Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant macronutrient; however, its availability is often limited in soils. Plants have evolved complex mechanisms for efficient phosphate (Pi) absorption, which are responsive to changes in external and internal Pi concentration, and orchestrated through local and systemic responses. To explore these systemic Pi responses, here, we identified AtMYB44 as a phloem-mobile mRNA, an Arabidopsis homolog of Cucumis sativus MYB44, that is responsive to the Pi-starvation stress. qRT-PCR assays revealed that AtMYB44 was up-regulated and expressed in both shoot and root in response to Pi-starvation stress. The atmyb44 mutant displayed higher shoot and root biomass, compared to wild-type plants, under Pi-starvation conditions. Interestingly, the expression of PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER1;2 (PHT1;2) and PHT1;4 was enhanced in atmyb44 in response to a Pi-starvation treatment. A split-root assay showed that AtMYB44 expression was systemically regulated, under Pi-starvation conditions and, in atmyb44, systemic controls on PHT1;2 and PHT1;4 expression were moderately disrupted. Heterografting assays confirmed graft transmission of AtMYB44 transcripts, and PHT1;2 and PHT1;4 expression was decreased in heterografted atmyb44 rootstocks. Taken together, our findings support the hypothesis that mobile AtMYB44 mRNA serves as a long-distance Pi response signal, which negatively regulates Pi transport and utilization in Arabidopsis.

Background: To our knowledge, the sudden onset of symptomatic pulmonary hypertension after COVID-19 vaccination has not been described. Both cases presented here resulted in functional limitations and likely permanent organ damage. Case Summary: We report two cases of acute onset pulmonary hypertension in previously healthy adult males within three weeks of receiving the second dose of the Pfizer (BNT162b2) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine from different lots. Both patients experienced the sudden onset of severe fatigue and dyspnea on exertion with negative COVID-19 PCR testing. The diagnosis was made by serial transthoracic echocardiography in the first case and by both transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization in the second. Discussion: Pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease characterized by damage to lung vasculature and restricted blood flow through narrowed arteries from the right to left heart. The onset of symptoms is typically insidious, progressive and incurable, leading to right heart failure and premature death. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies pulmonary hypertension into 5 categories and recently re-defined as a resting mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 20 mmHg. Sudden onset pulmonary hypertension would only be expected in the settings of surgical pneumonectomy or massive pulmonary emboli with compromise of at least 50% of the lung vasculature.

Traditional vaccines are produced by using weakened or inactivated forms of disease-causing pathogens to produce the target antigen they are designed to protect against. Messenger RNA vaccines are a class of vaccines that employ a minute segment of genetic material, known as messenger RNA (mRNA), which contains directives for the cells in the body to generate a particular protein. This genetic material is synthesized in the laboratory and packaged into a lipid nanoparticle, which protects and helps it enter cells for further protein synthesis. During vaccination with mRNA vaccine, the lipid nanoparticles containing the mRNA are injected into the muscle of vaccinees. Once inside the cells, the mRNA instructs the cells to produce a protein which is then displayed on the surface of the cell, triggering an immune response. During this, the immune system recognizes the displayed protein as foreign and mounts a defense by producing antibodies and activating immune cells to target and eliminate the protein. Furthermore, these immune responses generate a memory cell, facilitating the immune system to promptly react in case of encountering the authentic pathogen as an infection in the future. The mRNA vaccines are flexible and the sequence can be easily synthesized in the lab based on the genetic information of the target pathogen. Additionally, mRNA vaccines can be developed for new strains or variants of the target disease easily. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where mRNA vaccines like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were developed and authorized for emergency use within a year. But currently, available mRNA vaccines require extensive cold chain, antigen delivery, potential immune response variability optimization, and sophisticated manufacturing process. The efforts to explore next-generation mRNA vaccine development are aimed to further improve the effectiveness, stability, and delivery methods. One focus of research has been to enhance the stability of mRNA vaccines, particularly temperature sensitivity which makes storage and distribution easier, particularly in regions with limited access to cold chain infrastructure. Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines, on the other hand, are designed to generate multiple copies of the mRNA within cells which potentially leads to a higher production of the target protein, resulting in a stronger immune response. Additionally, studies are exploring new delivery systems to improve the target and efficiency of mRNA vaccines using specialized nanoparticles and liposomes to specifically deliver mRNA to certain cell types or immune cells. Another area of interest is the development of combination vaccines, where multiple mRNA sequences are included in a single vaccine protecting against multiple diseases targeting strains or variants of a particular pathogen simultaneously. While current mRNA vaccines are administered via intramuscular injection, studies are underway to deliver directly into the skin offering enhanced immune response and the ability to use smaller vaccine doses.

Recently, a database of human piRNAs has been created, which allows studying the binding of many piRNAs to mRNAs of genes involved in many diseases, including cancer. In the present work, we investigated what piRNAs can interact with candidate esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) genes. The binding of 480 thousand piRNAs with mRNAs of 66 candidate ESCC genes was studied. Bioinformatic studies found that piRNAs bind only to the mRNAs of nine candidate genes: AURKA, BMP7, GCOM1, ERCC1, MTHFR, SASH1, SIX4, SULT1A1, and TP53. It has been shown that piRNAs can bind to mRNA by overlapping nucleotide sequences in limited 3'UTR and 5'UTR regions called clusters of binding sites (BSs). The existence of clusters of piRNA BSs significantly reduces the proportion of nucleotide sequences of these sites in the mRNA of target genes. Competition between piRNAs occurs for binding to the mRNA of target genes. Individual piRNAs and groups of piRNAs that have separate BSs and clusters of BSs in the mRNAs of two or more candidate genes have been identified in the mRNAs of these genes. This organization of piRNAs BSs indicates the interdependence of the expression of candidate genes through piRNAs. Significant differences in the ability of genes to interact with piRNAs avoid the side effects of piRNAs on genes with the lack of binding of such piRNAs. Individual piRNAs and sets of piRNAs are proposed and recommended for the diagnosis and therapy of ESCC.

The main aim of this paper is to set some correlations between Boole polynomials and p-adic gamma function in conjunction with p-adic Euler contant. We develop diverse formulas for p-adic gamma function by means of their Mahler expansion and fermionic p-adic integral on ℤ_{p}. Also, we acquire two fermionic p-adic integrals of p-adic gamma function in terms of Boole numbers and polynomials. We then provide fermionic p-adic integral of the derivative of p-adic gamma function and a representation for the p-adic Euler constant by means of the Boole polynomials. Furthermore, we investigate an explicit representation for the aforesaid constant covering Stirling numbers of the first kind.

Hard yellow maize is a crucial crop in Peruvian agriculture, playing a significant role in food security and livestock production. However, intensive fertilization practices in agronomic management have negatively impacted soil health. To explore more sustainable agricultural technologies, researchers have investigated using microorganisms to enhance plant growth. This study assessed the synergistic effects of microbial inoculants and mineral fertilization on INIA 619 and Dekal B-7088 maize varieties' yield and nutritional quality. A split-plot design was employed, incorporating four inoculation treatments—no inoculant, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma viride, and Pseudomonas putida—combined with fertilization levels of 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The findings revealed that Bacillus subtilis boosted yields by 13.1% in INIA 619 and 55.5% in Dekal B-7088. Additionally, combined with 100% fertilization, microbial inoculation increased protein content by 47% and carbohydrates by 6% in INIA 619, while maintaining nutritional quality with 75% fertilization. Similarly, in Dekal B-7088, inoculation with total fertilization enhanced protein content by 54% and fiber by 27%. These results demonstrate that microbial inoculation can reduce mineral fertilization by up to 25% while sustaining high yields and improving the nutritional quality of maize.

Background: Total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is standard for resectable esophagogastric junctional and gastric cancer, but high morbidity challenges perioperative care. ERAS guidelines advise against routine drains, yet conflicting evidence leads to inconsistent practice. Methods: The DRAG (DRains After Gastrectomy) Trial is a prospective, non-randomized study conducted from February 2020 to March 2023 at the 1st Propaedeutic Surgery Department, Hippocration General Hospital, Athens. Patients undergoing open D2 total gastrectomy had perianastomotic drains placed based on newly established criteria, offering a more tailored approach. Immediate and short-term postoperative outcomes, including recovery milestones and complications, were assessed. Results: Sixty patients were included, with 40 receiving a drain. The non-drain group had significantly lower pain scores, earlier mobilization, less postoperative nausea and vomiting, and a shorter hospital stay. Among those with complications, significant differences in surgical site infections, delayed mobilization, extra-abdominal issues, length of stay, readmissions, and reoperations suggest that drain use may increase complications and hinder recovery. Conclusion: Our study suggests that routine prophylactic drain use can be avoided in gastrectomy for esophagogastric junctional and gastric cancer when experienced surgeons in high-volume centers follow clearly defined criteria. Implementing these criteria may improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.

Research background: The globalization processes are not only of an economic and cultural nature but also unify trends in the organization and management of administration, including at the local level. The idea of economizing administration was promoted within the broad stream of reforms described as New Public Management (NPM). This idea was often expressed as a postulate for the territorial reorganization of local governments. These reforms, motivated by the economies of scale, aimed to eliminate the allegedly overly fragmented nature of local government structures. Critics of these reforms advocate for glocalization, which takes local institutional conditions into account. They argue that the NPM concept should emphasize a long-term balance between economics, environment, and society, which are the paradigms of sustainable development (SD). According to them, this approach provides a more holistic and effective method for public management.

A new 2 parameter unit Weibull distribution is defined on the unit interval (0,1). The methodology of deducing its PDF, some of its properties and related functions are discussed. The paper is supplied by many figures illustrating the new distribution and how this can make it illegible to fit a wide range of skewed data. The new distribution holds a name (Attia) as a nickname.

The concept of Palliative Care (PC) is more and more known in medicine and the need for this type of approach is growing in a world with great longevity and exponentially increasing chronic diseases. More and more cases from internal medicine, gastroenterology or cardiology wards could benefit from a better care if their medical team would align with the PC concept and principles. In this sense we try to present the specifical needs for Romanian patients in accordance with the current standards of care and how they must be adapted to the reality of the medical system in which they are cared for. We consider also that for medical staff from chronic disease wards it may be necessary to recapitulate the most important principles that govern medical practice of palliation, emphasizing some important aspects of applicability in daily clinical activity.

This study examines the significant impact of Houthi insurgent activities on maritime traffic within the strategic Red Sea and Suez Canal routes, essential conduits for global trade. It explores the correlation between regional instability, exemplified by Houthi actions from November 19, 2023, to February 5, 2024, and changes in maritime traffic patterns and operational efficiency. This study seeks to answer a critical question in transport geography: How does regional instability, exemplified by Houthi insurgent activities, affect maritime traffic patterns and the operational efficiency of the Red Sea and Suez Canal? Using descriptive statistics, qualitative analysis, and geospatial methods, the research highlights recent trends in maritime traffic and incidents, revealing spatial and geopolitical challenges in this crucial trade route.Findings indicate a notable decline in maritime activity in the Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal due to security concerns from Houthi attacks, prompting a significant shift to alternative routes, particularly around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift underscores the broader implications of regional instability on global trade and the importance of maintaining uninterrupted maritime flow. The study also emphasizes the economic ramifications, such as increased operational costs and freight rates due to longer transit times and enhanced security measures.The research concludes with a call for improved maritime security protocols and international cooperation to protect these strategic maritime pathways. It contributes to the discourse on transport geography by quantifying the direct impacts of regional conflicts on maritime logistics and proposing strategies for future resilience, highlighting the interconnected nature of global trade and security and the need for collective action against evolving geopolitical challenges.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, a major pest in maize production, was assessed for its temporal and spatial distribution in maize fields during both the off and rainy seasons of 2021 and 2022. In this study, 30 and 50 maize plants were randomly sampled using a "W" pattern during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Larval density, infestation rates, and damage severity were monitored over time. Taylor's power law and the mean crowding aggregation index were applied to evaluate the dispersion patterns of the larvae. The results indicate a higher infestation rate and larval density in agroecological zone AZE 8 (fisheries zone of South Benin) compared to AZE 6 (ferralitic soils zone) during the off-season. In the rainy season, while the percentage of damaged plants was higher in AZE 8, no significant differences in larval density between the two zones were observed. The dispersion analysis revealed moderate aggregation (aggregation index = 1.25) with a basic colony of 2.08 larvae, reflecting the aggregation oviposition behavior of FAW. This study provides valuable monitoring data on the FAW's distribution, offering insights for further research on population dynamics and developing predictive models for integrated pest management strategies.

