ZnO was synthesized by Sol gel method using zinc nitrate as precursor at different calcination temperatures. Nucleation of ZnO crystallites and their growth with rise in temperature was observed. Exciton bands and lattice imperfections affected the absorption spectra. The decrease in band gap with temperature was due to the formation of defect energy levels. Phonon assisted non-radiative transitions caused broadening of the peaks. The possibility of tuning the band gap of ZnO by changing the temperature was explored. Simulation studies showed transition to single phase with rise in temperature.

The e-commerce sector is in a constant state of growth and evolution, particularly within its subdomain of online food delivery. As such, ensuring customer satisfaction is critical for companies working in this field. One way to achieve this is by providing accurate delivery time estimation. While companies can track couriers via GPS, they often lack real-time data on traffic and road conditions, complicating delivery time predictions. To address this, a range of statistical and machine learning techniques are being employed, including neural networks and specialized expert systems, with different degree of success. One issue with neural networks and machine learning models is their heavy dependence on vast, high quality data. To mitigate this issue we propose two Bayesian generalized linear models to predict time of the delivery. Utilizing a linear combination of predictor variables, we generate practical range of outputs with Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling method. These models offer a balance of generality and adaptability, allowing for tuning with expert knowledge. They were compared with PSIS-LOO and WAIC criteria. Results show that both models accurately estimated delivery times from the dataset, while maintaining numerical stability. Model with more predictor variables proved to be more accurate.

In the brain, astrocytes regulate shape and functions of the synaptic and vascular compartments through a variety of released factors and membrane-bound proteins. An imbalanced astrocyte activity can therefore have drastic negative impacts on brain development, leading to the onset of severe pathologies. Clinical and pre-clinical studies show alterations in astrocyte cell number, morphology, molecular makeup and astrocyte-dependent processes in different affected brain regions in neurodevelopmental (ND) and neuropsychiatric (NP) disorders. Astrocytes proliferate, differentiate and mature during the critical period of early postnatal brain development, a time window of elevated glia-dependent regulation of a proper balance between synapse formation/elimination, which is pivotal in refining synaptic connectivity. Therefore, any intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors altering these processes during the critical period may result in an aberrant synaptic remodelling and onset of mental disorders. The peculiar bridging position of astrocytes between synaptic and vascular compartments further allows them to “compute” the brain state and consequently secrete factors in the bloodstream, which may serve as diagnostic biomarkers of distinct healthy or disease conditions.Here, we collect recent advancements regarding astrogenesis and astrocyte-mediated regulation of neuronal network remodelling during early postnatal critical periods of brain development, focusing on synapse elimination. We then propose alternative hypotheses for an involvement of aberrancies in these processes in the onset of ND and NP disorders. In light of the well-known differential prevalence of certain brain disorders between males and females, we also discuss putative sex-dependent influences on these neurodevelopmental events.From a translational perspective, understanding age- and sex-dependent astrocyte-specific molecular and functional changes may help to identify biomarkers of distinct cellular (dys)functions in health and disease, favouring the development of diagnostic tools or the selection of tailored treatment options for male/female patients.

Early detection of neurological conditions is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment. Identifying cellular-level changes is essential for implementing therapeutic interventions prior to symptomatic disease onset. However, monitoring brain tissue directly through biopsies is invasive and high-risk. Bodily fluids such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid contain information in many forms, including proteins and nucleic acids. Particularly, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has potential as a versatile neurological biomarker. Yet, our knowledge of cfDNA released by brain tissue and how cfDNA changes in response to deleterious events within the brain is incomplete. Mapping changes in cfDNA to specific cellular events is difficult in vivo, where many tissues contribute to circulating cfDNA. Organoids are tractable systems for examining specific changes consistently in a human background. However, few studies have investigated cfDNA released from organoids. Here, we examined cfDNA isolated from cerebral organoids. We found that cerebral organoids release quantities of cfDNA sufficient for downstream analysis with droplet-digital PCR and whole-genome sequencing. Further, gene ontology analysis of genes aligning with sequenced cfDNA fragments revealed association with terms related to neurodevelopment and autism spectrum disorder. We conclude that cerebral organoids hold promise as tools for the discovery of cfDNA biomarkers related to neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.

Pd EnCat™ 30 is a palladium catalyst broadly used in several hydrogenation and cross-coupling reactions. It is known for its numerous beneficial features, which include high-yielding performance, easy recovery, and reusability. However, the available data regarding its recyclability in Suzuki coupling reactions are limited to a few reaction cycles and, therefore, fail to explore its full potential. Our work focuses on investigating the extent of Pd EnCat™ 30 reusability in Suzuki cross-coupling reactions by measuring its performance according to isolated yields of product. Our findings demonstrate that Pd EnCat™ 30 can be reused over a minimum of 30 reaction cycles, which is advantageous in terms of cost reduction and more sustainable chemical production.

Abstract: Qatar and other Gulf States have a diverse range of marine vegetation that is adapted to the stressful environmental conditions of seawater. The industrial wastewater produced by oil and gas activities adds further detrimental conditions for marine aquatic photosynthetic organ-isms on the Qatari coastlines. Thus, these organisms experience severe stress from both seawater and industrial wastewater. This review discusses the biodiversity in seawater around Qatar, as well as remediation methods and metabolic pathways to reduce the negative impacts of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons produced during these activities. These methods include phyto-stabilization phyto-accumulation, phyto-volatilization, and phyto-degradation. Phy-to-degradation in particular is discussed in detail, including metabolic pathways such as alkane and aromatic-compound degradation pathways. The role of microorganisms that are adjacent to or associated with these aquatic marine organisms is discussed, including rhizosphere biodeg-radation. In this type of biodegradation, exudates are released by plant roots and supply nutrients to microorganisms in the rhizosphere, which enhances their ability to degrade organic pollutants. Special attention is paid to mangrove forests and their roles in remediating shores polluted by industrial wastewater. Seagrasses (Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, and Thalassia hemprichii) and seaweeds (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta) around the peninsula of Qatar are also discussed.

Yttria stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramics with drastically reduced yttria content have been introduced by different manufacturers aiming at improving the damage tolerance of ceramic components. In this study an alumina doped 1.5Y-TZP was axially pressed, pressureless sintered in air at 1250–1400 °C for 2 h and characterized with respect to mechanical properties, microstructure and phase composition. The material exhibits a combination of high strength of 1000 MPa and a high toughness of 8.5–10 MPa√m. The measured fracture toughness is, however, extremely depending on measurement protocol. Direct crack length measurements overestimate toughness due to trapping effects. The initially purely tetragonal material has a high transformability of > 80 %, the transformation behavior is predominantly dilatoric, measured R-curve related toughness increments are in good agreement with transformation toughness increments derived from XRD data.

The Range–Doppler (R-D) model is extensively employed for the geometric processing of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. Refining the sensor motion state and imaging parameters is the most common method for achieving high-precision geometric processing using the R-D model, comprising a process that involves numerous parameters and complex computations. In this study, we introduce a novel approach to improve the positioning accuracy of the R-D model, implementing a low-order polynomial to compensate for the original imaging errors without altering the initial positioning parameters. We also design low-order polynomial compensation models with different parameters. The models are evaluated on various SAR images from different platforms and bands, including spaceborne TerraSAR-X and GF3-C images, manned airborne SAR-X images, and unmanned aerial vehicle-mounted miniSAR-Ku images. Furthermore, image positioning experiments involving the use of different polynomial compensation models and various numbers and distributions of Ground Control Points (GCPs) are conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that geometric processing accuracy comparable to that of the classical rigorous positioning method can be achieved even when applying only an affine transformation model to the images. Compared to classical refinement models, however, the proposed image-compensated R-D model is much simpler and easy to implement. Thus, this study provides a convenient, robust, and widely applicable method for the geometric positioning processing of SAR images, offering a potential approach for the joint-positioning processing of multi-source SAR images.

Peanut hulls (PH) are an edible food waste that is an underutilized food source for human consumption. While edible and palatable, they are mainly diverted to livestock feed or building materials. Here, we describe existing literature on human food valorization of PHs and propose methods to optimize recapturing nutrients (e.g. protein, fiber, polyphenols) lost by treating PHs as waste. Incorporated into common foods, PHs can be processed into functional ingredients to improve nutrient-density and the corresponding positive health outcomes associated with increases in plant foods. PH valorization can also address additional priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Goals using a Food Systems Approach (FSA) including food waste, increasing economic opportunities for farmers, and increasing the availability of healthy shelf-stable foodstuffs to address food security. Recent advances in sustainable food processing technologies can be utilized to safely incorporate peanut hulls into human food streams. We propose future applications that could make meaningful impacts to food availability and the nutritional composition of common foods. While the limited literature on this topic spans several decades, no global operations exist to incorporate peanut hulls and most publications precede the technological ‘green revolution’. The approaches outlined in this review may help bolster commercialization of this underutilized and nutritious food potentially improving opportunities for multiple global stakeholders.

Yttria stabilized zirconia materials are frequently used in mechanical engineering and biomedical applications. Demanding loading conditions require materials combining a high level of strength and fracture toughness. A ready to press alumina doped 2 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia powder was shaped by axial pressing and sintering in air at 1250 - 1500 °C for 2 h. The best combination of strength and toughness value of 7.8 MPa√m. Materials sintered in the middle of the chosen temperature range combine fully density, high transformability and small grain size. Toughness measurements by direct crack length measurements delivered unrealistically high fracture toughness values.

This study presents a groundbreaking approach in the field of gaming AI, focusing on the classic game” Pacman” through the lens of DRL integrated with advanced optimization techniques. The core of the research involves adapting DRL models for” Pacman”, utilizing the ESO for hyper- parameter tuning. These novel adaptations significantly enhance the AI agent’s performance, demonstrating a remarkable improvement in adaptability, responsiveness, and efficiency within the game environment. A pivotal aspect of this research is the innovative integration of metaheuristic optimization techniques into the DRL framework, a first in the domain of Atari gaming AI. This integration has proven essential in fine-tuning the DRL models, leading to a more effective and dynamic gaming experience. The study thoroughly evaluates and compares the performance of these algorithms, providing empirical support for their effectiveness and setting a new benchmark in AI-driven game development. The implications of this research extend beyond gaming AI, opening up possibilities for future exploration in several directions. Expanding DRL models to other complex gaming environments, continuous algorithmic enhancements, real-time learning adaptations, and applying these principles to robotics and autonomous vehicles are examples. The research also emphasizes ethical and responsible AI use in gaming to address fairness and addiction issues.

Despite the growing capabilities of large language models, concerns exist about the biases they develop. In this paper, we propose a novel, automated mechanism for debiasing through specified dataset augmentation in the lens of bias producers that can be useful in a variety of industries, especially ones that are “restricted” and have limited data. We consider that bias can occur due to intrinsic model architecture and dataset quality. The two aspects are evaluated using two different metrics we created. We show that our dataset augmentation algorithm reduces bias as measured by our metrics.

It has been empirically observed that the upper tail of the firm size distribution follows either the Pareto distribution or the Zipf distribution, with both patterns being explained by Gibrat’s law (Gabaix, 1999). This article analyzed firm revenue data from China, spanning from 2005 to 2013, to examine the whole range of the firm size distribution. Our empirical analysis revealed that firm revenue data over these years is well fitted by a three-parameter generalized Pareto distribution, with the fitted parameters indicating a dichotomy: The size distribution of large-sized firms, namely the upper tail, is asymptotically characterized by a Pareto distribution or a Zipf distribution, whereas the size distribution of smaller and medium-sized firms is approximated by an exponential distribution. This finding suggests that Gibrat’s law should be extended to account for the emergence of a generalized Pareto distribution.

A PLS-based quality prediction method is proposed for batch processes using two-dimensional extended windows. To realize the adoption of information in the direction of sampling time and batch, a new definition region of support (ROS), k-i-back-extended region of support (KIBROS), is proposed to establish the extended window, which including the data of the previous sampling times in the same batch, the data of the same sampling time in the historical batches, the data of the previous sampling times in the historical batches and the data of the later sampling times in the historical batches. According to these regions of support, extended windows are established, and different models are proposed based on the extended windows for batch processes quality prediction. Further, using a typical batch process as an example, the injection molding process, the proposed quality prediction method is experimentally verified, proving that the proposed methods have higher prediction accuracy than the traditional method and the prediction stability is also improved.

Dynamic systems which underly controlled systems are expected to increase in complexity as robots, devices, and connected networks become more intelligent. While classical stable systems converge to a stable point (a sink), another type of stability is to consider a stable path rather than a single point. Such stable paths can be made of saddles which draw in trajectories from certain regions, and then push the trajectory toward the next saddle point. These are chains of saddles are called stable heteroclinic channels (SHCs), and can be used in robotic control to represent time sequences. While we have previously shown that each saddle is visualizable as a trajectory waypoint in phase space, how to increase the fidelity of the trajectory was unclear. In this paper, we hypothesized that the waypoints can be individually modified to locally vary fidelity. Specifically, we expected that increasing the saddle value (ratio of saddle eigenvalues) causes the trajectory to slow to more closely approach a particular saddle. Combined with other parameters that control speed and magnitude, a system expressed with an SHC can be modified locally, point by point, without disrupting the rest of the path, supporting their use in motion primitives. However, even more complex trajectory shape modifications are possible. While some combinations can enable a trajectory to better reach into corners, other combinations can rotate, distort and round the trajectory in the region of a corner. In our example, modifying select saddle values produced a 32% decrease in the trajectory error of a complex trajectory produced using this system. This is an effect not visible in previous 1D studies, that can lead to different learnable and tunable representations of dynamic systems.

