Some of neurodegenerative diseases may be characterized by continuing behavioral and cognitive dysfunction that contains memory loss and/or apathy. Alzheimer's disease is the most typical type of such neurodegenerative disease characterized by deficit of cognition and alteration of behavior. Despite the huge efforts against Alzheimer's disease, there has been yet no successful treatment for this disease. Interestingly, several possible risk genes to cognitive dysfunction are frequently expressed within brain cells, which may also be linked to cholesterol metabolism, lipid transport, exosomes and/or caveolae formation, suggesting that caveolae may be a therapeutic target to consider cognitive dysfunctions. Interestingly, modulation of autophagy/mitophagy with the alteration of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors signaling may offer a novel approach to prevent and alleviate the cognitive dysfunction. A paradigm that both GLP-1 and NMDA receptors at caveolae sites is promising and crucial for the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions has been presented here, which might also be able to modify the progression of Alzheimer's disease. This research direction may open the potential to move a clinical care toward disease-modifying treatment strategies with maximal benefits for patients without detrimental adverse events for neurodegenerative diseases.

The therapeutic, attenuative, and morphological effects of proprietary neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (NSC EVs, AB126) produced by Aruna Bio, Inc. were assessed in a range of in vitro and in vivo models of stroke. We emphasize that modulation of neuroinflammation is a key target and suggest further studies to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of action and ultimately how best to dose and monitor the benefits of AB126 in stroke patients.

This paper explores the transformative impact of computational pharmaceutics, integrating AI, multi-scale modeling, quantum computing, AI-driven drug discovery, and blockchain frameworks. Molecular dynamics simulations provide insights into atomic behaviors crucial for drug design. Quantum computing reduces computational costs for simulating protein-drug interactions. AI and Graph Neural Networks accelerate drug discovery and personalized medicine. Blockchain frameworks facilitate secure pharmacogenetic data sharing. These advancements revolutionize drug development, offering unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and personalized treatments.

Considering the spectrum shortage problem of IoT devices, we introduce a collaborative spectrum sensing (CSS) framework in this paper to identify available spectrum resources, so that IoT devices can access it and meanwhile avoid causing harmful interference to the normal communication of the primary user (PU). However, in the process of the PU’s signal detection in IoT devices, the issue about the stopping time and decision cost arises. To this end, we propose a distributed cognitive IoT model, which includes two IoT devices independently using sequential decision rules to detect the PU. On this basis, we define the stopping time and cost function for IoT devices, and formulate an average cost optimization problem in CSS. To solve this problem, we further regard the optimal stopping time problem as a finite horizon problem, and solve the threshold of the optimal decision rule by dynamic programming. At last, numerical simulation results demonstrate the correctness of our proposal in terms of the global false alarm and miss detection probability, and it always achieves minimal average cost under various cost of each observation taken and thresholds.

Complex problem-solving (CPS) tasks have become an increasingly popular tool for understand-ing and assessing cognitive ability. These tasks have been repeatedly shown to be predictors of academic and workplace success above and beyond traditional measures of general intelligence and fluid intelligence. To date, there has been little exploration of the underlying mechanisms that drive this additional predictive utility. In this study, we examined the role of a variety of non-cognitive personality and investment traits that could drive performance on CPS tasks. Adult participants (n = 152) were recruited via M-Turk and completed a battery of personality and in-vestment trait measures, a measure of general mental ability, and a 61-trial microworlds-style CPS task. Generalised linear mixed-effects models revealed a wide variety of personality and in-vestment traits influenced task performance above and beyond general mental ability. Specifical-ly, two clusters of traits emerged as important determinants of performance: one cluster that in-fluenced the capacity to deal with the introduction of system randomness (Conscientiousness and Extraversion) and one cluster that influenced the capacity to deal with the introduction of system delays (NFC, Learning Goal Orientation, and Intellect). These findings suggest that CPS tasks do capture more than just general mental ability and may be good predictors of academic and workplace success because they tap into both cognitive ability and the motivation and willingness to engage in cognitive exploration and mental effort.

Based on some experiments, the paper describes with the help of polarization the physic-chemical processes that take place in the contact area of friction pairs, during the selective transfer as a result of the change in the input speed of the lubricant (glycerin), as well as how it influences their wear. Through polarization, the quantitative and qualitative transformations of glycerin are studied during frictional stress with selective transfer, the determination of the properties of the selective solution, and the damage to the metals and alloys of the friction pairs, but also after frictional stress.

Pyrazinacenes are linearly fused heteroaromatic rings, with N atoms replacing all apical CH moieties. Component rings may exist in a reduced state having NH groups instead of N, causing cross-conjugation. These compounds have interesting optical and electronic properties, including strong fluorescence in the near infrared region and photocatalytic properties, leading to diverse possible applications in bio-imaging, organic synthesis as well as obvious molecular electronic uses. In this study, we have investigated the behaviour of seven-ring pyrazinacene 2,3,11,12-tetraphenyl-7,16-dihydro-1,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18-tetradecaazaheptacene (Ph4H2N14HEPT) with emphasis on protic processes including oxidation, tautomerism, deprotonation and protonation, and the species resulting from those processes. We have used computational methods to optimize the structures of the different species and generate/compare molecular orbital structures. Aromaticity of species generated by the different processes has been assessed using the nucleus independent chemical shifts, and trends in the values have been associated with the different transformations of the pyrazinacene core. The computational data was compared with experimental data obtained from synthetic samples of the molecule tBu8Ph4H2N14HEPT.

Background: Aging impacts semantic abilities, therefore semantic exercises might be a valuable tool for cognitive stimulation in healthy older adults. However, programs in this area are limited. Methods: In the current paper, we adapted the BOX linguistic semantic program for online use via the CerUp platform. Our goal was to prepare the optimization future experience of CerUp users, including potential changes in task structure, level of difficulty and instructions, and participants’ adherence, engagement, performance accuracy, perceived difficulty, and adequacy ratings assigned to the instructions we provided that might guide future changes. Additionally, we created a map of hypothesized task-specific features that may guide tailor-made uses of the program. Results: To that end, we present preliminary results on the usability of CerUp. By analyzing task-specific usability data alongside the hypothesized map of task-specific features, we also tested the validity of the latter. Conclusions: These preliminary results on the usability of the CerUp platform highlight the potential of programs for semantic stimulation. Such findings can inform future optimizations of the program, tailored to users’ needs and effectively supporting overall language skills and general cognition.

This study aims to investigate the psychological cognitive mechanisms of rural residents amidst the renewal of suburban historical and cultural villages by examining the interplay between nostalgia, collective memory, subjective well-being and place identity in rural tourism destinations. Using Naobao Village as a case study—a suburban historical and cultural village in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, this research employs a comprehensive approach integrating experimental methods and questionnaire surveys. The findings demonstrate that analyzing the interaction among the four emotions can elucidate the psychological cognitive mechanism of residents. Moreover, it uncovers that tourism effects significantly influence residents' perception of their living environment with positive effects on collective memory, subjective well-being and place identity. In the theoretical model for generating psychological cognition among residents in suburban historical and cultural villages, subjective well-being and collective memory play crucial mediating roles. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for spatial reconstruction and cultural evolution of tourist landscapes in suburban rural tourist destinations.

Sechium compositum (Cucurbitaceae) is a wild species that is distributed in the Soconusco region, Chiapas, Mexico, and the border with Guatemala. This species has an intangible biochemical value resulting from the pharmacological relevance of its secondary metabolites. However, as a consequence of the lack of knowledge about its importance, it is being displaced from its habitat at an accelerated rate, incurring the risk of genetic loss. Therefore, an in vitro culture protocol with two experimental phases was evaluated to propagate, conserve, and regenerate this species. The first phases considered the multiplication of seedlings, adding seven concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 mg mL-1) of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) and evaluating the number of buds, shoots, and seedling height. The best multiplication response was recorded with 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 mg L-1 of BA and 0.1 mg L-1 of TDZ, as well as the MS base culture medium. With 0.1 mg L-1 of BA, 52-mm height, 1.36 shoots, and 9.22 buds were obtained, surpassing the MS control (MS culture medium alone); likewise, twice more roots (80%) and a 14% reduction in the bud structure were packed in 50 repetitions. The second phase consisted of inducing callus formation from stem and leaf explants through the addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg L-1 of TDZ and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to the medium. The results demonstrated that the induction of callogenesis in S. compositum has a better start from the stem in a medium with 2.0 mg L-1 of 2,4-D, whose value was 4.89 —equivalent to 97.8% callus formation around the explant. The addition of 500 mg L-1 of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is also suggested to reduce oxidation. This protocol represents a significant advance in the conservation, multiplication, and callogenesis of S. compositum and contributes to its rescue and revaluation in the face of the danger of extinction.

In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron–proton (e^- - p⁺) and electron–positron (e^±) relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of "global" jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the e^- - p⁺ jet simulation recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the e^± jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by a kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without helical magnetic field. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.

Nowadays recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after invitro fertilization is common problem that reproductive specialists usually faced. The phenomenon of thin endometrium in RIF patients has yet not completely understood and properly treated. This study aimed to reveal significantly dysregulated selected genes expression between RIF patients with thin endometrium and fertile women. Endometrial samples were collected in the implantation window days (LH+7 – LH+10) of the natural menstrual cycle from RIF patients (n=20) and fertile women (n=14). Ten genes were chosen as target genes regarding their possible relations with the implantation process. Endometrial gene expression levels showed differences in RIF samples compared to fertile samples. The significant downregulation was observed for CXCL1 (p=0.005) and C4BPA (p=0.03) genes. There was no statistically significant difference between the RIF groups and the fertile group in the expression of 8 genes: CXCL8, HPRT1, MMP10, INFG, VEGFB, HAND2, IL15 and TNC (p>0.05). The use of a combination of two markers (C4BPA + CXCL1) allows for good discrimination of RIF patients from fertile women (AUC 0.806).

Crop production has become a priority issue in the last few years due to the exponential growth of the world population and the need to substitute chemical fertilizers. This last matter is under the spotlight to achieve a more sustainable approach in a cost-effective way. Biostimulants have gained attention as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Although they are not considered fertilisers as inputs of nutrients, they stimulate plants’ nutrition and tolerance to stress, among other characteristics. Amino acid-based biostimulants have been found to be effective in literature. This review focuses on the effectiveness of biostimulants, their presence in the global market, and mainly in their production with fish by-products as a source, using enzymatic hydrolysis and autolysis, focusing especially on fish viscera, their possibilities in the agricultural sector and their availability in Europe for possible opportunities. Fish viscera protein hydrolysates for biostimulant production seems a feasible alternative to fishmeal production in Europe, mainly in areas located far away from fishmeal plants.

Videogames have been the focus of research since their widespread popularity, with particular emphasis on their effects on cognitive and affective abilities, especially in children and adolescents. Despite numerous correlational studies, robust evidence on the causal relationship between videogames and cognition remains scarce, hindered by the absence of a comprehensive assessment tool for gaming skills across various genres. This study aimed to develop and validate the Gaming Skill Questionnaire (GSQ) and to assess the impact of gaming skills in six different genres (Sport, First-Person Shooters, Role-Playing Games, Action-Adventure, Strategy, and Puzzle Games) on adolescents’ cognitive and affective abilities. The GSQ exhibited strong reliability and validity, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool. Gaming skills positively affected executive function, memory, overall cognition, cognitive flexibility, and emotion recognition, except for empathy. Various game genres had different effects on cognitive and affective abilities, with verbal fluency influenced mainly by sports, executive functions by action, strategy, and puzzle, and emotion recognition positively impacted by action and puzzle but negatively by sports and strategy games. Both age and gaming skills influenced cognitive flexibility, with gaming having a greater effect. These intriguing genre-specific effects on cognitive and affective functioning postulate further research with GSQ's contribution.

The Katerini-Kolindros aquifer system (KKas) is a critical freshwater resource, essential for the local and regional economy. To understand contamination sources, groundwater flow paths, and assess the aquifer's health, an extensive dataset of 751 samples from 113 wells collected between 2010 and 2020 was analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) and hydrogeochemical diagrams. The prevailing water types identified were Ca-HCO₃ and Mg-HCO₃, with mixed water types resulting from various factors affecting groundwater quality. The chemistry of groundwater in the KKas is shown to be affected by ion exchange processes and to a lesser extent by reverse ion exchange processes. No indications of sea-water intrusion have been identified in the water wells monitored. On the other hand, nitrate contamination has been detected in specific water wells spatially associated with urban-type land uses and activities. It is considered that nitrate contamination originates primarily from septic tanks and urban sewage networks or secondarily from fertilization of football pitches, cemeteries or urban waste management practices.

