Experimental studies of degradation of two ribonucleosides (guanosine and uridine) were carried out by making use of mechanochemistry. Mechanochemical experiments reveal the decomposition of guanosine and uridine promoted by nickel(II) and carbonate ions into guanine and uracil, respectively which were identified by HPLC and 1H NMR spectroscopy (this applied only to uracil). Additionally, DFT methodologies were used to probe the energetic viability of several degradation pathways, including in the presence of the same ions. Three mechanisms were analysed via ribose ring-opening: dry, single molecule water- and metal-assisted, which confirmed the mechanochemical degradation of ribonucleosides, with nucleobase preservation. These results can be applied to interpret the organic content of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial samples after mechanochemical treatment.

The analysis of water inflow is a key issue in the construction of subsea tunnels. However, present research on the water inflow of subsea tunnels is predominantly focused on single-bore tunnels. Given the current practices in engineering, it is common to see a parallel configuration of three bores. In such cases, the proximity of tunnels to one another might result in alterations to the water inflow due to the interplay of seepage fields. This paper begins by conducting a numerical simulation to assess the water inflow characteristics of a three-bore parallel subsea tunnel. The study then investigates the impact of many factors, including the permeability coefficient of the surrounding rock, the depth of the seawater, the depth of the tunnel, the spacing between tunnels, and the relative size of the tunnels, on the water inflow phenomenon. Furthermore, based on the principles of the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy mathematics, a comprehensive assessment framework is developed to evaluate the water inflow of three-bore parallel subsea tunnels. Ultimately, this grade of water inflow is used in practical engineering. The results show that there is mutual influence between the three parallel tunnels, and the predicted water inflow will be too large if the single tunnel model is adopted. The interaction between tunnels should be considered in the water inflow grade evaluation system of the three-hole parallel submarine tunnel. Engineering cases show that using a single-hole tunnel model without considering the interaction between tunnels will lead to higher water inflow grades. The research results of this paper can provide guidance for the waterproofing and drainage design of three parallel subsea tunnels and the stability analysis of surrounding rocks.

In this study, we report the antibacterial mechanisms of action of uniform silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and decorated activated carbon nanocomposite (CAC-AgNPs) obtained using a green synthesis approach. The nanomaterials were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The antibacterial activity of the as-prepared nanomaterials was evaluated against an array of bacterial strains by microdilution method, whereas their cytotoxicity profile was evaluated on Vero cells (human mammalian cells). The antibacterial mechanistic studies of active nanomaterials were carried out through bacterial growth kinetics, nucleic acid leakage test, and catalase inhibition assay. A silver nanocomposite was successfully fabricated from Croton macrostachyus-based activated carbon. The as-prepared nanomaterials exhibited antibacterial activity against an array of bacterial strains (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range: 62.5 to 500 µg/mL), the most susceptible being Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Cytotoxicity studies of the nanomaterials on Vero cells revealed that the nanocomposite (median cytotoxic concentration (CC50): 213.6 µg/mL) was less toxic than the nanoparticles (CC50 value: 164.75 µg/mL) counterpart. Antibacterial mechanistic studies unveiled that the nanomaterials induced (i) bacteriostatic activity vis-à-vis E. coli and S. aureus and (ii) inhibition of catalase in these bacteria. This novel contribution on the antibacterial mechanisms of action of silver nanocomposite from C. macrostachyus-based activated carbon might contribute to the understanding of antibacterial action of these biomaterials. Nevertheless, more chemistry and in vivo experiments, as well as in depth antibacterial mechanistic studies are warranted for the successful utilization of these antibacterial biomaterials.

Neptunea cumingii is an economically important marine shellfish found in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea areas of China. However, due to environmental factors, such as global warming, Neptunea cumingii resources are in decline along the coast of China. In this study, samples of Neptunea cumingii were collected in Zhangzidao and Yantai during spring, summer， autumn, and winter to clarify the gene expression patterns and regulatory mechanisms in the gills in different seasons. Transcriptome analysis was conducted using Neptunea cumingii gill tissues and genes with significantly different expression levels were extracted for functional verification. The most genes with differences in expression（DEGs） were found in comparisons of the winter and summer samples. Gene enrichment analysis based on Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes terms showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in immune and metabolic pathways, and they had significant effects on oxidative stress, body metabolism, and protein synthesis in Neptunea cumingii. Further screening of DEGs identified 34 genes related to temperature regulation comprising 13 genes with roles in innate immunity in shellfish, 12 genes related to oxidative stress, and nine genes related to protein synthesis and energy metabolism. Eleven DEGs were randomly selected for qPCR verification and the results were consistent with the transcriptome analysis results. In summary, the transcriptome results differed significantly between seasons in the gill tissues of Neptunea cumingii. The expression levels of immune regulatory genes could be promoted in Neptunea cumingii during the high temperature season, whereas the expression of these genes may be inhibited in the low temperature season. The results obtained in this study provide insights into the molecular defense mechanisms that might allow Neptunea cumingii to adapt to climate change.

This study explores the implementation of an interdisciplinary curriculum in product and media design education and its impact on knowledge innovation and competency development. The curriculum is based on scaffolding theory, incorporating design proposals, workshops, digital design, marketing tests, and marketing activities guided by teachers and mentors from a branded ceramic workshop. The research findings demonstrate that the interdisciplinary curriculum facilitates knowledge innovation and fosters the development of students' professional skills, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The study also highlights the importance of stable scaffolding, including artefact, peer, and teacher support, which significantly contributes to cultivating transformational competencies, as outlined in the 2030 OECD Learning Compass. Additionally, the collaboration with Shanshing Four Seasons Celadon Studio on a patented ceramic product, "Funny Monkey," is a tangible example of the journey towards a triple-helix knowledge economy. This research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary curricula in promoting knowledge innovation and integrating transformational competencies in education. Scaffolding theory provides practical guidance for student learning and teaching strategies, presenting a sustainable roadmap for developing interdisciplinary curricula and offering a concrete and transferable pedagogical prototype for educational innovation.

Track fasteners play a pivotal role in infrastructure inspection for high-speed rail. Yet, images taken by drones often capture shadows cast by electrical towers flanking the high-speed rail tracks. These shadows can hinder the visibility of the track fasteners, thereby impacting detection efficiency and accuracy considerably. The present paper introduces an end-to-end shadow removal algorithm, rooted in generative adversarial network training. The comprehensive network framework is segmented into three sub-networks: pseudo-mask generation, shadow removal, and result refinement. We have integrated a Fourier convolutional residual module to bolster the feature extraction capability of the generator network. This integration ensures the network retains a global receptive field, even in its more superficial layers. By employing an overall weighted loss function, we enhance the quality of the images produced without shadows. Further, a perceptual loss function has been incorporated to retain the structural information of objects, setting the stage for subsequent defect detection. Our results highlight that Pse-ShadowNet adeptly eradicates fastener shadows while maintaining vital visual features, including object position, structure, texture, edges, and other key visual elements. Consequently, the reconstructed images are detailed and showcase superior image quality.

The transition of the energy system to renewable sources means the cheap energy storage in fossil fuels must be replaced by other options. A large part of the demand for useful energy is heat and cold, often produced from electric energy by a resistance heater, compression heat pump or cooler. The question is then to store the initial electric energy by electric energy storage (EES) or the useful energy by thermal energy storage (TES). In a desktop study both options were compared, by the choice made in existing applications, and also generally analyzing current technology data. For the latter, cost, round-trip efficiencies, life cycles and life time of EES, specifically for batteries, and of TES, specifically for hot and cold water, ice and other PCM were collected. Applications studied are heating and cooling in buildings and in industry. Application-typical conversion efficiencies were also collected and taken into account. The results show that in many existing installations TES, incl. by PCM, is already preferred, and that TES is advantageous in most investigated applications economically, in addition to technical advantages. Thus, TES has a large potential in the transition of the energy system to stabilize the electricity grid by demand side management.

