The aim of the present review is to investigate the role of a toothpastes containing enzymes and proteins in supplementing natural salivary defenses. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA with PROSPERO ID code CRD42024558854. An exhaustive search of PubMed, Web Of Science, and Scopus, using the PICO format was carried out. The used MeSH were enzymes; AND proteins; AND toothpaste. In vivo studies on humans analyzing the gum effects of a toothpaste containing enzymes and proteins, in the English language, published in the last 10 years were included. The search period started on 04 June 2024 and ended on 20 July 2024. The risk of bias was evaluated according to the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) while non-randomized studies were evaluated with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool in Non-Randomized Studies (ROBINS-I). From a total of 62 studies, 3 were included. Two RCTs and had low and medium risk of bias, the N-RCT had low risk of bias. With the limitations of the present study, a toothpaste containing enzymes and proteins can improve gum health after 12 week and after 12 months, the role against black stains seemed not to be confirmed.

(1) Background: Arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythms, are a prevalent cardiovascular condition and can be diagnosed using electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Advances in deep learning have enabled automated analysis of these signals. However, the effectiveness of deep learning models depends heavily on the quality of signal preprocessing. This study evaluates the impact of different windowing techniques applied to Fourier Transform-preprocessed ECG signals on the classification accuracy of deep learning models. (2) Methods: We applied three windowing techniques—Hamming, Hann, and Blackman—to transform ECG signals into the frequency domain. A 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was employed to classify the ECG signals into five arrhythmia categories based on features extracted from each windowed signal.(3) Results: The Blackman window yielded the highest classification accuracy, with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced spectral leakage compared to the Hamming and Hann windows. (4) Conclusions: The choice of windowing technique significantly influences the effectiveness of deep learning models in ECG classification. Future studies should explore additional preprocessing methods and their clinical applications.

The study aimed to determine the protein content and amino acid profile of the longissimus lumborum and the semiomembranosus muscles of fallow deer originating from an organic feeding ground (OFG) and a conventional feeding ground (CFG). The amino acid content was determined using the ion-exchange chromatography method in accordance with AOAC. The present study provides the first published data on the nutritional value of fallow deer meat proteins. An analysis of the results revealed significant differences between the essential (EAA) and non-essential amino acid (NEAA) contents, depending on the feeding ground. A higher nutritional value was noted for the OFG fallow deer muscles, as indicated by the higher EAA and NEAA amino acid contents, a higher EAA proportion, a higher chemical score (CS) value, and the calculated expected protein efficiency ratio (PER) and biological value (BV). A significant effect of the muscle type on the histidine content and the feeding ground x muscle interaction for glycine was noted. All fallow deer muscle samples exhibited a complete profile of essential amino acids and a high-quality protein profile. The data presented in this overview show that the nutritional value of fallow deer meat represents an excellent source of proteins for humans.

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health worldwide, especially exacerbating Eating Disorders (EDs). This study aims to evaluate changes in the presentation and severity of EDs before and after the pandemic at the Regional Residential Center "Mariconda" in Salerno. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 162 patients admitted to the Regional Residential Center "Mariconda" between December 2018 and December 2023. The onset of pandemic restrictions in mid-2020 was the dividing line for the pre-COVID and post-COVID groups. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including age, gender, education level, previous hospital admissions, admission diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidity with other psychiatric illnesses. Results: Of the 162 subjects, 115 were admitted post-pandemic. The post-pandemic group was significantly younger, had lower education levels, more frequent previous hospitalizations, and a higher frequency of severe comorbidity with other mental illnesses compared to the pre-COVID group. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding gender distribution, initial diagnosis upon admission, average and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the presentation and severity of EDs, particularly among younger individuals with lower educational attainment. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, integrated treatment approaches for EDs, especially global crises. Further research is essential to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic on EDs and to refine treatment strategies to better support affected individuals.

This study investigated the optimal treatment conditions to improve the quality of white pan bread by applying high-voltage pulsed electric fields (PEF) technology with varying electric field treatment times to bread dough. The treatment was conducted at an electric field strength of 2 kV/cm, frequency of 10 Hz, and a pulse width of 100 µs, with varying treatment time of 10, 20, and 30 min. When PEF was applied for 10 min, the treatment dough’s fermentation expansion rate was significantly higher. Bread made with the 10 min treated dough also exhibited higher weight, volume, specific volume, and moisture content, along with lower oven spring and baking loss rate. During storage, the 10 min treated samples maintained higher moisture content, while the 20 and 30 min treated samples showed no significant difference. In terms of texture profile analysis, the treated samples had lower hardness and chewiness compared to the control, while springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience tended to be slightly higher. In terms of texture, the treated samples had lower hardness and chewiness, but higher springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience compared to the control group.

In the context of enhanced decision-making related to Industry 4.0 and 5.0, this work examines the first step to implement a Digital Twin (DT) in a discrete manufacturing firm. The DT will be required to be adequately integrated with the information systems, especially the Manufacturing Execution System (MES), because the virtual counterpart of the DT itself, a Discrete Event Simulator (DES) model, will exploit MES data for the validation and the monitoring. The objective of the DT is to enhance the decision-making related to production planning, in particular, achieving better on-time delivery to customers. Therefore, the DT intends to depict material flows within the production department to enhance monitoring and control, facilitating the prompt identification of deviations from the plan, and supporting the decision-makers, enabling a more responsive and informed management of delay alerts. The first goal to achieve the DT implementation and integration is to establish a conceptual framework that improves material flow data synchronization. A conceptual integration and implementation framework for the DT will be proposed and discussed, underlying the technical decisions chosen to achieve the functional and integration requirements.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a cutting-edge manufacturing technique that allows for the direct creation of complicated objects from digital desktop designs. Among the several AM techniques, the material extrusion technique has gained more attention because of its ability to manufacture complicated objects and customizes profiles at a reasonable costin a shortertime period. The main advantages of this technique are its easier fabrication process and low cost when compared to other well-known AM techniques. Enhancement in mechanical properties plays the key role in the AM objects. So, Incorporating nanofillers or nanoparticles into the basic materials like polymers, carbon ceramic and metal based materials is one of the most promising alternatives. This review attempts to enlighten and inform readers about the basic working principle of material extrusion technique and the many forms of polymer-based additives reported in the literature. This review can guide the readers to compare and assess the uses of polymer based raw materials before on choosing the kind of material be used, as well as it provides a view point on the application of AM by the material extrusion method in different disciplines. Finally, the challenges and upcoming prospects of the material extrusion process are discussed.

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement has been traditionally advocated as a key step for the success of one-stage hip revision surgery, while cementless techniques have been re-cently proposed with and without the use of local antibacterials as an equally suc-cessful alternative. Aim of this review is to investigate the effective role of local anti-microbial protection for one-stage cemented and cementless hip revision surgery. Twelve studies reporting the results of cemented single-stage procedure at a minimum two years follow-up were reviewed. When pooling together the data, no infection re-currence was observed on average in 83.3% of the patients (range 75.0% to 100%). Only two papers, both from the same French group, included patients treated without the use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement, with an average infection control of 95.9% in a total of 195 patients. This figure appears better that the 80.7% infection control ob-tained by pooling together all the remaining studies. Concerning cementless one-stage revision, a total of 17 studies, reporting on 521 patients, showed an average 90.0% (range 56.8% to 100%) no infection recurrence, at a minimum two years follow-up. Eight papers reported the outcomes of cementless implants without any local antibac-terial protection and nine more described four different techniques for local antimi-crobial implant protection. No comparative study investigated cementless revision with or without local antibacterial protection. Pooled data showed an average infection control of 86.7%, without the application of local antibacterials, compared to 90.1% to 100% with local antimicrobial protection, depending on the technology used. Howev-er, due to the relatively low number of patients treated with each local antimicrobial protection, no statistical difference could be found, either considering local antibacte-rial strategies alone or pooled together. No side effect had been reported by any local antibacterial technique. This review points out that local antibacterial protection for one-stage hip revision surgery, although safe and largely performed in the clinical set-ting, appears still to rely mainly on experts’ opinion and on observational series with no prospective or comparative trial, hence no definitive conclusion can be drawn con-cerning its effective role in one-stage hip revision surgery.

We introduce succinct and objective definitions of the various classes of objects in the solar system. Unlike in the formal definitions adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, group separation is obtained from measured physical properties of the objects. Thus, this classification scheme does not rely on orbital/environmental factors subject to debate—the physical parameters are intrinsic properties of the objects themselves. Surface gravity g is the property that single-handedly differentiates (a) planets from all other objects (and it leaves no room for questioning the demotion of Pluto); and (b) the six largest (g>1 m s−2) of the large satellites from dwarf planets. Large satellites are separated from small satellites by their sizes and masses/densities, which may serve as higher-order qualifiers of class membership. Size considerations are also sufficient for the classification of (i) main-belt asteroids (except possibly Ceres) as small solar-system bodies similar in physical properties to the small satellites; and (ii) a group of large Kuiper-belt objects as dwarf planets similar in physical properties to the large (but not the largest) satellites in our solar system. The selection criteria are simple and clear and reinforce the argument that body shape and environmental factors need not be considered in stipulating class membership of solar as well as extrasolar bodies.

Currently, NiFe-LDH exhibits excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to the interaction of the two metal elements on the LDH platform. However, such interaction is still insufficient to compensate for its poor electrical conductivity, limited active sites and sluggish dynamics. Herein, a feasible two-step hydrothermal strategy is proposed by coupling low-conductivity NiFe-LDH with 3D porous graphene aerogel (GA). Consequently, the optimized NiFe-LDH/GA (1:1) possess a 257 mV (10 mA cm-2) overpotential and could continuously operate for 56 h in OER. Our investigation validates that the NiFe-LDH/GA has a three-dimensional mesoporous structure, synergistic interaction between LDH and GA, and interfacial reconstruction of NiOOH. Such interface synergistic coupling effect promotes fast mass transfer and facilitates OER kinetics, and this work offers new sights into designing efficient and stable GA-based electrocatalysts.

It is challenging to apply the receiver function method to teleseisms recorded by ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) due to a specific working environment that differs from land stations. Tele-seismic incident waveforms reaching the vicinity beneath stations are contaminated by multiple reflections generated by seawater and sediments and noise resulting from currents. Furthermore, inadequate coupling between OBS and seabed reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of seismograms, leading to poor quality of extracted receiver functions or even wrong deconvolution results. For instance, the poor results cause strong ambiguities regarding Moho depth. This study uses numerical modelling to analyze the influences of multiple reflections generated by seawater and sediments on H-kappa stacking and neighborhood algorithm. Numerical modellings show that seawater multiple reflections are mixed with coda waves of direct P-wave and slightly impact extracted receiver functions, thus can be ignored in subsequent inversion processing. However, synthetic seismograms have strong responses to the sediments. Compared to waveforms of horizontal and vertical components, sedimentary responses are too strong to identify the converted waves clearly. The extracted RFs correspond to the above influences, resulting in divergent results of H-kappa stacking (i.e., Moho depth and crustal average VP/VS ratio are unstable and have great uncertainties). Fortunately, waveform inversion approaches (e.g., neighborhood algorithm) is available and valid for obtaining S-wave velocity structure of the crust-upper mantle beneath the station with sediments varying in thickness and velocity.

Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide significant opportunities for monitoring and managing natural resources across various temporal, spectral, and spatial resolutions. There is a critical need for natural resource managers to understand the expanding capabilities of image sources, analysis techniques, and in-situ validation methods. This article reviews a range of image analysis tools applicable to natural resource management, including agriculture, water, forests, soil, and natural hazards, and compares their functionalities. Our study highlights that Google Earth Engine (GEE) is favored for wide-area analysis due to its extensive coverage and free access. Global Mapper excels in 3D and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data, environment for visualizing images (ENVI) specializes in multi- and hyperspectral image processing, ERDAS IMAGINE is optimal for radar data, and eCognition is used for object-based image analysis. The article emphasizes the importance of in-situ validation data, which provides essential ground truth information to calibrate and validate RS models, thereby enhancing accuracy. Understanding these tools and integrating them with in-situ validation techniques enables natural resource managers to improve their monitoring and decision-making processes, facilitating effective collaboration with RS researchers.

