesting that increased genomic instability might occur in space.

Potassium-oxygen batteries (KOBs) are a promising energy storage technology with high theoretical en-ergy density, low overpotential and long cycle life. Cathode microstructure plays a significant role in the electrochemical performance of KOB. In this article, hierarchical porosity was introduced to commer-cially available carbon paper cathodes by the thermal pretreatment in air at different pretreatment times. This pretreatment modifies the properties, such as, surface area, defects, oxygen functional groups etc. and it has been found to enhance the discharge capacity and it result in reduction of dis-charge overpotentials.

The fatty acid composition, biophenol, tocopherol, sterol and triterpenic dialcohol content and composition of the autochthonous Slovenian olive varieties 'Buga', 'Črnica' and 'Drobnica' were studied during a three-year period with the aim to valorise the characteristics of the three olive varieties. Standardized and accredited analytical methods were applied. The results of the investigation showed that the highest average amount of oleic acid (75.75%) was determined in oils of the variety 'Črnica', followed by 'Drobnica' (72.06%) and 'Buga' (68.73%). All the three varieties are a good source of total biophenols ('Buga' 616 mg/kg, 'Drobnica' 569 mg/kg and 'Črnica' 427 mg/kg) and α-tocopherol ('Buga' 378 mg/kg, 'Drobnica' 279 mg/kg and 'Črnica' 243 mg/kg). 'Buga' and 'Drobnica' are characterised by high amounts of total sterols, 2468 mg/kg and 2391 mg/kg, respectively, 'Črnica' oils, in comparison, showed a lower average value of total sterols (1351 mg/kg). The acquired data of the autochthonous Slovenian olive varieties 'Buga', 'Črnica' and 'Drobnica' are very important to valorise the characteristics of the produced oils. The studied varieties showed a great potential for further cultivation and valorisation of the traditional olive oil production of the region and are important for preserving the biodiversity and tradition of the territory.

People experiencing homelessness are at risk from a number of co-morbidities including traumatic brain injury, mental health disorders and various infections. Little is known about the rehabilitation needs of this population. This study took advantage of unique access to a specialist ‘Access’ GP practice for people experiencing homelessness and a local inclusion health initiative to explore the five year period prevalence of these conditions in a population of people experiencing homelessness, through electronic case record searches; and identify barriers and facilitators to healthcare provision for this population in the context of an interdisciplinary and multi specialist inclusion health team, through semi structured interviews with 12 staff working in primary and secondary care who interact with this population. The five year period prevalence of TBI, infections and mental health disorders was 9.5%, 4% and 22.8% respectively. Of those who had suffered a brain injury only 3, had accessed rehabilitation services. Themes from thematic analysis of interviews included: lack of resource, stigmatisation, under recognised multi-morbidity (including from brain injury) as barriers, trauma-informed, person-centred, adaptable, &amp; integrated and collaborative models of care as facilitators. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data suggests a potential role for rehabilitation medicine in inclusion health initiatives.

This article studies electrostatic fields and potentials in the presence of conductors and point charges under the framework of solving Laplace’s equation with specifi ed boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that many problems posed and solved in elementary electrostatics through various heuristics such as the method of images, can be more rigorously treated under the solution framework of Laplace’s equation.

When asked to estimate the carbon footprint of a bundle of relatively low carbon footprint items and relatively high carbon footprint items, people typically report a lower value compared to estimating the high carbon footprint items alone. This finding is called the negative footprint illusion and suggests people report the average rather than sum of the combined items’ carbon footprint. In a recent paper by Gorissen et al. (2024), the authors claimed that people are immune to this illusion if the question is framed differently. Specifically, they found that estimates of the environmental friendliness of a set comprising a burger (high carbon footprint) and an organic apple (low carbon footprint) was higher than for a set comprising the burger alone, whereas no difference was found between the two sets when participants were asked to estimate how environmentally damaging they were. Using larger item categories wherein the degree of the items’ environmental impact is clearly communicated, here we show it does not matter whether participants are required to estimate how friendly or damaging the items are. The roles of attribute substitution, dependent variables, and independent variables (stimulus characteristics) in modulating the negative footprint illusion is discussed.