Objective: To explore the acceptability and feasibility of conducting comprehensive, community-based, hy-brid (in-person and virtual) mental health screening and feedback with diverse youth in the community. Methods: The Screening and Support for Youth intervention provides comprehensive assessment and thera-peutic feedback in community settings including symptoms, diagnoses, functional impairment, suicide, and clinical risk. Symptom severity, seven diagnoses and suicidality were assessed with the Kiddie Computer-ized Adaptive Test. Functional impairment was evaluated by youth self-report on the Weiss Functional Im-pairment Rating Scale. Measures were scored according to nationally developed norms and an algorithm was developed to aggregate symptoms and functioning to determine clinical risk. The results were discussed with participants in a motivational interview to promote insight and engagement in an online intervention. Results: Methodological innovations included using a QR code for recruitment, integrated in-person and virtual participation, and expansion from in-person recruitment within the schools to virtual engagement with youth throughout the community. The final sample included disproportionately more Black or African American and Hispanic youth as compared to school and community statistics, suggesting that hybrid re-search may facilitate recruitment of diverse populations. Qualitative interviews indicated that the screening and feedback raised youth awareness of their wellbeing and/or distress, its impact on their functioning, and engagement with options for improving wellbeing. Conclusion: Hybrid research, developed as a necessity during the pandemic, proved advantageous to the feasibility and acceptability of community-based recruit-ment of at risk, minoritized youth.

In order to deal with imprecision, ambiguity, and uncertainty in data analysis, Pawlak introduced rough set theory in 1982. This paper aims to expand the scope of basic set theory developed by presenting the notions of δP-upper and δP-lower approximations, that are based on the notion of δP-open sets, we additionally examine a few of their fundamental characteristics.

This work reports the role of structure and composition on the determination of the performances of p-type SnOx TFTs deposited by rf magnetron sputtering at room temperature, followed by a post-annealed step up to 200 °C at different oxygen partial pressures (Opp), between 0% and 20%, but where the p-type conduction was only observed between 2.8–3.8%. The role of structure and composition were evaluated by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies. The study allows to identify the best phases/compositions and thicknesses (around 12 nm) to be used that lead to the production of TFTs with a bottom gate configuration, on glasses coated with conductive Indium Tin Oxide, followed by Aluminium Titanium Oxide dielectric layer with saturation mobility of 4.6 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹ and on-off ratio above 7 × 10⁴, operating at the enhancement mode with a saturation voltage of −10 V.

In this paper, we investigate several relations for p-adic gamma function by means of their Mahler expansion and fermionic p-adic q-integral on ℤ_{p}. We also derive two fermionic p-adic q-integrals of p-adic gamma function in terms of q-Boole polynomials and numbers. Moreover, we discover fermionic p-adic q-integral of the derivative of p-adic gamma function. We acquire a representation for the p-adic Euler constant by means of the q-Boole polynomials. We finally develop a novel, explicit and interesting representation for the p-adic Euler constant including Stirling numbers of the first kind.

In this paper, we investigate p-adic q-integral (q-Volkenborn integral) on ℤ_{p} of p-adic gamma function via their Mahler expansions. We also derived two q-Volkenborn integrals of p-adic gamma function in terms of q-Daehee polynomials and numbers and q-Daehee polynomials and numbers of the second kind. Moreover, we discover q-Volkenborn integral of the derivative of p-adic gamma function. We acquire the relationship between the p-adic gamma function and Stirling numbers of the first kind. We finally develop a novel and interesting representation for the p-adic Euler constant by means of the q-Daehee polynomials and numbers.

It is increasingly common for experiments in biology and medicine to involve large numbers of hypothesis tests. A natural graphical method for visualizing these tests is to construct a histogram from the p-values of these tests. In this article, we examine the shapes, both normal and abnormal, that these histograms can take on, as well as present simple inferential procedures that help to interpret the shapes in terms of diagnosing potential problems with the experiment. We examine potential causes of these problems in detail, and discuss potential remedies. Throughout, examples of abnormal-looking p-value histograms are provided and based on case studies involving real biological experiments.

The recent setbacks in the withdrawal and approval delays of antibody treatments of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) can be attributed to their poor entry across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). While several invasive and noninvasive approaches can be used to make the BBB more permeable, their inconsistency makes them a poor choice; however, if an antibody is chemically modified to attach a transferrin molecule that enhances its permeation across the BBB, this could be the most practical and useful modification that can transform the science of ND treatment. Antibodies can be conjugated with transferrin in vitro, but preferably through mRNA, as we propose to convert current treatments to bring faster treatment options. The mRNA technology yields products at a meager cost, which is a consideration for the affordability of these drugs globally. This paper provides complete details with templates to convert the current medicines and those under development into mRNA delivery systems to ensure clinical success, avoiding the current failures in their efficacy, more specifically the products that have demonstrated efficacy but are being removed from the market.

The development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 remains a critical challenge amidst the ongoing global pandemic. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance mRNA vaccine efficacy by leveraging the untranslated region (UTR) of TMSB10, a gene identified for its significant mRNA abundance in antigen-presenting cells. Utilizing the GEO database, we identified TMSB10 among nine genes with the highest mRNA abundance in dendritic cell subtypes. Subsequent experiments revealed that TMSB10's UTR significantly enhances the expression of a reporter gene in both antigen-presenting and 293T cells, surpassing other candidates and a previously optimized natural UTR. Comparative analysis demonstrated that TMSB10 UTR not only facilitated higher reporter gene expression in vitro but also showed marked superiority in vivo, leading to enhanced specific humoral and cellular immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant RBD antigen. Specifically, vaccines incorporating TMSB10 UTR induced significantly higher levels of specific IgG antibodies and promoted a robust T-cell immune response, characterized by increased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 and the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These findings underscore the potential of TMSB10 UTR as a strategic component in mRNA vaccine design, offering a promising avenue to bolster vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other pathogens.

Immunosuppressed kidney transplant (KT) recipients respond weaker to COVID-19 vaccination than immunocompetent individuals. We tested antiviral IgG response in 99 KT-recipients and 66 healthy volunteers who were vaccinated with mRNA-1273 Moderna or BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. A subgroup of participants had their peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) evaluated for the frequency of T helper 1 (Th1) cells producing IL-2, IFN-γ and/or TNF-α, and IL-10-producing T-regulatory 1 (Tr) cells. Among KT-recipients, 45.8% had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG compared to 74.1% of healthy volunteers (p=0.009); also, anti-viral IgG levels were lower in recipients than in volunteers (p=0.001). When defined as non-responders (≤2,000 U/ml IgG), Moderna’s group had 10.8% and Pfizer-BioNTech’s group had 34.3% of non-responders at 6 months (p=0.023); similarly, 15.7% and 31.3% non-responders were in Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech groups at 12 months, respectively (p=0.067). There were no non-responders among controls. Healthy volunteers had higher Th1 levels than KT recipients, while Moderna produced higher Th1 response than Pfizer-BioNTech. In contrast, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced higher Tr1 response than Moderna vaccine (p<0.05); overall, IgG levels correlated with Th1(fTTNF-α)/Tr1(fTIL-10) ratios. We propose that the higher number of non-responders in Pfizer-BioNTech group than Moderna group was caused by more potent activity of regulatory Tr1 cells in KT-recipients vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Background: Understanding the distribution of HPV types in cervical cancer cases is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of HPV screening and vaccination in reducing cervical cancer burden. This study aimed to assess genotype prevalence among 178 cervical cancer cases detected during a 20-year screening period in Northern Norway and compare the potential efficacy of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 181 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from women diagnosed with cervical cancer between 1995 and 2015 in Troms and Finnmark, Norway, were analyzed using a 45-type HPV DNA test. The results were compared to a 7-type HPV mRNA test targeting oncogenic types included in the nonavalent HPV vaccine. Results: Invalid HPV test results were observed in 1.7% (3/181) of the samples and were subsequently excluded from further analysis. Among the remaining cases, 92.7% (165/178) tested positive for HPV using any test combination. HPV DNA was detected in 159 cases (89.3%), while HPV mRNA was detected in 149 cases (83.7%). The most prevalent HPV types were 16 and 18, responsible for 70.8% of the cases, with the nonavalent vaccine types accounting for 86.6% of cases. HPV 35 was identified in eight cases (4.5%). Conclusion: The bivalent/quadrivalent HPV vaccines have the potential to prevent 76.4% (126/165) of HPV-positive cervical cancer cases, while the nonavalent vaccine could prevent 93.3% (154/165) of cases. Tailoring screening strategies to target HPV types with the highest oncogenic potential may improve cervical cancer detection and enable targeted interventions for high-risk individuals. The use of a 7-type HPV mRNA test holds promises as an advantageous approach.

The achievement of reproductive competence in male mammals is dependent on the testis. Goat testis’ development and spermatogenesis involve physiological events with high complexity. In the current work, 6 testes were respectively collected from immature, sexually mature and physically mature Qianbei Ma goats (1, 6 and 12 months old, respectively). RNA-Seq was carried out to reveal changes in testis mRNA expression levels in Qianbei Ma goats at various developmental stages, and gene expression profiling at different ages was established. Totally 18 libraries were established for screening genes and pathways associated with testis development and spermatogenic processes. Totally 9,724 upregulated and 4,153 downregulated genes were identified between immature (I) and sexually mature (S) testes; 7 upregulated and 3 downregulated genes were detected between sexually mature (S) and physically mature (P) testes, and approximately 4% of genes were alternately spliced between the I and S groups. Selected genes were verified by qRT-PCR, in agreement with sequencing data indicating their reliability. Those genes have critical functions in various developmental stages of goat testicular development and spermatogenesis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were carried out to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO analysis suggested DEGs were involved in “reproduction process”, “channel activity” and “cell periphery part” between I and S, and in “ion transport process”, “channel activity” and “transporter complex part” between S and P. KEGG analysis indicated that pathways such as “glycerolipid metabolism”, “steroid hormone biosynthesis” and “MAPK signaling pathway” may be involved in testis development and spermatogenesis. Genes including IGF1, TGFB1, TGFBR1 and EGFR may regulate the development of the testis from immature to sexually mature, which may be key candidate genes for the development of goat testis. These findings provide novel insights into goat testicular development and spermatogenesis.

Recently, fasting has been spotlighted from a healthcare perspective. However, the de-tailed biological mechanisms and significance by which the effects of fasting confer health benefits are not yet clear. Due to certain advantages of zebrafish, as a vertebrate model widely utilized in biological studies, we used mRNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to examine comprehensive gene expression changes in skeletal muscle tissues during fasting-refeeding. Our results produced a novel set of nutrition-related genes under a fasting-refeeding protocol. We found five dramatically upregulated genes in each fasting (for 24 hours) and refeeding (after 3 hours), exhibiting a rapid response to the provided conditional changes. The assessment of the gene length revealed, the gene set whose expression was elevated only after 3 hours of refeeding had a shorter length, suggesting that nutrition-related gene function is associated with gene length. Taken together, our results from bioinformatics analyses provide new insights into biological mechanisms induced by fasting-refeeding conditions within zebrafish skeletal muscle.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether an automated molecular diagnostic method based on PCR-reverse blot hybridization assay can discriminate between human Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-positive and -negative FFPE tissues and to compare the relative mRNA expression levels of various host immune markers between MTB-infected and uninfected human tissues using quantitative reverse transcription (qRT) PCR. A total of 52 human FFPE tissue samples from various regions of the body, including the lungs, lymph nodes, tendons, colon, and appendix, were collected and used for the molecular identification of Mycobacterium species and analysis of cytokine mRNA expression. As a result, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IP-10, CXCL9, CXCL11, and GM-CSF mRNA expression levels in MTB-infected tissues were significantly higher than those in uninfected samples. Additionally, the differences in the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, CXCL9, and GM-CSF between MTB-infected and uninfected tissues were statistically significant were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Correlation curve analysis indicated that the mRNA expression of IFN-γ was inversely proportional to that of IP-10 and that the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, CXCL9, CXCL11, GM-CSF, and TNFR were proportional and well-correlated. Furthermore, to establish marker profiles for detecting MTB infection, the statistically significant expression levels of three markers were combined. We confirmed that the combined profile of IFN-γ, CXCL9, and GM-CSF expression levels was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Although the mRNA expression patterns of host immune markers may vary according to MTB infection status, these patterns may be highly correlated and can be simultaneously used as an additional indicator for diagnosing TB.

