This study, serving as Part-2 of the research titled "Comparative Analysis of Length Deformation in Classical and Relativistic Mechanics," investigates the behaviour of matter within gravitationally bound systems. Through meticulous examination of projected length alterations, the research highlights differences between classical and relativistic mechanics frameworks, emphasizing the necessity of considering relativistic effects beyond velocity alone. Additionally, the study underscores the crucial role of gravitational effects on the effective mass of moving objects, which emerges as a critical factor in predicting length deformation across scientific disciplines. The incomplete treatment of relativistic effects within Relativistic Mechanics, including acceleration and material stiffness, emphasizes the importance of comprehensively understanding gravitational influences on effective mass. This is evident in gravitational equations, where the gravitational force depends not only on the object's mass but also on its effective mass, influenced by kinetic energy. Thus, incorporating the gravitational effect on effective mass enhances the understanding of length deformation phenomena within gravitationally bound systems, enriching scientific discourse.

The genus Strophantus belongs to the Apocynaceae family of flowering plants which grows primarily in tropical Africa. The plants are widely used in traditional herbal medicine. S. sarmentosus, in particular, is used for the treatment of, e.g., joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, wound infections, head lice, diarrhoea, snake bite, and eye conditions. Despite the widespread use, dedicated research characterizing bioactive plant components is scarce. Investigations focussed mainly on the cardenolides, because of their cardioactivity and historical use as cardiotonic. There are also studies concerning the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts. This review summarizes the present knowledge about the biochemical and analytical reserach on Strophantus, in general, and S. sarmentosus, in particular, and describes the current state-of-the-field based on the available sientific literature.

Background: Localization of acute appendicitis in a hernia sac is a rare phenomenon with a frequency of around 0.08 - 1 %. Even fewer cases of postoperative hernias with a vermiform appendix in the hernia sac have been described. We selected 23 cases in the English literature describing this phenomenon and analyzed diagnostic and treatment options. Case presentation: We present a 72-year-old woman who was complaining of a painful, rigid mass in the anterior abdomen wall for two days. After performing an ultrasound, incarcerated ventral hernia was diagnosed and emergency surgery was performed. During the surgery, gangrenous appendicitis was found in the hernia sac. It was decided to do an appendectomy and primal hernioplasty. Postoperative period was uneventful. Conclusion: Appendicitis within incisional hernia is an extremely rare phenomenon. Diagnosis may be challenging because of dominating incarcerated hernia symptoms. However, computed tomography might play a crucial role, by differentiating causes of acute abdomen. Appendectomy is the standard option for appendicitis treatment, however, there is no consensus on how abdominal wall integrity should be restored.

Wellbeing is a multifaceted concept that involves various facets of human condition and experience, including individual and communal spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical, and social dimensions. To explore the complex facets of sustainable wellbeing, this study utilized an interpretive qualitative research approach, looking at round table (focus group) discussion data obtained from a diverse group of public and private sector representatives, including education, government, non-governmental organizations, and businesses in Qatar. The purpose of this study was to gain a contextualized understanding of how participants perceive and experience wellbeing. A purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit participants representing different sectors of society. To elicit participants’ perspectives on wellbeing, thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and patterns that emerged from the focus groups, viewed through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’ Ecological Systems Theory. Findings reveal that wellbeing is a very personal and subjective experience. Key themes extracted from the data include challenges to sustainable wellbeing in Qatar, including technological disruptions and socio-cultural influences. These challenges require proactive measures that reflect educational priorities, promote cultural preservation, and foster resilient communities while emphasizing individual and collective sustainable wellbeing. This research also identified opportunities for enhancing sustainable wellbeing in Qatar.

This article is an early draft on a proposed alternative to the current Marxist mode of thought; one that seeks to reject the generally ill-conceived and dogmatic proposals formulated by Marx in favour of another predicated on the more unwavering emotional ideals of the philosophy that preceded it. It eliminates that dogmatic mode in favour of a wholly social society, one that is founded upon the Marxist superstructure and intends hence to capture that humanity and re-form particularly economic principles that are used to construct the utopia into what is instead an entirely socially idealised frame of living.

Reducing waiting times is crucial for ports to be efficient and competitive. Important causes of waiting times are cascading interactions between realistic hydrodynamics, accessibility policies, vessel-priority rules, and detailed berth availability. The main challenges are determining the cause of waiting and finding rational solutions to reduce waiting time. In this study, we focus on the role of the design depth of a channel on the waiting times. We quantify the performance of channel depth for a representative fleet rather than the common approach of a single normative design vessel. It relies on a mesoscale agent-based discrete-event model that can take processed Automatic Identification System and hydrodynamic data as its main input. The presented method’s validity is assessed by hindcasting one year of observed anchorage area laytimes for a liquid bulk terminal in the Port of Rotterdam. The hindcast demonstrates that the method predicts the causes of 73.4% of the non-excessive laytimes of vessels, thereby correctly modelling 60.7% of the vessels-of-call. Following a recent deepening of the access channel, cascading waiting times due to tidal restrictions were found to be limited. Nonetheless, the importance of our approach is demonstrated by testing alternative maintained bed level designs, revealing the method’s potential to support rational decision-making in coastal zones.

Background: In the landscape of thoracic surgery, innovation continually drives progress, offering novel approaches to address complex pathologies while prioritizing patient well-being. Dual-portal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery DRATS represents the next frontier in this evolution. In this report we describe our experience with the DRATS approach for segmentectomy with the indocyanine green intersegmental plane identification. Methods: We presented the case of a patient who underwent a DRATS lingulectomy and lymphadenectomy stations 5, 6, 7, and 10 using the daVinci Surgical System. Results: The patient's postoperative course was uneventful with chest tube was removed in second post operative day. The final pathological analysis confirmed a low-grade malignant potential adenocarcinoma, with main diameter of 1.1 cm, at 3 cm from lung margins. 12 nodes were removed, from station 5,6,7,10,11, all of the free of metastases. Conclusions: Our initial observations suggest that Dual-Portal Robotic-Assisted Tho-racic Surgery (DRATS) demonstrates notable feasibility.

Cold chains are essential in providing us humans with food and medicine across the globe. However, cold transportation, like all transportation, has massive negative impacts on the environment and human well-being, which especially culminate in cities. Thus, it is important to research the ways to reduce these impacts and reinvent urban logistics infrastructure. In this article, we articulate the massive problems the road-based transportation sector imposes on the environment and on the health of humans, especially in cities. We present algorithms that show promise in optimizing the whole road transportation sector as well as some innovations and alternative ways to model cities and the whole urban transportation infrastructure. We approach the issues discussed specifically from the point of view of refrigerated transportation, but many of the solutions can be applied to all the transportation sector in general.

This study aims to analyze various types of pellet fuels used as energy sources in Bulgaria, focusing on their energy characteristics and the consumer preferences. Both standard and specialized methods such as thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are used for the analyses. The results from TG and DSC indicate that during the drying of the samples, moisture is evaporated from their surface, along with the release of volatile substances. The processes during the analysis are accompanied by energy absorption, with the main stage being combustion, where the primary amount of heat is generated. Standard analysis methods show that wood pellets usually contain about 7.31% moisture, 0.72% ash and have a calorific value of 18.33 kJ/kg, while sunflower pellets contain about 7.62% moisture, 2.42% ash and have a calorific value of 19.63 kJ/kg. Mixed pellets contain about 7.07% moisture, up to 0.69% ash and have a calorific value of 18.05 kJ/kg. A specialized marketing research was conducted to investigate consumer attitudes and preferences toward purchasing different types of solid biomass fuels on Bulgarian market. This study provides information on the quality of pellets as fuel by offering a detailed analysis of their fuel properties and ensuring their effective utilization as an energy source.

Due to the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), securing communications between a huge number of devices has become very difficult. Access controls and authentication secure the connection between IoT devices and protect sensitive data from unauthorized users or malicious attackers. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review to emphasize the critical role of authentication and access control in securing IoT environments. This paper explores different types of access controls, like Attribute-Based Access Control and Role-Based Access Control. Furthermore, it demonstrates different authentication techniques, like passwords and biometrics. Based on the previous mechanisms, we discuss different IoT security challenges regarding authentication and access control mechanisms and highlight future directions. In addition, this paper investigates the integration between access control and authentication to safeguard IoT communications.

(1) Background: Since microplastics in the aquatic environment are difficult to prevent and can cause adverse physiological and biochemical reactions to various organisms, we aimed to analyze the effectiveness of an eco-friendly removal method using aquatic plants with high ornamental value and excellent water purification ability. (2) Methods: Iris pseudacorus and Lythrum anceps were planted in tap water contaminated with microplastics to analyze the removal rate and root adsorption of microplastics. (3) Results: The amount of microplastics in the planting boxes of Iris pseudacorus and Lythrum anceps was significantly reduced, and the adsorption of microplastics on the roots was confirmed. (4) Conclusions: It was found that the removal of microplastics in water by aquatic plants is effective and that microplastic pollution does not significantly affect plant growth. However, the removal of microplastics by adsorption on plant roots may be affected by various environmental factors, so it is necessary to consider various limitations.

Providing user confidence in Mobile Government Services (MGS) is essential for the success of mobile government. This study aimed to test the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. Some scholars have stated that government investment in mobile government services for public administration during the financial crisis is a critical issue for crisis management. In the constantly evolving and changing world, the rapid advancement of technology in modern societies has prompted an acceleration in investments in information and communication technologies. However, due to several inadequacies, citizens seem to respond negatively to the use of certain public technological services, leading them to develop a perspective of techno-skepticism. This issue has been cited in numerous scholarly studies as a critical subject for the effective implementation of technological innovations. The effectiveness of digital technology in the procurement of public services is highly dependent on the perceptions and behaviors of users. In this context, this study measured the attitudes of the participants and the connections between techno-skepticism, mobile government use, and crisis management among Northern Cyprus residents over 18 years old. The study employed a quantitative approach. A 5-point Likert scale was used to collect data by modifying the survey questions to fit the scope of the study. The study participants were selected using the random sampling method to acquire data from a total of 402 citizens. The study findings revealed that techno-skepticism mediates the impact of crisis management on mobile government. As a result, techno-skepticism is a critical and decisive factor in citizens’ mobile government use, affecting its utilization frequency. Techno-skepticism was also found to play a vital role in mobile government use. The current study represents a pioneering effort in testing the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. It also provides various contributions to theory and practice, particularly in the fields of mobile government and the use of digital technologies.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays a crucial role in controlling inflammation and cell death. Its function is tightly controlled through post-translational modifications, enabling its dynamic switch between promoting cell survival and triggering cell death. Phosphorylation of RIPK1 at various sites serves as a critical mechanism for regulating its activity, exerting either activating or inhibitory effects. Perturbations in RIPK1 phosphorylation status have profound implications for the development of severe inflammatory diseases in humans. This review explores the intricate regulation of RIPK1 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and highlights the potential of targeting RIPK1 phosphorylation as a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating human diseases.

In a constantly changing environment brought about by the climate crisis and escalated anthropogenic perturbations driven by the growing population, harmful algal bloom dynamics and their impacts are expected to shift, necessitating adaptive management strategies and comprehensive research efforts. Similar to primary productivity, HABs have been thought to be driven primarily by major nutrients such as N, P, and Si. However, recent investigations on the role and importance of micronutrients as limiting factors in aquatic environments have been highlighted. This paper provides a review of metal and phytoplankton interactions, with a specific emphasis on pertinent information on the influence of trace nutrients on growth, toxin production, and other underlying mechanisms related to the dynamics of HABs. Low to near-depleted levels of essential nutrients including Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Co, and Mo, negatively impact cell growth and proliferation of various marine and freshwater HAB species. However, evidence shows that at elevated levels, these trace elements along with other non-essential ones, could still cause toxic effects to certain HAB species manifested by decreased photosynthetic activities, oxidative stress, ultrastructure damage, and cyst formation. Interestingly, while elevated levels of these metals mostly result in increased toxin production, Co (i.e., yessotoxins, gymnodimine, and palytoxins) and Mn (i.e., isodomoic acid, okadaic and diol esters) enrichments revealed otherwise. In addition to toxin production, releasing dissolved organic matter (DOM) including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and humic substances was observed as an adaptation strategy, since these organic compounds have been proven to chelate metals in the water column, thereby reducing metal-induced toxicity. Whilst current research center on free metal toxicity of specific essential elements such as in Cu and Zn, a comprehensive account of how trace metals contribute to the growth, toxin production, and other metabolic processes under conditions reflective of in-situ scenarios of HAB-prone areas, would yield new perspectives on the roles of trace metals in HABs. With the growing demands of the global population for food security and sustainability, substantial pressure is exerted on the agriculture and aquaculture sector, highlighting the need for effective communication of information regarding the interactions of macro- and micronutrients with HABs to improve existing policies and practices.

