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

The aim of this study was to examine the oxidation of human serum albumin (HSA) caused by oxidative stress after an exhaustive exercise such as ultra-marathon race. Thus, blood samples from 12 adult runners who underwent a 103 km mountain ultra-marathon race were collected pre- and 24, 48 and 72 h post race. HSA was partially purified using affinity chromatography and then was subjected to Western blot analysis for disulfide dimers determination, indicating oxidation. The results were correlated with those from a previous study in which the same samples were analyzed using different oxidative stress markers and a good correlation with protein carbonyls (PC) at all time points was observed. Moreover there was a significant correlation with static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP) at 24 h, and a negative correlation with capacity oxidation-reduction potential (cORP) at 24 and 48 h. In addition, an individual analysis of albumin dimers exhibited great inter-individual differences. This inter-individual variability in the oxidation of HSA may suggest different interventions (e.g. through diet) in order to confront the effects on athletes’ organism after a strenuous exercise. In conclusion, this study supported the importance of the assessment of albumin dimers as a predictive marker for exercise-induced oxidative stress.

The electrical performance of the back-channel etched Indium–Gallium–Zinc–Oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with copper (Cu) source and drain (S/D) which are patterned by a selective etchant was investigated. The Cu S/D were fabricated on molybdenum (Mo) layer to prevent the Cu diffusion to the active layer (IGZO). We deposited the Cu layer using thermal evaporation and performed the selective wet etching of Cu using non-acidic special etchant without damaging the IGZO active layer. We fabricated the IGZO TFTs and compare the performance in terms of linear and saturation region mobility, threshold voltage and ON current (ION). The IGZO TFTs with Mo/Cu S/D exhibits good electrical properties as the linear region mobility is 12.3 cm2/V-s, saturation region mobility is 11 cm2/V-s, threshold voltage is 1.2 V and ION is 3.16 x 10-6 A. We patterned all the layers by photolithography process. Finally, we introduced SiO2-ESL layer to protect the device from the external influence. The results show that the prevention of Cu and introduced ESL layer enhances the electrical properties of IGZO TFTs.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive malignancy, with mortality rates that reach 60%, mainly due to an excessive diagnostic delay. MiRNAs, a class of crucial epigenetic gene-expression regulators, have emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers, with >200 molecules reported to be dysregulated in OSCC. We had previously established an in silico methodology for the identification of the most disease-specific molecules by bridging genetics and epigenetics. Here, we identified the stage-specific miRNAs that govern the asymptomatic early stages of oral tumorigenesis by exploiting the reverse interplay between miRNA-levels and their target-genes’ expression. Incorporating gene expression data from our group’s experimental hamster model of sequential oral oncogenesis, we bioinformatically detected the miRNAs that simultaneously target/regulate >75% of the genes that are characteristically upregulated or downregulated in the consecutive stages of hyperplasia, dysplasia and early-invasion OSCC, while exhibiting the opposite expressional dysregulation in OSCC-derived tissue and/or saliva specimens. We found that all stages share the downregulation of miR-34a-5p, miR124-3p, and miR-125b-5p, while miR-1-3p is underexpressed in dysplasia and early-invasion. Malignant early-invasion stage is distinguished by the downregulation of miR-147a and the overexpression of miR-155-5p, miR-423-3p and miR-34a-5p. The identification of stage-specific miRNA molecules may facilitate their utilization as biomarkers for presymptomatic OSCC diagnosis.

Hydrogen sulfide is present in active or extinct volcanic areas (mofettas). The habitable premises in these areas are affected by the presence of hydrogen sulfide, which, even in low concentrations, gives off a bad to unbearable smell. If the living spaces considered are closed enclosures, then a system can be designed to reduce the concentration of hydrogen sulfide. This paper presents a membrane way to reduce the hydrogen sulfide concentration to acceptable limits using a cellulosic derivative-propylene hollow fiber based composite membrane module. The cellulosic derivatives considered were carboxymethyl–cellulose (NaCMC), cellulose acetate (CA), methyl 2–hydroxyethyl–cellulose (MHEC), and 2–hydroxyethyl–cellulose (HEC). In the permeation module, hydrogen sulfide is captured with a solution of cadmium that forms cadmium sulfide, usable as a luminescent substance. The composite membranes were characterized by SEM, EDAX, FTIR, FTIR 2D maps, thermal analysis (TG and DSC) and from the perspective of hydrogen sulfide air removal performance. To determine the process performances, the variables were: the nature of the cellulosic derivative–polypropylene hollow fiber composite membrane, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the polluted air, the flow rate of polluted air, and the pH of the cadmium nitrate solution. Pertraction efficiency was maximum for the sodium carboxymethyl–cellulose (NaCMC)-polypropylene hollow fiber membrane, a hydrogen sulfide concentration in the polluted air of 20 ppm, polluted air flow rate of 50 L/min, and a pH of 2 and 4.

Brain aging causes a wide variety of changes at molecular and cellular levels, leading to the decline of cognitive functions and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. The research aimed at understanding the aging of the brain has made much progress in recent decades. Technological innovations such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), proteomic analyses, and spatial transcriptomic analyses have facilitated the research on the dynamic changes occurring within neurons, glia, and other cells along with their impacts on intercellular communication during aging. In this review, we introduce recent trends of how neurons and glia change during aging and discuss the impact of the brain microenvironment such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Plastics, once regarded as a revolutionary material shaping modern society, now poses an unprecedented threat to our environment. Household solid waste sorting stations produce several fractions, one of which contains a high concentration of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) film waste (packaging, sunscreen film, etc.). This fraction is difficult to recycle because it contains quite a lot of impurities. Usually, it is sent to the cement factories that burn it together with other fuels. However, with some processing techniques such catalytic pyrolysis this fraction could be valorized. In this paper the experiments which were carried out at a laboratory scale installation, in batches with a processing capacity of 1-3 kg of waste. The pyrolysis reactor is connected to a distillation column giving the possibility to separate the fractions. The gaseous and liquid fractions were characterized by GC-FID-TCD (gases) and GC-MS (liquids) analysis. Natural catalysts such as bentonite or clinoptilolite were studied and used in the melting of plastic mass to simplify the process as much as possible. To test the activity of the catalysts, the pyrolysis of LDPE granules was initially studied. It was found that natural zeolites are much more active than bentonite and that a minimum concentration of 5-10% is needed to have a positive effect on the composition of the fractions (increasing the weight of the light fractions C1-C6, C6-C10 and C11-C13) in relation to the heavy fractions C13-C20 and C20+. Catalytic pyrolysis gives a completely different distribution of light hydrocarbons. The best catalyst selected from LDPE lab experiments, was then tested upon the pyrolysis of plastic film waste obtained by a waste treatment plant. The research objective reported in this paper was to obtain a fraction of combustible gases in the largest possible proportion, which can be much easier exploited by burning in an engine that drives an electric generator.

Abstract On the background of new research results in screening of breast cancer, together with the expectation of the participants in a screening for breast cancer, the conventional mammography requires supplementation by means of tomosynthesis or additive ultrasound. Alternatively, ultrasound now seems to be an independent method of early detection of breast cancer because of its superior sensitivity, especially in the case of aggressive mammary carcinoma types. The MRI remains at present still a preferred method in high-risk cases and as an additive examination in case of insufficient presentation of the glandular tissue by conventional methods. MRI is also preoperatively valuable for more accurately measuring the extent of multifocal carcinomas.

Introduction: A plethora of biological molecules regulate chondrogenesis in the epiphyseal growth plate. Disruptions of quantity and function of these molecules can manifest clinically as stature abnormalities of various etiologies. Traditionally, the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis represents the etiological center of final stature attainment. Of note, little is known about the molecular events that dominate the growth of the craniofacial complex and its correlation with somatic stature. Aim: Given the paucity of the relevant data, this review discusses available information regarding potential applications of lateral cephalometric radiography as a potential clinical indicator of genetic short stature in children. Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed electronic database using the key words: cephalometric analysis and short stature; cephalometric analysis and achondroplasia; cephalometric analysis and hypochondroplasia; cephalometric analysis and skeletal abnormalities; cephalometr* and SHOX; cephalometr* and CNP; cephalometr* and ACAN; cephalometr* and CNVs; cephalometr* and IHH; cephalometr* and FGFR3; cephalometr* and Noonan syndrome; cephalometr* and “Turner syndrome”; cephalometr* and achondroplasia. Results: In individuals with genetic syndromes causing short stature, linear growth of the craniofacial complex is confined, following the pattern of somatic short stature regardless of its etiology. The angular cephalometric measurements differ from the average height normal individuals and are suggestive of a posterior placement of the jaws and a vertical growth pattern of the face. Conclusion: The greater part of the existing literature regarding cephalometric measurements in short statured children with genetic syndromes provides qualitative data. Furthermore, cephalometric data for individuals affected with specific rare genetic conditions causing short stature, should be the focus of future studies. These quantitative data are required to potentially establish cut-off values to refer for genetic testing based on craniofacial phenotypes.

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

Ammonium ion is a chemical species that is found in abundance in natural waters, whether underground or surface, but also in wastewater resulting from agricultural and industrial activities. Even if the removal of the ammonium ion from water has been studied for a very long time, it has been found that its removal is far from being solved. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the ammonium ions adsorption process on two adsorbents, zeolite clinoptilolite, ZR, (manufacturer Zeolite Develop-ment SRL, Rupea, Brasov, Romania) and the other granular activated carbon type Norit GAC 830 W. In the first step the paper presents the mineralogical (XRD) and structural (SEM and EDX) characterization of the ZR and determination of the pH zero-point charge, pHZPC, for all the adsorbents. Studies were carried out in equilibrium and kinetic conditions. The efficiency of the adsorbent was investigated in different experimental conditions by varying the initial concentration, particle size, temperature, pH, ionic strength and contact time. The mathematical models and parameters specific to the adsorption isotherms that best describe the experimental results were identified. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich mathematical models were used for comparison. The Langmuir isotherm proved to be the most appropriate to describe the adsorption of ammonium ions on all types of adsorbents used. The adsorption capacity of ammonium ion from synthetic solutions, at 20 °C, pH = 6.09, for the range of initial concentrations 0 - 50 mg/L for Rupea Zeolite is in the range of 10.46 mg/g -12.34 mg/g and for granular activated carbon GAC W830 is 16.64 mg/g. It was found that the increase in temperature and pH have a positive effect on the adsorption capacity of the ammonium ion on the studied adsorbents, and the ionic strength determines the decrease in the adsorption capacity. Kinetic models were also identified that best describe the experimental processes. In this sense, pseudo first order, pseudo second order, intraparticle diffusion and the Elovich model were used. The results of the investigation showed that second-order kinetics governs the adsorption process on ZR zeolites and pseudo-first order for activated carbon.

The nutrient absorption and utilization efficiency in the roots of seedlings are beneficial for increasing crop yield. Creating marker assisted selection for wheat root traits can assist wheat breeders in choosing robust roots to maximize nutrient uptake. Exploring and identifying the effect of different nitrogen applications on RSA is of great significance for breeding nitrogen efficient wheat varieties. In this study, A total of 243 wheat varieties native to the Yellow and Huai Valley regions of China were utilized for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Furthermore, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 123 lines derived from the cross between Avocet and Chilero was utilized for linkage examination and confirmation of the hereditary loci distinguished by GWAS. Five RSA traits include the relative number of root tips (RNRT); relative total root length (RTRL); relative total root surface area (RTRS); relative total root volume (RTRV) and relative average root diameter (RARD) where evaluated under two N conditions—normal N (NN) supply and low N (LN)—to characterize the NUE of each accession. GWAS and linkage analysis were performed by integrating data from the wheat 660k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip and diversity arrays technology (DArT) to identify genetic loci associated with RSA. The results showed that based on the ratio of RSA related traits under two N supply conditions, a total of 598 SNP markers, which are significantly associated with RSA related traits, were detected at 160 genetic loci by GWAS. A total of 10 QTL loci related to RSA were dis-covered and identified by linkage mapping. In which, three significant RSA related Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) were identified, namely qRtrl-3D, qRnrt-3D, and qRtrl-7D. The study has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of selecting root traits in wheat breeding programs, offering valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of nitro-gen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat. This could lead to the creation of NUE wheat varieties by implementing focused breeding strategies.

