Three-dimensional V₂O₅ hollow structures have been prepared through a simple synthesis strategy combining solvothermal treatment and a subsequent thermal annealing. The V₂O₅ materials are composed of microspheres 2–3 μm in diameter and with a distinct hollow interior. The as-synthesized V₂O₅ hollow microspheres, when evaluated as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, can deliver a specific capacity as high as 273 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.2 C. Benefiting from the hollow structures that afford fast electrolyte transport and volume accommodation, the V₂O₅ cathode also exhibits a superior rate capability and excellent cycling stability. The good Li-ion storage performance demonstrates the great potential of this unique V₂O₅ hollow material as a high-performance cathode for lithium-ion batteries.

Transformations in agriculture not only change the ways in which natural resources and social capital are used, but are also a prerequisite for different opportunities to create added value and improve the viability of rural areas. The purpose of the article is to assess the differences and effects of transformations in agriculture in the Bulgarian regions. Based on statistical data from the Censuses of agricultural holdings in 2010 and 2020, the DEA analysis method was applied. Six models (3 input oriented and 3 output oriented) were constructed and tested, and the efficiency coefficients were assessed on regional level. The degree of structural changes and efficiency of the used production and other resources were evaluated and conclusions were drawn. In the majority of the models, differences are observed between the northern regions of the country and the South Western and South Central regions. The most significant are the efficiency coefficient of the labor force used and the output produced, the gross value added and the net mixed income. In the other models, multidirectional changes are observed. North Western is the region in which all calculated efficiency coefficients increase, and in North Eastern and South Eastern, the most calculated coefficients decrease.

Ca2+ can boost protein-protein interactions and, if present at an appropriate level, can potentially improve the physicochemical properties of protein gels and films. This study aimed to determine the effect of CaCl2 (0, 0.01 0.025 0.05% w/w) on the optical, water affinity, and mechanical char-acteristics of glycerol (Gly)- and sorbitol (Sor)-plasticized pea protein isolate (PPI) films. The CaCl2 caused darkening and a color shift of the films from yellow to yellow-green. Additionally, de-creased light transmission, particularly in the UV range, and reduced moisture content were observed. The CaCl2 decreased the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the Gly-plasticized film by an average of 20%, with no effect on the Sor-plasticized film. All films were completely soluble in water. The CaCl2 negatively impacted the mechanical integrity of the films, reducing the tensile strength of the Gly- and Sor-plasticized films by ~16% and 14-37%, respectively. Further increases in CaCl2 content (0.1% and 0.2% w/w) led to concentration-dependent cracks, suggesting protein over-crosslinking. In summary, the incorporation of CaCl2 into PPI films did not provide signif-icant benefits and actually worsened key properties such as transparency and mechanical strength. The type of plasticizer influenced how CaCl2 affected some properties of the PPI film.

Seedling emergence is crucial for the establishment and growth of crops and is influenced by topsoil temperature and moisture. Mulching has been widely used to promote seedling emergence in areas with a cold spring. This study was conducted to determine and simulate the effects of transparent plastic film mulch on surface soil moisture, temperature, and seedling emergence of spring maize in Northwest China. Four treatments were used: no mulching (CK), full plastic film mulch (PMF), and partial plastic film mulch, 60 cm in width (PM60, 40 cm uncovered between rows of mulch) or 30 cm in width (PM30, 20 cm uncovered between rows of mulch). The effects of soil water conservation and temperature enhancement gradually decreased as the plastic film width decreased, but there was little difference between PMF and PM60 treatments. Soil-water-modified growing degree days (WGDD) described the beneficial effects of soil moisture and temperature with respect to seedling emergence under mulching conditions. Plastic film mulching markedly accelerated seedling emergence and increased final seedling emergence rate because mulching can shorten the autotrophy duration and maintain surface soil moisture, which leads to increased germination. The effects of seedling emergence improvement decreased as the plastic film width decreased. The relationship between WGDD and cumulative relative seedling emergence (CRE) was adequately described by a Gompertz function.

This paper introduces a novel framework for zero-shot learning (ZSL), i.e., to recognize new categories that are unseen during training, by distilling knowledge from foundation models. Specifically, we first employ ChatGPT and DALL-E to synthesize reference images of unseen categories from text prompts. Then, the test image is aligned with text and reference images using CLIP and DINO. Finally, the predicted logits are aggregated according to their confidence to produce the final prediction.Experiments are conducted on multiple datasets, including CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and TinyImageNet. The results demonstrate that our model can significantly improve classification accuracy compared to previous approaches, achieving AUROC scores above 96\% across all test datasets. Our code is available at https://github.com/1134112149/MICW-ZIC.

المستخلص تصنيع لقاح مكون من الحمض النووي الريبوزي الرسول الخاص بالبروتينات المسئولة عن انتاج البروتينات نيورامنيديز والهيم اجليوتونين لفيروسي الانفلونزا الخنازير والطيورمحاط بجزيئات دهنية بحجم النانوميتر عدوى انفلونزا الخنازير وانفلونزا الطيور مشكلة خطيرة تؤرق العالم كله هذه الايام خصوصا انها مميتة لكثير من اطفال العالم . بعد فترة التعافي من الاصابة تتكون المناعة المكتسبة ضدها لمدة عام تقريبا. هذه الانفلونزا تسبب تسمم فيروسي في الدم بالاضافة للالتهاب الرئوي وهذامن بين اكبرالاسباب للوفاة بين الاطفال قبل سن عامين عالميا بشكل مباشر. الهدف من الدراسة هو انتاج لقاح الحمض النووي الريبوزي الرسول من نوع الام بالنانوتكنولوجي لبروتينات الهيم اجليوتونين والنيورامنيديز الموجودة على سطح هذه الفيروسات التي تساعدتها في الاتصاق بالعائل الذي ستتكاثر داخل خلاياه بالجهاز التنفسي. هذه الدراسة دراسة استكشافية ومن خلالها استطاعنا تصميم هذا اللقاح باستعمال نظام توصيل للقاح بالنانوتكنولوجي حجم جزيئاته 70نانوميمتر. اللقاح الجديد اظهر فاعلية بنسبة 60% واظهر فاعلية حيوية مقاربة واثار جانبية اقل بالمقارنة باللقاحات المتوفرة حاليا بالسوق الدوائي ضد هذا النوع من الفيروسات الوبائية. ABSTRACT Background: Worldwide, Swine and Avian influenza, or the H1N1 and H5N1 serotypes of the Influenza A virus, is a highly contagious illness. In recent years, the global incidence of mortality rate has surpassed 284,000 fatalities. Aim of the study: The production of mRNA vaccine lipid nanoparticles (LNP) to combat the deadly strains of Avian and Swine influenza (H1N1 and H5N1 of the influenza A serotype). Methodology: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to clone genes of interest encoding Haemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) of Influenza A virus strains (H5N1 and H1N1) known as Avian flu and Swine flu, respectively. The genes were then inserted using the EcoR1, BAM Hind II restriction endonuclease type II, and Ligase enzyme into the pET-21(+) transcription vector plasmid. On the other hand, the hybrid transcription vectors were mixed with T7 RNA polymerase and ribonucleotides within a test tube after being linearized using EcoR II. Following their purification via reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), the mRNAs of the HA and NA were encased in 70 nm LNPs and subjected to reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Lastly, immunogenicity studies were performed in stages 1/2 of randomized human and preclinical clinical trials. Results: The bivalent vaccination had around 63% efficacy in preclinical studies and approximately 60% efficacy in randomized human clinical trials. As shown by the ELISA test, strong neutralizing antibodies against HA were prevalent. Conclusion: The current study is a promising effort because of the development of the novel LNP-mRNA vaccine, which could lower the incidence of Avian and Swine flu infectious disorders.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Tongue image analysis for disease diagnosis is an ancient traditional non-invasive diagnosis technique widely used by traditional medicine practitioners. Deep Learning based multi-label disease detection models offer tremendous potential to clinical decision support systems, by facilitating preliminary diagnosis. Methods: In this work, we propose a multi-label disease detection pipeline, where in observation and analysis of tongue images captured and received via smartphones assist in predicting the health status of an individual. All images are voluntarily given by subjects consulting collaborating physicians. Images thus acquired are first and foremost classified either into a diseased or a normal category by a 5-fold cross-validation algorithm using a convolution neural network (MobileNetV2) model for binary classification. Once the diseased label is predicted, the image is used to diagnose multiple diseases using the prediction algorithm based on DenseNet121. Results: Average accuracy of 93 % was achieved in classifying diseased from normal healthy tongue by detection model with MobileNetV2 architecture. Multilabel disease classification produced more than 90% accurate results for the seven class labels considered. Conclusion: AI based image analysis shows promising results and an extensive dataset could provide further improvements to this approach. Rather than employing high-cost sophisticated image capturing setup, experimenting with smartphone images opens opportunity to provide preliminary health status to individuals on smartphone prior to further line of treatment and diagnosis.

In an effort to enhance the efficiency and safety of open-pit mines, this study explores the optimization of end slope road parameters and slope structures, specifically focusing on unmanned driving lanes.A significant aspect of the study is the development of a truck trajectory offset model, which considers the different reaction times between automated sensors and human drivers in adapting to environmental changes. To test these concepts, the study uses numerical simulations to confirm the stability of the proposed end slope designs. Using Victory West Mine No. 1 as a case study, the research determines the optimized width for unmanned driving lanes and the maximum angle for safe steepening of end slopes. The findings indicate that the optimized unmanned lane width for NTE240 mining dump trucks is 1743 mm, allowing for a 2-degree increase in the slope angle at the south end slope. This optimization leads to a steep mining stripping volume of 3.2735 million m³ and a coal output of 2.49628 million tons, maintaining a stripping ratio of 1.31m³/t. These results demonstrate that the unmanned driving road width optimization not only ensures slope safety but also significantly boosts the economic benefits of steep mining in open-pit mines.

In the present work report, the MgAl₂O₄and the Ag/MgAl₂O₄ samples were successfully synthesized by the modified hydrothermal and the isovolumetric impregnation methods, respectively. The structural properties of the prepared samples were systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, DRS, XPS and et al techniques. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by the Ag/MgAl₂O₄ and MgAl₂O₄ samples was comparatively studied under UV lamp irradiation. The results revealed that the prepared Ag/MgAl₂O₄ (pH=6) samples were the most active among the samples in photocatalytic of methylene blue. Under UV lamp irradiation, the Ag/MgAl₂O₄ (pH=6) photodegradation of methylene blue reached to 89.6% within 120 min. And the Ag/MgAl₂O₄ (pH=6) complex photocatalysts displayed a high photochemical stability under repeated irradiation. Repeated irradiate the Ag/MgAl₂O₄ (pH=6) compound, which indicated it had a high photochemical stability.

Emerging infectious diseases are a major threat to biodiversity and an important public health issue. West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging vector-borne zoonotic arbovirus that is currently broadening its distribution in Europe. The evidence of WNV circulating in resident and migratory species has implications for both animal and public health, and should therefore be studied in depth. An integrated surveillance program, namely in birds, is essential for reducing the risk of infection in human populations within the One Health principles. In the present study, wild birds admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres in Portugal were sampled. Two-hundred and eight blood samples were assayed serologically to antibodies to WNV, by using a commercial ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 19.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.7-26.7%) was observed. Antibodies to WNV were detected in 13 (35.1%) different species of wild birds. Accipitriformes (26.7%; 95% CI: 18.5-36.2%) and Strigiformes (26.7%; 95% CI: 14.6-42.0%) were the orders with the highest seroprevalence recorded. There were no statistically significant differences (p = 0.725) between the geographical regions (NUTS II) studied, but statistically significant difference (p = 0.017) was found between gender (male: 34.4%; female: 4.8%). A higher seroprevalence was found in adults (32.1%) compared to juvenile birds (9.3%) (p = 0.014), and age was considered a risk factor to WNV infection in wild birds (odds ratio 1.4; 95% CI: 0.5–4.0). More epidemiological studies are needed in Portugal, since the actual spread of the WNV throughout the country is unknown.

Malignant lymphoma is an unusual form of gallbladder neoplasm. Almost all of these tumors are diffuse large B-cell lymphomas or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphomas. Herein, we report a rare case of a gallbladder Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) in a child living with HIV. As far as we are concerned, this is the secondfirst report in the pediatric population and the first one in an individual living with HIV. The patient (a five-year-old black female child) attended the Federal Hospital of Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, underwent cholecystectomy and the postoperative pathological analysis of the gallbladder revealed a diagnosis of BL (EBV-positive). Also, HIV serology was performed and returned positive. She was transferred to the Martagão Gesteira Institute of Pediatrics and Childcare for oncological treatment, dying from sepsis and disease progression about 18 months later. Patient did not undergo ART/cART. Previous cases of gallbladder BL were herein described and analyzed to characterize the clinicopathological features and possible similarities. BL can occur in the gallbladder both in the context of HIV infection and in the pediatric population. Biopsy is mandatory in cases with suggestive findings of lymphoma, and an early diagnosis can change the course of the disease. Furthermore, the case highlights the importance of an early initiation of ART/cART in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D) onset and development is closely linked with imbalance of gut microbiome, while supplementation with probiotics may result in positive alterations in gut microbiome composition. In the present study, the effect of a dietary intervention including free or immobilized cells of the presumptive probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici ORE5 on Corinthian currants, a food with beneficial impact in the condition of diabetes, was investigated. Male Wistar rats were studied which were divided into 4 groups: healthy animals, which received the free (H_FP) or the immobilized cells (H_IPC), and diabetic animals, which received the free (D_FP) or the immobilized cells (D_IPC), for 4 weeks (109 cfu/day, in all groups). At the end of the dietary intervention, D_IPC group exerted lower concentration of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1b compared to D_FP. Consumption of immobilized on Corinthian currants P. acidilactici ORE5 cells by diabetic animals led to increased loads of fecal lactobacilli and lower levels of Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, and E. coli, while Actinobacteria phylum, Akkermansia, and Bifidobacterium genera abundances were increased, and fecal lactic acid was elevated. Overall, the results of the present research demonstrated that functional ingredients can ameliorate gut dysbiosis present in T1D and could be used to design dietary patterns aiming at T1D management. However, well-designed clinical trials are necessary, in order to confirm the beneficial effects in humans.

