We present an investigation on the fracture of a mold, comparing it with a normal part using specific techniques, such as EDX, SEM, and AES. The EDX analysis revealed that the composition of the normal part was consistent with that of low carbon steel, mainly comprising Fe and C. In contrast, the fractured part exhibited cracks due to nonconforming nonmetallic inclusions and reticular carbides, with fractures resulting from microporosity agglomeration and cleavage fracture. The SEM and AES analyses further presented the causes of mold fracture, highlighting the mechanism by which dimples on the specimen edge contributed to the fracture. The EDX analysis confirmed that the mold experienced thermal brittleness during use. To enhance mold durability and extend its lifespan, a double-pulse electrodeposition method was employed to create a NiCo alloy coating as a replacement for the Cr layer on the metal surface. The coating exhibited a smooth and scratch-free surface. The prepared NiCo special coating significantly increased the mold yield strength by approximately 313.8%, facilitated a 13% increase in plastic deformation, and reduced fracture strain by 25%, effectively preventing mold fracture and 3improving its service life.

Bacillus subtilis NCD-2 showed a promising biocontrol effect against plant soil-borne diseases, and was developed as a commercial microbial fungicide against cotton verticillium wilt in China. Spores were main ingredient of the fungicide and played the crucial role in biological control of plant diseases. Therefore, the key to reducing the cost of fungicide was to find ways to increase the number of spores of strain NCD-2 during fermentation. In this study, 755 substances were evaluated by Phenotype Microarray technology, and 5 kinds of carbon sources and 1 kind of nitrogen source were found to promote the metabolism of strain NCD-2. Among carbon sources L-arabinose showed strongest ability to promote the bacteria growth and sporulation of strain NCD-2. When L-arabinose was used as a single carbon source, it could increase the bacteria concentration and the sporulation efficiency of strain NCD-2 by 2.04 times and 1.99 times, respectively, compared with D-glucose. Moreover, L-arabinose could significantly decrease the autolysis of strain NCD-2 revealed by microscopy observation. The mechanism for promoting the sporulation by L-arabinose was analysed by RNA-seq sequencing. Results showed that total of 790, 923 and 1270 genes were up-regulated and 639, 850 and 1001 genes were down-regulated under L-arabinose supplies when cultured at 8 h, 12 h and 16 h, respectively. Fourteen differentially expressed genes associated with arabinose transportation and sporulation were selected for qRT-PCR analysis, and the result showed basically consistent expression trend with transcriptome. Notably, genes associated with arabinose metabolism, sporulation, spore resistance to heat and spore coat formation were significantly up-regulated, and genes associated with sporulation-delaying protein were significantly down-regulated under L-arabinose supplies. msmX gene which was involved in arabinose transport in Bacillus genus was deleted, and the mutant decreased the growth and sporulation by 53.71% and 86.46%, respectively, when compared to strain NCD-2 wild type. Complementary of the mutant by importing intact msmX gene could restore the growth and sporulation of the mutant strain. In conclusion, arabinose played an important role in regulating the growth and sporulation of strain NCD-2.

Accurate climate data at fine spatial resolution are essential for scientific research and the development and planning of crucial social systems, such as energy and agriculture. Among them, sea surface temperature plays a critical role as the associated El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is considered a significant signal of global interannual climate system. In this paper, we propose an implicit neural representation-based interpolation method with temporal information (T_INRI) to reconstruct climate data of high spatial resolution, with sea surface temperature as the research object. Traditional deep learning models for generating high-resolution climate data are only applicable to fixed resolution enhancement scales. In contrast, the proposed T_INRI method is not limited to the enhancement scale provided during the training process and its results indicate that it can enhance low-resolution input by arbitrary scale. Additionally, we discuss the impact of temporal information on the generation of high-resolution climate data, specifically, which month the low-resolution sea surface temperature data is from. Our experimental results indicate that T_INRI is advantageous over traditional interpolation methods under different enhancement scales, and the temporal information can improve T_INRI performance for a different calendar month. We also examined the potential capability of T_INRI in recovering missing grid value. These results demonstrate that the proposed T_INRI is a promising method for generating high-resolution climate data and has significant implications for climate research and related applications.

1960s Europe saw a large number of residential neighborhoods built to house those migrating from the countryside. Today, more than 50 years later, these neighborhoods suffer high levels of functional, social, and technical obsolescence. In response to this, University of Seville developed the Aura Strategy as an intervention methodology to find global solutions to issues in outdated neighborhoods. To provide visibility to this aspect of the Aura strategy, the retrofit proposal presented in this article provides a solution to improve the roofing of buildings in a case study neighborhood (Polígono de San Pablo, Seville) and an analysis of the results in terms of energy and financial savings for local residents. The results show that for a population of roughly 18,000 (in 2018), net savings, including energy and retrofitting costs, ranging from nearly 6.5 to over 8.6 million can be made over the 20-year life cycle span. Likewise, the results obtained on the reduction of thermal loads indicate a 72% decrease in energy consumption, equivalent to a saving of close to 4,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions for the district and the entire life cycle time period, with the consequent benefits on the impact on air quality and and the fight against climate change. climate change.

High Vacuum Flat Plate Collectors (HVFPCs) are the only type of Flat Plate Thermal Collectors capable of producing thermal energy for middle-temperature applications (until 180 °C). As the trend of research plans to develop new Selective Solar Absorbers to extend the range of HVFPC application until 250 °C, it is necessary to correctly evaluate the collector efficiency up to such temperature to predict the energy production accurately. We propose an efficiency model for these collectors based on the selective absorber optical properties. The proposed efficiency model explicitly includes the radiative heat exchange with the ambient, which is the main source of thermal losses for evacuated collectors at high temperatures. It also decouples the radiative losses that depend on the optical properties of the absorber adopted from the other thermal losses due to HVFPC architecture. The model has been validated by applying it to MT-Power HVFPC manufactured by TVP-Solar, and it has been used to predict the efficiency and energy production of HVFPC equipped with new, optimized selective solar absorbers developed in recent years.

Microwave photonic (MWP) signal processors, which process microwave signals based on photonic technologies, bring advantages intrinsic to photonics such as low loss, large processing bandwidth, and strong immunity to electromagnetic interference. Optical microcombs can offer a large number of wavelength channels and compact device footprints, which make them powerful multi-wavelength sources for MWP signal processors to realize a variety of processing functions. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the capability of microcomb-based MWP signal processors to handle diverse input signal waveforms. In addition, we quantify the processing accuracy for different input signal waveforms, including Gaussian, triangle, parabolic, super Gaussian, and nearly square waveforms. Finally, we analyze the factors contributing to the difference in the processing accuracy among the different input waveforms, and our theoretical analysis well elucidates the experimental results. These results provide a guidance for microcomb-based MWP signal processors when processing microwave signals of various waveforms.

Most of the damage to Vleg cars was caused by material fatigue. The objectives of the fatigue analysis on Xenia 2011 car wheels with the Finite Element Method using Solidworks are: 1) Knowing the fatigue analysis process on car wheels, 2) Knowing the results of the fatigue analysis on car wheels. The research method used is the Finite Element Method (FEM) method; the re-search steps include model data retrieval from the Wheel code, 3D model creation process, static simulation process according to SAE J 328 standard, mesh variations, fatigue simulation, and finally, standardization of results fatigue simulation regarding the SAE J 328 standard. The re-sults of the fatigue analysis on the Xenia 2011 car wheels obtained an age of 1000,000 cycles when compared with the minimum average of SAE J 328 of 600,000 cycles, this product design is clas-sified as a high cycle, which means it will experience a prolonged failure, and this design has a maximum alternating stress value of 627.4702 MPa, a strain of 0.007105, a displacement of 7.148 mm and a SOF of 0.087890 with a load factor used of 2.5, so overall this Xenia car can be loaded with a load of 1775 kg, if it is more than that, then Wheels will experience cracking.

This paper presents a novel real time control strategy on four-wheel independent steering system for electric vehicle with stepper motors using neural networks combined with fuzzy logic. The control of the four wheels is based on a variation of Hopfield Neural Network (VHNN) method, in which the input is the error of each steering motor and the output is processed by a hyperbolic tangent function (HTF) feeding the fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which ultimately drives the stepper motor. The whole system is made up of the four aforementioned blocks where they work in sync and inseparable from each other with the common goal of driving all the steering stepper motors at the same time. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control method has strong robustness and practicability under different angles and speeds.

Employing low tensor rank decompositions in image inpainting has attracted increasing attention. This paper exploits a novel tensor-augmentation schemes to transform an image (a low-order tensor) to a higher-order tensor without changing the total number of pixels. The developed augmentation schemes enhance the low-rankness of an image under three tensor decompositions: matrix SVD, tensor train (TT) decomposition, and tensor singular value decomposition (t-SVD). By exploiting the schemes, we solve the image inpainting problem with three low-rank con-strained models which use the matrix rank, TT rank, and tubal rank as constrained priors re-spectively. The tensor tubal rank and tensor train multi-rank are developed from t-SVD and TT decomposition respectively. We exploit efficient ADMM algorithms for solving the three models. Experimental results demonstrate that our methods are effective for image inpainting and supe-rior to numerous close methods.

Background: Post-Covid condition can reduce activity and quality of life, resulting in a significant socioeconomic and health burden. Understanding its impact on patients' health is important for the development of personalized rehabilitation interventions. An independent association between obesity and post-covid condition was found because of complications and comorbidities. Methods: Sixteen patients with obesity and post-COVID symptoms (i.e., dyspnea, pain, poor sleep quality, muscle fatigue) admitted to the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piancavallo (VB), Italy, were recruited for a four-week rehabilitation program including conventional exercise therapy, nutritional intervention, psychological support and whole-body cryostimulation (WBC). Results: All participants attended all sessions of the program. Anthropometric data showed statistically significant changes in weight, waist circumference and body mass index. Biochemical analyses showed significant reductions in lipid and inflammatory profiles. There was a significant improvement in physical performance, reduction in pain and improvement in psychological well-being. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocol including WBC designed for patients with obesity and post-covid condition is safe and feasible. The overall improvements demonstrate that multidisciplinary rehabilitation was effective on post COVID patients and suggest that the use of WBC is safe and could play a role as a booster in rehabilitation programs.

Lindera obtusiloba Blume has several activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-tumor, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a classic pro-inflammatory cytokine that is associated with various functions, such as proliferation, invasion, inflammatory responses and functions within antioxidant defence systems. In this study, we investigated IL-6-induced STAT3 activation of lignan compounds isolated from L. obtusiloba. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated via spectroscopic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). As a result, seven lignans were identified from L. obtusiloba. All the isolated compounds (1-7) were evaluated for their IL-6-induced STAT3 inhibitory effects in Hep3B cells using a luciferase reporter assay. Of the isolates, compounds 1 and 5 showed inhibitory effects against IL-6-stimulated STAT3 activation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of inflammation-related genes such as CRP, IL-1b, and SOCS3 were significantly reduced by exposure to compound 1 and 5. The protein levels of p-STAT3, p-JAK2 in IL-6 induced U266 cells were regulated in the presence of lignans derived from Lindera obtusiloba by western blot assay. Based on the results, this study of L. obtusiloba demonstrates that the species has promise as a bioactive candidate for the treatment of IL-6-induced STAT3-related disease.

An ultraviolet (UV) nanosecond pulsed laser with a wavelength of 355 nm was applied to anneal amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFT) at various laser beam powers ranging from 0 to 280 mW. Laser irradiation was selectively carried out on the a-IGZO channel area using the beam scanning method after the a-IGZO TFT was formed through indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode patterning and a subsequent lift-off process. After laser annealing, negative shifts in the threshold voltages and enhanced on-currents were observed at laser-beam powers ranging from 54 to 120 mW. No meaningful parameters were investigated for laser beams higher than 200 mW. By extracting the energy band gap and work function of a-IGZO from the transmittance and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) results, the ITO electrode/a-IGZO channel energy band structures were established under different laser annealing conditions, and the electron injection mechanism from the ITO to the a-IGZO channel was analyzed and optimized at a laser beam power of 120 mW. The results show that the electrical characteristics of the a-IGZO TFTs can be improved without any heat damage to the substrate because of the selective annealing process.

(1) Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the correlation between element and radionuclide activity concentrations and the growth potential of trees across European mountain beech forests; (2) Methods: As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Mercury was determined by Direct Mercury Analyzer DMA 80 Milestone. The Cr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Sn, Ba, and W were determined by Spectro Xepos Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). Gamma spectrometry measurements of 22Na, 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, 238U, 235U, and 137Cs were performed using a coaxial High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector; (3) Results: The median values of As for the upper and deeper soil horizon were lower, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Sn, and W were in the range, while the values of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Zn, Hg, and Ba were higher than median values given in the Geochemical Atlas of Europe (GAE) for the upper and deeper soil horizon. The radionuclide activity concentrations varied in approximately the same ranges. The production potential of forest trees ranged from 5262.67 for cambisol and umbrisol soil types on granite and limestone parent materials to 24490.78 for umbrisol and rendzina soil types on granite and dolomite parent materials; (4) Conclusions: Parent material had a significant role in the productivity of European mountain beech forests.