Introduction: Patients receiving biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) for rheumatological conditions are at an increased risk of serious, potentially life-threatening, infection. However, the incidence, aetiology and clinical course of serious infection in patients receiving b/tsDMARDs in tropical settings are incompletely defined. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving b/tsDMARDs between October 2012 and October 2021, at Cairns Hospital in tropical Australia. The incidence, aetiology, and clinical course of serious infections (those requiring admission to hospital or parenteral antibiotics) was determined. Results: 310 patients had 1468 patient-years of b/tsDMARD therapy during the study period; 74/310 (24%) had 147 serious infections translating to an overall risk of 10.0 episodes of serious infection per 100-patient-years. The respiratory tract (50/147, 34%) and skin (37/147, 25%) were the most frequently affected sites. A pathogen was identified in 59/147 (40%) episodes and was most commonly Staphylococcus aureus (24/147, 16%). Only 2/147 (1%) were confirmed “tropical infections”: 1 case of Burkholderia pseudomallei and 1 case of mixed B. pseudomallei and community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii infection. Overall, 13/147 (9%) episodes of serious infection required Intensive Care Unit admission (0.9 per 100-patient-years of b/tsDMARD therapy) and 4/147 (3%) died from their infection (0.3 per 100-patient-years of b/tsDMARD therapy). The burden of comorbidity and co-administration of prednisone were the strongest predictors of death or a requirement for ICU admission. Conclusion: The risk of serious infection in patients taking b/tsDMARDs in tropical Australia is higher than in temperate settings, but this is not explained by an increased incidence of traditional tropical pathogens.

Purpose/Objective: Frequent consumption of fermented carbohydrates and bottle feeding contribute to the development of early childhood caries (ECC). There are no substantial findings on the effects of breastfeeding patterns on oral health conditions in children in the United States. We aimed to assess the nexus between exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months and oral health disorders, namely toothache, decayed teeth, or unfilled cavities in early childhood. Materials and Methods: Design: Cross-sectional epidemiologic design of nationally representative data collected via telephone surveys in the United States was utilized. Setting: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2012 Participants: Population-based random sample of parents/guardians of 24,655 children aged 6 months to 5 years. Main Outcome and Measure: Parent-reported oral health condition including toothache, decayed teeth or unfilled cavity in the past 12 months. Results: A total of 2,392 (9.7%) children aged 6 months to 5 years experienced an oral health disorder, mainly toothache, decayed teeth, or unfilled cavity in the previous 12 months. Relative to non-Hispanic White children (7.7%), a greater proportion of non-Hispanic Black (12.9%) and multi-racial children (12.6%) experienced oral health disorders (OHD). In the univariable model, relative to children who never breastfed, those who were breastfed exclusively for 6 months were 28% less likely to present with OHD, Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.72, 95% CI, 0.52-0.98. After adjustment, the protective nature of exclusive breastfeeding against OHD did not remain, adjusted OR (aOR) =1.11, 99% CI 0.79-1.57. Children of mothers with fair/poor health were almost twice as likely to have poor OHD compared with children of mothers with excellent/very good health (aOR = 1.79, 99% CI 1.08-2.69). Conclusions and Relevance: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life improved pediatric OHD and remains mutually beneficial for mothers and children. These findings suggest the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and maternal health in relation to dental hygiene in children.

In recent years, digital transformation has become a pivotal factor for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), empowering them to adopt emerging technologies for competitive advantage. This systematic literature review examines 60 research papers published between 2014 and 2024, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework to explore the impact of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) on SME performance. The review focuses on key drivers and barriers, including operational efficiency, customer engagement, and market expansion. Methodologies employed in the analyzed studies include quantitative approaches (60%), such as surveys and structural equation modelling, qualitative methods (25%), including interviews and case studies, and mixed methods approaches (15%) that combine both. A geographic distribution analysis highlights contributions from various countries, revealing regional research gaps. The results show that digital technologies have significantly improved SME operations, but challenges like limited resources and strategic focus persist. Additionally, the dominance of quantitative methods indicates a potential bias, suggesting the need for more diverse methodological approaches to fully understand the transformative potential of digital technologies for SMEs.

The EcoFlora Project was launched at the New York Botanical Garden and expanded to other botanical gardens across the United States to enhance our understanding of urban plant biodiversity through community science iNaturalist observations. This study evaluates the strengths and limitations of using iNaturalist observations and herbarium specimen records in biodiversity research, demonstrating their complementary roles. iNaturalist engages community scientists and provides real-time data but may suffer from biases and inconsistent identification accuracy. Conversely, herbarium specimens offer verified, historical records but require significant resources for collection and upkeep. Through case studies in five U.S. metro areas, EcoFloras highlight the effectiveness of combining these data sources for comprehensive biodiversity assessments. The project reveals how leveraging both digital tools and traditional specimen collections can provide a more complete picture of biodiversity, informing conservation strategies and biodiversity management. Integrating community science with established scientific methods fosters greater public involvement in conservation and offers a robust framework for addressing biodiversity challenges. Rigorous data cleaning is essential, and future efforts should focus on linking both data sources to enhance plant conservation strategies. By leveraging the strengths of both iNaturalist and herbarium data, researchers can greatly enhance the effectiveness of conservation strategies.

The fishery biology of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus in the Mediterranean Sea outside the eastern sectors of the basin has been only recently investigated. Here we studied the population of C. sapidus in the Lesina Lagoon (Adriatic Sea, SE Italy). In total, 838 crabs were captured monthly between February 2021 and January 2022 using fyke nets. Abundances varied seasonally with catches per unit effort ranging between 0 and 1.76 crabs fyke nets-1 d-1 in winter and summer. Spatial abundances estimated in summer by a Carle-Strub procedure ranged between 0.06 and 0.64 crabs m-2. Sex ratio (♂/♀) was close to 1:1; males prevailed only in August and September; ovigerous females occurred from April to August. Males’ size at morphological maturity was smaller than females (110.6-112.3 mm vs. 122.1-123.1 mm). Seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters indicated that, compared with males, females showed a shorter maximum lifespan (5 vs. 8 years), a higher growth coefficient K (0.6 vs. 0.4 y-1) and growth performance index ' (4.6 vs. 4.3), while maximum sizes CW∞ (237.8 vs. 232.6 mm) and seasonality indices C (0.62 vs. 0.57) were similar. Furthermore, females showed higher natural and fishing mortalities and exploitation rate. We discussed the results of the present study in the context of the available literature to provide a valuable basis for the implementation of standardised Mediterranean-scale management plans, matching exploitation of C. sapidus with sustainable conservation of coastal ecosystems.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by symptoms such as tremors, dementia, and bradykinesia. Early non-motor signs, including constipation and hyposmia, suggest a potential connection between PD and the gut. The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of PD, with unknown causes. While current treatments provide symptom relief, there are no therapies to slow the progression of the disease. The gut microbiota plays a role in inflammatory and immune responses and has been implicated in neurological disorders. The connection between gut microbiota and neurodegenerative disease remains unclear. In this paper, we aim to explore the potential link between gut microbiome dysbiosis in PD, focusing on constipation, which is an early symptom of the disease. Our review will examine the evidence that suggests the possibility of chronic intestinal inflammation that may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease and implicate further connections with other neurodegenerative diseases.

Canine Multiple System Degeneration (CMSD) is an early onset, progressive movement disorder affecting Kerry Blue Terriers and Chinese Crested dogs. The associated pathologic lesions include degeneration of the cerebellum, caudate nucleus and substantia nigra. CMSD is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait in both dog breeds. Previous linkage mapping localized the CMSD locus to a 15 MB region on canine chromosome 1 (CFA1). Next generation sequencing was used to generate whole genome sequences from DNA of an affected dog from each breed. The resulting sequence reads were aligned to the NCBI canine reference genome (build 3.1). Among the homozygous sequence variants within the CFA1 target region, a nonsense variant in exon 15 of SERAC1 was identified in the affected Kerry Blue Terrier, while in the Chinese Crested dog, a 4 bp deletion in the SERAC1 exon 4 acceptor splice site was found. RT-PCR showed that this deletion resulted in exon 4 skipping. Genotyping of large cohorts of Kerry Blue Terriers and Chinese Crested dogs for the respective breed-specific SERAC1 variants showed complete concordance between genotype and disease phenotype. Genotype-phenotype concordance was also observed in offspring generated by cross breeding between SERAC1-heterozygous Kerry Blue Terrier and Chinese Crested dogs, with only the compound heterozygotes exhibiting the disease phenotype, further confirming the recessive inheritance of CMSD. Variants in human SERAC1 are associated with disorders with a range of ages of disease onset and patterns of clinical signs, but that are all characterized by movement abnormalities similar to those of the dogs with CMSD. Canine CMSD could serve as a valuable model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying SERAC1-deficiency disorders and to evaluate potential therapeutic interventions.

Introduction: Cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis are very prevalent and considered a public health problem, as they are highly disabling and represent an economic burden. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) can be isolated from different tissues and have the immunomodulatory capacity to regulate local articular joint environment. This translational study aims to compare the cartilage restoration from MSCs from the synovial membrane (SM) and dental pulp (DP), by tissue engineered treatment in a Good Manufacturing Practices. Materials and Methods: A controlled experimental study in fourteen miniature pigs was performed, using scaffold-free Tissue Engineering Construct (TEC) from DP and SM MSCs, with 6 months follow-up. Total thickness cartilage defects were performed in both posterior knees. The defect was left empty on one side, and the other received TEC from DP (n=7) or from SM (n=7). MRI assessed morphology with the MOCART scoring system. T2 mapping assessed water and collagen fiber composition. Histology evaluated cartilage repair using the ICRS-2 score. Results: The mean MOCART value in the untreated group was 46.2 ± 13.4, while the group treated with TEC from SM was 65.7 ± 15.5 (p

Background/Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease with a steadily increasing prevalence, high mortality, social and economic costs. Furthermore, every hospitalisation for acute HF is associated with worsening prognosis and reduced life expectancy. In order to prevent hospitalisations, it would be useful to have instruments that can predict them well in advance. Methods: We performed a review on remote monitoring of heart failure through implantable devices.; Results: Precise multi-parameter algorithms, available for ICD and CRT-D patients, have been created, which also use artificial intelligence and are able to predict a new heart failure event more than 30 days in advance. There are also implantable pulmonary artery devices that can predict hospitalisations and reduce the impact of heart failure. proper organisation of transmission and alerts management is crucial for clinical success in using these tools. Conclusions: The full implementation of remote monitoring of implantable devices and in particular the use of new algorithms for the prediction of acute heart failure episodes represents a huge challenge but also a huge opportunity.

A simple and sensitive method for Cu²⁺ detection was developed using the Cu⁺-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as the reaction platform, and a portable blood glucose meter (PGM) as the detection method. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were labeled with glucose oxidase (GOx) and alkyne-functionalized and terminally thiolated ssDNA (C1). In the presence of Cu²⁺ and ascorbate, the functionalized AuNPs were captured onto MNPs modified with azide-functionalized ssDNA (C2) via the Cu⁺-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction. GOx on the AuNPs surface oxidized glucose (Glu) into gluconic acid and H2O2, reducing the Glu content in the reaction solution, which was quantitatively detected by the PGM. Under optimal conditions, the PGM response of the system showed a good linear relationship with the logarithm of Cu²⁺ concentration in the range of 0.05 to 10.00 μmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.03 μmol/L (3σ). In actual tap water samples, the spiked recovery rate of Cu²⁺ was between 92.30% and 113.33%, and the relative standard deviation was between 0.14% and 0.34%, meeting the detection requirements for Cu²⁺ in real water samples.

Soil compaction is a major environmental stress to root development and plant growth. Meanwhile, drought always results in increasing soil mechanical impedance, which in turn aggravates soil compaction stress. In this study, a column experiment with three levels of compaction stress (low, moderate, and severe, respectively) and two levels of soil water content (well-watered and drought, respectively) was established to investigate the effects of soil compaction combined with drought on soil pore structure, root development and maize growth properties. Results showed that soil compaction combined with soil water stress significantly affected the characteristics of soil pore structure. With the increase of soil compaction, the porosity, larger pores (> 500 μm), and the maximum pore diameter significantly decreased (P < 0.05) regardless of soil water status. Additionally, pore morphology and network parameters were also deteriorated under soil compaction with drought conditions. Soil compaction substantially affected root length, root volume, root surface area and root average diameter in the whole profile (p < 0.05). Compared to well-watered conditions, the effects of soil compaction on root characteristics under drought conditions was more obvious, which indicated that appropriate soil water content could alleviate compaction stress. Aboveground biomass and plant height showed a consistent trend with root traits under soil compaction stress regardless of water status. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations between most soil pore parameters and maize growth traits. In addition, soil compaction showed a significant effect on stomatal conductance and transpiration rate while soil water showed a significant effect on SPAD.