Autism has been described as a gastrointestinal and neurological condition that is represented by impairments in language and social situations. Recently reported increases in the occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have resulted in increased research into the environmental differences between areas with a high occurrence, as in the “Western” diet populations, and a more locally derived diet population, wherein the rate appears to be significantly less. Thirty autistic children (USA) ages 6 to 21, were sampled at three different intervals: prior to any intervention, post-xylitol intervention, and post-probiotic intervention. The sampling consisted of buccal swabs for MITOSWAB testing, and saliva for metatranscriptomics to determine the entire range of microorganisms and the metabolome. In addition, a “Blue Zone” subject component that included 30 Colombian children, ages 6-16, and who were healthy and within normal behavior standards, also had buccal swabbing and salivary sampling performed for comparison along with 30 healthy (no history medications, illnesses, or behavior issues) USA children matched for age and gender. Saliva samples were analyzed metatranscriptomically and artificial intelligence was utilized to discern important differences in the microbiome that included bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, and microbial functions. Significant differences were noted, and seen in the temporal data, demonstrating shifts that may have been precipitated by the interventions, with both the probiotics and the polyols. Particular bacterial strains were significantly more prevalent in the autism subject group including a strain that reduces neurotransmitters by enzymatic degradation. This provided supporting evidence to the hypothesis that the occurrence of autism may also be influenced by low Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) levels during development. Also, of interest was the un-expected finding that verbal skills dramatically increased in 6 of the 30 ASD subjects following xylitol supplementation.

Heterodimeric approach has emerged as a promising method for simultaneously targeting multiple receptors on tumor cells using a single molecule. Simultaneous targeting of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) holds the potential to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to develop and compare six alternative routes for stereoselective synthesis of heterobivalent conjugates designed to deliver the chelating agent DOTA to PSMA/GRPr receptors. The comparison of these alternative synthetic approach, considered such factors as efficiency, complexity, synthesis and purification characteristics, as well as yields of the target compounds has been made. Optimal conditions for the stereoselective synthesis of heterobivalent ligands to PSMA and GRP, which could serve as molecular platforms for the targeted delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to these receptors, were determined. For synthesized heterobivalent ligand 26^x and heterobivalent conjugate with DOTA 27 complete signal assignment in ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectra was achieved using 2D NMR techniques. Based on these data, comprehensive signal assignments were provided for all final compounds in their NMR spectra.

A beverage made from a combination of Agave sap (AS) and prickly pear juice (PPJ) was ana-lyzed for its nutrients, bioactive and potentially health-promoting compounds. The beverage was evaluated for its ability to act as an antioxidant, regulate glycemic properties, and undergo gut bacterial fermentation in vitro. The major mono- and oligosaccharides present in the beverage were galacturonic acid (217.74±13.46 mg/100 mL), rhamnose (227.00±1.58 mg/100 mL), and fructose (158.16±8.86 mg/mL). The main phenolic compounds identified were protocatechuic acid (440.31±3.06 mg/100 mL) and catechin (359.72±7.56 mg/100 mL). It was observed that the beverage had a low glycemic index (

Background: Galectins are innate immune system regulators, associated with disease progression in cancer. This paper aims to investigate the correlation between mutated cancer-critical genes and galectin levels in breast cancer patients to determine whether galectins and genetic profiles can be used as biomarkers for disease and potential therapy targets. Materials and Methodology: Prisma Health Cancer Institute’s Biorepository provided seventy-one breast cancer patient samples, including all four stages as well as major molecular subtypes and histologies of breast cancer. Hotspot mutation statuses of cancer-critical genes were determined using multiplex PCR in tumor samples from the same patients by Precision Genetics and the University of South Carolina Functional Genomics Core Facility. The galectin levels of patients’ sera were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the concentrations of galectins-1, -3, and -9. Analysis was performed using JMP software to compare mean and median serum galectin levels between samples with and without specific cancer-critical genes including pooled t-test, Wilcoxon test, ANOVA, Tukey’s range test, and Steel Dwass Method (α=0.05). Results: Our analysis indicates that KIT mutations correlate with elevated serum levels of galectin-1 and -9 in patients with breast cancer. In patients with Luminal A subtype, FLT3 mutation correlates with lower serum galectin-1 and -9 levels and TP53 mutations correlate with higher serum galectin-3 levels. Patients with invasive ductal carcinoma had significantly higher serum galectin-3 levels than patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Patients with both TP53 and PIK3CA mutations exhibit elevated serum galectin-3 levels, while patients with one or neither mutation show no significant difference in serum galectin-3 levels. In addition, metastatic breast cancer samples were more likely to have KIT or PIK3CA mutation compared to primary breast cancer samples. Conclusion: The relationship between genetic mutations and galectin levels has the potential to identify appropriate candidates for combined therapy, targeting genetic mutations and galectins. Further understanding of the effect of genetic mutations and galectin levels on cancer progression and metastasis could aid in the search for biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis, disease progression, and prognosis.

In general, during emergencies, healthcare is provided by tents and temporary structures that do not consider the environmental and social impact of the structure as a first term, in favor of swift response. The resultant construction intended as a temporary solution often persists long-term. This paper aims to analyze an alternative and innovative modular structure designed as a transitory solution in emergency and everyday life. In the first part of the paper, the conceptual framework, and the preliminary design for the new approach to basic non-conventional sanitary spaces are described, by investigating the benefits of a safe space as a generator space for care services and community. In the second part, the technological requirements of the system, its energy efficiency, and environmental impact are analyzed.

This proposal advocates using energy states as fundamental units for quantum computer programming. Each programming unit is conceptualized as an energy state, manifested as an essence-unit. The essence-unit, defined as the minimal form encapsulating complete uniqueness or specificity, serves as the cornerstone of this paradigm. This approach allows recording various forms of matter on quantum computers in essence-units representing their energy states. Recording energy states is achieved through the creation of four distinct coherent potentials facilitated by quantum dots or crystals. It is crucial to note that these energy states, embodied in essence-units, cannot be subdivided. The study examines the intricate relationship between similarity, fractals, and uniqueness in quantum dot operations, elucidating their profound implications for information transfer efficiency. Normalized entropy quantifies the charge localization in quantum dot impurities in systems exhibiting distortions. Utilizing N-level recording and entropy-fractal dimension equivalence enables this paper to elucidate the potential of quantum dots in reducing transmission time and modeling complex systems. The proposed methodology represents a significant departure from the current state of quantum computing, offering unprecedented potential for overcoming previously intractable challenges.

Air pollution is a situation that negatively affects the health of humans and all living things in nature and causes financial damage to the environment. In the case of air pollution, harmful and foreign substances in the air reach an amount and density above normal values. Air pollution also causes climate change, which affects global warming. Particulate matter is a harmful substance that harms the health of humans and other living things, causes air pollution, increases radiation, and negatively affects cloud formation. Particulate matter is extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. PM10, which is less than 10 microns in diameter, is defined as small particles that can remain in the air for a long time and settle in the respiratory tract, damaging the lungs. Many criteria affect PM10 density and changes in density. The main criteria are vehicle traffic and fuel consumption, industrialization, coal, fuel oil and wood-burning heaters, greenhouse gas impact, and unregulated urbanization. It is important to identify the underlying causes of air pollution caused by PM10. In this context, these criteria need to be evaluated to minimize the negative effects of PM10. In the study, monthly average PM10 data between 2019 and 2023 obtained from the Air Monitoring Station in Kocaeli, Türkiye are used. After determining the criteria affecting PM10, the criteria are prioritized with the Intuitionistic Fuzzy AHP (IF-AHP) method by taking expert decision-maker opinions. The proposed decision-making model aims to guide obtaining the important causes of PM10 emission in terms of danger and focusing on these causes. Additionally, PM10 data is analyzed in the context of Covid-19 and a statistical analysis is made. One-way ANOVA is used to evaluate whether there is a significant difference in the average monthly data over the years. Games-Howell test, one of the post-hoc tests, is used for differences between groups (years). The study is important in that it provides a focus on the criteria affecting PM10 with an intuitive fuzzy perspective, along with statistical analysis.

In the realm of educational technology, Data Analytics (DA) is reshaping teaching and learning. This paper investigates the impact of DA on education, specifically comparing Student Information Systems (SIS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS). Data-driven insights from SIS and LMS platforms enable educators to tailor instructional strategies to individual student needs effectively. While SIS manages student data for administrative tasks, LMS offers tools for content delivery and collaboration. Using the strengths of SIS and LMS, educators can optimise teaching and learning experiences, tracking student progress, and fostering collaboration. The comparison emphasises their distinct roles: SIS manages administrative tasks, while LMS focusses on content delivery and collaboration. Using both systems, educators improve the teaching and learning experience, leveraging DA for continuous improvement. In summary, this paper underscores the transformative role of DA in education, framed within the context of comparing the SIS and LMS functionalities. By examining the intersection of data-driven decision making and educational technology, educators are equipped with the tools and knowledge to harness the power of data for meaningful and impactful teaching and learning.

This paper investigates the potential of different fermentation feedstocks towards succinic acid production. Three alternative flowsheets were constructed and modelled in SuperPro Designer™, utilizing different fermentation substrates: crude glycerol (a by-product of the biodiesel industry), a commercial 95% glucose syrup and pure glycerol. Techno-economic analysis of the modelled plants showed that all three potential investments can be economically profitable, with the crude glycerol case as the most promising one. The succinic acid production cost for the crude glycerol scenario is estimated at 3.59 $/kg, while a thorough study of the capacity effect to the economics showed that it could drop as low as $2.6 $/kg. Parametric analysis and optimization performed on a flowsheet level, indicated opportunities for lowering the production cost down to 3 $/kg, a value that could pave the framework for a further potential decrease in the selling price of the product.

Chlorella vulgaris has considerable promise as a raw material for biofuel production since it has a high productivity per unit area, has a minimum influence on the environment, and does not significantly affect food security. Nevertheless, the low fatty content of their biomass poses a considerable economic obstacle for commercialization. Increasing the amount of biomass and lipids produced by these algae is essential for improving the economic feasibility of using them as biofuel sources. This review highlights the significance of identifying appropriate algal strains, namely those found in local environments, and utilising mutagenesis and genetic engineering techniques to create 'platform strains'. Prior endeavours have primarily concentrated on altering environmental and dietary parameters to enhance the production of biomass and lipids. Here, we review a scientific literature that examines biotechnological approaches and develops methodologies designed to increase lipid production, emphasising the importance of aligning engineering efforts with breakthroughs in DNA manipulation tools. In addition, the review research evaluates the present economic and commercial situation of algal biorefineries, including any related disadvantages. In summary, this thorough research highlights the importance of using creative methods to tackle the intricacies of lipogenesis and enhance the economic viability of producing biofuels from algae.

Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by trans-generationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for pregnancy-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish the exposure threshold to the fetus due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can lead to clinically relevant epigenetic changes that modulate disease risks. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development.

The dynamic nature of international business necessitates a strategic approach to achieve sustainable value creation. This paper supports the hypothesis that understanding institutional constraints and leveraging organizational resources provides the foundation for sustainable value creation during international expansion. These elements provide a solid foundation for firms seeking to expand internationally by enabling them to effectively navigate the complexities of foreign markets. Using the context supplied by Peng (2023), the subsequent sections and subsections delve into critical facets of international expansion, including market integration, the role of entrepreneurial firms, entry strategies, supply chain establishment, multinational strategies, and the impact of global trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).

The work provides insights on the effect of fire on soil processes in Mediterranean-type ecosystems of Cyprus. Soil samples from mountainous sites that were subjected to a summer wildfire and adjacent control samples were collected. Incubations were used to estimate basal respiration and isolate soil CO2 release of heterotrophic microorganisms from autotrophic root respiration and heterotrophic respiration from litter decomposition. Physicochemical properties changes, bacteria community changes using DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene analysis, and the effects of ash and fresh litter addition were studied to reveal the microbial composition and the post-fire soil function. Laboratory incubation showed that burned soils constantly showed higher microbial respiration rates compared with control unburned areas, even six months after fire. Adding ash to unburned samples increased microbial respiration, suggesting that increased nutrient availability positively corelates with increased release of CO2 from fire-affected soil. Elevated temperatures due to the wildfire exerted significant effects on the composition of soil bacterial community. Nevertheless, the wildfire did not affect the alpha-diversity of soil bacteria. New communities of microorganisms are still able to decompose fresh plant material after fire, but at a slower rate than natural pre-fire populations.

