Image encryption based on chaotic maps is an important way to ensure the secure communication of digital multimedia on the Internet. To improve the encryption performance and security of image encryption systems, a new image encryption algorithm is proposed by employing a compound chaotic map and random cyclic shift. Firstly, an improved Hybrid chaotic system is designed by coupling Logistic, ICMIC, Tent, and Chebyshev maps (HLITC). Comparison tests with previous chaotic maps in terms of chaotic trajectory, Lyapunov exponent, and Kolmogorov entropy illustrate the new hybrid chaotic map has better chaotic performance. Then the proposed HLITC chaotic system is used to develop a new chaotic image encryption scheme with the double cyclic shift. The improved HLITC chaotic system is performed to generate key sequences used in the image scrambling and diffusion stage. The spiral transformation controlled by chaotic sequence is used to scramble the pixels of the plaintext image, while the XOR operation based on a chaotic map is used for pixel diffusion. Extensive experiments of statistical analysis, key sensitivity, and keyspace analysis are conducted. Experimental results show the proposed encryption scheme has good robustness against brute force attacks, statistical attacks, and differential attacks, and is more effective than many existing chaotic image encryption algorithms.

Background and Objectives: Thyroid disease has been associated with autoimmune disorders. As systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations spanning across all organ systems, the relationship of SLE with thyroid disorders needs investigation. In particular, the relationship of SLE with autoimmune thyroid disease has attracted the interest of the research community. The aim was to evaluate the relationship of SLE with autoimmune thyroid disease. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 45 consecutive patients, mean age 47,97 years (range 21-79 years) and 45 age and sex-matched controls were prospectively studied over a period of 12 months for the presence of thyroid disease and the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies. Results: Four patients (8.9%) were found to suffer from primary hypothyroidism, 5 (11.11%) from subclinical hypothyroidism and 1 (2.22%) from hyperthyroidism, whereas 1 (2.22%) of the controls had primary hypothyroidism and 1 (2.22%) had hyperthyroidism. Five patients (11.11%) had a thyroid hormone profile compatible with the presence of euthyroid sick syndrome. Thyroid peroxidase (TPOab) and thyroglobulin (Tgab) antibodies were detected in 20/45 and 15/45 of the SLE population and in 7/45 and 5/45 of the controls, respectively (p<0.05, chi square test). Conclusions: In conclusion, the incidence of clinical thyroid disease is greater amongst SLE patients than in a control population and in a significant number of these patients antithyroid antibodies are detectable. Thus, a subset of lupus patients appears to be predisposed to the development of thyroid disease and this should be considered when evaluating patients with SLE.

Although effective in term of chance of future live birth, the current methods for fertility preservation such as oocytes, embryo or ovarian tissue cryopreservation cannot be offered to all cancer patients and in all clinical contexts. Expanding options for fertility preservation is crucial to address the need to encompass all situations. One emerging strategy is pharmacoprotection, which is non-invasive and has the potential to fill existing gaps in fertility preservation. Besides the identification of the most efficient therapeutic agent itself, the potential off-target effect re-mains one of the main limitation of this strategy for clinical application, particularly when healthy ovarian tissue is targeted. This review focuses on the advances in pharmacoprotective approaches and the challenge of targeting the ovaries to deliver these agents. The unique properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) make them an attractive candidate for this purpose. We discuss how AuNPs meet many of the requirements for an ideal drug delivery system, as well as the existing limitations that have hindering the progression of AuNPs research into more clinical trials. Additionally, the review highlights microRNA (miRNA) therapy as a next-generation approach to address the issues of fertility preservation and discusses the obstacles that currently impede its clinical availability.

We studied peat stratigraphy at the Mukhrino peatland, which is a typical ombrotrophic bog for the middle taiga zone of Western Siberia, to gain insights about its history, hydrology and carbon fluxes. Seven cores were collected from locations chosen to represent the typical present-day vegetation types, for dating of separated dissolved (DOC) and particulate (POC) organic carbon fractions using the Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon ($^{14}$C) method. The oldest peat was found at the bottoms of an underlying lake (10,053 cal. year BP) and an ancient riverbed (10,989 cal. year BP). For the whole history of the peatland the average peat accumulation rate was estimated to be 0.067±0.018 cm yr-1 (0.013-0.332 cm yr-1) and the carbon accumulation rate was 38.56±12.21 g m-2yr-1 (28.46–57.91 g m-2 yr-1). There were clear age differences between the separated samples of DOC and POC. DOC was older than POC in the uppermost 150 cm of the peat deposit, and younger in the deeper layers. The difference in age increased with depth, reaching 2,000–3,000 years at the bottom of the peat deposit (depth 430--530 cm). Following consideration of a range of factors that could potentially cause the dating discrepancy, we hypothesised that DOC continuously moves down into the mineral sediment beneath the peat, as an additional carbon flux that results in mixing of younger and older carbon. On this basis we estimated the apparent rate of DOC downward movement and the associated rate of carbon loss. The first estimate of the average rate of DOC downward movement in Western Siberia is 0.047±0.019 cm yr-1.

Background: This study aimed to contribute to the standardization of elastography by comparing stiffness values obtained from ultrasound elastography (US-E) and magnetic resonance elastography (MR-E) of the testicular parenchyma in healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 22 healthy volunteers (44 testes) were included in this study. Of the 26 cases analyzed, four were excluded from the study due to the exclusion criteria. The testicular parenchyma of the included patients was evaluated using MR-E and Shear-Wave Ultrasound Elastography (SW-E) examinations. Pearson's correlation test was used to calculate the correlation between age and stiffness values, testicular volumes and stiffness values, and stiffness values from both examinations. Results: The mean US-E stiffness of the right testes was 5.560 ± 3.1 kPa and the mean US-E stiffness of the left testes was 5.361 ± 2.9 kPa. The mean MR-E stiffness of the right testes was 6960.11 ± 460 Pa and the mean MR-E stiffness of the left testes was 6560.19 ± 310 Pa. There was no significant correlation between US-E and MR-E stiffness values (p=0.096). There was also no significant statistical correlation between US-E and MR-E stiffness values and testicular volumes (p=0.17 and p=0.093). Conclusions: No statistical correlation was found between the stiffness values obtained by SW-E and those obtained by MR-E in the normal testicular parenchyma. Additionally, no conclusive relationship between stiffness levels, age, or testicular volume was discovered.

Antarctica and its surrounding environment are considered untouched and thought that it is free from microplastics (MPs) pollution. However, recent studies and science projects have reported MPs in both water and sediment in the South Polar Regions. The reports state that the MP’s pollution occurs in this region due to fishing, tourism, and research activities by the nearby countries and nature's circulation is also part of it. The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has received attention on MP’s pollution and initiated research on it. MPs are tiny plastic particles with a size of less than 5 mm. It has two types, 1. Primary MPs have been manufactured directly for various applications like cosmetics and scrubbing etc 2. The secondary MPs are generated by photochemical degradation of large plastics.Although several studies have been done there is a quite gap in our understanding of the concentration, characteristics, and impact of plastics on the ecosystem of the Antarctic Region. The impact of MP’s pollution in this region may be very high. The presence of MP is a serious issue that is affecting not only the aquatic environment but also humans. It is an alarming situation that causes environmental damage. The main objective of this paper is to review MP's introduction, occurrence, sources, harmful effects, and detection methods. This review highlighted the various methodologies and analyses like density separation, microscope observation of MP’s properties Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectrometer respectively, and urged for more research in the future and gave several recommendations to maintain the pristine region near Antarctica.

Coastal ecosystems provide a wide range of goods and services for the lives of human beings and aquatic species. Nevertheless, climate-induced extreme events cause unprecedented impacts on these areas, instigating a reduction of aquatic goods and services, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of human lives. Hence, this review investigated the impacts of climate-induced coastal hazards and adaptation responses. A systematic review method was used to address the objectives of this literature review. The main data sources were Research Gate, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. A total of 40 research articles (2012-2023) were selected using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020) methodology. The findings of this review revealed that Bangladesh was the leading country based on the number of studies published on the impacts of climate-induced coastal hazards and coastal adaptations (20%), followed by the USA, which accounts for about 15%. Sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and climate change and variability were the most studied climate-induced coastal hazards, each accounting for 55%, 52.5% and 52.5% respectively. Coastal hazards have had significant impacts on the fishery, water, coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure sectors. Besides, they caused migration and death of humans and animals. About 35% of the articles explored the assessment of vulnerability to climate-induced hazards. Moreover, 32.5% of the articles investigated anticipated climate-induced hazards. Hard, soft, ecosystem-based, and hybrid adaptation measures were used to adapt to the impacts of diverse climate-induced coastal hazards. In conclusion, developing countries are more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate-induced coastal hazards than developed countries. The coastal area’s vulnerability to climate change risks will continue unless all stakeholders act proactively. Thus, it is suggested that the adaptation policies of vulnerable coastal areas should give due attention to nature-based solutions to reduce the adverse impacts of coastal hazards sustainably.

Underwater robotics equipped with visual detection systems have the function of detecting un-derwater artifacts, which is of great significance to deep-sea archaeology. Underwater artifacts are located in complex environments with poor imaging conditions, and the targets have chal-lenging problems such as breakage, stacking, and sediment burial, which causes the marine cul-tural target detection failures. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an underwater cul-tural target detection algorithm based on the deformable deep aggregation network model for underwater robotics exploration. To fully extract the target feature information of underwater targets in complex environments, this paper designs a multi-scale deep aggregation network with deformable convolutional layers. Besides, the BAM attention module is designed for fea-ture optimization, which enhances the potential feature information of the target while weak-ening the background interference information. Finally, the target prediction is achieved through feature fusion at different scales. The proposed algorithm has been extensively validat-ed and analyzed on the collected underwater artifact datasets, and the precision, recall, and mAP of the algorithm have reached 93.1%, 91.4%, and 92.8%, respectively. In addition, the present al-gorithm has been practically deployed on the underwater robotics. In the deep-sea tests, the ar-tifact detection frame rate reaches up to 19 fps, which satisfies the real-time target detection。

This article addresses the socioeconomic gradient in immigrant health by exploring immigration status and social capital as key considerations in measurement and development of health-promoting research and practice. This paper also seeks to draw attention to the importance of understanding how researchers approach the study of health disparities affecting minoritized and immigrant populations. A critical examination of the measures used in comparative health research challenges scholars to consider the different pathways through which socio-economic factors impact health and underscores the ethical commitment of health disparities researchers to consider the relevance and implications of their work. Given the reliance on existing data from national population health surveys to test the assumptions of the immigrant paradox, any immigrant-specific measure of SES with limited application to a large, representative sample of immigrants would likely hold little appeal to both researchers and practitioners. Understanding the mechanisms through which socioeconomic status influences immigrant health can allow scholars to address the needs of immigrant populations and advocate more effectively for programs and policies that seek to advance the health of all people.

Reducing the construction time for large logistics buildings can result in reduced construction management costs and economic gains from early operation. A large logistic building with a heavy load and long spans was constructed as a precast concrete (PC) structure, which requires the use of a sizable crane to lift heavy PC members. A basic analytical approach is employed to resolve potential errors in the planning of PC member erection and to build a systematic erection plan. Calculation techniques for the trajectory distance, which use the crane location, are applied to select an erection plan that minimizes crane work. A crane trajectory distance calculation algorithm for sustainable PC member erection in large logistic buildings with heavy loads and long spans has been developed. The developed model aids in creating simulation and optimization models to ensure minimal usage of cranes in the future and determining cost, construction time, CO2 emissions, and energy use for each erection plan.

Telemedicine has been increasingly considered an effective strategy to support patients with several diagnosis and therapies, avoiding the on-site visit and drastically reducing the risks to share infections. In the recent years, a number of different technologies have been developed and applied to clinical studies, with the aim to investigate new ways for increase the early diagnoses and monitor the clinical evolution of the most predictable diseases directly from the patients’ home. Telemedicine refers to all those technological interfaces used to remotely perform clinical procedures. Telemedicine applications could be useful in several medical fields, such as preventive medicine, home patient care, education for healthcare professionals and patients, research, public health, and health management. On the other hand, the synergy of these different technologies has a significant impact on the clinical risks analysis, particularly useful in frail patients. Although Telemedicine shows to have important advantages, undoubtedly important issues still remain. The present work aims to shed light on the main advantages and disadvantages related to of each application’s features, which may serve as a useful tool for researchers.

