Gas leakage can occur for various reasons, including a gas leak in the distribution line, damaged regulators, service connection failures, fluctuations in inlet gas pressure, and other factors leading to millions in losses to the state. The objective is to develop a general and intelligent model for tracking and monitoring LPG distribution based on the Internet of Things and Business Intelligence technology. Devices such as sensors and actuators reduce risks and prevent accidents. IoT can also access automatic control of machines and infrastructure, and sensors’ data helps make intelligent decisions. The quantitative approach is used in the systematic review methodology based on the PRISMA statement; the architecture design is based on analytical research that studies the feasibility of a measure through empirical evidence; and the architecture description uses a qualitative approach. The Y.4908 Standard evaluates an IoT network’s interoperability, usability, and security. A targeted group of thirty IT professionals was surveyed to assess the Business Intelligence model. Forty scientific papers were selected for analysis. A model with IoT components and a four-level business intelligence system was found. At the overall average level, 49% strongly agree, 38% agree, 12% neither agree nor disagree, and 1% disagree. In other words, the model has an overall average approval rating of 87%.

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal with no nutritional or physiological value, but is found in most people because it is a contaminant in nearly all food types. The intestinal absorption rate determines the body burden of Cd because humans lack a physiologic mechanism for excretion of the metal. Most acquired Cd accumulates in the kidneys, in which the Cd content increases through age 50 but falls thereafter. The decline from maximal kidney content is probably due to release of Cd from injured tubular cells into urine and replacement of destroyed nephrons by scar tissue. Chronic kidney disease is diagnosed when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) falls below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, or when albuminuria is present. Albuminuria is defined as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g creatinine in women or ≥ 20 mg/g creatinine in men that persists for at least 3 months. Generally, Cd-induced reductions in eGFR are not reversible, and Cd nephropathy may progress to end-stage kidney disease. There is no evidence that elimination of current environmental exposure can reverse Cd nephropathy, and no theoretical reason to believe that such a reversal is possible. This review provides an update of knowledge concerning CKD in population environmentally exposed to Cd. Special attention is devoted to mechanisms of Cd-induced albuminuria concurrently with eGFR reductions, and the difficult challenge of exposure guidelines sufficient to eliminate the risk of Cd-induced CKD is addressed.

Owing to the rising demand for vegetable soybean products, there is an increasing need for high-yield soybean varieties to raise the output. However, complex correlation patterns among quantitative traits with genetic interactions bring a challenge for vegetable soybean breeding. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied for six yield-related traits with 188 vegetable soybean accessions. A total of 81 SNPs were identified for pod length, plant height, pods number, pod thickness, pod width, and seed weight per plant by Blink model. Among these significant SNPs, 79 were novel SNPs, while 2 overlapped with previously reported SNPs. A total of 220 genes were found in 100 kb upstream and downstream regions of significant SNPs, of which 17 genes were functional proteins. Among these function proteins, four candidate genes, Glyma.13G109100, Glyma.03G183200, Glyma.09G102200, and Glyma.09G102300 were analyzed as significant haplotype variations, which encode MYB-related transcription factor, auxin-responsive family protein, F-box protein and CYP450, respectively. In addition, the relative expression with four candidate genes in the V030 and V071 (Among them, the plant height, pod number and fresh pod weight of V030 were lower than V071 strains) vegetable soybean were significantly different and these genes could be involved in plant growth and development via various pathways. Therefore, we proposed four genes from vegetable soybean germplasm that could be the key candidate genes for pod yield and plant height and these studies will accelerate the process of high-yield vegetable soybean breeding.

In recent years, growing attention has been directed towards the potential of plant extracts as great therapeutic agents in controlling oxidative stress and inflammation. Gymnema inodorum (Lour.) Decne, an indigenous plant locally grown in Northern Thailand, is known for its anti-diabetic activity. This study aims to explore the antioxidant properties and phenolic profile of column chromatographic fractionated G. inodorum leaf extract. The ethanolic-reflux extracts of G. inodorum leaves were subjected to column chromatography for the isolation of bioactive molecules. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were assessed using Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Total antioxidant activity was evaluated by employing different antioxidant assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)acid (ABTS) scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a C18 column was employed to determine the level of gymnemic acid, while Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight/Mass Spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) was used to identify potential phenolic compounds. The three separated fractions indicating A, B, and C, exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, with total phenolic content of 0.294 ± 0.056, 0.085 ± 0.039, and 0.227 ± 0.041 mg QE/mL, and total flavonoid content of 0.274 ± 0.050, 0.309 ± 0.110, and 0.384 ± 0.007 mg QE/mL, respectively. Fraction A exhibited the highest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity, while fraction C demonstrated significantly higher ferric-reducing power. HPLC analysis revealed a highest concentration of gymnemic acid in fraction C (0.393 ± 0.003 mg/g) compared to fraction A (0.159 ± 0.003 mg/g) and fraction B (0.142 ± 0.000 mg/g). The LC-QTOF/MS phenolic screening showed seven potential phenolic compounds in fraction A, seven compounds in fraction B, and four compounds in Fraction C. A significant relationship is found between antioxidant potential and total phenolic content, suggesting that phenolic compounds are the major contributors to the antioxidant activity of G. inodorum.

Applying the iterative methodology for dimensionality reduction/feature selection using categorical gradient boosted trees, as it has been defined in and has been successfully applied on similar datasets in and , on a dataset consisted of 12708 gene expressions coming from 5052 individuals from 105 studies, we classify whether a person has acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or is healthy. A CatBoost model on a dataset with reduced dimensions of 72 genes reached a ROC-AUC score of 0.9973 using ten fold cross validation (10CV) and ROC-AUC: 0.9988 on an inference dataset. We further investigate the options of using less genes that potentially could be used in clinical practise and genes than have not been associated to AML yet, or to blood cancer in general. On the same folds of the 10CV and on the same inference dataset the performance of the tuned CatBoost models show that it could be the case that not all genes with an association to AML have been found yet and 19 genes could be enough to predict AML: CatBoost63 (ROC-AUC: 0.9941, Test: 0.9942), CatBoost19: (ROC-AUC: 0.9946, Test: 0.9941) and CatBoost15: (ROC-AUC: 0.9922, Test: 0.9900). In addition, our results verify that a gene diagnostic test for AML could be possible in the future as well as further research is needed on these 15 genes that it could lead to new and better drugs.

Population growth, climate change, changes to land use, and the advent of emerging infectious disease agents has put our abilities to feed the growing global population at risk, which is of particular concern in low- or middle-income countries. Research to improve the profitability and sustainability of common livestock production systems is key to tackling this issue. However, despite considerable research investment to address this concern, there has been no attention to development of robust methodologies for the synthesis of existing research evidence and its re-use. Syntheses of evidence are critical for fostering best practices, minimising wastage of valuable research resources, and enabling informed decision and policy making. Whilst the use of evidence syntheses is well entrenched in human healthcare, their use within animal sciences is limited and specific methodologies for performing them are underdeveloped. In this call to action, we propose some methodological development activities that should be undertaken within this field of research to increase the potential of evidence syntheses to contribute to tackling pressing societal issues relating to livestock agriculture.

Ovariectomy appears to be the best method to control the density of wild ungulate populations. The aim of the present study was to compare two surgical approaches, via the flank and midline, in mouflon’s ovariectomy in field conditions. Twenty female mouflons were enrolled in the study. The animals were divided randomly in two groups, Group F animals were gonadectomized via flank approach, while Group A animals were sterilized via linea alba access. The parameters evaluated were duration of surgery, duration of anaesthesia, recovery time, intra- and post-operative complications, intra-operative nociception and pain in the post-operative period. There were no intra- and post-operative complications. The evaluated parameters showed a very similar trend in both groups. Both techniques are found to be effective and safe in execution.

Composites, and especially carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs), are increasingly used in the automotive, aerospace, and aviation industries, and as a result, CFRP production has increased dramatically, leading to a corresponding increase of waste. Landfill and incineration of waste are likely to be restricted as a result of the legislation, thus highlighting the need for efficient recycling methods for CFRPs. However, the recycling of CFRP is very challenging, mainly due to the difficulty of removing the thermosetting matrix. This study reports a pre-screening of the solvolysis recycling process for CFRPs based on the mechanical properties of the recovered fibers. To this end, solvolysis tests were conducted on unidirectional CFRP samples under supercritical and subcritical conditions using acetone and water. The solvolysis tests were conducted for various conditions of temperature, pressure, and reaction time. The efficiency of the recycling processes has been evaluated through a morphological and a mechanical characterization of the recovered fibers. In most cases, the decomposition efficiency of the epoxy resin, measured in terms of mass, ranged between 90 and 100%. Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy images of the recovered fibers showed negligible traces of resin residues and no detectable signs of physical damage or any changes in morphology with regard to diameter. Finally, the single-fiber tension tests revealed that that the recovered fibers retained more than 61% of their initial Young's modulus and 70% of their tensile strength.

Extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) are significant observational targets for spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, namely, LISA, Taiji, and Tianqin, which involve the inspiral of stellar-mass compact objects into massive black holes with a mass range of approximately 104∼107M⊙. EMRIs are estimated to produce long lived gravitational wave signals with more than 105 cycles before plunge, making them an ideal laboratory for exploring the strong-gravity properties of the spacetimes around the MBHs, stellar dynamics in galactic nuclei, and properties of the MBHs itself. However, the complexity of the waveform model, which involves the superposition of multiple harmonics, as well as the high-dimensional and large-volume parameter space, make the fully coherent search challenging. In our previous work, we proposed a 10-dimensional search using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with local maximization over the three initial angles. In this study, we extend the search to an 8-dimensional PSO with local maximization over both the three initial angles and the angles of spin direction of the MBH where the latter contribute a time independent amplitude to the waveforms. Additionally we propose a 7-dimensional PSO search by using a fiducial value for the initial orbital frequency and shifting the corresponding 8-dimensional Time Delay Interferometry responses until a certain lag returns the corresponding 8-dimensional log-likelihood ratio maximum. The reduced dimensionality likelihoods enable us to successfully search for EMRI signals with duration of 0.5 years and signal-to-noise ratio of 50 within a wider search range than our previous study. We discuss further developments, such as using a hierarchical search to narrow down the search ranges of certain parameters, and applying Graphics Processing Units to speed up the code. These advances aim to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the EMRI search algorithm.

The increased cultivation of high THC-containing Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis), particularly in greenhouses, has resulted in a greater incidence of diseases and molds that can negatively affect the growth and quality of the crop. Among them, the most important diseases are root rots (Fusarium and Pythium spp.), Botrytis bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), powdery mildew (Golovinomyces ambrosiae), cannabis stunt disease (caused by Hop latent viroid), and a range of microbes that reduce post-harvest quality. An integrated management approach to reduce the impact of these diseases/microbes requires combining different approaches that target the reproduction, spread and survival of the associated pathogens, many of which can occur on the same plant simultaneously. These approaches will be discussed in the context of developing an integrated plan to manage the important pathogens of greenhouse-grown cannabis at different stages of plant development. These stages include maintenance of stock plants, propagation through cuttings, vegetative growth of plants, and flowering. The cultivation of cannabis genotypes with tolerance or resistance to various pathogens is a very important approach, followed by the maintenance of pathogen-free stock plants. When combined with cultural approaches (sanitation, management of irrigation, and monitoring for diseases) and environmental approaches (greenhouse climate modification), a significant reduction in pathogen development and spread can be achieved. The use of preventive applications of microbial biological control agents and reduced risk biorational products can also reduce disease development at all stages of production in jurisdictions where they are registered for use. The combined use of promising strategies for integrated disease management on cannabis plants during greenhouse production will be reviewed. Future areas for research are identified.

Detecting gear rim fatigue cracks using vibration signal analysis is often a challenging task, which typically requires a series of signal processing steps to detect and enhance fault features. This task becomes even harder in helicopter planetary gearboxes due to the complex interactions between different gear sets, and the presence of vibration from sources other than the planetary gear set. In this paper, we propose an effectual processing algorithm to isolate and enhance rim crack features and to trend crack growth in planet gears. The algorithm is based on using cepstrum editing (or liftering) of the hunting tooth synchronous averaged signals (angular domain) to extract harmonics and sidebands of the planet gears, and low-pass filtering and minimum entropy deconvolution (MED) to enhance extracted fault features. The algorithm has been successfully applied to a vibration dataset collected from a planet gear rim crack propagation test undertaken in the Helicopter Transmission Test Facility (HTTF) at DSTG Melbourne. In this test, a seeded notch generated by an electric discharge machine (EDM) was used to initiate a fatigue crack that propagated through the gear rim body over 94 load cycles. The proposed algorithm demonstrated a successful isolation of incipient fault features and provided a reliable trending capability to monitor crack progression. Results of a comparative analysis showed that the proposed algorithm outperformed the traditional signal processing approach.

