Simultaneously with the development of industrial society, wastewater with organic pollutants has caused various environmental problems. The most majority of organic pollutants in water and wastewater are persistent, reason which can cause serious problems for human health, animal health, and for the whole environment. Therefore, efficient treatment methods for wastewater with highly concentration of organic compounds are immediately necessary. During the last years, the prescribed and non-prescribed consumption of antibiotics has grown a lot worldwide. Big quantities of antibiotics are discharged into wastewater because their incomplete absorption by living organisms, but at small concentrations present in aquatic environments represents a major risk for the human health and environment protection. The paper presents the main advantages and disadvantages of advanced oxidation processes, but also current state and new perspectives in the field of environment protection. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are often used in the field of treatment of different types of wastewater. AOPs are based on physicochemical processes that create significant structural changes in chemical species, their commercialization at a wide scale may result in cost reductions that are desirable for environmental applications. The majority of antibiotics may be eliminated using physicochemical processes, such as photo-Fenton, photolysis, ozonation, electrooxidation, heterogeneous catalysis, and other bio processes. In comparison to conventional chemical processes, AOPs provide superior oxidation efficiency, ideal operating costs, and zero secondary pollutants.

Good health and the promotion of well-being for all is the third of the 17 Global Goals included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Contributing to this goal, the current study aimed to examine the relationships between one kind of athletes’ well-being, namely state organic self-talk, with personality traits, and basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration within their sport. Athletes (N = 691; mean age 21.65) from a variety of individual (n = 270) and team sports (n = 421) completed a multisection questionnaire capturing the targeted variables. Three-step hierarchical regression analyses revealed that: In step 1, all personality traits were to some extent a significant predictor of athletes’ organic, spontaneous self-talk dimensions and goal-directed self-talk functions. In step 2, need satisfaction significantly contributed to all spontaneous self-talk dimensions and goal-directed self-talk functions (except for creating functional deactivated states) over and above personality. Finally, in step 3, need frustration significantly contributed to negative spontaneous self-talk dimensions, and to all goal-directed self-talk functions (except for instruction) over and above personality and need satisfaction. Overall, our results indicate the importance of personality traits as personal antecedents, and perceptions of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration as social-environmental antecedents, in shaping athletes’ state organic self-talk.

With technological transformations such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, digital techniques are penetrating the field of finance. Digital finance is a resource-saving and environmentally friendly innovative financial service. It shows great green attributes and can drive the flow of financial resources towards environmentally friendly enterprises, thereby promoting green and low-carbon development. This paper investigates the effects of digital finance on green and low-carbon cyclic development and the mechanism. First, the level of green and low carbon cyclic development in China is estimated from multiple aspects based on the panel data of 31 provinces by using the spatio-temporal range entropy weight method. Then, the working mechanism of digital finance on green and low carbon cyclic development is revealed by performing empirical tests based on panel regression models, mediating effect models, and threshold models. Finally, the effects of digital finance and conventional variables on green and low-carbon cyclic development are investigated by using a random forest model and a CatBoost model in based on the machine learning. The results show that digital finance has significant positive effects on green and low-carbon cyclic development, and technological innovation plays a key role in the effects of digital finance on green and low-carbon cyclic development; meanwhile, the driving effect of digital finance on green and low carbon cyclic development shows nonlinear features with increasing “marginal effect”; besides, both digital finance and conventional factors have significant impacts on green and low carbon cyclic development. This study provides an empirical basis and path reference for digital finance to achieve “carbon peak, carbon neutralization” in China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges in the care of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and other neuromuscular complex chronic conditions (NCCC). The purpose of this study was to explore the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare delivery. From May to August 2020, medical professionals caring for CP and NCCC patients across multiple countries and disciplines completed a self-administered cross-sectional survey comparing practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 79 healthcare workers from 8 countries who participated—predominantly pediatric orthopedic surgeons (32%), pediatricians (30%), and pediatric physiatrists (23%)—most felt that caring for NCCC patients during the pandemic presented with unique difficulties and reported a significant decrease in in-person NCCC clinic volume (p<0.001), multidisciplinary appointments (p<0.001), surgical cases (p=0.005), and botulinum toxin/phenol injections. Most providers affirmed that institutional guidelines for perioperative emergent/urgent and elective procedures, workplace settings, and technology were modified to accommodate the ongoing public health crisis. Usage of telemedicine significantly increased for NCCC patient visits (p<0.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children with NCCC lost access to routine, multidisciplinary care. Telemedicine became an integral part of communication and management. In the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic and threat of future healthcare disruptions, these data lay the foundation for trending the evolution of healthcare delivery and accelerating best practice guidelines for children with CP and NCCC.

Influenced by historical background, regional economic development, and the frequent occurrence of armed conflict, the human–earth relationship in the Central and Southern Peninsula, which is located in a "fragmented zone", is characteristic of the region. The Indochina Peninsula has now become an area of interest for the study of spatial changes in production–living–ecological spaces (PLES). Taking the Indochina Peninsula as the study area, this paper explores the evolution of the spatio-temporal patterns of PLES and its driving mechanism in the Central and Southern Peninsula, from 2010 to 2020, based on the grid scale. Methods such as the land-use transition matrix, land-use dynamics index, and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) were used in our model. Our results show that, from 2010 to 2020, ecological space dominated the PLES pattern on the Indochina Peninsula but its area gradually decreased, accompanied by a sharp increase in the areas of productive and living spaces. The area of PLES interconversion on the Indochina Peninsula in 2010–2020 was 212818.70 km2, and it is characterized by the conversion of ecological space into productive space, as well as the interconversion of woodland ecological and grassland ecological spaces. In addition, the intertransfer of production and ecological spaces was distributed in a network-like manner throughout the Indochina Peninsula, while the transfer of living space was distributed in a point-like manner. The migration path of the center of gravity of PLES on the In-dochina Peninsula demonstrates a significant directional difference. The PLES’s pattern evolution was affected by the degree of multiple factors, with a significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The positive and negative feedback effects of the factors were distributed in different areas and in different transfer directions.

Postural instability (PI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) exposes patients to increased risk of falls (RF). Although dopaminergic therapy and deep brain stimulation (DBS) improve motor performance in advanced PD patients, their effects on PI and RF are not clear. PI and RF were assessed by a stabilometric platform in 6 advanced PD patients. Patients were evaluated on and off dopaminergic medication and four DBS conditions: bilateral-DBS, DBS of the more- or less-affected side and DBS-off. Dopaminergic medication alone worsened PI and RF, DBS alone worsened RF, and no medication/DBS combination produced an improvement in postural control with respect to the OFF-medication/DBS-off condition. When ON-medication, PI and RF significantly improved after turning the DBS on, regardless of medication condition. Among DBS conditions, bilateral-DBS provided the maximal improvement of PI and RF when ON medication, and minimal worsening of PI and RF when OFF medication, whereas patients performed worse when in most-affected side DBS condition. These results can help in developing the best therapeutic strategy for postural disorders in patients with advanced PD.

We explicate a traumatized child's narcissistic defense against trauma. Following a review of psychoanalytic understandings of trauma we explore the invocation of narcissistic defenses against trauma. The phenomenon of Nachträglichkeit or après-coup is explored, and the paper concludes with clinical illustration drawn from the experience of a young boy who suffered significant separation trauma during the Holocaust.