Varicella (chickenpox) is one of the most common infectious diseases in preschool children and can be prevented by immunization. While immunization program promotes higher vaccine coverage, there are still challenges with implementing vaccination programs particularly in low-income countries. Economic barriers can increase inequality in vaccination, which highlights the importance of distributing cost-effective varicella vaccines. Varicella vaccines have been developed with two main Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) strains globally: MAV/06 and Oka strains. Most of the vaccines are based on the Oka strain, while MAV/06 strain vaccines were exclusively developed by GC Biopharma. Although more than 30 million doses of MAV/06 vaccines as cost-effective vaccines have been distributed internationally, there is no comprehensive review on safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of MAV/06 vaccines in the literature. This paper aims to summarize and present more than 30 years of accumulated evidence from research on safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of MAV/06 vaccines. We expect that MAV/06 vaccines as cost-effective varicella vaccines make a significant contribution to improving global public health and health equality in children.

The study of biologically active substances from natural sources shows the prospect of obtaining a new type of antimicrobial agents, highly effective against pathogenic microorganisms and non-toxic to humans. Our study reveals for the first time that Cornu aspersum mucus has the potential to act as a source of antibacterial agents against bacterial pathogens such as Bacillus cereus 1085, Propionibacterium acnes 1897, Salmonella enterica 8691, Enterococcus faecalis 3915, and Enterococcus faecium 8754. Both mucus fractions with MW<20 kDa and MW>20 kDa showed antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties that’s why they can be turned into an alternative agent to expensive synthetic antibacterial compounds. Using de novo sequencing 16 novel peptides with potential antibacterial activity were identified by in a fraction with MW<20 kDa. The results of electrophoretic and proteomic analysis of mucus fraction with MW >20 kDa presented proteins with potential antibacterial activity highly homologous to hemocyanins, mucus protein Aspernin, lectins, L-amino acid oxidase-like protein, and mucins (mucin-5AC, mucin-5B, mucin-2 and mucin-17). Thanks to the synergistic action of the bioactive components, the mucus fraction with MW > 20 kDa in low concentrations per 8–2 µg/mL showed promising antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria, comparable to Vancomycin and without unwanted cytotoxic effects against non-target cells. Additionally, C. aspersum mucus fractions were found to have a positive effect on eukaryotic organisms by reducing the levels of intracellular oxidative damage and increasing the antioxidant capacity of the cell. These findings could serve as a basis for the development of a potent non-cytotoxic antibacterial agent to replace conventional antibiotics and avoid the development of antibiotic resistance.

Based on big data and artificial intelligence technology, the judicial big data intelligent service platform provides users with efficient and accurate legal consulting services. It has many functions such as intelligent question and answer, case analysis, and law inquiry. It also analyzes the application value of the intelligent legal consulting service platform in the field of judicial big data. By building an intelligent service platform, the rapid processing and analysis of massive judicial data has been realized, and the efficiency and quality of judicial work have been significantly improved. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of data management and quality control in the application of judicial big data, and puts forward specific measures to strengthen data management and quality control. With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of application fields, the platform is expected to achieve deep integration with other legal services, expand new application fields, and provide users with more comprehensive and efficient legal services. At the same time, it points out the problems that need to be paid attention to in the future development, such as data security, privacy protection and so on. Through in-depth analysis and research on judicial big data, the platform can provide strong support for judicial decision-making and promote the improvement of judicial justice and efficiency.

Recent advancements in gut microbiome research have highlighted the complex interplay between gut microbiota and various physiological and pathological processes, showing that gut microbiota plays a vital role in human health and disease. Imbalances in the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, have been associated with a range of health conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic diseases, etc. In response to these findings, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to modulate gut microbiota composition and functionality. This review paper explores the latest research on how gut microbiota impacts host physiology, immune responses, and overall well-being. Furthermore, the paper delves into the therapeutic potential of probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in therapeutic applications and curing various diseases. The paper also addresses the challenges and opportunities in the field, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to probiotic therapy and the importance of considering factors such as strain specificity, dosing, and safety.Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of gut microbiota and probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as novel therapeutic agents. It underscores the potential of harnessing the gut microbiome to improve health, prevent diseases, and complement traditional medical interventions. As research in this field continues to expand, a deeper understanding of the gut microbiota and probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics promises new avenues for preventive and therapeutic healthcare strategies.

The approach to the personal experience and previous ideas about Physical Education of future Primary Education teachers is a starting point of great interest for the teaching of the subject of Didactics of Physical Education. The study aims to investigate these prior beliefs and to verify to what extent this initial perception changes after taking the course on “Didactics of Physical Education”. A concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted, which included two data collection procedures: (1) a pre-experimental design with a single group featuring pre-test and post-test; (2) the analysis of students' autobiographical accounts of their school experience with physical education. The participants were students enrolled in the Bachelor’s degree program in Primary Education at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) who undertook the course last year. The results obtained reveal that after taking the subject of Didactics of Physical Education, students give greater value to more positive concepts of learning, socializing, participating, and playing, among others. Similarly, in the post-test, the assessment of concepts such as competitiveness and physical fatigue diminished. In their autobiographical memories, students associate good memories with relationships with classmates and the playful and socializing nature of the subject; and among the bad memories, they highlight the content related to physical performance, competitiveness, and lack of attention to the diversity of students and their individual characteristics.

This paper investigates the influence of sample size and layer height on the elastic modulus of samples 3D printed by fused filament fabrication (FFF). Cubic samples of different sizes from either a stiff thermoplastic polymer (polycarbonate (PC)) or a soft polymer (thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)) were printed at three different layer heights: 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.4 mm. The samples were imaged using micro-computed tomography to visualize porosity and tested under compression. The results indicate that the elastic modulus of TPU varied with sample size, demonstrating size effects due to high porosity. In contrast, PC samples had a low void volume fraction and did not demonstrate statistically significant size effects on the elastic modulus. The variations in elastic modulus due to layer height were statistically significant for both materials. The highest elastic modulus was observed at 0.2 mm layer height for both materials across different sample sizes, which can be attributed to low void volume fractions. The study develops process-structure-property relations for PC and TPU samples manufactured by FFF. It provides new insights into the design guidelines for FFF based on the size effects. The results indicate that variations in mechanical properties due to size effects must be considered during the design stage for TPU to accurately predict the material’s behavior. Additionally, the locations of the printed parts that are subjected to higher loads should be printed closer to the heated print bed due to the lower void volume fraction observed in the section of the samples printed adjacent to the heated print bed.

New multilayer 3D nanocomposite wear-resistant ion-plasma hard and superhard coatings Avinit [(TiN-AlN)(Mo-Cr-V-Si)]_n have been developed.The introduction of additional alloying elements (Mo, Cr, V, Si) into the Ti-Al-N coating composition, which have a high affinity for nitrogen and are capable of forming strong nitride nanoparticles in the Ti-N and Al-N layers.This makes it possible to obtain hard and superhard hardening coatings.The metallographic and tribological studies carried out indicate the prospects of the developed multicomponent multilayer nano- and microstructured Avinit coatings for increasing wear resistance and reducing friction coefficients.This paper is devoted to the development and implementation of Avinit vacuum plasma technologies for strengthening cutting and forming tools to improve tool performance.Production tests of cutting tools with Avinit's developed multilayer wear-resistant ion-plasma coatings in production conditions at many large machine-building enterprises have shown their high efficiency.In serial production, the wear resistance of tools increases by 3 to 30 times, stamps by 5 to 100 times, and parts rubbing against abrasive materials by 10 to 100 times.Avinit's vacuum plasma technologies have been successfully implemented in production in the aggregate and engine building, transport engineering, and power engineering industries.Positive experience in applying multicomponent coatings has been gained not only when applying hardening coatings to manufactured cutting tools, but also after regrinding to regrindable carbide cutting tools from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation study of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in a fabricated production environment for toy car assembly. This paper uses Petri Nets for modeling and the General Petri Net Simulator (GPenSIM) for model implementation on MATLAB and simulation. The primary focus of this research is to analyze the operational efficiency of AGVs under varying conditions, particularly examining the impact of battery charge reduction rates and the strategic placement of charging stations within the production line. By employing Colored Petri Nets (CPN) within GPenSIM, we have developed a detailed and dynamic model that captures the intricate movements and interactions of AGVs in a simulated manufacturing setting. By presenting an approach to simulating AGVs in a production environment, this paper specifically focuses on two critical operational parameters: the battery charge reduction rate of AGVs and the number of charging stations available in the production line. Unlike previous studies that have primarily concentrated on general path planning or bottleneck detection in manufacturing systems, this paper delves into the intricate balance between AGV operational efficiency and the logistical constraints imposed by battery life and charging infrastructure.

Refractive index measurements have been an important task for a long time because that index plays an essential role in describing the optical properties of a material. Many methods have been developed to perform that task. Some of them use interferometry to achieve high precision, however these configurations are complicated. Some measure the critical angle using simple structures, but the accuracy is not satisfactory because it is difficult to judge the exact critical angle with intensity variations. Here we propose several new schemes based on measuring the polarization change in the total internal reflection. The proposed method has the merits of simple structure and easy incident angle determination that gives the maximum phase change. Additionally, it is possible to find the material dispersion by measuring the wavelength dependence of the polarization ellipticity. Some useful formulas relating the refractive index with the maximum phase change are obtained. This work can provide valuable alternatives for index measurement.

Emotion detection holds significant importance in facilitating human-computer interaction, enhancing the depth of engagement. By integrating this capability, we pave the way for forthcoming AI technologies to possess a blend of cognitive and emotional understanding, bridging the divide between machine functionality and human emotional complexity. This progress has the potential to reshape how machines perceive and respond to human emotions, ushering in an era of empathetic and intuitive artificial systems. This paper introduces a novel approach to multimodal emotion recognition, seamlessly integrating speech and text modalities to accurately infer emotional states. Employing CNNs, we meticulously analyze speech using Mel spectrograms, while a BERT-based model processes the textual component, leveraging its bidirectional layers for profound semantic comprehension. The outputs from both modalities are combined using an attention-based fusion mechanism that optimally weighs their contributions. The proposed method undergoes meticulous testing on two distinct datasets: Carnegie Mellon University’s Multimodal Opinion Sentiment and Emotion Intensity (CMU-MOSEI) dataset and the Multimodal Emotion Lines Dataset (MELD). The results demonstrate superior efficacy compared to existing frameworks, achieving an accuracy of 88.4% and an F1-score of 87.9% on the CMU-MOSEI dataset, and a notable weighted accuracy (WA) of 67.81% and a weighted F1 (WF1) score of 66.32% on the MELD dataset. This comprehensive system offers precise emotion detection and introduces several significant advancements in the field.

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

The growing demand in industrial and biotechnological settings for more efficient enzymes with enhanced biochemical features, particularly thermostability and thermotolerance, necessitates a timely response. Renowned for their versatility, thermostable enzymes, offer significant promise across a range of applications, including agricultural, medicinal, and biotechnological domains. This comprehensive review summarizes the structural attributes, catalytic mechanisms, and the relationships between structure and function of two major classes of thermostable enzymes: α-amylases and laccases. These enzymes serve as valuable models for understanding the structural basis of protein thermostability. Commercial significance of these enzymes and researchers' interest in further optimization and innovation, this article can greatly contribute to ongoing research on thermostable enzymes and aiding industries in optimizing production processes. It also give insights to the exploration of suitable strategies and factors for enhancing thermostability, resulting in heightened multipronged stability and notable enhancements in the enzymes’ industrial applicability.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel transfer learning regularization method based on knowledge distillation. Recently, transfer learning methods have been used in various fields. However, the problems such as knowledge loss still occur during the process of transfer learning to a new target dataset. To solve these problems, there are various regularization methods based on knowledge distillation techniques. In this paper, we propose a transfer learning regularization method based on feature map alignment used in the field of knowledge distillation. The proposed method is composed of two attention based submodules: self-pixel attention (SPA) and global channel attention (GCA). The self-pixel attention submodule utilizes both the feature maps of the source and target models, so that it provides an opportunity to jointly consider the features of the target and the knowledge of the source. The global channel attention submodule determines the importance of channels through all layers, unlike the existing methods that calculate these only within a single layer. Accordingly, transfer learning regularization is performed by considering both the internal of each single layer and the depth of the entire layer. Consequently, the proposed method using both of these submodules showed overall improved classification accuracy than the existing methods in classification experiments on commonly used dataset.