A one-dimensional model for fluid and solute transport in poroelastic materials (PEM) is studied. Although the model was recently derived and some exact solutions, in particular steady-state solutions and their applications, were studied, special cases occurring when some parameters vanish were not analysed earlier. Since the governing equations are nonintegrable in nonstationary case, the Lie symmetry method and modern tools for solving ODE systems are applied in order to construct time-dependent exact solutions. Depending on parameters arising in the governing equations, several special cases with new Lie symmetries are identified. Some of them have a highly nontrivial structure that cannot be predicted from a physical point of view or using Lie symmetries of other real-world models. Applying the symmetries obtained, multiparameter families of exact solutions are constructed, including those in terms of elementary and special functions (hypergeometric, Whittaker, Bessel and modified Bessel functions). A possible application of the solutions obtained is demonstrated and it is shown that some exact solutions can describe (at least qualitatively) the solute transport in PEM. The obtained exact solutions can also be used as test problems for estimating the accuracy of approximate analytical and numerical methods for solving relevant boundary value problems.

In contemporary narratives, the rural and regional identities of a place, as judged by its inhabitants’ sense of belonging, continue to be important points that need to be (re)considered when discussing places as instruments for local development. This paper pushes forward these debated and explores the construction of rural and regional identity in Romania with the help of a case study that focuses on two rural communities situated on opposite sides of the river Mureș. Based on participant and ethnographic observation and making use of a qualitative analysis, this paper highlights the most significant features of the local cultural identities expressed by the two sets of people, which often coincide with the most important characteristics attributed to the regions separated by the river Mureș. The results of this study underline the dividing role of a river in the preservation of rural and regional identity. They also demonstrate that rural identity construction along the river has generated both rural development opportunities and various risks.

This study explores religious diversity in Romania and how the trends of indices of religious fractionalization and polarization manifest at the county level in the post-communist period. The county is selected as the relevant level for analysis due to its spatial confessional dynamics being more clearly visible. Recent studies have revealed that erosion of diversity represents an important aspect for any country and needs to be considered as an important aspect of democracy. This paper highlights that religious polarization and fractionalization in Romania has been generally maintained, although the regions of Transylvania, Banat, Dobrogea and Western Moldova remain areas where there are different confessions. Besides the general aspect of religion diversity depending the ethnic trends, there is a rise of Pentecostals and Baptists at the county level. This aspect can inform policymakers to create new institutions for dialogue between majority Orthodox communities and Protestants so that potential conflicts do not appear between the Orthodox and emerging religious communities, but also to ensure objective, cultural, religious coherence.

Background: Tafamidis reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), yet availability and access to therapy vary. Objective: To determine how availability and access to tafamidis impact time-to-diagnosis, time-to-therapy, and cardiovascular outcomes in ATTR-CM. Methods and Results: 91 consecutive ATTR-CM patients diagnosed between June 2019 and June 2021 were evaluated for tafamidis. Access to therapy was regulated by compassionate use [n(CU)=42] prior to, and insurance [n(IA)=49] after regulatory approval. Tafamidis was started in 37/42 (88.1%), and 39/49 (79.6%) patients, respectively. At diagnosis, ATTR-CM disease stage (≤stage 2: 88.2% vs. 90.9%, p= 0.92) was similar between groups. Timely access (after tafamidis approval) reduced time-from-first-presentation-to-diagnosis from median 6.2 (IQR: 1.3-28.9) to 2.4 (0.7-21.7) months, and from-first-presentation-to-therapy from 24.4 (10.7-46.8) to 11.8 (6.4-32.4) months. While RV function significantly worsened between diagnosis and therapy initiation in CU patients diagnosed before tafamidis approval (S’-velocity 10.0±2.2 to 9.2±2.2cm/s; p=0.018; TAPSE 17.3±4.7 to 15.7±3.9mm, p=0.008), it remained unchanged in IA patients (S’-velocity 9.6±2.6 to 9.4±2.3cm/s; p=0.83; TAPSE 15.6±4.2 to 16.3±3.1mm, p=0.45). After a median follow-up of 42.3 and 24.9 months in CU and IA patients, respectively, timely availability was associated with a reduction of annual heart failure hospitalizations (0.40 vs. 0.16 per patient, p<0.001) and improved MACE-free survival (HR=0.51; 95%CI: 0.26-1.00; p=0.051). Timely diagnosis (<12-months) prolonged MACE-free survival (HR=0.424; 95%CI:0.22-0.81; p=0.004), and reduced HFH (HR=0.40; 95%CI:0.19-0.81); p=0.011) and all-cause mortality (HR=0.29; 95%CI:0.11-0.74); p=0.009). Conclusions: Availability of tafamidis improves diagnostic efficacy in ATTR-CM patients. Timely diagnosis and initiation of therapy reduces adverse cardiovascular events.