Novel effluent treatment solutions for dangerous organic pollutants are crucial worldwide. In recent years, chemical reduction using noble metal-based nanocatalysts and NaBH4, a reducing agent, has become common practice for eliminating organic contaminants from aquatic environments. We suggest a straightforward approach to synthesizing magnetic cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) modified with magnetite (Fe3O4) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as a catalyst for organic contamination removal. Especially, Ag NPs were decorated on the CNC surface without reducing agents or stabilizers by reducing AgNO3. XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX, VSM, BET, and zeta potential tests characterized the Ag/Fe3O4/CNC nanocomposite. The nanocomposite's catalytic activity was tested by eliminating 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and organic dyes methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in an aqueous solution at 25 oC. The Ag/Fe3O4/CNC nanocomposite reduced 4-NP and decolored these hazardous organic dyes in short time (2 to 5 min) using a tiny amount of catalyst (2.5 mg for 4-NP and 15 mg for MO and MB). The magnetic catalyst was removed and reused three times without losing catalytic activity. This work shows that the Ag/Fe3O4/CNC nanocomposite can chemically reduce harmful pollutants in effluent for environmental applications.

(1) Background: Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality globally. It is a multi-step process that involves genetic and epigenetic modifications leading to histological and morphological changes. Several complementary therapeutic options have been analyzed, shedding light on plant-based medication as a potential treatment for colon cancer. Flavonoids such as quercetin are known to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. This in vitro study examines quercetin's anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-angiogenesis effects and antioxidant properties in colon cancer cells. (2) Methods: The antioxidant capacity of quercetin-treated cells was investigated using biochemical assays, and angiogenesis and cytokine levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The epigenetic modulation and differential expression of aging, apoptotic, and proliferation genes, and Histone deacetylases (HDACs) were also investigated. (3) Results: In this study, the quercetin-treated group significantly reduced the antioxidant enzymes, cytokines, and VEGF levels, altering the expression of epigenetic factors. Quercetin also induced significant senescence in colon cancer cells. Moreover, a considerable increase was observed in the apoptotic and hTERT genes. In contrast, a decrease in p53, proliferation genes, and HDACs was observed, providing a basis for the clinical use of quercetin in cancer treatment. (4) Conclusion: In vitro studies showed that quercetin treatment efficiently induces senescence and apoptosis in colon cancer cells. We also found that quercetin effectively modulated the expression of p53, Wnt1, CTNNB1, and HDACs, indicating that it could be used to treat colon cancer.

Considering the controversial benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), we intended to evaluate the impact of surgical approach on cardiac function after lung resection using myocardial work analysis. Echocardiographic data of 45 patients (25 thoracotomy vs. 20 VATS) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) 2 weeks before and after surgery, including two-dimensional speckle tracking and tissue doppler imaging. No notable changes in left ventricular (LV) function, assessed mainly using the LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global myocardial work index (GMWI), and global work efficiency (GWE), were observed. Right ventricular (RV) TTE values, including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TASV), and RV free-wall GLS (RVFWGLS), indicated greater RV function impairment in the thoracotomy group than in the VATS group [TAPSE (mm): 17.90 ± 3.80 vs. 20.60 ± 3.50, p &lt; 0.018; TASV (cm/s): 12.40 ± 2.90 vs. 14.60 ± 2.50, p &lt; 0.010; RVFWGLS (%): −11.50 ± 8.50 vs. −17.50 ± 9.70, p &lt; 0.033), respectively]. Unlike RV function, LV function remained preserved after lung resection. The thoracotomy group exhibited greater RV function impairment than did the VATS group. Further studies should evaluate the long-term impact of surgical approach on cardiac function.

High-flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is gaining traction globally as a treatment for respiratory failure. There are several physiological benefits and there may be a growing patient preference for HFNC. In this narrative review, we aim to outline the basic mechanisms of HFNC, who can use it and review the literature regarding its utility both in the critical care setting, as well as in the home setting for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure with an emphasis on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The role of non-pharmacological interventions like non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and HFNC in the prevention of hospital readmissions following acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is an area of increasing importance because randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews have found measures like nurse-led predischarge bundles to be clinically ineffective and to have a high cost per quality adjusted life year. This review therefore considers the evidence of NIV vs HFNC in the context of AECOPD and the application of HFNC at home in the prevention of AECOPD. We also look at applications of HFNC in specific settings, such as in the peri-operative period, emergency department, acute (mainly Critical Care) setting including in immunocompromised patients and palliative care.

One-Dimensional Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (1D-SCAPS) and n-i-p planar configuration have been employed for the simulation of the caesium tin iodide (CsSnI₃)-based perovskite solar cell (PSC) with titanium (IV) oxide (TiO₂) and copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) as the electron and hole transport materials respectively. The results obtained for the initially modeled PSC compared well with similar devices in the literature but marred with high recombination rate. As such, the defect density in the CsSnI₃ absorber was varied from 10¹³ cm^-3 to 10¹⁷ cm^-3 and enriched with SnCl₂ (additive) and Br⁻(dopant) respectively. This strategy ensured a reduced concentration of Sn⁴⁺ vacancy (V_Sn) in the CsSnI₃ absorber with improved carrier lifetime and diffusion length beyond 0.05 ns and 1.1µm by a magnitude of the order of 10³ and 10² respectively for the enriched CsSnI₃ –based PSC. For the optimized PSC, we recorded V_OC=1.289 V, J_SC=32.60 mA.cm^-2, FF=83.56% and PCE=35.12%.

In this work a solution-annealed AISI 316H grade austenitic stainless steel was studied in terms of investigating the electrolytic hydrogen charging effects on the resulting Charpy impact toughness and dry sliding tribological behavior. Conventional Charpy impact bending tests were employed to study the mechanical response of the investigated material to dynamic loading conditions, whereas dry linear sliding tribological tests were used to study the material friction and wear behavior. The obtained mechanical and tribological properties were correlated with corresponding fracture and tribological mechanisms determined from morphological observations of fracture surfaces and tribological tracks. The applied testing procedures were individually carried out for the non-hydrogenated, hydrogen-charged, and dehydrogenated material conditions. The observed changes of individual properties due to applied hydrogen charging were rather small which indicated good resistance of the solution-annealed AISI 316H steel against material degradation in currently used electrolytic hydrogenation conditions.

Hepatic macrophages act as the liver’s first line of defense against injury. Their differentiation into pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory subpopulations is a critical event that maintains a delicate balance between liver injury and repair. In our investigation, we explored the influence of the small heterodimer partner (SHP), a nuclear receptor primarily associated with metabolism, on macrophage differentiation during the innate immune response. During macrophage differentiation, we observed significant alterations in Shp mRNA expression. Deletion of SHP promoted M1 differentiation while interfering with M2 polarization. Conversely, overexpression of SHP resulted in increased expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (Pparg), a master regulator of anti-inflammatory macrophage differentiation, thereby inhibiting M1 differentiation. Upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, there was a notable increase in the pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages, accompanied by exacerbated infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) into the livers of Shp myeloid cell specific knockout (Shp-MKO). Concurrently, we observed significant induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnfa) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2) expression in LPS-treated Shp-MKO livers. Additionally, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathways were activated in LPS-treated Shp-MKO livers. Consistently, both pathways were hindered in SHP overexpression macrophages. Finally, we demonstrated that SHP interacts with p65, thereby influencing macrophage immune repones. In summary, our study uncovered a previously unrecognized role of SHP in promoting anti-inflammatory macrophage differentiation during the innate immune response. This was achieved by SHP acting as a regulator for the Pparg, MAPK and NF-kB pathways.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of care bundles on treatment compliance and intestinal barrier function in patients with refractory septic shock in the intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 94 patients with refractory septic shock admitted to our hospital between June 2020 and April 2022 were collected. Patients with routine nursing were included in the routine group, and those with care bundles were assigned to the care bundles group, with 47 cases in each group. Outcome measures included nursing efficiency, treatment compliance, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score, intestinal barrier function, inflammation factor level, treatment outcome and complications. Results: Care bundles resulted in significantly higher nursing efficiency and treatment compliance versus routine care (P<0.05). Patients receiving care bundles showed significantly higher SOFA scores and APACHE II scores than those receiving routine care (P<0.05). Intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (I-FABP), diamine oxidase (DAO), lactate, endotoxin, and intestinal dysfunction scores in the care bundles group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group after treatment (P<0.05). Care bundles were associated with significantly lower levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), shorter time to symptom relief, ICU treatment time, and duration of mechanical ventilation, and lower 28-d morbidity and mortality versus routine care (P<0.05). Patients in the care bundles group had a significantly lower incidence of complications than those in the routine group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Care bundles effectively enhance treatment compliance, improve intestinal barrier function and treatment outcomes, reduce the inflammatory response, and decrease the risk of SOFA score, APACHE II score, and complications in patients with refractory septic shock.

