The demand for improved service in mobile networks is always increasing. That means signal transmission with higher capacity is required. To achieve that goal a combined optical and wireless link using double polarization multiplexing has been developed. A high quality signal transmission is achieved by applying high polarization extinction ratio. The new concept is validated by experiments varying the bit rate and fiber length. A signal with 12 Gbit/s bit rate was transmitted over a 25 km long combined link with about 1.10-8 bit error rate. That result is much better than the already published data which were measured on links transmitting information with 2.5 Gbit/s bit rate. The polarization multiplexing technique is very practical for capacity enhancement in a specific section of an existing optical fiber by inserting a new link into it without deploying a new fiber.

Museums are called to respond to contemporary challenges and contribute to the formation of more progressive societies. One of the major challenges of our time is climate change and museums could construct cocreated narratives around climate and implement targeted actions for the audiences through their sensorial and affective experiences. More specifically, Geology and Palaeontology museums are repositories of knowledge on geoheritage and geoconservation, recognized for their scientific, pedagogical, cultural and recreational values. The educational potential of geological and paleontological exhibits could be used in informal education activities regarding the climate emergency. Taking the above into consideration, this study focuses on both the creation and evaluation of an educational program for the Natural History Museum of Arsakeio Campus at Psychicko.

Background: Early diagnosis of postoperative complications is an urgent task, allowing timely prescribing of appropriate therapy and reducing the cost of patient treatment. Prognostic models based on various data could help in the early diagnosis of postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine whether an integrated approach based on clinical data along with metabolites and biomarkers had greater predictive value than the models built on less data. Methods: The study included patients (n=62) admitted for planned cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass), who were retrospectively divided into two groups depending on the presence (n=26) or absence (n=36) of postoperative complications of all types. Clinical and laboratory data on the first day after surgery were analyzed. Additionally, patients' blood samples were collected before and on the first day after surgery to determine biomarkers (interleukin-6, procalcitonin, NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin T) and metabolites (8 aromatic and 2 dicarboxylic acids were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Results: Patients before surgery, compared with healthy donors, differed in the concentration of metabolites (p < 0.05), and had concentrations of a number of biomarkers exceeding the corresponding reference values. Multivariate PLS-DA models, predicting the presence or absence of postoperative complications, were built using clinical data (ROC-AUC=0.71), concentrations of metabolites and biomarkers (ROC-AUC=0.60), and the entire data set (ROC-AUC=0.75). For comparison we built univariate models using the EuroScore2 (ROC-AUC=0.59) and SOFA (ROC-AUC=0.76) scales; concentrations of lactate (ROC-AUC=0.71), the dynamic changes of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (ROC-AUC=0.69), and the sum of three sepsis-associated metabolites (ROC-AUC=0.70). The proposed complex model using entire data set was comparable to the SOFA scale, which confirms the expediency of searching for new predictive models based on a variety of factors.

Osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity are insufficiently studied, and the reciprocal impact of these conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate potential predictors for the development of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity, as well as complications associated with this comorbidity. A cohort of 150 patients was categorized into three groups: a control group (n=30), patients with osteoarthritis (n=68), and patients with comorbid osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis (n=52). Potential predictors for comorbidity development and associated complications were explored. The study revealed that concurrent osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbate each other's progression and contribute to malnutrition. Body Mass Index (BMI) emerged as a potential predictor for chronic pancreatitis development in osteoarthritis patients. In osteoarthritis patients, fecal elastase-1 levels were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Factors such as WOMAC total score, fecal elastase-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, and BMI were found to influence comorbidity development between osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Diarrhea Syndrome (GSRS-DS), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Constipation syndrome (GSRS-CS), Qualitative Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency domain A (PEI-Q-A), retinol, tocopherol, and iron were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in osteoarthritis patients. In conclusion, the comorbidity of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbates disease progression and complications, necessitating further investigation.

In numerical simulations, achieving high accuracy without significantly increasing computational costs is often challenging. To address this, this paper presents an improved finite volume weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme tailored for applicability in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and implemented in the flow solver NUAA-Turbo for simulating turbomachinery flows using both RANS and RANS/LES coupling. Firstly, the new WENO scheme is validated against classic numerical test cases to assess its stability and reliability in handling discontinuities, the Double problem, and Raleigh-Taylor (RT) instability issues. Compared to the original format, this enhanced finite volume WENO scheme demonstrates superior stability near discontinuities and resolves flow features with the same grid resolution more effectively. Next, for engineering applications related to turbomachinery, such as compressor and turbine characteristics, computations are performed using RANS, and the results obtained using WENO-ZQ3 and WENO-JS3 are compared. Finally, the new fifth-order WENO scheme is applied to RANS/LES coupled simulations of turbine wakes and film cooling. The results show that the enhanced finite volume WENO scheme offers improved stability and accuracy in engineering applications, allowing for high-precision calculations with fewer grid points to capture more detailed flow physics, thereby reducing computational costs in aerodynamic applications.

The efficacy and safety of organic UV-filters could benefit from their incorporation into lipid nanoparticles because of the ability of such carriers to reflect solar radiations, thus acting synergically as physical sunscreens. In this work, bemotrizinol (BMTZ), a broad-spectrum UV-filter, was loaded into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) whose lipid matrix contained different oils to assess the effects of the lipid core composition on the properties of the resulting NLC. Subsequently, the effects of incorporating different concentrations of optimized BMTZ-loaded NLC on the technological properties of O/W emulsions (pH, viscosity, spreadability, occlusion factor, in vitro BMTZ release and skin permeation, in vitro sun protection factor) were assessed. Optimized BMTZ-loaded NLC showed mean size=190.6±9.8 nm, PDI=0.153±0.013, ζ-potential=-10.6±1.7 mV, loading capacity=8% w/w. The incorporation of increasing concentrations of optimized BMTZ-loaded into emulsions provided slight increase of spreadability, lower viscosity and no change of pH, occlusion factor and BMTZ release compared to the control. No BMTZ skin permeation was observed from all formulations. About 20% increase of sun protection factor values was obtained for vehicles containing BMTZ-loaded NLC. Therefore, BMTZ-loaded NLC incorporation into emulsions could be a promising strategy to develop safer and more effective sunscreen formulations.

To ensure consumers can purchase high-quality rice, accurate identification of rice varieties is particularly important. Methods: This article conducts research based on machine learning algorithms from the perspectives of image, spectrum, and spectrogram fusion. Six types of hyperspectral image data of rice were preprocessed using convolutional smoothing (SG) and multiple scatter correction (MSC). Texture information of the images was extracted using gray-level co-occurrence matrix. Spectra, texture, and spectrogram data were fused into a new matrix. Spectral, texture, and spectrogram fusion data were used as inputs for the model, and support vector machines (SVM), logistic regression (LR), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) classification models were constructed and compared. Results: From the classification results, the spectrogram fusion classification performance was better than classification models using only spectra or texture. Conclusion: The research results showed that the accuracy of SVM and LR classification models exceeded 90%, and the LR model performed the best, effectively classifying rice varieties.

Background: Pediatric obesity treatment is based on high-intensity lifestyle counseling. However, high dropout rates and low effectiveness have been reported even in specialized centers. Mobile health technologies have been used in research settings to overcome these limits with contrasting results. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a six-month intervention with a mobile app for the treatment of pediatric obesity at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to standard care or standard care plus mobile app (2:1). The mobile app delivered high-intensity lifestyle counseling for diet and physical activity. Results: Seventy-five subjects were prospectively enrolled. At six months of follow-up, the m-app group showed significantly lower dropout rates compared to standard care(p=0.01). The risk of dropout was significantly higher in controls compared to the intervention group (OR 3.86,95%C.I. 1.39-10.42,p=0.01). After one year of follow-up, we observed lower albeit non statistically significant dropout rates in the m-app compared to the standard care group(p=0.24). No differences were observed in terms of z-score BMI and percentage of BMI reduction between the two groups. Conclusion: our findings suggest that mobile app might help in the clinical management of children and adolescents with obesity in terms of dropout reduction.

The Planetary Roller Screw Mechanisms (PRSMs), alongside Ball Screw Mechanisms (BSMs) and Electromechanical Actuators (EMAs), occupies a pivotal role in advancing the precision and efficiency of various industrial applications, including aerospace, automotive, and high-precision machining tools. Despite their critical advantages such as high load capacity, superior precision, and extended lifespan, the deployment of PRSMs in complex operational conditions reveals a landscape rife with challenges and opportunities for further research. This comprehensive review endeavors to dissect the multifaceted aspects of PRSMs, focusing on their mechanics and dynamics, tribology and thermal behavior, and the paramount importance of reliability and condition monitoring. By synthesizing current research findings, this paper highlights the significant advancements in understanding the static and dynamic characteristics of PRSMs, the intricate interplay between lubrication conditions and wear mechanisms, and the critical role of thermal effects on operational performance. Moreover, it delves into the dynamic models that address the impact of manufacturing imperfections, such as waviness and defects, on the reliability of these mechanisms. Despite the strides made, the review identifies critical gaps in the existing literature, particularly under conditions of extreme temperatures, large deformations, and multifaceted loads, advocating for a holistic approach to research. By proposing integrated thermo-mechanical models and emphasizing the need for empirical validations, this paper outlines a roadmap for future studies aimed at facilitating the development of more robust and reliable PRSMs, capable of meeting the demands of complex operational scenarios and advancing the field of high-precision applications in aerospace, robotics, and beyond.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations pose significant challenges to diagnostic tests as these mutations can reduce the sensitivity of commonly used RT-PCR assays. Therefore, there is a need to design diagnostic assays with multiple targets to enhance sensitivity. In this study, we identified a novel diagnostic target, nsp10 gene, using nanopore sequencing. Firstly, we determined the analytical sensitivity and specificity of our COVID-19-nsp10 assay. The COVID-19-nsp10 assay had the limit of detection of 74 copies/mL (95% confidence interval: 48-299 copies/mL) and did not show cross-reactivity with other respiratory viruses. Next, we determined the diagnostic performance of the COVID-19-nsp10 assay using 261 respiratory specimens, including 147 SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens belonging to ancestral strain and Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Mu, Eta, Kappa, Theta and Omicron lineages. Using the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR assay as the reference method, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the COVID-19-nsp10 assay were 100%. The median Cp values for the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR and our COVID-19-nsp10 RT-PCR were 22.48 (range: 12.95-36.60) and 25.94 (range 16.37-36.87), respectively. The Cp values of the COVID-19-nsp10 RT-PCR assay correlated well with those of the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR assay (Spearman’s ρ = 0.968; P<0.0001). In conclusion, nsp10 is a suitable target for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay.

We report new findings of live specimens of Nassarius persicus (Martens, 1874) and N. tadjallii Moolenbeek, 2007, extending their range to the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. The known distribution of both species was limited: N. persicus was distributed in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Karachi, Pakistan; N. tadjallii was reported from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. We also provide comprehensive taxonomic descriptions of both species, along with additional morphological and ecological information.

Previous research has proven that one of the fundamental requirements for ensuring increased profitability and economic competitiveness of offshore-based projects is co-locating different technologies within the same marine space. This paper presents a number of techno-feasibility analyses for floating offshore technologies for the Maltese Islands, located in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The first part compares the feasibility of offshore-based solar photovoltaic prices with those onshore, taking into consideration Malta’s land prices. The second part considers the use of a novel floating breakwater design that integrates energy storage. The breakwater is used to create a sheltered water area in deep waters for a multi-use marine park. Different revenue streams for the floating break water are considered, including renting the sheltered marine space out to operators of floating solar farms, aquaculture cages and vessel berthing facilities, and the provision of energy storage services. It is found that the combined income from the multiple revenue streams is still insufficient to justify the investment and that financially support from Government is essential to render the floating breakwaters viable.

In this research work, we examined the decomposition mechanisms of N-substituted diacetamides. We focused on the substituent effect on the nitrogen lone pair electron delocalization, withdrawing and electron donor groups. DFT functionals used included: B1LYP, B3PW91, CAMB3LYP, LC-BLYP, and X3LYP. Dispersion functions gd3bj were applied when necessary to improve non-covalent interactions in the transition state. Pople with higher angular moments and def2-TZVP basis sets were also applied and were crucial for obtaining consistent thermodynamic parameters. The proposed mechanism involves a six-membered transition state with the extraction of an α hydrogen. Several conformers of N-diacetamides were used to account for the decrease in entropy in the transition state in the rate-determining state. All calculations, including Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analyses, were performed using the Gaussian16 computational package and its GaussView 6.0 visualizer, along with VMD and GNUPLOT software. The isosurfaces and IBSI indexes were calculated using MultiWFN and IGMPlot, respectively.

