The current performance indicator for universal salt iodization (USI) is the percent of households using adequately iodized salt. However, the proportion of dietary salt from household salt is decreasing with the increase in consumption of processed foods and condiments globally. This paper reports on case studies supported by the GAIN-UNICEF USI Partnership Project to investigate processed food industry use of adequately iodized salt in contrasting national contexts. Studies were conducted in Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. In all cases, the potential iodine intake from iodized salt in selected food products was modelled according to the formula: Quantity of salt per unit of food product x minimum regulated iodine level of salt at production x average daily per capita consumption of the product. The percent of adult recommended nutrient intake for iodine potentially provided by the average daily intake of bread and frequently consumed foods and condiments was from 10% to 80% at the individual product level. The potential contribution to iodine intake from the use of iodized salt in the processed food industry is of growing significance. National USI strategies should encourage co-operative industry engagement and include regulatory monitoring of iodized salt use in the food industry in order to achieve optimal population iodine status.

Observation of the ambient aerosol surface area concentrations is important to understand the aerosol toxicity because an increased surface area may be able to act as an enhanced reaction interface for certain reactions between aerosol particles and biological cells, as well as an augmented carrier surface for co-pollutants. In this study, the concentration of aerosol surface area was measured from April 2015 to March 2016 in Fukuoka, Japan. We investigated the monthly and diurnal variations in the correlations between the aerosol surface area and black carbon (BC) and sulfate concentrations. Throughout the year, aerosol surface area concentration was strongly correlated with the concentrations of BC, which has relatively large surface area since BC particles are usually submicron agglomerates consisting of much smaller (tens of nanometers) sized primary soot particles. The slopes of the regression between the aerosol surface area and BC concentrations was highest in August and September 2015. This appears to have been the results of an increase in the proportion of the airmass that originated on the main islands of Japan. This may enhance the introduction of the BC from the main islands of Japan that is relatively fresh (or “uncoated”), thereby maintaining its larger surface area.

With the increasing of copper consumption, the in-use stock of copper tends to increase. This paper used the “average use life method” to quantify the amount of copper in-use stock, and calculated the average age of in-use stock. It was indicated that the total in-use stock had an overall smooth trends, and reached its peak in 2007 was about 68.9 Mt (million tons), in addition, in-use stock per capita reached its peak ,234 kg/capita in 2001. The results demonstrated that during the period 1992-2002, the average age of copper in-use stock was continually decreased, but gradually increased since the year 2003. The fixed assets depreciation method used in this paper is applied to analyze depreciated copper in-use stock, and to analyze the relationship with economic indicator (GDP). It is demonstrated that it was inconsistent with the theory of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) before 2000, this might be the demand for copper in the service sector is greater than the reduced strength of alternatives. Finally, scenario analysis of future copper in-use stock and depreciated copper in-use stock per capita in the U.S. were presented. The corresponding average age of the in-use stock will have a slight rise in the next decade.

In this paper a variable’s involved in assessing the quality of a distributed generation system are reviewed, aiming to minimize the electric power losses (unused power consumption) and optimize the voltage profile. To provide this assessment, several experiments have been made to the IEEE 34-bus test case and various actual test cases with the respect of multiple DG units. The possibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for optimal placement and sizing of DG in distribution systems have been verified. Finally, four algorithms were trailed: simulated annealing (SA), hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA), genetic algorithm (GA) and variable neighbourhood search. The HGA algorithm was found to produce the best solution at a cost of longer processing time.

The traditional herbal medicine, Hochu-ekki-to, has been shown to have preventive effects on viral infection and stress. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of Hochu-ekki-to on two stress-related rat models of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and treatment groups, the latter of which were subjected to stress induced by exposure to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cold temperatures. After these stress inductions, rats were orally treated with dissolved Hochu-ekki-to once per day for 7 days. Rats subjected to the two different stressors exhibited upregulation of steroid hormone receptors (in ovaries) and reproductive hormones (in blood), and consequent stimulation of abnormal follicle development accompanied by elevation of Hsp 90 expression (in ovaries). Treatment with Hochu-ekki-to for 7 days after stress induction increased immune functions, reduced the stress-induced activation of Hsp 90, and normalized the levels of the tested steroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormones. Our findings suggest that stress stimulations may promote the activation of Hsp 90 via the dysregulation of steroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormones, but that post-stress treatment with Hochu-ekki-to improves reproductive and immune functions in the ovaries of stressed rats.

Celtis iguanaea is popularly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, thorough chemical and pharmacological investigations regarding its activity are lacking. In this study, we investigated the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from C. iguanaea (CI) on markers of cardiovascular diseases and the glucose metabolism in cholesterol-fed rats. Therefore, hypercholesterolemic rats (1% cholesterol) were orally treated with CI (150, 300, or 600 mg/kg) or simvastatin (4 mg/kg) (n = 6) once a day for 30 days along with a hypercholesterolemic diet. A control group (C) was given saline solution. CI showed significant decreases in serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HMG-CoA-reductase, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ when compared to group C (p ˂ 0.05). Hypoglycemic effects were observed along with a decrease of the activity of sucrase (CI 600), maltase (CI 150, CI 300), and an increase in muscle glycogen levels (CI 300). Antioxidant effects were observed in plasma, and the histopathological analysis showed a significant decrease in the liver fat area for CI compared to group C (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the biological effects of CI could be related to the presence of flavonoids that possibly exert antioxidant, enzymatic inhibitory, and insulin-mimetic effects.

The switched inertance hydraulic system (SIHS) is a novel high-bandwidth and energy-efficient digital device which can adjust or control flow and pressure by a means that does not rely on throttling the flow and dissipation of power. An SIHS can provide an efficient step-up or step-down of pressure or flow rate by using a digital control signal. In this article, analytical models of an SIHS in a four-port high-speed switching valve configuration are proposed, and the system dynamics and performance are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The flow responses, system characteristics and power consumption can be predicted effectively and accurately by using the proposed models, which were validated by comparing with experiments and with numerical simulation. The four-port configuration is compared with the three-port configuration, and it is concluded that the former one is less efficient for valves of the same size, but provides a bi-direction control capability. As bi-direction control is a common requirement, this constitutes an important contribution to the development of efficient digital hydraulics.

In Ghana, about 73% of households rely on solid fuels for cooking. Over 13,000 annual deaths are attributed to exposure to indoor air pollution from inefficient combustion. In this study, assessment of thermal efficiency, emissions and total global warming impact of three cookstoves commonly used in Ghana was completed using IWA water boiling test (WBT) protocol. Statistical averages of three replicate tests for each cookstove were computed. Thermal efficiency results were: wood-burning cookstove 12.2% (Tier 0), traditional charcoal cookstove 23.3% (Tier 1-2) and improved charcoal cookstove 30% (Tier 2-3). The wood-burning cookstove emitted more CO, CO2 and PM2.5 than charcoal cookstove (coalpot) and improved cookstove. Emission factor for PM2.5 and emission rate for the wood-burning cookstove (Tier 0) were over four times higher than the traditional charcoal cookstove (Tier 3) and improved cookstove (Tier 2). On the basis of WBT, annual global warming impact potential for emissions are estimated at 4 tonnes of CO2e for the wood-burning cookstove, 1.5 tonnes of CO2e for charcoal cookstove (coalpot) and 1 tonne of CO2e for improved cookstove. We conclude that there is the need for awareness, policy and incentives to enable end-users switch to improved cookstoves for increased efficiency, reduced emissions/global warming impact.

Statement of problem: Henna has been added to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as a new type of antifungal agent; however, its effect on the latter’s physical properties has not been investigated. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the addition of various henna concentrations on the surface roughness and hardness of PMMA denture base material. Materials and Methods: A total of 99 specimens of rectangular-shaped (10×20×3 mm3) acrylic specimens were prepared from heat-cured acrylic resin. Specimens were divided into one control group without the addition of henna and five test groups, which were prepared by adding Yamani henna powder to acrylic powder at concentrations of 1wt%, 2.5wt%, 5wt%, 7.5wt%, and 10wt%. The polymer was added to the monomer before being mixed, packed, and processed using the conventional water bath method. After processing, specimens were finished and polished, then kept in distilled water for 48+2 h. A profilometer and Vickers hardness tester were used to measure surface roughness and hardness respectively. Statistical data analysis was conducted via SPSS version 20.0 (IBM, USA). Results: The addition of henna at varying concentrations significantly increased surface roughness values (P ≤ 0.01) while decreasing hardness (P ≤ 0.0001). The most favorable addition value was 1% henna between all henna groups. Conclusion: The addition of henna to the acrylic resin may negatively affect the surface properties of PMMA acrylic denture base.

Nine crossbred finishing barrows randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments were used to investigate the effects of dietary lysine on muscle growth related metabolic and signaling pathways. Muscle samples were collected from the longissimus dorsi of individual pigs after feeding the lysine-deficient, lysine-adequate, or lysine-excess diet for 5 weeks, and the total RNA was extracted afterwards. Affymetrix Porcine Gene 1.0 ST Array was used to quantify the expression levels of 19,211 genes. A total of 674 transcripts were differentially expressed (P ≤ 0.05); 60 out of 131 transcripts (P ≤ 0.01) were annotated in the NetAffx database. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed that dietary lysine deficiency may lead to (1) increased muscle protein degradation via the ubiquitination pathway as indicated by the up-regulated DNAJA1, HSP90AB1 and UBE2B mRNA, (2) reduced muscle protein synthesis via the up-regulated RND3 and ZIC1 mRNA, (3) increased serine and glycine synthesis via the up-regulated PHGDH and PSPH mRNA, and (4) increased lipid accumulation via the up-regulated ME1, SCD, and CIDEC mRNA. Dietary lysine excess may lead to (1) decreased muscle protein degradation via the down-regulated DNAJA1, HSP90AA1, HSPH1, and UBE2D3 mRNA, and (2) reduced lipid biosynthesis via the down-regulated CFD and ME1 mRNA.

The cruise ship industry has become a well-implemented industry in the Baltic Sea area, and each year, the number of cruise ship passengers rises steadily. Efficient waste management in cruising ports around the Baltic Sea is a crucial element in minimizing environmental impacts. This research involves the four selected ports of Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn. The study applies statistics and interview data to the analysis of waste management systems for cruise ship-generated waste. The interview data involves 14 executives and professionals responsible for environmental issues and decision making in their respective ports. The interviews highlighted the need for standardized environmental legislation and related procedures, which would result in coherent measurement systems. These systems would enable transparent environmental monitoring, thus maintaining the ports’ competitiveness. A common environmental legislation would support the emerging waste management system for the whole Baltic Sea area. We suggest that ports should focus on handling specific types of wastes and collaborate as a spatial network. Specialization to allow discharge of certain fractions of waste is essential. The paper concludes by addressing demands for future research, particularly vessel- and customer behavior focused studies.

This work describes the catalytic performances of attapulgite/ZSM-5 extrudate in comparison to conventional alumina-bound ZSM-5 extrudate in toluene methylation. The novel attapulgite/ZSM-5 extrudate is prepared by using natural clay attapulgite as binder which introduces mobile alkaline species and macropores to the extrudate. In contrast to alumina-bound extrudate, this novel extrudate shows significantly higher para-selectivity and stability. By using characterization techniques, including in-situ XRD, SEM, NH3 temperature programmed desorption (TPD), thermogravimetric analysis and n-hexane/cyclohexane physical adsorption, the catalytic performance improvement of attapulgite/ZSM-5 extrudate is correlated with the neutralization of Brønsted acid sites by mobile alkaline species during calcination and reaction process. Moreover, a higher para-selectivity was obtained over attapulgite-bound modified ZSM-5 extrudate. The strategy of extruding ZSM-5 catalysts with attapulgite as binder is facile and universal. Such method paves a new way for preparation of shaped toluene methylation catalyst with enhanced para-selectivity and stability.

In contrast to lytic phages, filamentous phages are assembled in the inner membrane and secreted across the bacterial envelope without killing the host. For assembly and extrusion of the phage across the host cell wall, filamentous phages code for membrane-embedded morphogenesis proteins. In the outer membrane of E. coli, the protein gp4 forms a pore-like complex, while gp1 and gp11 form a complex in the inner membrane of the host. By comparing sequences with other filamentous phages, we identified putative Walker A and B motifs in gp1 with a conserved lysine in the Walker A motif (K14), and a glutamic and aspartic acid in the Walker B motif (D88, E89). In this work we demonstrate that both, Walker A and Walker B, are essential for phage production. The crucial role of these key residues suggest that gp1 is likely to be a molecular motor driving phage assembly. We further identified essential residues for the function of the assembly complex. Mutations in three out of six cysteine residues abolish phage production. Similarly, two out of six conserved glycine residues are crucial for gp1 function. We hypothesise that the residues represent molecular hinges allowing domain movement for nucleotide binding and phage assembly.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioactivity and cell response of a well-characterized Nurse´s A-phase (7CaO•P2O5•2SiO2) ceramic and his effect compared to a control (tissue culture polystyrene-TCPS) on the adhesion, viability, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of ahMSCs in vitro. Cell proliferation (Alamar Blue Assay), Alizarin Red-S (AR-s) staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OCN) and collagen I (Col I) were evaluated. Also, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images were acquired in order to visualise the cells and the topography of the material. The proliferation of cells growing in a direct contact with the material was slower at early stages of the study because of the new environmental conditions. However, the entire surface was colonized after 28 days of culture in growth medium (GM). Osteoblastic differentiation markers were significantly enhanced in cells growing on Nurse´s A phase ceramic and cultured with osteogenic medium (OM), probably due to the role of silica to stimulate the differentiation of ahMSCs. Moreover, calcium nodules were formed under the influence of ceramic material. Therefore, it is predicted that Nurse´s A-phase ceramic would present high biocompatibility and osteoinductive properties being a good candidate to be used as a biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.

The three dimensional conformable time fractional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili and the conformable time fractional modified Kawahara equations are solved by implementing the Kudryashov's procedure. The corresponding wave transformation reduces both equations to some ODEs. Balancing the nonlinear and the highest order derivative terms gives the structure of the solutions in the finite series form. The useful symbolic tools are used to solve the resultant algebraic systems. The solutions are expressed in explicit forms.

