(1) Background: Some evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) has potential to help alleviate HIV symptoms due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here we examined acute CBD effects on various behaviors and the endocannabinoid system in HIV Tat transgenic mice. (2) Methods: Tat transgenic mice (female/male) were injected with CBD (3,10,30 mg/kg) and assessed for antinociception, activity, coordination, anxiety, and recognition memory. Brains were taken to quantify endocannabinoids and related lipids. Additionally, CBD and metabolite 7-hydroxy-CBD were quantified in the plasma and cortex. (3) Results: Tat decreased striatal-related nociception and locomotion, with some sex-dependent effects on coordination. CBD had no effect on nociception and coordination, but increased locomotor activity. For anxiety, differential CBD effects were noted for sex, with decreasing anxiety-like behavior in males only. In the striatum and spinal cord, male sex was associated with lower 2-arachidonoylglycerol and with elevated concentrations of its proinflammatory metabolite arachidonic acid. CBD metabolism was altered by sex and Tat. (4) Conclusion: Findings indicate that acute CBD effects are not altered by HIV Tat, and CBD has minimal effects on behavior and the endocannabinoid system. Interestingly, sex-dependent alterations were noted for endocannabinoids and related lipids, which may be of relevance in view of potential CBD-based treatment options for people living with HIV.

The Virus HIV-1 infection still represents a serious disease even if actually it is transformed in chronic pathology. Considering the crucial role of the enzyme Protease in life cycle of HIV many efforts have been made in the research of new organic compounds showing inhibitory activity. After development of several series of non peptidic inhibitors we report here the synthesis of novel simple HIV-Protease inhibitors containing heteroaryl carboxamides and their antiviral activity in vitro and in HEK293 cells. Benzofuryl- benzothienyl- and indolyl rings as well as aryl sulfonamides with different electronic properties have been introduced by efficient synthetic procedures. All compounds showed inhibitory activity similar to the commercial drug Darunavir, effective against both wild-type HIV-1 protease and that containing the V32I or V82A mutations. ADME properties were also evaluated, showing the potential of such compounds to be developed as drugs.

The present research intents to study the evolution of the skin fatty acids and physiological disorders through cold storage in ‘Golden Delicious’ apples treated with 1-MCP and calcium. Harvested fruit were treated with calcium chloride (Ca), 1-MCP (MCP), Ca+MCP or no treatment (control) then subjected to cold storage at 0.5 ºC for 6 months. Fatty acids composition, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and the physiological disorders bitter pit (BP), superficial scald and diffuse skin browning (DSB) were measured at harvest and after storage plus 7 days shelf-life at room temperature ≈22 ºC. Palmitic acid decreased and linoleic acid increased through time, while oleic and stearic acids had few changes. Unsaturated/saturated fatty acids and MDA increased through time, despite Ca and Ca+MCP were related to lower MDA and lower BP and rotten fruit, after cold storage and shelf-life. In those treatments, the unsaturated/saturated fatty acids were higher, mainly due to higher linoleic acid and lower palmitic acids. Further research is needed to clarify the changes in membrane properties and the effect of some treatments in response to chilling injury through storage.

Sport has the potential to support psychosocial development in young people. However, extant studies have tended to evaluate purpose-built interventions, leaving regular organised sport relatively overlooked. Moreover, previous work has tended to concentrated on a narrow range of outcomes. To address these gaps, we conducted a season-long ethnography of a youth performance sport club based on a novel Realist Evaluation approach [1]. We construed the club as a social intervention within a complex system of agents and structures. In this - Part 1 - account we detail the perceptions of former and current club parents, players and coaches, using them to build a set of programme theories. The resulting network of outcomes (i.e. self, emotional, social, moral and cognitive) and generative mechanisms (i.e., the attention factory, the greenhouse for growth, the personal boost, and the real-life simulator) spanning across multiple contextual layers provides a nuanced understanding of stakeholders’ views and experiences. This textured perspective of the multi-faceted process of development provides new insights for administrators, coaches and parents to maximise the developmental properties of youth sport, and signposts new avenues for research in this area.

Objectives We tested the hypothesis that poor adherence is associated with a greater risk of alcohol-caused mortality and morbidities within the first year of discontinuing this medication. Materials and Methods Retrospective cohort study of 3319 individuals who received Acamprosate® in the East of Scotland in a 10-year period using a health informatics approach with record linkage of dispensing data, hospital utilization (SMR) and General Register Office of Scotland (GROS) data. Primary outcome was adherence between one to six months of initiating Acamprosate® medication. Secondary outcome was all cause morbidities and mortality. Results Of the total 3319 individuals identified, good adherence index of >80% was found in 59% of those prescribed Acamprosate® after three months and 6% after six months. There were significant linear trends of poorer adherence with increased risk of alcohol-caused mortality (HR1.2), medical morbidities especially neoplasm (HR 4.1|) and poisoning (HR 1.4) and psychiatric morbidities especially stress (HR 35.1), psychotic (HR 5.6) and neurotic disorders and directly alcohol induced conditions (7.4 HR) after adjustment for other factors within a one-year period of initiation of Acamprosate® treatment. Discussion and Conclusions Further exploratory studies using this digitalized approach should be encouraged in order to capture role of compliance to Acamprosate® and other types of medication that are known to reduce relapse into alcohol dependence and its direct relationship to mortality and morbidities in this population.

Characterised by the growth of benign tumours, fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). A growing body of histological and molecular evidence has consistently associated FP tumours with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), leading this virus to be considered the most likely aetiological agent of FP. However, a recent study which detected both ChHV5 and Chelonia mydas papillomavirus 1 (CmPV1) DNA in FP tumour tissues has challenged this hypothesis. The present study aimed to establish the wider prevalence of CmPV1 and co-occurrence with ChHV5 in marine turtles in waters adjacent to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. This comprehensive molecular survey screened a total of 353 samples from 275 foraging turtles using probe-based qPCR. Three sample categories were used in this study: Group A (FP tumours), Group B (non-tumoured skin from turtles with FP tumours) and Group C (non-tumoured skin from turtles without FP tumours). Concurrent detection of ChHV5 and CmPV1 DNA is reported for all three categories, with the highest rate of concurrent detection reported for Group A samples (43.5%). Collectively, these results pivot the way we think about FP; as an infectious disease where two separate viruses may be at play.

Herein, we describe precisely on covalent modification of pure magnesium (Mg) surface and applied to induce in vitro osteogenic differentiation. A new concept, chemical bonding method is proposed for developing stable chemical bonds on Mg surface through serial assembly of bioactive additives including ascorbic acid (AA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The coating with such potential materials shows strong integrity to the Mg and could suitable for cell-interface interaction with the host tissue during implantation in bone tissue repair. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of surface modified Mg assess how these nanoscales layered of biomolecules could demonstrate the significance improvement in chemical stability of coating. The modified Mg-OH-AA-BSA exhibits better anti-corrosion behavior with high corrosion potential (Ecorr ~ ‒ 0.96 V) and low corrosion current density (Icorr ~ 0.2 µA cm-2) as compared to pure Mg (Ecorr ~ ‒1.46 V, Icorr ~ 10.42 µA cm-2). Outer layer of BSA on Mg protects fast degradation rate of Mg which is the consequence of strong chemicals bonds between amine groups on BSA with carboxylic groups on AA. Collectively, the results suggest that surface modified Mg provides strong bio-interface and enhances the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells through protein-lipid interaction. Owing to this fact, the cost-effective and scalable covalent functionalization of Mg surface inherits biological advantage in orthopedic and dental implants with long term stability.

The uniqueness of each system stems from the fact that the risks of disasters are specific and that their presence and manifestation are not universal and the same for every country. Just as no country is the same in all other segments, their disaster risk management systems are unequal. The paper describes the systems in four different countries, through observation and comparison of four areas of activity that are implemented in dealing with disasters. First of all, in the paper, the legal basis and institutional frameworks on which these systems rest in each of the countries were considered – starting from the international level and guidelines given at international conferences, to all by-laws and local disaster activity plans. It was considered how each of the states implements risk mitigation activities and how it increases preparedness for them. When the system recognizes risks, their probability and the frequency of their occurrence, activities are planned to prepare the country and every individual in it for a potentially unwanted event. Differences in the ways of mitigating risks and preparing all elements of the system and protected values for disasters are presented. The third element of action in the event of disasters concerns the response. In this segment, questions are raised regarding institutional solutions in the system, division of responsibilities, the priority of response and mobilization of resources at all levels. The last phase, the one that occurs after the disaster, and that is the recovery from it, depends on the reaction. In the paper, it was discussed how in the end, when a disaster occurs and when damage to the population, environment, material and other goods occurred, how each of the states implements reconstruction, i.e. how it recovers - whether that recovery was previously well planned or whether ad hoc solutions are applied.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which consist of low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs) and high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs), form an important class of pollutants. Pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are the main pollutants belonging to HMW-PAHs, and their degradation by microorganisms remains an important strategy for their removal from the environments. Extensive studies have been carried out on the isolation and characterisation of microorganisms that actively degrade LMW-PAHs, and to a certain extent, the HMW-PAH pyrene. However, so far, limited work has been carried out on BaP biodegradation. BaP consists of five fused aromatic rings, which confers this compound a high stability, rendering it less amenable to biodegradation. The current review summarizes the emerging reports on BaP biodegradation. More specifically, work carried out on BaP bacterial degradation and current knowledge gaps that limit our understanding of BaP degradation are highlighted. Moreover, new avenues of research on BaP degradation are proposed, specifically in the context of the development of “omics” approaches

Ixodes scapularis is a blood-feeding obligate ectoparasite responsible for transmitting the Lyme disease (LD) agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. During the feeding process, I. scapularis injects B. burgdorferi into the host along with its saliva, facilitating the transmission and colonization of the LD agent. Tick calreticulin (CRT) is one of the earliest tick saliva proteins identified and is currently utilized as a biomarker for tick bites. Our recent findings revealed elevated levels of CRT in the saliva proteome of B. burgdorferi-infected I. scapularis nymphs compared to uninfected ticks. Differential precipitation of proteins (DiffPOP) and LC-MS/MS analyses were used to identify the interactions between Ixs (I. scapularis) CRT and human plasma proteins and further exploring its potential role in shielding B. burgdorferi from complement killing. We observed that although yeast expressed recombinant (r) IxsCRT binds to the C1 complex (C1q, C1r, and C1s), the activator of complement via the classical cascade, it did not inhibit deposition of the membrane attack complex (MAC) via the classical pathway. Intriguingly, rIxsCRT binds intermediate complement proteins (C3, C5, and C9) and reduces MAC deposition through the lectin pathway. Despite inhibition of MAC deposition in the lectin pathway, rIxsCRT did not protect a serum sensitive B. burgdorferi strain (B314/pBBE22Luc) from complement-induced killing. As B. burgdorferi establishes a local dermal infection before disseminating to secondary organs, it is noteworthy that rIxsCRT promotes the replication of B. burgdorferi in culture. We hypothesize that rIxsCRT may contribute to the transmission and/or host colonization of B. burgdorferi by acting as a decoy activator of complement and by fostering B. burgdorferi replication at the transmission site.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most common parasites that infect humans. The parasite exists in approximately 40 million people in the United States. Latent infections are frequently associated with tissue cysts of T. gondii in the skeletal muscle and brain tissue that can lead to mental disorders, congenital disorders, and vision dysfunction. Furthermore, self-directed violence, impulsivity, and aggression are associated with T. gondii infection. Dopamine is associated with human behavior including pleasure, aggression, memory, and substance use disorder; however, the result of the studies on the association of T. gondii infection and drugs of abuse are not well understood. The frequency of substance use may be associated with substance-induced modification of dopamine-receptor densities and basal dopaminergic activity. Likewise, T. gondii can directly or indirectly influence dopaminergic activity in infected cells. Based on this hypothesis, the current paper aimed to systematically review all published literature on the association between drugs of abuse and T. gondii infection. Systematic review of controlled studies on T. gondii infection and substance use effects in adults were searched on the electronic databases. Studies have shown that individuals infected with T. gondii display increased risky behavior, such as excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, it was observed that T. gondii seropositive subjects had a reduced likelihood of self-reported substance use compared to T. gondii seronegative subjects. This study confirms that SUD is a potential risk factor for behavioral and psychiatric complications associated with T. gondii infection. Ultimately T. gondii infection in the context of drug dependence and the development of SUD remain to be elucidated. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research characterizing the mechanisms associated with dopamine metabolism of drug dependence and withdrawal in the context of a T. gondii infection, evaluating the role of inflammation, and identifying potential drug-and-sex specific underpinnings of these associations.

Body Expression (BE) has been defined in the past decades as a discipline within Physical Education (PE) with very particular characteristics and a strong emotional component. In this study, a programme of this discipline was applied to university Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (PASS) students from six consecutive academic years: three prior to and three during the pandemic. A pre-post design was used to determine how the BE programme affected the university students' self-concept (SC). To do so, a questionnaire with a multidimensional approach to this construct was administered, whose dimensions were closely related to the BE programme's characteristics. The results revealed significant improvements in the final SC, compared to the initial SC. Men reported lower SC values than women before the programme implementation, but higher at the end. Therefore, the change was larger in men, so the programme may have had an equalising effect between groups. It was also verified that the pandemic had particularly affected women.

In the recent years, tubular nanostructures have been related with immense advances in various fields of science and technology. Considerable research efforts have been centered on the theoretical prediction and manufacturing of non-carbon nanotubes (NTs), which meet modern requirements for the developing of novel devices and systems. In this context, diatomic inorganic nanotubes formed by atoms of elements from the 13th group of the periodic table (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl) and nitrogen (N), have received much research attention. In the present work, the elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride, aluminium nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride and thallium nitride nanotubes were numerically evaluated using the nanoscale continuum modelling approach (also called molecular structural mechanics). The elastic properties (rigidities, surface Young´s and shear moduli, and Poisson´s ratio) of nitride nanotubes are discussed with respect to the bond length of the corresponding diatomic hexagonal lattice. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical response of nitride compound-based nanotubes, covering a broad range from the well-studied boron nitride NTs to the hypothetical thallium nitride NTs.

