The requirement for developing tools capable of detecting and monitoring heavy metals (HMs) has recently taken on more significance due to worries about their toxic effect on human health and aquatic habitats. In this study, a simple electrochemical sensing carbon paste electrode (CPE) based on composite of Zinc/Iron layered double hydroxide (LDH) and polyaniline (PANI) was developed for the determination of lead ions in aquatic solutions. For this purpose, Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Modified carbon electrode based Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was electrochemically characterized compared with unmodified electrode in FCN as a redox probe using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Thus, Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was utilized as sensing material for the electrochemical determination of lead ions using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Zn-Fe LDH/PANI/CPE show limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 167.8 nM and 559.4 nM, respectively. Zn/Mg/Fe LDH was prepared using co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and BET, used for removal of Pb+2 ions. Removal process was investigated at different conditions as pH, metal ion concentrations, starting adsorbent dose at first and contact time. Zn/Mg/Fe LDH was evaluated as an effective adsorbent material for lead ions elimination in aquatic solutions, with capacity of adsorption 700 mg/g. The elimination of lead ions on Zn/Mg/Fe LDH fitted the pseudo first-order kinetics model and the isotherm was matched with Langmuir model. Studies revealed that the ideal removal conditions were pH = 5.0, an adsorbent mass of 0.05 g, and 20 ml of 50 ppm metal ion concentration at 60 min. The Zn-Fe LDH/PANI composite also showed potential anti-cancer properties against lung cancer cells (A549) while maintaining safety for normal lung fibroblast cells (WI-38). Collectively, advancements in electrochemical sensors offer promising solutions for lead ion detection, with wide-reaching applications in wastewater treatment and cytotoxicity assessment. These innovations have the potential to enhance environmental monitoring and public health safety.

Intermolecular interactions are the fabrics underlying almost all processes in living organisms, where two cornerstone concepts, intermolecular binding affinity (K d ) and binding energy (ΔG), have long been established to physically describe the strengths of biomolecular interactions, e.g., drug-target K d and ΔG to describe the strength of drug-target interaction. The past two-three years saw a big step forward in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in structural biology (e.g., AlphaFold for protein structure prediction) and drug discovery & design. In light of the roles of K d and ΔG in drug discovery & design, the speed of this AI progress raises a question of what’s next for its practical application in the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to a system-wide account of biomolecular structures and motions. Last August, the concept of a general intermolecular binding affinity calculator (GIBAC) was for the first time coined and proposed in an MDPI-published preprint. Here, this article puts forward an updated conceptual and practical framework of GIBAC, including its inception, definition, construction, practical applications, technical challenges and limitations, and future directions. Moreover, this article argues that the time is now ripe for the construction of such an accurate, precise and efficient GIBAC to be on the agenda of the entire drug discovery & design community, to ensure its applicability & reliability, and to enhance its value in drug R&D in future.

We discuss a formalism which allows for the calculation of a higher harmonic current response to an applied electric field for disordered superconducting systems described on the basis of tight-binding models. The theory is based on an expansion of the density matrix in powers of the field amplitudes where we solve the equation of motion for the individual components. This allows the evaluation of higher order response functions on significantly larger lattices than one can achieve with a previously used approach, which is based on a direct temporal integration of the equation of motion for the complete density matrix. In case of small lattices, where both methods can be applied by including also the contribution of collective modes, we demonstrate the agreement of the corresponding results.

Modern anesthesia continues to be impacted in new and unforeseen ways by digital technology. Combining portability and versatility, mobile applications or “apps” provide a multitude of ways to enhance anesthetic and peri-operative care. Research suggests that uptake of apps into anesthetic practice is becoming increasingly routine, especially amongst younger anesthetists brought up in the digital age. Despite this enthusiasm, there remains no consensus in how apps are safely and efficiently integrated into anesthetic practice. This review summarizes the most popular forms of app usage in anesthesia currently and explores the challenges and opportunities inherent in implementing app use in anesthesia, with an emphasis on a practical approach for the modern anesthetist.

Pollen, a remarkably versatile natural compound collected by bees for its abundant source of proteins and nutrients, represents a rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds with noteworthy chemical and therapeutic potential. Its large range of biological effects has been known and exploited since ancient times. Today, there is an increased interest in finding natural compounds agaisnt oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to various diseases. Recent research has unraveled a multitude of biological activities associated with bee pollen, ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties to potential antiviral and anticancer applications. Comprehending the extensive repertoire of biological properties across various pollen sources remains a challenge. By investigating a spectrum of pollen types and their chemical composition, this review produces an updated analysis of the bioactive constituents and the therapeutic prospects they offer. The findings of this review emphasize the necessity for further exploration and standardization of diverse pollen sources and bioactive compounds that could contribute to the development of innovative therapies.

Background: By using outcome prediction scores, it is possible to distinguish between good and poor performers with cochlear implants (CI) after CI implantation. The reasons for poor performance, despite good basic conditions, can be manifold. On the one hand, the postoperative fitting may be inadequate; on the other, neurophysiological disease processes may impair speech understanding with a CI. These disease processes are not yet fully understood. In acoustics, it is known that the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and their latencies and amplitudes allow differential diagnosis based on reference values for normal-hearing individuals. The aim of this study was to provide reference values for electrically evoked brainstem responses (EABRs) in terms of rate-dependent latencies and amplitudes. Methods: 20 experienced adult CI recipients with a predicted and measured good postoperative word recognition score were recruited from the clinic’s patient pool. In the same stimulation mode and intensity we measured latencies and interpeak-latencies of EABRs and electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs). With a defined supra-threshold stimulation intensity above the individual ECAP threshold, we applied stimulation at several rates between 11 and 91 stimuli per second. Results: We found rate dependences for EABR latency t3 and t5 in the order of 0.19 ms and 0.37 ms respectively, while ECAP was not affected by rate. Correspondingly, the interpeak intervalls’ rate dependences for t5-t1, t5-t3 and t3-t1 were of the order of 0.37 ms, 0.18 ms and 0.19 ms. Comparing the EABR amplitudes between the stimulation rates 11/s and 81/s, we found that at 81/s the amplitudes were significantly reduced down: to 73% for A3 and 81% for A5. These rate dependences of latency and amplitude in EABR have characteristics comparable to those of acoustic ABR. Conclusions: These data may serve to provide reference values for EABR and ECAP latencies, interpeak intervals and amplitudes with respect to stimulation rate. Altered response patterns of ECAPs and EABRs to normalised stimulation modes could be used in the future to describe and classify neuropathological processes in a better-differentiated way.

Abstract: Background: The periodization of physical exercise to optimize the objectives is common in competitive sports, however physical exercise programs for the older adults do not usu-ally present periodization in their programming, they are limited to carrying out similar sessions throughout the program. Methods:137 people over 60 years old performed a physical exercise program, 71 people participated in a multicomponent non-periodized program as the Control Group (CG) and 66 people participated in a program periodized in blocks as the Experimental Group (EG). The block periodization program was oriented to the development of strength, and was carried out in 86 sessions three times per week during a period of 8 months. Anthropometric assessments were made using: weight, height, BMI and electrical bioimpedance; and functional evaluations through standardized tests: SPPB, TUG, handgrip and two-minute stair test. Results: After the intervention, the EG presents significant improvements in the TUG, in the weight and in the BMI. On the other hand, the CG presents significant improvements in fat weight, in BMI and in the 2-minute stair test. The SPPB did not present changes after the intervention. Conclusion: The periodization of physical exercise for older adults does not have a significant impact on the functional capacity in this population group.

A recent publication defined lockdown “revisionism” as “the spread of misinformation on lockdowns and other public health measures.” We used this publication to analyze the claim that questioning lockdowns or other public health interventions and mandates amounts to lockdown “revisionism” and “misinformation”. We suggest that the term ‘revisionism’, like the term ‘misinformation’ contained in its definition, were merely labels used to denigrate evidence-based contrary conclusions so as to avoid having to critically appraise the best evidence itself. We aim to describe how, by glossing over topics without fully engaging with the best evidence available, the assertions made do not withstand critical scrutiny. We suggest that, to ensure lessons are learned for the future, we must be willing to engage in rigorous and open debate – calling reasonable critical scrutiny of evidence ‘misinformation’, ‘disinformation’, or ‘revisionism’ is not supportive of this goal. Finally, we suggest that a main lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic is not to have an increased focus on so-called ‘misinformation’ and ‘revisionism’, but rather to re-discover the emergency management process of making decisions that ensure multidisciplinary representation, transparency, cost-benefit analyses of courses open using the best evidence available, and that protects against censorship and groupthink.

Random Forest (RF) is a widely used data prediction and variable selection technique. However, the variable selection aspect of RF can become unreliable when there are more irrelevant variables than relevant ones. In response, we introduced the Bayesian Random Forest (BRF) method specifically designed for high-dimensional datasets with a sparse covariate structure. Our research demonstrates that BRF possesses the oracle property, which means it achieves strong selection consistency without compromising efficiency or bias.

Calcium sulfate (CS) materials containing terbium ions at 0, 1.0, or 2.0 mol.% were obtained by mechanochemical synthesis. According to X-ray diffraction data, the powder materials are characterized by the presence of a CaSO4×0.5H2O phase, while Tb3+ is incorporated into the lattice at ≤1.0 mol.%. Specific surface area enlarged from 2.1 to 22.5 m2/g as crystallite size decreased from 68 to 31 nm and the Tb3+ concentration increased up to 1.0 mol.%. Thermal analysis showed that terbium slightly raises the temperature of CaSO4×2H2O-to-CaSO4 transition. The presence of Tb3+ did not affect the solubility of the CS cements. Furthermore, after 7 days of soaking of the materials in a simulated body fluid, a calcium phosphate layer formed corresponding to a hydroxyapatite phase, in contrast to the pure cements. Luminescent properties were studied by excitation at 276 nm. The recorded emission peaks of the CS materials indicated that the luminescence of the samples is green and blue, with the most intense luminescence observed for samples containing 1.0 mol.% Tb3+. The developed materials can find applications in medicine as bioimplants for the regeneration and restoration of bone tissue with a possibility of noninvasive monitoring of the bone restoration process.

Breeding early-maturing cultivars is one of the most important objectives for pear breeding. Very early-maturing pear provides an excellent parental material for crossing, while the immature embryo and low seed germination of its hybrid progenies often limit the selection and breeding of new early-maturing pear cultivars. In this study, we choose a very early maturing pear cultivar ‘Pearl Pear’ as study object, and investigate the effects of cold stratification, culture medium and seed coat on the germination and growth of early maturing pear seeds. Our results show that cold stratification (4℃) treatment could significantly improve the germination rates of early maturing pear seeds. A 100 days of low temperature pre-treatment and germination on White medium could increase the germination rate up to 84.54%. We also observe that seed coat removal could improve the germination activity of early maturing pear seeds, and middle seed coat removal (MSR) represents an optimal method with its high germination rate and low contamination. The results of our study established an improved protocol for seed germination of early-maturing pear seeds, which will greatly facilitate the breeding of new very early-maturing pear cultivars.

The overall seismicity of Pakistan from 24 B.C to 2020 is analysed in terms of its multifractal behaviour. Seismic events of magnitude ML=3.0 and above are spatially clustered into four distinct groups, each one corresponding to a different region of high seismic activity. The Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MFDA) method applied on each cluster reveals pronounced inter-cluster heterogeneity in terms of the resulting generalised Hurst exponent and fractality spectrum, possibly due to the particular tectonic characteristics of the regions under investigation. Additional results on the variability of the Gutenberg–Richter b‐value across the defined clusters further corroborate the uniqueness of the seismic profile of each region.

The functionalization of copolyfluorenes containing dicyanophenanthrene units by closo-decaborate anion is described. Target copolyfluorenes were analyzed using UV-vis, luminescence, NMR and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The effect of complexation with the closo-decaborate anion on the photophysical properties was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The PL data indicate an efficient charge transfer from fluorene to the dicyanophenanthrene units coordinated to closo-decaborate. The coordination of closo-decaborate clusters to the nitrile groups of copolyfluorenes provides an important route to new materials for sensors and light-emitting devices while at the same time serving as a platform for further study of the nature of boron clusters.