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are highly prevalent and can lead to chronic behavioral and cognitive deficits, often associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress have been implicated in mTBI-mediated axonal injury and pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors are not completely understood. In this study, utilizing a murine model of repetitive mTBI (r-mTBI) involving five closed-skull concussions in young adult C57BL/6J mice, we observed a significant elevation of Na+/H+ exchanger protein (NHE1) expression in GFAP+ reactive astrocytes, IBA1+ microglia, and OLIG2+ oligodendrocytes across various brain regions (including the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, and hippocampus). This elevation was accompanied by astrogliosis, microgliosis and the accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Concurrently, r-mTBI mice displayed impaired motor learning and spatial memory deficits. However, post-r-mTBI administration of a potent NHE1 inhibitor, HOE642, attenuated locomotor and cognitive functional deficits as well as gliosis, oxidative stress, axonal damage, and white matter damage. These findings underscore the role of NHE1 upregulation in r-mTBI-induced oxidative stress, axonal damage, and gliosis, suggesting NHE1 as a promising therapeutic target to alleviate mTBI-induced injuries and restore neurological function.

Based on the traditional Chinese cultural belief of "male breadwinner, female homemaker," as well as the systemic and interactive characteristics of families, this study aims to explore the influence of maternal gatekeeping behavior on the quality and quantity of paternal parenting, as well as adolescent aggressive behavior. A total of 483 seventh-grade students completed questionnaires on maternal gatekeeping behavior, paternal involvement, parenting styles and aggressive behavior. Latent profile analysis identified four parenting combinations: positive, negative, mixed, and neglectful. Adolescents under negative parenting exhibited the highest aggression, while those under positive and neglectful parenting showed the least aggression. Maternal gatekeeping behavior correlated with paternal negative parenting and adolescent aggression. Paternal negative parenting mediated the relationship between maternal gatekeeping and aggression, while paternal involvement moderated this relationship. These findings highlight the role of parental interaction in adolescent behavior and support family-based interventions.

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a serious public health problem globally. During winter flu seasons, more aggressive SARS-CoV-2 infections with fatalities have been documented, indicating that influenza co-infections may significantly impact the disease outcome of COVID-19. Both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses share many similarities in their transmission and cellular tropism for their replication in the human respiratory tract. However, it is still unclear how the two pathogens interplay to ensure their survival in the same lung microenvironment. In addition, clinical studies on influenza co-infections in COVID-19 patients do not provide conclusive evidence on how influenza co-infection mechanistically modifies the disease outcome in COVID-19. This mini-review discusses various viral as well as host factors that potentially influence the survival or synergism of these two respiratory pathogens in the infected lung microenvironment.

Under the background that the international technological innovation environment VUCA has been intensifying and the innovation situation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises has been impacted, the innovation dilemma faced by enterprises has attracted increasing attention, while the innovation dilemma is also one of the important factors affecting the operation efficiency of enterprises. Based on the micro-data of China’s A-share manufacturing listed enterprises, this paper empirically analyzes the impact of innovation dilemmas faced by enterprises on operational efficiency (innovation dilemmas are measured by the difference when actual innovation performance is lower than expected innovation performance). The results show that the innovation dilemma of manufacturing enterprises significantly inhibits the operational efficiency of manufacturing enterprises by reducing their risk tolerance, development ability expectation and profitability. After using a series of tests, such as instrumental variable method, propensity score matching method, DID (Differences-in-Differences) and changing variable measure method, the conclusion is still robust. In addition, the inhibitory effect of innovation dilemma on enterprise operation efficiency is more obvious for private enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, enterprises in the ascend or decline phase, high-tech enterprises and enterprises in the eastern region. Therefore, the government should strengthen the policy support for the manufacturing enterprises in the innovation dilemma, help the enterprises to overcome the innovation bottleneck. Manufacturing enterprises themselves should enhance their innovation capabilities and strive to get rid of the innovation dilemma in order to maintain a stable footing in the fierce market competition and improve the high-quality development of China’s manufacturing industry.

The tailoring of the surface properties of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to meet various requirements in environmental, food, and material areas has always been of great interest. In this study, the surface chemistry of CNCs was noncovalently modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), followed by characterizations and an application as a coating material for interfacial interaction investigation over various substrates. Due to the CTAB modification, the surface charge of the CNCs was neutralized, resulting in an increased size of each nanocrystal at the aqueous status and the aggregated microfibers when dried up. The CTAB modification not only decreased the crystallinity of the samples from 48.57% to 9.12% but also hydrophobized the CNCs and decreased their total surface energy. Finally, the adsorption behavior of the CNCs and CTAB-CNCs over nonionic, anionic, and cationic polymers was investigated by ellipsometry. Based on the thickness of the CNC and CTAB-CNC layers over 2-Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polyethyleneimine (PEI), we proposed that the adsorption behavior was overall influenced by electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces and the thickness of the adsorbed layers could be impacted by both the surface charge and the size of the crystals.

Background: Progression of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) to steatohepatitis (MASH) is driven by stress-inducing lipids that promote liver inflammation and fibrosis. MASH can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We showed coordinated defenses regulated by transcription factors, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor-1 (Nrf1) and -2 (Nrf2), protect against hepatic lipid stress. Here, we investigated protective effects of hepatocyte Nrf1 and Nrf2 against MASLD-induced liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Methods: Using mice fed MASH diet for 24-52 weeks, we examined MASLD in mice with hepatocyte specific Nrf1, Nrf2, or combined deletion, and compared this to control. In a separate study, mice received weekly injections of carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis. From week 16-24, mice were treated with Nrf2 activating drug bardoxolone, hepatocyte overexpression of human NRF1 (hNRF1), or both, and groups were compared to control. Results: Hepatocyte Nrf2 deficiency had no effect. Hepatocyte Nrf1 and combined deficiency caused MASH but only hepatocyte Nrf1 deficiency in male mice increased tumor number. Bardoxolone reduced liver steatosis, fibrosis, inflammation, and proliferation, and this effect when combined with hNRF1 was greater than bardoxolone alone. Conclusion: Physiologic Nrf1 delays MASLD progression, Nrf2-induction alleviates MASH, and combined enhancement synergistically protects against steatosis.

Background/Objectives: Population aging is rapidly increasing, and the importance of preventive medicine has been stressed. Health checkup, diet, and exercise are of paramount importance. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized dual-task intervention that combined exercise with cognitive tasks in improving physical and cognitive functions among independently living elderly individuals. Methods: Participants were aged &gt;65 years who were mostly independent in their activities of daily living, divided into 2 groups. The group receiving the 20-min robot-assisted session was compared to the group receiving traditional functional restoration training. This randomized trial assessed the impact of this intervention on the 30-s chair stand test score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japanese version score of the participants. Results: Both scores significantly improved in the intervention group, indicating enhanced lower-limb function and cognitive capabilities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating cognitive tasks with physical exercise can be a potent strategy to improve overall well-being in the elderly, offering valuable insights for designing comprehensive preventive health programs tailored to this demographic.

Raman spectra of [TeX6](Y2) (X, Y - Cl, Br, I) were recorded in the temperature range 5-300 K. The vibration frequency of molecular halogens as function on temperature and the type of halogen X- in the [TeX6]2- complex was obtained. The vibration frequency of the molecular halogen Y2 depends on the type of halogen X- complex [TeX6]2- The temperature dependence of the Y2 frequency is anomalous compared to what was expected for a conventional anharmonic oscillator. It is shown that the interpretation of the experimental results based on the concept of traditional chemical bonding is quite satisfactory in all cases. The study was motivated by the need to consider the mechanism of interaction in the X-Y2 contacts.

Intense rainfall events frequently occur in Brazil, often leading to rapid flooding. Despite their recurrence, there is a notable lack of sub-daily studies in the country. This research aims to assess patterns related to the structure and microphysics of clouds driving intense rainfall in Brazil, resulting in high accumulations within 1 hour. Employing a 40 mm/h threshold and validation criteria, 83 events were selected for study, observed by both single and dual-polarization radars. Contoured Frequency by Altitude Diagrams (CFADs) of reflectivity, Vertical Integrated Liquid (VIL), and Vertical Integrated Ice (VII) are employed to scrutinize the vertical cloud characteristics in each region. To address limitations arising from the absence of polarimetric coverage in some events, three case studies focusing on polarimetric variables are included. A fourth case study enhances the overall understanding of these events, emphasizing the underexplored nature of short-term intense rainfall studies in Brazil. Results reveal that the generating system significantly influences the rainfall pattern, especially in the Southern, Southeastern, and Central-Western regions. Regional CFADs unveil primary convective columns with 40-50 dBZ reflectivity, extending to approximately 6 km. The microphysical analysis highlights the rapid structural intensification, challenging the event predictability and the issuance of timely specific warnings.

Intellecta dataset emerges as an innovative synthetic dataset, engineered to enhance the cognitive processing capabilities of contemporary language models. With a composition of 11.53 billion tokens, integrating 8.01 billion tokens of synthetic data with 3.52 billion tokens of rich textbook data, Intellecta is crafted to foster advanced reasoning and comprehensive educational narrative generation. Leveraging the Mixtral-8x7B-Instruct-v0.1 model, the dataset facilitates the generation of complex thought processes and detailed, textbook-style explanations, thus enabling language models to engage in both critical thinking and profound educational discourse. This hybrid dataset stands as a testament to the potential of synthetic data in pushing the boundaries of AI, offering a repository that is not only vast and varied but also refined to align with ethical standards and intellectual rigor.

This manuscript presents a novel approach to estimating the potential within Schrödinger equations, with a particular focus on applications to the Navier-Stokes problem in fluid dynamics. By establishing new theoretical estimates, we delve into the intricate dynamics of fluid flow, aiming to unveil previously obscured aspects of the Navier-Stokes equations. Through a rigorous mathematical framework, we explore how these new potential estimates can provide a fresh perspective on fluid mechanics, contributing to the ongoing quest to solve some of its most persistent challenges.

Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, is an exciting and versatile manufacturing technology that is gaining traction and interest in both academic and industrial settings. Polymeric materials are essential components in a majority of the “inks” used across the various 3D printing technologies. As the environmental ramifications of sole or primary reliance on petrochemicals as a resource for industrial polymers continue to manifest themselves at a global scale, a transition to more sustainable bioderived alternatives could offer solutions. In particular, cellulose is promising due to its global abundance, biodegradability, excellent thermal and mechanical properties, and ability to be chemically modified to suit various applications. Thus far, cellulose has typically been incorporated in additive manufacturing applications as a substrate, filler, or reinforcement for other materials. However, due to its versatility and desirable properties, the exploration of all-cellulose 3D printing materials and associated methodologies is increasing. This review will discuss the progress and status of all-cellulose 3D printing approaches, associated challenges, and their potential as a key player in a more sustainable industrial future.

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems can assist physically challenged people to interact with their surroundings and improve the quality of their lives. Decoding human thoughts is a powerful technique that can assist paralyzed people who have lost their speech production ability. Speaking is a combined process involving synchronizing the brain and the oral articulators. This paper proposed a high-accuracy brain wave pattern recognition based on inner speech using a novel feature extraction method. Only eight EEG electrodes were used in this study, and they were set on selected spots on the scalp. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was employed to decode the recorded EEG dataset into four internally spoken words which are: Up, Down, Left, and Right. The proposed approach achieved overall classification accuracy that ranges between 96.20% to 97.5%. In addition, more performance evaluation metrics were estimated to test the reliability of classifying the EEG-based inner speech data, and we obtained 97.61%, 97.50%, and 97.73% for F1-score, recall, and precision respectively. Furthermore, the Area Under Curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC) proved the strength of the proposed approach for classifying the specified inner speech commands by achieving a macro-average amount of 99.32%. The inner speech classification method using electroencephalography proposed in this work can clinically help improve communication for patients with problems including speech disorder, mutism, cognitive development, executive function, and psychopathology.