Many farms are replacing the lighting with light emitting diode (LED) bulbs because of the technological modernization. We aimed to investigate the effects of incandescent light (IL) and LED lighting on Cobb500 broiler chickens for six weeks. Production parameters (body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio), calculated slaughter values (yield%, relative breast%, thigh%) and breast meat quality parameters (pH at 45 min and 24 h postmortem, color, drip loss, kitchen equipment losses, shear force, meat composition) were recorded. Non-stop recordings were used to analyze the behavior of the birds in several periods of the rearing. LED group was significantly better in body weigh parameter between week 1-5 and feed conversion ratio between week 2-3. The most significant difference in behavior was observed in the middle of the rearing period. The chickens in the LED group spent more eating time, drinking time, interacting, and resting less. There was no difference in the meat quality parameters, only shear force was significantly lower in the LED group (1781.95±0.33 g/s vs. 2098.82±0.42 g/s). Based on our results, LED lighting can bring positive changes in animal production efficiency, behavior, and important characteristics for meat consumers.

Postbiotic is a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host. Different bacterial strain and preparation method result in different functions. Herein, a postbiotic preparation named Postbiotic-P by intercepting 1-5 KD of the cell-free supernatants of L. caseiparacasei P6 fermentation broth was prepared, and its multifunctional activities were evaluated. The results showed that Postbiotic-P exerted good antihemolytic (10%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.9%-48.1% antihemolytic rate), anti-inflammatory (8% to 40% Postbiotic-P is comparable to 259.1-645.4 μg/mL of diclofenac sodium equivalents), antioxidant [reducing power (1.25%-12.5% Postbiotic-P resulted in the increase of OD700 from 0.279-2.322), DPPH free radical scavenging activity (2.5%-50% Postbiotic-P resulted in 38.9%-92.4% free radical scavenging rate), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (0.5%-4% Postbiotic-P resulted in 4.66%-10.38% hydroxyl radical scavenging rate)], and antimicrobial activities (against 2 Gram-positive, 8 Gram-negative and 1 fungus). Furthermore, it was proved that Postbiotic-P could significantly inhibit the increase of the peroxide value and the malondialdehyde content in cookies, indicating the application potential of Postbiotic-P in food preservation. Taken together, Postbiotic-P has good application potential for the development of health care products and functional foods. However, further studies are needed to determine their precise mechanism of action, to clarify the active components responsible for the function, and to validate the biological activities in animal models or clinical trials.

Quantum computing (QC) has opened the door to advancements in machine learning (ML) tasks that are currently implemented in the classical domain. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are classical ML architectures that exploit data locality and possess a simpler structure than fully-connected multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) without compromising the accuracy of classification. However, the concept of preserving data locality is usually overlooked in the existing quantum counterparts of CNNs, particularly for extracting multi-features in multidimensional data. In this paper, we present a multidimensional quantum convolutional classifier (MQCC) that performs multidimensional and multi-feature quantum convolution with average and Euclidean pooling and thus adapting the CNN structure to a variational quantum algorithm (VQA). Average pooling is based on the quantum Haar transform (QHT) and Euclidean pooling is based on partial quantum measurement. The experimental work was conducted using multidimensional data to validate the correctness and demonstrate the scalability of the proposed method utilizing both noisy and noise-free quantum simulations. We evaluated the MQCC model with reference to reported work on state-of-the-art quantum simulators from IBM Quantum and Xanadu using a variety of standard ML datasets. The experimental results showed favorable characteristics of our proposed techniques compared to existing work with respect to a number of quantitative metrics such as the number of training parameters, cross-entropy loss, classification accuracy, circuit depth, and quantum gate count.

The dust originating from the extinct lake of the Aral Sea poses a considerable threat to the sur-rounding communities and ecosystems. The accurate location of these wind erosion areas is an essential prerequisite for controlling sand and dust activity. However, few relevant indicators re-ported in the current study can accurately describe and measure wind erosion intensity. A novel wind erosion intensity (WEI) of a resolution unit was defined in this paper based on the deformation due to the wind erosion in this resolution unit. We also derived the relationship between WEI and soil InSAR temporal decorrelation (ITD). The ITD is usually caused by the surface change over time, which is very suitable for describing wind erosion. However, within one resolution unit, the ITD signal usually includes soil and vegetation contributions, and few studies are referred to this. Therefore, we proposed an ITD decomposition model (ITDDM) to decompose the ITD signal of a resolution unit. The least-squares method (LSM) based on singular value decomposition (SVD) is used to estimate the ITD of soil (SITD) within a resolution unit. We verified the results qualitatively by the landscape photos, which can reflect the actual conditions of the soil. At last, the WEI of the Aral Sea from June 23, 2020, to July 05, 2020, was mapped. The results confirmed that (1) Based on the ITDDM model, the SITD can be accurately estimated by the LSM method, (2) the Aral Sea is experiencing severe wind erosion, and (3) The middle, northeast, and southeast bare areas of the South Aral Sea are where salt dust storms may occur.

Glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites were manufactured using the vacuum infusion process. In some of the samples, the biaxial glass fiber fabric was pretreated with an air plasma generated in a dielectric barrier discharge. All samples were exposed to temperature changes, UV radiation, and NaCl and KOH solutions and then examined for their mechanical properties. Compared to the reference samples, the plasma-treated samples showed slightly better mechanical properties. The strength values determined in tensile, compression, and bending tests were several percent higher. Thermal stress and UV radiation did not lead to a loss of mechanical performance. The effect of NaCl and KOH solutions deteriorated the mechanical properties. Although the comparatively better mechanical properties of the plasma-treated samples were retained after the different treatments, the stability of the composite material against aggressive environmental conditions was not significantly improved.

This study investigated the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) technology in table tennis education compared to traditional training methods. A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 participants divided equally between VR and traditional training groups. Performance metrics, learning motivation, and satisfaction were assessed at regular intervals. Results demonstrated significant advantages of VR training, with the VR group showing superior improvements in serve accuracy (23.5% vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001), rally endurance (increase of 8.2 vs. 5.7 shots, p < 0.01), and overall skill scores (18.7 vs. 13.2 points improvement, p < 0.001). The VR group also exhibited higher increases in learning motivation (23.5% vs. 12.8%, p < 0.001) and satisfaction (31.5% vs. 18.7%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed particular benefits for novice players and younger participants. These findings suggest that VR technology offers a promising approach to enhance table tennis education, potentially revolutionizing sports training methodologies. Future research should focus on long-term skill retention and the optimization of VR training protocols.

This paper examines the impact of renewable energy heating on air quality in northern China, using the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River line as a quasi-natural experiment to distinguish between regions with central heating and those without. Employing a difference-in-differences approach and analyzing panel data from 299 cities between 2014 and 2022, our findings indicate that the renewable energy heating policy has significantly improved air quality. Specifically, the policy led to substantial reductions in the Air Quality Index (AQI) and concentrations of key pollutants: SO2 by 28.31%, CO by 7.57%, NO2 by 5.72%, and PM2.5 by 7.15%. The policy's effects are most pronounced in regions with lower temperatures and in the eastern parts of the country. Further analysis emphasizes the critical role of energy transition, environmental regulations, and government investment in technology as key drivers of these air quality improvements.

This study investigates the diversity and evolution of research topics within the dental sciences from 1994 to 2023 using topic modeling and Shannon's entropy as a measure of research diversity. We analyzed a dataset of 412036 scientific articles across six dental disciplines: Orthodontics, Pros-thodontics, Periodontics, Implant Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Restorative Dentistry. This research relies on BERTopic to identify distinct topics within each field. The study revealed significant shifts in research focus over time, with some disciplines exhibiting robust growth in article numbers such as Periodontics and Prosthodontics. The application of Shannon's entropy revealed an increasing diversification of research efforts in disciplines such as Restorative Dentistry, while others, like Prosthodontics, in spite of their size and their high number of research topics, maintain a more specialized research focus. Taken together, our findings describe the dynamic nature of dental re-search and highlight the balance shifts in research focus across several key areas of Dentistry.

Introduction: Most industrialized and developed countries now working to implement more advanced transportation systems. These include autonomous vehicle(AV) systems of various forms, such as delivery vehicles, which eliminate the crashes, injuries, and fatalities associated with human-operated machinery. Self-driving vehicles have the potential to make roads safer, but some safety concerns need to be addressed. Before AV systems become commonplace in developing countries, society needs to determine how safe they truly are. Objectives: This paper provides brief descriptions and examines the realities for AV in developing countries using results from infrastructure-based assessment of countries worldwide and from a questionnaire-based survey. Methods: Relevant research papers, articles, reports, and departmental websites were used as the main data sources. Ethiopia was chosen as a representative case. Different aspects of AV infrastructure, its current status in developing countries, and perspectives on AV systems are explored through interviews with approximately 1500 randomly selected individuals. The main variables in the assessment were physical infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and societal perceptions on AV systems. Results: Surprisingly, the results indicated that 55.82%, 78.58%, 87.78%, and 86.09% of Ethiopian interviewees agreed with statements regarding high ease of use, usefulness, positive attitude, and benefits, respectively, of AV. However, it should be noted that some interviewees did not provide a response to certain questions.

In response to the fairness issue arising from the unequal delay of vehicles in different phases at intersections, considering the actual situation of small and variable delays for vehicles in low-saturation intersection phases, this paper proposes the concept of "sacrificing efficiency for fairness." Firstly, the universality of unfair delay phenomena at intersection phases is explained, especially at low-saturation intersections where the fluctuation in phase delays is 1.87 times higher than at other intersections. Then, a fairness evaluation index is constructed using information entropy, and the feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated. Subsequently, a signal optimization model that balances efficiency and fairness is proposed. Finally, the proposed model is validated through case studies, showing that it not only simultaneously considers efficiency and fairness but also has minimal impact on efficiency. Moreover, the changes to timing schemes in the efficiency model are much smaller compared to the model that only considers fairness. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the model performs better under low-saturation intersection conditions.

Applied talent is not only a builder of human civilization but also a promoter of economic development. They not only need systematic and solid engineering theoretical knowledge but also rich engineering practical experience. Applied undergraduate colleges are the cradle for cultivating applied talent and shoulder the important mission of cultivating various types of applied talent for society. With the rapid development of higher education, the number of applied undergraduate institutions has sharply increased, but the quality of applied talent cultivated by them has shown a significant decline, which greatly restricts the pace of industrial development in the world. This article proposes a new concept of promoting the "three certificates" (graduation certificate, degree certificate, and skill certificate) education model in applied undergraduate colleges, which is of great significance for the country to cultivate composite talents with the ability of "product design, production management, and product processing" at the same time.

This paper addresses the evolving landscape of electricity markets in Europe, with a focus on the integration of Renewable Energy Communities as introduced by the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001. Residents within a postal code area are highly incentivized to join a community, which enables them to exchange energy among themselves at lower procurement costs. Thereby, energy management systems optimize the operation of respective energy systems, with electrical load forecasting playing a key role. Given that prosumers may switch between communities on a daily basis, electricity demands within these groups will vary, leading to data that is non-stationary, discontinuous as well as non-identical and independently distributed. To encounter this issue, we propose a sophisticated forecasting model that applies federated learning, using informations from various distributed communities to learn domain-invariant features. To achieve this, we initially utilize synthetic electrical load time series at district level and aggregate them to profiles of Renewable Energy Communities with dynamic portfolios. Subsequently, we develop a forecasting model that accounts for the composition of residents of a Renewable Energy Community, adapt data pre-processing in accordance with the time series process, and detail a federated learning algorithm that incorporates weight averaging and data sharing. Following the training of various experimental setups, we ultimately evaluate their effectiveness. The findings suggest that our proposed framework is capable of effectively forecast non-stationary and discontinuous time series and that it can be applied to new, unseen data through the integration of knowledge from multiple sources.

Examining contemporary developments and cutting-edge approaches in the field, this literature review explores how antenna design for transmission lines is changing. Review findings are compiled from a variety of academic sources, including pertinent technical reports published as recently as 2018, conference papers, journal articles, and reports. A variety of antenna topologies suited for transmission lines are evaluated in this paper, including microstrip, slot, and patch antennas, with a focus on theoretical frameworks and practical implementations. This overview clarifies the complex relationship between antenna design and transmission line characteristics by looking at important factors like impedance matching, bandwidth, and radiation pattern management. Notable developments in materials, fabrication methods, and numerical simulations are also examined and their effects on antenna performance explained. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature, this review offers valuable insights into the state-of-the-art antenna design practices for transmission lines, facilitating informed decision-making and inspiring future research endeavors in this field.