This paper aims to investigate the coal thickness change area of the combined rock strata energy accumulation law. The method of connecting a uniaxial compression experiment with a theoret-ical analysis is used in this work. We employ a combination of coal and rock to carry out our studies. We investigate how different lithologies and ratios of coal-rock height affect the me-chanical properties of the mixture and the law governing energy accumulation. We have deter-mined the following facts: (1) The combination's peak strength and elastic modulus exceed that of coal and are inferior to that of rock but are nearer to that of coal. (2) When the coal-rock height ratios are dissimilar, the peak strength and modulus of elasticity of the combination show a negative correlation with the coal-thickness share, and the pre-peak energy accumulation and impact energy index of the combination shows a positive correlation with the coal-thickness share. (3) For the combination with the same coal-rock height ratio, the peak strength, elastic modulus, pre-peak energy accumulation, and impact energy index all increase with greater rock strength and elastic modulus. The presence of a hard rock layer affects the accumulation of pre-peak energy. ( 4 ) The stress in the surrounding rock gradually decreases as the coal thick-ness increases. In the area where coal thickness declines, the stress in surrounding rock is higher than that in the region where it thickens. The energy stored in the surrounding rock is directly proportional to the coal in the zone. Conversely, areas with thinner coal deposits exhibit a lower energy storage capacity in the surrounding rock than those with thicker coal deposits. The stress distribution of surrounding rock in coal thickness change is abnormal; substantial energy accu-mulation can swiftly initiate dynamic disasters, such as rock bursts. This study has important reference significance for preventing and controlling rock burst in coal thickness change areas.

This article presents a method that uses a semi-automatic algorithm for the detection and analysis of microcracks in steel test specimens using binarized image analysis. It obtains the length along the crack path in contrast to previous methods that have obtained linear length, thereby achieving a closer approximation to its actual value. Additionally, this method automatically calculates the COD and COA parameters with measurement deviations in micrometres, thus providing greater precision than previous methods proposed to date.

The endogenous miRNAs of breast milk are the products of more than 1,000 nonprotein-coding genes, giving rise to mature small regulatory molecules of 19–25 nucleotides. They are incorporated in macromolecular complexes, loaded on Argonaut proteins, sequestrated in exosomes, lipid complexes, or present in exfoliated cells of epithelial, endothelial, or immune origins. Their expression is dependent on the stage of lactation, however their detection depends on progress in RNA sequencing and the reappraisal of small RNAs definition. Some miRNAs from plants are detected in breast milk, opening the possibility of stimulation of immune cells of the allergic repertoire. Each miRNA harbors a seeding sequence, which targets mRNAs, gene promoters, or long noncoding RNAs. Their activities depend on their bioavailability. Efficient doses of miRNAs are estimated at roughly 100 molecules in the cytoplasm of target cells from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Each miRNA is included in networks of stimulation/inhibition/sequestration driving the expression of cellular phenotypes. Three types of stress applied during lactation to manipulate miRNA supply, have been explored on the rodent offspring: foster mother, cafeteria diet, early weaning. The review present the main mature miRNAs described across current mothers’ cohorts, their bioavailability in experimental models, and the studies assessing the potentials of miR-26 or miR-320 miRNA families to alter offspring phenotype.

Criminal investigations aimed to track the route walked by Missing Persons and Fugitives (MPFs) usually involve Intelligence analysts, military planners, experts in mobile forensics, traditional investigative methods, and sniffer dog handlers. Notwithstanding, when MPFs are devoid of any technological device and move in uninhabited rural areas devoid of tele cameras and densely covered by vegetation, tracking backwards the route walked by MPFs may be a much more arduous task. In such complex cases, a very efficient approach may consist in comparing the geological traces found on the MPFs with soils and plants exposed in the event scenes. In particular, the search for peculiar or rare particles and aggregates may strengthen the weight of the geological evidence comparisons. A match of mineralogical, textural, and botanical data may demonstrate the provenance of the traces from the soil of a specific site, linking in this way the MPFs to the scene of events. Based on the above, the present paper reports geological and botanical determinations accomplished for a “mediatic” casework. Results allowed to ascertain a general high degree of compatibility among traces collected on the MPFs and on the soil from the scene of events. The most significant positive matches, based on the finding of a ten of peculiar and rare particles and assemblages, allowed reconstructing a route about 1.1 km long, as the crow flies, on the event site. Notwithstanding this procedure was extremely time consuming and available only in a backwards reconstruction linked to the MPFs’ findings, it was of uttermost importance in strengthen the inferences proposed, where other methods could not provide any information.

Thyroid surgery has been for years one of the most common elective procedures performed in general surgery. In the last 25 years, there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders, and new technologies are being implemented. The aim of this study was to ana-lyze 25 years of experience in thyroid surgery in the Department of General, Minimally Invasive and Endocrine Surgery at the Medical University of Wroclaw in terms of demographic changes, indica-tions for surgical treatment, the type of thyroid surgery performed and complications. The impact of recent advances on changes in endocrine surgery was evaluated. For this purpose, clinical material from the years 1996-2020 was analyzed, with a total of 3748 patients (7285 RLN at risk of injury). Period I included the years: 1996-2003, period II: 2011-2015 and 2018-2020. Results: In the last 25 years, the percentage of patients operated on for thyroid cancer has increased threefold (p <0.00001); the extent of thyroid surgery has changed: in 1996-2003, subtotal thyroid operation was performed in more than 90% of patients vs. 1.7% of total thyroid gland surgery; 2011-2015 and 2018-2020 were more than 94% of total thyroid surgery vs. 4% of subtotal surgery (p<0.00001). The increase in the extent of surgery did not affect the percentage of total amount recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLN palsy) (5.17% vs. 4.38% p = 0.1785), it did affect the percentage of transient RLN palsy in group II vs. group I (0.41% vs. 1.34%, p<0.00001), while the percentage of permanent RLN palsy in group I was statistically significantly higher than in group II (4.77% vs. 3.05%, p=0.0016). An increase in the percentage of postoperative clinical hypoparathyroidism in group II was observed: 4.84% vs. 8.93% (p<0.00001). Conclusions: Over 25 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of sur-geries performed for thyroid cancer, the range of surgeries from partial resections to total excision of the thyroid gland has changed, and the increased range of surgeries did not have a statistically signifi-cant effect on the number of vocal fold paralysis, but increased the percentage of postoperative hypo-parathyroidism. Intraoperative neuromonitoring had a significant impact on changing the scope of surgery and preventing complications.

Background: Prostate cancer is a global health concern, necessitating ongoing research to enhance our comprehension of its molecular foundations and develop more efficacious therapeutic approaches. Among the emerging protagonists in this arena is Speckle-type POZ (pox virus and zinc finger protein) (SPOP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor protein. SPOP's recent ascent to prominence in prostate cancer research is attributed to its crucial role in regulating the Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling pathway. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge concerning SPOP mutations in prostate cancer. It seeks to elucidate their significance in characterizing the disease and their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus and google scholar to identify relevant studies published up to September 2023. Eligible studies included investigations of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer and their implications. Data extraction, quality assessment, and synthesis were performed in conformity to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: The review revealed that SPOP mutations are recurrent events in prostate cancer, with a notable prevalence in specific molecular subtypes. These mutations primarily affect the MATH domain of SPOP, disrupting its substrate recognition function. Notably, SPOP mutations have profound consequences on the AR signaling pathway, leading to increased AR protein stability and transcriptional activity. The clinical implications of SPOP mutations remain diverse, with varying associations with prognostic outcomes. Conclusion: SPOP mutations represent a significant facet of prostate cancer biology, influencing disease heterogeneity and clinical behavior. While their precise prognostic significance is evolving, their functional impact on the AR pathway highlights their potential as therapeutic targets. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer, contributing to our understanding of the disease's molecular landscape and therapeutic avenues.

Dentifrice performance in the removal of dental plaque is influenced by the interactions of dentifrice components with tooth surfaces. This randomized controlled clinical study assessed the effectiveness and safety of a novel fluoride dentifrice formulation that included a micro-fibrillated cellulose network with entangled microcrystalline cellulose and silica particles (ProtegeraTM), and compared this to a positive control fluoride dentifrice (Crest Cavity Protection™). Whole mouth dental plaque levels in 82 healthy adults were measured after the first supervised use, and following a week of twice daily use at home. Overall, the novel dentifrice was at least three times more effective in whole mouth plaque reductions than the reference dentifrice (p < 0.001), with a 38.6% reduction on first use, a 30.9% reduction at day 7, and a 41.6% reduction from day 1 to day 7, compared to reductions of 12.0%, 9.6%, and 11.6% respectively for the positive control. No safety issues arose from the use of the novel dentifrice. These results indicate that including micro-fibrillated cellulose enhances plaque removal effectiveness, without causing adverse changes to oral soft tissues.

There is a limited data on variation of microbial hygiene load in dairy products during different seasons. In this study, a longitudinal design with a simple random sampling method was used to collect data in the dry season (January to April) and wet season (June to August). A total of 448 milk and cottage samples were collected from 3 regions. Enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (APC), total coliforms (TCC), and Escherichia coli (EC) was performed according to standard methods. Independent t-test were employed to assess the significant variation at (p<0.05) between the two seasons. The cumulative result of APC of 7.61 log cfu/ml and g and TCC of 3.50 log cfu/ml in the dry season were significantly higher than wet season of 7.15 log cfu/ml and 2.49 log cfu/ml, respectively. Whereas generic E. coli count (EC) was significantly higher in the wet season (0.70 log cfu/ml and g) than that in the dry season (0.40 log cfu/ml and g). The results of hygienic indicator microbial load were significantly varied with season. Hence, a sustainable awareness creation on hygienic milk production and handling that comprehend seasonal influence should be implemented to improve the safety of milk.

Carbon nanomaterial is widely used in structural health monitoring due to the advantage of sensitivity and good mechanical properties. This study presents a novel approach employing carbon nanocomposite materials (CNM) to characterize deformation and damage evolution in physical modelling. As the primary measurement method, the CNM is used to investigate the deformation characteristics of a 200-400 m thick sandstone bed at a 1 km deep longwall mine. The sandstone unit is identified as an ultra-thick key stratum (UTKS), with its thicknesses varying across different mining panels of the UTKS. The results of CNM monitoring show that the UTKS remains stable even after a consecutive excavation of 900 m in width. This stability impedes the upward propagation of overlying strata failure, leading to minimal surface subsidence. The study demonstrates the huge potential of CNM in the mining area, which can be useful for investigating material damage in physical modelling studies. The findings suggest that the cumulative extraction width in individual mining areas of the mine should be controlled to avoid a sudden collapse of the UTKS, and that special attention should be paid to where the UTKS's thickness changes substantially. The substantial variation in UTKS thickness significantly impacts the pattern of overburden subsidence.

Climate Change is the most serious planetary emergency of our time. Carbon emissions secondary to the healthcare industry account for about ten percent of all emissions in the United States. Health professionals, therefore, need to understand how they can make a difference in their profession, by understanding the health-related impacts of climate change and the importance of healthcare sustainability. An 8-week telementoring Climate Change Healthcare Sustainability ECHO series was developed to educate healthcare professionals in these topics such as the health-related effects of climate change, healthcare sustainability, quality healthcare and carbon accounting. A total of 376 participants from throughout the US and 16 other countries- completed this 8-week series and received no-cost continuing medical education credits. The evaluation consisted of pre and post Zoom polls, weekly post-session surveys and the registration demographics. Participants were primarily physicians and public health professionals who significantly improved their knowledge and communication skills after the course as compared to starting the training.

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria (6-hydroxy-L-nicotine) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examined. A search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, limiting entries to those no later than July 2023, was conducted. The search focused specifically on articles pertaining to nicotine metabolites, memory, oxidative stress, cholinergic system activity, as well as enzymes or pathways related to nicotine degradation in bacteria. The preliminary search resulted in 696 articles, and following the application of exclusion criteria, 185 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion. This review focuses on experimental studies supporting nicotine catabolism in bacteria, and the chemical and pharmacological activities of nicotine and its metabolite 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine.

Membrane biofouling is an inevitable challenge in membrane-based water treatment systems such as membrane bioreactors. Recent studies have shown that biological approaches based on bacterial signaling can effectively control biofilm formation. Quorum quenching (QQ) is known to inhibit biofilm growth by disrupting quorum sensing (QS) signaling, while nitric oxide (NO) signaling helps to disperse biofilms. In this study, batch biofilm experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of simultaneously applying NO signaling and QQ for biofilm control, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 as a model microorganism. The NO treatment involved the injection of NONOates (NO donor compounds) into mature biofilms, while QQ was implemented by immobilizing QQ bacteria (Escherichia coli TOP10-AiiO or Rhodococcus sp. BH4) in alginate or polyvinyl alcohol/alginate beads to preserve the QQ activity. When AiiO and BH4 beads were applied together with (Z)-1-[N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-(n-propyl) amino] diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (PAPA NONOate), they achieved higher biofilm reduction compared to their individual applications. These findings highlight the significant potential of combining QQ and NO technologies for effective biofilm control across a variety of processes that require enhanced biofilm inhibition.

Psychosis can be defined as a combination of psychopathological symptoms including delusions and/or hallucinations without insight. Psychotic disorders may configure a primary psychiatric illness or represent the result of a functional/structural brain damage induced by substance use, neurological diseases or other medical conditions. They are multifactorial disorders in which genetic, environmental and gene-environment interaction factors contribute to the expressiveness of the symptoms. Among the environmental factors, psychotropic substances represent the most important removable facilitators of psychosis. In our study, we compared the prevalence of substance induced psychosis between a sample of patients affected by cannabis use disorder and a sample of patients affected by cocaine use disorder analyzing retrospectively the data of outpatients with no personal or family history of psychiatric illnesses.