1,3,5-Tris-(α-naphthyl)benzene is an organic non-electrolyte with notable stability of an amorphous phase. Its glassy and supercooled liquid states were previously studied by spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. However, the thermodynamic parameters of phase transitions available from the literature are inconsistent. In this work, the heat capacities of crystalline and liquid phases, the temperature dependence of the saturated vapor pressures, fusion and vaporization enthalpies were determined using differential and fast scanning calorimetry and verified using the estimates based on solution calorimetry. The structural features of 1,3,5-tris-(α-naphthyl)benzene are discussed based on the computations performed and the data on the molecular refractivity. The consistency between the values obtained by independent techniques was demonstrated. The deviations in the previously published data were attributed to possible polymorphism.

Aiming to improve medical diagnosis and treatment, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformational force in the healthcare industry. In this article, we examine how AI is increasingly being used to improve healthcare, with an emphasis on how it is changing medical diagnosis and treatment. We explore the opportunities, threats, and ethical concerns of incorporating AI into healthcare practice. In addition, we feature important AI applications in radiology, pathology, cardiology, and cancer. AI has great potential to improve patient outcomes, diagnostic accuracy, and the ability to provide individualized treatment plans in the future if it is used and refined with care.

The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a species often affected by natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills as well as general human activities; that subsequently receives medical care and rehabilitation. During rehabilitation, blood may be collected for various testing to help with diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. Reference intervals for this species are limited, dated, and typically from small sample sizes. Seventy one presumed healthy brown pelicans were sampled as a part of their pre-release examination from rehabilitation at the Wildlife Center of Texas after a large volume stranding in December 2014 to January 2015, and various venous analytes were measured to establish updated reference intervals for Brown Pelicans. Fibrinogen was measured via heat precipitation and the Abaxis VSPro equine Fibrinogen cartridge to determine reference intervals, and in an attempt to validate the VSPro for use in avian species. Abaxis VS2 Avian/Reptile Chemistry panel, iSTAT CG4+, and iSTAT Chem8+ results in addition to body condition score, spun PCV, cloacal temperature and fibrinogen were measured. Proposed reference intervals for brown pelicans are presented. Fibrinogen results were not comparable between the gold standard method and the VSPro, indicating that the VSPro is not appropriate for use in brown pelicans.

Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma (ACP) is a rare epithelial tumor located in the craniopharyngeal duct, often associated with high morbidity and a high long-term recurrence rate. ACP is predominantly diagnosed in children below the age of 15 and accounts for a majority of Craniopharyngioma cases in the United States. It is most commonly caused by a mutation in exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene, which promotes overaccumulation of β-Catenin in the WNT pathway. As β-Catenin accumulates, it over-activates the transcription factor, causing an over-transcription of WNT proteins and uncontrolled cell growth. Current methods of treatment for ACP are centered around surgical intervention and radiotherapy, including gross-total resection (GTR), subtotal resection (STR), and a combination of subtotal resection and adjuvant radiotherapy (STR+XTR). These methods of treatment are associated with high risk due to the proximity of ACP to critical structures near the craniopharyngeal duct. High recurrence rates and morbidity are closely associated with current methods of treatment and other methods have yet to be attempted in craniopharyngioma. This review will explore two possible methods of non-surgical and non-radiological therapeutic interventions. The use of RNAi therapy and CRISPR may provide insight and be a potential way to treat ACP with increased quality of life and decreased recurrence rates.

This study delves into the Schrödinger equation's new invariants, shedding light on their crucial implications for theoretical physics and beyond. Specifically, it explores the behavior of scattering amplitudes and bound states concerning the choice of coordinate systems. The research unveils that while the energy of bound states remains invariant under coordinate transformations, the phase of scattering amplitudes undergoes variations, underscoring its pivotal role in theories reliant on phase normalization. Moreover, these findings have played a pivotal role in constructing estimates for three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, enhancing our ability to model complex fluid dynamics with greater precision and reliability. Additionally, in seismic exploration, tomography, and ultrasound imaging, these properties allow researchers to optimize phase selection, facilitating the most effective interpretation of measurement results. This strategic phase manipulation ensures clearer insights into subsurface structures, tissue composition, and fluid dynamics, with the flexibility to seamlessly transition back to the original coordinate system post-interpretation. This interdisciplinary synergy underscores the profound impact of fundamental theoretical research on advancing practical applications across diverse scientific domains.

In recent years, thanks to continuous technological development, temperature data loggers have been used to collect data from the breeding progress of birds, which can be used, e.g. to obtain information on the length of incubation breaks, to detect the start of incubation or to record unsuccessful breeding. Temperature data loggers have been used in various types of bird nests, but not in a „closed“ nests such as a burrow or cavity. The study presents the results of using a temperature data loggers in natural nest holes of the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Their nests, which lack substantial insulating structures, are primarily influenced by the relatively stable soil temperature. The temperature of the space inside a nest chamber was measured on a continuous basis with an interval of 1 minute between measurements. The measurement was carried out from egg laying/incubation to a successful leave of the nest chamber/death of chicks (5 nests on 3 different streams in 3 breeding seasons). The temperature curves showed the laying of the eggs, the start of incubation, the successful flight out of the nest chamber or the death of the chicks in the nest chamber. It was not always possible to determine exactly when the chicks hatched from the temperature data.

With the emergence of autonomous functions in road vehicles, there has been an increased use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems comprising various sensors to perform automated tasks. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is one of the most important types of optical sensor that detects the positions of obstacles, representing them as clusters of points in 3-dimensional space. LiDAR performance degrades significantly when driving in rain as raindrops adhere to the outer surface of the sensor assembly. The performance degradation behaviors include missing points and reduced reflectivity of the points. It was found that the extent of degradations is highly dependent on the interface material properties, which subsequently affects the shapes of the adherent droplets, causing different perturbations to the optical rays. A fundamental investigation is performed on the protective polycarbonate cover of the LiDAR assembly coated with four classes of materials – hydrophilic, almost-hydrophobic, hydrophobic, and superhydrophobic. Water droplets are controllably dispensed onto the cover to quantify the signal alteration due to each droplet of various sizes and shapes. To further understand the effects of droplet motion on LiDAR signals, sliding droplet conditions are simulated using numerical analysis and validated with physical optical tests using a 905 nm laser source and receiver to mimic the LiDAR detection mechanism. Comprehensive explanations are presented on LiDAR performance degradation in rain from both material and optical perspectives. These can aid component selection and the development of signal enhancing strategies for integrating LiDARs in vehicle designs to minimize the impact of rain.

The etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been linked to both genetic and epigenetic factors. Among the epigenetic factors, exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic and mood-modulating drug, has been shown to induce characteristic traits of ASD when exposed during embryogenesis. Conversely, in animal models, Enriched Environment (EE) has demonstrated positive behavioral and neural effects, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment to pharmacological approaches in central nervous system disorders. In this study, we utilized zebrafish to model ASD characteristics induced by VPA and hypothesized that sensory stimulation through EE could ameliorate the behavioral and neuroanatomical features associated with ASD. To test this hypothesis, we assessed social behavior, cerebellar volume, and Purkinje cell populations via histology and immunohistochemistry after exposing the fish to EE. The results revealed that zebrafish exposed to VPA exhibited social deficits, reduced cerebellar cortex volume, and a decrease in c-Fos-positive cells in the Purkinje layer. In contrast, VPA-exposed fish treated with EE showed increased socialization, augmented cerebellar cortex volume, and an elevation in c-Fos-positive Purkinje cells. These findings suggest that alterations induced by VPA may be ameliorated through EE treatment, highlighting the potential therapeutic impact of sensory stimulation in conditions related to ASD.

This paper introduces a low-tech capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) designed with low environmental footprint materials. The fabrication process involves a copper plate as the fixed bottom electrode, a polymer-based adhesive as a dielectric material, and an aluminum foil as the top electrode.Finite element simulations include studies of displacement, mechanical stresses, and eigenfrequency. Experimental measurements validate the device's electromechanical behavior, showing an eigenfrequency of 88.6 kHz and a displacement of 22 pm. The low-tech CMUT demonstrates potential for applications such as ultrasonic actuation and energy harvesting, offering simplicity, biocompatibility, and low environmental impact. While not directly ready for applications, these transducers provide hands-on experience with technology similar to high-performance silicon-based implementations. These low-tech MUTs are perfect practical case studies for teaching purposes, combining simulation and experimental validation.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the roast time, weight loss and quality of coffee grain at four different roasting degrees, aiming to recognize and develop sustainable patterns to industrialize specialty coffees. Coffee (Coffea arabica L.), from eight producers, with scores between 80 and 83 from SCA classification, were used. Samples of 300 g were roasted in a cylindric rotative roaster, until the grains reached four different roasting profiles (Agtron scale 22.36, #33.64, #40.05, #59.92). Afterwards, analysis of roasting time, gas pressure, weight loss, and sensorial grades were accomplished. It was observed that samples roasted at #22.36 led to significant differences, regarding roasting time and weight loss. Furthermore, there is a significant difference at the sensorial grades of the coffee beverage. Comparing the roast degree #40.05 (standard used for specialty coffee) with the roast degree #22.36 (most used for commodities coffee), the first one has a gas consumption of 0.34 kg per coffee kg, whilst the second presented a gas consumption of 0.41 kg per coffee kg. Thus, from gas consumption, roast degree # 40.05 is the more sustainable option, along with the remaining parameters analyzed.

This review paper delves into the multifaceted aspects of pineapple cultivation, focusing on morphology studies, harvesting challenges, and mechanization efforts. Pineapple, renowned for its commercial value and unique flavor, holds a prominent position in global agriculture, with India alone producing 19.64 lakh tonnes annually. However, the hilly terrains of regions like northeastern India pose significant hurdles to traditional harvesting methods, necessitating innovative solutions. Understanding the morphology of pineapple plants is crucial for optimizing cultivation practices and designing efficient harvesting equipment. Insights from various studies shed light on leaf structure, fruit maturity, and growth patterns, providing valuable information for engineering tailored solutions. Mechanization endeavors, including semi-mechanized harvesting machines and semi-manual harvesters, demonstrate promising results in improving efficiency and reducing labor-intensive practices. Despite challenges such as increased crop losses and operational costs, continued research and development in mechanization hold the key to sustainable pineapple cultivation. This paper underscores the importance of integrating morphology studies and mechanization efforts to address the unique challenges faced by pineapple farmers, particularly in hilly terrains, and highlights the need for ongoing innovation to ensure the long-term sustainability of pineapple cultivation.

Background: Fibonacci patterns and tubular forms both arose early in the phylogeny of multicellular organisms. Tubular forms offer the advantage of a regulated internal milieu, and Fibonacci forms may offer packing efficiencies. The underlying mechanisms behind the cellular genesis of Fibonacci and tubular forms remain unknown.

With much more challenging scenarios encountered in engineering, traditional quadrotors couldn’t accomplish all desired missions perfectly. Task-driven based reconfigurable quadrotors have more latent capacity in environment with dense obstacles and narrow corridors. The translational reconfigurable quadrotors and rotational reconfigurable quadrotors are proposed in this presentation, assumptions, mathematical models and related motion control laws are given subsequently, in order to cope with hazard missions, model reference adaptive control laws are proposed, sufficient numerical simulations demonstrate the validity of the proposed control laws.

Cervical cancer is caused by a persistent and high-grade infection, caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which, when entering cervical cells, alters their physiology and generates serious lesions. HPV 18 - is among those most involved in carcinogenesis in this region, but there are still no drug treatments that cause cure or total remission of lesions caused by HPV. Knowing that L-Asparaginase is an amidohydrolase, which plays a significant role in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the treatment of specific cancers, due to its antitumor properties, some studies have demonstrated its cytotoxic effect against cervical cancer cells. However, the commercial version of this enzyme has side effects, such as hypersensitivity, allergic reactions and silent inactivation due to the formation of antibodies. To mitigate these adverse effects, several alternatives have been explored, including the use of L-asparaginase from other microbiological sources, which is the case with the use of the fungus Aspergillus niger, a high producer of L-asparaginase. The study investigated the influence of the type of fermentation, precipitant, purification, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of L-asparaginase. The results revealed that semisolid fermentation produced higher enzymatic activity and protein concentration of A. niger. The characterized enzyme showed excellent stability at pH 9.0, temperature of 50ºC, resistance to surfactants and metallic ions, and an increase in enzymatic activity was also noted with the organic solvent ethanol. Furthermore, it exhibited low cytotoxicity in GM and RAW cells, and significant cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. These findings indicate that L-asparaginase derived from Aspergillus niger may be a promising alternative for pharmaceutical production. Its attributes, including stability, activity and low toxicity in healthy cells, suggest that this modified enzyme could overcome challenges associated with antitumor therapy.