Background Some patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience gait disturbances. However, there are few reports on the relationship between gait disturbance and cognitive function in patients with MCI. Therefore, we investigated the neural correlates of gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. Methods Eighty patients diagnosed with MCI from three dementia centres in Gangwon-do, Korea were recruited for this study. We defined MCI as a Clinical Dementia Rating global score of 0.5 or higher, with a memory domain score of 0.5 or greater. The patients were classified as having either early or late MCI based on their Mini Mental Status Examination z-scores. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the gait characteristics and cognitive impairment. Analyses included variables such as age, sex, years of education, number of comorbidities, body mass index and height. Results Gait velocity, step count, step length, heel-to-heel base support, swing and stance phase duration, and support time were associated with cognitive function. A decrease in gray matter volume in the right pericalcarine area was associated with gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. An increase in the curvature of gray matter in the right entorhinal, right lateral orbitofrontal, right cuneus, and right and left pars opercularis areas was also associated with gait characteristics related to cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion Since gait impairment is an important factor in determining activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment, the evaluation of gait and cognitive functions in patients with mild cognitive impairment is important.

Combining modern thermodynamics theory branches, including finite time thermodynamics or entropy generation minimization, constructal theory and entransy theory, with metallurgical process engineering, this paper provides a new exploration on generalized thermodynamic optimization theory for iron and steel production processes. The theoretical core is to thermodynamically optimize performances of elemental packages, working procedure modules, functional subsystems, and whole process of iron and steel production processes with real finite-resource and/or finite-size constraints with various irreversibilities toward saving energy, decreasing consumption, reducing emission and increasing yield, and to achieve the comprehensive coordination among the material flow, energy flow and environment of the hierarchical process systems. A series of application cases of the theory are reviewed. It can provide a new angle of view for the iron and steel production processes from thermodynamics, and can also provide some guidelines for other process industries.

The relationship between Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, and palmitoylation, a post-translational lipid modification, is not well understood. In this study, we have analyzed the differential palmitome present in the cerebral cortex of PD patients compared to controls (n=4 per group) to better understand the role of protein palmitoylation in PD and the pathways altered in this disease. Data-mining of the cortical palmitome from PD patients and controls has allowed to: i) detect a set of 150 proteins with altered palmitoylation in PD subjects in comparison with controls, ii) describe the biological pathways and targets predicted to be altered by these palmitoylation changes, and iii) depict the overlap between the differential palmitome identified in our study with protein interactomes of the PD-linked proteins α-synuclein, LRRK2, DJ-1, PINK1, GBA and UCHL1. In summary, we have partially characterized the altered palmitome in the cortex of PD patients which is predicted to impact cytoskeleton, mitochondrial and fibrinogen functions, as well as cell survival. Our study points out that protein palmitoylation could have a role in the pathophysiology of PD, and that comprehensive palmitoyl-proteomics offers a powerful approach for elucidating novel cellular pathways modulated in this neurodegenerative disease.

We discuss methods for calculation of critical indices and amplitudes from the perturbative expansions. Several important examples of the Stokes flow through 2D and 3D channels are brought up. Power series for the permeability derived for small values of amplitude are employed to calculation of various critical exponents in the regime of large amplitudes. Special nonlinear approximations valid for arbitrary values of the wave amplitude are derived from the expansions. The technique developed for critical phenomena is applied then for relaxation phenomena. The concept of time-translation invariance is discussed, its spontaneous violation and restoration considered. Emerging probabilistic patterns correspond to a local breakdown of time-translation invariance. Their evolution leads to the timetranslation symmetry complete (or partial) restoration. We estimate typical time extent, amplitude and direction for such restorative process. The new technique is based on explicit introduction of origin in time. After some transformations we come to the exponential and generalized, exponential-type solution with explicit finite time scale, which was only implicit in initial parametrization with polynomial approximation. The concept of crash as a relaxation phenomenon, consisting of time-translation invariance breaking and restoration, is put forward. COVID-19 related mini-crash in the time series for Shanghai Composite is discussed as an illustration.

From the theory of relativistic chemical kinetics [M. W. Baig, Int. J. Mod. Phys. B 31, 1750177 (2017)] relativistic thermodynamics and kinetics for electrode processes have been developed to explain time dilation for electrode processes. For a moving observer moving at fractions of the speed of light, cell potential is observed to decrease. This results in the slower oxidation and reduction of ions at the respective electrodes. The newly formulated Lorentz transformation of the electrode and cell potential is explained in terms of generation of spin 2-boson “gravitons” from fusion of spin-1 boson “virtual-photons” mediating electrostatic force of attraction between ions and electrodes. It is postulated that birth of spin 2-boson i.e. gravitons is followed by their eventual escape in any of higher 4+n dimensions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the present theory, the Daniel cell is considered as a numerical example.

A hybrid organic molecules as ligands and inorganic NCs in this research combines the chemical properties of organic semiconductors with the chemical stability of inor- ganic nanoparticles like PbS. It is possible to improve the ligand exchange and PbS-NCs' distribution by adding Amino phynel anchor group to TIPs-pentacene and Carboxylic anchor group to Tetraphenylporphyrin molecules. By adding anchor groups to one or two sides of these molecules, they would convert the molecules to ecient ligands to obtain superlattice coupled organic-inorganic nanostrcuture semicondcutor layers (COINs). Adding on side group would cap the PbS nanoparticles while adding two an- chor group would play a linker role between two PbS NCs. This morophology enhance- ment paves the way to manipulate the physical properties of the COINs and fabricate solar cells. Singlet ssion phenomena demonstrates pentacene molecule's advantage for high eciency in organic solar cells and its ability to overcome the Schockley-Queisser limit. Ultraviolet photo-emission spectroscopy (UPS) determines the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the work function of COINs, while the lowest unoccu- pied molecular orbital (LUMO) of COINs were calculated subsequently by adding both the exciton binding energy and the optical band gap to the measured HOMO energy. The current versus voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy were studied for these molecules as well.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) aims to achieve its purpose by working across multiple sectors and involving multi-level actors in reducing deforestation and forest degradation in tropical countries. By contrast, the European Union (EU) Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and its Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) focus on forestry and functions at bilateral state level. The FLEGT Action Plan specifically aims to tackle illegal logging, legalise timber production and trade improve forest governance in countries exporting tropical timber to the EU. Since illegal logging is just one driver of deforestation and forest degeneration, and legalisation of logging does not necessarily reduce deforestation and forest degradation, the two instruments differ in scale and scope. However, by addressing the causes of deforestation and forest degradation and their underlying governance issues, the EU FLEGT and REDD+ share many functional linkages at higher levels of forest policy and forest governance. The contribution and participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) and other actors is imperative to both processes. Our study is based on a survey of key actors (national and international) in REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Our analysis was guided by the theoretical perspectives of the policy arrangement approach and examination of two specific dimensions of this approach, namely resources and rules of the game. This paper argues that participation of CSOs in both processes is crucial as it facilitates and nurtures the very much needed cooperation between other national and international actors. The paper also argues that participation of CSOs feeds valuable information and knowledge into REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes, thus contributing to increased legitimacy, justice and transparency.

The study aims to explain the different effects between the multiplication, addition, division and subtraction equations. In this sense, multiplication and addition equations develop a new element or fact, meanwhile, division equations express information within the element or fact, subtraction is the selection of element or fact. Furthermore, for a multiplication and addition equation results in the new element or fact, it is necessary to depend on specific physical concepts, without extreme alteration, as it would result in the alteration of the element or fact. It is worth highlighting the importance of fixed values ​​in the equation to describe the specific nature of the element or fact. The study makes it possible to understand open equations (without solutions) in mathematics and physics, in addition to understanding existing equations. The study makes reference to the theory of obligatory necessity and the theory of differences between elements.

Welding processes offer a unique capability with a wide range of applications in industries. In recent times, welding has established itself as a tool for large scale additive manufacturing. In general, the quality and repeatability assurance for welding and specifically for additive manufacturing necessitates integrating process monitoring techniques with existing welding and additive manufacturing processes. The process-specific signals such as welding current fluctuations, temperature, and acoustic, generated during the welding operations, make them a suitable candidate for digitization. This chapter comprehensively describes the process monitoring techniques relevant to welding and additive manufacturing. Firstly, various sensors used during welding are described for their construction and working. Subsequently, specific applications of the sensors in digitizing the welding processes are presented.

Cruciferous vegetables represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds. However, there is currently a paucity of information regarding the extent to which these compounds remain bioavailable to the body following thermal treatment and digestion processes within the digestive tract. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of heat treatment and in vitro digestion on the level of selected bioactive compounds in Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts samples were subjected to a range of thermal processing techniques, which were then followed by a simulated in vitro digestion. The investigated compounds were analysed using UV-Vis spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The findings revealed that the sous-vide method of cooking Brussels sprouts resulted in significantly higher losses of glucosinolates (GLS) in comparison to conventional cooking methods. No significant differences were observed with regard to isothiocyanates and indoles. The analysis of GLS following digestion revealed that the process was more effective after sous vide and traditional cooking, and slightly less effective after steam cooking. With regard to individual compounds, glucoraphanin (GRA), glucoraphenin (GIV) and gluconasturtiin (GNS) were found to be completely degraded, whereas methoxyglucobrassicin (metGBS) was the most resistant to digestion in both the sous vide and steamed Brussels sprouts. The results indicated that the process of simulating digestion had no significant effect on isothiocyanates and indoles. This suggests that, if present in the heat-treated samples, these compounds remained stable during the in vitro digestion procedure.

The presence of premature termination codons (PTCs) in transcripts is dangerous for the cell as they encode potentially deleterious truncated proteins that can act with dominant-negative or gain-of-function effects. To avoid synthesis of these shortened polypeptides, several RNA surveillance systems can be activated to decrease the level of PTC-containing mRNAs. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) ensures an accelerated degradation of mRNAs harboring PTCs by using several key NMD factors such as up-frameshift (UPF) proteins. Another pathway called nonsense-associated altered splicing (NAS) upregulates transcripts that have skipped disturbing PTCs by alternative splicing. Therefore, these RNA quality control processes eliminate abnormal PTC-containing mRNAs from the cells by using positive and negative responses. In this review, we will describe the general mechanisms of NMD and NAS and their respective involvement in the decay of aberrant immunoglobulin and TCR transcripts in lymphoid cells.

In the human organism various carotenoids are present of which, some are retinoid precursors. The bioactive derivatives of these retinoids are the retinoic acids, which can potently activate nuclear hormone receptors like the retinoic acid receptor and the retinoid X receptor. In our study using an HPLC analytical approach we aimed to assess how plasma carotenoid and retinoid concentrations along with the ratio of their isomers are altered in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients (n=20) compared to healthy volunteers (HV, n=20). We found that plasma levels of the carotenoids lutein (HV 198 ± 68 ng/ml, AD 158 ± 57 ng/ml), zeaxanthin (HV 350 ± 142 ng/ml, AD 236 ± 85) as well as the retinoids retinol (HV 216 ± 89 ng/ml, AD 167 ± 76 ng/ml) and all-trans-retinoic acid (HV 1.1 ± 0.6 ng/ml, AD 0.7 ± 0.5 ng/ml) were significantly lower in AD-patients, while lycopene, α-carotene and β-carotene levels were comparable. In addition the ratios of 13-cis vs. all-trans lycopene as well as 13-cis vs. all-trans retinoic acid were increased in the plasma of AD-patients indicating an AD-specific 13C-isomerisation. A positive correlation with SCORRAD was calculated with 13-cis vs. all-trans lycopene ratio, while a negative correlation was observed with zeaxanthin plasma levels. Based on our results we conclude that in the plasma of AD-patients various carotenoids and retinoids are at lower levels, while the ratio of lycopene isomers was also altered. The higher rate of lycopene and retinoic acid isomerisation products might be a consequence of AD or might result in an altered activation of nuclear hormone receptor signaling pathways and thus maybe partly be responsible for the AD-phenotype and additionally may represent a good plasma marker for AD.

Cronbach’s (1957) famous division of scientific psychology into two disciplines is still actual for the fields of cognition (general mechanisms) and intelligence (dimensionality of individual differences). The welcome integration of the two fields requires the construction of mechanistic models of cognition and cognitive development that explain key phenomena in individual differences research. In this paper we argue that network modeling is a promising approach to integrate the processes of cognitive development and (developing) intelligence into one unified theory. Network models are defined mathematically, describe mechanisms on the level of the individual, and are able to explain positive correlations among intelligence subtest scores - the empirical basis for the well-known g-factor - as well as more complex factorial structures. Links between network modeling, factor modeling and item response theory allow for a common metric, encompassing both discrete and continuous characteristics, for cognitive development and intelligence.