An estimated 38 million individuals, out of a total population of around 126 million, reside in urban areas of Bangladesh. The surge in urbanization and water consumption has led to a significant rise in waterborne sanitation systems within the country. One cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment is the utilization of septic tanks, which operate as anaerobic reactors, with their efficiency being closely tied to temperature conditions. This research focuses on evaluating the organic removal capabilities of a septic tank located on the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) campus. The results show that a septic tank's ability to remove organic matter depends on the temperature, with higher temperatures making the removal process more effective. Additionally, the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) levels were observed within a range of 110–280 mg/L, 200–1030 mg/L, 160–880 mg/L, and 190–220 mg/L for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chambers, respectively. The maximum recorded pH values were 7.14, 7.13, and 7.11, while the minimum pH values were 7.06, 7.05, and 7.04, corresponding to the same chambers. Furthermore, the organic removal efficiency concerning dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3-N), and pH levels remained within acceptable limits. These results suggest that a simple treatment unit like a septic tank can effectively render previously unacceptable and unhygienic water suitable for safe disposal and potential reuse, ultimately improving the management of septic tank wastewater.

Statistical analysis of mechanical properties of thin-walled samples (~500 microns) obtained by selective laser melting from AlSi10Mg material and subjected to heat treatment for 1 hour at temperatures from 260 °C to 440 °C (step of aging temperature change 30 °C) has shown that the maximum strain hardening in the stretching diagram section from yield strength to tensile strength is achieved at the heat treatment temperature equal to 290 °C. At carrying out of correlation analysis statistically significant positive correlation between deformation corresponding to yield strength and the sum of heights of the largest protrusions and depths of the largest depressions of the surface roughness profile within the basic length of the sample (Rz) and the full height of the surface roughness profile (Rmax) was established. It was found that the reason for the correlation is the presence of cohesive states between the extreme values of the surface roughness profile that persist along the entire length of the specimen.

In recent years, antibacterial coatings have become a significant approach in the global fight against bacterial pathogens. Developments in materials science, chemistry and biochemistry have led to a plethora of materials and chemical compounds that have potential for creating antibacterial coatings. Nonetheless, there has been insufficient consideration given to the analysis of the techniques and technologies used to apply these coatings. Among the various inorganic coating techniques, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is noteworthy. It enables the successful synthesis of high-purity inorganic nanocoatings on surfaces of complex shape and topography, while also providing precise control over their thickness and composition. ALD has various industrial applications, but its practical application in medicine is still limited. In recent years, a substantial number of papers have been published on the suggested implementation of thin films and coatings produced through ALD in medicine, notably those with antibacterial properties. The aim of this paper is to carefully evaluate and analyse the relevant literature on this subject. Simple oxide coatings, including TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, MgO, and ZrO2, were examined, as well as coatings containing metal nanoparticles such as Ag, Cu, Pt, and Au, and mixed systems such as TiO2-ZnO, TiO2-ZrO2, ZnO-Al2O3, TiO2-Ag, and ZnO-Ag. Through comparative analysis, we have been able to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of various antibacterial coatings of different compositions, including key characteristics such as thickness, morphology, and crystal structure. ALD has been analysed in its use for developing antibacterial coatings for various applications. Furthermore, assumptions regarding the most promising development areas have been presented.

Digitization of tissues allows examination of tissue morphologies in new ways enabling patient stratification for effective treatments. Current slide-scanning techniques capture the visible details of the tissue as whole-slide images and digitally record them in the form of spatial and color relationships. Specialized experimental techniques like Dielectric spectroscopy can also be used to investigate a tissue’s response to an applied electric field. This study used the dielectric spectroscopy method to collect the complex permittivity of healthy and abnormal biopsy tissues excised during gastroenterology procedures. A single pole Cole-Cole model is fitted to the measurements dataset to extract the parameters which are used as features in machine learning binary classification models. The models achieved high accuracy, demonstrating the feasibility of using microwave-based spectroscopy measurements to create a digital dielectric fingerprint for tissues under investigation.

Since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, it has spread rapidly, and many coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have occurred in Gwangju, South Korea. Viral mutations following the COVID-19 epidemic have increased interest in the characteristics of epidemics in this region, and pathogen genetic analysis is required for infection control and prevention. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome analysis was performed on samples from patients with COVID-19 in Gwangju from 2020 to 2022 to identify the trends in COVID-19 prevalence and to analyze the phylogenetic tree of dominant variants. B.41 and B.1.497 prevailed in 2020, the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak; then, B.1.619.1 mainly occurred until June 2021. B.1.617.2, classified as sublineage AY.69 and AY.122, occurred continuously from July to December 2021. Since strict measures to strengthen national quarantine management had been implemented in South Korea until this time, mutations phylogenetic analysis was also able to infer the epidemiological relationship between infection transmission routes. Since the first identification of the Omicron variant in late December 2021, the spread of infection has been very rapid, and weekly whole-genome analysis of specimens has enabled us to monitor new Omicron sublineage occurring in Gwangju. Our study suggests that conducting reginal surveillance in addition to nation-level genomic surveillance will enable more rapid and detailed variant surveillance, which will be helpful in the overall prevention and management of infectious diseases.

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is endemic in Ethiopian cattle. BTB is caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and has economic and public health significance. which has significant impact on the health of livestock and human. It has been significantly a cause for great economic loss in animal production. Associated risk factors contributed to the prevalence of the disease in cattle and its transmission. Moreover, the majority of cattle owners lack awareness about the disease and its public health significance. The presence of multiple hosts including wild animals, inefficient diagnostic techniques, absence of defined national controls and eradication programs could impede the control of bovine TB. Awareness rising about the disease, its transmission andzoonotic implication however, in Ethiopia Bovine Tuberculosis in Human-Livestock-Wildlife Interface is not well studied in the country and there were no studies concerning the burden of the disease between human ,animal and wild life which is of great importance for reduction and control measures. This paper aims to review the potential health and economic impact of bovine tuberculosis control in order to safeguard human and animal population in Ethiopia

Diarrhea and fever are prevalent childhood illnesses with potentially severe consequences, especially when they co-occur. This study investigates the prevalence and determinants of diarrhea, fever, and their coexistence among children under-five in Bangladesh. Data from the 2017-18 Bangladesh Demography and Health Survey (BDHS) were analyzed using multivariable stepwise logistic regression with backward selection. This study found that 5.0% for diarrhea, 34.0% for fever, and 3.0% for the coexistence of both illnesses. Common factors associated with childhood diarrhea and fever included the mother's education, her attitude toward wife-beating, and the child’s age (12-23 months). Diarrhea was associated with households with improved water sources and children in the Barisal division, while fever was linked to underweight children and those from more affluent backgrounds. The coexistence of both was significantly linked to underweight children, higher birth orders, and children from the Rajshahi division. Notably, child illnesses were associated with parental education, higher socio-economic status, and access to improved drinking water sources. Diarrhea affects one in 20 children, fever affects one in three, and the coexistence of both conditions affects one in 35 children in Bangladesh. The findings need further research and policy reviews to develop effective interventions and improve child health in Bangladesh.

Although hundreds of keV in energy gain have already been demonstrated in dielectric laser accelerators (DLAs), there remains challenge in creating structures that can confine electrons for multiple millimeters. We focus here on dual gratings with single sided drive, which have experimentally demonstrated energy modulation numerous times. Using a FTDT simulation to find the fields within various DLA structures and correlating these results with particle tracking simulation, we look at the impact of teeth height and width, as well as gap and offset, on the performance of these structures. We find a tradeoff between electron throughput and acceleration, but that for any given grating geometry there is a gap and offset that will allow some charge acceleration. For our 780 nm laser wavelength, this results in a 1200 nm optimal gap size for most gratings.

Post-harvest handling and ripening techniques have an impact on peach quality and shelf life, which has a big impact on consumer satisfaction and market competitiveness. This review paper examines recent advancements in ripening techniques and post-harvest technologies with the goal of improving peach fruit quality and sustainability. The factors impacting fruit quality after harvest and the physiological changes that occur throughout peach ripening are fully explained. For maintaining peach freshness and reducing losses, novel handling methods like modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere storage (CAS) have been investigated. The study explores the possibilities of nanotechnology applications and low-temperature storage for prolonging shelf life while maintaining texture, flavor, and aroma. Examining the effectiveness and waste reduction potential of automation and mechanization in post-harvest activities. The paper also discusses ethylene-based and non-ethylene-based ripening agents, as well as innovative techniques including gene editing and RNAi technology for controlled and delayed ripening. Analyses are done on how these technologies affect the sensory qualities and nutrient profiles of peaches. The study emphasizes the significance of sustainable practices in the peach industry by focusing on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and circular economy integration. Post-harvest technologies' potential environmental consequences have been taken into consideration and the paper encourages more study and cooperation to increase sustainability.

The global SARS-Cov-2 which caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact over the last 3.5 years, especially among healthcare workers (HCWs) who were constantly in the forefront of the pandemic. Due to the nature of their work, HCWs faced a potential risk of exposure. Therefore, this study investigated the individual-level factors associated with perceived COVID-19 risk among South African HCWs. We used an analytical cross-sectional study design to analyse data from the South African Health Care workers’ response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic online survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council across the nine provinces in South Africa, from 11th April to 7th May 2020. In this study, only data (n= 5 579) with non-missing values for COVID-19 risk and individual-level factors (age, gender, educational level, occupational category, and race) was analysed. Univariate and Multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. The crude and adjusted odds ratio and p-value ≤ 0.05, were used to describe the association between the individual-level factors and perceived COVID-19 risk, from low-medium to high. The binomial logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with high perceived risk. Perceived COVID-19 risk among HCWs in South Africa was significantly associated with age, race, educational level and occupational category. Being 60 years and older, being “White”, having a Master’s and Doctorate degrees and being a healthcare worker other than a nurse practitioner and medical practitioner, all had higher odds of having high perceived COVID-19 risk. The findings may be used to guide policies and programs aimed at mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and other similar pandemics.

The study aimed to manage and to analyse the results of the laboratory tests, routinallypractice for hepatitis C diagnosis, using blood tests. Statistical analysis of this study results, was performed using the laboratory informatic system. The results of the study are substantial and intricate reffering to comparision between two methods concretlly ELISA method (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and chemiluminescence methods and their results. Good to know our opinion that RT-PCR technique, it is considered proper for the diagnosis of HCV ( Hepatitis C virus).

This article presents a study on the aerodynamic drag of a generic dual-axle flatbed trailer and explores ways to reduce the drag using appendable drag-reducing devices. The primary sources of drag originated from the van and trailer’s rear, along with the trailer’s wheels. The most effective initial device for reducing drag was a full trailer underside cover which offered a 7% drag reduction. Additionally, ladder racks, dropsides, and rear gates were studied, and it was found that protruding ladder racks significantly increased drag. Rear gates added large amounts of drag and should be removed and stored when not needed. The study also explored novel mid-section devices that increased the van’s base pressure and reduced drag. An axle test revealed that drag for single, dual, and triple axle trailers was very similar in direct flow, but different in yawed flow. A drawbar length test showed a near-linear relationship between drawbar length and drag, manifesting as a 1.7% change in drag per 250mm change in drawbar length. Several novel modifications were made to the trailer, including fitting six unique appendable devices, which offered a total 7.3% drag reduction. A novel rear van device known as the Multi-Stage Converging Cavity was introduced which reduced drag by nearly 18%. When all the devices were used together, a total 25% drag reduction was observed for the van-trailer combination.

Digital filtering is a fundamental technique in digital signal processing, which operates on a digital sequence without any information on how the sequence was generated. This paper proposes a methodology for designing the equivalent of digital filtering for neuromorphic samples, which are a low power alternative to conventional digital samples. In the literature, filtering using neuromorphic samples is done by filtering the reconstructed analog signal, which is required to belong to a predefined input space. We show that this requirement is not necessary, and introduce a new method for computing the neuromorphic samples of the filter output directly from the input samples, backed by theoretical guarantees. We show numerically we can achieve a similar accuracy compared to the conventional method. However, given that we bypass the analog signal reconstruction step, our results show significantly reduced computation time for the proposed method and good performance even when signal recovery is not possible.