Abstract: With the growing integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart buildings, it is crucial to ensure the precise implementation and operation of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This paper aims to study the implementation aspect of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in a commercial multi-story building, specifically addressing the difficulty of dealing with variable environmental conditions on each floor. This research addresses the disparity between simulated situations and actual deployments, offering valuable insights that have the potential to signifi-cantly improve the efficiency and responsiveness of building management systems. We obtain real-time sensor data to analyze and evaluate the system’s performance. Our investigation is grounded in the growing importance of incorporating WSNs into buildings to create intelligent environments. By leveraging the capabilities of Contiki operating system, this study employs a specialized simulator to generate simulated data, allowing for a comparison between real-world and simulated scenarios. We provide an in-depth analysis to scrutinize the disparities and commonalities between the datasets obtained from real-world deployments and simulated en-vironments. We highlight the necessity of precise simulation to validate real-life sensor data, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing WSNs in in-telligent buildings. Results obtained show the significance of accurate simulation models for re-liable data representation, providing a roadmap for further developments in the integration of WSNs into intelligent building scenarios. The findings highlight the potential for optimizing living and working conditions based on the real-time monitoring of critical environmental pa-rameters. This includes insights into temperature, humidity, and light intensity, offering oppor-tunities for enhanced comfort and efficiency in intelligent environments.

Theoretical studies on the generation of nondiffracting and nondispersive light pulses and their experimental implementation are one of the renowned problems within electromagnetics. Current technologies enable creation of short-duration pulses of a few cycles with high power and fluency. An application of these techniques to the field of nondiffracting and nondispersive pulses requires a proper mathematical description of highly focused vector pulses. In this work, we study vector optical bullets in a dielectric medium with different polarization structures: linear, azimuthal, and radial. We report the differences caused by the vector model compared to the scalar model. We analyze effects caused by superluminal, subluminal, or even negative group velocity on properties of vector optical bullets inside a dielectric material.

Understanding morphological and genetic diversity of forest trees is essential to facilitate their conservation, sustainable management and genetic improvement for addressing the economic and environmental demands and challenges. We have examined variation in morphometric seed and pod traits and seed germination of multipurpose and widely distributed forest tree Albizia lebbek (Indian siris) from 12 provenances covering the species’ range in northern India and its relationships with bioclimatic factors. Highly significant inter-provenance variation was observed in seed size (seed length (SL), seed width (SW), SW/SL, SL×SW), seed mass (1000 seed weight), pod size (pod length (PL), pod width (PW), PW/PL), seed germination, number of seeds per pod, and insect infected seeds (IIS). The provenance effect contributed a major portion to the total phenotypic variance. Morphometric variation in all traits except for IIS was not clinal related to longitude, latitude, altitude or rainfall. There was an indication of the presence of ecotypic variation. IIS showed clinal variation with significant negative correlation with latitude. Most seed size and pod size traits showed positive correlations with several temperature bioclimatic factors and negative correlations with several precipitation bioclimatic factors. Our results have significance for genetic improvement, population genetics and genomics studies and conservation and sustainable management of A. lebbek genetic resources.

Our work is regarding the analysis of land use changes, in the light of “saving soil” against the expansion due to unearned plus value of land: The loss of natural and agricultural surface in front of the expanding urban environment is a critical aspect of unsustainability of urban development, especially in the way it was carried out in the past decades. The measure of the physical transition of land use and characters from a more natural condition of land surface to a new artificial one, joint with a parallel analysis of the increase of land value due to such change is nowadays a major land-policy tool. The interplay of urban economics regulation with planning, reveals new key issues in urban governance and environmental preservation. In this paper it will be shown some experiment about the impact assessment of soil take, related with the seek of valorization of property inside the planning process. Our paper reports as well about the experimental activity carried out inside the MITO Lab of the Polytechnic of Bari, where reports about property values and environmental values have been produced, specially looking at the reality of the Apulia, a southern Italian Region, that is rich of farmlands and coastlines, often invaded by constructions with a severe loss of nature, landscape and ecosystems services.

Introduction: Previous research has suggested, that primary breast cancer (PBC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risks can be modified by mutation location in BRCA1 gene. In this study we assessed and compared the risks of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) and OC after the event of PBC in carriers of regionally frequent BRCA1 founder pathogenic variants (PV) c.5266dup and c.4035del. Subjects and Methods: In the analysis of CBC and OC risk, 1364 cases with BRCA1 PV and PBC were included. The control group consisted of 11350 consequent unselected and unscreened cases with PBC. The follow-up started at the time of PBC diagnosis and continued till the event of CBC or OC had occurred. The cumulative risks of CBC and OC were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Risk factor for developing CBC/OC (age < 40 years) was calculated using cox proportional hazards model. Results: Cumulative 10 years risk of developing CBC was 3.0% in control group, and 20.1% in study group of BRCA1 carriers (log-rank p < 0.001). Cumulative risk of CBC at 10,15 and 20 years was 25.0%, 37.0% and 51.4% in PV c.5266dup subgroup, as opposed to 14.1%, 27.2% and 44.5% in PV c.4035del subgroup (log-rank p = 0.045). Age younger than 40 years at the time of PBC was risk factor for CBC (hazard ratio 2.06, 95% CI 1.83-2.29, p < 0.001). Cumulative risk of developing OC at 10 and 15 years was 1.0% and 1.2% in control group, 10.8% and 16.8% for PV c.5266dup, 13.5% and 30.8% for PV c.4035del. There was difference in OC risks between control group and BRCA1 carriers (log-rank p< 0.001). PV c.4035del showed higher risk of OC, compared to PV c.5266dup, however, this was of borderline statistical significance (log-rank p = 0.057). Age younger than 40 years at the time of PBC was not associated with any difference in future OC risks (hazard ratio 1.03, 95% CI 0.77-1.29, p = 0.23). Conclusion: The data of this study confirms previously established evidence that in cases of PBC the risk of future CBC and OC is increased significantly for BRCA1 carriers in comparison to general unscreened population. Moreover, BRCA1 PV c.5266dup is associated with higher CBC risk and possibly lower OC risk in comparison to BRCA1 PV c.4035del. Age younger than 40 years at diagnosis of PBC is risk factor for CBC, but does not seem to alter the risk of OC.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) pose a major health risk to hemodialysis patients, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify the bacterial pathogens responsible for BSIs in this population, analyze clinical and laboratory profiles, and identify risk factors associated with poor outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Sohar Hospital, Oman, analyzing cases from January 2018 to December 2022. Data were obtained from e-health records, focusing on patient demographics, bacterial etiology, antibiotic susceptibility, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis included t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests, with univariate odds ratios calculated for mortality associations using the R package GTSUMMARY. Results: Among 1332 hemodialysis patients, 148 (11.1%) developed a BSI, with an average age of 60.43±14.46 years. Infections were more common among females (54%) and those over 60 years. The predominant comorbidities were hypertension (86%) and diabetes mellitus (74%). The main causative agents were coagulase-negative staphylococci (29.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (20.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.2%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.8%). Gram-negative bacteria showed high susceptibility (80-100%) to carbapenems and piperacillin-tazobactam, while Gram-positive bacteria exhibited 80-100% susceptibility to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and universal sensitivity to linezolid and vancomycin. Conclusions: BSIs in hemodialysis patients at Sohar Hospital are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, underscoring the need for prompt empirical antibiotic therapy and targeted treatment adjustments based on culture results. This study highlights critical mortality-associated factors, offering valuable insights for improving patient management and survival outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Background: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a type of ovarian cancer with a poor prognosis if detected in the progressive stage since there is less effective chemotherapy. Recent advancements in molecular-targeted drugs have not substantially affected OCCC treatment. Therefore, we explored the potential of targeting MDM2 in OCCC cells. Methods: We used TOV-21G and KOC7c cells as the ARID1A mutant-type, and RMG-I and ES2 cells as the ARID1A wild-type. Then, we performed small interfering library screening, Western blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, time-lapse cell proliferation assessment, and DNA damage assessment. Next, to generate murine intraperitoneal tumors, 7.5 × 106 TOV-21G cells in 200 μL of phosphate-buffered saline were injected subcutaneously into the intraperitoneum in 5–6-week-old athymic nude mice. Results: Using various cell lines with ARID1A mutations or without mutation, the results showed that the interference of MDM2 effectively reduced cell proliferation in ARID1A-mutant cells but not in ARID1A wild-type cells. Additionally, interference with ARID1A against ARID1A wild strains reproduced susceptibility to MDM2 interference. In vivo experiments demonstrated that nutlin-3, an MDM2 inhibitor, significantly suppressed tumor growth in the ovarian cancer mouse model. Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeting MDM2 may be a viable strategy for the treat-ment of ARID1A-mutated OCCC, offering a new therapeutic approach for this challenging type of cancer.

(1) Background: Eosinophils importance as T2 inflammation markers is known to be fundamental in asthma, chronic sinusitis, vasculitis. In cancer, despite their potential antiproliferative effect, their role remains unclear. Our purpose was to describe the relation between baseline blood eosinophil count (EOS) and overall survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. (2) Methods: We have analyzed retrospectively the data of 137 adult patients, who underwent surgical treatment of PDAC between years 2012-2019 with no history of systemic steroid use directly before surgical treatment and no metastases found intraoperatively. (3) Results: EOS&lt;0,1 G/l (vs. ≥0,1 G/l) was an independent prognostic factor for OS both the uni- and multivariate Cox regression (respectively: HR=1,48, p=0,035 and HR=1,57, p=0,021). According to EOS and PDAC stage, median OS were: in stage I-III, EOS ≥0,1 G/l group: 14,5 months, in stage I-III, EOS &lt;0,1 G/l group: 8,0 months, in stage IV, EOS ≥0,1 G/l group: 7,0 months, in stage IV, EOS &lt;0,1 G/l group: 5,0 months. (4) Conclusions: Peripheral eosinophilia seems to be a potential independent prognostic factor. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis, since our findings suggest that T2 inflammation may be the factor directly or indirectly lengthening survival of PDAC patients.

Novel photocatalysts were synthesized through the association of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with commercial (P25) titanium dioxide (TiO2) by sonication. The resulting TiO2/CQDs compo-site was then incorporated into the polyamide 66 (PA66) biopolymer nanofibers using the elec-trospinning technique, considering a composite nanoparticles-to-polymer ratio of 1:2 in the elec-trospinning precursor solution. The produced nanofibers presented suitable morphology and were tested for the photocatalytic degradation under simulated solar radiation of 10 mg/L of amoxicillin (AMX) and sulfadiazine (SDZ), in phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.06) and river wa-ter, using 1.5 g/L of photocatalyst. The presence of the photocatalyst increased the removal of AMX in phosphate buffer solution by 30 times, reducing the AMX degradation half-life time from 62 ± 1 h (without catalyst) to 1.98 ± 0.06 h. Moreover, SDZ degradation half-life time in phosphate buffer solution was reduced from 5.4 ± 0.1 h (without catalyst) to 1.87 ± 0.05 h in the presence of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, the PA66/TiO2/CQDs were also efficient in river wa-ter samples, and maintained their performance in at least three cycles of SDZ photodegradation in river water. The presented results evidence that the produced photocatalyst can be a promis-ing and sustainable solution for antibiotics’ efficient removal from water.

Chronic wounds remain a major challenge in healthcare, with conventional dressings often leading to infections and lacking advanced healing capabilities. This study evaluated the wound healing potential of NIMO-CH, a cellulose hydrogel derived from nipa fronds and enriched with indigenous microorganisms, particularly Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BCRC-16100. Using ICR mice with excisional wounds, three treatments were compared: no treatment, NIMO-CH, and DuoDERM. Results showed that NIMO-CH and DuoDERM both achieved 100% wound closure, with NIMO-CH-treated wounds showing complete healing with hair growth by day 18-20, while untreated wounds healed by day 20. Minimal scarring was observed in both NIMO-CH and DuoDERM groups. Histological analysis confirmed similar healing processes, including granulation tissue formation and moderate inflammatory responses, with no significant differences in collagen fiber orientation. Furthermore, genome sequencing revealed that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BCRC-16100 contained genes sodA and gsiC, responsible for coding enzymes necessary for the wound healing process. These results suggest that NIMO-CH could be an effective alternative for wound care applications.

Bacterial infections pose a serious threat to human health, and the overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Numerous current wound dressings, which may cause skin irritation or allergies are insufficient in handling large wounds, often leading to infections. This highlights the need for better antibacterial materials. Nypa fruticans (Nipa palm), native to Southeast Asia, has long been utilized for various purposes because of its multiple benefits such as its antimicrobial properties, presence of probiotics, and high cellulose content. This study evaluates the use of cellulose hydrogel from nipa fronds, loaded with probiotics (ProbioGel), as an antimicrobial agent to prevent infections. The study involved an in-vitro assay using the Kirby-Bauer method to evaluate the gel’s antimicrobial properties against common wound pathogens. Additionally, whole genome sequencing and promoter analysis were done to identify genes supporting their biochemical properties. The results showed ProbioGel exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans due to the presence of genes encoding lysozyme, carnobacteriocin B2, and fatty acid ABC transporter ATP binding in the Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BCRC-16100. This study highlighted the potential of ProbioGel as an innovative and effective antimicrobial and anti-infection agent for wound care. The discovery of genes in the probiotic strain responsible for encoding antimicrobial peptides further supports its therapeutic potential.