Human development encompasses the integration of neuromotor, psychological, social-emotional, and cognitive processes across time. However, a better understanding of the interconnectedness of motor and cognitive development throughout the lifespan is needed. The integrative and dynamic nature of short-term motor skill acquisition and long-term developmental processes may foster executive functions. Unfortunately, assessments of motor competence have traditionally focused on skillfulness from a movement perspective, using restrictive task protocols that decontextualize performance and limit cognitive involvement. Additionally, traditional motor-cognitive dual-task assessments centered on cognitive involvement during specific movement protocols, have minimized impacts of task complexity and motor competence on cognitive performance. To gain a more ecologically valid understanding of the relation between motor and cognitive development, a novel assessment paradigm using an integrative approach to motor-cognitive dual-tasking is needed. The purpose of the present paper is to: 1) provide a conceptual bridge, based on multidisciplinary evidence, to effectively link the concurrent development of motor competence and executive functions via learning-related and exercise-related neurotrophic mechanisms, and 2) use this conceptual bridge to inform the development of novel motor-cognitive dual-task assessments that account for the role of task complexity, current levels of motor competence, and the continuous decision-making inherent in “real world” performance environments.

Countless disasters have resulted from climate change, causing severe damage to infrastructure and the economy. These disasters have significant societal impacts, necessitating mental health services for the millions affected. To prepare for and respond effectively to such events, it is crucial to understand people's emotions and the life incidents they experience both before and after a disaster strikes. In this case study, we mined the emotions and life incidents expressed on Twitter during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey. Between August 20 and August 30, we collected a dataset of approximately 400,000 public tweets related to the storm. Using a BERT-based model, we predicted the emotions associated with each tweet. Following emotion prediction, we applied various natural language processing techniques to analyze the content of the tweets, aiming to uncover the 'topics' discussed alongside specific 'emotions.' To efficiently identify these topics, we utilized the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) technique for topic modeling, which allowed us to bypass manual content analysis and extract meaningful patterns from the data. However, rather than stopping at topic identification, we further refined our analysis by integrating Graph Neural Networks (GNN) and Large Language Models (LLM). The GNN was employed to generate embeddings and construct a similarity graph of the tweets, which was then used to optimize clustering. This step ensured that related tweets were accurately grouped together based on their content and context. Subsequently, we used an LLM to automatically generate descriptive names for each event cluster. This advanced approach allowed us to identify and label life incidents automatically, providing a nuanced understanding of the key issues faced by the community during the hurricane. The results revealed significant emotional shifts as the hurricane reached its most devastating phase. These shifts coincided with pressing concerns and demands from the population, such as evacuation plans, animal safety, safety updates, public policy, help requests, flood impacts, and the spread of fake news. By combining GNN and LLM for automatic event name prediction, our study not only mapped out the emotions but also accurately categorized the specific life incidents that were most relevant during the disaster, offering critical insights for disaster preparedness and response strategies.

The water-soluble vitamin - vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism, particularly in DNA synthesis, methylation, and mitochondrial functionality. Its de-ficiency can lead to hematological and neurological disorders, however the manifestation of these clinical outcomes is relatively late. It leads to difficulties in its early diagnosis, often resulting in the development of hidden subclinical cobalamin deficiency. Prolonged lack of vitamin B12 con-dition may have severe consequences including increased morbidity to neurological and cardio-vascular diseases. Beyond inadequate dietary intake, vitamin B12 deficiency might be caused by insufficient bioavailability, blood transport disruptions, or impaired cellular uptake and metabo-lism. Despite nearly 70 years of knowledge since its isolation and characterization, there are still gaps in understanding its metabolic pathways. Thus, this review aims to gather current knowledge about the crucial proteins necessary to efficiently process vitamin B12 in humans, presenting it as a multi-protein mediated network. Based on these findings, we also highlight new potential methods for supporting the evaluation of the risk of epidemiological consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency or clinical warnings of increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency based on already testing targeting specific moonlighting proteins engaged in vitamin B12 metabolic path-ways.

This study presents a computational simulation to explore the distinctive patterns of neural connectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), focusing on the concepts of spatial and topological proximities. ASD is characterized by unique cognitive and behavioral profiles, often attributed to atypical neural development and connectivity. Our simulation employs a two-pronged approach: first, by modeling spatial proximity through the generation of clustered 3D node positions, we mimic the observed over-connectivity in localized brain regions in ASD. Second, we construct a topological network to represent the complex interplay of under-connectivity and over-connectivity in functional brain networks, a hallmark of ASD's neural landscape. The spatial model demonstrates pronounced clustering, reflecting the structural brain differences and atypical growth patterns reported in neuroimaging studies of individuals with ASD. In contrast, the topological model reveals a network with a mix of sparse and dense connections, simulating the diverse and often contradictory findings of functional connectivity in ASD, such as reduced long-range connections and increased local connections. Our simulation provides a visual and conceptual framework for understanding the altered neural connectivity in ASD. It underscores the importance of considering both physical (spatial) and functional (topological) aspects of brain connectivity to grasp the full extent of neurodevelopmental deviations in ASD. This approach not only aids in elucidating the neural underpinnings of ASD's core symptoms but also offers a foundation for developing targeted interventions. Future research, integrating more complex and individual-specific data, could further refine this model, enhancing our understanding of ASD's neural dynamics and contributing to personalized therapeutic strategies.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), leading to elevated mortality rates among patients. We aimed to evaluate the levels of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hsTn), in SLE patients and to explore their relationship with clinical parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 82 SLE patients without evident cardiac or kidney impairment and 41 age- and sex matched healthy controls. We comparatively evaluated CAVI, GLS, VAC, and hsTn between SLE patients and controls, and we assessed their association among SLE patients with disease activity based on the SELENA-SLEDAI Activity Index. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of CAVI and hsTn within the SLE cohort. Results: In comparison to healthy controls, SLE patients presented with significantly higher CAVI, GLS and hsTn levels, while VAC was significantly reduced (p<0.001). Further, SLE patients with active disease (SELENA-SLEDAI≥4) exhibited higher levels of CAVI and troponin than those with inactive disease (p<0.001). SLEDAI was an independent predictor of CAVI, while VAC and SLEDAI were independent determinants of hsTn in SLE cohort. Conclusion: SLE patients displayed abnormal levels of CAVI, VAC, GLS, and troponin compared to healthy individuals. Our findings implicate the potential of those CV novel CVD risk factors to refine screening and therapeutic strategies for this specific population.

Many children and adults who have suffered prenatal hypoxia at an early age develop many serious diseases. This disease is an actual problem of pediatric cardiology and little studied. The aim was to analyze the cardioprotective effect of L-arginine, Thiotriazoline, Angioline and Mildronate on the cardiovascular system of rats after prenatal hypoxia. Methods: The experiments were carried out on 50 female white rats; intraperitoneal sodium nitrite solution was administered daily to pregnant female rats after 16 days at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Control pregnant rats received saline. The offspring were divided into groups: 1 – intact; 2 – the control group of rat pups after PH, daily treated with physiological saline; 3 – 6 groups of rat pups after PH, treated daily from the 1st to the 30th day after birth. Heat shock protein HSP70 was determined by enzyme immunoassay, ST2 Nitrotyrosine, eNOS was observed by ELISA. Results: Angiolin showed a high cardioprotective effect even a month after discontinuation of the drug, and after introduction, the highest decrease in ST2, nitrotyrosine was revealed. Thiotriazoline and L-arginine have an antioxidant effect and a positive effect on eNOS expression. increased the concentration of HSP70. Mildronate increased the expression of eNOS and the concentration of HSP70 in the blood of experimental rats after a course of administration, but did not show an antioxidant effect and did not reduce the concentration of nitrotyrosine. The results obtained indicate the cardioprotective effect of modulators of the NO system with different mechanisms of action of drugs after experienced prenatal hypoxia.

There is a have been positive correlations between the existence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the development of thyroid disorders. Prediabetes is a progressive state of moderate insulin resistance that often precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (TT2DM) however the association between prediabetes and thyroid function is unknown. This study assessed changes in markers of thyroid function in diet-induced prediabetes. 12 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into two groups. Rats in the non-prediabetic (NPD) group were fed a standard rat diet while rats in the prediabetic (PD) were fed a high-fat high carbohydrate diet for 20 weeks to induce prediabetes. Thereafter, fasting blood glucose levels were measured. Plasma samples were assessed for triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroxine peroxidase (TPO) antibody, insulin and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations. The elevated blood glucose, HbA1c and plasma insulin levels coincided with increased T3 and reduced T4 levels in the PD group when compared to the NPD group. There was also an increase in the concentration of TPO antibodies in the PD group. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the thyroid hormone concentrations and HbA1c levels. In conclusion, these results indicated that there is a positive association between thyroid dysfunction and diet-induced prediabetes.

Amphetamine is a psychostimulant drug with a high risk of toxicity and death when misused. Abuse of amphetamines is associated with an altered organic profile, which includes omega fatty acids. Low omega fatty acid levels are linked to mental disorders. Using the Comparative Toxicogenomic Database (CTD), we investigated the chemical profile of the brain in amphetamine-related fatalities and the possibility of neurotoxicity. We classified amphetamine cases as low (0-0.5 g/ml), medium (>0.5 to 1.5 g/ml), and high (>1.5 g/ml) based on amphetamine levels in brain samples. All three groups shared 1-octadecene, 1-tridecene, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosane, and oleylamide. We identified chemical-disease associations using the CTD tools and predict an association between docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids and curated conditions like autistic disorder, disorders related to cocaine, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive dysfunction. An amphetamine challenge may cause neurotoxicity in the human brain due to a decrease in omega-3 fatty acids and an increase in oxidative products. Therefore, in cases of amphetamine toxicity, supplement therapy may necessitate preventing omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

The classification and summarization of online reviews using machine learning and deep learningbased approaches are the subject of this systematic literature review. Consumers, companies, and researchers can now find vital information from online reviews. Automatically categorizing and summarizing these reviews can offer useful information and facilitate decision-making. The purpose of this study is to offer a thorough overview of the current methodology, approaches, and developments in this area. The review concentrates on machine learning-based methods for categorization and summarizing tasks, highlighting their advantages, drawbacks, and new developments. This systematic review provides insights into the most recent methodologies and indicates prospective directions for further investigation by synthesizing the data from a wide range of pertinent research publications

We discuss three key points: defining mathematically the notions of phase, symmetry breaking, topological defects and their stability in a formal language of homotopy theory and fiber bundle formalism; postulating and proving two theorems for successive symmetry breaking scenarios in condensed matter physics and cosmology, and demonstrating application of theorems to superfluid Helium 3 and Kibble-Lazarides-Shafi (KLS) walls, supporting and mathematically justifying the results of [Volovik, 2020].

To discover potential micro(mi)RNAs biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease progression, large-scale deep sequencing analysis of small RNA expression was performed on plasma samples from 40 patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection (median 13.50 [IQR 9–24] days since symptoms initiation) and 21 healthy noninfected individuals. A totally of 1218 different miRNAs were identified. When compared with healthy noninfected donors, SARS-CoV-2 infected patients showed significantly (fold change [FC] >1.2 and adjusted p [padj] <0.05) altered expression of 190 miRNAs. The top 10 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were miR-122-5p, let-7b-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-342-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-629-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-12136, let-7a-5p, and miR-191-5p, which displayed FC and padj values ranging from 153 to 5 and 2.51 × 10-32 to 2.21 × 10-21, respectively, which unequivocally diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection. No differences in blood cell counts and biochemical plasma parameters, including interleukin 6, ferritin and D-dimer, were observed between COVID-19 patients on high-flow oxygen therapy, low-flow oxygen therapy, or not requiring oxygen therapy. Notably, 31 significantly deregulated miRNAs were found when patients on high- and low-flow oxygen therapy were compared. SARS-CoV-2 infection generates a specific miRNA signature in hospitalized patients. Specific miRNA profiles are associated with COVID-19 prognosis in patients requiring oxygen flow.

Brassicaceae are well known as non-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) host plants. This study was aimed to examine effects of two Brassica; cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. cv. cabitata) and mustard (B. juncea Coss.) on three AM species (Acaulospora, Entrophospora and Glomus) and to examine effect of root incorporation into soil on root AM infectivity in maize growing in iron toxicity soil. Experiment 1, cabbage and mustard crop reduced spore density of Acaulospora, but there was no effect on spore density of Entrophospora. While, mustard crop had more effect on Glomus spore density than cabbage crop. Experiment 2, AM spore from two conditions; without and with 6 weeks of root residues (cabbage, mustard and maize) incorporation was examined for its infectivity in maize roots. At D21, without root incorporated, the infectivity of Acaulospora, Entrophospora and Glomus were not different. By contrast, cabbage and mustard root incorporation depressed infec-tivity of Acaulospora but, there was no effect on Entrophospora. Whereas, cabbage root incorporation only depressed infectivity of Glomus. However, AM infectivity was recovered at D42. These results suggested that Brassica root incorporated into soil was the actual effect on the viability of AM spore resulting in reduction of AM infectivity at the early stage.