Driving factors of smart city construction are exploratively studied by grounded theory method based on text sources from journal papers in SCI and CSSCI databases. Initial scale of driving factors about smart city construction is obtained on the basis of above analyses. This paper modifies measuring items of the initial scale with a small sample pretest and reliability test, then forms final items by exploratory factor analysis. According to the above scale, questionnaires are designed to obtain empirical data, and confirmatory factor analysis is used to verify further validity and reliability of the scale. The results show that driving factors of smart city construction include three main dimensions: problem-oriented factors, business- or technology-driven factors and endogenous development requirements.

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is an electrochemical sensing technique that can be used for neurochemical sensing with high spatiotemporal resolution. Carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) are traditionally used as FSCV sensors. However, CFMEs are prone to electrochemical fouling caused by oxidative byproducts of repeated serotonin (5-HT) exposure, which makes them less suitable as a chronic 5-HT sensor. Our team is developing a boron-doped diamond microelectrode (BDDME) that has previously been shown to be relatively resistant to fouling caused by protein adsorption (biofouling). We sought to determine if the BDDME exhibits resistance to electrochemical fouling, which we explored on electrodes fabricated with either femtosecond laser cutting or physical cleaving. We recorded the oxidation current response after 25 repeated injections of 5-HT in a flow-injection-cell and compared the current drop from the first to the last injection. The 5-HT responses were compared to dopamine (DA), a neurochemical that is known to produce minimal fouling oxidative byproducts and have a stable repeated response. Physical cleaving of the BDDME yielded a reduction in fouling due to 5-HT compared to the CFME and the femtosecond laser cut BDDME. However, the femtosecond laser cut BDDME exhibited a large increase in sensitivity over the cleaved BDDME. An extended stability analysis was conducted for all device types following 5-HT fouling tests. This analysis demonstrated an improvement in the long-term stability of boron doped diamond over CFMEs, as well as a diminishing sensitivity of the laser cut BDDME over time. This work reports the electrochemical fouling performance of the BDDME when it is repeatedly exposed to DA or 5-HT, which informs the development of a chronic, diamond-based electrochemical sensor for long-term neurotransmitter measurements in vivo.

Beaches are among the habitats most frequented by migratory birds for breeding and/or wintering. However, threats such as human pressure and sea level rise can reduce the availability of these habitats for different species. The presence of alternative areas, such as salt pans and brackish habitats, is essential for many migratory shorebird populations. This study addresses the post-breeding dispersal of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in the Iberian Peninsula by analysing C and N isotopes in feathers. The study was conducted at six locations along the Iberian coast, which were categorized in three areas: NW Atlantic coast, the Atlantic coast of Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast. Although linear mixed models did not reveal any significant effects of sex or coastal area on isotopic levels, the variability in the data suggests different habitat-use strategies in the post-reproductive period. Birds from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula exhibit greater fidelity to a single habitat type, i.e. coastal beaches, while populations from the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic coast of Andalusia show different individual dispersal strategies, occupying coastal habitats and freshwater wetlands. The lack of alternative habitats for the northwest Iberian population, the reduction in available habitat due to rising sea levels and human pressure together pose a serious threat to the survival of this species, already with an unfavourable conservation status.

Background: The use of antitussives is a crucial issue in pediatrics and can lead to respiratory complications that can affect the prognosis. Objectives: to determine the frequency of respiratory complications associated with the use of an-titussives in pediatrics in a remote city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Method: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted between January 1, 2017 and De-cember 2022. Patients under 12 years of age with an acute cough were eligible. The parameters studied were treatment with cough suppressants and associated respiratory complications. Results: A total of 218 children suffered from an acute cough. The average age was 11 months 10, the sex ratio (H/F) was 126/92. In 30% of cases, children were treated with cough suppressants for an average of 7 days prior to admission. Respiratory complications were observed in 11% (23/218) of cases. The majority of these complications, 61% (14 of 23), had received antitussive treatment prior to hospitalization. Respiratory complications were associated with cough medications (p-value = 0.0012, relative risk (RR) = 3.66, IC90 [1.696; 7,873]). Acute respiratory distress was reported in 87% (20/23) of cases and was associated with the use of cough suppressants (p-value = 0.0065, RR: 3.060, IC90: [1.433; 6,485]). Conclusion: The use of antitussives in pediatrics poses a risk of acute respiratory distress in a remote city that does not have sufficient human and material resources for management. Keywords: cough, cough suppressants, pediatrics, complications, Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The high penetration of distributed energy resources poses significant challenges to the dispatch and operation of power systems. Improving the accuracy of short-term load forecasting (STLF) can optimize grid management, leading to increased economic and social benefits. Currently, some simple AI and hybrid models has issues to deal with and struggle with multivariate dependencies, long-term dependencies, and non-linear relationships. This paper proposes a novel hybrid model for short-term load forecasting (STLF) that integrates multiple AI models with Lasso regression using the stacking technique. The base learners include ANN, XgBoost, LSTM, Stacked LSTM, and Bi-LSTM, while Lasso regression serves as the meta-learner. By considering factors such as temperature, rainfall, and daily electricity prices, the model aims to more accurately reflect real-world conditions and enhance predictive accuracy. Empirical analyses on real-world datasets from Australia and Spain show significant improvements in forecasting accuracy, with a substantial reduction in Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) compared to existing hybrid models and individual AI models. This research highlights the efficiency of the stacking technique in improving STLF accuracy, suggesting potential operational efficiency benefits for the power industry.

New furan, thiophene and triazole oximes were synthesized through several-step reaction paths to investigate their potential for development of central nervous systems (CNS)-active and cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in organophosphorus compound (OP) poisonings. Acute OP poisoning is still a challenge in treating patients despite the development of a large number of oxime compounds that should have the capacity to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The activity of these two enzymes, crucial for neurotransmission, are blocked by the OP, which has the consequence of disturbing normal cholinergic nerve signal transduction in the peripheral and CNS, leading to cholinergic crisis. Oximes in use have one or two pyridinium rings and cross the brain–blood barrier poorly due to the quaternary nitrogen. Following our recent study on 2-thienostilbene oximes, in this paper we described the synthesis of 63 heterostilbene derivatives out of which 26 oximes were tested as inhibitors and reactivators of AChE and BChE inhibited by OP nerve agents – sarin and cyclosarin. While the majority of oximes were potent inhibitors of both enzymes in micromolar range, we identified several oximes as BChE or AChE selective inhibitors with a potential for drug development. Moreover, even oximes were poor reactivators of AChE, four heterocyclic derivatives reactivated the cyclosarin-inhibited BChE up to 70%, and cis,trans-5 [2-((Z)-2-(5-((E)-(hydroxyimino)methyl)thiophen-2-yl)vinyl)benzonitrile] had comparable reactivation efficacy to the standard oxime HI-6. In silico analysis and molecular docking studies connected the kinetic data to the structural features of these oximes, and confirmed their productive interactions with the active site of the cyclosarin-inhibited BChE. Based on inhibition and reactivation and their ADMET properties regarding lipophilicity, CNS activity, and hepatotoxicity, these compounds could be considered for further development of CNS-active reactivators in OP poisoning as well as cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

In this study, we present comprehensive climatologies of effective ultraviolet (UV) quantities and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) over Cyprus for the period 2004 to 2023, leveraging the synergy of earth observation (EO) data and radiative transfer model simulations. The EO dataset, encompassing satellite and re-analysis data for aerosols, total ozone column, and water vapor, alongside cloud modification factors, to capture the nuanced dynamics of Cyprus's atmospheric conditions. With a temporal resolution of 15 minutes and a spatial of 0.05°x0.05°, these climatologies undergo rigorous validation against established satellite datasets and are further evaluated through comparisons with ground-based global horizontal irradiance measurements provided by the Meteorological Office of Cyprus. This dual-method validation approach not only underscores the models' accuracy but also highlights their proficiency in capturing intra-daily cloud coverage variations. Our analysis extends to investigating the long-term trends of these solar radiation quantities, examining their interplay with changes in cloud attenuation, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and total ozone column (TOC). Significant decreasing trends in the noon ultraviolet index (UVI), of -2 to -4% per decade have been found in Autumn, especially marked on the island’s Northeastern part, mainly originating from the (significant) positive trends in TOC. The significant decreasing trends in TOC, of -2 to -3% per decade that were found in Spring do not result in correspondingly significant positive trends in the noon UVI since variations in cloudiness and aerosols also have a strong impact on the UVI in this season. The seasonal trends in the Daylight Integral (DLI) were generally not significant. These insights provide a valuable foundation for further studies aimed at developing public health strategies and enhancing agricultural productivity, highlighting the critical importance of accurate and high-resolution climatological data.

As high strength and ultra-high strength steels are widely used in all kinds of modern welded constructions, a lot of research is carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of weldments of these steels but there is a scarce information on such important characteristic as their corrosion behaviour. This research focuses on the corrosion behaviour of weld metal of weldments of S906QL and S700MC steels. Weld metal was tested electrochemically in a 3,5% NaCl aqueous solution via potentiodynamic scan to determine corrosion rate and its dependence on welding gap. No influence of welding gap on corrosion rate was found but the experimental results suggested that corrosion rate depended on the chemical composition of filler material and the microstructure of weld metal.

In this work, non-ordered and ordered CeO2-based catalysts are proposed for the CO2 conversion to dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Particularly, a non-ordered mesoporous CeO2, consisting of small nanoparticles of about 8 nm, is compared with two highly porous (635-722 m2/g) ordered CeO2@SBA-15 nanocomposites obtained by two different impregnation strategies (a two-solvent impregnation (TS) and a self-combustion (SC) method), with a final CeO2 loading of 10 wt%. The Rietveld analyses on XRD data combined with TEM imaging evidence the influence of the impregnation strategy on the dispersion of the active phase: nanoparticles of 8 nm for the TS composite vs. 3 nm for the SC composite. The catalytic results show comparable activity for the mesoporous ceria and the CeO2@SBA-15_SC nanocomposite, while a lower DMC yield was found for the CeO2@SBA-15_TS nanocomposite. This finding is presumably ascribed to a partial obstruction of the pores by the CeO2 nanoparticles in the case of the TS composite, which leads to a reduced accessibility of the active phase. On the other hand, in the case of the SC composite, where the CeO2 particle size is much lower than the pore size, there is an improved accessibility of the active phase to the molecules of the reactants.

Recent advancements in vascular organoid (VO) and vessel-on-chip (VoC) technologies have revolutionized our approach to studying cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), offering unprecedented insights through more physiologically relevant models. VOs generated from human pluripotent stem cells exhibit remarkable self-organization capabilities, forming complex three-dimensional structures that closely mimic human blood vessel architecture and function, while VoCs engineered with groundbreaking microfluidic systems that meticulously recreate the physical and functional attributes of blood vessels. These innovative constructs serve as powerful tools for investigating vascular development, disease progression, and therapeutic efficacy. By enabling the creation of patient-specific VOs and VoCs, they pave the way for personalized medicine approaches, allowing researchers to delve into genetic variations, intricate cellular interactions, and dynamic processes with exceptional resolution. The synergy between VOs and VoCs with cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell sequencing and high-resolution imaging has further amplified their potential, unveiling novel mechanisms underlying CVDs and identifying promising therapeutic targets. Herein, we summarize different types of VOs and VoCs and present an extensive overview on the generation and applications of VOs and VoCs in CVDs. We will also highlight clinical and translational challenges and future perspectives around VOs and VoCs.

Despite polycarbonate (PC) being a widely used engineering plastic, its notch and crack sensitivity pose challenges in critical applications. To address this, PC was blended with elastomeric polymers to explore the improvement in toughness. This study systematically investigates the toughening mechanisms of PC blended with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), copolyether ester elas-tomer (COPE), and ABS and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (MA). The morphology and mechanical behavior were evaluated under qua-si-static and high-speed tensile tests and Charpy impact tests using optical, electronic, and atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The morphological analysis reveals cavitation and crazing phenomena for COPE and SEBS-g-MA systems, and mostly debonding for ABS, indicating an improvement in toughening. While the addition of ABS improves the PC plastic deformation, modifying ABS with maleic anhydride enhances the elastic modulus. Blending PC with SEBS-g-MA increases the strain at break, and the addition of COPE significantly improves the deformation behavior of PC (by around 115%). This comparative study provides valuable insights into the performance of different PC-elastomer blends under similar conditions, supporting the selection of appropriate materials for given applications.

The article offers a comprehensive overview of recent breakthroughs in eco-friendly polymers and polymer composites, underscoring their pivotal role in addressing sustainability challenges across diverse industrial sectors. Despite encountering obstacles related to performance and processability, biopolymers sourced from renewable materials emerge as promising alternatives for the plastics that are currently used by human beings. Natural fillers are highlighted as a strategic avenue for crafting sustainable composites, with residual natural fillers being particularly explored. Heightened environmental concerns propel discussions on the criticality of integrating biodegradable materials with natural fillers, underlining the urgency for clear frameworks and financial incentives to support adoption of these materials. Additionally, the article examines the potential of biodegradable polymers and polymer composites, with a specific emphasis on the utilization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in composite materials and its market prospects. Moreover, it emphasizes the indispensable need for ongoing research and development endeavors to address environmental challenges within the polymer sector, reflecting a mounting interest in sustainable materials across industries.