Background: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can provide a high rate of curative resection, remaining gastric mucosa after ESD is at risk of metachronous recurrence. We investigated risk factors for metachronous superficial gastric epithelial neoplasms (MSGENs) following ESD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 369 patients with 382 lesions that underwent ESD for adenoma/early gastric cancer. The primary endpoint was to identify clinicopathological risk factors for the occurrence of MSGENs. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the association of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication with the MSGENs. Results: Twenty-seven MSGENs were occurred. The subjects were divided into MSGEN and not-MSGEN groups. There was a significantly higher frequency of histological intestinal metaplasia (HIM) and initial neoplasm location in upper or middle part (INUM) in the MSGEN group. The HIM group and INUM group had significantly higher cumulative incidence of MSGENs. We compared the 27 patients of MSGEN group and 27 patients of matched not-MSGEN (Mnot-MSGEN) group that was matched to the MSGEN group for variables including HIM and INUM. There was a significantly higher frequency of Hp spontaneous eradication in the MSGEN group. Conclusion: HIM, INUM and Hp spontaneous eradication may be clinicopathological risk factors for developing MSGENs after ESD.

Motivated by the intriguing discovery of $X(6900)$ by LHCb Collaboration, we undertake a comprehensive study of the $s\bar{s}s\bar{s}$ tetraquark system in positive parity, employing the Gaussian expansion within the chiral quark model method. We consider two structures, diquark-antidiquark ($ss$-$\bar{s}\bar{s}$) structure and meson-meson ($s\bar{s}$-$s\bar{s}$)strcuture, encompassing all conceivable color and spin configurations. Despite the absence of bound states in our calculations, we have identified potential resonant states with $J^P=0^{+}$, namely $R(0,2150)$ and $R(0,2915)$, as well as a resonant state with $J^P=1^{+}$ denoted as $R(1,2950)$, and a resonant state with $J^P=2^{+}$ denoted as $R(2,2850)$, utilizing the real-scaling method. Through a comparison of their energies and widths, we propose that $R(0,2915)$ and $R(1,2950)$ may share characteristics with $X(6900)$, while $R(0,2150)$ could be a promising experimental candidate for $f_0(2100)$. We strongly advocate for experimental investigations to shed light on the existence and properties of these resonant states.

Cancer is the second major cause of disease-related dead worldwide, and its accurate early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are fundamental for saving the patient’s life. Cancer, as a complex and heterogeneous disorder, results from disruption and alteration of a wide variety of biological entities, including genes, proteins, mRNAs, miRNAs, and metabolites that eventually emerge as clinical symptoms. Traditionally, diagnosis is based on clinical examination, blood tests for biomarkers, histopathology of biopsy, and imaging (MRI, CT, PET, US). Additionally, omics biotechnologies help to further characterize the genome, metabolome, microbiome traits of the patient that could have an impact on the prognosis and patient’s response to the therapy. The integration of all these data relies on gathering of several experts and may require considerable time, and, unfortunately, it is not without the risk of error in the interpretation and therefore in the decision. Systems biology algorithms exploit Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with omics technologies to perform a rapid and accurate analysis and integration of patient’s big data and support the physician in making diagnosis and tailoring the most appropriate therapeutic intervention. However, AI is not free from possible diagnostic and prognostic errors in the interpretation of images or biochemical-clinical data. Here, we first describe the methods used by systems biology for combining AI with omics and then discuss the potential, challenges, limitations, and critical issues in using AI in cancer research.

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between maternal dietary iron intake during pregnancy and the gut microbiota characteristics of both the mother and neonate in a well-characterized cohort. A total of 95 mother-neonate dyads were included in our study, with basic information collected through questionnaires. A semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess maternal dietary intake during pregnancy, and maternal dietary iron intake was categorized into <20 mg/d and ≥20 mg/d groups. Fecal samples were collected from the mother in the third trimester and the neonate, allowing for assessment of the community profile and diversity of gut microbiota via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Then, a comparison between different maternal dietary iron intake groups was conducted, adjusting for delivery mode (VD, vaginal delivery; CS, cesarean section) and other potential confounding factors. No significant differences in community profile and diversity were observed for the maternal gut microbiota in different dietary iron intake groups. In neonate fecal samples, the Shannon (P = 0.044) and Simpson (P = 0.010) diversity indices of the gut microbiota were higher in the maternal dietary iron intake ≥20 mg/d group, while Simpson diversity presented the same tendency in vaginal delivery (P = 0.041) after stratification. The relative abundance of the core genus Bifidobacterium showed a significant difference between groups (4.69 [1.19–12.77] vs. 13.98 [3.44–27.28]; P = 0.044). The abundance of Lactobacillus was different in the ≥20 mg/d group under both delivery modes (VD: beta = 2.9, w = 4.13; CS: beta = 2.77, w = 3.8). Our findings suggest that adequate dietary iron intake during pregnancy may promote beneficial bacterial colonization and increase the biodiversity of the neonate gut microbiota.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a representative malignant brain tumor characterized by a dismal prognosis, with survival rates of less than 2 years and high recurrence rates. Despite surgical resection and several alternative treatments, GBM remains a refractory disease due to its aggressive invasiveness and resistance to anticancer therapy. In this report, we explore the role of fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B) and its potential as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in GBM. GBM exhibited a significantly higher cancer-to-normal ratio compared to other organs, and patients with high FNDC3B expression had a poor prognosis (p < 0.01). In vitro studies revealed that silencing FNDC3B significantly reduced the expression of Survivin, an apoptosis inhibitor, and also reduced cell migration, invasion, extracellular matrix adhesion ability, and stem cell properties in GBM cells. Furthermore, we identified that FNDC3B regulates PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling in GBM cells using MetaCore integrated pathway bioinformatics analysis and a proteome profiler phospho-kinase array with sequential western blot analysis. Collectively, our findings suggest FNDC3B as a potential biomarker for predicting GBM patient survival and for the development of treatment strategies for GBM.

This article belongs in the emerging area of research seeking ways to depolarize societies in the short run (around events such elections) as well as in a sustainable fashion. We approach the depolarization process with a model of three homophilic groups (US Democrats, Republicans and Independents interacting in the context of upcoming federal elections). We expand a previous polarization model, which assumed that each individual interacts with all other individuals in its group with mean-field interactions. We add a depolarization field which is analogous to the Blume-Capel model’s crystal field. There are currently numerous depolarization efforts around the world, some of which act in ways similar to this depolarization field. We find that for low values of the depolarization field, the system continues to be polarized. When the depolarization field increases, the polarization decreases.

Gut microbiota affects progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study aims at investigating the protective potential of Bifidobacterium longum cell wall lipoproteins (Lpps) shown to modulate the intestinal microbiome and prevent osteoarthritis. Arthritis was induced by collagen (CIA) or anti-collagen antibodies (CAIA) injection. Intake of 0.5 mg Lpps /L, but not 0.25 and 1mg Lpps/L significantly alleviated RA symptoms in CIA DBA/1OOaHsd mice. Arthritis index (AI) was also reduced in CAIA mice. In CIA protected group, colon Ligilactobacillus murinus, caecal Lactobacillus johnsonii and spleen weight correlated with AI, whereas the reverse was observed with splenic CD11c+ dendritic cells (cDCs). The unprotected CIA Lpps group harbored higher caecal and colon E. coli and lower caecal L.murinus. Lpps administration to CAIA mice after arthritis induction led to lower colon E. plexicaudatum counts. Splenocytes from CIA protected mice triggered by LPS secreted higher Il-10 than control ones. However, higher IL-10 response was not elicited in gnotobiotic RA mice splenocytes with lower cDCs recruitment. Labeled bacteria with Lpps signal were detected in CIA mice bone marrow (BM) cDCs 5 and 16h post-gavage but not in Peyer’s patches and spleen. In vitro uptake of Lpps by primary BM and thymus cells was observed within 24h. FACS analysis detected the Lpps signal in the plasmacytoid cell compartment but not in cDCs. In conclusion, Lpps dosing is critical for preventing arthritis progression and appropriately modulating the microbiome. Our results also highlight the possible triggering of the immune system by Lpps.

Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia (CMI) arises from the inability to achieve adequate intestinal blood flow after meals, leading to an imbalance between oxygen and metabolite supply and demand. The true incidence of CMI remains uncertain. However, the occurrence of mesenteric artery occlusive disease (MAOD) is relatively common among the elderly population. Delays in diagnosing CMI can often be attributed to several factors, including the variability of patient symptoms, the range of potential causes for chronic abdominal pain with weight loss. Mikkelson pioneered the introduc-tion of a surgical treatment for occlusive lesions of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in 1957. The inaugural performance of endovascular revascularization (ER) for visceral vessels took place in 1980. The literature has documented two types of endovascular revascularization (ER) methods: percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and primary stenting (PMAS). Despite the limited quality of available evidence, the consensus among experts is strongly in favor of PMAS over PTA alone for the treatment of atherosclerotic mesenteric artery stenosis. There are several key areas of focus for chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) treatment. Randomized controlled trials comparing different stent types, such as covered stents versus bare metal stents, are needed to evaluate effi-cacy, patency rates, and long-term outcomes in CMI patients.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be diminishing, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants represents a threat to humans due to its inherent transmissibility, immunological evasion, virulence, and invulnerability to existing therapies. The previous COVID-19 pandemic affected more than 500 million people and caused over 6 million deaths. Vaccines are essential, but in circumstances when vaccination is not accessible or in individuals with compromised immune systems, drugs can give additional protection. Targeting host signaling pathways is recommended due to their genomic stability and resistance barriers. Plant-derived products, which have been used in traditional medicine for treating pathological conditions, offer structurally novel therapeutic compounds including anti-viral. In addition, plant-derived bioactive substances might serve as the ideal basis for developing sustainable/efficient/cost-effective anti-viral alternatives. Epigenetic modifications in the genome can affect gene expression without altering DNA sequence. Host cells can use epigenetic gene regulation as a mechanism to silence incoming viral DNA molecules, while viruses have recruited cellular epi transcriptomic (covalent modifications of RNAs) modifiers to increase the translational efficiency and transcript stability of viral transcripts to enhance viral gene expression and replication. Moreover, viruses manipulate host cells' epigenetic machinery to ensure productive viral infections. Environmental factors, such as natural products, may influence epigenetic modifications. In this review, we are exploring the potential of plant-derived substances as epigenetic modifiers for broad-spectrum anti-viral activity, reviewing modulation processes and anti-viral effects on DNA and RNA viruses, and addressing future research objectives in this rapidly emerging field.

To proactively manage information security, enterprises often employ information security risk assessment techniques. Asset value - which is used to calculate the financial impact of possible threats - is one of the key parameters of information security risk. However, assets in a system are rarely independent, and their values are typically interdependent. Asset owners and IT teams may hold different views as regards these values, and there is thus the need to reduce subjectivity in a qualitative risk assessment. The research entails the development of a conceptual framework derived from the literature to minimize subjectivity, and the design of a system based on those concepts. The study uses the Unified Modeling Language as a design tool and puts forward an object-oriented model for defining asset values, in which the relationships between assets, vulnerabilities and related threats are identified. A “segregation of duties” approach is integrated into the risk management system to mitigate against subjectivity and better determine asset values. Survey responses from 16 practitioners working in the private and public sectors confirm the validity of the approach, but suggest it may be more workable in larger organisations where resources allow dedicated risk professionals to operate.

The α-glucosidase inhibitor is of interest to researchers due to its association with type-II diabetes treatment by suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia. Hesperidin is a major flavonoid in orange fruit with diverse biological properties. This paper evaluates the effects of hesperidin on α-glucosidase through inhibitory kinetics, fluorescence quenching, and molecular docking methods for the first time. The inhibition kinetic analysis showed that hesperidin reversibly inhibited the α-glucosidase activity with an IC50 value of 18.52 M and the inhibition was performed in an uncompetitive type. Fluorescence quenching studies indicated that the intrinsic fluorescence of α-glucosidase was quenched via a static quenching process and only one binding site was present between hesperidin and α-glucosidase. The interaction between them was spontaneous and mainly driven by hydrogen bonds as well as hydrophobic forces. Furthermore, molecular docking results suggested that hesperidin might bond to the entrance or outlet part of the active site of α-glucosidase through a network of five hydrogen bonds formed between hesperidin and the four amino acid residues (Trp709, Arg422, Asn424, and Arg467) of ?-glucosidase and hydrophobic effects. These results provide new insights into the inhibitory mechanisms of hesperidin on α-glucosidase, supporting the potential application of hesperidin-rich orange product as a hypoglycemic functional food.