Predicting the prices of cryptocurrency owing to its volatility, instability, and other factors has been challenging; investors and traders especially in Nigeria have been on a constant look for a more reliable way of knowing market trends and prices and while there has been so many research conducted using deep learning, the results for which has fall short of what investors could called a strong predictor. This research reviewed the results of many works that had been done and proposed two types of recurrent neural network (RNNs) namely Long Short-Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) for predicting the future prices of two of the most common crypto assets namely Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), these two were selected based on their popularity, the volume traded and their market capitalization. The experiment was conducted in a GPU Jupyter Notebook environment and the performance of our experiment was evaluated on a test set using root mean square error (RMSE) and based on its values, the LSTM presented a better performance with rsme scores of 654.66, and 80.30 respectively for BTC and ETH as compared to GRU. The paper proceeds further to compare the results of this experiment with other related works and we discovered that its performance is a great improvement.

In this work, the author employs the quantum hydrodynamic formalism to achieve the geometrization of spacetime for describing the gravitational interaction within the framework of quantum theory. This approach allows for the development of an equation of gravity that is mathematically connected to the fermion and boson fields. This achievement is accomplished by incorporating two fundamental principles: covariance of the quantum field equations and the principle of least action. By considering these principles, a theory is established that enables the calculation of gravitational corrections to Quantum Electrodynamics, and potentially, to the standard model of particle physics as well. The theory also provides an explanation for two phenomena: the existence of a cosmological pressure density similar to quintessence, that is compatible with the small value of the observed cosmological constant, and the breaking of matter-antimatter symmetry at high energies offering insights into why there is an imbalance between the two in the early universe. In the cosmological modeling of the theory, there exists a proposal to account for the formation of supermassive black holes that are accompanied by their own surrounding galaxies, without relying on the process of mass accretion. The model, in accordance with recent observations conducted by the James Webb Space Telescope, supports the notion that galactic configurations were established relatively early in the history of the universe, shortly after the occurrence of the Big Bang.

In verifying programs for embedded systems, it is essential to reduce the verification time because state explosion may occur in model checking. One solution is to reduce the number of interrupt handler execution. In particular, when periodic interrupts such as timer interrupts are incorporated, it is necessary to know the physical time. In this paper, we define a control flow automata (CFA) that can handle time and propose an algorithm based on interrupt handler execution reduction (IHER). The proposed method reduces the number of interrupt executions, including timer interrupts. A case study verifies the effectiveness of this algorithm.

Several genetic tools have been developed for Clostridium acetobutylicum utilizing 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) resistance as a selection method. A method based on the integration, by single crossing-over, of a suicide plasmid (pCat-upp) followed by selection for the second crossing-over using a counter-selectable marker (the upp gene and 5FU resistance) was recently developed for genome editing in C. acetobutylicum. This method allows the modification of the genome without any marker or scar left in a strain of C. acetobutylicum that is ∆upp. Unfortunately, 5FU has strong mutagenic properties inducing mutations in the strain’s genome. After numerous applications of the pCat-upp/5FU system for genome modification in C. acetobutylicum, the bacteria became completely resistant to 5FU in the presence of the upp gene, resulting in failure in the selection for the second crossing-over. It was found that the potential repressor of the pyrimidine operon, PyrR, was mutated at position A115, leading to the 5FU resistance of the strain. We developed two plasmids, one overexpressing the native pyrR gene and a suicide plasmid carrying a non-mutated and optimized pyrR gene (pyrR*) and upp, which allowed us to restore the 5FU sensitivity of the strain. We also improved the pCat-upp/5FU system by reducing the concentration of 5FU from 1mM to 5 µM using a define synthetic medium.

Birds are highly social and need pairing in order to increase their welfare. Most bird species are monomorphic, therefore, molecular sexing helps to provide appropriate welfare for birds. Moreover, early sex determination can be of great value for bird owners. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that sex identification in birds by molecular methods, using samples collected by minimally invasive methods is fast, efficient and accurate. A total of 100 samples (29 paired samples of feathers - oral swab and 14 tripled samples of feathers - oral swab - blood) from 43 birds were taken into study, as follows: wild birds (Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, landfowl – Galliformes, waterfowl– Anseriformes), companion birds (Passeriformes, Psittaciformes – large, medium and small size parrots). Amplification of CHD1-Z and CHD1-W genes was performed by conventional PCR. The results obtained from feathers were compared to those obtained from oral swabs and with those obtained from blood samples, where was the case. The obtained results show that all types of samples can be used for molecular sexing of all studied species of birds. According to our knowledge, the present study reports for the first time the molecular sex identification in: Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata) and Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis major). For higher accuracy, our recommendation is to use minimally invasive samples (swab-feathers) and to test both types of samples, for each bird, instead of blood samples.

This paper aims to measure the effects of delisting on stock returns for Vietnam stock market. The study employs a sample of 118 stocks that were compulsorily delisted from the market between January 2011 and December 2021. Using an event study methodology, the empirical findings confirm that the delisting has negative effects on stock returns in the Vietnam stock market. Specifically, results derived from tests show that the average abnormal return of delisted stocks continuously declines during three trading days following the announcement of delisting. Moreover, it is found that the differences in cumulative abnormal returns between post-delisting and pre-delisting periods are significantly negative for all tracking periods. Apart from the negative effect of delisting on stock abnormal returns, we also find that the impact of delisting on stock returns for smaller companies is greater than bigger companies.

Perovskite solar cells have shown significant progress, but their commercialization remains hindered by lead-based toxicity. Many nontoxic perovskite-based solar cells have demonstrated potential such as Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6, but their power-conversion efficiency is inadequate. To address this issue, some researchers are focusing on emerging acceptor-donor-acceptor'-donor-acceptor (A-DA'D-A) type non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) for Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6 to find effective electron transport layers for high-performance photovoltaic responses with low voltage drops. In this comparative study, four novel A-DA'D-A types NFAs such as BT-LIC, BT-BIC, BT-L4F, and were used as an electron transport layer (ETL) for the proposed devices, FTO/PEDOT: PSS/ Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6/ETL/Au. Comprehensive simulations were conducted to optimize the devices. The simulations showed that all optimized devices exhibit photovoltaic responses, with the BT-BIC device having the highest power conversion efficiency (13.2%) and the BT-LIC device having the lowest (6.8%). The BT-BIC as ETL provides fewer interfacial traps and better band alignment, enabling greater open-circuit voltage for efficient photovoltaic responses.

Obesity in adolescents combined with the increased exposure time to electronic devices, enhances a sedentary lifestyle and is linked to the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to identify possible correlations between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, exposure time to electronic devices or screen time (ST) and physical activity (PA) level along with muscle power and dynamic knee valgus (DKV) in young athletes to avoid future injuries. A total of 125 adolescent basketball athletes (66.4% boys), 12 to 17 years old (13.94±1.58 years) participated. Anthropometric and demographic characteristics were recorded. PA level was assessed through IPAQ and ST through a single question from the HELENA study. The Counter Movement Jump test was used for the evaluation of the lower limb muscle power, while the Single Leg Drop Jump test was used for the evaluation of the dynamic knee valgus via two-dimensional (2D) kinematic analysis. The Pearson index showed a statistically significant positive correlation between muscle power and height (r=0.788, p<0.001), while the Spearman index showed a smaller but equally statistically significant positive correlation with BMI (rs =0.651, p<0.001) and age (rs=0.579, p<0.001). The ST (rs= -0.194, p=0.03) showed a weak negative correlation with DKV, while PA (r=0.85, p<0.001) showed a high, statistically significant, positive correlation. The anthropometric characteristics of adolescent athletes can determine their ability to produce muscle power. A high level of physical activity could play a key role in compensating and thus reducing the negative effects of high exposure to screen time on the dynamic knee valgus

Abstract: A biomaterial is proposed for closing extensive bone defects in the maxillofacial region. The composition of the biomaterial includes high-molecular chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronate, heparin, alginate and inorganic nanostructured hydroxyapatite. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate morphological and histological early signs of reconstruction of a bone cavity of critical size. The studies were carried out on 84 white female rats weighing 200-250 g. The study group consisted of 84 subjects in total, 40 in the experimental group and 44 in the control group. In all animals, three-walled bone defects measuring 0.5 x 04 x 05 cm were applied subperiosteally in the region of the angle of the lower jaw and filled in experimental group using lyophilized gel mass of chitosan-alginate-hydroxyapatite (CH-SA-HA). In control animals, the bone cavities were filled with an auto-blood clot after bone trepanation and bleeding. The observation periods are 3.5.7 days, 2.3.4.6.8 and 10 weeks. The control of bone regeneration was carried out using multiple morphological and histological analyses. Results showed that following implantation the chitosan construct actively replaced early-stage defects with the formation of a full-fledged new bone tissue as compared to the control group. Already, by the 7th day morphological analysis showed that formation of spongy bone tissue could be seen. After 2 weeks there was a pronounced increase in bone volume (P<0.01), and at 6 weeks after surgical intervention the closure of the defect was 70-80%, after 8 weeks - 100% without violation of bone morphology with a high degree of mineralization. Thus, the use of modified chitosan after filling eliminates bone defects of a critical size in the maxillofacial region, reveals early signs of bone regeneration, and serves as a promising material in reconstructive dentistry.

In this paper, we introduce ResNetMF, a groundbreaking approach that harnesses the power of residual network matrix factorization to revolutionize recommendation systems. ResNetMF integrates residual networks, renowned for their ability to capture intricate patterns and features, with matrix factorization techniques that excel in modelling user-item interactions. This fusion presents a novel solution that surpasses the limitations of traditional recommendation systems. Through comprehensive experimentation and evaluation of diverse datasets, ResNetMF demonstrates remarkable enhancements in recommendation accuracy and efficiency. By effectively capturing both linear and nonlinear relationships in user-item interactions, ResNetMF provides superior recommendation quality. The outcomes from experiments unequivocally highlight the superiority of ResNetMF over existing state-of-the-art recommendation approaches, thereby validating its innovative nature and underscoring its potential to shape the future of recommendation systems. Through the integration of the deep residual network, ResNetMF approach facilitates the training of neural networks, enabling them to explore the underlying data layers more comprehensively. Extensive experimentation and evaluation across various datasets provide compelling evidence for the superiority of ResNetMF. Moreover, the proposed method utilized natural language processing (NLP) techniques for targeted information dissemination in recommendation systems, emphasizing the importance of personalized and relevant recommendations for user satisfaction and engagement.

Revenue-sharing (RS) contracts are a common approach to incentivize innovation of upstream suppliers by addressing the uneven profit distribution between upstream and downstream firms. Considering the possible overconfidence characterizing decision makers in the supply chain, we investigate the effect of the RS contract and the tendency of overconfidence of supply chain members on the investment in R&D of key components of products in the context of an upstream supplier that is the leader in the R&D and production of key components. We find that regardless of the bargaining power of either party, a RS contract can increase the R&D investment in key components. Regarding the effects of overconfidence of either downstream manufacturer or up-stream supplier, it can increase the R&D investment in key components. Supplier (manufacturer) overconfidence can harm their own profits but increase the profits of the manufacturer (supplier), and when the level of overconfidence is below a certain threshold, the damage to their own profits is less than the increase in each other's profits, thus benefiting the whole supply chain. In addition, we also find a joint effect of RS contracts and overconfidence: when the bargaining power of the supplier is low, the RS contract has a certain compensatory effect on the loss of their own profits caused by overconfidence.

Single crystals of quaternary adamantine type Cu•GaGeS4 were grown by chemical vapor transport technique using iodine as transport agent. Dark red transparent crystals grew in a temperature gradient of dT = 900–750 °C. Chemical characterization by X-ray fluorescence showed an off-stoichiometric composition of the Cu•GaGeS4 crystals, in particular a slight Ge-deficit. By X-ray diffraction, Cu•GaGeS4 was found to adopt the chalcopyrite-type structure with the space group I-42d. The cation distribution in this structure was analyzed by multiple energy anomalous synchrotron X-ray diffraction and it was found that Cu and vacancies occupy the 4a site, whereas Ga and Ge occupy the 4b site. The band gap energies of several off-stoichiometric Cu•GaGeS4 crystals were determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and are in the range of 2.1 to 2.4 eV. A non-linear correlation of the band gap energy with the Ge-content of the compound follows the usual bowing behaviour of semiconductor alloys with a bowing parameter of b = 1.45(0.08).