In this paper, spacetime is defined as the absolutely invariant homogeneous "coordinate spacetime" frame and its modulation by the relatively variable non-homogeneous "metric spacetime" under its constraints. This modulation is caused by matter and motion, and carries the function of transmitting interactions, reflecting the diffeomorphism invariance and Lorentz invariance. This inhomogeneous spacetime concept makes the medium nature of spacetime more obvious and avoids the problem of "path dependence" caused by the concept of curved spacetime. In this paper, it is argued that all energy-momentum has internal spatio-temporal properties, and all interactions must be transmitted through spacetime metrics. On this basis, a converging and dispersing cyclic multiverse model is proposed. This model of the universe is inevitable as long as there are two macroscopic manifestations of the matter of the universe, namely, gravitation induced convergence and "explosive" dispersion caused by different factors. The new cosmic model matches the observed accelerated "expansion" of the universe and no longer requires the dark energy hypothesis.

The optical reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement are an important influencing factor in road lighting design, and the macro and micro textures of asphalt pavement significantly affect its reflection characteristics. To investigate the impact of texture parameters on the retroreflection coefficient of asphalt pavement, this study obtained the macroscopic and microscopic texture properties of rutting board specimens and on-site asphalt pavement using a pavement texture tester. The macro- and microtexture parameters, such as macroscopic texture distribution density (D1), microscopic texture distribution density (D2), profile height root-mean-square (Rq), profile slope root-mean-square (Δq), skewness Rsk and kurtosis Rku, were measured, and the corresponding retroreflection coefficient RL was measured using a retro-reflectometer. In the laboratory ex-periments, rutting specimens of AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13 asphalt mixtures were formed. The changes in texture parameters and retroreflection coefficient of different rutting specimens before and after crushing were studied, and a factor influence model between macro- and microtexture parameters and RL was established. And the correlation models of texture index and RL of asphalt pavement are further established. The results showed that in the single factor model, the param-eters can be used to characterize RL with high prediction accuracy, whereas for the on-site meas-urements, the three parameters of Δq, Rsk, and Rku can characterize the RL well. The nonlinear model established on the basis of the B-P neural network algorithm improves its prediction ac-curacy. This research can provide ideas for optimizing the reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement and further provide a decision-making basis for road lighting design.

Background: Several reports indicate that long stay at home for online schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic changed the normal physical activity and body weight of school-age students. Previous studies revealed that almost 50% of school students complained of increased or decreased more than 3 kg of weight due to lower physical activity. This study aims to provide insight about the Body Mass Index (BMI) among school students during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective matched-longitudinal study was conducted in 2022 based on previous data about BMI-for-age percentile in school-age students aged 6 to 18 years. These data were collected the year before and during COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2021). Results: All the included students were Arabic (N = 53,580) and were not diagnosed with chronic illness. The outcomes showed that the overall percentage of students with normal weight was 54%, 56%, and 53% during the 2019-2021 years, respectively. Overweight among students increased during the COVID-19 pandemic years, as almost 10% of the students were overweight in 2019 compared with 12% in 2020 and 2021 years. Besides, obese students also increased in the 2020-2021 period compared with the 2019 year (15-17% vs. 10%). In contrast, underweight trends among students declined, as 26% reported in 2019 compared to 17-18% in 2020 and 2021. Conclusion: There are significant variations in Arabic school-age students regarding their BMI values. Obesity was highly detected among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic years compared to 2019, while underweight cases declined.

Japanese plums form part of a multi-billion rand deciduous fruit industry in South Africa. Despite this, there is a paucity of knowledge on the seasonal water requirements of plum orchards. In a time of changing climatic conditions and diminishing water resources, this gap in literature poses an imminent threat to the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of the South African plum industry. Therefore, this paper aimed to provide a review of the available literature on the crop water requirements of full-bearing well-irrigated Japanese plum orchards for improved agricultural water management. Full-year water requirements for well-watered full-bearing Japanese orchards ranged between 921 and 1 211 mm a-1 with a mean value of 1 084 ±140 mm a-1. Canopy growth and pruning appeared to be the most common causes of differences in water requirement estimates. Growing season length also plays a role with late-season maturing orchards having higher water requirements than their early and mid-maturing counterparts. The knowledge review provided benchmark figures for the annual water requirements of Japanese plums. However further research is required to determine the water requirement of plums from planting to full-bearing age and the response of plum trees to water stress, in a South African context.

The objective was to conduct a scoping review and produce a publicly available database characterizing the design and reporting elements of the literature on dietary added sugars and select health outcomes. Relevant studies published from 1990 – 2021 were identified to create a database containing information on study and population characteristics, reported added sugars source and concentrations, diet energy balance, total energy intake, and outcome measures related to body composition, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. There were 245 publications identified, 22% of which describe interventions and 78% describe observational studies. Publications pertaining to added sugars have risen dramatically since 2010, led by studies primarily assessing body composition (36%) or cardiovascular health (32%), including adults (65%), measuring liquid-only sources of added sugars (56%). Over 65% of studies reported total energy intake, 61% controlled for total energy intake in the design and analysis, and fewer than 5% of studies reported the energy balance of subjects. There has been a significant increase in research on added sugars since 2010, with substantial heterogeneity across all facets of methodology – study designs, exposures and outcomes of interest, terminology, and reporting of dietary intake data – thus limiting the ability to synthesize evidence in this scope of literature. This evidence map highlights gaps and important areas for improvement to strengthen the state of research to better inform future policies and dietary recommendations on added sugars.

This study assesses the impact and sustainability of community development initiatives in Awgbu, Anambra State, spanning from 2015 to 2023. Using qualitative research methods, including interviews with key informants from the Awgbu community and government personnel. The observatory method is also applied which helped the researcher to see activities executed in the community. The research investigates the specific contributions of the Awgbu community to the overall development of Anambra State, how the community has benefitted from state government initiatives, and the extent to which the community responds to government requests and initiatives. The study also explores challenges in the relationship between the state government and Awgbu in terms of community development initiatives and offers recommendations for enhancing this relationship. The findings reveal that the Awgbu community has made significant contributions to the development of Anambra State, particularly in areas such as security, education, and infrastructure. The community has actively responded to government calls, participating in initiatives like the Choose Your Project Initiative (CYPI) and vigilante groups, thus fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the state government. However, challenges such as leadership crises and communication gaps exist, hindering the community's progress. Recommendations include improving community leadership, enhancing communication, and promoting peace to ensure sustainable community development. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics between communities and government in achieving sustainable development and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts for positive outcomes. The findings have managerial and policy implications for both local communities and governments seeking to enhance community development initiatives and foster mutually beneficial relationships.

By utilizing a generalized version of the Madelung quantum-hydrodynamic framework that incorporates noise, we derive a solution using the path integral method to investigate how a quantum superposition of states evolves over time. This exploration seeks to comprehend the process through which a stable quantum state ultimately emerges in the presence of fluctuations induced by the noisy gravitational background. The model defines the conditions that give rise to a limited range of interaction for the quantum potential, allowing for the existence of coarse-grained classical descriptions at a macroscopic level. The theory uncovers the smallest attainable level of uncertainty in an open quantum system and examines its consistency with the localized behavior observed in large-scale classical systems. The research delves into connections and similarities with decoherence theory and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Additionally, it assesses the potential consequences of wave function decay on the measurement of photon entanglement. To validate the proposed theory, an experiment involving entangled photons transmitted between detectors on the Moon and Mars is discussed. Finally, the findings of the theory are applied to the creation of larger Q-bits systems at elevated temperatures.

The study of exogenous metabolites of algae-bacterial communities in the laboratory accumulative culture obtained from natural river water was done using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Exometabolites of the algae-bacterial community (including microalgae and cyanobacteria) in the culture medium were represented by saturated, unsaturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, phenolic, and terpene compounds and their derivatives. Possible biological activities of the discovered exometabolites are considered. The study has demonstrated that an increase in the number of main groups of microorganisms, along with changes in the composition of algae and cyanobacteria, are responsible for the increase in the composition and concentration of metabolites in the microecosystem's culture medium after one month of cultivation. The presence of octacosane in high concentration (0.0603 mg/l; 23.78% of the total content of low molecular weight organic compounds) by the end of exposure accumulative culture is associated with the strong development of the cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa sp. in the presence of diatom algae of the genus Navicula and green algae of the genera Chlorella and Scenedesmus. Due to the need to comprehend the ecological and biochemical mechanisms of the formation and functioning of algae-bacterial communities, as well as to predict potential paths of transformation and evolution of aquatic ecosystems, the specificity of exometabolite complexes of algae and microorganisms, as well as their allelopathic and other biochemical interactions in freshwater ecosystems, requires further serious study.

Granular cell tumors (GCTs), known also as Abrikossoff tumors, are rare tumors that originates from Schwann cells that primarily localize in the tongue, skin, and submucosal tissues and involve the gastrointestinal tract in 11% of cases. We present a case of a young woman who first presented to our centre in 2018, for an EGDS to assess a thickening of the esophageal wall, seen on a CT. In that occasion, a diagnosis of Abrikossoff tumor was made. She underwent endoscopic resection with subsequent yearly follow-up without evidence of recurrence. 5 Years later, on a routine colonoscopy, we found numerous white submucosal formations in all of the explored tracts, with a histological examination compatible with GCT. Her daughter presented with a white nodule on her tongue, also diagnosed as GCT. Her daughter was also diagnosed with GCT of the tongue a few months later.

The cosmetic industry has a history of constant modernization, with products that are increasingly sustainable and well tolerated by the customers. In the last years, the growing understanding and knowledge of the potential of marine species, as well as the application of “blue biotechnology” have been motivating new innovative solutions in this area. Marine organisms are important sources of compounds that may be applicable in cosmetics, with biological activities that include depigmentant, anti-aging or anti-bacterial properties, specifically against acne, but also as formulation promoters and facilitators. Several methods can be used to extract these molecules, but these are not free of challenges and implications – possible biological and chemical contamination, and problems with batch reproducibility, which can be associated to the intraspecific variability of the different specimens, should be considered. Alongside these, the legislative and normative framework is increasingly developed and there is a growing concern with this situation. The application of sustainability fundamentals in the production of cosmetics must respect a life cycle approach, critically analyzing each stage. In this sense, “blue biotechnology”, in constant evolution, together with the use of invasive species or marine waste products to obtain new active ingredients, emerge as innovative and sustainable solutions for the future’s cosmetics industry. This review explores various biological properties of marine-derived molecules and discusses the challenges and implications associated with extracting these compounds. It also examines recent advancements in 'blue biotechnology' and their relevance to the sustainable development of innovative cosmetics.

Foot lesions are among the most frequent causes of morbidity and disability in the diabetic population. Thus, exploration of means of preventive control are vital for detecting early signs and symptoms of this disease, Infrared thermography has been proven effective in the control of diabetic foot is among the complementary diagnostic tools available for this disease. The last review on this topic was published in 2015 and so, here we conducted a bibliographic review of the main databases (PubMed, the Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Scopus) during the third quarter of 2023. We aimed to identify the effectiveness of infrared thermography as a diagnostic element in pre-ulcerous states in diabetic patients and to detect diabetic foot ulcer complications. We obtained a total of 200 articles, 22 of which were included in this present review; 17 articles had been published after 2017. After analysing the use of infrared Thermography in diabetic patients both with and without ulcers, as well as in healthy individuals, we concluded that is an effective tool for detecting early-stage ulcers in diabetic foot patients.

Background: Runners have high incidence of repetitive load injuries, and habitual runners often use smartwatches with embedded IMU sensors to track their performance and training. If accelerometer information from such IMUs can provide information about individual tissue loads, then running watches may be used to prevent injuries. Methods: We investigate a combined physics-based simulation and data-based method. 285 running trials from 76 real runners are subjected to physics-based simulation to recover forces in the Achilles tendon and patella ligament, and the collected data are used to train and test a data-based model using elastic net and gradient boosting methods. Results: Correlations up to 0.95 and 0.71 for the patella ligament and Achilles tendon forces, respectively, are obtained, but no single best predictive algorithm can be identified. Conclusions: Prediction of tissues loads based on body-mounted IMUs appears promising but requires further investigation before deployment as a general option for users of running watches to reduce running-related injuries.

Facing the charging difficulties of free-floating shared electric vehicle and the high cost of mobile charging for single demand, this article proposes a collaborative charging planning method based on the complementary advantages of fixed charging stations and mobile charging vehicles, which can charge shared electric vehicles more efficiently and reduce the charging cost at the same time. A bi-level programming model for fixed and mobile cooperative charging is constructed. The upper level of the model is the minimization model of system charging total cost, seeking the optimal charging scheme and the number of mobile charging vehicles. The lower model is a fixed and mobile cooperative charging path planning model, which calculates the optimal routes for mobile charging vehicles and the shared electric vehicles that need to be transferred to the fixed charging station. The example results show that the cost of the proposed fixed-mobile cooperative charging scheme is reduced by 12.6% compared with the pure fixed charging scheme and 14.9% compared with the pure mobile charging scheme

This paper offers an in-depth exploration of the complex relationship between seasonality and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It reviews existing research, providing a comprehensive summary of findings and highlighting the multifaceted dimensions of seasonality as an environmental factor that influences the etiology of ASD. The discussion encompasses various factors, including birth months, maternal health, dietary choices, and vitamin D deficiency, and delves into the intricate interplay of seasonality with environmental influences such as viral infections and solar radiation. The present study raises essential questions regarding the timing of environmental influences and the factors contributing to the rising prevalence of ASD. Ultimately, it underscores the need for future epidemiological research to incorporate more extensive investigations of environmental risk factors and employ advanced statistical analyses. This comprehensive overview contributes to a deeper understanding of how seasonality factors may be linked to the occurrence of ASD and its increasing prevalence, recognizing the multifaceted and diverse nature of these interactions.