This is a SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiological study in pediatric population(0-16 years) during BA.5 Omicron predominance period in Athens metropolitan area. Serum samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies(Abs-N), representing natural infection during three sub-periods of BA.5 predominance: 01/05/2022-31/08/2022(period A), 01/09/2022-31/12/2022(period B) and July 2023(period C) and epidemiological data were collected. Additionally in period C Abs-N seronegative samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies(Abs-S). A total of 878 children were tested (males:51.3%) with median age(IQR): 108(36-156) months and seropositivity during the 3 subperiods was: A:292/417(70%), B:288/356(80.9%), C:89/105(84.8%), P-value<0.001. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity increased for from period A to C for 0-1-year (P-value: 0.044), 1-4 years (P-value: 0.028) and 6-12 years children (P-value: 0.003). Children 6-12y had the highest seroposi-tivity rates in all subperiods (A: 77.3%, B: 91.4% and C: 95.8%). A significant correlation of monthly SARS-CoV-2 median antibody titers with monthly seropositivity rates was detected (rs:0.812, P-value:0.008). During period C, an additional 12/105 (11.4%) Abs-S seropositive and Abs-N ser-onegative samples were detected and total seropositivity was estimated at 96.2% (101/105). The increased SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity detected in current seroepidemiology study illustrates a high exposure rate during BA.5 predominance period. These data could guide public health decisions regarding immunization strategies and protection measures.

Porcine sapovirus (PoSaV) is a significant pathogen causing diarrhea with high morbidity and mortality rates. Given its zoonotic characteristics, this study conducts a comprehensive genetic evolutionary analysis of PoSaV. Results confirmed PoSaV as the primary RNA virus in piglet feces (27.54%). Phylogenetic analysis identifies the prevalent PoSaV strain SHCM/Mega2023 in the GIII genogroup, involving a recombinant event with MK962338 and KT922089. The time tree revealed that the GIII genogroup exhibits the widest divergence time span, indicating a high likelihood of viral recombination. Further selective pressure calculations demonstrate that PoSaV was under purifying selection (dN/dS &lt; 1), with seven positively selected sites in VP1 protein which might be related to the antigencity. In conclusion, this study presents a novel genomic evolution of PoSaV, offering valuable insights into antigenicity and vaccine research.

The main aims of this study were (1) to identify and compare the major biologically active compounds in the metabolome of ligulate and tubular flowers of two C. officinalis cultivars, ‘Golden Sea’ (GS) and ‘Paradise Garden’ (PG), and (2) to investigate the effect of different proportions of ligulate and tubular flowers in the inflorescences on their metabolome. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and a Q Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer were used to analyse the flower metabolome. Analysis of the metabolomics data revealed that polar lipids showed the most significant differences between flowers. Tubular flowers of PG and GS cultivars contained higher levels of 31 and 34 out of 36 lipids, respectively. Furthermore, tubular flowers of both cultivars contained significantly higher levels of phenolamides and caffeoylquinic acids, but lower levels of triterpenoids. To compare the metabolite content of the two C. officinalis cultivars, we analysed the data for their inflorescences. The study showed that GS inflorescences contained significantly higher levels of phenolic compounds and lipids than PG inflorescences. This GS advantage was due to two factors: firstly, the higher content of these metabolites in tubular flowers and, secondly, the higher proportion of tubular flowers in GS inflorescences.

Therapies targeting amyloid, such as monoclonal antibodies like Lecanemab, Aducanumab, and Donanemab, have garnered FDA approval but remain controversial due to limited clinical benefits and significant side effects against Alzheimer. The present theorical work utilized Virtual Screening and Docking techniques to explore potential small natural molecules' interactions with the KIBRA protein, a promising target for drug development. Kibra protein is considered a biomarker for synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline. Employing Autodock Vina and Pyrx software, on several natural compounds and found Hypericin to exhibit the lowest binding energy of approximately -9 kcal/mol. Previous studies have highlighted Hypericin's strong affinity for Alzheimer's Disease-associated targets like ABAD and BACE1. These findings suggest Hypericin could be as a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's Disease. Further research is warranted to validate its efficacy and safety for clinical use.

Contemporary cities are facing many challenges, from social and economic issues to the new risks related to the impacts of climate change. Focusing on energy consumptions, and the related GHG emissions, cities are considered not only the main global contributors but also the areas most exposed to risks, because of their density of population and economic activities. Implementing urban planning strategies with the purpose of increasing energy efficiency and resilience overall are, for all these reasons, considered a top priority. This paper investigates the innovative contents about energy-efficient and energy-resilient urban planning solutions that have started to be implemented in the cities of the Emilia-Romagna region. Two kinds of planning instruments are therefore analyzed: the voluntary Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) and the mandatory General Urban Plans (GUPs), recently approved in several cities of Emilia-Romagna. A comparative analysis of three cities in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna, Modena and Ravenna, is proposed on the strategies of their newly local city plans and SECAPs with focus on energy management and planning. The aim is to assess whether the new structure of local city plans and the influence of SECAPs could be useful in implementing such urban energy resiliency solutions.

A single paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: Place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: briefly describe the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: summarize the article’s main findings; (4) Conclusions: indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article and it must not contain results that are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.

Background: The incidence of spinal metastatic disease has risen with improved cancer survivorship. Separation surgery, the current standard surgical treatment, does not fully address spinal deformity. Advances in operative management warrant reevaluating maximal tumor resection and anterior column reconstruction with corpectomy. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective single-center review of 63 patients was performed. Demographics, tumor characteristics, clinical and radiographic data, treatments, and neurological and survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: The mean age at presentation was 63.5 ± 9.6 years (range, 37-84 years) and 28 patients (44.4%) were female. Functional outcomes, measured by KPS, RAND-36 survey scores and Oswestry Disability Index all improved postoperatively (pre- vs postop: 70 to 80 (p=0.0056), 26.5 to 46.4 (p=0.0081), and 28.9 to 16.9 (p=0.0613), respectively). Spinal alignment also improved, with Cobb angle measurements showing a reduction in spinal kyphosis from -5 to 0 (p=0.021). Nine patients (14.5%) had non-fatal postoperative complications. The median OS for this cohort was 14.4 months (range, 0.6-145.0 months) with median follow-up time of 15.5 months. Conclusion: In oligometastatic spinal disease patients with good functional status, corpectomy for decompression of neural elements, deformity correction, and spinal stabilization is associated with improvements in pain and functional outcomes without overwhelming morbidity.

This study aimed to develop a high-quality dry emulsion incorporating omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acid-rich ostrich oil for use as a dietary supplement. Extracted from abdominal adipose tissues using a low-temperature wet rendering method, the ostrich oil exhibited antioxidant properties, favorable physicochemical properties, microbial counts, heavy metal levels, and fatty acid compositions, positioning it as a suitable candidate for an oil-in-water emulsion and subsequent formulation as a dry emulsion. Lecithin was employed as the emulsifier due to its safety and health benefits. The resulting emulsion, comprising 10% w/w lecithin and 10% w/w ostrich oil, was stable, with a droplet size of 3.93 ± 0.11 μm. This liquid emulsion underwent transformation into a dry emulsion to preserve the physicochemical stability of ostrich oil, utilizing Avicel® PH-101 or Aerosil® 200 through a granulation process. Although Aerosil® 200 exhibited superior adsorption, Avicel® PH-101 granules surpassed it in releasing the ostrich oil emulsion. Consequently, Avicel® PH-101 was selected as the preferred adsorbent for formulating the ostrich oil dry emulsion. The dry emulsion, encapsulated with a disintegration time of 3.11 ± 0.14 min for ease of swallowing, maintained microbial loads and heavy metal contents within acceptable limits. Presented as granules containing butylated hydroxytoluene, the dry emulsion showcased robust temperature stability, suggesting the potential incorporation of animal fat into dry emulsions as a promising dietary supplement.

Caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, among others, infectious diseases can spread directly or from one individual to another. According to the World Health Organization, these diseases are known to cause high mortality rates, severe burdens of disability and serious worldwide aftermaths. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans are the main origins of the development of drug-resistant pathogens, which reduce the efficacy of these therapies, thus accentuating the need to search for effective antimicrobials. Medicinal plants have served as starting material for the preparation of a number of antimicrobial agents. To this end, the present study highlights the green synthesis of Cocos nucifera-based nanomaterials and evaluation of the mechanistic basis of their antimicrobial action. Accordingly, Cocos nucifera extract was used to reduce different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mM) of silver nitrate solution to afford silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These entities were further incorporated onto activated carbons (obtained by chemical activation using sulphuric acid as activation agent) to generate the nanocomposites. The antimicrobial activity of the as-prepared nanomaterials was evaluated using the broth microdilution method, while, the antioxidant activity was assessed through standard methods, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. Cytotoxicity of potent nanomaterials was assessed on Vero cells by spectrophotometric method. As a result, nanoparticles were successfully synthesized as evidenced by the color change of the solution from transparent to dark brown. Further characterization was carried out by UV-visible spectroscopy that showed an intense absorption spectrum at 433 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the functional group moieties involved as a capping and reducing agent in the synthesis of AgNPs. The incubation of nanomaterials with selected bacterial and fungal strains led to significant inhibitory effects of these pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 7.813 to 250 μg/ml. In antioxidant assays, the nanocomposites presented scavenging activities comparable to that of ascorbic acid. Cytotoxicity experiment revealed no toxic effects on the human mammalian cells Vero (range of selectivity indices: from &gt;4 to &gt;128). These results provide evidence of the implication of Cocos nucifera-based nanomaterials in targeting bacterial or fungal systems that mediate free-radical damage or by inhibiting the oxidative damage caused by selected bacteria and fungi, the most susceptible being Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, respectively.

The present review compared the efficacy of soft tissue substitutes (STS) and autogenous free gingival graft (FGG) or connective tissue graft (CTG) in mucogingival procedures to increase keratinized tissue (KT) width around teeth and implants. Two independent examiners performed the electronic search on Medline and Cochrane Library based on the following PICO’s format: (P) adult patients; (I) soft tissue substitutes and FGG/CTG; (C) STS vs CTG; STS vs FGG; STS vs CTR; (O) KT width gain; (S) Systematic Reviews, Randomized Controlled Trials. Results showed that around teeth, all biomaterials showed superior performance compared to CAF alone for treating gingival recessions. However, when compared to CTG, ADM yields the most similar outcomes to the gold standard (CTG), even though in multiple recessions CTG still continue to be considered the most favorable approach. Use of STSs (acellular matrix or tissue engineered) in combination with an apically positioned flap resulted in a significantly less gain of KTW compared to what achieved with FGG and APF. Around dental implants, free gingival grafts were deemed more effective than soft tissue substitutes in enhancing keratinized mucosa width.

Grain legumes are fair sources of protein, amino acids and energy, and can be used as a replacement for soybean meal in poultry feed formulations as the soybean meal becomes short in supply and costly. However, a concern associated with the use of grain legumes in poultry feeding is the presence of antinutritional factors. Effective processing and utilisation of these grain legumes in poultry feeding are well documented. The current review focuses on four selected grain legumes (lupins [Lupinus albus and Lupinus angustifolius], field peas [Phaseolus vulgaris], faba beans [Vicia faba] and chickpeas [Cicer arietinum]) and their nutrient content, the presence of antinutritional factors, processing methods and feeding value, including updated data based on recent research findings.

Welcome to the world of bioethanol revolution, in response to the soaring global energy demand, the production of bioethanol has taken center stage, captivating the attention of governments, academia, and the private sector alike. Over the years, research in this field has witnessed exponential growth, paving the way for sustainable energy production. Ethanol, the front-runner in renewable energy, can be derived from a plethora of sources. In this abstract, we will explore the exciting advancements and emerging trends in the production of bioethanol, shedding light on the promising future of sustainable energy. Bioethanol production presents a cost-effective solution by utilizing the abundance of agricultural resources. These resources serve as the foundation for producing bioethanol from various biomass sources. In this context, we evaluate the raw materials used, including sucrose-based, starchy-based, and perennial grasses. By exploring these options, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse range of agricultural feedstocks that contribute to the production of bioethanol, this paper delves into the multiple processes involved in the production of bioethanol from agricultural base biomass, unveiling a range of possibilities for harnessing renewable energy. The key steps that were thoroughly examined include pretreatment, which encompasses both physical and chemical methods, hydrolysis, direct fermentation, and saccharification. These steps serve as crucial components in the overall bioethanol production process from agricultural base biomass. By understanding and optimizing each of these stages, we can unlock the full potential of sustainable energy generation. The paper goes beyond exploring the production processes and delves into the different generations of bioethanol, each with its unique components. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive overview of the composition of agricultural and forest residues, shedding light on their potential as valuable resources for bioethanol production. Moreover, it highlights the significance of the agricultural sector in Nigeria's economy, emphasizing the importance of energy for enhancing productivity and efficiency. The integration of bioethanol as an energy source has the potential to propel this sector forward, fostering sustainable development and contributing to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy. By harnessing the power of bioethanol, Nigeria can tap into its energy potential, promoting energy utilization and creating a positive impact on various industries.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women globally, often necessitating mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction. Silicone mammary implants (SMIs) play a pivotal role in breast reconstruction, yet their interaction with the host immune system and microbiome remains poorly understood. This study investigates the impact of SMI surface topography on host antimicrobial responses, wound proteome dynamics, and microbial colonization. Biological samples were col-lected from ten human patients undergoing breast reconstruction with SMIs. Mass spectrometry profiles were analyzed for acute and chronic wound proteomes, revealing a nuanced interplay between topography and antimicrobial respondseproteins. 16S rRNA sequencing assessed mi-crobiome dynamics, unveiling topography-specific variations in microbial composition. Surface topography alterations influenced wound proteome composition. Microbiome analysis revealed heightened diversity around rougher SMIs, emphasizing topography-dependent microbial inva-sion. In vitro experiments confirmed staphylococcal adhesion, growth, and biofilm formation on SMI surfaces, with increased texture correlating positively with bacterial colonization. This comprehensive investigation highlights the intricate interplay between SMI topography, wound proteome dynamics, and microbial transmission. The findings contribute to understanding host-microbe interactions on SMI surfaces, essential for optimizing clinical applications and minimizing complications in breast reconstruction.