Small Island States (SIDS) are among the nations most exposed to climate change (CC) and are characterised by a high degree of vulnerability. Their special nature means there is a need for more studies focused on the limits to CC adaptation on such fragile nations, particularly in respect of their problems and constraints. This paper addressed a perceived need for research into the limitations of adaptation on SIDS, focusing on the many restrictions which are unique to them. The main research question raised by this study was that how and to what extent the challenges by human activities (e.g., agriculture and tourism) posed to coastlines of SIDS could be addressed. This paper identified and described the adaptation limits they have, by using a review of the literature and an analysis of case studies from a sample of five SIDS in the Caribbean and Pacific regions (Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tonga). The findings of this research showed that an adaptable SIDS is characterised by awareness of various values, appreciation and understanding of a diversity of impacts and vulnerabilities, and acceptance of certain losses through change. The implications of this paper are two-fold. It explains why island nations continue to suffer from the impacts of CC, and suggest some of the means via which adequate policies may support SIDS in their efforts to cope with the threats associated with a changing climate. This study concluded that, despite the technological and ecological limits (hard limits) affecting natural systems, adaptation to CC is not only limited by such complex forces, but also by societal factors (soft limits) that could potentially be overcome by more adequate adaptation strategies.

Heat exchangers play a vital role in numerous sectors like power generation and automotive manufacturing. Enhancing the energy efficiency of these exchangers stands as a significant hurdle. Utilizing nanofluids emerges as an optimal solution to augment heat transfer rates, leveraging their superior thermal conductivity while addressing economic constraints linked with traditional heat exchanger technologies. The motivation for this study is to consider the comprehensive synergistic features of MWCNTs, SiO₂, and hybrid MWCNTs–SiO₂ EG-based nanofluids in plate heat exchangers. This was achieved by simulating a plate heat exchanger using CFD (Fluent and Gambit softwares) considering the comparison of two SiO₂, MWCNTs, and their hybrid forms at different mass concentrations. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was employed to model turbulent flows, and the nanoparticles were compared in both single-phase and two-phase states, with their properties derived from experimental studies. Moreover, Nusselt number, convective heat transfer coefficient, and pressure drop variations were computed at different Reynolds numbers. The findings indicated an increase in the Nusselt number with the incorporation of the hybrid nanofluid, achieving a maximum enhancement of 11.19% in comparison to EG at a Reynolds number of 240 and a concentration of 0.86 wt.%. Noticeably, the pressure drop remained negligible at lower Reynolds numbers, exhibiting marginal variations up to 0.3% at higher Reynolds numbers. At a concentration of 0.86 wt.% and a Reynolds number of 480, the introduction of MWCNTs, hybrid, and SiO₂ nano-additives resulted in respective increases in the heat transfer coefficient by 21.02%, 10.76%, and 2.16% and corresponding alterations in pressure drop of 0.11%, 0.04%, and 0.02%.

The present study provides molecular insight into the mechanisms underlying energy dissipation and lubrication of a smooth contact lubricated by an ionic liquid. We have performed normal and lateral force measurements with a surface forces apparatus and by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy on following model systems: 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis-(trifluoro-methylsulfonyl)imide, in dry state and in equilibrium with ambient (humid) air; the surface was either bare mica or functionalized with a polymer brush. The velocity-dependence of the friction force reveals two different regimes of lubrication, boundary-film lubrication, with distinct characteristics for each model system, and fluid-film lubrication above a transition velocity V*. The underlying mechanisms of energy dissipation are evaluated with molecular models for stress-activated slip and flow, respectively. The stress-activated slip assumes that two boundary layers (composed of ions/water strongly adsorbed to the surface) slide pass each; the bond dynamics and the strength of the interaction at the slip plane dictate the change in friction -decreasing, increasing or remaining constant- with velocity in the boundary-film lubrication regime. Above a transition velocity V*, friction monotonically increases with velocity in the three model systems. Here, layers of ions slide past each (“flow”) under a shear stress and friction depends on a shear-activation volume that is significantly affected by confinement. The proposed friction model provides a molecular perspective of the lubrication of smooth contacts by ionic liquids and allows identifying the physical parameters that control friction.

Pine nuts are non-wood forest products (NWFP) with constantly growing market notwithstanding a series of phytosanitary issues and related trade problems. The aim of paper is to review the literature on the relationship between phytosanitary problems and trade development. Production and trade of pine nuts in Mediterranean Europe have been negatively affected by the spreading of Sphaeropsis sapinea (a fungus) associated to an adventive insect Leptoglossus occidentalis (fungal vector), with impacts on forest management activities, production and profitability and thus in value chain organization. Reduced availability of domestic production in markets with growing demand has stimulated the import of pine nuts. China has become a leading exporter of pine nuts, but its export is affected by a symptom associated to the nuts of some pine species: the ‘pine nut syndrome’ (PNS). Most of the studies embraced during the review are associated to PNS occurrence associated to the nuts of Pinus armandii. In the literature review we highlight the need for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of the pine nuts value chain organisation, where research on food properties and clinical toxicology be connected to breeding and forest management, forest pathology and entomology and trade development studies.

Metabarcoding of prokaryotic and fungal ribosomal DNA was used to describe the microbial communities in soils of remnant equatorial rainforest, maize-bean intercrop, and sugarcane in western Kenya. Cropping systems influenced the microbial community composition and functional traits (energy source and nutrient cycling) of bulk soil in each crop. Microbial richness and diversity tended to increase with cultivation intensity. Soil of maize-bean intercrop had lower percentages and sugarcane had higher percentages of unique amplicon sequence variants of both bacteria and fungi compared to the remnant forest. Functional traits were altered by cultivation intensity. Compared to remnant forest soils, maize-bean intercrop soil had lower percentages of aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacteria and higher percentages of N-cycling bacteria, while sugarcane had higher percentages of aerobic chemoheterotrophic bacteria and lower percentages of N-cycling bacteria. In the face of increasing forest loss and pressures for agricultural productivity, this landscape provides a rich site for studying the impacts of cropping systems on soil health.

Obesity in pregnancy induces metabolic syndrome, low-grade inflammation, altered endocrine factors, placental function, and the maternal gut microbiome. All these factors impact fetal growth and development, including brain development. The lipid metabolic transporters of the maternal-fetal-placental unit are dysregulated in obesity. Consequently, the transport of essential long-chain PUFAs for fetal brain development is disturbed. The mother’s gut microbiota is vital in maintaining postnatal energy homeostasis and maternal-fetal immune competence. Obesity during pregnancy changes the gut microbiota, affecting fetal brain development. Obesity and a high-fat diet in pregnancy can induce placental and intrauterine inflammation and thus influence the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring. Several epidemiological studies observed an association between maternal obesity and adverse neurodevelopment. This review discusses the effects of maternal obesity and gut microbiota on fetal neurodevelopment outcomes. In addition, the possible mechanisms of the impacts of obesity and gut microbiota on fetal brain development are discussed.

The urgent global health challenge posed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections demands effective solutions. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising tools of research of new antibacterial agents and LyeTx I mn∆K, a short synthetic peptide based on the Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom, is a good representative. This study focused on analyzing some antimicrobial activities of LyeTx I mn∆K, including minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, synergy and resensitization assays, lysis activity, the effect on biofilm, and the bacterial death curve in MRSA. Additionally, its characterization was conducted through isothermal titration calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, calcein release, and finally, efficacy in a mice wound model. The peptide demonstrating remarkable efficacy against planktonic cells and biofilms of MRSA, outperforms vancomycin in terms of rapid bactericidal action and anti-biofilm effects. The mechanism involves significant membrane damage. Interactions with bacterial model membranes, including those with lysylphosphatidylglycerol (LysylPOPG) modifications, highlight versatility and selectivity of this compound. Also, the peptide has the ability to sensitize resistant bacteria to conventional antibiotics, showing potential for combinatory therapy. Furthermore, using an in vivo model, was showed that a formulated gel containing the peptide proved superior to vancomycin in treating MRSA-induced wound in mice. Together the results highlight LyeTx I mnΔK as a promising prototype for the development of effective therapeutic strategies against superficial MRSA infections.

The eugenol derivative, ethyl 4-(2-methoxy-4-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)phenoxy)butanoate 1, with promising insecticidal capability was encapsulated in liposomal formulations of egg-phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (Egg-PC:Ch) 70:30 and of 100% dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG). Compound-loaded Egg-PC:Ch liposomes exhibit small hydrodynamic diameters (below 100 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (88.8% ± 2.7%), higher stability and a more efficient compound release, being chosen for assays in Sf9 insect cells. Compound 1 elicited a loss of cell viability up to 80% after 72h of incubation. Relevantly, encapsulation maintained the toxicity of compound 1 towards insect cells, while it lowered toxicity towards human cells, thus showing the selectivity of the system. Structure based inverted virtual screening was used to predict the most likely targets and molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations were used to demonstrate that this molecule can form a stable complex with insect odorant binding proteins and/or acetylcholinesterase.

Background: Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is a complicated disease that affects millions of people all over the world. Previous studies have shown that PASC impacts 10% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients of which 50-70% are hospitalized. It has also been shown that 10-12% of those vaccinated against COVID-19 were affected with PASC and its complications. The severity and the later development of PASC symptoms is positively associated with the early intensity of the infection. Results: The generated health complications caused by PASC involve a vast variety of organ systems. Patients affected by PASC have been diagnosed with neuropsychiatric and neurological symptoms. Cardiovascular system also has been involved and several diseases such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and coronary artery diseases were reported. Chronic hematological problems such as thrombotic endothelialitis and hypercoagulability were described as a condition that could increase the risk of clotting disorders and coagulopathy in PASC patients. Chest pain, breathlessness, and cough in PASC patients were associated with respiratory system in long COVID-19 causing respiratory distress syndrome. The observed immune complications were notable, involving several diseases. Renal system also was impacted and result in raising the risk of diseases such as thrombotic issues, fibrosis, and sepsis. Endocrine gland malfunction can lead to diabetes, thyroiditis, and male infertility. Symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite and taste were also among reported observations due to several gastrointestinal disorders. Skin abnormalities might be an indication of infection and long-term implications such as persistent cutaneous complaints were linked to PASC. Conclusions: Long COVID is a multidimensional syndrome with considerable public health implications, affecting several physiological systems and demanding thorough medical therapy as well as more study to address its underlying causes and long-term effects.

New allyl derivative of curcumin containing three allyl groups (1E,6E)-4-allyl-1,7-bis(4’-allyloxy-3’-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione was synthesized by the reaction of curcumin with the excess of allyl bromide in the presence of K2CO3 in acetone under reflux. The triple allylated curcumin was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.

Background Although COVID-19 outcomes vary between and within countries, there is little published data on how aspects of social determinants of health (SDoH) affect COVID-19 outcomes in the African context. Objective The current study set to examine COVID-19 case and death rates and their correlates among African countries using data from different sources. Methods An ecological cross-sectional study comprising 28 African countries with a recent Demographic and Health Survey, DHS (2010-2018). Response variables were COVID-19 case and death rates (as of August 15, 2020). Covariates comprised three healthcare systems measures; rates of hospital beds (2005-2017), ventilators (2020) and doctors (2010-2018) per 10,000 population, and 9 broad topics common to multiple SDoH frameworks aggregated to the country level; geography (urban residence), wealth index, education, employment, crowding, and access to information. Rates per 10,000 population were calculated for healthcare measures and mapped for visualization. A Negative Binomial regression was used to assess whether aspects of SDoH are correlated with COVID-19. Results Our analysis indicated that 1 in 4 (25.1%) households in study countries are without clean water and handwashing access. Country-level health system capacity (hospital beds, ventilators, and medical doctors) varied considerably between the countries. Negative Binomial regression showed that the odds of COVID-19 morbidity and death was higher in countries with a high proportion of households without access to quality water and doctors per 10,000 people. Having a high proportional of educated women (1.003: 95% CI, 1.001 – 1.005), hospital beds per population and less people per room (0.959: 95% CI, 0.920 – 1.000) was negatively correlated with COVID-19 deaths while being insured and owning a mobile phone was correlated with illness. Conclusion Both aspects of SDoH and healthcare system contribute either negatively or positively to COVID-19 outcomes. Addressing healthcare system capacity and economic and environmental SDoH will be critical for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and re-emerging diseases on the African continent.

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have led to the development of multifunctional iron oxide nanoparticles, presenting new opportunities in cancer therapy. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate citric acid-coated/ folic acid conjugated nanoparticles loaded with doxorubi-cin and investigate their efficacy in experimental tumor models. For synthesis, controlled co-precipitation method was employed to produce highly dispersive, multifunctional nanofluids with a narrow size distribution of iron oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Electrophoretic Light Scattering (ELS) for size distribution and zeta potential, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for structure and morphology, Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) for magnetic properties, and UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy for modification confirmation. In vitro experiments employed RM1 (prostate cancer) and MEC1 (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia) cell lines to assess cytotoxicity and drug delivery efficiency. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the intracellular delivery of doxorubicin by these nanoparticles, highlighting their potential for targeted therapy. As a result, nanoparticles conjugated with folic acid showed reduced efficacy over time. This study underscores the critical role of nanoparticle modifications in optimizing therapeutic outcomes. Future research should focus on further refining nanoparticle formulations and long-term effects in vivo, for development of effective and safe agents for targeted cancer treatment.

This article uses machine learning analysis of wearable sensor data to explore the topic of driver differentiation. The study focuses on using detailed analyzes of data collected from wearable sensors to identify patterns that differentiate skilled drivers from inexperienced ones. On a predetermined driving route, participants experienced a variety of driving conditions, including parking, navigating cities, driving on highways and driving through residential neighborhoods. The gathered data was analyzed using machine learning techniques, yielding a classification accuracy of 94% overall. The results highlight important differences in sensor data between inexperienced and experienced drivers, providing insight into possible uses for improving safety protocols, driver education, and personalized feedback systems. The article fosters improvements in traffic safety and driver education by offering insightful information on the link between driver behavior analysis and machine learning.

Background. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is still a rather incurable disease. Many classes of compounds with various mechanisms of action have been tested in vivo and ex-vivo, with rather disappointing results. This is partly due to preclinical studies mostly performed in models that fail to recapitulate MPM complexity and do not retain the intra-tumor heterogeneity, a propelling force for tumor progression. Additionally, we and others have shown that, under stress-induced chemotherapy, profound rearrangements take place in MPM cultures to fuel the emergence of chemoresistant cell subpopulations. Thus, finding clinically actionable modulators of MPM resistance is still a very urgent need. Methods. Setup and propagation of patient-derived organoid cultures from MPM pleural effusions; flow cytometry-based validation of organoid cultures, isola-tion and propagation of mesothelioma-associated fibroblasts; co-cultures, Lu-minex-based Cytokine array, ELISA assay to quantitate IL-6 in the conditioned media, qRT-PCR to assess mRNA expression of cancer stem cell markers and fibroblast markers. Results. Organoid cultures were obtained from eight MPM patients by using specific growth media and conditions to propagate pleural effusion-derived cells. We proved that primary MPM specimens and serially passaged (mesothelio-ma-Patient-Derived-Organoids) mPDOs were cytologically similar, with the obtained mPDOs expressing mesothelial markers similarly to the originating specimen. As expected from a clinically relevant model, the size and number of mPDOs were altered, in a patient-specific way, when pharmacologically relevant doses of chemotherapy drugs were added. We derived Mesothelio-ma-Associated-Fibroblasts (MAFs) and the addition of MAFs, to various ratios, altered the response of the mPDOs to pemetrexed + cisplatin, toward a reduced sensitivity to the latter anticancer agents. Additionally, organoid formation and size were altered by MAF-conditioned media, and this correlated with increased expression of cancer stem cell markers. We showed increased levels of IL-6 in the media of the treated cocultures and showed that this latter was derived from the MAFs. Conclusions. Increased secretion of IL-6 by mesothelioma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) contributes to the resistance of the MPM to therapy.