bZIP transcription factors, basic leucine zipper, play significant roles in plants’ growth and development processes, as well as in response to biological and abiotic stress. Hypericum perforatum is one of the world's top three best-selling herbal medicines, mainly used to treat depression. However, there is no systematic identification or functional analysis of the bZIP gene family in H. perforatum. In this study, 79 HpbZIP genes were identified. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the HpbZIP gene family was divided into ten groups, designated A-I, and S. The physicochemical properties, gene structures, protein conserved motifs, and Gene Ontology enrichments of all HpbZIPs were systematically analyzed. The expression patterns of all genes in different tissues of H. perforatum (root, stem, leaf, and flower) were analyzed by qRT-PCR, revealing the different expression patterns of HpbZIP under abiotic stresses. HpbZIP69 protein is localized in the nucleus. According to the results of the yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays, HpbZIP69 can bind to the HpASMT2 (N-Acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase) gene promoter ( G-box cis-element ) to activate its activity. Overexpressing HpbZIP69 transgenic Arabidopsis lines enhanced tolerance to drought. The content of MDA and H2O2 content was significantly decreased, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was considerably increased under the drought stress. These results may aid in additional functional studies of HpbZIP transcription factors and cultivating drought-resistant medicinal plants.

This research objective was to develop a promoting vegetable and fruit consumption behaviors program among preschool children based on 4 aspects of House’s social support framework to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool the program. This study was quasi-experimental. The sample consisted of preschool children and their caregivers who were randomly selected based on the inclusion criteria. The experimental and control groups had 96 pairs of preschool-aged children and their caregivers. The experimental group was given the program, while the control group was to resume normal activities. The program development was based on the caring lifestyle of caregivers in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The tools consisted of a preschool care eating behavior assessment and a caregiver knowledge test about the child's fruit and vegetable intake and how to modify the child's fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, fruit and vegetable eating behaviors in preschoolers and a handbook for nurses and primary caregivers were approved by five experts and deemed suitable for the caregiver support framework. The results of the development indicated that a 10-week program was appropriate and tended to increase preschoolers' consumption of fruits and vegetables. In especially experimental group both caregivers increasingly gained knowledge and behavior of caregivers to promote fruit and vegetable eating behavior and preschool increasing the fruit and vegetable consumption.

Using the Super-SBM method, this study calculates the carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of 30 provinces in mainland China from 2011 to 2019. Then, using the systematic GMM model, spatial Durbin model, and mediating effect model, it examines the direct effect, spatial effect, and influence mechanism of the digital economy (DE) on CEE. It was found that (1) the DE significantly promoted regional CEE, but had a negative effect on CEE in provinces with high economic correlation; (2) mechanism studies showed that the DE improved CEE by reducing energy intensity, promoting industrial upgrading and green technology innovation; (3) regional heterogeneity analysis found that the DE significantly improved CEE in eastern provinces, but not in central and western provinces. DE improves CEE in provinces with high level of economic development, but decreases CEE in provinces with low level of economic development.This paper provides some empirical and theoretical references for the development of DE to improve CEE.

BRICS-Plus (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and 30 other countries) is a group of 35 countries with emerging economies making up more than half of the world’s population. We explored epidemiological trends of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality attributable to modifiable risk factors and its association with period and birth cohort effects and sociodemographic index (SDI) across BRICS-Plus by using joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort (APC) modeling from 1990 to 2019. Between 1990 and 2019, the all-ages CVD deaths increased by 85.2% (6.1 million to 11.3 million) across BRICS-Plus. The CVD ASMR attributable to dietary risks and smoking significantly decreased across BRIC-Plus countries, with some exceptions. However, four-fifth of BRIC-Plus countries observed a remarkable increasing trend of high body mass-index (BMI)-related CVD deaths in particular among younger adults (25-49 years). Early birth cohorts and individuals aged greater than 50 years showed a higher risk of CVD mortality. Both China-ASEAN FTA and Mercosur regions stand out for their successful sociodemographic transition, with a significant reduction in CVD mortality over the study period. Singapore and Brazil achieved great progress in CVD mortality reduction and the other BRICS-Plus countries should follow their lead in adopting public health policies and initiatives into practice.

The ozonation reaction in a bubble column reactor (BCR) has been widely used in the removal of phenol from wastewater, but the phenol removal efficiency in this type of reactor is limited because of low ozone solubility and reactivity in the system. In the present study, the phenol degradation was enhanced using α-Al2O3 as a packing material and a ZnO nanocatalyst in the BCR. The reactor diameter and height were 8 cm and 180 cm, respectively. The gas distributor was designed to include 52 holes of 0.5-mm diameter. Also, the gas holdup, pressure drop, and bubble size were measured as a function of the superficial gas velocity (i.e., 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 cm/s). The evaluation of the hydrodynamic parameters provided a deep understanding of the ozonation process to select the optimal operating parameters in the reactor. It was found that the best superficial gas velocity was 2.5 cm/s. A complete (100%) phenol removal was achieved for phenol concentrations of 15, 20, and 25 ppm at reaction times of 80, 90, and 100 min, respectively, using α-Al2O3 packing material and a ZnO nanocatalyst in the BCR. Additionally, the results provided a clear reaction mechanism describing the ozonized BCR. Finally, the applied treatment method can be used efficiently to remove phenol from wastewater at a low cost, with little consumed energy, and a simple operation.

In this study, four experimental treatments were evaluated: (T1) alfalfa hay + concentrate, (50:50%, DM); (T2) alfalfa hay + Leucaena leucocephala + concentrate, (30:20:50%, DM); (T3) alfalfa hay + prickly pear + concentrate, (30:20:50%, DM); and (T4) alfalfa hay + Leucaena leucocephala + prickly pear + concentrate, (30:10:10:50%, DM). NH3-N concentrations in T2 and T4 decreased when replaced alfalfa hay in 20 and 10 %, respectively. Treatments did not affect the concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) between T3 and T4 (p>0.05); while the concentrations among T1 and T2 were different (P<0.05). T2 showed a reduction of 25.5 % in the methane production when compared to T1(p < 0.05).The lowest concentrations of protozoa were observed in T2 and T4, which contained Leucaena leucocephala (T2) and Leucaena leucocephala + prickly pear (T4) (p<0.05). The highest concentration of total methanogens was recorded in T1 and were different to T2, T3 and T4 (p<0.05). Leucaena leucocephala at a inclusion percentage of 20 % decreased the methane when compared to T1; whereas prickly pear there was not a positive effect the methane production.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal complaint that can impede physical function and mobility. Current management often involves pain medication, but there is a need for non-pharmacological and non-invasive interventions. Soft tissue manipulation (STM) such as massage has been shown to be effective in human subjects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings are not well understood. In this paper, we evaluated potential changes in soft tissue levels of more than thirty pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines following instrument-assisted STM (IASTM) in rats with chronic, induced LBP using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant. Our results indicate that IASTM is associated with reduced soft tissue levels of RANTES/CCL5 and increased soft tissue levels of IL-4, which are pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, respectively, by 120 minutes post-treatment. IASTM was not associated with tissue-level changes in CXCL5/LIX (the murine homologue of IL-8), CXCL7, GM-CSF ICAM-1, IL1-ra, IL-6, IP-10/CXCL10, L-selectin, TNF-α, or VEGF at either 30- or 120 minutes post-treatment. Combined, our findings suggest that IASTM exerts tissue-level effects that are associated with improved clinical outcomes and potentially beneficial changes in pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines in circulation and at the tissue level.