Ternary blended cements such as limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) represent a strategic binder type for the mitigation of environmental impact associated with cement production and are estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by about 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In this paper we explore the possibility of producing such ternary blends by utilizing secondary raw materials that may be locally available. Specifically, the primary limestone that is commonly used in LC3 is here substituted by quarry dust obtained by sourcing of “kunkur”, a carbonate-rich sedimentary rock (also known as caliche) that can be locally utilized for the production of ordinary OPC clinker. To optimize the blending proportions of ternary cements consisting of OPC, calcined clay and kunkur fines, a Design of Experiment (DoE) approach was implemented, with the further goal of exploring the possibility of reducing the amount of the OPC fraction to values lower than 50%. The properties of the formulated blends were assessed by a combination of techniques that comprise mechanical strength testing, XRD time-dependent quantitative phase analysis, SEM-EDS microstructural and microchemical analysis. The results suggest that ternary blended cements based on kunkur fines form hydration products, such as hemicarboaluminates, which are also observed in LC3. This shows that such a waste material can potentially be used in sustainable cement blends, however, the presence of kaolinite in the kunkur fines seems to affect the development of strength when compared to both OPC and conventional LC3.

Background: The increased vascular risk associated to Varicella- Zoster Virus (VZV) reactivation is extensively established in the general population. This retrospective cohort study investigates whether this observation holds true for People Living With HIV (PLWH), a group already con-fronting heightened cardiovascular risk. Methods: Among PLWH who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) at our center and have been under our care for > 24 months since January 1st, 2005, individuals with a history of Herpes Zoster (HZ) were identified and compared their features with those of PLWH with no history of HZ. The prevalence of ischemic events (Deep Venous Thrombosis, Stroke, Acute Myocardial Infarction) was calculated and compared using Chi Square. Odds Ratios (O.R.) with 95% Confidence Intervals (C.I.) for ischemic events following HZ were evaluated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Overall, 45/581 PLWH reported HZ. Ischemic events followed HZ significantly more often than the other group (13% vs. 5%, p=0.01). Both positive serology for VZV and HZ correlated with increased ischemic risk (O.R. 4.01, 95% C.I. 1.38-11.6, p=0.01 and O.R. 3.14, 95% C.I. 1.12-7.68, p=0.02, respectively), though pre-existing heart disease demonstrated stronger predictive value in multivariate analysis(O.R. 8.68, 95% C.I. 2.49-29.50, p=0.001). Conclusions: VZV potentially exacerbates vascular risk for PLWH, particularly in the presence of other predisposing factors. Further research is needed to confirm our data.

The fourth industrial revolution has resulted in the digitalization of projects and operations across all sectors. Accordingly, efforts are being made to utilize advanced technologies to improve the energy efficiency of the building sector. This study has reviewed the current application and limitations of cutting-edge technologies in this regard. An overview of the use of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), digital twin (DT), and building information modeling (BIM) for energy efficiency of buildings has been provided. It has been found that the use of Industry 4.0 technologies, during the construction and operational phase of buildings, has a great potential to reduce energy consumption and emissions of the sector. This study may help stakeholders of the built environment to understand the role of industry 4.0 tools for energy efficiency of the sector.

This research was carried out to know the species composition of the Arbuscular Micorrhizal Fungi (AMF) communities native to two contrasting soils, and to establish the development and stability of aggregates in those soils contained in pots, as substrates for corn plants in the greenhouse. These soils were inoculated with allochthonous AMF. The experiment had three factors: Soil (S with two levels [S1 and S2]); AMF (A with three levels: without application [A0], with application of Claroideoglomus claroideum [A1] and with application of a consortium [A2]) and Fertilization (f with two levels (without fertilization [f0] and with fertilization [f1]); which generated 12 treatments, each with five replicates (60 experimental units [EU]); the EU consisted of a pot with a plant of corn; with a completely random distribution. The results showed that the Typic Ustifluvent presented nine species of native AMF, while the Typic Dystrustert had only three species. The native AMF in each soil influenced the activity of the allochthonous AMF, with differences being found in the stability of the macro-sized aggregates (0.5 to 2.0 mm) of each soil when they did not receive fertilization

The in vitro production and cryopreservation of mammalian embryos generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to conditions of the system that can overcome their antioxidant protection. Resveratrol is an antioxidant used in in vitro systems improving blastocyst rates, but its effect on antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione (GSH) in embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) after vitrification has not been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol in the in vitro maturation medium (IVM) of sheep oocytes (Ovis aries) on the levels of ROS and GSH in embryos produced by IVF subjected to vitrification. Resveratrol was added at 0µM, 0.25µM, 0.5µM and 1µM during oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). Matured oocytes were fertilized with thawed ram sperm. Embryos were cultured in sequential media until blastocysts, then were vitrified for 24 h and after heating they were stained with DCFH-DA (2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) to determine the presence of ROS and with Cell Tracker Blue® for the presence of GSH. The quantitative values of ROS and GSH were obtained through the Image J image processor. The results showed that resveratrol increases GSH and decreases ROS production (p<0.05). It is concluded that its use in sheep oocytes during IVM has a beneficial effect on embryos produced by IVF subjected to vitrification, protecting them from oxidative damage by promoting the synthesis of antioxidants.

Bees have long been used as a bioindicator of environmental quality. They have the capacity to bio-accumulate various pollutants in cities such as PAHs and heavy metals, but they are also very sensitive to other pollutants in rural areas such as pesticides. The lethal and sub-lethal impacts of pesticides on bees have been extensively studied. However, studies often focus on a single molecule at a same time and rarely on a cocktail of pesticides. The oxidant stress in response to metals and NOx was also measure, but no studies were engaged on the impact of PAHs on honeybees. The aim of this study was to measure the oxidative stress in bees in response to the chronic ingestion of a mixture of pesticides (representative of pollutants in rural areas) on the first hand and a mixture of PAHs (representative of pollutants in urban areas) on the other hand, compared to a control group. We also wanted to determine whether this tool is effective in detecting environmental measures aimed at reducing pollution in urban and rural areas.

Modeling the flow of polymer solutions requires knowledge at various length and time scales. The macroscopic behavior is described by the overall velocity, pressure and stress. The polymeric contribution to the stress requires knowledge of the evolution of polymer chains. In this work, we use a microscopic model, the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) model, to capture the polymer behavior. The benefit of microscopic models is they remain faithful to the polymer dynamics without information loss via averaging. The downside is the computational cost needed to solve the thousands to millions of differential equations describing the microstructure. We thus describe a multiscale flow solver that utilizes GPUs for massively parallel, efficient simulations. We compare and contrast the microscopic model with its macroscopic counterpart under various flow conditions. In particular, significant differences are observed under nonlinear flow conditions, where the polymers become highly stretched and oriented.

Background: The proportion of dietary protein may play a key role in the development of obesity in children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 4,336 children and adolescents from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) during 2011 to March 2020 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals, and restriction cubic spline was uesd to explore nonlinear relationships of dietary protein energy supply ratio and obesity in children and adolescents. Results:In the adjusted logistic regression model, for every 1% increase in dietary protein energy ratio in children and adolescents, the increased risk of obesity was 4% (OR=1.04,95%CI:1.01-1.08). The restrictive cubic spline showed a nonlinear relationship between dietary protein energy ratio and obesity in children aged 6-11 years (P <0.05). The dietary protein energy supply ratio was included in the logistic regression model after converting to quartiles into categorical variables. The adjusted OR of children aged 6-11 years was 2.08 (95%CI:1.34, 3.23,P <0.01) for the highest quartile of dietary protein energy supply ratio compared with the lowest quartile. Conclusion: In American children, dietary protein energy supply ratios was positively correlated with obesity, independent of individual characteristics and energy.

Transcriptional regulation constitutes a key step in gene expression regulation. Myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) is a transcription factor of MADS box family involved in the early development of several cell types including muscle cells. Over the last decade a novel layer of complexity modulating gene regulation is emerging as non-coding RNAs have been identified, impacting in both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. microRNAs represent the most studied and abundantly expressed subtype of small non-coding RNAs and their functional role have been widely documented. On the other hand, our knowledge on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that drive microRNA expression is still incipient. We recently demonstrated that MEF2C is able to transactive the long, but not short, regulatory element upstream of miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 transcriptional start site. However, MEF2C over-expression and silencing, respectively, displayed distinct effects on each of the miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 mature cluster members, without affecting pri-miRNA expression levels, supporting thus additional MEF2C-driven regulatory mechanisms. Within this study we demonstrated a complex post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms directed by MEF2C in the regulation of miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 cluster members, distinctly involving different domains of the MEF2C transcription factor and the physical interaction with pre-miRNAs and RNA interacting proteins such as Ksrp, HnRNPa3 and Ddx17.

The roots of African grapes (Lannea microcarpa) have long been utilised in traditional medicine for their perceived therapeutic properties. However, their comprehensive proximate and mineral analysis remains largely unexplored. Proximate composition and mineral content of the roots were conducted. The sample was obtained from Katsayal, Katsina State, and analysed using standard procedures. The macro and micro metals were determined using Flame Photometer and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, respectively. The results revealed a moisture content of 28.0 ±2.0%, an ash content of 21.3±1.2%, and significant levels of crude fibre (29.0±0.50%), crude lipid (9.60±0.20%), crude protein (6.91±0.01%), and available carbohydrates (33.3±0.10%). The calorific value of the root was determined to be 245 ± 0.01 kcal/g. The micro-mineral analysis revealed the detection of copper (8.60 ± 0.002 mg/kg), magnesium (9.24 ± 0.004 mg/kg), manganese (41.9 ± 0.001 mg/kg), iron (405 ± 0.042 mg/kg), and zinc (9.46 ± 0.001 mg/kg). The macro-minerals, namely calcium (28400 mg/kg), potassium (1530 mg/kg), and sodium (45030 mg/kg), were found to be present in the sample. It is advisable to conduct additional research to examine the identified minerals' bioavailability, clarify the phytochemical profile, and investigate potential bioactive compounds.

The prevalent pathogens associated with bovine uterine infections are bacteria that appear to increase the host's susceptibility to secondary infections with other bacteria or viruses, among which BoHV-4 is the most frequently found. In this work, the study of the pathways of apoptosis induction was carried out on an experimental model of primary culture of endometrial cells, in order to know the implication of BoHV-4 and the presence of bacterial LPS in the pathogenesis of the bovine reproductive tract. For this, different staining techniques and molecular analysis by RT-PCR were used. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that the level of cell death observed in the proposed primary culture is directly related to the time of viral infection and the presence of LPS in BoHV-4 infection. The apoptosis indices in cells infected with BoHV-4, BoHV-4 + LPS presented a maximum that correlates with the appearance of the cytopathic effect, and the maximum viral titers in the model studied. However, morphological, biochemical and molecular changes were evident during both early and late stages of apoptosis. These findings provide information on the factors that may influence the pathogenesis of BoHV-4 and help to better understand the mechanisms involved in virus infection.

Background. Waning of neutralizing and cell-mediated immune response after the primary vac-cine cycle (PVC) and the first booster dose (BD) is of concern, especially for PLWH with a CD4 count ≤200 cells/ mm3.Methods.Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) titers by microneutralization assay against WD614G /Omicron BA.1 and IFNγ production by ELISA assay were measured in samples of PLWH at 4 time points [2 and 4 months post-PVC (T1 and T2), 2 weeks and 5 months after the BD (T3 and T4)]. Participants were stratified by CD4 count after PVC (LCD4, <200/mm3; ICD4, 201-500/mm3 and HCD4, >500/mm3). Mixed models were used to compare mean responses over T1-T4 across CD4 groups. Results. 314 PLWH on ART (LCD4=56; ICD4=120; HCD4=138) were enrolled. At T2, levels of nAbs were significantly lower in LCD4 vs ICD4/HCD4 (p=0.04). BD was crucial for increasing nAbs titres above 1:40 at T3 and up to T4 for WD614G. A positive T cell response after PVC was observed in all groups, regardless of CD4 (p=0.31). Conclusions. Waning of nAbs after PVC was more important in LCD4 group. BD managed to re-establish higher levels of nAbs against WD614G which were retained for 5 months. The level of T-cellular response was significantly higher in HCD4 and ICD4 compared to the LCD4 group although it remained above detectable levels over the entire study period regardless of CD4 count. Keywords: HIV-1 infection; SARS-CoV-2 infection;

The whitefly leads extensive damage to plants through direct feeding, honeydew secretion, plant physiological disorders, and vectoring plant viruses. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological characteristics of susceptible and resistant soybean cultivars to B. tabaci. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse. Eleven soybean cultivars were selected and infested with 100 adults of B. tabaci at the V3 stage. The evaluation of photosynthetic parameters, such as photosynthetic rate, leaf transpiration, stomatal conductance, and internal CO2 concentration, revealed that B. tabaci infestation influenced gas exchange in soybean plants. The photosynthetic rate was higher in cultivars AS3810 and M8349 during the V6 stage. Infestations led to alterations in photosynthetic parameters, suggesting increased energy demand to maintain photosynthetic activity. However, the response to infestation varied among different cultivars, indicating varying levels of resistance and tolerance to the whitefly's damage. Additionally, the impact of infestation was more significant during the vegetative phenological. In conclusion, B. tabaci infestation affects soybean plants' physiology, leading to changes in gas exchange parameters and water use efficiency. The response to infestation varied among soybean cultivars, suggesting potential differences in resistance to the pest. The study highlights the importance of evaluating the physiological impact of whitefly infestations on soybean.