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

Background: It has shown that meal timing, poor sleep quality and chronotype could play a relevant role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the relationship with macronutrients by eating occasions has not been explored deeply. Objective: Our aim was to estimate the association between chrono-nutrition, sleep quality, chronotype and the prevalence of T2DM. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a subset of 3465 middle-aged adults (2068 women) from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Spain cohort study. In the 2017-18 follow-up, we assessed chronotype, sleep quality, diet, and sociodemographic data by validated questionnaires. Further, we used blood samples to determinate serum levels of glucose. We defined a case of T2DM when serum glucose concentration was ≥126 mg/dl or when participants self-reported diabetes. Results: Higher prevalence of T2DM was associated with poor sleep quality (ORpoorvsgood=2.90, 95%CI=1.30, 6.28). Carbohydrate intake at breakfast was inversely associated with the prevalence of T2DM (OR=0.75, 95%CI=0.66, 0.85). Finally, lipid intake at breakfast were associated with a 13% higher the prevalence of T2DM (OR=1.13, 95%CI=1.01, 1.26) for each 1 standard deviation (1-SD) increase. We observed no associations between macronutrient intake at lunch or dinner and T2DM. Conclusions: The study concludes that a breakfast with higher content in carbohydrate at breakfast is correlated with a reduced prevalence of T2DM. While higher lipids intake at breakfast was associated with higher prevalence of T2DM. Furthermore, poor sleep quality is as a potential factor associated with an elevated prevalence of T2DM. Our results emphasize the need for prospective studies to validate and strengthen these observed associations.

Fungal infections pose a significant threat to human health, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Due to several factors, such as the inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs, the emergence of resistance in microorganisms, and increasing demand for less cytotoxic antifungal agents for immunocompromised patients, antifungal research has gained significant attention in recent years. Antifungal peptides, and among them, cyclic peptides, are a class of antifungal agents that have been under development since the 1960s. Using cyclic peptides as a promising approach for combating antifungal resistance in pathogenic fungi has gained significant attention in recent years. The identification of antifungal cyclic peptides from various sources has been possible due to the widespread interest in peptide research in recent decades. It is increasingly important to evaluate the narrow to broad-spectrum antifungal activity and the mode of action of synthetic and natural cyclic peptides for both synthesized and extracted peptides. This short review aims to highlight some of the antifungal cyclic peptides isolated from bacteria, fungi, and plants, taking into consideration the progress made in peptide research. Additionally, it provides a summary of synthetic cyclic peptides with antifungal activity and discusses the potential future of utilizing combinations of antifungal peptides from different sources. The review underscores the need for further exploration of the novel therapeutic applications of these abundant and diverse cyclic peptides.

Lipid mesophases are being intensively studied as potential candidates for drug-delivery purposes. Extensive experimental characterization has unveiled a wide palette of release features depending on the nature of the host lipids and of the guest molecule, as well as on the environmental conditions. However, only few simulation works have addressed the matter, which hampers a solid rationalization of the richness of outcomes observed in experiments. Particularly, to date there are no theoretical works addressing the impact of hydropathy on the transport of a molecule within lipid mesophases, despite the significant fraction of hydrophobic molecules among currently-available drugs. Similarly, the high heterogeneity of water mobility in the nanoscopic channels within lipid mesophases has also been neglected. To fill this gap, we introduce here a minimal model to account for these features in a lamellar geometry, and systematically study the role played by hydropathy and water-mobility heterogeneity by Brownian-dynamics simulations. We unveil a fine interplay between the presence of free-energy barriers, the affinity of the drug for the lipids, and the reduced mobility of water in determining the net molecular transport. More in general, our work is an instance of how multiscale simulations can be fruitfully employed to assist experiments in release systems based on lipid mesophases.

The paper presents construction, laboratory tests as well as the first field application of a new fiber-optic rotational seismograph. The system based on fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) with determined Angle Random Walk of the order of 10-8 rad/Sqrt(s) and a few rad/s maximum detectable amplitude of rotation in the frequency range from DC to 328.12 Hz. It has been designed for rotational seismology area of interest. This work also presents exemplary relevant measurements which were conducted using a set of two devices installed in the geophysical observatory in Książ, Poland.

A major public health emergency has been created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Due to its crucial function in viral replication, the primary protease (Mpro) of the virus is a prime target for therapeutic research. In this study, we used molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to examine the potential therapeutic uses of Mpro inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19. Using induced fit docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we confirmed the top compounds after screening a library of compounds for their ability to bind to Mpro. Simulation interaction diagrams were used to investigate protein-ligand interactions, and MM-GBSA was used to determine binding energies. The Swiss ADME server was used to predict ADME properties. According to our findings, numerous substances are strong COVID-19 medication candidates since they have excellent ADME features and high binding affinities. This work serves as a foundation for additional experimental research and drug development initiatives aimed at Mpro.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions in partially ionized magneto-nano-liquid are investigated theoretically using finite element method (FEM). The effects of ions and electrons collisions on the transport of heat and mass are analyzed for both the cases of heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions. The simultaneous effects of dispersion of nanosized particles in partially ionized nano-liquid in the presence of magnetic field are also investigated. Through numerical experiments, it is noted that the temperature of partially ionized nano-liquid increases when electrons collision rate and ion collisions are increased. The transport rate of reacting species decreases when heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions strengths are increased. It is also observed that the effect of electron collisions on the flow in y-direction is the same to that of ion collisions on the flow in y-direction. Homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions have similar effects on concentration of chemically reacting species in qualitative sense. However, in quantitative sense, homogeneous chemical reaction has more significant effect on the concentration reacting species as compared to heterogeneous chemical reaction.

The paper portrays predictive models for dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in an urban lake using common water quality parameters like Temperature, pH, Conductivity and ORP at a time. Data were sampled using three real-time, industry-standard sensors, OPTOD, CTZN, and PHEHT, and then interpolated using the ArcGIS kriging technique. Correlation studies were analyzed through the ML algorithm, the correlation study signified a highly positive correlation between DO and other water parameters and the model was corroborated by R-score in order to create the linear regression model. In addition, an artificial neural network- a machine learning method using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was developed to build a model to predict the do as well. Then, the performance of the models was validated and also the R² accuracy was checked of the predicted data against the actual data. Thus, the appropriateness of the ANN model for the forecasting of investigated attributes is indicated by the fact that the discrepancy between the forecasted and real ANN model is significantly lesser than that of the regression model. However, the model can be used to reveal DO data from unknown urban lake water.

Filamentous manganese (Mn) oxide particles, which occur in the suboxic zone of stratified waterbodies, are important drivers of diverse elemental cycles. Although these particles are considered to be bacteriogenic, the environmental factor responsible for their formation has not been identified. Based on this study of laboratory cultures of a model Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium, the supply of algal extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was shown to stimulate Mn(II) oxidation and thus the production of filamentous Mn oxide particles. This observation was consistent with results obtained for naturally occurring particles collected from a near-bottom layer (depth of ~90 m) in the northern basin of Lake Biwa, Japan, that is, most Mn particles resembling delta-MnO2 were associated with an EPS-like gelatinous matrix, which contained dead algal cells and was lectin-stainable. In the lake water column, EPS produced by photosynthesis sank to the bottom layer. The analysis of the quality of water samples, which have been collected from the study site for 18 years, reveals that the annual average total phytoplankton biovolume in the surface layer correlates with the density of filamentous Mn particles in the near-bottom layer. Among different phytoplankton species, green algae appeared to be the key species. The results of this study suggest that algal EPS production induces the formation of filamentous Mn oxide particles in the near-bottom layer of the northern basin of Lake Biwa.

The external bonding system using CFRP composite was widely used for strengthening of different structures worldwide. However, premature debonding in this strengthening technique is the critical failure that leads to the fiber not reaching its ultimate capacity. In order to enhance the capacity of the externally bonded (EB) FRP and to slow the premature debonding failure mechanism, numerous anchoring techniques have been applied to improve the bonding capacity. The externally-bonded reinforcement on grooves (EBROG) technology is one of the strategies that have been recently developed to postponing the debonding issue. Although the extensive studies have been conducted in literature on (EBROG) method, most of these studies have been focused on the bonding characteristics of longitudinal grooves direction, and there is lack in studies about effect of different design and configurations (width, height, and spacing) of transverse grooves direction. In present study, an experimental investigation was carried out to study the bond behavior of the externally bonded reinforcement on transverse grooves (EBROTG) technique on the CFRP-to-concrete joints involving different parameters, including groove width, depth, spaces between grooves, strain values, and bond stress-slip relationships. 24 concrete prisms, divided into 8 groups of three specimens, were tested using a single-lap shear test set-up. The result of testing proved that the EBROTG method furnished a proper anchor system and highly enhanced the bonding force of the tests. The increasing range in bond strength with the specimens reinforced by the transverse grooving method was ranging from 11 to 86 % compared with the externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) reflecting the effect of different width, depth and distance between grooves

Bananas, a staple food globally and a key agricultural commodity, face a severe threat from the fungus Fusarium oxysporum form specialis cubense (Foc), significantly impacting production. Genetic improvement to develop resistant cultivars stands out as a crucial strategy to mitigate this disease. This study focused on assessing and recommending enhanced diploid banana varieties for resistance against Foc subtropical race 4 (ST4) and Foc race 1 (R1). Twenty-five improved diploids developed by Embrapa, Brazil, underwent evaluation. Utilizing a scale for internal symptoms at 90 days post-inoculation, genotypes were categorized from highly resistant to highly susceptible based on the internal symptom index. The diploid M53 exhibited high resistance to R1 and resistance to Foc ST4, while only the diploid CNPMF 0534 demonstrated complete resistance to both R1 and ST4, with resistance to the latter likely associated with penetration. These findings provide valuable insights for banana and plantain breeding programs, offering selected diploids for crossbreeding with commercial cultivars to develop new, resistant genotypes against Foc.

Incretin effect helps in regulating glucose homeostasis and maintaining glycaemic control within the human body. This effect is achieved by the two naturally occurring incretin hormones: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Such hormones released by specialized entero-endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract cause insulin augmentation after food consumption. However, incretin effects are impaired in type 2 diabetic, primarily attributed to the deterioration of GLP-1 function along with decreased GLP-1 receptor expression. Targeting this hormone has, therefore, become an important therapeutic approach to treat this diabetic condition. Native GLP-1’s brief half-life and rapid proteolytic degradation have generated significant enthusiasm in uncovering the long-acting GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists to manage type 2 diabetes. These synthetic peptides mimic the natural GLP-1 to activate GLP-1R and effectively exert various physiological benefits in terms of weight management, blood pressure, lipid profile, obesity and major adverse cardiovascular event. This review paper provides insights into the structure, function and expression of GLP-1 and its receptor. It also summarizes existing literature regarding different types of GLP-1 receptor agonists, their effects on blood pressure and how they exert their actions. While animal models have contributed significantly to this area of study, the scarcity of human studies is noted, indicating a need for more investigation in this domain. Expanding research in humans will help in comprehending the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on blood pressure regulation and their underlying mechanisms.

Background: Over the past years, there has been a rise in the incidence of type 1 diabetes, partic-ularly among younger individuals. This concerning trend has prompted investigations into po-tential contributing factors, with intestinal dysbiosis emerging as a likely culprit for the escalating annual rates of the disease; (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective ecologic correlational study involving 37 children from the southern region of Romania between 2019-2021. All participants were within the first six months following the onset of the disease; (3) Results: In the microbiota of the patients we observed a dysbiosis marked by an overabundance of bacteria (Clostridium coccoides, Faecalibacterium, Bacterioides, Enterobacteriaceae) and fungi, compared to the healthy control group. The Spearman correlation revealed a positive association between the presence of Bacteroides (p=0.0442), Butyricicoccus (p=0.0164), and Clostridium leptum (p=0.0023) with recent diabetes onset. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between younger age at onset and the pres-ence of Butyricicoccus (p=0.019). The use of antibiotics in the month preceding admission was linked to the presence of fungi in the microbiota (Candida, p=0.0442); (4) Conclusions: The dysbiosis of Romanian type 1 diabetes children correlates with inflammation, more severe onset of the disease and other au-toimmune diseases.

In recent years, numerous approaches have been developed to comprehend the molecular altera-tions underlying thyroid cancer (TC) oncogenesis and explore novel therapeutic strategies for TC. It is now well established that the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) is overexpressed in cancer cells and that NK-1R is essential for viability of cancer cells. The binding of substance P (SP) to NK-1R in neoplastic cells plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by promoting neoplastic cell growth, protecting tumour cells from apoptosis, triggering invasion and metastasis through enhanced migration of cancer cells, and stimulating endothelial cell proliferation for tumour angiogenesis. Remarkably, all types of human TC (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic), as well as met-astatic lesions, exhibit overexpression of SP and NK-1R compared to the normal thyroid gland. TC cells synthesize and release SP, which exerts its multiple functions through autocrine, para-crine, intracrine, and neuroendocrine processes, including the regulation of tumour burden. Con-sequently, the secretion of SP from TC results in increased SP levels in plasma, which are signifi-cantly higher in TC patients compared to controls. Additionally, NK-1R antagonists have demonstrated a dose-dependent antitumour action. They impair cancer cell proliferation on one side and induce apoptosis of tumour cells on the other side. Furthermore, it has been demonstrat-ed that NK-1R antagonists inhibit neoplastic cell migration, thereby impairing both invasiveness and metastatic abilities, as well as angiogenesis. Given the consistent overexpression of NK-1R in all types of TC, targeting this receptor represents a promising therapeutic approach for TC. Therefore, NK-1R antagonists, such as the drug aprepitant, may represent novel drugs for TC treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has inflicted significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Continuous virus mutations have led to the emergence of new variants. The Omicron BA.1 sub-lineage prevailed as the dominant variant globally at the beginning of 2022 but was subsequently replaced by BA.2 in numerous countries. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers an efficient tool for capturing viral shedding from infected individuals, enabling early detection of potential pandemic outbreaks without relying solely on community cooperation and clinical testing resources. This study integrated RT-qPCR assays for detecting general SARS-CoV-2 and its variants levels in wastewater into a modified triple susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) model. The emergence of the Omicron-BA.1 variant was observed, replacing the presence of its predecessor, the Delta variant. Comparative analysis between the wastewater data and the modified SIRS model effectively described the BA.1 and subsequent BA.2 waves, with the decline of the Delta variant aligning with its diminished presence below the detection threshold in wastewater. This study demonstrates the potential of WBE as a valuable tool for future pandemics. Furthermore, by analyzing the sensitivity of different variants to model parameters, we are able to deduce real-life values of cross-variant immunity probabilities, emphasizing the asymmetry in their strength.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a widely studied subject due to its increasing prevalence and links to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. It has severe complications, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and portal hypertension that can lead to liver transplantation in some cases. To better prevent and treat this pathology, it is important to understand its underlying physiology. Here, we identify three main factors that play a crucial role in the physiopathology of NAFLD: oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and the key role of carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1). We discuss the pathophysiology linking these factors to NAFLD pathophysiology.