Electromobility promises to efficiently mitigate consequences of increasing traffic volume and its accompanied greenhouse gas emissions. On an individual level, electrified bikes allow emission free electrified mobility at moderate costs and consequently their stock has increased significantly in recent years. This simultaneously increases the demand for spare parts, which are often manufacturer or application-specific, and due to many variants, challenging to provide for the market. This article evaluates powder-based and extrusion-based metal additive manufacturing of a typical electrified bike component to demonstrate an alternative spare parts supply. The investigation demonstrates how these parts can be additively manufactured function equivalent and with sufficient mechanical properties, also taking economical aspects into account. Furthermore, the needed resources and related environmental consequences for metal-based additive manufacturing spare-part production are compared for both process routes. The results show that both routes are capable of producing spare-parts at comparatively same mechanical performance and resource costs, while needed resources such as energy, gases and manufacturing time are significantly lower for powder-based, respectively machine costs for extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Therefore, additive manufacturing offers a promising opportunity to produce parts in small quantities resource efficient and rapidly.

The intricate interplay between driver cognitive dysfunction, mental workload (MWL), and heart rate variability (HRV) provides a captivating avenue for investigation within the domain of transportation safety studies. This article presents a comprehensive review and examines cognitive hindrance stemming from mental workload and heart rate variability. It scrutinizes the mental workload experienced by drivers by leveraging data gleaned from prior studies that employed heart rate monitoring systems and eye tracking technology, thereby illuminating the correlation between cognitive impairment, mental workload, and physiological indicators such as heart rate and ocular movements. The investigation is grounded in the premise that the mental workload of drivers can be assessed through physiological cues, such as heart rate and eye movements. The study discovered that heart rate variability (HRV) and infrared (IR) measurements played a crucial role in evaluating fatigue and workload for skilled drivers. However, the study overlooked potential factors contributing to cognitive impairment in drivers and could benefit from incorporating alternative indicators of cognitive workload for deeper insights. Furthermore, investigated driving simulators demonstrated that an eco-safe driving Human-Machine Interface (HMI) significantly promoted safe driving behaviors without imposing excessive mental and visual workload on drivers. Recommendations were made for future studies to consider additional indicators of cognitive workload, such as subjective assessments or task performance metrics, for a more comprehensive understanding.

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D’s effect on risk health outcomes is often evaluated using prospective cohort studies. Risk ratios (RRs; e.g., hazard ratios or odds ratios) are determined for incidence for participants with baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations below or above specified values. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations vary over time, thereby diluting the effect of 25(OH)D for long follow-up periods. Inverse relationships between RR and follow-up period have been reported for all-cause mortality rate and cancer incidence rates. Here I evaluate the effect for neurological outcomes. Methods: I analyzed how follow-up period affected results from 10 cohort studies of all-cause dementia, 6 studies of Alzheimer’s disease, and 9 for cognitive impairment with respect to vitamin D deficiency. Results: For all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive impairment, respectively, the linear regression fits are RR = 2.9 – 0.14 × years, r = 0.73, p = 0.02; RR = 2.9 – 0.14 × years, r = 0.69, p = 0.13; and RR = 1.8 – 0.066 × years, r = 0.72, p = 0.03. The regression fit to RR for the shortest follow-up period for each outcome is considered the best estimate of vitamin D deficiency’s effect on risk. Those values are approximately twice that found by averaging all RRs without considering the effect of follow-up period. Conclusions: Vitamin D’s effect on risk of neurological conditions should be determined with relatively short follow-up periods after repeated 25(OH)D measurements as warranted during follow-up.

We have now identified two thermodynamically distinct types (A and B) of energetic processes naturally occurring on Earth. Type A energy processes such as the classical heat engines, apparently well follow the second law of thermodynamics; Type B energy processes, such as the newly discovered thermotrophic function that isothermally utilizes environmental heat energy to do useful work in driving ATP synthesis, which follows the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of mass and energy) but does not have to be constrained by the second law, owing to their special asymmetric functions. Several Type-B energy processes such as asymmetric-function-gated isothermal electricity and epicatalysis have been created through human efforts. The innovative efforts on Type-B processes to enable isothermally utilizing endless environmental heat energy could help to liberate all peoples from their dependence on fossil fuel energy, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gas CO2 emissions and control climate change towards a sustainable future for the humanity on Earth.

In this review, severe plastic deformation (SPD) is considered as a materials processing technology. The deformation mode is the principal characteristic differentiating SPD from common forming operations. For large plastic strains, deformation mode depends on the distribution of strain rates between continuum slip lines and can be varied from pure shear to simple shear. A scalar, invariant and dimensionless coefficient of deformation mode is introduced as a normalized speed of rigid rotation. On this basis, simple shear provides the optimum mode for structure modification and grain refinement whereas pure shear is "ideal" for forming operations. Special experiments and SPD practice confirm this conclusion. Various techniques of SPD are classified and described in accordance with simple shear realization or approximation. It is shown that correct analyses of the processing mechanics and technological parameters are essential for comparison of SPD techniques and the development of effective industrial technologies.

Background: The accelerated ageing of the world's population will lead to an increase in the number of older persons in the workforce. Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) is effective in improving cognitive outcomes, but its benefits for older workers remain controversial. We investigate the real-world efficacy of CCT in the workplace, focusing on employees aged 50+ years from a public sector agency. Methods: Case managers (N = 82) were randomized to either Intervention group (24 40-minute CCT sessions two times per week) or waiting list passive Control group. Cognitive ability, wellbeing, job satisfaction, and productivity outcome measures were collected assessed before and after CCT or comparable Control wait time. Results: Participants undergoing CCT improved on a task of executive functioning (p = 0.04). There was a trend toward change in work productivity after CCT (p = 0.09) with the Control group showing a significant decrease (p = 0.02), while the Intervention group remained stable. Conclusions: CCT during office hours has a positive effect on cognition and well-being without affecting the productivity among white-collar office workers. CCT could be considered as an intervention to support the older workforce in managing the cognitive and behavioral challenges of changing workplace demands.

Abstract The heart serves as the pivotal organ generating rhythmic contractions allowing blood ejection from the ventricles and its circulation in the cardiovascular system. Contractions of the heart requires oxygen and energy consumption and removal of metabolic factors from cardiac myocytes. The mechanical performance of the cardiac muscle and production of the vasoactive factors are significantly affected in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, especially in the heart failure, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The processes affecting coronary blood flow and cardiac contractility in these diseases are not fully recognized. The present review draws attention to specific role of angiotensin peptides, vasopressin and insulin in the regulation of the coronary blood flow and cardiac contractions. There is evidence for intracardiac production of some of these compounds and their importance in the regulation of the cardiac tissue oxygenation, energy production and metabolism, and generation of other cardiovascular compounds, such as nitric oxide, bradykinin and endothelin. Presence of receptors for angiotensin II, angiotensin-(1-7) and insulin in the coronary vessels and cardiomyocyes sets up conditions for interaction of these factors at the signaling level. Coronary vessels and cardiac muscle possess AT1 and AT2 receptors, angiotensin-1-7 receptor, vasopressin V1 receptor, and insulin receptor substrates. Expression of these receptors and responsiveness to angiotensins, vasopressin and insulin are altered during heart failure, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus, especially when these diseases occur simultaneously. The survey of the literature presented in the review provides evidence for the belief that very individualized treatment, including interactions of angiotensins and vasopressin with insulin, should be selected for patients suffering simultaneously for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Abstract: Social media has become a vital tool in ensuring productivity among Undergraduates, as studies have shown an increased number of users globally. This study assessed the impact of social media usage on undergraduates’ academic performance and working memory. Participants from three different universities such as the University of Georgia (UG), Eastern European University (EEU), and Batumi State University (BSU) completed this study using online google forms. UG and EEU are in the capital city, and BSU is in Batumi City. The study questionnaires were approved by the institutional review board before the data collection. Descriptive analyses were assessed for all study populations, characteristics, frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, version 25.0 for Windows) software. 41.3% were male students, as most of the participants were foreign students living and studying in Georgia. Male students had the risk of ‘conflict’ with families and friends because of social media. Female students are at increased risk of using social media as an ‘escape’ from negative feelings. 89.7% of students that perform physical activities, considering their academic workload had the risk of preoccupation complaints. 87.9% felt dissatisfied regularly because they wanted to spend more time on social media. Utilization of social media differed based on the characteristics of the participants such as age, gender, and geography. We observed the increase in prevalence of social media addiction, its effect on academic performance and working memory among undergraduate students.

Aβ1-42 (amyloid beta) oligomers, the major neurotoxic culprits in Alzheimer's disease, initiate early pathophysiological events, including neuronal hyperactivity, that underlie aberrant network activity and cognitive impairment. Although several synaptotoxic effects have been extensively studied, neuronal hyperexcitability which may also contribute to cognitive deficits is not fully understood. Here, we found several adverse effects of in vivo injection of Aβ1-42 oligomers on contextual memory and intrinsic properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Male rats underwent behavioral and electrophysiological studies 1 week after microinjections into the dorsal CA1 region, followed by histological analysis. After 1 week, Aβ1-42 oligomers impaired contextual learning without affecting basic physiological functions and triggered training-induced neuronal excitability. Furthermore, riluzole, a persistent sodium current (INaP) blocker, dose-dependently reduced Aβ1-42 oligomer-induced hyperexcitability. Congo red staining, which detects insoluble amyloid deposits, further identified labeling of CA1 pyramidal neurons while immunohistochemistry with lecanemab, which detects soluble Aβ oligomers, revealed immunoreactivity of both pyramidal and non-pyramidal cells in the target area. Therefore, our study suggests that a single injection of Aβ1-42 oligomers resulted in contextual memory deficits along with concomitant neuronal hyperexcitability and amyloid deposition in the CA1 region after 1 week.

Insect behavior is coordinated mainly by smell, through the diverse odor-binding proteins (OBP) that allow them to identify and recognize their environment. Sensory information collected through smell is then analyzed and interpreted in the brain, allowing for correct insect functioning. The behavior of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) can be affected by different pathogens, such as deformed wing virus (DWV). In particular, DWV variant A (DWV-A) is capable of altering olfactory sensitivity, reducing the gene expression of different OBPs, including those associated with nursing behavior. DWV is also capable of replicating itself in the sensory lobes of the brain, further compromising the processing of sensory information. This study evaluated the behavioral response of nurse honey bees exposed to a pheromone compound and the alterations in the gene expression of pre- and post-synaptic neuronal genes neuroxins-1 and neurogilin-1 in the bee heads and OBP proteins in antennae of nurse bees inoculated with DWV-A. The behavioral response of nurse bees exposed to the larval pheromone compounds benzyl alcohol was analyzed using a Y-tube olfactometer. The viral load, gene expression of OBP5 and OBP11 in antennae and the neuroxins-1 and neurogilin-1 in the bee heads were analyzed by qPCR. High viral loads significantly reduced the ability of 10- and 15-day-old nurse honey bees to choose the correct pheromone compound. Also, the gene expression of OBP5, OBP11, neuroxin-1 and neurogilin-1 in nurse honey bees decreased when they were highly infected with DWV-A. These results suggest that a DWV-A infection can disturb information processing and cause nurse honey bees to reduce their activity inside the hive, altering internal cohesion.

Targets for finished livestock are often determined by expected fat, either subcutaneous or intramuscular. These targets are used frequently to improve the chances of acceptable eating quality. Lower intramuscular fat, lack of product uniformity, and reduced or insufficient tenderness can negatively impact beef acceptability. This study aimed to investigate differences in gene expression that potentially alter subsequent metabolism and intercellular signaling in the muscle and proximate intermuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissue in beef carcasses at different fat endpoints. In this study, Longissimus thoracis muscle samples and associated adipose tissue were collected at harvest. RNA was harvested from both tissues, and individual samples were sequenced using RNAseq. Differential expression was determined using edgeR, and p-values were adjusted using the Benjamini-Hochberg method. A corrected p-value of 0.005 and log₂ (fold change) of 1 was set as the threshold to identify differential expression of genes. Comparison between intermuscular fat and subcutaneous fat showed no differences between the genes activated in the two adipose tissue depots, suggesting that subcutaneous fat could be sampled to evaluate changes in adipose tissue. Carcass data allowed the classification of carcasses by projected USDA quality grades (marbling targets). In the comparison between muscle from Standard and Choice carcasses, 15 genes were downregulated, and 20 were upregulated. The insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS 1) gene was the only known functionally important gene to be differentially expressed. There were 49 downregulated genes and 113 upregulated genes in the comparison between adipose tissue from Standard and Choice carcasses. These genes are mostly related to the metabolism of fat and energy. This potentially indicates that muscle is not changing at the transcript level as much as the adipose tissue at the sampled endpoints. Also, subcutaneous fat can be used to evaluate transcript changes in both subcutaneous and intermuscular fat. However, it is not clear if these fat tissues can be used as surrogates for intramuscular fat or marbling.