Our previous studies showed that in patients with brain diseases neurotrophic factors in lacrimal fluid (LF) may change more prominently than in blood serum (BS). Since glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in control of neuronal networks in epileptic brain, we aimed to assess GDNF levels in LF and BS as well as BDNF, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and inflammation indices in BS of patients with focal epilepsy (PWFE), epilepsy and comorbid depression (PWFE+MDD) compared with major depressive disorder (PWMDD) and healthy controls (HC). GDNF levels in BS were similar in patients and HC and higher in PWFE taking valproates. GDNF levels in LF were significantly lower in all patient groups compared to controls, and independent of drugs used. LF and BS GDNF concentrations positively correlated in HC, but not patient groups. BDNF level was lower in BS of patients compared with HC and higher in PWFE+MDD taking valproates. Logistic regression models demonstrated that GDNF decrease in LF may be an important predictor of focal epilepsy. Probability of focal epilepsy can be evaluated using GDNF in LF and BDNF in BS; MDD - GDNF in LF, cortisol and TNF-α in BS; epilepsy with MDD - GDNF in LF, TNF-α and BDNF in BS.

In the seasonally frozen regions, during the grouting of prestressed bridge ducts in low-temperature environments, incompletely cured grout materials undergo volumetric changes due to the freeze-thaw cycling, resulting in structural cracks along the prestressing ducts of the bridge, thereby diminishing the bridge's operational lifespan. To investigate the frost heaving characteristics of grout materials under freeze-thaw cycles and propose potential enhancements, this study was devised to conduct frost heaving stress tests on grout materials. Through this research, we gained insights into how various additives affect the frost heaving stress characteristics of grout materials under freeze-thaw cycles. Incorporating analyses of free water content, setting time, compressive strength, as well as macroscopic examinations such as XRD and SEM, this study delves into the mechanisms for enhancing frost heaving characteristics of grout materials. Furthermore, it proposes a research approach that utilizes multiple admixtures to improve the frost heaving properties of grout materials. Through frost heaving stress tests and other macroscopic experiments, the study investigates the influence of these combined admixtures on frost heaving stress in grout materials and elucidates the underlying improvement mechanisms. The results indicate that reducing the water-cement ratio, incorporating calcium formate, sulfoaluminate cement, air-entraining agents, and carbamide all have a positive impact on mitigating frost heaving stress in grout materials. However, the improvement mechanisms differ, and employing a single measure alone is insufficient to effectively reduce frost heaving stress while meeting performance criteria such as compressive strength, setting time, and flowability. Free water content emerges as a crucial indicator determining the magnitude of frost heaving stress in grout materials, with 11.5% of free water content representing the critical threshold for frost heaving in grout materials. Utilizing composite admixtures can simultaneously decrease free water content, lower the freezing point of free water, and alleviate frost heaving deformation, resulting in more efficient reduction of frost heaving stress. When the admixture content reaches 9.9%, frost heaving stress is eliminated, and the comprehensive performance parameters including compressive strength, setting time, and flowability meet the specified requirements.

Background: Understanding the trophic ecology of threatened freshwater fishes is relevant to managing their conservation. The genus Orestias is endemic to the Andes region and shows great biogeographical interest in the Neotropics due to its adaptation to the high-altitude systems of the Andes as well as because several species are considered threatened. (2) Methods: Here, we synthesize the documented trophic interaction of Orestias spp. in freshwater ecosystems of the Andes region available in the literature and use available data to explore the trophic interaction of Orestias species via null models. (3) Results: Our findings showed that Orestias spp. consume a wide range of prey (i.e., mainly aquatic insects, crustaceans, and mollusks) that varied according to their habitats and feeding morphology. The null model revealed that species associations in diet were random because of the presence of many repeated species. Our results would reveal that some Orestias spp. may show an opportunistic feeding strategy that concurs with previous reports. Additionally, we highlight major information gaps associated with the trophic ecology of Orestias spp. and propose some direction for future studies. (4): Our study provides valuable in-formation on Orestias spp. trophic ecology, which may be useful for developing conservation strategies for native fish in the Neotropical region.

With the rapid development of cities in northwest China, there has been an increasing focus on groundwater pollution in plateau cities, specifically the common occurrence of nitrate pollution. The special climatic, geological, and geomorphological characteristics of plateau and river valley cities contribute to distinct groundwater chemical characteristics. Therefore, the formation and evolution process of groundwater nitrate contamination differs from that of plain cities. To explore these issues, we conducted an analysis of eight major ions in various groups of water samples from rivers, springs, and groundwater in Haidong. By utilizing factor analysis and correlation analysis, we were able to identify the characteristics and formation of groundwater chemistry and nitrate pollution in Haidong. Our findings reveal that the chemical characteristics of groundwater in Haidong are primarily controlled by rock weathering, mineral dissolution, and evaporation, leading to the formation of highly mineralized groundwater. Additionally, the excessive nitrate content in certain areas is a result of domestic sewage discharge and agricultural fertilizer use, exceeding Chinese drinking water health standards. Furthermore, for cities located in valleys, the geological structure significantly impacts the nitrate content of groundwater in different regions. Areas with obstructed groundwater flow tend to have higher nitrate levels, while regions with unobstructed groundwater experience lower nitrate concentrations. Notably, shallow groundxwater is more vulnerable to nitrate pollution compared to deep groundwater. This study holds great significance in understanding the chemical characteristics of groundwater and the formation and evolution of nitrate pollution in highland river valley cities.

In the manufacturing of optical lenses, the lack of digital monitoring and inspection for centring processing not only results in product consistency not being guaranteed but also leads to inefficiency in processing. A centring processing digital twin system is proposed to address the problems of low virtual visualization and insufficient monitoring capability of centring processing of high-precision optical components. The layered architecture of the system is determined based on the five-dimensional model of the digital twin, coupled with a dimension-driven geometric model and a physical model that integrates data and turning mechanisms to improve the fidelity and interactivity of the virtual model of the centring lathe. The fusion of heterogeneous data from multiple sources in the centring machining process at the semantic and physical levels is realized by using an information model and an OPC UA-based data interaction method. The VMD-GRU method based on feature fusion is used to monitor the key components of the centring lathe. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by a case study of the development of a digital twin system for centring lathe, which provides a reference for the digitization and intelligence of the machining process of high-precision optical components.

China is rich in coal resources, but the complex hydrogeological conditions lead to difficulties in coal mining, such as coal mine collapse, roof and water damage, and other accidents that occur frequently, resulting in many casualties and property losses. The use of coal mine hole detection technology to detect and analyze the internal environment of the coal mine in advance helps to reduce safety hazards and prevent coal mine accidents, for the existing coal mine hole detection technology operation is cumbersome, not easy to control, and insufficient depth of jacking prob-lems, this paper designs a new type of mine hole detection small robot. Firstly, this paper ana-lyzes the function and structural design of the mine hole detection robot, designs the variable diameter function according to the characteristics of narrow and uneven mine holes in coal mines, and analyzes the mechanics of the critical parts through theoretical calculations; secondly, based on the three-dimensional modeling software, established the structural model of the small robot for mine hole detection; after that, designed the robot's hardware circuits and control pro-grams for the presence of water and gas inside the mine hole, highlighting the need to carry out a new type of mine hole detection small robot. After that, we designed the robot's hardware circuit and control program, giving particular emphasis to the safety design of the circuit for the pres-ence of water and gas inside the mine hole of the coal mine. Finally, to verify the feasibility of the design program, the basic parameters and function tests of the mine hole detection small robot are carried out. The experimental results show that the mine hole inspection small robot realized by this design can adapt to the working hole diameter from 65 mm to 100 mm, the maximum working power is only 12 W, and the maximum crawling speed is 3.96 m/min. The maximum crawling slope reaches 90°, which can meet the actual mine hole inspection needs. The research can provide theoretical and design guidance for developing the mine hole detection robot with substantial engineering practical reference value.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a primary autoimmune or paraneoplastic neuromuscular disorder, which causes muscle weakness, areflexia and autonomic disorders through the production of antibodies to voltage-gated calcium channels. Diagnosis may be challenging, yet at the same time extremely important, allowing the detection of a possible underlying malignancy, in cases of paraneoplastic presentation. Some antibodies have good sensitivity and specificity for malignancy and are also discussed. Although most of times being correlated to small cell lung cancer, other types of tumors may be also found in the paraneoplastic syndrome. Misdiagnosis with Myasthenia Gravis may occur and differences between these two disorders are discussed. Therapy choice may vary from each patient depending on drug response and the situation in which the patient is encounter. Overall, the present paper brings a review of Lambert-Eaton, involving the diagnosis, as well as, the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, tumor investigation and treatment. Also, a brief overview through guidance on therapy during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 pandemic is analyzed.

Multibeam echo-sounders provide ideal data for semi-automated seabed feature extraction and accurate morphometric measurements. However, these methods have not been tested in morphologically highly complex environments. In this study, bathymetric and raw backscatter data were initially used to manually map the complex reef morphology found in the semi-enclosed Gera Gulf, in the northern Aegean Sea (Greece). A large number of reefs (more than 7000) were detected, making manual mapping extremely time-consuming. Benthic Terrain Modeller (BTM) was selected as a semi-automated method to map the reefs. The BTM did not function properly in this irregular relief and the results were discouraging. Trying to improve the BTM functionality, both bathymetry and slope were modified (enhanced); this time, the BTM outcome was unexpectedly improved, producing accurate results that appeared to exceed the accuracy of manual mapping. To compare the final maps with the distribution of the reefs, mapcurves were created to estimate the Goodness-of-Fit (GOF), while Precision, Recall, and F1 Score were also calculated. GOF values suggest more than 50% overlap between the resulting polygons while, Precision, Recall and F1 score resulted in values higher than 0.78 suggesting good detection accuracy for the semi-automated method. It becomes apparent that BTM provided more efficient results in comparison to the time-consuming manual mapping. This study asserts that semi-automated mapping stands as an effective method for delineating the geomorphometry of intricate relief and serves as a powerful tool for habitat mapping and decision-making.

The lack of adequate knowledge of the culinary and sensory properties of most indigenous and wild foods hampers their promotion in human diets and the market. In the present study, 80 Burkinabe volunteers evaluated the sensory appeal and attributes of three selected Senegalia seed species (Zamnè, pseudoZamnè or Kumatiya, and S. erythrocalyx) and their food formulas (traditionally cooked, harvested as green and fresh legumes, and fermented as tempeh) using the 9-point hedonic scale and check-all-that-apply questionnaire. They found that the traditionally cooked Zamnè, pseudoZamnè or Kumatiya, and derived tempeh had good sensory appeal (scoring between 5-7) and subtle alkaline and nutty tastes, which will facilitate their blending in cuisines. Yet, an appreciable number (32%) of the participants, as unaccustomed to tempeh, scored all the tempeh products very low (2.5-3.4), suggesting food neophobia. In contrast, the traditionally cooked seeds of Senegalia erythrocalyx and the green and fresh Zamnè evoked bitter and sour off-tastes, respectively, and were not much appreciated (scoring 4). The present study provides unprecedented insight into consumers’ non-sensory perceptions and the culinary and sensory properties of Senegalia seed foods – which will be essential for their valorization, branding, and marketing.

The leaves and stems of Bauhinia guianensis Aubl. are used in traditional Amazonian phytotherapy for the treatment of pain and inflammation. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of hydroethanolic extracts from B. guianensis Aubl. leaves and stems (HELBg and HESBg, respectively) in in vivo models of inflammation and hyperalgesia. Danio rerio experimental animals were submitted to the acute inflammation test, induced by intraperitoneal (ip.) administration of carrageenan 20 μg / animal (abdominal edema), the groups were previously treated orally with saline solution 2 μl / animal (SS), Dimethyl sulfoxide 2 μl / animal (DMSO), Indomethacin 10 mg/kg, HELBg 100 mg/kg and HESBg 100 mg/kg, n = 12 per experimental group, to evaluate inhibition of edema and alterations histopathology of the liver, intestine and kidney of these animals. The antinociceptive effect was observed from the body curvature index and the behavioral responses of Danio rerio, after an experimental protocol for the induction of hyperalgesia, by ip. administration of 10 μl / animal of 2.5% acetic acid, the animals were previously orally treated with saline solution 2 μl/animal (SS), dimethyl sulfoxide 2 μl/animal (DMSO), morphine 2.5 mg/kg, HELBg 100 mg/kg and HESBg 100 mg/kg, n = 5 per experimental group. In carrageenan-induced edema, the group treated with HESBg inhibited edema formation over the 3 hours of the experiment. Maximum edema was inhibited by 54% (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Both HELBg and HESBg prevented body curvature index changes (t (df = 3 8) =, 6.96 and t (df = 3, 8) = 6.61, respectively, both p < 0.0001). In the behavioral parameters sensitive to antinociceptive pharmacological modulation, due to the abdominal constriction induced by acetic acid, the administration of HELBg and HESBg resulted in an improvement in swimming activity, by increasing the distance covered (F (df = 3, 16) = 6.50 and F (df = 3, 16)  = 7.72, respectively, both p < 0.0001), decrease in freezing time (F (df = 3, 16)  = 2.04 and F (df = 3, 16)  = 1.28, respectively, both p < 0.0059), increase in the number of ascents to the upper area of the tank (F (df = 3, 16)  = 33.02 and F (df = 3, 16)  = 35.62, respectively, both p < 0.0009 ) and decreased time spent in that area (F (df = 3, 16)  = 101.19 and F (df = 3, 16)  = 103.59, respectively, both p < 0.0038). It is reasonable to suppose that both extracts modulated the variations induced by carrageenan and acetic acid through the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, decreasing the release of inflammatory mediators and the sensitization of peripheral nociceptors and, consequently, the perception of pain. These results suggest that HELBg and HESBg have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, probably of peripheral origin and linked to the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Background: The molecular domestication of the gag gene of retrotransposons and retroviruses gave rise to the Gagr gene in the genome of Drosophila. The Gagr protein has a conservative structure in all Drosophila species, suggesting an essential function. As we previously shown, the Gagr gene may play a part in immune response and processes linked to stress reactions. Methods: Tub-GAL4>UAS-Gagr flies, which had the Gagr gene knockdown in all tissues, were compared with the control hybrid Tub-GAL4>w1118. Gagr gene function was verified by RNA-sequencing followed by RT-PCR and physiological tests. Results: In contrast to the control strain, we observed that flies with the Gagr gene knockdown had a shorter lifespan, but the mutant strain was more resistant to heat stress. Also, the Gagr knockdown strain had higher level of transcription of the immune response genes, according to a transcriptome analysis. It has been shown that the ammonium persulfate used to induce stress causes the Toll, Jal-STAT, and Jnk/MAPK signaling pathways to become activated, which results in a systemic response in numerus tissues in the control strain. Conversely, the Gagr gene mutant strain exhibits low expression of the stress response. Enrichment of the molecular function of genes overexpressed under ammonium persulfate stress in the control strain, but not in the Gagr knockdown mutant, revealed a category with 19 transcription factors involved in the control of organism development, morphogenesis and the functioning of the central nervous system. Their expression pattern and the Gagr gene's expression pattern match. The data obtained demonstrates the importance Gagr is to maintaining both the body's immune system and homeostasis.