In this research, new setting is introduced for new SuperHyperNotion, namely, 11 Neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. Two different types of SuperHyperDefinitions 12 are debut for them but the research goes further and the SuperHyperNotion, 13 SuperHyperUniform, and SuperHyperClass based on that are well-defined and 14 well-reviewed. The literature review is implemented in the whole of this research. For 15 shining the elegancy and the significancy of this research, the comparison between this 16 SuperHyperNotion with other SuperHyperNotions and fundamental 17 SuperHyperNumbers are featured. The definitions are followed by the examples and the 18 instances thus the clarifications are driven with different tools. The applications are 19 figured out to make sense about the theoretical aspect of this ongoing research. The 20 “Cancer’s Neutrosophic Recognition” are the under research to figure out the challenges 21 make sense about ongoing and upcoming research. The special case is up. The cells are 22 viewed in the deemed ways. There are different types of them. Some of them are 23 individuals and some of them are well-modeled by the group of cells. These types are all 24 officially called “SuperHyperVertex” but the relations amid them all officially called 25 “SuperHyperEdge”. The frameworks “SuperHyperGraph” and “neutrosophic 26 SuperHyperGraph” are chosen and elected to research about “Cancer’s Neutrosophic 27 Recognition”. Thus these complex and dense SuperHyperModels open up some avenues 28 to research on theoretical segments and “Cancer’s Neutrosophic Recognition”. Some 29 avenues are posed to pursue this research. It’s also officially collected in the form of 30 some questions and some problems. Assume a SuperHyperGraph. Then a “1-failed 31 SuperHyperForcing” Z(NSHG) for a neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph NSHG : (V,E) 32 is the maximum cardinality of a SuperHyperSet S of black SuperHyperVertices 33 (whereas SuperHyperVertices in V (G) \ S are colored white) such that V (G) isn’t 34 turned black after finitely many applications of “the color-change rule”: a white 35 SuperHyperVertex is converted to a black SuperHyperVertex if it is the only white 36 SuperHyperNeighbor of a black SuperHyperVertex. The additional condition is referred 37 by “1-” about the usage of any black SuperHyperVertex only once to act on white 38 SuperHyperVertex to be black SuperHyperVertex; a “neutrosophic 1-failed 39 SuperHyperForcing” Zn(NSHG) for a neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph NSHG : (V,E) 40 is the maximum neutrosophic cardinality of a SuperHyperSet S of black 41 SuperHyperVertices (whereas SuperHyperVertices in V (G) \ S are colored white) such 42 that V (G) isn’t turned black after finitely many applications of “the color-change rule”: 43 a white SuperHyperVertex is converted to a black SuperHyperVertex if it is the only 44 1/128 white SuperHyperNeighbor of a black SuperHyperVertex. The additional condition is 45 referred by “1-” about the usage of any black SuperHyperVertex only once to act on 46 white SuperHyperVertex to be black SuperHyperVertex. Assume a SuperHyperGraph. 47 Then an “δ−1-failed SuperHyperForcing” is a maximal 1-failed SuperHyperForcing of 48 SuperHyperVertices with maximum cardinality such that either of the following 49 expressions hold for the (neutrosophic) cardinalities of SuperHyperNeighbors of s ∈ S : 50 |S ∩N(s)| > |S ∩(V \N(s))|+δ, |S ∩N(s)| < |S ∩(V \N(s))|+δ. The first Expression, 51 holds if S is an “δ−SuperHyperOffensive”. And the second Expression, holds if S is an 52 “δ−SuperHyperDefensive”; a“neutrosophic δ−1-failed SuperHyperForcing” is a maximal 53 neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing of SuperHyperVertices with maximum 54 neutrosophic cardinality such that either of the following expressions hold for the 55 neutrosophic cardinalities of SuperHyperNeighbors of s ∈ S : |S ∩ N(s)|neutrosophic > 56 |S ∩ (V \ N (s))|neutrosophic + δ, |S ∩ N (s)|neutrosophic < |S ∩ (V \ N (s))|neutrosophic + δ. 57 The first Expression, holds if S is a “neutrosophic δ−SuperHyperOffensive”. And the 58 second Expression, holds if S is a “neutrosophic δ−SuperHyperDefensive”. It’s useful to 59 define “neutrosophic” version of 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. Since there’s more ways to 60 get type-results to make 1-failed SuperHyperForcing more understandable. For the sake 61 of having neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, there’s a need to “redefine” the 62 notion of “1-failed SuperHyperForcing”. The SuperHyperVertices and the 63 SuperHyperEdges are assigned by the labels from the letters of the alphabets. In this 64 procedure, there’s the usage of the position of labels to assign to the values. Assume a 65 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. It’s redefined neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing if 66 the mentioned Table holds, concerning, “The Values of Vertices, SuperVertices, Edges, 67 HyperEdges, and SuperHyperEdges Belong to The Neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph” 68 with the key points, “The Values of The Vertices & The Number of Position in 69 Alphabet”, “The Values of The SuperVertices&The maximum Values of Its Vertices”, 70 “The Values of The Edges&The maximum Values of Its Vertices”, “The Values of The 71 HyperEdges&The maximum Values of Its Vertices”, “The Values of The 72 SuperHyperEdges&The maximum Values of Its Endpoints”. To get structural examples 73 and instances, I’m going to introduce the next SuperHyperClass of SuperHyperGraph 74 based on 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. It’s the main. It’ll be disciplinary to have the 75 foundation of previous definition in the kind of SuperHyperClass. If there’s a need to 76 have all SuperHyperConnectivities until the 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, then it’s 77 officially called “1-failed SuperHyperForcing” but otherwise, it isn’t 1-failed 78 SuperHyperForcing. There are some instances about the clarifications for the main 79 definition titled “1-failed SuperHyperForcing”. These two examples get more scrutiny 80 and discernment since there are characterized in the disciplinary ways of the 81 SuperHyperClass based on 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. For the sake of having 82 neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, there’s a need to “redefine” the notion of 83 “neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing” and “neutrosophic 1-failed 84 SuperHyperForcing”. The SuperHyperVertices and the SuperHyperEdges are assigned 85 by the labels from the letters of the alphabets. In this procedure, there’s the usage of 86 the position of labels to assign to the values. Assume a neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph. 87 It’s redefined “neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph” if the intended Table holds. And 88 1-failed SuperHyperForcing are redefined “neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing” if 89 the intended Table holds. It’s useful to define “neutrosophic” version of 90 SuperHyperClasses. Since there’s more ways to get neutrosophic type-results to make 91 neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing more understandable. Assume a neutrosophic 92 SuperHyperGraph. There are some neutrosophic SuperHyperClasses if the intended 93 Table holds. Thus SuperHyperPath, SuperHyperCycle, SuperHyperStar, 94 SuperHyperBipartite, SuperHyperMultiPartite, and SuperHyperWheel, are 95 “neutrosophic SuperHyperPath”, “neutrosophic SuperHyperCycle”, “neutrosophic 96 SuperHyperStar”, “neutrosophic SuperHyperBipartite”, “neutrosophic 97 2/128 SuperHyperMultiPartite”, and “neutrosophic SuperHyperWheel” if the intended Table 98 holds. A SuperHyperGraph has “neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing” where it’s 99 the strongest [the maximum neutrosophic value from all 1-failed SuperHyperForcing 100 amid the maximum value amid all SuperHyperVertices from a 1-failed 101 SuperHyperForcing.] 1-failed SuperHyperForcing. A graph is SuperHyperUniform if it’s 102 SuperHyperGraph and the number of elements of SuperHyperEdges are the same. 103 Assume a neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph. There are some SuperHyperClasses as 104 follows. It’s SuperHyperPath if it’s only one SuperVertex as intersection amid two given 105 SuperHyperEdges with two exceptions; it’s SuperHyperCycle if it’s only one 106 SuperVertex as intersection amid two given SuperHyperEdges; it’s SuperHyperStar it’s 107 only one SuperVertex as intersection amid all SuperHyperEdges; it’s 108 SuperHyperBipartite it’s only one SuperVertex as intersection amid two given 109 SuperHyperEdges and these SuperVertices, forming two separate sets, has no 110 SuperHyperEdge in common; it’s SuperHyperMultiPartite it’s only one SuperVertex as 111 intersection amid two given SuperHyperEdges and these SuperVertices, forming multi 112 separate sets, has no SuperHyperEdge in common; it’s SuperHyperWheel if it’s only one 113 SuperVertex as intersection amid two given SuperHyperEdges and one SuperVertex has 114 one SuperHyperEdge with any common SuperVertex. The SuperHyperModel proposes 115 the specific designs and the specific architectures. The SuperHyperModel is officially 116 called “SuperHyperGraph” and “Neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph”. In this 117 SuperHyperModel, The “specific” cells and “specific group” of cells are 118 SuperHyperModeled as “SuperHyperVertices” and the common and intended properties 119 between “specific” cells and “specific group” of cells are SuperHyperModeled as 120 “SuperHyperEdges”. Sometimes, it’s useful to have some degrees of determinacy, 121 indeterminacy, and neutrality to have more precise SuperHyperModel which in this case 122 the SuperHyperModel is called “neutrosophic”. In the future research, the foundation 123 will be based on the “Cancer’s Neutrosophic Recognition” and the results and the 124 definitions will be introduced in redeemed ways. The neutrosophic recognition of the 125 cancer in the long-term function. The specific region has been assigned by the model 126 [it’s called SuperHyperGraph] and the long cycle of the move from the cancer is 127 identified by this research. Sometimes the move of the cancer hasn’t be easily identified 128 since there are some determinacy, indeterminacy and neutrality about the moves and 129 the effects of the cancer on that region; this event leads us to choose another model [it’s 130 said to be neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph] to have convenient perception on what’s 131 happened and what’s done. There are some specific models, which are well-known and 132 they’ve got the names, and some SuperHyperGeneral SuperHyperModels. The moves 133 and the traces of the cancer on the complex tracks and between complicated groups of 134 cells could be fantasized by a neutrosophic SuperHyperPath(-/SuperHyperCycle, 135 SuperHyperStar, SuperHyperBipartite, SuperHyperMultipartite, SuperHyperWheel). 136 The aim is to find either the longest 1-failed SuperHyperForcing or the strongest 137 1-failed SuperHyperForcing in those neutrosophic SuperHyperModels. For the longest 138 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, called 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, and the strongest 139 SuperHyperCycle, called neutrosophic 1-failed SuperHyperForcing, some general results 140 are introduced. Beyond that in SuperHyperStar, all possible SuperHyperPaths have 141 only two SuperHyperEdges but it’s not enough since it’s essential to have at least three 142 SuperHyperEdges to form any style of a SuperHyperCycle. There isn’t any formation of 143 any SuperHyperCycle but literarily, it’s the deformation of any SuperHyperCycle. It, 144 literarily, deforms and it doesn’t form. A basic familiarity with SuperHyperGraph 145 theory and neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph theory are proposed.

In spite of large-scale investigations of homogeneous single-site metallocene catalysts and systems based on them, the problem of controlling their activity, chemo- and stereoselectivity with the aim of developing efficient methods for the preparation of practically useful products of alkenes transformation, such as dimers, oligomers, and polymers, still remains topical. Here we studied catalytic activity of differently structured zirconocenes (10 examples of cyclopentadienyl and indenyl complexes) and co-catalysts activating the system, namely HAlBui2, MMAO-12 or (Ph3C)[B(C6F5)4] at low activator/Zr ratios in 1-hexene oligomerization reaction. The influence of catalyst structure and system composition on alkene conversion, type of products formed and reaction stereoselectivity was investigated. The composition of hydride intermediates forming in the systems L2ZrCl2 (L2= ansa-Me2CCp2)-HAlBui2-activator was studied by NMR and the participation of biszirconium hydride complex as the precursor of catalytically active sites of the alkene dimerization reaction was shown.

When existing at emulsion interface and continuous phase, dispersibility of water-soluble flexible polymer chains has obvious effect on rheology and dielectric properties of whole emulsion. CNF Pickering emulsion is a good system to research these properties with respect to their microscopic phase structure, dielectric and rheological properties by using cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as water-soluble Pickering emulsifier, liquid Paraffin as oil phase and DDAB as a cationic auxiliary surfactant. The CNF- and DDAB-contents were systematically varied while the water to paraffin oil ratio remained constant to discern the influence of the Pickering emulsifiers. Polarized optical microscopic images revealed that the droplets have tendency to become smaller size for higher CNF content, but bigger size for higher DDAB content, which was proved by the fluorescent analysis for CNF dispersibility with varying DDAB content. The dielectric damping exhibits a minimum, whose value decreases with increasing DDAB- and CNF-content. Increasing the DDAB-content promotes solubilization of CNFs in the aqueous phase and will increase the overall viscosity and yield points. Similarly, a higher CNF-content leads to a higher viscosity and yield point, but at high DDAB-contents the viscosity function exhibits an S-shape at intermediate CNF-content. To evaluate the results further they were compared with CNF-dispersions (without oil-phase), which showed a surfactant effect slightly on maximum stress but strongly on yield stress τy, indicating DDAB can promote the formation of CNF network rather than the viscosity of whole system.