Background and Objectives: Most of the research of the BRCA1 inactivation is focused on monoallelic germline alterations and loss of heterozygosity in tumour. The aim of this study was to identify characteristic transcriptomic pattern of monoallelic somatic BRCA1 inactivation and estimate its impact to the event-free breast cancer survival prognosis. Materials and Methods: We conducted global transcriptome sequencing of breast cancer tissue samples to identify differentially expressed genes and signalling pathways associated with monoallelic somatic BRCA1 inactivation. The study group involved 36 patient samples categorized based on BRCA1 inactivation status. Subsequently, the differential gene expression and Kaplan-Meier analyses in the groups with and without monoallelic somatic BRCA1 inactivation were performed. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed tendency for longer event-free survival in patients with monoallelic somatic BRCA1 inactivation, suggesting somatic BRCA1 inactivation is favourable prognostic. Differential gene expression analysis followed by the STRING tool enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment of proteins in the extracellular region and extracellular space. Conclusion: In this study we identified transcriptomic profile of differentially expressed genes TPSD1, FABP4, CARTPT and MMP9 as indicative for homologous recombination impaired tumours with tendency for better therapy results.

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) is a critical congenital heart defect that can impact neurodevelopment due to cerebral perfusion and oxygenation disorders. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary center between 2016 and 2023, we investigated the early effects of Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) administration and balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) on cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in inborn neonates with D-TGA. Cerebral Doppler Ultrasound in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was performed to assess resistive index (RI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), and End-Diastolic Velocity (EVD) before PGE1, before the BAS procedure and 24 hours after birth. Cerebral regional saturations of oxygen (crSO2) and cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE) were evaluated. D-TGA patients were divided into the PGE1 group and the PGE1+BAS group. Age-matched healthy controls were used for comparison. Results: All 83 D-TGA newborns received PGE1 within two hours after delivery, of whom 46 (55.42%) underwent BAS. 77 newborns composed the control group. PGE1 administration increased crSO2 from 47% to 50% in the PGE1 group but lower than in controls at 24 hours of life, while cFTOE remained elevated. The RI increased 24 hours after delivery (0.718 vs. 0.769; p=0.000002) due to decreased EDV (10.71 vs. 8.74; p&lt;0.0001) following PGE1 treatment. The BAS procedure resulted in a significant increase in crSO2 from 42% to 51% at 24 hours of life in the PGE1+BAS group. Doppler parameters exhibited a similar trend as observed in the PGE1 group. Conclusion: PGE1 treatment and BAS are lifesaving interventions that may improve cerebral perfusion and oxygenation in newborns with D-TGA during the transition period.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are reported to have features intermediate between fetal and adult mesenchymal cells. Hence, UC-MSCs were cocultured with chondrocytes and Schwann cells to induce differentiation because of their flexible differentiation potential. US-MSCs were obtained from umbilical cords and cells at second passage were used in the experiments. Atelocollagen sponge was used as the scaffold for coculture; a horizontal, interactive coculture plate with a 0.6-μm pore size filter was placed between the connected vessels. US-MSCs were cocultured separately with chondrocytes and Schwann cells and culture alone served as a control. Five weeks after induction of differentiation, each specimen was evaluated histologically. In specimens cocultured with chondrocytes and the controls, cartilage tissues were detected using hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining. Cells positive for S100 protein were detected in the specimens cocultured with Schwann cells, but not in the controls. UC-MSCs were easily induced to differentiate into chondrocytes and neural cells by coculture. This indicates that continuously-shared humoral factors were effective in inducing differentiation of UC-MSCs. Coculture appears to be a potential technique for tissue regeneration using MSCs.

A superior variant of dried jujube in China is ‘Huizao’ (HZ) jujube. Nonetheless, detailed evaluations of the texture quality of HZ fruits have been the subject of few studies. Texture is a significant indicator of the sensory and processed quality of a fruit. Here, we differentiate and characterize the texture quality of HZ fruits from the four primary producing regions in southern Xinjiang, as well as develop a system for assessing the texture quality of HZ fruits. Furthermore, five texture indices of HZ fruits from 109 plantations were exhaustively evaluated utilizing principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical clustering analysis. Consequently, by the 10th, 30th, 70th, and 90th percentiles, each index was classified into five grades—lower, medium, high, and higher. Correlation investigation indicated strong relationships between the springiness, chewiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and hardness of HZ fruits. Springiness, hardness, and adhesiveness are essential indicators that influence the texture of HZ fruits. We used clustering analysis to separate the six texture indices into three major categories (hard factor, stick-elastic factor, and adhesive factor), with indices representing hardness, springiness, and adhesiveness, respectively. Furthermore, according to the factor molecules, the texture quality of HZ fruits in the four production areas was evaluated as Bazhou (1.24) > Hotan (0.773) > Kashi (-0.577) > Aksu (-0.852). RDA analysis of six texture quality parameters and 24 climate conditions identified higher mean temperature (TEM) and lower relative humidity (RHU) as the primary factors contributing to the improved texture quality of HZ fruits in Xinjiang. This study identified the texture quality characteristics of HZ fruits in four major producing areas of Southern Xinjiang, and it offered a theoretical foundation for optimizing the dominant producing areas and regional production of HZ varieties in Xinjiang.

Introduction Emergency laparotomy is a surgical procedure associated with significantly higher mortality rates compared to elective surgeries. Awake laparotomy under neuraxial anaesthesia has recently emerged as a promising approach in abdominal surgery to improve patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of using lumbar spinal anaesthesia as the primary anaesthetic technique in emergency laparotomies. Methods We conducted a case series involving 16 patients who underwent emergency laparotomy for bowel ischemia, perforation, or occlusion. Lumbar spinal anaesthesia was employed as the main anaes-thetic technique. We analysed patient demographics, clinical characteristics, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes. The primary outcome measures included the adequacy of postoper-ative pain control, the incidence of postoperative complications, and mortality rates. Results Among the 16 patients, adequate postoperative pain control was achieved, with only 2 patients requiring additional analgesia. Postoperative complications, including sepsis, wound dehiscence, and pneumonia, were observed in 7 patients (44%). The observed mortality rate was relatively low at 6% (1 patient). Notably, conversion to general anaesthesia was not necessary in any of the cases, and no early readmissions were reported. Discussion Our findings highlight the feasibility and potential benefits of using neuraxial anaesthesia in emergency laparotomies. The observed low mortality rate and the avoidance of conversion to general anaesthesia suggest that lumbar spinal anaesthesia may be a useful alternative in emer-gency settings. However, the occurrence of postoperative complications in 44% of patients indi-cates the need for cautious patient selection and close monitoring. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to fully elucidate the efficacy, safety, and potential impact of this tech-nique on patient outcomes in emergency laparotomies.

The construction industry is a key driver of environmental change due to its extensive ‎use of resources and high levels of emissions, thus placing a significant burden on global ‎efforts towards sustainable development targets. A large portion of the environmental ‎footprint of buildings results from the energy required to sustain indoor comfort levels. ‎Therefore, enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings becomes critical in ‎reducing their environmental impact. This study examines the influence of increasing ‎thermal performance with the aim of reducing heating ‎demand. Thus, numerical modelling tools and different energy performance assessment meth-odologies have been used. ‎Specifically, it evaluates two existing residential buildings in Romania and compares ‎heating demand predictions using PHPP and Mc001-2022 methodologies across various ‎climatic data sets and case studies. The results reveal significant variability in heating ‎demand predictions, emphasizing the importance of methodological choice and climatic ‎data. The ‎study highlights that both PHPP and Mc001-2022 methodologies yield varying results ‎depending on the specific conditions and characteristics of each building. This variation in results underscores ‎the necessity for a nuanced and context-specific approach to energy performance ‎assessment, in-corporating multiple energy efficiency measures tailored to the unique ‎features of each building.

This review examines additive manufacturing for refractory tungsten (W) and its alloys. It emphasizes the primary challenges and determining factors involved in additive manufacturing pure W, W alloys, and composites. Our focus in this regard extends to both process and alloying strategies designed to address critical issues such as densification, micro-cracking, and mechanical properties in tungsten-based components produced through additive techniques. Throughout the review, we organize existing knowledge and insights into convenient tables, serving as valuable resources for researchers embarking on a deeper exploration of these topics.

Abiotic stress, especially drought stress poses a significant threat to the terrestrial plant growth, development, and productivity. Although mulberry have great genetic diversity and extensive stress tolerant traits in agroforestry systems, only a few reports offer preliminary insight into biochemical responses of mulberry leaves under drought conditions. In this study, we performed a comparative metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis on the “drooping mulberry” (Morus alba var. Pendula Dippel) under PEG-6000-simulated drought stress. Our research revealed that drought stress significantly enhanced flavonoid accumulation and up-regulated the expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were elevated. In vitro enzyme assays and fermentation tests indicated the involvement of flavonol synthase/flavanone 3-hydroxylase (XM_010098126.2) and anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase 5 (XM_010101521.2) in the biosynthesis of flavonol aglycones and glycosides, respectively. The recombinant MaF3GT5 protein was found to recognize kaempferol, quercetin, and UDP-glucose as substrates, but not 3-/7-O-glucosylated flavonols and UDP-rhamnose. MaF3GT5 is capable of forming 3-O- and 7-O-monoglucoside, but not di-O-glucosides, form kaempferol. This implies its role as a flavonol 3, 7-O-glucosyltransferase. The findings from this study provided insights into the biosynthesis of flavonoids and could have substantial implications for the future diversified utilization of mulberry.

Background: The surgical approach to treating calcaneal fractures, specifically Sanders types II, III, and IV, is still a subject of controversy. The decision to opt for open reduction and internal fix-ation (ORIF) or minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIOS) remains uncertain owing to varying complication rates. This study intends to examine each treatment’s pros and cons in relation to the incidence of complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, we examined 70 patients treated between January 2018 and September 2022: 50 received ORIF, and 20 underwent MIOS. We evaluated functional outcomes with the Maryland Foot Score and the Creighton-Nebraska Health Foundation Assessment Scale (CNHFAS). We also assessed the amount of anatomical restoration using Böhler’s and Gissane’s angles, determined by radiographic checks, and the frequency of postoperative complications. Results: A significant reduction in the risk of reinter-vention was observed in patients with high anesthetic risks, polytraumatized individuals, and those with comorbidities who underwent MIOS. The chi-square test analysis of postoperative complications highlighted no substantial differences between the ORIF and MIOS groups in rela-tion to tendinitis, chronic pain and swelling, algodystrophy, and surgical wound infections (p > 0.20 for all). Conclusion: ORIF is more suitable for patients who have high motor function re-quirements, a long-term activity schedule and can endure potential additional procedures. This preference is because ORIF provides better anatomical restoration and features a lower osteoar-thritis occurrence rate.

L-Theanine, a unique non-protein amino acid, is an important bioactive component of green tea. Previous studies have shown that L-theanine has many potent health benefits, such as anti-anxiety effect, regulation of immune response, relaxing neural tension, reducing oxidative damage. However, little is known concerning whether L-theanine can improve the clearance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in organisms. Here, we reported that L-theanine treatment increased ATP production and improved mitochondrial morphology to extend the lifespan of UVC-exposed nematodes. Mechanistic investigations showed that L-theanine treatment enhanced the removal of mtDNA damage and extended lifespan by activating autophagy, mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in UVC-exposed nematodes. In addition, L-theanine treatment also up-regulated the expression of genes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism in UVC-exposed nematodes. Our study provided a theoretical basis for the possibility that tea drinking may prevent mitochondrial related diseases.

Salidroside, a valuable phenylethanoid glycoside, is obtained from plants belonging to the Rhodiola genus, known for its diverse biological properties. At present, salidroside is still far from large-scale industrial production due to the lower titer and higher process cost. In this study, we constructed a biosynthetic pathway from L-tyrosine to salidroside in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To increase sali-droside production, we for the first time constructed an in vivo UDP-glucose regeneration system that sucrose synthase GmSUS worked in conjunction with UDP-glucose transferase RrUGT33 to improve the UDP-glucose availability with inexpensive sucrose as the consumed substrate. Finally, the molar conversion rate of L-tyrosine could reach 95%. To further reduce the cost, co-culture with E. coli that synthesized L-tyrosine de novo resulted in an 81% reduction in the final substrate cost per 1 kg of salidroside compared to the initial cost. The final titer of salidroside obtained 3.8 g/L and was the highest titer achieved at the Shake-Flask-Level in the existing reports. And this marked the first successful synthesis of salidroside in an in situ enhanced UDP-glucose system using sucrose. This accomplishment laid a robust groundwork for further investigations into the synthesis of other notable glycosides and natural compounds.

One way to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the natural environment is to use natural, easily available and relatively cheap to produce compounds in industrial processes. One such compound is naturally occurring calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This compound has adsorption properties so that it can be an alternative to commonly used adsorbents. The aim of this work is to determine the possibility of using CaCO3 to remove pharmaceutical substances such as sulfadiazine and tetracycline from water. The CaCO3 used in this work was synthesised using our own method, which allows the production of CaCO3 particles with nanometric size. In the conducted research, calcium carbonate was used in the form of a suspension in purified solutions and as an inorganic filling of the developed membranes. The mass of pharmaceutical substances removed from their aqueous solutions was determined in the tests carried out. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that CaCO3 has the ability to adsorb both tetracycline and sulfadiazine. In suspension tests, the mass of the removed substances per unit mass of adsorbent was 1.52 mg/g and 6.85 mg/g, respectively. In turn, in the case of the process using the developed membranes, the mass of the removed substances per unit mass of adsorbent was 232 mg/m2 and 524 mg/g, which is a several times greater increase in the mass of the removed substance compared to the process using an unmodified membrane.