Cadmium, an environmental toxin, is associated with a range of adverse health effects due to increased Reactive Oxygen Species production, including decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Notably, cadmium is found at concentrations 4-5x higher in the blood of smokers versus non-smokers. Experiments performed in human cancer cells indicate that melatonin may directly protect against cadmium-induced tissue damage via regulation of mitochondrial activity. Further, recent evidence has demonstrated that melatonin can improve bone health for individuals with osteoporosis and partially protect against cadmium-associated inhibition of bone repair. Here we review this data and propose supplementation with melatonin as a strategy to protect against the negative impacts of cadmium exposure on bone mineral density within individuals regularly exposed to cadmium via cigarette smoking.

Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus that affects and contaminates several foodstuffs and is associated with cancer in humans. In Senegal, significant losses of groundnut production are mainly due to contamination caused by this species. This study evaluated in vitro antifungal activities of Cyperus articulatus, Cyperus rotundus and Lippia alba essential oils against A. flavus isolated from peanut seeds. Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of rhizomes of the two Cyperus species and leaves of L. alba were analyzed by GC-DIF and GC-MS. The essential oil yields from C. articulatus, C. rotundus and L. alba were 1.1%, 1.3% and 1.7%, respectively. These three samples had the following chemotypes: (i) Mustakone (21.4%)/eudesma-4(15)-7-dien-1β-ol (8.8%)/caryophyllene oxide (5.9%), (ii) caryophyllene oxide (25.2%)/ humulene epoxyde 2 (35.0%) and (iii) geranial (46.6%)/neral (34.6%). The three oils tested inhibited the growth of A. flavus at concentrations between 100 and 1000 ppm. The L. alba oil was the most effective with total clearance of A. flavus on PDA. For the essential oils of C. rotundus (93.65%) and C. articulatus (78.11%), the highest inhibition rates were obtained with 1000 ppm dose. Thus, the L. alba oil could be used safely as an effective protector of groundnuts against A. flavus.

This study focuses on the formulation and analysis of a numerical method to compute singularly perturbed functional differential equations (SP-FDEs) involving large mixed shifts. SP-FDEs are a class of differential equations with both shifts and small perturbation parameter. Such equations arise in various scientific fields to model phenomena with memory effects and perturbed dynamics. In this particular study, the considered SP-FDEs involve large negative shift (delay) and large positive shift (advance). Dealing with large mixed shifts in SP-FDEs gives rise to challenges in terms of stability analysis, numerical methods, and convergence of a solution. In this paper, the influence of the large mixed shifts is treated by choosing a uniform mesh discretized in such a way that the term with the shifts lie on the nodal points. Then, using the Numerov’s finite difference method, the continuous problem is transformed into a finite difference scheme and the influence of the perturbation parameter is handled by introducing a fitting factor in the difference scheme. Stability estimate and convergence analysis of the developed scheme are investigated and proved. Numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the developed scheme. It is shown that the numerical scheme obtained in this work is parameter-robust of second order convergence rate.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles released from cells, and their cargo can alter the function of recipient cells. EVs from X-irradiated cells have been shown to play a likely role in non-targeted effects. However, EVs derived from proton irradiated cells have not yet been studied. We aimed to investigate and compare the proteome of EVs and their cell of origin after proton or X-irradiation. The EVs were derived from a human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line exposed to 0, 4, or 8 Gy with either protons or X-rays. The EVs and irradiated OSCC cells underwent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for protein identification. Interestingly, we found different protein profiles both in the EVs and in the OSCC cells after proton irradiation compared to X-irradiation. In the EVs, we found that protons cause a downregulation of proteins involved in cell growth and DNA damage response compared to X-rays. In the OSCC cells, proton and X-irradiation induced dissimilar cell death pathways and distinct DNA damage repair systems. These results are of potential importance for understanding how non-targeted effects in normal tissue can be limited and for future implementation of proton therapy in the clinic.

This paper deals with the analysis of the cognitive functions of the cerebral cortex or cortex in the evolutionary context. The triune brain model is presented given its notorious popularity in fields that are not strictly neuroscientific, and its limitations and inaccuracies are also shown. Although it is an outdated theory, this one represented the passage to a new era, because it really was the model of the movement towards understanding the brain in evolutionary terms. Next, the paper illustrates the different areas of the cortex and their functions, as well as the evolution of the brain and the cortex in vertebrates. To date, the expansion of the cortex with the amniotes was placed 300 million years ago, although recent studies place it in the lampreys more than 500 million years ago. Evolutionary changes in mammalian brain and cortex size are discussed, showing the evolution from three to six cell layers and trends in different groups of mammals. Finally, the most recent contributions in the field of research are illustrated, such as the role of neurogenesis and the evolution of the connectivity of the cortex.

Rising fuel costs, significant air pollution, and the need to mitigate the negative consequences of oil consumption have diminished the relevance of traditional vehicles. This shift encourages the adoption of safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly transportation alternatives, such as fuel cell, electric, and hybrid vehicles. Brushless direct current motors are gaining popularity due to their high efficiency, power factor, torque, and controllability. By 2030, Brushless Direct Current motors are expected to replace conventional motors as the standard for power transfer, especially in dynamic applications like automobiles, more electric aircraft. This study explores a control technique to improve real-time control of brushless direct current motors in electric vehicles It presents speed control of these system for electric vehicle applications and an overview of electric vehicle technologies. A model for the 120-degree mode was developed using electrical and mechanical equations in MATLAB/Simulink. Three scenarios were examined to assess the potential of controlling brushless direct current motors using constant and dynamic speed and torque. The actual value reached the reference value in the first two scenarios.

The Mahuagou gold deposit is among the most important gold deposits in the core of Huangling Anticline. However, the geochemical exploration on the surface of the mining area presents challenges due to the thin overburde.This paper focuses on the overburden soil of Fengxiangshugou (FXS) – Mahuanggou (MHG) section as the research object, utilizes chemical form analysis of gold, soil halogen survey, and heat-released mercury survey to determine the key deep-penetrating geochemical methods for mining area. The results indicated that Si and Al components of samples exhibit minimal variation, suggesting that drift loads did not influence the overburden soil. Based on the systematic clustering, As, Sb, Mo, Bi, W and Hg emerge as ore-body or ore-belt front elements of hydrothermal gold deposits. In the study area, the predominant chemical form of gold in soil is the strong organic bond. Compared to the total amount, strong organic bound gold and heat-released mercury show higher anomaly contrasts, making them crucial indicators of faults, intrusions and hidden ore bodies. Consequently, chemical form analysis of gold and heat-released mercury surveys can enhance the anomaly contrast, proving beneficial for geochemical prospecting for weak anomalies in this area.

Fuzzy Rule Interpolation (FRI) offers an innovative methodology for inferring outcomes from data points that match no established rules in a sparse fuzzy rule base. Generally, a traditional fuzzy rule-based system suffers from the inability to perform inference while facing an unmatched observation, given a sparse fuzzy rule base that is derived from insufficient data or inadequate human experience and that fails to cover parts of a specific problem domain. Fortunately, starting with a sparse rule base, Fuzzy Rule Interpolation (FRI) can help to formulate interpolated rules specifically in instances where observations fail to activate any existing rule. An interpolated rule gives a result called consequent, which is related to the unmatched observation so that the inference system will not fail to generate an outcome corresponding to the observation as the output. Conventionally, these interpolated rules will be discarded after obtaining outcomes. However, valuable information may be potentially embedded within those discarded rules addressing the limitation regarding the coverage of the original sparse knowledge space. Moreover, without exploiting the potential value of the interpolated rules, the fuzzy inference system based on a sparse rule base will never improve its efficiency and robustness in the long run. Therefore, this underscores the necessity for Dynamic Fuzzy Rule Interpolation (D-FRI), which aims to collate interpolated rules that cover particular knowledge spaces absent in the sparse rule base. Intuitively, those frequently appeared interpolated rules are considered valuable because future observations are more likely to hit the respective problem areas. Promoting selected interpolated rules to the sparse rule base can enhance the overall coverage of the knowledge space and increase the inference efficiency over time. This paper introduces a framework for Dynamic Fuzzy Rule Interpolation that integrates the widely used Transformation-based Fuzzy Rule Interpolation (T-FRI) with an effective form of clustering of interpolated results. Experimental findings validate the effectiveness of this approach.

An algorithm is proposed for discriminating the fatigue state of air traffic controllers based on ap-plying multispeech feature fusion using an FSVM to voice data, and for extracting eye-fatigue-state discrimination features based on PERCLOS eye data. For the speech algorithm and an eye-fatigue index, a new controller fatigue-state evaluation index based on the entropy weight method is proposed based on decision-level fusion of fatigue discrimination results for speech and the eyes. Experimental results show that the fatigue-state recognition accuracy rate was 84.81% for the fatigue state evaluation index, which was 3.36% and 1.86% higher than those for speech and eye assessments, respectively. The comprehensive fatigue evaluation index provides important reference values for controller scheduling and mental-state evaluations.

As a prominent organizational issue there was limited evidence in the literature about the relationship between organizational strategy, workplace health, safety, and wellbeing, and performance measurement that demonstrate a measurable impact on organizational performance. Whilst the literature reports numerous studies into the relationship between employee engagement and performance, they hardly incorporate workplace health, safety, and well-being within this relationship. This mixed-methods study investigated the relationship between organizational strategy, workplace health, safety, and wellbeing strategy, employee engagement, and strategy efficacy from a corporate perspective. Findings from Phase two, the online survey, revealed a seven-factor HSW Strategy framework. The workplace health, safety, and wellbeing strategy framework provide empirical evidence towards a suitable and valuable framework for high-risk businesses to improve individual and organizational performance.

Nickel is widely used in industrial processes and plays a crucial role in many applications. However, most of the nickel resource mainly exists as nickel oxide in laterite nickel ore with complex composition, resulting in difficulty in upgrading the nickel content using physical separation methods. In this study, high-grade ferronickel concentrates were obtained through a carbothermal reduction and magnetic separation using laterite nickel ore and anthracite as raw materials. The effects of different types of additives (CaF2, Na2SO4 and H3BO3), carbon ratio (nc/no in metal oxides) and grinding time on the recoveries and grades of ferronickel concentrates were experimentally investigated, along with the microstructure and chemical composition of the products. CaF2 was proved to be the primary active additive in the aggregation and growth of the ferronickel particles, and the improvement of the grade of the product. Under the optimal conditions of CaF2 addition of 12 wt.%, carbon ratio of 1.4, and grinding time of 240 s, high-grade magnetically separable ferronickel concentrate with nickel grade 8.93 wt.% and iron grade 63.96 wt.% was successfully prepared. This work presents a practical method for the highly efficient recovery and utilization of iron and nickel from low-grade laterite nickel ore, contributing to the development of strategies for the sustainable extraction and utilization of nickel resources.

Zinc, being a part of many proteins and enzymes, plays an important role in the vital processes of the body. Racemic α-lipoic acid (LA) has a wide range of biological activities: antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and it is also used in diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Nowadays, the synthesis and structural studies of new zinc complexes with biologically active compounds are of great importance for drug discovery. This work shows the studies carried out on the synthesis, structure, identification, also biological activity using in silico methods of a complex compound based on LA and zinc. A complex compound of zinc with LA (ZnLA) was synthesized in the presence of LA and zinc acetate in ethanol. The identification of ZnLA by (FT-IR, XRD and TGA-DTA), also DFT calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPP level of theory was performed. The molecular docking investigation involved docking ZnLA with two different protein receptors such us Glycogen phosphorylase (2GPA) and Kv potassium channel beta subunit (1ZSX) using CB-Dock 2 server and Auto-Dock Vina program to determine the mechanism of action and biological activity. This study reveals potential ligand-protein interactions at the atomic level and suggests that the treatment of diabetes (non-insulin dependent) with ZnLA.