This paper is concerned with a hydraulic cylinder directly controlled by a variable speed fixed displacement pump. The considered configuration is referred to as a one-motor-one-pump (1M1P) motor-controlled hydraulic cylinder (MCC). A 1M1P MCC with a hydraulically driven passive load-holding function enabled by controlled system pressures is proposed. The proposed load-holding functionality works if there is a standstill command, a loss of power supply, or a hose rupture. Additionally, this paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the proposed system's operation and load-holding function across four quadrants. Simulation results demonstrate the four-quadrant operation and good load-holding performance under the aforementioned scenarios. In conclusion, the proposed 1M1P MCC can be successfully used on practical applications characterized by overrunning loads and four quadrant operation.

The appropriate concentration of vitamin D in the athlete’s body is essential for its proper functioning, especially in terms of muscular health, by enhancing recovery and oxygen consumption. Soccer players are required to perform frequent sprints and change of directions during training and competition. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the level of vitamin D (measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations- 25(OH)D) in blood serum has any influence on speed (s) and change of direction (COD, s) performance. Material and methods: Twenty male soccer players from the top league in Poland participated in the study. All subjects' were evaluated for the serum concentration of 25(OH)D at the beginning of the preseason. . The linear sprint test was performed at 5m and 30m and COD (time and deficit), was evaluated at 30m at the beginning and after 6 weeks of preparatory period. Results: The results revealed that 50% of soccer players had an insufficient level or a deficit of 25(OH)D (≤ 30 ng/ml), with 20% having a significant deficiency of 30 ng/ml).There were no statistically significant correlations between the training effect for the variables ∆5m (before - after) and ∆30m (before - after). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the training effect for the variables ∆COD (before - after) (R=0.62/p=0.003) and ∆deficit (before-after) (R=0.47/p=0.039). With a higher concentration of vitamin D in the blood, the training effect for COD and the deficit increased, which was visible in the faster performance of the COD test. No statistically significant differences were found for the mean values of the variables ∆5m (before - after) and ∆30m (before - after) in the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was 30mg /ml. Significant differences were noticed for the variables ∆COD (m=0.60 [s]) and ∆deficit (m=0.56[s]) in the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was 30mg /ml. The training effect was significantly higher for the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was above 30 mg/ml, which was observed by the faster performance of the COD test in this group of subjects. Conclusions: The serum concentration of vitamin D affects training adaptations of muscles. A lower concentration of Vitamin D seems to have a detrimental effect on the change of direction performance. Soccer players whose blood serum 25(OH)D concentrations were >30mg/ml achieved better results in the applied fitness tests.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most lethal type of cancer, it has the lowest 5-year survival rate among all other types of cancers. More than half of PC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage due to PC’s insidious and non-specific symptoms. Surgery remains the most efficacious treatment option currently available, but only 10-20% of PC cases are resectable upon diagnosis. As of now, the sole biomarker approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) for PC is carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9); however, its use is limited use for early diagnosis. An in-creasing number of studies have investigated a combination of biomarkers. Lately, there has been considerable interest in the application of a liquid biopsy, including the utilization of microRNAs (miRNAs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Screening for PC is indicated for high-risk patients; studies on new diagnostic models combined with biomarkers for early detection have also shown promising results for the ability of these models and biomarkers to aid clinicians in deciding on whether to start screening. This review seeks to provide a concise overview of the advancements in existing biomarkers and explore novel strategies for the early detection of PC.