Daptomycin is one of the last therapeutic resources for multidrug-resistant gram- positive bacteria. Despite its structural similarities with glycopeptides, its mechanisms of action and resistance are different, and in some respects are not completely understood. Mutations in several genes have been associated to daptomycin resistance, especially in mprF, walkR, rpoB and rpoC, but their role and importance remain to be elucidated. We have studied mutations in 11 genes, which have been previously associated to daptomycin non- susceptibility, in 9 daptomycin non-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates (daptomycin MIC: > 1mg/L). Susceptibility to daptomycin, vancomycin, linezolid, oxacillin, telavancin and dalbavancin were studied. walkR, agrA, cls1, cls2, fakA, pnpA, clpP, prs, rpoB, rpoC and mprF were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The sequences were compared with the S. aureus ATCC 25923 complete genome (GenBank gi: 685631213) by using BLAST® software. We did not find any changes in walkR, pnpA, prs and clpP. All isolates excepting isolate 5 showed a high number of significant mutations (between 13 and 25 amino acid changes) in mprF. Most isolates also showed mutations in rpo genes, cls genes and fakA. Daptomycin non-susceptibility in S. aureus clinical isolates seems to be reached through different mutations combinations when compared to S. aureus ATCC 25293. Especially mprF and cls1 showed a very high polymorphism in most isolates. Meanwhile, one isolate, St5, showed only single mutation in mprF (P314T).

The aim of this study was to describe the trend of traffic accident mortality and social inequalities in Ecuador for the period 2011-2020, distributed by year, gender, age group, geographic location, and type of accident, alongside social disparities. An ecological approach was used to evaluate traffic accident mortality data. The average traffic accident mortality rate in the country during this period was 19.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, with rates being significantly higher in males (31.3) than in females (7.2). The highest mortality rate was recorded in 2011, predominantly impacting the 60 and older age group, the Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province, and the Amazon region. The study also noted a declining trend in these rates over the years, with an Annual Percentage Variation of -1.2%. A notable finding was the decrease in traffic accident mortality inequality based on per capita income in 2019, compared to 2011, which rose by 247.7%, whereas the inequality based on illiteracy rates decreased by 18.9% from 2014 to 2019. These findings highlight the significant decrease in traffic accident mortality rates across Ecuador, though marked disparities remain evident across different genders, age groups, and provinces.

The modifications in planting structure and continuous land use adjustments have significant implications for the structure, diversity, and functioning of arthropod communities in farmland landscapes, particularly regarding the biological control of pest insects by natural enemy species. Therefore, there is an urgent need to comprehensively and accurately assess insect community diversity in croplands. In this study conducted between 2022-2023, we utilized Malaise traps and sweep netting to collect insects from three different double-cropping paddy fields. We extracted DNA from preservative ethanol of Malaise traps and tissue samples of selected parasitoid wasps, followed by amplification using DNA barcoding primers to prepare high-throughput sequencing libraries. As a result, we annotated a total of 4956 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 174 genera and 32 families of parasitoid wasps. Our findings demonstrate that the ethanol filter method efficiently captures a wide range of information diversity. However, it demonstrates a lower resolution and may result in a reduction of species abundance. Furthermore, we have identified additional insect species in the parasitoid samples. This demonstrates that high throughput sequencing from adult parasitoid wasps can effectively detect host specie, enabling a comprehensive understanding of host species and providing novel insights into food web construction.

In the era of large data, the cloud is increasingly used as a computing environment, necessitating the development of cloud-compatible pipelines that can provide uniform analysis across disparate biological datasets. The WDL Analysis Research Pipelines (WARP) repository is a GitHub repository of open-source, cloud-optimized WDL workflows for biological data processing that are semantically versioned, tested, and documented. A companion repository, WARP-Tools, hosts Docker containers and custom tools used in WARP workflows.

Software-defined networking (SDN) divides a traditional network into a programmable data plane and a centralized control plane. This technology is expected to transform traditional network companies that provide flexible and intelligent network operations. The core component utilized to oversee every data plane action is the controller in the control plane. In order to achieve optimal performances, the controller’s performance and capabilities are therefore crucial. There are lots of controller research available in existing literature. Nevertheless, no qualitative comparison study of OpenFlow-enabled distributed but logically centralized controllers exists for them. This article also includes a quantitative investigation of the performance of several distributed but logically centralized SDN controllers in custom network scenarios using Mininet, as well as a thorough qualitative comparison of them. More precisely, we give a qualitative evaluation of their attributes and classify and categorize 13 distributed but logically centralized SDN controllers according to their capabilities. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive SDN emulation tool called Mininet-based SDN controller performance assessment in this study. Using six performance metrics—bandwidth, round- trip time, delay, jitter, packet loss, and throughput—this work also assesses five distributed but logically centralized controllers against two custom network scenarios (uniform and non-uniform host distribution). Our investigation shows that the OpenDayLight controller performs the best across all performance criteria, with the exception of delay, packet loss and round trip time, where the Ryu controller excels. In the entire experiment, the HyperFlow and ONOS controller performs the worst in terms of all performance metrics. Finally, we discuss detailed research findings on the performance. These experimental results provide a decision-making guideline when selecting a controller.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the first cause of dementia worldwide and represents a public health challenge. Current diagnostic methods still rely on extended interviews and paper tests. We aim to create a novel, quick cognitive-screening tool on a numerical tablet. This program, built and edited with Unity®, runs on Android® for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE®. Composed of seven tasks inspired by the Mini-Mental Status Examination and the Montréal Cognitive Assessment, it browses several cognitive functions. The architectural design of this tablet application is distinguished by its multifaceted capabilities, encompassing not only seamless offline functionality but also a mechanism to ensure the singularity of data amalgamated from diverse sites. Additionally, a paramount emphasis is placed on safeguarding the confidentiality of patient information in the healthcare domain. Furthermore, the application empowers individual site managers by allowing them to access and peruse specific datasets, thereby enhancing their operational efficacy and decision-making processes. We performed a usability assessment among 24 healthy patients with a final F-SUS score of "excellent". Participants perceived the tool as simple to use and achieved the test in a mean time of 142 seconds, confirming that a short assessment on a numerical tablet is possible.

This research hypothesised that the use of Virtual Reality (VR) applications can be used to train people in the ability to acquire targets faster, with greater accuracy when using motion controllers than compared with a traditional pointing device (mouse) on a 2D display. User performance was defined and measured using Reaction Time and Accuracy. The research findings suggests that the use of motion controllers in VR improved Reaction Time but not Accuracy when compared against the traditional pointing device and 2D display. This suggests that VR can be used specifically in training scenarios where Reaction Times are more important than Accuracy. It is recommended that further research is conducted using a wider range of hardware and software configurations with a stratified sample that takes into account age and gender to expand the collective understanding of factors that impact on VR aiming and target acquisition in VR.

Analyzing horse behavior is crucial for assessing training quality, particularly in accurately identifying actions like standing, walking, and running. Research has been conducted both domestically and internationally in this regard; however, challenges persist, including reliance on single sensors, poor real-time performance, and low identification accuracy. In view of these challenges, this study investigated real-time identification of horse behavior based on wearable devices. The system, centered around a microcontroller and utilizing a 4G network as a carrier, employs multi-axis IMU sensors as input sources to perceive horse posture. The study proposed a behavior classification method based on analysis of acceleration thresholds. The method consists primarily of two sequential stages: first, the resultant acceleration interval counting method, which employs a nonlinear segmentation approach for initial behavior classification; and second, the statistical analysis of variance parameters between segments, which when coupled with multi-level threshold processing, achieves a refined classification. Experimental results indicated that the interval counting method alone achieved an accuracy of 87.55%, while for the variance analysis method alone the accuracy was 90.87%. The proposed method, comprising the two stages, reached a classification accuracy of 91.57%, underpinning its usefulness in supporting future equine research.

The work presented in this paper makes multiple scientific contributions related to the investigation of the global fear associated with COVID-19 by performing a comprehensive analysis of a dataset comprising survey responses of participants from 40 countries. First, the results of subjectivity analysis of responses where participants indicated their biggest concern related to COVID-19 showed that the average subjectivity in responses by the age group of 41-50 decreased from April 2020 to June 2020, the average subjectivity in responses by the age group of 71-80 drastically increased from May 2020, and the age group of 11-20 indicated the least level of subjectivity in their responses between June 2020 to August 2020. Second, subjectivity analysis also revealed the percentage of highly opinionated, neutral opinionated, and least opinionated responses per age-group where the analyzed age groups were 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, and 81-90. For instance, the percentage of highly opinionated, neutral opinionated, and least opinionated responses by the age group of 11-20 were 17.92%, 16.24%, and 65.84%, respectively. Third, data analysis of responses from different age groups showed that the highest percentage of responses indicating that they were very worried about COVID-19 came from individuals in the age group of 21-30. Fourth, data analysis of the survey responses also revealed that in the context of taking precautions to prevent contracting COVID-19, the percentage of individuals in the age group of 31-40 taking precautions was higher as compared to the percentages of individuals from the age groups of 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, and 81-90. Finally, a deep learning model was developed to detect if the survey respondents were seeing or planning to see a psychologist or psychiatrist for any mental health issues related to COVID-19. The deep learning model used the responses to multiple questions in the context of fear, preparedness, and response related to COVID-19 from the dataset and achieved an overall performance accuracy of 91.62% after 500 epochs.

Red mud (RM), a bauxite residue, contains hazardous radioactive wastes and alkaline material and poses severe surface water and groundwater contamination risks, necessitating recycling. Pretreated RM can be used to make adsorbents for water treatment. However, its performance is affected by many factors, resulting in a nonlinear correlation and coupling relationship. This study aimed to identify the best formula for an RM adsorbent using a mathematical model that examines the relationship between 11 formulation types (e.g., pore-assisting agent, component modifier, and external binder) and nine properties (e.g., specific surface area, wetting angle, and Zeta potential, among others). This model was built using a back-propagation neural networks(BP) based on single-factor experimental data and orthogonal test data. The model trained and predicted the established network structure to obtain the optimal adsorbent formula. The RM particle adsorbents had a pH of 10.16, specific surface area(BET) of 48.92 m2·g−1, pore volume of 2.10 cm3·g−1, compressive strength(ST)) of 1.12 KPa, and 24-h immersion pulverization rate(η_m) of 3.72%. In the removal of total phosphorus in flotation tailings backwater, it exhibited a good adsorption capacity (Q)and total phosphorous removal rate(η) of 48.63 mg·g−1 and 95.13%, respectively.

This study comprehensively investigates Al2O3's mechanical properties, focusing on fracture toughness, surface energy, Young's modulus, and crack propagation. The density functional theory (DFT) is employed to model the vacancies in Al2O3, providing essential insights into this material’s structural stability and defect formation. The DFT simulations reveal a deep understanding of vacancy-related properties and their impact on mechanical behavior. In conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the fracture toughness and crack propagation in Al2O3 are explored, offering valuable information on material strength and durability. The surface energy of Al2O3 is also assessed using DFT, shedding light on its interactions with the surrounding environment. The combination of DFT and MD simulations provides a robust framework for a comprehensive understanding of Al2O3's mechanical properties, with implications for material science and engineering applications.

Estimating the infection risks in indoor environments comprises the assessment of the behavior of virus-laden aerosols, i.e. spreading, mixing, removal by air purifiers etc. A promising experimental approach is based on using non-hazardous surrogate aerosols of similar size, e.g. salt particles, to mimic the virus aerosol behavior. This manuscript addresses the issue how a successful transfer of such experiments can be accomplished. Corresponding experiments in two very different environments, a large community hall and a seminar room, with optional use of air purifiers in various constellations were conducted. While high particle concentrations are advantageous in terms of avoiding influence of background aerosol concentrations, it is shown that appropriate consideration of aggregation and settling are vital to theoretically describe the experimentally determined course of particle concentrations. A corresponding model equation for a well-mixed situation is derived and the required parameters are thoroughly determined in separate experiments independently. It is demonstrated that clean air delivery rates (CADR) of air purifiers determined with this approach may differ substantially from common approaches not explicitly taking into account aggregation.

The numerous biological activities of phenothiazine and sulphonamide derivatives, especially their antibacterial qualities, have attracted so much interest. In this study, the synthesis and characterization of phenothiazine-3-sulphonamide derivatives and evaluation their antimicrobial activity against the following pathogenic microorganisms is reported. Two gram-positive bacteria; (Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes), two gram-negative bacteria; (Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi) as well as one fungus (Aspergillus fumigatus) were used while ciprofloxacin, gentamycin and ketoconazole served as standard drugs. The synthesis of the derivatives was achieved through a base catalyzed the reaction of 4-chloroaniline with 1-naphthylamine to form 1-(naphthalen-1-yl) benzene-1,4-diamine. This intermediate was then treated with sulphur and iodine to yield the phenothiazine derivative while subsequent treatment of the phenothiazine compound with sulphonyl chlorides gave the final products. The synthesized compounds were characterized via proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each compound was then determined using the agar well diffusion method. To predict the binding energies and patterns of the synthesized compounds with target proteins of the above mentioned microorganisms, molecular docking simulations were run using Autodock Vina software (version 4.2). The spectra data of the compounds for FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR (δ) spectral data were consistent with the assigned structures of the synthesized compounds. The binding energies (kcal/mol) for in silico antimicrobial studies were in the range -5.1 to -7.6 kcal/mol. The MIC values were in the range -3.5 to 1.0 mg/L. The results of the in vitro test revealed that the synthesized compounds exhibits promising antimicrobial activity, and showed excellent bactericidal and fungicidal activities. The results obtained showed that the synthesized compounds possess drug-like properties and are good starting materials for drug production.