Keywords: Urban Heritage, Resilience, Urban Planning, Climate change, Urban Development, Sustainable Urban Development

This paper analyzes the experience of first-person shooter (FPS) players when the game difficulty is adjusted by personalizing their audio cue settings, considering the balance between player performance, modeled using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and prior data serving as designer preference. In addition, we investigate the reason why player experience changes according to in-game audio cues. Previous studies have proposed various dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA) methods for FPS games. However, few studies have considered the role of audio cues in the player experience. This paper compares the player experience of personalized enemy audio cue volume setting (GPR-DDA) and that of predetermined setting in an FPS game. Two comprehensive experimental phases, involving 80 participants, are conducted to assess the efficacy of GPR-DDA. The experience of our players is measured using questions taken from the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS) questionnaire and a final survey asking their open-ended feedback. A large language model (LLM) is used to analyze the natural language expressions of the players according to their native languages. To effectively have an LLM assist a limited number of qualified human evaluators in the classification of player responses, we develop an original procedure for this task. The GUESS results show that GPR-DDA can improve the player experience, and, in addition, the high consistency in the classification results over multiple runs of the selected LLM, as well as the similarity between its results and those of our human evaluators, reflect the reliability of the proposed LLM-assisted procedure.

Finding out an available car parking space has been one of the most crucial problems for the crowded cities, which causes such issues as traffic congestions, air pollutions, and stressful drivers. To mitigate the issues here, smart car parking management system (SPMS) solutions can be used which digitalise the parking processes and maximise the drivers’ productiveness. However, the existing SPMS solutions are either domain-specific or address the applications of particular techniques and technologies. None of the solutions in the literature propose any generic approach that can be re-used for the analysis and design of any SPMSs. In this paper, we propose a reference architecture (RA) for the SPMS product family. Performing comprehensive domain analysis, we provide a feature model of the common and varying features for SPMSs. We designed 4 architectural viewpoints, which are context, module, component&amp;connector, and allocation. Each viewpoint addresses a different concern and proposes a generic solution that can be re-used for any specific SPMSs. To validate our RA design, we used the commercial 4Park SPMS application and specified its architecture using our RA viewpoints. We strongly believe that our RA design for SPMSs can be useful for the SPMS domain who develop SPMS solutions.

Experimental studies and numerical analyses were conducted to estimate the laminar flame speeds of butyl ether, n-octane, iso-octane, and 1-octene at temperatures of 373 and 443 K and pressures ranging from 0.03 to 0.3 MPa in a constant-volume combustion chamber. Iso-octane had the slowest laminar flame speed whereas butyl ether had the highest. The LLNL model for large hydrocarbons and the Cai model for butyl ether were combined to describe the chemical kinetic mechanism for the test fuels. The simulation data calculated with the constructed model agree with the experimental data. The discrepancies in the laminar flame speeds of the four fuels were clarified from the perspectives of thermodynamics, diffusion, and chemical kinetics. The results reveal that the thermodynamics and chemical kinetics were dominant. Butyl ether had the highest laminar flame speed. This was attributed to it having the highest adiabatic flame temperature and a higher concentration of H and OH radicals, which have a high reactivity in a flame. Iso-octane produces the highest concentration of CH3, which inhibits flame propagation, so that it had the slowest laminar flame speed.

Acidic soils limit plant nutrient availability, leading to deficiencies and reduced crop yields. Agricultural liming agents address these issues and are crucial for deploying silicate amendments used in enhanced rock weathering (ERW) for carbon sequestration and emission reduction. Grower recommendations for liming agents are based on the liming index (LI), which combines the neutralizing value (NV) and fineness rating (FR) to predict a mineral’s acidity neutralization relative to pure calcite. However, the LI was originally developed for carbonate minerals, and its applicability to silicates remains uncertain, with studies often yielding inconclusive results on soil carbon and liming efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the liming efficiency of silicates. We determined the LI of five candidate ERW minerals (basalt, olivine, wollastonite, kimberlite, and montmorillonite) and compared them to pure calcite. Post-NV acid digestion, we characterized the minerals and soils, applying nonparametric statistical tests (Wilcoxon, Kendall) to correlate liming results with LI, dosage, and amendment methods. We developed an empirical model incorporating mineralogy and kinetics to explain silicate behavior in liming, considering soil, climate, and crop factors.

Everolimus 10 mg daily is approved to treat patients with advanced grade 1/2 neuroendocrine tumors (NET), although it may lead to significant toxicity. Grade 3 or higher drug-related adverse events and drug discontinuation occur in approximately one-fourth of the cases. However, phase I trials demonstrated that doses from 5 mg daily efficiently inhibit NET cell signaling. This multicenter retrospective study compared the time to treatment failure (TTF) in patients with NET who received a mean daily dose of 7 – 10mg (higher dose [HD]) or ≤ 6 mg (lower dose [LD]) of everolimus. Ninety-two patients were included: 74 (80%) in the HD group and 18 (20%) in the LD group. At a median follow-up of 4.2 years, the median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 9.2 months for HD and 7.2 months for LD (p = 0.85). TTF did not significantly differ between LD and HD (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.68 - 2.25; p = 0.47), even after adjusting for age at treatment initiation, NET grade, or treatment line. Everolimus doses from 5 to 6 mg/day seem to be equally effective as higher doses, but lower doses are potentially associated with less toxicity and costs. These findings support validation through a randomized clinical trial.

This study used a completely randomized design with a bifactorial arrangement in triplicate to evaluate dif-ferent concentrations of flavonoid extracts from orange (Citrus sinensis), onion (Allium cepa), tamarillo (So-lanum betaceum) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) peels in combination with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in fruit juices. The shells were dehydrated at 50-57 °C for 8 hours and pulverized. The dehydration yields were: orange (32 %), onion (13 %), tamarillo (14 %) and cocoa (34 %). Flavonoids were extracted with Soxhlet using 70% ethanol for 5 hours, concentrating with a rotary evaporator. They were quantified by UV spectrophotometry and the Folin-Ciocalteu method, being the highest in orange (300,75-372,60 mg Q/L) and onion (205,70-534,96 mg Q/L), while tamarillo presented the lowest, with possible errors in the measurement. Soluble solids losses ranged from 2,30 g (cocoa) to 5,27 g (orange). Cocoa and orange extracts showed greater potential as natural preservatives, inhibiting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in fruit juices, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, re-spectively.

Extensive research has been conducted on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in association with various infectious diseases to understand the pathophysiology of the infection and potential co-infections. In tropical countries, exposure to local viruses may alter the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and coinfection. Notably, only a portion of the antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 proteins demonstrate neutralizing properties, and the immune response following natural infection tends to be temporary. In contrast, long-lasting IgG antibodies are common after dengue virus infections. In cases where preexisting antibodies from an initial dengue virus infection bind to a different dengue serotype during a subsequent infection, there is a potential for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and the formation of immune complexes associated with disease severity. Both SARS-CoV-2 and dengue infections can result in immunodeficiency. Viral proteins of both viruses interfere with the host’s IFN-I signaling. Additionally, a cytokine storm can occur after viral infection, impairing a proper response, and autoantibodies against a wide array of proteins can appear during convalescence. Most of the reported autoantibodies are typically short-lived. Vaccines against both viruses alter the immune response, affecting the course of viral infection and enhancing clearance. A comprehensive analysis of both viral infections and pathogenicity is revisited to prevent infection, severity, and mortality.

Fourier expansions by the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions showed improved convergence compared to the Fourier expansions by the classical trigonometric system due to the rapid decay of the corresponding Fourier coefficients. Based on this evidence, we investigate interpolations on a finite interval that are exact for the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions and show the same benefits. Further, we improve the convergence of the interpolations by applying the idea of quasi-periodicity, where the basis functions are periodic on a slightly extended interval. We show that those interpolations have much better convergence rates away from the endpoints of the approximation interval. Moreover, the interpolations are more accurate on the entire interval. We prove those properties for a specific case of the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions known as the modified Fourier system. For other basis functions, we provide evidence based on the results of numerical experiments.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare is transforming chronic disease management and pandemic response, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with multiple chronic conditions. This review systematically examines the current applications of AI and IoT technologies in managing chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside their role in enhancing healthcare response during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, including enhanced glycemic control in diabetes management, early detection of cardiovascular anomalies, and a reduction in hospital admissions for chronic disease patients through AI-enabled remote monitoring. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including data security, algorithmic bias, and the high cost of implementing AI and IoT systems. This review explores future directions for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing the potential of multi-dimensional data integration, real-time predictive analytics, and personalized AI models to further revolutionize healthcare. Additionally, the accompanying Graphic Abstract visually illustrates how AI-driven insights, generated from IoT-enabled devices, are transforming healthcare delivery by facilitating real-time monitoring, personalized interventions, and proactive patient care. The article concludes with recommendations for addressing the technological, ethical, and regulatory challenges that must be overcome to fully realize the potential of AI and IoT in healthcare.

One of the greatest quests in physics in current times is the search for a grand unified theory – to bring all the forces of nature into one coherent explanatory framework. Despite two centuries of progress, both in comprehending the individual forces and formulating mathematical constructs to explain the existence and operation of such forces, the final step to unify the localised atomic and subatomic forces with gravity has proven to be elusive. The pursuit for an answer has been driving physicists to explore increasingly extraordinary ideas from string theory to various other options requiring multiple dimensions. There may be another approach, which instead looks afresh at our comprehension of the nature of matter. By changing our perspective, including altering how we interpret the mathematics underpinning entropy, it is possible to derive a provocative and compelling alternative solution, which not only allows for an appreciation of all the forces of nature including gravity within a singular explanatory construct but also resolves other puzzles, such as what causes entropy, why wave/particle duality and how to reconcile the physical with the social and life sciences. The outcome, however, challenges our whole understanding of the universe and fundamentally changes our relationship with matter.

Diet is considered a possible cofactor that affects the immune system and potentially could cause dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis and inflammation. This study aimed to review the evidence on specific diet composition effects on some immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) -rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [remission maintenance of Crohn´s disease and ulcerative colitis] and psoriasis- symptoms in adult patients. We conducted a rapid review of meta-analyses and Cochrane systematic reviews using PubMed, EMBASE, from inception to September 2024, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of meta-analyses was assessed using AMSTAR 2 rating. Three COCHRANE systematic reviews and eight meta-analyses Some specific composition diets have been shown to reduce symptoms in RA, IBD, and MS; and improve some activity parameters in IBD and RA; with critically low, or low levels of evidence. The reduction in inflammatory biomarker levels is unclear. This review updates the global dietary evidence to improve IMID symptoms, discusses the influences of dietary mechanisms, clarifies the weaknesses of clinical trials and dietary meta-analyses, with critically low, or low levels of evidence, and shows the need to use indexes such as DII, that allow diets to be classified for their content of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory foods, to better compare diet groups in clinical trials. The difficulty in obtaining high-level evidence in dietary studies is apparent, which may delay the application of the results.

Re-purposing wastewater is necessary to circumvent water shortage for vegetable farmers in urban areas and to reduce public health hazards associated with using contaminated water for irrigation. In this study, the efficiency of biochar filtration systems in removing contaminants from wastewater was investigated. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) and the cleaning mechanism of coconut biochar filtration systems were examined. The filtration systems were designed with biowastes, specifically coconut biochar, as an adsorbent to remove pollutants from wastewater. Two setups of bed, 40 cm and 30 cm thick, were examined under different HRTs. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging were used to ascertain the properties of the biochar that enhances the removal of pollutants in wastewater. For both setups, the removal of heavy metals (Lead, Pb and copper, Cu) as well as Total Coliform (TC) was judged satisfactory but appeared ineffective in removing E. coli.

Dementia is recognized as a disability under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). People with disabilities like dementia have the right to access specialized health and social care services, including interventions that support independence and community participation. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an evidence-based psychosocial intervention that improves cognition, communication, confidence and quality of life for people living with dementia (PLwD), but an implementation gap means that CST is often not available. We recruited trained CST practitioners (n=62; 91.9% female) to a mixed methods study to examine facilitators and barriers to the implementation of CST in Ireland. Statistical analysis showed that 54.8% of practitioners had run CST following training; ratings of intervention efficacy predicted the likelihood of running CST groups (p=0.006); and seeing the benefits of CST first-hand predicted that practitioners would run a greater number of CST groups (p=0.01). Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified three key themes of ‘resources’, ‘awareness and education’, and ‘acceptability of CST’. Overall, the results show that while CST is acceptable and deemed highly effective, resources and staffing often impede implementation. The results are discussed in the context of prioritising the rights of people with disabilities and recommendations are made around improving access to evidence-based supports.

Many natural areas are colonised by the invasive species Ailanthus altissima. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. A. altissima is one of the most widespread weed species in natural areas of temperate regions such as conservation parks, archaeological sites and communication corridors. Not many active ingredients are available to control this weed, being the most popular, the glyphosate, banned by many municipalities. In order to test the efficacy of alternative active ingredients, naturally occurring populations in Collserola Conservation Park of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) were treated with different herbicides using three different techniques. Aclonifen, metribuzin, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl and triclopyr mixed with 2.4-D, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid and clopyralid, were applied by stem injection, cut stump injection or basal bark techniques against trees of around 5 cm diameter. Both cut stump and stem injection gave almost total control of the trees while basal bark showed more varied results depending on the herbicide. Best control was achieved when flazasulfuron or triclopyr were present as active ingredients and poorer control was observed when using metsulfuron-methyl or isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl. Aclonifen showed no damage to the trees. Metribuzin worked better if the cut stump injection technique was used. These results showed that several alternatives are available to the use of glyphosate which is been banned for some uses due to environmental concerns.