Histones are keys to many epigenetic events and their complexes have therapeutic and diagnostic importance. The determination of the structures of histone complexes is fundamental in the design of new drugs. Computational molecular docking is widely used for the prediction of target-ligand complexes. Large, linear peptides like the tail regions of histones are challenging ligands for docking due to their large conformational flexibility, extensive hydration, and weak interactions with the shallow binding pockets of their reader proteins. Thus, fast docking methods often fail to produce complex structures of such peptide ligands at a level appropriate for drug design. To answer this challenge, and improve the structural quality of the docked complexes, post-docking refinement has been applied using various molecular dynamics (MD) approaches. However, a final consensus has not been reached on the desired MD refinement protocol. In the present study, MD refinement strategies were systematically explored on a set of problematic complexes of histone peptide ligands with relatively large errors in their docked geometries. Six protocols were compared that differ in their MD simulation parameters. In all cases, pre-MD hydration of the complex interface regions was applied to avoid the unwanted presence of empty cavities. The best-performing protocol achieved a median of 32 % improvement over the docked structures in terms of the change of root mean squared deviations from the experimental references. The influence of structural factors and explicit hydration on the performance of post-docking MD refinements was also discussed to help their implementation in future methods and applications.

This study investigated interactions between sugar-related dietary patterns (DP), personality traits, cognitive-behavioural, and emotional functioning. The study involved females aged 18-54. Data were collected between the Winter and Spring of 2020/21. The survey was conducted using anonymized questionnaires. The Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) was used to examine personality traits based on the Big Five Personality Trait Model. Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to measure eating behaviours: cogni-tive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). The KomPAN question-naire collected the frequency of intake. Dietary patterns (DPs) were derived by principal component analysis (PCA). A logistic regression (OR) was applied to verify the association between the DPs, personality traits, cognitive-behavioural and emotional functioning. Three DPs were identified: sweet-western (SWDP), pro-healthy (PHDP) and dairy (DDP). Women with high conscientiousness were less likely, by 33%, to adhere to the upper tercile of SWDP and 80% more likely to the upper tercile of PHDP. Elevated CR intensity increased by almost 2-fold (OR: 1.93; p

Structural deformations are one of the most significant factor that affects machine tool (MT) positioning accuracy. These induced errors are complex to be represented by a model, nevertheless they need to be evaluated and predicted in order to increase the machining performance. This paper presents a novel approach to calibrate a machine tool in real-time, analyzing the thermo-mechanical errors through Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors embedded in the MT frame. The proposed configuration consists of an adaptronic structure of passive materials, Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), equipped by FBG sensors that are able to measure in real-time the deformed conditions of the frame. By using a proper thermo-mechanical kinematic model, the displacement of the end effector may be predicted and corrected when it is subjected to external undesired factors. By starting from a set of FE simulations to develop a model able to describe the MT structure stresses, a prototype has been fabricated and tested. The scope was to compare the numerical model with the experimental tests using FBG sensors. The experimental campaign has been performed varying the structure temperature over time and measuring the tool tip point (TTP) positions. The obtained results showed a substantial matching between the real and the predicted position of TTP confirming the effectiveness of the proposed calibration system.

Introduction: Hypertension is a serious public health problem in Morocco. The objective of this pilot study was to estimate the salt intake of Moroccan adults by measuring 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Methods: 132 participants were recruited from the central region of Morocco. Sodium, potassium and creatinine levels were measured using the 24-hour urine samples. Additional data included anthropometric measurements and socio-demographic questionnaire. Results: The daily sodium, potassium and creatinine excretions were 2779.1±1334.9 mg, 1350.0±642.8 mg and 820.3 ± 381.2 mg, respectively. Data analysis revealed that 71.2% of the participants had a daily sodium intake more than 2000 mg (5g of salt) recommended by the WHO. The mean of potassium excretion was 1350.0±642.8 mg /day, this average was lower than 3.51g per day recommended by the WHO. Conclusion: Public health measures to reduce sodium and increase potassium consumption in order to decrease the population’s risk of high blood pressure and heart disease are recommended.

We study the electron tunneling (ET) and local Andreev reflection (AR) processes in a quantum dot (QD) coupled to the left and right ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear ferromagnetisms. In particular, we consider that the QD is also side-coupled to a nanowire hosting Majorana bound states (MBSs) at its ends. Our results show that when one mode of the MBSs is coupled simultaneously to both spin-up and spin-down electrons on the QD, the height of the central peak is quite different from that if the MBS is coupled to only one spin component electrons. The ET and AR conductances which are mediated by the dot-MBS hybridization strongly depend on the angle between the left and right magnetic moments in the leads, which result in sign change of the angle-dependent tunnel magnetic resistance. This result is very different from case when the QD is coupled to regular fermonic mode, and can be used for detecting the existence of MBSs, a current challenge in condensed matter physics under extensive investigations.

This paper proposed a three-layer distributed simulation network architecture: 1. Distributed virtual simulation network, 2. Perception and control sub-network, and 3. Collaborative communication service network. This simulation architecture runs on a distributed platform. The platform can provide a unique virtual scenario and several simulation services to verify the individual robot system's basic perception, control, and planning algorithms and the distributed collaborative algorithms of heterogeneous multi-robot systems. Furthermore, we designed a simulation experiment scenario for classical heterogeneous robot systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). At last, We gave a rough estimation model of the bandwidth.

Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse (ARFI) is an ultrasound integrated method, measuring stiff-ness by point shear wave elastography. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ARFI of the liver and of the spleen, combined with spleen dimension and platelet count, in predicting clinical events in cirrhosis, a prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2017 and February 2021. The following ratio scores with ARFI measurements were performed: ALSDP (ARFI Liver-Spleen Diameter-to-Platelets ratio score), ASSDP (ARFI Spleen-Spleen Diam-eter-to-Platelets ratio score), ASSAP (ARFI Spleen-Spleen Area-to-Platelets ratio score), ALSAP (ARFI Liver-Spleen Area-to-Platelets ratio score). In 100 enrolled subjects, spleen ARFI, ASSDP, ASSAP, were significantly associated with high-risk oesophageal varices (HRVs) in the prospec-tive short- and long-term follow-up and in the cross-sectional study (p 0.7). ARFI-ratio scores can predict, in cirrhotic patients, the risk of developing HVRs in short and long-term period.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is caused by pathologic variants in over 50 different genes that affect the structure and function of motile cilia. Low nasal NO (nNO) is a biomarker for diagnosis in patients with features of PCD; but the reason why it is low is unclear. At the cellular level, a characteristic feature shared by most PCD patients is that antigens and other particles are not cleared from the epithelial surface. Poor antigen clearance results in pro-oxidant pathway activation and airway epithelial damage and may predispose PCD patients to DUOX1- and IL33- mediated asthma. Secondary ciliary dysfunction, such as that caused by viruses or by smoking, can also contribute to asthma development. Variants in genes underlying the function of cilia, can be associated with poor lung function, even in the absence of PCD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in PCD – related genes can be associated with increased asthma severity. The role of cilia and antigen stasis is the pathophysiology of asthma is an important area for research, because specific airway clearance techniques and other therapeutic interventions, such as antioxidants, could be of value in preventing the development of asthma and asthma-like symptoms.

An adequate representation of the water infiltration process in the soil allows improving the efficiency in application and the uniformity in surface irrigation. The Green and Ampt model has shown a good representation of the process, and researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined the values of their parameters for soils of that country, which are shown in tables or through functional relationships and this information is used as reference in several parts of the world, although there is no certainty that they are representative of the soils in Mexico. In this study, the parameters of the Green & Ampt equation were determined and evaluated in some soils of agricultural importance in Mexico. The parameters were obtained in four ways: one of them applied a methodology adapted from Brooks and Corey to quantify the wetting front capillary pressure head and used an permeameter under constant hydraulic head to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity, and the other three consisted in taking them from three studies reported by the USDA. The values of the parameters suggested in Mexico drastically underestimated the results with relative errors (RE) in a range of -49.0 to -94.0% and the most representative were those obtained with the methodology proposed in this research with RE of -15.0 to 6.0%.

Recent technological advancements in conservation genetics and genomics have resulted in diverse tools for aiding conservation of species. The precision and resolution of high throughput sequencing technologies provide valuable insights to aid conservation decisions, but these technologies are often financially unfeasible or unavailable in resource constrained countries. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers, when combined with sensitive automated detection systems, provide a simple, cheap means to investigate genetic diversity and discriminate closely related species. Here we apply this technology to assess genetic diversity and taxonomic delimitation in the Encephalartos eugene-maraisii species complex, a highly threatened, taxonomically dubious group of cycads in South Africa. Our analyses support taxonomic singularity of E. dyerianus, E. dolomiticus and E. eugene-maraisii. Relationships between E. nubimontanus and E. cupidus remain uncertain. E. middelburgensis samples showed no clustering but had poor amplification success. This study demonstrates the suitability of automated ISSR fingerprinting as a method for plant conservation studies, especially in resource-constrained countries, and we make recommendations as to how this methodology can be effectively implemented.

The spread of micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has become a significant environmental concern, necessitating effective removal strategies. In this comprehensive scientific review, we examine the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a promising technology for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. We first describe the issue of MPs and NPs and their impact on the environment and human health. Then the fundamental principles of using MNPs for the removal of these pollutants will be presented, emphasizing that MNPs enable selective binding and separation of MPs and NPs from water sources. Furthermore, we provide a short summary of various types of MNPs that have proven effective in the removal of MPs and NPs. These include ferromagnetic nanoparticles, MNPs coated with organic polymers, as well as nanocomposites and magnetic nanostructures. We also review their properties, such as magnetic saturation, size, shape, surface functionalization and stability, and their influence on removal efficiency. Next, we describe different methods of utilizing MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs. We discuss their advantages, limitations, and potential for further development in detail. In the final part of the review, we provide an overview of existing studies and results demonstrating the effectiveness of using MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. We also address challenges that need to be overcome, such as nanoparticle optimization, process scalability, and the removal and recycling of nanoparticles after the completion of the process. This comprehensive scientific review offers an extensive insight into the use of MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. With improved understanding and the development of advanced materials and methods, this technology can play a crucial role in addressing the issue of MPs and NPs and preserving a clean and healthy environment.

As matrix representations of magic labelings of related hypergraphs, magic squares and their various variants have been applied to many domains. Among various subclasses, trimagic squares have been investigated for over a hundred years. The existence problem for trimagic squares with singly even orders and orders 16n has been solved completely. However, very little is known for the existence of trimagic squares with other even orders except for the only three examples and three families. We construct normal trimagic squares by using product constructions, row-square magic rectangles, and trimagic pairs of orthogonal diagonal Latin squares. We give a new product construction: For positive integers p, q, and r having the same parity other than 1, 2, 3, 6, if normal p × q and r × q row-square magic rectangles exist, then a normal trimagic square with order pqr exists. As its application, we construct normal trimagic squares of orders 8q^3 and 8pqr for all odd integers q not less than 7 and p,r ∈ {7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37}. Our construction can easily be extended to construct multimagic squares.

Biological nanoparticles (NPs), such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), exosome-mimetic nanovesicles (EMNVs) and nanoghosts (NGs), are perspective non-viral delivery vehicles for all types of therapeutic cargo. Biological NPs are renowned for their exceptional biocompatibility and safety, alongside their ease of functionalization, but a significant challenge arises when attempting to load therapeutic payloads, such as nucleic acids (NAs). One effective strategy involves fusing biological NPs with liposomes loaded with NAs, resulting in hybrid carriers that offer the benefits of both biological NPs and the capacity for high cargo loads. Despite their unique parameters, one of the major issues of virtually any nanoformulation is the ability to escape degradation in the compartment of endosomes and lysosomes which determines the overall efficiency of nanotherapeutics. In this study, we fabricated all major types of biological and hybrid NPs and studied their response to acidic environment observed in endolysosomal compartment. In this study, we show that EMNVs display increased protonation and swelling relative to EVs and NGs in an acidic environment. Furthermore, the hybrid NPs exhibit an even greater response compared to EMNVs. Short-term incubation of EMNVs in acidic pH corresponding to late endosomes and lysosomes again induces protonation and swelling, whereas hybrid NPs are ruptured, resulting in the decline of their quantities. Our findings demonstrate that in an acidic environment, there is enhanced rupture and release of vesicular cargo observed in hybrid EMNVs that are fused with liposomes compared to EMNVs alone. This was confirmed through PAGE electrophoresis analysis of mCherry protein loaded into nanoparticles. In vitro analysis of NPs colocalization with lysosomes in HepG2 cells demonstrated that EMNVs mostly avoid endolysosomal compartment whereas hybrid NPs escape it over time. To conclude, (1) hybrid biological NPs fused with liposomes appear more efficient in the endolysosomal escape via the mechanism of proton sponge associated with scavenging of protons by NPs, influx of counterions and water, and rupture of endo/lysosomes, but (2) EMNVs are much more efficient than hybrid NPs in actually avoiding endolysosomal compartment in human cells. These results reveal biochemical differences across four major types of biological and hybrid NPs, and indicate that EMNVs are more efficient in escaping or avoiding endolysosomal compartment.

Due to their high specificity, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have garnered significant attention in recent decades, with advancements in production processes, such as high seeding density (HSD) strategies, contributing to improved titers. This study provides a thorough investigation of high seeding processes for mAb production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Using a metabolic network and flux balance analysis, we compared standard fed-batch (STD FB) with HSD cultivations, exploring supplementary lactate and cysteine, and a bolus medium enriched in amino acids. We observed high glycolytic fluxes and depletion of asparagine simultaneously with the lactate shift building kinetic models around this and other observations. An ensemble of kinetic models assessed the impact of a feeding medium enriched with additional asparagine, revealing a missing lactate shift without enhancing mAb productivity in the experiments. This research provides valuable model-based insights into cellular metabolism during HSD processes, laying the foundation for refined CHO cell-based mAb production. The proposed hypothesis on the regulations guides future experimental validation and bioprocess optimization for enhanced mAb production efficiency.

Nanoparticles have been used as a novel drug delivery system. Drug-incorporated nanoparticles for local delivery might optimize the efficacy and minimize the side effects of drugs. The efficacy and safety of intratracheal administration of prostacyclin analog (beraprost)-incorporated nanoparticles and imatinib, a PDGF-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, -incorporated nanoparticles in Sugen-hypoxia-normoxia or monocrotaline rat models of PAH and in human PAH-pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells have been reported. The use of inhaled drug-incorporated nanoparticles might be a novel approach for treatment of PAH.