Recent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources affecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth response of seedlings of economically important forest trees: broadleaf deciduous angiosperms Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea and evergreen conifers Abies alba and Pinus sylvestris. We also studied markers of water stress including modifications of biomass allocation, leaf anatomy, proline accumulation and expression of selected genes. Growth of the broadleaved deciduous species was more sensitive to the reduced water supply than that of conifers. Remarkably, growth of the shade tolerant Abies was not affected. Adjustment of biomass allocations was strongest in P. sylvestris, with a remarkable increase in allocation to roots. In response to water deficit both deciduous species accumulated proline in leaves and produced leaves with shorter palisade cells, reduced vascular tissues and smaller conduit diameters, but not conifers. Relative transcript abundance of a gene encoding a Zn-finger protein in Q. petraea and a gene encoding a pore calcium channel protein 1 in A. alba increased as water deficit increased. These findings suggest that in container nursery, the genetic selection can be initiated by water deficit. Our study shows major differences between functional groups in response to irrigation, with seedlings of evergreen conifers having higher tolerance than the deciduous species. This suggests that major water savings could be achieved by adjusting irrigation regime to functional group or species requirements.

Background: Significant intraoperative and postoperative blood loss are rare but possibly life-threatening complications after lung resection surgery either during open or minimally invasive procedure. Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres (ARISTA™AH) have demonstrated time-efficient haemostasis, lower post-operative blood volumes and a lower blood transfusion requirement, without any identified adverse events across other specialities.The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of haemostatic agents on short-term postoperative outcomes in thoracic surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of consecutive early-stage lung cancer patients surgically treated in two European centres(October 2020-December 2022).Exclusion criteria:open surgery,patients with coagulopathy/anticoagulant medication,major intraoperative bleeding,non-anatomical lung resection and age <18 years.The cohort was divided into 5 groups according to the haemostatic agent used.Propensity score matching was used to estimate the effect of ARISTA™AH on various intra- and post-operative parameters(continuous and binary outcome modelling). Results:482 patients(M/F:223/259; VATS 97/RATS 385)with a mean age of 68.9(±10.6)years were analysed.In 253 cases ARISTA™AH was intraoperatively used to control bleeding.This cohort of patients had a significant reduction in total drain volume by 135 mls(standard error 53.9; p=0.012).The use of ARISTA™AH did reduce the average length of hospital stay(-1.47 days)and duration of chest drainage(-0.596 days)albeit not significant.In the ARISTA™AH group,we observed no postoperative bleeding,no blood transfusion required,no 30-day mortality and no requirement for redo-surgery.The use of ARISTA™AH significantly reduced the odds of post-operative complications,need for transfusion and redo surgery. Conclusion: Our data showed that Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres are a safe and effective haemostatic device.Its use has a positive effect in short term postoperative outcomes of patients surgically treated for early-stage lung cancer.

This study investigates the impact of water stress on grapevines, specifically examining the role of rootstocks and aquaporins. Two experiments on potted plants were conducted in central Chile during the summer, under conditions of high water demand, involving various rootstock genotypes and combinations of Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) grafted onto rootstocks. Significant differences were observed among plants in terms of stem water potential, stomatal conductance, and growth rate. Notably, the CS/CS combination consistently displayed the slowest growth rate, regardless of the irrigation treatment. The study also analyzed the expression levels of plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) and tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) aquaporins in the leaves of grafted plants. Specifically, VvPIP2;2 aquaporins showed reduced expression after 14 days without irrigation, whereas VvTIP1;1 and VvTIP2;1 expression levels correlated positively with gs responses in grafted plants, suggesting their role in modulating water content in leaves under water stress. TIP aquaporins likely play a significant role in the differential responses of CS plants towards nearly isohydric or anisohydric behaviour. The CS/CS combination exhibited near isohydric behavior, correlating with lower TIP aquaporin expression, while the combination of CS onto 1103P and 101-14 showed higher expression, indicating anisohydric behavior. The findings suggest that grafted plants are more resilient to water stress, supporting the idea that rootstocks can mitigate the effects of water stress on the scion.

Breast cancer is currently the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 15% of all deaths (8.2 million deaths). Approximately 20% of breast cancer diagnoses are triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a type of cancer that lacks receptors for estrogen (ER negative), progesterone (PR negative), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu negative). Consequently, TNBC doesn’t respond to hormonal or targeted therapies, making it challenging to treat due to its rapid growth, metastasis, and high recurrence rate within the first three years of therapy. Alternative chemotherapies are needed to address this problem. Pharmacological dose of vitamin C (high-dose VC) has been identified as a potential treatment for some cancer cells. The present study aimed to evaluate whether VC has a therapeutic effect on TNBC using MDA-MB-231 cells as the model. MTT assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, Nuclear ID Red/Green staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blot analysis were employed to test the hypothesis that pharmacological dose of VC can kill TNBC cells. Upregulation of Apaf-1, caspases -3, -6, -7, -8, and -9, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), reduction in cell cycle protein expression, and enhancement of tumor suppressor proteins such as p53 and p21 indicated that pharmacological dose of VC has promising anti-cancer properties in the treatment of TNBC.

The rapid pace of urbanization, coupled with the growing need for environmental sustainability and technological innovation, has brought smart city initiatives to the forefront of global urban development. This paper provides a comparative analysis of smart city policies from leading cities such as Oslo, Zurich, and Canberra, and derives strategic insights for Qatar. By examining the strategies, priorities, outcomes, and challenges associated with implementing smart city initiatives in these cities, the study identifies areas of alignment and divergence with Qatar's own smart city policy framework. The research highlights potential opportunities for cross-learning and suggests how Qatar can leverage lessons from international best practices to enhance its smart city initiatives. Key areas of focus include fostering strategic partnerships, promoting innovation, and ensuring effective governance and data management systems. The findings provide actionable insights to improve the effectiveness of Qatar's smart city projects, aligning them with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Recent studies with ApoE knockout (ApoE-/-) mice deficient for PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) or its receptor PAC1 provide evidence for a possible involve-ment of immune- and vasoregulatoy PACAP signaling at the PAC1 receptor in atherogenesis and plaque associated vascular inflammation. Therefore, we tested the PAC1 receptor agonist Maxadilan and the PAC1 selective antagonist M65 on plaque development and lumen stenosis in the ApoE-/- atherosclerosis model for possible anti-atherogenic effects. Adult male ApoE-/- mice were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (CED) or standard chow (SC) treat-ed with Maxadilan, M65 or Sham. Effects of treatment on atherosclerotic plaques, lumen stenosis, apoptosis and pro-inflammatory signatures were analyzed in the brachiocephalic trunk (BT). The percentage of Maxadilan treated mice exhibiting plaques under SC and CED was lower than that of Sham or M65 treatment indicating opposite effects of Maxadilan and M65. Maxadilan ap-plication inhibited lumen stenosis under SC and CED compared to Sham. In spite of significantly increased cholesterol levels, lumen stenosis of Maxadilan-treated mice was similar under CED and SC. In contrast, M65 under SC or CED did not reveal a significant influence on lumen steno-sis. Maxadilan significantly reduced the TNF-α+ area in the plaques under CED, but not under SC. In contrast, the IL-1β+ area was reduced after Maxadilan treatment under SC, but remained unchanged under CED compared to Sham. Maxadilan reduced the caspase-3+ area in the media under both SC and CED without affecting lipid content in plaques. Despite persisting hypercholesterolemia, Maxadilan reduces lumen stenosis, apoptosis and TNF-α driven inflammation. Our data suggest that Maxadilan provides atheroprotection by act-ing downstream of cholesterol-induced vascular inflammation. This implicates the potential of PAC1-specific agonist drugs against atherosclerosis even beyond statins and PCSK-9.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a significant health concern, particularly in women, with almost half of them experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime. This problem is further compounded by the high recurrence rate within 6-12 months. Postmenopausal women are especially vulnerable to recurrent UTI due to the natural decline in estrogen levels, which alters the urogenital epithelium and subsequently affects the urogenital microbiome. Methods: This study included 674 female patients that were admited at "Dr. Carol Davila" Central Military Emergency University Hospital in Bucharest over a period of 3 years. Results: Of the 674 women with urinary tract infection, 435 (79.3%) had more than one positive culture, and 239 (35.4%) experienced at least one recurrent urinary tract infection 6-12 months after the initial diagnosis. The mean age of women with urinary tract infection was 63 (± 15.61 years). Recurrent urinary tract infections were most prevalent in those aged 65-80 years (52%). Escherichia coli was detected in 71% of the positive cultures. Conclusions: The management of recurrent urinary tract infections in women presents a complex challenge that necessitates a multifaceted approach. The emerging understanding of the urobiome and its role in bladder health offers promising avenues for developing targeted interventions. As research in this field advances, it is imperative to integrate these new insights into clinical practice to balance traditional antibiotic treatments with novel strategies that consider the intricate microbial ecosystem of the urinary tract.

Disruptions in power quality have a negative impact on many energy consumers. These include lighting, where interference manifests itself, among others, in the form of light flickering. The article presents phenomena accompanying the operation of modern light sources against the background of exemplary results of studies on the flicker of conventional light sources, such as incandescent or fluorescent lamps. To assess the effects of these phenomena, it is necessary to use measures other than those traditionally used. The results of measurements carried out in accordance with different recommendations take into account both power supply disturbances and the properties of modern light sources.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in intercellular communication during carcinogenesis and cancer cells are able to secrete EVs, in particular exosomes containing molecules, that can be transferred to recipient cells to induce pathological processes and significant modifications, as metastasis, increase of proliferation and carcinogenesis evolution. FZD proteins, a family of receptors comprised in the Wnt signaling pathway, play an important role in carcinogenesis of gastroenteric tract. Here, a still unrecognized role of Frizzled 10 (FZD10) protein was identified. In particular, the presence of FZD10 and FZD10-mRNA in exosomes extracted from culture medium of the untreated colorectal, gastric, hepatic and cholangio cancer cell lines, was detected. A substantial reduction in the FZD10 and FZD10-mRNA level was achieved in FZD10-mRNA silenced cells and in their corresponding exosomes and, concomitantly a significant decrease in viability of the silenced cells compared to their respective controls was observed. Interestingly, the incubation of silenced cells with exosomes extracted from culture medium of the same untreated cells promoted a remarkable restoration of the cell viability and, also, of the FZD10 and FZD10-mRNA level, thus indicating that the FZD10 and FZD10-mRNA delivering exosomes may be potential messengers of cancer reactivation and play an active role in long-distance metastatization

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease significantly impacting women, with disease severity often modulated by hormonal fluctuations. This review examines the influence of hormonal changes on the course of psoriasis in women, focusing on key life stages—including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause—and their impact on disease progression and symptomatology. Estrogen, the principal female sex hormone, plays a critical role in immune modulation. Variations in estrogen levels, which occur naturally throughout a woman's life, are associated with fluctuations in psoriasis severity. Low estrogen levels, as seen during menstruation or menopause, are linked to symptom exacerbation, while elevated levels during pregnancy may reduce symptoms in some women. However, responses are variable, with others experiencing no change or worsening during pregnancy. Postpartum, the rapid decline in estrogen often triggers severe flare-ups, while menopause, marked by a sustained estrogen reduction, frequently correlates with increased disease severity and flare frequency. The review also addresses the profound impact of psoriasis on women’s quality of life, including physical discomfort, psychological distress, and social stigma. Additionally, fertility concerns are discussed, as severe psoriasis and associated treatments may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Consideration is given to hormonal therapies, lifestyle modifications, and their effects on psoriasis, underscoring the need for personalized treatment approaches that account for hormonal influences. Understanding these hormonal dynamics is essential for developing targeted, effective management strategies that enhance quality of life for women affected by psoriasis.

introduction In the professional practice of nursing, differences have been described between the habitus shared in the academic training process and the professional practice developed in the field of health systems; in this scenario, nurses tend to be affected by how their professional habitus has been established, which, in some way, alters the cultural capital established in their academic training process. The research objective was to identify aspects that facilitate and limit the development of the theoretical component in nursing practice.Method: The research was based on a qualitative hermeneutic study addressed from a critical approach that linked Bourdieu's field theory. The study included 17 students, 11 nurses active in health services, and six university professors. Data were collected from a sociodemographic questionnaire, episodic interviews, and focus groups. The information collected was analyzed using the hermeneutic understanding process from the grounded theory.Results: The research revealed a central thematic core called clarification of the role of the nurse (professional habitus) and three secondary thematic cores related to the need to strengthen the nursing essence (identity habitus), the adjustment of training processes (optimization habitus) and, finally, the strengthening of the nurse's credibility (validation habitus).Conclusion: The professional habitus of nursing professionals is shaped by different elements of the social field of the health system. This field is repressed by hierarchical structures that succeed in disconnecting theory from praxis. Aspects such as subordination to the hegemonic biological discourse and the medical profession, the limited appreciation of humanized care, restrictions on the recognition of the nursing process by health institutions, and limited solidarity and leadership end up conditioning the accumulation of symbolic capital and social capital of nursing, which leads to the loss of autonomy and the advancement of professional development.