This article presents the impact analysis of space harmonics (SH) presence on a single-sided three-phase linear induction motor, along with a comprehensive parametric investigation. The presence of SH often reduces the LIM performances. The electromagnetic phenomena are governed by Maxwell's equations associated with equivalent circuit modelling. The chosen mathematical model uses 2D formulation with magnetic vector potential A. The model implementation is performed with finite element method on Gmsh-GetDP free platform. The electromagnetic thrust is calculated in current excitation case by a numerical model (FEM) with and without term generating SH in order to highlight the effect of SH. The adaptation to voltage supply operation is obtained by equivalent electric circuits (EEC), through calculation of the operational impedance. The main objective of the study consists in a comparative exploration of SH presence using two numerical models (single and multi-harmonics), and an assessment of parameters effect on space harmonic presence and various machine characteristics such as thrust, efficiency, and power factor. The motor’s characteristics (ie: thrust, efficiency and power factor) strongly depend on parameters such as the pole pair number and conductivity. Improving the operation and maximizing the performances of such a machine for a given specification requires the use of optimization algorithms.

This study is to explore the feasibility using neural network (NN) and deep learning to diagnose three common respiratory diseases with only few symptom words. These three diseases are nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory infection, and bronchitis/bronchiolitis. Through natural language processing, the symptom word vectors are encoded by GPT-2 and classified by the last linear layer of the NN. The experimental results are promising, showing that this model achieves a high performance in predicting all these three diseases. They reach 90% in accuracy, which suggests the implications of the developed model, highlighting its potential use in assisting patients understanding their conditions via a remote diagnosis. Unlike previous studies that focus on extracting various categories of information from medical records, this study directly extracts sequential features from unstructured text data, reducing the effort required for data pre-process.

Tourism is an important industry that promotes national economic and social progress. All-for-one tourism is a new concept of regionally coordinated development that uses the tourism industry as an engine to boost resource integration, industrial integration, and social sharing. Tourism service is the main embodiment of cultural ecosystem services for all-for-one tourism cities. Taking Liyang in China as an example, this paper used a combination of GIS spatial analysis and big data text mining to evaluate the tourism service from three aspects: the quality of tourism resources, the comprehensiveness of tourism service facilities, and the satisfaction of tourists. The results show that (1) the tourism service is better in the northwestern and eastern areas of the city, while it is lower in the northeastern and southwestern parts; (2) the hotspot areas should focus on improving the tour routes, the transport capacity, and excessive charges; the cold spot areas should work on ecological restoration and creating new tourism attractions by combining the local industries; (3) rural tourism integrating agriculture and visitation should be highlighted as a key growth point to improve the city’s tourism service function.

Abstract: A two-year study of pearl millet-groundnut cropping systems across two fertilizer levels was conducted at the INRAN/TARNA research station in Maradi, Niger in the Sahelian zone of West Africa. The objective of this study was to identify the best cropping system with and without fertilizer application to optimize pearl millet and groundnut yields, land use efficiency, and economics as measured by value-to-cost ratio. The experiment was conducted with three replications, and ten treatments combination of five pearl millet and groundnut cropping systems (pearl millet and groundnut sole crops, and three pearl millet – groundnut intercrops), and two fertilizer levels. Sole cropping produced the highest pearl millet grain by over 300 kg ha-1 and groundnut pod yields by over 500 kg ha-1, but all the intercropping systems had a LER above 1.0 with land use efficiency increased by 19 to 41%, also intercropping increased diversity, and reduced risk. Fertilizer application increased yields in all cropping systems by 200 to 600 kg ha-1. Government subsidy increased the value-to-cost ratio by 0.5 to 2, 5 units, and was required for economic response for pearl millet sole and intercrops in 2022. The groundnut sole cropping system had the greatest economic response to fertilizer application. Based on the risky environment and multiple end uses needed by producers, the intercrop system M-G: 1:3:1 with fertilizer application is usually the best option to optimize pearl millet and groundnut production.

Quite a number of new metered parking systems have been introduced in recent years by the local authorities of various spa towns in Poland in connection with home zone conversion projects. The traffic signs posted in these locations were limited to the beginning and end of the demarcated parking area. Traffic circle (TC) is an example of traffic calming measures (TCM) used in home zones to slow down the traffic (case study – home zone in a small spa village). This article presents the results of a study investigating the speed reductions obtained with a home zone and traffic circle used as traffic calming measures. The indispensable speed surveys were carried out in relation to this study in two periods: in summer when the streets are crowded with tourists and in September with little pedestrian traffic. Two research hypotheses were formulated as part of the speed data analysis to verify the slowing effect of traffic circle and the relevance of traffic circles design parameters and location, road function and the surrounding streetscape. For each hypothesis statistical analyses were carried out using two nonparametric tests: two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and median test. The third research hypothesis formulated in this study was related to sustainable development factors related to fuel consumption and traffic-related air pollution including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. This hypothesis was verified by estimating the amount of air pollution in the home zone under analysis in three different situations (scenarios): in summer with the travel speed reduced by pedestrian traffic to ca. 8–10 km/h and in September with a small number of pedestrians and 20–25 km/h resulting speed between traffic circles, reduced at traffic circle, and in a theoretical 30 km/h zone with 25–30 km/h assumed speed between traffic circles, dropping at traffic circle. These analyses confirmed the appropriateness of traffic circle as a home zone traffic calming measure, as long as its design is based on a detailed analysis of the relevant factors, including location, road function and the surrounding streetscape.

Modular high-rise buildings frequently adopt cast-in-place concrete to ensure building integrity. To reduce the material consumption and realize mold-free casting, a 30 mm thick light concrete mold shell wall panel ( MiC wall panel) is set as part of the shear wall. But the concrete casting process is prone to cracking and rising pattern. Its force performance and damage mechanism is not clear. To this end, this paper designs three groups of MiC wall panels with different material component types. The static load test is carried out in a graded partitioned loading mode. The effects of different material components on the mechanical properties of MiC wall panels are systematically investigated and parametrically analyzed by numerical simulation. The results show that the front cracks of the wall slab are mainly distributed under the truss tendons, and the back cracks are mainly distributed in the span position of the adjacent truss tendons. They are both along the span direction of the wall slab. Increasing the strength level of concrete and using steel fiber concrete can improve the mechanical properties of MiC wall panels to different degrees. Among them, increasing the concrete strength has a significant effect on improving the load-bearing capacity of wall panels, while incorporating steel fibers can significantly improve the deformation and crack resistance of wall panels. By building more finite element models, it was verified that the steel fiber admixture has limited effect on the mechanical properties of wall panels as the concrete grade increases. This study aims to summarize the types of wall panels with the best working properties. It provides a practical basis for optimizing the production and fabrication process of MiC wall panels.

Like all RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 shows high mutation rate, which has led to the emergence of new variants. Among them, Gamma and Delta developed at the turn of 2020-2021 in Amazonas and India, two ecoregions characterized by hot-humid weather, very similar to that of the summer season due to climate change in Italy, the first Western country to have been hit hard by COVID-19 and to experience lockdown restrictions in a democratic framework of 58,85 million people. Methods: during the state of national health emergency and the Draghi government, the Civil Defense Department daily released the aggregate data coming from the Ministry of Health, the Higher Institute of Health, the Independent Provinces and the Italian Regions, in order to inform about the pandemic situation in Italy. Among these data there were the number of deaths, hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICU), non-ICU patients, contagions, and performed swabs. By means of a team effort, we have collected and elaborated all these data, comparing COVID-19 pandemic in Italy during the summers 2020 (following the nationwide lockdown), 2021 and 2022. Results: from summer 2020 (before mass vaccination) to summers 2021 (after primary mass vaccination) and 2022 (after booster mass vaccination) all pandemic trend indicators have showed a sharp worsening in Italy. COVID-19 deaths increased by ≈298% and ≈834%, ICU hospitalizations by ≈386% and ≈310%, non-ICU hospitalizations by ≈224% and ≈600%, contagions by ≈627% and ≈6.850% (i.e. ≈68,50 times), swabs by ≈354% and ≈370%, and the mean positivity rate passed from ≈1% to ≈2% and ≈20%, respectively. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted in any climate, including areas with hot and humid weather, and the emergence of variants adapted to hot-humid climate may result in summer COVID-19 outbreaks, even in neither tropical nor subtropical countries. Although COVID-19 vaccines can confer cross-protection against newly emerging variants, this cross-immunity is obviously not absolute but limited, also taking into account that vaccine protection wanes considerably after 6 months. It follows that a subject vaccinated at the beginning of winter will not be completely covered in the height of summer, without forgetting the unvaccinated. As a final remark, the long nationwide lockdown made it possible to flatten SARS-CoV-2 circulation and, therefore, its negative impact on Italy during summer 2020.

Over the past few decades, synthetic polymer production has increased, and the production of plastics has surpassed all other man-made materials due to their versatility. Moreover, packaging plastic makes up around 40% of global plastic production. However, the excessive usage of synthetic packaging materials has led to severe environmental and health-related issues. Therefore, biobased packages are considered alternatives to substitute synthetic packaging on the market. Furthermore, the choice of packing material in the food industry is a perplexing process as it depends on various factors, such as the type of food product, its sustainability, and environmental conditions. Interestingly, due to proven gas barrier properties and biological activity, polysaccharide-based bioplastics show the potential to expand the trends in food packaging, including edible films and intelligent and active food packaging. This review discusses the structure, properties and recent developments in polysaccharide-based bioplastics as food packaging materials.

This study is based on the fatty acid and amino acid profile of 7 edible insect species: Acheta domesticus, Alphitobius diaperinus, Blaptica dubia, Galleria mellonella, Locusta migratoria, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio. The fatty acid distribution within lipid classes (neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids) was studied, while the amino acid profile was used to calculate the species-specific nitrogen-protein conversion factor (Kp). The profiles were used to evaluate the nutritional quality of the lipids and proteins. Oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid in all insects except for A. domesticus, in which a larger percentage of linoleic acid was found. The majority of the lipids were neutral lipids. L. migratoria showed a remarkably high content of α-linolenic acid in its phospholipid fraction, while T. molitor phospholipids were the only fraction in which a measurable amount of docosahexaenoic acid was found. Overall, in most insects, the phospholipid fraction had the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid content compared to the other classes, which may be protective in terms of autoxidative stability. Kp values in the range of 4.17 to 6.43 were obtained. Within the nutritional quality indices, all insects showed healthy fatty acid and high quality amino acid profiles.

Severe COVID-19 patients show impaired IFN-I response due to decreased IFN-β production, allowing persistent viral load and exacerbated inflammation. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein has been implicated in inhibiting IFN-I response through interfering with IFN-I signaling. This study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein enhances interaction between human SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9 and MAVS. Increased MAVS-UBC9 interaction leads to enhanced SUMOylation of MAVS, inhibiting its ubiquitination, resulting in the inhibition of phosphorylation events involving IKKα, TBK1, and IRF3, disrupting IFN-I signaling. These results provide essential insights into the intricate regulation of the host's innate immunity during SARS-COV-2 invasion. Understanding these complex molecular mechanisms is crucial in developing effective therapeutic interventions against COVID-19 and potential future viral outbreaks.

This study aimed to isolate, identify enteric bacterial species from the migratory seagulls migrated to Libyan cost and to assess the antibiotic resistance of these bacteria. A total of 50 fecal samples were collected from slender-billed gulls in January, 2023 at Farwa Island near the city of Zwara. Bacteria were isolated by conventional culturing method, identified by using the Enterosystem 18R, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted on the isolated bacteria. Only 32 of 46 bacteria were identified using biochemical tests. These identified bacteria belong to six species of Enterobacteriacae namely Citrobacter freundii, Pantoea agglomerans, E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia liquifaciens, and Proteus mirabilis, with percentages of (17) 53.125%, (10) 31.25%, (2) 6.25%, (1) 3.125%, (1) 3.125%, and (1) 3.125%, respectively. All isolated bacterial species in this study were 100% sensitive to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. The highest resistance rate was observed against the antibiotic cefoxitin. The results indicated that C. freundii was the most antibiotic-resistant bacterial species isolated in this study. In conclusion, slender-billed gulls carry multi-drug resistant bacteria. The study recommends implementation of a national program to survey antibiotic-resistant bacteria and expanding scientific research on migratory birds.