Previous research on consumer perceptions of salmon has often neglected Indigenous rights within the Canadian salmon industry. This study acknowledges the decline in salmon farm licenses in British Columbia and aims to achieve three main objectives: (1) gain a comprehensive understanding of four consumer perceptions—environmental sustainability, economic considerations, Indigenous rights, and price increase—across diverse consumer profiles through a cross-national online survey; (2) identify factors influencing these four consumer perceptions; and (3) assess the impact of these perceptions, along with socio-demographic variables and consumer motivations, on seven purchasing behaviors related to Canadian salmon products. Data analysis employs the graded response model and cumulative link models. The results illustrate how consumer profiles influence the four perceptions and their key determinants. Additionally, the study quantifies the impact of environmental sustainability, economic considerations, Indigenous rights, and a price increase on consumer purchasing behaviors.

In light of the prevalent pest and disease issues faced by greenhouse cucumbers, a staple vegetable during winter, this study introduces a detection method based on the enhanced YOLOv8s model. This method aims to provide technical support for detecting and classifying pests and diseases in cucumber agricultural production. The model integrates the 'MultiCat' module for multiscale feature fusion and employs the 'C2fe' and 'ADC2f'modules to strengthen spatial and channel attention. The 'Block2d' function also facilitates the choice between average pooling and attention-based spatial pooling. Channel fusion is achieved through additive and multiplicative operations, allowing the model to delve deeper into feature learning. Experimental results confirm that our approach outperforms the original YOLOv8s model in pest detection, particularly excelling in the identification of small-scale and overlapping afflictions.

The right heart catheterisation constitutes the gold standard for pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis. However, echocardiography remains a reliable, non-invasive, inexpensive, convenient, and easily reproducible modality not only for the preliminary screening of PH but also for PH prognosis. The aim of this review is to describe a cluster of echocardiographic parameters for the detection and prognosis of PH and analyse the challenges of echocardiography implementation in patients with suspected or established PH. The most important echocardiographic index is the calculation of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) through the tricuspid regurgitation (TR). It has shown high correlation with invasive measurement of pulmonary pressure, but several drawbacks have questioned its accuracy. Besides this, the right ventricular outflow track acceleration time (RVOT-AT) has been proposed for PH diagnosis. A plethora of echocardiographic indices: right atrial area, pericardial effusion, the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), the TAPSE/PASP ratio, tricuspid annular systolic velocity (s′) and recently, can reflect the severity and prognosis of PH. Recent advances in echocardiography with 3-dimensional right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV free wall strain and right atrial strain may further assist the prognostication of PH.

Pycnodont fishes were a successful clade of neopterygian fishes that are predominantly found from shallow marine deposits. However, throughout their long 180 million years reign (Late Triassic - end Eocene), they have made multiple incursions into both brackish and freshwater environments. This fossil record mostly consists of fragmentary dental material but articulated specimens are known from Early Cretaceous lacustrine localities in Spain. This review article aims to document all non-marine occurrences of Pycnodontiformes throughout most of the Mesozoic and early Palaeogene. This review highlights two interesting trends in the history of non-marine habitat colonization by pycnodonts: (1) a huge spike in non-marine occurrences during the Cretaceous, (2) the most occurrences in non-marine localities occurred at the latest Cretaceous, the Maastrichtian. The high number of colonization events within the Cretaceous lines up with extreme climatic events such as high temperatures resulting in high sea levels which regularly flooded continental masses, allowing pycnodonts easier access to non-marine habitats. The increased presence of pycnodonts in brackish and freshwater habitats during the Maastrichtian might have played a role in their survival through the K/Pg extinction event. Freshwater habitats are not as vulnerable as marine ecosystems to environmental disturbance as the base of their food chain relies on detritus. Pycnodonts might have used such environments as a refuge and began to occupy marine waters after the K/Pg extinction event.

Solventogenic Clostridium species are important for establishing sustainable industrial bioproduction of fuels and important chemicals. The inherent versatility of these species in substrate utilization and the range of solvents produced during acetone butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation make solventogenic Clostridium an attractive choice for biotechnological applications such as production of fuels and chemicals. The functional qualities of these microbes have thus been identified to be due to complex regulatory networks that play essential roles in modulating the metabolism of this group of bacteria. Genomes of solventogenic Clostridium species have relatively greater prevalence of genes that are intricately controlled by various regulatory molecules than most other species. Consequently, the use of genetic or metabolic engineering strategies that do not consider the underlying regulatory mechanisms will not be effective. Several regulatory factors involved in substrate uptake/utilization, sporulation, solvent production, and stress responses (Carbon Catabolite Protein A, Spo0A, AbrB, Rex, CsrA) have been identified and characterized. In this review, the focus is on newly identified regulatory factors in solventogenic Clostridium species, the interaction of these factors with previously identified molecules, and potential implications on substrate utilization, solvent production, and resistance/tolerance to lignocellulose-derived microbial inhibitory compounds.

Background: Since cytokine receptor like factor 1 (CRLF1) has been implicated in tissue regeneration, we hypothesized that CRLF1 released by mesenchymal stem cells can promote the repair of osteochondral defects. Methods: The degree of a femoral osteochondral defect repair in rabbits after intra-articular injections of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) that were transduced with empty adeno associated virus (AAV) or AAV containing CRLF1 was determined by morpholog-ical, histological and microCT analyses. The effects of CRLF1 on chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs or catabolic events of interleukin-1beta-treated chondrocyte cell line TC28a2 were deter-mined by alcian blue staining, gene expression levels of cartilage and catabolic marker genes us-ing real time PCR analysis, and immunoblot analysis of Smad2/3 and STAT3 signaling. Results: Intra-articular injections of BMSCs overexpressing CRLF1 markedly improved repair of a rabbit femoral osteochondral defect. Overexpression of CRLF1 in BMSCs resulted in the release of a homodimeric CRLF1 complex that stimulated chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs via enhancing Smad2/3 signaling, whereas the suppression of CRLF1 expression inhibited chondro-genic differentiation. In addition, CRLF1 inhibited catabolic events in TC28a2 cells cultured in an inflammatory environment, while a heterodimeric complex of CRLF1 and Cardiotrophin like Cytokine (CLC) stimulated catabolic events via STAT3 activation. Conclusion: A homodimeric CRLF1 complex released by BMSCs enhanced the repair of osteochondral defects via the inhibition of catabolic events in chondrocytes and the stimulation of chondrogenic differentiation of precursor cells.

Vimentin has been reported to play diverse roles in cell processes such as spreading, migration, and cell-matrix adhesion. Here, we use vimentin knock out cells (Vim KO) to assess how vimentin impacts cell spreading, morphology, and myofibroblast transformation of human corneal fibro-blasts. Overall, loss of vimentin did not significantly impact corneal fibroblast spreading, as indicated by Vim KO morphology and mechanical activity (traction force). However, we found that Vim KO cells had reduced elongation in response to PDGF as compared to controls. Furthermore, absence of vimentin did not completely block TGFβ induced myofibroblast transformation, since αSMA protein expression was detected in Vim KO cells. Nonetheless, the degree of transformation and amount of αSMA protein was reduced as compared to control cells. Proteomics showed that Vim KO cells cultured in TGFβ had a similar pattern of protein expression as controls. One exception included periostin, an ECM protein associated with wound healing and fibrosis in other cell types, which was highly expressed only in Vim KO cells. We also demonstrate for the first time that LRRC15, a protein previously associated with myofibroblast transformation of cancer-associated fibroblasts, is also expressed by corneal myofibroblasts. Overall, our data shows that vimentin has a limited, yet measurable impact on corneal fibroblast spreading and myofibroblast transformation. We also identified novel proteins that may regulate corneal myofibroblast transformation in the presence and/or absence of vimentin.

DNA damage causes the mutations that are the principal source of genetic variation. DNA damage detection and repair mechanisms therefore play a determining role in generating the genetic diversity on which natural selection acts. Speciation, it is commonly assumed, occurs at a rate set by the level of standing allelic diversity in a population. The process of speciation is driven by a combination of two evolutionary forces: genetic drift and ecological selection. Genetic drift takes place under conditions of relaxed selection, and results in a balance between rates of mutation and rates of genetic substitution. These two processes, drift and selection, are necessarily mediated by a variety of mechanisms guaranteeing genome stability in any given species. One of the outstanding questions in evolutionary biology concerns the origin of the widely varying phylogenetic distribution of biodiversity across the tree of life, and how the forces of drift and selection contribute to shaping that distribution. The following examines some of the molecular mechanisms underlying genome stability and the adaptive radiations that are associated with biodiversity and the widely varying species richness and evenness in the different eukaryotic lineages.

The increasing growth in road users who are unfamiliar with traffic rules and regulations provides a serious safety problem for Pakistani traffic conditions. This study has two main objectives. First, it seeks to validate the reliability and applicability of the Dula Dangerous Driving Index (DDDI) in Pakistan. Second, it intends to investigate the effects of DDDI, sociodemographic characteristics, seat belt use, and driving training on the occurrence of traffic accidents. A total of 623 Pakistani individuals completed a questionnaire as part of this study. The questionnaire consists of items related to dangerous driving behaviors, sociodemographic characteristics, seat belt use, driving instruction, and accident involvement. The DDDI's accuracy was evaluated by comparing it to self-reported traffic incidents and seat belt compliance. To discover predictors within the DDDI dimensions, generalized linear models were used. A binary logistic regression analysis was also performed to evaluate the factors that influence traffic accidents. DDDI dimensions, demographic characteristics, seat belt usage, and driving training were all considered in this study. The use of seat belts while driving reduced the likelihood of an accident by 25%. On the other hand, aggressive driving and risky driving increased the chances of getting involved in traffic accidents by 36%% and 20%. Furthermore, the chances of being involved in a traffic accident decreased by 21% as the drivers age increased. The results also illustrate that Pakistani drivers are more aggressive and risk taker compared to Chinese drivers who are more disciplined. This study suggests that lack of comprehensive and standardized driving training and education programs, in consistent enforcement of traffic laws, the quality of road infrastructure and lack of public awareness campaigns can be attributed to adverse road safety situations in country.

The human-readable simplicity with which the CSV format was devised, together with the absence of a standard that strictly defines this format, has allowed the proliferation of several variants in the dialects with which these files are written. The latter has meant that the exchange of information between data management systems, or between countries and regions, requires human intervention during the data mining and cleansing process. This has led to the development of various computational tools that aim to accurately determine the dialects of CSV files, in order to avoid data loss at data loading stage in a given system. However, the dialect detection is a complex problem and current systems have limitations or make assumptions that need to be improved and/or extended. This paper proposes a method for determining CSV file dialects through table uniformity, a statistical approach based on table consistency and records dispersion measurement along with the detection of data type over each field. The new method has a 100\% accuracy on a dataset with 148 CSV files composed of samples coming from a data load testing framework and some others added as verification of the parsing routines. In tests on truly messy data, the proposed solution outperforms the state-of-the-art tool by achieving an improvement of about 10\% in the accuracy with which dialects are detected. Furthermore, the proposed method is accurate enough to determine dialects by reading only ten records, requiring more data to disambiguate those cases where the first records do not contain the necessary information to conclude with a dialect determination.

VE is a powerful technique for analyzing a design with a focus on functionality, reducing costs, and increasing value. However, in order to proceed with the design of VE, the theoretical basis for the VE target selection process, which must be preceded in the preparation stage, is lacking, and as a result, it is difficult to verify the most effective target selection. Thus, a theoretical basis is needed. In this study, we intend to quantify the WORTH value of the COST TO WORTH technique and present an objective model of the target selection method using the derived Value Index (VI). For this purpose, cost worth (WORTHC) was calculated based on the performance data of 1,008 cases of 15 building types provided by the Domestic Public Procurement Service and the share of 83 detailed processes in 7 fields. Then, a survey was conducted targeting the ordering companies, and the final worth (WORTHF) was calculated by multiplying the derived customer value (WORTHV ) weight for each detailed work type. We calculated the Value Index (VI) by comparing COST and WORTHF for each detailed construction type of the VE project and developed a model to select construction types that exceed the VI standard value derived using the standard error of the population. Both cost experts and non-cost experts can use the developed model to specify the VE target selection criteria in order to easily select the key target, objectively sort the values that serve as the basis for calculating the value index and make it possible to more easily select the VE target selection criteria based on theoretical evidence. Also, the model can be used to obtain effective detailed design VE results.