The present paper tackles the important issue of tensile ultimate strength of ceramic matrix composites, using a multiscale approach. The ultimate strength is investigated at the successive increasing length scales inherent to 2D woven SiC/SiC composites, i.e. single filaments, fiber tow, minicomposites reinforced with a single tow, and 2D woven composite. First experimental results on tensile behavior under strain-controlled conditions are summarized for tows, minicomposites and composites. Then, models of tow ultimate failure under controlled force and strain are presented. A criterion of tow failure is developed for filament fracture initiation and then propagation based on applied stress and on filament strength gradient. The model of ultimate failure of minicomposite under strain-controlled condition is based on the strength of filaments in the presence of matrix cracks and the overstress induced by interactions of broken filaments and the matrix. The variability of ultimate strengths of filaments, minicomposites and composites at various gauge lengths is described by linear p-quantile diagrams which indicates that the data follow normal distribution function. The contribution of structural effects to variability of composite and minicomposite strength under strain-controlled loading is analyzed. Their dependence on specimen size is related to reproducibility of critical flaw population and structural effects.

Helium is a strategic rare gas resource related to national security and the development of high-tech industries, the high-quality development of helium industry chains has a great significance to improve the security of helium resource. This paper through literature and market research, summarizes the progress of helium resource endowmen, exploration and development, supply and demand pattern, trade market and industrial technology, equipment through literature and market research in the world, analyses the development situation of global helium resources industry chains. This study proposes the development status and challenges of China's helium industry and the corresponding development path of helium industry based on the upstream, midstream, downstream and downstream indicators. Most of the countries in the world have not started helium exploration or remain in low exploration level, but the exploration practice shows that global helium resource potential is considerable; helium exploration and development subjects become diversified in recent years, which may change the global helium supply and demand pattern; The helium reservoir forming theory and exploration and development technology are underdeveloped, and the helium extraction equipment is continuously improved; The global helium production capacity, supply and demand，trade pattern market would be profoundly changing. For a long time, the United States has had an absolute say in the global helium trade system, the contradiction between supply and demand would persist for a long time and significant price fluctuations. China's helium development challenges and opportunities coexist considering the global helium industry chain existing pattern and the new trend of development. There is an urgent need to build an independent and controllable , stable and resilient helium industrial chain, and provide helium resources guarantee for the development of high-tech industries.

The proliferation of cloud computing has given rise to challenges in security that established perimeter-based models cannot easily adapt to. The new buzzword Zero Trust, which is based on the principle of "never trust, always verify," has been looked up as one of the promising solutions. Is Zero Trust a certainty or pie in the sky for security in the cloud? This is discussed further in this paper. This philosophical approach leads us through the earlier work and scientific literature available on the subject, presenting Zero Trust's capabilities, advantages when introduced into cloud security architecture, and obstacles about its incorporation. The study finds that Zero Trust holds the potential to enhance cloud security significantly, but it is no silver bullet and demands careful implementation and further studies to understand its intricacies as well as pitfalls.

Insurance companies need to calculate solvency capital requirements in order to ensure that they can meet their future obligations to policyholders and beneficiaries. The solvency capital requirement is a risk management tool essential for, when extreme catastrophic events occur, resulting in a high number of possibly interdependent claims. This paper studies the problem of aggregating the risks coming from several insurance business lines and analyses the effect of reinsurance in the level of risk. Our starting point is to use a Hierarchical Risk Aggregation method, which was initially based on 2-dimensional elliptical copulas. We then propose the use of copulas from the Archimedean family and a mixture of different copulas. Our results show that a mixture of copulas can provide a better fit to the data than an individual copula and consequently avoid over or underestimating of the capital requirement of an insurance company. We also investigate the significance of reinsurance in reducing the insurance company’s business risk and its effect on diversification. The results show that reinsurance does not always reduce the level of risk, but can also reduce the effect of diversification for insurance companies with multiple business lines.

The primary goal of Theory of Everything (ToE) is to unify General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, establishing a theoretical framework that explains all natural phenomena and fundamental laws of the universe. The rapid development of artificial intelligence in the 21st century presents new opportunities for the establishment of TOE. Research has revealed that the observer and the agent, as key concepts in physics and intelligence science respectively, share intrinsic consistency. Using this as a breakthrough point, we first proposed Standard Agent Model, which, from the perspective of information processing, establishes a unified structure for agents. This model posits that any agent possesses five essential capabilities: input, output, storage, creation, and control of these four capabilities.By setting the values of these five essential capabilities in Standard Agent Model to either zero or infinity, we identify two extreme states of agents: Absolute Zero Agent (α Point) and Omniscient and Omnipotent Agent (Ω Point). Based on the evolution of agents towards these two extreme states, we derive two driving forces for agent evolution: α Gravity and Ω Gravity. These elements collectively form General Model of Agent Evolution.Building on the first two models, we further derive Intelligent Universe Evolution Model, proposing that Universe, as an agent, evolves dynamically between α Point and Ω Point under the influence of α Field and Ω Field. These three models together constitute "Theory of Universal Intelligent Evolution," abbreviated as Ω Theory. According to Ω Theory, we demonstrate that the observer in physics and a wide range of research objects can be unified within the framework of Standard Agent Model. Additionally, we argue that the four fundamental forces have the potential to be unified into α Gravity and Ω Gravity.Within the framework of Ω Theory, through theoretical analysis and experimental validation, it has been demonstrated that the differences between classical mechanics, relativity, and quantum mechanics stem from the varying intelligence levels assigned to observers. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the differences in intelligent characteristics between the theoretical Universe proposed by these three major physical theories and Universe in which humanity currently resides are the root cause of the varying precision and limitations of these theories.

As the global economy pays increasing attention to sustainable development and environmental protection, the role of green finance in promoting regional technological innovation is becoming more and more prominent. This study aims to analyse the impact of green finance on regional technological innovation and its mechanism of action, with special attention to the mediating effect of R&D inputs and the moderating role of regional characteristics. By analysing the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2021 with fixed and mediated effect models, the results show that green finance significantly promotes regional technological innovation. R&D investment intensity partially mediates this effect, while regional innovation and entrepreneurship capacity plays a significant moderating role in this relationship. Specifically, regional innovation and entrepreneurship capacity reinforces the positive impact of green finance on R&D investment, but the marginal effect of R&D investment is reduced in regions with stronger innovation and entrepreneurship capacity. The findings provide a theoretical basis for formulating relevant policies to promote green finance development and sustainable innovation in regional economies.

Here, we describe the bicomplex (p,q)- Fibonacci numbers and the bicomplex (p,q)- Fibonacci quaternions that are based on these numbers and give some of their equations, including the Binet formula, generating function, Catalan, Cassini, d’Ocagne’s identities, and some summation formulas for both of them. Finally, we create a matrix for bicomplex (p,q)- Fibonacci quaternions, and we obtain a determinant of a special matrix that gives the terms of that quaternion.

In this paper, some convexity properties and some inequalities for the (p,k)-analogue of the Gamma function, Г_p,k(x) are given. In particular, a (p,k)-analogue of the celebrated Bohr-Mollerup theorem is given. Furthermore, a (p,k)-analogue of the Riemann zeta function, ζ_p,k(x) is introduced and some associated inequalities are derived. The established results provide the (p,k)-generalizations of some known results concerning the classical Gamma function.

Telomerase presents over-expression in most of cancer cells and has been a near-universal marker of cancer. Studies revealed that inhibiting telomerase activity by utilizing oligonucleotides to down-regulate the expression of intracellular human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA was an effective method to achieve anti-tumor therapy. Considering oncogenic microRNA-21 has been proved to indirectly up-regulate hTERT expression and drive cancer metastasis and aggression through increased telomerase activity, here we constructed a AS1411-functionallized oligonucleotide-conjugated gold nanoprobe (Au-nanoprobe) to simultaneously down-regulate intracellular microRNA-21 and hTERT mRNA by using anti-sense oligonucleotide technology to explore their targeted anti-tumor therapy effect. In vitro cell studies demonstrated that Au-nanoprobes could effectively induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells through down-regulating intracellular hTERT activity. In vivo imaging and anti-tumor studies revealed that Au-nanoprobes could accumulate at the tumor site and inhibit the growth of MCF-7 tumor xenografted on balb/c nude mice, thus exert the potential of anti-tumor therapy.

Objectives: To assess the role of soluble PD-L1 and PD-1 in combination with mRNA transcripts of PCA3, PSMA, AR genes in diagnostics of clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: For 68 PCa patients, plasma sPD-L1 and sPD-1 were measured by ELISA method and the urinary PSMA, PCA3 and AR were tested using RT-qPCR. Results: PSMA and AR were iden-tified as the most reliable biomarkers for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer, with AUCs of 0.81 and 0.78, respectively. Additionally, the expression levels of PSMA and PCA3 were associated with the pT3 stage. Despite the diagnostic potential of mRNA transcripts alone, the ad-dition of sPD-L1 and sPD-1 significantly enhanced diagnostic accuracy. Combination doubled the specificity of PCA3 from 44.1% to 88.0%, compared to PCA3 alone. sPD-L1, sPD-1 and AR resulted in the best distinction between clinically significant and insignificant prostate cancer, achieving an AUC of 0.97, an accuracy of 0.95, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 95%, revealing the potential of AR in distinguishing clinically significant PCa, more effectively than PSMA and PCA3. Our find-ings highlight the significant potential of sPD-1 in enhancing diagnostic accuracy when added to a triple gene panel, achieving an AUC of 0.90 compared to an AUC of 0.78 without sPD-1. This un-derscores the value of sPD-1, which has been less explored than sPD-L1 in cancer diagnostics. Con-clusions: sPD-L1 and sPD-1 has a potential to significantly enhance the accuracy of PCa diagnostics when added to the diagnostic panel, alongside PSMA, PCA3, and AR mRNA transcripts.

Introduction: Variants of COVID-19 are responsible for 700 million infections and 7 million deaths worldwide. Vaccinations have high efficiency in preventing infection and secondary benefits of reducing COVID-19 hospital admissions, attenuating disease severity and duration of illness. Conflicting reports were published regarding COVID-19 among PLWH. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 morbidity, hospitalization and the magnitude of immunological response to sequential BNT 162b2 mRNA vaccines in PLWH regarding demographic and clinical factors. Results: Our retrospective study included 784 PLWH who had at least one anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody test between March 2021 and October 2021. Half of our patients (392) had CD4 cells count above 500 cells/µl, 40.2% (315) had 200<CD4<500 cells/µL and only 9.8% (77) had CD4 <200 cells/µL at their last laboratory workup. The mean age was 50.2±12.2 years. About 90% of our patients were given at least two doses of the BNT 1626b2 Pfizer vaccines, about 60% received three doses of the vaccine. About a quarter of our patients (27.3%) had COVID-19 infection. Only 6 patients required hospital admission. All six patients recovered from COVID-19 infection. Titers of COVID-19 antibodies were lower for patients with CD4 cells count of less than 200 cells/ µL in the first, second and third serological tests with statistical significance. In a multinomial logistic regression the influence of other factors such as age, sex, previous COVID-19 infection on first COVID-19 antibodies titers was not significant. Conclusions: PLWH are responsive to COVID-19 vaccines. As was expected, patients with higher CD4 cells count have higher titers of COVID-19 antibodies and less severe illness. Age, sex and previous COVID-19 infection did not significantly affect antibodies titers according to our study. Larger prospective studies with control groups are needed to further characterize immunologic response to COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) significantly damage biological systems related to reproductive, neurological, and metabolic functions. Approximately 1,000 chemicals are known to possess endocrine-acting properties, including bisphenol A (BPA) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). This study primarily focuses on the potential effects of EDCs on the transcriptional levels of innate immune prophenoloxidase (proPO) system-related genes to oxidative stress in the gonad and stomach of the mud crab Macrophthalmus japonicus, an indicator species for assessing coastal benthic environments, when exposed to BPA or DEHP. After EDC exposure, the expression of lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan-binding protein (LGBP), a pattern recognition protein that activates the proPO system, was upregulated in the stomach of M. japonicus, whereas LGBP gene expression was downregulated in the gonad. In the gonad, which is a reproductive organ, EDC exposure mainly induced the transcriptional upregulation of trypsin-like serine protease (Tryp) at relatively low concentrations. In the stomach, which is a digestive organ, LGBP expression was upregulated at relatively low concentrations of EDCs over 7 days, whereas all proPO system-related genes (LGBP, Tryp, serine protease inhibitor (Serpin), and peroxinectin (PE)) responded to all concentrations of EDCs. These results suggest that the antioxidant and immune defense responses of the proPO system to EDC toxicity may vary, causing different degrees of damage depending on the tissue type in the mud crab.