Nitrates can cause severe ecological imbalances in aquatic ecosystems, with considerable consequences for human health. Therefore, monitoring this inorganic form of nitrogen becomes essential for any water quality management structure. This research aimed at developing a novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System (NPMS) for monitoring nitrate concentrations in water samples. NPMS is a reagent-free ultraviolet system developed using low-cost electronic components. Its operation principle is based on Beer-Lambert law for measuring Nitrate concentrations in water samples through light absorption in the spectral range 295-315 nm. The system is equipped with ready to use ultraviolet sensor, Light Emission Diode (LED), op-amp, microcontroller, liquid crystal display, quartz cuvette, temperature sensor, and battery. All the components are assembled in a 3D-printed enclosure box which allows a very compact self-contained equipment, with high portability, enabling field and near real time measurements. The proposed methodology and the developed instrument were used to analyse multiple nitrate standard solutions. The performance was evaluated in comparison with the Nicolet Evolution 300, a classical UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the retrieved measurements by both instruments within the investigated spectral band and for concentrations above 5 mg NO3- /l.

In order to explore the yield-increasing mechanism of mechanized potato planting with corn straw mulching, a two-year ( 2021 and 2022 ) field experiment was conducted to study the effects of mechanized no-tillage with straw mulching on potato yield and water use efficiency. This experiment included corn straw mulching potato mechanized no-tillage planting ( JG ), plastic film mulching ( HM ) and open flat planting ( CK ). The results showed that mechanical no-tillage with straw mulching had significant effects on soil water content, yield and water use efficiency in 0-100 cm soil layer (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference in yield between JG and HM, but it was significantly higher than that of CK. The yield of JG was 3.09 %~12.27 % higher than that of CK. The yield increase was mainly achieved by increasing the potato weight per plant ( 0.697 ~ 0.862** ) and the average single potato weight ( 0.048 ~ 0.631 ). The tuber weight per plant was positively correlated with the plant height at seedling stage ( 0.03 ~ 0.92** ), and positively correlated with the dry weight of stems and leaves at tuber expansion stage and starch accumulation stage ( 0.74** ~ 0.95**). It was negatively correlated with the number of branches at tuber formation stage ( -0.33 ~ -0.88** ). Compared with CK, JG could significantly improve the water use efficiency of potato and reduce the water consumption during the whole growth period of crops. In 2021, JG was 6.5 % higher than CK, and HM was 6.88 % lower than CK. In 2022, JG and HM increased water use efficiency by 26.17 % and 14.50 % compared with CK. It can be seen that JG is a green and efficient mechanized potato cultivation technology suitable for dry farming areas.

The presented work offers a novel process scheme for valorizing historical Pb-Zn slag, which involves crushing, grinding, and then using separation techniques to concentrate valuable components (nonferrous metals). This methodology could have a significant impact on the global beneficiation of metallurgical slags since, in theory, it is significantly more simple, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective than standard pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical procedures. According to previous physicochemical and mineralogical studies, Pb-Zn slag from "Topilnica" Veles is a valuable secondary raw material. This inhomogeneous technogenic resource contains substantial amounts of nonferrous metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ag). However, laboratory tests have indicated that the Pb-Zn slag contains a very uneven valuable metals amounts, ranging from several g/ton to several tens of g/ton. The main issue is that traditional metallurgical procedures for releasing beneficial elements are not commercially viable since the valuable elements are "trapped" within amorphous aluminosilicates or intergrowths of alloy grains and glassy phases. Gravity concentration (Wilfley 13 shaking table) and magnetic separation (Davis separator and disk separator) were used to obtain the final concentrate following comminution and grindability testing. The gravity concentration proved more effective. This streamlined approach of valorizing Pb-Zn slag can reduce the need for hazardous chemicals used in hydrometallurgical refinement operations, as well as the extremely high temperatures required for pyrometallurgical processing. This is the first investigation into the feasibility of this novel approach, which includes direct investigations of the Pb-Zn slag feed using these alternative technologies. After extracting the valuable metals, the amorphous aluminosilicate part of the Pb-Zn slag can be reapplied as an alternative raw material in the building sector, adding to the circularity of the suggested approach..

: Leveraging the sustainability of the power system market, researchers have developed various ML models for forecasting electricity demand. The LSSVM is well suited to handle complex non-linear power load series. However, the less optimal regularization parameter and the Gaussian kernel function in the LSSVM model have contributed to flawed forecasting accuracy and random generalization ability. Thus, these parameters of LSSVM need to be chosen appropriately using intelligent optimization algorithms. This study proposes a hybrid model based on the LSSVM optimized by the IBFOA for forecasting the daily electricity load in Peninsular Malaysia. The IBFOA for parameter optimization of LSSVM is introduced. The IBFOA based on the sine cosine equation is proposed to adjust the constant step size in the BFOA, which creates an imbalance between the exploration and exploitation during optimization. Finally, the load forecasting model based on LSSVM-IBFOA is constructed using MAPE as the objective function. Comparative analysis demonstrates the model, achieving the highest R2 (0.9880) and significantly reducing error metrics (MAPE, MAE, RMSE, MSE, NRMSE) compared to the baseline LSSVM (average reduction of 27.72% to 47.72%). Additionally, IBFOA exhibits faster convergence and higher accuracy compared to BFOA, highlighting the accuracy of LSSVM-IBFOA for short-term load forecasting.

The p53 tumor suppressor protein shows antiviral activity. The replication of viruses is also antagonized by interferons (IFNs) – cytokines, which control immunity genes by the STAT transcription factors. The best studied interferons belong to type I (e.g. IFNα) and type II (IFNγ) groups. IFNα and IFNγ both induce activating phosphorylation of STAT1 on Tyr701. Previously, we noticed that p53 activates SOCS1, which is a negative regulator of STAT1 phosphorylation. Thus, we hypothesized that p53 by activating SOCS1 expression reduces phosphorylation of STAT1 and attenuates activation of genes stimulated either by IFNα or IFNγ. To test this hypothesis, we exposed p53-proficient and p53-deficient cells to strong p53 activators, and either to IFNα or IFNγ. Subsequently, we estimated the phosphorylation status of STAT1 and the expression of genes regulated by either of these cytokines. Strong activation of p53 reduced the phosphorylation of STAT1 on Tyr701, however surprisingly it did not lead to reduced expression of most tested interferon-stimulated genes. On contrary, p53 and IFNγ synergized in the activation of CASP1, IFIT1 and IFIT3 genes. We conclude that the interactions between p53 and interferon-activated pathways are more complicated than initially expected, but the apparent cooperation between p53 and IFNγ deserves further studies.

German noise action plans aim to reduce negative health outcomes from noise exposure and identify quiet areas free of noise pollution. Quiet area identification in German noise action plans is based primarily on noise mapping and spatial analysis and not empirical or qualitative data about acoustic environments, thus leaving a gap in the understanding of the quality of formally recognized quiet areas in noise action plans. This work presents a comparative empirical case study in Dortmund, Germany, with the aim to describe the diurnal dB(A) and biophonic properties of quiet areas versus noise 'hot spots'. Sound observations were collected (n=282,764) in five different natural or recreational land use patch types larger than four acres within 33 proposed quiet areas in Dortmund (n=70) and 23 noise hot spots between April 27^th, 2022 and March 2^nd, 2023. We find that quiet areas are on average more than 20 dB(A) quieter than noise hot spots almost every hour of the day. Forests, managed tree stands, cemeteries, and agriculture diel patterns are dominated by dawn dusk chorus in spring and summer, whereas sport and recreation as well as noise hot spots are dominated by traffic and human noise. A novel composite biophony mapping procedure is presented that finds distinct temporal distribution of biophony in forested and agriculture peri-urban locations positively associated with patch size, distance away from LDEN > 55, proximity to water, and the number of vegetation layers in the plant community. Anthrophony distribution dominates urban land uses in all hours of the day, but expands during day and evening and contracts at night and in dusk hours. The procedures presented here illustrate how qualitative information regarding quiet areas can be integrated into German noise action planning.

This scientific paper explores the increasingly widespread use of collaborative robots in the industrial environment, highlighting them as a solution to challenges related to the high costs of human labour and the associated management difficulties. The authors focus on the process of defining requirements for the implementation of collaborative robots, providing strategies based on mathematical management models. This approach translates into significant benefits for companies, such as cost reduction, quality improvement, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the paper proposes an innovative mathematical model for assessing total costs, budgeting, profitability, and electric power consumption associated with the operation of collaborative robots. This model allows for a comparison between the costs involved in using human labour and those associated with collaborative robots, providing critical information for technological investment decisions. The efficiency of this mathematical model is demonstrated through a practical application, where collaborative robots were integrated into a production environment, and costs and efficiency were evaluated compared to the use of human labour. This scientific paper provides a systematic and efficient approach to implementing collaborative robots in industrial processes, benefiting from strategies based on mathematical management models and an original mathematical model for evaluating performance and associated costs.

The recyclable paper based on photochromic materials not only reduces the pollution in the paper manufacture process, but also reduces the pollution caused by the use of ink, which receives wide attention. In this paper, a serial of PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid films which had different ratio of PMoA/PWA was prepared by the ultrasonic composite method. The results indicated that the hybrid film prepared when the ratio of PMoA to PWA was 3 had the best photochromic performance. In this system, ZnO was the photosensitizer while PMoA/PWA was the chromophore. The photochromic mechanism of PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film was based on the photogenerated electron transfer mechanism. ZnO generated photoelectron under the excitation of visible light, then PMoA and PWA obtained the photoelectron and produced photoreduction reaction to generate heteropolyblue. The visible light photochromic paper was prepared by loaded PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film (A3) on A4 paper. Application test showed that the prepared paper had extremely stable, excellent and reversible visible light photochromic properties, whether it was printing patterns or words and could replace the ordinary paper to realize the reuse of paper.

Simple Summary: The distribution of typical bacterial redox enzymes such as pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) in protozoa remains interestingly puzzling. Previous studies have demonstrated diverse cellular localizations of PFOR in some amitochondriate anaerobic protozoa. PFOR is of particular pharmacological importance because it catalyzes the reductive bio-activation of nitro-based prodrugs to cytotoxic radical metabolites. Metronidazole was developed primarily as an antiprotozoal agent against infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. However, its antimicrobial spectrum was subsequently expanded to cover anaerobic bacterial infections. It has been shown that mutations in the genes encoding PFOR result in inherent resistance of PFOR-possessing anaerobic protozoa and bacteria to nitro-based prodrugs. Deciphering the evolutionary history of PFOR is crucial in deepening our understanding of the evolution of anaerobic pathogens and unfold new approaches for drug discovery and targeting in pathogen chemotherapy. Abstract: The present frontrunners in the chemotherapy of infections caused by protozoa are nitro-based prodrugs that are selectively activated by PFOR-mediated redox reactions. This study seeks to analyze the distribution of PFOR in selected protozoa and bacteria by applying comparative bioinformatics approaches to test the hypothesis that PFOR was most likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria. Furthermore, to identify other genes that were putatively acquired using proteome-wide and gene expression analyses. A plausible explanation for the patchy occurrence of PFOR in protozoa is based on the hypothesis that bacteria are potential sources of genes that enhance optimal adaptation of protozoa in hostile environments. The exclusively expressed proteins obtained from Entamoeba histolytica and the putative gene donor, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, showed an over-expression of eleven genes involved in intermediary metabolism. If these results can be reproduced in other PFOR-possessing protozoa, it would provide a more validated evidence to support the horizontal transfer of pfor from bacteria.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Furthermore, patients with pancreatic cancer experience limited benefit from current chemotherapeutic approaches because of drug resistance. Therefore, an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with pancreatic cancer is urgently required. Deguelin is a natural chemopreventive drug that exerts potent antiproliferative activity in solid tumors by inducing cell death. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this activity have not been fully elucidated. Here we show that deguelin blocks autophagy and induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Autophagy induced by doxorubicin plays a protective role in pancreatic cancer cells, and suppressing autophagy by chloroquine or silencing autophagy protein 5 enhanced doxorubicin-induced cell death. Similarly, inhibition of autophagy by deguelin also chemosensitized pancreatic cancer cell lines to doxorubicin. These findings suggest that deguelin has potent anticancer effects against pancreatic cancer and potentiates the anti-cancer effects of doxorubicin. These findings provide evidence that combined treatment with deguelin and doxorubicin represents an effective strategy for treating pancreatic cancer.

Background: Endometriosis is a female chronic inflammatory disease in which endometrial tissue develops outside the uterine cavity. It is a complex pathology, that significantly contributes to morbidity in premenopausal women, leading to chronic pain, infertility, and subfertility negatively impacting the physical, and emotional well-being and overall quality of life. The public health burden of endometriosis remains elusive and challenging to determine, and this uncertainty can lead to inadequate healthcare services and treatments. Objective: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of endometriosis in Italy using the hospital discharge records database. Population-based retrospective study. Nationwide between 2011 and 2020. Methods: From the National Hospital Discharge Database were selected all admissions with a diagnosis of endometriosis (ICD-9-CM, codes 617.x), supported by the presence of a procedure code of laparoscopy or any other surgical procedure allowing direct visualisation of the lesions. Main outcomes measures Incidence and prevalence of endometriosis were estimated for the entire 2010-2020 period and by individual year, analysing the time trend and variability in different geographical areas of Italy. Results: A total of 134,667,646 women aged 15–50 years with one or more hospitalisations for endometriosis in all Italian hospitals. The incidence of endometriosis in Italy during this period was 0.839 per 1000 women (CI95% 0.834-0.844), exhibiting a statistically significant decreasing trend over the years. A discernible north-south gradient was observed, with higher rates documented in the northern regions. The prevalence rate stood at 14.0 per 1000 during the same period, and a similar north-south geographical gradient was identifiable in the prevalence rates as well. Conclusions: The utilization of national-level hospital data enables the generation of incidence and prevalence data for endometriosis without variations in methods and definitions, facilitating the evaluation of temporal trends and regional comparisons. Understanding and quantifying this phenomenon is essential for appropriate healthcare planning in various Italian regions.