SARS-CoV-2 attachment and entry inside mammalian cells is mainly mediated by human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and its interaction with spike protein. However, it is well known that spike protein also interacts with other molecules like glycosaminoglycans (GAG), e.g., heparan sulfate (HS) or Enoxaparin (EX), which are linear, anionically charged polysaccharides known for their biological activities. The mode of action of these two polysaccharides is to bind spike protein to block the interaction with ACE2 receptors. This study aimed to assess a model capable of confirming the activity of these GAGs in both the wild-type strain of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, such as the highly variable BA.2.86. This was achieved by combining in silico modeling with in vitro determination using BacMam technology. The results showed the antiviral activity of HS and EX both in vitro and through the in-silico analysis, reconciling conflicting findings from recent studies on the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, it is possible to highlight the ability of these molecules to circumvent the high variability of SARS-CoV-2, providing valuable insights into intervention strategies targeting cell entry mechanisms and establishing a safe in vitro model.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) is beneficial microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere of plants and play a crucial role in enhancing plant growth and development. This review provides an overview of the significant role of PGPR in sustainable agriculture. The mechanisms that promote plant growth, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and growth hormones, are discussed. The potential of PGPR in improving plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and enhancing nutrient availability, soil fertility, and uptake is also highlighted. Moreover, the ecological and economic benefits of using PGPR for sustainable agriculture include improving crop productivity, reducing environmental pollution, and ensuring food security.

Iterative Stochastic decoding is an alternative to standard fixed-point decoding of Low-density parity check codes (LDPC) to reduce inter-node routing. In this paper, we propose a Flexible Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-Based Stochastic decoding (SD) hardware architecture for LDPC codes in the Fifth-Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) Standard that supports decoding of set of various code rates. This decoder’s runtime flexibility is desirable to switch a better performing code rate automatically based on the channel conditions without the extra time needed for reprogramming of FPGA. An offline design method is implemented to generate the hardware description language (HDL) code description of the decoder for the required code-rate set, which is further synthesized and integrated into the Xilinx Kintex-7 series FPGA board to determine the hardware resource utilisation and processing throughput. The Synopsys design tools were employed during both the simulation and synthesis stages, in combination with TSMC 65-nm CMOS standard cell technology, to facilitate comparative analysis. Compared with state-of-the-art designs, the proposed architecture reduces hardware utilization by up to 26% and achieved energy efficiency by 52%.

Early onset neonatal sepsis is a significant contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although blood cultures remain the diagnostic gold standard, they detect pathogens in only a minority of suspected cases. This study compared the accuracy of blood cultures with a rapid multiplex PCR test. Newborns at risk for neonatal sepsis were prospectively screened as recommended per national guidelines. Evaluations included laboratory parameters (CrP, IL6, differential blood count), blood culture, and a molecular multiplex PCR test (ROCHE LightCycler SeptiFast) identifying 20 common microbial agents. Blood samples were taken simultaneously from umbilical cord or venous sources on the first day of life. Of 229 infants included, 69% were born preterm. Blood culture and multiplex PCR sensitivity were 7.4% and 11.1% respectively. Specificity, negative and positive predictive values between methods showed no significant variance, though multiplex PCR had more false positives due to contamination. The limited sensitivity of blood cultures for early onset neonatal sepsis is concerning. Despite quicker results, multiplex PCR does not enhance diagnostic accuracy or antibiotic therapy guidance, thus it can not be recommended for this indication.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the entire world, has not only created a number of emerging issues for each country, especially in the field of public health, but has also provided a number of opportunities for risk management, alternative strategies and completely new ways of looking at challenges. This paper examines the COVID-19 pandemic response in Türkiye and the possible implications of the experience for future responses to other health emergencies and disaster risk management, based on the lessons learned. This study uses publicly available literature from government, private sector, and academic sources to analyse the conflicts, changes and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are components of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM) framework. The COVID-19 experience in Türkiye has several aspects, including the significant role of healthcare workers, the existence of an effective health system accustomed to emergencies, applications based on information technologies, partial transparency of public authorities in providing information, and socio-cultural environment related to cooperation on prevention strategies, including wearing masks and vaccination. Challenges in Türkiye include distance learning in schools, lockdowns that particularly affect the elderly, ensuring environmental sustainability, hesitation about the effectiveness of social/financial support programmes, socio-cultural trivialisation of pandemics after a while, and relaxation of prevention strategies. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic include the value of transparency in public health/healthcare information, the strengthening of all aspects of the health system in terms of health workers, and the importance of a balanced economy prepared for foreseeable risks.

Research conducted on individuals with depression reveals that major depressive disorders (MDDs) coincide with diminished levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, as well as modifications in the subunit composition of the primary receptors (GABAA receptors) responsible for mediating GABAergic inhibition. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence supporting the significant role of GABA in regulating stress within the brain, which is a pivotal vulnerability factor in mood disorders. Although there is substantial evidence indicating that GABA may be affecting GABA receptors in peripheral tissues, there is comparatively less evidence supporting its direct action within the brain. Emerging evidence highlights that GABA may exert beneficial effects on the brain and psyche through the gut-brain axis. GABA is readily available and approved as a food supplement in many countries. While GABA enjoys wide consumer acceptance in Eastern Asian markets, with many consumers reporting favorable effects on stress regulation, mood, and sleep, rigorous independent research is still largely lacking. Basic research, coupled with initial clinical findings, makes GABA an intriguing neuro-nutritional compound deserving of clinical studies in individuals with depression and other psychological problems.

In this paper, existence and stability results of non-local integro-differential equation with Hilfer derivative of order ω∈(1,2) have been investigated. In this derivative is applied in RLC circuit equation of various fractional order. To proposed problem the existence solutions are derived using Schaefer’s fixed point theorem and the Banach contraction principle is using for uniqueness results. To demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of our theoretical conclusions and two-step Lagrange polynomial interpolation were used to solve four numerical results.

Background: we aim to investigate attitudes toward vaccination, by analyzing empirical factors associated with vaccine acceptance in the Lazio region mpox vaccination (MpoxVax) campaign in Italy. Methods: all subjects who accessed to MpoxVax and signed the informed consent were prospectively enrolled in the MPOX-VAC Study and were asked to fill out an anonymous survey. Two endpoints were selected: ‘delayed acceptance’ and ‘early acceptance’, defined as access for vaccination >60 and ≤30 days from the vaccination campaign starting (VCS), respectively. Results: over the study period 1717 individuals underwent vaccination: 129 (7%) >60 [1588 (92.5%) ≤60] and 676 (60%) ≤30 days from VCS. A bisexual orientation, a lower education level and a worse perceived physical and mental health were associated with delayed access to vaccination. Being Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) users and, marginally, HIV positive, having a high perceived risk for mpox infection and reporting high-risk behaviors like the use of recreational drugs/chems, sex under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and higher number of principal sexual partners, were associated with early access to vaccination. Conclusions: according to our data, risk awareness was a major determinant of early mpox vaccination acceptance. Conversely, worse perceived health status and a low educational level were critical factors associated with delayed vaccination.

Abstract: This article explores the intricate relationship between environmental degradation, specifically air pollution, and economic growth in the Sultanate of Oman spanning the period from 1990 to 2022. We employ cointegration and vector error correction models to uncover both short- and long-term dynamics in the association between air pollution and economic growth. Fur-thermore, Granger causality analysis is utilized to investigate the causal links between these crucial variables. This data encompasses factors related to environmental quality and various control variables. The empirical results unveil a sustained long-term cointegration connection between the variables. Additionally, our findings highlight a statistically significant positive impact of economic growth and energy consumption on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the short-term analysis reveals an annual adjustment of approximately 14.1% in N2O emissions dis-equilibrium. The Granger causality study indicates unidirectional causal relationships involving N2O emissions, economic growth, and CO2 emissions. The implications of these findings for Oman's policy landscape are substantial. To effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative for Oman to establish robust climate change policies. Additionally, the government can play a pivotal role in encouraging and endorsing the use of renewable energy sources, such as green hydrogen, as a promising alternative to traditional oil and gas resources.

This research investigates the utilization of human driving models in autonomous vehicles, particularly in scenarios with minimal or no interactions with other vehicles. Human driving models provide valuable insights into driver behavior and play a crucial role in shaping the behavior of autonomous vehicles, enhancing their performance and user experience. The primary focus of the study is the creation of a planning model for autonomous vehicles when navigating roundabouts in the absence of traffic. This model seeks to emulate human driving behavior, ensuring predictability, safety, optimization of traffic flow, and adaptation to various roundabout geometries. To achieve this, the research introduces a trajectory model that takes into account geometric attributes and speed variations within roundabouts. The model is calibrated using empirical data and generalizes parameters through statistical regression methodologies. This model is referred to as "MRoundabout" and is evaluated for its consistency in generating plans that closely mimic human driving behavior within roundabouts. While the study presents a promising approach, it acknowledges limitations related to the model's reliance on geometric attributes and its inability to account for external factors like weather conditions. This research underscores the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application, with the aim of enhancing safety and the overall user experience in real-world driving scenarios.

N-maleimide-derivatized phospholipids are often used to facilitate protein anchoring to membranes. In autophagy studies, this is applied to the covalent binding of Atg8, an autophagy protein, to a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the nascent autophagosome. However, the question remains on how closely the N-maleimide PE derivative (PE-mal) mimicks the native PE in the bilayer. In the present paper, spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques have been applied to vesicles containing either PE or PE-mal (together with other phospholipids) to compare the properties of the native and derivatized forms of PE. According to differential scanning calorimetry, and to infrared spectroscopy, the presence of PE-mal did not perturb the fatty acyl chains in the bilayer. Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy showed that PE-mal did not alter bilayer permeability either. However, fluorescence emission polarization of Laurdan and DPH probes indicated an increased order, or decreased fluidity, in the bilayers containing PE-mal. In addition, infrared spectral data from the phospholipid phosphate region revealed a PE-mal-induced conformational change of the polar heads, accompanied by an increased hydration. Globally considered, the results suggest that PE-mal would be a reasonable substitute for PE in model membranes containing reconstituted proteins.

We classify all the topologically non-equivalent phase portraits of the quadratic polynomial differential system dx/dt = (1-2x)(y-x), dy/dt =y (2-g y-(5g-4)x/(g-1)), in the Poincaré disc for all the values of the parameter g in R\{1}. The differential system dx/dt = y-x, dy/dt =y (2-g y-(5g-4)x/(g-1))/(1-2x), when the parameter g in (1,2] models the structure equations of a static star in general relativity in the case of the existence of a homologous family of solutions, being x = m(r)/r where m(r)>= 0 is the mass inside the sphere of radius r of the star, y = 4pi r^2 rho where rho is the density of the star, and t = ln (r/R) where R is the radius of the star. We classify the possible values of m(r)/r and 4pi r^2 rho when r-->0.

Taking Korla fragrant pear as the research object, single factor testing and water and fertilizer coupling testing were conducted. Under the premise of the drip irrigation mode, the effects of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus on the growth, fruit quality, and yield of Korla Fragrant Pear were studied to provide a theoretical basis for efficient water and fertilizer management. Among them, the single factor test set water, nitrogen and phosphorus as the three factors, and each factor was set at five levels, namely, water (W1, 5460 m3·hm−2;W2, 5880 m3·hm−2;W3,6300 m3·hm−2; W4, 6720 m3·hm−2; W5, 7140 m3·hm−2), nitrogen (N1, 150 kg N·hm−2;N2, 225 kg N·hm−2; N3, 300 kg N·hm−2; N4, 375 kg N·hm−2; N5, 450 kg N·hm−2), phosphorus (P1,75 kg P2O5·hm−2; P2, 150 kg P2O5·hm−2; P3, 225 kg P2O5·hm−2; P4, 300 kg P2O5·hm−2; P5, 375 kg P2O5·hm−2). The results showed that the total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents in leaves under the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were significantly higher than those under other treatments, and the fruit quality was better. Therefore, the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were selected as the water and fertilizer inputs for the water–fertilizer coupling test for Korla fragrant pear. Eight treatments were set up in the water and fertilizer coupling test: Treatment 1 (T1, W3N3P3), Treatment 2 (T2, W3N3P4), Treatment 3 (T3, W3N4P3), Treatment 4 (T4,W3N4P4), Treatment 5 (T5, W4N3P3), Treatment 6 (T6, W4N3P4), Treatment 7 (T7, W4N4) P3), and Treatment 8 (T8, W4N4P4). The results showed that the leaf area index of the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other treatments at maturity. The T3 treatment resulted in the highest fruit yield, single fruit weight, and primary fruit rate. The results of the grey correlation degree analysis of fruit quality showed that T3 treatment had the highest degree of correlation and ranking of each fruit quality index, indicating that T3 treatment had the highest fruit quality. Detailed investigation of pear tree growth and fruit quality showed that the T3 treatment (375 kg·hm−2 nitrogen application, 225 kg·hm−2 phosphorus application and 6300 m3·hm−2 irrigation) had the best fruit growth and development performance, and the sweet pear fruit quality was the best.