This study evaluates the viability of n-octanol as an alternative fuel in a direct-injection diesel engine, aiming to enhance sustainability and efficiency. Experiments employed varying blends of n-octanol (10%, 30%, and 50% by volume) with pure diesel, analyzing impacts on engine performance and emissions. The methodology involved testing each blend in a single-cylinder engine, measuring engine performance parameters such as brake torque and brake power under full load conditions across an engine speed range from 1400 to 2500 rpm. Comparative assessments of performance and emission characteristics at a constant engine speed of 1700 rpm were also conducted with varying loads. Results indicated that while n-octanol blends consistently improved brake thermal efficiency, they also increased brake specific fuel consumption due to the lower energy content of n-octanol. Consequently, while all n-octanol blends reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions compared to pure diesel, they also significantly decreased carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and smoke opacity, presenting a comprehensive reduction in harmful emissions. However, the benefits came with nuanced trade-offs: notably, higher concentrations of n-octanol (especially the 50% blend) led to a relative increase in NOx emissions as the octanol ratio increased. The study concludes that n-octanol significantly improves engine efficiency and reduces diesel dependence, but optimizing the blend ratio is crucial to balance performance improvements with comprehensive emission reductions.

The article presents comparative results from 5 categories of animals (4 samples originating from pigs, 2 from cows, 1 from chicken, 1 from ostriches, 1 from horses, samples quantified with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I). These samples were collected from large, medium and small (family) farms. The results were validated by the biogas production generated by the respective samples, using the Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS II) bio-processor. The largest amounts of biogas (2,464.5 Nml, 2,262.0 Nml) were recorded for the samples from pig farms (Sample B and Sample D), whereas the lowest values were obtained in the case of Sample A (414.1 Nml) and Sample C (558.3 Nml). The heavy metals analyzed in the article are Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ca, K, As. The results corroborate that the C/N ratio can also vary to values lower than 20-30, without affecting the biogas production process, and the heavy metal content must be known especially for the full management of the wastes. All final data presented in the article are based on repeated, triplicate experiments, with less as 2% deviation between data.

This article introduces ten similarity measures that utilize cosine and cotangent functions to compare (m,n)-rung orthopair fuzzy sets, this a super class of q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets. Further, we applied our established weighted similarity measures to medical diagnosis, pattern recognition,and building material problems and also presented the comparison between established measures with the existing cosine and cotangent measures of q-rung orthopair, pythagorean and intuitionistic fuzzy sets. Lastly, we considered a numerical example that demonstrates the effective and scientific application of these similarity measures in plant leaf disease classification. Furthermore, we present graphical interpretations to demonstrate the effectiveness of our established measures.

Vitamin B9(folate)/B12 deficiency is known to induce brain structural and/or functional retardations. Besides neural tube defects in case of major consequences, several mild deregulations also lead to deleterious effect after birth, and folate supplementation recommended in some countries usually stop at the end of the first trimester. Various hormonal receptors were shown to be deregulated in brain tissue under this context. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is particularly sensitive to epigenetic regulation and post-traductional modifications. In a mother-offspring rat model of vitamin B9/B12 deficiency, we investigated whether a prolonged folate supplementation could restore the GR signalization in the hypothalamus. Our data showed that a deficiency in folate and vitamin B12 during the in-utero and the early postnatal periods was associated with reduced GR expression inn the hypothalamus. We also described for the first time a new post-traductional modification of GR that impaired ligand binding and GR activation, leading to decreased the expression of one of the GR targets in the hypothalamus, AgRP. Moreover, this brain-impaired GR pathway was associated with behavioral perturbations during offspring growth. Importantly, perinatal and postnatal supplementation with folic acid helped restore GR mRNA level and activity in hypothalamus cells and improved behavioral deficits.

To investigate the role of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds in different protein-stabilized emulsions, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) was used as sulfhydryl-blocking agent to be added in the emulsion. The addition of NEM to block the sulfhydryl groups resulted in a reduction of the content of disulfide bonds formation, which enabled destruction of the internal structure of the protein molecule, and then decreased the restriction of protein membrane on the oil droplets. Furthermore, with NEM content increasing in the emulsion, a reduction of protein emulsifying activity and emulsion stability also occurred. At the same time, the intermolecular interaction of the protein on the oil droplet interface membrane was destroyed, and the emulsion droplet size increased with the NEM content in the emulsion. Although NEM blocking sulfhydryl groups not to form disulfide bonds has similar effects on three types of protein emulsion, the degree of myofibrillar protein (MP), egg-white protein isolate (EPI), and soybean protein isolate (SPI) as emulsifier had a subtle difference.

The production and N-glycosylation of recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a model highly glycosylated therapeutic protein, in a transgenic rice cell suspension culture treated with kifunensine, a strong α-mannosidase I inhibitor, was studied in a 5 L bioreactor. A media exchange was performed at day 7 of cultivation by removing spent sugar rich media (NB+S) and adding fresh sugar free (NB-S) media to induce the rice α-amylase 3D (RAmy3D) promoter to produce rice recombinant human BChE (rrBChE). Using a 1.25X concentrated sugar-free medium together with an 80% reduced working volume during the media exchange lead to a total active rrBChE production level of 79 ± 2 µg (g FW)^-1 or 7.5 ± 0.4 mg L^-1 in the presence of kifunensine, which is 1.5-times higher than our previous bioreactor runs using normal sugar free medium with no kifunensine treatment. Importantly, the amount of secreted active rrBChE in culture medium was enhanced in the presence of kifunensine, comprising 44% of the total active rrBChE at day 5 post-induction. Coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel and Western blot analyses reveal different electrophoretic migration of purified rrBChE bands with and without kifunensine treatment, which is attributed to different N-glycoforms. N-Glycosylation analysis shows substantial increase of oligomannose glycans (Man5/6/7/8) in rrBChE treated with kifunensine compared to controls. However, mass transfer limitation of kifunensine is likely the major reason for incomplete inhibition of α-mannosidase I in this bioreactor study.

A new pathway leading to the n-10 fatty acid series has been recently evidenced, starting from sapienic acid - a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) resulting from the transformation of palmitic acid by delta-6 desaturase. Sapienic acid attracts attention as novel marker of cancer cell plasticity. Here, we analyzed fatty acids including the n-10 fatty acid contents, and compared for the first time cell membranes and the corresponding extracellular vesicles (EV) of two human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines of different aggressiveness (PC3 and LNCaP). The n-10 components were 9-13% of the total fatty acids in both cancer cell lines and EVs, with total MUFA levels significantly higher in EVs of the most aggressive cell type (PC3). High sapienic/palmitoleic ratios indicated the preference for delta-6 vs. delta-9 desaturase enzymatic activity in these cell lines. The expressions analysis of enzymes involved in desaturation and elongation by qRT-PCR showed a higher desaturase activity in PC3 and a higher elongase activity toward polyunsaturated fatty acids than toward saturated fatty acids, compared to LNCaP cells. Our results improve the present knowledge in cancer fatty acid metabolism and lipid phenotypes, highlighting EV lipidomics to monitor positional fatty acid isomer profiles and MUFA levels in cancer.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of infectious bronchitis, which causes considerable economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. It is imperative to develop safe and efficient candidate vaccines to control IBV infection. In the current study, recombinant baculoviruses co-expressing S1 and N proteins, mono-expressing S1 or N proteins alone of IBV were constructed and prepared into subunit vaccines rHBM-S1-N, rHBM-S1 and rHBM-N. The levels of immune protection of these subunit vaccines were evaluated by inoculating specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens at 14 days of age, boosting with the same dose 14 days later, and following challenge with a virulent GX-YL5 strain of IBV 14 days post-booster (dpb). The commercial vaccine strain H120 was used as a control. The IBV-specific antibody levels as well as the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were detected within 28 days post-vaccination (dpv). The morbidity, mortality, and re-isolation of virus from the tracheas and kidneys of challenged birds were evaluated at 5 days post-challenge (dpc). The results showed that the IBV-specific antibody levels and the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte in rHBM-S1-N group were higher than those of rHBM-S1 and rHBM-N groups, especially the cellular immunity response. At 5 dpc, the mortality, morbidity and virus re-isolation rate of rHBM-S1-N were slightly higher than those of H120 group, but were lower than those of rHBM-S1 group and rHBM-N group. The present study demonstrated that the protection of recombinant baculovirus co-expressing S1 and N proteins was better than that of recombinant baculoviruses mono-expressing S1 or N protein alone. Thus, the recombinant baculovirus co-expressing S1 and N proteins could serve as a potential IBV vaccine and this demonstrates that the bivalent subunit vaccine including the S1 and N proteins might be a strategy for the development of an IBV subunit vaccine.

We report here the synthesis and characterization of new N-(3-(8-bromoimidazo[1, 2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-4-fluorophenyl)benzamide derivatives. This collection was obtained from 3-(8-bromoimidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-4-fluoroaniline(5). The family of new compounds was characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR and LC-MS analysis.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial factors and risk management strategies essential for optimizing disaster resilience within the Serbian defence industry's critical infrastructure. The significance of this sector is multi-faceted, impacting national security, economic stability, and technological advancement. Primarily, the Serbian defence industry ensures the preservation of vital defence interests, maintaining Serbia's independence from foreign sources for weapons and military equipment in both peacetime and wartime. Economically, it is a significant employer of the working-age population, directly affecting local employment rates, fostering economic development, and ensuring the sustainable growth of this crucial sector. This, in turn, stimulates broader economic activity and enhances social cohesion while strengthening the national balance of payments through increased export potential. From a technological perspective, the defence industry drives scientific, technological, and industrial development, reinforcing Serbia's global political and military standing within the Western Balkans and on the international stage. Consequently, the paper aims to examine the risk management and protection of the Serbian defence industry's critical infrastructure, offering concrete and actionable measures to improve and develop these systems with a particular emphasis on security. The research's utility and contribution lie in identifying similarities and differences in the operational performance of defence industry companies, a vital segment of the national economy. The presentation of these findings focuses on the protection of critical infrastructure. The results will form the basis for further investigation into the underlying causes of business performance and the effective management of critical infrastructure security.

Recent research has highlighted associations between sleep and microbial taxa and pathways. However, the causal effect of these associations remains unknown. To investigate this, we performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from 412 gut microbiome traits (N = 7,738) and GWAS studies from seven sleep-associated traits (N = 345,552 to 386577). We employed multiple MR methods to assess causality, with Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We further applied Cochran’s Q statistical analysis, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO for heterogeneity and pleiotropy assessment, alongside a Bonferroni correction ((P

The Neurovascular Unit (NVU), comprised of glia (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia), neurons, pericytes and endothelial cells, is a dynamic interface ensuring physiological functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), that gets affected and contributes to the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases and is primarily related to the activation state of perivascular microglia and astrocytes, which constitute two of its major cellular components. Our studies focus on monitoring in real time the morphological changes of perivascular astrocytes and microglia, as well as their dynamic interactions with the brain vasculature, under physiological conditions and following systemic neuroinflammation triggering both microgliosis and astrogliosis. To this end, we performed 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2P-LSM) for intravital imaging of the cortex of transgenic mice visualizing the dynamics of microglia and astroglia following neuroinflammation induced by systemic administration of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results indicate that following neuroinflammation the end-feet of activated perivascular astrocytes lose their close proximity and physiological crosstalk with vasculature, an event that most possibly contributes to a loss of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) integrity. At the same time, microglial cells get activated with more frequent contacts of the blood vessels. These dynamic responses of perivascular astrocytes and microglial are peaking at 4 days following LPS administration, however they still persist at a lower level 8 days after LPS, revealing incomplete reversal of inflammation affecting the glial properties and interactions with the NVU.

Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a neglected tropical disease associated with freshwater habitats. A variety of limnic organisms harbor this pathogen, including aquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), which have been hypothesized to be epidemiologically important reservoirs. Aquatic Hemiptera exhibit high levels of diversity in the tropics, but species identification remains challenging. In this study, we collected aquatic bugs from emerging foci of BU in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, which were identified using morphological and molecular methods. The bugs were screened for mycobacterial DNA and a selection of 20 mycobacteria-positive specimens from the families Gerridae and Veliidae were subjected to next-generation sequencing. Only one individual revealed putative M. ulcerans DNA, but all specimens contained sequences from the widespread alpha-proteobacterial symbiont, Wolbachia. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Wolbachia sequences into supergroups A, B and F. Circularized mitogenomes were obtained for seven gerrids and two veliids, the first from these families for the African continent. This study suggests that aquatic Hemiptera may have a minor role (if any) in the spread of BU in Southwest Cameroon. Our metagenomic analysis provides new insights into the incursion of Wolbachia into aquatic environments and generates valuable resources to aid molecular taxonomic studies of aquatic Hemiptera.