JAK2 V617F is a somatic mutation associated with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN): polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). In MPNs this mutation is associated with the germline GGCC (46/1) haplotype. Most studies consider the association of the JAK2 haplotypeGGCC_46/1 with some MPNs clinical parameters but no one analyzed the association between JAK2 haplotypeGGCC_46/1 and the onset of onco-drug resistance. Thus, we assessed for JAK2 46/1 haplotype correlation with therapy response in JAK2 V617F positive patients. Patients with MPN, selected by the Hematology Laboratory of “V. Fazzi” Hospital (LE), were analyzed with RLFP-PCR assay with rs10974944 SNP. Most of them had PV (63%) or PMF (61%). Among patients that developed onco-drug resistance, 58% had C/G genotype and only 11% had the G/G allele. No correlation between onco-drug resistance and JAK2 haplotype 46/1 variants emerged. Nevertheless, we observed that G/G allele seems to be related to MPNs evolution to myelofibrosis and to the development of onco-drug resistance clinical parameters (p-value= 0.002449; odd ratio of 3.701209). Thus, although other analyses are required, due to the narrow cardinality of sample, our findings suggest how the G/G allele could be useful for MPNs diagnosis and for the prediction of the disease outcome.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides with complex structures naturally occurring in grains (i.e., barley, corn, and others) providing many health benefits, especially as prebiotics. AXs can be classified as water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) based on their solubility, with properties influenced by grain sources and extraction methods. A large body of evidence shows that AXs exert an im-portant health impact, including glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and immune system enhancement, which is induced by the interactions between AXs and the gut microbiota. Recent research underscores the dependence of AX physiological effects on structure, advocating for a deeper understanding of struc-ture-activity relationships. While systematic studies on WEAX are prevalent, knowledge gaps persist re-garding WUAX, despite its higher grain abundance. Thus, this review reports recent data on WUAX struc-tural properties (chemical structure, branching, MW) in cereals under different treatments. It discusses WUAX applications in baking and its benefits deriving from gut fermentation.

This study examined the impact of differences in fruit load of olive trees on the rate of stem refilling. The experiment was conducted in a commercial olive orchard over the consecutive years of 2021 and 2022, during which the biennial bearing cycle of olive trees resulted in minimal fruit production in 2021 and maximal production in 2022. The rate of stem refilling was determined by quantifying the differences in water volume traversing the apex and base of the principal branches of experimental trees using sap flow sensors. Concurrent measurements of tree water status were also conducted using psychrometers, while soil moisture content dynamics were continuously recorded. Results indicate that alternate bearing significantly influences the stem refilling process, while soil moisture availability also plays a pivotal role. Water reserves were more intensively utilized during the year of full production (“ON” year) primarily to fulfill the water demands of developing fruits. This replenishment occurred in various periods during the day, including early morning, afternoon, and night, when stomatal conductance measurements indicated stomatal closure. The study suggests a more intense replenishment of reserves during the night in "ON" year trees, irrespective of soil moisture, water vapor pressure deficit, or phenological fruit development stage.

During an interdisciplinary study of the mire “Pod Małym Śnieżnikiem”, a very old specimen of the Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) was encountered. The aim of the present work was to perform a detailed examination of this tree, to compare it to other spruce trees on the mire, and to provide support for establishing protection for this tree stand. Tree-ring cores were sampled at 1.3 m above ground using Pressler borer, in two field campaigns: in June and July 2023, the latter campaign aiming to find the oldest trees. A total of 46 trees were sampled, yielding 84 measuring radii. Tree ring widths were measured down to 0.01 mm under a stereomicroscope. The oldest sampled tree yielded a total of 370 tree rings in the two radii, representing the period 1653–2022. The average tree ring width for TM15 equals 0.33 mm/year, and shows low values (on average 0.19 mm/year) for the period 1742–1943, i.e., during the Little Ice Age cooling. TM15 does not stand out from other trees from the population with respect to height or trunk diameter. A comparison of the age of this tree to the oldest spruce trees in Poland indicates that it is one of the longest living specimens of this species. Considering the natural character of the stand, the remaining flora and the peat-forming processes taking place within the mire “Pod Małym Śnieżnikiem”, we argue that the mire should become protected by the law as soon as possible in order to preserve this valuable high-mountain habitat.

Following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in countries bordering Kenya to the west, we conducted surveillance among domestic and wild birds along the shores of Lake Victoria. In addition, between 2018 and 2020, we conducted surveillance among poultry and poultry workers in live bird markets and among wild migratory birds in various lakes that are resting sites during migration to assess introduction and circulation of avian influenza viruses in these populations. We tested 7,464 specimens (oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs) from poultry and 6,531 fresh fecal specimens from wild birds for influenza A viruses by real-time RT-PCR. Influenza was detected in 3.9% (n=292) of specimens collected from poultry and 0.2% (n=10) of fecal specimens from wild birds. On hemagglutinin subtyping, most of the influenza A positives from poultry (274/292, 93.8%) were H9. Of 34 H9 specimens randomly selected for further subtyping, all were H9N2. On phylogenetic analysis, these viruses were genetically similar to other H9 viruses detected in East Africa. Only two of the ten influenza A positive specimens from the wild bird fecal specimens were successfully subtyped; sequencing analysis of one specimen collected in 2018 was identified as low pathogenicity avian influenza H5N2 virus of the Eurasian lineage and the second specimen, collected in 2020, was subtyped as H11. A total of 18 OP/NS swabs from poultry workers with ARI (12%) were collected; none were positive for influenza A virus. We observed significant circulation of H9N2 influenza viruses in poultry in live bird markets in Kenya. During the same period, low pathogenic H5N2 virus was detected in a fecal specimen collected in a site hosting a variety of migratory and resident birds. Although HPAI H5N8 was not detected in this survey, these results highlight the potential for introduction and establishment of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry populations and the associated risk of spillover to human populations.

Complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia (CAH) carries a high probability of cancer. Intraoperative evaluation of endometrial cancer in cases of CAH has not been reliable. The safety and sensitivity of sentinel lymph node (SLN) sampling has been validated. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SLN sampling in CAH managed by the da Vinci robotic platform. A total of 113 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of CAH were included in this retrospective cohort study. All underwent a robot assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with 69 patients undergoing SLN sampling. Statistical analysis calculated the probability of cancer, SLN map rate, and surgical complications. Predictors of cancer were evaluated. Forty-seven percent of the entire cohort were diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Median age was 63 years in the SLN cohort (N = 69) and 61 in the No SLN cohort (N = 44) (p= 0.363).  Median BMI was 34 Kg/m2 in the SLN cohort and 40 in the No SLN cohort (p= 0.004). Bilateral SLN map was 92.8% and unilateral SLN map rate was 7.2%. There were no grade 3-4 complications in the SLN cohort, and 4 grade 3-4 complications in the No SLN group (p=0.021). A preoperative diagnosis of CAH bordering on or cannot rule out cancer was the only predictor of cancer.

The field of construction materials is pivotal in developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This demands continuous research to understand the properties and behaviors of these materials under diverse conditions. Although advancements in material science and numerical modeling have been significant, experimental testing remains indispensable for a thorough comprehension of material characteristics, particularly under extreme stresses and environmental factors. This need has forced the development of a wide array of testing techniques, each designed to evaluate specific engineering properties, thus creating a complex and varied landscape of experimental methodologies. This study provides a comprehensive overview of both conventional and innovative experimental testing techniques used to characterize construction materials. It explores the related methodologies and identifies potential gaps in their application within the industry. The spectrum of testing covered includes mechanical, chemical, thermal, microstructural, durability, physical, rheological properties, and non-destructive testing methods. Mechanical tests assess strength, hardness, and fatigue, whereas chemical analyses utilize techniques such as spectroscopy and chromatography. Thermal properties are examined using thermogravimetric analysis, and microstructural characteristics are explored through advanced imaging techniques. Durability testing focuses on materials’ resistance to environmental challenges, while physical properties tests evaluate aspects like porosity and water absorption. Rheological and non-destructive tests further examine materials’ behavior and integrity without causing damage. By discussing these methodologies, the study sheds light on various approaches to material evaluation and aims to enhance the selection, application, and development of testing standards. This overview seeks to inform and inspire future research and innovation in the science of construction materials, contributing to the development of more resilient and sustainable construction practices.

Abstract This study delved into the application of various machine learning (ML) models for the classification of lung cancer levels. Through meticulous monitoring of parameters such as minimum child weight and learning rate, efforts were made to mitigate overfitting while optimizing model performance. The Deep Neural Network (DNN) emerged as a standout performer, showcasing robust performance across training, validation, and testing stages. Ensemble methods like voting and bagging also demonstrated promising results. However, Support Vector Machine (SVM) models with the Sigmoid kernel faced challenges in achieving satisfactory performance. Overall, the investigation sheds light on the efficacy of different ML models in lung cancer level classification and underscores the importance of parameter tuning to address overfitting concerns.

Effective waste elimination is critical for the success of construction projects. Although several studies have focused on various aspects of construction waste, limited efforts have investigated the dynamic effect of Making-Do (MD) practices on productivity, rework, defects, and materials wastage. From a lean construction perspective, this study aims to address MD waste using the Last Planner System (LPS) and BIM. First, the casual structure that can cause MD in construction projects was expressed in a casual loop diagram (CLD), and thematic analysis uncovered the strategies of LPS-BIM to eliminate MD identified by reviewing the literature. Secondly, twenty-five strategies from the LPS and BIM strategies to address MD using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were assessed. Subsequently, a system dynamics model (SDM) for investigating LPS-BIM strategies on MD decisions in a construction project was formulated based on the underlying causal loop diagrams and the mathematical relations among the variables. Finally, the model was applied to three projects, and simulations for four LPS-BIM scenarios were carried out. The findings show that dynamic interactions among diverse production planning and control factors are critical in evaluating MD impacts on a construction project. The results demonstrate that the LPS-BIM approach resulted in an average 43.8% reduction in the tasks performed with MD, 45.3% of constraints, 66.5% of construction waste, increasing 13.7% completion rate, and 29.3% cost reduction, demonstrating that LPS-BIM as a more efficient solution for MD mitigation and construction planning.

In response to the burgeoning global demand for premium agricultural products, particularly within the competitive nut market, this paper introduces an innovative methodology aimed at enhancing the grading process for almonds and their shells. Leveraging state-of-the-art Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), specifically the AlmondNet-20 architecture, our study achieves exceptional accuracy exceeding 99%, facilitated by the utilization of a 20-layer CNN model. To bolster robustness in differentiating between almonds and shells, data augmentation techniques are employed, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of our classification system. Our model, meticulously trained over 1000 epochs, demonstrates remarkable performance, boasting an accuracy rate of 99% alongside a minimal loss function of 0.0567. Rigorous evaluation through test datasets further validates the efficacy of our approach, revealing impeccable precision, recall, and F1-score metrics for almond detection. Beyond its technical prowess, this advanced classification system offers tangible benefits to both industry experts and non-specialists alike, ensuring globally reliable almond classification. The application of deep learning algorithms, as showcased in our study, not only enhances grading accuracy but also presents opportunities for product patents, thereby contributing to the economic value of our nation. Through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as the AlmondNet-20 model, we pave the way for future advancements in agricultural product classification, ultimately enriching global trade and economic prosperity.

The partial discharge (PD) event in high voltage insulation releases energy, exerts mechanical pressure, and generates elastic waves. Detecting and locating these PD events through short-duration acoustic pulses is well-established, particularly in gas-insulated systems and oil-insulated transformers. However, its full potential remains untapped in solid insulation systems, where the propagation capability of acoustic pulse and the acoustic reflections pose fundamental challenges to the Acoustic Emission (AE) detection technique. This study investigates the influence of reflections and multiple paths on the propagating acoustic pulse in polymeric insulating materials using a finite element method (FEM) in COMSOL. It was observed that the reflections from the boundary influence the propagating pulse's shape, peak magnitude, and arrival time. An analytical MATLAB model further quantifies the impact of multiple propagation paths on the shape, magnitude, and arrival time of the pulse travelling in a cylinder. Additionally, a Perfect Matched Layer (PML) was implemented in the COMSOL model to eliminate reflections from the boundary, and it revealed that the acoustic pulse magnitude decreases with distance following the inverse square law. In essence, the models aid in measuring how reflections contribute to the observed signals, facilitating the precise identification of the source of the PD event in the tested system.

This paper presents the results of investigations into the pyrolysis of waste polypropylene in a laboratory fixed-bed batch reactor. The experiments were designed and verified in such a way as to allow the application of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in the development of an empirical mathematical model that quantifies the impacts mentioned above. The influence of the mass of the raw material (50, 100 and 150 g), together with the reactor temperature (450, 475 and 500 °C) and the reaction time (45, 50 and 75 min) was examined. It has been shown that the mass of the raw material, i.e. the filling volume of the reactor, has a significant influence on the pyrolysis oil yield. This influence exceeds the influence of reactor temperature and reaction time. This was explained by observing the temperature change inside the reactor at three different spots at the bottom, middle and top of the reactor. Recorded temperature diagrams show that with greater masses of feedstock, local overheating occurs in the middle part of the reactor, which leads to overcracking of vapor products, and from there to an increased formation of non-condensable gases, i.e. reduced yield of pyrolytic oil.