Using numerical simulation method, combined with the pre-branch material characteristics of the measurement results, based on the LS-DYNA software to simulate the branch crushing process, the analysis found that not only the existence of the cutter cutting in the branch destruction process, there is also the cutting of the opposing surface of the bending fracture, with the increase in the speed of the knife rollers, the cutter cutting resistance increases, the cutting resistance reaches 2690 N when the cutter at 2500 r/min, the cutter cutting resistance is the smallest in the cutting simulation at the blade angle of 55°, the blade angle is more suitable for the cutting of the branch. In the cutting simulation under different cutting edge angles, the cutting resistance of the tool is the smallest when the edge angle is 55°, which is 1860 N. This edge angle is more suitable for branch crushing and cutting. Using Fluent software to analyse the airflow characteristics of the crushing device, it was found that with the increase of the knife roller speed, the inlet flow and negative pressure of the crushing chamber are increasing, the speed of 2500 r/min, the inlet flow and negative pressure were 1.92 kg/s and 37.16 Pa, which will be conducive to the feeding of branches, but the speed is too high and it will also lead to the enhancement of the vortex of part of the area in the crushing device, which will affect the feeding of branches and the throwing of the crushed material. affect the feeding of branches and the throwing out of crushed materials, and finally determined the speed range of the crushing knife roller is 1800 ~ 2220 r/min. Based on ANSYS/Model module modal analysis of the crushing knife roller, the knife roller of the first six orders of the intrinsic frequency and vibration pattern, crushing knife roller of the lowest order of the modal intrinsic frequency of 137.42 Hz, much larger than the crushing knife roller operating frequency of 37 Hz, the machine will not resonate during operation.

This letter presents a dual-frequency terahertz amplitude modulator based on a cross-shaped structure and U-shaped metal patches. Its structural unit is a typical metal-substrate structure. The top metal consists of a cross-shaped structure and U-shaped metal patches, and the bottom substrate layer is made of quartz. Amplitude modulation is achieved by adjusting the temperature of the vanadium dioxide (VO2) patches. The modulation depth can be approximately 75%. The mechanism of the resonance frequency is explained by the equivalent circuit model. The proposed structure shows good amplitude modulation capability at different incidence and azimuth angles by changing the location of the VO2 patches. The dual-frequency terahertz amplitude modulator can be used in terahertz communication, imaging, etc.

Drug residues that contaminate food and water represent a serious concern for human health, since their irrational use is constantly increasing the amplitude of exposure. Multiple sources contribute to the overall exposure to contaminants, including agriculture, domestic use, personal, public, and veterinary healthcare, increasing the possible origin of contamination. In this review, we focus on crop pesticides and veterinary drug residues because of their extensive use in modern agriculture and farming, which ensures food production and security for the ever-growing population around the world. We discuss crop pesticides and veterinary drug residues with respect to their worldwide distribution and impacts, with special attention on their harmful effects on human reproduction and embryo development, as well as their link to epigenetic alterations, leading to intergenerational and transgenerational diseases. Among the contaminants, the most commonly implicated in causing such disorders are organophosphates, glyphosate and antibiotics, with tetracyclines being the most frequently reported. This review highlights the importance of finding new management strategies for pesticides and veterinary drugs. Moreover, due to the still limited knowledge on inter- and transgenerational effects of these contaminants, we underlie the need to strengthen research in this field, so as to better clarify the specific effects of each contaminant and their long-term impact.

In order to shorten the detection time and improve the average precision on embedded devices, A lightweight and high accuracy model is proposed for passion fruit in complex environments (backlight, occlusion, overlap, sunny, cloudy, rainy). Firstly, replacing the backbone network of YOLOv5 with a lightweight GhostNet model reduces the number of parameters and computation while improving detection speed. Secondly, a new feature branch is added to the GhostNet network, and the feature fusion layer in the neck network is reconstructed to effectively combine the lower-level and higher-level features, which not only improves the accuracy of the model but also maintains its lightweight. Finally, the knowledge distillation methods are used to transfer the knowledge from the more capable teacher model to the less capable student model, which significantly improving the detection accuracy. The improved model is denoted as G-YOLO-NK. The average accuracy of the G-YOLO-NK network is 96.00%, which is 1.00% higher than the original YOLOv5s model. Furthermore, the improved model size is 7.14MB, reduced to half of the original model, and the real-time detection frame rate is 11.25 FPS on the Jetson Nano. Compared to the state-of-the-art model, the proposed model outperforms them in terms of average precision and detection performance. The present work provides an effective model for real-time detection of passion fruits in complex orchard scenes, which can provide valuable technical support for the development of orchard picking robots and greatly improve the intelligence level of orchards.

In this study, the effects of combined addition of CeLa and GdY on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Al-4Cu-1Mn alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopies (TEM) and tensile testing. The results show that the minor addition of CeLa and GdY leads to the refinement of grain size. The addition of CeLa results in the formation of supersaturated vacancies in the Al matrix, whereas the addition of GdY leads to a decrease in the precipitation temperature of the Al2Cu phase. The combined CeLa and GdY addition can significantly increase ultimate tensile strength (UTS) while losing only a small amount of elongation (EL). Compared with the unmodified alloy, the grain size and SDAS of the alloy (0.2 wt% CeLa + 0.1 wt% GdY) were diminished by 67.2% and 58.7%, respectively, while maximum hardness and UTS rose by 31.2% and 36.9%, correspondingly.

The purpose of the study is to establish compliance of the design of the modernized car with the requirements for safe operation. An option has been proposed for upgrading a passenger wagon to a Mobile Diagnostic Complex for transporting a combined vehicle equipped with appropriate flaw detection equipment intended for rail diagnostics. The authors have established the most optimal option for locating the diagnostic vehicle on board the Mobile Diagnostic Complex (MDC) wagon, taking into account the additional load from the vehicle. To achieve this goal, the article developed a three-dimensional model of the supporting structure of the wagon body, proposed a methodology and presented the results of a study of the stress-strain state of the wagon body, taking into account the additional weight of the wagon. The article develops a methodology for studying the natural frequencies of vibrations of the wagon body and develops a three-dimensional model of the wagon for calculating dynamic indicators in the Universal Mechanism software package. Taking into account the previously carried out strength calculations, as well as in order to maintain the factory life cycle indicators of the supporting structure of the wagon body, it is recommended to use the model in the first version.

In this work, the ternary titanium, copper and silver (Ti-Cu-Ag) system is investigated as a potential candidate for the production of mechanically robust biomedical thin films. The coatings are produced by physical vapor deposition-magnetron sputtering (MS-PVD). The composite thin films are deposited on a silicon (100) substrate. The ratio between Ti and Cu was approximately kept one, with the variation of the Ag content between 10 and 35 at.%, while the power on the targets is changed during each deposition to get the desired Ag content. Thin film characterization is performed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), nanoindentation (modulus and hardness) and Atomic force microscopy to determine the surface topography. The residual stresses are measured by focused ion beam and digital image correlation method (FIB-DIC). The produced Ti-Cu-Ag thin films appear to be smooth, uniformly thick and exhibit amorphous structure for the Ag contents lower than 25 at.%, with a transition to partially crystalline structure for higher Ag concentrations. The Ti-Cu control film shows higher values of 124.5 GPa and 7.85 GPa for modulus and hardness respectively. There is a clear trend of continuous decrease in the modulus and hardness with the increase of Ag content, as lowest value of 105.5 GPa and 6 GPa for 35 at.% Ag containing thin films. In particular, a transition from the compressive (-36.5 MPa) to tensile residual stresses between 229 MPa and 288 MPa are observed with an increasing Ag content. The obtained results suggest that the Ag concentration should not exceed 25 at.%, in order to avoid an excessive reduction of the modulus and hardness with maintaining (at the same time) the potential for an increase of the antibacterial properties. In summary, Ti-Cu-Ag thin films shows characteristic mechanical properties that can be used to improve the properties of biomedical implants such as Ti-alloys and stainless steel.

The objective of the described activity is to develop technologies or proposals that can be implemented within the cycle to enhance the relationship between climate change, water, energy, and food. The focus is on analyzing natural treatment systems for wastewater (NTSW) within the context of Macaronesia, considering factors such as life cycle assessment (LCA), carbon footprint, impacts, and mitigation capacity. The analysis of real case data from the Canary Islands and Cape Verde will inform the development of appropriate technologies tailored to different areas and scales within Macaronesia. This work includes a comprehensive life cycle analysis of the Santa Catarina (Cape Verde) NTSW. This analysis encompasses: a) Inventory analysis of the construction phase: This involves the assessment of inputs and outputs associated with the construction of the NTSW, including materials, energy consumption, transportation, and waste generation. The maintenance and operation phase is then evaluated, with a focus on the ongoing maintenance and operation activities required for the NTSW, including energy consumption, water usage, chemical inputs (if any), labour, and equipment maintenance. Finally, the impacts of the NTSW are evaluated. The environmental, social, and economic impacts generated by the NTSW are assessed. This includes an analysis of factors such as carbon emissions, water usage, land use, ecosystem impacts, human health effects, and economic costs. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of the Santa Catarina NTSW, the document aims to provide insights into the environmental performance and sustainability of the system. This information can then be used to identify areas for improvement, develop mitigation strategies, and inform decision-making processes regarding wastewater treatment technologies in Macaronesia. Furthermore, lessons learned from real case studies in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde can be applied to similar regions within the Macaronesia archipelago.

Based on three assumptions of our 4G model of final unification, we have developed simple logics for estimating the unified atomic mass unit, atomic electrochemical equivalents, Faraday constant and Avogadro number. We appeal the science community to review the following points. 1) Unified atomic mass or energy unit can be considered as ‘average rest energy of nucleons minus average binding energy per nucleon of all atomic nuclides plus electron rest energy’. 2) Electrochemical equivalent of any atomic ion is nothing but the ratio of its mass to its charge. 3) Faraday charge is nothing but the ratio of elementary charge to unified atomic mass unit. 4) Faraday mass can be considered as the inverse of Faraday charge. 5) Avogadro number is nothing but the inverse of unified atomic mass unit. 6) Number of atoms per kg can be called as Kg-mole and number of atoms per gram can be called as gram-mole. Following our 4G model, starting form A=5 to 340, for isobars, ‘average binding energy per nucleon’ having maximum binding energy can be estimated with a simple relation of the form, BE/A=A^-1[1-(0.5+0.000935A²)-A^1/3]10.1MeV. It needs a review and fine tuning.

Although the influence of climate on the fire regime is unanimously recognized, most publications are studies on this influence are at the global scale. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the role of climate in the incidence of wildfires at the country and regional scale using statistical analysis and machine learning methods. Mainland Portugal was chosen as a case study due to its climate and because it is the European region most affected by wildfires. Results demonstrate the climate signature in the spatial and temporal distribution of the wildfire incidence. The conclusions of the study include (i) the existence of two pyro-regions, with different types of climate (Csb and Csa) composed of NUTS II regions: the northern region composed of the Norte and Centro regions and the southern region composed of Alentejo and Algarve; (ii) the intra-annual variability in the incidence of wildfires, characterized by two peaks, one in spring and the other in summer, are a consequence of the country's type of climate; and, (iii) how the annual cycle of wildfire incidence varies over the years depends on the weather conditions throughout each year. These results are of fundamental importance for wildfire managers, especially in the context of climate change.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a negative expression of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), or human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER2). The survival rate for TNBC is generally worse than other breast cancer subtypes. TNBC treatment has made significant advances, but certain limitations remain. Treatment for TNBC can be challenging since the disease has various subtypes. Individualized therapy is recommended rather than generalized therapy, given the genetic variations among these TNBC subtypes. A precise and effective treatment for TNBC requires identifying prognostic markers. Depending on the type and stage of TNBC, patients are treated with various therapeutic interventions. A variety of treatment options are available, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Chemotherapy is the most common of these options. TNBC is generally treated with systemic chemotherapy using drugs such as anthracyclines and taxanes in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant settings. Developing resistance to anticancer drugs and off target toxicity are the primary hindrances to chemotherapeutic solutions for cancer. It is imperative that researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies work together to develop effective treatment options for TNBC. Several studies have suggested nanotechnology as a potential solution to the problem of suboptimal TNBC treatment.