In recent years, the utilization of machine learning algorithms and advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology have marked significant shifts in remote sensing practices. In particular, the integration of machine learning with physical models and their application in UAV-satellite data fusion have emerged as two prominent approaches for estimating vegetation biochemistry. This study evaluates the performance of five machine learning regression algorithms (MLRAs) for mapping crop canopy chlorophyll at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) in Michigan, USA, across three scenarios: (1) application to Landsat 7, RapidEye, and PlanetScope satellite images; (2) application to UAV-satellite data fusion; and (3) integration with the PROSAIL radiative transfer model (hybrid methods PROSAIL + MLRAs). The results indicate that the majority of the five MLRAs utilized in UAV-satellite data fusion perform better than the five PROSAIL + MLRAs. The general trend suggests that the integration of satellite data with UAV-derived information, including the normalized difference red-edge index (NDRE), canopy height model, and leaf area index (LAI), significantly enhances the performance of MLRAs. The UAV-RapidEye dataset exhibits the highest coefficient of determination (R2) and the lowest root-mean-square errors (RMSE) when employing kernel ridge regression (KRR) and Gaussian processes regression (GPR) (R2 = 0.89 and 0.89 and RMSE = 8.99 µg/cm2 and 9.65 µg/cm2, respectively). Similar performance is closely observed for the UAV-Landsat and UAV-PlanetScope datasets (R2 = 0.86 and 0.87 for KRR, respectively). For the hybrid models, maximum performance is attained with Landsat data using KRR and GPR (R2 = 0.77 and 0.51 and RMSE = 33.10 µg/cm2 and 42.91 µg/cm2, respectively), followed by R2 = 0.75 and RMSE = 39.78 µg/cm2 for PlanetScope data upon integrating partial least squares regression (PLSR) into the hybrid model. Across all hybrid models, RapidEye data yielded the most stable performance, with R2 ranging from 0.45 to 0.71 and RMSE ranging from 19.16 µg/cm2 to 33.07 µg/cm2. The study highlights the importance of synergizing UAV and satellite data which enables effective monitoring of canopy chlorophyll in small agricultural lands.

The sustainability of agricultural commodities produced in the Southern U.S. under irrigation is increasingly at risk due to erratic rainfall patterns, inadequate water supplies and compromised water quality. This study assessed the needs of crop growers in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Southern Region. The purpose was to identify growers’ critical water resource management concerns to identify research priorities from the perspective of growers in this region. To obtain this information, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to growers throughout the Southern Region in 2020. The final sample included 112 crop (row and specialty) production growers from the Southern Region. Overall, respondents named the water available to irrigate as the greatest water resource management priority. Within all the water availability priorities asked, respondents’ first choice was declining water supply in the future. Declining water supply and the cost of irrigating presently were the next most frequently named water availability priorities. Growers named both increasing the efficiency of irrigation and development of farming practices to improve soil moisture retention as the first and second focus of future irrigation research, respectively. These results will aid in strengthening existing and developing new initiatives for water research and Extension in this region.

The rest-breaking agent, hydrogen cyanamide (HC), can substitute insufficient chill unit accumulation in Vitis vinifera and induce uniform bud-break; however, due to its toxicity it is being banned. In South Africa, red seedless grapes, including V. vinifera Crimson Seedless (CS), are the largest table grape export group; therefore, replacing HC in V. vinifera CS is crucial. This study aimed to confirm the molecular triggers induced by HC and assess the bud-break-enhancing abilities of commercial plant biostimulants. Forced bud-break assay experiments using V. vinifera CS single-node cuttings and a small-scale field trial were performed. Results demonstrated that increased chill unit accumulation (CUA), reduced HC efficacy. Bud-break started between 10 and 20 days after treatment, irrespective of final CUA. The small-scale field trial found that HC3 % resulted in a slightly delayed bud-break rate, whilst biostimulants were similar to the negative control. The treatment of dormant grapevine compound buds with nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hypoxia trigger dormancy-release to a certain extent, supporting the molecular models proposed for HC action. NO, H2O2, and hypoxia, in combination with PBs, may potentially replace HC; however, this needs to be confirmed in future experiments.

Background: Asthma is a widespread chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant public health challenge. The current study investigated the associations between air pollution and asthma severity among individuals residing near the Sohar industrial port (SIP) in Oman. Despite the presence of multiple major industrial complexes in Oman, limited knowledge regarding their impact on respiratory health is accredited. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the respiratory health consequences of industrial air pollution in Al Batinah North. Methods: The state health clinics' records for patient visits related to asthma were collected for the timeframe spanning 2014 to 2022. Exposure was defined as the distance from SIP, Majan Industerial Area (MIA) and Sohar Industerial Zone (SIZ) to determine high, intermediate, and low exposure zones (12 km, respectively). Exposure effect modifications by age, gender, and smoking status were also examined. Results: The conducted cross-sectional study of 410 patients (46.1% males and 53.9% females) living in over 17 areas around SIP revealed that 73.2% of asthmatics were under 50 years old, with severity significantly associated with closeness to the port. Risk ratios were estimated to be (RR:2.42; CI95%: 1.01–5.78), (RR:1.91; CI95%: 1.01–3.6), and (RR:1.68; CI95%: 0.92–3.09) for SIP, MIP and SIZ areas, respectively, compared to the control area. Falaj Al Qabail (6.4 km) and Majees (6 km) had the highest number of asthma patients (N. 69 and N. 72), and highest percentages of severe asthma cases among these patients (28% and 24%) with significant risk ratios (RR:2.97; CI95%: 1.19–7.45 and RR:2.55; CI95%: 1.00–6.48), correspondingly. Moreover, severe asthma prevalence peaked in the 25-50 age group (RR:2.05; CI95%: 1.26–3.33), and this linkage between asthma and age was much more pronounced in males than females. Smoking and exposure to certain contaminant (dust and smoke) increased also the risk of severe asthma symptoms, but their effects were less important in the high risk zone, suggesting much more important risk factor. A neural network model accurately predicted asthma risk (94.8% accuracy), with proximity to Sohar Industrial Port as the most influential predictor. Conclusion: The study highlights the High asthma burden near Sohar Industrial Port, linked to port proximity and smoking and wind direction as major risk factors. These findings inform vital public health policies to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory health in the region, prompting national policy review.

An analysis of 1300+ existing ACE mutations revealed that 400+ are damaging and led us to hy-pothesize that carriers of heterozygous loss-of-function (LoF) ACE mutations (which result in low ACE levels) could be at risk for the development of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [Danilov, 2024]. Here we quantified blood ACE levels in EDTA-plasma from 41patients with 10 different heterozygous ACE mutations, as well as 33 controls, and estimated the effect of these mutations on ACE phenotype using a set of mAbs to ACE and two ACE substrates. We found that relatively frequent (~1%) AD-associated ACE mutations in the N domain of ACE, Y215C and G325R are truly damaging and, likely, transport-deficient, with ACE levels in plasma only ~50% of controls. Another AD-associated ACE mutation, R1250Q, in the cytoplasmic tail, did not cause a decrease in ACE and, likely, did not affect surface ACE expression. We have also developed a method to identify patients with anti-catalytic mutations in the N domain. These mutations may result in reduced degradation of amyloid beta peptide Aβ42, an important component for amyloid deposition. Consequently, these could pose a risk factor for the development of AD. Therefore, a systematic analysis of blood ACE levels in patients with all ACE mutations has potential to identify individuals at an increased risk of late-onset AD. These individuals may benefit from future preventive or therapeutic interventions involving a combination of chemical and pharmacological chaperones, as well as proteasome inhibitors, aiming to enhance ACE protein traffic. This approach has been previously demonstrated in a cell model of the transport-deficient ACE mutation, Q1069R [Danilov, 2010].

This study investigates the potential benefits of integrating coarser particle size distributions (PSDs) of 45-106 µm into laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M), aiming to reduce costs while maintaining quality standards. Despite the considerable advantages of PBF-LB/M in producing intricate geometries with high precision, the high cost of metal powders remains a barrier to widespread adoption. By exploring the use of coarser PSDs, particularly from electron beam-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-EB/M), significant cost-saving opportunities are identified. Through comprehensive powder characterization, process analysis, and mechanical property evaluation, this study demonstrates that PBF-LB/M can effectively utilize coarser powders while achieving comparable mechanical properties to those produced with 20-53 µm PSD. Adaptations in process parameters enable the successful processing of coarser powders, maintaining high-relative density components with minimal porosity. Additionally, market surveys reveal substantial cost differentials between PBF-LB/M and PBF-EB/M powders, indicating 40 % cost reduction potential by integrating coarser PSDs into PBF-LB/M. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the economic and technical feasibility of printing with coarser powders in PBF-LB/M, offering promising avenues for cost reduction without compromising quality, thus enhancing competitiveness and adoption of the technology in manufacturing applications.

We present the real number system as a natural generalization of the natural numbers. First, we prove the co-finite topology, $Cof(\mathbb N)$, is isomorphic to the natural numbers. Then, we generalize these results to describe the continuum $[0,1]$. Then we prove the power set $2^{\mathbb Z}$ contains a subset isomorphic to the non-negative real numbers, with all its defining structure of operations and order. Finally, we provide two different constructions of the entire real number line. We see that the power set $2^{\mathbb N}$ can be given the defining structure of $\mathbb R$. The constructions here provided give simple rules for calculating addition, multiplication, subtraction, division, powers and rational powers of real numbers, and logarithms. The supremum and infimum are explicitly constructed by means of a well defined algorithm that ends in denumerable steps. In section 5 we give evidence our construction of $\mathbb N$ and $\mathbb R$ are canonical; these constructions are as natural as possible. In the same section, we propose a new axiomatic basis for analysis. In the last section we provide a series of graphic representations and physical models that can be used to represent the real number system. We conclude that the system of real numbers is completely defined by the order structure of $\mathbb N$.}

The potentiality of cv. Malbec grape pomace (GP) as a functional ingredient in the formulation of bakery foods (muffins, biscuits and cereal bars) was studied. The effect of GP addition on the phenolic compounds (PCs) composition, nutritional and sensory properties were evaluated. The addition of GP increased the content of dietary fiber, proteins, ash, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AA), anthocyanins and non-anthocyanins PCs while decreasing the carbohydrates content. The main PCs given by the GP to supplemented foods were (-)-gallocatechin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, rutin, caffeic acid, syringic acid and (+)-catechin. For anthocyanins, the acylated derivatives were more stable to heat treatment (baking) in food processing which was evidenced by a higher proportion of these PCs compounds when compared to the same derivatives quantified in GP. In general, when the TPC or individual concentrations of PCs were analyzed in a nutritional or functional context, one portion of the supplemented foods showed levels high enough to satisfy the recommended dose per day of these bioactive compounds. Additionally, the foods were well received by consumers during the sensory evaluation and supplemented biscuits got the highest acceptability. This study demonstrated that GP could be a viable functional ingredient in bakery foods to give nutritionally enhanced properties like TPC, PCs, AA and dietary fiber in consumer’s diets.

A rapid, precise, accurate and low cost method for the determination of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in cereal products and biscuits was developed. The uncertainty was calculated for the first time and the methods were performed in different cereal products and biscuits, characterized as “superfoods”. The limits of detection and quantification were calculated. Accuracy and precision were estimated using the certified reference material FAPAS T10112QC and the determined values were in good accordance with the certified values. The health claims according to the daily reference values for vitamin E were calculated and the results proved that the majority of the samples examined showed %daily value higher than 15%.

Two types of heterometallic (Fe(III),Na) silsesquioxanes [Ph₅Si₅O₁₀]₂[Ph₁₀Si₁₀O₂₁]Fe₆(O^2‒)₂Na₇(H₃O⁺)(MeOH)₂(MeCN)_4.5.1.25(MeCN), I, and [Ph₅Si₅O₁₀]₂[Ph₄Si₄O₈]₂Fe₆Na₆(O^2‒)₃(MeCN)_8.5(H₂O)_8.44, II, were obtained and characterized. X-Ray studies established distinctive structures of both products, with pair of Fe(III)-O-based triangles surrounded by siloxanolate ligands, giving fascinating cage architectures. Complex II proved to be catalytically active in the formation of amides from alcohols and amines, thus becoming a rare example of metallasilsesquioxanes performing homogeneous catalysis. Benzene, cyclohexane and other alkanes, as well as alcohols, can be oxidized in acetonitrile solution to phenol, the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides and ketones, respectively, by hydrogen peroxide in air in the presence of catalytic amounts of complex II and trifluoroacetic acid. Thus, the cyclohexane oxidation at 20 °C gave oxygenates in very high for alkanes yield (48% based on alkane). The kinetic behaviour of the system indicates that the mechanism includes the formation of hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide in its interaction with diiron species. The latter are formed via monomerization of starting hexairon complex with further dimerization of the monomers.

With an estimated 10 million people infected, the deltaretrovirus human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the second most prevalent pathogenic retrovirus in humans after HIV-1. Like HIV-1, HTLV-1 overwhelmingly persists in a host via a reservoir of latently infected CD4+ T cells. Although most patients are asymptomatic, HTLV-1-associated pathologies are often debilitating and include childhood infective dermatitis and adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL), which presents in mature adulthood and is associated with poor prognosis with short overall survival despite treatment. Curiously, the strongest indicator for the development of ATLL is the acquisition of HTLV-1 through breastfeeding. There are no therapeutic or preventative regimens for HTLV-1. However, antiretrovirals (ARVs), which target the essential retrovirus enzymes, have been developed for and transformed HIV therapy. Since the architectures of retroviral enzyme active sites are highly conserved, some HIV-specific compounds may be active against HTLV-1. Here, we expand on our work showing that integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) block HTLV-1 transmission in cell culture. Specifically, we find that dolutegravir, the INSTI currently recommended as the basis of all new combination antiretroviral therapy prescriptions, and the latest prodrug formulation of the NRTI tenofovir, tenofovir alafenamide, also potently inhibit HTLV-1 infection in cell culture. Our results, if replicated in a clinical setting, could see transmission rates of HTLV-1 and future caseloads of HTLV-1-associated pathologies like ATLL dramatically cut via the simple redistribution of already widely available HIV pills to HTLV-1 endemic areas. Considering our findings with the old medical saying ‘it’s better to prevent than cure’, we highly recommend the inclusion of INSTIs and tenofovir prodrugs in upcoming HTLV-1 clinical trials as potential prophylactics.