In the follow-up of treated high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HSIL/CIN) lesions, cer-vical cytology has a high false-negative rate, while high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA testing showed high sensitivity and lower specificity. The detection of messenger RNA of the HR-HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins (E6/E7 mRNA) seems to be an indicator of viral integration and it allows the identification of severe lesions. Our objective was to assess the clinical utility of E6/E7 mRNA determination in the follow-up of patients treated for HSIL/CIN. A retrospective obser-vational study including 407 patients treated for HSIL/CIN was performed. The recurrence rate and the validity of E6/E7 mRNA testing were evaluated. The recurrence rate of high-grade lesions was 1.7%. The sensitivity of the test was 88% in the first clinical revision and 100% in the second and third revisions. Specificity was 91% in the first revision, 92% in the second revision, and 85% in the third revision. The positive predictive value was 18% in the first medical revision, 10% in the second and 14% in the third. The negative predictive value was 100% in all follow-up visits. In conclusion, the E6/E7 mRNA test seems to be effective in ruling out recurrence after treatment for HSIL/CIN lesions.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is an array of neurocognitive changes associated with HIV infection, and the roles of microRNAs in HAND are not completely revealed yet. Based on published data and publicly available databases, we constructed an integrated miRNA-mRNA network involved in HAND. Bioinformatics analyses, including gene ontology, network analysis, and KEGG pathway analysis, were applied for further study of the network and the genes of the network. The axon guidance KEGG pathway, three genes NTNG1, EFNB2, CXCL12, and 17 miRNAs which regulates them, are spotlighted in our study. This study provides new perspectives to the knowledge of miRNAs’ roles in the process of HAND, and our findings provided potential therapeutic targets and clues of HAND.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can transfer diverse RNA cargo for intercellular signalling. EV-associated RNAs have been found in diverse fungi and were proposed to be relevant for pathogenesis in animal hosts. In plant-pathogen interactions, small RNAs are exchanged in a cross-kingdom RNAi warfare and EVs were considered to be a delivery mechanism. To extend the search for EV-associated molecules involved in plants-pathogen communication, we have characterised the repertoire of EV-associated mRNAs secreted by the maize smut pathogen, Ustilago maydis. For this initial survey, EVs were isolated from axenic filamentous cultures that mimic infectious hyphae. The EV-associated RNAs were resistant to degradation by RNases and the presence of intact mRNAs was evident. The set of mRNAs enriched inside EVs relative to the fungal cells are functionally distinct from those that are depleted from EVs, particularly overrepresented in metabolic enzyme activities. Intriguingly, mRNAs of some known effectors and other proteins linked to virulence were found in EVs. Furthermore, several mRNAs enriched in EVs are also upregulated during infection, suggesting that EV-associated mRNAs may participate in plant-pathogen interaction.

The circulating transcriptome is a valuable source of cancer biomarkers, which with the exception of miRNAs, remains relatively unexplored. To elucidate which RNAs are present in plasma from melanoma patients and which could be used to distinguish cancer patients of healthy individuals, we used next generation sequencing (NGS) and validation was carried out by qPCR and/or ddPCR. We identified 442 different microRNAs in samples, eleven of which were differentially expressed (P < 0.05). Levels of miR-134-5p and miR-320a-3p were significantly down-regulated (P<0.001) in melanoma samples (n = 96) compared to healthy controls (n = 28). Differentially expressed protein-encoding mRNA, 5´-fragments, were enriched for the angiopoietin, PAK and EIF2 pathways. Levels of ATM1, AMFR, SOS1 and CD109 gene fragments were up-regulated (P < 0.001) in melanoma samples (n=144) compared to healthy controls (n = 41) (AUC = 0.825). Over 40% of mapped reads were YRNAs, a class of non-coding RNAs that to date has been little explored. Expression levels of RNY3P1, RNY4P1 and RNY4P25 were significantly higher in patients with stage 0 disease, than either healthy controls or more advanced stage disease (P < 0.001). In conclusion, we have identified a number of novel RNA biomarkers, which most importantly we validated in multi-centre retrospective and prospective cohorts suggesting potential diagnostic use of these RNA species.

We introduce the notion of p-adic equiangular lines and derive the first fundamental relation between common angle, dimension of the space and the number of lines. More precisely, we show that if {τj} n j=1 is p-adic γ-equiangular lines in Qd p , then (1) |n| 2 ≤ |d| max{|n|, γ2 }. We call Inequality (1) as the p-adic van Lint-Seidel relative bound. We believe that this complements fundamental van Lint-Seidel [Indag. Math., 1966] relative bound for equiangular lines in the p-adic case. Keywords: Equiangular lines, p-adic Hilbert space.

This article presents a proposed system that enables energy transfer from the dc grid to a single-phase onboard grid, operating at an hi frequency. In addition to the energy transfer function, it additionally enables compensation of reactive power in the ac grid when the converter operates at less than rated power. To operate in compensator mode, it is necessary to decouple the current from the grid into active and reactive components and control them independently. To achieve good dynamics, synchronizers that operate in the dq system are used. In the case of a single-phase grid, it requires such a synchronizer to generate virtual quadrature signals. The used systems based on second-order generalized integrator are good, but to improve dynamics in the work a quadrature generator based on trigonometric calculations was proposed. The developed system was implemented in a proportional resonant current control system. Tests performed in steady state and in dynamic states related to typical grid disturbances showed better dynamic properties than the standard integrator-based system.Keywords: power transfer; compensator; P+R controller

Arc sensors have been used in seam tracking and widely studied since the 80s; commercial arc sensing products for T and V shaped grooves have been developed. However, it is difficult to use these arc sensors in narrow gap welding because arc stability and sensing accuracy are not satisfactory. Pulse gas melting arc welding (P-GMAW) has been successfully applied in narrow gap welding and all position welding processes, so it is worthwhile to research P-GMAW arc sensing technology. In this paper, we derived a linear mathematical P-GMAW model for arc sensing, and the assumptions for the model are verified through experiments and finite element methods. Finally, the linear characteristics of the mathematical model were investigated. In torch height changing experiments, uphill experiments, and groove angle changing experiments the P-GMAW arc signals all satisfied the linear rules. In addition, the faster the welding speed, the higher the arc signal sensitivities; the smaller the groove angle, the greater the arc sensitivities. The arc signal variation rate needs to be modified according to the welding power, groove angles, and swing or rotate speed.

Pardosa pseudoannulata is one of the most common wandering spiders in agricultural fields and a potentially good bioindicator for heavy metal contamination. However, little is known about the mechanism by which spiders respond to heavy metals at the molecular level. In this study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to characterize the de novo transcriptome of the spiders and to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after cadmium exposure. We obtained 60,489 assembled unigenes, 18,773 of which were annotated in the public databases. Ultimately, 3450 cDNA simple sequence repeats were identified and validated as potential molecular markers in the unigenes. A total of 2939, 2491 and 3759 DEGs were detected among the three libraries of two Cd-treated groups and the control. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that metabolism processes and digestive system function were predominately enriched in response to Cd stress. At the cellular and molecular levels, significantly enriched pathways in lysosomes and phagosomes as well as replication, recombination and repair demonstrated that oxidative damage resulted from Cd exposure. Based on the selected DEGs, certain critical genes involved in defence and detoxification were analysed. These results may elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying spiders' responses to heavy metal stress.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most significant arboviral infection in Croatia. The aim of the study was to analyse and correlate 17-year TBE seroprevalence data with winter temperature, precipitation and wildlife abundance to identify possible patterns that can be predictive of TBE incidence. TBE diagnosis was based on IgM/IgG anti-TBE antibodies and individual clinical interpretation of the results. Of the 19,094 analysed patients, 4.2% had acute TBE, significantly more often in older age (p<0.001) and in men (p<0.001). Overall seroprevalence of TBE among the tested population was 5.8%, and varied annually from 2.8% to 10.7%. The mean acute TBE incidence rate was 1.1 per 100.000 population with significant regional differences: 1.7 in the continental vs. 0.2 and 0.5 in the Mediterranean and Alpine regions, respectively. Particularly high incidence of 3.1 was recorded in northern Croatia. TBE displayed a seasonal pattern, peaking in June and July. Moderate negative correlations were observed between TBE acute cases and winter temperatures from December to February (r=-0.461; p=0.062), relative rodent abundance (r=-0.414; p=0.098) and yearly precipitation from one year before (r=-0.401; p=0.123). Considerable efforts are needed to understand the impact on TBE incidence to improve disease prevention.

Understanding the factors that contribute to slope failures, such as soil saturation, is essential for mitigating rainfall-induced landslides. Cost-effective capacitive soil moisture sensors have the po-tential to be widely implemented across multiple sites for landslide early warning systems. How-ever, these sensors need to be calibrated for specific applications to ensure high accuracy in readings. In this study, a soil-specific calibration was performed in a laboratory setting to integrate the soil moisture sensor with an automatic monitoring system using the Internet of Things (IoT). This re-search aims to evaluate a low-cost soil moisture sensor (SKU:SEN0193) and develop calibration equations for the purpose of slope model experiment under artificial rainfall condition using silica sand. The results indicate that a polynomial function is the best fit, with a coefficient of determi-nation (R²) ranging from 0.92 to 0.98 and a root mean square error (RMSE) ranging from 1.17 to 2.67. The calibration equation was validated through slope model experiments, with soil samples taken from the model after the experiment finished. Overall, the moisture content readings from the sensors showed approximately a 10% deviation from the actual moisture content. The findings suggest that the cost-effective capacitive soil moisture sensors has the potential to be used for the development of landslide early warning system.

In the present study, we introduce the two dimensional Chlodovsky type Bernstein operators based on (p,q)−integer. We examine approximation properties of our new operator by the help of Korovkin-type theorem. Further, we present the local approximation properties and establish the rates of convergence by means of the modulus of continuity and the Lipschitz type maximal function. Also, we give a Voronovskaja type theorem for this operators. And, we investigate weighted approximation properties of these operators and estimate rate of convergence in the same space. Finally, with the help of Maple, illustrative graphics show the rate of convergence of these operators to certain functions . The optimization of approximation speeds by operators during system control provides significant improvements in stability and performance. As a result, the control and modeling of dynamic systems become more efficient and effective through innovative methods. These advancements in the fields of modeling fractional differential equations and control theory offer substantial benefits to both modeling and optimization processes, expanding the range of applications in these areas.

This article advances the discourse on sustainable and energy-efficient software by examining the performance and energy efficiency of intelligent algorithms within the framework of green and sustainable computing. Building on previous research, it explores the theoretical implications of Bremermann's Limit on efforts to enhance computer performance through more extensive methods. The study presents an empirical investigation into heuristic methods for search and optimisation, demonstrating the energy efficiency of various algorithms in both simple and complex tasks. It also identifies key factors influencing the energy consumption of algorithms and their potential impact on computational processes. Furthermore, the article discusses cognitive concepts and their interplay with computational intelligence, highlighting the role of cognition in the evolution of intelligent algorithms. The conclusion offers insights into the future directions of research in this area, emphasising the need for continued exploration of energy-efficient computing methodologies.

This article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is drastically changing the logistics industry by transforming operations and significantly improving customer satisfaction. Through meticulous analysis of real-life cases and extensive examination of numerical data, this comprehensive research thoroughly investigates the profound impact of AI on supply chain management. The findings clearly reveal the multifaceted role of AI in significantly reducing costs, greatly improving delivery accuracy, and significantly enhancing inventory control. AI is not just an incremental advancement, but rather a revolutionary leap forward for the future logistics industry, firmly paving the way for unparalleled automation, digital transformation, and operational effectiveness.

In an outstanding article published in 2008, Suzuki obtained a nice generalization of the Banach contraction principle from which derived a characterization of metric completeness. Although Suzuki’s theorem has been successfully generalized and extended in several directions and contexts, we here show by means of a simple example that the problem of achieving, in an obvious way, its full extension to the framework of w-distances does not have an emphatic response. Motivated by this fact we introduce the concept of presymmetric w-distance on metric spaces, we give some properties and examples of this new structure and show that it provides a reasonable setting to obtain a real and hardly forced w-distance generalization of Suzuki’s theorem. This is realized in our main result, which is a fixed point theorem that involves presymmetric w-distances and certain contractions of Suzuki-type. We also discuss the relationship between our main result and the well-known w-distance full generalization of the Banach contraction principle, due to Suzuki and Takahashi. Connected to this approach we prove another fixed point result that compare with our main result through some examples. Finally, we state a characterization of metric completeness by using our fixed point results.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) are environmental pollutants with a great persistence, capacity of bioaccumulation, and well known important toxic effects in humans and animals. Incinerators of hazardous, municipal and medical waste, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp, cement plants, and the traffic of motor vehicles are the most frequent emission sources of these compounds. The diet, followed at a great distance by inhalation, is generally the main way of human exposure to PCDD/Fs. Human biomonitoring is of a great importance to prevent potential adverse effects derived from exposure to chemicals such as PCDD/Fs. In relation to this, blood is among the most used biological monitors. In the current review, we have summarized the recent information (2000-2009) published in the scientific literature (databases: Scopus and PubMed) on the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood samples of non-occupationally exposed populations, as well as in some groups of occupationally exposed individuals. We have revised a number of studies conducted in various African American, Asian and European countries, and Australia. Unfortunately, the information is quite limited. No data are available for most countries over the world. Based on the results here reviewed –where available- the current health risks for the general populations do not seem to be of concern. Moreover, taking into account the important reductions observed in the levels of PCDD/Fs in foodstuffs, new decreases in the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood -and other biological tissues- are very probable in the immediate years.