Comparison of the gauge-invariant formulation for l=0,1-mode perturbations on the Schwarzschild background spacetime proposed in [K. Nakamura, Class. Quantum Grav. 38 (2021), 145010.] and a “conventional complete gauge-fixing approach” in which we use the spherical harmonic functions Ylm as the scalar harmonics from the starting point is discussed. Although it is often said that “gauge-invariant formulations in general-relativistic perturbations are equivalent to complete gauge-fixing approaches,” as the result of this comparison, we conclude that the derived solutions through the proposed gauge-invariant formulation and those through a “conventional complete gauge-fixing approach” are different. It is pointed out that there is a case where the boundary conditions and initial conditions are restricted in a conventional complete gauge-fixing approach.

Newton's classical dynamics accurately describes the motion of objects moving at speeds much less than the speed of light and has been extensively validated under these conditions. Any new dynamics formula must reduce to Newton's equations at low velocities. Einstein's theory of special relativity, which utilizes the Lorentz factor, provides a revised view of space-time and also conforms to Newton's equations for low speeds. However, the Lorentz factor assumes that the maximum anisotropy of the speed of light is zero, a condition not fully supported by experimental evidence. The Michelson-Morley Experiment, conducted at a speed far less than that of light, suggests that while the measured anisotropy is very small, it is not zero. This small value could imply the existence of undiscovered physical laws. To address this, we propose the Yuyunrui factor, which includes two hyperparameters, \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\), encompassing various possible models. In this framework, the Lorentz factor represents a special case with \((\alpha=0, \beta=1)\) and zero anisotropy. We categorize the \((\alpha, \beta)\) combinations into four broad types based on their scaling effects and describe these in detail. Future experiments at higher speeds will be essential to accurately determine the true value of the maximum anisotropy of the speed of light and to refine the proposed factor.

The interplay between wildfires and drought stress has significantly limited forest recovery in the Mediterranean ecosystem of central Chile. Since 2010, the region has faced a prolonged 'Mega Drought,' which intensified into a 'Hyper Drought' in 2019, with record-low precipitation and high temperatures, further constraining forest recovery amidst increasing wildfire frequency. This study evaluates short-term vegetation recovery across drought gradients in three sclerophyllous evergreen forests, analyzing Landsat time series (1987–2022) for 42 wildfires. Using the LandTrendr algorithm, we assessed post-fire forest recovery based on NDVI changes between pre-fire values and subsequent years. The results revealed significant differences in recovery across drought gradients and fire severity interactions. After five years, the xeric forest dominated by Quillaja saponaria and Lithrea caustica showed 89% recovery during the Mega Drought and 34% during the Hyper Drought. In contrast, the mesic forest dominated by Cryptocarya alba and Peumus boldus exhibited 28% recovery during the Mega Drought and 43% during the Hyper Drought. Degraded thorny shrublands showed the lowest recovery, averaging 23% under Hyper Drought and medium fire severity. These findings underscore the critical role of prolonged, severe drought in shaping forest recovery dynamics and highlight the need to understand these patterns to improve future forest resilience under increasingly arid conditions.

Permanent pacemaker implantation is a low-risk procedure. However, complications may occur with a rate of around 3-8%. We present a case where initial implantation resulted in complications that could have been avoided by meticulous assessment of lead position in different projections and early post procedure X-ray that would have delineated other serious complications. An eighty-seven-year-old female patient presented with syncope and documented high grade atrioventricular block. She had a dual chamber pacemaker implant, after which she had another episode of syncope with loss of pacing capture. This was rectified by ventricular lead repositioning that resulted in consistent ventricular pacing. A week later, she was re-admitted with worsening dyspnoea and fatigue. Chest X-ray (CXR) and CT revealed haemopericardium and haemothorax and she was treated with a chest drain and conservatively managed for pericardial effusion. She had a slow recovery and was discharged home after treatment with no further symptoms during follow up in pacing clinic. This case emphasises the importance of meticulous assessment during and after pacemaker implantation.

Next-generation sequencing(NGS) for HIV drug resistance(DR) testing has an increasing number of applications for detection of Low-abundance drug resistant variants(LA-DRVs) as its features of quasispecies. However there is less information on detection performance in DR detection with NGS.To determine the feasibility of NGS technology in LA-DRVs detection for HIV-1 pre-treated patients.In this study,80 pre-treated patients’ samples accepted both NGS and Sanger sequencing(SS) in HIV-1 drug resistance testing. The results show that NGS presents higher sensitivity in mutation sites discovery at 5% threshold. NGS shows a satisfactory consistency comparing with SS in both protease inhibitors(PIs) and Integrase inhibitor(INSTIs), more than 90%. But worse consistency in Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NRTIs), only ranging from 61.25%-87.50%. The consistency of Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NNRTIs) between NGS and SS was around 85%. NGS shows the highest sensitivity of 91.3% at 5% threshold. The application of NGS technology in HIV-1 genotype resistance detection in different populations infected with HIV needs more documents and to be confirm further.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a refractory neurodegenerative disease characterized by the de-generation and loss of motor neurons, leading to death within five years of onset. There have been few effective treatments, making the development of robust therapies an urgent challenge. Genetic mutations have been identified as contributors to ALS, with mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which neutralizes the harmful reactive oxygen species superoxide, accounting for approximately 2% of all ALS cases. To counteract the toxic gain of function caused by SOD1 mutations, therapeutic strategies aimed at suppressing SOD1 gene expression have shown promise. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) is an arti-ficially synthesized short single-stranded DNA/RNA molecule that binds to target RNA to alter gene expression, representing a next-generation therapeutic approach. In 2023, tofersen became the first ASO drug approved by the FDA for ALS. Administered intrathecally, tofersen specifically binds to SOD1 mRNA, inhibiting the production of toxic SOD1 protein, thereby improving biomarkers of ALS. The long-term efficacy and safety of tofersen require further validation, and the development of more opti-mized treatment protocols is essential. A series of studies and therapeutic developments related to SOD1 mutations have advanced the understanding of ALS pathophysiology and significantly contributed to treatment strategies for central nervous system disorders. This review focuses on the overview of SOD1 mutations and the development process of tofersen, aiming to deepen the understanding of advancements in ALS research and discuss future challenges and directions for ASO therapy.

Wind power has emerged as a crucial substitute for conventional fossil fuels. The combination of advanced technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) and machine learning (ML) has given rise to a new generation of energy systems that are intelligent, reliable, and efficient. The wind en-ergy sector utilizes IoT devices to gather vital data, subsequently converting them into practical insights. The aforementioned information aids among others in the enhancement of wind turbine efficiency, precise anticipation of energy production, optimization of maintenance approaches, and detection of potential risks. In this context, the main goal of this work is to combine the IoT with ML in the wind energy sector by processing weather data acquired from sensors to forecast wind power generation. To this end, three different regression models are evaluated. The models under comparison include Linear Regression, Random Forest, and Lasso Regression, evaluated us-ing metrics such as coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R², mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). After examining a dataset from IoT devices that included weather data, the models provided substantial insights regarding their ca-pabilities and responses to preprocessing, as well as each model's reaction in terms of statistical performance deviation indicators. Ultimately, the preprocessing and the data analysis show that Random Forest regression is more suitable for weather condition datasets than the other two re-gression models. Both the advantages and shortcomings of the three regression models indicate that their integration with IoT devices will facilitate successful energy forecasting.

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent disease with a rapidly increasing incidence projected worldwide, affecting both industrialized and developing regions. Effective diabetes management requires precise therapeutic strategies, primarily through self-monitoring of blood glucose levels to achieve tight glycemic control, thereby mitigating the risk of severe complications. In recent years, there have been significant advancements in non-invasive techniques for measuring blood glucose using photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) as it shows great promise for the detection of glucose using the Infrared region (e.g. MIR & NIR) of light. A critical aspect of this method is the detection of the photoacoustic signal generated from blood glucose, which needs to be amplified through a photoacoustic resonator (PAR). In this work, an overview of various types of PARs used for noninvasive glucose sensing is reviewed, highlighting their operating principle, design requirements, limitations, and potential improvements needed to enhance the analysis of photoacoustic signals. This analysis will be helpful for the basic understanding and achieving the highly sensitive PAR required for noninvasive glucose monitoring.

This article delves into the psychological dimensions of peace as articulated in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient Indian scripture. Through its dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna, the Bhagavad-Gita presents profound insights into achieving inner peace, managing conflict, and fostering a peaceful society. The text aligns with contemporary psychological constructs such as self-realization, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and prosocial behavior. Additionally, it addresses how the teachings enhance social engagement and disengagement, as well as cognitive, affective, mental, and physical regulation. The Bhagavad- Gita's bidirectional question-answering approach motivates, reasoning, and rationality, decision- making and goal-directed behavior. This analysis demonstrates the relevance of these ancient principles in addressing modern psychological challenges, providing a holistic framework for understanding and cultivating peace. Ultimately, the treatise portrays peace as a reflection of safety, security, and social well-being, making its teachings profoundly relevant today.

Recommending products effectively based on historical transaction data and metadata is crucial for improving user satisfaction and increasing sales. This study presents a recommendation system evaluated using Mean Average Precision (MAP@12), leveraging a diverse dataset that includes apparel types, customer demographics, product descriptions, and images. Our approach integrates Mult-Recall methods and LightGBM Ranker, utilizing various recall strategies and advanced feature engineering techniques to enhance recommendation accuracy. By combining these advanced machine learning models and ensemble techniques, our proposed solution outperforms existing methods, providing a robust and efficient recommendation system tailored to diverse customer needs and product characteristics. This integrated approach not only addresses the challenges of data sparsity and cold start but also adapts to the dynamic nature of user preferences and market trends. The results demonstrate significant improvements in both recommendation precision and user satisfaction, highlighting the potential of our approach for real-world e-commerce applications.

Pre-trained language models (PLMs) have significantly advanced natural language processing (NLP), establishing the "pre-training + fine-tuning" paradigm as a cornerstone approach in the field. However, the vast size and computational demands of Transformer-based PLMs present challenges, particularly regarding storage efficiency and processing speed. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing a novel lightweight PLM optimized for accurately understanding domain-specific computer terminology. Our method involves a pipeline parallelism algorithm designed to accelerate training. It is paired with an innovative mixed compression strategy that combines pruning and knowledge distillation to effectively reduce the model size while preserving its performance. The model is further fine-tuned using a dataset that mixes source and target languages to enhance its versatility. Comprehensive experimental evaluations demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully achieves a balance between model efficiency and performance, offering a scalable solution for NLP tasks involving specialized terminology.

This numerical study investigates the impact of reaction temperature, molar ratio of CH4:CO2, and catalyst porosity (p) on H2 yield and H2 selectivity during biogas dry reforming over a Ni/Cr catalyst. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we conducted detailed simulations to elucidate the underlying reaction characteristics. Our findings reveal that increasing p significantly enhances H2 production and H2 selectivity, while simultaneously reducing CO selectivity. This effect is attributed to the improved mass transfer within the catalyst bed, leading to more efficient reactant conversion and product formation. Additionally, we observed a strong correlation between higher reaction temperatures and increased H2 yield and H2 selectivity, confirming the endothermic nature of the reforming process. By optimizing these operational parameters, our results suggest that Ni/Cr catalysts can be effectively employed for the sustainable production of H2 from biogas.

Metagenomic analysis of soil bacterial communities based on 16S rRNA reflects typical a community composition containing a low number of high abundance types and a very high number of low abundance types. Here, the formation of characteristic rank order functions of bacterial abundance is investigated by modelling the dynamics of soil bacterial communities assuming a succession of different bacterial populations that grow rapidly and decay more slowly. It was found that the characteristic shape of typical rank order functions is well reflected by the simulations. In addition, the model allowed to investigating strong disturbances of the soil, which could be expected in case of strongly changing local environmental conditions in the soil, e.g. by translocation and covering of soil material. Such events could lead to the formation of shoulders in the rank order functions. Abundance rank orders observed in case of some archaeological soil samples do indeed show such a shoulder and could be well interpreted by simulated rank order functions. As a result, it can be concluded that the investigations support the hypothesis, that abundance rank orders contain information about the temporal order of developing bacterial types in changing communities and thus store information about local environmental conditions in the past, including ancient human impacts on soil.