Background: Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). They are often multidrug-resistant (MDR), making them challenging to treat. Additionally, virulence mechanisms as biofilm formation are associated with persistent UTIs. Aims: To reveal a possible association between patients’ risk factors and UTIs caused by MDR or biofilm-forming ExPECs and characterize ExPECs causing asymptomatic bacteriuria, community- (CA), or hospital-acquired (HA) UTIs in hospitalized patients in Brazil. Methods: Bacterial DNA was extracted from the urine of 63 hospitalized patients and sequenced using short-read sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using VITEK-2, and the biofilm-forming, adhesion, and invasion abilities were quantitatively assessed. Results: Antibiotic resistance rates were high, and the majority of UTIs were complicated CA-UTIs. Most MDR- and ESBL-producing E. coli isolates belonged to high-risk lineages and were associated with UTIs in patients with comorbidities and over 60 years of age. The mortality rate of patients infected with MDR-isolates was higher than of those infected with non-MDR isolates. Most isolates were biofilm-forming, but no association with patients’ risk factors was found. Conclusions: Complicated UTIs caused by MDR- and biofilm-forming bacteria are frequently found in hospitalized patients in Brazil suffering from a UTI and are associated with high-risk lineages.

Background: Subclinical myocardial injury (SCMI) is associated with an increased risk of poor cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Understanding the underlying risk factors for SCMI is crucial for the prevention and management of CVD. We hypothesized that atherogenic dyslipidemia, a combination of high triglycerides (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), is associated with an increased risk of SCMI. Methods: This analysis from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) included 7,093 participants (age 59.3±13.4 years, 52.8% women, and 49.4% White) free of CVD. Atherogenic dyslipidemia was defined as TG ≥150 mg/dL and HDL-C <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women. A validated electrocardiographic-based cardiac infarction injury score (CIIS) ≥10 was considered positive for SCMI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of different combinations of TG and HDL-C groups, including atherogenic dyslipidemia with SCMI. Results: About 22.5% (n=1,594) of participants had atherogenic dyslipidemia, and 26.3% (n=1862) had SCMI. Compared to participants with normal TG and normal HDL-C, those with atherogenic dyslipidemia had a higher prevalence of SCMI (31.2% vs. 23.9%, p-value <0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, atherogenic dyslipidemia was associated with the highest odds of SCMI followed by high TG/normal HDL-C, then low HDL-C/normal TG [OR (95% CI): 131 (1.14,1.52), 1.13 (0.97,1.33), and 1.01(0.86,1.20), respectively). Conclusions: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is associated with a higher risk of SCMI, which highlights the role of nontraditional risk factors in the development of subclinical CVD.

This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of Lower Back Pain (LBP) among medical students of Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional style was employed where 331 medical students were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) supplemented with demographic and lifestyle questions. Data analysis allowed identification of LBP-risk factor relationships. The study revealed a 73.4% prevalence of LBP among Alfaisal University medical students with a 4.61 average severity. Female students, those who spent long hours on computers, and those who did not exercise were more likely to experience LBP. Higher disability degree was associated with participants aged &gt;21, used their devices for extended periods, and insufficient sleep. LBP is highly prevalent with several risk factors existing. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as ergonomic/lifestyle improvements and reduced device use.