Biomedical devices made from high-modulus and hardness materials play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with bone-related ailments. While these materials have been successfully used in orthopedic applications, concerns including stress-shielding have necessitated the exploration of alternative solutions. An ideal biomedical implant requires a delicate balance of mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, tissue biocompatibility, and other properties such as tribological performance and osseointegration. This review explores the suitability of biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloys as a promising material for biomedical implants. It delves into the essential properties of biomedical implants, emphasizing the importance of matching mechanical characteristics with human bone properties to mitigate stress shielding. The corrosion properties of implant materials are discussed, highlighting the need for controlled degradation to ensure the safety and longevity of implants. The focus then shifts to the potential of magnesium alloys as biomedical implants, examining their benefits, limitations, and the challenges associated with their high degradation rates and less-than-satisfactory mechanical properties. Alloying with elements such as aluminum, zinc, and others is explored to improve magnesium alloys' mechanical performance and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, this review discusses surface modification techniques, including chemical conversion coatings and biomimetic deposition, as effective strategies to enhance the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of magnesium and its alloys. These modifications offer opportunities to improve the long-term performance of magnesium-based biomedical implants. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, challenges, and potential solutions associated with biodegradable magnesium alloys as a promising material for biomedical implants. It underscores the importance of addressing issues related to mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility to advance the development of safe and effective biomedical implant materials.

This paper presents a new discrete counterpart of the mixture exponential distribution by utilizing the survival discretization method. The moment-generating function and associated moment measures are discussed. The distribution’s hazard rate function can assume increasing or decreasing forms, making it adaptable for diverse fields requiring count data modelling. The paper explores four distinct parameter estimation methods and assesses their performance through Monte Carlo simulations. The applicability of this distribution extends to time series analysis, particularly within the framework of the first-order integer-valued autoregressive process. Additionally, the paper explores quality control applications, addressing serial dependence challenges in count data encountered in production and market management. The performance of two distinct control charts, the cumulative sum chart and the exponentially weighted moving average chart, is evaluated for their effectiveness in detecting shifts in the process means under various models. A bivariate Markov chain approach is used to estimate the average run lengths of these charts, offering valuable insights for implementation. Design recommendations for achieving robustness in-control chart applications are provided. The effectiveness of the proposed models and charts is illustrated using a real data, demonstrating their practical superiority.

Myocardial involvement among critical patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a worse outcome. The occurrence of an imbalance in oxygen supply results in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines which leads to increased ventilation support requirement and increase risk of mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the association between hs-Troponin I level and global longitudinal strain as evidence of myocardial involvement among critical COVID-19 patients. Methods. We performed prospective cohort study from February 1st – July 31st, 2021 at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya as referral center for COVID-19 care. Of the 65 critical COVID-19 included, 41 (63.1%) were men, with a median (interquartile range) age of 51.0 years (20.0-75.0).Subjects were recruited according to WHO criteria for severe COVID-19 and CDC criteria for myocarditis. All subjects recruited were examined using echocardiography to measure global longitudinal strain (GLS) and blood samples were taken to measure hs-Troponin. Subjects were then followed to assess their needs for mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality. Severe COVID-19 subjects with cardiac injury were associated with an increased need for intubation (78.5%) and an increased incidence of myocarditis (50.8%). There was an association between the use of intubation and the risk of mortality in patients (66.7% vs. 33.3%, p-value <0.001). Both reduced GLS and increased hs-troponin are associated with increased myocarditis (p-value <0.001 and 0.004 respectively). Reduced GLS is associated with higher mechanical ventilation needs (12.17 + 4.79 vs.15.65 + 4.90, p-value 0.02) and a higher mortality rate (11.36 + 4.64 vs. 14.74 + 4.82; p-value 0.005). Increased hs-troponin is associated with higher mechanical ventilation needs (25.33% vs. 3.56%, p-value 0.002) and a higher mortality rate (34.57% vs. 5.76%, p-value 0.002). Compared with contemporary controls, critical COVID-19 patients with myocardial involvement and elevated cardiac troponin level are associated with higher mechanical ventilation needs and a higher mortality rate.

Piceatannol (PIC), a natural analog of resveratrol, has various biological functions. We previously reported that PIC had an anti-obesity effect only in ovariectomized mice. While ovariectomized mice have low phosphorylation levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (pHSL) at Ser563, we found that PIC increased those levels. Here, we investigated the effect of PIC using 3T3-L1 adipocytes to clarify the mechanism by which PIC activates HSL. First, PIC was confirmed to induce HSL phosphorylation at Ser563 in 3T3-L1 cells as in vivo experiments showed. pHSL (Ser563) is believed to be activated through the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) and protein kinase A (PKA) pathway; however, the addition of a selective inhibitor of β-AR did not inhibit the effect of PIC. The addition of PKA inhibitor with PIC blocked pHSL (Ser563), suggesting that PIC’s effects are mediated by PKA from a different pathway than β-AR. The addition of G15, a selective inhibitor of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), lowered HSL activation by PIC. Furthermore, PIC inhibited insulin signaling and did not induce pHSL (Ser565), which represents its inactive form. This study is the first to suggest that the GPER pathway might regulate HSL activation in adipocytes.

The coupled Dirac equations for solar e- and μ-neutrinos are solved in the presence of a small uniform interaction of the e-neutrinos with matter (the Sun). It is shown that the interaction leads to an increase of the amplitude of the neutrinos oscillations and a decrease of the lo- calization probability of the e-neutrinos. However, the strength of this interaction is insufficient to explain the magnitude of the discrepancy between the solar neutrino flux and the neutrino flux measured on the Earth. An alternative interpretation related to a possible superfluid neutrino state is advanced, which may throw some light on the solar neutrino problem.

Derivatives products have become essential in portfolio diversification, price discovery and risk hedging. Derivatives are complex instruments; their role is twofold, risk management and speculation, and their actual Impact on the underlying assets’ behaviours are not well understood. Little is documented empirically on how these instruments’ two-edged roles influence firms’ financing decisions, firm risk exposures, and stability. Given the growing interest in using derivatives in risk management and portfolio engineering, this study examines the practical impact of derivatives usage on the underlying firm’s financing policy and stability. The paper uses data from South African listed non-financial firms for the period 2000 to 2019. The study employs a dynamic panel model estimated with System Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM). The initial analysis shows that derivatives use reduces the cost of capital and increases firm stability. However, further in-depth analysis provides evidence that extensive use of derivatives increases firms’ capital costs and negatively impacts financial stability. These findings imply that the risk embedded in derivatives’ speculation dominates their risk management function. The results are subjected to numerous controls for robustness, including financial leverage, firm size, cashflows and asset tangibility.

The results of the most recent investigation of triterpenoid-based antiviral agents effective namely in the HIV-1 and HSV-1 treatment were reviewed and summarized. Several key historical achievements are included to stress consequences and continuity in this research. Most of the agents studied belong into a series of compound derived from betulin or betulinic acid, and their synthetic derivative called bevirimat. A termination of clinical trials of bevirimat in the Phase IIb initiated a search for more successful compounds partly derived from bevirimat or designed independently of bevirimat structure. Surprisingly, a majority of bevirimat mimics are derivatives of betulinic acid, while other plant triterpenoids, such as ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid or other miscellaneous triterpenoids, are relatively rarely involved in a search for novel antiviral agent. Therefore, this review article is divided into three parts based on the leading triterpenoid core structure.

To assess AR’s role in TNBC treatment, various existing and completed clinical trials targeting AR or co-targeting AR with other pertinent signaling molecules were analyzed. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6), cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17 lyase), and the phosphatidylinositol 3kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway were some of the most prevalent biomarkers used in combination therapy with AR inhibitors in these trials. Studying how AR functions in tandem with these molecules can have increasing breakthroughs in the treatment options for TNBC. Previous studies have been largely unsuccessful in utilizing AR as the sole drug target for systemic targeted treatment in TNBC. However, there is a lack of other commonly used drug target biomarkers in the treatment of this disease, as well. Thus, analyzing the clinical benefit rate (CBR) within clinical trials that are using combination therapy can prove to be imperative to the progression of improving treatment options and prognoses.

The first hyperpolarizability of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) suspended in water was determined using the hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) technique. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of the HRS technique to characterize GQDs. Two commercial GQDs (Acqua-Cyan and Acqua-Green) with different compositions were studied. The HRS experiments were performed with an excitation laser at 1064 nm. The measured hyperpolarizabilities were (1.0±0.1) × 10^(-27) esu and (0.9±0.1) × 10^(-27) esu for Acqua-Cyan and Acqua-Green, respectively. The results were used to estimate the hyperpolarizability per nanosheet obtained by assuming that each GQDs has five nanosheets with 0.3 nm thickness. The two-level model, used to calculate the static hyperpolarizability per nanosheet, provides the values of (2.4±0.1) × 10^(-28) esu (Acqua-Cyan) and (0.5±0.1) × 10^(-28) esu (Aqua-Green). The origin of the nonlinearity is discussed on the basis of polarized resolved HRS experiments, and an electric quadrupolar behavior with a strong dependence on surface effects is found. The nontoxic characteristics and order of magnitude indicate that these GQDs may be useful for biological microscopy imaging.

Biomass as a whole offers a more diverse potential for valorisation than any other renew-able energy source. As one of the stages in the separation of bio-oil involves the liquid mixture of acetol and acetic acid, and as both components are particularly well suited for valorisation, a hybrid method has been developed for their separation with a high purity level through an approach combining liquid-liquid extraction and rectification. In order to design and simulate the flowsheet, the ChemCAD 7.0 simulation software has been used. Sensitive analyses have been carried out to investigate the influence of the different pa-rameters in the rectification columns such as the reflux ratio, the feed stage location, and the vapour/bottom molar flow ratio. The effect of different extractants and of their excess on the separation process as well as the possibility of regenerating the extractant has also been studied. Tri-n-octylamine has accordingly been selected as a separating agent which has been fully recycled. The end result for separating an initial 48/52 wt% ace-tol/acetic-acid liquid mixture has been acetol with a purity of 99.4 wt% and acetic acid with a purity of 100 wt%.

Energy efficiency considerations in terms of reduced power dissipation is a significant issue in the design of digital circuits for very large-scale integration (VLSI) systems. Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is an emerging ultra-low power dissipation approach, distinct from the traditional complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, for building digital computing circuits. Developing fully reversible QCA circuits has the potential to significantly reduce energy dissipation. The multiplexer is a fundamental element in the construction of useful digital circuits. In this paper, a novel, multilayer, fully reversible QCA 8:1 multiplexer circuit, with ultralow energy dissipation, is introduced. The proposed multiplexer power dissipation is simulated using the QCADesigner-E version 2.2 tool, describing the microscopic physical mechanisms underlying the QCA operation. The results showed that the proposed reversible QCA 8:1 multiplexer consumes 89% less energy than the most energy-efficient 8:1 multiplexer circuit presented previously in the scientific literature.

The integration of bioinformatics in drug discovery has revolutionized the field of pharmaceutical research. The use of computational tools and techniques has enabled researchers to analyze vast amounts of data, identify potential drug targets, and design new drugs with greater precision and efficiency. The integration of bioinformatics has also facilitated the development of personalized medicine, where drugs can be tailored to individual patients based on their genetic makeup. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, such as the need for more accurate predictive models and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of patient data. Overall, the integration of bioinformatics in drug discovery holds great promise for improving human health and advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms. In this mini-review, we discuss how Bioinformatics plays a crucial role in each step of drug discovery by providing tools and techniques to analyze large amounts of data generated from various sources, as well as the challenges and the opportunities offered by bioinformatics.

Changes in sea level exhibit nonlinearity, nonstationarity, and multivariable characteristics, making traditional time series forecasting methods less effective in producing satisfactory results. To enhance the accuracy of the predictions of changes in sea level, this study introduced an improved VMD–EEMD–LSTM hybrid model. This model decomposes satellite altimetry data from near the Dutch coast using VMD, resulting in components of the Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF) with various frequencies and a residual sequence. EEMD further dissects the residual sequence obtained from VMD into second-order components. These IMFs decomposed by VMD and EEMD are utilized as features in the LSTM model for making predictions, culminating in the final forecasted results. The experimental results demonstrated significant improvements in the predictive performance compared with the VMD–LSTM model. The RMSE (root mean square error) decreased by an average of 58.68%, the MAE (mean absolute error) reduced by an average of 59.96%, and the R2 (coefficient of determination) increased by an average of 49.85% compared with the VMD–LSTM model. In comparison with the EEMD–LSTM model, the RMSE decreased by an average of 26.95%, the MAE decreased by an average of 28.00%, and the R2 increased by an average of 6.53%. The VMD–EEMD–LSTM model exhibited significantly improved predictive performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laser irradiation to computer-aided de-sign/computer-aided fabrication (CAD/CAM) resin blocks coated with a silane coupling agent on the bond strength between the resin blocks and composite resin. The CAD/CAM resin blocks used in this study were Cerasmart 300 (GC) and Vita Enamic (Vita); they were cut into plates and then subjected to a series of treatments. After processing with a silane coupling agent, treatment with a semiconductor laser was performed at 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 W, followed by the bonding procedures. The control group included those exposed to silane and bonded without laser application. After bonding, a mold with a simulated cavity was formed on the specimen and filled with flowable composite resin, and they were stored for 24 h or stressed by thermal cycling for subsequent testing that assessed the shear bond strength (n = 10). The results revealed that the bond strength was significantly enhanced by laser irradiation after applying a silane coupling agent, whereas significant effect was not detected between the materials. Particularly, 7 W laser irradiation had a significant effect on the bond strength between the composite resin and Cerasmart block after thermal cycling.