In the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have increasingly been applied to manufacturing, particularly additive manufacturing (AM), to enhance processes and production. This study provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art achievements in this domain, highlighting not only the widely discussed supervised learning but also the emerging applications of semi-supervised learning and reinforcement learning (RL). These advanced ML techniques have recently garnered significant attention due to their potential to further optimize and automate AM processes. The review aims to offer insights into various ML technologies employed in current research projects and to promote the diverse applications of ML in AM. By exploring the latest advancements and trends, this study seeks to foster a deeper understanding of ML’s transformative role in AM, paving the way for future innovations and improvements in manufacturing practices.

Lower urinary tract infections (L-UTIs) represent a significant clinical concern, particularly in outpatient follow-up settings within internal medicine and infectious disease practices. L-UTIs have been shown to correlate with elevated glycate-haemoglobin levels in patients with diabetes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this population. We hypothesized that the incidence of L-UTIs could be reduced through a prophylactic regimen combining probiotics and rifaximin, both known for their potential benefits in maintaining gut health and controlling bacterial overgrowth. In a retrospective cohort study involving 350 patients, including 155 individuals with diabetes (Group A) and 195 without diabetes serving as a control group (Group B), we evaluated the effectiveness of prophylaxis strategy. Over an 18-month follow-up period, we observed that the use of rifaximin combined with a multi-strain probiotic was associated with a statistically significant reduction in L-UTI episodes in both groups. Notably, this reduction was more pronounced in diabetic patients (Group A), suggesting that this population may benefit more from the prophylaxis regimen due to their higher baseline risk of infection. These findings support the potential efficacy of rifaximin and probiotics as a preventive strategy against L-UTIs, particularly in diabetic patients who are more susceptible to these infections. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to refine this approach, but these initial results indicate a promising avenue for reducing L-UTI burden in at-risk populations.

This paper explores the critical role of biomathematics in cancer research, focusing on how mathematical models enhance our understanding of tumor growth and optimize treatment strategies. It begins with an overview of cancer biology, highlighting the complexities of tumor dynamics and the molecular mechanisms driving growth. The paper then delves into various mathematical modeling approaches, including deterministic, stochastic, and agent-based models, illustrating their applications in predicting tumor behavior and treatment responses. Case studies demonstrate the real-world impact of these models on optimizing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Challenges such as data availability, model complexity, and clinical translation are discussed, alongside future directions in the field, including advances in computational power and personalized medicine. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the transformative potential of biomathematics in improving cancer treatment outcomes and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing the field.

Over the last few years there has been much effort put into the development and validation of stochastic models of the trajectories of swarming insects. These models typically assume that the positions and velocities of swarming insects can be represented by continuous jointly Markovian processes. These models are first-order autoregressive processes. In more sophisticated models, second-order autoregressive processes the positions, velocities and accelerations of swarming insects are collectively Markovian. Although it is mathematically conceivable that this hierarchy of stochastic models could be extended to higher orders, here I show that such a procedure would not be well-based biologically because some terms in these models represent processes that have the potential destabilize insect flight dynamics. This prediction is supported by an analysis of pre-existing data for laboratory swarms of the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius. I suggest that the Reynolds number is a finely tuned property of swarming, as swarms may disintegrate at both sufficiently low and sufficiently high Reynolds numbers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intradialytic concurrent (resistance-endurance) training combined with melatonin (MEL) supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Thirty-two hemodialysis (HD) patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Exercise (EX)-MEL, EX-Placebo (PLA), and Control (C)-PLA. Participants in the EX-MEL and EX-PLA groups underwent 12 weeks of concurrent training. Before nocturnal sleep, they ingested either 3 mg of MEL (EX-MEL) or a placebo (EX-PLA and C-PLA). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention to assess lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant biomarkers [ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol (THIOL)], total bilirubin (TBIL), uric acid (UA), biomarkers of muscle and liver damage [aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Gamma-glutamyltransferase (Gamma-GT)], and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Results: EX-MEL demonstrated a decrease of MDA (p

Biomimicry, though still emerging within the social sciences, offers promising insights for improving food security by drawing analogies from natural ecosystems and re-exploring traditional ecological knowledge. This paper argues that adopting nature-inspired strategies in urban agriculture can significantly enhance resilience against geoeconomic pressures, logistical disruptions, and disasters. As geopolitical tensions intensify, exacerbated by climate change, pandemics, and urbanization, the strategic use of food power is likely to become increasingly relevant, particularly impacting urban areas due to their high dependence on external food supplies. Urban agroecology, which inherently embodies biomimetic principles, is presented as a viable pillar for building more resilient and self-sustaining food systems. The paper explores how an urban agriculture approach grounded in biomimicry can serve as a critical mechanism for food security, especially in urbanized regions vulnerable to potential food power dynamics. Additionally, it examines current methods by which states and cities prepare for food supply challenges and highlights the untapped potential of urban food production as a strategic response to these vulnerabilities.

The position accuracy of polishing tool affects the surface quality of the polished aspheric surface. The contact deformation among the polishing tool, abrasives and aspheric part can cause a displacement, in turn will cause a position error of polishing tool, this will lead to a significant change of the polishing force. In order to resolve this error, this paper proposed a method of normal displacement compensation for NC polishing system by controlling the polishing force. Firstly, the coupling principle between polishing force and position of polishing tool are expounded, the relationship between normal displacement and deformation is analyzed, based on Hertz theory, a model of normal displacement is established. Then, on the basis of decoupled polishing system developed, a normal displacement compensation method was proposed. Finally, a group of comparative experiments was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared with no displacement compensation, when the part was polished with normal displacement compensation method, the value of roughness decreases from 0.4µm to 0.21µm, and the unevenness coefficients of surface roughness decreases from 112.5% to 19%. The experimental results show that the polishing quality is improved greatly and the aspheric surfaces can be polished more uniformly with method proposed in this paper.

Haug and Tatum [1, 2] have recently outlined a possible path to solving the Hubbletension within Rh = ct cosmology models using a trial-and-error algorithm for redshift scaling, 1 specifically z = (R_h/R_t) − 1 and z = (R_h/R_t)^{1/2}-1 . Their algorithm demonstrates that one canstart with the measured CMB temperature and a rough estimate of H_0. Based on this approach, they nearly perfectly match the entire distance ladder of observed supernovae by identifying a single value for H_0. However, their solution is based on a simple numerical search procedure, which, although it can be completed in a fraction of a second on a standard computer, is not a formal mathematical proof for resolving the Hubble tension.Here, we will demonstrate that the trial-and-error numerical method is not necessary and that the Hubble tension can be resolved using the same Haug and Tatum type R_h = ct model through a closed-form mathematical solution. Furthermore, we will prove that this solution is valid for a much more general case of any cosmological redshift scaling consistent with: z = (R)h/R)t)^x − 1. Haug and Tatum have only considered the most common assumptions of x = 1 and x = 1/2 .Our solution involves simply solving an equation to determine the correct value of H0. This is possible because an exact mathematical relation between H_0 and the CMB temperature has recently been established, in combination with the linearity in an R_h = ct model. We also demonstrate that a thermodynamic form of the Friedmann equation is consistent with a wide range of redshift scalings, namely: z = (R_h/R_t)^x − 1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasm in the world and the second with the highest mortality rate. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes (mirSNPs) may be related to dysregulated miRNA expression in several neoplasms. This systematic review aims to investigate studies that investigate SNPs located in regions of miRNA genes that influence their expression and are associated with CRC, as well as their potential as biomarkers for the disease, based on the available literature. For this, searches were performed in public databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. The rigorous review of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the methodological quality of the studies were assessed sing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool. Of the 175 studies identified, 26 were considered eligible: 18 of them highlighted mirSNPs as potential biomarkers of risk and prognosis for CRC; 4 studies suggested a protective role; 1 study linked mirSNPs to treatment; and 3 studies found no relevant evidence. These results highlight the need for further research on this topic, since these variants have the potential to serve as biomarkers and may be useful in assessing risk, prognosis, and developing therapeutic strategies for patients with CRC.

Resistant no-reflow can be difficult to treat. Unfortunately, persistent no-reflow can increase cardiac adverse events. It can be very difficult to treat. Intracoronary injections of any vasoactive substances into the proximal coronaries cannot efficiently infuse the distal coronary bed. In this case, we report distal administration of very high doses of Adenosine in a native coronary artery for a severe life-threatening resistant no-reflow. Using an export catheter, we could reverse this complication within seconds. This case elaborates on the importance of giving high doses of vasoactive drugs as distal as possible in the coronary arteries for resistant no-reflow using an export catheter.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Being able to identify reliable biomarkers in easily available body fluids such as blood plasma is vital for the disease. To achieve this, we used a technique that applied human plasma to organotypic brain slice culture via microcontact print-ing. After a 2-week culture period, we performed immunolabeling for neurofilament and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) to visualize newly formed nerve fibers and oligodendro-cytes. There was no significant change in the number of new nerve fibers in the AD plasma group compared to the healthy control group, while the length of the produced fibers significantly de-creased. A significant increase in the number of MOG+ dots around these new fibers was detected in the patient group. According to our hypothesis, there are factors in the plasma of AD patients that affect the growth of new nerve fibers, which also affect the oligodendrocytes. Based on these findings, we selected the most promising plasma samples and conducted mass spectrometry us-ing a differential approach and we identified 3 putative biomarkers: aldehyde-dehydrogenase 1A1, alpha-synuclein and protein S100-A4. Our method represents a novel and innovative ap-proach to translate research findings from mouse models to human applications.

This study aimed to compare the effects of adding fermented feed to daily feed on slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds of cage chickens. Control group (CK) of the Guangxi Partridge chicken received a standard base diet (CK), pellets added with 10% fermented banana peel (Pe-10), 20% fermented banana peel (Pe-20), 10% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-10) and 20% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-20). The slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chicken in these groups were evaluated. The results showed that the chicken in Pe-10, Pe-20, Pu-10, and Pu-20 had pectoral muscle percentages, thigh muscle percentages, and total fatty acids content of chest meat higher than CK. The moisture content, meat color, carcass weight, total net weight, and abdominal fat percentages of the meat samples in these experimental groups were not remarkably different. The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chicken fed with the two concentrations of fermented banana peel and banana residue were significantly different from those in the control group. When the amount of fermented banana peel added to the daily feed increased from 10% to 20%, the flavor compounds in the chicken samples changed significantly. In conclusion, different proportions of fermented banana peels and dregs in diets can improve slaughter performance and chicken quality and affect its flavors.

The aims of the study were to analyze the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and arterial stiffness and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in individuals aged over 65, overall and by sex. Subjects were people over 65 years of age with a full record of all variables analyzed from the EVA, MARK and EVIDENT studies. Data from 1,280 subjects with a mean age of 69.52±3.58 years (57.5% men) were analyzed. MD was recorded with the validated 14-item MEDAS questionnaire used in the PREDIMED study. MetS was defined following the guidelines of the joint scientific statement from the Programa Nacional de Educación sobre el Colesterol III. Arterial stiffness was assessed with the VaSera VS-1500® device by measuring the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: The mean MEDAS score was 6.00 ± 1.90, (5.92 ± 1.92 in men, 6.11 ± 1.88 in women; p = 0.036). The mean CAVI value was 9.30 ± 1.11 (9.49 ± 1.05 men, 9.03 ± 1.13 women; p = &lt;0.001). The mean baPWV value was 15.82 ± 2.56 (15.75 ± 2.46 men, 15.92 ± 2.68 women; p = &lt;0.001). MetS was found in 51% (49% men, 54% women; p = 0.036). Subjects with MetS had lower MD adherence and higher arterial stiffness values than subjects without MetS. Overall, we found a negative association of MD score with the number of MetS components (β = -0.168), with glycemia (β = -0.007), triglycerides (β = -0.003), waist circumference (β = -0.018), CAVI (β = -0.196) and baPWV (β = -0.065), and a positive association with HDL cholesterol (β = 0.013). By sex, associations followed the same direction but without reaching statistical significance with blood glucose and triglycerides in women and with HDL cholesterol and waist circumference in men. Conclusion: Results indicate that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreases arterial stiffness and the percentage of subjects with MetS, although results differed in the association with MetS components by sex.

Background/Objectives: Informed consent for anesthesia poses both legal challenges and problems of understandable communication. Fulfilling all requirements through anesthesiologists directly interacting with patients is a time- and staff-consuming strategy. Given today's smart technologies, notably including virtual reality (VR), we explored in a prospective randomized study whether 'VR-assisted informed consent' could improve this situation. Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery were randomized. In the control group, informed consent was obtained via patient-specialist dialogs only. The patients in the study group, wearing a head-mount display, watched an 8-minute immersive 3D movie with standard explanations of general anesthesia, followed by a patient-specialist dialog to address open question. The time spent on the dialogs in both groups was evaluated as primary outcome variable. As secondary variables, we analyzed both a three-item Likert scale on patient satisfaction with the VR experience and cost differences between both groups. Results: Patient-specialist dialogs were carried on for median (IQR) durations of 93 (20–182) seconds in the study group versus 665 (261–829) seconds in the control group (P&lt;0.001). All patients exposed to VR rated this experience as favorable (87.5%) or neutral (12.5%). Based on anesthesiologists' incomes in the US and UK, our approach would reduce the staff expenditure for each patient-specialist dialog by median amounts of ≈40 or ≈11 US dollars, respectively (2× P&lt;0.001). Conclusions: 'VR-assisted informed consent' for anesthesia is well accepted by patients and reduces the time requirements for patient-specialist dialogs, thus pointing out a potential avenue towards increasing the work-time efficiency of anesthesiologists.