Based on PVDF (piezoelectric sensing techniques), this paper attempts to study the propagation law of shock waves in brittle materials during the process of three-wavelength laser irradiation of polysilicon, and discusses the formation mechanism of thermal shock failure. The experimental results show that the vapor pressure effect and the plasma pressure effect in the process of pulsed laser irradiation lead to the splashing of high temperature and high density melt. With the decrease of the laser wavelength, the laser breakdown threshold decreases and the shock wave is weakened. Because of pressure effect of the laser shock, the brittle fracture zone is at the edge of the irradiated area. The surface tension gradient and surface shear wave caused by the surface wave are the result of coherent coupling between optical and thermodynamics. The average propagation velocity of laser shock wave in polysilicon is 8.47×103m/s, and the experiment has reached the conclusion that the laser shock wave pressure peak exponentially distributes attenuation in the polysilicon.

Dinoflagellates belonging to Hematodinium are important parasites of marine crustaceans, primarily dec-apods. In this study, we document the first report of H. perezi Chatton & Poisson, 1930 on the African Atlantic coast. This is also the first parasite record in the invasive American blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 in Morocco. Specimens of C. sapidus were sampled in winter 2023 from two Ramsar sites on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, namely Merja Zerga and Oualidia Lagoons, and were screened to detect the presence of parasites in their hemolymph. Based on staining fresh hemolymph smears, we did not de-tect Hematodinium in any of the 36 investigated individuals (20 and 16 from Merja Zerga and Oualidia lagoons, respectively), probably due to methodological artifacts. The PCR-based method was revealed to be more accurate in diagnosing the Hematodinium parasite. It showed that 13 blue crabs were infected by the parasite at Merja Zerga Lagoon (prevalence 65%) and four individuals at Oualidia Lagoon (25%). Ge-netic analysis, based on the ITS1 rDNA gene from Hematodinium, confirmed the sequences as being those of Hematodinium perezi.

In the realm of metal steel and iron manufacturing, there is a constant drive to optimize production efficiency and enhance the quality of the final products. This abstract explores a paradigm shift in this industry through the utilization of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a powerful tool for achieving these goals .The study focuses on various critical aspects of the manufacturing process. Firstly, it delves into three-phase processes such as slag and gas entrainment in liquid steel, which have a significant impact on the overall product quality. Understanding and optimizing these processes is crucial to ensure the desired chemical composition and physical properties of the final metal.The abstract investigates the role of CFD in vacuum degassing, a process that plays a pivotal role in removing impurities, such as hydrogen and oxygen, from the liquid steel. By leveraging CFD to simulate and analyze the fluid flow patterns, researchers and engineers can design more efficient vacuum degassing systems, leading to improved product purity and reduced waste.Another crucial aspect explored in this abstract is the alloy melt and mixing process. By employing CFD simulations, researchers can gain insights into the movement of different alloy components and optimize their distribution within the melt. This aids in achieving the desired alloy composition, ensuring uniformity, and enhancing the mechanical properties of the final product.In addition, the study delves into the movement and flotation of inclusions, which are unwanted impurities present in the metal. CFD can be utilized to model and analyze the behavior of these inclusions, enabling engineers to design efficient strategies for their removal, thereby enhancing the purity and integrity of the final product.Moreover, the abstract considers the impact of melt temperature losses, which can occur during different stages of the manufacturing process. By employing CFD, it becomes possible to understand and mitigate these temperature losses, leading to improved energy efficiency and better control over the manufacturing parameters.Part 1 of this abstract critically evaluates the use of CFD in iron making, analyzing its benefits and limitations. It highlights how CFD can aid in process optimization, improving the understanding of complex phenomena involved in iron making, and ultimately leading to enhanced production efficiency.Part 2 focuses on the application of CFD in steel making and steel operation. It explores the fluid flow dynamics during different stages of steel production, including refining, casting, and rolling. By leveraging CFD, engineers can optimize these processes, leading to improved product quality, reduced defects, and increased productivity.This abstract demonstrates the transformative potential of Computational Fluid Dynamics in metal, steel, and iron manufacturing. By utilizing CFD as a tool to model and analyze complex fluid flow phenomena, researchers and engineers can revolutionize the production process, maximizing efficiency, and ensuring high-quality end products.

This paper is referred to a top frontline research in life science, showing that in spite of the large variation of the physiological architecture and behavioral forms of the living systems, the fundamental structure of their informational system is basically the same, allowing the body growth/development by micro to macro-structuration processes, maintaining the same informational configuration and functions like the basic unit of life – the eukaryotic cell. Starting and based on the determination of the special/specific info-operability in living structures and the role of information in structuration and their functionality, there are discussed the informational functions of the eukaryotic/prokaryotic cells, the simplest units of life and is elaborated and presented the Informational Model of the Living Structures, showing that these structures operate on the basis of two main informational systems: one of them defined as the Programmed Informational System, composed by three components, assuring respectively the info-generation, maintenance and the proliferation/reproduction, and another one defined as the Operative Informational System, necessary for the continuous communication with the environment for adaptation, consisting in four main components referred to memory, decision, sentience and info-connection/info-selection. The revealed properties are compared with the Informational System of the Human Body, as a prototype of a living system on the top of the evolutionary scale, showing/demonstrating the compatibility of structuration and functions on the entire scale, from prokaryotic/eukaryotic unit cells to multicellular organisms – plants, animals and human, by means of a continuous adaptation process, which always follows the same line of micro to macro-structuration process based on the same Info-organization and functionality. These models are new and revolutionary in the information and life sciences

In the context of rapid urbanization, the spatiotemporal patterns of socio-economic exposed to high seismic hazard in large cities lacks quantitative assessment, thus, it is difficult to understand the evolution of earthquake catastrophe risk there. In this paper, exposure change rate, and absolute and relatively exposure indices were proposed to quantitatively study the changes of spatiotemporal exposure to high seismic hazard in urban areas of large cities (i.e., permanent residents in urban areas more than 1 million) in Chinese mainland, using a set of multi-temporal population, GDP, and built-up datasets and a seismic hazard zoning map. The results show that, 64 out of 78 large cities are entirely or partially located in high seismically hazardous zones. Although the urban areas of large cities in high seismically hazardous zones (HSHUAs) cover only 1.73% (167177 km²) of mainland China, their share of population, GDP, and built-up land amounted to 18.14%, 30.24% and 24.55%, respectively, in 2015. Unprecedented urbanization has led to a dramatic exposure growth in HSHUAs between 1990 and 2015. The population, GDP, and built-up land in HSHUAs increased by 110 million people (with an average annual growth rate of 2.37%), 273.71 trillion USD(average annual growth rate of 11.15%), and 10593 km2 (average annual growth rate of 2.02%), respectively. HSHUAs experienced much faster population and GDP growth than the whole country, while relatively slower growth in built-up land. Exposure growth in HSHUAs also was varied for different types of large cities. Megacities had a higher proportion of increased GDP and population in HSHUAs, induced by industry and population agglomeration. Whereas, Type II large cities had a higher proportion of increased built-up land in HSHUAs, driven mainly by urban sprawl. Our analysis indicates that, for large cities under rapid urbanization, it is an urgent need to strengthen resilient urban planning, renewal and construction.

Salmonella Typhimurium is a typical Gram-Negative bacterium associated with food-borne illness threatening public health. This pathogen is reported to have caused millions of infections and thousands of hospitalizations yearly in the United States alone. Salmonella Typhimurium has a sophisticated array of virulent factors, including its flagella, which contributes significantly to its pathogenicity. Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, has attracted the interest of many researchers recently because of its antimicrobial properties. With the growing interest in exploring CBD’s antimicrobial properties, we, in this study, have delved into unravelling how prolonged exposure of Salmonella Typhimurium to CBD influences the expression of the flgA gene. We hypothesized that the exposure of Salmonella Typhimurium to CBD may result in flgA upregulation, causing the bacteria to withstand various stresses and potentially enhance its survival rates and pathogenicity. We have employed several assays, such as mRNA expression, motility assays, pH induction assays, nutrient starvation interventions, and biofilm analysis, to explore the influence of CBD on the pathophysiology of Salmonella Typhimurium. Our findings reveal that CBD-resistant strains exhibit enhanced resilience to extreme pH levels and motility and survive poorly under nutrient starvation, with more robust biofilm formation compared to the susceptible strains. The results contribute to the broader comprehension of CBD resistance mechanisms in bacteria. This work provides insight into the potential therapeutic interventions for controlling CBD-resistant bacterial infections. This study also underscores the essence of exploring novel alternative antimicrobial agents to tackle the ever-persistence of bacterial antibiotic resistance.

Monitoring and protecting flowing watercourses is a complex and challenging task that requires the collaboration and coordination of various stakeholders such as governments, industries, farmers, consumers and environmental groups. The study of the dynamics of the concentration of polluting factors and especially the concentrations of heavy metals and highlighting a seasonal variation is a necessary element from this point of view. In this article, we present the results of our analyzes carried out in two measurement campaigns executed in 10 monitoring points along the Danube River, between Braila city and Isaccea city in the pre-deltaic area, during the summer season and autumn season 2022. The importance of this area is given by the fact that the Dan-ube Delta is part of the UNESCO heritage and the monitoring of polluting factors is a necessity in the desire to protect this area. The data measured during the July and August 2022 campaign co-vers a wide range of chemical species: Phosphate, CCO, CBO5, NH4+, N-NO2, N-NO3-, N-Total, P-PO4 3-, SO42-, Cl-, phenols, as well as metals with a harmful effect: Aluminum, Arsenic, Cad-mium, Chromium, Iron. The study includes an evaluation based on the statistical approach of the results to highlight the significant correlations and differences identified between the two data sets. Next, to highlight the obtained results, a numerical model was considered using HEC-RAS and ESRI ArcGis applications in a two-dimensional unsteady flow model in order to get the non-homogenous concentrations’distributions in the studied area. These two-dimensional models have been less studied in the specialized literature. In this way, interesting results could be ob-tained and prediction methods regarding the dynamics of metal concentrations could be struc-tured. The data obtained was used for the terrain model from the USGS service and the flows of the Danube and its two tributaries were simulated using the data provided by the national ser-vices. In this work, we present the results obtained for the dynamics of the concentrations of the metals Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium and Iron and the evaluation of the specific ab-sorption coefficients for the explanation and correlation with the results of the measurements. The study is part of a more complex project in which the spatio-temporal distribution of the polluting factors in the water was evaluated and the habitats in the study area were inventoried - especially those of community interest. the aspects related to the influence of the distribution of polluting factors on the state of health will be the subject of another article.

Mechanical ventilation (MV), used in patients with acute lung injury (ALI), induces diaphragmatic myofiber atrophy and contractile inactivity, termed ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase- (PI3K-) is crucial in modulating fibrogenesis during the reparative phase of ALI; however, the mechanisms regulating the interactions among MV, myofiber fibrosis, and PI3K- remain unclear. We hypothesized MV with or without bleomycin treatment would increase diaphragm muscle fibrosis through the PI3K- pathway. Five days after receiving a single bolus of 0.075 units bleomycin intratracheally, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 6 or 10 mL/kg MV for 8 h after receiving 5 mg/kg of AS605240 intraperitoneally. In wild-type mice, bleomycin exposure followed by MV 10 mL/kg prompted significant increases in disruptions of diaphragmatic myofibrillar organization, transforming growth factor-1, oxidative loads, Masson’s trichrome staining, extracellular collagen levels, positive staining of -smooth muscle actin, PI3K- expression, and myonuclear apoptosis (P < 0.05). Decreased diaphragm contractility and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor- coactivator-1 levels were also observed (P < 0.05). MV-augmented bleomycin-induced diaphragm fibrosis and myonuclear apoptosis were attenuated in PI3K-γ-deficient mice and through AS605240-induced inhibition of PI3K- activity (P < 0.05). MV-augmented diaphragm fibrosis after bleomycin-induced ALI is partially mediated through PI3K-γ. Therapy targeting PI3K-γ may ameliorate MV-associated diaphragm fibrosis.

Children are inherently curious about everything they encounter, making the early years a perfect time for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) investigations. An outdoor learning environment can influence STEAM concept formation of preschoolers with intentional design that offer STEAM learning affordances. Despite the rising interest in early STEAM education, there is still limited literature on how the outdoor environment may influence STEAM learning behaviors of preschoolers (3-5 years old). This scoping review intends to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding the physical factors that contribute to STEAM learning affordances in an outdoor environment for children aged 3 to 5. The review included studies from the last twenty years. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the criteria outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). For this scoping review, 843 citations were discovered across four databases (JSTOR, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science), ProQuest, and Google Scholar, and 31 articles were considered eligible for inclusion. Through the synthesis of information from those 31 studies, a list of STEAM learning behaviors of children and STEAM activity-supportive settings were identified that may positively influence preschoolers' STEAM concept development.

X-ray Fluorescence Computed Tomography (XFCT) is an emerging non-invasive imaging technique providing molecular-level data, gaining attention for high-resolution imaging. However, increased sensitivity with benchtop X-ray sources raises radiation exposure. Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning (DL), has revolutionized medical imaging by delivering high-quality images in the presence of noise. In XFCT, traditional methods rely on complex algorithms for noise reduction, but AI holds promise in addressing high-dose concerns. We present an optimized SCUNet model for noise reduction in low-concentration XRF images. Compared to higher-dose images, our method’s effectiveness is evaluated. While various denoising techniques exist for X-ray and CT, few address to XFCT. The DL model is trained and assessed using the augmented data, focusing on background noise reduction. Image quality is measured using PSNR and SSIM, comparing outcomes with 100% X-ray dose images. Results show the proposed algorithm achieves high-quality images from low-dose and low-contrast agents, with a maximum PSNR of 39.05 and SSIM of 0.86. The model outperforms BM3D, NLM, DnCNN, and SCUNet in both visual inspection and quantitative analysis, particularly in high-noise scenarios. This indicates the potential of AI, specifically the SCUNet model, in significantly improving XFCT imaging by mitigating the trade-off between sensitivity and radiation exposure.