Autosselecionar a intensidade do treinamento aeróbico é uma perspectiva que permite aos praticantes desenvolver autonomia (escolha do ritmo), melhorar a aptidão física e alcançar a perda de peso. Comparar o efeito de quatro protocolos de treinamento aeróbico nas respostas cardiometabólicas e psicofisiológicas em homens e mulheres adultos fisicamente inativos. A amostra foi composta por 11 indivíduos com idade entre 56 ± 10 anos e IMC 29,2 ± 2,4 kg/m2 que realizaram quatro diferentes protocolos de treinamento aeróbio em esteira, sendo: 1-indivíduo com intensidade autosselecionada (ISS), 2-indivíduo com intensidade prescrita (IPI) (64-76% da FC máx), grupo 3 pequeno com autosseleção. intensidade selecionada (SGS) e intensidade prescrita em 4 pequenos grupos (SGP) (64-76% da FC máx). Foram analisados ​​frequência cardíaca, lactato, percepção subjetiva de esforço, resposta afetiva, escala de ativação, prazer, intenção de repetir a sessão, velocidade da esteira e distância total do protocolo. A análise estatística utilizou ANOVA com teste post hoc de Tukey (p<0,05). As análises de frequência cardíaca, lactato, percepção subjetiva de esforço, escala de ativação, prazer, velocidade média e distância total não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os protocolos. A resposta afetiva apresentou menor declínio no protocolo ISS (p<0,05), e a intenção de repetir a sessão de treinamento foi maior no protocolo ISS (p<0,05). Conclusão: Os dados permitem concluir que o protocolo de treino ISS produziu resultados superiores na resposta afetiva e na intenção de repetir a sessão.

The power generation structure and load characteristics in different provinces are quite different in China, and the distribution of peak regulating resources and demands is extremely unbalanced. Due to many factors such as low power marketization degree, shortage of peak regulating resources and block of transmission channels, the consumption of new energy is facing greater pressure. In order to improve the mutual aids in regional power grid, this paper proposes a two-layer optimization dispatching model considering the mutual aids of peak regulation resources between each province, and determines the optimal units startup mode and power output in each provinces, thus obtaining all the power supply output arrangements and the technical and economic indicators. Finally, take the actual regional power grid in China as an example, the simulation results show that the proposed model can significantly improve the new energy utilization rate, which verified the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed model and methods in this paper.

Repairing of small and isolated delamination area in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) without significantly altering the composite structure is studied in this research. A small drilled hole was introduced at the center of the delamination section of CFRP, providing the channel for epoxy infill of sharp delamination cracks. The pressureless infill repair was achieved through the capillary action of an acetone-diluted resin solution (without hardener) with CNT reinforcement, e.g., 89 m/m% of acetone, 10 m/m% of resin and 1m/m% of CNT. Such an acetone-rich resin pre-coating (RPC) solution is easy to prepare and apply to the drilled hole area. Curing of CNT-toughened resin infill was induced by filling the small-drilled hole with a resin-hardener mixture toughened by CNT/Aramid pulp. The effectiveness of delamination repair with curing periods of two weeks and three months were compared. Flexural strength measurements indicated that 77% (potentially 100%) of the restoration was achievable.

Autonomous shuttles have been used as end mile solutions for smart mobility in smart cities. The urban driving conditions of smart cities with many other actors sharing the road and the presence of intersections have posed challenges to the use of autonomous shuttles. Round intersections are more challenging as it is more difficult to perceive the other vehicles in and near the intersection. Thus, this paper focuses on decision making of autonomous vehicles for handling round intersections. The round intersection is introduced first, followed by introductions of the Markov Decision Process (MDP), the Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) and the Object Oriented Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (OOPOMDP) which are used for decision making with uncertain knowledge of the motion of the other vehicles. The Partially Observable Monte-Carlo Planning (POMCP) algorithm is used as the solution method and OOPOMDP is applied to decision making for autonomous vehicles in round intersections. Decision making is formulated first as a POMDP problem, and the penalty function is formulated and set accordingly. This is followed by improvement of decision making with policy prediction. Augmented objective state and policy-based state transition are introduced and simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for collision free handling of round intersections by the ego vehicle.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have rapidly gained attraction in recent years as a promising solution to revolutionize numerous applications and meet the growing demand for efficient and timely delivery services due to their highly automated operation framework. Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, in particular, offer new means of delivering added-value services through a wide range of applications. This ’plateau of productivity’ holds enormous promise but it is challenging to equip the drone with affordable technologies which support the BVLOS use-case. To close this gap, this work showcases the convergence of the automotive and aviation industries to advance BVLOS aviation for UAS in a practical setting by studying a combination of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies and systems. A novel risk based approach of investigating the key technological components, architectures, algorithms and protocols is proposed, that facilitate highly reliable and autonomous BVLOS operations, aiming to enhance the alignment between market and operational needs and to better identify integration requirements between the different capabilities to be developed.

To further understand the role of phosphorylation in ISGF3- and STAT2/IRF9-mediated constitutive and long-term IFN-I-stimulated transcriptional responses, we performed RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq, in combination with phosphorylation inhibition and anti-viral experiments. First, we identified a group of ISRE-containing ISGs that were commonly regulated in IFNα treated WT and STAT1-KO cells. Thus, in 2fTGH and Huh7.5 WT cells IFNα-inducible transcription and anti-viral activity relied on the recruitment of the ISGF3 components STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9 in a phosphorylation- and time-dependent manner. Likewise, in ST2-U3C and Huh-STAT1KO cells lacking STAT1, ISG expression correlated with DNA-binding of phosphorylated STAT2/IRF9. This pointed to a dominant role of classical ISGF3 and STAT2/IRF9, and not U-ISGF3 or U-STAT2/IRF9, in the regulation of early and prolonged ISG expression and viral protection, in WT and STAT1-KO cells. In addition, comparative experiments in U3C (STAT1-KO) cells overexpressing all ISGF3 components (ST1-ST2-IRF9-U3C), revealed a threshold-dependent role of U-ISFG3, and potentially U-STAT2/IRF9, in the regulation of constitutive and possibly long-term IFNα-treated ISG expression and anti-viral activity.

Introduction: This empirical study investigates the impact of two distinct mathematical problem-solving methods – the Algebraic Formula Method and the Newton Sum Method – on enhancing ChatGPT's competence in effectively solving quadratic root functions. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into mathematical problem-solving has paved the way for innovative approaches. In this study, we delve into the Algebraic Formula Method and the Newton Sum Method, essential techniques for solving quadratic root functions. We aim to showcase the profound influence of these methods on ChatGPT's capacity to excel in solving quadratic equations. Evidence Through concrete evidence, we demonstrate ChatGPT's adept utilization of the Newton Sum Method for quadratic root function calculations. While ChatGPT can compute quadratic root functions of the form α^15 + β^15 using this method, its proficiency in using algebraic formula methods typically extends only up to α^4 + β^4. This marked discrepancy underscores the pivotal role that different methods play in amplifying the AI system's mathematical capabilities Result The results of this study provide concrete evidence of ChatGPT's superior utilization of the Newton Sum Method for calculating quadratic root functions. The model adeptly computes expressions of the form α^15 + β^15 using this method, while its proficiency using algebraic formula methods is generally limited to α^4 + β^4. This striking discrepancy underscores the transformative impact that different methods can have on elevating the AI system's mathematical prowess. Conclusion :Pushing Boundaries: Pioneering Novel Maths Approaches for Overcoming Limitations in AIThis study serves as an illuminating testament to the significance of pioneering innovative methodologies, rules, theorems, or formulas to surmount the current limitations in AI systems like ChatGPT. These innovative pursuits hold the key to unlocking the untapped potential that lies within, propelling AI systems to greater heights of proficiency. In essence, they offer a strategic pathway towards expanding the capabilities of AI and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. Discussion The outcomes derived from this study underscore the significant influence wielded by the method selection in augmenting the mathematical competencies of ChatGPT. Particularly noteworthy is the application of the Newton Sum Method, which surfaces as a compelling exemplar. This method serves as a pivotal conduit through which the model surpasses its prior constraints, allowing it to venture into the realm of calculations entailing higher exponents. Implications and Future Research: These findings not only contribute to AI's mathematical competencies but also emphasize the need for pioneering new methods, rules, theorems, or formulas to further enhance AI systems like ChatGPT. Future research could explore the development of novel mathematical techniques tailored to AI systems, thus expanding their capabilities across diverse problem-solving domains.

The airborne and satellite-based synthetic aperture radar enables the acquisition of high-resolution SAR oceanographic images in which even the outlines of ships can be identified. The detection of ship targets from SAR images has a wide range of applications, such as the military, where the dynamic grasp of enemy targets can help improve the early warning capability of naval defence, and the civilian detection of illegal fishing vessels can help improve the level of maritime management. Due to the density of ships in SAR images, the extreme imbalance between foreground and background clutter, and the diversity of target sizes, achieving lightweight and highly accurate multi-scale ship target detection remains a great challenge. To this end, this paper proposes an attention mechanism for multiscale receptive fields convolution block (AMMRF). AMMRF not only makes full use of the location information of the feature map to accurately capture the regions in the feature map that are useful for detection results, but also effectively captures the relationship between the feature map channels, so as to better learn the relationship between the ship and the background. Based on this, a new YOLOv7-based ship target detection method, You Only Look Once SAR Ship Identification (YOLO-SARSI), is proposed, which acquires the abstract semantic information extracted from the high-level convolution while retaining the detailed semantic information extracted from the low-level convolution. Compared to the deep learning detection methods proposed by previous authors, our model is more lightweight, only 18.43M. We examined the effectiveness of our method on two SAR image public datasets: the High-Resolution SAR Images Dataset (HRSID) and the Large-Scale SAR Ship Detection Dataset-v1.0 (LS-SSDD-V1.0). The results show that the average accuracy AP50 of the detection method YOLO-SARSI proposed in this paper on the HRSID and LS-SSDD-V1.0 datasets is 4.9% and 5% higher than that of YOLOv7, respectively.

This study presents a research plan that utilizes data obtained from wearable devices to identify human activities and gain insights into human behavior. We developed a model capable of classifying activities similar to human behavior and evaluated the effectiveness and generalization capabilities of this model. The data underwent initial preprocessing, including standardization and normalization. Additionally, recognizing the inherent similarities between human activity behaviors, we introduced a multi-layer classifier model. The first layer is a random forest model based on stepwise regression, which may encounter reduced accuracy for similar activities. The second layer employs a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model based on Kernel Fisher Discriminant Analysis (KFDA). KFDA is used to reduce the dimensionality of data points with potential confusion, followed by SVM for classification. The model was experimentally evaluated and applied to four benchmark datasets: UCI DSA, UCI HAR, WISDM, and IM-WSHA. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieved recognition accuracies of 99.71%, 98.71%, 99.12%, and 97.6% on these datasets, indicating excellent recognition performance. Furthermore, to assess the model's generalization ability, we performed K-fold cross-validation on the random forest model and utilized ROC curves for the SVM classifier. The results indicate that our multi-layer classifier model exhibits robust generalization capabilities.

Current neural network models can demonstrate reasonable-looking behavior, considered by some developers and researchers human-like. For example, a large language model GPT-3 is susceptible to human-like cognitive biases. Yet there is no data of such models solving emotional intelligence (EI) tasks. They are connected to the abilities that has been previously considered as specifically human EI is an important aspect of human communication. The ability to understand and respond to emotional cues is essential for effective communication. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the ways AI models such as ChatGPT demonstrate EI. The present research aims to measure the EI of GPT-4, a large language model trained by OpenAI. Russian version of the Mayer–Salovey–Caruzo Emotional Intelligence Test sections B, C, D, F, G and H were used in this research. High points were obtained in Understanding emotions scale and Strategic EI. Mean points are obtained in Managing emotions scale. Low and less reliable values are obtained in Using emotions to facilitate thought scale. Thus, GPT-4 seems already capable of identifying emotions in text and describing techniques for managing them. However, complex cases and irregular situations requiring emotions qualitative analysis would be a hard task for GPT-4.

At the beginning of 2019, the petroleum crisis impacted many economies dependent on this industry. The Mexican government started programs to identify points and government officials involved in the gasoline stealing from PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos), the country’s leading government petroleum company. The programs consisted of supervising and monitoring the Mexican country network of gasoline ducts to detect points where gasoline was being stolen. Consequently, large urban regions faced a lack and shortage of gasoline. This situation generated several reactions in social media and many open data in news media. Although the government provided open data about stealing gasoline locations related to crimes, it did not analyze the collected data to identify patterns, insights, and the spatio-temporal characterization of this phenomenon. This paper presents a study to deal with the regional semantics described in the social media locations of gasoline stealing. Thus, a framework to discover the trends that emerge from social media and how it is correlated with the government’s open data is also presented—the proposed methodology used machine learning techniques based on linguistic and semantic technologies. The analysis was applied to a dataset of 24,317 geo-referenced tweets. The obtained results reflected the Mexican thinking opinion regarding discovered social topics, polarization maps, and regional insights. According to discovered trends, there were long fuel lines between 1.5 and 5 kilometers (on average) at fuel stations in different Mexican states.