Probiotics, as defined by the World Health Organization, are live microorganisms that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits to the host. Although some countries have approved specific probiotic species for use in food, safety concerns may still arise with individual strains. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101), isolated from the gut of healthy infants, has demonstrated various probiotic effects and shown safety in prior 28-day animal feeding study. To further verify its safety and mitigate potential risks, we performed a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic safety evaluation in accordance with European Food Safety Authority guidelines for safety assessment through whole genome sequencing and related literature. In this research, minimum inhibitory concentration testing identified NTU 101's resistance to chloramphenicol; however, subsequent gene analysis confirmed no associated risk of resistance. Assessments of safety, including biogenic amine content, hemolytic activity, mucin degradation, and D-lactic acid production, indicated a low level of risk. Additionally, a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats revealed no toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, further supporting the strain's safety for consumption. Based on these comprehensive analyses, NTU 101 is considered safe for regular consumption as a health supplement.

In Morocco, cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women and the third in terms of mortality. The Moroccan Health Ministry introduced the Human Papillomavirus vaccine to the national immunization program in October 2022.The study aims to evaluate the knowledge, the satisfaction level, and acceptability of HPV infection and vaccine among Moroccan medical students. We conducted a cross-sectional study from September 2021 to July 2022 among medical students above 5th year across the nine Moroccan medical universities. We shared our questionnaire through Google Forms. The descriptive data analysis was made through Google Forms and excel, and the analytic analysis was made using GraphPad Prism 8.0. We collected 636 answers. The mean age was 24.2 +/- 1.4 years old with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.5. 3.3% (N=21) were vaccinated against HPV. The HPV infection knowledge mean score was 6.3 +/- 2 /11 (57.2% of good answers) and the vaccine knowledge mean score was 2.0 +/- 1,1 /5 (40% of good answers), with a training satisfaction rate of 7.3 +/- 2.6 /20 (36.5%). 85.8% of the participants (N= 546) were in favor of including the vaccine to the national immunization program. In conclusion, overall Moroccan medical students have an average knowledge of HPV infection and vaccine. The gap in HPV training should be filled especially in the era of the vaccine introduction. The majority of the students agree to make the vaccine mandatory, with superior rates than the other studies.

Background and Objectives: Zonulin (Zo) is a molecule that has been identified as an intestinal permeability marker in recent years. It has been previously linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, but its role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Zo and systemic inflammation (SI), endothelial dysfunction (ED), and especially renal functions, in patients with CKD. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-three participants were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups (patient and control), according to the presence of CKD. Results: A total of 104 patients with CKD (mean age: 58.9 ±1.4) and 59 control subjects (mean age: 59.0 ±1.1) were included, with similar age (p = 0.934) and gender (p = 0.196) between the groups. In the comparison analysis, plasma Zo levels in the CKD group (166.16 ± 53.54) were significantly higher than those in the control group (143.30 ± 60.92) (p < 0.001). In the correlation analysis, the serum Zo level showed a positive correlation with claudin-3 (r = 0.612, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.307, p < 0.001), and creatinine (r = 0.313, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (r = -0.320, p < 0.001) and TC (r = -0.074, p = 0.047). Additionally, according to a linear regression analysis, the Zo level was significantly associated with GFR after adjusting for age and SBP (β value = -0.918, p = 0.012). Conclusion: High serum Zo levels in patients with CKD reflected increased intestinal permeability and were associated with impaired renal function. Moreover, it was thought that Zo level could be associated with SI, but novel clinical studies are needed to elucidate its relationship with ED.

During the last few years, the world witnessed one of the worst calamities affecting humankind- the COVID-19 pandemic. We also witnessed the development of vaccines at an unprecedented pace against the SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent. India, which was one of the countries most impacted by COVID-19, developed its indigenous vaccine in addition to utilizing the ones developed by other countries. Initially, the antibody level and the neutralizing antibody titer against the pathogen were considered as the correlates of immune protection from the disease. The long-term protection from the pathogen is provided by the immune memory cells viz. T and B memory cells and their ability of efficient recall responses. In this regard, global research focused mainly on the mRNA-based vaccines. The studies on immune memory response, particularly- the B cell memory response bestowed by the vaccines given to Indians is relatively obscure. In this work, we examined the level of RBD specific memory B cells in the peripheral circulation of the study participants and the ability of B cells to secrete antigen-specific antibodies among Indians vaccinated with Covaxin (BBV152), Covishield (AZD1222), Corbevax (BECOV2D) and Sputnik Light as well as unvaccinated individuals. Our study revealed that Corbevax and Sputnik Light conferred better antibody-secreting cell (ASC) responses.

Recent US Congressional hearings on UAPs have made the study of exotic propulsion systems a matter of serious academic study and indeed, military necessity. This speculative paper looks at the possibility that microscopic sources could produce gravitational radiation with minimal energy requirements, whilst trapping the electromagnetic radiation stress-energy from being emitted. It may be possible to form an array of these micro-emitters of sufficient strength, acting with collective phenomenon, to allow non-linearities and the formation of soliton waves suitable for a putative warp field. Interestingly we find no need for exotic matter or negative energy. Moving onto the Alcubierre metric we ponder if the field could actually be made to travel superluminally by a repetitive stepped process of, expanding space just ahead of the craft initially to speed-up the propagation of the field, via the Shapiro Delay, so that a second field propagates that contracts space aggressively; the net effect being space contracting ahead of the craft faster than light.

Cancer-derived extracellular exosomes (EXs) promote tumor metastasis. This study investigates novel EXs influencing tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in gynecologic cancer. Data from ES2-derived EXs on aggressive ES2 cells and ascites-derived mesenchymal-type ovarian carcinoma stromal progenitor cells (MSC-OCSPCs) were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and integrated with TCGA survival analysis. Two novel EXs, UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2, were identified in more aggressive ES2-derivatives and MSC-OCSPCs cells, but not in less aggressive SKOV3 cells. High UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2 expression in EOC tissues was associated with advanced-stage carcinoma (p&lt;0.01) and shorter overall survival (p&lt;0.01). Besides, high HIST2H3PS2 expression in endometrial cancer (EC) tissues was also associated with shorter overall survival (p&lt;0.001) in all stages and advanced stages (p&lt;0.0001). In vitro, SKOV3 cells overexpressing UBE2NL or HIST2H3PS2 exhibited significantly greater invasion ability than controls (p&lt;0.001), further enhanced by their respective EXs (p&lt;0.001). In contrast, ES2 knockdown UBE2NL reduced invasion ability than ES2 cells (p&lt;0.001). In vivo, mice injected with ES2/shUBE2NL cells had a higher survival rate (p&lt;0.001) and fewer disseminated tumors (p&lt;0.05); in contrast, those injected with SKOV3/HIST2H3PS2 cells showed greater tumor dissemination (p&lt;0.01) and more severe ascites (p&lt;0.05) than controls. Tumor dissemination increased in mice receiving SKOV3/HIST2H3PS2 cells with EXs than those controls (p&lt;0.05). These findings suggest that UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2 expression and EXs contribute to tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in gynecologic cancer.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infection poses a serious yet underaddressed public health challenge in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The epidemiology of DENV in Ghana is not well understood despite heightened risks due to suitable climatic conditions and the presence of competent vectors. Aim: We aimed to systematically review studies reporting dengue virus seroprevalence in Ghana and pool estimates through meta-analysis. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed to search the literature using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to September 24, 2024. Studies presenting primary DENV seroprevalence data among Ghanaian populations were included. Quality was assessed using JBI tools. Meta-analyses estimated pooled prevalence with 95% CIs using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistic. Results: A total of 9 studies met the selection criteria, with 8 studies involving febrile patients and 1 involving blood donors. The pooled seroprevalence rates were 33% (95% CI: 16–50%) for IgG, 6% (95% CI: 0–12%) for IgM, 2% (95% CI: 0–3%) for DENV RNA, and 32% (95% CI: 0–68%) for IgG/IgM combined. Notably, the IgG seroprevalence exhibited substantial heterogeneity (I2=99%). DENV-2 and DENV-3 were the predominant serotypes identified. Conclusion: This review established the prevalence and circulation of DENV in serogroups in Ghana. Higher seropositivity and heterogeneity underscore the need for standardized large-scale surveillance to optimize disease characterization and guide control. Integrating dengue preven-tion into existing vector control programs could help reduce risks in Ghana.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a small, consisting of 104 residues, protein, which under physiological conditions exists mainly in hexameric form. It belongs to the positive acute-phase proteins, which means that its plasma concentration increases rapidly in response to injury, inflammation, and infection. The accumulation of SAA molecules promotes the formation of amyloid aggregates, which deposit extracellularly in many organs, causing their dysfunction. In our previous work, we successfully designed a peptidomimetic that inhibited the aggregation of amyloidogenic SAA fragments. In the present paper, we show how the same inhibitor, named saa3Dip, affects oligomerization and aggregation processes of MetSAA1.1 protein. The Thioflavin T assay showed that saa3Dip inhibits its fibrillization. The measurement of the internal fluorophore fluorescence (Trp) showed differences that occur in the tertiary structure of MetSAA1.1 in the presence of the inhibitor, which was also confirmed by CD spectra in the aromatic range. FTIR results suggested that saa3Dip can stabilize some fragments of the native structure of MetSAA1.1, which was confirmed by determining the melting temperature (Tm) of the protein-inhibitor complex. AFM images demonstrated that the presence of saa3Dip prevents the formation of large SAA aggregates. Our results suggest that saa3Dip stabilizes the native conformation of MetSAA1.1.

This paper aims to propose a novel SOS traffic and study its impact over Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Human-to-Human (H2H) traffic in Internet of Things environments specifically during disaster events. During such events (e.g., the spread COVID-19), SOS traffic, with its predicted exponential increase, will significantly influence all mobile networks. SOS traffic tends to cause many congestion overload problems that significantly affects the performance of M2M and H2H traffic. In our project, we developed a new Continuous-Time Markov Chains (CTMC) model to analyze and measure radio access performance in terms of massive SOS traffic that influences M2M and H2H traffic. Afterwards, we validate the proposed CTMC model through extensive Monte-Carlo simulations. By analyzing the traffic during an emergency case, we can spot a huge impact over the three traffic M2M, H2H, and SOS traffic. To solve the congestion problem while keeping the SOS traffic without any influence, we propose to grant the SOS traffic the highest priority over M2M and H2H traffic. However, by implementing this solution in different proposed scenarios, the system becomes able to serve all SOS requests, while only 20% of M2M and H2H traffic could be served in the worst-case scenario. Consequently, we can alleviate the expected shortage of SOS requests during critical events, which might save many humans and rescue them from being isolated.

As traditional cultural heritage education gradually reduces students' exposure to the physical environment, it is more difficult to stimulate students' awareness of and interest in local culture. The concepts of cultural preservation and sustainable development have not yet been effectively integrated into teaching. Therefore, this study developed an alternative reality game (ARG) combined with a learning scaffold to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the history and cultural heritage of Taiwan during the Japanese rule period through an immersive learning experience, and to explore and solve real-world problems in an interactive environment, which helped students understand the concepts of cultural preservation and sustainable development. The results of the study showed that the experimental group of students using the ARG integrated learning scaffold significantly outperformed the control group in terms of learning effectiveness and engagement. Students in the experimental group not only had a deeper understanding of the curriculum content, but also showed higher behavioral and emotional engagement. In addition, students' awareness of cultural preservation and sustainable development increased, which indicates that the materials developed in this study are effective in promoting their deeper understanding of local educational development and cultural identity. This study confirms that the combination of innovative technology and gamified instruction not only enhances students' learning effectiveness, but also promotes their understanding of cultural heritage. Future research should further optimize the use of technology to reduce the impact of operational difficulties on students' learning experience and explore how alternative reality game (ARG) technology can be used in more subject areas.