Iron (Fe) is a trace element that plays essential roles in various biological processes such as DNA synthesis and repair, as well as cellular energy production, or oxygen transport, and it is currently widely recognized that iron homeostasis is dysregulated in many cancers. Indeed, several iron homeostasis proteins may be responsible for malignant tumor initiation, proliferation, and for metastatic spread of tumors. A large number of studies demonstrated the potential clinical value of turning these deregulated proteins as prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers of malignancy and /or response to anticancer treatments. Additionally, the iron addiction of cancer cells and the importance of iron in ferroptosis cell death signaling pathways prompted the development of therapeutic strategies against advanced stage or resistant cancers. In this review, we selected relevant and promising studies in the field of iron metabolism in cancer research and clinical oncology. Besides, we discuss some co-existing discrepant findings. We will also present and discuss the latest lines of research related to targeting iron, or its regulatory pathways, as potential promising anti-cancer strategies for human therapy. Iron chelators, such as deferoxamine or iron-oxide based nanoparticles, which are already tested in clinical trials, alone or in combination with chemotherapy will also be reported.

Impulsive buying is a growing problem of modern society with significant financial and psychological consequences, and it is necessary to examine the mechanisms underlying it. Understanding the mechanisms driving this behaviour is crucial. Impulsive buying consists of two key aspects: a cognitive aspect, characterised by a lack of planning and reflection, and an affective aspect, involving emotional responses that can occur before, during, or after a purchase. This study aimed to explore the relationship between personality traits, as measured by the HEXACO model, and tendencies toward impulsive buying. Specifically, it examined how the HEXACO traits differentially predict the cognitive and affective components of impulsive buying tendencies.

Making computing machines mimic living organisms has captured the imagination of many since the dawn of digital computers. However, today’s artificial intelligence technologies fall short in replicating even the basic autopoietic and cognitive behaviors found in primitive biological systems. According Charles Darwin, the difference in mind between humans and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. Autopoiesis refers to the behavior of a system that replicates itself and maintains its own identity and stability while facing fluctuations caused by external influences. Cognitive behaviors model the system’s state, sense internal and external changes, analyze, predict and take action to mitigate any risk to its functional fulfilment. How did intelligence evolve? what is the relationship between the mind and body? Answers to these questions should guide us to infuse autopoietic and cognitive behaviors into digital machines. In this paper we use recent advances in our understanding of general theory of information, and the role of structures in managing the transformations between information and knowledge to pave the path to infuse autopoietic and cognitive functions into digital computing and build a new class of intelligent machines going beyond the current state of the art.

A processual texture lies at the core of phenomena that undergo change. Philosophers have observed the incessant becoming of our world from antiquity to the present day, but an explanation must still be found in terms of contemporary metaphysics. This article strives to bring the focus on the domain of possibles, an under-theorised philosophical issue that dwells in the ontological realm between the possibility and its actual realization. Sketching a more comprehensive concept of the possible unravelling the thread of its main meanings, the process of change will be not simply clarified from inside, but also understood as an activator of reality. Finally, the discussion will argue for a principle of prudence and responsibility derived from an ontological basis.

Companies have been increasing the amount of data that they collect from their systems and processes, considering the decrease in the cost of memory and storage technologies in recent years. The emergence of technologies such as Big Data, Cloud Computing, E-Science, and the growing complexity of information systems made evident that traceability and provenance are promising approaches. Provenance has been successfully used in complex domains, like health sciences, chemical industries, and scientific computing, considering that these areas require a comprehensive semantic traceability mechanism. Based on these, we investigate the use of provenance in the context of Software Process (SP) and introduce a novel approach based on provenance concepts to model and represent SP data. It addresses SP provenance data capturing, storing, new information inferencing and visualization. The main contribution of our approach is PROV-SwProcess, a provenance model to deal with the specificities of SP and its ability in supporting process managers to deal with vast amounts of execution data during the process analysis and data-driven decision-making. A set of analysis possibilities were derived from this model, using SP goals and questions. A case study was conducted in collaboration with a software development company to instantiate the PROV-SwProcess model (using the proposed approach) with real-word process data. This study showed that 87.5% of the analysis possibilities using real data was correct and can assist in decision-making, while 62.5% of them are not possible to be performed by the process manager using his currently dashboard or process management tool.

An analysis of the physical and chemical phenomena accompanying the electrical discharges was carried out, principal factors inactivating microorganisms is studied. Characteristic factors of an electric discharge in cavitation mode providing a synergistic effect when disinfecting water with a discharge and chemical reagents are identified in order of importance. As a result of the integral action of cavitation, the inactivation of bacteria is intensified both due to the emergence of chem-ically active particles and due to local shock waves, acoustic currents and ultraviolet radiation in the area of cavitating bubbles. The similarity of cavitation processes in water systems implemented by underwater electric discharges and with the ultrasound has been experimentally proved. The main advantage of electric discharge cavitation in comparison with ultrasonic one is the wide band of ultrasonic frequencies of radiation inherent in electric discharge, high intensity and power of cav-itation processes, and, accordingly, the possibility of a significant increase in the volume of the disinfected liquid. The study enable better understanding and prediction of the effects that occur during a high-voltage underwater electrical discharge and have a bactericidal effect.

Previous studies reported a reduction of the perceived effort and an improvement of the perfor-mances of healthy subjects and patients when a motor task was combined with artistic images with respect to non-artistic images. This phenomenon, called Michelangelo effect, could contribute to the efficacy of art therapy in neurorehabilitation. In this study, the possible occurrence of this effect was tested in a cognitive task by asking to 15 healthy subjects and 17 patients with stroke to solve a digital version of the classical memory card game. Three different types of images were used in a randomized order: French cards, artistic portraits, and photos of famous people (to compensate the possible effects of face recognition). Healthy subjects were involved to test the usability and the load demanding of the developed system, reporting no statistically significant differences among the three sessions (p > 0.05). Conversely, patients had a better performance in terms of time (p = 0.014) and number of trials (p = 0.007) needed to complete the task in presence of artistic stimuli, accompanied by a reduction of the perceived effort (p = 0.033). Furthermore, artistic stimuli, with respect to the other two types of images, seemed more associated to visuo-spatial control than to linguistic functions.

Background: Recent studies have found forward head posture (FHP) to be associated with altered physiology, however, there is a lack of research into whether FHP is associated with altered gait parameters when cognitively challenged. The current study was undertaken to investigate the changes in gait parameters in asymptomatic individuals with FHP when a cognitive dual task is introduced during walking. Methods: Ninety asymptomatic participants were recruited, 45 having FHP defined as having a craniovertebral angle (CVA) &lt; 50, and 45 sex and age-matched controls having normal head posture (NHP) defined as CVA &gt; 55. All participants walked along a 10 meter platform under a control condition (no cognitive load) with 3 consecutive trials while an optical motion-capture system consisting of 8 infrared cameras was used to assess gait kinematics. Secondly, participants were assessed under a dual task cognitive load condition (3 trials while performing simple addition, counting backwards, and answering yes or no questions) to identify the impact on gait kinematics compared to the control condition. Results: Under the single task condition, there were no significant differences for any gait parameter, however, under the dual task condition, 12/13 gait parameters were significantly altered for the FHP group compared to the NHP group (p &lt; .01). A calculation of dual task cost (DTC) percentage showed significant increases in all gait parameters in participants with FHP (p &lt; .02). Correlations between the CVA and gait parameters were not significant for the single task condition, but all gait parameters were correlated to CVA for the dual task condition (p &lt; .01). The correlation between CVA and DTC for all gait variables were also significant (p &lt; .04). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that FHP significantly increases the cognitive cost during walking, highlighting the importance of proper postural alignment for maintaining cognitive function under a dual task condition. Addressing FHP through targeted interventions could improve both physical and cognitive health, enhancing overall well-being and daily functioning.

We propose that a dietary reduction of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could reduce risk and slow the progression of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. LPS is a component of the highly inflammatory cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The highest dietary sources of LPS are processed meat and dairy products, which can sharply raise plasma LPS within one to two hours. The LPS in these foods is packaged into chylomicrons, which enter the bloodstream. Smaller amounts of LPS from colonic microbiota do not account for the sharp postprandial increase of plasma LPS. Once in the bloodstream, LPS can trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines within three hours. LPS can increase cytokines via LPS binding protein and cluster of differentiation-14, triggering toll-like receptor-4, and activating nuclear factor kappa-B. Nuclear factor kappa-B can increase cytokine levels, including interleukin-1-beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. LPS and inflammatory cytokines are higher in Alzheimer’s disease, both in plasma and in the central nervous system. These cytokines can enter the brain via active transport and induce microglial activation and inflammatory damage in the brain, including loss of synapses and neurons. Elevated brain inflammation from dietary LPS can contribute to cognitive impairment and increased risk of dementia.

Driven by mounting environmental apprehensions stemming from the over dependence on fossil fuels in energy and transportation sectors, extensive exploration into alternative energy sources, particularly biomass, has stimulated profound research on harnessing the potential of computational and mathematical techniques. This comprehensive survey delves into optimal models and strategies, unveiling their pivotal role in the design of biomass gasification processes.of hydrogen through biomass gasification. In this study, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the computational and mathematical techniques employed in optimizing biomass gasification processes, with a specific focus on enhancing hydrogen yield. Through an extensive literature review, various models and strategies will be examined, including thermodynamic analysis, kinetic modeling, reactor design, and process optimization. By uncovering the power of these techniques, we aim to contribute to the advancement of sustainable and efficient biomass utilization for the hydrogen-based future economy.This paper aims to provide an updated and comprehensive coverage of the investigations conducted on the potential of producing hydrogen from biomass through gasification. To achieve this, we incorporate the latest works that have utilized numerical modeling, simulation, optimization techniques, process heat integration, and co-generation in their studies. By encompassing these aspects, we aim to offer a broader and more in-depth re-appraisal of the subject matter. This will ensure that readers gain a holistic understanding of the advances made in the field and the potential for sustainable hydrogen production of biomass gasification.Through a meticulous re-appraisal and analysis of each subject, we can identify their respective strengths and areas that require further research effort. By thoroughly examining numerical modeling, simulation, optimization techniques, process heat integration, and co-generation, we can assess their effectiveness and applicability in the context of biomass gasification for hydrogen production. This analysis shed light on the areas where these techniques excel, as well as pinpoint limitations or gaps in current understanding. By identifying these areas, we can highlight the need for further research and development, enabling us to make significant advancements in biomass gasification processes and pave the way for a sustainable and efficient hydrogen-based future economy..

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat, leading to approximately 1.27 million deaths annually from infectious diseases resistant to existing antibiotics. Factors such as antibiotic misuse and environmental contamination have accelerated AMR, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the issue due to increased antibiotic usage. However, the development of new antibiotics has stagnated, with only a few approved in recent years, and many facing resistance. Among the priority pathogens identified by the WHO, Pseudomonas aeruginosa stands out as a significant concern due to its multidrug resistance and virulence. P. aeruginosa infections are challenging to treat due to intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms, as well as its ability to form biofilms. Additionally, P. aeruginosa produces a plethora of virulence factors, including proteases, siderophores, and toxins, further complicating treatment. Quorum sensing (QS) systems play a crucial role in regulating bacterial physiology and virulence factor expression. P. aeruginosa employs three QS systems, making it an attractive target for quorum quenching (QQ) strategies. Enzymes such as AHL lactonases, acylases, and oxidoreductases have shown promise in inhibiting QS, thus reducing virulence without impacting bacterial growth. Furthermore, natural QS inhibitors produced by various organisms offer potential therapeutic alternatives. Despite promising results in vitro, translating QQ strategies to clinical settings remains challenging. Nevertheless, QQ represents a novel approach in combating multidrug-resistant infections and warrants further investigation as a complementary therapeutic strategy alongside traditional antibiotics. This review summarizes enzymes with Qurorum Quenching activity evaluated against the pathogen P. aeruginosa and their potential applications in combination therapies.

Efficient heat management and control in optical devices, facilitated by advanced thermo-optic materials, is critical for many applications such as photovoltaics, thermal emitters, mode-locked lasers, and optical switches. Here, we investigate the thermo-optic properties of 2D graphene oxide (GO) films by precisely integrating them onto microring resonators (MRRs) with control over the film thicknesses and lengths. We characterize the refractive index, extinction coefficient, thermo-optic coefficient, and thermal conductivity of for the GO films with different layer numbers and degrees of reduction, including reversible reduction and enhanced optical bistability induced by photo-thermal effects. Experimental results show that the thermo-optic properties of 2D GO films vary widely with the degree of reduction, with significant polarization anisotropy, enabling efficient polarization sensitive devices. The versatile thermo-optic response of 2D GO substantially expands the scope of functionalities and devices that can be engineered, making it promising for a diverse range of thermo-optic applications.