: Two-dimensional instability of a horizontal layer of boiling liquid with a finite height is experimentally studied. In this layer, “vapor columns” rose at the corners of a square rectangular grid. The symmetry of “vapor column” location on the heating surface is considered. The model considers the approach to the boiling crisis in terms of both developed nucleate boiling and transitional boiling (the Zuber problem). When dealing with developed nucleate boiling, the layer of boiling liquid is considered in calculations as an isotropic homogeneous system (foam). It is shown how the conditions on the heating surface (capillary-porous coating) affect external hydrodynamics of the liquid layer and, ultimately, the value of the critical heat flux. The calculation ratio obtained by approaching the boiling crisis with regard to developed nucleate boiling takes into account the dependence of the critical heat flux on the void fraction of the boiling liquid layer. A new solution to the boiling crisis problem is proposed when approaching the crisis from the point of transitional boiling (the Zuber problem). This new solution eliminates some shortcomings of the classical problem (in particular, the void fraction of the layer corresponds to the experiments).

The evolution of even and odd Schrödinger cat states of the inverted oscillator is obtained in the center-of-mass tomographic probability description of the two-mode oscillator.The notion of entangled probability distribution is reviewed. Evolution equations describing the time-dependence of probability distributions identified with quantum system states are discussed.The connection with the Schrödinger equation and the von Neumann equation is clarified.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived benefits of community gardening. A garden colony is a collection of adjacent plots of land primarily for the purpose of gardening. The methodology of this research consists of observations, interviews, questionnaires, and focus group. As a result of this research we found that gardening is a natural and safe way to meet the lifelong demands for a healthy life. We found specific mental and physical benefits as a result of this community gardening. We encourage communities to allow people to buy plots of land away from their homes to promote this healthy activity. The garden colony provides a place for individual renewal and restoration; this urban oasis offers a way to maintain and promote lifelong healthy living, and they are an important contribution to one’s life by adding a sense of meaning and purpose.

The notion of potential-growth indicator came to being in the field of matrix population models long ago, almost simultaneously with the pioneering Leslie model for age-structured population dynamics, albeit the term has been given and the theory developed only recent years. The indicator represents an explicit function, R(L), of matrix L elements and indicates the position of the spectral radius of L relative to 1 on the real axis, thus signifying the population growth, or decline, or stabilization. Some indicators turned out useful in theoretical layouts and practical applications prior to calculating the spectral radius itself. The most senior (1994) and popular indicator, R0(L), is known as the net reproductive rate, and we consider two more ones, R1(L) and RRT(A), developed later on. All the three are different in what concerns their simplicity and the level of generality, and we illustrate them with a case study of Calamagrostis epigeios, a long-rhizome perennial weed actively colonizing open spaces in the temperate zone. While the R0(L) and R1(L) fail respectively because of complexity and insufficient generality, the RRT(L) does succeed, justifying the merit of indication.

The global use of alcohol based hand sanitizers (ABHS) as a means of controlling the transmission of infectious disease increased dramatically in 2020 as governments and public health agencies across the world advocated hand hygiene as a preventative measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the performance of these products is most commonly defined as a function of their alcohol concentration, they are multifaceted products in which an interplay of several factors is important in determining efficacy. The hand sanitizer tetrahedron, is a novel concept that considers both ABHS formulation factors and product performance factors from a multi-dimensional perspective. The four faces of the tetrahedron represent input/formulation factors: 1) the type and amount of alcohol, 2) inactive ingredients, 3) the type of formulation/delivery system and 4) manufacturing practices. The four corners of the tetrahedron represent output/product performance factors: 1) efficacy, 2) sensory characteristics, 3) usage, usability and compliance and 4) product safety/adverse effects. All factors are of importance to ensuring the effectiveness and utility of these products.

Italy suffered heavily with the new pandemic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Given the low number of tests performed on the early stages of the outbreak, Italy lost track of most of infections. We use a modified SEIR model to reconstruct the most realistic infection curve using the hospitalization curve of the registered data. Using this method we estimated that, by the end of the first infection wave, about 3-4% of the population will have been infected by the virus. Following the same process, the number of deaths is projected to be between 100000 to 115000. We also find a significant correlation between the number of tests performed, the fraction of undocumented infections and the rate of change dI/dt of the real infection curve. We conclude that herd immunity is not enough to contain further spread of the disease inside the country.

Sex dimorphism starts during early embryogenesis and is further manifested in response to hormones during puberty. As this leads to physical divergence that is measurably different between sexes, males enjoy physical performance advantages over females within competitive sport. While this advantage is the underlying basis of the segregation into male and female sporting categories, these sex-based categories do not account for transgender persons who experience incongruence between their biological sex and their experienced gender identity. Accordingly, the International Olympic Committee determined criteria by which a transgender woman may be eligible to compete in the female category, requiring total serum testosterone levels to be suppressed below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to and during competition. Whether this regulation removes the male performance advantage has not been collectively scrutinized. Here, we aim to review how differences in biological characteristics between biological males and females affect sporting performance and assess whether evidence exists to support the assumption that testosterone suppression in transgender women removes the male performance advantage. In this review, we report that the performance gap between males and females amounts to 10-50% depending on sport. The performance gap is more pronounced in sporting activities relying on muscle mass and strength, particularly in the upper body. Longitudinal studies examining the effects of testosterone suppression on muscle mass and strength in transgender women consistently show very modest changes, where the loss of lean body mass, muscle area and strength typically amounts to approximately 5% after 1 year of treatment. Thus, current evidence shows that the biological advantage enjoyed by transgender women is only minimally reduced when testosterone is suppressed. Sports organizations may therefore be compelled to reassess current policies regarding participation of transgender women in the female category of sport.

Hypertension is a common and growing medical problem that leads to enormous cardiovascular and kidney disease worldwide. While many drugs exist to treat hypertension, there is large individual variation in how a given individual responds to different agents, which contributes to dismal rates of hypertension control. While demographic factors predict which drugs may work better in certain individuals, a great degree of this variation has a genetic basis. In recent years, genome wide association studies have begun to identify specific gene variants that predict drug response to particular agents. This review identifies the major genetic variants influencing antihypertensive response that have emerged from this growing body of work. For novel genetic variants without a previously known biologic basis in blood pressure, it is crucial to validate initial findings in subsequent studies. This information may eventually lead to a more personalized approach to hypertension management that will improve blood pressure control and patient outcomes. The integration of this large amount of data and its real world application will be highly challenging, but strategies to accomplish this are discussed.

In this work, Further properties of bornological groups are studied to find the sufficient conditions to introduce a bornology on a group. In particular, we show that every left (right) translations in bornological groups are isomorphisms and therefore the bornological group's structures are homogeneous, and this property from the bornological group is not shared with bornological semigroups. Further, the boundedness of a bornological group can be deduced from its boundedness at the identity.

Abstract Objective: To assess wound infiltration with ropivacaine plus magnesium sulfate for pain relief following thyroid surgery. Background: Analgesia with local anesthetics following surgery is a critical element of alleviating postoperative pain. However, such strategies in neck surgery has not been a well-established practice. Methods: This prospective double-blind randomized study enrolled 68 patients who underwent thyroid surgery. Concerning the solution used for surgical wound infiltration the study participants were randomly allocated into three groups: 1) 100 mg of ropivacaine (Group R), 2) 100mg of ropivacaine plus magnesium sulfate 10mg/kg (Group RMg), and 3) normal saline which served as placebo (Group P). Pain perception both at rest and at movement, was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 30 minutes, as well as 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The total consumption of analgesics in morphine equivalents was also recorded. Moreover, adverse effects and patient satisfaction were recorded. Cortisol, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were measured 30 minutes before infiltration, 6 hours and 24 hours postoperatively. Results: Demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between the groups. The VAS scores at rest and during movement were significantly lower in the RMg group compared to saline or ropivacaine groups. Total analgesic consumption was also significantly lower in the RMg group. No operational, wound or infiltration-related adverse effects were recorded in the study groups. Better overall satisfaction was obtained for the group RMg. Conclusions: Ropivacaine plus magnesium sulfate wound infiltration provided better pain control and analgesic effect was more significant, contributing to effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Aiming at the development of the application of massive and heterogeneous LEO constellations, the influence of typical perturbation forces on the orbit prediction of LEO satellites at different altitudes is analyzed. Firstly, the main perturbation force model of LEO satellites is introduced. Then experiments for analyzing the influence of orbit prediction on LEO satellites at different altitudes are designed. Finally, the influence of typical perturbation forces on the orbit prediction under different prediction durations by numerical analysis is assessed systematically, and the orbit prediction of LEO satellites with different non-spherical gravitational field orders, ocean tide orders and atmospheric density models were compared and calculated. The research results show that different orders of non-spherical gravitational fields should be considered when the altitude of satellites is different, the reasonable gravitational field orders for LEO satellites at 500km, 1000km, 1500km and 2000km under 1-hour forecast time are 140x140, 80x80, 60x60 and 40x40 orders, the reasonable orders of ocean tide perturbation for 1500km and 2000km satellites are 20x20 orders. Under the 24-hour forecast time, atmospheric resistance has a great influence on the precision of LEO satellites at orbit altitude below 1,000km. The forecast deviation of the LEO satellites orbit at 500km reaches 8751.576m. The difference of orbit precision between different atmospheric density models is in the meter level. The orbit deviation by the Standard Atmosphere 1976 and NRLMSISE 2000 atmospheric models respectively reaches 25.494m. Relevant conclusions provide support for the optimization and selection of dynamical models in high precision orbit determination and fast orbit prediction of LEO satellites.

Neurodegeneration is a major problem in neuroscience and medicine as it causes and worsens many neurological and psychiatric disorders. It involves gradual loss of neurons at different levels of the brain, affecting cognition, emotion, behavior, consciousness, and attention. Understanding the causes and consequences of neurodegeneration is crucial for identifying the risk factors, biomarkers, and treatments. However, the current therapies are mostly symptomatic and ineffective. Therefore, new and innovative methods, such as noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), are needed to modulate brain activity and plasticity in a safe and reversible manner. This field is rapidly developing, with a focus on exploring new clinical applications, mechanisms, and combinations of NIBS and drugs. This special issue covers the latest progress and challenges in the study of neurodegeneration in cognitive impairment and mood disorders from the experimental, clinical, and translational perspectives. It addresses the complexity and diversity of these conditions, the lack of disease-modifying treatments, the ethical and practical issues of conducting research in vulnerable and diverse populations, the integration and interpretation of data from multiple sources and modalities, and the development and validation of novel methods such as NIBS, artificial intelligence, and drug repurposing. Collaborative efforts among various stakeholders are needed to improve our knowledge and treatment of neurodegeneration underlying cognitive impairment and mood disorders.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-induced climate change, particularly occurring since the mid-20th century has been considerably affecting short-term weather conditions, such as increasing weather variability, and incidence of extreme weather-related events. Milk production is sensitive to such changes. In this study, we use spatial panel econometric models, Spatial Error Model (SEM) and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), with a panel dataset at the state-level varying over seasons, to estimate the relationship between weather indicators and milk productivity, in an effort to reduce the bias of omitted climatic variables that can be time-varying and spatially correlated and cannot be directly captured by conventional panel data models. We find an inverse U-shaped effect of summer heat stress on milk production per cow (MPC), indicating that milk production reacts positively to a low-level increase in summer heat stress, and then MPC declines as heat stress continues increasing beyond a threshold value of 72. Additionally, fall precipitation exhibits an inverse U-shaped effect on MPC, showing that milk yield increases at a decreasing rate until fall precipitation rises to 14 inches and then over that threshold milk yield declines at an increasing rate. We also find that, relative to conventional panel data models, spatial panel econometric models could improve prediction performance by leading to smaller in-sample and out-sample root mean squared errors. Our study contributes to the literature by exploring the feasibility of promising spatial panel models and resulting in estimating weather influences on milk productivity with high model predicting performance.

The background of this research is the environmental sustainability assessments in the aviation ecosystem, particularly concerning airports, are getting significant attention from the industry, regulators, and researchers. A standardized and comprehensive approach is essential for uniformly addressing the global impacts of these assessments across the industry. The main objective of this study is to develop a unique framework that encompasses the requirements of aviation regulators as well as industry and academic metrics, aiming for a standardized approach to environmental sustainability assessments at airports. The methodology used the Sum of Ranking Method to evaluate each environmental indicator precisely. It was applied to five airports globally, providing a diverse testing ground to assess the proposed metrics’ applicability and effectiveness and validate the framework. The results showed that applying the framework across these varied airport environments demonstrated its viability and effectiveness, indicating that it can be successfully applied to different airport realities. The conclusion shows that the developed framework can be successfully applied globally, suggesting that it can be a valid method for international adoption in environmental airport sustainability analysis, offering a standardized approach that could be accepted and utilized worldwide.