Drug delivery through Liposomes has shown tremendous potential in terms of the therapeutic application of nanoparticles. There are several drug-loaded liposomal formulations approved for clinical use that help mitigate harmful effects of life-threatening diseases. Developments in the field of liposomal formulations and drug delivery have made it possible for clinicians and researchers to find therapeutic solutions for complicated medical conditions. A key aspect in the development of drug-loaded liposomes is a careful review of optimization techniques to improve the overall formulation stability and efficacy. Optimization studies help in improving/modulating the various properties of drug-loaded liposomes and are vital for the development of this class of delivery systems. A comprehensive overview of the various process variables and factors involved in the optimization of drug-loaded liposomes is presented in this review. The influence of different independent variables on drug release and loading properties with the application of a statistical experimental design is also explained in this article.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a unique neurodegenerative disease that is associated with repetitive head impacts (RHI) in both civilian and military settings. In 2014, the research criteria for the clinical manifestation of CTE, traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) were proposed to improve the clinical identification and understanding of the complex neuropathological phenomena underlying CTE. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the neuropathological and clinical features of CTE, proposed biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in both research and clinical settings, and a range of treatments based on previous preclinical and clinical research studies. Due to the heterogeneity of TBI, there is no universally agreed-upon serum, CSF, or neuroimaging marker for its diagnosis. However, as our understanding of this complex disease continues to evolve, it is likely that there will be more robust, early diagnostic methods and effective clinical treatments. This is especially important given the increasing evidence of a correlation between TBI and neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and CTE¹. As public awareness of these conditions grows, it is imperative to prioritize both basic and clinical research, as well as the implementation of necessary safe and preventative measures.

Background: Two types of medicinal systems are available in Korea: Western and oriental. These exist as separate services that independently provide medical care to patients. We determined the utility and benefits of compressive and integrated medical services (CIMS) comprising 12 sessions of acupuncture and healing programs over 6 weeks. Methods: In this two-group parallel single-center randomized controlled assessor-blinded trial, 24 participants were assigned to either the experimental (conventional medical treatment plus CIMS, n = 12) or control (conventional medical treatment, n = 13) group. Spinal nerve root block was performed on the compressed spinal nerve root (identified using magnetic resonance imaging) when no improvement was observed after the initial treatment. The experimental group received 12 cycles of acupuncture and manual therapy for 6 weeks; the control group received conventional medical treatment alone. Results: The average age of participants in the experimental and control groups was 70.73 ± 5.95 and 67.33 ± 8.89 years, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, body mass index, Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs, sex, and current medical history. We found high compliance for both programs (acupuncture and healing). On exclusion of between-group effects, the visual analog scale (VAS) score improved significantly over time (p = 0.045). Further, comparison of the groups after excluding the effects of visits revealed significantly lower VAS scores in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who mainly complain of radiating pain in the lower leg may benefit from CIMS after spinal nerve root block for ≤3 months after treatment. Our study findings suggest that this treatment improves spinal function and Oswestry Disability Index score. However, CIMS did not improve QoL.

Transfer learning has proven to be a valuable technique for deploying machine learning models on edge devices and embedded systems. By leveraging pre-trained models and fine-tuning them on specific tasks, practitioners can effectively adapt existing models to the constraints and requirements of their application. In the process of adapting an existing model, a practitioner may make adjustments to the model architecture, including the input layers, output layers, and intermediate layers. In this study, we examine the effects of these adjustments on the runtime and energy performance of an edge processor performing inferences. Based on our observations, we make recommendations for how to adjust convolutional neural networks during transfer learning to maintain runtime performance. We observe that the Edge TPU is generally more efficient than a CPU at performing inferences on convolutional neural networks, and continues to outperform a CPU as the depth and width of the convolutional network increases. We explore multiple strategies for adjusting the input and output layers of an existing model and demonstrate important performance cliffs for practitioners to consider when modifying a convolutional neural network model.

The basis for computation in the brain is the quantum threshold of the ‘soliton’ accompanying the ion changes of the action potential and the refractory membrane at convergences. We provide a logical explanation from the action potential to a neuronal model of the coding and computation of the retina and have explained how the visual cortex operates by quantum phase processing. In the small world network parallel frequencies collide into definable patterns of distinct objects. Elsewhere we have shown how many sensory cells are mean sampled to a single neuron and that convergences of neurons are common. We have also demonstrated, using the threshold and refractory period of a quantum phase pulse, that action potentials diffract across a neural network due to the annulment of parallel collisions in phase ternary computation (PTC). Thus, PTC applied to neuron convergences results in collective mean sampled frequency and is the only mathematical solution within the constraints of brain neural networks (BNN). In the retina and other sensory areas, we discuss how this information is coded and then understood in terms of network abstracts within the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex. First by defined neural patterning within a neural network, and then in terms of contextual networks, we demonstrate that the output of frequencies from the visual cortex contain information amounting to abstract representations of objects in increasing detail. We show that nerve tracts from the LGN provide time synchronisation to the neocortex (defined as the location of the combination of connections of the visual cortex, motor cortex, auditory cortex, etc). The full image is therefore combined in the neocortex with other sensory modalities so that it receives information about the object from the eye, and all abstracts that make up the object. Spatial patterns in the visual cortex are formed from individual patterns illuminating the retina and memory is encoded by reverberatory loops of computational actions potentials (CAPs). We demonstrate that a similar process of PTC may take place in the cochlea and associated ganglia, as well as ascending information from the spinal cord, and that this function should be considered universal where convergences of neurons occur.

Young dementia carers (YDCs) rarely receive appropriate training and support. Their visibility and identification remain dangerously low and as a consequence, support initiatives being developed are failing to reach them. This study explored the success (or failure) of YDCs identification pathways as well as the barriers and enablers to their implementation. An explorative qualitative approach was followed drawing on the experiences of parents of YDCs, dementia researchers, professionals in the field of dementia/young carers and young adult carers. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews (n=17) and a participatory 2-hour workshop to discuss and critique preliminary themes as well as explore strategies to increase the visibility and identification of YDCs. Five themes were identified: A ‘whole family approach’ (as a pathway to identification); ‘Not a carer’ (self/family identification); A postcode lottery (high variability of support services); Tailored support that is ‘fit for purpose’ and the ‘power’ of peer support. Recommendations on potential initiatives and actions that can help raise awareness and increase identification success of YDCs are proposed. Our findings support the need for a broad and holistic approach to the identification of YDCs that runs alongside the development of support initiatives that are accessible and relatable. The support itself will play a role in improving subsequent identification or hindering it if not ‘fit for purpose’.

Background: The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), native to the United States and northern Mexico, has been introduced in many countries worldwide. The species has a remarkable invasiveness, due to its high reproductive rate and to its ability to tolerate broad ranges of water parameters like salinity. Nevertheless, no consistent observations of P. clarkii have been reported in the marine environment until now. Methods: Through the observations of a personal acquaintance and of two volunteers who published photos of the species on Facebook marine biology and fishing groups, we collected data showing the presence of the crayfish within marine ecosystems. Results: P. clarkii has been spotted in three different localities, in two of which observations are recurrent. The species can live miles from the nearest freshwater stream, and can colonise the depths up to 20 meters. Conclusions: The multiple observations of P. clarkii collected in our study uncover a persistent presence of the species within some marine areas, rather than its mere sporadic occurrence. As resistance to increasing salinities is influenced by multiple genes, genetic admixture between genetically-differentiated individuals coming from distinct geographical origins could have brought together different salinity-resistance genes, leading to the formation of these resilient phenotypes.

Staphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of nosocomial infections and its antibiotic-resistant strains are concerning. Solutions are being explored to improve the treatment of these infections, including repositioning drugs such as statins and using nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of simvastatin (SIM) and biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs) in isolate form and in combination by assays of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), an in vitro biofilm model, and the association of antimicrobials against clinical strains of S. aureus. Bio-AgNPs showed a 53.8 ± 1.23-nm mean diameter and standard deviation, a 0.23 polydispersity index, and a −25.66 ± 2.19-mV mean potential and standard deviation. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of nanoparticles and the presence of Ag0 and AgCl. S. aureus strains were sensitive to bio-AgNPs and SIM, showing 31.88-187.5 and 74.66-149.32 μM concentrations, respectively. Our association assay showed 2.0 fractional inhibitory concentration indices (i.e., indifferent for clinical strains) and 0.32 values for the standard ATCC 29213 strain (synergy). Our biofilm inhibition assays with isolated SIM and bio-AgNPs showed decreased biofilm formation from 4× to ⅛ MICs, showing no synergism in association. These findings evince that simvastatin and bio-AgNPs at subinhibitory concentrations can serve as antimicrobial agents against S. aureus biofilm.

The α-synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the deposition of α-synuclein aggregates (α-syn) in the brain. Currently, there is no suitable tracer to enable a definitive early diagnosis of these diseases. We reported candidates based on 4,4'-disarylbisthiazole (DABTA) scaffold with a high affinity towards α-syn and excellent selectivity over Aβ and tau fibrils. Based on prior in silico studies a focused library of 23 halide-containing and O-methylated DABTAs was prepared. The DABTAs were synthesized via a modified two-step Hantzsch thiazole synthesis, characterized, and used in competitive binding assays against [3H]PiB, and [3H]DCVJ. The DABTAs gave an overall chemical yield of 15 – 71%, with a calculated lipophilicity of 2.5 – 5.7. The ligands demonstrated an excellent affinity to α-syn with both [3H]PiB and [3H]DCVJ: Ki 0.1 – 4.9 nM and up to 20 – 3900-fold selectivity over Aβ and tau fibrils. It could be concluded that in-silico simulation is useful for the rational design of a new generation of DABTAs. Further investigation of the leads in the next step is encouraged: radiolabeling of the ligands with radioisotopes such as fluorine-18 or carbon-11 for in vivo, ex vivo and translational research and for further in vitro experiments on human-derived protein aggregates.

Assessment of renal function is critical to diagnose and manage renal age-related decline, disease (KD), and failure, which are prevalent in the elderly population. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is widely used as an indicator of kidney function, but its direct measurement is challenging, as are its age and gender caveats. This makes difficult the differential diagnosis, between age-related physiological decline and KD and/or failure. Currently, the inflammation-based modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) is emerging as promising biomarker of several inflammatory acute/chronic diseases. In this study, the large variability of eGFR with age and gender was evaluated, as the association of eGFR values with mGPS levels. A population of 57449 adult participants (age ≥18 years) was enrolled. Appropriate circulating biomarkers were measured to detect eGFR and mGPS values. The data obtained demonstrated a significant decrease of eGFR in men vs. women across the four selected age classes (18-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 years), eGFR classes were significantly associated with mGPS (p<0.001), as age-classes and gender with mGPS categories. Accordingly, the percentage of people having a mGPS score= 2 significantly increased across the eGFR classes: with a 11% in the G1/eGFR class to achieve the 44% in G5/eGFR. Thus, the combination of mGPS with eGFR could represent the best benchmark risk model for differentiating age-related renal decline from a very KD, and for a better identification of different degrees of KD severity.

Chromium poisoning strongly influences the performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks. A three-dimensional, time-dependent, computational fluid dynamics model of a single channel of a F10 SOFC stack in Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH is developed to investigate chromium poisoning for different stack designs, temperatures and absolute air humidities. The model takes into account both chemical and electrochemical mechanisms of chromium poisoning and is able to predict the spatial distribution of SrCrO4 and Cr2O3. The voltage degradation over 100 kh can be simulated quantitatively. According to the simulation results, chromium poisoning is almost eliminated by the application of the protective coating fabricated by the atmospheric plasma-spraying (APS) technology. Besides, with the help of the APS protective coating, operating a SOFC stack with less dehumidified air at 650 oC is possible according to the simulation.

The maritime economy is at the forefront of unprecedented sustainability challenges. Addressing ecological externalities in port operations supports the decarbonization goals of the United Nations (UN) Climate Action program and port city transition towards resilient and sustainable urban units. This research brings out an empirical assessment of seaport performance from an eco-environmental point of sustainability with a non-parametric analysis. Most common indicators from the cross-sectoral Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) database for 21 world’s busiest seaports are used for the analysis. This research integrates four different models with inputs: CO2 emission, electricity consumption, waste, and water consumption, and; outputs: employee, revenue, and container throughput. Projection pathways are established for inefficient seaports to improve sustainability performance. The analysis shows that the seaports of Qingdao and Cartagena as the most sustainably performing seaports under the selected maritime sustainability indicators. This research supports port managers in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their operations and helps frame strategic policies toward achieving overall sustainability in the maritime industry across SDG 14 (marine ecosystem) and SDG 13 (Climate mitigation) goals of the 2030 Urban Agenda.

This paper presents the tensor properties of joint probability densities on a Riemannian manifold. Initially we develop a binary data matrix to record variables' values of a large number of particles confining in a closed system at a certain time in order to retrieve the joint probability densities of related variables. By introducing the particle oriented coordinate and generalized inner product as a multi-linear operation on the basis of this coordinate, we extract the set of joint probabilities and prove them to meet covariant tensor properties on a general Riemannian space of variables. Based on the Taylor expansion of scalar field in Riemannian manifolds, it has been shown that the symmetrized iterative covariant derivatives of cumulative probability function defined on Riemannian manifold also gives the set of related joint probability densities equivalent to the aforementioned multi-linear method. We show these covariant tensors reduce to classical ordinary partial derivatives in ordinary Euclidean space with Cartesian coordinates and gives the formal definition of joint probabilities by partial derivatives of cumulative distribution function. The equivalence between symmetrized covariant derivative and generalized inner product has been concluded. Some examples of well-known physical tensors clarify that many deterministic physical variables are presented as tensor densities with an interpretation similar to probability densities.

A traditionally salient topic of empirical investigation in the sociology of religion, this paper seeks to offer a recent investigation into the intergenerational transmission of religion and the parental forms of religious engagement that predict adult engagement with religion. The study of this paper explores the intergenerational transmission of religion, focusing on the parental forms of religious identity and engagement that influence religious identity, beliefs, and practices in adulthood. By analyzing the 2018 GSS dataset in the United States with multiple regression analyses, I find strong parental and childhood influences on adult religiosity, religious service attendance, and belief in God. Indeed, this engagement often mirrors parental engagement for these variables. However, while paternal religious identity often predicts these religious variables, I find that the religious identity and engagement of parents generally does not predict religious identity in adulthood. Ultimately, while these results generally show strong predictive mechanisms of intergenerational transmission, they also illustrate that these relationships are variably dependent on the form of parental and adult religious engagement and which parent participates or is associated with that engagement.

Quantum computing is an emerging field that have given a significant impact on optimization. Among the diverse quantum algorithm, the quantum gradient descent has become a prominent technique for solving unconstrained optimization problems. In this paper, we propose a quantum-spectral Polak-Ribi{\'e}re-Polyak (PRP) conjugate gradient approach. The technique is considered as a generalization of the spectral PRP method which employs a $q$-gradient that approximate the classical gradient with quadratically better dependence on the quantum variable $q$. Additionally, the proposed method reduces to the classical variant as quantum variable $q$ gets closer to $1$. The quantum search direction always satisfies the sufficient descent condition and does not depend on any line search. This approach is globally convergent with the standard Wolfe line search without any convexity assumption. Numerical experiments are conducted and compared with the existing approach to demonstrate the improvement of the proposed strategy.