For broadcast spawning invertebrates such as the crown-of-thorns starfish, early life history stages (from spawning to settlement) may be exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions, and could have a major bearing on reproductive success and population replenishment. Arrested development in response to multiple environmental stressors at the earliest stages can be used to define lower and upper limits for normal development. Here, we compared sperm swimming speeds and proportion of motile sperm and rates of fertilization and early development under a range of environmental variables (temperature: 20-36°C, salinity: 20-34 psu, and pH: 7.6-8.2) to identify environmental tipping points and thresholds for reproductive success. We also tested the effects of water-soluble compounds derived from eggs on sperm activity. Our results demonstrate that gametes, fertilization, and early development are robust to a wide range of temperature, salinity, and pH levels that are outside the range found at the geographical limits of adult distribution and can tolerate environmental conditions that exceed expected anomalies as a result of climate change. Water-soluble compounds associated with eggs also enhance sperm activity, particularly in environmental conditions where sperm motility is initially limited. These findings suggest that fertilization and embryonic development of crown-of-thorns starfish are tolerant to a wide range of environmental conditions, though environmental constraints on recruitment success may occur at later ontogenic stages.

This study sought to investigate steel frames’ performance with dual lateral loader system (Frame bending + bracings of divergent and convergent) in near and far filed to fault. In order to this, four categories of steel frame with dual system with 8, 10 and 12 story are designed with average formation based on existing seismic regulation in 2800 standard of Iran and tenth chapter of national regulations of construction (planning and performing steel construction). Time history non-linear dynamic analysis under the effect of near and far field earthquakes has been done on plan’s models. Then the maximum of floors’ dislocation, floors’ drift, roof dislocation, base shear and energy curves of frames are shown and compared with each other. All non-linear time history analyses have been accomplished using PERFORM 3D software.

The purpose of current study was to investigate the expression characteristic of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in peripheral blood of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and their potentials as diagnostic biomarkers for pre-diabetes and T2DM. In present study, the circRNAs in the peripheral blood from 6 healthy individuals and 6 T2DM patients were collected for microarray analysis. The results indicated that there were 489 differentially expressed circRNAs, of which 78 were upregulated and 411 were downregulated in the T2DM group. Then we selected 5 circRNAs as the candidate biomarkers under a stricter screening criteria and further verified them in another cohort (control group, n=20; pre-diabetes group, n =20; T2DM group; n=20). 3 of the 5 circRNAs presented upregulated expression in the experimental groups, including 2 circRNAs of the T2DM group that had higher expression than the pre-diabetes group. Hsa_circ_0054633 was identified to have the largest area value under the carve (AUC). In another independent cohort (control group, n=60; pre-diabetes group, n=63; T2DM group, n=64), the diagnostic capacity of hsa_circ_0054633 was tested. The results showed that the AUC for the diagnosis of pre-diabetes was 0.751(95% confidence interval=[0. 666-0.835], P＜0.001) while it was 0.793 ([0.716-0.871], P＜0.001) for the diagnosis of T2DM. After including the risk factors of T2DM, the AUC increased to 0.841 ([0.773-0.910], P <0.001) and 0.834 ([0.762-0.905], P <0.001), respectively. Hsa_circ_0054633 presented a certain diagnostic capability for pre-diabetes and T2DM.

Our previous study has found the anti-tumor activity of oleandrin in osteosarcoma cells in vitro, but the signal transduction process of cell apoptosis induced by oleandrin is uncertain, which is explored in this study. Fluorescence staining and flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to detect the cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Caspase-3 activity was detected using a commercial kit. The protein expression of cytoplasmic cytochrome c, mitochondrial cytochrome c, bcl-2, bax, caspase-9, Fas, FasL, caspase-8 and caspase-3 was detected using western blot. A pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, was applied to block the apoptotic pathway and the apoptosis status were re-tested. We found that oleandrin significantly induced the increased apoptosis of U2OS cells. Meanwhile, the intracellular ROS was elevated, but the MMP decreased. The cytochrome c in mitochondria was notably decreased but increased in cytoplasm. The caspase-3 activity was also enhanced with the increase of drug concentration and treatment time. Oleandrin also down-regulated the level of bcl-2, but remarkably up-regulated the expression of bax, cleaved caspase-9, Fas, FasL, cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3. Furthermore, the pre-treatment with z-VAD-fmk almost completely reverted the oleandrin-induced apoptosis. The results suggested that oleandrin induces the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells via mitochondrial- and death receptor-dependent pathways.

Chemical analysis of the organic components in beers has applications to quality control, authenticity and improvements to the flavor characteristics and brewing process. This study aims to show the complementary nature of two instrumental techniques which in combination can identify and quantify the majority of organic components in a beer sample. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to provide concentrations of twenty five different organic compounds including alcohols, organic acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Calorie content was also estimated for the samples. NMR data for ethanol concentrations were validated by comparison to a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) method. Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) was used to identify a range of volatile compounds such as alcohols, esters and hop derived aroma compounds. A simple and inexpensive conversion of a Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC FID) instrument to allow the use of Solid-Phase Microextraction was found to be useful for the quantification of volatile esters.

Frost heave, which is the volumetric expansion of frozen soil, has great ecological significance, since it creates water storage spaces in soils at the beginning of the growing season in cold temperate forests. To understand the characteristics of frost heave in seasonally frozen soil and the factors that impact its extent, we investigated the frost heave rates of forest soil from different depths and with different soil moisture contents, using both lab-based simulation and in situ measurement in a broadleaved Korean pine forest in the Changbai Mountains (northeastern China). We found that frost heave was mainly affected by soil moisture content, soil type, and gravitational pressure. Frost heave rate increased linearly with soil moisture content, and for each 100% increase in soil moisture content, the frost heave rate increased by 41.6% (loam, upper layer), 17.2% (albic soil, middle layer), and 4.6% (loess, lower layer). Under the same soil moisture content, the frost heave rate of loam was highest, whereas that of loess was lowest, and the frost heave of the uppermost 15 cm, which is the biologically enriched layer, accounted for ~55% of the frost heave. As a result, we determined the empirical relationship between frost heave and freezing depth, which is important for interpreting the effects of frost heave on increases in the storage space of forest soils and for calculating changes in soil porosity.

Background: We explored the potential value of serum MUC5AC (sMUC5AC) as a biomarker to guide perioperative management of early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Methods: We performed enzyme-linked immunoassays using a human MUC5AC kit (NBP2-76703) in serum samples obtained from The Ohio State University biorepository (between January 2010 and June 2021). Univariate (UV) and multivariate (MV) Cox regression models were used to quantify progression-free survival (PFS); clinical and pathological variables were adjusted in the MV models. UV logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the association of sMUC5AC with pathological features and survival. 2 Results: Overall, 23 samples (19 FOLFIRINOX, 3 gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, 1 FOLFOX) were available for analysis. The median age was 66 years, and 52% were females. sMUC5AC was associated with a) treatment response, margin status, and residual disease (R0 vs. R1/R2) (all P<0.05); b) PFS on both UV (hazard ratio (HR) of 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.07 to 1.82, P=0.01) and MV (HR of 49.2, 95% CI, 4.4 to 1008.3, P=0.002) analyses; and c) PFS in pre-surgery models along with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) measured on the same day alone (HR of 1.47, 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.93, p=0.04), with CA19-9 on the same day, and NAT regimen (HR of 1.44, 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.93, p=0.01), and with CA19-9 on the same day, NAT regimen, and CA19-9 at diagnosis (HR of 1.52, 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.09, p=0.007). Conclusion: sMUC5AC shows promise to helping to predict outcomes in our preliminary study. Larger prospective studies should validate these findings.

The SPEcies-At-Risk index for metals (SPEARmetal) was refined using updated physiological sensitivity data and validated to assess the ecological impact of metal contamination on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Nakdong River, near a Zn smelter in Korea. Biosurvey and chemical monitoring were collected at 18 sites surrounding the smelter and nearby mines. Acute ecotoxicity tests on 20 indigenous species from the Korean peninsula were conducted and used to update taxon-specific metal sensitivity data. The refined SPEARmetal index, based on this updated sensitivity, was significantly lower than previous versions, with most values below the severe impact threshold (0.5) in the mainstream. The correlation between hazard quotients in water and the SPEAR index improved, with the correlation coefficient increasing from 0.63 to 0.70. Despite consistently high benthic macroinvertebrate indices (BMI) across the study area, generic ecological indices such as total richness, EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), and Shannon diversity showed correlations with metal contamination levels. Principal component analysis identified SPEARmetal as the primary indicator associated with metal contamination in both water and sediment. These findings highlight the improved performance of the refined SPEARmetal index as a more sensitive and specific tool for assessing the ecological status of metal-impacted aquatic ecosystems compared to traditional indices.

New vaccination programs need a method to measure success based on pre-defined outcomes evaluated over pre-specified time frames. Reimbursement of newly approved vaccines is often reliant on simulated projections that approximate real-world scenarios, due to limited long-term data availability. Adjustments to reimbursement prices are infrequent, barring instances of market competition-induced price erosion through tender processes. Consequently, comprehensive monitoring of the vaccine effect (VE) for an adequate duration to evaluate the success of vaccination programs remains rare. Such data are essential to inform expectations of vaccine effect and the timeline for measurable success of the investment. An example is provided here by the 15-year assessment of the rotavirus vaccination program in Belgium (RotaBIS study spanning 2005 to 2019 across 11 hospitals). The vaccination program started in late 2006 and yielded sub-optimal outcomes. Long-term VE surveillance data provided insights into infection dynamics, disease progression, and vaccine performance. The presented analysis introduces novel conceptual frameworks and methodologies. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) evaluates the initial target vaccination population, considering the effectiveness of direct and indirect effects of the vaccine, compared with a historical group that is unvaccinated. Cost-impact analysis (CIA) covers a longer period and considers the whole vaccinated and unvaccinated population in which the vaccine has direct and indirect effects. The success index ratio of CIA over CEA outcomes evaluates the vaccination performance. Good performance has ≤ 1 index value combined with a low CEA. This measure is therefore a valuable aid for new vaccine introductions. It supports the establishment of robust monitoring protocols.

Introduction: To describe a case of unilateral exudative retinal detachment and severe uveitis with a large subretinal deposit in a 6-year-old girl presenting with left thigh lymphadenitis. Case Presentation: A metagenome next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the vitreous body was performed, revealing Bartonella henselae. The patient showed the resolution of retinal detachment and uveitis, as well as improvement of left thigh lymphadenitis, in response to systemic and ocular antibiotics and corticosteroids. Conclusion: Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis may manifest as exudative retinal detachment with extensive subretinal lesions and uveitis. The treatment involving systemic and ocular antibiotics and corticosteroids proved to be effective.

Wind-solar power generating and hybrid battery-supercapacitor energy storage complex is used for autonomous power supply of consumers in remote areas. This work uses passivity-based control (PBC) for this complex in accordance with the accepted energy management strategy (EMS). Structural and parametric synthesis of the overall PBC system was carried out that was accompanied by a significant amount of research. In order to simplify this synthesis, a structural decomposition of the overall dynamic system of the object, which was described by a system of differential equations of the seventh order, into three subsystems was applied. These subsystems are a wind turbine, a PV plant and a hybrid battery-supercapacitor system. For each of the subsystems, it is quite simple to synthesize the control influence formers, which locally perform the tasks set by the EMS. The results obtained by computer simulation of the overall and decomposed systems demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in simplifying synthesis and debugging procedures of complex multiphysical systems.

This study utilizes a combination of optical PlanetScope imagery and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from Sentinel-1 to investigate land cover changes in Dili, Timor-Leste, following Tropical Cyclone Seroja. The primary objective is to evaluate how integrating these datasets enhances disaster monitoring and response in flood-affected areas. The Random Forest classifier, known for its robustness in handling high-dimensional and noisy data, was applied to classify land cover into six distinct classes: vegetation, water, built-up areas, bare soil, clouds, and shadows. The classification was performed across three phases—pre-disaster, post-disaster, and recovery—using Google Earth Engine (GEE). Binary segmentation using Otsu thresholding was applied to the SAR images to refine the classification by delineating water bodies from non-water areas. The study achieved high classification accuracy, with overall accuracy ranging from 97.2% to 98.7%, and the Kappa index, which measures agreement between classified and reference data, remained consistently strong, indicating reliable model performance. Key results include a significant increase in water bodies and extensive damage to vegetation and built-up areas during the post-disaster phase, followed by partial recovery in the subsequent period. Despite the high accuracy, urban areas posed classification challenges due to misclassification between built-up and bare soil categories. This research offers a methodological framework for integrating optical and SAR data with machine learning for land cover change detection in post-disaster scenarios. The societal benefits of this study include improved disaster preparedness, enhanced recovery planning, and valuable insights into flood impact mitigation in regions like Timor-Leste, where technical and data limitations persist.

Background/Objectives: Home and community care (HCC) nurses experienced increased occupational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic including increased workloads, job stressors and occupational risks like virus exposure. The objective was to elucidate what factors influenced nurses’ decisions to stay in their role, take a temporary leave, or exit HCC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected using a cross-sectional online open survey distributed among HCC Registered Practical Nurses across Ontario between June and September 2022 was conducted. The factors contributing to nurses’ decision to remain in HCC, temporarily leave, or exit the sector were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression (p < 0.05). Results: Of the 664 participants, 54% (n=357) stayed in the HCC sector, 30% (n=199) temporarily left, and 16% (n=108) exited the sector. Nurses with greater years of experience working in HCC and those who avoided infection were more likely to stay in their role in HCC, which may reflect strong relationships with long-term clients, opportunity and accumulated experience to increase income, and maintained good health. Nurses with higher levels of emotional intelligence were more likely to take leaves and exit HCC, suggesting that stepping away may have been a strategy to safeguard themselves. Conclusions: HCC leadership should prioritize the development of solutions to support nurses in the HCC workforce, including those with fewer years’ experience. This may promote nurses’ participation in the sector, particularly during times of heightened occupational challenges and crises like COVID-19.