The number of long-term cancer survivors increases continually. Understanding their needs is crucial to ensure an adequate follow-up. The aim of our study was to summarize the current literature concerning needs and what in-fluences these needs. A Scoping review of systematic reviews was conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Four electronic databases were searched. Of 414 retrieved papers, 11 met the eligi-bility criteria. Needs were aggregated into six domains (health-related information, health system, mental, practical, relationship and physical) and 15 categories. The lack of adequate information and the lack of access and/or conti-nuity of supportive care were the most prominent needs. Female gender, younger age, a low level of family and/or social support, and higher educational level were identified as risk factors. Employment and relationship status can affect the needs both in a positive or negative way. The weeks or months after the end of the treatments are partic-ularly critical and needs can be emphasized during this period. Cancer survivors could also leave positive changes. The variety of needs affects the quality of life of cancer survivors. The current Swiss healthcare system is not de-signed to support these people. Needs assessments should be systematically provided to ensure a better awareness on the part of health professionals and to allow an individual, holistic, and integrated follow-up.

Evaluation of structural behaviour of a masonry Venetian Church with pointed vault, is presented in this paper through an analysis following the neccessary steps of a monument study. Having a detailed geometric model and the material estimation, the finite element method was used in order the influence of specific structural parts of the structure like masonry butresses and walls connections to the structural behaviour are examined. The comparison of the eigenfrequencies which are estimated by in situ measurements and finite element modal analysis is used to model identification. The response spectrum analysis, the static analysis for subsidence of some parts and the transient analysis of a specific seismic excitation are used to evaluation of the church strength. Comparison of modal analysis results with the structural pathology is helpful to this research about the structural behaviour of the church.

Background: Diets based on meat products are not recommended in the case of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, some foods, as those containing high oleic acid and a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio show anti-inflammatory properties. The objective here is to test if some traditional cured meat products, as acorn-fed ham (high levels of oleic acid), may be useful for controlling inflammatory diseases as UC in animal models. Methods: 3 rat cohorts have been used: vegetable rat feed, control ham and acorn-fed ham (a traditional ham where high oleic acid concentration from acorns is storage in the muscle fat). UC was induced with DSS in drinking water ad libitum for one week. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and 16S rRNA from bacterial populations were analyzed in cecum samples. Colon samples were analyzed for histological parameters (inflammatory cell density, mucosa damages, myeloperoxidase). Results: In the acorn-fed ham cohort, a protective effect was observed with respect to UC disease activity index, inflammatory cells density, colon mucosa alterations, myeloperoxidase levels, blood total antioxidant capacity and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in comparison with feed cohort. Both ham diets caused a reduction in Firmicutes and an increase in Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in comparison with rat feed diet. Also, acorn-fed ham diet induced changes in gut microbiota composition, with pronounced enrichments in anti-inflammatory bacterial genera such as Alistipes, Bacteroides, Blautia, Butyricimonas and Parabacteroides. Conclusions: In the acorn-fed ham cohort, as a result of the dietary intake of oleic acid and low intake of omega-6 fatty acids, a strong preventive effect against UC symptoms was observed, indicating a valuable effect of this traditional Mediterranean cured meat product.

This research aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between conductivity and morphology in polypyrrole (PPy) via a comparison of the bipolaron to polaron ratios with a focus on the C-H deformation area. PPy samples were synthesized with different surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and tween 80 (TW). The study revealed that SDS significantly altered the bipolaron and polaron in C-H deformation region and showed higher conductivity than other surfactants. Notably, the morphological shifts to a sheet-like structure when using ammonium sulfate (APS) contrasted with the particle-like form observed with ferric chloride (FeCl3). These results showed that if the oxidant changed, the bi-polaron and polaron ratios in C-H deformation were unrelated to PPy morphology. However, this work showed a consistent relationship between SDS use, the bipolaron and polaron ratios in the C-H deformation, and the conductivity properties. Moreover, the natural positive charge of PPy and negatively charged SDS molecules may lead to an electrostatic interaction between PPy and SDS. This work assumes that this interaction might cause the transformation of polaron to bipolaron in the C-H deformation region, resulting in improved conductivity of PPy. This work offers more support for the future investigation of PPy characteristics.