Background: By 2025, road traffic injuries are projected to rank third in the global burden of disease, posing a significant challenge that affects health, social well-being, and economic aspects. According to data from the Romanian Police National Statistics Center, there has been an average of 342 traffic accidents per year involving pediatric patients over the past 10 years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective research study was conducted, encompassing 358 cases of road traffic accidents identified for the study. Data collection was conducted at "St. Mary’s" Emergency Hospital for Children in Iasi, Romania, from January 2015 to December 2022. To facilitate statistical analyses, participants were categorized into three specific age groups, correlating between the anatomical region affected and different types of accidents was examined, and the classification of injury types was determined based on the characteristics of the harm inflicted. Results: An oscillating trend is observed from 2015 to 2020, with its lowest value recorded in 2017 at around 6.8% and its peak in 2019 at 20.1%. Notably, post-pandemic (Covid-19), the cases underwent a substantial decline of approximately 50%. At least 78.7% of those who did not undergo orthopedic reduction required surgery, whereas among those who underwent orthopedic reduction, only 23.4% needed surgery. Regarding the frequency of complications 7,9% of the total cases experienced complications. Conclusion: The increased frequency of pediatric traffic accidents is attributed to the extensive services provided by "St. Mary’s" Emergency Hospital for Children, Iasi, to a significant number of patients from both rural and urban areas across the seven counties of the Moldova, Romania.

Neurological involvement following COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is thought to have a neuroinflammatory etiology. Co-ultraPEALut (an antiinflammatory molecule) and luteolin (an antioxidant) yielded promising results as neuroinflammation antagonists. This study aimed at describing cognitive impairment in post-COVID patient treated with co-ultraPEALut. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Prospective-Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and a subjective evaluation were administered at baseline and after 10 months. Co-ultraPEALut-treated patients were retrospectively compared with controls. 26 co-ultraPEALut-treated patients showed significant improvement in PRMQ (T0: 51.94±10.55, T1: 39.67±13.02, p

We developed an ovarian cancer-targeted drug delivery system based on a follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) peptide. The lipophilic chemotherapeutic drug SN38 and the photosensitizer IR820 were loaded into the phospholipid bilayer of liposomes. Near-infrared laser irradiation stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species, causing short-term reactive molecular species and spatial-temporal restricted photodamage to the biological targets. The reactive molecular species and spatial-temporal restricted photodamage enhanced the release and uptake of chemotherapy drugs and increased the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs in ovarian cancer cells. FSH liposomes loaded with SN38 and IR820 (SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH) were prepared using thin-film hydration-sonication. FSH peptide binding was analyzed using 1H NMR spectrum and Maldi-Tof. The average size and zeta potential of SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH were 105.1 ± 1.15 nm (PDI: 0.204 ± 0.03) and −27.8 ± 0.42 mV, respectively. SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited good drug-loading properties and the in vitro release was slow. FSH significantly increased the uptake of liposomes, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis in A2780 cells. Moreover, SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited good tumor-targeting ability and anti-ovarian cancer activity in vivo. The SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited specific targeting to A2780 ovarian cancer cells. The combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic treatment based on an FSH peptide-targeted delivery system may be an effective approach to treating ovarian cancer.

Recent interest in intestinal hormones has risen with the idea that they modulate glucose tolerance and food intake through a variety of mechanisms, and such hormones like peptide YY (PYY), ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and 2, and cholecystokinin (CKK) are therefore excellent therapeutic candidates for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Furthermore, in the recent years, multiple studies suggest that the microbiota is critically important for normal host functions, while impaired host microbiota interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous common metabolic disorders. In this study, we considered the nutraceutical effects of β-glucans added to pasta at the concentration of 6g\100g. Ten participants have been recruited and hematochemical analyses and intestinal hormones tests have been performed before and after 30 days of pasta intake. Stool specimens have been studied for Lactobacillus Fermentum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium longum, and Enterococcus faecium presence before and after 30 days of nutritional intervention. After 30 days of regular intake of pasta enriched by β-glucans results have been evaluated. In conclusion, pasta prepared from barley flour enriched with β-glucans at 6% exhibit promising responses on glucose metabolism, on intestinal hormones responses and on microbiota modification.

The World Wide Web today is growing at a phenomenal rate. The crawling approach is of vital importance to leverage the efficiency of web crawling. The existing crawling algorithms on multicore platforms easily suffer from time consuming and can not support large data well. In order to exploit the potential parallelism and efficiency of crawling on Spark, based on the software thread level speculation, this paper proposes a Speculative parallel crawler approach (SpecCA) on Apache Spark. By analyzing the process of web crawler, the SpecCA firstly hires a function to divide the whole crawling process into several subprocesses which can be implemented independently and then spawns a number of threads to speculatively implement every subprocess in parallel. At last, the speculative results are merged to form the final outcome. Compared with the conventional parallel approach on multicore platform, SpecCA is very efficiency and leverages a high parallelism degree by adequately using the resources of the cluster. Experiments show that SpecCA could achieve a significant speedup improvement with compare to the traditional approach in average. Additionally, with the growing number of working nodes, the execution time decreases gradually while the speedup scales linearly. The results indicate that the efficiency of web crawling can be significantly enhanced by adopting this speculative parallel algorithm.

Search for the new non-invasive methods of investigating the functioning of human internal organs is an urgent task. One of these methods for assessing the functioning of the human res-piratory system is electromagnetic sensing, based on a significant difference in the dielectric permittivity of muscle tissue and air. During breathing, when the lungs are filled with air, the dielectric permittivity of the lungs decreases, which leads to a change in the level of the elec-tromagnetic signal passing through the body. Results of experiments on recording changes in the level of electromagnetic radiation passing through the human body, performed on an experimental device consisting of eight transmitting and receiving antennas located on opposite sides of the chest have been presented in the article. The possibility of visualizing the measured “pulmonograms” in the form of dynamic two-dimensional images showing the process of filling various parts of the lungs with air has been demonstrated.

Glass cleaning is one of the major cleaning tasks in malls, offices, and modern households where the human workforce is still used for cleaning. Manual cleaning on façade glasses is a less safe, tedious, ineffective, and complex process. With the advancement of robot technology, it is possible to use robots for glass cleaning to facilitate mankind and improve cleaning efficiency. This work presents the development of a vacuum-type glass cleaning robot for façade cleaning and its performance analysis. The developed square-shaped robot is controlled by an Arduino Mega microcontroller, equipped with vacuuming and cleaning technology. An adhesion mechanism on the wheels makes the robot move forward and backward on the glass. The robot runs on a 24-volt DC with a power rating of 75 watts. There are ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles and help the robot navigate. The robot uses a random-walk mechanism and works continuously for 90 minutes effectively. The performance of the robot has been analyzed in terms of coverage area, repeatability, and dust collection efficiency.

In modern data analysis, working with diverse dataset formats is essential for ensuring compatibility across different software tools and platforms. However, manual conversion between formats can be time-consuming and error-prone. To address this challenge, we developed an interactive Shiny application that facilitates the seamless conversion of datasets between popular software formats such as CSV, Excel, SAS, SPSS, Stata, and RData. This user-friendly app enables users to upload datasets, select an output format, and download the converted file with a single click. The application also incorporates a real-time progress indicator, enhancing the user experience by showing conversion progress. Built with simplicity and efficiency in mind, the app is designed for researchers, data analysts, and practitioners who regularly handle multiple file formats in their workflows. Additionally, the app features a clean, intuitive interface with clear guidance, making it accessible even to users with minimal technical background. The development process, key features, and potential applications of this tool are discussed in this article.

High-wind structures were identified in the Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform (CCMP) ocean wind vector reanalysis for comparison with winds measured by satellite radiometers and synthetical aperture radar (SAR) instruments from February to October 2023. The comparison aims to evaluate bias, uncertainty, and spatial correlations with the goal of enhancing the accuracy of ocean wind datasets during tropical cyclones (TCs). In 10°longitude×10°latitude blocks, each containing a TC, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) winds are 6.5% and 4.8% higher than CCMP, while Advanced Scatterometer (ASCATB) is 0.8% lower. For extratropical cyclones, AMSR2 and SMAP also show stronger winds with a 5% difference, and ASCATB is about 0.3% weaker compared to CCMP. The comparison between SAR and CCMP for TC winds, sampled at the locations and time frames of SAR tiles, indicates that SAR winds around TCs are about 9% higher than CCMP winds. Using empirically defined TC structural indices, we find that the TCs observed by CCMP are shifted in locations and lack a compact core region. A Random Forest (RF) regressor was applied to TCs in CCMP with corresponding SAR observations, nearly correcting the full magnitude of low bias in CCMP statistically, with a 15m/s correction in the core region. The hierarchy of importance among the predictors is as follows: CCMP wind speed (62%), distance of SAR pixels to the eye region (21%) and eye center (7%), and distance of CCMP pixels to the eye region (5%) and eye center.

In this paper we investigate the differential topological properties of a subclass of singular space--subcarteisan spaces. First, we get further result on partition of unity for differential spaces. Second, we establish the tubular neighborhood theorem for subcartesian spaces with constant structural dimension. Third, we generalize the concept of Morse functions on smooth manifolds to differential spaces. For subcartesian space with constant structural dimension, we provide examples of Morse functions; With the assumption that the subcartesian space can be embedded as a bounded subset of an Euclidean space, we prove that smooth bounded functions on this space can be approximated by Morse functions; We study the infinitesimal stability of Morse functions on subcartesian spaces. Classical results on Morse functions on smooth manifolds can be treated directly as corollaries of our results here.

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathies are very common and occur due to multiple causes including diabetes, tuberculosis, vasculitis, thyroid disorders, immune mediated diseases, vitamin B12 deficiency and drugs. Drug induced peripheral neuropathy (DIPN) is potentially irreversible, resulting in sensory deficits and paraesthesia. DIPN due to anti-tubercular drugs is common and can be implicated on linezolid, cycloserine and isoniazid.Case: 40-year-old female, diabetic with MDR-TB presented with severe, sharp, burning pain in her lower limbs. The patient was on all longer acting ATT drug regimen and was suspected with drug induced peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: Linezolid, is used in treatment of tuberculosis and one of the major side effects includes peripheral neuropathy which is usually quite severe, presenting predominantly with sensory symptoms. Cessation of linezolid and neuropathic pain medications reduced the pain of patient from VCPS 8-10 to 1-2. Treatment of DIPN can be challenging as adverse drug reactions while treating tuberculosis should be kept in mind. It also warrants earliest treatment by identification of the drug in disguise and timely discontinuation of the drug.

The analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products has become increasingly important for public and military safety in recent years. In the article, we drew attention to the possibilities of the HPLC-ICP-MS analytical technique, which has been relatively rarely used for identifying and quantitatively analyzing highly toxic and hazardous substances in environmental samples. This technique enables the identification and determination of minimal amounts (ppt range) of chemicals in various matrices. This fact is important for the analysis of chemical warfare agents and other highly harmful compounds, even small amounts of which can have serious consequences for living organisms. The article critically analyzes the results of scientific research on the identification and quantitative analysis of extremely toxic organophosphorus, organosulfur and organoarsenic substances, their derivatives and degradation products using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

This paper presents a comparative study of fundamental similarity functions for Siamese networks in semantic textual similarity (STS) tasks. We evaluate various similarity functions using the STS Benchmark dataset, analyzing their performance and stability. Additionally, we introduce a multi-objective approach for optimal threshold selection. Our findings provide insights into the effectiveness of different similarity functions and offer a straightforward method for threshold selection optimization, contributing to the advancement of Siamese network architectures in STS applications.

Following technological advances, autonomous and remote-controlled ships are performing trials in some sea areas; a mandatory goal-based MASS code, expected to enter into force on 1 January 2032, is under discussion in the International Maritime Organization (IMO). However, there are no unified standards regarding verification methods to define operating limitations for cutting-edge technologies, which are expected to be elements of MASS, so it is difficult to assess the risk factors for the management and operation of MASS. This paper outlines the regulatory framework for MASS, followed by a discussion of its application, considering the differences between MASS and automated driving, and how to develop safety management and operation using standards for automated driving. A requirements management framework developed as a system and software engineering standards to build safety management and operation of MASS is proposed. It is also suggested that the requirements management framework could be used not only for MASS development but also for regulatory review from a requirements management view.

Researchers have explored primary colour-geometric shape associations since Kandinsky's correspondence theory. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding interior colour applications on surface shapes. To address this gap, an online study was employed to gather data with one hundred participants who were asked to choose their preferred colours for shapes on bedroom walls with follow-up questions on the colour-shape semantic associations, their preference of colours and shapes on bedroom walls independently in addition to their favourite colour, their favourite shape, and colour-shape pairs without interior context. The results revealed that colour-shape preferences in interiors differ from those found in psychology studies, other colour applications on bedroom walls, and other preferences, indicating that colour preference is context-dependent. Interestingly, the most popular colour for surface shapes on bedroom walls is purple, followed by brown and blue. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing colour charts for bedroom applications for professionals in the industry, their clients/users, and future studies.

Energy storage systems play a crucial role in the overall performance of hybrid electric vehicles. Therefore, the state of the art in energy storage systems for hybrid electric vehicles has been discussed in this paper along with appropriate background information for facilitating future research in this domain. Specifically, we have compared the key parameters such as cost, power density, energy density, cycle life, and response time for various energy storage systems. For the energy storage systems employing ultra capacitors, we have presented the characteristics such as cell voltage, cycle life, power density and energy density. Furthermore, we have discussed and evaluated the interconnection topologies for the existing energy storage systems. We have also discussed the hybrid battery-flywheel energy storage system as well as the mathematical modeling of the battery-ultracapacitor energy storage system. Toward the end, we have discussed energy efficient powertrain for hybrid electric vehicles.