We investigate the impact of aging on exchangeable inter-arrival times in mixed renewal processes, exploring its implications for reliability and survival analysis. In this study, first, we revisit the definition of renewal point processes, where inter-event time intervals are considered as exchangeable non-negative random variables. Then, we define the concept of statistical aging as latency in the observational process of event counting. Latency affects event detection but preserves exchangeability. However, it may alter the statistical properties of inter-event time intervals. Our analytical and numerical assessments highlight the significance of aging in exchangeable lifetimes, offering insights into key metrics such as the failure survival function, renewal function, and hazard rate function. Through archetypal examples and empirical findings, we illustrate the implications of aging on renewal processes. In particular, employing a Bayesian perspective, we analyze high-frequency currency exchange rate data to assess the impact of aging on volatility risk evaluation. This study contributes novel insights to the literature of renewal theory and survival analysis, emphasizing the role of latency aging in stochastic point processes under exchangeability assumption.

The required processes and steps for making bread include technological and innovative concepts. The current trend is the use of less toxic compounds and green processes. Besides lactic acid bacteria and yeast, other microorganisms with special properties, such as enzymes, new aroma and flavor, exopolysaccharides, and vitamins, among other compounds with beneficial properties, could be added to bread manufacture, improving bread quality and health effects for the consumers. Freeze drying, new encapsulation methods, cryoprotectants, spray drying, fluidized bed drying, and vacuum drying are used for probiotics and microorganism cultures that will be used as starters or biological additives in the fermentation. The same development is observed in the preservation methods, and studies with plant extracts and essential oils have been proposed and introduced, replacing chemical agents, such as propionate, within the clean-label bread formulations concept. Baking science is a growing research line incorporating innovative methods and biological additives.

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to summarize recent knowledge on the main processes that occur during wound healing, including the responses of various cell types and the molecular mechanisms involved. Particular attention is also dedicated to new therapies often involved in the resolution of wounds, whether acute or chronic. Awareness of these dynamics is important for the various professional figures who are confronted with these kinds of problem daily. However, the study of the healing mechanisms has yet to be defined in detail, in fact there are alterations of variously coordinated events which lead to a delayed resolution or, as in the case of keloids, to pathological states consisting in the excessive formation of scars with consequences yet to be seen. to define. Therefore, it is necessary to know the most feasible approaches and the most effective therapies.

A class of models for non-Gaussian spatial random fields is explored for spatial field reconstruction in environmental and sensor network monitoring. The family of models explored utilises a class of transformation functions known as the Tukey g-and-h transformations to create a family of warped spatial Gaussian process models which can support various desirable features such as flexible marginal distributions, which can be skewed, leptokurtic and/or heavy-tailed. The resulting model is widely applicable in a range of spatial field reconstruction applications. To utilise the model in applications in practice, it is important to carefully characterise the statistical properties of the Tukey g-and-h random fields. In this work, we both study the properties of the resulting warped Gaussian processes as well as using the characterising statistical properties of the warped processes to obtain flexible spatial field reconstructions. In this regard, we derive five different estimators for various important quantities often considered in spatial field reconstruction problems. These include the multi-point Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) estimators; the multiple point Maximum A-Posteriori (MAP) estimators; an efficient class of multiple-point linear estimators based on the Spatial-Best Linear Unbiased (S-BLUE) estimators; and two multi-point threshold exceedance based estimators, namely the Spatial Regional and Level Exceedance estimators. Simulation results and real data examples show the benefits of using the Tukey g-and-h transformation as opposed to standard Gaussian spatial random fields in a real data application for environmental monitoring.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a crop plant with high economic value, but the epigenetic regulation of its growth and development has only rarely been studied. The peanut histone deacetylase 1 gene (AhHDA1) has been isolated and is known to be ABA- and drought-responsive. In this paper, we investigate the role of AhHDA1 in more detail, focussing on the effect of altered AhHDA1 expression in hairy roots at both the phenotypic and transcriptional levels. Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of A. hypogaea hairy roots was used to analyse how overexpression or RNA interference of AhHDA1 affects this tissue. In both types of transgenic hairy root, RNA sequencing was adopted to identify genes that were differentially expressed, and these genes were assigned to specific metabolic pathways. AhHDA1-overexpressing hairy roots were growth-retarded after 20 d in vitro cultivation, and superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide accumulated to a greater extent than in control or RNAi groups. Overexpression of AhHDA1 is likely to accelerate flux through various secondary synthetic metabolic pathways in hairy roots, as well as reduce photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Genes encoding the critical enzymes caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (Araip.XGB85) and caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (Araip.Z3XZX) in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, chalcone synthase (Araip.B8TJ0) and polyketide reductase (Araip.MKZ27) in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, and hydroxyisoflavanone synthase (Araip.0P3RJ) and isoflavone 2'-hydroxylase (Araip.S5EJ7) in the isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway were significantly upregulated by AhHDA1 overexpression, while their expression in AhHDA1-RNAi and control hairy roots remained at a lower level or was unchanged. Our results suggest that alteration of secondary metabolism activities is related to overexpression of AhHDA1, which is mainly reflected in phenylpropanoid, flavonoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Future studies will focus on the function of AhHDA1 interacting proteins and their action on cell growth and stress responses.

In this paper, we study the constrained minimization problem for an energy functional which is related to the following Kirchhoff type equation \begin{equation*} -\Big(\eta+b\big(\int_{\R^{3}}|\nabla u|^{2}dx\big)^{s}\Big)\Delta u+V(x)u=\mu u +\lambda|u|^{p}u,\end{equation*} where $b$ is a positive constant, parameters $\eta\geq0, \lambda>0$, exponents $s>0$, $0

Microgreens (young, edible plantlets) are a remarkable opportunity for both consumers, to benefit from health promoting compounds and for applied research, as such organisms have a very high plasticity related to environmental cues, allowing biotechnology development with low costs. Ocimum basilicum species naturally synthesize valuable, phenolic compounds, among which rosmarinic acid is most prominent. Basil plantlets were grown for 10 days under either full spectrum light (white light) or modulated blue:red:far-red:UV spectrum with an additional factorization, by applying fertilisation. Biomass accumulation reached up to 0.8 g/20 plantlets, while chlorophyll fluorescence was in the 0.75 – 0.78 range and remained uniform across treatments, indicating that no significant stress was exerted under modified light treatment. However, total phenolic contents and, in particular, rosmarinic acid contents were markedly enhanced (up to 7.5 mg/g in the red cultivar) under modulated light treatment and fertilization, compared to full spectrum light. Moreover, gene expression was enhanced, 1.3-6.3 fold for genes coding for enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid synthesis patwhays, such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Overall, light modulation coupled with fertilization led to the production of basil microgreens with up to 10% more total phenolics and up to 25% more rosmarinic acid.

Badminton is one of the most popular racket sports played by children up to the elderly worldwide. Everyone can practice and play badminton as a leisure or competitive sport, regardless of age, experience, or skill level. It does not require physical contact among players and expensive equipment. Compared with closed-skill exercise (e.g., running, swimming), open-skill exercise (e.g., badminton, table tennis) has been reported to intervene more with cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline. In this review, we outline the characteristics of badminton’s beneficial effects on physical and cognitive aspects. The characteristics presented here indicate that intervention with regular badminton exercise could effectively improve cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline in the elderly.

Cognitive linguistics is founded on the assumption that language is a reflection of universal cognitive principles, implying that all cognitive processes share a common origin. This assumption is known as the 'Cognitive Commitment.' The present article examines the sensory schema hypothesis, which traces all forms of expression back to sensations. This theoretical framework integrates the physicality of the body with sensations that underlie human experiences and their linguistic and non-linguistic expressions. By challenging the traditional dichotomy between mind and body, it provides a more integrated understanding.

Introduction: Periodontitis is a severe oral infection that can contribute to systemic inflammation. A large body of evidence suggests a role for systemic inflammation in the initiation of neurodegenerative disease. This systematic review synthesized data from observational studies to investigate the association between periodontitis and neuroinflammation in adults. Methods and materials: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) was performed for studies published from the date of inception up to September 2021. Search terms for the exposure “oral disease” and outcome “dementia”, “neuroinflammation” and “cognitive decline” were used. Study selection and data extraction were independently undertaken by two reviewers. The final eligible articles were included only if the exposure is periodontitis and the outcome is cognitive impairment or dementia or a topic related to this condition, and if the study was conducted in an adult population. The quality and risk of bias were assessed by Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Qualitative synthesis was used to narratively synthesize the results. Six cohort studies, three cross-sectional studies, and two case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. These eleven studies were only narratively synthesized. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the methodological heterogeneity of the studies. Results: All the included studies show evidence of an association between periodontitis and cognitive im-pairment or dementia and Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Conclusion: Nonetheless, the mechanisms responsible for the association between periodontitis and dementia are still unclear.

Sulfate, the main dissolved contaminant in acid mine drainage (AMD), is ubiquitous in watersheds affected by coal and metal mining operations worldwide. Engineered passive bioremediation systems (PBS) are low-cost technologies that remediate sulfate contamination by promoting (1) precipitation of sulfate-bearing compounds, such as schwertmannite and gypsum; and (2) microbially-mediated sulfate reduction (BSR) to sulfide with subsequent precipitation of sulfide minerals. In this study, chemical and sulfur isotopic data are used to infer multiple pathways for sulfate sequestration in the Tab-Simco PBS. By simultaneously monitoring sulfate concentrations and δ34SSO4 values at four sampling points across the PBS, we (1) identified that the organic layer within the bioreactor was the primary site of BSR processes contributing to sulfate sequestration; (2) observed seasonal variations of BSR processes; (3) estimated that initially the BSR processes contributed up to 30% to sulfate sequestration in the Tab-Simco bioreactor; and (4) determined that BSR contribution to sulfate sequestration continuously declined over the PBS operational lifetime. Together, our results highlight the utility of combining geochemical and microbial fingerprinting techniques to decipher complementary processes involved in sulfur cycling in a PBS as well as the value of adding the sulfur isotope approach as an essential tool to help understand, predict, prevent and mitigate sulfate contamination in AMD-impacted systems.

Before calcification begins, the early embryonic and fetal skeletal development of both mammalian Homo sapiens and the chondrichthyan fish Raja asterias consists exclusively of cartilage. This cartilage is formed and shaped through processes involving tissue segmentation and the frequency, distribution, and orientation of chondrocyte mitoses. In the subsequent developmental phase, mineral deposition in the cartilage matrix conditions the development further. The stiffness and structural layout of the mineralized cartilage have a significant impact on the shape of the anlagen (early formative structures of organs or tissues) and the mechanical properties of the skeletal segments. The fundamental difference between the two studied species lies in how calcified cartilage serves as a scaffold for osteoblasts to deposit bone matrix, which is then remodeled. In contrast, chondrichthyans retain the calcified cartilage as the definitive skeletal structure. This study documents the distinct mineral deposition pattern in the cartilage of the chondrichthyan R. asterias, in which calcification progresses with the formation of focal calcification nuclei or “tesserae”. These are arranged on the flat surface of the endo-skeleton (crustal pattern) or aligned in columns (catenated pattern) in the radials of the appendicular skeleton. This anatomical structure is well adapted to meet the mechanical requirements of locomotion in the water column. Conversely, in terrestrial mammals, endochondral ossification (associated with the remodeling of the calcified matrix) provides limb bones with the necessary stiffness to withstand the strong bending and twisting stresses of terrestrial locomotion. In this study, X-rays of marine mammals (reproduced from previously published studies) document how the endochondral ossification in dolphin’s flipper adapts to the mechanical demands of aquatic locomotion. This adaptation includes the reduction in the length of the stylopodium and zeugopodium and an increase in the number of elements in the autopodium’s central rays.

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) attack the vine's wood, devastating vineyards worldwide. Chile is the world's fourth largest wine exporter, and Cabernet Sauvignon leads the red wine varieties. Botryosphaeria dieback is an important GTDs and Diplodia seriata is one of the main pathogenic species. Biocontrol studies of these pathogens are commonly carried out at different incubation times but at a single temperature. This study aimed to evaluate the biocontrol effect of native Chilean bacteria against D. seriata isolates at different temperatures. We analyzed the biocontrol effects of Pseudomonas sp. GcR15a, Pseudomonas sp. AMCR2b and Rhodococcus sp. PU4, with three D. seriata isolates (PUCV 2120, PUCV 2142 and PUCV 2183) at 8, 22 and 35°C. Agar plug diffusion and double plate methods were used to evaluate the effect of diffusible and volatile organic compounds (DOC and VOC), and an in vivo test was performed with Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings. Pseudomonas strains showed the most significant inhibition in the DOC assay, and a demelanizing activity was observed. Rhodococcus sp. PU4 showed VOC biocontrol potential at high temperatures (35°C). In vivo, a biocontrol effect was observed against two D. seriata isolates, while the PUCV 2142 isolate proved to be more resistant to being controlled. The biocontrol ability at low temperatures is promising for effective control in the field, where infections occur primarily in winter.