Backscatter communication, which transmits information by passively reflecting radio 1 frequency (RF) signals, has become a focal point of interest due to its potential to significantly enhance 2 the energy efficiency of Wireless Power Mobile Edge Computing (WPMEC) networks and extend the 3 operational lifespan of terminal devices. However, there is little research on the integration of user 4 cooperation in WPMEC scenarios within volatile network environments. In this paper, we propose 5 a dynamic task offloading scheme for a Backscatter-assisted WPMEC system, which involves two 6 mobile devices (MDs) and a Hybrid Access Point (HAP) with user cooperation. We formulate the 7 energy efficiency (EE) maximization problem as a stochastic programming problem, considering 8 the randomness of task arrivals and time-varying wireless channels. By leveraging Dinkelbach’s 9 method and stochastic network optimization technique, we transform the problem into a series of 10 deterministic sub-problems for each time slot, and convert the non-convex sub-problem into convex 11 ones. We propose a low-complex EE maximization algorithm to solve the convex problems efficiently. 12 Extensive simulations are conducted to validate the performance of our algorithm under various 13 system parameter settings. Experiment results demonstrate that our algorithm not only outperforms 14 the benchmark algorithms by approximately 23%, but also stabilize all queues within the MEC 15 system.

This paper introduces an innovative approach that enables automated and precise prediction of the steel's chemical composition based on the desired Jominy curve. The microstructure, and in fact the presence of martensite, is decisive for the hardness of the steel, so the study considered the occurrence of this phase at particular distances from the quenched-end of the Jominy sample. Steels for quenching and tempering and case hardening were investigated. With representative collected dataset of hardness values from quenched-end of Jominy specimen, microstructure and chemical composition of steels, the complex regression model was made using supervised artificial neural networks. The balance between cost and required hardenability can be achieved through optimizing the chemical composition of steel. This model of designing steel with required hardenability can be of great benefit in the mechanical engineering and manufacturing industry. The model is verified experimentally.

With prosperous development and successful application of deep learning technologies in the field of remote sensing, numerous deep-learning based methods have emerged for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) tasks over the past few years. Generally, most deep-learning based methods can achieve outstanding recognition performance in condition that an abundant of labeled samples are available to train the model. However, in real application scenarios, it is difficult and costly to acquire and to annotate abundant SAR images due to the imaging mechanism of SAR, which poses a big challenge to existing SAR ATR methods. Thereby, SAR target recognition under the situation of few-shot, where only a scarcely few of labeled samples are available, is a fundamental problem that needs to be solved. In this paper, we put forward a new method named enhanced prototypical network with customized region-aware convolution (CRCEPN) to specially tackle the few-shot SAR ATR tasks. To be specific, We first develop a feature extraction network based on a customized and region-aware convolution, which can adaptively adjust convolutional kernels and their receptive fields according to each SAR image’s own characteristics as well as the semantical similarity among spatial regions, thus augmenting its capability to extract more informative and discriminative features. To achieve accurate and robust target identity prediction under the few-shot condition, we then propose an enhanced prototypical network which can improve the representation ability of the class prototype by properly making use of training and test samples together, thus effectively raising the classification accuracy. Meanwhile, a new hybrid loss is designed to learn a feature space with both inter-class separability and intra-class tightness as much as possible, which can further upgrade the recognition performance of the proposed method. Experiments performed on the moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition (MSTAR) dataset and the OpenSARShip dataset demonstrate that the proposed method is competitive with some state-of-the-art methods for few-shot SAR ATR tasks.

The climate change constitutes nowadays an enormous global threat for human health and environmental sustainability. The expanding world population and the increased global needs for food production have an important negative impact upon environment. Diet can link human health with environmental sustainability. Food production systems are closely related to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the aggravation of climate change, and current western type, animal-based, dietary patterns may lead to adverse environmental footprints. In the present narrative review, we address the interconnection of the Mediterranean diet (MD) with climate change and sustainability. MD is a highly recommended dietary intervention for the prevention and management of various endocrine and cardiometabolic diseases. Beyond its evidence-based, health-promoting effects, it also has beneficial environmental impact, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing biodiversity, food security and sustainability. Based on the evidence reviewed herein, MD should be incorporated within the framework of a “One Health” model, which involves the improvement not only of human health but also of planetary health and food system sustainability. Our review aims to provide a stimulus for health pro-fessionals to strongly recommend the implementation of MD under the current pressure of climate change, despite all barriers, targeting both human health preservation and the planetary well-being.

Device to Device (D2D) is a pivotal technology in the next generation of communication, allowing for direct task offloading between mobile devices (MDs) to improve the efficient utilization of idle resources. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for dynamic task offloading between active MDs and idle MDs in the D2D-MEC (Mobile Edge Computing) system by deploying multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to minimize the long-term average delay of delay-sensitive tasks under deadline constraints. Our core innovation is a dynamic partitioning scheme for idle and active devices in the D2D-MEC system, accounting for stochastic task arrivals and multi-time-slot task execution, which has been insufficiently addressed in existing literature. We adopt a queue-based system to formulate a dynamic task offloading optimization problem. To address the challenges of large action space and coupling of actions across time slots, we model the problem as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) and perform the multi-agent DRL through Multi-Agent Proximal Policy Optimization (MAPPO). We employ a centralized training with decentralized execution (CTDE) framework to enable each MD to make offloading decisions solely based on its local system state. Extensive simulations demonstrate the efficiency and fast convergence of our algorithm. In comparison with the existing sub-optimal results deploying single-agent DRL, our algorithm reduces the average task completion delay by 11.0% and the ratio of dropped tasks by 17.0%.

This study explores the complexities of sport manager selection, investigating the impact of affirmative action, recruitment strategies, organizational culture, diversity initiatives in board selection, and career advancement insights from coaches' perspectives. To conduct this investigation, a purposive sampling technique was employed, selecting 65 prominent sports managers and coaches from Romania. Participants, aged between 35 to 58 years old, boasted an average of 10 to 20 years of sports experience and were chosen based on specific criteria, including academic qualifications. Data collection occurred over an extended period, spanning from fall 2022 to spring 2024, through semi-structured interviews with sport managers and coaches. The findings unveiled persistent challenges in effectively implementing affirmative action measures, as sport managers grapple with balancing the promotion of deserving candidates while maintaining continuity in board culture. Achieving meaningful diversity necessitates nuanced approaches that consider both candidate quality and cultural compatibility. Moreover, the study sheds light on coaches' perspectives when considering executive council positions, highlighting various pathways to career advancement. Recruitment practices prioritized informal methods, emphasizing board cohesion. Despite the recognized importance of diversity, challenges persist in selecting candidates solely based on demographic representation. The study provides valuable insights into promoting diversity and inclusivity within sports organizations' executive councils. Future research directions may include exploring longitudinal trends and delving into the qualitative experiences of underrepresented groups, with the aim of advancing understanding and promoting equity within sports organizations.

This study explores the current landscape of social value (SV) research in the construction industry, analyzing global trends and identifying future research directions. Using bibliometric analysis, research published in Elsevier Scopus database from 2013 to 2023 was extracted using the keywords "social value" AND "construction industry." Results indicate a focus on social value indicators, socioeconomic impacts, project management, innovative practices, and cross-sector collaborations. The study also reveals a lack of attention to SV in African countries' construction sectors. By highlighting research areas and identifying gaps, this study contributes to academic literature, suggesting the need for guidelines, particularly in developing countries, and advocating for further research on SV in the built environment and strategies for global social value creation.

Protein O-GlcNAcylation has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer´s disease (AD). O-GlcNAcylation of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) regulates both the trafficking and the processing of the APP through the amyloidogenic pathway, resulting in the release and aggregation of the Aβ1-42 peptide. Microglia clear Aβ aggregates and dead cells to maintain brain homeostasis. Here, using LC-MS/MS we reveal that the Aβ1-42 peptide modifies the microglia O-GlcNAcome. We have identified 55 proteins, focusing our research on Galectin-1 protein, since it is a very versatile protein from a functional point of view. Combining biochemical with genetic approaches we demonstrate that Aβ1-42 peptide specifically targets Galectin-1S8 O-GlcNAcylation via OGT. In addition, this Gal-1-O-GlcNAcylated form, in turn, controls human microglia migration. Given the importance of microglia migration in the progression of AD, this study reports the relationship between Aβ1-42 peptide and Serine 8- O-GlcNAcylation of Galectin to drive microglial migration

An over-active renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is characterized by elevated angiotensin II (Ang II). While Ang II can promote metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues, little is known about its role in the gastrointestinal system (GI). Here, we treated rat primary colonic epithelial cells to Ang II (1-5000 nM) to better define its role in the GI. We hypothesized that Ang II would negatively affect mitochondrial bioenergetics as these organelles express Ang II receptors. Ang II increased cellular ATP production but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of colonocytes. However, cells maintained mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis with treatment, reflecting metabolic compensation with impaired MMP. To determine whether lipid dysregulation was evident, untargeted lipidomics were conducted. 1949 lipids were detected in colonocytes spanning 55 distinct (sub)classes. Ang II (1 nM) altered the abundance of some sphingosines [So(d16:1)], ceramides [Cer-AP(t18:0/24:0)], and phosphatidylcholines [OxPC(16:0_20:5(2O)], while 100 nM Ang II altered some triglycerides and phosphatidylserines [PS(19:0_22:1). Ang II did not alter the relative expression of several enzymes in lipid metabolism; however, expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) was increased and PDK2 can be protective against dyslipidemia. This study is the first to investigate the role of Ang II on colonic epithelial cell metabolism.

Epirubicin, olaparib and ribociclib are three anti-tumoral molecules currently used in cancer therapy. Since serum levels of these drugs reveal a large inter-individual variability, validation of a fast, simple and reliable analytical method for quantitative determination of these molecules in human serum, with Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) purposes would be necessary. Papers in literature describe separation, identification and quantitation of the drugs in pharmaceutical formulas and biological matrices. The large majority of these approaches use protein precipitation for sample pre-treatment, followed by LC separation and tandem-mass-spectrometry (MS/MS) detection. We propose an alternative method using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) with Oasis PRiME HLB® cartridges followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C18 (4.6 × 50 mm) column. A gradient mobile phase with 0.1% formic acid/acetonitrile was utilized. MS detection in single ion recording (SIR) mode was employed. A 13-minutes run-time analysis, including column re-equilibration was assessed. Data for all molecules were validated according to ICH Guidelines. Calibration curves for all analytes were linear with correlation coefficient larger than 0.997. Values for precision were less than 6%. The method was applied on serum samples from patients up-taking the drugs, proving its suitability in TDM assisted adjustment of doses in therapy.

This study addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a comparative analysis of statistical and artificial intelligence techniques for predicting bankruptcy in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using a comprehensive database of 7,104 Belgian SMEs, our findings demonstrate that intelligent techniques offer superior predictive accuracy for bankruptcy. Notably, our results indicate that a firm's position in the global value chain significantly affects prediction accuracy, with lower performance for firms operating upstream in the production process. This suggests that bankruptcy risk may spread upward along the value chain. This insight is particularly valuable for practitioners, as it highlights the importance of focusing on specific performance factors based on the type of firms they manage, advise, or collaborate with.

Mental health in Puerto Rico is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been shaped by the island’s unique history, culture, and political status. Recent challenges, including disasters, economic hardships, and political turmoil, have significantly affected the mental well-being of the population coupled with the limitations in the accessibility of mental health services. Puerto Rico has fewer mental health professionals per capita than any other state or territory in the United States. This comprehensive review examines the impact of disasters on mental health and mental health services in Puerto Rico. Given the exodus of Puerto Ricans from the island, the review also provides an overview of mental health resources available on the island as well as the continental United States. The review identifies efforts to address mental health issues, with the intent of gaining a proper understanding of the available mental health services, key trends, as well as observable challenges and achievements within the mental health landscape of the Puerto Rican population.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-Ts) have shown a remarkable efficacy in hematological malignancies, but limited responses in solid tumors. Among solid tumors, CAR-T cell therapy was particularly explored in brain tumors. CAR-T cells have shown a limited clinical efficacy in various types of brain tumors due to several factors that have hampered their activity, including tumor antigen heterogeneity (not all tumor cells express the target antigen), the limited access of CAR-T cells to brain tumor cells, limited CAR-T cell trafficking and in vivo persistence and the presence of a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Despite these considerations, some recent studies have shown promising anti-tumor activity of GD2-CAR-T cells on diffuse midline gliomas and neuroblastomas and of CARv3-TEAM-E cells in glioblastomas. However, strategies are required to improve the effect of CAR-T cells in brain tumors, including advanced CAR-T cell design with multiple antigenic targeting and incorporation of combination therapies.