Background: It is not clear whether rehabilitation after surgery for trigger finger is effective. The aim of this study was to reveal the effectiveness for trigger finger. Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled trial that included patients who underwent operations for trigger fingers. The patients in the rehabilitation group had postoperative occupational therapy (OT) for 3 months, while the patients in the control group were not referred for rehabilitation but received advice for a range of motion exercise. We evaluated the severity of trigger finger, Disability of Arm-Shoulder-Hand (DASH) score, pain-visual analogue scale (VAS), grip strength, whether they gained a full range of motion (ROM), and complications before and after surgery. Results: Finally, 29 and 28 patients were included in the control and rehabilitation groups, respectively. DASH score, grip strength, and ROM were significantly improved in the rehabilitation group from that preoperatively at final follow-up. Pain was significantly improved in both groups from that preoperatively at final follow-up. Subgroup analysis showed that there is a significant difference in the DASH score of patients doing housework or light work and those with a duration of symptoms &gt; 12 months between the control and rehabilitation groups at the final follow-up.

Many studies on magnetorheological fluid (MRF) have been carried out over last three decades several salient advantages such as fast phase change, easy control of the yield stress and so forth. Especially, several review articles of MRF technology have been reported for last two decades summarizing the development of MRFs and their applications. As specific examples, the review articles including the optimization of the particles and carrier liquid to achieve minimum off-state viscosity and maximum yield stress at on-state, the formulation of many constitutive models in-cluding Casson model and Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) model, the sedimentation enhancement using additives and nanosized particles, many types of dampers for automotive suspension and civil structures, medical and rehabilitation devices, MRF polishing technology, the methods of mag-netic circuit design, and the synthesis of various controllers have been published. More recently, the effect of the temperature and thermal conductivity on the properties of MRFs and application systems are actively being investigated by several works. However, there is no review article on this issue so far despite of that the thermal problem is one of crucial factors to be seriously con-sidered for the development of advanced MRFs and commercial products of application systems. In this work, studies on the thermal conductivity and temperature in MRFs themselves and tem-perature-dependent application systems are reviewed, respectively, and principal results are summarized emphasizing on the followings: how to reduce the temperature effect on the field-dependent properties of MRFs and how to design application system to minimize the thermal effect. It is noted here that the review summary is organized in a chronological format using tables.

Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a stochastic optimization algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of ants. We investigate a simplified computational model of ACO, wherein ants sequentially engage in binary decision-making tasks, leaving pheromone trails contingent upon their choices. The quantity of pheromone left is the number of correct answers. We scrutinize the impact of a salient parameter in the ACO algorithm, specifically, the exponent $\alpha$ that governs the pheromone levels in the stochastic choice function. In the absence of pheromone evaporation, the system is accurately modeled as a multivariate nonlinear P\'{o}lya urn, undergoing a phase transition as $\alpha$ varies. The probability of selecting the correct answer for each question asymptotically approaches the stable fixed point of the nonlinear P\'{o}lya urn. The system exhibits dual stable fixed points for $\alpha\ge \alpha_c$ and a singular stable fixed point for $\alpha<\alpha_c$. When pheromone evaporates over a time scale $\tau$, the phase transition does not occur and leads to a bimodal stationary distribution of probabilities for $\alpha\ge \alpha_c$ and a monomodal distribution for $\alpha<\alpha_c$.

This article conceptualises the link between firms’ value chains and distribution networks and the requirements for double materiality assessments in contemporary reporting regulations worldwide. The new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the standards for sustainability reporting issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), called IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, require companies to report their own direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as GHG emissions in their value chains and distribution networks (both scope 3). However, GHG emissions comprise just one dimension of information that is relevant to understand when assessing, managing and reporting the footprints and impacts of a firm and are, therefore, only a fraction of the key performance indicators (KPIs) related to ESG that should be disclosed. Through a case study, this article demonstrates the connection between the due diligence analysis of firms’ value chains and distribution networks, the analysis of the competitive parameters of the business model, the identified impacts, risks and opportunities, and the double materiality perspective. The double materiality perspective prioritises actions based on probability and significance, creating a natural space to identify KPIs. The article concludes by applying the REGS model and illustrating how it can assist firms in identifying relevant KPIs based on double-materiality assessments.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease and the cause of one of the highest cancer-related mortalities in men worldwide. Annually, more than 1.2 million new cases are diagnosed globally, accounting for 7% of newly diagnosed cancers in men. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays an essential role in removing infected, functionally dispensable or potentially neoplastic cells. Apoptosis is the canonical form of PCD with no inflammatory responses elicited, and the close relationship between apoptosis and PCa has been well studied. Necroptosis and pyroptosis are two lytic forms of PCD resulting in the release of intracellular contents, which induces inflammatory responses. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that necroptosis and pyroptosis are also closely related to the occurrence and progression of PCa. Recently, a novel form of PCD named PANoptosis, which is a combination of apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, revealed the attached connection among them and may be a promising target for PCa. Apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis and PANoptosis are good examples to better understand the mechanism underlying PCD in PCa. This review aims to summarize the emerging roles and therapeutic potential of apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis and PANoptosis in PCa.

The measures related to climate change and international technology transfer have been closely intervened as most international environmental instruments, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol as well as Paris Agreement which contain the provisions concerning environmentally friendly technology transfer. However, technologies have not been transferred adequately owing to the flaws in the relevant provisions and due to the fact that most technologies are possessed by transnational corporations and other private sectors. In order to undertake the commitment by the governments of developed countries and at the same time, to conform the commercial activities of their respective private sectors to the level of promised international obligation, an uniform international technology transfer agreement needs to be established separately, particularly under the World Trade Organization regime in Post Pairs-Agreement era. This paper first explores the defects and challenges found in provisions related to technology transfer in existing environmental agreements, and examines the possibilities of concluding an international technology transfer agreement both from theoretical and practical perspectives. climate change;environmentally sound technology;international technology transfer;Post Paris-Agreement Era

The preparation and use of -(acyloxy)alkyl xanthates to generate and capture -(acyloxy)alkyl radicals is briefly reviewed. Their inter- and intramolecular additions to both activated and unactivated, electronically unbiased, alkenes, and to (hetero)aromatic rings, as well as their radical allylation and vinylation reactions are described. Application to the total synthesis of two 4-hydroxytetralone natural products is also presented.

In Ethiopia, climate change risks are anticipated to have significant consequences for agriculture and food security. This study investigated the past (1981-2010) and the future (2041-2070) climate change trends and their influence on crop length of growing seasons in North-Western (NW) Ethiopian highlands. Climate data were obtained from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia and the most valid and high resolution CMIP5 rcp6 (Coupled models Intercomparison Project representative concentration path six) model data were extracted and applied for the analysis purpose. Standard statistical methods are then applied to compute soil water content as well as to evaluate climate variability and trends and their impact on crop Length of Growing Season (LGS). Maximum temperature (tasmax) and minimum temperature (tasmin) inter-annual variability anomalies show the region has experienced coolest years than hottest years during the past. However, in the future the coolest years will highly decrease by -1.2oC while the hottest years increase by +1.3oC. During the major rainfall season (JJAS), the area has received an adequate amount of rainfall in the past and is very likely to get similar rainfall in the future. Whereas the February to May (FMAM) season assists only for early planting and October to January (ONDJ) season for lengthen growing season of JJAS if properly utilized. Otherwise, the season will have the possibility to destroy crops before and during the harvesting time. The soil water content change in the future remains close to past condition, The length of growing seasons has less variable onset and cessation dates while the projected length of growing period (LGP) 174 to 177 days will be suitable for short, long cycle crops and double cropping that could benefit crop production yield of NW-Ethiopian highlands in the future.

Discussing quantum theory foundations, von Neumann noted that the measurement process should not be regarded in terms of a temporal evolution. A reason for his claim is insurmountability of the gap between reversible and irreversible processes. The time operator formalism that goes beyond such a gap is adequate framework for elaboration of the measurement problem. It considers signals to be stochastic processes, whether they correspond to variables or distribution densities. Signal processing like that utilizes statistical properties to perform its tasks, which is the definition of statistical signal processing. A hierarchy of the measurement process is indicated by crossing between states and devices, which implies an evolution in the temporal domain. The concept has generalized to an open system by the use of duality in frame theory.

Eating disorders (EDs) refer to a group of diseases characterized by a strong tendency toward chronicity, often involving distortions in body image distortion and other related symptoms The prevalence of EDs has increased in recent years, specifically in athletic populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyse risky eating attitudes in a sample of 1102 subjects from Se-ville (Spain): 142 women and 960 men aged between 15-25 years old. An online survey, designed using Google Forms, consisted of three questionnaires (EAT-26, SCOFF, and BITE), were com-pleted individually and anonymously. With regards to the cut-off points, the percentage of posi-tive cases with significant scores was 11.43% for EAT-26, 31.22% for SCOFF and 4.36% for BITE. The study found that the probability of testing positive for EDs is significantly higher in women than in men (p < 0.001). Specifically, the risk attitude for EDs in female athletes measured by the EAT-26 test is three times higher than in male athletes, while the risk attitude measured by the SCOFF test is twice as high in females. Risk attitude for EDs in athletes measured by the BITE test is 8 times higher in females than in males. This study’s findings confirm several important as-sumptions made at the outset of the research. There is indeed a higher risk of EDs in athlete populations. Moreover, all three tests therefore show a higher frequency of possible events of EDs in women, with very similar percentages of difference between sexes. The tests also confirm the role played by the coaches in the prevention of EDs in sports and their capacity to reduce ab-normal food-related behaviours. Thus, the future inclusion of these tests in the screening of athletes is highly recommended.

Smart livestock farming leverages technology to boost production and meet food demand sustainably. This study delves into smart technologies in animal production, covering opportunities, challenges, and solutions. Smart agriculture employs modern technology to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare in livestock farming. It includes remote monitoring, GPS-based animal care, robotic milking, smart health collars, predictive disease control, and other innovations to achieve these goals. While smart animal production holds great promise, it does face challenges related to cost, data management, and connectivity. To address these challenges, potential solutions include remote sensing, technology integration, and farmer education. Smart agriculture offers opportunities for increased efficiency, improved animal welfare, and enhanced environmental conservation. A well-planned approach is crucial to maximize the benefits of smart livestock production while ensuring its long-term sustainability. This study confirms the growing adoption of smart agriculture in livestock production, with the potential to support sustainable development goals and deliver benefits such as increased productivity and resource efficiency. To fully realize these benefits and ensure the sustainability of livestock farming, it is essential to address cost and education challenges. Therefore, this study recommends promoting a positive outlook among livestock stakeholders and embracing smart agriculture to enhance farm performance.

In this study, we conducted experiments to assess the forecasting capabilities for the tropical cyclone (TC) genesis over the South China Sea using the ensemble-based data assimilation system (EPS-DA) by WRF-LETKF. These experiments covered forecast lead times of up to 5 days and spanned a period from 2012 to 2019, involving a total of 45 TC formation events. The evaluation involved forecast probability assessments and positional and timing error analysis. Results indicated that successful forecasting depends on lead time and initial condition quality. For TC formation from an embryo vortex to tropical depression intensity, the EPS-DA system demonstrated improved accuracy as the forecast cycle approached the actual formation time. TC centers converged toward observed locations, highlighting the potential of assimilation up to 5 days before formation. We examined statistical variations in dynamic and thermodynamic variables relevant to TC processes, offering an objective system assessment. Our study emphasized early warnings of TC development appear linked to formation-time environmental conditions, particularly strong vorticity and enhanced moisture processes.

Objective: To explore the inflammatory markers for the development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) after adenovirus infection in children. Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical data of 62 children with adenovirus pneumonia treated in our hospital between February 2020 and November 2021 were collected and assigned to an OB group (n = 30) or non-OB group (n = 32) according to the presence of OB. Clinical characteristics of patients included gender, age, prematurity, underlying disease, length of hospitalization, type of adenovirus infection, ventilator use, length of ventilator use, and laboratory index levels. Results: Children with OB were associated with higher serum ferritin levels versus those without (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-6 (IL-6), partial arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lymphocyte absolute values between the two groups of children (P > 0.05). Logistic multifactorial regression analysis revealed that the length of ventilator use and serum ferritin level were inflammatory markers for the development of OB in children with adenovirus pneumonia. Conclusion: The length of ventilator use and serum ferritin levels are inflammatory markers for the development of OB after adenovirus infection in children, and timely measurement of the above indicators in children is instrumental in predicting the prognosis of children.