During embryo development, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as an important site for protein biosynthesis, however, in vitro culture (IVC) can negatively affect ER homeostasis. Thereby, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an ER stress inhibitor, in the IVC of bovine embryos. Two experiments were carried out: Exp. 1: evaluation of blastocyst rate, hatching kinetics and gene expression of hatched embryos after being treated with different concentrations of TUDCA (50, 200 or 1,000 μM) in the IVC; Exp. 2: evaluation of the re-expansion, hatching, and gene expression of hatched embryos previously treated with 200 µM of TUDCA at IVC and submitted to vitrification. There was no increase in the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst rates treated with TUDCA in the IVC. However, embryos submitted to vitrification after treatment with 200 µM of TUDCA, increased hatching rate post-warming, together with a down-regulation in the expression of ER stress-related genes and the accumulation of lipids. In conclusion, this work showed that the addition of TUDCA during in vitro culture can improve the cryotolerance of the bovine blastocyst through the putative modulation of ER and oxidative stress.

White oak mortality is a significant concern in forest ecosystems due to its impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Understanding the factors influencing white oak mortality, particularly the soil properties, is crucial for effective forest management and conservation efforts. In this study, we aimed to investigate the spatial pattern of white oak mortality and examine the influence of soil properties on mortality rates. Multicycle Forest Inventory and Analysis data were compiled to capture all white oaks across the eastern US. White oak tree mortality data were collected across plot systems that utilized Diameter at Breast Height between two periods. Soil variables were analyzed to assess soil properties. Spatial analysis techniques, including geostatistics and regression modeling, were used to analyze the relationship between white oak mortality and soil characteristics. Results found clustered spatial patterns of white oak mortality across a broad scale depicting the significant effects of coarser soil textures (p = 0.00), nutrient-deficient sites, and extreme soil moisture levels (p <0.1). Our findings demonstrated the importance of soil properties in shaping the spatial pattern of white oak mortality rate. This idea can inform forest management practices for the conservation of white oak populations. Future research is needed for comprehensive soil assessment including biotic and abiotic factors for forest management strategies at a broader scale aimed at mitigating white oak mortality.

(1) Background: To identify the association between the presence or absence of raphe and aortic valve dysfunction as well as the presence of aortopathy in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV); (2) Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 312 participants (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.3] years; 227 men [72.8%]) with BAV. The BAVs were divided into those with presence (raphe+) or absence (raphe-) of raphe. Valvular function was classified as normal, aortic regurgitation (AR), or aortic stenosis (AS) using TTE. The pattern of BAV aortopathy was determined by the presence of dilatation at the sinus of Valsalva and the middle ascending aorta using CCT.; (3) Results: BAVs with raphe+ had a higher prevalence of AR (148 [79.5%] vs. 48 [37.8%], P < .001) but a lower prevalence of AS (90 [48.6%] vs. 99 [78.0%], P < .001) compared with those with raphe-. The types of BAV aortopathy were significantly different (P = 0.021) according to those with BAV-raphe+ and BAV-raphe-.; (4) Conclusions: The presence of a raphe was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of AR but a lower prevalence of AS and combined dilatation of the aortic root and middle ascending aorta. The presence of raphe was an independent determinant of AR.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of care bundles on treatment compliance and intestinal barrier function in patients with refractory septic shock in the intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 94 patients with refractory septic shock admitted to our hospital between June 2020 and April 2022 were collected. Patients with routine nursing were included in the routine group, and those with care bundles were assigned to the care bundles group, with 47 cases in each group. Outcome measures included nursing efficiency, treatment compliance, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score, intestinal barrier function, inflammation factor level, treatment outcome and complications. Results: Care bundles resulted in significantly higher nursing efficiency and treatment compliance versus routine care (P<0.05). Patients receiving care bundles showed significantly higher SOFA scores and APACHE II scores than those receiving routine care (P<0.05). Intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (I-FABP), diamine oxidase (DAO), lactate, endotoxin, and intestinal dysfunction scores in the care bundles group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group after treatment (P<0.05). Care bundles were associated with significantly lower levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), shorter time to symptom relief, ICU treatment time, and duration of mechanical ventilation, and lower 28-d morbidity and mortality versus routine care (P<0.05). Patients in the care bundles group had a significantly lower incidence of complications than those in the routine group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Care bundles effectively enhance treatment compliance, improve intestinal barrier function and treatment outcomes, reduce the inflammatory response, and decrease the risk of SOFA score, APACHE II score, and complications in patients with refractory septic shock.

This study aimed to compare the prognosis and characteristics of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) combination therapy and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). We retrospectively assessed 179 and 72 patients treated with HAIC and AB combination therapy, respectively, between January 2018 and January 2023. The progression-free survival of patients treated with HAIC was significantly superior than that of patients treated with AB (P&lt;0.05), but there was no significant difference in overall survival and objective response rate (ORR) between the two groups (P=0.1056 and P=0.137, respectively). After propensity score matching (PSM), our data revealed that there was no significant difference in PFS between patients who received AB combination therapy and HAIC therapy (P=0.8888). However, patients who received AB combination therapy had significantly better overall survival than those who received HAIC therapy (P=0.0133). In addition, after PSM, significant differences in ORR and disease control rate were not observed. In conclusion, our propensity score study reveals that patients treated with AB therapy have a significantly longer OS than those treated with HAIC.

Background: We studied the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) hospitalizations and their association with myocardial injury and thrombosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2020 database. Results: We identified 335,799 hospitalizations with COVID. Of these, 1.6% (5,355) were diagnosed with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (COVNSTEMI). The mean age of COVID hospitalizations was 71.7, with 60.50% being males. The population prevalence included 53.10% Whites, 17.80% Blacks, 19.20% Hispanics, and 4.10% Asians. The average length of stay (LOS) was 10 days, and 37.60% of patients died during their hospitalization. The average cost of hospitalization (TOTCHG) was $156,633. The COVSTEMI group comprised 1,364 cases, with a mean age of 67.4, in-hospital mortality of 47.4%, and the mean TOTCHG was $177,600. The DVTCOV group comprised 2,869 cases, while the PECOV group had 4,828 cases. Male predominance was observed in both groups, with mean ages of 66 years in the DVTCOV group and 64 years in the PECOV group. The DVTCOV group had a LOS of 16 days, with 24.71% mortality, while the PECOV group had a LOS of 11 days, with 19.20% mortality. The average TOTCHG in the DVTCOV group was $248,900, whereas it was $145,378 in the PECOV group. Conclusion: Our study revealed significant mortality rates across different groups, including 38% in COVNSTEMI, 47% in COVSTEMI, 25% in DVTCOV, and 19% in PECOV. These findings highlight the severity of COVID-related complications and the substantial financial burden of hospitalization.