In the era of big data with increasingly complex data structures and ever-larger data scales, matrix-type data are becoming highly valued and their applications in the fields of medicine, industry, education, geography, and astronomy are growing in extent. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the practical use of matrix variable t-distribution finite mixture models for handling data in order to address the issues of multi-subgroup structures and long data tails. In this paper, the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm with penalized maximum likelihood is proposed to resolve the problem of the unbounded nature of the likelihood function applied to the model by considering the degeneracy of the variance-covariance matrix of this model. Our data were analyzed through simulations and real data, and the results demonstrate that our model is effective in both preventing the likelihood function from being unbounded and in ensuring the accuracy of the estimated parameters of the EM algorithm.

Adaptive T cell immunotherapy holds great promise for the successful treatment of leukemia as well as other types of cancers. More recently, it was also shown to be an effective treatment option for chronic virus infections in immunosuppressed patients. Autologous or allogeneic T cells used for immunotherapy are usually genetically modified to express novel T cell or chimeric antigen receptors. The production of such cells was significantly simplified with the CRISPR/Cas system allowing deletion or insertion of novel genes at specific locations within the genome. In this review, we describe recent methodological breakthroughs important for the conduction of these genetic modifications, summarize crucial points to be considered when conducting such experiments, and highlight the potential pitfalls of these approaches.

The thymus hosts the development of a specific type of adaptive immune cells called T cells. T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response through recognition of antigen by the highly variable T-cell receptor (TCR). T-cell development is a tightly coordinated process comprising lineage commitment, somatic recombination of Tcr gene loci and selection for functional, but non-self-reactive TCRs, all interspersed with massive proliferation and cell death. Thus, the thymus produces a pool of T cells throughout life capable of responding to virtually any exogenous attack while preserving the body through self-tolerance. The thymus has been of considerable interest to both immunologists and theoretical biologists due to its multiscale quantitative properties, bridging molecular binding, population dynamics and polyclonal repertoire specificity. Here, we review mathematical modelling strategies that were reported to help understand the flexible dynamics of the highly dividing and dying thymic cell populations. Furthermore, we summarize the current challenges to estimating in vivo cellular dynamics and to reaching a next-generation multiscale picture of T-cell development.

The development and optimization of an effective non-viral gene delivery method for genetic manipulation of primary human T cells is a major challenge in clinical immunotherapy researches. According to the low transfection efficiency of conventional methods in human primary T cells, there is an effort in order to increase the transfection rate in these cells. Protamine is an FDA-approved compound with a documented safety profile that enhances DNA condensation for gene delivery. In this study, the effect of protamine on the transfection efficiency of standard transfection reagents, TurboFect, and Lipofectamine 2000 was evaluated in order to transfect primary human T cells. Results demonstrated that protamine condenses DNA and increases the positive charge of DNA/Cargo complex efficiently without any cytotoxic effect on the primary human T cells. The results also revealed that the DNA/Protamine/Cargo complexes effectively transfect human primary T cells.

Sepsis still remains one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose as it presents unspecific clinical signs and symptoms, which makes early detection crucial. Our study aimed to enhance the accuracy of sepsis diagnosis by integrating multimodal monitoring technologies with traditional diagnostic methods. The research involved 121 newborns, comprising 39 cases of late-onset sepsis, 35 cases of early-onset sepsis, and 47 control subjects. Biosignals including pulse oximetry (PO), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and skin temperature (ST) were continuously monitored and an algorithm was developed using Python for identifying early signs of sepsis. The model demonstrated the ability to detect sepsis 6 to 48 hours in advance with an accuracy rate of 87.67% ± 7.42%. Sensitivity and specificity were recorded at 76% and 90%, respectively, with NIRS and ST having the most significant impact on predictive accuracy. Despite the promising results, limitations such as sample size, data variability, and potential biases were noted. The findings highlight the critical role of non-invasive biosensing methods in conjunction with traditional biomarkers and cultures, offering a robust framework for early sepsis detection and improved neonatal care. Further studies are recommended to validate these results across diverse clinical settings.

By repeated unloading and loading of the excavation dynamic and static loads, repeated train dynamic and static loads of multi-factors, the underpass tunnel, cross tunnel engineering influence area rock layer, the existing tunnel structure of the three constitutes a multifaceted structure, multi-factor interaction system. Existing tunnels into the prediction theory model of the new tunnel excavation process of dynamic and static loads, dynamic and static loads of existing tunnels are mostly analyzed individually, the results of synergistic analysis needs to be improved. Based on the theory of the current layer method, the paper comprehensively considers the stiffness of the existing tunnel, the stiffness of the new tunnel, the excavation method load and the existing tunnel load, coupled with Peck's empirical formula, the theoretical model of deformation prediction for excavation of a two-lane highway tunnel under the tunnel through the existing railroad is proposed, and verified and optimized by numerical calculations and monitoring data, which proves the applicability and reliability of the theoretical model in the similar strata and the project promotion.

The research on the excavation mechanical properties of underpass tunnels has already had certain results, but fewer of them consider the effects of dynamic and static loads on the excavation mechanical properties of underground tunnels at the same time, especially the lack of research cases of double-line highway tunnels with angled underpasses of existing railway tunnels. In this paper, based on the tunnel project of the new double-line Shiqian Highway Tunnel passing under the Hurong Railway at an oblique angle, the mechanical parameters of the rock body in the cross-tunneling area under the influence of static and dynamic load coupling are obtained by using the disturbance quantification coefficients and the Hoek-Brown criterion based on the method of over-advanced geological prediction and the investigation of the surrounding rock on the palisade face, and the engineering-scale finite element model is constructed and the mechanical characteristics of the excavation in the tunnel of the double-lane highway tunnel passing under the existing railroad under the influence of the static and dynamic loads are analyzed. The results show that: the new tunnel rock movement law for the top of the arch sinking, bottom plate bulging, side wall to move outward, the height and width of the arch and bottom plate arch with the tunnel excavation and increase, the side wall rock displacement effect is smaller; left and right lines of the tunnel disturbed area of the rule of change is similar; the existing tunnel bottom plate displacement is more than the top plate and the left and right side walls by the excavation of the time step influence is larger. Typical profile displacement is mainly determined by the distance from the excavation surface; the new tunnel in the four types of calculation conditions of the rock disturbance angle is the same; the existing tunnel roof and side wall Von Mises stress extreme occurs in the tunnel structure, the bottom plate there are pressure relief and pressure-bearing areas; based on the displacement control criteria, the recommended upper and lower step blasting method.

To understand functions of biomolecules such as proteins, not only structures but their conformational change and kinetics are important to be characterized but its atomistic details are hard to obtain both experimentally and computationally. We review our recent computational studies using novel enhanced sampling techniques for conformational sampling of biomolecules and calculations of their kinetics. For efficiently characterizing the free energy landscape of a biomolecule, we introduce the multiscale enhanced sampling method, which uses a combined system of atomistic and coarse-grained models. Based on the idea of Hamiltonian replica exchange, we can recover the statistical properties of the atomistic model without any biases. We next introduce the string method as a path search method to calculate the minimum free energy pathways along a multidimensional curve in high dimensional space. Finally we introduce novel methods to calculate kinetics of biomolecules based on the ideas of path sampling: One is the Onsager-Machlup action method, and the other is the weighted ensemble method. Some applications of above methods to biomolecular systems are also discussed and illustrated.

The paper considers coherent states for the representation of Weyl commutation relations over a field of $p$-adic numbers. A geometric object, a lattice in vector space over a field of p-adic numbers, corresponds to the family of coherent states. It is proved that the bases of coherent states corresponding to different lattices are mutually unbiased, and the operators defining the quantization of symplectic dynamics are Hadamard operators.

Tellurium exhibits exceptional intrinsic electronic properties. However, investigations into the modulation of tellurium's electronic properties through physical modification are notably scarce. Here, we present a comprehensive study focused on the evolution of the electronic properties of tellurium crystal flakes under plasma irradiation treatment by employing conductive atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The plasma-treated tellurium experienced a process of defect generation through lattice broken. Prior to the degradation of electronic transport performance due to plasma irradiation treatment, a remarkable observation emerged: in the low-energy region of hydrogen plasma-treated tellurium, a notable enhancement in conductivity was unexpectedly detected. The mechanism underlying this enhancement in electronic transport performance was thoroughly elucidated by comparing it with the electronic structure induced by argon plasma irradiation. This study not only fundamentally uncovers the effects of plasma irradiation on tellurium crystal flakes, but also unearths an unprecedented trend of enhanced electronic transport performance at low irradiation energies when utilizing hydrogen plasma. This abnormal trend bears significant implications for guiding the prospective application of tellurium-based 2D materials in the realm of electronic devices.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which results in the destruction of the tooth’ s supporting tissues and the alveolar bone resorption. The complement becomes a major link between infection and inflammatory pathology including periodontitis. Gingipians as important virulence factors of P. gingivalis have the activity of C5 convertase, could cleave C5 into fully functional C5a to activate C5aR. The above process could be blocked by the C5aR antagonist (PMX-53) to suppress local periodontal inflammation, and then achieves the purpose of treatment of periodontitis. Nanoparticles incorporated within gelatin are promising carrier system for drug delivery in recent years. This study aimed to investigate whether gelatin nanoparticles loaded with PMX-53 prevents alveolar bone resorption in miniature swines model of periodontitis. Four miniature swines were placed ligatures around the maxillary and mandibular fourth premolar and first molar on both sides for seven weeks to induce periodontitis. Then, animals were assigned randomly to four groups: minocycline-treated group, gelatin with PMX53-treated group, gelatin-treated group and a sham control group. They were treated with 1ml related drugs respectively, into gingival sulcusl for 4 times at one-week intervals. We showed that local treatments with gelatin nanoparticles loaded with PMX-53 could inhibit alveolar bone loss of periodontitis. Our study revealed that gelatin nanoparticles loaded with PMX-53 prevented alveolar bone resorption miniature swines model of periodontitis. In addition, provided proof-of-concept for local targeting of gelatin nanoparticles loaded with PMX-53 as a powerful candidate for the treatment of periodontitis.

As the world attempts to decarbonise the food industry and limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) have emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional meat. This study implemented a life cycle assessment (LCA) to rigorously compare the environmental impacts of a beef burger (BB), produced with British beef, against a meat analogue (MA) equivalent with a publicly available recipe. For the LCA, a cradle-to-fork system boundary was utilised, alongside a functional unit of a single 100 g burger patty. Results from the LCA revealed that the BB patty had more than double the total environmental impact than the MA equivalent, as well as possessing a global warming impact that was 62% higher. A simple extrapolation illustrated that if the UK population switched from beef to meat analogue patties, 3 million tonnes of CO2e could be saved annually, corresponding to 0.74% of the country’s yearly territorial GHG emissions. Scenario analyses displayed how the environmental impact of the MA patty remained stable regardless of changes in exportation, ingredient origin or soy protein sourcing. Moreover, sensitivity analysis conducted with an alternative characterisation method corroborated initial findings, whilst uncertainty analysis ensured that nearly all conclusions generated from the original comparison were robust. Future studies should conduct peer-reviewed LCAs on PBMA patties with commercial recipes based on other plant-based proteins, as well as fully understanding any potential health implications of long-term PBMA consumption.

COX II containing a dual core CuA active site is one of the three core subunits of mitochondrial Cco, which plays a significant role in the physiological process. In this report, the full-length cDNA of COXⅡ gene was cloned from Sitophilus zeamais, which had an ORF of 684 bp encoding 227 amino acids residues. The predicted COXⅡ protein had a molecular mass of 26.2 kDa with pI value of 6.37, and multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sitophilus zeamais COXⅡ had high sequence identity 78.51% with the COXⅡ of other insect species, especially similarity to sitophilus oryzae. This gene was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a, and induced by IPTG in E.coli Transetta (DE3) expression system. Finally the COXⅡ with 6-His tag was purified using affinity chromatography with Ni²⁺-NTA agarose. WB showed the recombinant COXⅡ was about 44 kD, and the concentration of fusion protein was 50μg/mL. UV-spectrophotometer and infrared spectrometer analysis showed that recombinant COXⅡ could catalyze the oxidation of substrate Cytc, and influenced by AITC. It was found that AITC could form a hydrophobic region with COXⅡ protein via molecular docking, besides, a sulfur atom of AITC structure could form a length of 2.9 Å hydrogen bond with Leu-31. These results will provide valuable information for elucidating the role of COXⅡ in Sitophilus zeamais responses to AITC, meanwhile, it will helpful to carry out a point mutation in AITC binding sites for the future research.