This systematic literature review explores the burgeoning use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in manufacturing systems, in line with the principles of Industry 4.0 and the growth of smart factories. In this landscape, AI is crucial in addressing the complexity and dynamism of contemporary manufacturing processes, including machine breakdowns, fluctuating orders and unpredictable job arrivals. This systematic literature review, conducted using the Scopus database and bibliometric tools, pursues two primary objectives. First, it identifies the prevailing trends in solving scheduling problems with AI and identifies the most commonly used AI techniques in the literature. Secondly, it analyses how authors have successfully employed AI to address production scheduling challenges in real-world industrial settings and assesses the benefits obtained by companies. The dynamic nature of manufacturing systems requires adaptive scheduling paradigms. AI, including Particle Swarm Optimization, Neural Networks, and Reinforcement Learning, is applied to optimize production processes, predict machine failures, and achieve substantial benefits. In real-world applications, these AI-driven solutions have led to reduced production costs, enhanced energy efficiency, and more efficient scheduling processes. AI is increasingly recognized as an essential tool in addressing the evolving challenges of modern manufacturing environments.

Drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction is crucial for understanding molecular interactions and aiding drug discovery and development. While various computational methods have been proposed for DTA prediction, their predictive accuracy remains limited, failing to delve into the structural nuances of interactions. With increasingly accurate and accessible structure prediction of targets, we developed a novel deep learning model, named S2DTA, to accurately predict DTA by fusing sequence and structural knowledge of drugs, targets, and pockets using heterogeneous models based on graph and semantic networks. Experimental findings underscored that complex feature representations imparted negligible enhancements to the model’s performance. However, the integration of heterogeneous models demonstrably bolstered predictive accuracy. In comparison to three state-of-the-art methodologies, the supremacy of S2DTA became strikingly apparent. It showcased a noteworthy 25.2% reduction in Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and an impressive 20.1% decrease in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Furthermore, S2DTA exhibited substantial advancements in other pivotal metrics, including Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Spearman, Concordance Index (CI), and R2. These metrics experienced remarkable increments of at least 19.6%, 17.5%, 8.1%, and a remarkable 49.4%, respectively. Finally, we conducted interpretability analysis on the effectiveness of S2DTA by bidirectional self-attention mechanism, fully proving that S2DTA is a valuable and accurate tool for predicting DTA. For further exploration, the source data and code repository can be accessed at https://github.com/dldxzx/S2DTA.

Manufactured sand and natural sand have great differences in terms of physical properties, chemical composition, and so on. In the mix ratio design of manufactured sand concrete, the traditional common concrete ratio cannot be used. The water-cement ratio playing a crucial role in the mix ratio design. The optimum water-cement ratio can not only improve concrete performance, it can also reduce cement consumption and costs. The present study examines the working performance indicators and mechanical performance indicators of manufactured sand concrete using Fujian granite with three strength grades (C35, C40 and C50) at different water-cement ratios. The impact of water-cement ratio on the operational and mechanical performance of manufactured sand concrete with different strength grades is analyzed and summarized. Revised sentence: The findings suggest that the workability of Fujian granite concrete is directly influenced by the water-cement ratio. Additionally, the water-cement ratio indirectly affects the mechanical properties of manufactured sand concrete. Finally, when changing the water-cement ratio, cube compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and bending strength exhibit similar trends. The optimal water-cement ratio for C35 concrete is determined to be 0.39, considering the workability and mechanical properties of Fujian granite manufactured sand concrete. Similarly, the optimal water-cement ratio for C40 concrete is 0.34, while for C50 concrete it is 0.32.

General anesthesia and surgical stress can suppress the immunological response by acting both directly on the immune system and indirectly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Disturbance of the immune system during the perioperative period can lead to complications such as wound-healing disorders and infections up to sepsis. Effective-ness of acupuncture in regulating the immune function by increasing leukocyte numbers and in-hibiting inflammatory response has been proven. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of electroacupuncture (EAP) on the dynamic bal-ance of the immune system and immune cell populations in dogs undergoing surgery. For this purpose, twelve healthy bitches scheduled for elective ovariectomy were divided into two groups according to whether (EAP, n=6) or not (CTR, n=6) a peri-operative electroacupuncture treatment was performed. Levels of leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, T- and B-cells) and immunoglobu-lins M (IgM) and A (IgA) were measured in blood samples collected before (T0), 1 hour (T1) and 2.5 hours (T2) after anesthesia induction. Leukocytes count decreased from T0 to T1 in both groups and restored within 1.5 hours in EAP group whereas remained significantly lower in CTR group (P<0.02). In particular, neutrophils and monocytes increased in dogs receiving EAP (P<0.01) while T-cells decreased in CTR group (P<0.04) at T2. B-cells and cytotoxic T-cells de-creased in EAP dogs (P<0.04) at T2. No differences in helper T-cells, IgM and IgA levels were recorded between groups and over time. Our results suggest a modulatory effect of EAP on the immune system which is early expressed on neutrophils, monocytes and T-cells.

This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of the aerospace industry, examining its evolution, current challenges, and imperative focus on quality management and process integration. The aerospace sector, driven by technological advancements and a burgeoning global demand for air travel and freight transport, necessitates a thorough analysis of its industrial fabric and operational intricacies. This research endeavors to analyze the dynamics of the aerospace industry, pinpoint its challenges, and propose an integrated approach to enhance efficiency, quality, and sustainability. The primary goals encompass understanding the evolving industry landscape, identifying critical challenges, and offering innovative solutions by amalgamating principles of Industry 4.0 into quality management and processes within the aerospace sector. Through an in-depth exploration of various facets, this research underscores the pivotal role of efficient processes and integrated quality management in achieving sustainable growth and competitiveness in the aerospace industry. By aligning with the paradigm of Industry 4.0, organizations can optimize their operations and contribute to the industry's advancement, delivering safer and more cost-effective aerospace products. The study adopts a multifaceted approach, incorporating extensive literature review, critical analysis of industry trends, examination of quality management frameworks, and a thorough evaluation of the integration potential of Industry 4.0 technologies. The research also involves case studies and expert insights to validate the proposed approach. The investigation reveals that by leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies and embracing an integrated approach to quality management, the aerospace industry can significantly enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and overall sustainability. The seamless integration of processes and the implementation of advanced quality frameworks pave the way for a more competitive and future-ready aerospace industry, meeting the evolving demands of a globalized world.

Laser marking on polymer composite surfaces can be difficult to contrast and cause readability problems for electronic decoding equipment on production lines due to poor interaction between the laser and the fibres used to reinforce these materials. This problem can be solved with the right choice of marking parameters, resulting in savings for companies by avoiding production problems such as rejection, scrap and customer complaints. The present work uses the PBT/glass fibre composite used in the manufacture of instrument panels for motorcycles. The tests were carried out with different laser marking parameters using a Nd: YAG laser. Subsequently, the laser-marked DMC codes were analysed using a Verifier to evaluate the quality according to the ISO/IEC 29158:2020 standard. A detailed analysis of these surfaces was also carried out to observe some physical and chemical changes using SEM microscopy and EDS spectroscopy. The optical analysis showed that the lower the radiation power and pulse frequency and the higher the marking speed, the weaker the laser marking and therefore the poorer the DMC code quality, which was confirmed by the SEM. EDS spectroscopy showed that the laser marking process did not affect the chemical changes on the sample surface.

Due to its distinctive chemical and biological properties, pectin has recently drawn much attention in biomedical and tissue engineering applications. Polymers like pectin with cell-instructive properties are attractive natural biomaterials for tissue repair and regeneration. Besides, bioactive pectin and pectin-based composites exhibit improved characteristics to deliver active molecules. Pectin and pectin-based composites serve as interactive matrices or scaffolds by stimulating cell adhesion and cell proliferation and enhancing tissue remodeling by forming an extracellular matrix in vivo. Several bioactive properties, such as immunoregulatory, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant activities, contribute to the pectin's and pectin-based composite's enhanced applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.This paper reviews the promising characteristics of pectin or pectic polysaccharides and highlights its potential applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. Tissue engineering scaffolds containing pectin and pectin-based conjugates or composites demonstrate essential features such as non-toxicity, tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and suitable surface properties. The design and fabrication of pectic composites are versatile for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.