Unheralded cardiac arrest among previously healthy young people without antecedent illness, months or years after COVID-19 vaccination, highlights the urgent need for risk stratification. The most likely underlying pathophysiology is subclinical myopericarditis and reentrant ventricular tachycardia or spontaneous ventricular fibrillation that is commonly precipitated after a surge in catecholamines during exercise or the waking hours of terminal sleep. Small patches of inflammation and/or edema can be missed on cardiac imaging and autopsy, and the heart can appear grossly normal. This paper reviews evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to cardiac arrest where unfortunately the majority of victims have had no antecedent clinical evaluation. We propose a comprehensive strategy for evaluating cardiovascular risk post-vaccination, incorporating detailed patient history, antibody testing, and cardiac diagnostics in the best attempt to detect abnormalities before sudden cardiac death. This approach aims to identify individuals at higher risk of cardiac events after COVID-19 vaccination and guide appropriate clinical management. It is prudent for each primary care physician to have a pre-established plan when addressing this issue in their practice.

During one of the worst global health crises, millions of people were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. In rare cases, new onset systemic inflammatory diseases were reported with temporal coincidence to the vaccination. We describe a case of severe Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) in a young asthmatic woman, occurring after a 2nd dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine. She presented with multisystem EGPA with cardiac and central nervous system involve-ment, complicated by secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We review the reported cases of EGPA coinciding with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. All potentially vaccine-related EGPA cases reported so far occurred within 14 days from immunization. EGPA is very rare with an incidence of 1:1’000’000 inhabitants and the number of reported post-vaccination EGPA cases lies within the expected incidence rate for the period. While we cannot prove a causal relationship between the vaccine and EGPA onset, the temporal relationship with the vaccine immune stimulation is intriguing, in a disease occurring almost always in adults with asthma and/or chronic rhinosinusitis and driven by an aberrant Th2 lym-phocyte activation with hypereosinophilia. Nevertheless, cases of inflammatory diseases emerging in the context of vaccination remain rare and the benefits of preventing severe Covid presentations with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines remains unquestionable.

Nanotechnology and polymer engineering are steering towards a new development to invade deleterious mysteries. In the last few decades, polymer engineering has grabbed researchers’ attention and similarly, polymeric network-engineered structures have been vastly studied. Prior to therapeutic application, early and quick detection analyses are critical. Therefore, developing nanoscale sensors to manage the acute expression of feeble states and malignancies to draw therapeutic lines demands advanced nanoengineering. In spite of nano-therapeutics have emerged as an alternative approach to tackling strenuous diseases. Also, studies have shown highly biocompatible biomedical engineering has emerged with sheer progression. Moreover, hydrogels have emerged as a three-dimensional (3D) polymeric network that consists of hydrophilic natural or synthetic polymers. The resemblance of hydrogels with tissue structure makes it more unique to study inquisitively. Preceding studies have shown a vast spectrum of synthetic and natural polymer deployment in the field of biotechnology and molecular diagnostics. This review explores recent studies on synthetic and natural polymer engineered hydrogel-based biosensors and their applications in multipurpose diagnostics and therapeutics. We reviewed the latest studies on hydrogel-engineered biosensors, exclusively DNA-based and DNA hydrogels fabricated biosensors.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a common autoimmune disease, with its prevalence rapidly increasing. Both genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to the development of HT. Recently, viral infection has been suggested to act as a trigger of HT by eliciting the host immune response and subsequent autoreactivity. We analyzed features of HT through bioinformatics analysis so as to identify markers of HT development. We accessed public microarray data of HT patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and obtained differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under HT. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed for functional clustering of our protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Utilizing ranked gene lists, we performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) using the clusterprofiler R package. By comparing the expression signatures of the huge perturbation database with the queried rank-ordered gene list, connectivity map (CMap) analysis was performed to screen potential therapeutic targets and agents. The gene expression profile of the HT group was in line with general characteristics of HT. Biological processes related to the immune response and viral infection pathways were obtained for the upregulated DEGs. GSEA results revealed activation of autoimmune disease-related pathways and several viral infection pathways. Autoimmune disease and viral infection pathways were highly interconnected by common genes, while the HLA genes which are shared by both were significantly upregulated. CMap analysis suggested that perturbagens, including SRRM1, NLK, and CCDC92, have the potential to reverse the HT expression profile. Several lines of evidence suggested that viral infection and the host immune response are activated during HT. Viral infection is suspected to act as a key trigger of HT by causing autoimmunity. SRRM1, an alternative splicing factor, which responds to viral activity, might serve as potential marker of HT.

Molecular therapies exploiting mRNA vectors embody enormous potential, as evidenced by the utility of this technology for the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. None-the-less, broad implementation of these promising strategies has been restricted by the limited repertoires of delivery vehicles capable of mRNA transport. On this basis, we explored a strategy based on exploiting the well characterized entry biology of adenovirus. To this end, we studied an adenovirus-polylysine (AdpL) that embodied “piggyback” transport of the mRNA on the capsid exterior of adenovirus. We hypothesized that the efficient steps of Ad binding, receptor-mediated entry, and capsid-mediated endosome escape could provide an effective pathway for transport of mRNA to the cellular cytosol for transgene expression. Our studies confirmed that AdpL could mediate effective gene transfer of mRNA vectors in vitro and in vivo. Facets of this method may offer key utilities to feasibilize the promise of mRNA-based therapeutics.

Abstract Purpose of review: RNA therapeutics are a new and rapidly expanding class of drugs to prevent or treat a wide spectrum of diseases. We discuss the defining characteristics of the diverse family of molecules under the RNA therapeutics umbrella. Recent findings:RNA therapeutics are designed to regulate gene expression in a transient manner. For example, depending upon the strategy employed, RNA therapies offer the versatility to replace, supplement, correct, suppress, or eliminate the expression of a targeted gene. RNA therapies include antisense nucleotides, microRNAs and small interfering RNAs, RNA aptamers, and messenger RNAs. Further, we discuss the mechanism(s) by which different RNA therapies either reduce or increase the expression of their targets. Summary: We review the RNA therapeutics approved (and those in trials) to treat cardiovascular indications. RNA-based therapeutics are a new, rapidly growing class of drugs that will offer new alternatives for an increasing array of cardiovascular conditions.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically complex disease that results from a multistep transformation of normal to malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the initiation and heterogeneous evolution of MM remain largely unknown. A fundamental step needed to understand the oncogenesis of MM and its response to therapy is the identification of driver mutations. The introduction of gene expression profiling (GEP) in MM was an important step in elucidating the molecular heterogeneity of MM and its clinical relevance. Since some mutations in myeloma occur in non-coding regions, studies based on the analysis of mRNA provide more comprehensive information on the oncogenic pathways and mechanisms relevant to MM biology. In this review, we discuss the role of gene expression profiling in understanding the biology of multiple myeloma together with the clinical manifestation of the disease, as well as its impact on treatment decisions and future directions.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we run for all INDIA mutations and variants a biomathematical numerical method for analysing mRNA nucleotides sequences based on UA/CG Fibonacci numbers proportions (Perez, 2021). In this study, we limit ourselves to the analysis of whole genomes, all coming from the mutations and variants of SARS-CoV2 sequenced in India in 2020 and 2021. We then demonstrate - both on actual genomes of patients and on variants combining the most frequent mutations to the SARS-CoV2 Wuhan genomes and then to the B.1.617 variant - that the numerical Fibonacci AU / CG metastructures increase considerably in all cases analyzed in ratios of up to 8 times. We can affirm that this property contributes to a greater stability and lifespan of messenger RNAs, therefore, possibly also to a greater INFECTUOSITY of these variant genomes. Out of a total of 108 genomes analyzed: - None ("NONE") of them contained a number of metastructures LOWER than those of the reference SARS-CoV2 Wuhan genome. - Eleven (11) among them contained the same number of metastructures as the reference genome. - 97 of them contained a GREATER number of metastructures than the reference genome, ie 89.81% of cases. The average increase in the number of metastructures for the 97 cases studied is 4.35 times the number of SARS-CoV2 UA/CG 17711 Fibonacci metastructures. Finally, we put a focus on B.1.617.2 crucial exponential growth Indian variant. Then, we demonstrate, by analyzing the main worldwide 19 variants, both at the level of spikes and of whole genomes, how and why these UA / CG metastuctures increase overall in the variants compared to the 2 reference strains SARS-CoV2 Wuhan and D614G.

The earthquake alert of the early warning systems is based on the delay that the S waves have in reference to the P waves and on the interpretation of the P waves’ specific parameters. One of the most used parameters for estimating the moment magnitude of an earthquake is the characteristic period measured in the first 3 seconds of the appearance of the P wave. The typical method determines the characteristic period in the time domain, based on the velocity wave and the displacement wave. In the present work, we present a method for estimating the frequency of the characteristic period. This method includes zero padding of the P wave sequence, conversion of the extended sequence from the time domain to the frequency domain, the identification of local frequency maxima and the calculation of the weighted average of the frequency based on the identified maxima. Tests conducted on synthetic signals, as well as standard deviation evaluation tests for simultaneous recordings on several stations, reveal better performance to the usual method.

Cell migration crucial contributor to metastasis, a critical process associated with the mortality of cancer patients. The initiation of metastasis is triggered by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), along with the changes of the expression of EMT marker proteins. Inflammation plays a significant role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a typical inflammatory agent, promoted the generation of superoxide through the activation of p-Tyr42 RhoA, Rho-dependent kinase 2 (ROCK2) and the phosphorylation of p47phox. In addition, p-Tyr42 RhoA activated phospholipase D1 (PLD1), with PLD1 and phosphatidic acid (PA) being involved in superoxide production. PA also regulated the expression of EMT maker proteins. Consequently, we have identified MHY9 (Miosin IIA, NMIIA) as a PA-binding protein in response to LPS. MYH9 also contributed cell migration and the alteration of the expression of EMT marker proteins. P-Tyr42 RhoA, PLD1 and MYH9 associated to form a complex, which was distributed in both the cytosol and nucleus. In addition, we have found that p-Tyr42 RhoA and PLD1 associated with the ZEB1 promoter. Taken together, we propose that p-Tyr42 RhoA and PLD1, responsible for producing PA, and PA-bound MYH9 are involved in the regulation of ZEB1 expression, thereby promoting cell migration.

Abstract: (1) Background: Surgery is the best curative option for Gastric Cancer (GC). However, morbimortality associated with surgery still a significant problem. Thus, it is essential to determine the preoperative surgical risk, to optimize outcomes in higher risk patients. (2) Methods: Patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2010 and December 2013 were included, obtaining a sample of 131 patients, and the acuity of the scales understudy was evaluated. The predictive power of the scales was evaluated through calibration and discrimination. (3) Results and Conclusions: Regarding mortality, the scales demonstrated good calibration, with POSSUM and P-POSSUM obtaining the best O:E ratio. The scales presented good discrimination, with POSSUM showing the best result. Considering morbidity, the scales showed good calibration and discrimination. POSSUM and P-POSSUM seem to have potential in predicting morbidity and mortality when applied to the studied population, but there is a need for further studies in this area.

Emerging evidence has shown that microRNAs play pivotal roles in wound healing. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) was previously found to upregulate in order to fulfill an anti-inflammation role for wounds. Exosomal miRNAs have been identified and explored as essential markers for diagnostic medicine. However, the role of exosomal miR-21 in wounds has yet to be well studied. In order to facilitate the early management of poorly healing wounds, we developed an easy-to-use, rapid, paper-based microfluidic-exosomal miR-21 extraction device to determine wound prognosis in a timely manner. We isolated and then quantitatively examined exosomal miR-21 in wound fluids from normal tissues, acute and chronic wounds. Eight improving wounds displayed lower levels of exosomal miR-21 expression after wound debridement. However, four instances of increased exosomal miR-21 expression levels were notably associated with patients with poor healing wounds despite aggressive wound debridement, indicating a predictive role of tissue exosomal miR-21 for wound outcome. Paper-based nucleic acid extraction device provides a rapid and user-friendly approach for evaluating exosomal miR-21 in wound fluids as a means of monitoring wounds. Our data suggest that tissue exosomal miR-21 is a reliable marker for determining current wound status.