A multiscale modeling concept for numerical simulation of multiphysics turbulent flow utilizing map-based advection is described. The approach is outlined with emphasis on its theoretical foundations and physical interpretations in order to establish the context for subsequent presentation of the associated numerical algorithms and the results of validation studies. The model formulation is a synthesis of existing methods, modified and extended in order to obtain a qualitatively new capability. The salient feature of the approach is that time advancement of the flow is fully resolved both spatially and temporally, albeit with modeled advancement processes restricted to one spatial dimension. This one-dimensional advancement is the basis of a bottom-up modeling approach in which three-dimensional space is discretized into under-resolved mesh cells, each of which contains an instantiation of the modeled one-dimensional advancement. Filtering is done only to provide inputs to a pressure correction that enforces continuity and to obtain mesh-scale-filtered outputs if desired. The one-dimensional advancement, the pressure correction, and coupling of one-dimensional instantiations using a Lagrangian implementation of mesh-resolved volume fluxes is sufficient to advance the three-dimensional flow without time advancing coarse-grained equations, a feature that motivates the designation of the approach as autonomous microscale evolution (AME). In this sense, the one-dimensional treatment is not a closure because there are no unclosed terms to evaluate. However, the approach is additionally suitable for use as a subgrid-scale closure of existing large-eddy-simulation methods. The potential capabilities and limitations of both of these implementations of the approach are assessed conceptually and with reference to demonstrated capabilities of related methods.

This study investigated the ability of a HYDRUS 1D model for predicting the vertical distribution of potassium iodine (200 ppm) in soil columns after amendment with five different common remediation materials (gypsum, lime, fly ash, charcoal and sawdust) at a rate of 2.5% (w/w), relative to an unamended control soil. Results shows that relative to the unamended soil, iodine leaching was decreased by all amendments but that the magnitude of the decreases varied with the soil amendment applied. Iodine content was highest in the upper layer of the soil columns and decreased progressively with soil depth. The model was evaluated via comparison of the model simulated values with measured values from the soil column studies. The results showed that the HYDRUS 1D model efficiency was near to 1, indicating that the stimulated results were near to the measured values. Therefore, this study showed that iodine leaching through a soil could be ascertained well using a HYDRUS 1D model. The model over predicted iodine leaching, resulting to a weak correspondence between the simulated and the measured results for iodine leaching. This suggests that the HYDRUS-1D model does not explain accurately different organic and inorganic amended soil and the preferential flow that occurs in these columns. This may be due to the fact that Freundlich isotherm, which is part of the transport equations, does not sufficiently describe the mechanism of iodine adsorption onto the soil particles. This study would help to select amendments for an effective management strategy to reduce exogenous iodine losses from agro-ecosystems. This would also improve understanding of iodine transport in soil profile.

The management of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) is constantly evolving. In just a few decades the medical approach has switched from an exclusively palliative therapy to a targeted therapy, transforming the natural history of the disease, improving survival time and quality of life, and creating new challenges and goals. Many nutritional problems, gastrointesti-nal disorders and metabolic and endocrine alterations are commonly identified in patients af-fected by SMA1 during childhood and adolescence. For this reason, a proper pediatric multidis-ciplinary approach is then required in the clinical care of these patients, with a specific focus on the prevention of most common complications. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide the clinician with a practical and usable tool about SMA1 patients care, through a comprehensive insight into the nutritional, gastroenterological, metabolic and endocrine management of SMA1. Considering the possible horizons opened thanks to new therapeutic frontiers, a nutritional and endo-metabolic surveillance is a crucial element to be considered for a proper clinical care of these patients.

There must exist a reformulation of quantum field theory which does not refer to classical time. We propose a pre-quantum, pre-spacetime theory, which is a matrix-valued Lagrangian dynamics for gravity, Yang-Mills fields, and fermions. The definition of spin in this theory leads us to an eight dimensional octonionic space-time. The algebra of the octonions reveals the standard model; model parameters are determined by roots of the cubic characteristic equation of the exceptional Jordan algebra. We derive the asymptotic low energy value 1/137 of the fine structure constant, and predict the existence of universally interacting spin one Lorentz bosons, which replace the hypothesised graviton. Gravity is not to be quantized, but is an emergent four-dimensional classical phenomenon, precipitated by the spontaneous localisation of highly entangled fermions.

Abstract: Tumor-targeting and blood-brain barrier (BBB)-penetrating are highly desirable for the treatment of glioma. In this study, we developed Pep-1&borneol-bifunctionalized carmustin-loaded micelles (Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M) capable of targeting to IL-13 receptor-overexpressed glioma and penetrating the brain microvascular endothelial cells-associated physiologic barriers. Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M were nearly spherical particles with a dimeter of 32.6 ± 1.1 nm and zeta potential of -21.3 ± 3.1 mV. Carmustine (CMS) released from Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M in pH 7.4 was significantly faster than in acidic environments. In human glioma BT325 cellular studies, Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M remarkably increased the cytotoxicity, notably improved the internalization and effectively induced the cell apoptosis. Likewise, in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) cells, Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M obviously promoted the cellular uptake, rapidly decreased the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and thereby of enhancing the ability of penetration. In orthotopic Luc-BT325 glioma tumor-bearing nude mouse models, the stronger fluorescence signal and longer retention were observed in brain tissues compared with other controls, after single administration of DiD-labelled Pep-1/Bor/M (DiD/Pep-1/Bor/M). Importantly, Pep-1/Bor/CMS-M displayed the strongest inhibition of tumor growth, the longest survival period and low systemic toxicity in treating orthotopic glioma tumor-bearing nude mice. Simultaneous functionalization of Pep-1 and borneol offers a novel strategy for designing CMS-based nanomedicine and precisely treating glioma.

Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MyBPC) is a thick-filament associated regulatory protein in the sarcomere. It regulates the sensitive contractile system of the myocardium by acting as a mechanical tether, sensitizing the thin filament or modulating myosin motor activity. Mutations in the MYBPC3 gene are a frequent cause for the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most frequent cardiac disorder. Recently, the monoallelic double mutation MYBPC3Δ25bp/D389V has been discovered as a subset of the common MYBPC3Δ25bp variant in South Asia. MYBPC3Δ25bp/D389V carriers exhibit hyperdynamic features, which are considered an early finding for the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Using correlation-guided molecular dynamics simulations sampling, we show that the D389V mutation shifts the conformational distribution of the C2 domain of MyBPC. We further applied biochemical approaches to probe the effects of the D389V mutation on structure, thermostability and protein-protein interactions of MyBPC C2. The melting temperature (Tm) of MyBPC C2 D389V is decreased by 4 to 7 °C compared to wild type while the interaction of the C0-C2 domains with myosin and actin remains unchanged. Additionally, we utilized steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to investigate the altered unfolding pathway of MyBPC C2 D389V. Based on our data, we propose a pathomechanism for the development of HCM in MYBPC3Δ25bp and MYBPC3Δ25bp/D389V carriers.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an intestinal disease that results in poor performance, inefficient nu-trient absorption, and has a devastating economic impact on poultry production. This study evaluated the effects of a saponin-based product (Clarity Q [CQ]) during a NE challenge. A to-tal of 1,200 male chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (10 pens/treatment; 30 birds/pen): treatment 1 (NC): a non-medicated corn-soybean basal diet; treatment 2 (PC) NC + 50 g/metric ton (MT) of Bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD); treatments 3 (CQ15) and 4 (CQ30) NC + 15 and 30 g/MT, respectively. On day (d) of placement, birds were challenged by a coccidia vaccine to induce NE. On d 8, 14, 28, and 42, performance parameters were measured. On d 8, three birds/pen were necropsied for NE lesions. On d 8 and d 14, jejunum samples from one bird/pen were collected for mRNA abundance of tight junction proteins and nutrient trans-porter genes. Data were analyzed in JMP (JMP Pro, 16) and significance (P ≤ 0.05) between treatments identified by Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test. Compared to PC and NC, CQ15 had higher average daily gain (ADG), while CQ30 had lower average daily feed in-take (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). NE lesions in the duodenum were lower in CQ15 compared to all other treatments. On d 8, mRNA abundance of CLDN1, CLDN5, AMPK, PepT2, GLUT2, and EAAT3 were significantly greater in CQ30 (P < 0.05) compared to both PC and NC. On d 14, mRNA abundance of ZO2 and PepT2 was significantly lower in PC when compared to all treatments, while that of ANXA1, JAM3, and GLUT5 was comparable to CQ15. In summary, adding Clarity Q to broiler diets has the potential to alleviate adverse effects caused by this enteric disease by improving performance, reducing intestinal lesions, and positively modulating the mRNA abundance of various tight junction proteins and key nutrient transporters during peak NE infection.

This paper discusses domestic problem of waiting hot water for the shower use till it reaches satisfactory temperature, which result a lot of wastage in fresh water. The outcome from research survey shows that there is no satisfactory solution till now as all solutions were either expensive or with no effective results. Local small inline electric heater equipped with fuzzy logic controller is proposed in this paper to be installed just before the showerhead to measure the water temperature and flow before the showerhead, as control input-variables, and decide the operating voltage of the heater, as control output-variable (MISO). MATLAB Simulink is used to model the proposed system. Different test cases are simulated to prove the performance and the safe operation of the system. Techno-economic study is carried out to determine the “Direct Benefits” and “Indirect Benefits” that can be achieved if such system is implemented in wide range. Azerbaijan data is taken as an example to calculate the economic benefits. The results show important benefits not only for economy but also for climate and the reduction of CO₂ gas emission. Different economic indices are provided to be an easy reference for decision makers and project managers.

A novel investigation into the structure-function relationship was undertaken to enhance understanding of the mechanism of action of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (AngII) using unconventional substitutions such as AIB (α-aminobutyric acid), CHA (cyclohexylalanine acid), IAP (isonipecotic acid), TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amine-4-carboxylic acid) at position 3, and DMT (2,6-dimethyl-Tyrosine) at position 4. Biological potency assays were conducted on guinea pig ileum, and structural features were analyzed using circular dichroism (CD) and molecular dynamics (MD). CHA3-AngII and AIB3-AngII analogs retained some agonistic activity, whereas IAP3-AngII and TOAC3-AngII derivatives were inactive. CD results indicated low conformational flexibility for AIB3-AngII and CHA3-AngII, and greater conformational restrictions for IAP3-AngII and TOAC3-AngII, consistent with computational modeling analyses. DMT4-AngII exhibited significant agonistic activity compared to the inactive Phe4AngII. Molecular modeling suggested a potential interaction between the hydroxyl group of Tyr4 and the amide bond between positions 7 and 8. AngII showed greater conformational restriction compared to DMT4-AngII and Phe4-AngII, underscoring the importance of tyrosine at position 4.

Barley straw was used to reinforce PHB in a discontinuous semi-industrial process. Four different fibres were used as reinforcing material : sawdust (SW), defibred (DFBF), delignified (DBF) and bleached (BBF) fibres. Looking at the mechanical properties, onlythe elastic moduli (Et) revealed an improvement. Oppositely, the strengths at break, under both tensile and bending assays, tended to decrease, evidencing a poor affinity between both components. Thanks to the mechani-cal treatment applied on the fibre, DFBF appeared as the most promising filler with the mechani-cal properties of the composites closest to those of neat PHB. DFBF-based composites were then produced by means of a process intensification using a twin-screw extruder, and then moulded into flowerpots. Mechanical results showed almost the same properties between the discontinuous and intensification processes. The suitability of the material to be used on agriculture flowerpots was demonstrated by simulation. . PHB-DFBF composite material can be considered an alterna-tive to replace petrol-based products for applications in agriculture and horticulture.

The menopausal transition often accompanies distressing manifestations, including vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruptions, and depressive syndrome. Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged as a potential intervention to alleviate these symptoms. This review aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of omega-3 supplementation on vasomotor symptoms, sleep quality, and depression among postmenopausal women. We conducted a systematic search focusing on randomized control trials across the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases from inception to August 2023. Among the initial pool of 163 studies, 9 studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this review. Four studies suggested potential benefits of omega-3 intake for improving hot flashes and night sweats. Sleep quality outcomes displayed heterogeneity across the studies. Incorporating diverse scales such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21, the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for depression outcomes, the review found inconclusive evidence on omega-3's impact on depression. Overall, the combined analysis of these studies did not provide substantial evidence to support the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in improving vasomotor symptoms, sleep quality, and depression. Further well-designed RCTs with larger participant groups are crucial to validate and generalize these results.

Effortful control (EC) describes individual differences in self-regulation, with a strong attentional basis. Moreover, during early childhood EC has a central role on children’s socio-emotional adjustment and academic achievement. The aim of the current study was to predict the development of EC at 36 months of age from early attentional and environmental measures taken in infancy using a machine learning approach. A sample of 75 infants participated in a longitudinal study running different waves of data collection at 6, 9 and 36 months of age. Attentional tasks were administered at 6 months of age and two additional measures were collected at 9 months of age. Parents reported household environment variables during wave 1, and their child’s EC at 36 months. A machine -learning algorithm was implemented to identify children with low EC scores at 36 months of age. An “attention only” model showed greater predictive sensitivity than the “environmental only” model. However, a model including both attentional and environmental variables was able to classify the groups (Low-EC vs Average-to-High EC) with 100% accuracy. Sensitivity analyses indicate that socio-economic variables together with attention control processes at 6-months, and self-restraint capacity at 9-months, are the most important predictors of EC. Results suggest a foundational role of executive attention processes in the development of EC in complex interaction with household environment and provide a new tool to identify early markers of socio-emotional regulation development.

The major auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is associated with a plethora of growth and developmental processes including embryo development, expansion growth, cambial activity, and the induction of lateral root growth. Accumulation of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) induces stress related processes by stimulating abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. How IAM signaling is controlled is, at present, unclear. Here, we characterize an ami1/rooty double mutant, that we initially generated to study the metabolic and phenotypic consequences of a genetic blockade of the indole glucosinolate and IAM pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our mass spectrometric analyses of the mutant revealed that the combination of the two mutations is not sufficient to fully prevent the conversion of IAM to IAA. The detected strong accumulation of IAM was, however, recognized to substantially impair seed development. We further show by genome-wide expression studies that the double mutant is broadly affected in its translational capacity, and that a small number of cell proliferation and plant growth regulating transcriptional circuits are repressed by the high IAM content in the seed. In accordance with the previously described growth reduction in response to elevated IAM levels, our data support the hypothesis that IAM is a growth repressing counterpart to IAA.