Biomass exploitation is a global trend due to the circular economy and the environmentally friendly spirit. Numerous applications are now based on the use of biomass derived products. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic and environmentally hazardous gas, which emitted from various processes. Thus, the efficient removal of this toxic hazardous gas following cost effective processes is an essential requirement. In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of biomass-derived activated-carbon/zinc-oxide (ZnO@AC) composites from different biomass sources as potential candidates for H2S sorption. The synthesis involved a facile method for activated carbon production via pyrolysis and chemical activation of biomass precursors (spent coffee, Aloe-Vera waste leaves, and corncob). Activated carbon production was followed by the incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the porous carbon matrix using a simple melt impregnation method. The synthesized ZnO@AC composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen porosimetry. The H2S removal performance of the ZnO@AC composites was evaluated through sorption experiments using a handmade apparatus. Our findings demonstrate that the Aloe-Vera, Spent-coffee, and Corncob derived composites exhibit superior H2S sorption capacity up to 106 mgH2S/gads., 66 mgH2S/gads., and 47 mgH2S/gads. respectively.

Soil erosion is the major factor that has contributed to the reduction of soil fertility in the highlands of Ethiopia. This factor was reduced by soil and water conservation (SWC) practices. Hence, the study evaluated the effects of SWC practices and slope gradient on soil physicochemical properties in the Agemi watershed of northwestern Ethiopia. Farmland treated by SWC such as stone-faced soil bund (SFSB) and soil bund (SB), untreated farmland and slope gradient were identified in the study area. About 27 soil samples were collected from the treated farmland and untreated farmland with three slope classes, including lower (5-10%), middle (10-15%) and upper slopes (>15%). The soil physicochemical properties were analyzed by two ways analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS 9.2. The results of the study showed that the content of sand, clay, total porosity, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), exchangeable cations such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly affected (p<0.01) by SWC practices and untreated farmland with slope gradients. However, the content of silt, percent of base saturation (PBS) and exchangeable Na were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Farmland treated with SFSB confirmed higher mean values of soil physicochemical properties than SB and untreated farmland. Moreover, the lower total porosity (TP) and higher bulk density (BD) were recorded on untreated farmland and upper slopes. This study concludes that farmland treated with SFSB improved soil physicochemical properties than farmland treated with SB followed by untreated farmland. Therefore, SFSB should be implemented on farmland to improve soil fertility in the study area.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is one among the most common cancer and early detection is the main key to avoid deaths. Automated diagnostic tools that process the histopathological images of a patient to detect abnormal oral lesions will be very much useful for the clinicians. A deep learning framework have been designed with an intermediate layer between feature extraction layers and classification layers for classifying the histopathological images into two categories, namely normal and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The intermediate layer is constructed using the proposed Swarm Intelligence technique called Modified Gorilla Troops Optimizer. Various optimization algorithms are implemented in literature for optimal parameter identification, weights updating and feature selection in deep learning models, but this work focuses on usage of optimization algorithm as intermediate layer that transforms the extracted features into the features that are more suitable for classification. Three datasets totally comprising 2784 normal and 3632 oral squamous cell carcinoma subjects are considered in this work. Three popular CNN architectures namely InceptionV2, MobileNetV3, and EfficientNetB3 are investigated as feature extraction layers. Two fully connected Neural Network layers along with batch normalization and dropout are used as classification layers. Among the investigated feature extraction models, MobileNetV3 performs well in all the three datasets with the highest accuracy of 0.89. Usage of the proposed Modified Gorilla Troops Optimizer as an intermediate layer boosts this accuracy to 0.95.

Small-scale facilities play a significant role in the landscape of nuclear physics research in Europe. They address a wide range of fundamental questions and are essential for teaching and training personnel in accelerator technology and science, providing them with diverse skill sets, complementary to large projects. The current status and perspectives of nuclear physics research at small-scale facilities in Europe will be given.

Within an amplicon-based metagenomic study of Archaea, Fungi, and Bacteria in Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica, in many of the samples antagonisms between these three super kingdoms were observed under the form of an inversely proportional dependence of the richnesses of the three types of microorganisms. This was quantified - based on the observed numbers of the total tags and the numbers of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as well as based on four alpha diversity parameters – the Shannon, the Simpson, the Chao1, and the ACE indices. We found that the most discriminative results in the antagonism measuring were observed in the comparison of the numbers of the OTUs and the ACE community richness estimator. The antagonism between Archaea and Fungi was strongest, followed by that of Archaea and Bacteria. The Fungi-Bacteria antagonism was slightly detectable. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis also showed a statistically significant negative correlation between the fungal and archaeal effective tags, while the correlation between archaeal and bacterial diversity was positive. Indications of the order of primary microbial succession in barren ecological niches were also observed, demonstrating that Archaea and Bacteria are the pioneers, followed by Fungi which in time would displace Archaea.

A warning sign for impending cardio-vascular events is not fully established. In the process to plaque rupture, formation of vulnerable plaque is important, and oxidized cholesterols play important role in its progression. Furthermore, the significance of vasa vasorum penetrating medial smooth muscle layer and rich in atheromatous lesion should be paid attention. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is new arterial stiffness index of the arterial tree from the origin of the aorta to the ankle. CAVI reflects functional stiffness in addition to structural stiffness. Rapid rise of CAVI means medial smooth muscle cell contraction, and strangling vasa vasorum. We reported rapid rise of CAVI in peoples after big earthquake, following high frequency of cardiovascular events. And we met several cases who showed rapid rise of CAVI a few weeks or months before suffering cardiovascular events. To explain these sequences of events, we proposed a hypothesis; A rapid rise of CAVI means medial smooth muscle contraction, strangling vasa vasorum, leading ischemia, necrosis of vulnerable plaque, then, the plaque ruptures. In individuals having high CAVI, further rapid rise of CAVI might be a warning sign for impending cardiovascular events. In such case, treatments to decrease CAVI had better to be taken soon.

Malaria is one of the life-threatening disease caused by the Anopheles mosquitoes affecting the human red blood cells. It is the global health concern which is quite common in tropical as well as sub-tropical parts of the World. Therefore, it is an important to have an effective computer aided system in place for early detection and treatment. State of the art machine learning techniques are used to detect the infected malaria cells from the pool of images. As the visual heterogeneity of the malaria dataset is highly complex and dynamic, therefore higher number of images are needed to train the machine learning models effectively. However, hospitals as well as medical institutions do not share the medical image data for collaboration due to general data protection regulation (GDPR) and data protection act (DPA). To overcome this collaborative challenge, our research is inspired to use the real-time medical image data while using the framework of federated learning (FL) framework that will ensure the data privacy while mutual collaboration of hospitals and medical institutes. We have used the state of the art machine learning models that include the Resnet50 and densenet in a federated learning framework. We have experimented both models in different settings and our preliminary results showed that the densenet model performed better in accuracy (75%) in contrast to resnet50 (72%) while considering 8 clients, while the trend is observed common in 4 clients with the similar accuracy of 94% and 6 client showed that the densenet model performed quite well with the accuracy of 92% while resnet50 achieving only 72%.

Keywords: Requirements prioritization, Next release plan, Software product planning, Decision support, MoSCoW, AHP, K-Menas, GMM, BIRCH, PAM, Hierarchical, Clustering, Clusters Evaluation

Overhydration (OH) is a prevalent medical problem occuring in patients with kidney failure, but a specific marker has still not been found. Currently, clinicians employ techniques such as bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), ultrasound (US) markers of fluid overload or markers of heart and kidney function such as NT-pro-BNP, GFR or creatinine levels. New serum markers, including but not limited to Ca-125, Galectin-3 (Gal-3), Adrenomedullin (AMD) and Urocortin-2 (UCN-2), are presently under research, displaying promising results. The necessity to ascertain a more precise marker of overhydration is urgent mainly because physical examination is exceptionally imprecise. Signs and symptoms of fluid overload, like edema or gradual increase of body mass, are not always present, notably in patients with chronic kidney disease. This review paper summarizes actual knowledge of a patient's hydration status estimation, focusing specifically on kidney diseases.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a significant challenge to global wheat production. Common wheat landraces AUS27507 and AUS27894 displayed stripe rust resistance against several commercially prevailing Pst pathotypes. These genotypes were crossed with a stripe rust susceptible landrace AUS27229 to understand inheritance of resistance and to determine genomic location(s) of underlying gene(s). F3 generations of crosses AUS27507/AUS27229 and AUS27894/AUS27229 showed monogenic segregation for stripe rust resistance under greenhouse conditions. The absence of segregation for stripe rust response among the AUS27507/AUS27894-derived F3 population suggested that both genotypes carry the same gene. The stripe rust resistance gene carried by AUS27507 and AUS27894 was tentatively named YrAW4. Bulked segregant analysis placed YrAW4 in the long arm of chromosome 2B. The AUS27507/AUS27229 F3 population was enhanced to develop an F6 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population for detailed mapping of chromosome 2BL. DArT-based SSR, STS and KASP markers were employed to enrich the 2BL map. DArT-based STS markers sun481 and SNP marker IWB12294 flanked YrAW4 proximally (1.8 cM) and distally (1.2 cM), respectively. Deletion mapping placed sun481 in the deletion bin 2BL-5. All stripe rust resistance genes, previously located on chromosome 2BL, neither express infection type like YrAW4, nor are mapped in the deletion bin 2BL-5. Hence YrAW4 represented a new locus and was formally named Yr72. The robustness of IWB12294 marker in marker-assisted selection was demonstrated by amplification of and alternative allele to that linked Yr72 in 21 common wheat background.

Norovirus (NoV) is recognised as a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups. Information on the genetic diversity of the NoVs circulating in the 1980s and 1990s, before the development and adoption of dedicated molecular assays, is limited compared to the last decades. In the period 1986-2020, uninterrupted viral surveillance was conducted in symptomatic children hospitalized for AGE in Palermo, Italy, providing a unique time capsule for exploring the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of enteric viruses. In this 35-year long time span NoVs of genogroup II (GII) were detected in 15.6% of AGE requiring hospitalization, whilst GI NoVs in 1.4%. Overall, the predominant NoV capsid (Cap) genotype was GII.4 (60.8%), with temporal replacement of the GII.4 Cap variants and associated polymerase (Pol) types. The chronology of emergence and circulation of the different GII.4 variants were consistent with the data available in literature. Also, for GII.3 and GII.2 NoVs the circulation of different lineages/strains, differing in either the Cap or Pol genes or in both, was observed. This long-term study revealed the ability of NoVs to modify continuously and rapidly their genomic makeup and highlights the importance of surveillance activities for vaccine design.

Apigenin (API) possesses excellent antitumor properties, but its limited water solubility and low bioavailability restrict its therapeutic impact. Thus, a suitable delivery systems is needed to overcome these limitations and improve the therapeutic efficiency. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a copolymer extensively utilized in drug delivery. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major extracellular matrix and can specifically bind with CD44 on colon cancer cells. Chitosan (CS) can serve as an intermediate binding with HA and PLGA. Herein, we aimed to perpare receptor-selective HA-coated PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) for colon cancer with high expression of CD44. Firstly, API was encapsulated in PLGA to obtain PLGA-API-NPs, which were then sequentially combined with CS and HA to form HA-coated PLGA NPs. HA coated PLGA NPs had a stronger sustained-release capability. Cellular uptake of HA coated PLGA NPs was enhanced in HT-29 cells with high expression of CD44. HA-PLGA-DiR-NPs can target specificity towards the HT-29 ectopic tumor model. Overall, HA coated PLGA NPs was an effectively drug deliver platform for API in treatment of colon cancer with high expression of CD44.

Keywords: Climate change, stress factors, Vitis spp., extreme climate events, sustainable agriculture

Demand for nutmeg essential oil in Indonesia and the world is increasing. Nutmeg essential oil is obtained from young nutmeg seeds extracted by water steam distillation (WSD). The weakness of the extraction process with WSD is the long distillation time (24 hours), wasteful of fuel, wasteful of manpower, produces polluting gases which damage the environment and requires a lot of water as a coolant. The purpose of this study was to compare the WSD and SCFE methods for extracting nutmeg essential oil. The research was conducted by extracting nutmeg essential oil using two methods are WSD and SCFE. The results showed that the chemical composition of the nutmeg essential oil produced by the two methods was almost similar. Nutmeg essential oil produced by both methods shows the same characterization. The yield between the two methods is almost the same, in the range of 10-12% using extraction time 15-60 minutes. The SCFE method has advantages over WSD are a faster extraction time, does not require heating materials and CO2 gas can be reused. In conclusion, SCFE is an alternative method to increase the production of nutmeg oil.