Resistance to the existing drugs and increasing numbers of diseases result in identifying new drug candidates with new forms of activity. Marine sources of alkylglycerols such as the liver oil Shark (SLO) mixture of certain species or rat fish (elasmobranch fishes) contain high levels of these compounds as a mixture of few species varying by length and unsaturation or saturation of the alkyl chain. They have multiple biological activities such as hematopoiesis stimulation, lowering radiotherapy-induced injuries, reducing tumor growth and improving vaccination efficiency. The synthesis of two Alkylglycerols (AKGs) containing at least one alkyne moiety in the alkyl chain has been reported. In this work, we describe the synthesis of others unknown AKGs based alkyne 1-O-(hexadec-11’-ynyl)-sn-glycerol 4 and 1-O-(octadec-9’-ynyl)-sn-glycerol 5 as analogues of bioactive ether lipids found in the SLO mixture.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a rare cancer that nonetheless represents the most common ocular malignancy in children. Rb exists as familiar and sporadic cancer and the increasing incidence of the sporadic one and its pathogenesis is mostly unknown. To date the management of retinoblastoma requires intensive chemotherapy and sometimes invasive surgery in order to preserve vision and quality of life in Rb patients. The discovery of the epigenetic nature of non-hereditable/sporadic Rb led to the development of high-throughput precision investigation strategies for the study of its epigenetic landscape. Here we investigated the effect of the demethylating 5-Aza-2’- deoxycytidine (Decitabine; DAC) agent on preclinical models to assess its possible use as anti-cancer drug in the treatment of Rb patients. We found that DAC treatment induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Weri-Rb-1 cells. We investigated the variation of differential gene expression profile in Rb cells in relation to time of exposure to DAC with respect to controls. Network map analysis evidences 15 hub/driver genes, which share pathways of regulation of TNF-, FAS-, p53-dependent apoptotic signaling and NF-kB pro-survival pathways. Furthermore, a computing expression profile analysis of publicly available datasets of patients’ primary tumors and normal retina cell-derived organoids vs WeriWeri-Rb-1 DEGs depicted the relevancy of these 15 hub genes on retinoblastoma genesis. The antiproliferative effect of DAC treatment on Rb was confirmed in vivo, both in subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic models also showing the changes the gene methylation status in treated Weri-Rb-1, shedding a new light on the reprogramming antiproliferative dynamics induced by the epigenetic therapy and on the role of this therapeutic approach to spare children sight and life.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a significant challenge in the field of neurodegenerative disor-ders, even nearly a century after its discovery, due to the elusive nature of its causes. The develop-ment of drugs that target multiple aspects of the disease has emerged as a promising strategy to address the complexities of AD and related conditions. The immune system's role, particularly in AD, has gained considerable interest, with nanobodies representing a new frontier in biomedical research. Advances in targeting antibodies against amyloid-β (Aβ) and using messenger RNA for genetic translation have revolutionized the production of antibodies and drug development, open-ing new possibilities for treatment. Despite these advancements, conventional treatments for AD, such as Cognex, Exelon, Razadyne, and Aricept, often have limited long-term effectiveness, under-scoring the need for innovative solutions. This necessity has led to the incorporating of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning into the drug discovery process for neurodegenerative diseases. These technologies help identify therapeutic targets and optimize lead compounds, offering a more effective approach to addressing the challenges of AD and similar conditions.

Continuum robots play the role of end-effector in various surgical robots and endoscopic devices. The robots may be categorized as rigid or soft continuum robots (SCRs). While the SCRs have proven advantages such as safety and compliance, more research and development are required to enhance their capability for specific medical scenarios. This research aims at designing a soft robot considering concepts of geometric and kinematic similarities. The chosen application is a semi-invasive medical application known as Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE), but the methodology can be implemented in other similar applications. Since established rigid carrier construction make use of principles we find as well embodied in vertebral spines, the paragon for soft robot solution can be the phylogenetic precursor of the spine, the Chorda dorsalis. The feasibility of fabrication of a soft endoscopic device derived from that paragon within a robotics laboratory was shown empirically by producing a three-segment pneumatic SCR. The kinematic model was proposed based on the method of transformation matrices, and an algorithm based on a self-organizing map (SOM) was proposed and applied to realize kinematic similarity. The simulation results indicate that the algorithm acting as an open-loop controller forces the soft robot tip to follow the desired path which in this case is the path of the rigid probe. It is concluded that the solution provides a soft robot that can surrogate and succeed the traditional rigid counterpart owing to size, workspace, and kinematics.

OBJECTIVE The optimal surgical approach for thymoma resection is still an object of debate. The increasing experience in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has led to the progressive affirmation of this technique as a valid alternative to Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), sternotomy and thoracotomy in this setting. The present study aims to compare the post-operative and short-term results of RATS Thymectomy for thymoma with those of other main surgical approaches (sternotomy, thoracotomy, and VATS) from a high-volume single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between May 2021 - September 2023, 40 consecutive patients underwent RATS Thymectomy for I to limited-stage III thymoma in our center. Three homogenous groups of consecutive patients who received thymic surgery by main alternative approaches (sternotomy, thoracotomy, VATS) over the last 5 years, were identified in order to perform a comparative analysis. Data of operative technique, time of surgery, associated resections, conversion rate, overall morbidity, tumor size, radicality, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, and cosmetic results were recorded and compared between each control group and the RATS group. RESULTS Tumor size was higher in the sternotomy group, but not significantly. The mean operative time of RATS interventions was significantly lower than that of sternotomy and VATS. It was significantly shorter compared to thoracotomy if excluding docking-undocking time. Higher rate of associated adjacent structures resection was reported in the sternotomy group (p=0.005). Conversion rate was significantly higher in VATS group (p= 0.026) compared to RATS. Postoperative pain at 24 and 48 hours was significantly lower in RATS group compared to the others. Improved cosmetics results were reported after RATS compared to sternotomy (p= 0.0001) and thoracotomy (p= 0.001) groups, with a trend towards better results compared to VATS (p=0.05). Length of hospital stay was shorter in the RATS group with a significant difference vs. the sternotomy group (p

The World Health Organization(WHO) in 2016 considered mHealth as: “the use of mobile wireless technologies including smart devices such as smartphones and smartwatches for public health” as an important resource for health services delivery and public health given their ease of use, broad reach and acceptance. WHO emphasizes the potential of this technology to increase access to health information, services and skills as well as promoting positive changes in health behaviors and management of diseases. In this regard, the capability of smartphones and smartwatches for m-health monitoring as well as verification of the patient the signal has become an important component of mHealth system. Most of the smartwatches could extract more than one bioelectrical signal therefore, therefore they provide suitable platform for extracting health data for e-monitoring. The existing approaches have not considered the integrity of data obtained from these smart devices. Therefore, it is important that the integrity of the collected data be verified continuously through user authentication. This could be done using any of the bioelectrical signals extracted and transmitted for e-monitoring. In this article, a smartwatch is used for extracting bioelectrical signal before decomposing the signal into sub-bands of Detail and Approximation Coefficient for user authentication. To select suitable features using biorthogonal wavelet decomposition of signal from a non-intrusive extraction, a detailed experiment is conducted extracting suitable statistical features from the bioelectrical signal from 30 subjects using different biorthogonal wavelet family. Ten features are extracted using Biorthogonal wavelet to decompose the signal into three levels of sub-band Detail and Approximation Coefficient and features extracted from each level the decomposed Detail and Approximation Coefficients. Comparison analysis is done after the classification of the extracted features based on the Equal Error Rate (EER). Using Neural Network (NN) classifier, Biorthogonal Wavelet Detail Coefficient Sub-band level 3 of bior1.1 achieved the best result of EER 13.80% with the fusion of the best sub-band three levels of bior1.1 achieving a better result of 12.42% EER.

In this paper, we study the well-posedness and asymptotics of a one-dimensional thermoelastic laminated beam system either with or without structural damping, where the heat conduction is given by Fourier's law effective in the rotation angle displacements. We show that the system is well-posed by using Lumer-Philips theorem, and prove that the system is exponentially stable if and only if the wave speeds are equal, by using the perturbed energy method and Gearhart-Herbst-Prüss-Huang theorem. Furthermore, we show that the system with structural damping is polynomially stable provided that the wave speeds are not equal, by using the second-order energy method.

Through the integration of high-resolution hydrodynamic modeling and comprehensive field measurements, this study elucidates the intricate three-dimensional hydrographic characteristics of the eastern Gulf of Thailand (eGOT). In addition to the prevalent tidal currents dictating alternating flow along the northwestern and southeastern axes, our investigation reveals pronounced seasonal variations in mean currents, water temperature, and salinity within the eGOT, closely linked to the dynamics of the Asian-Australian monsoon system. During the southwest monsoon, mean currents exhibit a southeasterly trend, contrasting with a northwesterly pattern during the northeast monsoon. Lowest water temperatures occur during the latter, while the highest levels are observed during the 1st monsoon transition (April-March). Notably, salinity levels reach their lowest levels during the southwest monsoon and the 2nd monsoon transition (October), coinciding with the seasonal stratification of the water column and the emergence of a distinct stable along-the-shore northwesterly current with the average speed of 15 cm/s, defined here as the “Chathaburi Coastal Current (CCC)”. Model experiments attribute the formation of the CCC to decreased salinity induced by direct rainfall, highlighting the significance of rainfall as a key factor influencing coastal water dynamics in tropical regions or areas experiencing high precipitation.

Background: this study aimed to describe the distribution of the genotype and allele frequencies of GJB2 variants in the Chinese population of the Dongfeng Tongji cohort and to analyze the features of the hearing phenotype. Methods: we used data from 9910 participants in the Dongfeng Tongji cohort in 2013 and selected nine GJB2 variants. Pure-tone audiometry was employed to measure hearing. Differences in genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed by chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Results: of the 9910 participants, 5742 had hearing loss. The genotype frequency of the GJB2 variant p.V37I was statistically significantly distributed between the normal and impaired hearing groups, but not for the variant c.235delC. A higher frequency of the p.V37I homozygous genotype was found in the hearing loss group (0.5%) than in the normal hearing group (0.1%). Patients with p.V37I and c.235delC homozygous mutations exhibited varying degrees of hearing loss, mainly presenting sloping and flat audiogram shapes. Conclusions: a significant difference was found in the genotype frequency of the GJB2 variant p.V37I between the case and control groups, but not for the variant c.235delC. Different degrees of hearing loss and various audiogram shapes were observed in patients with p.V37I and c.235delC homozygous mutations.

MiR-204 is a small noncoding RNA with diverse regulatory roles in breast cancer (BC) development and progression. miR-204 is implicated in the instauration of fundamental traits acquired during the multistep development of BC known as hallmarks of cancer. It may act as a potent tumor suppressor by inhibiting key cellular processes like angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, invasion, migration, and metastasis. It achieves this by targeting multiple master genes involved in these processes, including HIF-1α, β-catenin, VEGFA, FAK, FOXA1, among others. Additionally, miR-204 modulates signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT and interacts with HOTAIR and DSCAM-AS1 lncRNAs, further influencing tumor progression. Beyond its direct effects on tumor cells, miR-204 shapes the tumor microenvironment by regulating immune cell infiltration, suppressing pro-tumorigenic cytokine production, and potentially influencing immunotherapy response. Moreover, miR-204 plays a crucial role in metabolic reprogramming by directly suppressing metabolic genes within tumor cells, indirectly affecting metabolism through exosome signaling, and remodeling metabolic flux within the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to present an update on the current knowledge regarding the role of miR-204 in the hallmarks of BC. In conclusion, miR-204 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in BC, emphasizing the need for further research to fully elucidate its complex roles in orchestrating aggressive BC behavior.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has a growing presence in society's daily lives. These lightweight devices can be easily deployed and maintained, enabling extensive adoption in different environments. Furthermore, one of the most promising areas for using IoT devices is healthcare, comprising devices referred to as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Several examples of healthcare services are supported by IoMT devices, e.g., continuous health monitoring. Conversely, there is an increasing concern with the cybersecurity aspects of these devices, and several attacks against IoT infrastructures have been launched in the past few years. These cybersecurity concerns also apply to healthcare applications, where the tradeoff between the benefits and security of IoMT devices must be observed. Given the complexity and amount of data IoMT network traffic generates, advanced methods become especially useful in these environments. Although Machine Learning (ML) brings various techniques and solutions to improve cyberattack detection, prevention, and mitigation, essential features are not addressed in the current state-of-the-art benchmark dataset contributions. Thereupon, the main goal of this research is to propose a realistic benchmark dataset to enable the development and evaluation of IoMT security solutions. In order to accomplish this, 18 attacks were executed against an IoMT testbed composed of 40 IoMT devices (25 real devices and 15 simulated devices), considering the plurality of protocols used in healthcare (e.g., Wi-Fi, MQTT, and Bluetooth). These attacks are categorized into five classes: DDoS, DoS, Recon, MQTT, and spoofing. This effort aims to establish a baseline complementary to the state-of-the-art contributions. The outcome supports researchers in investigating and developing new solutions to make healthcare systems more secure using different mechanisms (e.g., machine learning - ML). This research goes beyond merely conducting attacks on IoMT devices. We also attempt to capture the lifecycle of these devices in different vital phases, from the moment they join the network until they leave, which is called profiling. Profiling allows the different classifiers to identify anomalies of each device individually in the healthcare network. The CICIoMT2024 dataset has been published on CIC's dataset page, making it available for other researchers to use.