Geothermal energy, being a clean energy source, has immense potential, and accurate wellbore modeling is crucial for optimizing the drilling process and ensuring safety. This paper presents a novel geothermal wellbore model based on the drift-flux approach, tested under three different temperature and pressure well conditions. The proposed model integrates the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, incorporating the gas-liquid two-phase flow drift-flux model and heat transfer model. Key features include handling heat transfer between the for-mation and the wellbore, addressing the slip relationship between gas and liquid phases, and accounting for wellbore friction. The nonlinear equations are discretized using the finite differ-ence method, and the highly nonlinear system is solved using the Newton-Raphson method. Numerical simulation, validation, and comparison with existing models demonstrate the en-hanced accuracy of this model. In our tests, the model achieved high accuracy in calculating bottom hole pressure and temperature, with Mean Relative Errors (MRE) significantly lower than those of other models. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring drilling safety. Comparisons indicate that this approach significantly outperforms others in capturing the complex dynamics of geothermal wellbores, making it a superior tool for geo-thermal energy development.

Existing research indicates that mineralization of Carlin-type gold deposit is related to geological structures, but current studies mostly focus on the qualitative association, and lack quantitative analysis of the relationship between mineralization and structural features, which limits the potential for predictive mineral exploration. In this study, the Nibao Carlin-type gold deposit was selected as the research area to conduct three-dimensional geological modeling, spatial analysis, and three-dimensional prospectivity modeling. Spatial analysis revealed that the majority of gold ore bodies are situated near the main fault, with gold mineralization primarily occurring within a spatial range of approximately -80 meters to 20 meters from the main fault plane. This spatial distribution predominantly aligns in a SW-NE direction. Spatial characteristic extraction of fault slope indicators suggests that the slope angles are conducive to the migration and accumulation of ore-forming hydrothermal fluids, with ore body metal content rapidly increasing within an angle range of approximately 20° to 60°. The shape analysis of the mainfault indicates that the principal spaces of mineralization enrichment are within -10m to 20m of the fault plane undulations, where gold resources are concentrated in a relatively flat area. However, the degree of mineralization is more pronounced in the protruding sections than in the depressed areas. The areas with significant dip changes in faults display higher variations in orebody attitudes, with mineralization noticeably weaker in areas where the fault steepness changes markedly. Ore-bearing units exhibit significantly higher grades within the -17° to 3° interval of fault steepness transition. This interval also sees a rapid accumulation of gold resources. The Nibao gold mine's mineralization is derived from deep, ore-bearing hydrothermal fluids ascending along major fractures, precipitating, and accumulating in favorable ore-hosting spaces (faults, anticline cores) and lithological combinations (sedimentary tuffs, tuffs). Three deep potential gold targets were identified, highlighting the deep western edge of the F1 fault and the deep southeast-trending lower plate as prospective areas for future exploration. This study underscores the effectiveness of 3D prospective modeling as an indispensable tool for elucidating the spatial distribution of fault-controlled Carlin-type gold deposits and their tectonic determinants.

Heart failure is a prevalent cardiovascular condition with significant health implications, necessitating effective diagnostic strategies for timely intervention. This study explores the potential of continuous monitoring of non-invasive signals, specifically integrating Photoplethysmogram (PPG) and Electrocardiogram (ECG), for enhancing early detection and diagnosis of heart failure. Leveraging a dataset from the MIMIC-III database, encompassing 682 heart failure patients and 954 controls. Feature selection techniques were used to systematically select key features which were identified for their clinical relevance and significance in capturing cardiovascular dynamics and to reduce computational complexity and to decrease the chance of overfitting the ML algorithms. These features are then utilized to train and evaluate machine learning algorithms, resulting in a model with an impressive accuracy of 98%, sensitivity of 97.60%, specificity of 96.90%, and precision of 97.20%. The integrated approach outperforms single-signal strategies, showcas-ng its potential for early, precise, and non-invasive heart failure diagnosis. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of continuous monitoring through wearables, emphasizing the benefits of integrating multiple signals for a comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular health. The proposed approach holds promise for implementation in hardware systems to enable continuous monitoring, aiding in early detection and prevention of critical health conditions.

Pastes containing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and LiCl-Mn(NO3)2·4H2O are screen-printed on a carbon cloth substrate and then calcined using a nitrogen atmospheric-pressure-plasma jet (APPJ) for conversion into rGO-LiMnOx nanocomposites. The APPJ processing time is within 300 s. RGO-LiMnOx on carbon cloth is used to sandwich H2SO4, LiCl, or Li2SO4 gel electrolytes to form hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs). The areal capacitance, energy density, and cycling stability of the HSCs are evaluated using electrochemical measurement. The Li2SO4 gel electrolyte HSC exhibits the highest areal capacitance and energy density but lower cycling stability. By contrast, the H2SO4 gel electrolyte HSC exhibits better cycling stability but lower areal capacitance and energy density.

In this paper, a novel microwave catalyst Ni@SiC/CNFs (NSC), C/Ni (NC), and C/SiC (SC) were successfully synthesized by electrostatic spinning method, and proved to degrade methylene blue with high efficiency under microwave irradiation. The results imply that the catalyst Ni@SiC/CNFs with double shell structure gave a 99.99 % removal rate in 90 s for the degradation of methylene blue under microwave irradiation, outperformed the C/Ni and C/SiC and most other reported catalysts in similar studies. On the one hand, the possible mechanism of the methylene blue degradation should be ascribed to that double shell structure increases the polarization source of the material, resulting in excellent microwave absorption properties; and on the other, the in-situ generation of active species OH• and O2 - under microwave radiation and the synergistic coupling effect of metal plasma greatly improved the degradation efficiency of methylene blue. The findings of this study could provide a valuable reference for the green degradation of industrial dye wastewater and its sustainable development process.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is a lipid kinase that phosphorylates diacylglycerol (DAG) to generate phosphatidic acid (PA). Based on converting one important signaling molecule (DAG) to another (PA), DGK plays an important role in plant responses to abiotic stress including waterlogging stress. However, no studies have been reported on the characterization of the DGK gene family in the waterlogging-tolerant kiwifruit germplasm, Actinidia valvata Dunn. Here, we identified 18 AvDGK genes in the A. valvata genome. The phylogenetic analysis showed that AvDGKs can be classified into three clusters, and members within the same cluster have similar domain distribution, exon-intron structures and conserved motif compositions. Chromosome localization analysis revealed that all the AvDGK genes are located across 18 different chromosomes. There were 29 duplicated gene pairs in kiwifruit and all had undergone purifying selection during evolution. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed that the cis-elements within AvDGK genes are associated with multiple functions, including phytohormone signal transduction, stress response, and plant growth and development. The expression pattern analyses indicated that AvDGK play an important role in the fruit development and plant response to waterlogging stress. AvDGKs gene family in the tetraploid A. valvata genome might promote PA synthesis and subsequent signal transduction both under short-term and long-term waterlogging stress. These results provide information regarding the structural characteristics and potential function of DGK genes within kiwifruit and lay a fundamental basis for further research into breeding for enhancing the kiwifruit’s tolerance to waterlogging stress.

Regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic containment, it remains paramount to comprehensively understand its underlying mechanisms to mitigate potential future health and economic impacts, comparable to those experienced throughout the course of the pandemic. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) provide anchorage for SARS-CoV-2 binding, thus implicating that ACE and ACE2 might contribute to the variability in infection severity. This study aimed to elucidate predisposing factors influencing the disease course among people infected by SARS-CoV-2, focusing on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 polymorphisms. Notably, despite similar demographics and comorbidities, COVID-19 patients exhibit substantial differences in prognosis. Genetic polymorphisms in ACE and ACE2 have been implicated in disease progression, prompting our investigation into their role in COVID-19 evolution. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we analyzed ACE and ACE2 genes in a sample group comprising six subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2. Our findings revealed a correlation between specific polymorphisms and COVID-19 outcomes. Specifically, ACE and ACE2 intronic deletions were observed in all deceased patients, suggesting a potential association with mortality. These results highlight the significance of genetic factors in shaping the clinical course of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of further research into the impact of genetic variations on COVID-19 severity.

The disruption of brain energy metabolism, leading to alterations in synaptic signaling, neural circuitry, and neuroplasticity, has been implicated in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The therapeutic potential of ketogenic interventions in these disorders suggests a link between metabolic disturbances and disease pathology; however, the precise mechanisms underlying these metabolic disturbances and the therapeutic effects of metabolic ketogenic therapy remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an in silico analysis of transcriptomic data to investigate perturbations in metabolic pathways in the brain across severe mental illnesses via gene expression profiling. We also examined dysregulation of the same pathways in rodent or cell culture models of ketosis, comparing these expression profiles to those observed in the disease states. Our analysis revealed significant perturbations across all metabolic pathways, with the greatest perturbations in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the electron transport chain (ETC) across all three disorders. Additionally, we observed some discordant gene expression patterns between disease states and ketogenic intervention studies, suggesting a potential role for ketone bodies in modulating pathogenic metabolic changes. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding metabolic dysregulation in severe mental illnesses and the potential therapeutic benefits of ketogenic interventions in restoring metabolic homeostasis. This study provides insights into the complex relationship between metabolism and neuropsychiatric disorders and lays the foundation for further experimental investigations aimed at appreciating the implications of the present transcriptomic findings as well as developing targeted therapeutic strategies.

Relationships of the three bryophyte lineages (liverworts, mosses, and hornworts) to vascular plants is a pivotal question in the study of origin and evolution of land plants. In recent decades, this question has been subject to intense phylogenetic analyses using morphological characters, multigene DNA sequences, and genome structural characters. A tentative consensus reached ten years ago suggested that bryophytes are a paraphyletic group, with liverworts being sister to all other land plants and hornworts being sister to vascular plants. However, several more recent nuclear phylogenomic studies have concluded that bryophytes represent a monophyletic group that is sister to vascular plants. A discussion is presented here on strengths and weaknesses of different types of characters (morphological traits, nucleotide sequences, and genome structural arrangements), and their suitability for resolving deep phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, several criteria for credible phylogenetic reconstruction are proposed. Strong statistical support for reconstructed relationships should be derived from high quality, independent characters selected for suitability to the particular question being addressed. The relationships inferred in a study should be congruent with those from as many other lines of phylogenetic evidence as possible. Any incongruities should be explicable by well-understood biological mechanisms. It is concluded that the relationships of the three bryophyte lineages to vascular plants should currently be viewed as unresolved. This is a difficult phylogenetic problem; the land plants underwent a rapid radiation a long time ago. Yet, further exploration of analytical methods and careful choice of characters should lead to eventual elucidation of diversification patterns among early land plants.

In this paper, we study the well-posedness and asymptotics of a one-dimensional thermoelastic laminated beam system either with or without structural damping, where the heat conduction is given by Fourier's law effective in the rotation angle displacements. We show that the system is well-posed by using Lumer-Philips theorem, and prove that the system is exponentially stable if and only if the wave speeds are equal, by using the perturbed energy method and Gearhart-Herbst-Prüss-Huang theorem. Furthermore, we show that the system with structural damping is polynomially stable provided that the wave speeds are not equal, by using the second-order energy method.

In this work, we consider a one-dimensional laminated beam in the case of non-equal wave speeds with only one infinite memory on the effective rotation angle. In this case, we establish the general decay result for the energy of solution without any kind of internal or boundary control. The main result is obtained by applying the method used in Guesmia et al. (Electron. J. Differential Equations 193: 1-45, 2012) and the second-order energy.

In this paper, we study a one-dimensional Bresse-Cattaneo system with infinite memories and time-dependent delay term (the coefficient of which is not necessarily positive) in the internal feedbacks. First, it is proved that the system is well-posed by means of the Hille-Yosida theorem under suitable assumptions on the relaxation functions. Then, without any restriction on the speeds of wave propagations, we establish the exponential or general decay result by introducing suitable energy and Lyapunov functionals.

In this study, based on a new quantum integral identity, the authors establish some quantum estimates of Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities for convex functions. These results generalize and improve some known results given in literatures.