Non-exhaust fine particles such as tires and brakes emitted from vehicles have a significant impact on air pollution and human harm, and regulations on emissions are being discussed in earnest, starting with the introduction of brake wear particles emission standards in Euro 7. Various indoor and outdoor experiments were conducted, such as analysis of the amount of wear on tires and brakes, and analysis of the physical and chemical properties of fine particles, as fundamental data for the introduction of emission standards and the development of low wear tires and brakes to meet regulations. Recently, international standardized indoor experimental methods for brakes have been announced, and indoor and outdoor experimental methods for tires have been continuously studied to develop international standardized methods. In particular, tire-break-road wear particles are usually mixed with each other in the non-exhaust particles from a vehicle driving on real roads, and in-depth research is being performed on the accurate classification and characteristic analysis. In this study, the characteristics of the volatile organic components (VOCs) and marker substances for tire and tire-road wear fine particles were analyzed. A system capable of measuring non-exhaust wear fine particles was installed on the vehicle, and samples were collected from the vehicle running on the two different driving conditions, various constant speeds in the proving ground road and real driving roads. The VOCs contained in tires and tire-road-wear particles (TRWPs) under the specific temperature conditions with a thermogravimetric analyzergas chromatography/mass analysis (TGA-GC/MS). In addition, the correlations between VOCs and tire rubber components were analyzed through marker analysis using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass analysis (GC/MS). In VOCs, n-Hexane, n-Dodecane, and 1-Butene were measured relatively much in both constant-speed and real-drive tests. In addition, marker substances of synthetic rubber and natural rubber were not detected in the collected background fine particles.

Personalized surgery is not just a new trend but rather a patient-specific approach to therapy that makes it possible to adopt a targeted approach for a specific patient and closely mirrors the approach of personalized medicine. However, the application of tailored surgery in the context of cardiovascular replacement surgery was not systematically reviewed. The ability to customize a device is highly dependent on the collection of radiological image data for precise prosthesis modelling. These facts are essential to "tailor-made" device design for precise prosthesis implantation. According to this study, computed tomography (CT) was the most prominent imaging modality; however, transoesophageal echocardiography and echocardiography were also found to be helpful. Additionally, a dynamic finite element simulation is also an attractive alternative to the finite element analysis for an in-silico experiment. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of relevant publications and sporadic evidence. More clinical studies have been warranted, notwithstanding that the derived data and results from the insight into the use of therapeutic interventions may be of multiple directives in clinical practices and beyond. This study may help the integration of personalized devices for better comprehending predicted clinical outcomes, thus leading towards enhanced performance gains.

Periodic assessment of bacterial contamination is necessary as it allows proper guidance in cases of eye infections through the use of appropriate antibiotics. Due to the extensive use of antibiotic treatment, most of the contamination flora is resistant to the usual ophthalmic antibiotics. The present study shows an updated picture of the susceptibility of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria found on the ocular surface to the most commonly used antibiotic agents in patients undergoing cataract surgery. A total of 993 patients were included in the study with ages between 44 and 98 years old. Conjunctival culture was collected 7 days before cataract surgery. The response of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to various antibiotic classes like glycopeptides, cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, phenicols, tetracyclines, rifamycins, macrolides and penicillins was assessed. From the tested antibiotics, vancomycin had 97.8% efficacy on Gram-positive bacteria. In the cephalosporin category, we observed an increased resistance of the cefuroxime for both Gram-positive and negative bacteria. Antibiotics that have more than 90% efficacy on Gram-positive bacteria are: meropenem, imipenem, netilmicin, amikacin and rifampicin. On Gram-negative bacteria, we found 100% efficacy of all tested fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides (except for tobramycin), doxycycline, azithromycin, clarithromycin and chloramphenicol. The current study illustrates patterns of increased resistance of certain bacteria present on ocular surface to some of the commonly used antibiotics in ophthalmological clinical practice. One such revealing example is cefuroxime, which has been highly used as an intracameral antibiotic for the prevention of bacterial endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Dyslipidemia (Dys) is a disease characterised by abnormally high levels of lipids in the 1 blood. It causes the deposits of lipids on the arterial wall, leading to the insurgence of atherosclerosis, 2 i.e. the increased thickness of arterial walls, which finally increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 3 Dyslipidemia is as comorbidity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). A set of genes has been associated 4 with dyslipidemia, but examining the regulation of such genes in age and sex is still an open research 5 field. In this study, starting from publicly available databases, we select genes associated with 6 dyslipidemia and we analyse their basal level changes by means of age and sex. Also studying the 7 networks associated to the genes, we identify the rewiring changes showing that there exists a set of 8 genes whose expression changes with age in: artery tibial, artery aorta and blood. Finally, we report 9 about changes associated to gender atributes in the extracted data

Hydration and fluids detected with bioimpdance can be confounderdby ecw expansion and overload. to estimates with sufficient accuracy body fat A confrontation with imaging and dxa is confirmatory

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease incidence has risen mainly due to poor control of preventable risk factors and still constitutes a significant financial and health burden worldwide. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language-based model developed by OpenAI. Due to the model’s unique cognitive capabilities beyond data processing and the production of high-quality text, there has been a surge of research interest concerning its role in the scientific community and contemporary clinical practice. To fully exploit ChatGPT's potential benefits and reduce its possi-ble misuse, extreme caution must be taken to ensure its implications ethically and equitably. In this article, we explore the language model's possible applications and limitations while empha-sizing its potential value for diagnosing, managing, and prognosis cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular disease.

Phosphorus deficiency highly interferes with plant growth and development. Plants respond to the persistent P deficiency by coordinating the expression of genes involved in the alleviation of the stress. Promoters of phosphate transporter genes are of great choice for the development of genetically modified plants with enhanced phosphate uptake abilities, which improve crop yields in phosphate-deficient soils. In our previous study, the sugarcane phosphate transporter PHT1;2 gene, showed a significantly high expression under salinity stress. In this study, the Erianthus arundinaceus EaPHT1;2 gene was isolated and characterized using various in-silico tools. The deduced 542 amino acid residues have 10 transmembrane domains, with a molecular weight and isoelectric point of 58.9 kDa and 9.80, respectively. They displayed 71–96% similarity with Arabidopsis thaliana, Zea mays, and Saccharum hybrid. To elucidate the function of the 5’ regulatory region, the 1.1kb promoter was isolated and validated in tobacco transgenics under Pi stress. The EaPHT1;2 promoter activity was detected using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) assay. While the EaPHT1;2 promoter showed 3 to 4.2-fold higher expression than the most widely used CaMV35S promoter. The 5’ deletion analysis with and without 5’UTR regions, revealed that a small size 374 bp fragment with the highest promoter activity among 5′ truncated fragments, which was 2.7 and 4.2 times higher than the well-used CaMV35S promoter under normal and Pi-deprivation conditions, respectively. The strong and short promoter of EaPHT1;2 with 374 bp showed significant expression in low Pi-stress conditions and it could be a valuable source for the development of stress-tolerant transgenic crops

FeZnNa@SiO2-C catalyst with graphitized carbon (GC) modified mesoporous SiO2 support metal nanoparticles was prepared by sol-gel method. The effect of adding metal Na and Zn promoters as a dispersion on the CO2 hydrogenation to low olefins was systematically studied. The results showed that Zn-Na, as a combination, promoted the absorption of CO2 and improved the conversion rate of CO2. Na as an alkaline substance can improve the absorption of more acidic CO2, improving the conversion rate of CO2 to 59.03%. Meanwhiles, addition of secondary metal Zn into Fe-based catalysts to form a surface alloy could alter the adsorption of CO2 and the activation of C-O bonds, inhibit the subsequent hydrogenation of olefins to paraffins, facilitate the reduction of Fe2O3 and the formation of active Fe5C2 species. From TEM and XRD, the formation of active Fe5C2 species was found, the selectivity of the target product was 41.07%. The deep hydrogenation of olefins is inhibited, by inhibiting their deep hydrogenations, the STY of C2=-C4= was raised again, up to 0.0436. However, the corresponding STY does not increase infinitely with the increase of Na content, and when the Na content to 6.4%, which can be shown higher CO2 hydrogenation catalytic performance. Compared with Fe@SiO2-C catalyst, Na and Zn promoted Fe-based catalysts prepared by modified sol-gel method, can be used directly for highly efficient CO2 hydrogenation to low olefins and thus will be more promising in the future.

The relative proportions between nutrients affects the fate of them for metabolic interconversion, storage and turnover or, essentially for energy, in a process of partition modulated by hormonal and metabolic factors. A basic common chow model was used: ST or standard diet, HF high-fat and HP or high-protein had a common substrate. A CF cafeteria-type diet was added for comparison. Rats (female and male) received the diet for 30d. Nutrient intake and body composition were measured. Plasma glucose, lactate, testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were measured. Common groups energy intake, was largely based in carbohydrates CH, yielding 6C units, which were fully oxidized or stored as 2C fragments (fatty acids). Lactate (3C) was partially stored as glycerol of TAG. Accrual of 2C far exceeded about ten-fold that of 3C. Amino acid (AA) catabolism yielded 2C, 3C and 4C-5C fragments, the latter acting as Krebs cycle anaplerotic intermediates (KCAI), that facilitated the oxidation of 2C in detriment of TAG accumulation Lactate levels, were related to lactic dehydrogenase activities in muscle and liver. TAG accrual was maximal in CF, quite differently from HF with similar diet lipid proportion. Maximal rates of lipid storage were found in ST (and CF) groups. Females showed a higher ability to oxidize CH and to store less TAG. T increased N and protein deposition, whilst E2 decreased them favoring AA oxidation and the availability of KCAI. In the rat, an effective energy partition scheme requires that about half of the energy is provided by CH (polysaccharide), and needs enough protein to provide KCAI for a smooth 2C oxidation.

The large quantity of information retrieved from communities, public data repositories, web pages, or data mining can be sparsed and poorly classified. This work shows how to employ unsupervised classification algorithms such as K-means proper to classify user reviews into their closest category, forming a balanced data set. Moreover, we found that the text vectorization technique significantly impacts the clustering formation, comparing TF-IDF and Word2Vec. The value for mapping a cluster with movie genre was 81.34% ± 20.48 of the cases when the TF-IDF was applied, whereas Word2Vec only yielded a 53.51% ± 24.1. In addition, we highlight the impact of the removal of stop-words. Thus, we detected that pre-compiled lists are not the best method to remove stop-words before clustering because there is much ambiguity, centroids are poorly separated, and only 57% of clusters could match a movie genre. Thus, our proposed approach achieved a 94% of accuracy. After analyzing the classifiers’ results, we appreciated a similar effect when divided by the stop-words method removal. Statistically significant changes were observed, especially in precision metric and Jaccard scores in both classifiers, using custom-generated stop lists rather than pre-compiled ones. Reclassifying sparse data is strongly recommended as using custom-generated stop lists.

The MLL1 gene located on chromosome 11q23, is crucial for histone lysine-specific methylation and is frequently implicated in various leukemia types. Despite prior in silico investigations into non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) associated with leukemia in the MLL1 gene, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies evaluating their impact on the protein's structure, function, and post-translational modifications. Addressing this, our study screened 2049 nsSNPs from the dbSNP database, identifying 62 high-risk variants. A thorough domain analysis revealed that these nsSNPs are distributed across seven domains of the MLL1 protein, potentially affecting their functions. Our conservation analysis highlighted 31 nsSNPs as deleterious, suggesting their potential effects on protein stability and function. Furthermore, utilizing the MutPred2 tool, we identified mutations affecting metal-binding, protein loop structures, and post-translational modifications, which could alter the MLL1 protein's native functionality. Interaction network analysis underscored the role of MLL1 in hematopoietic cell development, implying that mutations may influence hematological malignancies. Additionally, a subset of non-coding SNPs was found to possess regulatory capabilities, potentially affecting gene expression and chromatin modification. Most significantly, using CScape and CScape-somatic tools, four nsSNPs were predicted to be oncogenic, with two classified as cancer drivers, underscoring their potential role in leukemia development. The oncogenic nsSNP, D2724G, located between the FY-rich N and FY-rich C domain of the MLL1 protein, has raised significant interest due to its potential impact on proteolytic cleavage. Predictive analyses, such as those by Mutpred2, suggest a loss of cleavage at D2724 caused by this mutation, potentially affecting the formation of essential MLL1 fragments, p320 and p180. These fragments play a crucial role in creating a stable multiprotein complex that localizes to a specific subnuclear region. Therefore, mutations like D2724G can potentially alter gene expression patterns, influencing cellular behavior and possibly fostering a cancer-prone environment. In conclusion, our research provides an in-depth assessment of the effects of nsSNPs in the MLL1 gene on leukemia, offering potential avenues for personalized treatment strategies, early detection, prognosis, and a better understanding of hematological malignancy genesis.