Introduction: The identification of some prognostic markers in head and neck cancers (HNC) is necessary for the stratification of the therapeutic approach with benefits in increasing treatment response rates and limiting the toxic side effects of treatments. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and pallets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are currently validated as cheap and accessible biomarkers in different types of solid tumors. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible biomarker value of NLR, PLR and MLR recorded pre-treatment (radiotherapy/chemotherapy) for prognostic purposes in HNC. Materials and methods: The study included 190 patients with HNC included in the oncology record in the oncology outpatient clinic of the Craiova County Emergency Hospital starting from January 2002 and deceased until December 2022. Among them, 40 patients treated multimodally in the Clinic were included in the study of Oncology of the Craiova County Emergency Hospital for which the pre-treatment value (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) of NLR, PLR and MLR could be calculated. Overall survival (OS) values were correlated with NLR, PLR and MLR. Results: Median values for NLR, PLR and MLR were 6.15 (1.24-69), 200.79 (61.3- 1775.0) and 0.53 (0.12-5.5) respectively. In the study, the mean values for NLR, PLR and MLR of 2.88, 142.97 and 0.36 respectively were obtained. Median OS in the study group was 11 months (1-120). Although a negative Pearson`s correlation, the relationship between your variables was only weak, values R =.07, p=.67; R=.02, p=.31 and R=07, p=.62 being related with NLR, PLR and MLR respectively correlation with overall survival (OS). The median values of NLR, PLR and MLR were calculated (1.53, 90.32 and 0.18 respectively) for HNC cases with pre-treatment values of NLR <2 and for HNC cases with NLR values ≥6 (23.5, 232.78 and 0.79 respectively). Median OS for cases with NLR<2 and NLR≥6 were 17.4 and 13 months, respectively. Conclusions: The negative correlations of NLR, PLR and MLR with OS reported in the study are in accordance with the data reported in the literature for locally advanced recurrent and metastatic HNSCC cases. The comparative analysis of the data in the group with NLR<2 and NLR≥6 highlights an advantage of 4.4 months in median OS in favor of the group with low values of NLR. Being cheap and accessible, these markers could change the therapeutic approach even in centers with limited resources. The role of borderline NLR values as a prognostic factor in HNSCC must also be defined. PLR and MLR are less evaluated as biomarkers but the study demonstrates their potential to be used as prognostic biomarkers, it remains to be clarified if their inclusion in multivariable models along with NLR would bring a benefit

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the second cause of cancer specific death in women from high-income countries. More than 70% of all breast cancer are hormone receptor-positive BC, and elevated estrogen circulating in blood has been proved to be a strong risk for BC development. This is due to its contribution to enhance proliferation of cancerous cells, angiogenesis and metastasis stimulation and therapy resistance. The estrogen (E) metabolism–gut microbiome axis is functional with underlying individual variations in E levels. It is reasonable that the estrobolome (bacterial genes whose products are capable of metabolizing E) could contribute to the risk of hormone-driven malignancies including BC and may serve as a potential biomarker and target. Gut microbial β -glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes have been suggested to be involved in the estrobolome. Furthermore, bacterial GUS enzymes within the gastrointestinal tract have been postulated to contribute to hormone breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the recent knowledge about the role of GUS enzyme in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We focus on the role of GUS in (i)-the microbioma and estrogen metabolism, (ii) diet, estrobolome, and the BC development, (iii) other activities of the bacterial β-glucuronidase, and (iv) the new molecular target for BC therapeutic application.

There are no studies that have investigated the characteristics of car use across THA patients, including those who do not drive. This study aimed to evaluate, in THA patients, (1) postoperative car usage, (2) comfort while entering and exiting a car, and (3) whether lower limb muscle strength affects action comfort. One hundred seventy-two post-THA patients completed the questionnaire in 2020, along with assessments of hip abductor and knee extensor muscle strength before surgery and at discharge. Patients whose overall comfort level was judged as “comfortable” were defined as the “comfort” group; others were placed in the “discomfort” group. Of the 172 patients, 161 reported car usage at a mean of 5.6 years after THA. Of these, 114 and 47 patients were placed in the "comfort" and "discomfort" groups, respectively. Patients in the "discomfort" group were three times more likely to experience discomfort using the contralateral side door than the surgical side door, and about twice as many patients experienced discomfort when entering as when exiting. Lower preoperative contralateral hip abductor muscle strength was the only independent predictor for discomfort. The take-home messages were that prevention of contralateral-side weakness may improve comfort during the action after THA.

Coal permeability data are critical in the prevention and control of coal and gas outbursts in mines and are an important reservoir parameter for the development of coalbed methane. The mechanism by which permeability is affected by gas pressure is complex. We used a self-developed true triaxial seepage experimental device that collects lignite and anthracite coal samples, sets fixed axial pressure and confining pressure, and changes gas pressure by changing the orientation of the coal seam to study the influence of the gas pressure on the permeability of the coal seam under the conditions of different coal types and different bedding orientations. Coal permeability decreased rapidly and then decreased slowly and tended to be stable with the increase in gas pressure. This conforms to the power exponential fitting relationship, and the fitting degree reaches more than 99%. The permeabilities of lignite and anthracite were basically the same under various pressure conditions, indicating that the influence of coal type on coal permeability was not significant. The comparison of the two anthracite coal samples showed that the sample's permeability with a bedding plane vertical to the seepage direction was significantly lower than that of the bedding plane parallel to the seepage direction, indicating that gas seeped more easily along the bedding. The sensitivity coefficient of permeability with the change in gas pressure was calculated. The analysis showed that coal permeability was sensitive to changes in gas pressure during the low-pressure stage. When the gas pressure was greater than 0.8 MPa, the sensitivity coefficient was significantly reduced, which may be related to the slow increase in the amount of gas absorbed by the coal seam in the high-pressure stage. A theoretical calculation model of coal seam permeability considering adsorption/desorption and seepage effects was proposed and then verified with experimental results showing that the theoretical model better reflected the permeability characteristics of coal and predicted its permeability. Using the finite element simulation software COMSOL, the extraction efficiency of the coal seam gas under different gas pressure conditions was simulated. The results showed that with an increase in gas pressure, coal permeability and extraction efficiency decreased. In the low-pressure stage, the reduction in the extraction efficiency was more obvious than that in the high-pressure stage.

Single parenting is a social phenomenon that has always been in existence and is as old as mankind, and today the number of single-parent families has been rampantly increasing. As a result, the researcher conducted a study in the Gambella region of Ethiopia to investigate the economic and educational implications of single parenting on female adolescent students. The study employed a qualitative research approach with a case study research design. The researchers used the purposive sampling technique to select the research area and research participants for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and eleven interviewees, seventeen participants in focus group discussions within two groups, and seven key informants participated. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed. Interviews with research participants revealed that adolescent girl students from single-parent homes experience financial difficulties. The study also explored that students with single parents are more likely to be absent from school, to come late to school, to score low marks, and to drop out of school. Therefore, having an understanding of the benefits of having intact parents for the well-being of adolescents and raising children together should be advocated.

Background: Student-specific stress is pervasive and impairs health and attainment. Experimentally induced self-affirmation can reduce stress, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying this effect, and the role of individual differences. The present study explores the relationship between spontaneous self-affirmation, student-specific stress, and overlapping constructs of positive self-regard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study investigated inter-relationships between spontaneous self-affirmation, student-specific perceived stress and potential covariates including self-esteem, self-integrity and habitual positive self-thought. University students (N = 151) aged 18 to 50 responded to an online questionnaire including the Spontaneous Self-Affirmation Measure, College Student Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Habitual Index of Positive Thinking and Self-Integrity Scale. Results: Unexpectedly, regression analysis revealed that spontaneous self-affirmation was a positive predictor of student-specific stress, seemingly driven by relational affirmations. Self-esteem and habitual self-thought were negative predictors of student-specific stress, whilst self-integrity was not a predictor. Conclusions: Habitual positive self-thought may offer a sustainable solution to student-specific stress, but spontaneous self-affirmation does not. A reduction in defensive responses, elicitation of negative emotions, or use of conditional relationships in relational affirmation

In recent times, the process control network (PCN) of oil and gas installation has been subjected to amorphous cyber-attacks which include Denial-of-Service (DoS), Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS), Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, and this may have been caused majorly by the integration of open network to Operation Technology (OT) as a result of low-cost network expansion. The connection of the OT to the internet for firmware updates, third-party support, or vendor interventions, has exposed the industry to attacks. The inability to detect these unpredictable cyber-attacks exposes the PCN and a successful attack can lead to devastating effects. This paper reviews the different forms of cyber-attacks in PCN of oil and gas installations and proposes the use of machine learning algorithms to monitor data exchanges between the sensors, controllers, processes, and the final control elements on the network so as to detect anomalies in such data exchanges. Python 3.0 Libraries, Deep-Learning Toolkit, MATLAB, and Allen Bradley RSLogic 5000 PLC Emulator software were used in the simulation of process control. The outcome of the experiments shows the reliability and functionality of the different machine-learning algorithms in detecting these anomalies with significant precise attack detections identified using a coarse tree algorithm.