Living processes are integral to open systems for multiple reasons. From a thermodynamic perspective, they reduce local entropy at the cost of increasing environmental entropy. Furthermore, these processes are inherently nonlinear owing to their feedback interactions with the environment. Nonlinear systems exhibit diverse behaviours: some stabilize at a constant value, whereas others display bifurcations and chaotic dynamics. This study introduces a model that describes living processes as the dynamics of nonlinear single-value diverging maps, whereas chaotic evolution is associated with the increasing entropy environment. This model enables us to describe the lifetime of different species simply by varying the model parameters. This model also simplifies explaining the transition from life to death.

Power grid reliability is crucial to supporting critical infrastructure, but monitoring and maintenance activities are expensive and sometimes dangerous. Remote sensing enables real time data monitoring and collection related to environmental and industrial processes, like the power grid system. Monitoring the power grid successfully involves diverse sources of data including that inherent to the power operation and ambient atmospheric weather data. Detection methods can identify anomalies like arcing, and climate data in particular is becoming increasingly important in order to maintain power supply. Gaussian processes (GPs) are a well-established Bayesian method for analyzing data. However, the computational complexity of GPs limits their scalability. This is a challenge when dealing with remote sensing datasets, where acquiring a significant amount of data is common. Alternatively, traditional machine learning methods perform quickly and accurately, but lack the generalizability innate to GPs. The focus of this review is burgeoning research that leverages Gaussian processes and machine learning in remote sensing applications.

A set of programs for the numerical simulation of the diffusion decomposition processes was developed by using simulation methods, kinetic and particle method. The complex has been validated on the model system Ni-Al by the growth of -phase separations. The results on the evolution of the distribution function and other characteristics of the ensemble, which in the zero volume fraction approximation are asymptotically in good agreement with the theory and the experiment, have been obtained. The peculiarity of the created program complex is the possibility of its adaptation to the description of the decomposition of multicomponent multiphase systems. Fig. 6, list of references - 19 titles.

Baeyer-Villiger monoxygenases (BVMOs) are flavin-dependant oxidative enzymes capable to catalyse the insertion of an oxygen atom between a carbonylic Csp2 and the Csp3 at the alpha position, therefore transforming linear and cyclic ketones into esters and lactones. These enzymes are dependent on nicotinamides (NAD(P)H) for the flavin reduction and subsequent reaction with molecular oxygen to furnish peroxyflavin, the ultimate responsible for the substrate oxidation. BVMOs can be included in cascade reactions, coupled to other redox enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) or ene-reductases (EREDs), so that the direct conversion of alcohols or α,β-unsaturated carbonylic compounds to the corresponding esters can be achieved. This way, it is possible to develop smart synthetic strategies with a convenient cofactor recycling, both using whole cells (native or genetically engineered) as well as isolated enzymes, via multi-steps reaction through sequential or parallel methodologies. Some examples will be commented dealing with these biotransformations, highlighting the advantages of the coupling of enzymatic steps.

This article shortly introduces Gaussian processes as a new approach for modelling time series in the field of blazar physics. In the second part of the paper, recent results from an application of GP modelling to the multi-wavelength light curves of the blazar PKS 1502+106 are discussed.

Maternal milk supports offspring development by providing microbiota, macronutrients, micronutrients, immune factors, and hormones. The hormone prolactin (PRL) is an important component of milk with protective effects against chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Because maternal milk regulates microbiota composition and microbiota protect against NCDs, we aimed to investigate whether PRL regulates gut microbiota in newborn mice. 16SrRNA sequencing of feces and bioinformatics analysis were performed to evaluate gut microbiota in mice null for the PRL receptor (Prlr-KO) at the onset of weaning (postnatal day 21). The normalized colon and cecal weights were higher and lower, respectively, in Prlr-KO mice relative to wild-type mice (Prlr-WT). Relative abundance (Simpson Evenness Index), phylogenetic diversity, and bacterial concentration in gut contents were lower in the absence of the PRL receptor. Eleven bacteria species, out of 470, differed between Prlr-KO and Prlr-WT mice with two bacterial genera (Anaerotruncus and Lachnospiraceae) related to NCD development being the most common in Prlr-KO. Furthermore, a higher metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides was predicted in Prlr-KO mice compared to Prlr-WT mice; these metabolites have antimicrobial properties and are present in microbe-associated pathogenicity. In summary, the absence of the PRL receptor changes intestinal microbiota composition, resulting in lower microbiota abundance and richness, which could contribute to NCD development.

Numerous proteomic and transcriptomic studies have been carried out to better understand the current multi-variant SARS-CoV-2 virus mechanisms of action and effects. However, they are mostly centered on mRNAs and proteins. The effect of the virus on human post-transcriptional regulatory agents such as microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of 60% of human gene activity remains poorly explored. Similar to what we have previously done with other viruses such as Ebola and HIV, in this study we investigated the miRNA profile of lung epithelial cells following infection with SARS-CoV-2. At the 24 and 72 hours post-infection, SARS-CoV-2 did not drastically alter the miRNome. About 90% of the miRNAs remained non-differentially expressed. The results revealed that miR-1246, miR-1290 and miR-4728-5p were the most upregulated over time. miR-196b-5p and miR-196a-5p were the most downregulated at 24 h while at 72 h, miR-3924, miR-30e-5p and miR-145-3p showed the highest level of downregulation. In the top significantly enriched KEGG pathways of genes targeted by differentially expressed miRNAs we found, among others, MAPK, RAS, P13K-Akt and renin secretion signaling pathways. By RT-qPCR, we also showed that SARS-CoV-2 may regulate several predicted host mRNA targets involved in the entry of the virus into host cells (ACE2, TMPRSS2, ADAM17 and FURIN), in renin–angiotensin system (RAS) (Renin, Angiotensinogen, ACE), innate immune response (IL-6, IFN1β, CXCL10, SOCS4) and fundamental cellular processes (AKT, NOTCH, WNT). Finally, we demonstrated by dual luciferase assay a direct interaction between miR-1246 and ACE-2 mRNA. This study highlights the modulatory role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.

Background: In recent years, the integration of robotic systems into various aspects of daily life has become increasingly common. As these technologies continue to advance, ensuring user-friendly interfaces and seamless interactions becomes more essential. For social robots to genuinely provide lasting value to humans, a favourable user experience (UX) emerges as an essential prerequisite. Aim: This article aimed to evaluate the usability of the MINI robot, highlighting its strengths and areas for improvement based on user feedback and performance. Method: In a controlled lab setting, a mixed-method qualitative study was conducted with ten individuals aged 65 and above diagnosed with mild dementia (MD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants engaged in individual MINI robot interaction sessions, completing cognitive tasks as per written instructions. Video and audio recordings documented interactions, while post-session System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires quantified usability perception. Ethical guidelines were followed, ensuring informed consent, and the data underwent qualitative and quantitative analyses, contributing insights into the MINI robot's usability for this demographic. Results: The study addresses the ongoing challenges that tasks present, especially for MD individuals, emphasizing the importance of user support. Most tasks require both verbal and physical interactions, indicating that MD individuals face challenges when switching response methods within subtasks. These complexities originate from the selection and use of response methods, including difficulties with voice recognition, tablet touch, and tactile sensors. These challenges persist across tasks, with individuals with MD struggling to comprehend task instructions and provide correct answers and individuals with MCI struggling to use response devices, often due to the limitations of the robot's speech recognition. Technical shortcomings have been identified. The results of the System Usability Scale (SUS) indicate positive perceptions, although there are lower ratings for instructor assistance and pre-use learning. The average SUS score of 68.3 places device usability in the "good" category. Conclusion: Our study examines the usability of the MINI robot, revealing strengths in quick learning, simple system and operation, and integration of features while also highlighting areas for improvement. Careful design and modifications are essential for meaningful engagement with people with dementia. The robot could better benefit people with MD and MCI if clear, detailed instructions and instructor assistance are available.

The pathophysiology of Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH), a rare neuro-metabolic disorder associated with severe brain malformations and life-threatening neurological manifestations, remains incompletely understood. Therefore, a valid human neuronal model is essential. We aimed to investigate the impact of GLDC gene variants, which cause NKH, on cellular fitness during the differentiation process of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into iPSC-derived astrocytes and to identify sustainable mechanisms capable of overcoming GLDC deficiency. We developed the GLDC27-FiPS4F-1 line and performed metabolomic, mRNA abundance and protein analyses. The study showed that although GLDC27-FiPS4F-1 maintained the parental genetic profile, it underwent a metabolic switch to an altered serine-glycine-one-carbon metabolism with a coordinated cell growth and cell cycle proliferation response. We then differentiated the iPSCs into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and astrocyte-lineage cells. Analysis showed that GLDC-deficient NPCs had shifted towards a more heterogeneous astrocyte lineage with increased expression of the radial glial markers GFAP and GLAST and the neuronal markers MAP2 and NeuN. In addition, we detected changes in other genes related to serine and glycine metabolism and transport, all consistent with the need to maintain glycine at physiological levels. These findings improve our understanding of the pathology and offer new perspectives for therapeutic options.

The amino acids (AAs) and vitamins imbalances are observed in celiac disease (CD). This study evaluated the plasma profile of vitamin A and AAs and the expression level of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and TGFβ in CD patients. A total of 60 children and adults with CD and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were included. Plasma profile of Vitamin A and AAs and the mRNA expression levels of target genes were assessed. Active adult patients exhibited a decrease in Vitamin A levels (p=0.04) and an increase in IL-2 (p=0.008) and IL-12 (p=0.007) mRNA expression compared to HCs. Treated adult patients showed elevated Serine (p=0.003) and Glycin (p=0.04) levels, as well as increased IL-12 (P&lt;0.0001) mRNA expression, and a decrease in Tryptophan (p=0.04) levels relative to the controls. Additionally, treated adult patients had higher plasma levels of Threonine compared to both active (p=0.04) and control (p=0.02) subjects, and increased mRNA expression of IL-4 (p=0.01) in comparison to active patients. In active children with CD, IL-2 mRNA level was found to be higher than in controls (P&lt;0.0001) and in treated children (p=0.005). Treated children with CD exhibited decreased plasma levels of Tryptophan (p=0.01) and Isoleucine (p=0.01) relative to the controls, and increased mRNA expression of TGFβ (p=0.04) relative to active patients. Managing Retinoic acid levels is crucial to alleviate intestinal inflammation of CD patients. Threonine, tryptophan, and Isoleucine are potential therapeutic options for treating CD, and targeting serine, histidine, tyrosine, and aspartate may hold promise as therapeutic targets for CD patients.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a childhood disease caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16). We hypothesize that capsid loops are important epitopes for EV-A71 and CV-A16. Seven chimeric EV-A71 (ChiE71) involving VP1 BC, DE, EF, GH and HI loops, VP2 EF loop, and VP3 GH loop were substituted with corresponding CV-A16 loops. VP3 GH loop is the most conserved (91.3%) while VP1 BC loop has only 45.5% similarity. Only ChiE71-1-BC, ChiE71-1-EF, ChiE71-1-GH and ChiE71-3-GH were viable. EV-A71 and CV-A16 antiserum neutralized ChiE71-1-BC and ChiE71-1-EF. Mice immunized with inactivated ChiE71 elicited high IgG, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Neonatal mice receiving passive transfer of WT EV-A71, ChiE71-1-EF and ChiE71-1-BC immune sera had 100%, 80.0% and no survival, respectively, against lethal challenges with EV-A71, suggesting that the substituted CV-A16 loops disrupted EV-A71 immunogenicity. Passive transfer of CV-A16, ChiE71-1-EF and ChiE71-1-BC immune sera provided 40.0%, 20.0% and 42.9% survival, respectively, against CV-A16. One-day-old neonatal mice actively immunized with WT EV-A71, ChiE71-1-BC, ChiE71-1-EF and CV-A16 achieved 62.5%, 60.0%, 57.1% and no survival respectively, after the EV-A71 challenge. Active immunization using CV-A16 provided full protection while WT EV-A71, ChiE71-1-BC, ChiE71-1-EF immunization showed partial cross-protection in CV-A16 lethal challenge with survival rates of 50.0%, 20.0%, and 40%, respectively. Taken together, the EV-A71 VP1 BC loop is essential in immunogenicity of EV-A71 and substitution with CV-A16 VP1 BC loop was insufficient to confer protection against CV-A16. The EF loop maintains the cross-protective immune responses. Disruption of a capsid loop could affect virus immunogenicity, and future vaccine design should include conservation of the enterovirus capsid loops.