We introduce a series of twisted donor-acceptor (D-A) carbazole-benzophenone based electroactive bipolar derivatives that were synthesized through the reaction of 4-fluorobenzophenone with various partially alkylated 3,3’-bicarbazoles. The comprehensive structural characterization of these compounds is provided. These amorphous materials exhibit suitable glass transition temperatures ranging from 57 to 102 °C and demonstrate high thermal stability, with decomposition temperatures reaching 400 °C. Moreover, the developed materials exhibit elevated photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) of up to 75.5% and favorable HOMO-LUMO levels, along with suitable triplet-singlet state energy values. Due to their good solubility and suitable film-forming properties, all the compounds were evaluated as blue emitters dispersed in 4,4’-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,10-biphenyl (CBP) host for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in concentration dependent experiments. Among these experiments, the device containing 15 wt% of the guest 4-(9’-{2-ethylhexyl}-[3,3’]-bicarbazol-9-yl)benzophenone demonstrated the best characteristics, achieving maximum brightness of 3581 cd/m2, current efficiency of 5.7 cd/A, power efficiency of 4.1 lm/W and external quantum efficiency of 2.7%.

Limited understanding exists regarding the intricate dynamics between the levels of social inhi-bition exhibited by both wives and husbands concerning their perceived family support and de-pressive symptoms, particularly within couples who are parents of children diagnosed with au-tism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study used the actor-partner, interdependence mediation model to analyze data collected from 397 pairs of Chinese parents with children diagnosed with ASD. The findings of the study revealed significant indirect actor effects, indicating that the levels of social inhibition exhibited by both wives and husbands were associated with their own de-pressive symptoms through their respective perceptions of family support. In general, the study did not find significant partner effects, except for some indirect effect (IE) of wives on their hus-bands' depressive symptoms through the wives' perceived social support. This observation sug-gests that cultural norms and role expectations within the family context may influence these dy-namics. These results underscore the potential importance of interventions aimed at addressing social inhibition and enhancing perceived family support to alleviate depressive symptoms in this population. Additionally, interventions targeting fathers should emphasize the importance of their involvement in parenting and collaboration with their partners in caring for children with ASD. Such collaborative efforts may contribute to improved outcomes for both parents and chil-dren within families affected by ASD.

A new Mg-Zn-Zr-Ca alloy in powder state was obtained via mechanical alloying method, from pure elemental powder. Further, the obtained powder-alloy was processed by selective laser melting (SLM) procedure to obtain 3D printed samples for small biodegradable implants. A series of microstructural, mechanical and corrosion analysis were performed. The SEM analysis of powder-alloy reveal a good dimensional homogeneity, with uniform colored, no agglutinated and almost rounded particles, suitable for selective laser melting procedure. Further, the SLM samples reveal a robust and unbreakable morphology, with a suitable porosity and without undesirable balling effect. The tested Young’s modulus of the SLM samples, of 42 GPa, is close to cortical bone one, of 30 GPa. The corrosion tests performed in PBS (Phosphate-buffered saline) solution show that the corrosion parameters have a satisfactory evolution.

The literature offers limited information on the effect of obesity on the rate of force development, a critical parameter for mobility in older adults. The objectives of this study were; to explore the influence of obesity on RFD in older adults and to examine the association between this neuromuscular parameter and walking speed. 42 older adults were classified into two groups: the control group (CG, n=22; age=81.13±4.02 years; Body mass index (BMI)=25.13±3.35 kg/m²), and the obese group (OG, n=20; age=77.71±2.95 years; BMI=34.46±3.25 kg/m²). Walking speed (m/s) was measured using the 10-meter walking test. Neuromuscular parameters of the plantar flexors were evaluated during a maximal voluntary contraction test using a dynamometer. The RFD was calculated from the linear slop of the force – time curve in two phases: from the onset of the contraction to 50 ms (RFD50-100) and from 100 to 200 ms (RFD100-200). The gait speed was lower in the OG compared to the CG (p

Background: Molecular genetic events are among the numerous factors affecting the clinical course of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant expression of miRNA, as well as different thyroid-related genes, correlate with the aggressive clinical course of PTC and unfavorable treatment outcome, which opens up new avenues for using them in personalization of the treatment strategy for patients with PTC. In the present work, our goal was to assess the applicability of molecular markers in preoperative diagnosis of aggressive variants of papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: The molecular genetic profile (expression levels of 34 different markers and BRAF mutation) was studied for 108 cytology specimens collected by fine-needle aspiration biopsy in patients with PTC having different clinical manifestations. Results: Statistically significant differences with adjustment for multiple comparisons (p < 0.0015) for clinically aggressive variants of PTC were obtained for four markers: miRNA-146b, miRNA-221, FN1, and CDKN2A. Weak statistical correlation (0.0015< р<0.05) was observed for miRNA-31, -375, -551b, -148b, -125b, mtDNA, CITED1, TPO, HMGA2, CLU, NIS, SERPINA1, TFF3, and TMPRSS4. Conclusions: The recurrence risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma can be preoperatively predicted using miRNA-221, the fibronectin and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A genes.

Background. The treatment of coronary stenosis relies on invasive high risk surgical assessment to generate the fractional flow reserve diagnostics index, a ratio of distal to proximal pressures in respect of coronary atherosclerotic plaque causing stenosis. Non-invasive methods are therefore a need of the times. This study proposes an extensible mathematical description of the coronary vasculature that permits rapid estimation of the coronary fractional flow reserve. Methods. By adapting an existing closed loop model of human coronary blood flow, the effects of large vessel stenosis and microvascular disease on fractional flow reserve were quantified. Several simula-tions generated flow and pressure information which was used to compute fractional flow re-serve under a spectrum of conditions including focal stenosis, diffuse stenosis, and microvascular disease. Sensitivity analysis stratified the influence of model parameters on the index. The model was simulated as coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations and numerically solved us-ing an implicit higher order method. Results. Large vessel stenosis affected fractional flow re-serve. The model predicts that the presence, rather than severity, of microvascular disease affect coronary flow deleteriously. Sensitivity analysis revealed that heart rate may not affect the index. Conclusions. The model provides a computationally inexpensive instrument for future in silico coronary blood flow investigations as well as clinical-imaging decision making. A combination of focal and diffuse stenosis appears to be essential in reducing the index. In addition to pressure measurements in the large epicardial vessels, diagnosis of microvascular disease is essential. The independence of the index with respect to heart rate suggests that computationally inexpensive steady state simulations may provide sufficient information to reliably compute the index.

(Background) Canine mammary tumors (CMT) have emerged as an important model for understanding pathophysiological aspects of human disease. Liquid biopsy (LB), which relies on blood-borne biomarkers and offers minimal invasiveness, holds promise for reflecting the disease status of patients. Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) and their protein cargo have recently gained attention as potential tools for disease screening and monitoring. (Objectives) This study aimed to isolate SEVs from canine patients and analyze their proteomic profile to assess their diagnostic and prognostic potential. (Methods) Plasma samples were collected from female dogs grouped into CMT (malignant and benign), healthy controls, relapse, and remission groups. SEVs were isolated and characterized using ultracentrifugation (UC), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proteomic analysis of circulating SEVs was conducted using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS). (Results) While no significant differences were observed in the concentration and size of exosomes among the studied groups, proteomic profiling revealed important variations. Mass spectrometry identified exclusive proteins that could serve as potential biomarkers for mammary cancer. These included Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH2 and ITI4), phosphopyruvate hydratase or alpha enolase (ENO1), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), actin (ACTB), transthyretin (TTR), beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (APOH) and gelsolin (GSN) found in female dogs with malignant tumors. Additionally, Vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), also known as group-specific component (GC), was identified as a protein present during remission. (Conclusion) The results underscore the potential of proteins found in SEVs as valuable biomarkers in CMT. Despite the lack of differences in vesicle concentration and size between the groups, the analysis of protein content revealed promising markers with potential applications in CMT diagnosis and monitoring. These findings suggest a novel approach in the development of more precise and effective diagnostic tools for this challenging clinical condition.

Gravity forward modeling as a basic tool has been wildly used to topography correction and 3D density inversion. The source region is usually discretized into tesseroid (i.e., spherical prism) to consider the influence of the curvature of planets in global or large-scale problems. Traditional gravity forward modeling methods in spherical coordinates, including the Taylor expansion and Gaussian-Legendre quadrature, are all based on spatial domain, which are mostly low computational efficiency. This study proposes a high-efficient forward modeling method of gravitational fields in spherical harmonic domain, in which the gravity anomalies and gradient tensors can be expressed as spherical harmonic synthesis form of spherical harmonic coefficients of 3D density distribution. A homogeneous spherical shell model has been used to test its effectiveness compared with traditional spatial domain methods. It demonstrates that the computational efficiency of the proposed spherical harmonic domain method has improved by four orders of magnitude and with a similar level of computational accuracy compared with the optimized 3D GLQ method. Finally, the proposed forward method is applied to topography correction of the Moon. The results show that the gravity response of the topography by our method is close to that of the optimized 3D GLQ method, and is also consistent with previous results.

Purpose: Investigation for the co-occurrence of two unrelated genetic disorders of muscular dystrophy and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) (OMIM # 176270) using joint whole genome sequencing (WGS). Methods: Trio WGS joint analysis was performed to investigate the genetic etiology in a proband with PWS, prolonged muscular hypotonia associated hyperCKemia, and early-onset obesity. The parents were unaffected. Results: Results showed maternal isodisomy uniparental disomy (UPD) in chromosome 15 expanding from 15q11.2 to 15q22.2, including PWS regions at 15q11.2-15q13. Maternal heterodisomy was detected from 15q22.2 to 15q26.3. A pathogenic variant, NM_000070.3(CAPN3):c.550del (p.Thr184fs), was identified at 15q15.1 in a heterozygous state in the mother that was homozygous in the proband due to maternal isodisomy. Conclusion: This is the first study of the concurrent molecular etiology of PWS and calpainopathy (OMIM # 253600) in the same patient. This report highlights the utility of joint analysis and need for the assessment of autosomal recessive disease in regions of isodisomy in patients with complex and unexplained phenotype.

Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Croatia, are linked to the high prevalence of hypertension. Both are associated with high salt intake which was determined almost two decades ago when Croatian Action on Salt and Health (CRASH) was launched. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate salt, potassium, and iodine intake using 24-hour urine samples in a random sample of adult Croatian population, and to analyse trends in salt consumption after the CRASH has intensively started. Methods: In this national population-based EH-UH 2 study performed in 2018-2021 (participation rate 72 %) in which we analysed a single 24-hour urine sample, 1067 adult participants (mean age 57.12 (SD 13.9), men 35%) were included. Results: Mean salt and potassium intakes were 8.6 g/day (IQR 6.2-11.2) and 2.8 g/day (IQR 2.1-3.5), respectively, with sodium-to-potassium ratio of 2.6 (IQR 1.8-3.3). We detected a decrease of 17.6% (2 g/day less) in salt consumption compared to our previous salt-mapping study. However, only 13.7%, and 8.9 % met the WHO salt and potassium recommended target of 5 g/day, and 3.5 g/day, respectively. Salt intake was higher, and potassium ingestion was lower in rural vs. urban regions, and in continental vs. Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Moderate to severe iodine insufficiency was determined in only 3% adult participants. Conclusion: In the last fifteen years, salt consumption has been significantly reduced in Croatian adult population because of intensive and broad CRASH program led by the Croatian Society of Hypertension and the Croatian Hypertension League. However, salt intake is still too high, and potassium ingestion is too low. With expected more active engagement and help of the government, obtained results could be significantly improved. Salt reduction programs are most cost-effective methods of cardiovascular disease prevention and should be considered more seriously by the government and health policy makers.

Wildfires have short- and long-term impacts on the geoenvironment, including the changes to biogeochemical and mechanical properties of soils, landfill stability, surface- and groundwater, air pollution, and vegetation. Climate change has increased the extent and severity of wildfires across the world. Simultaneously, anthropogenic activities—through the expansion of urban areas into wildlands, abandonment of rural practices, and accidental or intentional fire-inception activities—are also responsible for a majority of fires. This paper provides an overall review and critical appraisal of existing knowledge about processes induced by wildfires and their impact on the geoenvironment. Burning of vegetation leads to loss of root reinforcement and changes in soil hydromechanical properties. Also, depending on the fire temperature, soil can be rendered hydrophobic or hydrophilic and compromise soil nutrition levels, hinder revegetation, and, in turn, increase post-fire erosion and debris flow susceptibility of hillslopes. In addition to direct hazards, wildfires pollute air and soil with smoke and fire suppression agents releasing toxic, persistent, and relatively mobile contaminants into the geoenvironment. Nevertheless, the mitigation of wildfires’ geoenvironmental impacts does not fit within the scope of this paper. In the end, in no exhaustive way, some areas of future need for research are highlighted.

Catalytic studies for hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) are essential for process optimization. Likewise, selecting the ideal support for the active phase can be critical to achieve high conversion rates during the catalytic steam reforming. In this work, copper-based catalysts were synthesized using two different supports, NaY zeolite and Nb2O5/Al2O3 mixed oxides. The materials were prepared using wet impregnation and characterized for their physicochemical properties using different analytical techniques. Differences in catalyst morphologies were readily attributed to the characteristics of the support. The Cu/NaY catalyst showed better textural properties than Cu/Nb2O5/Al2O3, resulting in a homogeneous metal dispersion over the support surface. Both catalytic systems were active in SRE, but Cu/NaY resulted in higher ethanol conversions compared to Cu/Nb2O5/Al2O3. Hence, the performance of copper-based catalysts was influenced significantly by the textural properties of the support.