The main purpose of this study was to create a prototype of an unmanned aerial system equipped with intelligent hardware and software technologies necessary for monitoring the health and growth of crops in orchards. Another important objective was to use low-cost sensors that accurately measure ultraviolet solar radiation. The device, which needs to be attached to the commercial DJI Mini 4 Pro drone, should be small in size, portable, and have very low energy consumption. For this purpose, the widely used Vishay VEML6075 digital optical sensor was selected and implemented in a prototype, alongside a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W minicomputer. To collect data from these sensors, a program written in Python was used, containing specific blocks for data acquisition from each sensor, to facilitate the monitoring of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or battery current. By analyzing the data obtained from the sensors, several important conclusions are drawn that may provide valuable pathways for the further development of mobile or modular equipment. Furthermore, the results of the plant condition analysis with proposed models in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment were also presented. The visualization of maps indicating variations in vegetation condition led to the identification of problem areas like hydric stress.

In the present study, we have followed the hydrothermal path for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) from the biomaterial Elaeocarpus ganitrus seeds extract, which is a rapid, eco-friendly, non-chemical way. The prepared NPs were thoroughly analyzed by PXRD & HR-TEM studies and also tested for photocatalytic dye degradation and anticancer studies. Besides, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties of Au NPs were studied. In vitro studies revealed the dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of Au NPs. The prepared nanoparticles showed good cytotoxic impact against Prostate cancer (PC-3) cells line. The results of the present study could contribute to synthesize new and cost-effective drugs from Elaeocarpus ganitrus seeds extract by using bio approach.

The Aether Physics Model (APM) presents a radical reinterpretation of fundamental physics, offering potential solutions to long-standing problems in Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity. This paper explores the core concepts and equations of the APM, demonstrating how they provide a unified framework for understanding the nature of space, time, matter, and fundamental forces. We examine the implications of the APM's quantized Aether structure, the role of the Singularity and Gforce, and the reinterpretation of fundamental constants and forces. The model's predictions regarding dark matter, neutron content in stable matter, and the unification of forces are discussed, along with potential experimental tests. Additionally, we introduce the loxodrome concept and toroidal particle topology as central elements in explaining fundamental particles and forces. While speculative, the APM offers a thought-provoking alternative to standard physics models and warrants further investigation.

This study investigates how students' well-being relates to sustainable development and education for sustainability at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia. The authors endeavor to answer the question "How Does Students' Well-Being Relate to Sustainable Development Via Education for Sustainable Development?" and four sub-questions. Primary data were collected by semi-structured interviews exploring the viewpoints of twenty female and male students (n=26) aged between 18 and 26. The content analysis results have identified additional well-being and education for sustainability factors that influence sustainable education and, therefore, sustainable development. These antecedents include workload, transparency, grading criteria, fairness, belonging, work-life balance, mental health support, missing emotional intelligence factors, factors related to Education for Sustainable Development, such as instructors' role models, institutional commitment, leadership, and collaboration with government. In addition, the study developed a theoretical model for the relationship between antecedents for Education for Sustainable Development, Education for Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Development in the Saudi context. Finally, the study answers four research questions: What factors contribute to education for sustainable development? What are the antecedents of education for sustainable development? How do university educators contribute to sustainable education? How do the antecedents of education for sustainable development, education for sustainable development, and sustainable development relate?

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

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to produce ethane and ethylene (C2 compounds) as platform chemicals involves complex chemistry with reactions both in the gas phase and on the catalyst surface, resulting in a distribution of products at the expense of C2 selectivity. This work uses experimental data from a variety of mixed metal oxides on supports at different reaction conditions (temperature, contact time, and reactant flow rates) to train a random forest regressor that predicts methane conversion and C2 selectivity (key performance indicators (KPIs)), and deploys it to locate optimal conditions that maximize C2 yield for a catalyst. Investigating the regressor interpretability via feature importance reveals that the choice of metals and support are crucial to C2 selectivity predictions, while the predictions of methane conversion are driven by the reaction conditions. The machine learning (ML) regressor is used as a surrogate to develop performance curves for each of the catalysts via a multi-objective optimization routine that seeks to maximize the KPIs in the decision space of reaction conditions, is seen to locate optimal conditions at which the maximum C2 yields for catalysts are predicted to be 15%, higher on average. Analyzing the catalysts in the space of their performance curves with respect to a popular OCM catalyst, Mn-Na2WO4/SiO2, reveals distinct patterns based on intrinsic properties of metals and supports. Further, the decision space with catalyst descriptors and reaction conditions is optimized for high C2 yields using the ML surrogate, in a static multi-objective optimization routine, and an adaptive Bayesian routine, where the latter was found to have a wider field focus in proposing catalyst formulations and conditions. Transition metal oxides on a variety of supports were proposed but not their lanthanide oxide counterparts.

A model to rationalize the effects of test temperature and microstructural variables on the creep crack growth (CCG) and creep-fatigue crack growth (CFCG) rates in ferritic steels is described. The model predicts that as the average spacing between grain boundary particles that initiate creep cavities decrease, the CCG and CFCG rates increase. Further, CCG data at several temperatures collapse into a single trend when a temperature compensated CCG rate derived from the model is used. CCG and CFCG behavior measured at different temperatures is used to assess the effects of variables such as differences between basemetal (BM), weldmetal (WM) and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) regions. The model is demonstrated for Grade 22 and Grade 91 steels using data from literature. It is shown that differences between the CCG behavior of Grade 22 steel in new and ex-service conditions are negligible in the BM and WM regions but not in the HAZ region. The CCG behavior of Grade 91 steels can be separated into creep-ductile and creep-brittle regions. The creep-brittle tendency is linked to the presence of excess trace element concentrations in the material chemistry. Significant differences found in the CCG rates between BM and the WM and HAZ regions of Grade 91 steel were explained.

Many clinical trials end uninformatively. Informativeness, in the context of clinical trials, defines whether a study’s results definitively answer its research questions with meaningful next steps. One subset of these trials are those focused on global health set in low-resource settings. Global health clinical trials benefitting people in low-resource settings are funded primarily by a limited number of large foundations, pharmaceutical firms (“industry”), and national governments. While clinical trial protocols are required to go through reviews in regulatory and ethical domains, outside of industry-funded trials, funders rarely require focused scientific design reviews. There are no documented standards and processes, or even best practices, for funders to perform scientific reviews after the funding commitment. Considering the investment in and standardization of ethical and regulatory reviews, and the prevalence of studies ending without clarity or never finishing, it may be that scientific reviews of trial designs with a focus on informativeness offer the best chance for improved outcomes and return on investments in clinical trials. A maturity model is a helpful tool for knowledge transfer to help grow capabilities in a new area, or for those looking to perform a self-assessment in an existing area. Such a model is offered for scientific design reviews of clinical trial protocols: a valuable and often-neglected governance step for funders or sponsors, among others. This maturity model includes 11 process areas and 5 maturity levels. Each of the 55 process area levels is populated with descriptions on a continuum toward an optimal state to improve trial protocols in the area of risk of failure. This tool allows for prescriptive guidance on next investments to improve attributes of post-funding reviews of trials, with a focus on informativeness.

Species dispersal from a territorial zone is a complex process. The reasons for species dispersal are determined by both natural and human factors. The purpose of this study is to develop a cost surface for a hypothetical landscape that accounts for various species dispersion features. With tigers (Panthera Tigris Tigris) as the focal species, a model for a hypothetical landscape has been built to predict the dispersion patterns of the species' individuals from one habitat patch to another. Initially, four major factors influencing tiger dispersal are explored. Following that, Game Theory assigns a score to each grid in the landscape matrix based on the landscape features in the focal landscape. Specific predefined ratings are also utilized for scenarios that are very complex and may change depending on variables, such as the interaction of the dispersing tiger with co-predators. The two scores mentioned above are combined to create a cost matrix that is shown across a landscape complex to estimate the impact of each landscape component on tiger dispersal. This approach helps wildlife managers develop conservation plans by recognizing important characteristics in the landscape. The results of the model like the one described in this work might be beneficial for a wide range of wildlife management activities such as corridor management, smart patrols, and so on. A cost surface over any focal landscape may serve as a basis for policy and purpose design based on current landscape conditions.

One of the most broadly used models for membrane fouling is the Hermia model, which separates this phenomenon into four blocking mechanisms, each with an associated parameter n. These mechanisms are complete blocking (n=2), intermediate blocking (n=1), standard blocking (n=3/2), and cake formation (n=3/2). The original model, which was obtained through experimental data, is given by an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) dependent on n. At the time, this ODE was only solved for these four values of n, which limits the effectiveness of the model when adjusted to experimental data. This paper aims to not only mathematically prove the original Hermia model but also to broaden the scope of this model for any real number n by using the original ODE, the equations of fluid mechanics, and the properties of single and multivariable calculus. The extended Hermia model (EHM) is given by a power law for any n≠2 and is given by an exponential function at n=2. To better test the model, we have performed the model fitting of the EHM and compared its performance to the original four pore-blocking mechanisms in 6 micro- and ultrafiltration examples. In all examples, the EHM performed consistently better than the four original pore-blocking mechanisms. Changes in the blocking mechanisms concerning transmembrane pressure (TMP), crossflow rate (CFR), crossflow velocity (CFV), membrane composition, and pretreatments are also discussed.

Circular Economy involves structural changes in traditional business models and consumers’ behaviour toward recycled products. The recycling of PET products has been increasing but there is still a gap between consumption and demand for PET packaging in Brazil. In this research, the waste reduction was examined under a projective scenario to the current ecological purposes in Brazil for reducing environmental pollution. In that manner, this paper aimed to comprehend the intention to purchase recycled PET products of Brazilian consumers. With a non-probabilistic and convenience sample, the study counts 422 participants. The method employed was based on Structural Equation Modelling and Partial Least Squares, used to test the hypotheses of causality among the variables. Results showed the perception of low quality about recycled products reduced consumers’ intention to purchase. Also, the sustainability of recycled products positively influenced the intention to purchase. In addition, recycled products presented a negative impact on the perceived safety, which could influence the purchase of recycled products in Brazil. We conclude that the image that Brazilian consumers have about recycled products positively affects the intention to purchase.

The author presents his perspective on the character of science, development, and handedness and relates these to his investigations of the early development of handedness. After presenting some ideas on what hemispheric specialization of function might mean for neural processing and how handedness should be assessed, the neuroscience of control of the arms/hands and interhemispheric communication and coordination are examined for how developmental processes can affect these mechanisms. The author’s work on the development of early handedness is reviewed and placed within a context of cascading events in which different forms of handedness emerge from earlier forms but not in a deterministic manner. This approach supports a continuous rather than categorical distribution of handedness and accounts for the predominance of right-handedness while maintaining a minority of left-handedness. Finally, the relation of the development of handedness to the development of several language and cognitive skills is examined.

Uganda’s agriculture depends mainly on rainwater. As farmers are trying to increase on the food output to match the demands of a fast growing population, they are susceptible to make losses due to fluctuating weather patterns which are being caused by the global climate change. Therefore, it is necessary to explore ways of improving water use efficiency in rainfed agricultural systems to save farmers labour and input costs in situations where the grain harvest would be zero due to crop failure. The water driven FAO AquaCrop model is used as a support tool for making informed decisions during planning and situation analysis. In this study, AquaCrop model was evaluated for prediction of maize growth and yields at MUARIK in Uganda, for rainfed agriculture in three growing seasons. The model efficiency (E) and root mean square value (RMSE) for the maize canopy simulation during the September–December 2015 season was 0.945 and 7.24 respectively. The deviation of the simulated final biomass from measured data ranged from −15.4 to 11.6%, while the deviation of the final yield ranged from −2.8 to 2.0. The results suggest that the model can be used in the prediction of rainfed agricultural outputs, hence helping in guiding on management practices to increase food production.

The heat transfer and fluid mechanics analysis in agitated vessels is usually performed using the Dittus-Boelter correlation. In this study, we propose the analysis of an agitated vessel with a draft tube through the analysis of dimensionless numbers correlations. The heat transfer and fluid mechanics simulation was conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. The simulation used the Sliding Mesh approach and the SST k-ω turbulent model to capture the vessel's fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena. A grid independence study was conducted by varying the number of time steps to obtain an appropriate time step size for the simulation. The convective heat transfer coefficient, as indicated by the mean values of the Nusselt number, was calculated. The local values along the radial coordinate of the heat transfer surface were also determined. These results provide insights into the distribution of heat transfer rates within the vessel, which can help optimize process efficiency and equipment design. The simulation results were analyzed by varying the c and m coefficients in the Nusselt correlation presented as Nu= c Rem Pr1/3. Furthermore, correlations describing the mean Nusselt number at the bottom and wall of the vessel are presented and compared with existing literature, contributing to advancing knowledge in this field.