According to the requirement of 20kg load of casting barrel, we design a three-dimensional model of the robot and analyze the three stages of liquid level change in the casting barrel during the casting process. Through the analysis, it is determined that the time and angle function is an implicit function, and it is impossible to find the analytical expression of time about angle. The kinetic function of the casting barrel is simulated by MATLAB, and it is found that the function image has mutation points, and when the original function is fitted and approximated by fifth-degree polynomial interpolation, the fifth-degree polynomial function image of the time versus the angular acceleration has a large amplitude of oscillation, especially the mutation points. A PID algorithm based on the discretization of the time and acceleration function is introduced for correction, and the results show that this method effectively reduces the oscillation amplitude of the image and improves the coincidence with the original function.

In the decarbonization of the steel, cement, and chemical industry in Germany, green hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role. The utilization of green hydrogen in the production processes of said industries requires organizations to modify their business model, requiring sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). Numerous tools and frameworks that support organizations in the process of SBMI have been proposed in the literature in recent years. However, the applicability of these tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that intend to utilize green hydrogen to produce their goods remains unexplored. By conducting a systematic literature review on tools and frameworks for SBMI, a literature and practice review to identify and analyze existing green hydrogen projects of steel, cement, and chemical companies, and an evaluation of the identified tools and frameworks in an evaluation matrix, this paper aims to assess the suitability of SBMI tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that plan to use green hydrogen to produce their goods. Based on the evaluation, the Cambridge Business Model Innovation Process (CBMIP) was identified as the most suitable SBMI framework.

Functional graded materials (FGMs) have been successfully applied in improving the insulation performance of insulators, yet there is currently no relevant literature on their application in dry-type transformers. Therefore, it is meaningful to study on the feasibility of using FGMs to improve the insulation performance of dry-type transformers through research on electric field distribution. This paper sets FGMs in the dry-type transformer spacer only or both spacer and winding end to change the relative permittivity values in the corresponding areas. By comparing the electric field distribution characteristics on the inner and outer surfaces of the high-voltage coil and the lower surface of the spacer of the dry-type transformer under each control method with the case without setting FGMs, the study found that when FGMs were only set on the spacer, the control methods set in this paper could not improve the electric field distribution of the transformer. When FGMs are employed at the spacers and end windings, two modulation strategies can mitigate the electric field intensity on the outer surface of high-voltage windings. Specifically, a continuous increase in relative permittivity can reduce the electric field intensity by 34.02%, while an initial decrease followed by an increase can result in a reduction of 13.58%. This paper provides theoretical guidance for insulation design of transformers with high voltage levels of 66 kV and above, especially as transformers with high voltage levels face greater challenges in regulating surface electric fields.

Large genomic rearrangements of PALB2 gene, particularly deletions and duplications, have been linked to hereditary breast-ovarian cancer. Our research specifically focuses on delineating the intronic breakpoints associated with rearrangements of PALB2 exon 11, which is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying these genomic changes in patients with hereditary breast and ovarian syndrome. By next-generation sequencing, we identified one duplication and three deletions of PALB2 exon 11, confirmed by Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification analysis. To assess the impact on transcription and potential splicing issues, Reverse-Transcription PCR was performed on patients' RNA. For detailed characterization of intronic breakpoints, primer walking approach and long-range PCR were implemented, followed by Sanger sequencing. Our analysis revealed a tandem duplication of 5134 base pairs (bp) mediated by AluY repeats located in introns 10 and 11, respectively. Moreover, identical deletions were identified in three unrelated patients, encompassing an approximate 8050 bp region mediated by AluSx elements. Both genomic alterations resulted in a truncated PALB2 protein due to introduction of a premature stop codon. This study underscores the remarkable instability of intronic regions flanking exon 11 of PALB2 and identifies a previously unreported hotspot involving Alu repeats with very high sequence homology in introns 10 and 11 of the gene. Our findings suggest avenues for further research, such as investigating the prevalence of similar genomic rearrangements in larger cohorts and exploring functional studies to understand how these alterations contribute to hereditary breast cancer pathogenesis.

Compounds of natural origin found in varying quantities in plant-based products constitute a highly significant category, possessing structural significance as well as the capacity to regulate oxidative processes. The activity of these compounds may be modulated by the composition of the biological milieu in which they operate, the pH of the environment, or the presence of metal cations in plants or plant extracts. This work shows the synthetic methodology and the optimization process that took place to synthesize a catechin-copper complex which demonstrated antioxidant activity tested for iron chelation ability, hydroxyl radical test and inhibition of lipoxygenase (15-LOX) activity. Antidiabetic assay was performed by determination of the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition assays and the antibacterial activity showed results against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The complex was characterized by FT-IR, UV-VIS and EDX techniques and the biological activity assays were tested in triplicate to fully confirm the activity.

The freeze-drying of camel and mare milk presents challenges due to their unique compositions, such as high lactose and protein content. This research aims to optimize vacuum freeze-drying parameters, including temperature, drying time, and layer thickness, for enhanced product quality and reduced energy consumption. Ultrasound and homogenization techniques were applied to enhance moisture transfer during drying. Experimental data suggest optimal conditions of -50°C to +50°C over 22–24 hours, significantly improving reconstitution quality. Mathematical modeling in Python and Maple helped refine process parameters to achieve desirable product consistency.

Aging affects structure and functions of all organs and systems in the organism. Significant changes in the hormonal levels are registered in elderly individuals. They often become a predisposition for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, immense scientific efforts are concentrated in the investigation of molecular mechanisms and drugs with potential to diminish the senescent hormonal changes. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a member of the sirtuin deacetylases family, has been extensively studied as regulator of multiple pathways related to antioxidant properties, optimal immune response and metabolism. SIRT1 plays a crucial role in regulating various hormonal pathways and maintaining homeostasis. In the present work we review the interplay between SIRT1 and hormonal regulations, including endocrine role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, -adrenal, -gonadal, and -liver axes, of other endocrine glands and of non-endocrine tissues in aging body. The application of natural SIRT1 activators, such as resveratrol, curcumin, paeonol, and Buyang Huanwu Decoction, for treatment of senescence and aging is discussed. SIRT1 activators improve mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, and promote longevity but their clinical application is limited by low bioavailability and poor permeability across biological barriers. For this reason, advanced delivery strategies, including nose-to-brain drug delivery and nanotechnology-based formulations, are reviewed.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction and involves intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, with potentially serious consequences for affected patients. (1–3). Although nocturnal polysomnography is the gold standard, it is an exam that is not readily available and is very expensive. (4). Hence, the need to find new diagnostic methods. Considering that the causes of OSAS can be divided into anatomical-structural ones, related to craniofacial anomalies, it has been hypothesized that anthropometric measurements taken by new 3D stereophotogrammetric systems could be useful as a diagnostic tool in pediatric patients with OSAS (5) (6). The primary objective of the study is, therefore, to evaluate the correlation between mandibular length measured between menton and gonion, obtained through 3D stereophotogrammetry using the "Face Scanner maxi 6", and the severity of OSAS (AHI classification), defined by the score of the Sleep Clinical Record (SCR) questionnaire in a group of pediatric patients with suspected obstructive sleep disorders. The secondary objective concerns the identification of possible correlations between other mandibular parameters estimated by 3D stereophotogrammetry and the severity of OSAS, defined by the McGill Oximetry Score (MOS), and the association between MOS and SCR to determine the AHI level. Materials and methods: The study considered patients who were prescribed a pulseoximetry exam due to suspected obstructive sleep disorders. All participating patients underwent a specialized orthodontic examination, which included completing the SCR questionnaire and taking facial photographs using a 3D stereophotogrammetric system. The SCR questionnaire considers 11 dental, nasal, oropharyngeal, and facial phenotype parameters to determine a final score from 0 to 18, indicating the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The acquired stereophotogrammetric images were processed using dedicated software to obtain a three-dimensional model representing the patient's facial phenotype. Subsequently, anatomical landmarks and relevant anthropometric measurements were identified on the model, and it was assessed whether one or more of these showed concordance criteria with the parameters derived from SCR and MOS. The anthropometric evaluation was performed by expert operators, taking into account mandibular variables. Results: Fifteen patients were analyzed, with 2 excluded due to alterations in the stereophotogrammetric images caused by poor patient cooperation during the acquisition of the photographs. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between anthropometric measurements, obtained by 3D stereophotogrammetry, and OSAS severity, by means of SCR, MOS, and SCR+MOS. A significant and negative correlation was observed between right mandibular length (gonion-menton) and MOS (ρ=−0.586, p=0.036). Conclusions: The result obtained has important implications for the field of study and suggests that future attention should focus more on the mandibular length variable as a determining factor for OSAS. However, the sample examined was relatively small, which might obscure the correlation with contralateral mandibular length and potential correlations with other mandibular/facial parameters. Additionally, the small sample size prevented stratification by sex and age. The study thus provides an important contribution to understanding the relationships between 3D stereophotogrammetry and pediatric OSAS but also highlights the need for further research that could potentially influence future developments in diagnosing OSAS in children.

Aflatoxins (AF), secondary metabolites produced by fungi, pose significant health risks, especially to children and adults. In developing countries like Nepal, the tropical climate promotes fungal growth, leading to high levels of AF in animal feed and milk. In this study, we investigated the incidence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in 84 milk samples collected from the Kathmandu district using the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) technique. We also interviewed farmers to gather information on feeding and storage practices. . All the collected milk samples were contaminated with AFM1, with 97.6% of the samples exceeding the European Union (EU) maximum permissible limit of 50 ppt. The majority (98.5%) of the farms included paddy straw, and all farms (100%) included concentrate in their feed regimen. Only half (52%) of the farms had proper storage facilities. Straw was mostly stored in sacks outdoors or left open in a shed, while concentrates were stored in a closed room or shed. The study reports very high contamination levels of AFM1 in the milk samples, presenting a serious public health issue, and recommends comprehensive surveillance and further investigation across the country, especially given the limited research and literature available.

The pursuit of materials that offer both wear comfort and protection for functional and protective clothing has led to the exploration of weft-knitted spacer structures. Traditional cushioning materials such as spacer fabrics and laminated foam often suffer from deformation under compression stresses, thus compromising their protective properties. This study investigates the enhancement of the force absorption, stress-strain and thermal properties of weft-knitted spacer fabrics with inlays. Surface yarns with optimal stretchability and thermal properties are used and combined with elastic yarns in various patterns to fabricate nine different inlay samples. The mechanical and thermal properties of these samples are systematically analyzed, including their compression, stretchability, thermal comfort and surface properties. The results show that the inlay spacer fabric exhibits superior compression properties and thermal conductivity compared to traditional laminated foam and spacer fabrics, while maintaining stretchability, thus providing a better performance than traditional fabrics for protective clothing and wearable cushioning products. This study further confirms that the type of inlay yarn and inlay structure are crucial factors that significantly influence the thermal, tensile and compressive properties of fabric. This research provides valuable insights into the design and development of advanced textile structures to improve wear comfort and protection in functional garment applications.

Dhaka one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world is increasingly vulnerable to urban flooding due to rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and climate change-induced extreme weather events. This study presents the development of an urban flood forecasting system for Dhaka City using the MIKE+ hydrodynamic modeling software. The system integrates detailed hydrological and hydraulic models to simulate urban flooding scenarios, accounting for complex drainage networks and catchment characteristics. Real-time data from river gauges, rainfall stations, and drainage systems are incorporated to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the forecasts. The model's predictive capability is validated against historical flood events, demonstrating its effectiveness in forecasting flood extents, depths, and durations in critical areas of the city. This system serves as a valuable tool for city planners, emergency response teams, and decision-makers, enabling proactive flood management and risk mitigation. The study underscores the importance of such advanced modeling tools in safeguarding urban populations and infrastructures from the increasing threat of urban floods in Dhaka and similar rapidly urbanizing cities.

PARP inhibitors are used in tumor therapy exploiting their inhibitory role in DNA repair. Radiation therapy leads to DNA damage in the affected region comprising both tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue. In addition, radiotherapy has long-standing effects on DNA integrity. The mechanisms for this are not well understood. We studied normal tissue damage of the lung after application of ionizing radiation (IR) in two well established rat models comprising both external (eIR) and internal (iIR) ionizing radiation. We found a nearly complete (~350-fold) loss of PARP-1 in the irradiated tissue in both models but no change in PARylated protein. This may be explained by the strong decrease in both ARH3 and PARG, both deparylating enzymes. We demonstrate, that of all these proteins are expressed in type II pneumocytes, but also in type I pneumocytes and the bronchiolar epithelium. The data suggest a severe disturbance of PARylation in these cells which may affect their major functions such as maintenance of the integrity of the alveolar wall. It is likely that the application of PARP inhibitors could have cumulative effects in radiation-damaged normal tissue.

Facing global warming consequences is a major issue of present times. For what concerns climate, projections say that heavy rainfalls are going to increase with high probability together with temperature rise, thus also the hazard related to rainfall induced shallow landslides will likely increase in density over susceptible territories. Different modeling approaches exist and any of them is forced to make simplifications in order to reproduce landslide occurrences over space and time. Process based models can help in quantifying the consequences of heavy rainfall on the different involved processes. In this paper, a narrative review about physically-based deterministic distributed models (PBDDMs) is presented. Models were selected based on: the adoption of the infinite slope scheme (ISS), the use of a deterministic approach (i.e., input and output are treated as absolute values), the inclusion of new approaches in modeling slope stability through the ISS. Models are presented in chronological order with the aim of drawing a timeline of the evolution of PBDDMs and to give researchers and practitioners a basic knowledge on how much has been already done. Results indicate that including vegetation effects on slope stability has raised in importance over time but that there is still the need of finding an efficient way to include them, and that in the last years the literature production seems to be more focused on probabilistic approaches.