This paper provides a study on the development of solar energy, its prospects, and its impacts in Africa. Although the main focus is on technologies adopted for different uses (solar farms, mini-grids, off-grid, solar houses, irrigation, lighting, etc.), we also consider some aspects that increase the adoption of solar energy, such as legislation and business models. Finally, we will examine current and future solar projects managed by NGOs and international companies and how they benefit to leveraging social and economic standards, quality of life as well as capacity building in Africa. This study shows the plethoric interest of institutions outside Africa in the market of solar energy in the continent and that there is no African strategy to increase its independency toward a sustainable development particularly through energy transition.

Bovine whey cheese (WC) is a product from southern European countries that presents some challenges: their elaboration process involves high energy inputs, the yield is low and WC has a short shelf-life. The application of ultrafiltration to bovine whey before its manufacture and the employment of protective cultures can reduce these disadvantages. The aim of this work was to manufacture whey cheeses using ultrafiltrated (UF) concentrated bovine cheese whey with added probiotics or probiotics plus protective cultures. Three types of WC were produced: control, without any addition (C); with the addition of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA5); with the addition of Lactobacillus acidophilus plus a protective culture containing Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LA5FQ4). The WCs were stored under refrigerated conditions for 28 days. The products with added cultures presented a lower pH and a higher titratable acidity when compared to the control. Sample LA5 presented the lowest pH and the highest titratable acidity while LA5FQ4 presented intermediate values. Slight differences were observed between products regarding color parameters, chiefly as a result of storage time. The samples with added cultures were firmer when compared to the control, showing LA5 cheeses the highest values at the end of the storage. Lactobacilli and lactococci counts were of the order of log 8-9 CFU/g for the products with added cultures. Lower levels of yeasts and moulds were detected on the sample with the protective culture (LA5FQ4), that by the end of storage presented counts one log cycle lower than C and LA5. Hence, it is evident the beneficial impact of the protective culture on the shelf life of the product. In what concerns to sensory evaluation, LA5FQ4 cheeses obtained the highest scores regarding all parameters evaluated. It could be concluded that the use of UF associated to the addition of protective cultures can be very useful to reduce the energy consumption of the process, prolong the shelf life of WC, and to improve its sensory properties.

This paper addresses challenges and solutions in urban development and infrastructure resilience, particularly in the context of Japan's rapidly urbanizing landscape. It explores the integration of smart city concepts to combat land subsidence and liquefaction, phenomena highlighted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Using advanced technologies such as smart sensing and predictive analytics through kriging and ensemble learning, the study aims to improve the accuracy of geotechnical investigations and urban planning. By analyzing data from 433 geotechnical surveys in Setagaya, Tokyo, it develops predictive models to accurately determine the depth of bearing layers critical to urban infrastructure. The results demonstrate the superiority of ensemble learning in predicting the depth of bearing layers, with significant implications for smart city development and the sustainability of urban environments. This interdisciplinary approach not only seeks to mitigate risks associated with geological disturbances, but also promotes sustainable urban growth that prioritizes safety and prosperity. Through advanced technology and comprehensive research, the study underscores the potential of smart cities to address urban complexities and ensure a resilient, sustainable future.

Cancer diagnosis stands at the cusp of a profound transformation, driven by the burgeoning capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This comprehensive review illuminates the extraordinary impact of AI and ML in the field, unraveling their multifaceted roles in the realm of oncology. In the arena of cancer diagnosis, AI and ML serve as invaluable allies, empowering healthcare professionals with unparalleled tools for precision and efficiency. Notably, AI's prowess in analyzing medical images, including radiological scans and pathology slides, elevates the early detection of malignancies to new heights. Coupled with its ability to dissect genomic data, AI tailors therapeutic strategies to the individual, promising optimized treatment outcomes. However, the incorporation of AI and ML into clinical practice necessitates a careful navigation of ethical considerations, data privacy, and regulatory landscapes. Safeguarding patient data, ensuring transparency, and addressing algorithmic biases emerge as pivotal challenges that require vigilant attention. Yet, the future of AI and ML in cancer diagnosis is brimming with promise. The integration of multi-modal data, real-time monitoring, and Explainable AI (XAI) methods holds the potential to enrich diagnostic capabilities and engender patient trust. Global collaboration and data sharing initiatives are fostering the development of robust AI models. Furthermore, AI's role in cancer prevention, identifying high-risk individuals and enabling targeted preventive strategies, is poised to revolutionize healthcare. AI and ML are forging a path toward an era of unparalleled accuracy, efficiency, and personalization in cancer diagnosis. Challenges notwithstanding, these technologies bear the promise of fundamentally reshaping patient care, elevating outcomes, and advancing the fight against cancer. The ongoing exploration and responsible implementation of AI and ML in oncology will be pivotal in harnessing their full potential and paving the way for a brighter future for cancer patients.

Advancements in genomics and molecular biology have propelled our understanding of genetic information far beyond the iconic double helix structure of DNA. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate world of DNA and RNA networks, exploring the complexities that extend beyond the classical model. We investigate the dynamic interactions, regulatory mechanisms, and functional implications of the broader genetic landscape, encompassing both coding and non-coding elements. From chromatin architecture to the diverse array of non-coding RNAs, this exploration seeks to provide a holistic perspective on the multifaceted roles played by DNA and RNA in cellular processes. The three-dimensional organization of genetic material within the cell has emerged as a crucial determinant of cellular function. Chromatin architecture, comprising DNA, histones, and other associated proteins, plays a dynamic role in regulating gene expression. We delve into the intricate choreography of chromatin remodeling, deciphering the interplay between transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, and higher-order structures that modulate gene activity. The exploration of chromatin dynamics unveils a nuanced understanding of how the genome responds to environmental cues, cellular signals, and developmental processes. Moreover, the once-dismissed non-coding portion of the genome has emerged as a key regulator of cellular function. Various classes of non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been implicated in diverse cellular processes, ranging from fine-tuning gene expression to modulating chromatin structure. The review critically examines the functional roles of these non-coding RNAs, shedding light on their involvement in cellular homeostasis, development, and disease. As I traverse this landscape beyond the double helix, our review synthesizes current knowledge on the intricacies of DNA and RNA networks. By exploring the regulatory mechanisms, functional implications, and emerging paradigms, we aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for the molecular choreography that underlies the cellular symphony of life. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings in the context of disease, highlighting potential diagnostic and therapeutic avenues that arise from a comprehensive understanding of DNA and RNA networks. In doing so, this exploration not only broadens our theoretical understanding but also opens new frontiers for translational research in genetics and molecular medicine.

PVC items are environmentally friendly as, unlike polyolefins, they are mainly based on chlorine, one of the most abundant elements on earth. However, in the eco-design context, articles' durability plays the crucial role, contributing to the enhancement of their sustainability. In this framework the research on additives capable of increasing the weatherability of outdoor articles is essential. The theory section of the paper reviews the mechanisms of weathering leading to PVC degradation that undermine the durability of items such as window frames or roller shutters. The weathering of PVC items is a complex phenomenon involving photo-chemical and secondary chemical reactions, that yields the formation of conjugated polyene sequences underskin in absence of oxygen and carbonyls in the surface. Here the chain scission of the polymer backbone occurs, bringing the disintegration of the surface of the item and causing the typical discoloration called chalking, especially evident in dark-colored articles. In the experimental section of the paper the effect of different acid scavengers on the item weathering has been studied with natural outdoor and two accelerated exposures, xenon-arc and Q-UV testing devices. Results confirm that some acid scavengers are efficient in preventing chalking, but some are ineffective or even detrimental. Thus, the PVC formulations of durable articles upon weathering still depend on a complex choice of the appropriate ingredients, and several outdoor and indoor accelerated weathering tests are needed to predict the articles' lifetime.

This study presents a dynamic modeling approach to investigate the impact of saturation dynamics on HIV/AIDS transmission in the presence of vertical transmission and treatment strategies. The proposed model incorporates disease-free and endemic equilibria, with a focus on analyzing the basic reproduction number and conducting stability analysis. Results indicate that the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions. The findings suggest that a combination of treatment interventions and awareness campaigns, along with other control measures, may play a crucial role in curbing the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. This research contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemics and highlights the importance of considering saturation effects in epidemic modeling.

Some global difficulties in the modern period include energy storage conversion. Researchers have looked to renewable energy resources to discover long-term answers to this dilemma. Fuel cells are one example of prospective energy producing technology. Although these technologies appear to be very enticing, they are known to be expensive due to high expenses. Catalyst costs, as well as concerns concerning energy density. Pt based Electrocatalysts have traditionally been used to drive ORR and offer efficient power outputs. However, cost constraints have limited the use of these electrocatalysts, rendering them inefficient. Apart from the high price, Pt-based Electrodes are prone to time-dependent drift and CO deactivation, both of which occur gradually. Electrocatalysts deteriorate over time, reducing the efficiency of fuel cells. This is why alternative electrocatalysts are in high demand for future energy applications. This review covers the comparative study of Platinium and Non-Platinium based electrocatalyst in fuel cells, their shortcomings and recent advancement for efficient and optimized electrocatalyst.

The mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in animals remains a central focus of reproductive and developmental biology research, and the regulation of sex differentiation in amphioxus remains poorly understood. Cytochrome P450 Family 19 Subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) is a crucial sex differentiation gene that catalyzes the conversion of androgens into estrogens. In this study, we identified two aromatase-like genes in amphioxus: cyp19-like1 and cyp19-like2. Cyp19-like1 is more primitive and may represent the ancestral form of cyp19 in zebrafish and other vertebrates. Cyp19-like2, on the other hand, is likely the result of gene duplication within am-phioxus suggesting its potential role as a key gene in sex differentiation. To gain further insights into the expression patterns of these two aromatase-like, we examined their expression in different gonad tissues and during different stages of gonad development. While the expression patterns of the two genes differ in gonad tissues, both are highly expressed in the gonad primordium and are primarily localized to microsomal membrane systems. However, as development proceeds, their expression levels decrease significantly. This study enhances our understanding of sex dif-ferentiation mechanisms in amphioxus and provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of sex determination mechanisms in vertebrates.

This Paper delves into the critical role played by fossil fuel-based polymers in promoting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the face of challenges brought about by swift population growth, suburbanization, and mechanization. It sheds light on the environmental and energy security recompences of converting plastic waste into biofuels and other valuable energy resources through state-of-the-art processes such as thermochemical conversion and pyrolysis. Besides, the research investigates the utilization of polymers in solar energy, energy storage, and low carbon transportation, emphasizing the inevitability of a dual approach that combines advancements in bio-based polymers and recycling technologies. It highlights the significance of collaborative endeavors involving governments, industries, and communities to overcome the technical, economic, and regulatory complications in transitioning towards a sustainable and circular plastic economy. Eventually, it showcases the potential of fossil fuel-based polymers in fostering a sustainable energy landscape, conducive to decarbonization efforts, and endorsing environmental sustainability.

An easy and short-time TLC-densitometric method was developed for the separation of metronidazole, secnidazole, ornidazole, tinidazole, and 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole and for the determination of metronidazole and tinidazole in Metronidazole Polpharma and Tinidazolum Polpharma tablets. Analyzes were performed on chromatographic plates precoated with silica gel 60F254 using the optimal mobile phase: chloroform + methanol + diethylamine in a volume ratio of 9:1:1. The method has been validated. The intraday and interday precision values for the three different concentrations ranged from 0.99% to 1.48% and 0.89% to 1.76%, and the precision values ranged from 1.13% to 2.48% and 0.95% to 2.49% for metronidazole and tinidazole, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.036 and 0.066 µg/spot for metronidazole and tinidazole, respectively. The mean recovery was 103.1% and 100.6% for metronidazole and tinidazole, respectively. The content of metronidazole and tinidazole in tablets in relation to the content declared by the manufacturer was 101.3% and 99.8%, respectively. The obtained results were verified using the pharmacopoeial method. The presented method is fast, sensitive, precise, selective, accurate and robust. It allows for the analysis of several samples on one chromatography plate at the same time.