Federated learning trains a neural network model using the client's data to maintain the benefits of centralized model training, while maintaining the privacy. However, if the client data are not independently and identically distributed (non-IID) because of different environments, the accuracy of the model may suffer from client drift during training owing to discrepancies in each client's data. This study proposes a personalized federated learning algorithm based on the concept of multitask learning to divide each client model into two layers: a feature extraction layer and a category prediction layer. The feature extraction layer maps the input data to a low-dimensional feature vector space. Furthermore, the parameters of the neural network are aggregated with those of other clients using an adaptive method. The category prediction layer maps low-dimensional feature vectors to the label sample space, with its parameters remaining unaffected by other clients to maintain client uniqueness. The proposed personalized federated learning method produces faster learning model convergence rates and higher accuracy rates for the non-IID datasets in our experiments.

Background: The circadian system, a vital temporal regulator influencing physiological processes, has implications for cancer development and treatment response. Our study assesses circadian timing's impact on whole-brain radiotherapy outcomes in brain metastases for personalized cancer therapy insights. Aim: Evaluate circadian influence on radiation treatment timing and its correlation with clinical outcomes. Identify patient populations benefiting from interventions synchronizing circadian rhythms, considering subgroup differences and potential disparities related to social determinants of health (SDoH). Design: IRB-approved retrospective analysis of 237 patients undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases (2017–2021), receiving over 80% of treatments in the morning or afternoon. Survival analyses utilized Kaplan–Meier curves. Setting/Participants: Single-institution study involving patients receiving whole-brain radiotherapy. Collected demographic, disease, and socioeconomic parameters from electronic medical records. Results: Morning treatment (n=158) showed a trend towards improved overall survival vs. afternoon (n=79), median survival 158 vs. 79 days (p=0.20, HR=0.84, CI95% 0.84–0.91). Subgroup benefits for morning treatment in females (p=0.04) and trends in controlled primary disease (p=0.11) and breast cancer metastases (p=0.08). SDoH-based disparities observed, with Black and lower-income patients exhibiting diminished circadian influence. Conclusions: Emphasizes chronobiological factors' relevance in brain metastases radiation therapy. Morning treatment correlates with improved survival, particularly in specific subgroups. Identifies potential circadian influence disparities based on SDoH, laying a foundation for personalized cancer therapy and interventions synchronizing circadian rhythms for enhanced treatment efficacy.

Trimeresurus albolabris, also known as the white-lipped pit viper or white-lipped tree viper, is a highly venomous snake distributed across Southeast Asia and the cause of many snakebite cases. In this study, we report the first whole genome assembly of T. albolabris obtained with next-generation sequencing from a specimen collected in Mengzi, Yunnan, China. After genome sequencing and assembly, the genome of this male T. albolabris individual was 1.51 Gb in length and included 38.42% repeat-element content. Using this genome, 21,695 genes were identified, and 99.17% of genes could be annotated using gene functional databases. Our genome assembly and annotation process was validated using a phylogenetic tree, which included six species and focused on single-copy genes of nuclear genomes. This research will contribute to future studies on Trimeresurus biology and the genetic basis of snake venom.

The nano size, physical and chemical properties of Au and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) allow them to be used in medicine or plant protection, but chemical solvents used during synthesis makes them toxic and pose a threat to the environment. Chemical NPs synthesis can be replaced by in vivo synthesis in which independently growing plants such as alfalfa take up and then split the precursor in their cells down to nano size using synthesis-promoting solvents–biomolecules, which can break down materials without free radicals and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, making NPs environmentally benign. In this study, two-week-old seedlings of two Medicago sativa L. genotypes, ‘Kometa’ and ‘la Bella’, were exposed to two precursors (AgNO3, HAuCl4) for 24 and 48 h to determine whether in vivo synthesis is possible. Double-blazed and certain wavelength spectrophotometry and confocal microscopy confirmed, statistically significant (P<0.05) changes in light absorption and light fluorescence compared to the control. Confocal microscopy showed both precursors visible in the roots of both genotypes. Currently, NPs synthesis and visualisation methods require a complex, expensive and time-consuming sequence of methods. It is important to find an effective, environmentally friendly, and as cheap and simple as possible method for the biosynthesis of NPs.

Summer annual species are the most widely grown crops in the Upper Midwest, but reliance on a summer annual system has led to excessive soil and nutrient loss when crops are not present. Integrating winter rye (Secale cereale L.), known for its hardiness and environmental benefits, into the rotation can address these issues. However, there's limited understanding of the phenotypic diversity in winter rye during key growth stages that overlap with the typical planting dates for corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr], and late-planted crops like dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in biomass accumulation and quality of winter rye and triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivars at three growth stages. Twenty cultivars were assessed over the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 growing seasons across three environments in Minnesota. Winter rye and triticale were harvested for biomass at the tillering, booting, and soft dough growth stages and rye biomass yield and quality [i.e., crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 48-hour digestibility (NDFD)] were determined following harvest. Overall, there was little variation in each parameter among the cultivars within a location and growth stage. NDFD had some variation at the soft dough stage where digestibility ranged from 273 to 324 g kg-1 at the Crookston site and 332 to 406 g kg-1 at the St. Paul site. The lack of difference between cultivars indicates a wide range of choice when selecting a winter rye cultivar.

Long COVID–19 syndrome is another vicious feature of COVID-19 infection, the mechanism remains unidentified. Several observational studies suggest that vaccinations might have protective and therapeutic effect on long COVID-19 and our study aimed to assess the influence of vaccination on COVID-19 patients. We performed an observational cohort study from October 2020 to July 2022, which included 503 patients (291 males and 212 females) with a median age of 65. They were hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia and had persistent symptoms (after 1 month of COVID-19 infection. The clinical and demographic data including vaccination status collected during hospitalization and regular visits at the Community Healthcare Center dr. Adolf Drolc Maribor were analyzed. More non-vaccinated patients acquired long COVID-19 than vaccinated. Patients with type 2 diabetes suffered from long COVID-19 in a smaller percentage than patients without diabetes. Gender, inhalational therapy due to chronic pulmonary disease and the number of complications have significantly influenced long COVID-19 development and the mostly vaccinated patients were older and with asthma/COPD. Our study confirmed that vaccination is a safe and effective measure to prevent the severe progression of acute disease and to lower the incidence of developing long COVID.

Recent technological advancements such as IoT and Big Data have granted industries extensive access to data, opening up new opportunities for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various applications to enhance production processes. We can cite two critical areas where AI can play a key role in industry such as product quality control and predictive maintenance. This paper presents a survey of AI applications in the domain of Industry 4.0, with a specific focus on product quality control and predictive maintenance. Experiments were conducted using two datasets, incorporating different machine learning and deep learning models from the literature. Furthermore, this paper provides an overview of the AI solution development approach for product quality control and predictive maintenance. This approach includes several key steps, such as data collection, data analysis, model development, model explanation, and model deployment.

Since 2015, community forests have been promoted in Togo as an alternative to protected areas degradation and as a means of contributing to forest landscape restoration. The study focuses on the Nakpadjouak Community Forest (NCF) in Tami (Togo, West Africa) which contributes to community forests sustainable management. It aims in (i) mapping forest ecosystems and analysing their dynamic and (ii) characterizing the floristic diversity of the NCF. The ecosystems were mapped and their dynamic evaluated based on Google Earth images of 2014 and 2020. Floristic and forestry inventories were carried out using the transect technique in a sample of 20 plots of 50 m x 20 m. The NCF was made up mainly by wooded/shrub savannahs (95.37%) and croplands/fallow (4.63%) in 2014. These two land use types undergone changes over the 6 years prior to 2020. By 2020, the NCF had 3 land use types: wooded/shrub savannahs (77.59%), open forest/wooded savannahs (22.23%), and croplands/fallows (0.18%). A total of 89 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 28 families were recorded within the NCF. The dominant species are: Hetopogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. and Combretum collinum Fresen. followed by Pteleopsis suberosa Engl. & Diels, Annona senegalensis Pers. The most common species are: Lannea acida A.Rich. s.l., A. senegalensis, Vitellaria paradoxa C.F.Gaertner subsp. paradoxa, C. collinum and Acacia dudgeonii Craib ex Holland. Due to its small area of just 40 hectares and its diverse plant life, this community forest of Savannahs Region is a significant biodiversity hotspot and warrants conservation efforts.

Industry 4.0 is in continuous technological growth that benefits all sectors of industry and society in general. This article reviews the concept of Digital Twin (DT) and the interest of its application in photovoltaic installations. A comparison is made on how other authors use the DT approach in photovoltaic installations to improve the efficiency of the renewable energy generated and consumed, the energy prediction and the reduction of the operation and maintenance costs of the photovoltaic installation. It is reviewed how, by providing real-time data and analysis, DTs enable more informed decisions in the solar energy sector. The objectives of the review are to study the digital twin technology and to analyze its application and implementation in photovoltaic systems.

In the empirical dimension, the authors' intention was to define the criteria that should be taken into account by universities to meet the requirements of sustainable university development - in terms of activities and reporting through the analysis of good practices developed by top Polish universities. The aim was also to select activities that, based on benchmarks, could be used by universities at every stage of implementing SDG goals. This is not an easy task, considering that for educational institutions the priority is the educational process, and the implementation of the principles of sustainable development is only possible through an intensive educational process combined with the application of knowledge in practice. This is a challenge for the university because it requires remodeling the current culture, changes in processes and the perception of certain cultural and social phenomena, and will involve a change in the teacher-student relationship, a change in the traditional education process to practice-based education, and will also require an interdisciplinary context. in the content provided. But this is precisely the challenge for outstanding educators. The authors compared three significant world rankings to which Polish universities also report. They collected information and data mainly regarding the activities undertaken by the reporting Polish universities in the area of ​​developing good practices. Many ideas and tips will enable the preparation of further material, which the authors plan to deepen with a detailed analysis of SD indicators.

Three types of the composites were tested for electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorption shielding effectiveness, curing process and physical-mechanical properties. In the first type of composites, manganese-zinc ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite, and both fillers in their mutual combinations were incorporated into acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. The overall content of the filler, or fillers combinations was kept on 200 phr. Then, carbon black, or carbon fibres, respectively were incorporated into each rubber formulation in constant loading - 25 phr, while the content of magnetic fillers was unchanged - 200 phr. The work was focused on the understanding of correlation among electromagnetic shielding parameters and electrical conductivity of composites in relation to their EMI absorption shielding effectiveness. The absorption shielding ability of materials was evaluated within the frequency range from 1 MHz to 6 GHz. The study revealed good correlation among permittivity, conductivity, and EMI absorption effectiveness. Although, the absorption shielding efficiency of composites filled only with ferrites seems to be the highest, the absorption maxima of those composites were reached over 6 GHz. The application of carbon based fillers resulted in higher electrical conductivity and higher permittivity of composites, which was reflected in their lower absorption shielding performance. Though, the composites with filled with ferrites and carbon based fillers absorbed electromagnetic radiation within the desired frequency range. The presence of carbon based fillers caused the improvement in tensile behavior of composites. The study also demonstrated that the higher was the ratio of nickel-zinc ferrite in magnetic fillers combinations, the higher was the absorption shielding performance.

Performance of the overhead squat may affect golf swing mechanics associated with golf-related low back pain. This study investigates the difference in lumbar kinematics and joint loads during the golf downswing between golfers with different overhead squat abilities. Based on the per-formance of the overhead squat test, 21 golfers aged 18 to 30 years were divided into the highest-scoring group (HS, N=10, 1.61 ± 0.05 cm, and 68.06 ± 13.67 kg) and lowest-scoring group (LS, N=11, 1.68 ± 0.10 cm, and 75.00 ± 14.37 kg). Data collection used a motion analysis system, two force plates, and TrackMan. OpenSim software was used to simulate the joint loads for each lum-bar joint. An independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. Compared to golfers demonstrat-ing limitations in the overhead squat test, golfers with better performance in the overhead squat test demonstrated significantly greater angular extension displacement on the sagittal plane, smaller lumbar extension angular velocity, and smaller L4-S1 joint shear force. Consequently, the overhead squat test is found to be a useful index to reflect lumbar kinematics and joint loading patterns during the downswing, and provides a good training guide reference for reducing the risk of a golf-related low back injury

Out of a worldwide annual incidence of ~150 million cases for urinary tract infection (UTI), >25% of outpatient prescriptions of oral antimicrobial treatment (OAT) are for cystitis not complicated by sepsis. OAT aids the immune cells infiltrating urothelium to eliminate uropathogens attaching and invading urothelium amidst hyperosmotic urine. This adaptability of uropathogens and the short interval between Penicillin sale and the first antimicrobial resistance (AMR) report suggests that AMR is a 3.8 billion years old evolutionary conserved heritable trait of surviving environmental threats through exponential proliferation of mutant strains selected by Darwinian principle. Therefore, OAT success with minimal AMR can be ensured by antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) following the principle of 5Ds -drug, dose, duration, drug-route, and de-escalation. While convenient to administer, the onset of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for OAT in urine is a window of opportunity for uropathogens to survive the first contact with OAT and the descendant colonies armed with AMR are likely to survive subsequent higher urine OAT levels. Meanwhile, intravesical antimicrobial treatment (IAT) delivers the first strike well above MIC. The root cause analysis of AMR dovetails with the strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis of OAT in this interdisciplinary review.