The highly adaptable parasite Trypanosoma cruzi undergoes complex developmental stages to exploit host organisms effectively. Each stage involves the expression of specific proteins and precise intracellular structural organization. These morphological changes depend on key structures that control intracellular components’ growth and redistribution. In trypanosomatids, the flagellar attachment zone (FAZ) connects the flagellum to the cell body and plays a pivotal role in cell expansion and structural rearrangement. While FAZ proteins are well-studied in other trypanosomatids, there is limited knowledge about specific components, organization, and function in T. cruzi. This study employed the CRISPR/Cas9 system to label endogenous genes and conduct deletions to characterize FAZ-specific proteins during epimastigote cell division and metacyclogenesis. In T. cruzi, these proteins exhibited distinct organization compared to counterparts in T. brucei. TcGP72 is anchored to the flagellar membrane, while TcFLA-1BP is anchored to the membrane lining the cell body. We identified unique features in the organization and function of the FAZ in T. cruzi compared to other trypanosomatids. Deleting these proteins had varying effects on intracellular structures, cytokinesis, and metacyclogenesis. This study reveals specific variations that directly impact the success of cell division and differentiation of this parasite.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the critical role that supercomputers play in addressing global health crises. This perspective article explores the transformative impact of supercomputing in pandemic response, highlighting how these powerful machines have transitioned from crisis management tools to essential components of preparedness strategies. In this article, we examine the key contributions of supercomputers in combating the pandemic, including their ability to accelerate scientific research, facilitate data analysis, model complex scenarios, and optimize resource allocation. Furthermore, we delve into the role of supercomputing in strengthening public health infrastructure and preparedness. We analyze the lessons learned from the pandemic and emphasize the need for proactive investment in supercomputing capabilities, data infrastructure, and computational expertise as a crucial element of pandemic preparedness efforts. By harnessing the potential of supercomputers, countries can establish robust computational frameworks that enable real-time monitoring, early detection, and effective response to future outbreaks. Moreover, we address the challenges faced by supercomputing initiatives, including the need for enhanced international collaboration, equitable access to computing resources, and the ethical considerations associated with data privacy and security. We discuss potential strategies to overcome these challenges and foster a global network of interconnected supercomputing centers dedicated to pandemic preparedness and response. Finally, we highlight ongoing research and development efforts aimed at advancing supercomputing technologies, such as exascale computing and quantum computing, and their potential to revolutionize pandemic response. We emphasize the importance of sustained investment in research and development to ensure that supercomputing remains at the forefront of future pandemic preparedness strategies.

Wirobond C is a commercial dental casting alloy suitable for the fabrication of crowns, bridges as well as metal-ceramic restorations. This work aims with the study of the effect of ready-to-use Listerine® and Meridol® mouthwashes and sodium fluoride on corrosion resistance of the CoCrMo dental alloy to electrochemical corrosion in artificial saliva at 37 °C. SEM, EDS, SKP, and microhardness investigations were carried out to characterize the material under study. In vitro corrosion resistance of the CoCrMo alloy was conducted by the open circuit potential method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and anodic polarization curves. The presence of Co 59.8(8) wt.%, Cr 31.5(4) wt.%, and Mo 8.8(6) wt.% was confirmed. The CoCrMo alloy was characterized by Vickers microhardness of 445(31) µHV0.3. Based on EIS data, the capacitive behavior and high corrosion resistance of CoCrMo alloy was revealed. The kinetics of pitting corrosion in the artificial saliva was lower after the modification with NaF and Listerine and Meridol mouthwashes. The potentiodynamic characteristics revealed the passive behavior of CoCrMo alloy in all solutions. Based on the SKP measurements of the CoCrMo alloy after corrosion tests, the effect of artificial saliva modification on electronic properties of Bego Wirobond C dental alloy was found.

Serine/threonine kinase (AKT) signaling regulates diverse cellular processes and is one of the most important aberrant cell survival mechanisms associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Targeting AKT has become an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many cancers. AKT3 (PKBγ), the least studied isoform of the AKT family, has emerged as a major contributor to malignancy. AKT3 is frequently overexpressed in human cancers, and many regulatory oncogenic or tumor suppressor small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), have recently been identified to be involved in regulating AKT3 expression. Therefore, a better understanding of regulatory miRNA/AKT3 networks may reveal novel biomarkers for diagnosis of patients with cancer and provide invaluable information for developing more effective therapeutic strategies. The aim of this review is to summarize current research progress in the isoform-specific functions of AKT3 in human cancers and the roles of dysregulated miRNA/AKT3 in specific types of human cancers.

Autonomous vehicles (AV)s will transform transport, but public opinion will play a key role in the decision how widely and quickly, they will be adopted. The purpose of the study presented here, was to investigate community’s views on the transition. As a method for primary data collection on public awareness, attitudes, and readiness to use autonomous cars, survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Following that, we have used statistical tools to analyse responses. Our findings indicate that the participants are mainly open to use new technology and had favourable attitude towards transition. Ordinal logistic regression model showed a wide variation in public opinion regarding the expected benefits that may accompany the transition, despite an average high score on this factor. Our findings reveal that awareness of AVs' benefits is more positively correlated to the age of participants. Perceived cost, on one side, and convenience, and safety, on the other side, have substantial impact on opinions. Investigation, presented here, shows how AVs are seen in Saudi Arabia. This can guide the development of AVs and deployment in that region.

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

Epidemiological surveillance and phylogenetic studies rely nowadays on processing and analysing huge volumes of data. Processing tasks consist on running and refining a series of intertwined computational tasks. And, despite of existing several web applications for data processing and interactive visualization for phylogenetic studies, integrating many different tools and algorithms, their execution is total or partially on the client side, making them unsuitable for dealing with huge volumes of data. Studies are often also not easy to reproduce. On the other hand, in recent years, data-centric workflow systems have been proposed, allowing to deal better with increasingly larger datasets. The integration of these systems within phylogenetic tools will allow to scale them as required, and will contribute also to promote studies reproducibility. We propose then the FLOWViZ middleware for facilitating the integration of a state of the art data-centric workflow system, Apache Airflow, within web applications for phylogenetic analyses. This framework abstracts contracts and a core API for defining tools and workflows, where tools are assumed to be containerized. FLOWViZ has been tested and evaluated within the PHYLOViZ web application, a tool supporting phylogenetic inference and data visualization.

In this paper, the problem of autonomous optimal absolute orbit keeping for a satellite mission in Low Earth Orbit using electric propulsion is considered. The main peculiarity of the approach is to support small satellite missions in which the platform is equipped with a single thruster nozzle which provides acceleration on a single direction at a time. This constraint implies that an attitude maneuver is necessary before or during each thrusting arc to direct the nozzle into the desired direction. In this context, an attitude guidance algorithm specific for the orbit maneuver has been developed. A Model Predictive Control scheme is proposed, where the attitude kinematics are coupled with the orbital dynamics in order to obtain the optimal guidance profiles in terms of satellite state, reference attitude, and thrust magnitude. The proposed control scheme is developed exploiting Formation Flying techniques where the reference orbit is that of a virtual spacecraft that the main satellite is required to rendezvous with. In addition to the controller design, the closed loop configuration is presented supported by numerical simulations. The efficacy of the proposed autonomous orbit keeping approach is shown in several application scenarios.

In this study, high-performance FAU (NaY type) zeolite membranes were successfully synthesized using small-sized seeds of 50 nm, and their gas separation performance was systematically evaluated. Employing nano-sized NaY seeds and an ultra-dilute reaction solution with a molar composition of 80 Na2O: 1Al2O3: 19 SiO2: 5000H2O, the effects of synthesis temperature, crystallization time, and porous support (α-Al2O3 or mullite) on the formation of FAU membranes were investigated. The results illustrated that further extending the crystallization time or increasing the synthesis temperature led to the formation of a NaP impurity phase on the FAU membrane layer. The most promising FAU membrane with a thickness of 2.7 µm was synthesized on an α-Al2O3 support at 368 K for 8 h, and had good reproducibility. The H2 permeance of the membrane was as high as 5.34×10-7 mol/(m2 s Pa), and the H2/C3H8 and H2/i-C4H10 selectivities were 183 and 315, respectively. The C3H6/C3H8 selectivity of the membrane was as high as 46 with a remarkably high C3H6 permeance of 1.35× 10-7 mol/(m2 s Pa). The excellent separation performance of the membrane is mainly attributed to the thin, defect-free membrane layer and relatively wide pore size (0.74 nm).

Background: Several hereditary-familial syndromes associated with various types of tumors have been identified to date, evidencing that hereditary cancers caused by germline mutations account for 5-10% of all tumors. Advances in genetic technology and the implementation of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have accelerated the discovery of several susceptibility cancer genes, allowing the detection of cancer-predisposing mutations in a larger number of cases. The aim of this study is to highlight how the application of an NGS-multi gene panel to a group of oncological patients subsequently leads to the improvement of healthy pathogenic variants/likely pathogenic variants (PVs/LPVs) carriers' identification and prevention of the disease in these cases. Methods: Starting from a total of 110 cancer patients carrying PVs/LPVs in genes involved in cancer susceptibility detected by a customized NGS panel of 27 cancer-associated genes, we enrolled 250 healthy collateral family members from January 2020 to July 2022. The specific PVs/LPVs identified in each proband were tested in healthy collateral family members by Sanger sequencing. Results: 131 out of the 250 cases (52%) weren’t carriers of the mutation detected in the affected relative, while 119 were carriers. Of these, 81/250 patients carried PVs/LPVs on BRCA1/2 (33%), 35/250 harbored PVs/LPVs on other genes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2 (14%), and 3/250 (1%) were PVs/LPVs carriers both on BRCA1/2 and on another susceptibility gene. Conclusion: Our results show that the analysis of BRCA1/2 genes only would have resulted in a missed diagnosis in a number of cases and in the lack of prevention of the disease in a considerable percentage of healthy carriers with a genetic mutation (14%).

The Third Generation Partnership Project(3GPP) has specified the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) radio access technology in Releases 14 and 15, with a focus on facilitating direct communication between vehicles through the sidelink PC5 interface. This interface offers a robust cloud-native core network with end-to-end network slicing functionality. The performance of di-rect vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications has been improved by using the sidelink interface, which allows for network infrastructure by-pass. Sidelink transmissions make use of orthogonal resources that are either centrally allocated (Mode 1) or chosen by the vehicles themselves (Mode 2). The development of radio access technologies that enable dependable and low-latency vehicular communications has become of utmost relevance with the rise in interest in connected and autonomous vehicles. This is especially necessary when there are heavy traffic conditions and patterns. We thoroughly examined the New Radio (NR) sidelink’s performance under various vehicle densities, speeds, and distance settings. Thus, by evaluating sidelink’s strengths and drawbacks, we are able to optimize resource allocation to obtain maximum coverage in urban areas. The performance evaluation is conducted on Network Simulator 3 (NS3.34/5G-LENA) utilizing various network metrics such as average packet reception rate, throughput, and latency.

Soiling accumulated on a photovoltaic (PV) module can significantly reduce the transmittance of the cover glass, resulting in power losses and consequent economic losses. Natural atmospheric parameters influence the accumulation of soiling at the various geographic locations. In this paper, the approaches and outcomes of the research studies on either indoor (simulator-based) or outdoor (field-based) PV soiling have been thoroughly reviewed. Different parameters depicted for the power loss of PV modules are analyzed individually and presented. Moreover, this study delves into a detailed examination of the key factors influencing dust depositions on PV modules in various geographical regions, with a particular focus on their relationship with climatic conditions. This way, probable future research directions to quantify soiling losses are identified. In addition, different loss prevention and mitigation techniques are also reviewed. This makes it possible to highlight effective strategies and pinpoint potential future research lines in these areas.

Delayed discharge for non-clinical reasons is defined as a period of stay that continues after a patient has been deemed medically fit to leave the hospital but is unable to do so for non-medical reasons. This circumstance overburdens the healthcare system and constitutes a major problem for healthcare systems and the patients themselves in this situation.The aim of this study was to evaluate the delay in effective discharge for non-medical reasons in patients admitted to acute care hospitals in Spain. A scoping review was conducted in order to revise and obtain an up-to-date review. The initial search strategy identified a total of 123 references, which were successively screened to a final selection of 13 studies. To conclude, delayed discharge from hospital for non-clinical reasons is a multifactorial problem. It may be due to factors internal or external to the hospital, as well as personal factors. The main causes of the delay are similar among the studies found, as are the clinical characteristics of the patients, most of whom are elderly, frail, and more dependent due to declining functional capacities. Further studies addressing the socio-familial characteristics of the patients and the perspective of the patient and families would be necessary.