The tribology behavior, tribofilm formation and structure evolution of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filled with α-Al2O3 and SiO2 nanoparticles during sliding against steel counterparts under different loads were studied. It is found that both composites exhibit good wear resistance across the pressure of 1 MPa to 10 MPa, with the α-Al2O3/PTFE composite demonstrates better performance stability compared to the SiO2/PTFE composite. The high wear resistance is attributed to the formation of tribofilms at the friction interface. For the α-Al2O3/PTFE, an island-like tribofilm is formed with a thickness ranging from 100 to 200 nm, while the tribofilm of the SiO2/PTFE composite is thinner, measuring approximately 50 to 100 nm, and manifest a striped pattern. The chemical composition, both at the surface and subsurface levels, as well as the morphology of the tribofilms were studied using FTIR spectrometry, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and FIB-TEM. It is found that the difference in thickness and microstructure of the tribofilms for the two composites is mainly due to the tribochemistry of the nanoparticles. The α-Al2O3 nanoparticle plays a "cohesion" role during the formation of the tribofilm, which facilitates the formation of a thicker, more uniform, and stronger adhered tribofilm on the metallic counterpart, making it more robust against higher shear stress.

DNA polymerases replicate cell genomes and/or participate in the maintenance of genome integrity. DNA polymerases sharing high sequence homology with E. coli DNA polymerase I (pol I), have been grouped in Family A. Pol I participates in Okazaki fragment maturation and in bacterial genome repair. Since its discovery in 1956, pol I has been extensively studied, primarily to get deeper insights into the mechanism of DNA replication. As research on DNA polymerases advances, many novel functions of this group of polymerases are uncovered. For example, human DNA polymerase θ (a Family A DNA pol) has been shown to synthesize DNA using RNA as a template, a function typically attributed to retroviral reverse transcriptase. A heightened interest in drug discovery against pol θ has emerged due to its roles in cancer. Likewise, Pol I family enzymes also appear attractive drug-development targets against microbial infections. Development of antimalarial compounds targeting apicoplast apPOL, an ortholog of Pol I, further extends the druggability of this family of enzymes. Here, we summarize reported drug-development efforts against Family A polymerases, and future perspective regarding these enzymes as antibiotic targets. Current techniques such artificial intelligence can be used to facilitate the goal of new drugs.

Now day; the interest for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds containing hydroquinoline fragments has increased tremendously due to their wide variety of pharmaceutical and industrial applications. This work details the synthesis of linear and fused heterocyclic systems containing hydroquinoline fragments and the pharmacological activity spectra of the synthesized compounds was predicted by in silico method using Prediction of Activity Spectra of Substances (PASS) program. 1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline-6-carbaldehyde 5a was reacted for three hours with a system of hydroxylammonium chloride/pyridinium chloride/toluene to produce 1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline-6-nitrile 7. N-benzyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-carbaldehyde 6b and iodine reacted at room temperature in aqueous ammonia water, followed by aq. treatment with Na2S2O3 and produced N-benzyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-nitrile 8. 30-60% 2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 9a,b; 10a,b were synthesized via the condensation reaction of N-alkylhydroquinoline-6-carbaldehydes 5a,b; 6a,b with hippuric acid in acetic acid. When activated 7-methylazolopyrimidines 11a,b were reacted with N-alkyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-carbaldehydes 6a,b, the reaction produced 60–70% yield of 7-[(E)-2,2,4-trimethylhydroquinolin-6-ylidenemethyl]azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl carboxylic acids 12a,b. The condensation reaction of 7-hydroxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline 3h with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) and ethylacetoacetate afforded methyl (Z)-2-(5,7,7,8-tetramethyl-2-oxo-7,8-dihydrofuro[3,2-g]quinolin-3(2H)-ylidene)acetate 16 and 4,6,8,8,9-pentamethyl-8,9-dihydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-g]quinolin-2-one 17, respectively. The condensation reaction of 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline 5e with methylene active compounds ethylcyanoacetate/dimethyl-3-oxopentanedioate/ ethylacetoacetate/diethylmalonate/Meldrum’s acid afforded 3-substituted dihydroquinoline containg coumarins 19 & 21. A pentacyclic coumarin 22 was obtained via the random condensation reaction of malononitrile with 5e in the presence of catalytic amount of piperidine in ethanol. The potential biological activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated using PASS computer program. According to the prognosis, (E)-4-(N-alkylhydroquinolin-6-yl)-3-buten-2-ones, 13a, b & 14 showed high probability of being active (Pa) as the Gluconate 2-dehydrogenase inhibitor, Anti-allergic, Anti-asthmatic, and Anti-arthritic with the Pa value of 0.849-0.870. It was also found out that hydroquinolinecarbonitrile compounds 7 & 8 have a propensity to act as a good progesterone antagonists, anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, and anti-arthritic (Pa = 0.276-0.827). Among the coumarin moieties containing hydroquinolines, compounds 17, 19a, and 19c were predicted to be good progesterone antagonists with the Pa values of 0.710, 0.630 and 0.615; respectively.

INTRODUCTION: With an increase in the aging population, the application of evidence-based practice in geriatric education can strengthen knowledge, skills, and clinical experience for healthcare students caring for older adults. Age Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) is one of the frameworks founded on providing evidence-based and low-risk care centered on what matters most to older adults, their families, and caregivers. Virtual Reality (VR) platforms are gaining popularity due to their ability to provide an immersive, hands-on learning experience resembling an actual medical practice or care setting. Immersive learning enhances students’ sensory perceptions, promoting an innovative and engaging way of acquiring concepts that are difficult to teach in real life. This study aimed to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a case-based training module highlighting AFHS and educating medical students on the 4Ms approach in geriatric care (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility). METHODOLOGY: The project was a feasibility study completed in two phases. Phase one included planning and development of a case-based scenario incorporating 4Ms of AFHS. Phase two included implementing and evaluating the VR training module into the geriatric curriculum for medical students. RESULTS: The final VR case displays a hospital and post-acute setting where an elderly patient is admitted for a hip fracture. Students learn how to triage and treat patients from admission to discharge while demonstrating their knowledge of AFHS. Approximately 10% of students completed the evaluation survey, and preliminary results indicate significant knowledge change in pre-post scenario-based training on AFHS. CONCLUSION: The VR education platform and embedded scenario promise an innovative adaptation of technology in learning the concepts of the 4Ms of AFHS. However, future studies should explore VR education with clinical assessment evaluation to ensure competence in providing Age-Friendly care.

This paper presents the results of quantitative research examining the impacts of demographic and socioeconomic factors on community resilience to disasters. The survey was carried out utilising a questionnaire distributed and subsequently collected online from 321 participants during January 2024. The study employed an adapted version of the '5S' social resilience framework, encompassing five sub-dimensions – social structure (10 variables), social capital (9 variables), social mechanisms (17 variables), social equity and diversity (13 variables), and social belief (13 variables). This customized framework includes 62 indicators, providing a thorough assessment of community (social) disaster resilience in the research context. To explore the relationship between predictors and community (social) disaster resilience in Serbia, their attitudes towards the mentioned five sub-dimensions, as well as their engagement in preventive measures and their perception of resilience to various disasters with a particular focus on demographic and socio-economic impacts, statistical methods including t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multivariate linear regression were employed. The results of the multivariate regressions across various community disaster resilience subscales indicate that age emerged as the most significant predictor for the social structure subscale. At the same time, education stood out as the primary predictor for the social capital subscale. Additionally, employment status proved to be the most influential predictor for both social mechanisms and social equity-diversity subscales, with property ownership being the key predictor for the social beliefs sub-scale. Despite being considered in the analyses, gender, marital status, income level, and number of household members did not emerge as the most significant predictors across the investigated community (social) disaster resilience subscales. The determined mean value of the community (social) disaster resilience index is M = 2.62, and the findings reveal that participants assigned the highest ratings to the social beliefs subscale (M = 2.76), while the lowest values were observed in the social structure subscale (M = 2.46). Findings can be used to create strategies and interventions aimed at enhancing the resilience of communities in Serbia by addressing the intricate interplay between demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors, and their ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from different disasters.

In this paper we investigate some properties of square-free numbers. In particular, we study a function that counts the number of square-free numbers no larger than the given number n. We show that this function has asymptotics consistent with the predictions of the Riemann hypothesis and use this to obtain new and better estimates of the density of square-free numbers. Finally, we present a well-known generalization of the concept of a square-free number to monoids and research on square-free factorizations.

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

Many studies have addressed sex differences in patients with psoriatic arthritis, although these are aimed more at describing the phenotype than at investigating the causes underlying the differences. Cross-sectional study of 203 patients. The clinical and demographic variables included age, years of education, time since onset, smoking, type of treatment, clinical presentation, number of entheses affected, dactylitis, fatigue, and cutaneous involvement. Disease activity,functioning and disease was measured. The comorbid conditions evaluated included obesity (and leptin as an associated parameter), anxiety and depression, and sleep quality. Mean age was 54.6, and 46.8% of patients were women. Women less frequently presented axial involvement and more frequently presented enthesitis. They also presented greater disease activity, greater disease impact, and poorer functioning, as well as greater fatigue. As for comorbid conditions, women presented a higher leptin/BMI ratio, higher levels of anxiety and depression, and poorer sleep quality. By sex, pain affecting women was associated with the leptin/BMI ratio and sleep quality. The leptin/BMI ratio was not associated with any component of disease activity in men. Sex was associated with several clinical manifestations, disease activity, functioning, and disease impact. Leptin was associated with intensity of pain in women.

Chromosomal instability (CIN), defined by variations in the number or structure of chromosomes from cell to cell, is recognized as a distinctive characteristic of cancer, associated with the ability of tumors to adapt to challenging environments. CIN has been recognized as a source of genetic variation that leads to clonal heterogeneity (CH). Recent findings suggest a potential association between CIN and CH with the prognosis of BC patients, particularly in tumors expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+). In fact, information on the role of CIN in other BC subtypes, including luminal B BC, is limited. Additionally, it remains unknown whether CIN in luminal B BC tumors, above a specific threshold, could have a detrimental effect on the growth of human tumors, or if low or intermediate CIN levels could be linked to a more favorable BC patient prognosis when contrasted with elevated levels. Clarifying these relationships could have a substantial impact on risk stratification and the development of future therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting CIN in BC. This study aimed to assess CIN and CH in tumor tissue samples from ten patients with luminal B BC, and compared them with established clinicopathological parameters. The results of our study show that luminal B BC patients exhibit intermediate CIN and stable aneuploidy, both of which correlated with lymphovascular invasion. These findings suggest that evaluating CIN, CH and aneuploidy could improve risk stratification, the prediction of clinical outcomes and future therapeutic approaches in luminal B BC patients.

Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) describe compounds that bind to and induce degradation of a target by simultaneously binding to a ubiquitin ligase. More generally referred to as bifunctional degraders, PROTACs have led the way in the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) with several compounds currently undergoing clinical testing. Alongside bifunctional degraders, single-moiety compounds, or molecular glue degraders (MGDs), are increasingly being considered as a viable approach for development of therapeutics, driven by advances in rational discovery approaches. This review focusses on drug discovery with respect to bifunctional and molecular glue degraders within the ubiquitin proteasome system, including analysis of mechanistic concepts and discovery approaches, with an overview of current clinical and pre-clinical degrader status in oncology, neurodegenerative and inflammatory disease.

Drug repurposing, rebranding an existing drug for a new therapeutic indication, is deemed a beneficial approach for a quick and cost-effective drug discovery process by skipping preclinical, Phase 1 trials and pharmacokinetic studies. Several psychotropic drugs including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antide-pressants (TCAs) were studied for their potential application in different diseases es-pecially in cancer therapy. Fluoxetine (FLX) is one of the most prescribed psychotropic agents from SSRIs class for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders with a favourable safety profile. FLX exhibited different oncolytic effects via mechanisms dis-tinct from its main serotonergic activity. Taking advantage of its ability to rapidly pen-etrate the blood-brain barrier, FLX could be particularly useful in brain tumors. This was proved by different in vitro and in vivo experiments using FLX as a monotherapy or combination with temozolomide (TMZ) or radiotherapy. In this review of literature, we summarize the potential pleiotropic oncolytic roles of FLX against different cancers highlighting the multifaceted activities of FLX and its ability to interrupt cancer prolif-eration via several molecular mechanisms and even surmount multidrug resistance (MDR). We elaborated on the successful synergistic combinations such as FXR/temozolomide and FXR/raloxifene for the treatment of glioblastoma and breast cancer, respectively. We showcased beneficial pharmaceutical trials to load FLX on car-riers to enhance its safety and efficacy on cancer cells. This is the first review article ex-tensively summarizing all previous FLX repurposing studies for the management of cancer.