Heavy metal contamination of drinking water is a public health concern that requires the development of more efficient bioremediation techniques. Absorption technologies, including biosorption, provide opportunities for improvements to increase the diversity of metal ions removed and overall binding capacity. Microorganisms are a key component in wastewater treatment plants and they naturally bind metal ions through surface macromolecules but with limited capacity. The long-term goal of this work is to engineer capsule polymerases to synthesize molecules with novel functionalities. In previously published work, we showed that the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W (NmW) galactose-sialic acid (Gal—NeuNAc) heteropolysaccharide binds lead effectively, thereby demonstrating the potential for using this capsular polysaccharide in environmental decontamination applications. In this study, computational analysis of the NmW capsule polymerase galactosyltransferase (GT) domain was used to gain insight into how the enzyme could be modified to enable the synthesis N-acetylgalactosamine-sialic acid (GalNAc—NeuNAc) heteropolysaccharide. Various computational approaches, including molecular modeling with I-TASSER and molecular dynamics simulations (MD) with NAMD, were utilized to identify key amino acid residues in the substrate binding pocket of the GT domain that may be key to conferring UDP-GalNAc specificity. Through these combined strategies and using BshA, a UDP-GlcNAc transferase, as a structural template, several NmW active site residues were identified as mutational targets to accommodate the proposed N-acetyl group in UDP-GalNAc. Thus, a rational approach for potentially conferring new properties to bacterial capsular polysaccharides is demonstrated.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke treatment has been thoroughly studied to identify strategies to reduce treatment times. However, many centers still do not meet the benchmark time metrics. Additionally, smaller centers often face longer treatment times, yet studies focus primarily on larger, more advanced centers. Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze existing literature to understand the strategies implemented in primary and comprehensive stroke centers to reduce their treatment times, and categorize the studies based on methods used to improve their processes Results: Three main categories of improvements were identified in the literature: 1) standardization of processes, 2) resource management, and 3) data collection. Both primary and comprehensive stroke centers were able to reduce treatment times through standardization of processes. However, challenges such as variations in resources between hospitals and difficulties in integrating data collection software into workflow were highlighted. Additionally, many strategies to optimize resource management and data collection were conducted in comprehensive stroke centers, which can benefit primary stroke centers. Conclusions: Many existing strategies to improve treatment times are viable for both primary and comprehensive stroke centers. However, while data collection is recognized as crucial for process improvement, challenges persist in integrating data collection methods into clinical workflow. Proposed solutions include the development of easy-to-use software tailored to clinician needs.

Grounded on urban morphology studies, the research tries to overcome the analysis of the permanents elements of the city seeking for a transitional paradigm in urban morphology, aiming at grasping the dynamics in urban evolution and providing operative tools for urban regeneration design in an adaptive approach. A combination of four actions of urban analysis is here suggested to highlight urban dynamics: a. Sorting the transitional steps of urban morphologies (within rapid market processes), b. Underlining rules and Processes characterizing urban coding in transition, c. Mapping urban assemblages in the adaptive city and d. Reading and representing urban permutation phenomenon. The results of this multifaced and multidimensional set of analytical tools allow to outline a new design thinking paradigm moving towards a parametric approach to urban design of cities in transition broadening the extent of urban regeneration process and supporting urban policies in the framework community based approach.

The use of games for non-ludic purposes, the serious games, is an interesting branch of science that has shown important results. With the advent of the pandemic that has made access to rehabilitation centres more problematic for patients with cognitive rehabilitation needs, the importance of being able to exercise these patients safely in their own homes has emerged strongly. Many studies show that immediate action and appropriate, specific rehabilitation can guarantee satisfactory results. Appropriate therapy is based on key factors to be taken into account such as frequency, intensity and specificity of the exercises. The aim of our work is to define a pathway for the creation of open source digital products that can allow access in any moment to a virtual environment through which patients who have suffered limitations in their cognitive abilities can exercise and recover all or part of these abilities in the shortest possible time. In view of the spread of IoT devices capable of easily monitoring various vital parameters, we propose with our system a low-cost and very efficient solution that can provide the doctor and therapist not only with quantitative data on the exercises performed (number and type of exercises, time spent, results obtained) but also an overview of vital parameters, so as to observe any states of agitation or excessive effort in completing the exercise.

This study attempts to classify compound words on the basis of Cognitive Linguistics and compares their usage trends using Computational Linguistics. Using Noam Chomsky’s concept of deep and surface structures of a sentence, Lees treated compound words, not as separate units but as a kind of embedded sentences and hinted for possible presence of deep and surface structures in compound words, which this study tries to investigate. Then on the basis of the Idealized Cognitive Model proposed by Lakoff and Fauconnier, compound words have been classified into transparent, opaque and counterintuitive compound words. Using Google Books Corpus, this study also compares their usage trends. This is done using usage frequency, defined in this work, which is analogous to productivity for affixed words calculated by G.E.Booij. Each class of compound word formed on the basis of ICM is found to have different usage frequency. The possible reasons for this are discussed.

The Embodied Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ECBT) approach for the treatment of emotional disorders in clinical settings is presented. The model integrates cognitive behavioral theory, neuroscience and embodied cognition. ECBT draws from evidence of bidirectional effects between modes of bottom up (sensori-motor simulations giving rise to important basis of knowledge) and top down (abstract mental representations of knowledge) processes in psychotherapy. The paper first describes the dominance of the traditional mentalistic view of cognition and its limitations. Evidence for the embodied model of cognition and emotion is reviewed whilst highlighting its advantages as a complimentary process model to deepen and broaden talking therapies. An overview is given of the switch (e.g., the technique of balancing) between top-down and bottom-up orientation in the ECBT model as well as a clear description of the method for emotional regulation, acceptance of unwanted emotions and emotional mastery. ECBT builds on and extends the unconscious processes of the ‘Interpersonal Synchrony’ (IS) model identified by Koole and Tschacher [1], to enhance the therapeutic alliance for emotional co-regulation. A new idea is proposed that both embraces and extends the IS model: embodiment techniques of imitation and movement synchronization in the Emotional Field of our method be used in a conscious way to speed up the calming effects of co-regulation and the client’s self-regulatory capacity. The paper ends with an outline of the criteria needed to become an embodied therapist. A case study is given highlighting these aspects.

While many studies have described the association between cognitive decline and eating habits, little attention has been paid to its association with cheese intake. In this cross-sectional study of 1,035 community-dwelling women aged ≥ 65, we investigated the association between intake/type of cheese and cognitive function. The anthropometry, functional ability, and the frequency of food intake, including cheese, were assessed. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and a score of 20–26 was defined as mild cognitive decline (MCD). We found that MMSE score was significantly different between the presence of cheese intake (cheese intake: 28.3±1.9; non-cheese intake: 27.8±2.2) and between the type of cheese consumed (Camembert cheese: 28.7±1.3; others: 28.3±1.9). After adjusting for confounders, multiple logistic regression revealed four significant independent variables for MCD: Camembert cheese intake (odds ratio [OR] = 0.448, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.214–0.936), age (OR = 1.114, 95% CI = 1.059–1.171), usual walking speed (OR = 0.2620, 95% CI = 0.109–0.621), and repetitive saliva swallowing test scores (OR = 0.865, 95% CI = 0.750–0.995). Our results, while based on cross-sectional data from Japanese community-dwelling older women, demonstrated that Camembert cheese intake is significantly associated with MCD.

Every subset S of a Cartesian spaces Rd, endowed with differen- tial structure C∞(S) generated by restrictions to S of functions in C∞(Rd), has a canonical partition M(S) by manifolds, which are or- bits of the family X(S) of all derivations of C∞(S) that generate local one-parameter groups of local diffeomorphisms of S. This partition satisfies the frontier condition, Whitney’s conditions A and B. If M(S) is locally finite, then it satisfies all definitions of stratification of S. This result extends to Hausdorff locally Euclidean differential spaces.

The Na+/K+ ATPase is a protein involved in the active transport of ions across the cellular membrane. Ouabain is a cardiotonic glycoside that, by inhibiting the Na+/K+ pump, interferes with cell processes mediated directly by the pump, but also indirectly influences other cellular processes, such as cellular cycle and proliferation, growth, cell differentiation, angiogenesis, migration, adhesion and invasion. We used the SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell line, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) in vitro for determining the changes induced by Ouabain in concentration of 10-5 M, 10-6 M, 10-8 M, 10-9 M on these cellular types, employing specific methods: SEM for morphological evaluation; immunocytochemistry, flowcytometry to assess immunophenotypical markers expression, cell cycle and Annexin V/PI assay for cellular proliferation and viability testing; flowchamber assay to evaluate functional adhesion behavior; RT-PCR for Na+/K+ ATPase subunits molecular expression. Being indicative of the pro-apoptotic and inhibitory effect of Ouabain on tumor invasion and metastasis, the results support the addition of Ouabain to the oncological therapeutic arsenal, trailing the “repurposing drugs” approach.

The insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP; oxytocinase) is part of the M1 aminopeptidase family and is highly expressed in many tissues, including the neocortex and hippocampus of the brain. IRAP is involved in various physiological functions and has been identified as a receptor for the endogenous hexapeptide Angiotensin IV (Ang IV). Binding of Ang IV inhibits the enzymatic activity of IRAP and has proven to enhance learning and memory in animal models. The macrocyclic compound 9 (C9) is a potent synthetic IRAP inhibitor developed from the previously reported inhibitor HA08. In this study, we have examined compound C9 and its effects on cognitive markers drebrin, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in primary hippocampal and cortical cultures. Cells from Sprague Dawley rats were cultured for 14 days before treatment with C9 for 4 consecutive days. The cells were analysed for protein expression of drebrin, MAP2, GFAP, glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGluT1), and synapsin I using immunocytochemistry. The gene expression of related proteins was determined using qPCR, and viability assays were performed to evaluate toxicity. The results showed that protein expression of drebrin and MAP2 was increased, and the corresponding mRNA levels were decreased, after treatment with C9 in the hippocampal cultures. The ratio of MAP2 positive neurons and GFAP positive astrocytes was altered in both hippocampal and cortical cultures, and there were no toxic effects observed. In conclusion, IRAP inhibitor compound C9 enhance the expression of pro-cognitive markers drebrin and MAP2 which further confirms IRAP as a relevant pharmaceutical target and C9 as a promising candidate for further investigation.

Cognitive functions are based on neuronal plasticity, which is provided by various mechanisms involving numerous bioactive molecules, the most important of which are endocannabinoids (eCBs). Over the past three decades, a lot of data have been accumulated on the involvement of eCBs in the mechanisms of memory and other cognitive functions. These functions are impaired in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The main pathological feature of neurons in AD and TLE is increased excitability; therefore, an activation of the endocannabinoid system, which controls cellular excitation, may be a promising approach in their therapy. The available information about the effect of (endo)cannabinoids on cognitive functions is contradictory, which may depend on the drugs used, their dose, and the experimental conditions. There is an extensive literature indicating a protective effect of cannabinoids in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in humans and in animal models of cognitive deficits. This review, focusing on the recent researches, is devoted to the analysis of the effects of endocannabinoid system activation on cognitive functions in norm and in the brain with neurodegeneration that occurs in AD and TLE diseases. Possible reasons for inconsistencies in the available data are discussed.

Keywords: Innovation ecosystems, Economic sustainability, Hydrocarbon-based economies, Economic diversification, Qualitative approach

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses that lead to loss of crop yield. We investigated the effect of salinity (S), short episodes of high temperature (HS) and combination of S+HS at the reproductive phase on dead pericarps properties and yield of the crop plant Brassica juncea. Three intervals of HS resulted in massive seed abortion; seeds from salt-treated plants germinated poorly. Pericarp extracts of salt-treated plants reduced seed germination of B. juncea; all pericarp extracts completely inhibited seed germination of tomato and Arabidopsis; removal of pericarp extracts restored seed germination. HS reduced all metabolites accumulated in dead pericarps, except for upregulation of isomaltose and cellobiose. Salt induced alteration in metabolite levels including increase in proline, reduction in TCA intermediates and changes in phytohormone levels. Proteome analysis revealed hundreds of proteins stored in dead pericarps whose levels and composition were altered under salt stress. The integration of metabolic and proteomic data showed that changes in metabolites were highly correlated with changes in proteins involved in their biosynthetic pathways. Thus, besides providing a physical shield for seed/embryo protection dead pericarps store beneficial substances whose levels, composition and biological function are altered under stress, further highlighting the elaborated function of dead organs enclosing embryos in seed biology and ecology. The detrimental effect of HS on crop production might have implications for global food security in the face of climate change.