The objective of this study was to detail the monomer composition of resin-based dental materials sold in the market in 2023 and to evaluate the proportion of BPA derivatives in relation with their applications. A search on manufacturers’ websites was performed to reference resin-based dental materials currently on the market. Their monomer composition was determined from material safety data sheets and completed with a search on PubMed database. Among the 543 material compositions exploitable, 382 (70.3%) contained BPA derivatives. Among them, 56.2% contained BisGMA, 28% BisEMA, the most frequently reported. A total of 59 monomers of which 6 BPA-derivatives were found. 309 materials (56.9%) contained UDMA and 292 (53.8%) TEGDMA. Less than one third of materials identified contained no BPA derivatives. These proportions vary a lot depending on their applications with materials dedicated to dental care of young populations containing the highest proportions of BPA-derivatives monomers. The long-term effects on human health of the different monomers identified including BPA-derivatives monomers is a source of concern. For children and pregnant or lactating women arises the question to take a precautionary principle and avoid the use of resin-based dental materials likely to release BPA by opting for alternative materials.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling has the potential to increase cervical cancer screening (CCS) and reduce the cervical cancer burden in Medically Underserved Women (MUW). However, interventions promoting self-sampling are limited. We examined the effectiveness of an intervention study in increasing CCS among MUW. We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study. Face-to-face verbal approach was to recruit MUW (n=85, mean age 48.57±11.02) living in a small city in the US. Behavioral intervention based on reframing, reprioritizing, and reforming (3R model) was used to educate the women about CCS in a group format. The women completed pre-and post-intervention assessments and followed-up interviews. The primary outcome was CCS uptake. Mixed methods analyses were conducted using a t-test for the primary outcome, PROCESS for mediation analysis, and NVivo for interview data. Majority of women (75%) completed self-testing. High-risk HPV prevalent among the women was 11%, and of those, 57% followed-up with physicians for care. We found that the significant increase in the women’s post-intervention screening behaviors was mediated by the increase in knowledge (Indirect Effect [IE] = .1314; 95% CI, .0104, .4079) and attitude (IE = .2167; 95% CI, .0291, .6050) scores, (p<0.001). Interview analyses offered further explanations (see the explanations in parenthesis) why MUW found the intervention messages acceptable (encourages proactive behavior), feasible (simple and easy to understand), and appropriate (helpful and informative). Barriers including lack of trust and fear of results were identified. The findings suggest that an intervention that combines the 3R model and self-sampling may increase CCS among MUW.

Current VAT rules for cross-border e-commerce companies in the EU are not sustainable, because they are extremely complex and often opaque, due to the lack of tax harmonization. The aim of the research is to explore, using a qualitative method, what kind of harmonization would make the current legislation more uniform, simpler, more transparent, and easier to understand, without conflicting with the rules of any Member State. To this end, the aspects of the new platform regulation introduced on 1 July 2021 and its potential for expansion are assessed through information from possible sales models. The research suggests that the rules on platforms do not cover all possible sales models, which in our view imposes an unnecessary extra administrative burden on some businesses and makes their tax activities less transparent. In the light of the results of the research, we propose that the current EU platform regulation should be extended to cover B2B, B2C transactions and services. As a result of this suggested harmonization, a simpler, more transparent, uniform and sustainable tax system would contribute to the whitening of the economy, generating additional tax revenue for Member States.

RM (red mud) was acidified with sulphuric acid and the acidified ARM (acidified red mud) was utilized as an innovative adsorption material for treating antibiotic-contained wastewater. The adsorption conditions, kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and mechanism of ARM for CIP (ciprofloxacin) were investigated. Characterization of the ARM involved techniques such as scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), brunauer- emmett-teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and NH3-TPD analysis. Adsorption studies were conducted employing response surface methodology (RSM) for experimental design. The results showed that ARM can absorb CIP effectively. The RSM optimal experiment indicated that the most significant model terms influencing adsorption capacity were solution pH, CIP initial concentration and ARM dosage, under which the predicted maximum adsorption capacity achieved 7.30 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics adhered to a pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm, yielding maximum capacity values of 7.35 mg/g. The adsorption process occurred non-spontaneously and absorbed heat, evidenced by ΔG0 values between 2.06 and 0.87 kJ/mol, ΔS0 at 39.41 J/mol/K, and ΔH0 at 13.8 kJ/mol. Analysis using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) indicated there existed complex reaction between Al-O in ARM and the ester group –COO in CIP. The C=O bond in CIP was likely to undergo a slight electrostatic interaction or be bound to the internal spherical surface of ARM. The findings indicate that ARM is a promising and efficient adsorbent for CIP removal from wastewater.

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) are designed to administer a consistent and effective dose of medication through the patient's skin. These pharmaceutical preparations are self-contained, discrete dosage forms designed to be placed topically on intact skin to release the active component at a controlled rate by penetrating the skin barriers. This medication provides a continuous and prolonged administration of a substance at a consistent rate. TDDS, or transdermal drug delivery system, has gained significant attention as a non-invasive method of administering drugs to vulnerable patient populations, such as pediatric and geriatric patients. This approach is considered easy to administer and helps overcome bioavailability issues associated with conventional drug delivery, which can be hindered by poor absorption and metabolism. TDDS has various advantages compared to conventional methods of drug administration. It is less intrusive, more patient-friendly, and can circumvent first-pass metabolism and the corrosive acidic environment of the stomach that happens when medications are taken orally. Multiple methodologies have been devised to augment the transdermal permeability of diverse pharmaceutical substances. Recent advancements in transdermal drug delivery systems have facilitated the precise delivery of medications to the intended site of action by improving the penetration of drugs through the outermost layer of the skin, known as the stratum corneum, resulting in enhanced drug availability throughout the body. This review seeks to provide a concise overview of the several methods employed in the production of TDDS, as well as their evaluation, therapeutic uses, clinical considerations, and current advancements. These advancements have resulted in the development of intelligent, biodegradable, and highly efficient transdermal drug delivery systems.

Background: PD1 and its ligand PD-L1 are related to the prognosis in many solid tumors, whether its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Methods: Retrospective monocentric study including all patients with OSCC diagnosed and treated between 01/2020 and 05/2022. PD-L1 expression was assessed by combined positive score (CPS), considering CPS > or equal to 1 as positive (1-20 “low expression”, and ≥20 “high”). Descriptive analysis of patient cohort and tumors was performed, including tumor size, stage, lymph node involvement, recur-rence and survival. Results: 65 patients (65 tumors) were analyzed. 66.15% of tumors were ad-vanced stages (III-IV), of them, 97.67% PD-L1+ versus 71.42% within early stages (I-II). T4 tumors expressed PD-L1 in 100% of cases, compared with 54’54% in T1 tumors. 50.79 % of tumors showed lymph node involvement (pN+), 100% of them showing PD-L1+. Prevalence of pN+ was 59.38% for PD-L1 high expression versus 40.63% for low expression. Patients' follow-up ranged from 2 to 34.5 months. No significant difference was seen between overall survival (OS) and PD-L1 +/- (CPS ≥1 vs CPS <1) neither PD-L1 high (CPS ≥20) vs low CPS <20) (p 0.97 and 0.64, re-spectively). Conclusions: The method used to measure (laboratory test with Dako 22C3 an-ti-PD-L1 primary antibody) PD-L1 was reliable and accurate, with a correlation coefficient be-tween the PD-L1 expression in the biopsy and surgical piece of 0.83 (p 0.0001). CPS≥1 was ob-served in large tumors (p<0.001), and was correlated with of lymph node metastases (p<0.004). Further analysis of PD-L1 expression and its relevance in tumor biology and prognosis is needed.

Dravet syndrome (DS), also known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, is a rare and drug-resistant form of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, which is both debilitating and challenging to manage, typically arising during the first year of life, with seizures often triggered by fever, infections, or vaccinations. It is characterized by frequent and prolonged seizures, developmental delays, and various other neurological and behavioral impairments. Most cases result from pathogenic mutations in the sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 1 (SCN1A) gene, which encodes a critical voltage-gated sodium channel subunit involved in neuronal excitability. Precision medicine offers significant potential for improving DS diagnosis and treatment. Early genetic testing enables timely and accurate diagnosis. Advances in our understanding of DS's underlying genetic mechanisms and neurobiology have enabled the development of targeted therapies, such as gene therapy, offering more effective and less invasive treatment options for patients with DS. Targeted and gene therapies provide hope for more effective and personalized treatments. However, research into novel approaches remains in its early stages, and their clinical application remains to be seen. This review addresses the current understanding of clinical DS features, genetic involvement in DS development, and outcomes of novel DS therapies.

The results of electron-beam processing of Mn-Zn ferrite samples using pulsed and continuous electron beams in the forevacuum pressure range (10 Pa) are presented. We find that continuous electron-beam processing leads to surface structuring of the ferrite, changes in elemental composition on the surface, and electrical property modification. The degree of ferrite parameter changes exhibits a threshold behavior. For surface processing temperatures below 900 °C, changes are barely noticeable, while for temperatures over 1100 °C the surface resistance decreases by more than an order of magnitude. Electron-beam processing with millisecond pulse duration and pulse energy density exceeding 15 J/cm² results in the formation of low zinc content melt islands, while the remaining surface area (outside the islands) elemental content and ferrite properties remain largely unchanged. The thickness of the modified layer depends on the processing mode and can be controlled over the range 0.1–0.5 mm. Because of its low resistance, the modified layer can be utilized to enhance the RF-absorbing properties of the ferrite.

(1) Background: adnexal masses during pregnancy detection are increased due to the use of first trimester screening and to advanced maternal age. Although the low risk of malignancy, other risks are associated: torsion, rupture or labour obstruction. Correct diagnosis and management are fundamental to guarantee both maternal and fetal safety. Adnexal masses may be troublesome to classify during pregnancy due to the increase in the uterus volume and to pregnancy-related hormonal changes. Management should be based on ultrasound examination to provide the best treatment. (2) Methods: the aim was to describe the ultrasound features of ovarian masses detected during pregnancy. We evaluated patient’s management, perinatal outcomes and follow-up. (3) Results: our study demonstrated that the management should be guided by an accurate ultrasound examination performed by an expert operator according to standardized techniques. Secondly, our results confirm the data present in the literature: the masses are most frequently benign, ultrasound follow-up is the best management strategy and obstetric outcome is not considerably affected. (4) Conclusions: the management of patients with ovarian masses detected during pregnancy should be based on ultrasound examination and a centralization in referral centers for ovarian masses should be considered.

In a world where conventional sources of energy are fast depleting, the quest for alternative energy sources may hold the key for the survival of humanity. In the present work, emphasis has been given to the idea of producing energy from perovskite based solar cells. In order to bring this idea into fruition, a unique and novel nano structured perovskite material n-propyl ammonium lead chloride (C₃H₇NH₃⁺PbCl₃⁻) was prepared through a unique co-precipitation route using n-propyl amine (n-C₃H₇NH₂) and hydrochloric acid as the starting precursors with aqueous solution of Pb(CH₃COO)₂3H₂O. Finally acetic acid was added to the solution and this solution was allowed to concentrate and then gradually cooled down to room temperature. After math, the synthesized material was spin-coated on TiO₂ film to fabricate the solar cell. The device was then undergone systematic analysis using XRD, SEM, UV and Photo Conversion to get a transparent idea regarding its structural, electrical and optical properties. When experimentally applied, this perovskite-based solar cell has shown energy conversion efficiency (η) of around 6.01 % which is noticeably good. Thus it can be concluded that this material is promising for fabrication of vastly efficient solar cells. This technology can be tried in large scale as an alternative of conventional energy in the near future.

Often, in biology, we are faced with the problem of exploring relevant unknown biological hypotheses in the form of myriads of combination of factors that might be affecting the pathway under certain conditions. For example, Brancati et al.1 observe that mutations in poliovirus receptor related protein 4 (PVRL4), encoding cell adhesion molecule nectin-4, causes Ectodermal dysplasia-syndactyly syndrome. Interaction with cad- herins also implies an influence of nectin-4 on Wnt signaling, which plays a relevant role in limb development (Brancati et al.1). However, not much work has been done to explore the relation of Wnts and PVR family. In CRC cells treated with ETC-1922159, both were found up regulated. In a recent unpublished work in Open Science Framework, Sinha2, we had the opportunity to rank these unknown biological hypotheses for both up and down regulated genes at 2nd order level after drug administration. The search engine alloted high nu- merical valued rankings to some combinations of PVR-WNT, thus indicating a possibility of high combinatorial synergy also. The in-silico derived influences can be represented graphically as - PVR w.r.t WNT with PVR <- WNT9A; and WNT w.r.t PVR with WNT-7B/9A <- PVR and WNT4 <- PVRL2; In the light of the recent findings of PVR with IFN (interferon) and the known interactions between IFN and Wnts, there might be a possibilty to explore the bridge of PVR, IFN and WNTs. The 3 fold (PVR - IFN; IFN - WNT; WNT - PVR), 2 way cross family analysis might shed light on the possible combinations that might be of import. Here, we present a 2-way cross family analysis of multiple, such in-silico ranked 2nd order synergistic combinations, after ETC-1922159 treatment of CRC cells. Via this 2-way cross family analysis, we are able to discover through majority voting, the combinations that might of interest to biologists and also derive plausible influences of components of combinations among themselves. Note that these form biological hypotheses which indicate whether a particular combination and the direction of influence within the combination, exist synergistically in CRC cells. Wet lab tests will indicate the veracity of these combinations and if proven true, will lead to further study of mechanism between the components.