A new pterygosomatid mite species, Neopterygosoma robertmertensi sp. n. (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) was collected from two specimens of Liolaemus robertmertensi (Liolaemidae) from Argentina. This new species is described based on active stages: adults (female and male) and juveniles (deutonymphs, protonymphs, larvae), and quiescent stages (nymphchrysalis, deutochrysalis and imagochrysalis). The changes in morphological characters during the ontogeny of N. robertmertensi have been analyzed in detail. A difference in larval sex morphology was observed for the first time in the family Pterygosomatidae (female larvae differ from male larvae by the shape and size of the idiosoma and position of the genital area). This new mite species is most similar to N. cyanogasteri but can be distinguished by the presence of different leg chaetotaxy patterns of genua IV and femora IV, four to six genital setae, three to five dorsomedial setae and two to three ventromedial setae. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 120 morphological characters of all Neopterygosoma spp. and four outgroup species using the maximum parsimony approach. The results indicated that this species is nested within mites of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma associated with host species of the section chiliensis of Liolaemus s. str. An updated diagnosis of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma and an identification key for all species of this genus has been provided.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumors worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer, becoming the most diagnosed cancer globally. Herein, a systematic, quantitative, and visual analysis of the scientific achievements in natural products research and development for breast cancer over the past 30 years is presented. The study utilizes bibliometric and knowledge graph visualization techniques to analyze the trends, co-occurrence of keywords, cooperative networks, cited literature, and research hotspots in the field. The analysis shows that breast cancer natural drug development involves mutual cooperation between multiple countries, with China, the United States, and India being the most active players. Pharmacology is the discipline with the largest number of articles published in nearly 30 years. The study also reveals that the extraction of drugs from organisms and their metabolites is an important direction in the current development of anticancer drugs. The development of natural medicines for breast cancer together with the mining of genetic knowledge play an important role in treating human breast cancer. The research presented here provides insights into the current state of natural product research and development for breast cancer, and highlights the need for strengthening mutual communication and cooperation between countries and scientific research institutions to enhance the development of breast cancer treatment technologies and natural medicines.

This article presents the development and validation of a new instrument measuring social, cultural, and behavioral factors influencing exposure to occupational zoonoses in agricultural settings. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) and the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing were used as guiding frameworks to ensure the instrument's validity. The instrument's content was compiled by combining the results of a scoping literature review and an expert qualitative study. The instrument items were drafted, organized, and underwent a meticulous process of revision and adjustment. It was translated into Spanish and tested in one-to-one cognitive interviews with five volunteer agricultural workers. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for construct discrimination, and bivariate regression analyses were conducted to explore the association with exposure indicators. Evidence of validity was obtained from four out of five sources of validity evidence according to the AERA/APA’s Standards of Educational and Psychological Testing. The Social Ecology of Occupational Zoonoses (SEOZ) was successfully used to determine social and behavioral factors associated with a higher risk of exposure to occupational zoonoses. Further use of the SEOZ can provide valuable insights into developing effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of agricultural workers.

Current methodologies for developing patient-derived xenografts (PDX) in humanized mice in preclinical trials to test response to immune-based therapies are limited by graft versus host disease. Here we compared two approaches for establishing PDX tumors in humanized mice: 1) PDX are first established in immune-deficient mice; 2) PDX are initially established in humanized mice, before transplanting established PDX’s to a larger cohort of humanized mice for preclinical trials. With the first approach, there was rapid wasting of PDX-bearing humanized mice with high levels of activated T cells in the circulation and organs, indicating immune-mediated toxicity. In contrast, with the second approach, toxicity was less of an issue and long-term human melanoma tumor growth and maintenance of human chimerism was achieved. Pre-clinical trials from the second approach revealed that rigosertib, but not anti-PD-1, increased CD8/CD4 T cell ratios in spleen and blood and inhibited PDX tumor growth. Resistance to anti-PD-1 was associated with limited infiltration of CD8+ T cell into the tumor. Our findings suggest that it is essential to carefully manage immune editing by first establishing PDX tumors in the presence of human immune cells before expanding PDX tumors into a larger cohort of humanized mice to evaluate therapy response.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used for genomic characterization of 110 strains of Listeria innocua isolated from 23 cattle farms, 8 beef abattoirs, and 48 retail outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. In silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to identify the isolates' sequence types (STs). BLAST-based analyses were used to identify antimicrobial and virulence genes. The study also linked the detection of the genes to the origin (sources and types of samples) of the L. innocua isolates. The study detected 12 STs, 13 resistance genes, and 23 virulence genes. Of the 12 STs de-tected, ST637 (26.4%), ST448 (20%), 537 (13.6%), and 1085 (12.7%) were predominant, and the frequency varied significantly (P<0.05). All 110 isolates of L. innocua were car-riers of one or more antimicrobial resistance genes, with resistance genes lin (100%), fosX (100%), and tet(M) (30%) being the most frequently detected (P<0.05). Of the 23 virulence genes recognized, 13 (clpC, clpE, clpP, hbp1.svpA, hbp2, iap/cwhA, lap, lpeA, lplA1, lspA, oatA, pdgA, and prsA2) were found in all 110 isolates of L. innocua. Overall, diversity and significant differences were detected in the frequencies of STs, resistance, and virulence genes according to the origins (source and sample type) of the L. innocua isolates. This, being the first genomic characterization of L. innocua recovered from the three levels (farm, abattoir, and retail outlets) of the beef production system in South Africa, provides data on the organism's distribution and potential food safety implications..

Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and its various composites are extensively studied as matrix materials for oil-free lubricated mechanical friction surfaces. While numerous macroscopic friction experiments can compare the frictional performance of different NBR composites, the complex material preparation and low experimental efficiency pose challenges. Nanoscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can help develop materials with improved friction properties, but they cannot directly provide the friction coefficients of actual macroscopic friction surfaces. Therefore, it is important to integrate the advantages of macroscopic and nanoscale friction studies and perform a synergistic analysis to modify the friction properties of composite materials. In this study, a multi-scale approach is proposed to simulate the frictional characteristics of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced NBR by combining the MD friction simulation， micromechanical bridging model, and macroscopic finite element analysis (FEA) methods. The results of the multi-scale friction simulation of copper (Cu)-CNT/NBR composites show that the addition of CNTs significantly improves the frictional properties of NBR, and the extent of the improvement is related to the mass fraction of CNTs. As the mass fraction of CNTs increases (0%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%), the coefficient of friction decreases from 0.50 to 0.38. The results are validated by ring-block friction experiments at the same scale as the simulations.