Chemical combinations are believed to reduce drug toxicity, delay cancer cell growth, and achieve enhanced efficacy compared with single active drugs. This research investigated the synergistic effect of DOX and Zm-093, a new sulfonamide derivative, on improving the potential for inducing apoptosis in breast cancer (BC) cell lines. First, the Zm-093 compound was synthesized and its structure was confirmed by FT-IR and NMR. Then, the IC50 values for DOX and Zm-093 were calculated to be 1.21 and 51.24 μM, respectively. To investigate the synergistic effect, Compusyn software was utilized to calculate the combination index (CI). Different methods, including western blotting, flow cytometry, and TUNEL, were used to evaluate the potential synergistic effects of these compounds on inducing apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Combining the indexes obtained at all concentrations revealed synergistic results. The proapoptotic proteins Bax, tBid, and caspase-3, however, increased 2.4, 3.3, and 5.7 times more than those in the control group. Flow cytometry analysis and the TUNEL method in cells treated with DOX and Zm-093 showed that apoptosis was significantly higher than in other groups. The results confirmed the synergistic effect of DOX and ZM-093 on apoptotic factors expression in MCF-7 cells.

Although economic uncertainty and social media use are recognized as having a significant impact on religiosity, their role in religiosity has yet to be extensively examined in developing countries. This study explored the effects of economic uncertainty and social media use on religiosity in the Chinese context. By analyzing the publicly available data from the Chinese General Social Survey and World Values Survey, the findings showed that economic uncertainty significantly increased people's religious beliefs, while social media use had no significant impact on religious beliefs. Furthermore, social media use did not significantly moderate the relationship between economic uncertainty and religious belief. In contrast, educational level positively moderated the relationship between economic uncertainty and religious belief. These findings differ in part from the results of previous studies, presenting new evidence for theoretical integration in the field and revealing potential group differences in the strength of the relationship between economic uncertainty and religious belief.

This study presents an extensive collection of data on the aerodynamic behavior at a low Reynolds number and geometric coefficients for 2900 airfoils obtained through the class shape transformation (CST) method. By employing a verified OpenFOAM-based CFD simulation framework, lift and drag coefficients were determined at a Reynolds number of 10^5. Considering the limited availability of data on low Reynolds number airfoils, this dataset is invaluable for a wide range of applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and wind turbines. Additionally, the study offers a method for automating CFD simulations that could be applied to obtain aerodynamic coefficients at higher Reynolds numbers. The breadth of this dataset also supports the enhancement and creation of machine learning (ML) models, further advancing research into the aerodynamics of airfoils and lifting surfaces.

In the last two decades, the application of composite structures in many industrial sectors has been made progressively. For the current major scientific and technological challenge, the energy transition with sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives, the polymer matrix laminated composites have been revealed as an excellent alternative for the renewable energy sector. In this context, the knowledge about mechanical behavior of multiphase materials is required. Then, researches related to macro, mesomechanical and multiscale approaches are very important to improve accuracy of the models to predict effective mechanical properties and to develop a better understanding about complex phenomena such as progressive damage, creep and fatigue. Due to theses needs, this research is a synthesis of fundamentals and advanced topics concerning to global modeling of laminated composite structures, layerwise analyzes and micro-macromechanical models, in which mainly fiber, matrix, interface and damage characteristics are studied and used in the macroscale approach. At the end of this study, some final remarks and a trend analysis are proposed based on literature consulted, in other words, expectations for the future works are made by the authors.