As the search for exoplanets continues, more are being discovered orbiting Red Giant stars. We use current data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive to investigate planet distribution around Red Giant stars and their presence in the host’s habitable zone. As well, we explore the distribution of planet mass and orbital semi major axis for evolved stars with increasing stellar radii. We found 9 Red Giant-hosted exoplanets, and 21 Subgiant-hosted exoplanets to be in the optimistically calculated habitable zone, 5 and 17 of which are in a more conservatively calculated habitable zone. All the planets detected within their habitable zone orbit stars that are in early stages of evolution. We believe that with more powerful instrumentation, more habitable planets may be found around stars that are in later stages of evolution.

Grape pomace is a byproduct of wineries and sustainable source of bioactive phenolic compounds. Encapsulation of phenolics with a well-chosen coating may be a promising means of delivering them to the intestine, where they can then be absorbed and exert their health-promoting properties. Ionic gelation of grape pomace extract with natural coatings (sodium alginate and its combination with maltodextrins, gelatin, chitosan, tragacanth gum, and gum arabic) was performed, and the resulting hydrogel microbeads were then air-, vacuum-, or freeze-dried to prevent their spoilage. The physicochemical characterization (size, shape, texture, and morphology) of the microbeads and the in vitro release of phenols from microbeads were studied and a good relationship between them was established. Freeze-dried microbeads showed the highest cumulative release of phenols as in the intestinal phase (23.31 – 43.27 mgGAE/gMB), followed by vacuum-dried (23.31 - 35.41 mgGAE/gMB) and air-dried (22.74 – 31.38 mgGAE/gMB), while the most suitable release dynamics in the intestinal phase were observed for alginate-based microbeads combined with gelatin (58.4 %), gum arabic (34 %) and 1.5 % w/v chitosan (15.3 %). The results highlight the importance of developing encapsulated formulations containing a natural source of bioactive compounds that can be used in various functional foods and pharmaceutical products.

In this paper, we introduce an innovative approach to distinguish Gliosarcoma (GSM) from Glioblastoma (GBM). Our method combines causal fuzzy logic rules with the Big Bird architecture, a Transformer-based Deep Learning algorithm. Unlike prior research, which often relied on statistical models to reduce dataset dimensions before causal analysis, our approach harnesses the complete dataset in tandem with our causal fuzzy Big Bird architecture. Additionally, we benchmark our results not only against previous Gliosarcoma/Glioblastoma studies but also against GPT-2 for a comprehensive evaluation.

In this paper we introduce the concept of Nano Beta Closure, Nano Beta Interior and study the relationship between them also study some of their properties. Based on these notions we introduced the topological Approach to Decision Making and Its Application in the Medical Field" which describes the use of topological methods in decision-making, specifically through the utilization of nano beta closure and nano beta interior. These mathematical tools are applied in the medical field to improve diagnostic accuracy and aid in treatment planning. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through a case study on the diagnosis of Chronic Kidney. The results show that the topological approach using nano beta closure and nano beta interior provides a reliable and accurate method for medical decision-making. Finally, we introduce a medical application for disease groups patients of with chronic kidney. To identify the main causative agent of kidney disease. where using this approach, the medical team can identify the specific areas of the kidney that are affected by the infection, as well as the extent of damage and any potential complications. This information is used to create an individualized treatment strategy that is customized to meet the specific requirements of the patient. and medical history. We write an algorithm that can be a helpful tool for doctors to utilize in diagnosing infection disease Chronic Kidney infections. By utilizing this approach, clinicians can provide accurate diagnoses, develop effective treatment plans, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. finally, we show that fractals hold significant importance in future nano topological generation of the human factor. Their unique properties and self-similar patterns offer insights into the complex organization of biological systems and provide a foundation for designing advanced Nanosystems.

The analysis of the land use dynamics of the Lac Télé Community Reserve (RCLT) using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and (Enhance Thematic Mapper) ETM+ images highlight significant changes in the vegetation cover from 1980 to 2000 and 2018. Thus, the rate of forest area decreased by 21.41% for the entire LTCR in favor of savannahs which increased by 15.23%. The conversion of this forest area to savannah due to the practice of slash and burn agriculture facilitates the opening up of the forest area and contributes to greatly degrading the spawning grounds of fish species from the Likouala aux herbes river. For the mapping of fishing activity in general and the ecological characterization of the 151 identified spawning grounds in particular; the respective mean values of the physical and chemical water parameters; temperature (28.13°C), pH (4.23) and depth (3.34) did not vary significantly from one selected village to another between July and September 2019. The fish diversity unregistered during the study, in the 07 pilot villages would be due to the diversity of the microhabitats noted in the villages of the LTCR, especially from the villages; Botongo, Mossengue and Bouanela where the indices of ichthyological diversity were the highest.

Cyperus rotundus L. exhibits promising potential for the development of functional foods due to its documented pharmacological and biological activities. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of C. rotundus kombucha. The results demonstrated potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 76.7±9.6 uL/mL for the DPPH assay and 314.2±16.9 uL/mL for the ABTS assay. Additionally, the kombucha demonstrated alpha-glucosidase inhibitory with an IC50 value of 142.7±5.2 µL/mL. This in vitro antioxidant potential was further validated in vivo using Drosophila. Drosophila fed a high-sugar diet and supplemented with pure kombucha revealed significant increases in DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity. Drosophila on a high-sugar diet supplemented with varying kombucha concentrations manifested enhanced resistance to oxidative stresses induced by H2O2 and paraquat. Concurrently, there was a notable decline in lipid peroxidation levels. Additionally, significant upregulations in CAT, SOD1, and SOD2 activities were observed when the high-sugar diet was supplemented with kombucha. Furthermore, in vivo assessments using Drosophila demonstrated significant reductions in alpha-glucosidase activity when fed with kombucha. A comprehensive GC-MS and HPLC analysis of C. rotundus kombucha detected the presence of antioxidative and anti-glucosidase compounds. In conclusion, C. rotundus kombucha exhibits considerable antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties, demonstrating its potential as a beneficial beverage for health promotion.

In the pursuit of energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces is essential. This study presents a hybrid neural network model designed for real-time monitoring and prediction of environmental variables. The system comprises two phases: An IoT hardware-software platform for data acquisition and decision-making, and a hybrid model combining short-term memory and convolutional recurrent structures. The results are promising and hold potential for integration into parallel processing AI architectures.

Background: We investigated the tumor immune response in gastric cancer patients receiving third line nivolumab monotherapy to identify immune-related biomarkers for better patient se-lection. Methods: Nineteen patients (10 males, median age 67 years) who received nivolumab as a third or later line therapy were enrolled. We analyzed the tumor immune response in durable clinical benefit (DCB) and non-DCB patients. Pre-treatment and early-on-treatment tumor transcriptomes were examined, and gene expression profiles, immunograms, and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire were analyzed. Results: DCB was observed in 15.8% of patients, with comparable secondary endpoints (ORR, OS, PFS) to previous trials. Individual immunograms showed no significant changes before and ear-ly-on-treatment, nor consistent alterations among DCB cases. The intratumoral immune response was suppressed by previous treatments in most third or later line nivolumab recipients. TCR repertoire analysis revealed newly emerged clonotypes in on-treatment tumors, but clonal re-placement did not impact efficacy. High T cells/Tregs ratios and a low UV radiation response gene signature were linked to DCB and treatment response. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the tumor immune response's importance in nivolumab ef-ficacy for gastric cancer. High T cells/Tregs ratios and specific gene expression signatures show promise as potential biomarkers for treatment response. Larger cohort validation is crucial to optimize immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer treatment.

A wide variety of substances have been used to anaesthetise invertebrates, but many are not anaesthetics and merely incapacitate animals, rather than preventing pain. Much is now known about the mode of action of modern clinical and veterinary anaesthetics because of their use on human beings and other vertebrates. In essence, the role of an ideal general anaesthetic is to act as a muscle relaxant, an analgesic, an anaesthetic and an amnesic. To achieve all these properties with a single substance is difficult and various adjuvants usually need to be administered, resulting in a cocktail of drugs. In a clinical setting, the vast majority of patients are unaware of surgery being carried out and have no memory of it, so they can claim to have felt no pain, but this is much more difficult to demonstrate in invertebrates. Here we show that 1% MgCl2, a muscle relaxant, is a useful adjuvant for the clinical anaesthetic isoflurane on Octopus vulgaris when applied for 10 minutes before the clinical anaesthetic. After this, full anaesthesia can be achieved in 5 minutes using only 1% isoflurane and from which full recovery takes place rapidly in about 10 to 15 minutes. This reduces stress on the animal and minimises the quantity of anaesthetic used.

This article deals with the queueing-inventory system, composed of c junior servers, a senior server, two finite waiting halls, and an infinite orbit. On occasion, junior servers encounter challenges during customer service. In these instances, they approach the senior server for guidance in resolving the issue. Suppose the senior server is engaged with another junior server. The approaching junior servers await their turn in a finite waiting area with a capacity of c for consultation. Concerning this, we study the performance of junior servers approaching the senior server in the retrial queueing-inventory model with the two finite waiting halls dedicated to the primary customers and the junior servers for consultation. We formulate a level-dependent QBD process and solve its steady-state probability vector using Neuts and Rao’s truncation method. The stability condition of the system is derived, and the R matrix is computed. Optimum total cost has been obtained, and sensitivity analyses, which include expected total cost, waiting time of customers in waiting hall and orbit, number of busy servers, and fraction of successful retrial rate of the model, are done numerically.

The effect of plasma electrolytic nitrocarburizing on the wear resistance of carbon tool steel in friction couples with hardened steel and lead-tin bronze is considered. The microgeometry of friction tracks and its change with increasing duration of friction tests are analyzed. The equilibrium roughness is determined, which is optimal for the friction couple and ensures minimal wear. The type and mechanism of wear of carbon tool steel after plasma electrolytic nitrocarburizing has been determined. The optimal values of the plasma electrolytic nitrocarburizing parameters, which provide the lowest values of the friction coefficient and weight wear, have been determined. The phase and elemental composition of the surface layer was studied using X-ray diffraction analysis and EDX analysis. The relationship of the microstructure of the nitrocarburized layer of tool steel with the friction coefficient and weight wear is established.

Both auditory and vestibular primary afferent neurons can be activated by sound and vibration. This review relates differences between them to the different receptor/synaptic mechanisms of the two systems as shown by indicators of peripheral function – cochlear and vestibular compound action potentials (cCAPs and vCAPs) to click stimulation as recorded in animal studies. Sound and vibration sensitive type 1 receptors at the striola of the utricular macula are enveloped by the unique calyx afferent ending which has three modes of synaptic transmission. Glutamate is the transmitter for both cochlear and vestibular primary afferents, however blocking glutamate transmission has very little effect on vCAPs but greatly reduces cCAPs. We suggest that the ultrafast non-quantal synaptic mechanism called resistive coupling is the cause of the short latency vestibular afferent responses and related results – failure of transmitter blockade, masking, and temporal precision. This “ultrafast” non-quantal transmission is effectively electrical coupling dependent on the membrane potentials of the calyx and the type 1 receptor. The major clinical implication is that decreasing stimulus rise-time increases vCAP response, corresponding to the increased VEMP response in human subjects . Short rise-times are optimum in human clinical VEMP testing, whereas long rise-times are mandatory for audiometric threshold testing.

In this article we introduce an extension of the Akash distribution. We use the slash 1 methodology to make the kurtosis of the Akash distribution more flexible. We study the general 2 density of this new distribution, some properties, moments, coefficients of asymmetry and kurtosis. 3 Statistical inference is performed using the methods of moments and maximum likelihood via the 4 EM algorithm. A simulation study is carried out to observe the behavior of the maximum likelihood 5 estimator. An application to a real data set with high kurtosis is considered, where it is shown that 6 the new distribution fits better than other extensions of the Akash distribution.