This paper presents and demonstrates the development of a new lightweight coating for aluminium alloy using a novel multicomponent alloy based on the AlSiMgCu system. This coating was applied using a newly designed approach that combined High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) and Plasma Spraying processes. This hybrid technique enables the deposition of coatings with enhanced performance characteristics. The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM+EDS) microscopy, revealing good adhesion and compaction between the multicomponent coating and the A6061 substrate with 50 to 150 µm thickness. Vickers indentations were performed on the substrate and the new coating material, revealing a 50% improvement in the material's hardness compared to the casted alloy. Additionally, electrical conductivity measurements showed approximative x3.3 times values compared to the alloy in as-cast condition due to high solidification rates altering the morphology of the phases. Corrosion tests demonstrated a lower corrosion rate compared to other multicomponent aluminium alloys and similar to thermal treated A6061 alloy. Finally, tribological results obtained using ball on disc (BOD) test and laser scanning confocal microscopy, confirmed that the new multicomponent coating exhibited reductions in both friction coefficient and wear rate by more than 20% and 50%, respectively. This study demonstrates that using multi-component aluminium coatings could lead to developing of new automotive parts with enhanced properties for corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and wear conditions. Optimizing the thermal spraying parameters could further enhance the coating, achieving greater and more homogeneous thicknesses and yielding even higher performance properties.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) allows for the dynamic provisioning of Virtualized Network Functions, adapting services to the complex and real-time network environment for enhanced network performance. Despite the benefits of NFV, virtual network functions (VNFs) migration and the energy consumption pose significant challenges due to the dynamic nature of the physical network, especially in the edge-cloud continuum network. Currently, people tackle this challenge by predicting the network traffic and then proactively migrating the VNFs using the predicted values. There are two challenges here. First, when SFCs belong to different network service providers, the historical network traffic data is held by the service providers, and they are reluctant to share the historical data due to privacy concerns. Without the historical network traffic data of each SFC, the resource provider that owns the underlying network cannot effectively predict the network traffic; in addition, without the feedback of the migration results of the underlying physical network, the network traffic prediction will be difficult to match the needs of the physical network. In this manuscript, we solve the problem of network traffic prediction in the NFV-based edge-cloud continuum network for multiple network service providers. We aim to improve migration performance and reduce energy consumption while ensuring resource and latency requirements. To protect the privacy of each network service provider, we apply an FL algorithm. After that, to improve the migration performance, we tailor the loss function. In the loss function, factors such as the number of migrations, the number of migration failures, and the energy consumption of the NFV-based edge-cloud continuum network are added. Additionally, to obtain the results of the SFC migration, we develop a mathematical model for the problem of multiple network service providers in the NFV-based network. The effectiveness of our algorithm is evaluated through extensive simulations, and the results show a significant reduction in the number of migrated nodes and energy consumption while improving the SFC acceptance ratio compared to state-of-the-art schemes which only use the difference between predicted and actual flows to define the loss function.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium that remains a prevalent clinical and environmental challenge. Quorum sensing (QS) molecules are effective biomarkers in pinpointing the presence of P. aeruginosa. This study aimed to develop a convenient-to-use whole-cell biosensor using P. aeruginosa reporters individually encapsulated within alginate-poly-L-lysine (alginate-PLL) microbeads to specifically detect the presence of bacterial autoinducers. The PLL-reinforced microbeads were prepared using a two-step method involving ionic crosslinking and subsequent coating with thin layers of PLL. The alginate-PLL beads showed good stability in the presence of a known cation scavenger (sodium citrate), which typically limits the widespread applications of calcium alginate. In media containing synthetic autoinducers, such as N-(3-oxo dodecanoyl) homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) and N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) or cell-free supernatants of planktonic or flow cell biofilm effluent of wild P. aeruginosa (PAO1), the encapsulated bacteria enabled a dose-dependent detection of the presence of these QS molecules. The prepared bioreporter beads remained stable during prolonged storage at 4 and -80 °C and were ready for on-the-spot sensing without the need for recovery. This whole-cell biosensor demonstrates the practicality of the encapsulated bioreporter for bacterial detection based on specific QS molecules.

This article discusses the application of thermal quality control methods for plant tissues. The purpose of the work is to determine the optimal parameters of thermal impact on a spherical-shaped plant control object, ensuring the detection of surface and subsurface defects. The authors of the work proposed mathematical models of the temperature field for a spherical body with defects and a flat sample when exposed to the thermal influence of a pulsed source. As a result of the use of mathematical models, the thermophysical characteristics of plant tissues of varying degrees of disease damage were obtained, which made it possible to simulate the temperature field of the control object and obtain an image of classified tissues. The developed recommendations made it possible to select the optimal parameters of the thermal effect on the test object.

Although vitamin D deficiency has been correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are few data on the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and atherogenic indices predictive of CVD. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of vitamin D status with lipid profile and atherogenic indices in adult women in Morocco. Three hundred healthy women, aged 18 to 50 years, from Meknes were included. Fasting 25(OH) D and lipid concentrations were determined using a one-step electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay and an enzymatic method, respectively. Atherogenic indices (Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non-HDL cholesterol (Non-HDL-C), Atherogenic coefficient (AC), Castelli risk indices I and II (CRI-I and II), and CHOLIndex (CI)) were calculated using conventional lipid parameters. Logistic regression models and operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used to assess the relationship of the variables and estimate the threshold of 25(OH) D levels associated with high atherogenic indices. 25(OH) D below 20 ng/ml was significantly associated with an enhanced risk of hypertriglyceridemia and elevated values of AIP, AC, Non-HDL-C, and CRI-I with an OR (95% CI) of 4.904 (1.856-12.959); 3.637(2.149-6.158); 3.589(1.673-7.700); 2.074(1.215-3.540), and 2.481(1.481-4.123), respectively. According to ROC analysis, the likelihood of hypertriglyceridemia and high values of AIP, AC, Non-HDL-C, and CRI-I were associated with 25(OH)D thresholds ≤15.15 ng/ml, ≤ 17.5 ng/ml, ≤ 19.8 ng/ml, ≤ 20.1 ng/ml and ≤ 19.5 ng/ml, respectively, all p &lt; 0.01. Based on atherogenic indices, this study indicates that vitamin D below 20 ng/ml may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adult women. Additional health efforts are needed to raise awareness among women and healthcare providers in preventing and controlling cardiovascular risk factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic struck unexpectedly, emergency services and chronic care institutions, including dialysis centers, were overloaded. An important problem was the care of positive COVID patients, but also the care of chronically dialyzed patients who presented emergencies. In our Hospital, which has become a COVID support for dialysis patients with severe forms of the disease, we had to care for PD patients with dialysis-related emergencies. We presented 2 cases of patients managed on an outpatient basis or 1 day hospitalization, treated successfully and without compromising the quality of the care provided. We used remote monitoring, we worked in a multidiscipli-nary team, we shortened the hospitalization of patients (and implicitly the risk of contact). In pandemic conditions, the advantage of PD was represented by the possibility of patient isolation, so that in the first 6 months of the pandemic, we recorded no deaths in this category of patients. In case of hemodialysis patients, in-fection and mortality rates were high. Although we expected an increase in the number of peritoneal dialysis patients in the post-pandemic period, this did not happen. We continue to plead for the popularization of the PD method among patients and doctors, which has proven its advantages under the conditions of the pandemic.

Background/Objectives: Peritoneal dialysis as a form of renal function sub-stitution is not as widespread as hemodialysis. However, it has recognized advantages such as preservation of the residual renal func-tion, no need for vascular access , can be performed at home, but requires a proper in-sertion of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter and maintaining its patency. Methods: We presented a 10-year retrospective study on a group of 133 patients hos-pitalized for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion/replacement. We routinely implant the catheter laparoscopically, but there were cases in which the insertion was performed open route. We analyzed the patient group by age and gender criteria, number of complications and time when they appeared, duration of surgical intervention and the surgical technique used (126 were performed laparoscopically and 7 were inserted via open route). The open technique was performed mainly in patients with contraindications of general anesthesia. Results: We encountered a number of 23 complications in 18 patients, in only 1 case the patient was switched to permanent hemodialysis (at his own wish). We highlighted in the study the indisputable advantages of laparoscopy, supported by the results obtained: correct placement of the catheter, the possibility of adhesiolysis, preservation of the peritoneal surface through minor op-erative trauma, low number of complications(bleeding, migration, hernia 0,8%, leakage 4%, lower than those found in the literature). Even if infection was the most frequent complication (peritonitis 35%, catheter exit site infection 30.4%), only 1 case appered in the pretraining period. All complications were managed by medical treatment or by temporary cessation of peritoneal lavage, except of two cases that required reimplantation of the catheter. Conclusions: Laparoscopic catheter insertion for PD is a safe method, with reduced post-procedural complications, thus ensuring a long duration of the functionality of the catheter.

This study, conducted with meticulous attention to detail, comprehensively examines the state of plants and their adaptation to Kazakhstan's extra-arid climatic zone of the Mangistau. It uses the collections of woody plants from the Mangyshlak Experimental Botanical Garden in Aktau as a case study and extrapolates the results to the entire region. The study area is arid and unsuitable for many plants, so examining physiological adaptation mechanisms and strategies for preserving plants in unfavourable conditions is crucial. The study employed a range of methods, including the measurement of the intensity of transpiration, leaf hydration, and the content of chlorophyll A, B, and carotenoids. These methods were chosen for their proven effectiveness in similar studies and their ability to provide accurate and reliable data. The samples were also assessed using a point system for resistance to drought, phytophagy, gas tolerance, salt tolerance, winter hardiness, and soil fertility. The results obtained and entered into the IEBG platform “DinTseR” to assess the value of the introduction using a diagnostic scale revealed a high variability (up to 51.7-52.2%) of physiological indicators of growth and development. The highest values of transpiration intensity were observed in deciduous trees and shrubs, rose varieties (205-243 mg/g fresh leaf mass per hour), leaf water content - in climbing plants (68.9%), chlorophyll A and B content - in deciduous plants, and plants - old trees, fruit trees and varietal roses (3.46-3.93 and 1.34-1.84%). Their concentration in coniferous species is almost two times lower (0.63%). A correlation was also made between various significant factors. Twenty regression equations and forecasts have been identified that can be used to diagnose and assess resistance, thereby reducing the cost of determining the introduction value in the conditions of Mangistau. These findings are essential in understanding and preserving the unique flora of the Mangistau region.

Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D printing (3DP) are novel technologies in the orthopedic field. Over the past decade, enthusiasm for these new digital applications is driving new perspectives in improving diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity in the field of traumatology. Currently, however, it is still difficult to quantify the value and impact in the medical-scientific field especially in the improvement of diagnostic in complex fractures. Acetabulum fractures have always been a challenge among orthopedics, for volumetric complexity and low diagnostic reliability.Background/Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine whether these methods can improve the learning aspect and diagnostic accuracy of complex acetabulum fractures compared to gold standard CT (computed tomography). Methods: Orthopedic residents of our department have been selected and divided into Junior (JUN) and Senior (SEN) groups. Associated fractures of acetabulum have been included in the study, obtaining : CT-scans, 3DP model, and AR model displayed on a tablet screen. In a double-blind questionnaire, each resident classified every fracture according to methods. Diagnostic accuracy (DA), response time (RT), agreement (R), and confidence (C) were measured. Results: 20 residents (JUN=10, SEN=10) classified five fractures. Overall DAs were 26% (CT), 18% (3DP), and 29% (AR). AR-DA resulted to be superior to 3DP-DA (p=0,04). DA means (JUN vs SEN respectively) were :CT-DA was 20% vs 32% (p&lt;0.05), 3DP-DA was 12% vs 24% (p=0.08), and AR-DA was 28% vs 30% (p=0,80). Overall RT was 61.2 sec (±24,6) for CT, 35.8 sec (±20,1) for 3DP, and 46,7 sec (±20,8) for AR. R was fairly poor between methods and groups. 3DPs resulted to have superior overall C (65%). Conclusions: AR resulted to have the same Overall DA as CT, independent from experience, 3DP has minor DA and R, but it resulted to be the most confident and fast method. Intra and interobserver R between methods remain very poor in residents.

The construction industry has a notable negative impact on the environment; thus, the promotion of the use of timber structures is an alternative to mitigate its effects. The research develops an artificial intelligence-based decision approach in the calculation of timber structures focused on the enhancement of the sustainability of roof structures. Based on the optimization carried out through genetic algorithms and the framework established in Eurocode 5, a general set of equations has been proposed for a laminated timber roof structure. The tool, which determines the most suitable roof structure for each strength class of laminated timber, allows for the determination of the dimensions of beams and purlins and their respective separations in order to minimize wood consumption. The ultimate goal is to offer multiple solutions regarding strength classes and structural designs in order to foster informed sustainable choices that promote efficient use of resources in construction.