The blue sepal color of hydrangea is due to a metal complex anthocyanin composed of 3-O-glucosyldelphinidin (1) and an aluminum ion with the co-pigments 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (2) and/or 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (3). The three components, namely, anthocyanin, Al³⁺ and 5-O-acylquinic acids, are essential for blue color development, but the complex is unstable and only exists in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the complex did not give analyzable NMR spectra or crystals. Therefore, many trials to determine the detailed chemical structure of the hydrangea-blue complex have failed to date. Instead, via experiments mixing 1, Al³⁺ and 2 or 3 in a buffered solution at pH 4.0, we obtained the same blue solution derived from the sepals. However, the ratio was not stoichiometric but fluctuated. To determine the composition of the complex, we tried direct observation of the molecular ion of the complex using electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. In a very low-concentration buffer solution (2.0 mM) at pH 4.0, we reproduced the hydrangea-blue color by mixing 1, 2 and Al³⁺ in ratios of 1:1:1, 1:2:1 and 1:3:1. All solution gave the same molecular ion peak at m/z = 843, indicating that the blue solution has a ratio of 1:1:1 for the complex. By using 3, the observed mass number was m/z = 827 and the ratio of 1, 3 and Al³⁺ was also 1:1:1. A mixture of 1, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4) and Al³⁺ did not give any blue color but instead was purple, and the intensity of the molecular ion peak at m/z = 843 was very low. These results strongly indicate that the hydrangea blue-complex is composed of a ratio of 1:1:1 for 1, Al³⁺ and 2 or 3.

This study is based on the clamor of fish farmers for a cheaper fish feed alternative to current commercial feeds. At present, 70-80% of aquaculture costs come from feed cost, keeping farmers' income below their expectation. This study aimed to find alternative feeds or supplementary feeds that can perform similarly to the existing commercial feeds thereby reducing farmer expense and cutting down their cost of production and increasing their profitability. To do that, various indigenous raw materials were selected based on an earlier study which could result in a better feed alternative. The formulations for the study included four grow-out treatments mainly: control (commercial feed), taro+control (powdered Colocasia esculenta+commercial fish feed), bloodmeal (formulated fish feed based on bloodmeal), banana stem+control (chopped banana stem+commercial fish feed). A total of 12,000 fingerlings initially weighing 16 g (TL=10 cm) individually were assigned randomly to the four treatments (3000 in each cage measuring 6 x 6 m). Week zero was used for acclimation period, and fingerlings were fed with commercial fish feed. Then the first week used the treatment diets which were adjusted based on average body weight and sampled weekly (ABW=23g; TL=11 cm). The result of the study first showed significant differences between treatments on their fourth week in terms of the diet treatments (MS=0.103, df=3, F=4.12, P=0.0076) with the control and the taro+control showing no difference in terms of weight and length (TC vs CF; P=0.4524). But during the fifth week, the bloodmeal treatment showed increased weight and length for fish sampled (MS=0.109, df=3, F=4.10, P=0.0076) and provided similar weight and length as those from the taro+control and the control (TC vs CF; P=0.3721 and BM vs CF; P=0.0587). During the succeeding weeks, there were no significant differences between feed treatments from 6th weeks onwards, whether with weight [MS=0.130, df=3, F=1.14, P=0.333] or total length of the treatments [MS=0.008, df=3, F=0.40, P=0.75]. The FCR ratio showed taro (1.81) as lowest, followed by blood meal (2.09), and control (2.24) and then banana stem (2.84). In terms of weight gain, fish from the bloodmeal treatment gained the highest (236.97 g), followed by control (223.33 g), then taro (217.67 g) and banana stem (196.99 g). As a result, we find that the tested treatments such as bloodmeal formulated feed, taro+commercial feed, and banana stem+commercial feed can serve as an alternative to purely commercial fish feeds. Cost-benefit analysis showed that a better gross profit margin of 42% and cost-benefit ratio of 1.37 was observed in taro+commercial feed diet.

The combination of interstitial hyperthermia treatment (IHT) with high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for prostate cancer treatment and has the potential to improve clinical outcome, since it highly enhances the efficiency of cell kill, especially when applied simultaneously. Therefore, we have developed the ThermoBrachy applicators. To effectively apply optimal targeted IHT, treatment planning is considered essential. However, treatment planning in IHT is rarely applied since it is regarded difficult to accurately calculate the deposited energy in the tissue in a short enough time for clinical practice. In this study, we investigated various time-efficient methods for fast computation of the electromagnetic (EM) energy deposition resulting from the ThermoBrachy applicators. Initially, we investigated the use of an electro-quasistatic solver. Next, we extended our investigation to the application of geometric simplifications. Furthermore, we investigated the validity of the superpositioning principle, which can enable adaptive treatment plan optimization without the need for continuous recomputation of the EM field. Finally, we evaluated the accuracy of the methods by comparing them to the golden standard Finite-Difference Time-Domain calculation method using gamma-index analysis. The simplifications considerably reduced the computation time needed, improving from &gt;12 h to a few seconds. All investigated methods showed excellent agreement with the golden standard by showing a &gt;99% passing rate with 1%/0.5 mm Dose Difference and Distance-to-Agreement criteria. These results allow the proposed electromagnetic simulation method to be used for fast and accurate adaptive treatment planning.

Fructose in beverages has adverse effects on lipids, glucose and insulin sensitivity after acute and chronic ingestion. There is limited data showing that chronic consumption of fructose in solid foods has harmful effects. We hypothesized that a moderate amount of fructose compared with sucrose in solid food consumed for a month would not adversely influence fasting or postprandial lipids and glucose after an acute fat and carbohydrate load. Twenty-five men and women with prediabetes and/or obesity and overweight consumed in random order two acute test meals of muffins sweetened with either fructose or sucrose, followed by 4-week chronic consumption of 42g/day of either fructose or sucrose in low fat muffins after which the 2 meal tests were repeated. Subjects were randomised to sugar type in the chronic feeding period. Sugar type had no effect on the incremental area under the curve for triglyceride or uric acid at either time point (P=0.4 and P=0.9). There was no overall difference between meal tests at baseline and after 1 month and no effect of consuming sucrose or fructose muffins for 1 month. Fasting triglyceride increased after chronic consumption of fructose by 0.31±0.37 mmol/L compared with sucrose in people with IFG/IGT only (P=0.004). Fructose at a moderate intake of <10% of energy in solid food has no different effects on postprandial triglyceride and uric acid compared with sucrose although fasting triglyceride was increased in people with IFG/IGT after 1 month of fructose muffins suggesting the need for caution.

Sphingolipids play an important role in the development of diabetes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as in the development of both micro- and macro-vascular complications. Several reviews have been published concerning the role of sphingolipids in diabetes but most of the emphasis has been on the possible mechanisms by which sphingolipids, mainly ceramides, contribute to the development of diabetes. Research on circulating levels of the different classes of sphingolipids in serum and in lipoproteins and their importance as biomarkers to predict not only the development of diabetes but also of its complications has only recently emerged and it is still in its infancy. This review summarizes the previously published literature concerning sphingolipid-mediated mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes and its complications focusing on how circulating plasma sphingolipid levels and the relative content carried by the different lipoproteins may impact their role as possible biomarkers both in the development of diabetes and mainly in the development of diabetic complications. Further studies in this field may open new therapeutic avenues to prevent or arrest/reduce both the development of diabetes and progression of its complications.

This chapter aims to construct a relatively complete, universal, and highly reliable road surface state monitoring and perception system through the research of the A1 contact road reconstruction project of an international airport (hereinafter referred to as the “airport”). The system design is based on on-the-spot investigation, theoretical analysis, and engineering practice, using vibrating string type and resistive strain sensors as sensing means, real-time high-frequency signal acquisition technology as the guide, 4G router for wireless communication technology as the media, and storage technology for monitoring system based on server storage terminals. In combination with engineering background, aircraft motion state, main landing gear configuration, sensor selection and evaluation, and other major factors, the actual monitoring information needs of the plane are fully taken into account, as well as the difference in sensor information types, and the system design is carried out by stratification and classification.

There are several challenges on how to attain energy efficiency while maintaining balance among factors affecting energy consumption such as power rating and temperature setpoints of cooling units, room temperature and humidity, and indoor air quality (IAQ). A real-time energy and IAQ monitoring system were installed in an educational building to profile the operational power consumption of inverter-based air condition unit (ACU) installed in each room. Polynomial curve and neural fitting regression analysis were applied to the real-time power consumption, indoor temperature and humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) level data. The derived models were able to provide the stabilizing indoor thermal and air conditions of the room to reach steady state ACU power consumption. These collected data and calculated parameters can be used to define rules in automating control of cooling appliances for an efficient energy utilization. The regression approaches, using real-time data, have determined the influence of indoor heat conditions and carbon dioxide levels on ACU power consumption. These parameters were utilized to establish consistent values for temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels under stable settings of inverter-based air conditioning units.

We describe an interesting case report about a patient with hemophilia A with severe chronic elbow arthropathy who underwent multiple surgical because of his condition. We collected all the clinical and imaging findings, and we compared the decision-making flow chart and the surgery performed with the most recent indications, treatments and complications reported in the literature. The aim of this case report is to show how usually the hemophilic patient even if young usually comes to our attention from the beginning with complex and advance musculoskeletal disease. Elbow hemophilic arthropathy is a complex disease and the management in these patients could be more difficult than others because of the higher risk of complications rate after all surgical procedures, for this reason it’s very important to treat these patients in hub centers with expertise in well-coordinated multidisciplinary teams. The path from diagnosis to surgical treatment of hemophilic elbow arthropathy can be a risky one, as it happened in this case.

The detection and enrichment of circulating melanoma cells is a challenge as the cells are very heterogeneous in terms of their biomechanical properties and surface markers. In addition, there is a lack of valid and reliable biomarkers that predict progress and therapeutic response. We here analyzed the elasticity of A375 melanoma cells applying force spectroscopy and a microfluidic method. To identify and eventually separate circulating tumor cells, it is crucial to precisely know their physical properties. First, we used standard AFM force spectroscopy, where the elasticity of the cells is calculated from indentation with a pyramidal tip. To extend the limits of measurement with a tip, we then used cantilevers without a tip to press on the cells over a large area. The resulting Young’s moduli are slightly lower and vary less without tip presumably because of the inhomogeneity of the cells. Finally, we implemented our microfluidic method. We measured single cell elasticity by analyzing its deformation in high-speed micrographs while passing a stenosis. Combining the force field and the change in shape provides the basis for a stress strain diagram. The results from microfluidic deformation analysis were in accordance with the results from force spectroscopy. The microfluidic method provides advantages over conventional methods, since it is less invasive and less likely to harm the cell during the measurement, and the whole cell is measured as one entity without contact to a stiff substrate, while force spectroscopy is limited to the contact area of the tip, and in some cases dependent of the cell substrate interaction. Consequently, microfluidic deformation analysis allows to predict the overall elastic behavior of the whole inhomogeneous cell in three-dimensional force fields. This method may contribute to improve the detection of circulation melanoma cells in the clinical practice.

In many of the current software applications, numerous vulnerabilities may be present.1 Attackers attempt to exploit existing vulnerabilities that lead to security breaches, unauthorized entry,2 data theft, or incapacitation of a computer system. Rather than addressing software or hardware3 vulnerabilities at a later stage, it is better to address them immediately. DevSecOps, when utilized4 in application development, tackles these vulnerabilities at an early stage. AIBughunter is a tool5 that addresses this problem in software and was developed by the ASWM research group to predict,6 classify, and repair software vulnerabilities. AIBughunter integrates LineVul to find vulnerable7 code lines and returns information about the type of vulnerability and its severity to developers.8 It also includes a tool, VulRepair, which detects and repairs vulnerabilities. VulRepair currently9 predicts patches for vulnerable functions at 44%. In order to become truly effective, this number 10 needs to be increased. This study examines VulRepair to see whether the 44% Perfect Prediction 11 can be increased. VulRepair is a T5 based model that uses Natural Language and Programming 12 Languages for pre-training along with Byte Pair Encoding. It outperforms other existing models, 13 such as VRepair and CodeBERT. However, the hyperparameters may not be optimized due to the 14 development of new optimizers. We review a Deep Neural Network (DNN) optimizer developed by 15 Google in 2023. This optimizer called Evolved Sign Momentum (LION) is available in PyTorch. We 16 applied this optimizer to VulRepair and tested its influence on hyperparameters. After adjusting the 17 hyperparameters, we obtained a 56% Perfect Prediction, which exceeds the value of the VulRepair 18 report of 44%. This means that VulRepair can repair more vulnerabilities and avoid more attacks. As 19 far as we know, our approach of utilizing an alternative to AdamW, the standard optimizer, has not 20 been previously applied to enhance VulRepair and similar models. 21

Background: The role of inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) in managing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Covid-19 related (C-ARDS) is debatable. The study aimed to analyze the effect of iNO administration in patients with persistent severe hypoxia and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included 98 consecutive critically ill patients with C-ARDS admitted to ICU from 1 October 2020 to 31 October 2021. Results: Of these patients, 28% had received iNO. Twelve (44.4%) were responders. Kaplan-Mayer plot shows mortality was higher in non-responders (86.6 vs 25.0%). Non-response to iNo was the most important predictive value (p. 0.01). The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for a percentage increase in PaO2 from baseline confirmed that it had a higher predictive value for in-hospital survival. A value of 19% can predict the death event with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 81.2%. Conclusions: Therefore, we propose to use iNO as a vasoreactivity test for prognostic stratification in patients with persistent severe hypoxia.

This study outlines the development of an innovative method utilizing UHPLC-PDA for the simultaneous identification of polyphenols and bitter acids (alpha-acids, beta-acids, and iso-alpha-acids) in beer samples. The resulting chemical profiles were leveraged to distinguish the characteristics of four bergamot-flavored beers, each representing distinct styles (IPA, Lager, Blanche, and ALE), produced on a pilot-scale plant. In a streamlined 29-minute analysis, twenty-nine polyphenols and fourteen bitter acids were successfully identified under optimized separation conditions. Rigorous validation, encompassing parameters such as Limit of Detection (LOD), Limit of Quantification (LOQ), R-squared (R2), repeatability, and reproducibility, was conducted for polyphenol quantification using constructed calibration curves with seven levels. Exploring polyphenolic components as potential discriminators among different beer styles, a total of thirty-two polyphenolic compounds were identified and quantified, including characteristic bergamot peel polyphenols like neoeriocitrin, naringin, and neohesperidin. The determination of bitter units and total phenols further aided in style differentiation. Multivariate analysis provided additional insights into variations among specific beer styles, revealing discrepancies in the presence or relative concentrations of specific compounds linked to brewing ingredients and processes. This research enhances to trace the fingerprinting of the chemistry governing beer quality through a straightforward and cost-effective analytical approach, readily applicable in common laboratories.