Artificial neural networks are widely established models of computational intelligence that have been tested for effectiveness in a variety of real-world applications. These models require fitting a set of parameters through the use of some optimization technique. However, an issue that researchers often face is finding an efficient range of values for the parameters of the artificial neural network. This paper proposes an innovative technique of generating a promising range of values for the parameters of the artificial neural network. Finding the value field is done by a series of rules for partitioning the original set of values or expanding it, which rules are generated using Grammatical Evolution. After finding a promising interval of values, any optimization technique such as a genetic algorithm can be used to train the artificial neural network on that interval of values. The new technique was tested on a wide range of problems from the relevant literature and the results were extremely promising.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among the diabetic population. Given the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia and the high prevalence of heart failure in the diabetic population, this study assesses the echocardiographic changes in Saudi patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) compared with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case control study, 80 patients with diabetes (45 males, age: 58.78±10.2 years) were compared with 80 controls (45 males, age: 58.6±10 years) who underwent an echocardiographic study in the King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: There were no significant differences between patients with diabetes and controls in terms of aortic root diameter, left atrium diameter, posterior wall, interventricular wall thickness, left ventricular diameters and ejection fraction. However, diastolic dysfunction was statistically significantly higher in the diabetic group compared with the control group (P &lt;0.05). Conclusions: This is the first case control study in Saudi Arabia that assesses echocardiographic parameters in T2DM patients. DM is an independent risk factor for diastolic dysfunction regardless of its association with hypertension and dyslipidemia.

This work presents the possibility of using a synthetic membrane for pretracing mucosal penetration studies. The permeability of two types of membranes, porcine oral mucosa and a synthetic Nuclepore membrane, to water was compared. Moreover, the water permeability of membranes modified with waterproofing formulations was measured to study their ability to protect against the penetration of viruses, toxins, etc. A very good correlation was obtained between the transmucosal water loss (TMWL) values of the artificial membrane and the mucosa. These results support the possible use of this synthetic membrane in the screening of the water permeability of formulations. In addition, studies of the permeation of different actives, drugs and biocides through the two membranes were carried out, and these results were compared with their skin permeation data. The synthetic membrane does not seem to discern between compounds in terms of permeability, which could be due to the lack of lipids in the composition of this synthetic membrane. Therefore, Nuclepore alone cannot be used as a model for the release of actives. Additionally, the permeation of caffeine through intact or modified membranes incorporating waterproofing formulations was also studied. In this case, similar permeation profiles through the synthetic membrane and mucosa were found. The results from these assays should lend support to the use of this synthetic membrane when screening formulations to be applied in oral penetration studies.

Derelict asbestos mine sites in South Africa pose a considerable risk to human, environmental and socio-economic health. Comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical datasets for the existing hazardous geological materials still exposed in Southern African derelict asbestos mines remain largely non-existent, as very little published and up-to-date literature is available. In this study three representative types of asbestos mineral fibres from derelict asbestos mines in Southern Africa, namely chrysotile from Havelock mine, amosite from Penge mine and crocidolite from Prieska mine are characterized mineralogically and geochemically to critically evaluate real-life hazards in rural and asbestos-fibre contaminated regions. The samples were examined using polarising light microscopy, X-ray fluorescence (major and trace elemental analysis), X-ray diffraction (including Rietveld refinement), specific surface area analyses and bio-durability tests. Data are discussed in view of their potential toxicities on both human health and the environment in the context of developing countries. Finally, information on the mineralogical and geochemical status of asbestos mine waste and its importance as baseline data for rehabilitation considerations is also evaluated.

Monitoring water supply requires, among other quality indicators, the identification of the cyanobacte-ria community taking into account their potential impact in terms of water quality. In this work, cya-nobacteria strains were isolated from Cheffia reservoir and identified based on morphological features, 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic analysis, and toxin production by PCR screening of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of cyanotoxins (mcyA, mcyE, sxtA, sxtG, sxtI, cyrJ, and anaC). Thirteen strains repre-senting six different genera: Aphanothece, Microcystis, Geitlerinema, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, and Pseudanabaena were obtained. The results demonstrated the importance of morphological features in determining the genus or the species when incongruence between the morphological and phylogenetic analysis occurs and only the utility of the 16S rRNA gene on determining higher taxonomic levels. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the polyphyly of cyanobacteria for the Microcystis and Oscillatoriales genera. Unexpectedly, Aphanothece sp. CR 11 had the genetic potential to produce microcystins. Our study gives new insight instead of picocyanobacteria toxic genotype in this ecosystem. Thus, conven-tional water treatment methods in this ecosystem have to be adapted.

Looking for effective synthetic methods for 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines preparation, we came across a procedure where in a three component reaction catalyzed by L-proline, 4-aryl-4,9-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines are formed. These compounds can be easily oxidized to a fully aromatic system, which gave hope for a synthetic method that could replace e.g. Friedländer condensation, often used for this purpose, although severely limited by the availability of suitable substrates. However, after careful repetition of the procedures described in the publication, it turned out that the compounds described therein do not form at all. The actual compounds turned out to be 4,4-(phenylmethylene)-bis-(3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-oles). 4-Aryl-4,9-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines were prepared by another method and used as standards to compare the products formed in the original procedure.

In this study, a design of Morlet wavelet neural networks (MWNNs) is presented to solve the prediction differential model (PDM) using the global approximation capability of genetic algorithm (GA) and local quick interior-point algorithm scheme (IPAS), i.e., MWNN-GAIPAS. The famous PDM is known as a variant of functional differential system that works as an opposite of the historical delay differential models. A fitness function is optimized using the mean square error by applying the GA-IPAS for solving the PDM. Three PDM examples have been presented numerically to check the authenticity of the MWNN-GAIPAS. For the perfection of the designed MWNN-GAIPAS, the comparability of the obtained results and exact results is performed. Moreover, the neuron analysis is performed by taking the 3, 10 and 20 number of neurons. The statistical observations have been performed to authenticate the reliability of the MWNN-GAIPAS for solving the PDM.

Water pollution, driven largely by the discharge of organic dyes from various industrial processes, presents a grave environmental threat. This study delves into the promise of an innovative adsorptive composite material composed of chitosan and activated charcoal, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from water sources. Our comprehensive investigation encompasses the synthesis, characterization, and adsorption capabilities of this composite material, revealing its remarkable physicochemical attributes and its substantial capacity to adsorb MB dye. These findings establish it as a compelling candidate for water treatment applications. The assessment of adsorbent dosage shows a direct correlation between higher dosages and enhanced MB dye removal, with an optimal dosage determined at 0.4 g/25 mL. Furthermore, pH-dependent studies demonstrate exceptional performance at lower pH levels, achieving an impressive 95% removal rate at pH 3 after 240 minutes of contact time. The composite exhibits consistent high removal percentages across a wide range of MB dye concentrations, showcasing its adaptability. In terms of reaction time, the composite achieves peak adsorption capacity within the initial 360 minutes and maintains a stable equilibrium, sustaining an impressive 99% removal efficiency thereafter. This study underscores the eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness of the composite material, emphasizing its potential to address water pollution challenges and promote sustainable water resource management. Overall, this research yields valuable insights into a practical approach for mitigating the adverse impact of organic dyes on aquatic ecosystems and public health.

Hypersonic aircraft focuses more on the integration of aircraft and engine than ordinary aircraft owing to high performance requirements, and the nozzle design is reflected in the required large area ratio of nozzle inlet and outlet and the compactness of the overall size of the aircraft. In this study, the height constraint is directly introduced into the maximum thrust nozzle design method. A new method for designing nozzles under the height constraints that consults the maximum thrust theory is proposed. Initially, the condition that the nozzle reaches the maximum thrust under the height constraint is deduced mathematically. Then, a nozzle design method satisfying the height constraint is computed using the method of characteristics (MOC). Subsequently, the influence of the design parameters on the design method is studied parametrically. Results show that Mach number scale and asymmetrical factors can affect ramp length and flap length of the nozzle, respectively. These factors great influence the axial thrust performance and lift under a specific height constraint. Compared with the traditional truncation design method, the thrust coefficient and lift increased by 11.93% and 138.45% respectively.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage may serve as the site of thrombus formation due to stasis that occurs within the appendage because of its shape and trabeculations. Although thrombus formation can be reduced with anticoagulants, this may be contraindicated in some patients. The need for a better alternative treatment prompted study of left atrial appendage occlusion for thromboembolism prophylaxis. Due to this, procedures that excise or occlude the left atrial appendage have gained attention because of its ability to prevent thromboembolic events. This article provides a comprehensive review of the left atrial appendage and its associated procedures' clinical utility.

Background: One of the most common occupational health hazard and serious health concern, now a days, recognized is Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The high prevalence among students and teachers is a major cause of decline in their health related quality of life and work performance. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among teachers and students during online education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among university faculty members and students who were involved in online education during COVID-19. Data collection was carried out electronically through a validated Arabic version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) which is self reported. A total of 175 respondents responded to the questionnaire (response 60%). Results: The prevalence of any part of the body was 90.3%. The commonest site of MSDs for past 12 months was the low back (65.7%), the neck (58.3%), and shoulders (57.7%). Females (80%) suffered more than males (20%). The students reported slightly higher MSDs as compared to teachers (93.1% vs 90.3). Binominal regression analysis showed association of females with low back pain “OR: 2.24 (95% CI): 1.04-4.83; p = 0.03” and neck pain “OR: 2.7 (95% CI): 1.24–5.84; p = 0.012)” while bad posture was associated with pain in upper back “OR: 3.46 (95% CI): 1.73-6.93; p = 0.001”. Conclusion: The faculty members and students are prone to high MSDs during online classes and significant measures should be taken to reduce the prevalence by addressing associated risk factors.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is manifested by hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, hepatocyte death, and systemic inflammation. Obesity induces steatosis and chronic inflammation in the liver. However, the precise mechanism underlying hepatic steatosis in the setting of obesity remains unclear. Here we report studies that address this question. Methods: 14 weeks on high-fat diet (HFD) with high sucrose, C57BL/6 mice revealed a phenotype of liver steatosis. Transcriptional profiling analysis of the liver tissues was performed using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: Our RNA-seq data revealed 692 differentially expressed genes involved in processes of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, immune responses, and cell proliferation. Notably, the gene encoding neutral sphingomyelinase SMPD3, was predominantly upregulated in the liver tissues of the mice displaying a phenotype of steatosis. Moreover, nSMase2 activity was elevated in these tissues of the liver. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of nSMase2 prevented intracellular lipid accumulation and TNFα-induced inflammation in in-vitro HepG2-steatosis cellular model. Furthermore, nSMase2 inhibition ameliorates oxidative damage by rescuing PPARα and prevent cell death associated with high glucose/oleic acid-induced fat accumulation in HepG2 cells. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings highlight the prominent role of nSMase2 in hepatic steatosis which could serve as a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD and other hepatic steatosis-linked disorders.

Viscum album L., also known as “Mistletoe”, is a hemiparasitic plant native to the European continent that grows on various host trees. This plant contains a wide variety of active compounds that can be used for treat various diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, as an anti- inflammatory and antioxidant. However, it is most indicated in human medicine for the adjuvant treatment of cancer patients. Both for its properties directed against neoplastic cells and for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In Veterinary Medicine, I am very few studies are recorded for animals, although formulations are available for commercial use in oral and injectable form, mostly for homeopathic use. Many studies have been conducted on a large scale by groups of independent researchers and doctors in several countries, such as Switzerland, Germany and Brazil. Therefore, this review aimed to collect data on the use of Viscum album in Veterinary Medicine in order to encourage research in this sector not only in oncological diseases but in other directions in which Viscum can find use as an anti-pretensive and anti-diabetic agent. Introduction: Lectins, flavonoids, phenols such as phenylpropanoids, coumarins, sterols, lignans, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, fatty acids and viscotoxins are among the main active ingredients present in the phytocomplexes of the Viscum album plant. In particular, Attention should be given to specific oligoproteins in consideration of their activity biological [1]. present in The foliage and fruits of V. album, as in other related species, contain low-weight proteins molecular type of thionin, called viscotoxins, as well as characteristic lectins, called viscolectins, both can contribute to its system defense and can be found in extracts and related products. These classes of Viscum microproteins have received considerable attention due to their contribution to effects cytotoxics and immunostimulants of mistletoe extracts used in medicine, as discussed later, including their mechanism of action [ 2–3] viscotoxins can increase the number of cells circulating naturalkillers and consequently improve the response host antitumor immunity [ 8]. Likewise, the a viscotoxin has an effective immunomodulatory impact on human and animal granulocytes [ 9, 10] and also acts on cellular apoptosis [11]. The cytotoxic action of viscotoxin is comparable to that of conventional chemotherapeutic agents [ 12].

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an RNA modification wherein N6-position of adenosine is methylated. It is one of the most prevalent internal modifications on RNA and regulates various aspects of RNA metabolism. M6A is deposited by m6A methyltransferases, removed by m6A demethylases and recognized by reader proteins, which modulate splicing, export, translation and stability of the modified mRNA. Recently evidence suggests that various classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long con-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also targeted by this modification. Depending on the ncRNA species, m6A may affect processing, stability, or localization of these molecules. The m6A modified ncRNAs are implicated in a number of diseases including cancer. In this review, I summarize the role of m6A modification in the regulation and function of ncRNAs in tumor development. Moreover, the potential applications in cancer prognosis and therapeutics is discussed.