Powders with phase composition including syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O and/or calcium sulfate di-hydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O were synthesized from powder of calcium carbonate CaCO3 and water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 of various (0.5M, 1M and 2M) concentrations. Molar ratio of starting salt KHSO4/CaCO3=2 were used to provide formation of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O. But when using 0.5M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 the phase composition of synthesized powder was presented by calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O. When using 1M and 2M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 the syn-genite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O was found as predominant phase in synthesized powders. According es-timations made from thermal analysis data when 1.0M and 2.0M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate KHSO4 were used the content of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) CaSO4·2H2O in these powders were not higher then as 7.9 and 1.9 % respectively. Phase composition of products isolated from mother liquors via water evaporation consisted of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O and potassium sulfate (arcanite) K2SO4. Synthesized powders can be used in preparation of biocom-patible bioresorbable materials with phase composition in the K2O‑CaO‑SO3‑H2O system; as matrix of thermo- or photo-luminescent materials; as components reducing the setting time and increasing strength of sulfate cements; in the fertilizing industry and also as a components of Martian regolith simulant.

To further enhance the intelligence level of coal mining faces and achieve autonomous derivation, learning, and optimization of shearer navigation cutting, this paper proposes the methods of shearer digital twin navigation cutting motion planning based on the concept of shearer autonomous navigation cutting technology and intelligent coal mining face digital twins. The study includes the digital twin theory and the construction method of the shearer digital twin navigation cutting motion planning system based on this theory. Based on the digital twin theory, a shearer digital twin navigation cutting motion planning system was constructed. This system supports the service functions of shearer cutting digital twin, dynamic navigation map digital twin, reinforcement learning environment construction, and motion planning through the physical perception layer, comprehensive data layer, and digital-model fusion analysis layer. Finally, by comparing the effects of the DQN-NAF and DDPG deep reinforcement learning algorithms in the shearer motion planning task within the constructed digital twin environment, the results show that the DQN-NAF algorithm demonstrates better performance and stability in solving the shearer digital twin motion planning task.

The world is struggling with the increasing rate at which water bodies are constantly polluted due to rapid modernization and industrialization. The different types of water contaminants include both anthropogenic and natural contaminants. Environmentalists are mainly concerned about heavy metals such as cadmium ions, as they are considered poisonous and carcinogenic even if they are present at a minimum concentration, and they are considered an immediate concern, according to the World Health Organization. Recently, many methods, such as solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrochemical precipitation, and reverse osmosis, have been developed to remove heavy metals from wastewater. These methods have been reported to be expensive and inefficient; hence, more cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative strategies are needed. Amidst these challenges, a ray of hope emerges in the form of biosorbents. These abundant, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient materials have shown promise as an alternative method for removing heavy metals from wastewater. They are equipped with functional groups that can effectively absorb metal ions onto their surfaces, offering a potential solution to our water contamination woes. This review is significant as it delves into the potential use of several biosorbents to decontaminate cadmium ions from wastewater. This review is significant as it delves into the potential use of several biosorbents to decontaminate cadmium ions from wastewater

Cymbidium faberi Rolfe is one of the traditional Chinese orchids with important ornamental value, and the cultivation of Cymbidium faberi Rolfe mutant strains with different appearances is essential to increase its economic value, but at present, the acquisition of Cymbidium faberi Rolfe mutant strains basically relies on natural mutation.The objectives of this research were to mutagenize Cymbidium faberi Rolfe protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and shoots in vitro using sodium azide (NaN3), and to screen and evaluate mutants in mutagenized Cymbidium faberi Rolfe seedlings using morphological characteristics.Cymbidium faberi Rolfe PLBs and shoots were used as mutagenic materials, and co-cultivated in induced shoots growth medium with the addition of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mg/L and 0.0 (control), 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0 mg/L NaN3 to induce the mutations, and the mortality rates of the PLBs and shoots were increased with the increase of the NaN3 concentration.At 14 d of co-cultivation, PLBs and shoots were most efficiently mutagenized with 1.5 mg/L and 4.0 mg/L NaN3, respectively.After the explants were cultured for 3 months, changes in leaf and flower morphology were observed in some mutants: shorter and thicker leaves, shorter node length, reduced height, and mid-translucent leaves compared with controls; and some Cymbidium faberi Rolfe bloomed prematurely, with single flowers with large, thick petal sepals and small inflorescences, and colours include light green throughout, and a few with purple stamens.This suggests that NaN3 can effectively mutagenise Cymbidium faberi Rolfe PLBs and shoots to satisfy people's demand for Cymbidium faberi Rolfe's ornamental properties while increasing its economic value.

Students studying dentistry and nursing experience anxiety daily, which affects both their general well-being and academic achievement. Anxiety is exacerbated by several circumstances, such as stressors in one's personal life, clinical environment exposure, and academic expectations. To effectively regulate anxiety and support students' achievement, treatments that take these elements into account must be designed. In this study, 271 students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece's departments of dentistry and nursing were polled. Being the following resources, participants filled out an electronic questionnaire that was uploaded to Google Forms and assessed their levels of stress, anxiety, depression, resilience, hope, and spiritual well-being: a) the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), b) the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-12), c) the Adult Hope Scale (AHS), d) the Resilience Assessment Questionnaire (RAQ8), and e) the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Additionally, demographic data was gathered, such as gender, educational attainment, family income, and country of origin. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate the relationships between the variables, including hierarchical multiple linear regression and t-tests. The sample consisted of 271 students from the Department of Nursing (n=126, 46.5%) and Dentistry (n=145, 53.5%), with 68.60% of them being female, 80.10% being undergraduate students, and 48.30% being from Athens, the country's capital. Comparatively speaking, 74.50 percent of nursing students were female, while 62.80% of dental students were. Compared to dental students (2.10%), nurses (40.50%) participated in postgraduate studies at a higher rate. Compared to dental students (44.80%), nursing students reported a household income of just 13.90%, which is much less than €35,000. Anxiety was reported by 51.30% of participants overall, with dental students reporting higher anxiety than nursing students. Higher family wealth was associated with reduced stress levels, while female undergraduate students reported higher levels of anxiety than their male counterparts. Hope was a strong predictor of resilience, but stress and worry had a negative correlation. Promoting students' well-being and academic success requires effective stress-reduction and resilience-building techniques aimed to not only improve student performance but also support future healthcare professionals' personal sustainability and holistic growth.

Road cracks significantly affect the serviceability and safety of roadways, especially in mountainous terrain. Traditional inspection methods, such as manual detection, are excessively time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient. Additionally, multi-function detection vehicles equipped with various sensors are expensive and not suitable for mountainous roads due to poor conditions. To address these challenges, this study proposes a customized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) inspection system designed for automatic crack detection. The system focuses on enhancing autonomous capabilities in mountainous terrains by incorporating embedded algorithms for route planning, autonomous navigation, and automatic crack detection. The slide window method is proposed to enhance the autonomous navigation of UAV flights by generating path planning in mountainous roads. This method compensates for GPS/IMU positioning errors, particularly in GPS-denied or GPS-drift scenarios. Moreover, the YOLOv8 algorithm is introduced to conduct autonomous crack detection from UAV imagery in the offboard module. To validate our UAV inspection system's performance, we conducted several experiments to assess its accuracy, robustness, and efficiency. The experimental results demonstrate that our UAS inspection system accurately estimates the flight trajectory along the mountainous road for autonomous navigation. Furthermore, the experimental detection results also demonstrate that the YOLOv8 algorithm achieves higher recognition accuracy compared to the YOLOv5, and YOLOv7-tiny algorithms, exceeding 3.1%,and 6.8% of mAP, respectively. In summary, the UAV inspection system proposed in this study can provide a useful tool and technological guidance for the regular inspection of mountainous roads.

This paper elucidates the impact of uncertainty on the Markowitz asset allocation and how it performs. The findings imply that when evaluated out-of-sample, estimation errors in parameters might significantly affect how well an allocation performs. Numerous publications that address this ambiguity have been highlighted to emphasize our findings further. In our work, we compare these approaches to alternative allocation strategies and explain their performance in both expected and real out-of-sample events. We find that the Markowitz framework can be improved by using tactics that take uncertainty into account. Longer sample numbers, however, may not always translate into better outcomes. Applying a short-sale constraint can also enhance the initial portfolio. Finally, we find that even more basic approaches to asset allocation, such as equally weighted allocation, perform reasonably well.

Successful translation of biofortified orange maize (BOM) to a household staple food is dependent on farmers’ ability to cultivate the maize and it subsequent utilization. In this study, we assessed farmers ‘allocation of their land to cultivation of BOM and con-ventional white maize (CWM) varieties in districts where AFI-KEPO Nutrition Program is implemented in Malawi. Results show farmers were skeptical of allocating more land to cultivation of BOM. CWM was allocated significantly more land (1.75 ± 0.51 acres) than BOM (1.12 ± 0.32 acres) (p

The bioactive marine sulfated polysaccharides ulvan and carrageenan, formulated in gels at 1.5, 5.0 and 10% w/w concentrations, were evaluated for their wound healing potential on second-degree burn wounds. The polysaccharide-based gels were administered on the burn-inflamed skin of hairless female SKH-hr2 mice, and the therapeutic effect of the various treatments was assessed based on histopathological analysis, the clinical condition of mice, photo-documentation, evaluation of biophysical skin parameters, and FT-IR spectroscopy.Clinical and histopathological assessment, as well as the reduction rate of the burn wound area, indicated that the 10% w/w carrageenan gel significantly enhanced wound healing, especially at the early stages of the healing process, recovering both the α-helix of collagen and the glycosaminoglycans configuration as evidenced by the FT-IR absorption bandsof skin in vivo and ex vivo. At later stages, the healing effect of the 5% w/w ulvan gel was also notably significant, indicating that carrageenan and ulvan wound dressing gels could potentially contribute to the efficient wound healing of burn wounds.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Brain plasticity, the brain's ability to adapt its structure and function, plays a crucial role in mitigating MS's impact. This paper explores the potential benefits of lifestyle changes and nutraceuticals on brain plasticity in MS patients. Lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and dietary adjustments, can enhance brain plasticity by upregulating neurotrophic factors, promoting synaptogenesis, and reducing oxidative stress. Nutraceuticals, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants like alpha-lipoic acid, have shown promise in supporting brain health through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms. Regular physical activity has been linked to increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and improved cognitive function. Dietary interventions, including caloric restriction and the intake of polyphenols, can also positively influence brain plasticity. Integrating these lifestyle changes and nutraceuticals into the management of MS could provide a complementary approach to traditional therapies, potentially improving neurological outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for MS patients.

The combination of encryption and digital watermarking technologies is a trend to achieve full lifecycle data protection. Recently, reversible data hiding in encrypted domain (RDHED) has greatly aroused the interests of many scholars. But the fixed order of first encryption and then watermarking makes this kind of algorithms unsuitable to many applications. Commutative encryption and watermarking (CEW) technology realizes the flexible combination of encryption and watermarking, and suits more applications. However, most existing CEW schemes for vector maps are not reversible and unsuitable to high precision maps. To solve this problem, here we propose a commutative encryption and reversible watermarking (CERW) algorithm for vector maps based on virtual coordinates which are uniformly distributed on the number axis. The CERW algorithm consists of virtual interval step based encryption scheme and coordinate difference based reversible watermarking scheme. In the encryption scheme, the map coordinates are moved randomly by multiples of virtual interval step defined as distance between two adjacent virtual coordinates. In the reversible watermarking scheme, difference expansion (DE) technique is used to embed the watermark bit into the coordinate difference computed based on the relative position of a map coordinate in a virtual interval. Since the relative position of a map coordinate in a virtual interval keeps unchanged during the coordinate scrambling encryption process, the watermarking operation and the encryption operation don’t interfere with each other and the commutativity between encryption and watermarking achieves. Results show that: proposed method has high security, high capacity and good invisibility. In addition, the algorithm is not only applicable to polyline and polygon vector data, but also can be applied to sparsely distributed point data which the traditional DE watermarking algorithm often fails to watermark.

The River Habitat Survey (RHS) is a method for assessing the conditions of a river channel and valley, taking into account hydromorphological factors, and assessing the degree of naturalness or the degree of anthropogenic alteration within the channel and valley based on physical and landscape data. The hypothesis tested in this study was that the quality of river habitats demonstrated using the RHS should translate into the composition of their fauna. We investigated aquatic bugs (Heteroptera Aquatica), which are a group with considerable dispersal abilities and, at the same time, composed of stenotopic species associated with a particular environment as well as of eurytopic elements inhabiting a wide range of environments (REF). The research was carried out in a small lowland river, the River Krąpiel (north-western Poland) at 6 sites with 43 sub-sites included. Our analyses suggest the RHS method can predict the composition and quality of the aquatic bug fauna inhabiting a given river. Indicators of river habitat quality (HQA and RHQ) will be associated with different habitat types depending on the geographic location and type of river, once indicating habitats associated with the mainstream river and mineral substrate (mountain and small lowland rivers) and at other times habitats covered by vegetation with relatively slow water flow (large and medium lowland rivers). Therefore, RHS may be a good method for estimating the water bug fauna, linking it to the size and character of the river.