Background Recent studies indicate that donor innate immune responses participate in initiating and accelerating innate responses and allorecognition in the recipient. These immune responses negatively affect recipient outcomes and predispose recipients to allograft coronary artery vasculopathy (CAV). We hypothesized that donor cause of death (COD) associated with higher levels of innate immune response would predispose recipients to more adverse outcomes post-transplant, including CAV. Methods We performed a single-institution retrospective analysis comparing donor characteristics and COD to recipient adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We analyzed the medical records of local adult donors (age 18-64) in a database of donors where adequate data was available. We linked donor characteristics and COD to recipient adverse cardiac outcomes after transplant, including cardiovascular (CV) death and incidence of significant antibody-mediated rejection (pAMR) after transplant (>2 episodes of pAMR within 90 days post-transplant). The data were analyzed using logistic regression, log-rank test of differences, and Tukey Contrast. Results Donor advanced age, female sex, and CODs of motor vehicle accident and intracranial hemorrhage were significantly associated with a higher incidence of recipient CV death and early pAMR compared to other donor characteristics and CODs. Conclusions In this single institution study, we found that recipients with hearts from donors over 40 years, donors who were female, or donors who died with a COD of motor vehicle accidents or intracranial hemorrhage had a higher frequency of CV related deaths and early pAMR. Donor monitoring and potential treatment of innate immune activation may decrease subsequent recipient innate responses and allorecognition stimulated by donor derived inflammatory signaling which lead to adverse outcomes.

Guiding the visitor to appreciate the sights during an excursion is crucial to building a memorable experience. In the literature, we find many articles exploring the use of sophisticated technologies towards such a goal. The case of tourism proposals for inland areas exhibits a noteworthy aspect, since the presence of human artifacts and the signage may damage the experience, and introduce pollutants as well. This paper analyzes the signage for a natural trail putting into practice a holistic methodology that takes into account all aspects of the problem, starting from the touristic vocation of the area and the social fabric. The analysis indicates slow, community-involved tourism as the preferable target, with extreme requirements of sustainability in the social, economic, and environmental domains for the signage solution. Appropriate governance guidelines are given to implement the proposal. Footprint evaluations address the QR-code technology, which is used to design a real-scale solution finally deployed on the field.

The base excitation of mechanical equipment can result in pipeline system vibration which seriously affects the safe operation of the equipment. Particle damping technology is based on the particle collision dissipation principle to realize the structural vibration energy dissipation. This paper introduces the particle damping method into the vibration control of pipeline system. A particle damper has been designed for the structural characteristics of the pipeline. The influence of the material and structure of the pipeline particle damper, the external excitation and other parameters on the energy dissipation characteristics of particle damping are revealed. The energy dissipation mechanism of the pipeline particle collision damper under various parameter is analyzed. A pipeline vibration reduction test system with particle damping has been established. The effects of different excitation conditions, damper materials and number of unit structures of particle damper on the vibration damping effect of pipeline systems are investigated comparatively. The influence of damper parameters on the vibration suppression of pipeline system is obtained. The research in this paper can provide technical references for vibration suppression of pipeline systems.

The spontaneous combustion of coal in goaf is the main cause of mine fire at present. Lignite has become a major hidden danger in mine production safety because of its easy oxidation. In this paper, an innovative strategy was proposed to inhibit the spontaneous combustion of lignite by using the principle of microbial-induced calcium deposition. Based on the optimized culture method, a novel composite inhibitor of Bacillus pasteurelli was prepared. SEM, pore size analysis and FT-IR experiments were carried out simultaneously, and the oxidation properties of lignite before and after inhibition were quantitatively characterized from the perspective of microstructure, and the flame retardant properties of microbial and chemical retardants on coal samples were compared. The results show that a large number of deposited calcium carbonate particles are obviously attached to the surface of lignite after microbial inhibition treatment, which plays a physical oxygen insulation role. At the same time, the total pore volume and specific surface area of the coal sample decreased by 68.49% and 74.01%, respectively, indicating that microbial inhibitors can effectively plug the primary pores of lignite. Based on the peak measurement of 400-4000cm-1 infrared spectrum of coal samples, it is found that the contents of active groups including hydroxyl, carboxyl and methyl/methylene in lignite molecules after microbial inhibition are lower than those in raw coal, especially the methyl/methylene content involved in the initial oxidation reaction decreased by 96.5% compared with the baseline content in raw coal. The results show that the oxidation and self-heating capacity of lignite after microbial inhibition is effectively restrained in the initial spontaneous combustion. The research results of this paper can provide effective solutions for the prevention and control of coal spontaneous combustion risk in mined-out area.

Drafting is a common technique to reduce the drag experienced by elite runners on races, leading to better running efficiency and energy savings. The tactic has been successfully used in previous races where world records were set, especially by Eliud Kipchoge in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Berlin marathon. In the 2023 edition of the Chicago Marathon, Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum broke the Marathon record after a 2:00:35 finish. This feat becomes even more impressive by the lack of use of drafting formations, despite the availability of two pacers for the majority of the race. In this study, the drag faced by Kiptum and his pacers during the race is calculated by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The performance of each runner is evaluated from an energetic standpoint, and the analysis is extended to include more efficient drafting formations. Our results indicate that, by properly using the advantages of drafting, Kiptum could have finished the race at a staggering 1:57:34, a full three minutes better than his own record and 215 seconds better than the previous world record.

In this review, we will cover a general overview of the current panorama on lncRNAs with an actual or potential role as biological markers in cancer. We will discuss examples of multi-omics approaches that integrates information on somatic aberrations, gene expression and epigenomics, with the scope of providing a more comprehensive view of the functional impact of lncRNA profiles and how these paradigm can be exploited for the discovery and selection of lncRNAs with a functional role and their use as variables informing on progression and prognostic and help guiding the selection of therapeutic strategies for cancers. Finally, we propose a perspective for future evolution of the study of lncRNAs and the discovery of their functional and harnessing their potential to assist in clinical management of malignancies.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is common in the elderly. This paper introduces the overview of Alzheimer's disease and the application of relevant signal processing methods in its detection. Signal processing is a technique that converts raw data into meaningful information and is widely used in the medical field. This paper lists common signal processing techniques, including Fourier transform, time-frequency analysis and statistical signal processing, and discusses their applications in the detection of Alzheimer's disease. Fourier transform can convert time domain signals into frequency domain representations, providing an effective tool for the study of EEG in Alzheimer's disease. Time-frequency analysis can perform a combined time and frequency analysis of the signal to help detect the signal characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. Statistical signal processing methods can be used to identify the features of Alzheimer's disease by building mathematical models. Finally, the challenges of Alzheimer's disease detection are discussed, including signal noise, diversity, and insufficient data volume. Through in-depth research and development of signal processing methods, it is expected to improve the accuracy and efficiency of early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Few reports exist on the pathologies of the northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) and other Ziphiidae. We here describe a large exostosis in the right pterygoid bone of adult female H. ampullatus ANSP-3004 that stranded on the US Atlantic coast in 1867. Images of the skull and 14 cranial measurements were examined and compared with two ‘normal’ adult female H. ampullatus specimens. Surface scans of ANSP-3004 were made with a Faro Design Arm 1.0 scanner at 75µm resolution. The form, structure and width (15.9 cm) of the right pterygoid were found to be abnormal. Its distal extremity was curved in labial direction while its proximal extremity was deformed by a large, bulbous exostosis of 14.3 x 12.5 cm that partially obstructed the right nasal passage. Lytic lesions in the posterior end of the exostosis exposed deep resorption lacunae. The left pterygoid was thin (3.4 cm) and laterally displaced. No diagnosis was possible for lack of histological examination but the osteopathy was consistent with osteoma, a benign bone tumor commonly seen on the jaws and nasal sinuses of bovines, phylogenetical relatives of Cetacea. The partial nasal passage obstruction may have affected respiration to some degree, but since the female was lactating, general fitness appeared stable.