The high antigenic variability of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) represents a challenge for developing prophylactic strategies, stressing the need of research into vaccines offering broad protection against a range of virus strains. Here, the heterotypic cross-reaction using different vaccine schemes against serotype O strains was studied, evaluating the impact of revaccination, antigen dose, and incorporation of additional FMDV serotypes. Naïve cattle were immunized with seven distinct FMDV vaccines, receiving three doses of the same formulation at 0, 28 and 56 days post-primary vaccination (dpv). Serum samples were collected up to 70 dpv and tested by a virus-neutralizing test against serotype O strains from South American and two strains representative two Asian lineages. Our results showed that vaccines containing the ME-SA topotype O1/Campos strain developed cross-neutralizing responses against the two Asian viruses after the first vaccination. In contrast, significant heterotypic neutralizing antibody titers against the homologous topotype strain were only found after the second immunization, indicating that the phylogenic relationship may differ from the antigenic profiles for these two viruses. The amount of the O1/Campos strain and the revaccination were essential factors for neutralization against the homologous and heterologous type O FMDV viruses. The strain composition of the vaccine was only relevant for cross-neutralization against one of the Asian strains, suggesting potential intra-serotypic divergences for this pattern.

Invasive species represent an important agent of change and threat to native biological diversity due to their high ability to enter and establish themselves in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. Urban and peri-urban areas are an easy entrance door for invasive vegetal species firstly used as ornamental that can become naturalized. In this study, it was analysed the presence, frequency and distribution of invasive alien plant species in the urban, peri-urban and natural area surrounding the city of Córdoba, Southern Spain. Our research reveals the presence of 17 invasive plant species from 10 different families. It supposes the 35% of the invasive plant species detected in the Andalusia region, and 27% of Spain. The highest number was located in ruderal areas, following by abandoned crop fields, being phanerophytes the most abundant life-form. Regarding the native source area, the highest percentage come from the America continent. Data indicates that the use of non-native species as ornamental can enhance invader establishment, spread, and ecological impact, which can facilitate subsequent alien species success aided by global change conditions. Additionally, our results are a strong knowledge base for effective management strategies in the area and will help to addressing data gaps related to the distribution of alien species on a regional scale in the Mediterranean area.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common procedure for cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. Severe obesity (BMI ≥40 or BMI ≥35 with comorbidities) is associ-ated with increased perioperative risks. This study examines the impact of severe obesity on out-comes in patients undergoing single-level ACDF. Methods :Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2016-2019) were analyzed, including 85,585 patients who underwent single-level ACDF. Patients were classified as severely obese (n = 4,935) or non-obese (n = 80,650). Outcomes such as length of stay, complications, and in-hospital mortali-ty were compared using SPSS and MATLAB, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Severely obese patients were younger (54 vs. 55.7 years, p < 0.001) and had more comor-bidities like type 2 diabetes (38% vs. 17.8%, p < 0.001) and obstructive sleep apnea (31.1% vs. 9.5%, p < 0.001). They experienced longer hospital stays (1.92 vs. 1.65 days, p < 0.001) but similar in-hospital mortality (0.1%, p = 0.506). Severe obesity was linked to higher odds of complications, the risk of developing dehiscence was 8.2 times higher in severely obese patients. Respiratory failure had an odds ratio of 6.5, while myocardial infarction showed an odds ratio of 5.5. Horner syn-drome was 4.7 times more likely to occur, and pulmonary edema had an odds ratio of 4.5. Dural tear risk was also significantly elevated, with an odds ratio of 4.1.The risk of developing acute kid-ney injury were 2.6 times higher, while the risk of pulmonary embolism was 2.5 times higher. Dysphonia was also more common in severely obese patients, with an odds ratio of 2.2. Conclusion: Severe obesity is associated with higher complication rates and longer hospital stays following ACDF. Tailored perioperative management is essential to mitigate risks and improve outcomes in this high-risk population.

Objective: Although much of the research literature has found that individuals tend to perceive their friends as similar to themselves, we hypothesized that individuals with strong narcissistic traits may be less likely to do so because of their tendency to view themselves as unique. Method: We used self-reports and friend-reports in two studies with 129 participants from Germany and 131 participants from the US to examine the moderating effects of narcissistic personality features on the tendency to perceive one’s friends as having similar humor styles. Results: The results revealed that individuals generally tend to view themselves as similar to their friends in terms of humor styles. As expected, we found a moderating effect of narcissism such that higher levels of narcissism were associated with lower levels of perceived similarity. Interestingly, individuals high in grandiose narcissism tended to devalue their close friends’ humor, and individuals high in vulnerable narcissism tended to enhance their friends’ humor compared with themselves. Conclusion: The results suggest that narcissistic individuals may tend to view their friends through a particular lens, regardless of their friends’ actual traits. This mechanism may be related to the narcissistic need to feel unique.

Due to satisfactory mechanical properties, low specific weight and other advantages, a substantial utilization of laminated structural composites in many components and equipments of several industry sectors, especially in the past two decades, has been made. This class of materials has a good potential to be an important ally to support scientists and engineers with the main current world challenge: an energy transition process that must occur with sustainability, eco-friendly materials and based on an efficient reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, a microanalysis (scale length: 10μm to 1mm) of mechanical behavior that considers the multiphase characteristics, at leastwise a matrix and a reinforcement phase, of this kind of composites must be explored, i. e., a heterogeneous material is assumed to predict, for example, the effective tensors of stiffness or compliance by a homogenization process, modeling to damage analyses, studies about progressive delamination and other specific aspects of a composite can be previously investigated using micromechanical approaches. Therefore, the understanding of fundamental micromechanics as well as some advanced models are essential to apply these materials in structural industry components. In this sense, this literature review is designed to investigate and analize intrinsic physical hypothesis and theories behind the main basic and advanced models of polymer laminated composite micromechanics expanding possibilities to the development of more accurate approximations and showing future perspectives to the topic.

To assess contamination levels, sources, and ecological health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the sediments of Al Lith on the Saudi Red Sea coast, 25 samples were collected and analyzed for Zn, V, Cr, Cu, Ni, As, Pb, and Fe using ICP-AES. The average concentrations of PTEs (μg/g) were found in the following order: Fe (14259) > V (28.30) > Zn (22.74) > Cr (16.81) > Cu (12.41) > Ni (10.63) > As (2.66) > Pb (2.46). Contamination indices indicated that Al Lith sediments exhibited either no or minimal enrichment of PTEs, with concentrations below the low effects range. This suggests that the primary source of these PTEs is the basement rocks of the Arabian Shield and that they are unlikely to pose a substantial risk to benthic communities. The hazard index (HI) values for PTEs in both adults and children were below 1.0, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. Lifetime cancer risk (LCR) values for Pb, As, and Cr in both adults and children were within acceptable or tolerable levels, posing no significant health threats. However, a few samples showed LCR values exceeding 1 × 10-4, indicating potential risks.

Abstract: Chitosan spherical scaffolds, derived from the deacetylation of chitin, are natural polymers with significant potential, though challenges remain in optimizing their properties. The use of chitosan as a carrier for the controlled release of iron chloride is not yet fully established, despite iron’s critical role in various essential biological processes, including as a component of metalloenzymes and in the maintenance of life. Methods: This study aimed to develop a novel protocol for synthesing chitosan scaffolds and to characterize their properties using analytical techniques. Additionally, the release profile of iron was modeled using two primary controlled-release mathematical models. Results: The results demonstrated successful synthesis and physicochemical characterization of the chitosan sphere scaffolds. These scaffolds exhibited appropriate topography for iron loading and cellular interaction, as confirmed by SEM analysis, and contained functional groups as identified by FTIR. The scaffolds were also semi-crystalline (XRD), showed controlled degradation, and were confirmed to be non-toxic biomaterials. Furthermore, the modeling of the controlled release of iron chloride adsorbed on the scaffold surface, as well as the modeling of iron chloride specimens using the MEDUZA software, was successfully conducted. A theoretical curve was generated from the experimental dose-response data collected over time, considering variations in pH and medium concentration. Conclusions: In conclusion, a novel protocol for chitosan-based carriers was successfully developed, enabling thorough physicochemical characterization and modeling of both absorption and controlled release.

Incense is essential in religious ceremonies, even in relatively new religious movements such as New Age and Neopaganism. These garner little attention from ethnobotanists, although they trigger an international trade in wild-harvested plants. In this paper, we studied the botanical ingredients of smudge sticks (dried plant bundles burned for purification) in the Netherlands, and people’s motivations to use them posing the following questions: what plant species are included in smudge sticks? what are they used for? and are exotic plants preferred over native Dutch plant species? We visited online and physical shops in Dutch cities, acquiring a total of 29 different smudge sticks containing at least 15 species. We held semi-structured interviews with 11 users, vendors, and herbal experts, and collected data from 33 questionnaires. Salvia apiana L. was most frequently found, along with North American species of the genus Artemisia. The rise of the New Age movement resulted in North American ritual plant species being easily available in (online) shops and it being used for personal protection and cleansing. Despite its commercial demand there is no data regarding the pressure on wild populations, therefore, we call for the need to monitor the harvesting of these species in the wild.

Background/Objectives: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related biomarkers, specifically E6 oncoproteins and anti-E6 antibodies, have emerged as promising indicators for detecting HPV-associated oral cavity cancers through salivary fluid analysis. This study assessed the survival outcomes of oral cancer patients who were double positive for these candidate biomarkers. Methods: Using biosensor immunoassays, we simultaneously detected E6 oncoprotein and anti-E6 antibodies in oral rinse fluids from patients with advanced T3/T4 oral cancer. Results: Preliminary findings revealed that over one-third of these patients had detectable HPV-related biomarkers in their saliva, with 37.9% testing positive for E6 oncoprotein and 31.0% showing elevated anti-E6 antibody levels. Double positivity was observed in 24.1% of cases. Although survival rate differences between the groups were not statistically significant, the double positivity subgroup demonstrated a trend toward improved survival outcomes compared to single-positive or double-negative patients. Conclusions: These initial results suggest that simultaneous detection of E6 oncoprotein and anti-E6 antibodies could be potential saliva-based biomarkers for clinical applications. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques to identify double positivity may enhance early detection of HPV-related oral cancer, potentially informing more effective treatment strategies in clinical practice.

Frailty syndrome, a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in older adults, has traditionally been addressed through aerobic exercises. However, recent research has highlighted the importance of anaerobic and strength training activities in mitigating frailty. This article explores the shift from aerobic to anaerobic/strength training exercises, emphasizing the benefits of the latter in improving muscle strength, balance, and overall physical function. The discussion includes the physiological mechanisms underlying this shift, the evidence supporting strength training, and practical recommendations for implementation.

Up to now in breast cancer (BC) treatment, adjuvant chemotherapy (A-CT) precedes adjuvant radiotherapy (A-RT). It’s beyond question that A-RT improves local control while A-CT improves the Disease Free Survival (DFS) due to the reduction of metastatic distant recurrences. Taken togheter these two approaches impact favourably on the reduction of breast cancer mortality. In the last twenty years, the adjuvant treatment of BC has evolved quickly due to a better knowledge of its molecular biology , genetic prohile and its α/β ratio 3 / 4 Gy for the tumor and normal tissues radiosensitivity. Thus new schedules with hypofractionated radiotherapy have been tested and third generation of A-CT have been introduced leading to a better survival rate but a further delay in A-RT starting, raising the question to rethink the sequencing between these two approaches. However the sequencing timing between these two approaches still remains unchanged with A-CT before A-RT as the standard of care. Many attempts have been provided in order to optimize this sequencing. This comprehensive review is a journey among randomised, retrospective and prospective studies which highlights the past, the current and the novelties on timing sequencing proposals between these two modalities to assess the state of art. Sequential, concomitant and sandwitch modalities of chemotherapy with conventional or hypofractionated RT schedules from the most important studies will be analysed in this review.

Background and Objectives. The purpose of this study is to report on the results of treatment of distal and stem forms of hypospadias in boys with newly developed methods of surgical treatment compared with traditional methods of urethroplasty. Materials and Methods. A prospective non-randomized comparative study was conducted in January for the period 2014 to December 2023. All included patients were diagnosed with distal and stem hypospadias. 136 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 50 patients (study subgroup AI and comparison subgroup AI patients with distal hypospadias). Group II included 86 patients (study subgroup VI and comparison subgroup III patients with the stem form of hypospadias). Outcomes were assessed by the nature of postoperative wound healing, the presence of complications: neomeatus dystopia, formation of a cutaneous urethral fistula.Results. The average age of patients for the A(I) subgroup was 48 months (95%CI:45.29 – 60.64), CO=19.0. The average age of patients for subgroup A (II) was 51 months (95%CI:46.08-65.00), CO=22.4. The average age of patients for group B (I) was 56 months (95% CI:54.22 – 87.11), CO=46.3. The average age of patients for B (II) The period of the group was 60 months (95%CI:54.10 – 71.44), CO=31.4.The outcome of recovery was registered in 92.9% (13) of patients, repeated surgery in 7.1% (1) of patients. Neomeatus dystopia in group A (I) was not detected in any of the 100% (26) operated patients. Neomeatus dystopia in group A (II) was observed in 16.7% (4) of patients, at the same time in 83.3% (20) of patients. Neomeatus dystopia in subgroup B (I) was not observed in anyone–100% (33). Neomeatus dystopia in group B (II) was observed in 15.1% (8) of patients, was not observed in 84.9% (45). The differences are statistically significant (p=0.016, p=0.019). In group I, 80% (40) patients recovered, and 20% (10) patients underwent repeated surgery. In subgroup A (I), postoperative fistula was observed in 16.7% (1) cases, whereas in subgroup A(II), in patients after Snodgrass and MAGPI surgery, fistula developed in 20.8% (5) patients, neomeatus dystopia in 16.6% (4) cases (p=0.065; p=0.030;).According to the outcome in group II, 61.6% (53) of patients recovered, 38.4% (33) of patients underwent repeated surgery. Of these, in subgroup B (I), postoperative fistula was observed in 12.1% (4) cases, whereas in subgroup B (II), in patients after Snodgraft and Bracka surgery, fistula developed in 35.8% (19) patients, neomeatus dystopia in 15.1% (8) cases (p=0.016; p=0.019;). Wound healing in group (II): primary–82.1% (23), secondary–17.9% (5). Wound healing in group B (II): primary–70.1% (54), secondary–29.9% (23). Despite the fact that the duration of surgery is statistically significantly lower in the comparison group p<0.001, the frequency of primary wound healing is statistically significantly higher in the study group p<0.001. Conclusions. We came to the conclusion that after the use of traditional methods of urethroplasty, there is still a high percentage of postoperative complications that require the development of new methods of surgical treatment of hypospadias in boys.