Taking due account of users' perspectives is crucial for improving the quality of healthcare services. This study aimed to analyse the representations and evaluation criteria that users of a public health agency express towards care and treatment services and to explore whether and how the content and meaning of their communications varied according to pre-pandemic, pandemic or post-pandemic periods. 501 communications (73.4% complaints, 16% appreciations, 10.6% enquiries) sent to the public relations office of an Italian health agency were collected. An automatic content analysis procedure (ACASM) was applied to the textual corpus. Four main thematic cores were identified concerning the request for care and respect, the value of the doctor-patient relationship and the difficulties in contacting services and accessing care. Two main latent dimensions of meaning were identified, which capture the dialectic between the demand for relationships and the demand for access to care, and between attention to the relational competence of health workers and attention to the needs and rights of users. Communications collected during the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods mainly concern the difficulty of access to care; those collected during the pandemic period mainly concern the doctor-patient relationship. Interpersonal aspects and timely access to care appear to be crucial in users' assessment of the quality of care.

Child sexual abuse inflicts lifelong devastating consequences for victims and is an ongoing social concern. In most countries, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) distribution is illegal. As a result, there are many research papers in the literature which proposed technologies to detect and investigate CSAM. In this survey, a comprehensive search of the peer-reviewed journal and conference paper databases (including preprints) is conducted to identify high-quality literature. We use the PRISMA methodology to refine our search space to 2,761 papers published by Springer, Elsevier, IEEE and ACM. After iterative reviews of title, abstract and full text for relevance to our topics, 43 papers are included for full review. Our paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of the tasks of the current research and how the papers use techniques and datasets to solve their tasks and evaluate their models. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to focus exclusively on online CSAM detection and prevention with no geographic boundaries, and the first survey to review papers published after 2018. It can be used by researchers to identify gaps in knowledge and relevant publicly available datasets that may be useful for their research.

Abstract: Kiwifruit, a perennial horticultural crop known for its nutritional value, faces significant challenges due to biotic and abiotic stresses, affecting its yield and quality. Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like proteins (LRR-RLPs), a major group of receptor-like proteins in plants, have diverse functions in plant physiology, including growth, development, signal transduction, and stress responses. Despite their importance, the specific roles of kiwifruit LRR-RLPs in response to biotic and abiotic stresses remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of kiwifruit LRR-RLPs under various stress conditions, including pathogen stress, heat stress, waterlogging stress, and copper stress. Through genome and transcriptome analyses, we identified a total of 101, 164, and 105 LRR-RLPs in Actinidia Chinensis 'Hongyang', Actinidia eriantha 'Huate', and Actinidia chinensis 'Red5' kiwifruit, respectively, classified into 9 subgroups based on phylogenetic relationships. Synteny analysis revealed that the expansion of kiwifruit LRR-RLPs was primarily attributed to segmental duplication events. Using RNA-seq data from pathogen-infected kiwifruits, we identified specific LRR-RLP genes potentially involved in different stages of pathogen infection. Additionally, we observed the potential involvement of kiwifruit LRR-RLPs in abiotic stress responses, with upstream transcription factors possibly regulating their expression. Furthermore, protein interaction network analysis unveiled the participation of kiwifruit LRR-RLP genes in the regulatory network of abiotic stress responses. These findings highlight the crucial roles of LRR-RLPs in mediating both biotic and abiotic stress responses in kiwifruit, offering valuable insights for the breeding of stress-resistant kiwifruit varieties.

The publication presents an innovative tower cultivation device designed to significantly increase vertical farming efficiency. The device divides the cultivation system into separate chambers. One division corresponds to the different growth phases of the plants, while another reflects the daily variation in conditions. Each chamber presents slightly different conditions and cultivation patterns from the others. For the early stages, crops are grown horizontally in trays once they mature, transplanted into mobile cultivation towers. The closed circulation of ventilation and irrigation reduces water consumption by up to 95%. A unique separate day-night division optimises light, temperature and humidity conditions, mimicking natural growth patterns. This approach not only saves water and energy but also optimises cultivation in a three-dimensional space. The presented solution focuses on the often overlooked aspects of cultivating in vertical farms and makes this method of growing much more cost-effective and feasible to implement on a large scale.

Это исследование сосредоточено на разработке системы искусственного зрения для гибкого дельта-робота-манипулятора и ее интеграции с межмашинной связью для оптимизации взаимодействия устройств в реальном времени. Эта интеграция направлена ​​на увеличение скорости роботизированной системы и улучшение ее общей производительности. Предлагаемое сочетание системы искусственного зрения с межмашинной связью позволяет обнаруживать и распознавать цели с высокой точностью в режиме реального времени в ограниченном пространстве, предназначенном для позиционирования, дальнейшей локализации и выполнения производственных процессов, таких как сборка или сортировка деталей. . В данном исследовании RGB-изображения используются в качестве входных данных для алгоритма MASK-R-CNN, а результаты обрабатываются в соответствии с особенностями прототипа дельта-манипулятора робота. Данные, полученные от MASK-R-CNN, адаптированы для использования в системе управления дельта-роботом с учетом ее уникальных характеристик и требований к позиционированию. Технология M2M позволяет манипулятору робота быстро реагировать на изменения, например, на перемещение объектов или изменение их положения, что имеет решающее значение для задач сортировки и упаковки. Система была протестирована в условиях, близких к реальным, чтобы оценить ее производительность и надежность.

Laser machining by ultra-short (sub-ps) pulses at high intensity offers high precision, high throughput in terms of area or volume per unit time, and flexibility to adapt processing protocols to different materials on the same workpiece. Here we consider the challenge of optimization for high throughput: how to use the maximum available laser power and larger focal spots for larger ablation volumes by implementing a fast scan. This implies the use of high-intensity pulses approaching ∼PW/cm2 at the threshold where tunnelling ionization starts to contribute to overall ionization. A custom laser micromachining setup was developed and built to enable high speed, large area processing and easy system reconfiguration for different tasks. The main components include laser, stages, scanners, control system, and software. Machining of metals such as Cu, Al, or stainless steel, and fused silica surfaces at high-fluence and high-exposure doses at high scan speeds up to 3 m/s were tested for the fluence scaling of ablation volume, which was found to be linear. Modified surfaces are color-classified for their appearance, which is dependent on surface roughness and chemical modification. Such colour-coding can be used as a feedback parameter for industrial process control.

The managers’ strategic behavior of commercial real estate in a competitive environment is discussed. The means of this research are methods of mathematical and experimental game theory. Illustrates an example of a decision-theoretic game problem with two players engaged in the management of competing shopping centers. The strategies of these players are determined by the costs of the development. Since the number of visitors is constantly and changing the quality of shopping centers, managers actually pull visitors from each other, the game-theoretical formulation of the problem of management of shopping centers corresponds to the zero-sum game. The model example shows that with the help of mathematical modeling it is possible to determine the theoretical expected behavior of agents. The model of the software module created specifically for experimental research is described. The experiments are designed to compare the theoretically predicted behavior with the real actions of people. The novelty is that at significant costs of the Manager for the development and promotion of shopping and entertainment centers, the strategies of managers are resistant to each other's actions, in contrast to changes in the external environment is shown.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives, which has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. The interaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with cell membranes can affect their physicochemical properties, which, in turn, can cause a number of side effects in the use of these drugs. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy could be used to study the interaction of diclofenac with the membrane, if its spin-labeled analogs existed. This paper describes the synthesis of spin-labeled diclofenac (diclofenac-SL), which consists of a simple sequence of transformations such as iodination, esterification, Sonogashira cross-coupling, oxidation and saponification. EPR spectra showed that diclofenac-SL binds to in a lipid membrane composed of palmito-yl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). 2H electron spin echo spectroscopy (ESEEM) was used to determine the position of the diclofenac-SL relative to the membrane surface. It has been established that the average its depth of immersion corresponds to the 5th position of the carbon atom in the lipid chain.

Crop yield prediction is relevant subject of current agricultural science. There are various mathematical approaches to crop yield prediction, and regression analysis, notwithstanding the fact that it is somewhat outdated, is still one of the most used ones in this purpose. The quality of predictive model is of great importance, and it is strongly dependent on the rational choice of the target function. The goal of this study is to find out the best regression model for winter wheat, soybeans, and grain corn yield prediction depending on the crops’ water use. The data on true crops’ yields and water use were collected within 1970-2020 at the experimental fields of the Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Kherson region, Ukraine. In total, 145 data pairs were processed by the best subsets regression to find out the best model in terms of fitting quality (assessed by the Pearson’s coefficient of correlation), and prediction accuracy (assessed by the values of the minimum and maximum absolute errors and mean average percentage error). As a result, it was established that the best fitting quality for all the studied crops is attributed to cubic function, while the best accuracy is recorded for hyperbolic (reverse) function in soybeans (mean absolute percentage error is 12.27%), quadratic and hyperbolic functions in winter wheat (mean absolute percentage error is 20.54%), and cubic function in grain corn (mean absolute percentage error is 14.92%). To sum up the results of the study, it is recommended to apply cubic regression function for modeling crops’ yields in agricultural studies.

On February 28th, 2023, Spanish Royal Decree 150/2023 as published, approving the plans for the management of the maritime space of the five Spanish marine demarcations. This Royal Decree Law inaugurates the Planning of the Maritime Space in Spain. Terrestrial Space Planning is very advanced, both in the legislation and in the instruments that are enabled to organize this space, from the national scale to the municipal scale, passing through the regional, provincial, and supra-municipal scales. Naturally, both Planning must converge and thus speak of an Integrated Space Planning. In some of the countries that we can take as global references, this convergence in the form of integration is taking place. On the other hand, and within the context of climate change, coastal cities will be the most affected, both by the potential rise in sea level and by the increasingly continuous and greater extreme events. Integrated Space Planning is postulated as the most effective tool to carry out adequate territorial and urban planning of our coastal cities, as well as to analyse the influence and possible corrective measures to apply against the effects produced by climate change.

Water resource is considered as a significant factor in development of regional environment and society. Water consumption prediction can provide important decision basis for the regional water supply scheduling optimisations. According to the periodicity and randomness nature of the daily water consumption data, a Markov modified autoregressive moving average (ARIMA) model is proposed in this study. The proposed model, combined with the Markov chain, can correct the prediction error, reduce the continuous superposition of prediction error, and improve the prediction accuracy of future daily water consumption data. The daily water consumption data of different monitoring points are used to verify the effectiveness of the model, and the future water consumption is predicted, in the study area. The results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively reduce the prediction error compared to the ARIMA.

The rearing temperature of the immature stages can have a significant impact on the life-history traits and the ability of adult mosquitoes to transmit diseases. This review assessed published evidence of the effects of temperature on the immature stages, life-history traits, insecticide susceptibility, and expression of enzymes in the adult Anopheles mosquito. Original articles published through 31 March 2021 were systematically retrieved from Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, ProQuest and Web of Science databases. After applying eligibility criteria, 29 studies were included. The review revealed that immature stages of Anopheles arabiensis were more tolerant (in terms of survival) to a higher temperature than An. funestus and An. quadriannulatus. Higher temperatures resulted in smaller larval size and decreased hatching and pupation time. The development rate and survival of Anopheles stephensi were significantly reduced at a higher temperature than a lower temperature. Increasing temperatures decreased the longevity, body size, length of the gonotrophic cycle and fecundity of Anopheles mosquitoes. Anopheles mosquitoes exposed at 18° or 30 °C had a higher risk of dying compared to those exposed at 25 °C. Increasing temperature also significantly increased NOS expression and decreased insecticide toxicity. Both extreme low and high temperatures affect Anopheles mosquito development and survival. Climate change could have diverse effects on Anopheles mosquitoes. There seems to be inconclusive evidence of the effects of temperature on the development and survival of Anopheles species, and more studies are needed to clarify this relationship.

We conducted a study to determine if antenatally collected maternal urine cotinine (a me- 13 tabolite of nicotine) measurements can be used to assess the neonatal impact of nicotine exposure 14 during pregnancy. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort of mother-infant dyads. Only term 15 singleton pregnancies were included. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between 16 maternal urine cotinine and infant birth weight. We analysed data from 238 mother-neonates' dy- 17 ads. Urine cotinine was detected in 50.4 % (120/238) women from the whole cohort, but only 16% 18 (38/238) self-reported as smokers (chi-square 39.7, p<0.0001), and these women had significantly 19 smaller babies (p=0.010). There was a significant negative correlation between maternal urine co- 20 tinine and birth weight (Spearman's coefficient = -0.0226, p=0.013). Female babies born to women 21 with nicotine in the urine were significantly smaller (p= 0.001). The number of women exposed to 22 nicotine during late pregnancy (measured in urine) was markedly higher than self-reported and 23 National smoking percentages, suggesting an urgent need for improvement of medical record re- 24 porting on smoking habits to better assess neonatal outcomes.