It is essential to consider the factors that affect early childhood development because doing so can help identify potential risks and window of opportunity for intervention to improve outcomes for children. However, identifying risk and protective factors in early childhood requires careful consideration of several challenges and an integrated approach that recognises the complex and dynamic nature of development. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the prevalent psychosocial risk and protective factors in the early childhood development phase, using an ecological perspective. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional study using a random sampling technique. The final sample consisted of 505 caregivers of children aged 5 years old and younger. This study revealed that the most prevalent protective factors include child self-regulation, parent-child warmth, family management and collective efficacy but more importantly social support. While risk factors may exist this is mitigated by social support as it moderates and buffers against the effects of risk factors, as indicated by the various research studies cited.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a T2 inflammatory skin condition, is widely recognized as one of the most prevalent chronic and recurrent skin disorders. One of the most effective therapy for treating moderate-to-severe AD is Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. At the same time, no comprehensive analysis of cytokines profile was made in AD patients undergoing Dupilumab therapy. The primary objective of our research was to examine the levels of main cytokines to better understanding systemic immune response in AD and to identify potential biomarkers of the effectiveness of Dupilumab treatment. AD patients demonstrated significant clinical improvements one year after initializing of Dupilumab therapy. We identified 16 cytokines that showed major difference between Dupilumab-treated patients and patients without Dupilumab therapy. Six cytokines showed correlation with AD severity and the efficacy of Dupilumab therapy. Jointly revealed cytokines could potentially predict the effectiveness of Dupilumab treatment and help to choose the precision target therapy in AD patients as well.

In this study, we first discover some new concept coordinated UD-convex mappings with fuzzy-number values. After that, we look into Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities via fuzzy-number-valued coordinated UD-convex fuzzy-number-valued mapping (coordinated UD-convex FNVM). In the case of coordinated UD-convex FNVM, novel conclusions are derived by making particular decisions in recently proven inequalities. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the recently discovered inequalities are expansions of comparable findings in the literature. It is important to note that the main outcomes are validated by nontrivial examples.

The importance of shifting to a sustainable economy, based on new capabilities that enable to cope with the current turbulent changes is paramount. Entrepreneurs with sustainable concerns are considered to play a key role in the process by creating innovative, proactive and risk assumption solutions, both with environmental and economic value. To date, there is no consensus on what capabilities education should provide to create sustainable entrepreneurs to cope with sustainability challenges. The aim of this piece of literature is to identify relevant factors for sustainable entrepreneurship education. Bibliographic databases were searched for documents published between 2012 and June 2023 to categorize central issues discussed in the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship education. The review process specifies 59 empirical and non-empirical papers at sustainable entrepreneurship education (SEE). Data analysis revealed diverse models for sustainable entrepreneurship education (SEE) developed for use in both higher education institutions and secondary schools. Future research directions are underscored.

Background Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a condition caused by the decline of testosterone with aging, and is associated with various symptoms, including lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Although some reports have shown that testosterone replacement treatment for LOH improved LUTS, no large study has revealed a correlation between LUTS and LOH. This study investigated the correlation between the severity of LOH and LUTS in Asian Japanese males of >40 years of age using a web-based questionnaire. Methods We asked a total of 2,000 Japanese male individuals to answer both the AMS and IPSS/QOL questionnaires using a web-based survey. Among these 2,000 individuals, 500 individuals were assigned to each of the following age groups: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years. LOH symptoms were assessed by AMS score as no/little (17-26 points), mild (27-36 points), moderate (37-49 points), and severe (≥50 points). To compare the risk of voiding and storage dysfunction according to the severity of AMS, voiding dysfunction was assessed by the sum of IPSS Q1, Q3, Q5, and Q6, while storage dysfunction was assessed by the sum of IPSS Q2, Q4, and Q7. Results The IPSS total score was positively correlated with the severity of AMS (shown as median [mean±SD]): no/little group, 2 (3.67±5.36); mild group, 6 (7.98±6.91); moderate group, 11 (12.49±8.63); and severe group, 16 (14.83±9.24) (p<0.0001). The prevalence of an IPSS total score of ≥8 in the AMS severity groups was as follows: no/little group, 13.3% (111 of 834); mild group, 38.3% (225 of 587); moderate group, 64.2% (244 of 380); severe group, 72.4% (144/199). The prevalence of nocturia in the AMS severity groups was as follows: no/little group, 19.8% (165 of 834); mild group, 31.5% (185 of 587); moderate group, 43.9% (167 of 380); and severe group, 50.8% (101 of 199). Conclusions Individuals with higher AMS values, which represents severe LOH symptoms, showed a higher risk of nocturia and LUTS.

Recent years have seen an increased interest in the role of oxidative stress (OS) in pregnancy. Pregnancy inherently heightens susceptibility to OS, a condition fueled by a systemic inflam-matory response which culminates in an elevated presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the circulatory system. The amplified OS in pregnancy can trigger a series of detrimental outcomes such as underdevelopment, abnormal placental function, and a host of pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia, embryonic resorp-tion, recurrent pregnancy loss, fetal developmental anomalies, intrauterine growth restriction, and in extreme instances, fetal death. The body’s response to mitigate the uncontrolled increase in RNS/ROS levels involves trace elements that take part in non-enzymatic and enzymatic defense mechanisms, namely, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se). Determination of ROS concentrations poses a challenge due to their short lifespan, prompting the use of marker proteins, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dis-mutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). These markers, indicative of redox stress intensity, can offer indirect assessments of pregnancy complications. Given the limitations in conducting experimental studies on pregnant women, animal models serve as valuable substitutes for in-depth research. This review delves into the mechanism of OS in pregnancy and underscores the pivotal role of markers in its evaluation.

Basic features of seed dormancy are illustrated. The seed overall regulatory network governs seed metabolism and development, and it is coordinated by plant hormones. A functional model focused on abscisic acid (ABA), the foremost plant hormone in dormancy, is used as a framework to critically discuss the literature. Gibberellins (GAs) have a main role in germination, and the ABA – GAs balance is a typical feature of the seed state: ABA dominates during dormancy and GAs prevail through germination. Thus, the literature converges toward envisaging the development switch between dormancy and germination as represented by the ABA/GAs ratio. The ABA – GAs antagonism is based on mutual inhibition, a feature of the regulatory network architecture that characterizes development trajectories based on a regulatory circuit with a bistable switch. Properties of such kind of regulatory architecture are introduced step by step, and it is shown that seed development – towards either dormancy or germination – is more properly represented by a tristable regulatory circuit, whose intermediate metastable states ultimately take one or the other development trajectory. Although the ABA/GAs ratio can conveniently represent the state of the seed overall regulatory network along the seed development trajectory, specific (unknown) dormancy factors are required to determine the development trajectory. The development landscape is shown to provide a well-suited representation of seed states travelling along developmental trajectories, particularly when the states are envisioned as regulatory circuits. Looking at seed dormancy in terms of regulatory circuits and development landscapes offers a valuable perspective to improve our understanding of this biological phenomenon.

Despite the extensive research conducted on ruminal methanogens and anti-methanogenic intervention strategies over the last 50 years, most of the currently researched enteric CH4 abatement approaches have shown limited efficacy. This is largely because of the complex nature of animal production and the ruminal environment, host genetic variability of CH4 production, and an incomplete understanding of the role of the ruminal microbiome in enteric CH4 emissions. Recent sequencing-based studies suggest the presence of methanogenic archaea in extra-gastrointestinal tract tissues, including respiratory and reproductive tracts of cattle. While these sequencing data require further verification by culture-dependent methods, the consistent identification of methanogens with relatively greater frequency in the airway and urogenital tract of cattle plus increasing appreciation of the microbiome-gut-organ axis highlight the potential interactions between ruminal and extra-gastrointestinal methanogenic communities. Thus, a traditional singular focus on ruminal methanogens may not be sufficient, and a holistic approach which takes into consideration of the transfer of methanogens between ruminal, extra-gastrointestinal, and environmental microbial communities is of necessity to develop more efficient and long-term ruminal CH4 mitigation strategies. In the present review, we provide a holistic survey of the methanogenic archaea present in different anatomical sites of cattle and discuss potential seeding sources of the ruminal methanogens.