This work aims to investigate the impact of chemical treatment of Juncus acutus fibers on the hygric and mechanical performances of an innovative bio-sourced clay-sand-Juncus acutus fibers composite. This lightweight specimen has been produced from a mixture of 60 % natural clay and 40 % sand by mass, as a matrix, and reinforced with different amounts of Juncus fibers. The fibers were used as a partial replacement of sand in mixture by volume at 0 % (Control Specimen), 5 %, 10 %, and 20 %. In order to enhance the fiber-matrix interfacial bound, the raw fibers have undergone an NaOH alkali treatment with different concentrations of 1, and 2 wt. %. Morphological and mineralogical evaluation based on SEM micrographs and EDX analyses revealed that, the alkaline concentration of 1 wt. % is the optimized one for natural fiber surface modifications (removal of impurities without any surface damage). This optimal concentration is confirmed by tensile strength tests, showing that the treated fibers with this alkali solution presents the higher tensile stress value of 81.97 MPa, compared to those of treated fibers with 2 % NaOH (74.45 MPa), and the untreated fibers (70.24 MPa). However, mechanical test-results highlighted the benefit effect of the fiber alkali treatment on both the compressive and flexural strengths, particularly for fiber contents of 5 % and 10 %, which corresponds to a strengthening rate of 25 % and 30 %, respectively. Results also showed that the sample containing treated fibers exhibited a better moisture regulating property than that produced with untreated fibers. The specimens are classified as excellent hygric regulator based on their moisture buffer performance (MBV > 2 g/(m2.%RH)), according to NORDTEST classification. Results also indicated that the capillary water absorption and the apparent moisture diffusivity of composites was lowered due to high fiber-matrix interfacial bound, after fiber treatment. Consequently, the composite with treated fibers is less diffusive compared to that with untreated fibers, and thus expected to be more durable in a humid environment. These results were confirmed by morphological analysis of fibers-matrix interfacial transition zone.

Salivary gland cancers (SGC) are rare tumours with limited availability of systemic therapies. Some SGC subtypes overexpress HER2 and this represents a potential therapeutic target, but the evidence base is limited. This study sought to analyse real-world data on efficacy of HER2-directed therapies in SGC. This is a retrospective observational study using anonymised data from commercial compassionate-use access registrations and a privately funded pharmacy prescribing register. Treatment duration was defined as time from drug initiation to treatment discontinuation. Kaplan-Meier analysis of treatment duration was performed using R for windows (v4.3.2). A case report is also provided of an exceptional responder. Eighteen patients were identified who received HER2-directed therapies for HER2-positive recurrent/metastatic SGC, and complete data on treatment duration was available for 15/18. Histology was salivary duct carcinoma in 13/18 patients, adenocarcinoma NOS in 4/18, and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in 1/18. Median treatment duration was 8.3 months (95% CI: 6.41-not reached) and the range was 1.0-47.0 months. Choice of HER2-directed therapy varied, with ado-trastuzumab emtasine being most common (9/18). At time of analysis, HER2-directed therapy was ongoing for 9/15, discontinued due to disease progression for 4/15, discontinued due to toxicity for 1/15, and 1/15 was discontinued for an unspecified reason. An exceptional responder experienced a complete response with a treatment duration of 47.0 months. This real-world data is comparable to the median PFS observed with HER2-directed therapies in phase II trials and supports the use of HER2-directed therapies in this group.

The microvessel neurovascular unit with its brain endothelial cell (BEC) and blood-brain barrier remodeling is important in the development of impaired cognition in sporadic or late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and vascular dementia or vascular cognitive impairment and dementia including cerebral amyloid angiopathy in neurodegeneration. LOAD is considered to be the number one cause of dementia globally; however, when one considers the role of mixed dementia (MD) (the combination of both the amyloid cascade hypothesis and the vascular hypothesis of LOAD), it becomes apparent that MD is the number one cause. The microvessel BECs are the first cells in the brain to be exposed to the peripheral neurotoxins of the systemic circulation and are therefore the brain cells at the highest risk for early and chronic injury. Therefore, it is not surprising that microvessel BECs are the first cells to undergo injury and the response to injury wound healing mechanism and remodeling that is excessive and recurrent in the aging process plus other age-related diseases such as cerebro-cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, plus others. This narrative review explores the intricate relationship between microvessel remodeling, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), and neurodegeneration as occurs in LOAD. Further, it discusses the current understanding of how microvessel dysfunction, disruption, and pathology contribute to the pathogenesis of LOAD and thus, highlights potential avenues for therapeutic interventions.

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and use of insecticide treated bed nets for malaria vector control have contributed substantially to reduction in malaria disease burden. However, these control tools have important shortcomings including being donor-dependent, expensive, and often fail because of insufficient uptake. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a user-friendly, locally tailored malaria vector control approach dubbed ‟House Decoration for Malaria Control” (HD4MC) based on incorporation of a WHO-approved insecticide, pirimiphos-methyl CS (Actellic 300CS), into a customary hut decoration practice in rural Uganda where millions of the most vulnerable and malaria-prone populations live in mud-walled huts. Three hundred and sixty households were randomly assigned to either HD4MC (120 households), IRS (120 households) or control group without any wall treatment (120 households). Entomological indices were assessed using pyrethrum spray catch, CDC Light traps and human landing catches. Organophosphate (OP) toxicity on acetyl cholinesterase activity among applicators of HD4MC was evaluated using Test-mate (Model 400) erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) test V.2 whereas toxicity in household occupants was monitored clinically. OP level in house dust was analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Entomological indices were compared between the 3 study arms at 1.5, 3- and 6-months post intervention. HD4MC- and IRS-treated huts had significantly reduced malaria vector density and feeding rate compared to control huts. There was no significant reduction in acetylcholinesterase activity at 1.5- and 24-hours post exposure. Organophosphate exposure did not result in any serious adverse event among the household occupants. In conclusion, HD4MC was safe and had comparable efficacy to canonical IRS.

Methylene blue (MB) is a dye hazardous pollutant widely used in several industrial processes that represents a relevant source of water pollution. Thus, the research of new systems to avoid its environmental dispersion, represents an important goal. In this work, an efficient and sustainable nanocomposite material based on green gold nanoparticles for MB water remediation, was developed. Starting from reducing and stabilizing characteristics of compounds naturally present in Lambrusco winery waste (grape marc) extracts, green gold nanoparticles (GM-AuNPs) were synthesized and deposited on a supporting membrane to create an easy and stable system for water MB decontamination. GM-AuNPs, with a specific plasmonic band at 535 nm, and the modified membrane were firstly characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of two breeds of crystalline shapes, triangular platelets and round-shaped pentatwinned nanoparticles, respectively. The crystalline nature of GM-AuNPs was also confirmed from XRD. The photo-catalytic performance of the modified membrane was evaluated under natural sunlight radiation obtaining a complete MB degradation (100%) in 116 minutes. A pseudo-first-order kinetic described the photocatalytic process with a rate constant k equal to 0.044 ± 0.010 min-1. The modified membrane demonstrated high stability since it was reused, without any treatment, for 3 months and for at least 20 cycles maintaining the same performances. GM-AuNPs-based membrane was also tested with other water pollutants (methyl orange, 4-nitrophenol and rhodamine B revealing a high selectivity towards MB.

This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of Lower Back Pain (LBP) among medical students of Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional style was employed where 331 medical students were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) supplemented with demographic and lifestyle questions. Data analysis allowed identification of LBP-risk factor relationships. The study revealed a 73.4% prevalence of LBP among Alfaisal University medical students with a 4.61 average severity. Female students, those who spent long hours on computers, and those who did not exercise were more likely to experience LBP. Higher disability degree was associated with participants aged &gt;21, used their devices for extended periods, and insufficient sleep. LBP is highly prevalent with several risk factors existing. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as ergonomic/lifestyle improvements and reduced device use.

This study explored the correlation between concentrations of phenolic compounds (phenols, tannins, and flavonoids) and the versatility of woody medicinal plants in the Caatinga, a seasonally dry forest region in Brazil. We examined whether these compounds influence the versatility of plants used by populations, given their known therapeutic properties. Plants were categorized as high or low versatility based on their relative importance (RI) values ​​at the regional level. Samples collected in Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, were analyzed using colorimetric methods: Folin-Ciocalteu reagent for total phenols, casein precipitation for tannins, and aluminum chloride complexation for flavonoids. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences in phenolic compound concentrations were found between the high and low versatility groups. Higher levels of total phenols and tannins were observed in Myracrodruon urundeuva and Anadenanthera colubrina, both highly versatile species. However, less versatile species, such as Mimosa tenuiflora and Schinopsis brasiliensis, also showed high levels. Flavonoid content, notably lower than phenols and tannins, did not show significant variation between groups. Although phenolic compounds contribute to the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants, their concentration alone does not determine the versatility of plants in the Caatinga. Versatility is more likely influenced by ecological conditions, cultural practices, and species availability. This study highlights the need to integrate multiple perspectives in ethnopharmacological research.

In recent decades, both in Italy and internationally, the phenomenon of abandoned industrial buildings has grown considerably, causing inevitable social, urban and economic impacts. At the same time, the cultural debate has increased awareness of the problem and the strategic role that abandoned industrial sites can play in responding to new needs. This contribution analyzes the dismantling process of the Akragas Montedison factory in Porto Empedocle, Sicily, examining the evolution of disused industrial areas from the 20th century to the present day and the possibilities of reconversion for appropriate reuse.

Heart failure is a major global health concern, especially in Ethiopia. Numerous studies have analyzed heart failure data to inform decision-making, but these often struggle with limitations to accurately capture death dynamics and account for within-cluster dependence and heterogeneity. Addressing these limitations, this study is then to incorporate the dependence and to analyze heart failure data to estimate survival time and identify risk factors affecting patient survival. The data, obtained from 497 patients at Jimma University Medical Center in Ethiopia, were collected between July 2015 and January 2019. Residence was considered as the clustering factor in the analysis. We employed the Bayesian accelerated failure time (AFT), and Bayesian AFT shared gamma frailty models, comparing their performance using the Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) and Watanabe-Akaike Information Criterion (WAIC). The Bayesian log-normal AFT shared gamma frailty model had the lowest DIC andWAIC, with well capturing cluster dependency that attributed to unobserved heterogeneity between patient residences. Unlike other methods that use Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC), we applied the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) to reduce computational load. The study found that 39.44% of patients died, while 60.56% were censored, with a median survival time of 34 months. Another interesting finding of this study is by adding frailty into the Bayesian AFT models has boosted the performance in fitting the heart failure dataset. Significant factors reducing survival time included age, chronic kidney disease, heart failure history, diabetes, heart failure etiology, hypertension, anemia, smoking, and heart failure stage. The Bayesian model also showed lower standard errors for parameters compared to other methods, highlighting the importance of frailty models in accurately assessing survival time in heart failure patients.

Background: Malnutrition screening in hospitalized children is essential, and the STAMP is a val-idated tool for this purpose. The study aimed to modify STAMP for a Saudi context and assess the sensitivity and specificity of both the original and modified tools. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 307 hospitalized children, where both the original and Saudi-modified STAMP were applied. Anthropometric measurements were also recorded, and statistical analysis was used to assess the tools' validity. Results: The Saudi-modified STAMP identified a higher percentage of children at high risk of malnutrition compared to the original STAMP (91.6% vs. 62.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and agreement of the Saudi-modified STAMP compared to the original were 94.3%, 13.2%, 64.8%, 57.7%, 0.654, and 0.089, respectively. Conclusion: The Saudi-modified STAMP showed excellent sensitivity and varied negative predictive value, indicating its potential effectiveness in screening for malnutrition among hospitalized children compared to the original STAMP and using an-thropometric measurements as references.

Scholars in the field of environmental economics have extensively examined the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth. However, they have often failed to consider the crucial roles played by technological innovation and financial development in determining environmental costs. The rapid economic growth and urbanization witnessed in BRICS countries have led to a substantial increase in energy demands, resulting in significant environmental degradation. This study aims to investigate the impact of financial development (including measures such as broad money, domestic credit to the private sector, FDI, and green technological innovation) on carbon emissions in BRICS countries using data from 2001 to 2023. The results of the study demonstrate a strong cross-sectional dependence among the countries in the panel. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator reveals a negative and statistically significant long-term relationship between broad money, FDI, green technological innovation, and CO2 emissions. On the other hand, domestic credit to the private sector shows a positive and significant association with carbon emissions. To determine the direction of causality, the study utilizes the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test. The findings indicate a non-directional long-term causality between financial development and CO2 emissions. However, a unidirectional causality is observed between green technological innovation and carbon emissions. Based on these findings, the study suggests that the development of industries, financial institutions, and technological innovation is crucial for attracting high-quality FDI in BRICS countries. However, it also highlights the significant contribution of these developments to environmental degradation, necessitating urgent policy responses.