A reduction in population sodium (as salt) consumption is one of the most cost-effective strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and it is a global health priority. High potassium intake is also recommended to reduce cardiovascular disease. To establish effective policies for setting targets and monitoring effectiveness within each country, the current level of consumption should be known. Greece lacks data on actual sodium and potassium intakes. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess dietary salt (using sodium as biomarker) and potassium intakes in a sample of healthy adults in northern Greece and to determine whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet is related to different sodium intakes or sodium-to-potassium ratio. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Thessaloniki greater metropolitan area (northern Greece) (n=252, aged 18-75 years, 45.2% males). Participants’ dietary sodium and potassium intakes were determined by 24h urinary sodium and potassium excretions. In addition, we estimated their adherence to Mediterranean diet by the use of an 11-item MedDietScore (range 0-55). The mean sodium excretion was 175 (SD 72) mmol/day, equivalent to 4,220 (1,745) mg of sodium or 10.7 (4.4) g of salt per day and potassium excretion was 65 (25) mmol/day, equivalent to 3,303 (1,247) mg/day. Men had higher sodium and potassium excretions compared to women. Only 5.6% of the sample had salt intake <5g/d, which is the target intake recommended by the WHO. Mean sodium-to-potassium excretion ratio was 2.82 (1.07). There was no significant difference in salt or potassium intake or their ratio across MedDietScore quartiles. No significant relationships were found between salt intake and adherence to Mediterranean diet, suggesting that the perception of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet does not hold when referring to salt consumption. These results suggest the need for a larger nation-wide survey on salt intake in Greece and underline the importance of continuation of salt reduction initiatives in Greece.

The heavy-metal-associated (HMA) proteins are a class of PB1-Type ATPases related to the intracellular transport and detoxification of metals. However, due to a lack of information regarding the HMA gene family in the Cucurbitaceae family, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the HMA family was performed in ten Cucurbitaceae species: Citrullus amarus, Citrullus colocynthis, Citrullus lanatus, Citrullus mucosospermus, Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo, and Legenaria siceraria. We identified 103 Cucurbit HMA proteins with various members, ranging from 8 (Legenaria siceraria) to 14 (Cucurbita pepo) across species. The phylogenetic and structural analysis confirmed that the Cucurbitaceae HMA protein family could be further classified into two major clades: Zn/Co/Cd/Pb and Cu/Ag. GO annotation-based subcellular localization analysis predicted that all HMA gene family members were localized on membranes. Moreover, the analysis of conserved motifs and gene structure (intron/exon) revealed the functional divergence between clades. Interspecies microsynteny analysis demonstrated that maximum orthologous genes were found between species of the Citrullus genera. Finally, nine candidates HMA genes were selected, and their expression analysis was carried out via qRT-PCR in root, leaf, flower, and fruit tissues of C. pepo under arsenic stress. The expression pattern of the CpeHMA genes showed a distinct pattern of expression in root and shoot tissues, with a remarkable expression of CpeHMA6 and CpeHMA3 genes from the Cu/Ag clade. Overall, this study provides insights into the functional analysis of the HMA gene family in Cucurbitaceae species and lays down the basic knowledge to explore the role and mechanism of the HMA gene family to cope with arsenic stress conditions.

In this paper we investigate how the Reionization process is affected by early galaxy formation in different cosmological scenarios. We use a semi-analytic model with suppressed initial power spectra to obtain the UV Luminosity Function in thermal Warm Dark Matter and sterile neutrino cosmologies. We retrace the ionization history of intergalactic medium with hot stellar emission only, exploiting fixed and variable photons escape fraction models ( fesc). For each cosmology, we find an upper limit to fixed fesc, which guarantees the completion of the process at z <6.7. The analysis is tested with two limit hypothesis on high-z ionized hydrogen volume fraction, comparing our predictions with observational results.

This paper reveals the physical properties of Jeffery nanofluid flow past a moving plate embedded in porous medium under the existence of radiation and thermal diffusion. The analysis is carried out in three cases of moving plate, namely stationary plate λ = 0, forth-moving plate λ = 1, back-moving plate λ = −1. Finite difference method is applied to solve the governing equations of the flow and pointed out the variations in velocity, temperature and concentration with the use of graphical presentations. The impact of several parameters on local skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number is also noticed and discussed. Enhancement of velocity is observed under the impact of Jeffery parameter for the cases of stationary plate and back-moving plate, whereas reverse nature is found in the case of forth-moving plate. The velocity enhances as the values of porosity parameter increases for the case of stationary plate and forth-moving plate but a reverse nature is noticed in the case of back-moving plate.

This study develops a hybrid machine learning (ML) algorithm integrated with IoT technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of soil monitoring and tomato crop disease prediction in Anakapalle, a south Indian station. An IoT device collected one-minute and critical soil parameters—humidity, temperature, pH values, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)—essential for assessing soil health and optimizing crop growth. Kendall's correlations were computed to rank these parameters for utilization in hybrid ML techniques. Various ML algorithms including K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression (LR) were evaluated. A novel hybrid algorithm, 'Bayesian Optimization with KNN', was introduced to combine multiple ML techniques and enhance predictive performance. The hybrid algorithm demonstrated superior results with 95% accuracy, precision, and recall, and an F1 score of 94%, while individual ML algorithms achieved varying results: KNN (80% accuracy), SVM (82%), DT (77%), RF (80%), and LR (81%) with differing precision, recall, and F1 scores. This hybrid ML approach proved highly effective in predicting tomato crop diseases in natural environments, underscoring the synergistic benefits of IoT and advanced ML techniques in optimizing agricultural practices.

In the fast-changing world of software development, the protection of software products has emerged as an imperative requirement. This paper presents a new way to increase the maturity of development teams to reach the highest level of software security. Based on these, the framework uses the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) to systematically evaluate and enhance the people maturity of software development projects. The essence of the fuzzy logic and AHP technique interaction is to handle the uncertainty and complexity of human factors and team dynamics in the evaluation framework. Using the decision-making model allows the project managers and stakeholders to determine the appropriate areas for improvement and develop the right strategies and actions to nurture a secure and mature development culture. The paper identifies 24 human success factors (HSFs) and human security vulnerabilities (HSVs) and 38 practices for addressing these HSFs and HSVs. Furthermore, we discuss the local and global ranks of each HSF and HSV practice and categorize the identified practices into 9 categories to determine the ranks and weight of each category. Based on collected data, FAHP prioritized these practices; the category “C4: Skill Development and Stakeholder Engagement” is ranked highest at rank-1 and possesses the most significant weight of 0.12435. Similarly, the highest global weight is 0.051506, and the global ranked (rank-1) HSF and HSV practice is “P15: Hands-On Practice and Stakeholder Communication”. Research evidence and case discussions show how the described framework assists in building secure software development (SSD) practices, which can be considered evidence of the application of team maturity to improve cybersecurity in organizations. Additional research directions include improving the framework, especially using highly developed learning techniques and applying the framework to other forms of development.

Growing evidence suggests a possible involvement of the intestinal microbiota in generating new neurons, but a detailed breakdown of the microbiota composition is lacking. In this report, we systematically reviewed preclinical rodent reports addressing the connection between the composition of the intestinal microbiota and neurogenesis and neurogenesis-affecting neurotrophins in the hippocampus. Various changes in bacterial composition from low taxonomic resolution at the phylum level to high taxonomic resolution at the species level were identified. As for neurogenesis, studies predominantly used doublecortin (DCX) as a marker of newly formed neurons or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) as a marker of proliferation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was the only neurotrophin found researched in relation to the intestinal microbiota. Phylum Actinobacteria, genus Bifidobacterium and genus Lactobacillus found the strongest positive while phylum Firmicutes, phylum Bacteroidetes and family Enterobacteriaceae as well as germ-free status, showed the strongest negative correlation towards neurogenesis or BDNF mRNA expression. Age, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), obesity and chronic stress were recurring topics in all studies identified. Overall, these findings add to the existing evidence of a connection between microbiota and processes in the brain. To better understand this interaction, further investigation based on analyses of higher taxonomic resolution and clinical studies would be a gain to the matter.

More than 20 years after the discovery of the first anelloviruses (AVs), they still remain a mysterious group of viruses. To date, there is no clear understanding of their impact on the host organism, although information is emerging about their participation in various pathologies. However, it is well known that AVs are an important component of the human virome. In the current study we assessed the abundance of AVs in viromes from four nasal and pharyngeal samples from children with respiratory symptoms using a metagenomic approach. It is worth noting that three patients had known respiratory viruses and one did not have any. Regarding AVs, they were detected in all samples, namely Torque teno mini virus (TTMV). The greatest abundance and diversity of AVs (Torque teno virus (TTV), TTMV and Torque teno midi virus (TTMDV)) were shown in a diseased patient with an absence of respiratory viruses, which may indicate the potential involvement of AVs in the maintenance of respiratory symptoms. An activated immune system to combat the main pathogens, against the background of which the number of AVs decreases, is discussed as a possible reason for the reduced diversity of anellome in other patients. We also compared the results of the metagenomic approach and qPCR for major respiratory viruses, which were in agreement. In addition, metagenomic sequencing made it possible to obtain additional data on viral genomes in order to establish their taxonomic identification and characterize individual viral profiles in patients from the Siberian part of Russia.

The present work investigates primarily the morphology evolution of the body-centered-cubic (BCC)/B2 phases in AlxNiCoFeCr high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with increasing Al content, which has been neglected so far. There exist two types of microscopic morphologies of BCC and B2 phases in this HEA series: one is the weave-like morphology induced by the spinodal decomposition, and the other is the microstructure of a spherical disordered BCC precipitation on the ordered B2 matrix that appears in HEAs with a much higher Al content. The shape of coherent precipitates is found to be closely related to the lattice misfit between BCC and B2 phases, which is sensitive to Al. The mechanical properties, including the compressive yielding strength and microhardness of the AlxNiCoFeCr HEAs, are also discussed in light of the concept of the valence electron concentration (VEC).

The extraction of cell cultures from fresh tissue is a process that requires significant computa-tional resources and is associated with substantial overheads. The objective of our research is to de-vise a rapid, straightforward, and efficient technique for the cultivation of neuronal cells derived from frozen biological material. We utilized freshly isolated hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissue from rats, in addition to whole brain tissue. This tissue underwent digestion and processing to yield a cellular suspension. This suspension was subsequently cryopreserved using a variety of cryopro-tectants: CTS™ Synth-a-Freeze™, SpermFreeze®, and a medium supplemented with 10% DMSO. CTS™ Synth-a-Freeze™ is a commercially available cryoprotectant typically employed in the preservation of cellular cultures, while the addition of 10% DMSO to the medium is a conventional technique for the cryopreservation of cells to mitigate damage. The innovative aspect of our meth-odology is the application of SpermFreeze®, a product used for the cryopreservation of sperm in in vitro clinics. We postulated that SpermFreeze® might enhance the viability and quality of the cryo-preserved neuronal cells, given the delicate and energetically demanding nature of both sperm and neuronal cells. The ultimate objective was to ascertain whether a cryoprotectant formulated for sperm could augment the post-thawing efficacy of our nervous system cells. This investigation intro-duces an innovative methodology for the optimization of neuronal cell isolation and cryopreserva-tion from animal-derived tissues.

Transferrin (TF) is a key iron carrier protein. Studies in human cohorts and in cultured adipocytes suggested that decreased transferrin expression and intracellular iron in adipocytes leads to impaired insulin responsiveness and causes differential expression of genes involved in metabolism, insulin action, and obesity. While suggestive, these studies did not definitively prove in an intact organism that altering TF expression in adipocytes is sufficient to affect glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. In this study we created a mouse model of decreased transferrin expression only in adipocytes (Trf+/-Cre+/-) to test the hypothesis that iron trafficking in adipose tissue is sufficient to affect insulin sensitivity. Area under the glucose curve (AUCg) after intraperitoneal glucose administration was increased in the Trf+/-Cre+/- mice compared to wild type (WT) mice on a normal chow diet, and the mice were slightly heavier (p=0.02 for both). Homeostasis Model of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) values were also significantly higher in the Trf+/- Cre+/- mice (p<0.05). Thus, supporting our hypothesis, analysis of mice with decreased expression of TF restricted to adipocytes showed that a decrease in adipocyte TF is sufficient to affect insulin resistance, weight, and glucose homeostasis.

Tackling global warming and the consequent climate change in our planet is of urgent importance to our society. Renewable biomass derived carbons have been studied as promising adsorbents, but marine biomass derived carbons have not been explored extensively. S and N double-doped porous carbons were obtained from a marine biomass related precursor. Adding carbon nanoparticles (CNP) graphene oxide (GO), or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in an early stage of the synthesis leads to a modified porous texture and surface chemistry. The carbons retained 2-4.5 at% nitrogen and 1.1 at% sulfur. The best GO and CNT added carbons had an apparent surface area 1780 m2/g and 1170 m2/g, respectively, compared to 1070 m2/g of the CNP-free matrix. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) and Henry models were used to assess the strength of the interactions between various gases and the surface. The N2/H2 and CO2/CH4 selectivities were estimated with ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). While the CNPs, particularly GO, had a remarkable effect both on the porous texture and the surface chemistry, their influence on selectivity is more modest.

In this study various samples were fabricated by increasing the amount of CNT from 0% to 5%. The bulk mechanical properties of the samples were measured using DMA. Alternatively, the local mechanical properties were assessed using nanoindentation technique. There is a clear trend that the behavior of the material is dependent of carbon fillers before, during and after percolation threshold. The bulk mechanical properties were reduced after the percolation threshold due to CNT agglomeration. Then the samples were exposed to acid solution for one week and one month. Regardless the amount of CNT in the matrix, there is always a gradient of properties from the skin to the core of the sample. There is a net reduction of in physical properties. However, the level of degradation was a dependent of the amount of CNT in the host polymer. At higher concentration the CNTs behave as a barrier. However due to the formation of porosity around the CNT agglomerates, the acid diffusion encounters preferential path ways. . Both techniques lead to the same observation..

The management of shoulder instability in children and adolescents is a challenging field of orthopaedics. There are several complicating factors which originate from the variable underlying cause that is often a unique combination of traumatic factors, ligamentous laxity, and the pattern of muscle contractility. As the cause is often multifactorial, this makes interpretation of the literature difficult as nomenclature is variable. The purpose of this review is to shed light on the nuances of paediatric and adolescent shoulder instability.