Recently, historians have discussed the relevance of the nineteenth-century mathematical discipline of projective geometry for early modern classical logic in relation to possible solutions to semantic problems facing it. In this paper I consider Hegel’s Science of Logic as an attempt to provide a projective geometrical alternative to the implicit Euclidean underpinnings of Aristotle’s syllogistic logic. While this proceeds via Hegel’s acceptance of the role of the three means of Pythagorean music theory in Plato’s cosmology, the relevance of this can be separated from any fanciful “music of the spheres” approach by the fact that common mathematical structures underpin both music theory and projective geometry, as suggested in the name of projective geometry’s principal invariant, the “harmonic cross-ratio”. Here I demonstrate this common structure in terms of the phenomenon of “inverse foreshortening”. As with recent suggestions concerning the relevance of projective geometry for logic, Hegel’s modifications of Aristotle respond to semantic problems of his logic.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in thermal spray techniques using suspension or solution-based coatings. These techniques offer precise control over particle size and microstructure, improving feedstock flowability and allowing for high-quality coatings customization. Spray parameters, such as stand-off distance (SOD) and feedstock flow rate, can alter the performance and characteristics of these coatings. Geothermal power plant heat exchangers often face issues like corrosion, scaling, and fouling. These issues could be mitigated, at least in part, by the use of spray coatings. In this study, TiO2 coatings were applied to a carbon steel substrate using suspension plasma spray (SPS) to enhance the performance of geothermal heat exchanger materials. The impact of SOD (50, 75, and 100mm) and feedstock flow rate (10, 20, and 30 ml/min) on these coatings was examined through various techniques, including SEM, profilometry, XRD, and adhesion testing. The results demonstrated that coatings deposited using 10ml/min feedstock flow rate were well-adhered to the substrate due to efficient melting of coating material but as the SOD and feedstock flow rate increase due to poor thermal and kinetic energy exchange between the torch and feedstock particles, adhesion between coating and substrate decreases. smaller SODs led to more compact coatings, while higher feedstock flow rates increased coating porosity. Smaller SODs and lower flow rates resulted in well-adhered coatings, offering valuable insights for advancing geothermal heat exchanger coatings.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) are recognized as entry proteins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and recently their Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) have been studied in different populations to elucidate the impact on disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic SNP of ACE2 (rs35803318) and TMPRSS2 (rs2070788) genes in COVID-19 patients from Northeast Brazil compared with global populations, as well as the expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL). For ACE2 (rs35803318), we found 92.6% CC, 3.4% CT, and 4.0% TT genotype carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Surprisingly, only the genotype frequencies of ACE2 SNP were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For TMPRSS2 rs2070788, we found 22.3% GG, 50.7% AG, and 27% AA genotype carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) revealed that rs35803318 was associated with an altered PIR gene expression, and rs2070788 was found eQTLs association only with lung tissue. No significant association was identified between the genotype distribution of SNPs and the 'patient's outcome. In conclusion, our results suggest that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 may not be protective factors for global populations, including the Brazilian population, since the presence of SNPs does not affect the 'patient's outcome as described by other studies.

The Covid-19 pandemic strained global supply chains, and companies faced numerous produc-tion, logistics, or material management problems. It is claimed that the digitalization of supply chains can have the potential to make supply chains more resilient to interruptions and disrup-tions. This article focuses on describing the experiences of three large Austrian family-owned business during the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and the Ukraine war. This assessment is done from the perspective of the supply chain leaders in the organization. We provide insights on what worked and what did not for these firms and what we can take away from their experiences.

In this work, an entropy-stable and well-balanced numerical scheme for a one-dimensional blood flow model is presented. Such scheme is obtained from an explicit entropy conservative flux along with a second order discretization of the source term by using centered finite differences. We prove that the scheme is entropy-stable and preserves steady-states solutions. In addition, some numerical examples are included to test the performance of the proposed scheme.

Air pollution is one of the biggest problems of this age, not only it contributes to climate change but also it has a negative effect on public and individual health due to rising morbidity and mortality. There are various contaminants that play a significant role in human disease. Numerous toxins are released into the environment as a result of anthropogenic activities including burning fossil fuels for transportation and electricity generation. In order to assist decision-makers in finding a long-term solution for improving environmental quality and population health status, NO2 pollution monitoring and regulation is an essential task. Based on data acquired from Sentinel-5P, the study presented a comparison of NO2 measurements in Sentinel-5P and ground-based stations over the urban area of Fujairah during 2021 and comparison analysis of the tropospheric NO2 column spatial configuration over urban area of Fujairah during comparable periods of pre, mid and post Covid-19 pandemic era as 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. These findings demonstrate remarkable tropospheric NO2 column number density decreases even of 85% in the busier areas of emirate of Fujairah during the pandemic era. Sentinel-5P measurements draw attention to the significant reduction in NO2 pollution over Fujairah during the COVID-19 lockdown where we had less traffic, which is supported by ground stations-based calculations.

This article explains how resistance alleles have become rare or have disappeared from honey bee populations in Europe (and probably also in North America). Honeybees have the highest recombination frequency of all animals, indicating that pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and microsporidia are an important source of selection. To respond to new virulent strains of pathogens, honeybees need to have access to rare alleles that could foster immunity against a new pathogen. By mating in a large panmictic population, new rare alleles can be recruited, which can then be combined into new genotypes through recombination with useful alleles of other genes. Bee breeders, by selecting small samples from a large population tend to select common alleles and lose the rare ones. Rare alleles can become important when a new virulent pathogen arrives. The loss of rare alleles makes bees vulnerable to disease and parasites and explains, together with the problems caused by modern agriculture, why managed bees have high mortality rates.

Iron (Fe) deficiency specifically is the most common nutritional disorder due to insufficient absorbable Fe. Biofortification is a process of enriching the nutrient content of staple crops and is considered as a sustainable and cost-effective strategy to address micronutrient deficiency problems especially in the less developed countries. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a staple food in many developing countries worldwide and is an excellent source of micronutrients. Biofortification of chickpea is a possible solution to address Fe deficiency problem. Chickpea biofortification experiment was conducted under field conditions to evaluate the effects of different doses of Fe fertilizer (0 kg ha-1,10 kg ha-1 and 30 kg ha-1 of Fe-EDDHA) on Fe content in seeds of 18 chickpea cultivars. The experiment was designed as a factorial combination of 18 chickpea cultivars and 3 different doses in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications at two locations in Saskatchewan in 2015 and 2016. Fe concentration in seeds across 18 different chickpea cultivars increased with Fe fertilization. Fe concentration in X05TH20-2 and CDC Frontier cultivars increased from 57 ppm to 59 ppm and 56 ppm to 58 ppm, respectively, after adding Fe fertilizer in both location in 2015 and 2016.

Prostate cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, and mortality is mainly due to metastases, but the initial steps of metastasis have not been well characterized. We have performed integrative whole exome sequencing and transcriptome analysis of primary prostate tumor foci and corresponding lymph node metastases (LNM) from 43 patients enrolled in clinical trial. We present evidence that while there are some cases of clonally independent primary tumor foci, 87% of primary tumor foci and metastases are descended from a common ancestor. We demonstrate that genes related to oxidative phosphorylation are upregulated in LNM and in African-American patients relative to White patients. We further show that mutations in TP53, FLT4, EYA1, NCOR2, CSMD3, and PCDH15 are enriched in prostate cancer metastases. These findings were validated in a meta-analysis of 3,929 primary tumors and 2,721 metastases and reveal a pattern of molecular alterations underlying the pathology of metastatic prostate cancer. We show that LNM contain multiple subclones that are already present in primary tumor foci. We observed enrichment of mutations in several genes including understudied genes such as EYA1, CSMD3, FLT4, NCOR2, and PCDH15 and find that mutations in EYA1 and CSMD3 are associated with poor outcome in prostate cancer.