Mulberries is a type of fruit tree that is rich in nutrients and possesses both medicinal and dietary properties, deeply loved by consumers. The fragrance is a significant factor in the sensory quality of mulberries, playing a crucial role in consumer purchasing behavior. 'Baichang' mulberry is a unique variety of mulberry that emits a strong, creamy-like fragrance, which has enormous potential market value. However, the key metabolites and mechanisms responsible for the formation of this fragrance are still unclear. In this study, we utilized GC-MS technology and RNA-seq to examine the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and gene expression in 'Baichang' (Morus macroura) mulberries and 'Hongchang' (Morus laevigata) mulberries, the latter of which do not have a distinct fragrance. The results showed that 661 volatile metabolites were detected in both mulberry varieties. Most of these were found in higher relative amounts in the 'Baichang' mulberry variety, with 47 types being present only in the 'Baichang' mulberries, suggesting a rich composition of VOCs in the 'Baichang' mulberry. 312 metabolites were identified as differential metabolites; combining the sensory annotation information and relative content of VOCs, 70 candidate VOCs were annotated as related to the formation of 'sweet, waxy, coconut, and oily' sensations. They could potentially be the key metabolites contributing to the unique aroma of 'Baichang' mulberries. The relative odor activity value (rOAV) analysis revealed that 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-hexyldihydro- was the key VOC contributing to the formation of the special aroma of 'Baichang' mulberries. By RNA-seq, 19 key structural genes related to ester synthesis were identified, including AAT , ACX , ALDH, CYP, EHL, FAD, HPL, and LOX. The high expression of these structural genes in the "Baichang" mulberry fruit is the main reason for its unique creamy aroma. This study provides insights into the aroma differences among different kinds of mulberrie.

We report the case of a 45-year-old Caucasian man who was treated upfront with brentuximab vedotin (A) and doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD; A+AVD) for advanced-stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Right after completing the 6th cycle of induction therapy, he developed serotine fever, progressive clinical deterioration, symptomatic splenomegaly and se-vere anemia. Extensive infectious disease evaluations and serial PET scans were conducted to rule out lymphoma progression. Finally, a diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was performed. The patient was treated with parenteral amphotericin B, with rapid and complete resolution of clinical and laboratory abnormalities. We described this rare case of infectious complication after A+AVD delivered for cHL, and we performed a comprehensive review of the literature on the occurrence of VL in the context of non-HL and cHL, since this infection is becoming increasingly prevalent in non-tropical countries.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan and the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis causes high mortality in immunocompromised individuals and newborns. Despite the medical importance of toxoplasmosis, few drugs are available for its treatment, which are associated with side events and parasite resistance. Here, we show a screening of molecules present in Covid-Box as a way of discovering new hits with anti-T. gondii activity. Covid-Box contains 160 molecules with known or predicted activity against SARS-CoV-2. Our analysis selected 23 Covid-Box molecules that can inhibit the tachyzoite forms of the RH strain of T. gondii in vitro by more than 70% at 1 µM after seven days of treatment. The inhibitory curves showed that most of these molecules inhibited the proliferation of tachyzoites with IC50 values below 0.80 µM; Cycloheximide and (-)-Anisomycin were the most active drugs, with IC50 values of 0.02 μM. Cell viability assays showed that the compounds are not toxic at active concentrations, and most are highly selective for parasites. Overall, all 23 compounds were selective, and for three of them (Apilimod, Midostaurin, and Salinomycin), this is the first report of activity against T. gondii. To better understand the effect of the drugs, we analyzed the effect of six of them on the ultrastructure of T. gondii using transmission electron microscopy. The main changes observed in parasite morphology after treatment with the selected drugs were changes in cell division and parasite organelles.

Antibiotic prescription is the first line of treating bacterial diseases. But it affects the composition and function of non-targeted intestinal microbiota. Antimicrobial resistance will be the cause for the death of millions of people worldwide. By considering collateral damage of antibiotics, searching an alternative antimicrobial agent will be a solution to minimize the problems. Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics are an alternative to antibiotics. Thanks to GIT microbes as they are responsible for metabolism, energy production, protection from pathogens and immunomodulation. So, it is appreciable if the gut microbiota modulated through consumption of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. Probiotic effects are genus and species specific. To get good health benefit of probiotics, safety of probiotics should be assessed before using them. This is mandatory for prebiotics and synbiotic selection. So this review paper gives information about side effects of antibiotics on gut microbiota, description of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics as alternative to antibiotics in modulating GIT microbiota, techniques of assessing safety of probiotics and health benefits of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics with scientific evidence in clinical trial and some disagreement and challenges of using probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics.

The research paper examines ‘aporia,’ ‘Différance,’ ‘binary oppositions’ in Ira Trivedi's "The Great Indian Love Story," and India in Love focusing on the characters Riya, Serena, and Permeet's experiences. Derrida’s deconstructive approach is applied to trace out ‘binaries’, ‘aporia’, and ‘Différance’ of sexuality and stigma in literary texts and real human life. It highlights how these characters seem/likely to challenge Indian societal norms and values, societal prejudices and discrimination that lead them to experiences of marginalization and exclusion of the self from other selves. It is observed that deconstruction is an apt approach to literature not a destructive approach.

The Rapid Mapping (RM) component of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) delivers crisis information within hours or days, during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Users of the service have requested the incorporation of flood depth estimates for inundations and related disasters, such as storms and tsunamis. This demand required the development of a quick and operational approach for estimating floodwater depth distribution, which can effectively adapt to a wide range of flood scenarios, remotely sensed data and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs). INFLOS is a tool developed to answer these requirements, within an expedient 30-minute timeframe at most. It uses sample points collected along the edges of flooded areas derived from remotely sensed imagery, and integrates high resolution DTMs and hydrography data to enhance accuracy. Flood depth is then estimated through a multi-step interpolation and filtering process. INFLOS underwent thorough testing across fourteen regions. As it transitioned into production, INFLOS successfully generated a wealth of flood depth products accessible through the CEMS RM portal: https://emergency.copernicus.eu/mapping/list-of-activations-rapid. Currently, INFLOS is operational and its computation time remains consistently within the order of minutes, making it a staple of the RM tooling and portfolio.

Form deviation generated during the milling profile process poses challenges to the precision and functionality of industrial fixtures and product manufacturing across various sectors. The inspection of contour profile quality often relies on commonly employed contact methods for measuring form deviation, but these methods frequently face limitations that can impact the reliability and overall accuracy of the inspection process. This paper introduces a novel approach, the novel intelligent inspection method (NIIM), developed to accurately inspect and categorize contour profiles in machined parts manufactured through the milling process by computer numerical control (CNC) machines. The NIIM integrates a calibration piece, a vision system (RAM−StarliteTM), and machine learning techniques to analyze the line profile and classify the quality of contour profile deformation generated during CNC milling. The calibration piece is specifically designed to identify form deviations in the contour profile during the milling process. The RAM−StarliteTM vision system captures contour profile images corresponding to curves, lines, and slopes. An algorithm generates a profile signature, extracting Fourier descriptor features from the contour profile to analyze form deviations when compared to an image reference. A feed-forward neural network is employed to classify contour profiles based on quality properties. Experimental evaluations involving 60 machined calibration pieces, resulting in 356 images for training and testing, demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed NIIM for profile line tolerance inspection. Results demonstrate that the NIIM offers 96.99% accuracy, low computational requirements, 100% inspection capability, quality classification.

Using English prison inspectorate reports the article reports a Goffmanesque-informed discourse analysis of official accounts about the younger inmates of London’s Feltham prison and the conditions characterizing their lived experiences in this prison environment. The construction of this prison estate captures dilapidation, unhygienic conditions, and endless social danger. The stigmatizing construction of the child prisoner intimates a pervasive culture of violence and bullying resulting in their aversion to purposive activities. While, at first blush, prison inspec-torate reporting is based on the policy of ensuring a safe and rehabilitative prison experience for youth it is argued that the nature of the reporting of incarceration obviates a critique of the wider political fabric that custodial interventions reproduce. The Inspectorate operates within the state’s dominant class stratified political ideology. The adoption of a generic labelling discourse in the reports minimizes the communication of harms inflicted on children by criminal ‘justice’ that can only worsen their wellbeing and reproduce the harmful intensity of their imported marginality.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of illness in adults, especially older adults and those with underlying conditions. This study aimed to assess the incidence of RSV hospitalizations in adults and identify risk factors for hospitalization and poor outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from two hospitals in southern Israel from 2016-2022. We calculated incidence rates of RSV and influenza hospitalizations. Risk factors for hospitalization were analyzed using Poisson regression. We evaluated poor outcomes (death, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation) among RSV-hospitalized patients. Results: The median annual incidence of RSV hospitalization was 28.2/100,000 population, increasing with age to 199/100,000 in those ≥75 years. Significant risk factors for RSV hospitalization included pulmonary diseases (RR 4.2, 95% CI 3.4-5.2), cardiovascular diseases (RR 3.3, 95% CI 2.6-4.2), and chronic renal failure (RR 2.9, 95% CI 2.3-3.7). Among hospitalized RSV patients, 13.9% had poor outcomes. Renal failure (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.23-2.66), neutropenia (RR 2.53, 95% CI 1.19-5.35), neutrophilia (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.81-2.34), and lymphopenia (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.37-3.0) were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusions: RSV causes a substantial burden of hospitalizations in adults, particularly among older adults and those with comorbidities. Identifying high-risk groups can help target prevention and treatment strategies, including vaccination.

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of a propolis mangosteen extract complex (PMEC) on gingival health in patients with gingivitis and incipient periodontitis. A multi-centered randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 104 subjects receiving either PMEC or placebo for eight weeks was conducted. The primary focus was on changes in inflammatory biomarkers from gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), with clinical parameters as secondary outcomes. Results revealed that the PMEC group showed significantly reduced expression of all measured GCF biomarkers compared to the placebo group (p&lt;0.0001) at 8 weeks, including substantial reductions in IL-1β, PGE2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 levels compared to baseline. While clinical parameters trended towards improvement in both groups, inter-group differences were not statistically significant. No significant adverse events were reported, indicating a favorable safety profile. These findings suggest that PMEC consumption can attenuate gingival inflammation and mitigate periodontal tissue destruction by modulating key inflammatory mediators in gingival tissue. Although PMEC shows promise as a potential adjunctive therapy for supporting gingival health, the discrepancy between biomarker improvements and clinical outcomes warrants further investigation to fully elucidate its therapeutic potential in periodontal health management.

Soil formation results from the weathering and alteration of bedrock, influenced by climatic conditions and biotic factors, including living organisms. The mineralogical composition of the parent material, along with plant species and soil microorganisms, forms the foundational elements of an ecosystem's energy cycle. Afforestation in arid-semi arid regions plays a crucial role in preventing erosion and enhancing soil quality, offering significant economic and ecological benefits. This study assessed the impact of parent material diversity on soil physicochemical properties, microbial basal respiration (MR), and microbiological characteristics, as well as their subsequent effects on plant growth, 15 years post-afforestation. For this purpose, various soil physicochemical parameters, MR, soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), stoichiometry (microbial quotient= Cmic/Corg = qMic and metabolic quotient = MR/Cmic = qCO2), and tree growth metrics such as height and diameter were measured. The results of the one-way ANOVA indicated that afforested soils on limestone bedrock exhibited significantly better physicochemical and microbiological properties, as well as tree growth parameters, compared to those on andesite. Notably, sensitive microbial properties such as Cmic, MR, and qMic were positively influenced by afforestation. The highest Cmic (323 g C kg−1) and MR (1.3 CO2–C g−1 h−1) values were recorded in limestone-derived soils. Currently, the measured properties of soils can be ranked as LS&gt;AS&gt;LC&gt;AC. Conversely, the highest qCO2 values were observed in the control plots of andesite parent material (7.22). This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate parent material and understanding soil characteristics to optimize afforestation efforts in bare areas. As a result, the higher plant growth capacity and carbon retention of limestone soil indicate that it has high microbial biomass and microbial activity (qMic).

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant disparities in disease severity and mortality across various population groups and regions. These disparities cannot be attributed solely to healthcare systems, socioeconomic factors, living conditions, or individual immune landscapes; environmental factors also play a crucial role. This work explores how variations in nasal morphology related to age, gender, and race can affect the respiratory system's ability to filter, warm, and humidify inhaled air. These variations may contribute to differences in how cold, dry, polluted, and infected air impact the respiratory system, thus influencing the observed patterns of disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. The analysis suggests that individuals with genetically determined wider nasal cavities, often found in populations originating from warmer climates, have decreased filtration and air conditioning efficiency, leading to increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and disproportionately high mortality rates from COVID-19. Moreover, age-related changes in nasal morphology, such as increased nasal volume and involution atrophy of the mucosa, contribute to impaired air conditioning and filtration, thereby increasing the risk of severe outcomes in the elderly. Gender differences in nasal morphology, with men typically having larger nasal passages compared to women, are linked to poorer air conditioning and filtration, potentially contributing to the higher risk of severe COVID-19 in men. Preliminary statistical analyses of the U.S. population suggest that men with favorable nasal structures may have a longer life expectancy than those with less optimal nasal anatomy; however, this should be regarded as a hypothesis. The findings underscore significant gaps in our understanding and highlight the urgent need for further research to unravel the complex interplay between nasal morphology, respiratory system dynamics, and environmental factors in shaping disease susceptibility and outcomes.

Background and Aim: Patients with Type 2-diabetes condition tend to have multiple medications in various dosage which leads to complex medication regimens. Complexity of regimen results in poor adherence, uncontrolled glycemic value and treatment failure. The research aimed to investigate medication regimen complexity index, medication adherence, and impact of medication regimen complexity on glycemic control and medication adherence.Materials and Methods: A Crossectional Study methods was conducted at Bheri Hospital Nepalgunj, among 145 Diabetes patients. Medication adherence was assessed by using a General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS Nep-Tool). Medication regimen complexity was assessed by using a Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) tool. Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, Paired t-test, and binary logistic regression were used for inferential statistics. Results: This study shows that most of the participants were female and aged group 50-59 years. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity, followed by hypothyroidism. The majority of participants exhibited partial adherence 90 (62.1%) to their medication regimen. It was seen that medications prescribed for diabetes were more complex than non-diabetes medications (Mean±SD MRCI: 8.28±3.155 vs. 4.57±2.107). The negative correlation was seen with diabetes MRCI and medication adherence (r=-0.090). There was statistically significant association between diabetes MRCI and glycemic control, (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression revealed that females had lower odds of high MRCI compared to males ( multivariate p-value: 0.014, AOR: 0.403, 95% CI: 0.195-0.832), while sedentary lifestyle showed high Diabetes MRCI (COR: 4.709, 95% CI: 0.962-23.05) and abnormal BMI were associated with higher MRCI (binary p-value: 0.067, COR: 2.30, 95% CI: 0.942-5.65; multivariate p-value: 0.092, AOR: 2.323, 95% CI: 0.878-5.67). Conclusion: Diabetes medications are more complex, reducing adherence and worsening A1C outcomes. Simplifying regimens improves results, with MRCI being valuable for healthcare providers. The medication adherence and therapeutic outcomes can be improved by the improved by the involvement of clinical pharmacist using MRCI.