The implementation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is changing the scenario in the surgical treatment of early-stage cervical cancer and the oncologic safety of replacing bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with SLN biopsy is currently under investigation. One of the undisputed values of SLN biopsy is its diagnostic accuracy in detecting low-volume metastases (LVM) via pathologic ultrastaging. In early-stage cervical cancer, the reported incidence of LVM ranges from 4 to 20%. The prognostic impact and the role of adjuvant treatment in patients with LVM is still unclear. Some non-prespecified analyses in prospective studies showed no impact on the oncologic outcomes compared to node-negative disease. However, the heterogeneity of the studies, the differences in the disease stage and the use of adjuvant treatment, and the concomitant pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) make any conclusion on this topic hard. Current guidelines suggest considering micrometastasis (MIC) as a node-positive disease, while isolated tumor cells (ITC) as a node-negative disease, with a low level of evidence. This review aims to highlight the unanswered questions about the definition, identification, prognostic and therapeutic role of LVM and underline the present and future challenges we are facing. We hope this review will guide further research, giving robust evidence on LVM and their impact on clinical practice.

Cancer treatment is a significant focus in medicine owing to the increasing global incidence. Patients with advanced cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies have limited options and an unfavorable prognosis. Consequently, researchers are investigating complementary approaches to conventional treatments. One such approach is alkalization therapy, which aims to neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) by increasing its pH level. The acidic TME promotes inflammation, tumor progression, and drug resistance. Alkalization therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for various cancers. In addition, natural products, such as triterpenoids, parthenolides, fulvic acid, Taxus yunnanensis, and apple pectin have the potential to alleviate symptoms, maintain physical fitness, and improve treatment outcomes of cancer patients through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this review, we focus on the effects of alkalization therapy and natural products on cancer. Furthermore, we present a case series of advanced cancer patients who received alkalization therapy and natural products alongside standard treatments, resulting in long-term survival. We posit that alkalization therapy together with the supplementation of natural products may confer benefits to cancer patients by mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and complementing standard treatments. However, further research is warranted to validate these clinical findings.

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches the amaranth, which is a plant with high potential, highlighting the morphological growth, grain biomass pro-duction, and quantitative traits of seven varieties of amaranth cultivated in the pedoclimatic con-ditions of Somes meadow in Transylvania. A bifactorial trial was implemented with factors ama-ranth species and amaranth varieties. Two amaranth species and seven varieties were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The interrelationships between amaranth morphological traits quantified by using Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately con-tribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly con-tributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that morpho-productive, and nutritional characteristics of the seven amaranth varieties comprised by our study recommend the plans to be used in various nutritional aims, being a valuable replacer of traditional raw materials in specific food and feed industry sectors.

Pigmented corn is a gramineae food of great biological, cultural and nutritional importance for many Latin American countries, with more than 250 breeds in the American continent. It confers a large number of health benefits due to its diverse and abundant bioactive compounds. In this narrative review we decided to organize the information on the nutrients, bioactive compounds and phytochemicals present in pigmented corn, as well as their effects on human health. Phenolic compounds and anthocyanins are some of the most studied and representative compounds in these grasses, with a wide range of health properties, mainly the reduction of prooxidant molecules. Carotenoids are a group of molecules belonging to the terpenic compounds, present in a large number of pigmented corn breeds, mainly the yellow ones, whose biological activity incorporates a wide spectrum. Bioactive peptides can be found in abundance in corn, having very diverse biological effects that include analgesic, opioid, antihypertensive, etc. activity. Other compounds with biological activity found in pigmented corn are resistant starches, some fatty acids, phytosterols, policosanols, phospholipids, ferulic acid and phlobaphenes, as well as a great variety of vitamins, elements, and fibers. This review aims to disseminate and integrate the existing knowledge on compounds with biological activity in pigmented corn, in order to promote their research, interest and use by scientists, nutrition professionals, physicians, industries and the general population.

This paper presents an optimized energy management strategy for Li-ion power batteries used on electric vehicles (EVs) at low temperatures. Under low-temperature environments, EVs suffer a sharp driving range loss resulted from the energy and power capability reduction of the battery. Simultaneously, because of Li plating, battery degradation becomes an increasing concern as temperature drops. All these factors could greatly increase the total vehicle operation cost. Prior to battery charging and vehicle operating, preheating battery to a battery-friendly temperature is an approach to promote energy utilization and reduce total cost. Based on the proposed LiFePO4 battery model, the total vehicle operation cost under certain driving cycles is quantified in the present paper. Then given a certain ambient temperature, a target temperature of preheating is optimized under the principle of minimizing total cost. As for the preheating method, a liquid heating system is also implemented on an electric bus. Simulation results show that the preheating process becomes increasingly necessary with a decreasing ambient temperature; however, the preheating demand declines as driving range grows. Vehicle tests verify that the preheating management strategy proposed in this paper is able to save total vehicle operation cost.

In recent experimental studies, we reported the aggravating effects of Asian sand dust (ASD) on male reproductive function in mice. However, the effects of fetal ASD exposure on male reproductive function have not been investigated. The present study investigated the effects of fetal ASD exposure on reproductive function in male offspring. Using pregnant CD-1 mice, ASD was administered intratracheally on days 7 and 14 of gestation, and the reproductive function of male offspring was determined at 5, 10, and 15 weeks after birth. The secondary sex ratio was significantly lower in the fetal ASD-exposed mice than in the controls. Histologic examination showed partial vacuolation of seminiferous tubules in immature mice. Moreover, daily sperm production (DSP) was significantly less in the fetal ASD-exposed mice than in the controls. DSP in the fetal ASD-exposed mice was approximately 10% less than the controls at both 5 and 10 weeks. However, both the histologic changes and the DSP decrease were reversed as the mice matured. These findings suggest that ASD exposure affects both the fetal development and the reproductive function of male offspring. In the future, it will be necessary to clarify the onset mechanisms of ASD-induced male fetus death and male reproductive disorders.

Background: G6PD is a rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. The loss of G6PD activity in red blood cells exposes to the risk of acute haemolytic anaemia under oxidative stress, induced by infections, some medications, or fava beans. More than 200 single missense mutations are known in the G6PD gene. This study reports a 41-year-old woman coming from Basilicata region (Italy) that carried out the G6PD status in our hospital for prenatal investiga-tions. Methods: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood sample and genotyped for common-est G6PD pathogenic variants (PVs). Positive results obtained by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), as per practice in our laboratory, are then re-confirmed in Sanger se-quencing. Results: RFLP analysis highlighted a variant compatible with G6PD Cassano variant. Confirmatory testing by Sanger unexpectedly identified a novel variant: c.1357G>A, p.(Val453Met) (NM_001360016.2). In silico models predicted a deleterious effect of this variant at the protein level. The novel G6PD variant was named "G6PD Potenza", on the basis of the pa-tient's regional origin. Conclusion: This case describes a novel G6PD variant. It also highlights how the Sanger sequencing technique still represents an indispensable confirmatory standard method for variants that could be miss-interpreted by using of “first-level” approached, as the RFLP. We stress that the evaluation of clinical manifestations in G6PD deficient patients is of primary importance for the classification of each new G6PD mutation, in agreement with the new WHO guidelines.

(1) Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is essential for patients with heart failure and ventricular conduction abnormalities. Cardiomyopathy often includes left bundle branch block (LBBB) marked by delayed activation of the LV lateral wall and a widened QRS complex. Following CRT, patients with heart failure and LBBB have better outcomes and quality of life improvements. Various electrocardiographic and clinical parameters are thought to predict this improvement. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) is a reliable tool for measuring the quality of life in these patients. (2) Methods: We performed an observational prospective study over 69 individuals diagnosed with cardiac failure and dilatative cardiomyopathy with low FE and major LBBB and analyzed the correlations between patient outcomes after the procedure and the demographic, clinical, and electrocardiographic parameters, which include systolic blood pressure, ECG morphology elements, QRS duration, QRS area and associated comorbidities. (3) Results: Following our analysis a correlation between QRS area, intraprocedural systolic blood pressure, QRS duration and CRT outcomes assessed by the KCCQ score was observed which reflected that CRT has a hemodynamic impact and also affects the severity of ventricular asynchrony.; (4) Conclusions: The significant correlations observed with the KCCQ score show how CRT therapy impacts patients' quality of life, symptom burden, and functional status.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), particularly miR-16 and miR-21, play a crucial role in mul-tiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis by regulating gene expression. This study evalu-ated the prognostic significance of circulating miR-16 and miR-21 expression levels in 48 patients with MM at diagnosis treated with lenalidomide/dexamethasone (LD) compared with 15 healthy individuals (HI). All patients were treated with LD, 13 at first line and 35 at relapse, of whom 21 were tested twice at diagnosis and before LD initiation. The results revealed significantly lower levels of miR-16 and miR-21 in patients than in HIs, both at diagnosis and relapse, with decreased miR-16 levels at diagnosis, indicating improved overall survival (OS) (p value 0.024). Furthermore, miR-16 and miR-21 levels were associated with disease markers, while both corre-lated with the depth of response and mir-16 with sustained response to LD treatment. The ratios of both miR-16 and miR-21 expression levels (prior to LD treat-ment/diagnosis) below 2 predicted a shorter time to response (P = 0.027) and a longer time to next treatment (P = 0.042), respectively. These findings suggested a prognostic value for serum miR-16 and miR-21 levels in MM, as their expression levels corre-lated with disease variables and treatment outcomes.

Today, reducing vehicle energy consumption is a crucial topic. For electric vehicles, reducing energy consumption is essential to address some of the most critical issues associated with this type of vehicle, such as the limited range of electric powertrains and the long battery recharging times. To lower the environmental impact during the vehicle’s use phase and reduce energy consumption, vehicle mass reduction (lightweighting) is an effective strategy. The objective of this work is to analyze the vehicle parameters that influence lightweighting outcomes on a real driving cycle, representative of the home-to-work travel in the northern Italy. In particular, a previous work carried out on standard driving cycles is repeated, in order to observe whether it is possible to draw the same conclusions regarding the variability of the lightweighting outcome. This study was conducted using two opposite vehicle models, a compact car and an N1 vehicle, simulated through a well-established vehicle simulation tool for energy consumption estimation. The study reveals that even for the real driving cycle, as for the WLTC and US06 standards, the parameters that most influence the outcome of the lightening are rolling resistance, the characteristics of the battery pack, the aerodynamic coefficients and the efficiency of the transmission. Finally, the standard cycle that best fits with the real one considered in this study is the Artemis Urban Cycle.

Foam rolling is widespread and deeply rooted in exercise practice. Optimal duration and role of this treatment still lack scientific consensus. Relatively novel foam rolling treatment that combines vibration during application targets different muscle characteristics that are not well understood. Studies exploring this combined treatment are scarce therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different duration vibration (15-s, 30-s and 60-s) foam rolling treatment on muscle skin temperature and surface muscle electromyography during Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction. Eighteen male subjects attended the research laboratory for three experimental sessions and performed four sets of three trials of maximal isometric heel rises. Repeated measures ANOVA determined that muscle skin temperature significant difference was only found for the 30-s treatment (p = 0.013 - 0.000). For surface muscle electromyography a 30-s treatment out of all three yielded the most significant results, between pretreatment set and post treatment set1 (p=0.01) small effect size (Cohen’s d= -0.33) and pretreatment set to post treatment set3 (p=0.01) small effect size (Cohen’s d= -0.30). All treatments did not produce significant difference during Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction heel rises. Future studies should investigate accute effects of longer duration treatment on changes in surface muscle temperature. Muscle activity could suggest that efficiency was improved taken into account of unchanged muscle strength, also downward trend of muscle activity caused by other two treatment durations could be of significance during rehabilitation process or during activites where this is a desired and indicated goal.

In many conurbations, the pressure on the quality of living increases and affects the most vulnerable, human, and non-human populations the most. In this article we describe a mapping and designing investigation how a green metropolis can be developed. The approach used is to make a distinction between the landscape pain, the ways of healing and the opportunities to create environments that people can love. We found that this approach reveals concrete and widespread pain in the metropolis, such as interventions in natural landscapes (rivers and mountains), air pollution, ecological degradation, and hydrological disconnections. The strategy to heal this pain is to uncover the currently hidden and invisible creeks and rivers, then create an abundant zone of ecological space around it before integrating human activities and urban uses. In addition to this, specific design principles have been developed for hydro-ecological corridors, water retention, green islands, and greenways. These places can be replicated to support the healing strategy. These places create an environment that the urban residents love. The analysis of landscape pain, the healing strategies, and the local places to love, can be applied to enhance the quality of life for many urban residents and non-human ecologies in metropolitan areas around the globe.

This study examines compliance behaviour in the context of environmental tax policies, highlighting the essential role that these policies play in achieving the objectives of sustainable development. Environmental taxes are crucial instruments to reduce environmental damage and increase energy efficiency. Nevertheless, taxpayer compliance, which is impacted by several variables, including social acceptability, regulatory quality, and perceptions of fairness, is a key component of these policiesʹ efficacy. In contrast to earlier research, which frequently concentrated on certain tax kinds or discrete policy mechanisms, this study takes a broad approach, looking at a range of environmental taxation instruments. Emerging trends, significant factors influencing compliance behaviour, and noteworthy contributions from eminent authors and organizations are all identified by means of bibliometric and scientometric analyses. In order to create fair and effective environmental tax policies, interdisciplinary approaches and international collaboration must be used. Along with presenting policies to improve environmental regulation compliance, the study offers insightful advice for businesses that can help them innovate toward sustainability and adjust to shifting policy. It also provides a solid theoretical base for future researchers by highlighting important areas that require more investigation, especially when it comes to the wider effects of environmental taxes on various industries.