The goal of this study was to determine the relative susceptibility of four common equine wound pathogens to ten different types of antimicrobial agents based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Additionally, to describe the comparison of bactericidal activity of medical grade Manuka honey, local honey, and commercial, food-grade honey to other commonly used wound dressings. The objective is to provide veterinary practitioners with comparative data on the use of a variety of antimicrobial dressings for inhibiting growth of common wound bacteria. MIC and MBC for Manuka, store, and local honeys were comparable to those of sterile gauze, sugar, and hypertonic saline. Across bacterial species, local honey proved to have more bactericidal activity when compared to Manuka and commercial, food-grade honey. The MIC and MBC for PHMB gauze and foam was consistently at a higher dilution compared to the other antimicrobials. The majority of antimicrobials exhibited stronger inhibitory and bactericidal activity against a Streptococcus zooepidemicus isolate obtained from a wound compared to other bacteria that were ATCC lab acclimated. Additional research for in-vivo applications needs to be done to see whether differences exist in effective wound management.

Herbal cosmetics are cosmetics derived from plants. One example is bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is a meroterpene phenol from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. Bakuchiol can be derived from Psoralea grandulosa, Pimelea drupaceae, Ulmus davidiana, Otholobium pubescens, and Piper longum. Bakuchiol has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging activities such as retinol. Bakuchiol will replace retinol with much better safety. Bakuchiol and retinoids share similar cellular pathways, such as the regulation of retinoic acid, the expression of collagen, and extracellular matrix synthesis enzymes. Bakuchiol has many benefits for the skin, so cosmetics and skin therapy can use bakuchiol. This review aims to provide information about the activity of bakuchiol, which has benefits for facial skin, so that this review can be a reference in making cosmetics containing bakuchiol. Bakuchiol has many benefits for skincare such as anti-aging, anti-hyperpigmentation, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and anti-melanogenesis. Products containing bakuchiol on the market are cleansers, serum, nanoemulsion, and cream.

The saturation properties of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter have been computed using the finite range simple effective interaction having Yukawa form-factor. The results of higher order derivatives of the energy per particle and the symmetry energy computed at saturation, namely, Q0, Ksym, Kτ, Qsym, are compared with the corresponding range of values extracted from studies involving theory, experiment and astrophysical observations. The ability of the equations of state computed with this simple effective interaction in predicting the threshold mass for prompt collapse in binary neutron star merger and gravitational redshift have been examined in terms of the compactness of the neutron star and the incompressibility at the central density of the maximum mass star. The correlations existing between neutron star properties with the nuclear matter saturation properties have been analyzed and compared with the predictions of other model calculations.

Background: A careful work-up before Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) consists not only of measuring anatomical conditions but also assessment of frailty. Previous studies have evaluated body composition parameters, primarily fat and muscle mass. Few data are available on other frailty parameters, which, however, can be easily determined by pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT). Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the impact of total muscle area (TMA) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), as frailty parameters, on 5-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: Between 01/2017 and 12/2018, consecutive TAVR patients undergoing CT-angiography scan enabling TMA and VAT measurement were included. A single axial image was acquired at the level of the middle third lumbar vertebra to perform TMA and VAT measurements using dedicated slicing software (Sliceomatic, TomoVision). Results: A total of 500 patients qualified for TMA analysis. Age was not associated with a higher risk of 5-year mortality HR 1.02 (95% CI: 0.998 - 1.049; p=0.069). Body surface area normalized TMA (nTMA) was significantly associated with 5-year all-cause mortality (HR 0.927, 95% CI: 0.927-0.997; p= 0.033), while VAT had no effect (HR 1.002, 95% CI: 0.99-1.015; p= 0.7). The effect of nTMA on 5- year all-cause mortality was gender-dependent: the protective effect of higher nTMA was found in male patients (pinteraction: sex * nTMA = 0.007). The combination of normalized TMA and VAT was not associated with higher mortality rates. Conclusion: Normalized TMA derived from routine CT before TAVR complements frailty assessment in patients undergoing TAVR.

This study presents a novel approach for automating the body condition scoring of dairy cows, leveraging advancements in 3D imaging technology and deep neural networks. The primary objective was to design and implement a system capable of accurately and efficiently assessing the body condition of dairy cows, a critical metric in livestock management for optimizing health and productivity. To achieve this, a 3D camera was employed to capture detailed point cloud data, reconstructing the three-dimensional morphology of individual cows. The obtained data were then fed into a deep neural network, specifically tailored for the task of ranking body condition. The neural network was trained on a diverse dataset of annotated body condition score representing varying degrees of body condition, ensuring robust performance across different physiological states. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system in automatically and objectively scoring the body condition of dairy cows. The automated process not only expedites the assessment but also reduces the subjectivity associated with manual scoring methods. This innovative approach holds promise for improving the efficiency of dairy farm management by providing timely and accurate body condition assessments. The integration of 3D imaging and deep learning techniques paves the way for future advancements in precision livestock farming, contributing to enhanced animal welfare, optimized production, and sustainable agriculture practices.

Background. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is associated with chronic inflammation. Platelet-related parameters, such as platelet (PLT) count, platelet-to-albumin ratio (PAR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were examined as potential prognostic indicators for renal and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in IgAN. Methods. 150 IgAN patients were devided into two groups based on the cut-off value of PAR. All-cause mortality, major CV events and end-stage renal disease were the primary combined endpoints. Secondary endpoints, such as CV or renal endpoints, were also analyzed separately. Results. The patient’s mean age was 43.7 ± 13.5 years, and the follow-up time was 124 ± 67 months. The K-M curve showed that PLR, PAR and PLT were strongly associated with primary combined (p = 0.002, p = 0.004, p = 0.001) and renal outcomes (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001), but not with CV outcomes in IgAN. However, when combined with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or metabolic syndrome (MetS) PAR was found to be a significant predictor of both primary (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and secondary outcomes (p = 0.001 and p = 0.038; p = 0.001 and p = 0.015). Additionally, PLR correlated with microalbuminuria (r = -0.165, p = 0.033) and LVH (r = -0.178, p = 0.025), while PLT correlated with eGFR (r = 0.158, p = 0.040). Conclusion. Elevated PAR and PLR may predict progression to end-stage kidney disease, but in combination with LVH and MetS, they showed CV events also in IgAN. The determination of PAR and PLR can be useful and cost-effective parameters for assessing both cardiovascular and renal risks in CKD.

Soil water infiltration is an important component of the hydrological cycle and it is best evaluated when the raindrop is impacted on the ground surface. For this reason, it is affected by changes in land use and occupation, and by the characteristics and physical-hydric properties of the soil. This study aimed to evaluate soil water infiltration in areas occupied with annual crops (soybean and corn) and pastures, in two watersheds of the Teles Pires River-MT, using simulated rainfall, physical models and principal component analysis. Infiltration rates were evaluated from simulated rainfall with an average intensity of 75 mm h-1, with 4 repetitions per region (upper, middle and lower) of the hydrographic sub-basins of the Caiabi and Renato rivers, and soil use with cover, without cover and disturbed. Soil tillage provided higher water infiltration rates into the soil, especially in pasture areas in the two hydrographic sub-basins. There were significant adjustments of the mathematical models to the infiltration rate data for all land use and land cover conditions. The soil attributes that most interfered with the infiltration rate were microporosity, soil density and total porosity in the crop areas of the middle Caiabi, and microporosity, clay content, total porosity and silt content in the areas farming at the source of the Renato River. The Horton and Philip models presented the best adjustments in the hydrographic sub-basins of the Renato and Caiabi and Renato rivers, being recommended for estimating the rate of water infiltration into the soil in different uses, coverages, and regions.

The application of numerical simulation methods for studying vertical-axis wind turbines offers significant advantages over conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines regarding wind energy utilisation, start-up wind speed, and environmental impact. This paper aims to investigate and establish the aerodynamic design performance of asymmetrical (NACA 4412) airfoils used in the application of vertical-axis wind turbines. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation uses Ansys software based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The aerodynamic parameters (pressure and velocity) are evaluated and compared within a range of angles of attack (AoA) 5-12 degrees at a fixed Reynolds number, as is a usual condition for wind turbine application. The lift coefficient (Cl), drag coefficient (Cd), and Cl/Cd ratio are obtained within the range AoA for the asymmetrical airfoils, and the performances have been predicted using the potential flow panel and CFD methods. This study suggests that while Xfoil may not be as precise as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), its predicted lift and drag coefficients generally align with experimental results. These help us to understand the best air-foil selection in a wind turbine application and predict its optimum AoA at which it performs at its best.

How Nature discovered genetic coding is a largely ignored question, yet the answer is key to explaining the transition from biochemical building blocks to life. Other, related puzzles also fall inside the aegis enclosing the codes themselves. The peptide bond is unstable with respect to hydrolysis. So, it requires some form of chemical free energy to drive it. Amino acid activation and acyl-transfer are also slow and call for catalysis. All living things must thus also convert free energy and synchronize cellular chemistry. Most importantly, functional proteins occupy only small, isolated regions of sequence space. Nature evolved heritable symbolic data processing to seek out and use those sequences. That system has three parts: a memory of how amino acids behave in solution and inside proteins, a set of code-keys to access that memory, and a scoring function. The code-keys themselves are the genes for cognate pairs of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, AARS. I outline the surprising links between all these questions and the structural duality of the base-pairing that holds genes together and how those links arise from the experiments.

This review delves into the critical role of automation and sensor technologies in optimizing parameters for thermal treatments within electricity power generation. The demand for efficient and sustainable power generation has led to a significant reliance on thermal treatments in power plants. However, ensuring precise control over these treatments remains challenging, necessitating the integration of advanced automation and sensor systems. This paper evaluates the pivotal aspects of automation, emphasizing its capacity to streamline operations, enhance safety, and optimize energy efficiency in thermal treatment processes. Additionally, it highlights the indispensable role of sensors in monitoring and regulating crucial parameters such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates. These sensors enable real-time data acquisition, facilitating immediate adjustments to maintain optimal operating conditions and prevent system failures. It explores the recent technological advancements, including machine learning algorithms and IoT integration, which have revolutionized automation and sensor capabilities in thermal treatment control. Incorporating these innovations has significantly improved the precision and adaptability of control systems, resulting in heightened performance and reduced environmental impact. This review underscores the imperative nature of automation and sensor technologies in thermal treatments for electricity power generation, emphasizing their pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring reliability, and advancing sustainability in power generation processes.

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a surrogate indicator for atherosclerosis and has been shown to predict cardiovascular risk in multiple large studies. Identifying and characterizing molecular markers for carotid atheroma plaque formation can be critical for early intervention and prevention of atherosclerosis. This study performed transcription factor (TF) network analysis of transcriptomic data focusing on two TF genes, ZNF385D, HAND2, whose polymorphisms reportedly associate with carotid atherosclerosis. Gene expression data were measured from pieces of carotid endarterectomy of hypertensive patients each paired with one sample of distant macroscopically intact tissue. TF networks were reconstructed for ZNF385D and HAND2 and their association with carotid atheroma progression examined using gene-set enrichment analysis with high statistical significance (p<6.95e-7) suggesting involvement of expression quantitative loci (eQTL). Examination of the regulation and correlation patterns suggests high clinical and interventional impacts of the two TF genes on impairing carotid atheroma plaque formation and preventing carotid atherosclerosis.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a non-negligible multifaceted condition affecting more than 30% of the global population. Superficial heat therapy (HT) through increasing tissues temperatures plays a role in increasing local metabolism and function and relieving pain. Knee pain and sports represent two relevant fields of superficial HT application. Methods: In the present paper a panel of experts performed a narrative review of the literature regarding the role of superficial HT in the management of knee pain and sport activities. Results: According to the reviewed literature, HT represents a therapeutic option in the management of musculoskeletal pain due to three main effects: pain relief, promotion of healing and return to normal function and activity. Moreover, HT plays a role in sport activities both before and after exercise. Before performing sports, HT helps in preparing muscles for performance. After performing sports, it is capable to promote recovery and healing pathways. Combining and sequencing superficial heat and cold therapy represent an interesting topic of study. Overall, application of heat wraps for superficial HT can be considered safe. Conclusions: Despite being an ancient method, HT shows to be a potentially beneficial and safe option in the management of several conditions including KP and sports. The key in the application of superficial HT is a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aim of this study was to investigate whether albumin structural alterations correlate with DKD severity and evaluate whether native and reduced albumin concentrations could complement the diagnosis of DKD. To this aim, one hundred and seventeen T2DM patients without (n=42) and with (n=75) DKD (DKD I-III upon KDIGO classification) were evaluated; total albumin concentration (tHA) was quantified by bromocresol green assay, while structural alterations were profiled assessed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The concentrations of albumin in native (eHA, effective albumin) and reduced (rHA) forms were then assessed. HRMS analyses showed a reduced relative amount of native albumin in DKD patients along with an increased abundance of altered forms, especially those bearing oxidative modifications. Accordingly, both eHA and rHA values varied along the stages of progressive renal failure, and alterations dose-dependently correlated with renal dysfunction. ROC curves analysis showed a significantly higher sensitivity and specificity of eHA and rHA with respect to tHA for the diagnosis of DKD. Importantly, at multivariable logistic regression analysis, eHA was identified as independent predictor of DKD.