If an algebra of type $A$ contains a subalgebra which is also an algebra of type $B$, then it is a Smarandache $B$-type $A$-algebra provided the subalgebra of type $B$ contains at least two elements. This generalizes the notion of Smarandache group, where the group of order $\geq 2$ is a subsemigroup of a semigroup. In this paper we investigate a number of such pairings and we deduce a number of conclusions as a consequence.

This study explores the impact and significance of implementing a comprehensive education system for children with special needs. The research aims to understand how inclusive practices influence the academic, social, and emotional development of these students. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes case study analysis, reviews of global education models, and theoretical frameworks, the study identifies key strategies for fostering inclusivity. The findings reveal that inclusive education not only enhances academic performance but also promotes social integration and emotional well-being. The analysis compares inclusive practices with traditional special education models and highlights the advantages of equity-driven, accessible learning environments. The study also addresses the challenges faced, such as inadequate resources and the need for continuous teacher training. Recommendations include policy reforms, increased funding, and the adoption of assistive technologies to support diverse learning needs. The research underscores the importance of a collaborative approach involving educators, parents, policymakers, and the community in creating an education system where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

The Median Based Unit Weibull is a new 2 parameter unit Weibull distribution defined on the unit interval (0,1). Estimation of the parameters using MLE encountered some problems like large variance. Using generalized method of moments (GMMs) and percentile method may ameliorate this condition. This paper introduces GMMs and the percentile methods for estimating the parameters of the new distribution with illustrative real data analysis.

Interspecific competition between mosquito larvae may affects adult vectorial capacity, potentially reducing disease transmission. It also influences population dynamics, cannibalistic and predatory behaviors. However, knowledge of interspecific competition between Ae. aegypti and Anopheles species is limited. The study examined interspecific competition between Ae. aegypti larvae and either An. arabiensis, An. gambiae, or An. funestus on individual fitness in semi-field settings. The experiments involved density combinations of 100:100, 200:0, and 0:200 (Ae. aegypti: Anopheles), reared with and without food, in small habitat (8.5 cm height × 15 cm diameter) with 0.5 litre and medium habitats (15 cm height × 35 cm diameter) with 1 litre of water. The first group received Tetramin® fish food (0.02 g), while the second group was unfed to assess cannibalism and predation. While, interspecific competition affected both genera, Anopheles species experienced greater effect, with reduced survival and delayed development, compared to Ae. aegypti. The mean wing lengths of all species were significantly small in small habitats in mixed population (p &lt; 0.001). The presence of food reduced cannibalism and predation compared to its absence. These interactions have implications for diseases transmission dynamics and can serve as biological indicators to signal the impacts of vector control interventions.

In response to a perceived epidemic of coronary heart disease, Ancel Keys introduced the lipid-heart hypothesis in 1953 which asserted that high intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol lead to atherosclerosis and that consuming less fat and cholesterol, and replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat, would reduce serum cholesterol and consequently the risk of heart disease. Keys proposed an equation that would predict the concentration of serum cholesterol (DChol.) from consumption of saturated fat (DS), polyunsaturated fat (DP), and cholesterol (DZ): ΔChol. = 1.2(2ΔS − ΔP) + 1.5ΔZ. However, the Keys equation conflated natural saturated fat and industrial trans-fat into a single parameter and considered only linoleic acid as the polyunsaturated fat. This ignored the widespread consumption of trans-fat and its effects on serum cholesterol and promoted an imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Numerous observational, epidemiological, interventional, and autopsy studies have failed to validate the Keys equation and the lipid-heart hypothesis. Nevertheless, these have been the cornerstone of national and international dietary guidelines which have focused disproportionately on heart disease and much less so on cancer and metabolic disorders, which have steadily increased since the adoption of this hypothesis.

In this paper, we define and investigate modified p-Leonardo, p-Leonardo-Lucas and p-Leonardo sequences as special cases of the generalized Leonardo sequence. We present Binet's formulas, generating functions, Simson formulas, and the summation formulas for these sequences. Moreover, we give some identities and matrices related with these sequences. Furthermore, we show that there are close relations between modified p-Leonardo, p-Leonardo-Lucas, p-Leonardo numbers and Fibonacci, Lucas numbers.

For evaluating probabilities of arbitrary random events with respect to a given multivariate probability distribution, specific techniques are of great interest. An important two-dimensional high risk limit law is the Gauss-exponential distribution whose probabilities can be dealt with based upon the Gauss-Laplace law. The latter will be considered here as an element of the newly introduced family of (p,q)-spherical distributions. Based upon a suitably defined non-Euclidean arc-length measure on (p,q)-circles we prove geometric and stochastic representations of these distributions and correspondingly distributed random vectors, respectively. These representations allow dealing with the new probability measures similarly like with elliptically contoured distributions and more general homogeneous star-shaped ones. This is demonstrated at hand of a generalization of the Box-Muller simulation method. En passant, we prove an extension of the sector and circle number functions.

In this research paper, we implement the theory of the primorial function, to develop the Supremum and Infimum bounds for the sum of (log(p))². There are, however, considerable computational difficulties related to these bounds. Therefore, from a pragmatic point of view, a set of Upper and Lower bounds had been developed to bypass this issue. Despite the increased estimation error, the Upper and Lower bounds are still considered sufficiently accurate, while facilitating an easy and fast computation of the estimate of the sum.

Our previous study demonstrated that the acute high-dose rate (3.3 Gy/minute) gamma irradiation of postnatal day 3 (P3) mice with 5Gy induced depression and drastic neuropathological changes in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of the adult mice. The present study investigated the effects of chronic low-dose-rate (1.2mGy/h) gamma irradiation from P30 to P180 with a cumulative dose of 5Gy on animal behaviour, hippocampal cellular change, miRNA and mRNA expression in the hippocampus and blood in female mice. The radiation exposure did not significantly affect the animal's body weight and neuropsychiatric changes such as anxiety and depression examined by neurobehavioural tests including open field, light-dark box, elevated plus maze, tail suspension test and forced swim test. Immunohistochemical staining did not detect any obvious loss of mature and immature neurons (NeuN and DCX) or any inflammatory glial response (IBA1, GFAP, and PDGFR1). Nevertheless, r-H2AX foci in the stratum granulosum of the dentate gyrus were significantly increased, suggesting the chronic low dose rate irradiation induced persistent DNA damage foci in mice. miRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR indicated an increased expression of miR-448-3p and miR-361-5p, but decreased expression of miR-193a-3p in the mouse hippocampus. Meanwhile, mRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR showed a reduced expression of Ccn1, Fli1, Fosb, Ets1, Hs3st5, and Eif4ebp1, but enhanced expression of Cort, Foxh1, and Opalin. Database searching by miRDB and TargetScan predicted that FLI1 and HS3ST5 are the targets of miR-448-3p, and Eif4ebp2 is the target of miR-361-5p. miRNA/mRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR results in blood showed the increased expression of miR-6967-3p and the decreased expression of its target S1pr5. The interactions of these miRNAs and mRNAs may contribute to the chronic low dose rate radiation-induced persistent DNA damage.

Exposure to vaccine lipid nanoparticles, mRNA, adenoviral DNA, and or Spike protein from one of the approved Covid-19 vaccines, or through secondary exposure, as through blood transfusion, is a potential source of harm. Blood reactions are an acknowledged side-effect of Covid-19 vaccination, not limited to hemolysis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, chronic cold agglutinin disease, immune thrombocytopenia, haemophagocytosis, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and many other blood related conditions. The observation of adverse events has motivated investigation into the cardiovascular mechanisms of harm by Covid-19 vaccines, and the biodistribution of vaccine contents. Biodistribution may not be limited to the body of the vaccine recipient, as a growing body of evidence demonstrates the possibility of secondary exposure to vaccine particles. These can be via bodily fluids and include the following routes of exposure: blood transfusion, organ transplantation, breastfeeding, and possibly other means. As covid-19 vaccines are associated with an increased risk of stroke, the persistence of vaccine artifacts in the blood presents a possible threat to a recipient of a blood donation from a vaccinated donor who suffered from vaccine induced thrombosis or thrombocytopenia. (VITT) We assess the feasibility and significance of these risks through an overview of the case report literature of blood disorders in vaccinated individuals, pharmacovigilance reports from the US Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) and a meta-analysis of the available literature on organ transplants from vaccinated organ donors. Our analysis establishes biological mechanistic plausibility, a coherent safety signal in pharmacovigilance databases for secondary vaccine contents exposure (for the cases of blood transfusion and breastfeeding) and also an elevated level of adverse events in organ transplants from VITT-deceased donors, echoing increases in organ transplantation related complications seen in national statistics for some countries. Secondary exposure to vaccine artifacts is a potential explanation for some of the cases put forth, and requires a deeper investigation.

Nucleic acid delivery through extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a well-preserved evolutionary mechanism in all life kingdoms including eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and plants. EVs naturally allow horizontal transfer of native as well as exogenous functional mRNA, that once incorporated in EVs is protected from enzymatic degradation. The possible use of EVs as carriers for vaccine has been investigated showing that EVs expressing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 S protein induced an immune response. Moreover, EV-based vaccines presenting the natural configuration of viral antigens have advantages in conferring long lasting immunization and lower toxicity than synthetic nanoparticles. To overcome the manufacturing limitations of EVs derived from eukaryotic cells, edible plant-derived EVs have been studied as an attractive alternative for vaccine delivery, especially for mucosal administration. We recently showed that EVs obtained from orange juice (oEVs) loaded with SARS-CoV-2 mRNAs protected their cargo from enzymatic degradation and were stable at room temperature for one year. Lyophilized oEVs containing the S1 mRNA were administered to rats by gavage and they induced a specific humoral immune response with generation of blocking antibodies, including IgA, that are the first mucosal barrier in the adaptive immune response. Moreover, a Th1 cytokine secretion occurred, suggesting a specific lymphocyte activation. In conclusion, mRNA-containing oEVs could be used for developing new oral vaccines due to optimal mucosal absorption, resistance to stress conditions, and the ability to stimulate a humoral and cellular immune response.

A brown seaweed consumed worldwide, Fucus vesiculosus, has been used to prevent atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia, among other uses, however, the mechanisms of action that lead to these effects are not yet fully understood. An F. vesiculosus aqueous extract, prepared as a soup was characterized as rich in sev-eral bioactive compounds, mainly phlorotannin and peptides. This work aims to study the in vitro effect of this extract on the expression of different proteins involved in the synthesis and transport of cholesterol in HepG2 cells, though a proteomic analysis, western blot and qRT-PCR. The results demonstrated that, in liver cells, the extract decreases the expression of 4 proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis process and also decrease the expression of two important transporters proteins of cholesterol, NPC1L1 and ABCG5, as well as decrease the NPC1L1 mRNA levels. Our study demonstrates some mechanisms of action of bioactive com-pounds from F. vesiculosus that may explain its previously reported hypocholesterolemic effect.

The mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have demonstrated efficacy and immunogenicity in the re-al-world setting. However, most of the research on vaccine immunogenicity has been centered on characterizing the antibody response, with limited exploration into the persistence of spike-specific memory B cell response. Here we monitored the durability of the memory B cell response and characterize the trajectory of spike-specific B cell phenotypes in healthy individuals who have received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine up to 9 months post-vaccination. To profile the spike-specific B cell response we applied the tSNE and Cytotree automated approaches. Our data showed the induction of spike-specific IgA+ and IgG+ plasmablasts and IgA+ activated cells 7 days after the second dose which disappeared 3 months later, while subsets of spike-specific IgG+ resting memory B cells became predominant 9 months after vaccination, and they were capable to differentiate into spike-specific IgG secreting cells when in vitro restimulated. Other subsets of spike-specific B cells, such as IgM+ or unswitched IgM+IgD+ or IgG+ double negative/atypical cells, were also elicited by the BNT162b2 vaccine and persisted up to month 9. The analysis of circulating spike-specific IgG, IgA and IgM was in line with the plasmablasts observed. The longitudinal analysis of the antigen-specific B cell response elicited by mRNA-based vaccines provides valuable insights into our understanding of the immunogenicity of this novel vaccine platform destined to a future widespread use, and it is crucial in guiding future decisions and vaccination schedules.