Background: IBD is a highly infectious disease of chickens found in all latitudes, due to the very high IBDV resistance to environmental conditions and commonly used disinfectants. Methods: The study was conducted to evaluate 3 IBD vaccination protocols in broiler chickens, in terms of their effectiveness (clinical observations and production performance of the flock), estimation of serological baseline values (with the use of two different commercial ELISA kits), and the degree of progression of BF lesions (histopathological lesion score - HLS) after vaccination with: (I) single vaccination using intermediate plus vaccine; (II) double vaccination with intermediate vaccine; (III) double vaccination with intermediate plus vaccine. Results: Birds on farms vaccinated with protocol II were characterized by the lowest antibody titers in both ELISA tests, and the lowest average HLS. Highest IDEXX titers were obtained in birds vaccinated with protocol III, while in the BIOCHEK test the highest titers were obtained for birds vaccinated with protocol I. Protocols I and III were characterized by similar HLS. Birds vaccinated with protocols I and III had higher immune uniformity. Conclusions: The estimated serological baseline values and the degree of HLS presents a clear picture of differences between different vaccination protocols and allows their adaptation for different farms depending on the current IBD epidemiological situation.

A novel nanomaterial was synthesized using natural ilmenite sand via a simple precipitation method, and its ability to remove dyes in wastewater was evaluated using methylene blue (MB). The nanomaterial was synthesized by neutralizing the acid leachate obtained by Ilmenite sand digestion, followed by drying at 180 °C. It was characterized by X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area analyzer. Synthesized nanoparticles are a composite of Fe3O4/Fe2TiO5/TiO2 with a surface area of 292.18 m2/g pore size distribution with an average pore size of 1.53 nm and pore volume of 0.202 cc/g. The maximum adsorption capacity of 24.573 mg/g was obtained at pH 10 for 10 mg of the nanomaterial used with 10 mg/L MB. Dye concentration was varied in the range of 10-25 mg/L with 5 mg/L increment where equilibrium adsorption capacities of 24.573, 31.012, 41.443, and 52.259 mg/g were obtained with 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/L, respectively. The adsorbent dosage varied as 10, 25, 45, 65, and 100 mg, and the highest adsorbent capacity of 24.573 mg/g was obtained with 10 mg of the adsorbent and 10 mg/L MB. Adsorption of MB followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with an adsorption capacity of 24.863 mg/g. The intraparticle diffusion model revealed that the MB adsorb in three different stages, and corresponding intra-particle diffusion constants of 1.50, 2.71, 3.38, and 4.41 g/mg min1/2 were calculated with the above dye concentrations. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamics parameters ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS were calculated to be -27.5521 kJ/mol at 298 K, 2.571 kJ/mol, and 0.101 kJ/mol, respectively, in the experiments carried out varying the temperature. Regeneration studies of the adsorbent were carried out for five cycles, indicating some activity loss after each cycle.

Background/Objectives: Bovine babesiosis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by ticks that causes important losses in livestock worldwide. Recent research performed on the drugs currently used to control bovine babesiosis reported several issues including drug resistance, toxicity impact, and residues in edible tissue, suggesting the need for developing novel effective therapies. The endochin-like quinolones ELQ-316 and buparvaquone (BPQ) act as cytochrome bc1 inhibitors and have been proven to be safe and efficacious against related apicomplexans, such as Plasmodium spp. and Babesia microti, without showing toxicity in mammals. The objectives of this study are investigating whether ELQ-316, BPQ and their combination treatment could be effective against Babesia bovis in an in vitro culture model, and comparing with imidocarb (ID), the routinely used drug. Methods: In vitro cultured parasites at starting 2% percentage of parasitemia (PPE) were treated with BPQ, ELQ-316, ID, and the combinations of BPQ+ ELQ-316 and ID+ ELQ-316 at drug concentrations that ranged from 25 to 1200 nM, during four consecutive days. Parasitemia levels were evaluated daily using microscopic examination. Data was compared using the independent Student's t-test and ANOVA test. Results: All drugs tested, whether used alone or in combination, significantly decreased the survival (p<0.05) of B. bovis in in vitro cultures. The combination of BPQ+ ELQ-316 had the lowest calculated inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) 31.21 nM (IC95%: 15.06 - 68.48) values, followed by BPQ, 77.06 nM (IC95%: 70.16- 86.01), ID+ELQ316 197 nM (IC95%:129.0 - 311.2), ID 635.1 nM (IC95%: 280.9 – 2119) and ELQ316 654.9 nM (IC95%: 362.3 – 1411). Conclusion: The results reinforce the higher efficacy of BPQ at affecting B. bovis survival, and the potential synergistic effects of its combination with ELQ-316, providing a promising treatment option against B. bovis.

In this paper, we focus on the influence of Riemann space-time curvature on the laws of electromagnetism, such as Gauss’s law, Maxwell-Amp´ere’s law, and Faraday’s law. Furthermore, we also introduce the work done on the unification of the gravitation and electromagnetic fields.

Delirium and agitation are common and challenging issues in the intensive care unit (ICU), leading to longer hospital length of stay, prolonged need of mechanical ventilation, and higher costs. These conditions also increase the risk of complications and mortality. In the ICU setting it is common to observe an inappropriate use of sedatives and antipsychotics to manage agitation without an accurate diagnosis. Although the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) has improved the reliability, accuracy, and specificity of delirium diagnosis, it is important to consider that delirium may be a symptom caused by a variety of diseases and medical conditions like sepsis rather than just a neurological problem. Antipsychotics, such as quetiapine, are often used in the ICU to manage these symptoms effectively. Quetiapine is a particularly valuable therapeutic option because of its capability to reduce agitation and delirium without significantly affecting the respiratory function, making it a safer choice for critically ill patients. This review explores quetiapine’s pharmacodynamics, side effects, efficacy, and recently described uses in the ICU. A comprehensive search was conducted across six major databases, and articles were assessed based on their relevance and quality. Our findings aim to provide a clear understanding of the application of quetiapine and its potential value in critical care settings.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting agricultural productivity. This research investigated the impact of mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), bacteria (PGPR), and their combination on pepper plants under salt stress (200 mM NaCl). Conducted in a controlled climate chamber, the study assessed plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, leaf weight, shoot fresh and dry weights, SPAD values, leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential, and mineral concentrations (Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn). AMF application significantly increased plant height (39.50 cm) compared to PGPR (37.75 cm) and the control (37.25 cm). While salt stress reduced plant height by 34.90%, AMF and PGPR mitigated these effects, with AMF improving height by 21.65% under saline conditions. AMF and PGPR positively influenced plant diameter, leaf number, and fresh weight. Physiological measurements, including SPAD values, RWC, and osmotic potential, showed that AMF+PGPR applications were most effective in increasing RWC. Nutrient analysis revealed reduced calcium and magnesium levels due to salt stress. In conclusion, AMF and PGPR enhanced pepper plants' growth and physiological responses under salt stress, indicating their potential to improve agricultural practices in saline environments.

Paroxysmal explosive activity at Etna volcano (Italy) became very common during the last three decades, rising concern on the civil protection authorities because of its tremendous impact on the local population, infrastructures, viability and air traffic. Between 4 July and 15 August 2024, during the peak of the touristic season when the local population doubles, Etna volcano gave rise to a sequence of six paroxysmal explosive events from the summit crater named Voragine. This is the oldest and largest of the four Etna’s summit craters and normally displays just degassing, with the previous explosive sequences occurred in December 2015 and May 2016. In this paper, we use thermal images recorded by the monitoring system maintained by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Etneo (INGV–OE) and an automatic routine previously tested in order to automatically define the starting and ending time of each episode, the duration, total volume of erupted fluids (gas plus pyroclastic material), erupted volume of pyroclastic material, time-averaged discharge rate (TADR), and height (maximum and average) of the lava fountains. These data allowed us to infer the eruptive processes and gain some insights on the evolution of the explosive sequences useful for hazard assessment.

In the dynamic and evolving tourism industry, engaging of stakeholders is essential for fostering innovation and improving service quality. However, tourism companies often struggle to meet expectations for customer satisfaction through interactivity and real-time feedback. While new digital technologies can address the challenge of providing personalized travel experiences, they can also increase the workload for travel agencies due to the maintenance and updates required to keep travel details current. Intelligent chatbots and other Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools can help mitigate these obstacles by transforming tourism and travel-related services, offering interactive guidance for both tourism companies and travellers. In this study, we explore and compare the main characteristics of existing responsive AI instruments, applicable in tourism and hospitality scenarios. Then, we propose a new theoretical framework for decision-making in the tourism industry, integrating GAI technologies to enable agencies to create and manage itineraries, and tourists to interact online with these innovative instruments. The advantages of the proposed framework are as follows: 1) providing a comprehensive understanding of the transformative potential of new generation AI tools in tourism and facilitates their effective implementation; 2) offering a holistic methodology to enhance the tourist experience; 3) unifying the applications of contemporary AI instruments in tourism activities and paves their further development. The study contributes to the expanding literature on tourism modernization and offers recommendations for industry practitioners, consumers, and local, regional, and national tourism bodies to adopt a more user-centric approach to enhancing travel services.

This paper examines the control challenges faced by underactuated Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) under ocean current disturbances. It proposes a Backstepping Integral Sliding Mode Control (BISMC) strategy to enhance their adaptability and robustness. The BISMC strategy integrates the system decomposition capability of the Backstepping Control method with the rapid response and robustness advantages of the Sliding Mode Control method, enabling the design of a heading controller and a double closed-loop depth controller. By introducing an integral component, the strategy eliminates steady-state errors caused by ocean currents, accelerating system convergence and improving accuracy. Furthermore, a saturation function is employed to mitigate output chattering issues. Simulation results demonstrate that the BISMC controller significantly enhances the control precision and anti-disturbance capabilities of AUVs under low-frequency ocean current disturbances, showcasing exceptional adaptive and self-disturbance rejection performance.

The transformative influence of digital engineering on photonic technologies is significant, es-pecially regarding advancements in laser processing through digital models, artificial intelli-gence (AI), and freeform optics. It presents a comprehensive review of how these technologies enhance efficiency, precision, and control in manufacturing processes. Digital models are pivotal for predicting and optimizing thermal effects in laser processing, thereby reducing material de-formation and defects. The integration of AI further refines these models, improving productiv-ity and quality in applications such as micro-machining and cladding. Additionally, the combi-nation of AI with freeform optics advances laser technology by enabling real-time adjustments and customizable beam profiles, which enhance processing versatility and reduce material damage. The use of digital twins is also examined as a key development in laser-based manu-facturing, offering significant improvements in process optimization, defect reduction, and sys-tem efficiency. By incorporating real-time monitoring, machine learning, and physics-based modeling, digital twins facilitate precise simulations and predictions, leading to more effective and reliable manufacturing practices. Overall, the integration of digital twins, AI, and freeform optics into laser processing marks a significant progression in manufacturing technology. These advancements collectively enhance precision, efficiency, and adaptability, resulting in improved product quality and reduced operational costs. The continued evolution of these technologies is expected to drive further advancements in manufacturing practices, offering more robust solu-tions for complex production environments.

Amidst the ongoing global challenge of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the quest for effective antiviral medications remains paramount. This comprehensive review delves into the dynamic landscape of FDA-approved medications repurposed for COVID-19, categorized as antiviral and non-antiviral agents. Our focus extends beyond conventional narratives, encompassing vaccination targets, repurposing efficacy, clinical studies, innovative treatment modalities, and future outlooks. Unveiling the genomic intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the WHO-designated Omicron variant, we explore diverse antiviral categories such as Fusion inhibitors, Protease inhibitors, Transcription inhibitors, Neuraminidase inhibitors, Nucleoside reverse transcriptase, and non-antiviral interventions like Importin α/β1-mediated nuclear import inhibitors, Neutralizing antibodies and convalescent plasma. Notably, Molnupiravir emerges as a pivotal player, now licensed in the UK. This review offers a fresh perspective on the historical evolution of COVID-19 therapeutics, from repurposing endeavors to the latest developments in oral anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatments, ushering in a new era of hope in the battle against the pandemic.

In this paper, we propose a mechanism analogous to the spontaneous symmetry breaking to explain quantum measurement. It is actually a supplement to the decoherence theory. We introduce the effective potential between eigenstates and show that a wave function in a superposition of several eigenstates reduces to a single eigenstate due to the spontaneous-symmetry-breaking-like kinetic effect.

The WFS1 gene was first identified in Wolfram Syndrome 1 (WS1), a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by severe and progressive neurodegenerative changes. WFS1's role in various cellular mechanisms, particularly in calcium homeostasis and the modulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and psychiatric sleep disorders. Because it is involved in maintaining ER balance, calcium signaling, and stress responses, WFS1 plays a multifaceted role in neuronal health. Numerous studies have shown that the absence or improper expression of WFS1 disrupts these cellular processes, leading to neurodegeneration and making neurons more vulnerable. In AD, WFS1 dysfunction is thought to contribute to the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles, thereby accelerating disease progression. Additionally, WFS1 plays an essential role in sleep regulation by influencing neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, which may explain the sleep disturbances frequently observed in neurodegenerative diseases. Due to its involvement in the pathological mechanisms of AD and sleep disorders, WFS1 is regarded as a potential early diagnostic marker for these diseases. Further research is required to fully elucidate WFS1’s role in the cellular pathway, perhaps facilitating the development of new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease and psychiatric sleep disorders.