The bioactive compound, thymoquinone (TQ), found in Nigella sativa seeds is known for its various therapeutic properties. Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive compound found in Nigella sativa seeds, is known for its various therapeutic properties. However, TQ as a compound is challenging for a pharmaceutical formulator due to its hydrophobic nature and chemical instability, limiting its skin penetration. Transethosomes, as a formulation, provide an environment that enhances the solubility of TQ, stability, as well as skin permeation. To optimize TQ transethosomal formulations, we introduced a combination of surfactants namely nonionic Tween 20 and ionic sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium lauroyl glutamate (SLG). These surfactants stabilize the formulation, reduce aggregation, and improve biocompatibility, as well as minimizing potential toxicity. Using the Langmuir monolayer technique, we fine-tuned the formulation composition and gained insights into its interfacial behavior. We conducted skin penetration studies using Rhodamine B as a model lipophilic compound to understand the skin penetration mechanisms. Our findings revealed that the transethosomes formulation, a combination of ionic and nonionic surfactants in the F2 formulation, resulted in the smallest particle sizes (115.4 nm) and demonstrated the highest skin permeation after 24 hours (267.13 μg/cm²), surpassing the control and ethosomal formulations. Additionally, this transethosomal formulation exhibited antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, with a zone of inhibition of 26.4 ± 0.3 mm. Importantly, we assessed the cytotoxicity of both ethosomes and transethosomes at concentrations ranging from 3.5 μM to 50 μM on HaCaT cell lines and found no cytotoxic effects in comparison to TQ solution controls. These results suggest the potential safety and efficacy of these TQ formulations and their further development in skin delivery.

Abrstract: Bacillus spp. it is a genus that is used to biocontrol post-harvest diseases in various vegetables and fruits during transportation and storage. It suppresses the development of pathogens such as gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry cultivation. In this work, the molecular characterization of Bacillus spp. species was carried out. in three cities in Peru: Huaura, Chanchamayo and Cañete. The samples were collected from rhizospheric soil from crop areas, subsequently processed for microbiological isolation, molecular analysis using the 16S rRNA gene and bioinformatic analysis. In total, 14 strains were obtained where they were identified with a minimum of 92.05% and a maximum of 100% similarity: 8 strains of Bacillus subtilis, 4 strains of Bacillus licheniformis, 1 strain of Bacillus paralicheniformis and 1 strain of Bacillus cereus, all the strains were related by constructing a phylogenetic tree.

Background: Machine learning can analyze vast amounts of data and make predictions for events in the future. Our group created machine learning models for vital sign predictions. To transport the information of these predictions without numbers and numerical values and make them easily usable for human caregivers, we aimed to integrate them into the Philips Visual-Patient-avatar, an avatar-based visualization of patient monitoring. Methods: We conducted a computer-based simulation study with 70 participants in three European university hospitals. We validated the vital sign prediction visualizations by testing their identification by anesthesiologists and intensivists. Each prediction visualization consisted of a condition (e.g., blood pressure low) and an urgency (a visual indication of the timespan in which the condition is expected to occur). To obtain qualitative user feedback, we also conducted standardised interviews and derived statements that participants later rated in an online survey. Results: The mixed logistic regression model showed 77.9% (95%CI 73.2-82.0%) correct identification of prediction visualizations (i.e. condition and urgency both correctly identified) and 93.8% (95%CI 93.7-93.8%) for conditions only (i.e. without considering urgencies). Forty-nine of 70 participants completed the online survey. The online survey participants agreed that the prediction visualizations were fun to use (32/49, 65.3%), and that they could imagine working with them in the future (30/49, 61.2%). They also agreed that identifying the urgencies was difficult (32/49, 65.3%). Conclusions: This study found that care providers correctly identified >90% of the conditions (i.e. without considering urgencies). The accuracy of identification decreased when considering urgencies in addition to conditions. Therefore, in future development of the technology, we will focus on either only displaying conditions (without urgencies) or improve the visualizations of urgency to enhance usability for human users.

A stable driver state is essential in the process of manually transition control, which inevitably occurs in Level 3 automated driving situations. To this end, this paper proposed a CNN algorithm-based driver state monitoring system that uses multi-sensor data such as driver's face image, biometric information, and vehicle behavior information as input. This system calculates the probability of drowsiness for each of the four time periods using a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on ToF camera-based eye blinking, ECG information (pulse rate) embedded in the steering wheel, and vehicle information (steering angle data). In order to build a reliable and high-quality training dataset (Ground Truth) for the CNN algorithm, a baseline was established by matching the driver's face image with the electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes in the drowsy and normal states. In a simulation test of the proposed CNN algorithm using more than 20,000 driver image data acquired using a driving simulator, the TNR was 94.8% and the accuracy was 94.2%. Our proposed method is expected to minimize human errors that may occur when switching control by monitoring inappropriate driver state (drowsiness) in real time.

This study explored drivers’ emotion-based impressions of car-borne central control platforms (CBCCPs) personal-use vehicles. Thus, this preference-based study examined experts’ and drivers’ opinions regarding CBCCPs’ appeal from the perspective of Miryoku engineering. To this end, this study analyzed data via the EGM (evaluation grid method (EGM) and quantification theory type I. Results: Drivers’ preferences for specific CBCCP design characteristics were categorized into the factors “legible,” convenient,” and “tasteful,” which comprised the core of the EGM semantic hierarchical diagram. In addition, the importance of CBCCPs’ appeal factors and characteristics was assessed through quantification theory type I.The findings of this study provide valuable insights for designers, manufacturers, and researchers interested in the design of CBCCPs. Additionally, the results of this study can contribute to research on applied psychology, human-computer interactions, and car interface design.

Key elements of Blue-Green Infrastructure are vegetation and stormwater storage. A combination of a bioretention cell with an underlying trench (BC-T) serving as a tree pit is often used in dense urban environments. An adequate ratio of drained area to bioretention cell area is a crucial design parameter. The ratio is derived from the hydrological balance; however, input data are often difficult to obtain or uncertain. The goal is to study the sensitivity of such data (tree water uptake and water holding capacities of soil filter and trench substrate) in the BC-T design. Sensitivity analysis is performed for the setup of a BC-T used in Prague, Czech Republic. A 10-year rainfall series (1 hour resolution) is used as an input. Data that are subject to the sensitivity analysis are changed for different trench exfiltration rates, and the effect on the size of the drained area is studied. At low trench exfiltration rates (1.8 mm.h-1), both the water holding capacity of the trench substrate and potential tree water uptake have a significant influence (more than a 20% change in the size of the drained area) and cannot be neglected. At good exfiltration rates (more than 18 mm.h-1) or when the trench is equipped with an underdrain, all studied parameters can be neglected. However, it is recommended to reduce the size of the drained area by 10-20%.

This article is the third part of a scientific project under the general title "Geometrized vacuum physics based on the Algebra of Signatures". In the first two papers [1,2], the ideal (i.e., non-curved and immobile) local region of vacuum was studied and the foundations of the Algebra of Signatures were laid. This article considers the possibilities of describing the curved and moving state of the same vacuum region on the basis of the mathematical apparatus of the Algebra of Signatures. The reasons for the multilateral consideration of vacuum and twisting of intra-vacuum processes into spiral bundles are disclosed. The 4-tensor is introduced for two-sided and 16-sided consideration of the curvature of the local vacuum region. On the basis of kinematic models, the following assumptions were made: about the inert properties of vacuum layers; about the possibility of displacement of vacuum layers relative to each other at a speed significantly exceeding the speed of light; about the possibility of "rupture" of the local region of vacuum. The proposed kinematic models of the movement of vacuum layers can be a theoretical basis for the development of "zero" (i.e., vacuum) technologies.

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between demographic variables within the family context and parenting behaviors among adolescent mothers (including affection, responsiveness, encouragement, and teaching). These factors were correlated with communication, problem-solving abilities, and personal-social development in typically developing infants. The study included a sample of 79 Chilean adolescent mother-child dyads with children aged 10 to 24 months. Communication, problem-solving, and personal-social development were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3, along with a demographic information questionnaire. Parenting behaviors (affection, responsiveness, encouragement, and teaching) were observed using the Spanish version of Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes. The findings indicated that employed mothers and those who had not dropped out of school had children with better problem-solving skills. Additionally, children residing with their fathers and female children exhibited superior performance in communication, problem-solving, and personal-social development. Maternal responsiveness was associated with communication and problem-solving, while maternal encouragement was linked to improved problem-solving skills. Maternal teaching was connected to communication, problem-solving, and personal-social development. The study emphasized the significance of parenting and sociodemographic factors among adolescent mothers in influencing their children's development.

Background and objective: Research shows that 60–90% of school children have caries, representing a serious public health issue. Here, we present a model of oral health promotion that has been conducted in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGC), Croatia, from 2008 to 2019. We assessed the oral status of first and fifth grade elementary students and determined the sustainability and influence of our model on the status and behavior regarding the children’s oral status. Additionally, during the observed period, promotional and preventative activities aiming to improve oral health were conducted. Since 2014, the Program has begun to be continuously, comprehensively, and systematically introduced into preschools as well. Material and methods: We assessed the number of children with caries by analyzing the changes in the decayed, missing, and filled teeth for primary teeth (dmft)/decayed, missing, and filled teeth for permanent teeth (DMFT) index mean during the observed period. Results: From 2008 to 2019 we assessed 44422 children in the PGC (21714 first grade and 22708 fifth grade students). The average response rate throughout the Program has been 83%. We have noted a dmft/DMFT index decrease from 4,66 to 3,73 (first graders) and from 2,50 to 1,00 (fifth graders). Conclusions: The Program has improved the behavior and oral health of children; stakeholders from various professions have been included, such as health visitors, school medicine teams, and pediatricians, avoiding additional financial expenses, increasing the number of children in care, and proving the sustainability of our oral health improvement model.

Saline water irrigation contributes significantly to forage yield. However, the salinity threshold for safe saline water irrigation of tall wheatgrass in coastal saline-alkaline land remains unclear. In this study, 2 g L‒1, 3 g L‒1, 4 g L‒1, 5 g L‒1, and 8 g L‒1 saline waters were used for irrigation. Two irrigations with 2+3 g L‒1 saline waters produced the highest yield, followed by one irrigation with 4 g L‒1 or 5 g L‒1 saline water. After rainfall’s leaching, the soil electrical conductivity (EC1:5) reduced by 41.7%‒79.3% for the saline water irrigation treatments. In combination with saline water irrigation, plastic film mulching can be used for sward establishment of seed propagated tall wheatgrass. However, irrigation with high salinity of drainage water enhanced the risk of plant death. Further, a pot experiment demonstrated that irrigation with 5 g L‒1 saline water led to the least reduction of forage yield and the highest crude protein content in leaves. However, the plants irrigated with ≥7 g L‒1 saline water enhanced soil salinity and reduced plant height, leaf size, and gas exchange rate. Conclusively, one irrigation with ≤5 g L‒1 saline water at the end of April or early May could be acceptable to maximize the forage yield of tall wheatgrass and minimize soil salinization risk in the coastal saline-alkaline land around the Bohai Sea.

The detrital compositions in sandstone are important recorders of sedimentary provenance and transport, both of which have significant implications for the lithology, age and tectonic evolution of provenance. Through detailed identification and analysis, a high content of volcanogenic compositions (27.6%) was discovered in Shanxi formation of Daniudi Gas Field, Ordos Basin, which is much higher than that of the previous study. The volcanogenic compositions include volcanogenic quartz, lava fragments (dominated by various kinds of rhyolite fragments), tuff fragments, and tuffaceous matrix. In addition, at least 2 volcanic ash layers were discovered. Although the metamorphic rocks of the Precambrian succession in the ancient land of Yin Mountain are usually considered the primary source of the Shanxi formation, it is most likely that the volcanogenic compositions were derived from intermediate-acidic volcanic materials that accumulated in the Daqingshan area during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian. Those volcanogenic compositions are mainly transported by flowing water rather than by air from provenance to basin. And the accumulation of volcanic materials in the Daqingshan area was controlled by volcanic eruptions occurring solely in this area, rather than by the Inner Mongolia Orogenic Belt. Those volcanic eruptions related to the southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate beneath the northern margin of the North China Plate in Late Carboniferous to Early Permian. The active continental margin related to the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate lasted until at least the Early Permian, and the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean must have occurred later than the Early Permian.

Background: Abdominal wall hernias are a common condition that is seen in daily general surgery patients. However, still more researches are needed to be conducted regarding hernias. The aim of this study is to see the prevalence of hernias among patients admitted to the Department of Surgery of a tertiary care center. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among patients who admitted to the department of surgery in a tertiary care center between 1 August 2023 and 20 September 2023. All patients data were extracted to an excel sheet. Results: We had 760 patients who visited in this period. Only 272 patients (27.9 %) were diagnosed with hernias. We found 52.6 % of patients were male and 47.4 % of patients were female. The age between 46- 60 years old was the most to have hernias (97 patients). Inguinal hernias were the common among other types. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, and hydrocele were found in 10.7 % of all patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of hernias in this study was nearly to other studies that conducted in the same conditions. Early diagnosis and patient’s education are the corner stone to prevent morbidities and mortalities.