A platform for indoor monitoring inside buildings, integrating both conventional and environmentally friendly devices with energy-harvesting sources, is proposed. Biomaterials such as gelatin and chitosan, derived from renewable resources, have been utilized to fabricate hydrogel and active layers for sensors and supercapacitors. These devices enhance the environmental profile of the proposed solution by employing sustainable materials and optimizing energy consumption. The developed electronic board prototype provides a versatile platform for testing various sensor configurations while accommodating different energy-harvesting sources. The article details the design of an energy harvesting system for indoor monitoring, covering various aspects regarding energy sources, power management circuits, and low-power microcontroller units. It examines energy storage devices and sensors, including both eco-friendly and commercial ones, as well as radio transceivers with different communication technologies. Additionally, an energy analysis to evaluate the performance and energy efficiency of the platform is presented.

Background: Depressive symptoms are a serious public health problem that are associated with BADL and IADL disabilities in Chinese adults.Objective: The limitation of activities of daily living (ADL) affects the mental health of older adults. We distinguished activities of daily living into basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) to explore the relationship between these two limitations and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults using nationally representative cross-sectional data. In addition, this study explored the relationships between BADL, IADL and depression risk in elderly people at the individual and provincial levels and in rural and urban subgroups.Methods: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS) survey used a multistage probability‒proportional‒to-size (PPS) sampling technique. Province-level socioeconomic characteristics were merged with microdata for respondents over 60 years of age from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2020) Wave 5 (n=10,036) by the author. The respondents were asked whether their BADL and IADL were limited . The risk of depression was assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale(CES-D 10). The chi-squared test was used to explore whether having a disability that limits BADL and IADL were associated with mental health status. A binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate this association further after controlling for confounding factors.Results: Overall, 27.5% (2759/10036) and 25.7% (2776/10036) of the participants over 60 years of age were limited in their BADL and IADL, respectively. Regression analyses revealed that older adults whose BADL were not limited (OR=1.942, 95% CI: 1.638–2.303, P < .001) and whose IADL were not limited (OR=1.775, 95% CI: 1.485–2.122, P < .001) had a lower risk of depression than older adults whose BADL and IADL were limited. In addition, older adults who were female (P <.001), were 60-69 years (P < .005), had a partner (P <0.001), were literate (P <.001), lived in a rural area (P <.001), had a retirement pension (P <.001), had 3 or more children (P < .001), did not have any chronic diseases (P < .001), had a fair SRH score (P < .001), drank alcohol (P < .001), exercised (P < .005), did not participate in social activities (P < .001), or had an above average per capita household consumption (P < .001) lived in provinces with the first quartile of GDP per capita (P < .001) and lived in provinces with the second quartile of the number of beds in medical institutions per 10,000 persons (P < .001) were more likely to experience depressive symptoms, while smoking had no effect. In a binary logistic regression, older adults who were single (OR=0.669, 95% CI=0.551, 0.812), illiterate (OR=0.646, 95% CI=0.504, 0.828), living in rural areas (OR=1.485, 95% CI=1.270, 1.735), without retirement pensions (OR=0.671, 95% CI=0.582, 0.819) and with very bad SRH scores (OR=0.411, 95% CI=0.311, 0.544) had a greater risk of depressive symptoms. In the binary logistic regression analysis of the urban and rural subgroups separately, the results indicated that old people whose BADL or IADL were not limited were associated with a risk of depression, especially rural (P < .001) and urban (P < .001) participants.Conclusions: The present study provides evidence of an association between BADL, IADL and depression in older Chinese adults. This study revealed that individuals with limited BADL and limited IADL were predominantly depressed older adults. Binary logistic regression models suggested that disabilities limiting BADL and IADL were more likely to be associated with depressive symptoms in rural Chinese older adults. Older adults should be encouraged to participate in moderate physical and social activities to prevent physical dysfunction. The government and social work organisations should pay attention to the mental health of older adults in rural areas.

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a delay in gastrointestinal transit following surgery that leads to various complications. There is limited understanding of its effective treatment options. CKD-495 and eupacidin are natural products licensed for treating mucosal lesions in acute and chronic gastritis; however, little is known about their effects on intestinal permeability. This study evaluated the effects of CKD-495, eupacidin, and its components (eupatilin and cinnamic acid) on intestinal per-meability in an animal model of POI. Guinea pigs underwent surgical procedures and were ran-domly assigned to different treatment groups. Drugs were administered orally prior to surgery. Intestinal permeability, leukocyte count, and the expression of calprotectin and tight junction proteins were measured in the harvested ileum tissue. The intestinal permeability and leukocyte count were higher in the POI group than in the control group. Pre-administration of CKD-495, cinnamic acid, eupacidin, and eupatilin effectively prevented these changes in the POI model. No significant differences were observed in the expression of tight junction proteins. CKD-495, cinnamic acid, eupacidin, and eupatilin exerted protective effects against increased intestinal permeability and inflammation in an animal model of POI. These natural products have potential as therapeutic options for the treatment of POI.

The perovskite crystal structure has garnered significant attention due to its unique properties and potential applications. Particularly, YTiO3 is a ferromagnetic Mott insulator with strong electron correlation effects and orbital ordering, so it is a good candidate for electronic applications. In this research, we investigate the structural, elastic, and electronic properties of Y1-xSrxTiO3 (x=0.01, 0.10, 0.50, 0.99) perovskites within the Pm3m space group using density functional theory (DFT) to improve mechanical properties while preserving electronic properties. Initial geometry optimizations were performed using the GGA-PBE functional with a 6×6×6 Monkhorst-Pack k-point mesh. The study utilized the CASTEP code with ultrasoft pseudopotentials for DFT calculations. Complete structural relaxations were achieved, and the elastic constants which confirm the mechanical stability of the materials were determined using the finite strain theory. The electronic properties were analyzed through band structure and partial density of states (PDOS) calculations. Despite variations in band structures due to Sr doping, no bandgap was observed, indicating the metallic nature of the compounds. The study highlights that p and d orbitals are predominant in electronic states. The findings suggest that Sr doping significantly influences the elastic properties, making these materials potentially valuable for various applications requiring robust mechanical properties.

The growing prevalence of disposable toilet seat covers in public restrooms stems from concerns about personal hygiene, given the direct contact between the seat and various users' skin. To enable flushing these disposable cover sheets down the toilet instead of discarding them in the trash, they must possess specific properties. These include rapid water absorption for quick disintegration, strength to endure user movement or moisture on the toilet seat surface, and a comfortable texture. To address these challenges, the study investigated the disintegration characteristics of flushable cover sheets prepared under different refining conditions. Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was also employed to enhance water resistance, while an organic antibacterial agent was used to impart antimicrobial properties. The findings revealed that adding 0.2% AKD and 1% organic antibacterial agent to pulp stock with a freeness of about 650 mL CSF was suitable for manufacturing disposable cover sheets with disintegration characteristics like toilet tissue paper.

This study utilizes a regional numerical weather model incorporating multilayer urban canopy parameterization alongside a building energy model (BEP + BEM) to examine the sensitivity of various urban parameters, including those defining urban materials and building environments, during a real-case heatwave event in the Chicago Metropolitan Area (CMA) in August 2023. The application of local climate zones further refines this analysis. Findings indicate that wall conductivity and ground albedo play significant roles in affecting urban near-surface temperatures. Conversely, alterations in other urban parameters are found to exert minimal influence on near-surface temperatures throughout the heatwave. In terms of building energy consumption, the selection of the target indoor temperature emerges as a pivotal factor. While adjustments in ventilation rates also bear considerable effects, other variables appear to have a subdued impact on energy usage. Additionally, the marginal effect of wall emissivity on energy consumption highlights the intricate balance between different heat transfer mechanisms and the adaptive capacity of building heating and cooling systems.

This study investigates the structured spatial organization through a focus on streets, blocks and buildings, proposing them as fundamental components in conceptualizing cities as layered pal-impsests. Former Ottoman capital city, Bursa, serve as case study due to its rich evolutionary history and the potentiality of the urban heritage values/elements they demonstrate. Following the “Tanzimat” Era, a period marked by modernization and renewal, the urban fabric of Ottoman capital cities underwent significant reforms aimed at aligning them with the principles of mo-dernity. Maps dating back to the 19th century serve as the most illustrative sources for compre-hending the evolving character and layout of these cities. The foundational aspects of the charac-ter and appearance of the historic environment played crucial roles not only in shaping the mod-ern city but also in preserving and enhancing urban heritage areas by harmonizing them with contemporary urban conditions. Factors such as street age, street hierarchy, block typology, and the localization of historical landmarks are indispensable for grasping the developmental trajec-tory of these cities, offering insights that bridge spatial scales and span across historical eras. Employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, this research builds upon descrip-tive and analytical approaches to urban morphology. The methodology entails comprehensive morphological analysis, which involves assessing changes and persistence in the urban fabric of selected heritage site, both pre-existing and post-modernization, drawing from its historically scientific maps. The analysis focuses on abstracting key attributes such as type, configuration, size, and the relationship between the elements.

Cryopreservation, storing biological material in liquid nitrogen (LN, −196 °C), offers a valuable option for the long-term conservation of non-orthodox seeds and vegetatively propagated species in the sector of agrobiodiversity and wild flora. Although large-scale cryobanking of germplasm collections has been increasing worldwide, the wide application of cryopreservation protocol in wild flora is hampered by difficulties in vitro propagation and a lack of universal cryopreservation protocols, among others. This study established a systematic approach to developing an in vitro culture and droplet-vitrification cryopreservation procedure for shoot tips of Scrophularia kakudensis. The standard procedure includes two-step preculture with 10% sucrose for 31 h and with 17.5% sucrose for 16 h, osmoprotection with loading solution C4-35% (17.5% glycerol + 17.5% sucrose, w/v) for 30 min, cryoprotection with A3-80% (33.3% glycerol + 13.3% dimethyl sulfoxide + 13.3% ethylene glycol + 20.1% sucrose, w/v) at 0 °C for 60 min, and cooling and rewarming using aluminum foil strips. After unloading, a three-step regrowth procedure starting with an ammonium-free medium with growth regulators was essential for developing normal plantlets from cryopreserved shoot tips. Liquid overlay on the gelled medium two weeks after inoculation resulted in vigorous growth during subcultures. Moreover, liquid overlay increased LN regeneration by up to 80%, i.e., 23% higher than no liquid overlay.

Chalcones constitute an important group of natural compounds abundant in fruits and comestible plants. They are a subject of increasing interest because of their biological activities including antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. The simple chalcone structural scaffold can be modified at multiple sites with different chemical moieties. Here we generated an artificial chalcone, i.e., 3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone (TriMetChalc), derived from 2′,4′-Dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (DMC). DMC is the major compound of Cleistocalyx operculatus, a plant widely used in Asia for its anti-hyperglycemic activity. Using ob/ob mice as an obesity model, we ported that, after 3 weeks of per os administration, TriMetChalc modified food intake through the specific activation of brain structures dedicated to the regulation of energy balance. TriMetChalc also decreased weight gain, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, through extensive liver lipidomic analysis, we identified TriMetChalc-induced modifications that could contribute to improving the liver status of the animals. Hence, TriMetChalc is a chalcone derivative capable of reducing food intake and addition of glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis in a mouse model of obesity. In light of these results, we believe that TriMetChalc action deserves to be more deeply evaluated over longer treatment periods and/or in combination with other chalcones with protective effects on the liver.

Background. A direct clinical and morphological comparison of non-COVID myocarditis than was diagnosed before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and post-COVID myocarditis has not been performed so far. Purpose: to compare morphological activity, toll-like receptors expression and response to the immunosuppressive therapy in patients with non-COVID and post-COVID myocarditis. Metodhs. Seventy-seven patients (52 male and 25 female, 48.7±11.7 y.o.) with biopsy proven myocarditis, NYHA class 2 or more heart failure, ejection fraction (EF) <45% were included. A history of myocardial infarction, verified cardiomyopathies, systemic autoimmune diseases, viral DNA in the myocardium, except parvovirus B19, were exclusion criteria. The right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy with hematoxylin and eosin, Van Gieson stains, PCR for virus (herpes viruses, parvovirus B19, adeno-, enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2), immunohistochemical study for CD3, CD45, CD68, CD20, nucleocapsid / spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and in addition toll-like receptors (TLR) type 4 and 9 expression (in 38 patients) were performed. The steroids (methylprednisolone 24-40 mg per day), azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil were prescribed. The mean follow-up was 16 [6; 30] month. Results. In 45 patients, myocarditis was diagnosed before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (giant-cell in one case and lymphocytic in the others). Other 32 patients had post-COVID myocarditis positive for RNA or/and proteins of SARS-CoV-2 (giant-cell in one case, eosinophilic in three cases and lymphocytic in the others). There were no differences in age, NYHA class, CRP and anti-heart antibodies level, echocardiographic parameters (mean EF 30.2±7.8 vs 28.7±6.7%), parvovirus B19 positivity (22 vs 34%), doses of methylprednisolone (24-40 mg/day) and death / transplantation rate (11.1 vs 9.4%). Differences between non-COVID vs post-COVID myocarditis focused on higher CD3, CD 45*, TLR 4 (4+ vs 6+), TLR 9 (0 vs 2+) expression and better response to therapy [10% or more increase in EF in 53 vs 86%* of patients, mean EF (43.9±12.3 vs 49.8±7.6%*) by the end of follow-up], *p<0.05. Conclusion. Post-COVID myocarditis is characterised by different morphological types, higher morphological activity, tendency to higher TLR expression and the best response to the immunosupressive therapy in comparison with non-COVID myocarditis.