The application of joint sensing and communications (JSACs) technology in air-ground networks, which include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offers unique opportunities for improving both sensing and communication performances. However, this type of networks are also sensitive to the peculiar characteristics of the aerial communications environment, which include shadowing and scattering caused by man-made structures. This paper investigates an aerial JSAC network and proposes a UAV-selection strategy that is shown to improve the communication performance. We first derive analytical expressions for the received signal-to-interference ratio for both communication and sensing functions. These expressions are then used to analyze the outage and coverage probability of the communication part, as well as the ergodic radar estimation information rate and the detection probability of the sensing part. Moreover, a performance trade-off is investigated under the assumption of a total bandwidth constraint. The presented results reveal the impact of shadowing severity and interference on the system’s performance.

Aim: This study aims to explore the collaborative networks in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) research by analyzing co-authorship patterns from 2000 to 2023. The objective is to identify key researchers, trends in collaboration, and the extent of interdisciplinary cooperation within the global MFS research community. Understanding these dynamics will inform the future direction of research in this field, emphasizing the need for a more integrated, interdisciplinary approach. Method: This study utilized network analysis techniques to evaluate 6,657 publications related to MFS research indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection between 2000 and 2023. The analysis was conducted using Python (Version 3.10.5) in the PyCharm development environment (Software Version 2022.1.3). The co-authorship networks were assessed using macro-level indicators such as network density (the ratio of actual to possible connections), clustering coefficient (degree of node clustering), number of components (distinct connected subgroups), and average path length (average distance between nodes). Micro-level indicators including degree centrality (importance based on the number of connections), closeness centrality (proximity to other nodes), and betweenness centrality (frequency of a node on the shortest paths between others) were also analyzed. Result: The network analysis revealed a persistent fragmentation within the MFS research community over the past two decades. While network density slightly increased from 0.0012 in the 2000–2009 period to 0.0016 in 2020–2023, the network remained disjointed with numerous disconnected components. Key contributors, such as Harry C. Dietz, Guillaume Jondeau, and Julie De Backer, demonstrated high centrality values, playing pivotal roles in shaping collaboration. The clustering coefficient remained high across all periods, indicating strong intra-group collaboration, yet underscoring the need for broader interdisciplinary partnerships.Conclusion: This study highlights the need for more integrated and cross-disciplinary collaboration in MFS research. Despite the significant contributions of central researchers, the overall fragmentation limits potential advancements. Fostering a more interconnected global network and encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation will be crucial to addressing the complex, multi-systemic nature of Marfan Syndrome and improving patient outcomes.

The vast majority of gecko species are capable of tail regeneration, but singular geckos of Correlophus, Uroplatus, and Nephrurus genera are unable to regrow lost tails. Of these non-regenerative geckos, the crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) is distinguished by ready availability, ease of care, high productivity, and hybridization potential. These features make C. ciliatus particularly suited as a model for studying the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying loss of tail regeneration capabilities. We report a contiguous genome of C. ciliatus with a total size of 1.65 Gb, a total of 152 scaffolds, L50 of 6, and N50 of 109 Mb. Repetitive content consists of 40.41% of the genome, and a total of 30,780 genes were annotated. Assembly of the crested gecko genome provides a valuable resource for future comparative genomic studies between non-regenerative and regenerative geckos and other squamate reptiles.

We perform first-principles Molecular Dynamics calculations to test the total attraction forces on a physisorbed molecule at a given temperature and ambient pressure and apply it to the hydrogen storage on the 2D material MoP2. We considered the pristine material and one with 12.5% of Mo vacancies. By optimization, we calculated a gravimetric capacity for pristine MoP2 of 5.72%, with an adsorption energy of ‒ 0.13 eV/molecule. We found 6.02% and ‒ 0.14 eV/molecule for the second case. Next, we apply our approach to know if the molecular hydrogen physisorption obtained by simple energy optimization exists for a given temperature and ambient pressure. We used this approach to determine the number of molecules adsorbed on the surface at a given temperature. Thus, we conducted a first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) calculation at temperature T1, using optimization as the initial system configuration. Subsequently, we performed a second FPMD calculation at a temperature T2 (with T2 ‹‹ T1), using the stable configuration of the first FPMD calculation as the initial configuration. We identified as adsorbed molecules at temperature T1, only those forced back toward the surface at temperature T2 due to kinetic energy loss at the lower temperature T2. The defective surface gave the best gravimetric capacity, ranging from 5.27% at 300 K to 6.02% at 77 K. The latter met the requirement from the US-DOE, indicating the potential practical application of our research in hydrogen storage.

Copper, along with gold, was among the first metals that humans employed. Thus, copper pol-lution of the world's water resources is escalating, posing a significant threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. It is crucial to develop a detection technology that is both low-cost and fea-sible, as well as ultra-selective and sensitive. This study explores the use of the NH2-Xxx-His motif-derived peptide from phage display technology for ultra-selective Cu2+ detection. Various Cu-binding M13 phage clones were isolated, and their affinity and cross-reactivity for different metal ions were determined. A detailed analysis of the amino acid sequence of the unique Cu-binding peptides was employed. For the development of an optical chemosensor, a peptide with an NH2-Xxx-His motif was selected. The dansyl group was incorporated during solid phase peptide synthesis, and fluorescence detection assays were employed. The efficacy of the Cu2+-binding peptide was verified through spectroscopic measurements. In summary, we de-veloped a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ detection based on a peptide sequence from phage display library that carries the N-terminal Xxx-His motif.

Aim: The aim in this study was to conduct a prospective survey regarding the socio-demographics and lifestyle risk factors for cancer of a population of Caribbean immigrants living in the U.S. Materials and Methods: The data were processed and analysed using SPSS software 27 and Excel. Crosstabulations were performed. The chi-square test was used to evaluate differ-ent hypotheses. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences in the country of birth of the Caribbean immigrants were found for sex (p = 0.038) and the cleanness of their neighbourhoods (p = 0.045). We found differences in occupations between men and women (p = 0.001). Men were less unemployed than women (p = 0.011). Sex also showed statistically significant differences in how easily the immigrants balanced their work and per-sonal life (p = 0.044). Age groups depicted differences in the physical health of the immigrants (p = 0.001). The use of alcohol and tobacco was not an important risk factor among participants (p = 0.529). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the sociodemographics risk factors for cancer among a population of Caribbean immigrants were significantly different between the sexes. However, the use of tobacco and alcohol showed insignificant differences among the immigrants.

The stems of Rubus idaeus L., a by-product of the fruit-food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of the polyphenolic compounds in R. idaeus stems. 7 cultivated raspberry varieties, 13 garden samples, including five well-known raspberry varieties and 13 wild raspberry samples from different locations in Estonia were analyzed. The HPLC-MS method detected 62 substances, of which 42 were identified, 12 were tentatively identified, and 8 compounds remained unknown. Protocatechuic acid pentoside was dominant in most varieties and in all garden and wild raspberry samples. Dihydroxybenzoic acid hexoside 1, p-coumaroyl quinic acid 1, quercetin 4’-glucuronide and p-coumaric acid glycoside were found in significant quantities. Correlations between the contents of individual compounds have been established. When studying the dynamics of polyphenolic compounds accumulation on the example of the GR1 sample during the year, it was found that the largest amount of them in raspberry stems accumulates in April, slightly less in January and October. Investigating the dependence of the accumulation of polyphenols on the parts of the stem, it was found that the upper parts have the highest phenolics content. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest approximately the upper third of the stem.

Objective: This study aims to construct an early risk warning model to predict the risk of treatment failure in patients undergoing sequential High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy following mechanical ventilation weaning. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 145 patients who received HFNC treatment in the Emergency Intensive Care Unit of the Third People's Hospital of Bengbu City from June 2018 to June 2023. A wide range of indicators including general information, comorbidities, laboratory test results, vital signs, disease-related scores, and oxygenation data were collected. Data analysis was performed using R software, starting with the Lasso regression to filter features related to treatment outcomes. Patients were divided into a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%) using random grouping software. The Random Forest algorithm was then employed to evaluate and rank the important features related to outcome indicators. The predictive efficiency and stability of the model were assessed through the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis, culminating in the construction of an early risk warning nomogram. Results: The study found that the Random Forest model exhibited high predictive accuracy in the training set (AUC=0.98) and good stability in the validation set (AUC=0.84). Key feature variables identified by the model, such as APACHE II score, BNP, NLR, mROX, and SOFA, were found to significantly impact the prediction of HFNC treatment failure. Based on these variables, an early warning nomogram was further developed, providing clinicians with a convenient and effective risk assessment tool. Conclusion: This study has constructed an early risk warning model based on the Random Forest algorithm, capable of effectively predicting the risk of HFNC treatment failure. The model's high predictive efficiency and stability offer strong support for clinical decision-making, contributing to personalized treatment and improved patient outcomes. Future research should aim to expand the sample size, perform multicenter validation, and explore the integration of the model into Clinical Decision Support Systems for real-time risk assessment and intervention.

The search for bioactive compounds for the treatment of several diseases has led to the study of endophytic fungi. Neoplastic diseases are among the most significant health concerns due to their high mortality rate, and there is a dearth of efficacious pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of cancer. Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is among those with the highest mortality rates in Brazil. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to identify compounds with cytotoxic activity from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Trichoderma sp. Isolation of the chemical compounds was conducted using chromatographic methods, while structural elucidation was achieved through the application of spectroscopic (NMR and UV) and spectrometric (MS) techniques. The fungus Trichoderma sp. was found to produce five distinct koninginins (A, B, C, E, and J). The organic phases of the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic potentials, respectively, through microdilution testing and the MTT method. In the cytotoxicity assay, both the AF extract and koninginin A demonstrated favorable outcomes, indicating their potential as promising anticancer therapeutic agents.

Bee colonies that belong to the biocenosis are constantly threatened by the bacterial larvae disease called American foulbrood, caused by Paenibacillus larvae. The current state of the law prevents the inclusion of pharmacotherapy in the treatment and the only control is based on physical eradication of infected colonies by order of the Vet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected bacteria with proven probiotic potential that could reduce American foulbrood pressure by promoting the development of the larvae microbiome that competes with and blocks the excessive proliferation and production of P. larvae endospores. The antimicrobial activity of inoculants of selected strains was studied: B. pumilus, B. licheniformis, S. narbonensis, L. fusiformis, L. brevis, B. megaterium against P. larvae ATCC 9545 and P. larvae CCUG 48973. Analyses were performed by the well-diffusion method according to EUCAST standards with modifications due to the specificity of the bacteria used. The largest zone of growth inhibition of P. larvae was confirmed with: S. narbonensis, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, medium activity was observed with L. brevis and B. pumilus. Negligible activity was shown by L. fusiformis. Differences were noticed in the resistance of indicator strains of P. larvae and between the media and carriers used.

This study aims to comprehensively understand the provision of skincare solutions for individuals living with HIV, focusing on the efficacy of existing treatments, challenges in accessing dermatological care, and the preferences of individuals living with HIV for personalized skincare solutions. The study triangulated data from structured surveys and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of individuals living with HIV, healthcare professionals, and experts in public health and social work, using a mixed-methods approach. The structured surveys provided specific data points, while the in-depth interviews and participant observations yielded rich, contextual insights. The results revealed a need for more personalized skincare solutions for individuals living with HIV, challenges in accessing dermatological care, and concerns regarding the efficacy of existing treatments. The integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative data provided a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing skincare solutions for this population. Conclusions drawn from the study emphasize the importance of tailored skincare interventions, improved access to dermatological care, and the need for collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and individuals living with HIV. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effectiveness of personalized skincare solutions and the exploration of innovative interventions integrating dermatological care and social support for individuals living with HIV.

Emotional competencies are a set of strategies to identify, comprehend, express and regulate emotions. They are particularly relevant in the educational context. In spite of their important, low emotional competencies have been reported in secondary students. This scoping review aims to synthesize the impact of emotional education programs on secondary students. The PRISMA Scoping method was used by using the Web Of Science, Scopus and Scielo databases. 23 studies were identified, out of which five articles were selected as they met the determined inclusion criteria. The main findings reveal significant improvement of emotional and social skills following school interventions. Specifically, progress was observed in areas such as emotional awareness, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills and emotional knowledge. The results highlight the efficacy of social-emotional learning programs in fostering social-emotional skills and psychosocial health of secondary education students. However, limitations, such as heterogeneity, were identified in the study of such research in Ibero-American countries.