The paper proposes a game theory model of price oligopoly with a heterogeneous product, where total demand depends linearly on the minimum market price. This model develops the Bertrand oligopoly for the case of imperfect price elasticity of demand. The most interesting result is an asymmetric Nash equilibrium with different prices and sales in the situation of symmetric oligopolists. The asymmetry is explained by the fact that a decrease in the minimum market price leads not only to a reallocation of consumers among firms, but also to an increase in total demand. Modifications of a two-stage game with a leader and followers and the price discrimination model are also considered. Microeconomic substantiation of the model is given on the basis of the spatial differentiation approach.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the blending and grinding influence over the nutritional, sensorial and sustainable aspects of coffee. To do so, a systematic review of the literature was accomplished. The database for the selection of relevant papers was the Portal de Periódicos da Capes, with remote access via CAFe. For the elaboration of the research, a chronological criterion with period restriction was used, considering the period between 2008-2022, to access all possible works related to the theme of this work. The following terms were used: blending; grinding; coffee; nutrition-al; sensorial; sustainability. To filter the searches, the association of these terms was also used by means of links and word associations. In the terminology, the Boolean operator AND was used to interconnect the terms used. Roasting degree, grinding, and amount of each coffee species impacts the nutritional and sensorial aspects of coffee. And the determination of each blending influences the sustainability of the environment, economic and social aspects of the coffee chain.

Nowadays, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major global public health problem and the burden of these infections is high. In order to reduce the incidence of HAIs and to prevent the spread antibi-otics resistant organisms is mandatory to develop surveillance systems. We undertook a retrospective case-control study of all patients presenting HAIs admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in order to assess risk factors associated with death among patients with HAIs. Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit who died were more likely to present an infection with a multidrug resistant bacteria, an infection with Acineto-bacter baumannii, and to suffer from acute myocardial infarction. Among the patients enrolled in the study, a higher probability of death was also observed in association with certain gram-negative pathogens: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The longer the patient remains admitted in ICU, the higher the risk of getting an infection that can often become fatal. Acquiring a noso-comial infection also increases the length of hospitalization which will lead to increased financial damage.

Background and Objectives: Clinical trials are a critical step in the development of new medicines and medical devices, testing the efficacy and safety of new treatment regimens. However, if the results of clinical trials are not made public, the evidence base on interventions is incomplete and possibly distorted, which lead to suboptimal treatment choices and negatively affect public health. This study analyses and contrasts the laws and regulations governing clinical trial registration and reporting in China and the United States. Methods: We used desk research to compile, assess and compare current laws, regulations, compliance patterns, and enforcement mechanisms and actions in China and the United States (U.S.). Policy documents were downloaded from Chinese and U.S. government websites. A spreadsheet analysis was utilized for direct comparison. Results: Both China and the U.S. have laws and regulations governing clinical trial registration and reporting. Chinese legislation covers a broader range of trials. In the U.S. trial results must be disclosed to both the national regulator and the public, while Chinese law mandates disclosure to the regulator alone. Cross-country comparisons of regulatory compliance by trial sponsors are impossible due to the opacity of the Chinese data platform. Neither country effectively ensures that all clinical trial results are made public as required by the Declaration of Helsinki and recommended by the WHO. Interpretation: While neither country is perfect, both may be able to learn from each other. There is a major gap in the literature regarding the extent of non-publication of clinical trial results by sponsors operating in China.

BDD is a hoof disease characterized by inflammation of the second and fifth accessory digits and the skin in this region. This pathology is scarcely described in the literature; however, it has recently been observed in beef cattle in the Amazon Biome region. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological factors associated with BDD onset in cattle in the analyzed biome. Samples were collected from eight farms with extensive breeding systems located in Xinguara, Rondon do Pará, Curionópolis, and Ipixuna do Pará, in the state of Pará, Brazil. A total of 706 Nellore and Nellore crossbred with taurine animals of both sexes were evaluated, with males aged between 2–4 years and a mean weight of 650 kg and females aged between 2–11 years and a mean weight of 400 kg. Distal extremities were inspected during cattle management, and in case of accessory digit lesions, a specific examination was carried out after proper restraint. Animals were diagnosed with BDD in all farms analyzed. Of the 706 cattle inspected, 49 (6.94%) showed BDD, of which 19 (38.77%) were Nellore and 30 (61.22%) were crossbred. This was the first study to determine BDD’s occurrence in extensive farming systems in the Amazon region, also showing that pastures with large amounts of stumps and stones, the physical structure of pens, and trauma and injury incidence during animal management are the most important predisposing factors for the onset of BDD.

This study assesses the feasibility of hepatitis B and C elimination, using an analysis of trends of epidemiology data (1990-2019) from the global burden of disease. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to identify significant changing points in trends of Age-standardizes Prevalence Rate (ASPR) and Age-standardizes Mortality Rate (ASMR) and to estimate the annual percentage changes (APC) and the average annual percentage changes (AAPC) for the period. Sociodemographic Index (SDI) was used to analyze trends between countries. The total percentage change of the ASPR (2019/1990) was -31.4% and -12.8% for HBV and HCV worldwide respectively, the rate ratio (HBV/HCV) was 2.5. Mortality has decreased for HBV but not for HCV. The total percentage change for the ASMR (2019/1990) was -26.7% and 10.0%, for HBV and HCV respectively. While ASMR of HBV decreased, HCV increased during this period. The percentage change in ASMR of HBV was highest in countries with high-middle SDI and lowest in countries with high SDI. For HCV, the percentage change in ASMR was highest in countries with High SDI (increase) and only in countries with low SDI decreased. The global HBV and HCV rates have fallen with different AAPC associated with the SDI. Despite the advances, there is still a long way forward to achieve the 2030 elimination goals. An important challenge is related to finding a way to speed up the yearly rate at which the decline is happening.

The importance of irrigation in boosting agricultural production and productivity is widely understood. Proper planning and effective and efficient management and operation of irrigation system require crop and site-specific data. Since the last few years, Ethiopia has embarked on expansion of irrigated wheat. However, crop-specific data useful for irrigation planning and management for wheat crop is limited. The objective of this research was to determine water requirements and crop coefficients for wheat crops based on field measurements. The research was carried out at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center in central Ethiopia during the dry season (Bega) of 2021/22. The crop considered for the experiment was durum wheat of the Utuba variety. Two non-weighing lysimeter units were employed to measure the water balance components. The soil moisture was monitored using gravimetric method on daily basis conducted both before and after each irrigation event at various depth intervals. The crop required a total of 115 days to fully mature. The length of the growth of initial, development, mid, and late stages were about 20, 30, 42, and 23 days, respectively. Microsoft Excel was used for the data analysis and the CropWAT8.0 model to estimate the reference evapotranspiration. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was determined using the water balance equation, and crop coefficients were computed from ETc and reference evapotranspiration (ETo). The results indicate that the total seasonal water requirement of the crop was 392.75mm. The growth stage-based water requirement was 40.35 mm, 82.44 mm, 238.66 mm, and 31.3 mm during the initial, development, mid, and late growing stages, respectively. For the initial, development, mid, and late stages of wheat growth, the crop coefficient was calculated to be 0.51, 0.83, 1.29, and 0.52, respectively. It was found that a fourth-degree polynomial equation fits well and explains the relationship between day of growth stage and kc of the crop. Although a one-season measurement, the results generated here could be useful for crop-specific data in scarce areas.

This study tests the utilization of Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones in improving the quality of eye exams in patients with hearing loss. University of Texas Medical Branch patients above 55 years of age were screened for hearing loss using SoundCheck audiometry. All 29 subjects (18 red-zone and 11 yellow-zone) answered pre-recorded Amsler grid and patient education questions that solicited precise responses. As controls, subjects were randomly administered half of the questions via headphones and half via a smartphone at normal speech volume (60 decibels). Points were awarded for responses demonstrating comprehension, and a post-exam survey was collected. Collectively, the mean score was 1.79 with headphones versus 0.96 with control on the Amsler grid segment and 1.90 with headphones versus 0.97 with control on education questions (p=0.001). Between the red and yellow zone hearing loss patients, the red-zone group answered significantly better in both Amsler (1.78 versus 0.50; p=0.0003) and education questions (1.88 versus 0.44; p&lt;0.0001) with headphones. The yellow zone group answered better with headphones overall but failed to reach significance. Post-exam survey indicated that 28 of 29 patients (97%) preferred the headphones during ophthalmic exams. Patients with severe hearing loss demonstrated better comprehension with the noise-canceling headphones; thus these devices show great promise in improving effective, compassionate communication between providers and hearing-loss patients.

Agriculture is pivotal in national economies, with pest detection significantly influencing food quality and quantity. Pest classification remains challenging in automated agriculture monitoring systems, exacerbated by the non-uniform pest scales and the scarcity of high-quality datasets. In this study, we constructed a pest dataset by acquiring domain-agnostic images from the Internet and resizing them to a standardized 299x299 pixel format. Additionally, we employed diffusion models to generate supplementary data. While Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are prevalent for prediction and classification, they often lack effective global information integration and discriminative feature representation. To address these limitations, we propose the RS Transformer, an innovative model that combines elements like the Region Proposal Network, Swin Transformer, and ROI Align. Additionally, we introduce the Randomly Generated Stable Diffusion Dataset (RGSDD) to augment the availability of high-quality pest datasets. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the superiority of our approach compared to both two-stage models (SSD and Faster R-CNN) and one-stage models (YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv5m, YOLOv8, and DETR). We rigorously assess performance using metrics such as mean Average Precision (mAP), F1Score, Recall, and mean Detection Time (mDT). Our research contributes to advancing pest detection methodologies in automated agriculture systems, promising improved food production and quality.

Abstract: Agroforestry has a sustainable attributes with both tangible and nontangible benefits. In this study carbon mitigation and credits potential of traditional agroforestry systems at different elevations were evaluated. These traditional systems are: Agrihortisilviculture system (AHS), Agrihorticulture system (AH) and Agrisilviculture system (AS). Stand density, living biomass carbon and soil carbon were measured in each sample plot. The results were that stand density of woody perennials varied from 61 to 233 tree ha-1 across t elevations and systems, and , Grewia oppositifoila was the predominant tree species occupying most of the agroforestry land use system. Plant and soil organic carbon were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) among systems and elevations. Total carbon including plant and soil was significantly higher in the AH system at upper elevations. Total carbon emmision mitigation varied with changing elevations and systems, being highest at lower elevation with AHS system. The total carbon credits was also recorded high at lower elevation, whereas the total value of C credits was higher at mid elevation due to the estimated agroforestry area. The total value of C credits from all agroforestry systems was observed (128977.59 €) of the study area.

Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of visual loss and dysfunction in the devel-oped world, is a disease initiated by genetic polymorphisms that impairs negative regulation of complement. Proteomic investigation points to altered glycosylation and loss of SIGLEC medi-ated glyco-immune checkpoint parainflammatory homeostasis as a main determinant for the vi-sion impairing complications of macular degeneration. The effect of altered glycosylation on microglial maintained retinal para-inflammatory homeostasis and eventual recruitment and polarization of peripheral blood monocyte derived macrophages (PBMDM) into the retina can explain the phenotypic variability seen in this clinically heterogenous disease. Restoring gly-co-immune checkpoint control with a sialic acid mimetic nanoparticle targeting microgli-al/macrophage SIGLECs to regain retinal para inflammatory homeostasis is a promising thera-peutic that could halt the progression of and improve visual function in all stages of macular de-generation.

In the last two decades, gelatin-based hydrogels have been widely used as tissue engineering scaffolds due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, easy processability, transparency, non-toxicity, and reasonable structural similarity to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). However, intrinsic low mechanical properties of gelatin are not structurally and mechanically suitable to support cell growth and proliferation. That’s why various crosslinking strategies including physical, chemical, enzymatic and combination of them as well as networking patterns including double network, interpenetrating network and nano reinforcing mechanism have been utilized to enhance the structural stability and mechanical integrity of gelatin. In this review, the advances in modulating the mechanical properties of gelatin-based hydrogels for the design and development of structurally stable scaffolds for tissue engineering are discussed. The optimized crosslinking parameters with the adequate mechanical properties of gelatin-based hydrogels are reviewed. Gelatin-based scaffolds for a wide range of tissue engineering applications, such as bone, cartilage, cardiac, skin, and nerve tissue engineering are also outlined. Lastly, current challenges and future perspectives in this research field are presented.