Background: This study aims to develop a research framework for the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) of public services by conducting a systematic review of existing literature from 2013 to 2022. The research question focuses on how the results of the literature review can inform the advancement of S-LCA for public services. Methods: To answer this question, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of data from the Web of Science and Scopus databases was carried out. The quantitative analysis determined the total number of S-LCA and SO-LCA papers published by main journals, and main authors. The qualitative analysis highlighted the different themes and research objectives addressed in the work relating to the S-LCA of products/services and organizations. Results: The results show that 222 papers dealing with S-LCA were published in 94 journals and revealed a scarcity of work on public services, with most papers focusing on products/services and organizations. While there is a lack of direct scientific data, the study identified 17 actors, 74 impact sub-categories, and 178 indicators that could be considered for the S-LCA of public services. Conclusions: Due to the diverse nature of public services, it is crucial to develop specific stakeholder categories, sub-categories, and performance indicators for each public service. This will support the scientific community and S-LCA practitioners in applying assessing the social impacts of public services.

Objective To explore the endoscopic anatomical structures of lumbar surgery. Methods A total of 290 patients who underwent lumbar endoscopic surgery due to lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation from September 2020 to September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed in our hospital,179 patients had complete surgical video recordings, including 108 males and 71 females, aged from 19 to 65 years, with an average age of 41±16 years. The endoscopic structures through the intervertebral foramen and interlaminar space were independently identified by 3 doctors with more than 3 years of related surgery experience. When there were differences of opinions, the three doctors would discuss and come to a consensus. The probability, location, and neighboring structures of each specific structures were statistically analyzed. Results The anatomical structures observed through the lumbar foramen under endoscopy include muscles and ligaments attached to the superior articular process (SAP), main blood vessels inside the intervertebral foramen, blood vessels on the surface of IVD, and blood vessels on the surface of the dural sac and nerve root. The major anatomical structures observed through interlaminar space are multifidus, the conjugated ligament of ligament flavum and capsule ligament (capsule part of flavum ligaments), edges of the lamina, specific vessel bundle to facet with exit nerve root. Conclusion The anatomical structures under spinal endoscopy have certain characteristics, which are grossly different from those under open surgery. Familiarity with these anatomical structures has important clinical significance.

This study was conducted to investigate heavy metal contamination and potential health risk of ground water of selected municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pakistan. For this purpose a total of 30 composite samples of both surface and ground water were collected from dumpsites of Abbottabad, Bannu and Peshawar. The collected samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals by following standard methods. Results indicated that pH values were found within the acceptable limits specified by national environmental quality standards (NEQS) and world health organization (WHO). Mean concentrations of heavy metals were within NEQS and WHO limits, except for Ni which exceeded the NEQS and WHO limit of 0.02 mg/L in all samples, Similarly, Mn exceeded the limit set by NEQS and WHO (0.5 mg/L) in the ground water samples collected from Bannu dumpsite. The multivariate analysis indicated that the heavy metal contamination of the groundwater of the selected dumpsites was anthropogenic. The pollution index (PI) values (PI≥100) of Mn and Ni indicated very high pollution at individual levels while collectively based on heavy metals pollution index (HPI) values (HPI ≥ 200) the ground water of all the selected dumpsites were found highly polluted. Whereas, the hazard index (HI) values (HI ≥ 5) suggested adverse health effects. It was concluded that the ground water of all the dumpsites was highly polluted with heavy metals particularly Ni and Mn thus, posing a high health risk.

This paper introduces the improvements in the natural frequency based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) by applying bio-inspired optimization methods and the vision-based monitoring system for the effective damage detection. This paper proposes a natural frequency extraction method using the motion magnification based vision monitoring system with bio-inspired optimization techniques to estimate the damage location and depth in a cantilever beam. The proposed optimization techniques are inspired by natural processes and biological evolution including Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization, Sea Lion Optimization, and Coral Reefs Optimization. To verify the performances of each bio-inspired optimization methods, the eigenvalues of a two-bay truss structure are used for estimating the damaged elements. Then, using the proposed video motion magnification method, the natural frequency for each of undamaged and damaged cantilever beam have been extracted and compared with the LDV sensor to verify the proposed vision-based monitoring system. The performance of each bio-inspired optimizer for the damage detection has been compared. As a result, Coral Reefs Optimization has showed the lowest average error, around 1%, in the damage detection using natural frequency.

Cereal wastes such as rice bran and cereal dust are valuable yet underutilised by-products of grain processing. This study aimed to bio-convert these wastes into bacterial cellulose (BC), an emerging sustainable and renewable biomaterial, via an inexpensive solid-state fermentation (SSF) pre-treatment using three mould isolates. Medium substitution by directly using untreated rice bran or cereal dust did not significantly increase the yield of bacterial cellulose produced by a novel Novacetimonas sp. isolate (NCBI accession number PP421219) compared to the standard Hestrin-Schramm (HS) medium. In contrast, rice bran fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus yielded the highest bacterial cellulose (1.55 ± 0.6 g/L dry weight) compared to the untreated control (0.45 ± 0.1 g/L dry weight), demonstrating up to 22 % increase in yield. Using the SSF process, the media production costs were reduced by up to 90% compared to standard HS medium. Physicochemical characterisation using SEM, EDS, FTIR, XPS, XRD, and TGA were performed to gain insights into the internal structure, morphology, and chemical bonding of different produced BC, which revealed comparable biopolymer properties between BC produced in standard and waste-based media. Hence, our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of fungal SSF for transforming abundant cereal waste into BC, providing a circular economy solution to reduce waste and convert them into by-products to enhance the sustainability of the cereal industry.

In recent times, the increasing concern for climate control has led to the widespread application of grid-connected inverter (GIC) based renewable energy systems. In addition, the increased usage of non-linear loads and electrification of the transport sector cause ineffective grid-frequency management and the introduction of harmonics. These grid conditions affect power quality and result in uncertainty and inaccuracy in monitoring and measurement. Incorrect measurement leads to overbilling/underbilling, ineffective demand and supply forecasts for the power system, and inefficient performance analysis. To address the outlined problem, a novel three-phase frequency component extraction and power measurement method based on Digital Lock-in Amplifier (DLIA) and Digital Lock-in Amplifier Frequency-Locked Loop (DLIA-FLL) is proposed to provide accurate measurement under the conditions of harmonics and frequency offset. A combined filter with a lowpass filter and notch filter for DLIA is employed to improve computation speed. A comparative study is performed to validate the performance of the proposed power measurement method, by comparing the proposed method to the windowed interpolated fast Fourier transform (WIFFT). The ZERA COM 3003 (a commercial high-accuracy power measurement instrument) is used as the reference instrument in the experiment

Inula viscosa is a widely used plant in traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern medicine for various illnesses. I. viscosa has been shown to have anticancerous effects against various cancers, but its effects against lung cancer have been under limited investigation. At the same time, I. viscosa is rich in terpenoids whose anti-lung cancer effects have been poorly investigated. This study aimed to examine the potential anticancerous properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts of stems and leaves of I. viscosa and its terpenoid-rich fraction against human lung cancer A549 cells. Results showed a high radical scavenging capacity and polyphenol and flavonoid contents of I. viscosa methanolic rather than aqueous extracts. In addition, leaves methanolic extracts (IVLM) showed the highest reduction in viability of A549 cells among all the extracts. IVLM also reduced the viability of human ovarian SK-OV-3, breast MCF-7, liver HepG2, and colorectal HCT116 cancer cells. A terpenoid-rich I. viscosa fraction (IVL DCM), prepared by liquid-liquid separation of IVLM in dichloromethane (DCM), displayed a substantial reduction in the viability of A549 cells (IC₅₀= 27.8 ± 1.5 µg/mL at 48 h) and the panel of tested cancerous cell lines but was not cytotoxic to normal human embryonic fibroblasts (HDFn). The assessment of IVL DCM phytochemical constituents using GC-MS analysis revealed 21 metabolites, highlighting an enrichment in terpenoids, such as lupeol and its derivatives, caryophyllene oxide, betulin, and isopulegol, known to exhibit proapoptotic, and antimetastatic functions. IVL DCM also showed robust antioxidant capacity and decent polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Furthermore, Western blotting analysis indicated that IVL DCM reduced proliferation (reduction of proliferation marker Ki67 and induction of proliferation inhibitor proteins P21 and P27), contaminant with P38 MAP kinase activation, and induced the intrinsic apoptotic pathway (P53/BCL2/BAX/ Caspase3/PARP) in A549 cells. IVL DCM also reduced the migration of A549 cells, potentially by reducing FAK activation. Future identification of anticancer metabolites of IVL DCM, especially terpenoids, is recommended. These data place I. viscosa as a new resource of herbal anticancer agents.

Breast cancer mortality rates vary across ethnic groups in Israel, where protective factors such as high fertility and breastfeeding rates may be moderated by socioeconomic factors and mammography rates. We aim to investigate disparities in breast cancer mortality between Jewish and Muslim Arab women in Israel and examine how sociodemographic variables and number of children are associated with mortality. Our retrospective follow-up study uses data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics and multivariable Cox regression models, adjusting for age, number of children, country of origin, locality size, and socioeconomic status. Compared to Jewish women, Muslim Arab women exhibited lower breast cancer mortality rates. However, after adjusting for multiple sociodemographic variables, no significant differences persisted between Jewish and Muslim Arab women. Having more than three children was associated with lower mortality among Muslim Arab women, but not among Jewish women. European/American origin, larger localities, and medium socioeconomic status were associated with higher mortality. Sociodemographic factors may therefore explain the disparities in breast cancer mortality between Jewish and Muslim Arab women in Israel. Targeted intervention programs considering unique characteristics and risk factors of different ethnic groups are needed to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected older adults. Identifying host COVID-19 susceptibility genes in elderly populations remains a challenge. Here, we aimed to identify host genetic factors influencing susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We genotyped 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with the innate immune response in a total of 97 elderly (age &gt;65 years) residents of three long-term care facilities located in the area of Barcelona, Spain. Individuals were PCR-tested during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks between September and November 2020. SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests revealed infection in 81 residents. Importantly, the 16 uninfected residents remained SARS-CoV-2 seronegative until vaccination (January and February 2021). After adjusting for sex and age, we found that two SNPs were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility: MMS19 nucleotide excision repair protein homolog (MMS19)/rs2236575 (p = 0.029) and interferon-induced helicase C domain-containing 1 (IFIH1)/rs1990760 (p = 0.034). No association with SARS-CoV-2 infection was found for the 10 additional genotyped SNPs, which included 4 SNPs on chromosome 12 in the gene encoding oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS). Our results indicate that MMS19 and IFIH1 genetic variants were associated with resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of institutionalized seniors.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate, the clinical benefit of benralizumab in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma associated with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Methods: The study included patients with uncontrolled severe asthma associated with CRSwNP who started therapy with benralizumab. Pulmonary function, eosinophilia, IgE, comorbidity, changes in the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quality of Life (AQLQ), VAS (obstruction, drip, anosmia, facial pressure), SNOT-22, decrease or withdrawal of steroids and other medication, hospital admissions and emergency visits were analysed. The FEOS scale and EXACTO were employed in the assessment of response. Results: We analyzed 58 patients who completed minimal treatment at 12 months. After treatment with benralizumab, exacerbations were reduced by 82% (p

Sustainable development has become the aspiration of many developing countries, including Ecuador. The introduction of Bachelor of Tourism studies at the Technical University of Manabí aligns with this interest, implying a challenge for teachers regarding the application of integrative and innovative teaching methods that promote the training of professionals with high scientific rigor, both in technical and professional senses. To achieve this, the pedagogical group started from three fundamental principles based on the application of teaching work methods and pro-cedures, as well as the determination of interactions between the various factors that directly and indirectly influence the training process of professionals in the tourism sector. The results of comprehensive evaluation processes considering both the academic performance of the teachers and the level of satisfaction of students taking the course support the application of these teaching–learning methods, as well as highlighting the convenience of extending the experiences and re-search results of the pedagogical team to other vocational training centers for tourism activities.

Shale formations present significant challenges to traditional drilling fluids due to fluid infiltration, cuttings dispersion, and shale swelling, which can destabilize the wellbore. While oil-based drilling fluids (OBM) effectively address these problems concerns about their environmental impact and cost limit their widespread use. Recently, nanomaterials (NPs) have emerged as a promising approach in drilling fluid technology, offering an innovative solution to improve the efficiency of water-based drilling fluids (WBDF) in shale operations. This study evaluates the potential of utilizing modified silica nanocomposite and graphene nanopowder to formulate a nanoparticle-enhanced water-based drilling fluid (NP-WBDF). The main objective is to investigate the impact of these nanoparticle additives on the flow characteristics, filtration efficiency, and inhibition properties of the NP-WBDF. In this research, a silica nanocomposite was successfully synthesized using emulsion polymerization and analyzed using FTIR, PSD, and TEM techniques. Results showed that the silica nanocomposite exhibited a unimodal particle size distribution ranging from 38 nm to 164 nm, with an average particle size of approximately 72 nm. Shale samples before and after interaction with Graphene nanopowder-WBDF and NFC-WBDF were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The NP-WBM underwent evaluation through API filtration tests (LTLP), high-temperature/high-pressure (HTHP) filtration tests, and rheological measurements conducted with a conventional viscometer. Experimental results showed that silica nanocomposite and graphene nanopowder effectively bridged and sealed shale pore throats, demonstrating superior inhibition performance compared to conventional WBDF. Post adsorption, the shale surface exhibited increased hydrophobicity, contributing to enhanced stability. Overall, silica nanocomposite and graphene nanopowder positively impacted rheological performance and provided favorable filtration control in water-based drilling fluids.