The efficacy and safety of organic UV-filters could benefit from their incorporation into lipid nanoparticles because of the ability of such carriers to reflect solar radiations, thus acting synergically as physical sunscreens. In this work, bemotrizinol (BMTZ), a broad-spectrum UV-filter, was loaded into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) whose lipid matrix contained different oils to assess the effects of the lipid core composition on the properties of the resulting NLC. Subsequently, the effects of incorporating different concentrations of optimized BMTZ-loaded NLC on the technological properties of O/W emulsions (pH, viscosity, spreadability, occlusion factor, in vitro BMTZ release and skin permeation, in vitro sun protection factor) were assessed. Optimized BMTZ-loaded NLC showed mean size=190.6±9.8 nm, PDI=0.153±0.013, ζ-potential=-10.6±1.7 mV, loading capacity=8% w/w. The incorporation of increasing concentrations of optimized BMTZ-loaded into emulsions provided slight increase of spreadability, lower viscosity and no change of pH, occlusion factor and BMTZ release compared to the control. No BMTZ skin permeation was observed from all formulations. About 20% increase of sun protection factor values was obtained for vehicles containing BMTZ-loaded NLC. Therefore, BMTZ-loaded NLC incorporation into emulsions could be a promising strategy to develop safer and more effective sunscreen formulations.

The aim of this work is the study of genome organization and metabolic potential of Streptomyces carpaticus strain SCPM-O-B-9993, promising plant-protecting and plant-stimulating strain isolated from brown semi-desert soils with a very high degree of salinity. The genome of the strain contains of a linear chromosome of 5,968,715 bp and has no plasmids. Gene clusters of production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties (ohmyungsamycin, pellasoren, naringenin, ansamycin) were identified in the genome. The strain SCPM-O-B-9993 has antiviral activity against cucumber mosaic virus on tomatoes under laboratory conditions.

We examined PT parameters, geochemical peculiarities, and fluid sources of the Ulug-Sair ore occurrence attributable to class of intrusion-related gold deposits and according to ore mineral assemblages corresponding to Au-Bi type with wide Bi minerals (AgBiTe, Bi2Te2Se, Cu3,07BiS3, Bi), tellurides (Au and Ag), Se-tellurides (Ag and Bi), and selenides (Au, Ag, and Hg). We identified that ‘pre-gold’ quartz-tourmaline veins were deposited using an aqueous Mg-Na-K-chloride fluid with a salinity of 8–10 wt % NaCl eq. At 325–370 °C; host breasts were formed due to a CO2-water fluid containing CH4 and N2, with a salinity of 0,18–6,1 wt % NaCl eq. at least 200–400 °C. Gold-bearing mineral assemblages were formed at P ~ 0,75–1,0 kbar (~ 2,3–3 km) due to CO2-water chloride (Na-K±Fe, Mg) fluid with CH4, Na2SO4, and Na2B2O5, and salinities 1,7–12,5 wt % NaCl eq. during the decreasing temperatures from 360 up to 115 °C (gold-sulfide-quartz veins – 360–130 °С, and gold-telluride-sulfide-quartz veins – 330–115 °C) and variations fO2, fS2, fSe2, and fTe2. The isotopic composition of δ34SH2S fluid (-0,7…+2,5 ‰) indicates the juvenile or magmatic origin of fluid and ore elements. The δ34OH2O fluid indicates that, at an early substage, the formation of ore occurrence involved a fluid of magmatic or metamorphic origin (+7,3…+11,4 ‰), and, in the later substage, it mixed with meteoric waters (-2,3…+9,1 ‰).

Open-vocabulary learning has recently gained prominence as a means to enable image segmentation for arbitrary categories based on textual descriptions. This advancement has extended the applicability of segmentation systems to a broader range of generally purpose scenarios. However, current methods often revolve around specialized architectures and parameters tailored to specific segmentation tasks, resulting in a fragmented landscape of segmentation models. In response to these challenges, we introduce OVAMTSeg, a versatile framework designed for Open-Vocabulary and Multitask Image Segmentation. OVAMTSeg harnesses adaptive prompt learning to empower the model to capture category-sensitive concepts, enhancing its robustness across diverse multi-task and scenario contexts. Text prompts are employed to effectively capture semantic and contextual features of the text, while cross-attention and cross-modal interactions enable the fusion of image and text features. Furthermore, a transformer-based decoder is incorporated for dense prediction. Extensive experimental results underscore the effectiveness of OVAMTSeg, showcasing its state-of-the-art performance and superior generalization capabilities across three segmentation tasks. Notable achievements include a 47.5 mIoU in referring expression segmentation, 51.6 mIoU on Pascal-VOC with four unseen classes, 46.6 mIoU on Pascal-Context in zero-shot segmentation, 65.9 mIoU on Pascal-5i, and 35.7 mIoU on COCO-20i datasets for one-shot segmentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Candida albicans on subgingival biofilm formation on dental implant surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to compare biofilm structure and microbial biomass in the presence and absence of the fungus after periods of 24, 48, and 72 h. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total micro-organisms for each of the biofilm-forming strains. A general linear model was applied to compare CLSM and qPCR results between control and test conditions. The biofilm developed with C. albicans at 72 h had a higher bacterial biomass, with a significantly higher cell viability (p < 0.05). After both 48 and 72 h of incubation, in the presence of C. albicans, there was a significant increase in counts of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and in the cell viability of Streptococcus oralis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis. Using a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model, C. albicans exacerbated the development of the biofilm grown on dental implant surfaces, significantly increasing the number and cell viability of periodontal bacteria.

Studying models of healthy aging and exceptional longevity is crucial to understand a possible longevity signature as most of them show resistance to age-related diseases. In particular, semi- and supercentenarians are a highly selected group, having survived significant adversities, including the Spanish Flu and COVID-19 pandemics, indicating distinctive immune system characteristics. This paper analyse the inflammatory scores (INFLA-score, Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI)) and Aging-Related Immune Phenotype (ARIP) indicators calculated from the dataset of the DESIGN project, including 249 participants aged 19-111 years, trying to understand the immune-inflammatory (IMFLAM) role to achieve longevity. Statistical analyses, including linear regression and one-way ANOVA, were performed to explore the correlations between these parameters and age. Both INFLA-score and SIRI showed a significant increase with age. However, no statistical difference is observed when analysing the values for semi- and supercentenarians with those for other age groups, whose values are similar to that of adults and less than younger centenariansRegarding ARIP values, it is noteworthy that when comparing the CD8 Naive/Effector scores between groups, no significant differences were observed between the semi- and supercentenarian group and the other groups. These results support the idea that the control of IMFLAM response can promote extreme longevity.

In this paper we will consider the cosmic fluid to be dissipating i.e it has both bulk and shearing viscosity. We propose the Hamiltonian formalism of Bianchi type 1 cosmological model for cosmic fluid which is dissipating i.e it has both shearing and bulk viscosity. We have considered both the equation of state parameter ω and the cosmological constant Λ as the function of volume V(t) which is defined by the product of three scale factors of the Bianchi type 1 line element. We propose a Lagrangian for the anisotropic Bianchi type-1 model in view of a variable mass moving in a variable potential . We can decompose the anisotropic expansion of Bianchi type 1 in terms of expansion and shearing motion by Lagrangian mechanism. We have considered a canonical transformation from expanding scale factor to scalar field ø which helps us to give the proper classical definition of that scalar field in terms of scale factors of the mentioned model. By this transformation we can express the mass to be moving in a scalar potential field. This definition helps us to explain the nature of expansion of universe during cosmological inflation. We have used large anisotropy(as in the cases of Bianchi models) and proved that cosmic inflation is not possible in such large anisotropy. Therefore we can conclude that the extent of anisotropy is less in case of our universe. Otherwise the inflation theory which explained the limitations of Big Bang cannot be resolved. In the case of bulk and shearing viscous fluid we get the solution of damped harmonic oscillator after the cosmological inflation.Part I contains the calculations of bulk viscous fluids and Part II contains the calculations of bulk and shearing viscous fluid.At the end we have also provided the relation of shearing and expansion.Part III will give the approximation of low viscosity to solve the viscous fluid problem.

The potential advantages of plant-based interventions in decreasing the incidence and lessening the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 are yet to be widely acknowledged. Nevertheless, recent publications propose that these interventions could be effective. Our cardiology center conducted an interventional study in which we incorporated plant-based foods and provided supplementation to 3470 elderly COVID-19 patients with multiple comorbidities. We pay close attention to the precise selection of food items, the application of appropriate processing methods, and the provision of nourishing meals to our patients. Our outcome was highly successful as we achieved a zero mortality rate, and none of our patients experienced worsening conditions or required hospitalization. In this review article we present the mechanisms how plant-based and supplement interventions can mitigate COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. And experts have validated our hypotheses very recently. The measures and methods used to address the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through plant-based interventions and supplements are effective and may help prevent or manage future pandemics.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) can inhibit transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mediated EMT. Although compartmentalization via A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) is central to cAMP signaling, functional studies on their therapeutic value in the lung EMT process are lacking. Bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B, primary HAE cells) were exposed to TGF-β1. Epithelial (E-cadherin, ZO-1) and mesenchymal markers collagen Ӏ (mRNA, protein) were analyzed. St-Ht31 disrupted AKAP-PKA interactions. TGF-β1 release was measured by ELISA. TGF-β1-sensitive AKAPs Ezrin, AKAP95 and Yotiao were silenced using siRNA. Cell migration was analyzed by wound healing assay, xCELLigence, Incucyte. Prior to TGF-β1, dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP), fenoterol, rolipram, cilostamide, forskolin were used to elevate intracellular cAMP. TGF-β1 induced morphological changes, decreased E-cadherin but increased collagen Ӏ and cell migration, a process reversed by PF-670462. TGF-β1 altered (mRNA, protein) expression of Ezrin, AKAP95 and Yotiao. St-Ht31 decreased E-cadherin (mRNA, protein), but counteracted TGF-β1-induced collagen Ӏ upregulation. Cigarette smoke (CS) increased TGF-β1 release, activated TGF signaling, augmented cell migration and reduced E-cadherin expression, a process blocked by TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody. Silencing of Ezrin, AKAP95 and Yotiao diminished TGF-β1-induced collagen Ӏ expression, as well as TGF-β1-induced cell migration. Fenoterol, rolipram, and cilostamide, in AKAP silenced cells pointed to distinct cAMP compartments. We conclude that Ezrin, AKAP95 and Yotiao promote TGF-β1-mediated EMT, linked to a TGF-β1 release by CS. AKAP members define the ability of fenoterol, rolipram and cilostamide to modulate the EMT process, and are potential relevant targets in the treatment of COPD.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited cancer predisposition disorder associated with an elevated risk of various epithelial cancers. Despite sharing the same pathogenic variant (PV), Lynch syn-drome variant heterozygotes (LSVH) exhibit considerable phenotypic variability in cancer risk. The role of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) in modifying cancer risk prompted our investiga-tion into whether HLA variations act as genetic modifiers influencing age at cancer diagnosis in a unique cohort of LSVH carrying a PV in the hMLH1 gene in South Africa. Within our extensive LS cohort, 426 individuals carried the same hMLH1 PV (MLH1:c.1528C>T). We selected 100 indi-viduals with the greatest diversity in age at cancer diagnosis and the oldest unaffected individu-als for high-throughput HLA genotyping of 12 HLA class I and II loci using next-generation se-quencing. Statistical analyses employed Kaplan-Meier survival analyses with Logrank tests and Cox proportional hazards. Following the robust application of statistical correction methods, six HLA alleles (3.2%) were significantly associated with a young age at cancer diagnosis. Notably, HLA-B*15:17 and HLA-DPB1*55:01 correlated significantly with very young colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis (Mean age: 21y [17-25]; HR = 71.59; q

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results from vulnerable plaque rupture, causing ischemic cardiomyocyte necrosis and intense inflammation. Paradoxically, this inflammation releases factors that aid heart repair. Recent findings suggest a role for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication during post-AMI cardiac repair. However, EVs’ tissue origin and chemokine profile in the blood of patients with AMI remains unclear. This study characterized EV tissue origin and chemokine receptor profile in the coronary and peripheral blood of patients with AMI. The results reveal that vesicles isolated from coronary and peripheral blood plasma are enriched in tetraspanin (CD9) and express CD81+, CD90+, and CD144+. The vesicle size ranged between 145 and 162 nm, with the control group exhibiting smaller vesicles than the AMI group. Furthermore, all vesicles expressed CCR6+ and CXCR3+, whereas a small percentage expressed CCR4+. In addition, a decrease in CXCR3+ and CCR6+ positivity was observed in coronary and peripheral blood vesicles compared with the control. Non-difference was found in the coronary and peripheral blood for the CXCR3+ and CCR6+ markers. In conclusion, our study demonstrates, for the first time, changes in the number of extracellular vesicles expressing CD144+, CXCR3+, and CCR6+ in the peripheral circulation of patients with AMI. Extracellular vesicles present in the peripheral circulation of patients with AMI hold excellent promise as a potential diagnostic tool.