Effective detection of isopropyl methylfluorophosphonate (GB, sarin), a type of organophosphine poisoning agent, is an urgent issue to be addressed in maintaining public safety. In this research, a gas-sensitive film material defined as poly (4-hydroxy-4,4-bis trifluoromethyl) - butyl-1-enyl) - si-loxane (SXFA) with the structure of hexafluoroisopropyl (HFIP) functional group was synthesized by using methyl vinylpropyl dichlorosilane and hexafluoroacetone trihydrate as initial materials. Synthesis process products were characterized by FTIR. SXFA was prepared on a 200 MHz shear surface wave delay line with spin coating method for GB detected. Detection limit of ＜ 0.1 mg/m3 was obtained through conditional experiments. Meanwhile, we also obtained the maximum re-sponse of 2.168 mV at 0.1 mg/m3 concentration, which indicting a much lower detection limit of SAW-SXFA sensor. Additionally, the maximum response standard deviation of 0.11 mV with a co-efficient of variation of 0.01, as well as the maximum recovery standard deviation of 0.22 mV with a coefficient of variation of 0.02 were also obtained through 5 repeated experiments. Results showed that the SAW-SXFA sensor has strong selectivity and reproducibility, good selectivity, positive detection ability, high sensitivity, and fast alarm performance for sarin detection.

Steel slag and GBFS are wastes generated during the steel and iron smelting process, characterized by their considerable production rates and extensive storage capacities. After grinding, they are often used as supplementary cementitious materials. However, the intrinsic slow hydration kinetics of steel slag-GBFS cementitious material (SGM) when exposed to a pure water environment result in prolonged setting times and diminished early-age strength development. The incorporation of modifiers such as gypsum, clinker, or alkaline activators can effectively improve the various properties of SGM. This comprehensive review delves into existing research on the utilization of SGM, examining their hydration mechanisms, workability, setting time, mechanical strengths, durability, and shrinkage. Critical parameters including the performance of base materials (water-to-cement ratio, fineness, and composition) and modifiers (type, alkali content, and dosage) are scrutinized to understand their influence on the final properties of the cementitious materials. The improvement mechanisms of various modifiers on properties are discussed. This the promotes resource utilization of industrial solid wastes and provides theoretical and technical support for the application of SGM.

Environmental pollution is becoming ubiquitous; it has a negative impact on the ecosystem diversity and worsens the quality of human life. This review discusses the possibility of applying the Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFC) technology for concurrent processes of electricity generation, purification of water and soil ecosystems from organic pollutants, in particular, from synthetic surfactants and heavy metals. The review describes the PMFC functioning mechanisms and highlights the issues of the PMFC environmental application. Generally, this work summarizes different approaches to the PMFC development and to the potential usage of such hybrid bioelectrochemical systems for the environmental protection.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health concern among traumatized children and adolescents. The specific objective is to describe post-traumatic stress disorder in children (6 to 12 years old) and adolescents (12 to 18 years old). This comprehensive review compiles the clinical interventions targeting PTSD in this age group and systematizes the empirical evidence about their efficacy. Methods: The PRISMA method was used to present and evaluate the clinical interventions implemented for PTSD. Results: Significant symptoms of PTSD include avoidance, overstimulation, and flashbacks, typically accompanied by a depressed mood and anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Systemic Therapy, Play Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Relaxation Techniques, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy are essential interventions for the treatment of patients between the ages of 6 and 18. CBT, particularly Trauma-focused CBT, is the most effective and extensively used therapy for dealing with cases of juvenile PTSD, according to the findings of the vast majority of previous research. Conclusions: The present systematic review summarizes the findings of several studies on psychotherapeutic interventions for PTSD in children and adolescents. PTSD in this population differs from PTSD in adults, necessitating various age-appropriate approaches and therapeutic models.

Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of merging behavior is crucial for the ad-vancement of autonomous driving technology. This study aims to analyze on-ramp vehicle merg-ing patterns, and investigate how various factors, such as merging scenarios and vehicle types, in-fluence driving behavior. Initially, a framework based on High-Definition (HD) Map is devel-oped to extract trajectory information in a meticulous manner. Subsequently, eight distinct merg-ing patterns (Pattern A to H) are identified, with a thorough examination of their behavioral characteristics from both temporal and spatial perspectives. Merging behaviors are examined temporally, encompassing the sequence of events from approaching the on-ramp to completing the merge. This study specifically analyzes the target lane's spatial characteristics, evaluates the merging distance (ratio), investigates merging speed distributions, compares merging patterns and identifying high-risk situations. Our novel findings reveal that Patterns C and F, with Time-to-Collision (TTC) values less than 2.5 seconds, pose a significantly higher risk than other patterns. In traffic simulations, Patterns B and E can be integrated, as they show negligible differences in speed, distance traveled, and duration. Additionally, the practice of truck platooning has a signif-icant impact on vehicle merging behavior. This study enhances the understanding of merging be-havior, facilitating autonomous vehicles' ability to comprehend and adapt to merging scenarios. Furthermore, this research is significant in improving driving safety, optimizing traffic manage-ment, and enabling the effective integration of autonomous driving systems with human drivers.

Background: Although previous studies have implicated a role for the stool microbiome in cancer cachexia, the fecal microbiome has not been previously characterized for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and cachexia treated with nutritional interventions such as enteral feeding. Methods: The PANCAX-1 (NCT02400398) prospective trial enrolled 31 cachectic advanced PDAC patients to receive jejunal tube peptide-based diet for 12 weeks who were planned for palliative chemotherapy. Out of 16 evaluable patients, 62.5% receiving enteral feeding met the primary endpoint of weight stability at 12 weeks. As part of an exploratory analysis of the PANCAX-1 trial, serial stool and blood samples were collected at 0 (C1D1), 6 (C2D1), and 12 (C3D1) weeks over the 12-week period of enteral feeding. Stool samples were analyzed using 16S v4 sequencing of the microbiome. Up to 219 plasma metabolites were analyzed by mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: A total of 29 stool samples were prospectively collected from 16 subjects with PDAC enrolled in PANCAX-1 who were evaluable for weight stability. Over 12 weeks of enteral feeding, statistically significant increases in the abundance of bacterial genera such as Veillonella (p=0.0150) and Actinomyces (p=0.0390) were observed, while there was a lower abundance of Bacteroides (p=0.0150) and Butyricicoccus (p=0.0390). Greater abundance of Veillonella and reduced Bifidobacterium at baseline were linked to greater weight stability. Plasma metabolomics in 10 subjects showed that weight unstable patients had significantly decreased levels of essential (L-histidine, L-phenylalanine) and non-essential amino acids (L-citrulline, L-tyrosine, all p<0.05) at the end of 12 weeks of enteral feeding. High stool Veillonella abundance was significantly associated with increases in the nucleotide 2-deoxycytidine 5-diphosphate and essential amino acid L-isoleucine but decreased TCA cycle metabolite alpha-ketoglutarate (all p<0.05). Conclusions: We are the first to demonstrate the feasibility of stool microbiome profiling and plasma metabolomics in paired stool and plasma samples from a prospective cohort of advanced PDAC patients on enteral feeding as their primary source of nutrition. Our findings are hypothesis-generating in that metabolites unique to weight stability and abundance of stool bacterial genera may inform future studies of anti-cachexia therapies involving enteral feeding or microbial modulation.

The period from 2019 to 2021 witnessed an enduring and severe drought that impacted southeast South America. Initially characterized as a meteorological drought, its influence later extended across the entire hydrological cycle. This paper explores the application of the S-TRACK method to monitor and characterize the 2019/21 drought in Southern Brazil (SB) and Southeast Brazil (SEB). Monthly precipitation data from reanalyses and satellites, alongside the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for drought quantification, are utilized. Precipitation datasets, validated against rain gauge records, highlight ERA-5 and CHIRPS as having the highest correlation in both SB and SEB, with PERSIANN exhibiting a moderate correlation. The utilization of the S-TRACK method for spatial drought tracking revealed the temporal dynamics of the drought events, with three significant episodes occurring in 2020/2021. Initially, the onset of the drought was observed in the SB region, characterized by intensities ranging from moderate to extreme. Subsequently, the drought extended northward, reaching its maximum intensity at lower latitudes within the SEB region before either dissipating or experiencing a reduction in both its spatial extent and intensity. The prolonged presence of drought-affected areas in the same region over an extended period contributed significantly to the exacerbation of drought severity, particularly during the March to May trimester.

Sustainable agriculture has become increasingly important in Tunisia due to the drought that has been affecting the country's climate in recent years. This has become a major threat to the economy, making it necessary to explore alternative methods of agriculture that are more sustainable. Moreover, smart hydroponic cultivation based on renewable energies has become increasingly widespread, promoting the quality and efficiency of agricultural production despite weather parameters variations and global warming. This work aims to create a sustainable agriculture system in Tunisia through the design and implementation of a smart photovoltaic (PV) hydroponic greenhouse. The greenhouse will utilize advanced technology to optimize plant growth and reduce water usage, while also incorporating solar panels to generate renewable energy. The end goal is to create a self-sufficient and eco-friendly agricultural system that can provide fresh produce to local communities year-round. In this work, we are interested to the automation of the hydroponic greenhouse (HG)’s thermal conditioning system based on an asynchronous motor pump and powered by a PV generator. In the first stage, we analyzed the mathematical modeling of a stand-alone PV-HG system that consists of a PV generator, a three-phase inverter, an asynchronous motor pump, and a hydroponic system. After that, we developed a Field Oriented Control based on proportional integral (PI) regulators to adjust the rotation speed of the asynchronous motor pump, which aimed to provide the cooling and heating needs of the plant. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed system . Additionally, we designed and implemented a smart system based on the internet of things (IoT) to enable remote control of internal and external parameters of the HG. This intelligent solution utilizes sensors, microcontrollers, and other devices and ensures the monitoring and the maintaining of the ideal growing conditions for our plants, guaranteeing that they receive the proper amount of temperature, humidity, and lighting. This type of system can be an invaluable tool for maximizing yields and achieving optimal results. With the right approach and attention to detail, we can create a sustainable and efficient growing environment that will help our plants flourish year-round.

3D bioprinting, like 3D printing, is a process that builds structures by depositing material layer by layer. In the specific case of bioprinting, these layers are composed of a biocompatible material together with living cells, allowing the creation of three-dimensional structures that recreate functional tissues and organs. Bioprinting cell-laden structures is complicated by the high rate of cell damage and stress that occurs during the process, caused by the high pressures and stresses to which they are subjected. To minimise damage during the process, it is important to study and optimise certain bioprinting conditions beforehand and to analyse how they affect the cells by means of computational simulations. In this review, both quantitative and qualitative data are collected to improve the nozzle geometry through computational simulation studies. Optimal ranges for nozzle diameter (0.2-1mm) and length (8-10mm; 300-900μm) have been defined, and recommendations for improving nozzle performance during bioprinting, such as the provision of an inner angle of 20-30°, an inner EDTA coating and a shear stress of less than 10kPa, have been gathered. Finally, based on the data collected, a design of experiments is proposed to obtain an optimal bioprinting configuration for a particular bioink.

The growing global interest in Circular Economy (CE) adoption by organizations has received considerable attention in academic literature. This review delves into the multifaceted aspects of CE transformation, assessing barriers, drivers, and potential research directions. It encompasses three main clusters: frameworks and definitions, barriers and drivers, and industry-specific research. Existing studies significantly contribute by unveiling strategies, frameworks, and innovative ap-proaches aiding CE transition. However, there's a notable focus on identifying barriers hindering CE implementation, revealing a critical need for effective solutions. Moreover, the review highlights the lack of CE frameworks in the service sector and insufficient awareness among Small and Me-dium Enterprises, necessitating deeper exploration. Despite the potential of digital technologies like Industry 4.0 in expediting CE transformation, comprehensive implementation strategies remain lacking. Noteworthy frameworks, such as circular business models and two-stage transformation models, offer practical pathways for CE adoption. Dynamic capabilities emerge as a crucial yet underexplored factor facilitating CE transition. Future research should delve into country-specific contexts, integrate digital technologies into industries, and explore the relationship between dy-namic capabilities and CE transformation, especially within small and medium-sized enterprises. While progress has been made in understanding CE principles' adoption, this review highlights research gaps that require attention for global sustainability and widespread CE practice imple-mentation.

Along time, many minted coins were withdrawn from circulation, being replaced with new ones. The returned obsolete metal coins were melted in order to sustainable reuse of the alloy for other purpose. Between the withdrawing and melting, some of the metal coins were cancelled by destruction of the original shape and dimension, using some adequate tools. In the first part, the paper is focused to present some aspects insight of the cancelling method used on the Romanian old nickel coins; also, there are presented some examples. The introductive part also includes the literature review in the field of coin manufacturing, covering the subjects as metal behavior under the striking load, aspects about the 3D modeling and FEM analysis or explaining some striking errors. Result the paper main purpose, to study the particularities of one or another cancelling method applied on subjected coins, which conducted to more or less valuable collection metal pieces. In the paper second part, is introduced the adequate 3D model, computed for the cancelling dies, respectively the coin. Then, there are introduced the assembled models, corresponding to each cancelling case, which consist by the obverse and reverse cancelling dies, having the coin inside them. For the each model, the finite element analysis is realized and is achieved for different initial conditions. The final part of the paper presents the analysis results and also the discussions and conclusions.