Accurate early diagnosis of COVID-19 viral pneumonia, primarily in asymptomatic people is essential to reduce the spread of the disease, the burden on healthcare capacity, and the overall death rate. It is essential to design affordable and accessible solutions to distinguish pneumonia caused by COVID-19 from other types of pneumonia. In this work, we propose a reliable approach based on deep transfer learning that requires few computations and converges faster. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed framework for transfer learning is a potential and effective approach to detect and diagnose types of pneumonia from chest X-ray images with a test accuracy of 94.0%.

Polyhedral cages (p-cages) describe the geometry of some families of artificial protein cages. We identify the p-cages made out of families of equivalent polygonal faces such that the faces of 1 family has 5 neighbours and P_1 edges, while those of the other family have 6 neighbours and P_2 edges. We restrict ourselves to polyhedral cages where the holes are adjacent to at most 4 faces. We characterise all the p-cages with a deformation of the faces, compared to regular polygons, not exceeding 10%.

Mevcut çalışmada, (p, q)−tam sayıya dayalı iki boyutlu Chlodovsky tipi Bernstein operatörlerini tanıtıyoruz. Yeni operatörümüzün yaklaşıklık özelliklerini Korovkin tipi teorem yardımıyla inceliyoruz. Ayrıca, yerel yaklaşıklık özelliklerini sunuyoruz ve süreklilik modülü ve Lipschitz tipi maksimal fonksiyon vasıtasıyla yakınsama oranlarını belirliyoruz. Ayrıca, bu operatörler için bir Voronovskaja tipi teorem veriyoruz. Ve, bu operatörlerin ağırlıklı yaklaşıklık özelliklerini inceliyoruz ve aynı uzayda yakınsama oranını tahmin ediyoruz. Son olarak, Maple'ın yardımıyla, açıklayıcı grafikler bu operatörlerin belirli fonksiyonlara yakınsama oranlarını göstermektedir. Sistem kontrolü sırasında operatörler tarafından yaklaşıklık hızlarının optimizasyonu, kararlılık ve performansta önemli iyileştirmeler sağlar. Sonuç olarak, dinamik sistemlerin kontrolü ve modellenmesi yenilikçi yöntemlerle daha verimli ve etkili hale gelir. Kesirli diferansiyel denklemlerin modellenmesi ve kontrol teorisi alanındaki bu gelişmeler, hem modelleme hem de optimizasyon süreçlerine önemli faydalar sunarak bu alanlardaki uygulama yelpazesini genişletmektedir.

In our previous study of 291 cancer patients, we showed that 20% did not respond to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered six weeks apart. Here we investigated if psychological factors (distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms) affected antibody response and markers of vaccine activation (D-dimer) after 6 months from initial vaccination. Overall, 31 subjects (14.2%) had no antibody response at 6 months. Our analysis revealed significant predictors of vaccine failure, including stage of metastatic disease and high stress levels (OR=2.46, 95% CI, 1.05-5.77, p=0.04). Notably, nonresponders showed twice the prevalence of distress than responders (21% vs. 10%, p=0.04). Longitudinal measurements of IgG levels indicated that participants with high depressive symptoms at baseline maintained lower antibody levels over six months (p=0.003). In addition, women with high anxiety showed reduced levels of D-dimer at 6 month time (p=0.03). The data also showed that smokers and former smokers had significantly lower antibody levels than their nonsmoking counterparts (p=0.0004). At baseline, the high discomfort rate (≥5) was 34.4% in women and 23.8% in men; only men experienced an increase in median discomfort during the observation period. Moreover, higher educational level was related to increased distress among women (p=0.046). These findings underscore a critical association between elevated psychological distress and reduced immune responses to the COVID-19 vaccine, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted psychological and behavioral support within this vulnerable population.

CO₂-soluble surfactant foam systems have garnered significant attention in the fields of enhanced oil and gas recovery, environmental protection, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. This review provides a comprehensive explanation of the basic theory of CO₂-soluble surfactant foam, the mechanism of enhanced oil recovery, and the classification and application of various CO₂-soluble surfactants.The mechanism of enhanced oil recovery by CO₂-soluble surfactant foam involves the effective reduction of CO₂ fluidity, the decrease in oil-air flow ratio, and the stabilization of the displacement front. Foam plays a vital role in mitigating the issues of channeling and gravity separation often caused by simple CO₂ injection. The reduction in gas fluidity can be attributed to the increase in apparent viscosity and trapped gas fraction.Future research should prioritize the development of more efficient and environmentally-friendly CO₂-soluble surfactants. It is essential to further explore the advantages and challenges associated with their practical applications in order to maximize their potential impact.

Objectives: Cardiogenic shock [CS] is associated with a high-mortality. Suitable patients maybe successfully bridged using newer intravascular micro-axial left-ventricular assist devices [M-LVAD] for recovery or determination of definitive therapy. Methods: Between January-2020 and July-2024, 107 patients underwent placement of M-LVAD for CS. The cohort was divided into 4 groups based on their destination; group-1: 34 patients [32%] receiving transplant; group-2: 25 patients [23%] receiving durable LVAD; group-3: 42 patients [39%] bridging from post-cardiotomy CS [PCCS]; and group-4: 6 patients [5.6%] bridging decision/recovery [these were excluded from analysis]. Multivariable logistic-regression [MLR] and Cox-regression [MCR] models identified predictors of early-hospital and late mortality, with data reported as odds ratios [ORs], and hazard ratios [HRs], respectively. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Complications included device-malfunction [n=6, 6%], gastrointestinal bleed [n=9, 9%], stroke [n=11, 11%]; long-term hemodialysis [n=21, 21%]. Early-hospital mortality included 13 patients [13%]: 2 in group-1, 1 in group-2 and 10 in group-3 [p=0.02]. In the MLR model, the category of cardiogenic shock requiring M-LVAD placement was statistically significant [OR=4.7 (0.9-24), P=0.05]. Patients were followed for up to 4.5-years, and 23 deaths occurred; group-1: 3 patients, group-2: 5 patients, and group-3: 15 patients [p=0.019]. At 4.5-years, actuarial survival was 90.7±5.1% in group-1, 79.2±8.3% in group-2, and 62.8%±7.7% in group-3 [P=0.01]. In the MCR model, M-LVAD category [HR=3.63 (1.03-12.9) P=0.04], and long-term postoperative dialysis [HR=3.9 (1.6-9) P=0.002], emerged as statistically significant predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusions: In cardiogenic shock, our mid-term outcomes demonstrate good survival with M-LVADs as bridge to transplant and durable LVAD, and reasonable survival as bridge to recovery following cardiotomy, reduced ECMO usage and early ambulation/rehabilitation.

Antimalarial drug resistance has become a real public health problem despite WHO measures. New sequencing technologies make it possible to investigate genomic variations associated with resistant phenotypes at the genome-wide scale. Based on the use of hemisynthetic nanopores, the PromethION technology from Oxford Nanopore Technologies can produce long-read sequences, in contrast to previous short-read technologies used as gold-standard to sequence Plasmodium. Two clones of P.falciparum (Pf3D7 and PfW2) were sequenced in long-read using the PromethION sequencer from Oxford Nanopore Technologies without genomic amplification. This made it possible to create a processing analysis pipeline for human Plasmodium with ONT Fastq only. De novo assembly revealed N50 lengths of 18,488 kb and 17,502 kb for the Pf3D7 and PfW2, respectively. The genome size was estimated at 23,235,407 base pairs for the Pf3D7 clone and 21,712,038 base pairs for the PfW2 clone. The average genome coverage depth was estimated at 787X and 653X for the Pf3D7 and PfW2 clones, respectively. This study proposes an assembly processing pipeline for the human Plasmodium genome using software’s adapted to large ONT data and the high AT percentage of Plasmodium. This search provides all the parameters, which have been optimized, for use with the software selected in the pipeline.

This study aims to explore methods for automating the replication of correlated portfolios across shares using various algorithms. The goal is to select one algorithm for implementation in a visualization tool that will facilitate portfolio building. The dynamics of the stock market provide a comprehensive view of the global economy, acting as a catalyst for stakeholders to participate and benefit various sectors financially, primarily through investments in companies that yield returns and contribute to the economy. The evaluation and comparison of these algorithms are crucial for making well-informed decisions regarding the core objectives of the study. Ultimately, a determination will be made as to whether the program can effectively analyse data from Yahoo finance to provide a quick overview of the financial market state of companies in the S&P 500 US stock prices.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major pathogenic bacteria found in the subgingival plaque of patients with periodontitis, leading to neuroinflammation. The bacteria destroy periodontal tissue through its virulence factors which are retained in the bacteria’s outer membrane vesicles (OMV). The purpose of this study was to determine the real time effect of intraperitoneal in-jection of P. gingivalis OMV on the production and expression of inflammatory markers as well as histopathological changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult zebrafish. Fol-lowing the LD50 (21 µg of OMV), the zebrafish were injected intraperitoneally with 18 µg of OMV and control group with normal saline at 7 different time points. Brains of experimental zebrafish were dissected at desired time points for colorimetric assays, ELISA and histology. This study discovered that nitric oxide and PGE2 were significantly increased at 45 minutes while IL-1β and IL-6 were expressed at subsequent 12- and 24-hours. respectively. Histopatho-logical changes such as blood coagulation, astrocytosis, oedema, spongiosis, and necrosis were also observed between 6- and 24-hours. The two apoptotic enzymes, caspases 3 and 9 were not expressed at any time point. In summary, the OMV induced neuroinflammatory responses and histopathological changes in adult zebrafish were time point dependent

Aluminum (Al) toxicity and low phosphorus availability (LP) are the top two co-existing edaphic constraints limiting agriculture productivity in acid soils. Plants have evolved versatile mechanisms to cope with the two stresses alone or simultaneously. However, the specific and common molecular mechanisms, especially those on flavonoids and carbohydrate metabolism, are still unclear. Laboratory studies were conducted on two wheat genotypes, Fielder (Al-tolerant and P-efficient) and Ardito (Al-sensitive and P-inefficient), exposed to 50 μM Al and 2 μM Pi (LP) in hydroponic solutions. After 4 days of stress, wheat roots were analyzed via transcriptomic and targeted metabolomic techniques. A total of 2296 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 1535 up and 761 down) under Al and 3029 DEGs (1591 up and 1438 down) under LP were identified in Fielder. Similarly, 4404 DEGs (3191 up and 1213 down) under Al and 1430 DEGs (1176 up and 254 down) under LP were identified in Ardito. The GO annotation analysis results that 4079 DEGs annotated to the metabolic processes term. These DEGs were significantly enriched in the phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism pathways by performing the KEGG enrichment analysis. The targeted metabolome analysis detected 19 flavonoids and 15 carbohydrate components in Fielder and Ardito under Al and LP. More responsive genes and metabolites were involved in flavonoid metabolism under LP than Al in the Fielder, while an opposite trend in the Ardito. In the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, the genes and metabolites were higher in Fielder than in Ardito. The combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that the flavonoid and carbohydrate genes and metabolites differed between Fielder and Ardito under Al and LP, which may be an important reason for Fielder’s high Al and LP resistance. The results of this study lay a foundation for pyramiding genes and breeding multi-resistance varieties.

Flexible capacity applications demands to large energy storage density and high breakdown electric field strength of flexible films. Here, P(VDF-HFP) with ultra-thin Al2O3 nanosheets composite films were designed and fabricated through an electrospinning process followed by hot-pressing in sandwich structured. The results show that the insulating ultra-thin Al2O3 nanosheets and the sandwich structure can enhance the composites' breakdown field (by 24.8%) and energy density (by 30.6%) remarkedly to P(VDF-HFP) polymer matrix. An energy density of 23.5 J/cm3 at the ultrahigh breakdown field of 740kV/mm can be therefore realized. Insulating test and phase-field simulation results reveal that ultra-thin nanosheets insulating buffer layers can reduce the leakage current in composites, thus it effects the electric field spatial distribution to enhance breakdown strength. Our research provides a feasible method to increase the breakdown strength of ferroelectric polymers, which is comparable to those of non-ferroelectric polymers.

The role of biomarkers in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is not fully characterized. C-reactive protein has a short half-life and elevates quickly after the onset of an inflammatory process, the performance is better in Crohn’s disease than in ulcerative colitis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is easy to determine, widely available, and cheap but the long half-life the influence of age, anemia, smoking, and drugs limit its usefulness. Fecal markers have good specificity, but suboptimal accuracy. Microbial antibodies and novel immunological markers show promise but need further evidence before entering clinical practice. Proteomic methods could represent the dawn of a new era of stool protein/peptide biomarker panels able to select patients at risk of inflammatory bowel disease.