No doubt pollution is a global problem which must be holistically tackled. In doing this, adequate knowledge of the sources of pollution is important, therefore the aim of this paper is to review source apportionment with reference to top-down and bottom-up methods. In this paper, dispersion modeling, emissions inventory, and sampling methods were discussed. Also, analytical methods involved in top-down source apportionment were mentioned. The two techniques are needed to evaluate pollutants and their sources. Based on these two approaches, pollution control strategy would be developed and decisions can be made in deciding the right approach to solve or reduce the pollution problems.

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

Background: Removable prostheses have seen a fundamental change recently because of advances in polymer materials, allowing improved durability and performance. Despite these advancements, notable differences still occur amongst various polymer materials and processing technologies, requiring a thorough grasp of their mechanical, physical, and therapeutic implications. Methods: Fours different processing techniques, all utilizing Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the main material, were used to construct complete dentures. The specimens underwent a mechanical test. Results: All the specimens broke under the influence of a certain force, rather than yielding through flow, as is characteristic for plastic materials. For each specimen, the maximum force (N) was recorded (figure 4), as well as the breaking energy, Conclusions: The best results were obtained in the case of the thermoplastic injection system and, surprisingly and contrary to those in the specialized literature, the worst results were recorded in the case of 3D printed samples.

We presented unusual case of double left ventricular false aneurysm complicating late presentation AMI successfully treated with the combination of urgent surgical drainage of tamponade, staged PCI of non-culprit lesion, preventive implantation of ICD-DR, guideline directed heart failure medical therapy and delayed but effective reconstructive operation.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.), like most legumes, forms mutualistic symbioses with nodule bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The positive effect of inoculation is partially determined by the plant genotype, thus, pea varieties with high and low symbiotic responsivity have been described, but the molecular genetic basis of this trait remains unknown. Here, we compare the symbiotically responsive breeding line ‘Triumph’ of grain pea with its parental cultivars ‘Vendevil’ (a donor of high symbiotic responsivity) and ‘Classic’ (a donor of agriculturally valuable traits) using genome and transcriptome sequencing. We show that ‘Triumph’ inherited one-fourth of its genome from ‘Vendevil’, including the genes related to AM and nodule formation, and reveal that under combined inoculation with nodule bacteria and AM fungi, ‘Triumph’ and ‘Vendevil’, in contrast to ‘Classic’, demonstrate similar up-regulation of the genes related to solute transport, hormonal regulation and flavonoid biosynthesis in their roots. We also identify the gene PsGLP2, whose expression pattern distinguishing ‘Triumph’ and ‘Vendevil’ from ‘Classic’ correlates with difference within the promoter region sequence, making it a promising marker for the symbiotic responsivity trait. The results of the study may be helpful for future molecular breeding programs aimed at creation of symbiotically responsive cultivars of pea.

The aim was to identify if surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters are indicative of post-activation potentiation (PAP)/post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), in terms of twitch potentiation and voluntary performance. Three databases were used in March 2024, with the following inclusion criteria: (a) original research, assessed in healthy human adults, (b) sEMG parameters were measured. The exclusion criteria were: (a) studies with no PAP/PAPE-protocol, (b) non-randomized control trials. The following data were extracted: study characteristics/demographics, PAP/PAPE-protocols, sEMG parameters, twitch/performance outcomes, and study findings. A modified physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used for quality assessment. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a total of 199 subjects were included. The M-wave amplitude (combined with a twitch torque outcome) was shown to generally be indicative of PAP. The sEMG amplitude (in some muscles) were found to be indicative of PAPE during ballistic movements, while a small decrease in the MdF (in certain muscles) were shown to reflect PAPE. Changes in the Hmax/Mmax ratio were found to contribute (temporally) to PAP, while the H-reflex amplitude was shown to be neither indicative of PAP nor PAPE. This review provides preliminarily findings suggesting that certain sEMG parameters could be indicative of PAP/PAPE. However, future research is warranted.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the development and progression of multiple renal cysts, leading to progressive renal function decline. To date, the only approved treatment for this condition is able to slow down the loss of annual renal function, without stopping the disease progression. Furthermore, this therapy is approved only for patients with rapid disease progression and its compliance is problematic because of the impact of this drug on quality of life. The recent literature suggests that cystic cells are subject to metabolic dysregulation in the glucose pathway (Warburg Effect). This finding paved the way for new lines of research targeting potential therapeutic interventions for ADPKD. In particular, this review highlights the latest studies on the use of ketosis, through ketogenic dietary interventions (daily calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, time-restricted feeding, and ketogenic diets), as a potential strategy for patients with ADPKD, and the possible involvement of microbiota in the ketogenic interventions’ effect.

In the field of construction, materials referred to as sustainable are currently undergoing a process of technological development. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the behavior of the fundamental properties of concretes prepared with recycled coarse aggregates that incorporate in their matrix a polyethylene terephthalate-based additive in an attempt to reduce their high porosity. Techniques to measure the gas adsorption, water porosity and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to evaluate the effect of the additive on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of these concretes. Porosity reductions of up to 30.60% are achieved with the addition of 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9% of the additive, defining a new state in the behavioral model of the additive (the overdosage point) in the concrete matrix; in addition, the porous network of these concretes and their correlation whit other physical and mechanical properties are also explained.

The effects of various drawing parameters and annealing processes on the structure and properties of Cu-Ag wires, containing 1 wt% silver, were investigated using specialized equipment including fine wire drawing machines, very fine wire drawing machines, heat treatment equipment, tensile testing machines, microcomputer-controlled electronic universal testers, resistance testers, and scanning electron microscopes. The results revealed that continuous drawing of Cu-1%Ag alloy wires led to elongation of the grains, resulting in a uniform and tightly fibrous microstructure. Moreover, the tensile strength of the alloy wire increased from 670 MPa to 783.9 MPa after a single-pass with a deformation of 14%. Subsequently, when the wire was drawn at a speed of 500 m/min, the tensile strength further increased to 820.1 MPa. After annealing the Փ0.08 mm Cu-1% Ag alloy wire, an increase in annealing temperature up to 500°C resulted in the wire's tensile strength decreasing from 820.1 MPa to 377.5 MPa. Simultaneously, the elongation increased from 1.94% to 15.21%, and the resistivity decreased from 1.931×10-8Ω·m to 1.723×10-8Ω·m. Additionally, when annealing was conducted at a rate of 80 m/min, the wire resistivity dropped to 1.635×10-8Ω·m.

Hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys are promising candidates for use in automobile parts. Therefore, various attempts have been made to develop alternative casting technologies to improve the mechanical properties of cast alloys. In this study, the effects of modification with different levels of strontium (Sr) on primary and eutectic silicon (Si) in hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys were investigated. Using a gravity cast process, the Sr-modified samples were prepared from melts with four levels (100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm) of Sr. In addition, the wear properties of the cast samples were studied using a block-on-ring wear-testing machine. The sizes of the primary Si phases increased with increasing Sr content in the alloys. Moreover, more finely dispersed eutectic Si was observed with higher Sr content. In frictional wear tests, the specific wear rates of the test specimens decreased as the Sr content increased from 200 to 400 ppm. Coarse Si phases are considered to act as solid lubricants in the contact region during sliding.

In pursuit of carbon neutrality, the demand for metals that are necessary for the development of clean energy technologies is rapidly increasing. Metallurgical waste, such as slag, presents a promising secondary source of these key metals. This research aims to develop an eco-friendly hydrometallurgical process to recover Cu, Ni, and Co from discarded copper/nickel slag. The high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) was used to selectively leach Ni, Cu, and Co from the fayalite slag, yielding high leaching efficiencies of 99.9%, 89.4%, and 99.9%, respectively, with low Fe and Si tenors to the pregnant leach solution (PLS). The solvent extraction (SX) technique utilizing LIX 984N was used to selectively extract and enrich copper from the dilute PLS to about 23 g/L Cu with a very low Fe concentration of 0.05 g/L. Potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) solution was used to form Ni and Co xanthate complexes from the raffinate solution. Nickel was selectively recovered using ammonia solution, while cobalt xanthate complex was thermally decomposed and recovered as cobalt oxide solids of about 25 wt.% Co. A comprehensive process flowsheet is presented, furthermore, to realize the real application of the developed slag cleaning process, a preliminary economic evaluation was performed.

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

Ice accumulation poses considerable challenges in transportation, notably in the domain of general aviation. The present study combines the strengths and limitations of conventional aircraft de-icing techniques with the emerging trend toward all-electric aircraft. The study aims to utilize laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology to create a multifunctional surface, seamlessly integrating hydrophobic properties with efficient electrical heating to mitigate surface icing effectively. We investigated the utilization of a 10.6 μm CO2 laser for direct writing on polyimide (PI), a widely-used insulating encapsulation material. From the thermomechanical perspective, our initial analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics software revealed that when the laser power P exceeds 5 W, the PI substrate experience ablative damage. The experimental results show that when P ≤ 5W, an increase in power has a positive impact on the quality, surface porosity, roughness reduction, line-spacing reduction, and water contact-angle enhancement of the graphene. Conversely, when P > 5 W, higher power negatively affects both the substrate and the graphene structure by inducing excessive ablation. However, it influences the graphene line height positively and is consistent with overall experimental-simulation congruence. Furthermore, the incorporation of high-quality graphene resulted in a surface that exhibited higher contact angles (CA > 120°), lower energy consumption, and higher heating efficiency compared to the use of traditional electrically heated materials for anti-icing applications. The potential applications of this one-step fabrication method extend across various industries, particularly aviation, marine engineering, and other ice-prone domains. Moreover, the method has extensive prospects for addressing pivotal challenges associated with ice formation and serves an innovative and efficient anti-icing technology.

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, poses a significant threat to global agricultural products. Although pheromone-based technologies show promise for P. interpunctella management, limitations like single-sex targeting necessitate exploring complementary strategies. Vegetable-based oils represent a potential alternative, but their efficacy, sex-specificity, and interaction with sex pheromones remain unclear. To answer these questions, we first examined attraction of P. interpunctella female and male adults to ten different vegetable oils, i.e., camellia, corn, olive, peanut, rapeseed, sesame, soybean, sunflower, walnut, and a blended oil (mixture of sunflower seed, rapeseed, soybean, peanut, and sesame oils), in the semi-field conditions. Sesame, olive, and blended oils demonstrated most attractive, capturing significantly more adults compared to other oils. We then evaluated effectiveness of these three attractive oils and their combinations with P. interpunctella sex pheromone in a grain warehouse. Traps baited with these oils captured significantly more females and males compared to control traps without attractants. However, sex pheromone addition did not improve male capture and significantly reduced female capture, suggesting an inhibitory effect. Our findings highlight the potential of blended, olive, or sesame oil trap alone as alternative monitoring and trapping tools for P. interpunctella, delivering novel insights into the development of efficient integrated pest management strategies for stored products.

Global optimization is widely adopted nowadays in a variety of practical and scientific problems. In this context, a group of techniques that is widely used is that of evolutionary techniques. A relatively new evolutionary technique in this direction is that of Giant Armadillo Optimization, which is based on the hunting strategy of giant armadillos. In this paper, a number of modifications to this technique are proposed, such as the periodic application of a local minimization method as well as the use of modern termination techniques based on statistical observations. The proposed modifications have been tested on a wide - series test functions, available from the relevant literature and it was compared against other evolutionary methods.