The current review comprehensively explores the multifaceted landscape of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and its pivotal role, specifically within non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It traces the trajectory of ALK's discovery, notably its fusion with nucleolar phosphoprotein (NPM)-1 in anaplastic large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ALCL) in 1994. It unfolds the subsequent impact of ALK gene alterations across various malignancies, including inflammatory myofibroblastoma (IMT) and NSCLC. The prevalence of intricate ALK rearrangements affecting roughly 3–5% of NSCLC patients prompted the approval of six ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) by 2022, revolutionizing the treatment landscape for advanced metastatic ALK+ NSCLC. Second-generation TKIs like alectinib, ceritinib, and brigatinib have notably emerged to combat resistance issues initially associated with crizotinib, the pioneer ALK-TKI approval. Moreover, this review delves into the intersection of ALK and immunotherapy, exploring the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ALK-altered NSCLC tumors. Despite promising preclinical data, challenges encountered in trials evaluating combinations like nivolumab-crizotinib, primarily due to severe hepatic toxicity, underscore the need for cautious exploration of these novel approaches. Additionally, the review delves into innovative avenues such as ALK vaccines and biosensors, shedding light on their promising potential within ALK-driven cancers. This comprehensive analysis encompasses molecular mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and immune interactions associated with ALK-rearranged NSCLC. Ultimately, the review is a pivotal resource guiding future research and therapeutic interventions in ALK-targeted therapy for NSCLC.

Metformin is an oral antidiabetic agent with antimicrobial properties, excreted in an active and unmetabolized form. Like some non-antibiotic drugs, subinhibitory concentrations of metformin may contribute to the expression of microbial resistance in wild-type strains. This work aimed to evaluate the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa TGC04 exposed to 100 and 200 µg/mL of metformin, varying the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and flow regime. Biofilms were quantified after 2 and 24 hours, observing reductions and increases in biofilm growth around 13 and 64%, respectively. The greatest biofilm growth occurred in cells exposed to 200 µg/mL of metformin. Both the flow regime and COD concentration were important for the development of the biofilm, whose cells were mostly weakly to moderately adhered. The study provides evidence that in polluted aquatic systems with turbulent regimes, the inhibitory concentration of metformin promoted the least disturbances to the biofilm.

Microvascular self-healing composite materials have significant potential for application and their mechanical properties need in-depth investigation. In this paper, tensile and compressive properties of woven fabric carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) laminates containing three-dimensional microvascular channels were investigated experimentally. Several detailed finite element (FE) models were established to simulate the mechanical behavior of the laminate and the effectiveness of different models were examined. The damage propagation process of the microvascular laminates and the influence of microvascular parameters were studied by the validated models. The results show that microvascular channels arranged along the thickness direction (z-direction) of the laminates are critical locations under the loads. The channels have minimal effect on the stiffness of the laminates but causing a certain reduction in strength, which varies approximately linearly with the z-direction channel diameter within its common design range of 0.1~1mm. It is necessary to consider the resin-rich region formed around microvascular channels in the warp and weft fiber yarns of the woven fabric composite when establishing the FE model. And the layers in model should be assigned with equivalent unidirectional ply material in order to calculate the mechanical properties of laminates correctly.

Efficient implementation of clean energy technologies, including pioneering solutions like mobile solar PV systems mounted on trailers (MSPT), is pivotal for addressing energy challenges, especially in regions with constrained power grid access. This endeavour is vital for meeting escalating elec-tricity demands and aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aimed at ensuring dependable and sustainable energy provision in developing countries. This paper investigates the aerodynamic behaviour of a designed MSPT using numerical and experimental approaches. Spe-cifically, the study focuses on the effects of wind velocity and tilt angels on the drag and lift forces, as well as drag and lift coefficients on the panel used in the MSPT system. Additionally, the overall wind force acting on the entire MSPT (including 9 large solar PV panels) was examined, considering the combined effects of wind flow and the system's geometry. The simulations were conducted using ANSYS-Fluent software and experimental testing was performed utilizing scaled-down models to validate the accuracy of the simulation. The insights and the knowledge from this study can be utilized to optimize the design, installation, and operation of such systems, ultimately enhancing their performance, reliability, and paving ways for further improvements in mobile solar PV technology.

A novel metal-doped carbon quantum dot, zinc-chlorine co-doped carbon quantum dots (Zn/Cl-CQDs), has been developed for the fluorescent probe detection of vitamin B2 and the analysis of the correlation properties of this carbon quantum dot and vitamin B2. Stability experiments demonstrate that Zn/Cl-CQDs possess good fluorescence properties under alkaline conditions. However, when vitamin B2 is added into Zn/Cl-CQDs, the fluorescence intensity decreases sharply, indicating that a fluorescence quenching phenomenon occurs between vitamin B2 and Zn/Cl-CQDs. Lastly, the use of Zn/Cl-CQDs in the detection of vitamin B2 tablets and vitamin B2-rich fruits resulted in recovery rates of 98.2% and 100.6%, respectively. Therefore, this method can be well applied to the detection and analysis of vitamin B2, and has great development prospects in the pharmaceutical industry and food monitoring fields.

Recent developments in the field of room temperature ferromagnetic metal oxide semiconductors (RTFMOS) have shown promising potential for improved photocatalytic performance. This review focuses on the combined study of photocatalytic and ferromagnetic properties at room temperature, with a particular emphasis on metal oxides, such as TiO2, which have emerged as a key area of interest in the domains of magnetism and environmental remediation. Despite extensive research over the years, the precise mechanism behind the interplay of ferromagnetism and photocatalysis in these materials remains incompletely understood. Several critical factors contributing to magnetism have been hinted at, including oxygen vacancies and various metal doping. Numerous reports have demonstrated that these factors play a primary role in room temperature ferromagnetism and photocatalysis in wide-band-gap metal oxides. However, establishing a direct correlation between magnetism, oxygen vacancies, dopant concentration, and photocatalysis has proven challenging. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in understanding the magnetism and photocatalytic behaviour of metal oxides. By examining the latest findings, this study sheds light on the potential of RTFMOS as effective photocatalysts, thereby contributing to advancements in environmental remediation and related applications.

This literature review explores the relationship between energy markets development, environmental concerns, and geopolitics. By presenting a range of sources, we delve into essential themes like carbon emissions, the impact of energy markets deregulation on energy prices, trust in energy-related exchange-traded funds, the correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and global temperature anomalies, and how renewables regulations affect CO2 emissions. We also discuss relevant research on the impact of social and governance (ESG) considerations on financial performance. The geopolitical aspect is thoroughly presented under the energy framework. Topics, such as energy transitions in the Eastern Mediterranean and MENA regions and maritime oil piracy, are discussed. This review highlights the interdependent nature of these subjects and stresses the need for their interdisciplinary examination.

There is a noticeable absence of health education among college students. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of general nutrition knowledge among Chinese university students and explore its association with eating attitudes. Data were collected from a group of 273 students in Spring of 2023, using a valid and reliable research instrument consisting of three sections: demographic variables, the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ), and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). The results were analyzed using SPSS, with correlations and t-tests to examine the relationships between nutritional knowledge and dietary attitudes. Furthermore, the present study employed the Random Forest (RF) algorithm, a machine learning technique, utilizing the Mean Decrease Impurity (MDI) method to investigate the influence of various features on participants' eating attitudes. The findings revealed that Chinese university students had an average accuracy of over 60% in their nutritional knowledge, but their understanding of the relationship between diet and disease still needs improvement. Moreover, male students had significantly lower nutritional knowledge than female students, and there was a positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and parents’ income. The study also found a significant correlation between the level of nutritional knowledge and eating attitudes. RF results indicated that family income level exhibited the most substantial impact on the eating attitudes of the participants. The study highlights the need for nutrition education curriculum developers to focus more on improving students' nutritional knowledge, with particular attention given to male students, low-income individuals, and those with an abnormal BMI.

Shigellosis is a pathological condition that affects the digestive system to possibly cause diarrhoea. Shigella species, which are responsible for this disease, are highly contagious and spread through contaminated food and water. The increasing development of resistance by Shigella species necessitate the urgent need to search for new therapies against shigellosis causing diarrhoea. The scientific validation of medicinal plants, such as Diospyros gilletii, which is used for the traditional treatment of diarrhoeal conditions is worthwhile. The present study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity of extracts from D. gilletii against selected Shigella species. Extracts from D. gilletii stem bark were prepared by maceration using various solvents. An-tibacterial activity of D. gilletii extracts was evaluated on Shigella dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei using a microdilution method, whereas cytotoxicity test was performed on Vero and Raw cells using resazurin-based colorimetric assay. Bacterial membrane permeability studies were evaluated using pro-pidium iodide (PI) and 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) uptake assays, whereas inhibition and eradica-tion tests on bacterial biofilms were carried out by spectrophotometry. As a result, methanol, ethanol and hydroethanol extracts of D. gilletii inhibited the growth of S. boydii, S. flexneri and S. sonnei with MIC values ranging from 125 to 500 µg/mL, without toxicity to Vero and Raw cells. Time kill kinetics revealed bacteri-cidal orientation at 2MIC and 4MIC, and bacteriostatic outcome at 1/2MIC. The mechanistic basis of anti-bacterial action revealed that D. gilletii extracts inhibited and eradicated Shigella biofilms, and promoted the accumulation of NPN and PI within the inner and outer membrane of bacteria to increase membrane per-meability, thereby causing membrane damage. This novel contribution toward the antibacterial and mech-anisms of action of D. gilletii extracts against Shigella species substantiate the use of this plant in the tradi-tional treatment of infectious diarrhoea.

. (1) Background: The aim of this study was to verify the differences in body composition, power and lower limb muscle strength in futsal players from three competitive levels. (2) Methods: The study involved 68 players (24.26 ± 4.63 years), divided into three competitive levels: elite, sub-elite and amateur. To assess physical condition, we used the Inbody270, the ChronoJump and the Isokinetic Dynamometer and used the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the three independent variables. (3) Results: There were no differences in body composition between the players at the three competitive levels. With regard to lower limb muscle power and strength, the elite group showed, on average, better performance and capabilities, especially when compared to the amateur group, and all groups showed an H/Q ratio &gt; 60%. (4) Conclusions: We conclude that there are not many differences in physical condition between the three competitive levels of futsal, despite the unequal sporting demands between them. However, the elite group has greater power and muscle strength, and both groups showed a high probability of lower limb muscle injury at this stage of the sporting season, alerting sports training professionals to the importance of individualized analysis of physical condition and performance capacity.

The core pathological event in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the specific dying of dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Why SNc DA neurons are especially vulnerable and why idiopathic PD has only been found in humans is still puzzling. The two main underlying factors of SNc DA neuron vulnerability appear related to high DA production, namely (i) the toxic effects of cytoplasmic DA metabolism and (ii) continuous cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations in the absence of the Ca2+-buffer protein calbindin. Both factors cause oxidative stress by producing highly reactive quinones and increasing intra-mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations, respectively. High DA expression in human SNc DA neuron cell bodies is suggested by the abundant presence of the DA-derived pigment neuromelanin, which is not found in such abundance in other species and has been associated with toxicity at higher levels. The oxidative stress created by their DA production system, despite that the SN does not use unusually high amounts of energy, explains why SNc DA neurons are sensitive to various genetic and environmental factors that create mitochondrial damage and thereby promote PD. Aging increases multiple of the risk factors for PD, and, to a large extent, PD is accelerated aging. To prevent PD neurodegeneration, possible approaches that are discussed here are (1) reducing cytoplasmic DA accumulation, (2) blocking cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations, and (3) providing bioenergetic support.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Digital Twins (DTs) has emerged as a promising approach to revolutionize healthcare, particularly in the diagnosis and management of thoracic disorders. This study proposes a comprehensive framework, named Lung-DT, which leverages IoT sensors and AI algorithms to establish a digital representation of a patient’s respiratory health. Using the YOLOv8 neural network, the Lung-DT system accurately classifies chest X-Rays into five distinct categories of lung diseases, including "Normal," "Covid," "Lung Opacity," "Pneumonia," and "Tuberculosis". The system’s performance was evaluated on a chest X-Ray dataset, demonstrating an impressive average accuracy of 96.6% across all classes. Further tests (prediction) were conducted on the trained network using a third dataset available in the literature and completely unknown to the network, yielding an average accuracy of 98% across three classes. The proposed Lung-DT framework offers several advantages over conventional diagnostic methods. Firstly, it enables real-time monitoring of lung health through continuous data acquisition from IoT sensors, facilitating early diagnosis and intervention. Secondly, the AI-powered classification module provides automated and objective assessments of chest X-Rays, reducing dependence on subjective human interpretation. Thirdly, the twin digital representation of the patient’s respiratory health allows for comprehensive analysis and correlation of multiple data streams, providing valuable insights for personalized treatment plans. The integration of IoT sensors, AI algorithms, and DT technology within the Lung-DT system demonstrates a significant step towards improving thoracic healthcare. By enabling continuous monitoring, automated diagnosis, and comprehensive data analysis, the Lung-DT framework has enormous potential to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and optimize resource allocation.

In this paper, a class of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with impulses at variable times is considered. The existence and uniqueness of solution are given. At the same time, modifying the classical definitions of continuous dependence and Ga^teaux differentiability, some results on continuous dependence and Ga^teaux differentiable of solution relative to the initial value also are presented in new topology sense. For the autonomous impulsive system, the periodicity of solution is given. As an application, properties of solution for a type of controlled nonlinear ordinary differential equation with impulses at variable times is obtained. These results are foundation to study optimal control problems of systems governed by the differential equations with impulses at variable times.