The coronaviral pandemic has led to a shift in traditional teaching methods to more innovative approaches, such as high-fidelity patient simulation (HFPS), which can improve students’ clinical judgement and decision-making for quality patient care. A modified guideline was introduced to enhance students’ satisfaction and self-confidence in learning through HFPS. The study involved 189 baccalaureate nursing students, with 92 in the intervention group and 97 in the control group. The intervention group received the modified HFPS guideline, while the control group received standard treatment with basic instruction. After the HFPS debriefing session, students provided narrative feedback on their learning experience. The quantitative results showed that students in the intervention group reported a significant improvement in satisfaction and self-confidence in learning compared to the control group. The modified HFPS guideline provided clear guidance for students to learn and apply knowledge and skills more effectively, leading to increased engagement during interactive simulation sessions. The results suggest that the HFPS guideline should be added to the curriculum to enhance students’ satisfaction and self-confidence in learning, even in junior students. Innovative teaching methods, such as HFPS, can be necessary and beneficial for healthcare professional training, after the pandemic.

Background: The Stability Index estimation algorithm was derived and applied to develop and implement a balance ability diagnosis system that can be used at daily life. Methods: The system integrated an approach based on sensory function interaction, called the clinical test of sensory interaction with balance (CTSIB). The piezo-resistive force mat was fabricated, and a Stability Index prediction algorithm was developed and applied using the center of pressure (CoP) variables. The Stability Index prediction algorithm derived a CoP variable for 103 elderly people by Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) to predict the Stability Index of the Balance System (Biodex SD). And, the accuracy was confirmed through the correlation between the real and predicted value. Results: As a result of testing with the test-set, the linear regression model confirmed that the r value ranged between 0.943 to 0.983. To confirm the similarity between the WBB and flexible force mat, each measured CoP value was input and calculated into the developed regression model, and the result of the correlation coefficient validation ​​confirmed an r value of 0.96. Conclusion: The system developed in this study will be applicable to the daily life of the home in the form of a floor mat.

In response to the problem of no supporting equipment for the cultivation of Codonopsis in the hilly and mountainous areas of northwest China, a combined machine for transplanting outcrop of Codonopsis with micro ridge covered with film is designed. The key components of the prototype are analyzed and designed, and the structures and working parameters of the seedbed preparation device, seedling casting device, rotary tillage soil-covering device, film covering device, seedling head burial and film edge soil-covering device are determined. The transmission system scheme is established, and the working mechanism of the core components is analyzed. Field experiments show that when the target seedling spacing is 4.4cm and the machines moves forward at the speed of 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2m/s, the variation coefficient of planting spacing and the qualification rate of planting depth all meet the standard requirements. The qualified rate of planting posture and film side outcrop are greatly affected by the operating speed of the machine, and decrease with the increase of operating speed. When the operating speed reaches 0.1m/s, the average variation coefficient of planting spacing is 0.08%, the average qualified rate of planting depth, planting posture and film side outcrop is 95.83%, 94.17% and 93.33% respectively, which shows that the operating performance is better than that of the operating speed of 0.15m/s and 0.2m/s. This study provides new reference for the theoretical research and design of mechanized and automated transplanting machinery for Codonopsis seedlings.

Audit&amp;Feedback (A&amp;F) consists of multidimensional quality improvement activities, but its optimal design is still debated. Our study aims to outline how interventions of the Italian EASY-NET research program were designed, to explore whether desirable characteristics of an "ideal" A&amp;F were adopted. A&amp;F design included description of the working group, targeted clinical behaviors, selected indicators, sources, feedback procedures, corrective actions expected. Information was classified into four topics: nature of the desired action, type of data available, feedback display and delivery. Out of 9 projects, 3/9 aimed at changing a focused clinical behavior, 6/9 were generic; all projects identified clinicians as recipients, 8 explicitly considered managers. It was planned to develop an average of 27 indicators from administrative databases, as needed supplemented by ad hoc data collection. Five projects included outcome measures. Comparators derived from scientific literature or from territorial real-life data. Feedback was scheduled every 12, 6 or 3 months, or upon request, delivered as aggregate data (graphs and tables) via web platforms, e-mail, workshops, and individual meetings. In conclusion, at an early stage the projects were mostly “wide focused”, but improvements in A&amp;F design and delivery have been introduced, and projects, still ongoing, will offer interesting insights on A&amp;F effectiveness.

Rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC) is derived from rice bran enzymatically treated with Lentinus Edodes mycelium. This review explores biologically active compounds and mechanisms of action that support RBAC as an immunomodulating nutraceutical in generally healthy and/or aging individuals. Thirty-seven (n=37) primary research articles fulfiled the selection criteria for review. Most research is based on Biobran MGN-3, which consists of complex heteropolysaccharides with arabinoxylan as its primary structure while also containing galactan and glucan. RBAC was found to invoke immunological activities through direct absorption via the digestive tract and interaction with immune cells at the Peyer’s patches. RBAC was shown to promote the innate defence by upregulating the macrophage phagocytosis and enhancing natural killer cell activity while lowering oxidative stress. Through induction of dendritic cell maturation, RBAC also augments adaptive immunity by promoting T and B lymphocyte proliferation. RBAC acts as an immunomodulator by inhibiting mast cell degranulation during allergic reactions, attenuating inflammation, and downregulating angiogenesis by modulating cytokines and growth factors. RBAC is shown to be a safe and effective neutraceutical for improving immune health, notably in aging individuals with reduced immune function. Human clinical trials with geriatric participants have demonstrated RBAC to have prophylactic benefits against viral infection and may improve their quality of life. Further research should explore RBAC’s bioavailability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of the complex heteropolysaccharides within. Translational research to assess RBAC as an nuetraceutical for the aging population is still required, particularly in human studies with larger sample sizes and cohort studies with long follow-up periods.

The rye (Secale cereale L.) crop shows a high potential to collaborate in the sustainability of high Andean livestock because it supports the agroclimatic conditions and acid soils in the Peruvian Andes. The production of green forage, hay, and grain of the rye crop in acid soils was studied with the use of different levels of phosphorus and potassium fertilization in four local rye ecotypes (CBI-001, CSM-001, CJS-001, and CCE-001). The green forage yield (FV) ranged from 32.35 to 53.62 t ha-1, dry matter from 6.05 to 8.56 t ha-1, and hay from 7.0 to 10.36 t ha-1; nutritional levels ranged from 9.02 % to 13.56 % protein and 6.50 to 7.75 % ash levels, mainly with differences between ecotypes (p&lt;0.05). No differences existed between fertilization levels for the number of stems per plant, and flowering stems per plant, and grains per ear (p&gt;0.05). Also, CBI-001 and CCE-001 were superior with 1868.4 and 1797.8 kg ha-1 of grain, respectively (p=0.0072); the use of 60 kg ha of Nitrogen, 120 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 80 kg ha-1 of K2O gave higher grain and residue yields. The high nutritional value and yield of the rye ecotypes studied in acid soil conditions and without irrigation can be an alternative for livestock feeding and grain production in the rainy season in the Andes as a dual-purpose crop.

In healthy humans, taste sensitivity varies widely, influencing food selection and nutritional status. Chemosensory reductions have been associated with numerous pathological disorders or pharmacological interventions. Reliable psychophysical methods are crucial resources to analyze the taste function during routine clinical assessment. However, in the daily clinical routine, they are often considered to be too time-consuming. We used the Supervised Learning (SL) regression method to analyze with high precision the overall taste status of healthy controls (HC) and patients with chemosensory loss and to characterize the combination of responses that best can predict the overall taste status of two groups. Random Forest regressor allowed us to achieve our objective. The analysis of the order of importance and impact of each parameter on the prediction of overall taste status in the two groups showed that salty (low concentration) and sour (high concentration) stimuli specifically characterized healthy subjects, while bitter (high concentration) and astringent (high concentration) stimuli identified patients with chemosensory loss. The identification of these distinctions appears to be of interest to the health system since they may allow the use of specific stimuli during routine clinical assessments of taste function reducing the commitment in terms of time and costs.