This study assesses the effectiveness of HCV self-testing (HCVST) distribution models compared to provider-led HCV testing (PL-HCVT), including the standard of care facility-based HCVT (SOC-HCVT) and community-based organization HCVT (CBO-HCVT) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a larger implementation science study in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from September 2023 to April 2024. We engaged 8 CBOs and 10 public and private clinics in offering choice of HCVST through community-based and facility-based distribution, and secondary distribution), or PL-HCVT via SOC-HCVT and CBO-HCVT. Among 1,165 PWID, 693 opted for HCVST and 472 for PL-HCVT. The proportion of first-time testers was significantly higher in HIVST community-based and secondary distribution as well as CBO-HCVT compared to SOC-HCVT and facility-based HCVST (87.1%, 93.3% and 82.7% vs. 41.9% and 35.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Overall, HCV seropositivity rate was lower in HCVST than PL-HCVT, however, higher in HCVST facility-based and community-based distribution compared to HCVST secondary distribution (28.1% and 20.4% vs. 5.7%, respectively). Community-based HCVST was most effective, followed by facility-based HCVST and secondary distribution. Our findings indicate that HCVST effectively reaches first-time testers and results in more people diagnosed and treated among PWID.

High Education Institutions (HEI) play a key role in fostering sustainability since students will be future active society members. By providing them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address environmental challenges, they can contribute to increase sustainability in a long-term approach. With the effects of climate change strongly affecting water availability across planet, it is increasingly relevant to understand if higher education students are aware of this situation, to develop adequate measures to promote sustainable behaviors regarding water uses. This study aimed to assess students’ perceptions regarding water efficiency through a questionnaire submitted in 7 HEI in Portugal. Students recognized the importance of water with older students, women and science students demonstrating a greater awareness. Inspite of this 27% students do not know what the average water consumption in Portugal is and only 18% accurately reported the consumption range in Portugal. There is also a lack of knowledge (&gt;50% students) if common water efficiency measures are applied in their HEI. The main information sources identified by the students were “social communication” and “internet/social media”, revealing that water efficiency knowledge transfer in high education can be improved.

Ammonia can be considered a relevant compound in the future energy sector, playing a significant role as an energy carrier, storage, or carbon-free fuel. However, the production of this molecule has a high energy demand, and the use of natural gas, which is not free of controversy due to the accidental leakage into the atmosphere produced during extraction and the fact that it is a non-renewable source, contributes to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the process’s energy demand and carbon footprint will be essential to making ammonia a clear alternative for a carbon-free economy. Given the vast experience in ammonia production and handling, this gas seems to be the logical step forward in the evolution of the energy sector. However, the current uncertainty in the global market requires cautiousness in decision-making. Several factors may impact economic growth and human welfare, thus needing a careful assessment before taking any transcendental decisions that could affect worldwide energy prices and raw material availability.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important cytokine in host defense against tuberculosis infection. In some cases, administration of IFN-γ during tuberculosis infection can promote faster cure. In the present work, we have shown that in a mouse model, human interferon-gamma, exhibits some anti-tuberculosis activity, especially in combination with isoniazid.

Background: Fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) have been proposed as an alternative to traditional metal alloys for the realization of frameworks in full-arch implant supported prostheses. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the deflection under load of seven prostheses endowed with frameworks made of different materials, including different types of fiber reinforced composites (FRCs). Methods: A master cast with four implant analogues in correspondence of the two lateral incisors and the two first molars was used to create full-arch fixed prostheses with the same shape and different materials. Prostheses were made in different materials (framework+veneering material): gold alloy+resin (Au+R), titanium+resin (Ti+R), FRC with multi-directional carbon fibers+resin (ICFRC+R), FRC with unidirectional carbon fibers+composite (UCFRC+C), FRC with glass fibers+resin (GFRC+R), FRC with glass fibers+composite (GFRC+C), resin (R, full-acrylic prosthesis). Flexural tests were conducted using Zwick/Roell Z 0.5 machine and the deflection of the lower surface of the prosthesis was measured in order to obtain load/deflection graphs. Results: Greater rigidity and less deflection were recorded for UCFRC+C, GFRC+C, followed by Ti+R, and Au+R. The greatest deformations were observed for resin alone, ICFRC+R and GFRC+R. The results were slightly different in the incisal region probably due to the greater amount of veneering material in this area. Conclusions: When used to realize full-arch frameworks, Au and Ti allow a predictable mechanical behavior with gradual deformations with increasing load. UCFRC also demonstrated good outcomes and less deflection than ICFRCs when loaded. The GFRC full-arch framework may be a valid alternative, however showed greater deflections. Further studies are needed in order to evaluated how different prosthesis design and material thickness might affect the outcomes.

This article considers the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development in relation to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We conceptualize sustainability from a social systemic perspective, that is, from a perspective that encompasses the multiple functionalities of a social system and their interrelationships in particular environmental contexts. The systems perspective is applied in our consideration and analysis of disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development (SD). Section 1 introduces briefly sustainability and sustainable development, followed by a brief presentation of the theory of complex social systems (Section 2). The theory conceptualizes interdependent subsystems, their multiple functionalities, and the agential and systemic responses to internal and external stressors on a social system. Section 3 considers disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), emerging in response to one or more systemic stressors. It illustrates these with disaster risk reduction in the cases of food and chemical security regulation in the EU. CCA is illustrated by initiatives and developments on the island of Gotland, Sweden and in the Gothenburg Metropolitan area, which go beyond a limited CCA perspective, taking into account long-term sustainability issues. Section 4 discusses the limitations of DRR and CCA, not only their technical limitations but economic, socio-cultural, and political limitations, as informed from a sustainability perspective. It is argued that DRRs are only partial subsystems and must be considered and assessed in the context of a more encompassing systemic perspective. Part of the discussion is focused on the distinction between sustainable and non-sustainable DRRs and CCAs. Section 5 presents a few concluding remarks about the importance of a systemic perspective in analyzing DRR and CCA as well as other similar subsystems in terms of sustainable development.

Previously, we described a 19-base pair double-stranded RNA with 3'-trinucleotide overhangs, acting as immunostimulatory RNA (isRNA). This molecule demonstrated notable antiproliferative effects on cancer cells, inhibited tumor growth, and elicited immunostimulatory and antiviral responses by inducing cytokine and interferon production. Within this study, we compared the efficiency of lung fibrosis development, initiated in mice by BLM or LPS using different schemes of induction. Then we compared the effect of isRNA used in a preventive or therapeutic regimen on the development of fibrosis in selected BLM- and LPS-induced mouse models and showed that isRNA can be used in pathological conditions accompanied by the development of inflammation and the risk of fibrosis formation, without adverse side effects. Prophylactic regimen of isRNA application is beneficial for prevention of the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: The workplace burnout syndrome is often associated with particular aspects of certain job positions, especially those which entail working with people with special needs. The burnout syndrome in healthcare jobs is a serious problem which has grown into an epidemic among healthcare workers and associates. Objectives: The aim of this research is to assess the presence of stress and burnout syndrome at work with healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates and associates in social service institutions in Belgrade. Material and Methods: This research has been conducted in the form of a cross-sectional study of a representative sample in social institutions in Belgrade. It has been conducted from March to the end of June of 2023. The sample of the study had 491 participants. The questionnaires used were a structured instrument with social-demographic and social-economic characteristics, workplace characteristics, life style characteristics, and the following questionnaires: DASS-21, Copenhagen, Brief Resilience Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Results: The end results indicate the following to be significant risk factors for the occurrence of workplace burnout syndrome: overtime (OR=2.62; CI=1.50-4.56), BRS average score (OR=0.28; CI=0.17-0.44), DASS21 D heightened depression (OR=2.09; CI=1.1-4.04), DASS21 A heightened anxiety (OR=2.38; CI=1.34-4.21), DASS21 S heightened stress (OR=2.08; CI=1.11-3.89). The only protective risk factor which stood out was the self-assessment of health levels (OR=0.60; CI=0.42-0.85). Conclusion: Overtime is a significant predictor of workplace burnout. Apart from it, other significant predictors of workplace burnout were heightened depression, anxiety, and stress levels.

The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. In the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution, and wildlife-induced damage. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Due to its shade tolerance and environmental flexibility, particularly at higher altitudes, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands. It can form stands of heterogeneous structure, ranging from single to multi-layer to selection. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared to Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). During global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. This paper essentially reviews the description and distribution of the species, its ecological requirements, threats and diseases, habitat and stand conditions, and close-to-nature forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change.

Mathematical optimization offers a valuable approach to tackle Industry scheduling problems. By formulating the scheduling challenge as a mathematical problem, mathematical optimization enables efficient and effective decision-making processes. Mathematical optimization is particularly beneficial in complex scheduling scenarios, such as in networked manufacturing environments, where multiple jobs and resources need to be coordinated. By leveraging optimization models and algorithms, it becomes possible to generate optimal process plans, considering factors like job dependencies, resource availability, and timing constraints. Through mathematical optimization, organizations can achieve improved efficiency, reduced lead times, and enhanced utilization of resources. Rigorous mathematical formulations and optimization techniques enables to surpass traditional manual planning methods and brings forth powerful computational capabilities. By optimizing various scheduling objectives, from minimizing makespan to maximizing resource utilization, mathematical optimization provides organizations with valuable insights and actionable plans. The purpose of this study is to discuss scheduling solutions for multiple jobs in a networked manufacturing setting based on mathematical optimization process. The study analyses a solver-based approach to generate the optimal process plans for multiple jobs and compare it with a more traditional game-theoretic approach. The objectives aim to develop two solver-based model using Z3 and Gurobi to generate optimal process plans; implement a game-theoretic model to solve for the same set of scheduling problems, and compare the computational time, solution quality, and efficiency of both approaches. To achieve this, the methodology will start with the problem definition. Multiple jobs are to be scheduled on a set of parallel machines. Each job has predefined processing times, deadlines, and priorities. The objective is to minimize the total completion time and maximize machine utilization while meeting all deadlines.

This study presents the first genome assembly of the freshwater saprobe fungus Neonectria lugdunensis and a comprehensive phylogenomics analysis of the Nectriaceae family, examining genomic traits according to fungal lifestyles. The Nectriaceae family, one of the largest in Hypocreales, includes fungi with significant ecological roles and economic importance as plant pathogens, endophytes, and saprobes. The phylogenomics analysis identified 2684 single-copy orthologs, providing a robust evolutionary framework for the Nectriaceae family. We analyzed the genomic characteristics of 17 Nectriaceae genomes, focusing on their carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and adaptations to environmental temperatures. Our results highlight the adaptation mechanisms of N. lugdunensis, emphasizing its capabilities for plant-litter degradation and enzyme activity in varying temperatures. Comparative genomics of different Nectriaceae lifestyles revealed significant differences in genome size, gene content, repetitive elements, and secondary metabolite production. Endophytes exhibited larger genomes, more effector proteins, and BGCs, while plant pathogens had higher thermo-adapted protein counts, suggesting greater resilience to global warming. In contrast, the freshwater saprobe shows less adaptation to warmer temperatures and is important for conservation goals. This study underscores the importance of understanding fungal genomic adaptations to predict ecosystem impacts and conservation targets in the face of climate change.

The joint extraction of entities and relations is a critical task in information extraction, and its performance directly affects the performance of downstream tasks. However, existing joint extraction models based on deep learning exhibit weak processing capabilities for the phenomenon of multiple pronunciations of one character and multiple characters of one pronunciation when processing Chinese texts, resulting in performance loss. To address these issues, this paper introduces part-of-speech (POS) and pinyin features to aid the model in learning semantic features that are more contextually appropriate. A Chinese Joint Entity and Relation Extraction Model based on Progressive Contrastive Learning and Heterogeneous Feature Fusion is proposed (CJE-PCHF). During model training, an interactive fusion network based on progressive contrastive learning is employed to learn the dependencies between pinyin, POS, and semantic features. This guides the model in heterogeneous feature fusion, capturing higher-order semantic associations between heterogeneous features. On the commonly used DuIE evaluation dataset for joint extraction, this model achieved a significant improvement, with the F1 score increasing by 5.4% compared to the benchmark model CasRel.

Yoga promotes acceptance, compassion, physicality, active postures, mental and emotional awareness, and spiritual benefits. It involves breath techniques, postures, and body locks, maintaining balance and strength. It's based on ethical principles. Beyond simple performance, swimming is a catalyst for overall well-being. Complementarily, yoga serves as an invaluable adjunct for swimmers, enhancing flexibility, strength, and body awareness - a triad essential to aquatic excellence. The confluence of yoga and swimming, particularly through the practice of aqua yoga asanas, presents a new paradigm for both athletes and non-performers alike. Athletes who embrace the harmonious fusion of swimming and yoga unearth the potential for achieving not just athletic mastery but also a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. This blend provides a route not only to enhance performance in the water but also to elevate the overall quality of life. We examined the feasibility of incorporating yoga and swimming practice into Romanian subjects' lifestyles, designing a factor analysis in SmartPLS software, based on an online survey. The study assesses the participants' knowledge of yoga's theory and philosophy, as well as their perceptions of the swimming practice's benefits for social and health issues. According to our study, Romanian participants practice yoga and swimming as often as possible to reduce stress, improve concentration for work-related tasks, and improve joint elasticity, balance, and muscular tone. Thus, Yoga and swimming are substitutes for other approaches in prevention and therapy.