This study considers ways to increase the consumption of sustainable fashion, given the significant environmental and social damages, associated with the industry. A series of experiments were conducted examining the impacts of choice architecture (nudges) under field conditions in collab-oration with one of Israel’s largest shopping centers. The study sought to identify which inter-ventions at the retail level successfully motivate sustainable fashion behavioral change regarding purchases and willingness to pay more, along with agreement with several statements regarding the climate crisis and sustainable fashion. Among the types of nudges examined in this field study were providing information, increasing accessibility to sustainable alternatives and appealing to social identity, in relation to demographics and green self-image. The study found that offering alterna-tives to consumers constitutes the most effective way to “nudge” consumers toward more sus-tainable purchasing behavior. Nonetheless, this does not negate the contribution of providing in-formation and strengthening social norms regarding sustainable fashion. Additionally in all groups, most participants reported that they do not know how to distinguish between sustainable and non-sustainable fashion, nor do they believe that the clothes they purchased were actually sustainable. The findings emphasize the need for policies that will increase the accessibility of sustainable fashion.

The rapid convergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), autonomous drones, and applied robotics presents a transformative opportunity for many sectors. However, this advancement also raises critical ethical and existential questions, particularly in warfare. This paper explores the concept of entropy as a metaphor for the potential disorder introduced by these increasingly complex technologies. We examine the risks of AGI surpassing human control in conflict situations, where autonomous decision-making could have disastrous consequences. We then analyze autonomous drones, scrutinizing their impact on warfare tactics and the ethical dilemmas surrounding independent, real-time decision-making. Finally, we investigate applied robotics in military operations, focusing on the delicate balance between enhanced capabilities and the potential for uncontrollable systems. Through a multidisciplinary lens, drawing on technology ethics, military strategy, and AI safety, this paper utilizes the concept of entropy to highlight the need for caution in developing these technologies. We propose a scientifically grounded and ethically sound framework to guide policymakers, technologists, and ethicists in navigating the path between innovation and global stability. This framework concludes with recommendations for responsible development and deployment strategies that can mitigate the risks associated with these powerful tools.

Copper-containing materials are attracting attention as self-desinfecting surfaces, suitable for helping healthcare settings in reducing healthcare associated infections. However, the impact of repeated exposure to disinfectants frequently used in biocleaning protocols on their antibacterial activity remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial effi-ciency of copper (positive control), a brass alloy (AB+®) and stainless steel (negative control) after repeated exposure to a quaternary ammonium compound and/or a mix of peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide routinely used in healthcare settings. A panel of 6 antibiotic-resistant strains (clinical isolates) was selected for this assessment. After a short (5 min) exposure time, the copper and brass materials retained significantly better antibacterial efficiencies than stainless steel, whatever the bacterial strain or disinfectant treatment considered. Moreover, post-treatment with both disinfectant products, copper-containing materials still reached similar levels of antibacterial efficiency as those obtained before treatment. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms such as efflux pump overexpression did not impair the antibacterial efficiency of copper-containing materials, neither did the presence of one or several genes related to copper homeostasis/resistance. In light of those results, surfaces made out of copper and brass remain interesting tools in the fight against dissemination of antibiotic-resistant strains that might cause healthcare associated infections.

This study used 10 replicate pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design and each pen contained 8 steers (initial BW = 305 ± 30.4 kg; n=80 steers/treatment) to determine if a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) with essential oils and plant extracts (PHYTOsolvan 200; DOSTOFARM, Westerstede, Germany) influences measures of growth or growth efficiency during the feedlot receiving phase in auction-derived beef steers. No steers were removed from the study; one steer from the control treatment was treated for respiratory disease. No mortality was noted in the present experiment. No appreciable differences were noted for BW, ADG, DMI, or feed conversion efficiency from d 1 to 29, 29 to 53, or during the cumulative receiving period (P ≥ 0.12). Performance based NEm and NEg were not influenced by dietary treatment (P ≥ 0.79). The ratio of observed-to-expected dietary net energy was not impacted by dietary treatment (P ≥ 0.71). These were healthy, high-growth potential Northern Plains steers. There was minimal morbidity (0.63%) and no mortality noted during the 53 d receiving study. Steers performed well and met growth performance expectations (the ratio of observed-to-expected NEm = 1.00), hence, it was not anticipated that the phytogenic compound would appreciably influence growth or health outcomes under the conditions of this experiment.

The estuarine exchange flow increases longitudinal dispersion of passive tracers and traps sinking particles, potentially creating an estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM): a localized maximum of suspended particulate matter concentration in an estuary. The ETM can have many implications - dead zones due to increased turbidity or hypoxia from organic matter decomposition, naval navigation challenges, and other water quality problems. Using timescales, we investigate how the interaction between exchange flow and particle sinking leads to ETMs by modeling a sinking tracer in an idealized box model of the Total Exchange Flow (TEF) first developed by Parker MacCready. Results indicate that the balance of particle sinking and vertical mixing is critical to determining ETM size and location. We then focus on the role of ecology in ETM formation through the use of The Peter-Parker Model: a new biophysical model which combines the TEF box model with a Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus (NPZD) model, the likes of which were first developed by Peter J.S. Franks. Detritus sinking rates similarly influence detritus peak concentration and location (an ETM), but detritus ETMs occur in a different location than the sinking tracer due to the influence of the biological factors which create a time lag of about 1 day. Lastly, we characterize the flow of the models with a dimensionless parameter that compares timescales and summarizes the dynamics of the sinking tracer in ETM formation and can be used across systems.

Cerebral aneurysms come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, they can evolve over time and present significant changes. It is generally accepted that large aneurysms are more prone to rupture, but the rupture of small aneurysms has also been observed, indicating the presence of additional risks factors. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the aneurysm size and wall thickness on its rupture risk by using fluid-structure interaction simulations. Six patient-specific geometries were chosen, four were used for studying the size effect and two for studying the thickness effect. Additional cases where the aneurysm was removed were included. It was found that thinner walls suffer from significantly greater stresses, whereas an increment in size means, in general, lower wall shear stress and greater equivalent stress. By removing the aneurysm, it could be noted that at the rupture point, the reduction in the time-averaged wall shear stress was 75%. Although the size of an aneurysm has a great impact in its rupture risk, its wall thickness needs to be considered, since even maintaining its size, the aneurysm could suffer from a thin-ning of its walls that can lead to structural failure.

The Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (D. citri) is one of the major pests in the citrus industry, which spreads Citrus Huanglongbing disease. It has developed resistance to chemical insecticides. Therefore, searching for greener solutions for pest management is critically important. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the repellent and insecticidal efficacy of essential oils (EOs) from four species of Myrtaceae plants: Psidium guajava (PG), Eucalyptus robusta (ER), Eucalyptus tereticornis (ET), and Baeckea frutescens (BF) against D. citri and to analyze their chemical composition. GC-MS analysis was performed, and the results indicated that the EOs of PG, ER, ET, and BF were rich in terpenoids, ketones, esters, and alcohol compounds. The repellent rate of all four EOs showed that it decreased with exposure time but increased with concentrations of EOs. Repellent rates ranged from 80.50% to 100.00% after treating D. citri for 6 hours with four EOs at 100% concentration and decreased to 67.71% to 85.49% after 24 hours of exposure. Among the compounds from the EOs tested, eucalyptol had the strongest repellent activity, with a 24-hour repellency rate of 100%. The contact toxicity bioassay results showed that all EOs have insecticidal toxicity to D. citri; the LC50 for nymphs was 36.47-93.15 mL/L, and for adults, it was 60.72-111.00 mL/L. These results show that when PG is used as the reference material, both ER, ET, and BF EOs have strong biological activity against D. citri, which provides a scientific basis for the further development of plant-derived agrochemicals.

Social isolation and loneliness are major public health concerns and are associated with morbidity and mortality. As this is an increasing issue in older adults, guidance for healthcare providers is a priority. The Canadian Coalition for Senior’s Mental Health (CCSMH) has de-veloped the first Canadian social isolation and loneliness guidelines to help providers recog-nize, assess, and manage social isolation and loneliness among older adults. We review and summarize these guidelines to support healthcare to apply best practices and evidence based care for older adults experiencing social isolation and loneliness.

Over the past thirty years, the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the Mediterranean Sea has faced increasing threats, including heat waves and human activities such as fishing and diving. Epibiosis on damaged gorgonian colonies is generally used as an indirect indication of stressed conditions. The density and height of P. clavata and the percentage of colonies affected by epibiosis and entangled in lost fishing gear were studied to investigate the phenomenon and its trend over time in the Ligurian Sea. Analyses were based on transects collected during ROV campaigns between 2015 and 2022 at depths of 33-90 meters. A strong correlation was observed between fishing effort in the study area and the level of epibiosis. Maximal percentages of colonies affected by epibiosis and entanglement were recorded at depths of 50-70 meters. Temporally, marine heat waves before 2019 were identified as the primary cause of damage to P. clavata. The decrease in epibiosis percentages after 2019, despite the 2022 heat wave, may be due to a quick recovery ability of the populations and a reduction in fishing activities during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Long-term monitoring programs are essential to understand the changes in marine benthic communities exposed to different stressors.

In human body, carboxylesterases (CEs) play the crucial roles in xenobiotic metabolism and lipid homeostasis. But the abnormal CEs expression is highly associated with some diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes and liver cancer. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop an efficient tool for the accurate detection of CEs in living organisms. Herein, an innovative near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe TTAP−AB has been designed for CEs detection based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism. This probe exhibits rapid response (2 min), excellent sensitivity (limit of detection = 8.14×10−6 U/mL), and high selectivity towards CEs. Additionally, owing to the good biocompatibility, probe TTAP−AB enables to monitor the dynamic changes of CEs level under drug-induced modulation in living cells and zebrafish. More importantly, probe TTAP−AB is successfully employed to image the liver tumor and assist tumor resection by the real-time monitoring of CEs, indicating that TTAP−AB is promising to guide liver cancer surgery. Therefore, probe TTAP−AB can not only enrich the strategies for CEs detection in biological systems, but also has great potential for some clinical imaging applications, including medical diagnosis, preclinical research, and imaging-guided surgery.

An 8-year-old, entire male, Domestic Shorthair cat was presented due to acute onset of dyspnoea/tachypnoea. Thoracic x-ray revealed presence of significant amount of bilateral pleural effusion. Fluid analysis indicated chylous effusion. The CT examination revealed many thoracic and abdominal abnormalities without a clear explanation for chylothorax. CT-lymphangiogram followed by surgical management were recommended. These options were declined by the owner due to high cost, however, a consent was given for attempt at percutaneous thoracic duct embolization. A percutaneous access to the cisterna chyli was successfully performed with an 18G vascular access needle via a right-sided sublumbar approach under ultrasound guidance. Subsequently, a 3F microcatheter and a 0.014-inch guidewire were introduced through the needle to canulate the thoracic duct. Thoracic duct lymphangiography was performed with 50:50 iohexol: 0.9% sodium chloride mixture revealing presence of dilated, tortuous and leaky cranial mediastinal lymphatics. Two helical microcoils were deployed within the caudal thoracic duct. Embolization of both the thoracic duct and the cisterna chyli was completed with mixture of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate: ethiodized oil mixture in 1:2 (glue-to-oil) ratio using a ‘pull-back’ technique. The cat recovered uneventfully from the procedure with immediate resolution of chylothorax. However, the patient continued to suffer from non-chylous pleural effusion.

Brazil became a major player in the global beef market, after the market liberalization in the 1990’s, and experiencing a substantial development. Nonetheless, the environmental impact of beef production associated with land use and greenhouse gas emissions has been under discussion. The necessity of increased adoption of sustainable technologies, however, may preclude some farmers to keep up to date with technological advances. This article describes the major historical changes in beef farming and how they have been shifting production systems toward a sustainable intensification of grass-fed beef, with likely impacts for farmers. We combined an extensive literature review, public data and our own insights, as senior researchers, to achieve that. The trajectory shown here evidenced the substantial technological development underway in Brazilian beef farming, with strong support of public policies for decarbonizing agriculture. Nonetheless, the pace of this sustainable transition may affect small to medium farmers unable to cope. Our recommendations, therefore, involve a broad program of technical assistance and training on sustainable technologies and other supportive practices, including financial and digital literacy. Additionally, we suggest an alternative credit system, with progressive borrowing allowances to ensure financial resources to support a sustainable and inclusive transition of Brazilian beef farming.

The objective was to compare the color match and color stability behavior of single and multishade resin-based composites (RBCs) used for direct restorations. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomized clinical trials evaluating the shade performance of single-shade RBCs in direct restorations were included. A search of the scientific literature was performed in 5 databases (April 2024). The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4, calculating the risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the dichotomous outcome using a random effects model. Bias was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE tool. Four studies with 263 restorations analyzed were selected. The results showed comparable performance between single-shade RBCs and multishade RBCs in terms of color match and color stability over 12 months. Three studies had a low risk of bias with all expected results, and one study had some concerns. The certainty of evidence for color stability was considered low for all follow-up periods due to the small number of events and sample size. According to the United States Public Health Service Evaluation (USPHS) and the World Dental Federation (FDI), there is comparable clinical color performance between single-shade and multishade RBCs over 12 months.

The studied area (the Ionian Islands: Paxoi, Lefkas, Kefalonia and Zakynthos), is situated in the western ends of Ionian Basin (IB) in contact with the Apulian Platform (AP) and named as Apulian Platform Margins (APM). The proposed model is based on fieldwork, previously published data and balanced geologic cross-sections. Late Jurassic characterizes Ionian Basin to Early Eocene NNW–SSE extension followed by Middle Eocene to Middle Miocene compression (NNW–SSE directed). The space availability, the distance of Ionian Thrust from the Kefalonia strike-slip fault (KSSF) and the altitude between Apulian platform and Ionian basin that produced during extensional regime were the main factors for the produced structures due to inversion tectonic. In Zakynthos Island, the space availability (far from KFT), and the reactivation of normal bounding faults formed an open geometry anticline (Vrachionas anticline) and a foreland basin (Kalamaki thrust foreland basin). In Kefalonia Island, the space from FKT was limited and the tectonic inversion formed anticline geometries (Aenos Mountain), nappes (within the Aenos Mountain) and small foreland basins (Argostoli gulf), all within the margins (APM). In Lefkas Island, the lack of space, very close to KFT, lead to the movement of the Ionian basin over the margins, attempting to overthrust the Apulian platform. Because the obstacle between basin and platform was very large, the moving part of Ionian Basin strongly deformed producing nappes and anticlines in the external part of the Ionian basin, and a very narrow foreland basin (Ionian Thrust foreland basin).