Cyclocarya paliurus tea, also known as "sweet tea", a health substitute tea with Cyclocarya paliurus leaves as raw material, is famous for its unique nutritional benefits and flavor. However, due to the unique "bittersweet" of Cyclocarya paliurus tea, it is still unable to fully satisfy consumers' high-quality taste experience and oral pleasure. The taste and sensory quality of Cyclocarya paliurus tea are mainly determined by secondary metabolites. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the metabolites in Cyclocarya paliurus leaves during their growth process, particularly the composition and variation of sweet and bitter taste compounds, by combining multi-platform metabolomics analysis with an electronic tongue system and molecular docking simulation technology. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the contents of total phenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides and saponins of C. paliurus leaves in different growing months, among which the bioactive components in leaves harvested in July were the highest, and the best balance between sweetness and bitterness was achieved. A total of 575 secondary metabolites were identified as potential active metabolites related to sweet/bitter taste using nontargeted metabolomics based on UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. Molecular docking technology was utilized to study the interactions between candidate metabolites and the sweet receptor T1R2/T1R3 and the bitter receptor T2R4/T2R14. Six key compounds with high sweetness and low bitterness were successfully identified by using computational simulation analysis, including cis-Anethole, Gluconic acid, beta-D-Sedoheptulose, Asparagine, Proline, and Citrulline, which may serve as candidates for taste modification in Cyclocarya paliurus leaves. These findings provide a new perspective for understanding the sweet and bitter taste characteristics metabolites that contribute to the distinctive sensory quality of Cyclocarya paliurus leaves.

The ultimate goal of our review is to draw clinician’s attention, especially of those who are managing pediatric patients with permanent, long-standing, ventriculoperitoneal or, less commonly, ventriculo-atrial shunts. This specific subgroup of patients may eventually suffer from severe, intractable headaches which may negatively impair their quality of daily living. In the absence of any other clinical condition that could be attributed as the cause of the headache, shunt overdrainage should not be overlooked but, on the contrary, should be seriously taken into consideration in the therapeutic armamentarium of such cases, that are difficult to be handled.

Background/Objectives: Instability is one of the main symptoms in patients with vestibular and neurological disorders and therapeutic exercise interventions are increasing its popularity as a way of treatment for those. Additionally, the limits of stability measurement are known to be a good tool for balance evaluation and monitoring of this interventions. The aim of this work is to understand better how a specific protocol provokes changes on this variable and study the characteristics of those who respond and non-respond to it. Methods: A retrospective study was developed with the data of 40 patients treated in the Otorhinolaryngology department in Clínica Universidad de Navarra (Madrid, Spain). Those had an initial reduction in limits of stability, completed the protocol proposed with home-based and hospital-based exercises with frequent limits of stability remeasurement, and assist to the follow-up retest after 1-2 months. Results: A progressive improvement in limits of stability measure was developed through the intervention and partially retained at follow-up visit. Differences were found between responders and non-responders patients. More specifically an initial measure of the limits of stability was able to differentiate those groups with a cut-off data of 56cm2. Conclusions: The protocol proposed was able to induce motor learning in patients included in this study with good retention after 1-2 months. Besides, there is some variability in how patients respond to the treatment. Age and diagnostic should be considered, and an interesting cut-off data for clinal decision making was found.

Particles are considered temporarily identical if the interchange of these particles does not cause any observable physical effects within a time interval Δt. An indistinguishability hypothesis is proposed for such particles, suggesting that two particles (or systems) with nearly the same degree of internal freedom will actually interchange under certain circumstances, thereby affecting the subsequent dynamics. This indistinguishability implies that, theoretically, it is possible to capture an elementary particle with extraordinarily large internal freedom by trading it for an isolated composite system of ordinary matter particles with almost the same total internal freedom as the large-freedom particle. Following this, the ordinary particles will instantly disperse into the environment, while the large-freedom particle will initially be captured and then gradually delocalized into the environment, an observable phenomenon. If this hypothesis is proven true in the future, it might provide a novel strategy for detecting dark matter particles.

Global stress is widespread in todays post-pandemic world of political and economic uncertainty. Vibroacoustic technology is a vibrotactile intervention with multiple uses, and its impact on stress lacks interpretation. This research assessed if the vibroacoustic technology of a Vibroacoustic Sound Massage (VSM) can reduce psychological, physiological and cognitive stress. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) biosignals were used to quantify results. Participants were divided into Low Stress and High Stress groups. ECG results show VSM increased parasympathetic activity for all participants, with the Low Stress group more effected. EEG results indicate increased concentration (TBR), reduced arousal and increased relaxation (BAR), and non-significant effects on participant well-being (FAA), though variability in this metric was homogenised after VSM. Together, these results validate VSM as an effective support tool for stress management and further research is required.