Passive balancing is a traditional choice for lithium-ion battery packs although it is regarded as highly inefficient. One opportunity to improve traditional balancing in sub-medium size battery packs is to combine two balancing methods: passive and active. Statistical analysis have been performed to rationalize battery pack division in smaller packs and use of higher level selective charging method to decrease losses of passive balancing. An experimental balancing prototype have been designed and tested for efficiency. Results indicate energy performance degradation if cells of the pack are with low capacity variation. Proposed balancing approach could improve performance under high cell mismatch conditions.

The evaluation of tourism sustainability has become of paramount importance for researchers and decision-makers to better protect tourist destinations, especially with the continuous increase in the number of tourists and visitors that alter the natural components of the environment and degrade ecosystems. Therefore, the use of geographical data is of great significance, particularly in environmental monitoring and land management, due to its ease of use and availability. However, calculating composite indices for sustainability involves several steps and requires a basic understanding of existing models. This article describes the development and design of a package of plugins in QGIS that serves as an easy-to-use tool for processing and automatically calculating economic, environmental, social indices, and the overall index of tourist sustainability. These plugins have been built in Python and designed as QGIS software plugins.

The cytokine-producing nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is generally recognized to play a central role in the immune response to vaccination and NLRP3 activity is known to be increased by both aluminum adjuvants and by oxidative stress. Thus, the presence of oxidative stress may place individuals at higher risk for exaggerated or prolonged inflammatory responses and related side effects from vaccination. We here examine the relationship between oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activity, particularly in the context of aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines, and its implications for subpopulations of individuals with restricted antioxidant capacity.

Climate research shows that extreme weather events and their effects are increasing in frequency, severity, and impact. Extreme wind events can cause massive societal and economic damage. High wind occurrences and their causes must be identified because they are hard to define and understand. Extreme wind modeling affects wind power plant planning, installation, and building modeling. This applies to city, vegetation, and vegetational area modeling. The scientific literature utilizes statistical, dynamic (Weather Research and Forecasting-WRF), and machine learning methods to identify extreme wind speeds. This study explores the relationship between lower-level extreme wind speeds and upper-level parameters like Z500, and T850 based on cluster analysis. The aim is to explore the correlation between upper-level atmospheric dynamics and lower-level wind behavior. K-Means cluster analysis method was employed to classify Turkish regions with similar severe wind episodes. WRF model simulation findings from NEWA (New European Wind Atlas) project (2019) were used for that purpose. The NEWA project's wind speed data at 100m a.g.l. was used for cluster analysis. We simplify the process by grid point reduction and applying the top 2% percentile as threshold value. Self-Organized Maps (SOM) clustering was also applied using the upper-level variables.

This study explores the innovative use of CO2 laser technology in frenuloplasty, a significant shift from traditional methods like scalpel surgery or electrocautery, towards a minimally invasive approach. The research involved 15 patients aged 25 to 50, undergoing frenuloplasty with a CO2 laser system equipped with a 7-inch defocused handpiece, set at 20Hz and 0.3W. This method diverges from conventional laser techniques, focusing on controlled laser passes combined with manual traction to elongate the fibrous tissue of the frenulum. The results demonstrated that the CO2 laser technique allowed for a precise and progressive modification of the frenulum, significantly reducing the risks of hemorrhage and secondary in-tention fibrosis. The healing process was notably expedited, with patients reporting satisfactory outcomes within a two-week period. Statistically significant improvements were observed in pa-tient-reported outcomes, as evidenced by the increases in the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores, with the mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) score rising from 32.5 to 47.5 and the mean Mental Component Summary (MCS) score from 39.3 to 52.3 (p < 0.001 for both). The study concludes that CO2 laser frenuloplasty is an effective and safe technique, offering sub-stantial benefits in terms of reduced healing time and enhanced patient satisfaction. The signifi-cant improvements in SF-12 scores underscore the positive impact on patient quality of life, ad-vocating for the broader application of this technique in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to explore its potential in a wider clinical context.

The results of numerical experiments with the chemistry-climate model of the Institute of Numerical Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian State Hydro-Meteorological University (INM-RSHU CCM) in comparison with the MERRA2 reanalysis data are presented. To assess the impact of sea surface temperature (SST) on stratospheric processes and the ozone layer, numerical experiments were carried out for scenarios corresponding to the El Niño and La Niña Southern Oscillation phases. It is shown that the El Niño phase contributes to the enhancement of heat and mass transfer to the polar stratosphere, which strengthen the Brewer-Dobson circulation and the flux of wave activity that affect the zonal wind. As a result, during El Niño, the probability of sudden stratospheric warming increases and the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) weakens, re-sulting in an increase in total polar stratospheric ozone. The La Niña phase, on the contrary, is accompanied by a weakening of heat and mass transfer from the troposphere to the stratosphere, as a result of which the stratospheric polar vortex strengthens and the total column ozone decreases. It is shown that the effect associated with the Southern Oscillation is more pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. Numerical experiments were also carried out for scenarios in which the sea surface temperature was set corresponding to the early 1980s, and the results were compared with calculations in which the SST was set corresponding to the late 2010s. This allowed us to assess the influence of the multiyear trend in the SST increase on stra-tospheric processes and the ozone layer. It was shown that the SST increase is most pronounced in the Arctic, which corresponds to the phenomenon of "Arctic amplification", and therefore, the heat and mass transfer to the stratosphere increases in the Northern Hemisphere, which contributes to some weakening of the SPV and increase of the total column ozone. But, compared to the Southern Oscillation, the influence of the SST trend on the SPV and total column ozone is much weaker and is observed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.

The incidence of chronic enteropathies (CE), in particular food-responsive enteropathies (FRE) in dogs, is on the rise in veterinary practice. The symptoms of these digestive disorders cannot be alleviated with the use of commercial hypoallergenic feeds. The applicability of novel substrates in hypoallergenic dog feeds is limited, and edible insects could pose a viable alternative. Insects have a high nutritional value, and their potential can be harnessed to design personalized nutrition strategies. However, the use of insects in animal feeds should be rigorously tested. The aim of this study was to analyze the applicability of edible insects as a source of dietary protein for companion animals, including the current and future prospects. Canine food formulas should be evaluated in a clinical setting. The role edible insects in pet diets and the efficacy of this substrate in animal nutrition should be examined in advanced clinical trials in gastroenterology, histology, immunology, and microbiology. These efforts are required to guarantee the safety and efficacy of innovative insect-based feeds and to increase their popularity among veterinary practitioners, pet food producers, and animal owners.

Objectives. Optimal treatment strategy for ischemic stroke in patients presenting with tandem occlusions the internal carotid artery remains controversial. Several studies have demonstrated better clinical outcomes after eptifibatide, which is a short half-life antiplatelet agent. This retrospective analysis was focused at safety and efficacy of administration of low-dose eptifibatide in stroke patients with tandem lesions. Methods. We evaluated results of endovascular treatment in 148 stroke patients with tandem lesions. Patients in whom balloon angioplasty alone resulted in satisfactory cerebral flow did not receive eptifibatide (33 patients); others received this drug together with stent implantation (115 patients). Eptifibatide was given in as intravenous bolus 180 g/kg, and then in modified low dose of 1 g/kg/min for 24 hours. Results. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding 30-day mortality, frequency of thrombotic events and hemorrhagic complications. Analysis of clinical status at 30-day follow-up revealed that administration of eptifibatide was associated with statistically significant better outcome: a higher rate of either no neurological symptoms or only mild symptoms (4 NIHSS points maximally). Conclusions. Administration of eptifibatide in stroke patients presenting with tandem lesions is relatively safe. Moreover, treatment with this drug can improve clinical outcomes in these challenging patients.

Energy management systems (EMS) play a central role in improving the performance of microgrids by ensuring their efficient operation while minimizing operational costs and environmental impacts. This paper presents a comprehensive study of a MILP-based EMS developed and implemented in MATLAB using Yalmip software for the energy management of a new positive energy district in the city of Savona, Italy, as part of the Interreg Alpine Space Project ALPGRIDS. The main objective of this research is to optimize the functioning of the microgrid, focusing on cost efficiency and environmental sustainability. In pursuit of this objective, the EMS undergoes comprehensive testing and analysis, replicating actual conditions and addressing the diverse demands of end-users across typical days throughout the year considering real electricity selling and purchase price. The EMS also accounts for the reactive power capabilities of the various technologies integrated into the microgrid. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) serves as a metric for assessing curtailment costs, while penalties related to reactive power absorption from the distribution network are appraised in alignment with prevailing regulatory guidelines. The case study provides valuable insights into the practical implementation of EMS technology in microgrids and demonstrates its potential for sustainable energy management in complex urban energy districts. The insights and strategies developed through this research contribute to the overall goals of improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of future energy districts.

This paper investigates reachable set estimation and state-feedback controller design for linear time-delay control system with bounded disturbances. First, by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, we obtained a delay-dependent condition, which determed the admissible bounding ellipsoid for the reachable set of the system we considered. Then, a sufficient condition in form of liner matrix inequalities is given to solve the problem of controller design with reachable set estimation. Finally, by minimizing the volume of the ellipsoid and solving the liner matrix inequality, we obtain the desired ellipsoid and controller gain. A comparative numerical example is given to verify the usefulness of our result.

Dementia, characterized by cognitive decline beyond age-related expectations, poses a formidable global health challenge. With an estimated 55 million individuals affected worldwide and 10 million new cases annually, dementia profoundly impacts memory, comprehension, language, and behavior. Then, the global diabetes population increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, with a more rapid rise in prevalence observed in low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries. Individuals with diabetes have an increased risk of cognitive problems, including a higher likelihood of developing dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia, especially in older age. Managing diabetes through diet, physical activity, medication, and consistent screening and treatment for complications can prevent or delay its consequences.Globally ranking as the seventh leading cause of death, dementia's societal implications are substantial. The chapter delves into Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a precursor to dementia, emphasizing its global epidemiological trends. Neuroimaging, particularly Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), emerges as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, surpassing traditional imaging methods' portability. The chapter investigates the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation on neurovascular tissues, shedding light on its impact including potential to address metaboreflex related reduced exercise tolerance. Furthermore, the chapter presents a clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04626453 and NCT04812288) examining the effects of a 2-month exercise program on cognitive function and muscular oxidative capacity in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The study's design, individualized exercise regimens to address muscle mechanoreflex and metaboreflex responses, and their physiological changes during exercise are discussed, offering insights into the interplay between exercise tolerance, cognition, and vascular health. The findings contribute to tailored and effective interventions for cognitive well-being. Here, our exploration extends to the application of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) in optimizing exercise performance, with a focus on its various forms, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). A physiological modeling approach based on the neurovascular unit (NVU) is employed, revealing potential avenues for also treating vascular dementia (often noted to have a strong association with type 2 diabetes) through tACS, guided by human-in-the-loop approaches. Here, modal analysis for control is applied to assess the NVU model's characteristic dynamics under tACS, providing a comprehensive understanding of neurovascular coupling modes.In summary, this chapter synthesizes diverse facets in type 2 diabetes comorbidity and cognitive decline, ranging from global impact and diagnostic criteria to innovative interventions like exercise and transcranial electrical stimulation. The multidisciplinary approach integrates epidemiology, clinical trials, and physiological modeling, contributing valuable insights into the holistic management of cognitive health and neurovascular function.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) in IC/BPS patients is an evidence gap in guidelines, because studies are limited and outdated. Therefore, guidelines might not reflect the current situation accurately, and no possible improvements in QoL of these patients. Secondly, guidelines suggest multimodal approach in therapy, however unknown is how the efficacy of these therapies are perceived by the patient themselves. The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of IC/BPS patients on their QoL and to determine which treatments they received and how they evaluate the efficacy of these various (alternative) therapies.Methods: Quantitative retrospective database study in IC/BPS patients, compiled of existing patient survey data (n=217) from July 2021. Results: The QoL of patients is affected significantly by IC/BPS. This is evident from the substantial self-reported impact by patients, the various affected domains on EQ-5D 5L. The QoL was not negatively affected by delayed diagnosis, but there were differences between female and males. Secondly, there was the wide array of (alternative) treatments utilized, although some have doubtful results and high dropout rates. Conclusion: QoL is considerably impaired in IC/BPS patients. Coagulation therapy and intravesical GAG therapy were most appreciated treatments. The diverse responses and adherence to various treatments warrant a personalized approach (phenotype-oriented therapy). To achieve improvement in the QoL, it is important to incorporate the patient’s perspective in treatment guidelines.

Viruses are silent enemies that intrude and take control of the plant cell's machinery for their own multiplication. Infection by viruses and the resulting damage is still a major challenge in the agriculture sector. Plants have the ability to fight back, but the ability of viruses to counteract and mutate at a fast rate helps them to hide from the host response. Therefore, classical approaches for introgressing resistance genes by breeding have obtained limited success in counteracting the virus menace. Genetic modification (GM) based strategies have been successful in engineering artificial resistance in plants. Several different approaches based on pathogen derived resistance, antisense constructs, hairpin RNA, double stranded RNA etc. have been used to enhance plant resistance to the virus. Recently, genome editing (GE) strategies mainly involving the CRISPR/Cas mediated modifications are being used for virus control. In this review, we discuss the developments and advancements in the GM and GE based methods in tackling virus infection in plants.