While the link between Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) and internalizing symptoms has been well-established, a link to externalizing problems is still to be explored. This study aimed to further examine the relation between SPS and behavioral problems by testing the potential mediating roles of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and decision-making styles. Pathway analyses were conducted on data from 268 community sample participants (Mage= 25.81, SD=2.41, 61.2% females). Results indicated gender differences in the pathway level outcomes of SPS, as well as potential partial mediators in men and women. SPS both directly and via the mediating effects of well-being factor (TEI) and avoidant decision-making influenced depression, regardless of gender. Direct effects on aggression were, however, obtained only in the male sample. Indirect effects of SPS on aggression were found in spontaneous decision-making for men, and in self-control and sociability factors of TEI for women. Directions for future research were discussed. sensory-processing sensitivity, depression, aggression, emotional intelligence, decision-making style, gender differences

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major health problem within the global cattle industry. This disease has a complex aetiology, with viruses playing an integral role. In this study, metagenomics was used to sequence viral nucleic acids in the nasal swabs of BRD affected cattle. Viruses detected included those well known for their association with BRD in Australia (bovine viral diarrhea virus 1), as well as viruses known to be present but not fully characterised (bovine coronavirus) and viruses that have not been reported in BRD affect cattle in Australia (bovine rhinitis, bovine influenza D, and bovine nidovirus). Nasal swabs from a case control study were subsequently tested for 10 viruses and the presence of at least one virus was found to be significantly associated with BRD. Some of the more recently detected viruses had inconsistent association with BRD. Full genome sequences for bovine coronavirus, a virus increasingly associated with BRD, and bovine nidovirus were complete. Both viruses belong to the Coronaviridae family, which are frequently associated with disease in mammals. This study has provided greater insights into the viral pathogens associated with BRD and highlighted the need for further studies to elucidate more precisely the roles viruses play in BRD.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds significant therapeutic potential by silencing target genes through RNA interference. Current clinical applications of siRNA have been primarily limited to liver diseases, while achievements in delivery methods are expanding its applications to various organs, including the lungs. Cholesterol-conjugated siRNA emerges as a promising delivery approach due to its low toxicity and high efficiency. This study focuses on developing a cholesterol-conjugated anti-Il6 siRNA and the evaluation of its potency for the potential treatment of inflammatory diseases using the example of acute lung injury (ALI). The biological activities of different Il6-targeted siRNAs containing chemical modifications were evaluated in J774 cells in vitro. The lead cholesterol-conjugated anti-Il6 siRNA after intranasal instillation demonstrated dose-dependent therapeutic effects in a mouse model of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The treatment significantly reduced Il6 mRNA levels, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the severity of lung inflammation. IL6 silencing by cholesterol-conjugated siRNA proves to be a promising strategy for treating inflammatory diseases, with potential applications beyond the lungs.

Chatbots are computer programs that use artificial intelligence to imitate human conversations. Recent advancements in deep learning have shown interest in utilizing language transformers, which do not rely on predefined rules and responses like traditional chatbots. This study provides a comprehensive review of previous research on chatbots that employ deep learning and transfer learning models. Specifically, it examines the current trends in using language transformers with transfer learning techniques to evaluate the ability of Arabic chatbots to understand conversation context and demonstrate natural behavior. The proposed methods explore the use of AraBERT, CAMeLBERT, AraElectra-SQuAD, and AraElectra (Generator/Discriminator) transformers, with different variants of these transformers and semantic embedding models. Two datasets were used for evaluation: one with 398 questions and corresponding documents, and another with 1395 questions and 365,568 documents sourced from Arabic Wikipedia. Extensive experimental works were conducted, evaluating both manually crafted questions and the entire set of questions, using confidence and similarity metrics. The experimental results showed that the AraElectra-SQuAD model achieved an average confidence score of 0.6422 and an average similarity score of 0.9773 on the first dataset, and an average confidence score of 0.6658 and similarity score of 0.9660 on the second dataset. The study concludes that the AraElectra-SQuAD model consistently outperformed other models, displaying remarkable performance, high confidence, and similarity scores, as well as robustness, highlighting its potential for practical applications in natural language processing tasks for Arabic chatbots. The study suggests that the AraElectra-SQuAD model can be further enhanced and applied in various tasks such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and information retrieval systems for Arabic-speaking users. By combining the power of transformer architecture with fine-tuning on SQuAD-like large data, this trend demonstrates its ability to provide accurate and contextually relevant answers to questions in Arabic.

Passive dynamics is an aspect of locomotion which is entirely dependent on the mechanical configuration and linkages of adjacent body segments. Tension distribution along mechanical linkages enables execution of movement patterns with reduced need for complex neurological pathways and may play a role in reestablishing postural stability following external disturbances. Here we demonstrate a uni-directional mechanical relationship between the equine forelimb, head and neck, which may have implications for balance and forelimb loading in the horse. These observations suggest that forelimb, head and neck movement coordination (observed in the horse during unrestrained locomotion) is largely controlled by the mechanical linkages between body segments, rather than being entirely dependent on neurological input as previously thought. This highlights the potential significance of research directed at investigating passively induced movements in understanding common locomotory patterns. Additionally, it suggests a mode of postural control which may provide instantaneous adjustments to postural disturbances, thus promoting rapid and efficient locomotion.

Pediatric chronic pain is an important public health issue given its notable impact on numerous domains of living. Pediatric chronic pain is also often comorbid with emotional, developmental, or behavioral conditions which can lead to more severe negative outcomes and an even greater reduction in positive outcomes compared to those without comorbidities. Flourishing is a positive outcome that chronic pain status has been shown to impact. We explored flourishing in children aged 6-17 years living with chronic pain as well as those with chronic pain and comorbidities using data from the 2018/2019 National Survey of Child Health. There were significant associa-tions between chronic pain condition status and all demographic variables (sex, age, race/ethnicity, poverty level, parental education, health insurance status). Results of hierarchical logistic regression found that chronic pain condition status significantly predicted flourishing. Children with chronic pain were 2.33 times less likely to flourish, and children with chronic pain plus an emotional, developmental, or behavioral comorbidity were 13 times less likely to flourish than typical peers. Given their significantly lower likelihood of flourishing, there is an urgent need for interventions targeted at children experiencing chronic pain and mental health comor-bidities.

The last few years have witnessed an explosion of research on Sustainable development. Most of this research is concentrated on the developed countries related to the issues not compatible with developing countries. This paper fills the gap and reviews the literature related to developing and emerging economies and their environmental and social constraints under Renewable energy and sustainable development (RESD). It also investigates how RESD can be implemented in the presence of serious issues pertaining to population increase, shortage of energy supply, lack of transportation, shortage of clean water, less food production and bad environmental systems and these are coupled with war, and hunger and political instability. The main contribution of this paper is to present extensive discussion in the context of hypotheses of economic growth and its association with energy consumption, and renewable energy options for sustainable development.

Community-engaged research is understood as existing on a continuum from less to more community engagement, defined by participation and decision-making authority. It has been widely assumed that more is better than less engagement. However, we argue that what makes for good community engagement is not simply the extent but the fit or alignment between the intended approach and the various contexts shaping the research projects. This article draws on case studies from three Community Engagement Cores (CECs) of NIEHS-funded Environmental Health Science Core Centers (Harvard University, UC Davis and University of Arizona,) to illustrate the ways in which community engagement approaches have been fit to different contexts and the successes and challenges experienced in each case. We analyze the processes through which the CECs work with researchers and community leaders to develop place-based community engagement approaches and find that different strategies are called for to fit distinct contexts. We find that alignment of the scale and scope of the environmental health issue and related research project, the capacities and resources of the researchers and community leaders, and the influences of the socio-political environment are critical for understanding and designing effective and equitable engagement approaches. These cases demonstrate that the types and degrees of alignment in community-engaged research projects are dynamic and evolve over time. Based on this analysis, we recommend that CBPR scholars and practitioners select a range of project planning and management techniques for designing and implementing their collaborative research approaches and both expect and allow for the dynamic and changing nature of alignment.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining host health and has a significant impact on human health and disease. In this study, we investigated the alpha diversity of gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients and analyzed the impact of COVID-19 variants, antibiotic treatment, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metformin therapy on gut microbiota composition and diversity. We used a culture-based method to analyze the gut microbiota and calculated alpha-diversity using the Shannon H' and Simpson 1/D indices. We collected clinical data, such as length of hospital stay (LoS), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). We found that patients with T2D had significantly lower alpha-diversity than those without T2D. Antibiotic use was associated with a reduction in alpha-diversity, while metformin therapy was associated with an increase. We did not find significant differences in alpha-diversity between the Delta and Omicron groups. Length of hospital stay, CRP levels, and NLR showed weak to moderate correlations with alpha diversity. Our findings suggest that maintaining a diverse gut microbiota may benefit COVID-19 patients with T2D. Interventions aimed at preserving or restoring gut microbiota diversity, such as avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use and promoting metformin therapy, may improve patient outcomes.

Superantigens are unconventional antigens which recognise immune receptors outside the usual binding sites e.g. complementary determining regions (CDRs), to elicit a response within the target cell. T-cell superantigens crosslink T-cell receptors and MHC Class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells, leading to lymphocyte recruitment, induction of cytokine storms and T-cell anergy or apoptosis among many other effects. B-cell superantigens, on the other hand, bind immunoglobulin receptors on B-cells affecting opsonisation, IgG-mediated phagocytosis, and drive B-cells into apoptosis. Here, through a review of the structural basis for recognition of immune receptors by superantigens, we show that their binding interfaces share specific physicochemical characteristics when compared with other protein-protein interaction complexes. Given that antibody-binding superantigens have been exploited extensively in industrial antibody purification, these observations could facilitate further protein engineering to optimize the use of superantigens in this and other areas of biotechnology.

In 1789, the Annonaceae family was cataloged by de Jussieu. It encompasses tropical and subtropical plants which are widespread in distribution across various continents such as Asia, South and Central America, Australia and Africa. The genus of Annona is one of the 120 genera of the Annonaceae family and contains more than 119 species of trees and shrubs. The majority of these species are found in tropical America with more than 105 species (26 of them are endemic). Due to its edible fruits and medicinal properties, Annona is the most important genus of Annonaceae family. Despite Annona having many species, only limited species of this family are economically important such as A. squamosa L. (sugar apple), A. cherimola Mill. (Cherimoya), A. muricata L. (guanabana or soursop), A. atemoya Mabb. (atemoya), a hybrid between A. cherimola and A. squamosa, A. reticulata L. (custard apple), A. glabra L. (pond-apple) and A. macroprophyllata Donn. Sm. (ilama). Phytochemically, several classes of secondary metabolites such as acetogenins, essential oils, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids have been described in this genus. A variety of pharmacological activities have been reported from various parts of Annona species specially leaves and seeds including applications against antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory.

The potential of Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) to provide therapeutic benefit for a variety of neurological disorders, including brain malignancies, has been long recognized and has inspired many scientists to design, test and successfully demonstrate that NSCs are efficient and effective therapeutic agents. Glioblastoma, the deadliest form of primary brain tumor, despite extensive and sustained efforts to find better therapies, remains a disease without cure, with a median survival after diagnosis of less than two years. Treatment resistance in glioblastoma is in large part attributed to limitations in the delivery and distribution of therapeutic agents administered either systemically or directly into the tumor due to the highly invasive nature of this cancer and its abnormal intratumoral vasculature. Stem Cells (SCs) have an innate tumor-tropic migratory behavior, can be modified to deliver a variety of therapeutic agents and efficiently distribute their cargo into brain tumors, pursuing invading streams of tumor cells, deep into the brain parenchyma. Over the last twenty years, numerous preclinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of SCs as antiglioma agents, leading to the development of trials to test these therapies in the clinic. In this review we present and analyze these studies and discuss mechanisms underlying their beneficial effect, highlighting experimental progress, limitations and the emergence of promising new therapeutic avenues. We hope to increase awareness of the advantages of using SCs for the treatment of glioblastoma and inspire further studies that will lead to accelerated implementation of effective therapies.

Seventy-two clavarioid specimens from Johannes Rick's collection at PACA and BPI were revised. Eleven taxa are presented. Illustrations of the microstructures are provided for nine taxa. The description of Scytinopogon robustus includes information from recently collected specimens and SEM photographs of the basidiospores. A new combination, Clavulina ridleyi, is proposed.

The present overview of spin-dependent phenomena in nonmagnetic semiconductor microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) with interacting nuclear and electron spins is aimed at covering a gap between the basic properties of spin behavior in solid-state systems and a tremendous growth of the experimental results on biomedical applications of those particles. The first part of the review represents modern achievements of spin-dependent phenomena in the bulk semiconductors from the theory of optical spin orientation under indirect optical injection of carriers and spins in the bulk crystalline silicon (c-Si) – via numerous insightful findings in the realm of characterization and control through the spin polarization – to the design and verification of nuclear spin hyperpolarization in semiconductor MPs and NPs for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostics. The second part of the review is focused on the electron spin-dependent phenomena in Si-based nanostructures, including the photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen in porous Si and design of Si NPs with unpaired electron spins as prospective contrast agents in MRI. The experimental results are analyzed by considering both the quantum mechanical approach and several phenomenological models for the spin behavior in semiconductor/molecular systems. Advancements and perspectives of the biomedical applications of spin-dependent properties of Si NPs for diagnostics and therapy of cancer are discussed.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel evolutionarily divergent RNA virus etiological agent of COVID-19, is responsible for present devastating pandemic respiratory illness. To explore the genomic signatures, we comprehensively analyzed 2,492 complete and/or near-complete genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains reported from across the globe to the GISAID database up to 30 March 2020. Genome-wide annotations revealed 1,407 nucleotide-level mutations at different positions throughout the entire genome of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, nucleotide deletion analysis found nine deletions throughout the genome, including in polyprotein (n=6), ORF10 (n=1) and 3´-UTR (n=2). Evidence from the systematic gene-level mutational and protein profile analyses revealed a large number of amino acid (aa) substitutions (n=722), making the viral proteins heterogeneous. Notably, residues of receptor-binding domain (RBD) having crucial interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and cross-reacting neutralizing antibody were found to be conserved among the analyzed SARS-CoV-2 strains, except for replacement of Lysine with Arginine at 378 position of the cryptic epitope of a Shanghai isolate, hCoV-19/Shanghai/SH0007/2020 (EPI_ISL_416320). Our method of genome annotation is a promising tool for monitoring and tracking the epidemic, the associated genetic variants, and their implications for the development of effective control and prophylaxis strategy.