Energy supply interruptions or blackouts caused by faults in power distribution feeders entail several damages to power utilities and consumer units: financial losses, damage to power distribution reliability, power quality deterioration, etc. Most studies in the specialized literature concerning faults in power distribution systems present methodologies for detecting, classifying, and locating faults after their occurrence. In contrast, this study aims to prevent faults by estimating the city regions whose power grid is most vulnerable to them. This work incorporates the geographic space study to prevent faults in the distribution power grid through a spatial data analysis using local variables that increase the fault risk in feeders in some city regions. Geographically weighted spatial analysis is applied to data aggregated by regions to produce thematic maps with the city regions whose feeders are more vulnerable to failures. Spatial data analysis is developed in QGIS and R programming environments. It is applied in real data of electrical discharges in a medium-sized city with approximately 200,000 inhabitants. In this study, we highlight a moderate positive correlation between electrical discharge density and the percentage of faults in transformers by regions in the central and western areas of the city under study.

Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), Norrie disease, and persistent fetal vascular syndrome (PFVS) are extremely rare retinopathies that are clinically distinct but are unified by abnormal retinal endothelial cell function – and subsequent irregular retinal vascular development and/or aberrant inner blood-retinal-barrier (iBRB) function. The early angiogenesis of the retina and its iBRB is a delicate process that is mediated by the canonical Norrin Wnt-signaling pathway in retinal endothelial cells. Pathogenic variants in genes that play key roles within this pathway such as NDP, FZD4, TSPAN12, and LRP5, have been associated with the incidence of these retinal diseases. Recent efforts to further elucidate the etiology of these conditions have not only highlighted their multigenic nature but have also resulted in the discovery of pathological variants in additional genes such as CTNNB1, KIF11, and ZNF408, some of which operate outside of the Norrin Wnt-signaling pathway. Recent discoveries of FEVR-linked variants in two other Catenin genes (CTNND1, CTNNA1) and the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Complex Subunit-1 gene (EMC1) suggest that we will continue to find additional genes that impact the neural retinal vasculature, especially in multi-syndromic conditions. The goals of this review are to briefly highlight the current understanding of the roles of their encoded proteins in retinal endothelial cells to understand the essential functional mechanisms that can be altered to cause these very rare pediatric retinal vascular diseases.

The recognition of coal-rock interface is very crucial for the research in the intelligent production of coal mine. This study investigates the application of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in the recognition of coal-rock interface, including the identification of coal-rock and coal-rock mixtures, as well as the accurate characterization of coal seam thickness. Terahertz detection was used to obtain the optical parameter information of the pressed pellets prepared by mixing two different kinds of coal and two kinds of rock. Based on the experiment results, the database was established for the identification of coal-rock interfaces in coal mining machines. The terahertz detection was performed on 10 different kinds of sheet anthracite with different thickness, and the terahertz spectra of coal seams with different thickness were simulated and calculated by using simulation software, which can accurately obtain the thickness of coal seams and provide effective mining thickness parameters for coal seam mining. Through the experiment and simulation, the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy technology has a promising application prospect in the identification of coal-rock interface.

To achieve a fast testing on barrier properties of organic coatings, immersion test, AC-DC-AC test, and coupled test of AC-DC-AC with hydrostatic pressure were conducted in seawater for a glass flake epoxy coating. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to characterize the degradation processes of the coating during the tests, and the surface of the coating was analyzed using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results show that the periodically cathodic polarization coupled with high hydrostatic pressure can accelerate the degradation of the coating by facilitating the diffusion and uptake of electrolyte and the delamination of the coating. The coupled test method has the largest acceleration due to the synergetic effect of AC-DC-AC and hydrostatic pressure.

Background: Application of enhanced recovery after surgery principles decrease postoperative complications (POCs), length of stay (LOS), and readmissions. Pharmacoprophylaxis decreases morbidity, but the effect of specific regimens on clinical outcomes is unclear. Methods and Materials: Records of 476 randomly selected adult patients who underwent elective colorectal surgeries (ECRS) at 10 US hospitals were abstracted. Primary outcomes were surgical site infection (SSI), venous thromboembolism (VTE), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain, and ileus rates. Secondary outcomes included LOS and 7- and 30-day readmission rates. Results: POC rates were SSI (3.4%), VTE (1.5%), PONV (47.9%), pain (58.1%), and ileus (16.1%). Cefazolin 2g/metronidazole 500mg and ertapenem 1g were associated with the shortest LOS; cefotetan 2g and cefoxitin 2g with the longest LOS. No SSI occurred with ertapenem and cefotetan. More Caucasians than Blacks received oral antibiotics before intravenous antibiotics without impact. Enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneously daily was the most common inpatient and discharge VTE prophylaxis. All in-hospital VTEs occurred with unfractionated heparin. Most received rescue rather than around the clock antiemetics. Scopolamine patch, spinal opioids, and IV lidocaine continuous infusion were associated with lower PONV. Transversus abdominis plane block with long-acting local anesthetics, celecoxib, non-anesthetic ketamine bolus, ketorolac IV, lidocaine IV, and pregabalin were associated with lower in-hospital pain severity rate. Gabapentinoids and alvimopan were associated with lower ileus rate. Acetaminophen, alvimopan, famotidine, and lidocaine patch were associated with shorter LOS. Conclusions: Significant differences in pharmacotherapy regimens that may improve primary and secondary outcomes in ECRS were identified. Future research should identify latent pharmacotherapy variables that impact patient outcomes.

As global life expectancy continues to rise, we are challenged with maintaining health into old age, and research has thus concentrated on various strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of skin aging. Aromatic plants stand out as potential sources of anti-aging compounds due to their secondary metabolites, particularly essential oils (EO). The aim of this study was to ascribe to Ferulago lutea EO several biological activities that could be useful in the context of skin aging. The EO was obtained using hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The effect on cell migration was disclosed using scratch wound assay. Lipogenesis was induced using T0901317, hyperpigmentation with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) and senescence with Etoposide. Our results show that the EO was characterized mainly by α-pinene and limonene. The EO was able to decrease nitric oxide (NO) release as well as iNOS and pro-IL-1β protein levels. The EO promoted wound healing while decreasing lipogenesis and having depigmenting effects. The EO also reduced senescence associated β-galactosidase and p21/p53 protein levels and nuclear accumulation of γH2AX. Overall, our study highlights the properties of F. lutea EO that make it a compelling candidate for dermocosmetics applications.

A new power receiving unit (PRU) is proposed in this paper for the resonant wireless power transfer (WPT), which is characterized by the capability of attracting high power from the power transmitting unit (PTU). The resonant WPT is designed for delivering the electrical power to the PRU attached on an electrical vehicle (EV) chassis 50cm away from a PTU installed on the ground. The proposed PRU uses only the passive elements such as inductors, diodes and the capacitors, which needs no initial power from the EV. It is then applicable for charging a battery to several hundred volts for even a first-time charging battery. At a switching frequency of the resonant WPT in the experiment being 4MHz, the proposed PRU behaves itself as a negative impedance converter (NIC) in the subharmonics of 4MHz. The NIC effect plus the subharmonic oscillation causes an instability current charging the battery connected to the PRU. In this paper, we simulated the PRU and performed the experiment. The experiment demonstrates a battery charging of 150W from 50cm away using three D-mode GaN HEMT transistors via the instability current ramp. The power transfer efficiency (PTE) improved as the power delivered to load (PDL) goes higher. The best power transfer efficiency (PTE) is 65% in the present findings. The simulation analysis shows that the circuit allows itself be used to much higher power transfer when it is implemented with more GaN HEMT transistors connected in parallel. The theoretical derivation of the PRU circuit is also used to support both the experimental and simulation results.

To study the fermentation process of biocatalyzing decanoic acid to synthesize trans-2-decenoic acid, this study was based on the engineering E.coli constructed in the laboratory in the early stage and studied the effect of seed liquid culture time, culture temperature, inoculum amount, induction temperature, dissolution effects of substrate solvent, metal ions, and substrate loading on the yield of trans-2-decenoic acid. Based on single-factor experimental optimization, the Box–Behnken design was used to conduct response surface testing using the substrate feeding concentration, inducer concentration, and MnCl2 concentration as response variables and trans-2-decenoic acid production as the response value. The optimal fermentation process was determined through experiments: seed culture time 20 h, culture temperature 37°C, inoculation amount 1%, induction temperature 30°C, substrate flow amount 0.15 g/L, inducer concentration 5.60 g/L, MnCl2 concentration was 0.10 mM. Under these conditions, the average production of trans-2-decenoic acid was 1.982 ± 0.110 g/L. Compared with the basic LB medium, the production of trans-2-decenoic acid increased by 1.042 g/L; compared with the previous period, the yield of trans-2-decenoic acid studied increased by 1.501 ± 0.110 g/L, which provides a reliable basis for further research on the fermentation process of biocatalytic decanoic acid synthesis of trans-2-decenoic acid.

(1) Background: The severity of malaria is associated with low bioavailability of antioxidants and high concentration of free radicals that induce oxidative damage in cerebral and pulmonary microcirculation. This can be prevented by the action of consumable antioxidants present in foods. Therefore, we investigated the protective role of lycopene (LYC) on the oxidative changes induced by Plasmodium berghei (Pb); (2) Methods: Mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of 106 parasitized red blood cells and treated via gavage with LYC (3.11 mg/kg bw/day) or NAC (62 mg/kg bw/day). They were then evaluated for 1, 4, 8 or 12 days after infection. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), antioxidant capacity by inhibition of ABTS radicals (AC-ABTS) and DPPH (AC-DPPH), uric acid (UA), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in brain and lung tissues; (3) Results: The infection caused oxidative stress confirmed by increased levels of TBARS, AC-ABTS, AC-DPPH, UA, and NO in the tissues leading to the death of the animals. LYC prevented the increase in TBARS, AU, and NO levels compared to Pb (p&lt; 0.0001) and NAC+Pb groups (p&lt;0.0001), reaching values similar to those of Sham animals; (4) Conclusions: These results are striking evidence of the beneficial effect of lycopene supplementation on oxidative stress in experimental malaria in vivo and emphasize the importance of antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of the disease.

The prefabricated ECC/RC combined shear wall structure is an innovative prefabricated composite structure with better seismic performance by using ECC materials with better ductility in the main force and energy consumption regions of the prefabricated reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall structure. The key factors controlling the seismic energy dissipation capacity of this kind of structure are the use regions of ECC in composite coupling beams, use regions of ECC in shear walls, strength of ECC, stirrup ratio of coupling beams, strength of longitudinal reinforcement and so on. The parameters affecting seismic energy consumption are quantified by the finite element analysis method. By comparing and analyzing the load-displacement curves, hysteresis curves, energy dissipation capacity and stiffness degradation of the prefabricated ECC/RC combined shear wall structure specimen under these parameters, it is proposed that the best use regions of ECC is the cast-in-situ zone of the coupling beams with the scope of no more than400 mm at the shear walls’ bottom. The strength grade, the strength grade of longitudinal reinforcement, and the stirrup ratio of coupling beams are suggested design as E40, HRB400 and 0.5%, respectively.

The utilization of fuel cells (FC) in automotive technology has experienced significant growth in recent years. Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs) are powered by a combination of fuel cells, batteries, or/and ultracapacitors (UCs). By integrating power converters with these power sources, the FCHEV system can overcome the limitations of using them separately. The performance of an FCHEV is influenced by the efficiency of the power electronics converter controller, as well as the technical efficiency of the power sources. FCHEVs need intricate energy management systems (EMSs) to function effectively. Poor EMS can lead to low efficiency and accelerated fuel cell and battery degradation. The literature discussed various types of EMSs, such as equivalent consumption minimization strategy, classical PI controller, fuzzy logic controller, and Mutative Fuzzy Logic Controller (MFLC). However, comparing different EMSs can be challenging due to the varying vehicle and system parameters, which might lead to false claims being made regarding system performance. This research aims to categorize and discuss the various topologies of FCHEVs, highlighting their pros and cons, and comparing several EMSs based on performance metrics such as State of Charge (SOC) and FC deterioration.

Low-complexity ultrasound systems are increasingly desired for wearable point-of-care ultra-sound and massive-channel ultrasound for 3-D matrix imaging. However, the system complexity is closely associated with the imaging capabilities, remaining as a challenge. To resolve this limitation, this study revisits the general structures of analog and digital beamformers and in-troduces a hybrid approach to implement efficient ultrasound systems. The suggested hybrid beamforming takes two stages, where the first analog stage partially beamforms M-channel RF signals to N sum-out data (M-to-N beamforming), and the second digital stage beamforms N partial sums to single final beamformed data (N-to-1 beamforming). Our approach was systematically designed and implemented, which was demonstrated with a customized 64-channel 1-D phased array using a tissue mimicking phantom. The demonstrated results indicate that the analog-digital hybrid beamforming can be applied to any kind of arrays for sophisticated 3-D imaging and tiny wearable ultrasound applications.

The computational model that is able to estimate the temperature distribution inside a solid specimen during the film boiling phase of immersion quenching (water entry) process has been presented in paper, and it is based on the prescribed initial temperatures of the solid specimen and the liquid quenchant. In addition, the turbulence effects have to be considered using the assumed turbulence kinetic energy value, i.e., the “frozen turbulence” approach, that remains constant thorough the simulation. The studied material is nickel alloy, Inconel 600, for which the extensive experimental data is available. The work has been carried out using ANSYS Fluent computational fluid dynamics software and the methods for solution of Stefan problem by Eulerian two fluid VOF model.. A satisfactory agreement between the experimental and the calculated data has been achieved, yielding thereby the computationally obtained data that fits to a great extent to the prescribed error band of ± 10 % during the estimated film boiling phase of the immersion quenching process itself.