The Single Site Order – a policy restricting staff from working at multiple long-term care homes – was mandated by the Public Health Agency of Canada to control the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care homes, where nearly 70% of COVID-19-related deaths in Canada occurred. This mixed methods study assesses the impact of Single Site Order on long-term care residents in British Columbia. Interviews were conducted (residents (n=6), family members (n=9), staff (n=18), and leadership (n=10) from long-term care homes (n=4)) and analyzed using thematic analysis. Administrative data was collected between April 2019 – March 2020 and April 2020 – March 2021 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and data visualization. Qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated and demonstrate staffing challenges became worse during implementation of the SSO resulting in the mental and physical health deterioration of LTC residents. Qualitative data demonstrated decreased time for personalized and proactive care, increased communication challenges, and increased loneliness and isolation. Quantitative data showed a decline in activities of daily living, increased antipsychotic medication use, pressure ulcers, behavioural symptoms, and an increase in falls. Addressing staff workload and staffing shortages during SSO-related policy implementation is essential to avoid resident health deterioration.

Structural evolution, mechanical and tribological properties of Al-Mg alloy admixed with 5, 10 and 15 vol.% of iron powder using multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP) have been studied. Homogeneous distribution of intermetallic compound (IMC) particles were achieved after 4 FSP passes what resulted in increasing the stir zone hardness and ultimate tensile stress with simultaneous loss in the ductility. The reinforcement of the aluminum alloy matrix with IMCs allowed reducing wear at the same magnitude of friction. Subsurface composite tribological layer was formed on the FSPed samples as a result of rubbing against a steel counterbody.

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This study aimed to assess the impact of different modes of laser irradiation on the bactericidal efficacy of aPDT. Dentin plates were prepared by sectioning the crown dentin of bovine teeth infected with Streptococcus sobrinus. Nine aPDTs involving the combinations of three photosensitizers (brilliant blue, BB; acid red, AR; and methylene blue, MB) and three laser irradiation modes (50 mW for 120 s, 100 mW for 60 s, and 200 mW for 30 s) were performed for each infected dentin plate, and the control group consisted of the specimens not applied with aPDT. The bactericidal effects in 10 experimental groups were evaluated (n=11) using both assays of the colony-count and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The data obtained were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The aPDT performed with semiconductor laser in combination with BB, AR, and MB exerted a remarkable bactericidal effect. aPDT with MB exerted a more significant bactericidal effect in the colony-count assay. The results of aPDT performed with varying irradiation times and powers but with constant irradiation energy showed no difference with AR and MB between the modes, whereas BB showed a more significant bactericidal effect when irradiated for a shorter time at a higher irradiation power.

The formation of the required AC voltage level is currently one of the most important problems. An unstable voltage level can lead to the failure of domestic and industrial equipment, also to the appearance of a lighting equipment flicker effect, which can adversely affect the operating mode. In this regard, the development of AC voltage regulators that perform the function of stabilizers has become relevant. In turn, new topologies should be energy efficient and reliable, this can be achieved by reducing the number of semiconductor elements, which in turn will reduce losses and increase efficiency. In addition to voltage stabilization, AC voltage regulators have found application as soft-start devices for asynchronous motors, and have become competitors to frequency converters. The power level can vary from units to tens of kilowatts where such devices can be used. This paper provides a review of AC voltage regulators, which can be used both as soft starters and AC voltage stabilizers. The analysis of the circuits was carried out and the efficiency was evaluated through their total harmonic distortions (THD), power factor and efficiency coefficient. Experiments were also performed for a number of circuits, where their operating modes were evaluated. Eventually, all circuits were divided into full number of switches with two or more AC switches per phase, with a reduced number of switches, where one AC switch per phase and with low number of switches – with one complementary pair of AC switches for all three phases.

Haemodynamic simulations are increasingly used to study vascular diseases like Intracranial Aneurysms (IA) and to further develope treatment options. However, due to limited data, some aspects must rely on heuristics, especially at the simulation’s distal ends. In literature, Murray’s Law is often used to model the outflow split based on vessel cross-section area, but this poses challenges for the communicating arteries in the Circle of Willis (CoW). In this study, we contribute by assessing the impact of Murray’s Law in patient-specific geometries featuring IA at the posterior communication. We simulate different domain extensions, representing common modelling choices. We establish Full CoW simulations as a baseline to evaluate the effect of these modelling assumptions on haemodynamic indicators, focusing on IA growth and rupture-related factors like Wall Shear Stress (WSS) and Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI). Our findings reveal qualitative alterations in haemodynamics when not modeling posterior communication. Comparisons between computing the anterior circulation and computing the whole Circle of Willis reveal quantitative changes in WSS may reach up to 80%, highlighting the significance of modelling choices in assessing IA risks and treatment strategies.

Over the last decade, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has severely affected poultry production systems across the globe. In particular, massive pre-emptive depopulation of all poultry within the certain distance has raised concerns regarding animal welfare and food security. Thus, alternative approaches to reducing unnecessary depopulation, such as risk-based depopulation, are highly demanded. This paper proposes a data-driven method to generate a rule table and risk score for each farm to identify preventive measures against HPAI. To evaluate the proposed method, 105 cases of HPAI occurring in a total of 381 farms in Jeollanam-do from 2014 to 2023 were evaluated. The accuracy of preventive measure identification was assessed for each case using both the conventional culling method and the proposed data-driven method. The evaluation showed that the proposed method achieved an accuracy of 84.19%, significantly surpassing the previous 10.37%. The result was attributed to the proposed method reducing the false-positive rate by 83.61% compared with the conventional method, thereby enhancing the reliability of identification. The proposed method is expected to be utilized in selecting farms for monitoring and management of HPAI.

The possibility of abrupt transitions threatens to poise ecosystems into irreversibly degraded states. Recently, it has been proposed the use of engineered microbiomes in endangered ecosystems to prevent them to cross tipping points and avoid collapse. Potential targets for such interventions include some of the most prominent life-support systems in the biosphere: drylands and coral reefs. Since engineering can require the introduction of microorganisms not present in resident communities, how can we weight the potential outcomes? One way is to use general models of species interactions where the "synthetic" strain is incorporated into a standard multispecies model. Here we follow this approach by modelling a resource-consumer community where one of the species is a modified one that acts by preserving some key resource. We show how the indirect effect of damping the decay of shared resources results in biodiversity increase, and last but not less, the successful incorporation of the synthetic within the ecological network. Further extensions and implications for future restoration and terraformation strategies are discussed.

The world population is aging, which along with recent shifts in the labor force participation (LFP), is having a significant longevity influence on state pension programs across the board, including Canada, Finland, Japan, and Germany. Except Japan, these countries have set their statutory re-tirement age at 65, but the impact of aging workforce and declined fertility rates create wonders on the estimate future trends in the LFP, as well as the length of retirement. In this study, we fit the LFP rates of these countries, representing continents from Asia, Europe and North America among the OECD countries, using the Lee-Carter and Cairns-Blake-Dowd (CBD) stochastic models. The es-timates are then used for the projection of future LFP rates (1989-2066), and by combining the mortality forecasts from the United Nations, we project the expected length of retirement (1989-2066). This study provided a novel comparison between the Lee-Carter and the CBD LFP models by fitting and forecasting the LFP rates of senior employees between 50- to 74-year-olds. The results revealed disparities between models that provided proof of the presence of model risk for longer retirement durations. The study findings emphasized the importance for decision-makers in pension industry to have awareness of potential risks and limits associated with the LFP models. The Lee-Carter model outperformed the CBD model even though the CBD model is known for its ac-curate prediction in higher ages. Population aging should be considered in any analysis of the long-term viability of pensions, together with the participation rate trends for a sustainable labor market future.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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