This research paper examines the evolution of car purchasing behaviour among consumers in India from 2010 to the present. Through extensive literature review and questionnaire survey, it explores the reasons behind the changing preferences and decision-making processes of consumers in the Indian automobile market. The study draws upon various sources, including market research reports, industry publications, academic studies, and consumer surveys, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing car purchasing behaviour in India over the last decade. The findings of this research paper can help automakers and marketers better understand consumer preferences and develop effective strategies to cater to the evolving needs of the Indian car market.

Improvement of agronomic traits in crops through gene editing (GE) relies on efficient trans-formation protocols for delivering the CRISPR/Cas9-coded transgenes. Recently, a few embryo-genesis-related genes have been described, the co-delivery of which significantly increases the transformation efficiency with reduced genotype dependency. Here we characterized the trans-genic and GE events in wheat (cv. Fielder) when transformed with the GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 4 (GRF4) and its cofactor GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (GIF1) chimeric gene. Trans-formation efficiency in our experiments ranged from 22% to 68%, and the editing events were faithfully propagated into the following generation. Both low and high copy number integration events were recovered in the T0 population with the various level of integrity of the left and right T-DNA borders. We also generated a population of wheat plants with ten different gRNAs targeting 30 loci in the genome. Comparison of the epigenetic profiles at the target sites and editing efficiency revealed a significant positive correlation between chromatin accessibility and muta-genesis rate. Overall, preliminary screening of the transgene quality and GE events in the T0 population of plants regenerated through the co-delivery of GRF-GIF can allow for the propagation of the best candidates for further phenotypic analysis.

Background: This study investigated the incidence, characteristics and functional outcomes associated with unplanned Acute Care Unit Readmissions (ACUR) during inpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation in an Asian cohort. Methods: Retrospective review of electronic medical records from single rehabilitation unit was conducted from 1 Jan 2012 to 31 Dec 2014. Inclusion criteria were first TBI, aged &gt;18 years, admitted &lt; 6 months of TBI. ACUR were characterized into either of neurological, medical or neurosurgical subtypes. The main outcome measure was discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Secondary outcomes included rehabilitation length of stay (RLOS). Results: Of 121 eligible TBI records, the incidence of ACUR was 14% (n=17), comprising neurologic (76.5%) and medical (23.5%) subtypes, occurring at median of 13 days (IQR 6, 28.5) after rehabilitation admission. Patients without ACUR had significantly higher admission mean (SD) FIM score compared to those with ACUR (FIM ACUR-negative 63.4 (21.1) vs FIM ACUR-positive 50.53(25.4), P =0.026). Significantly lower discharge FIM was noted in those with ACUR compared to those without. (FIM ACUR-positive 65.8(31.4) vs FIM ACUR-negative 85.4 (21.1), P = 0.023) Furthermore, a significant near-doubling of RLOS was noted in ACUR patients compared to non-ACUR counterparts [ACUR-positive median 55 days (IQR 34.50, 87.50) vs ACUR-negative median 28 days (IQR 16.25, 40.00), P = 0.002]. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant negative functional impact and lengthening of rehabilitation duration of ACUR on inpatient rehabilitation outcome for TBI.

This brief communication intends to develop critical thinking on the development at different levels that could be evaluated in the well-being of humans from the local development towards a global scale or planetary point of view. Therefore it was presented and discussed how Artificial Intelligence tools could provide important contributions and influence in the design of critical thinking to develop ideas and insights within Research as well as funding for technology transfer. In this context it should be highlighted that the generation of funding and economy for sustainability that it should be based on critical thinking and analysis of what is need it from the close surrounding towards longer distances as well as in the inversed direction. In this regard, the main axes that support it are based on the importance of entailment of individuals in their close surrounding as well as to longer physical distances and cultural differences. An in this context it should be highlighted the existence of large diversity and varied Multicultural differences. These factors could affect the developments of technology, education; level, and quality of life. Thus the Economical and development indexes could be largely varied and different between them. For this reason it should highlighted the local development within shortened times by interacting to receive or provide materials with aggregated value or non-tangible values. Therefore, it could be accelerated the process of improvement in a targeted field looking for average homogeneous development everywhere. And there, it is where the link-up and transfer strategies of technology and education by creation of varied strategies in communication media. As for example the communication plays an important role to transfer knowledge within the different social status and imagining the development of thinking that later it will be the basis for the next generation of technology. By this manner, it could be coupled different levels of educations degrees by a factor in common related with curiosity and open minds to learn, work, and live together in the context of developments of new smart manners of living where economy and new encrypted currency are involucred and provide by different manners sustainability. In these perspectives the development and education at the University and higher degrees taking into account the transmission of important factors such as; i) entailment , ii) development of knowledge, and iii) transference, is fundamental. Finally, it should be highlighted the particular need of good human relationships, emotional intelligence, and diplomacy to afford from the simplest challenges to the higher ones.

Cropland area is closely related to food production. More previous focuses were paid on impacts of extreme events on food production, but less on cropland dynamics. This study took the Farming-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China (FPEN) as a case area, to investigate its cropland area dynamics and driving factors in view of perspectives of extreme events, environmental conditions, socioeconomic development, urban expansion, and ecological construction. We used ridge regression approach to quantify contributions of these drivers to cropland area dynamics. Results showed that cropland area increased significantly at a rate of 333.5km2/a during 1992−2020 and were spatially clustered in east of the FPEN. Impact extent and size each driving factor on cropland trend presented large spatiotemporal differences, but ecological construction (EC) had overall the greatest impact on cropland area changes, followed by urban expansion (UE). In comparison, TL10p has the smallest. UE-dominated areas increased 41.9% since 2010s, but still less than EC. Furthermore, we found that extreme events effects on cropland area trend evidently increased. Particularly, TH90p displayed the most increase (~99.4%). Cropland area changes dominated by extreme temperature events in 2010−2020 increased nearly six times than that in 1992−2010. These findings suggest that increasing impacts of extreme weather events on cropland area changes should be cautioned.

For children born with congenital heart defects (CHD), extracorporeal life support may be necessary. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), focusing on various risk factors, including the type of CHD. The study was conducted as a retrospective single-center analysis at the Children's Hospital Zurich. All patients with CHD who required ECMO (veno-arterial or veno-venous) between 2009 and 2019 were included. Among the 88 patients, 36 (41%) had a single ventricle heart defect while 52 (59%) had a biventricular heart defect. Out of the total patients, 25 (28%) survived, with 7 (8%) having a single ventricle heart defect and 18 (20%) having a biventricular heart defect. Statistical analysis with a p-value of 0.19 revealed no significant difference in survival rates between the two groups. At the one-year follow-up, all children who survived to discharge were still alive. The rate of complications on ECMO was higher in children with a single ventricle (odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67 - 3.7). The occurrence of a second ECMO run was more frequent in patients with a single ventricle compared to those with a biventricular physiology (22% vs. 9.6%). Although the study did not identify a significant difference in survival rates, it did indicate that patients with a single ventricle faced a higher risk of complications during ECMO and a greater likelihood of requiring a second ECMO run.

The rural road landscape is crucial in forming rural areas' landscape character (LC). As a platform for portraying the rural landscape, the rural roads demonstrate the area's unique natural and cultural characteristics to the visitors. However, with the continuous development of rural areas, the rural LC has been severely impacted, thus impacting visitors' visual experience. In order to preserve and protect the rural landscape, this study aims to assess the visual quality of rural road landscapes based on public preference and heatmap analysis. The results indicated that most of the participants had a higher level of preference for rural landscapes with open horizontal views represented by agricultural areas such as paddy fields. It was also found that different paddy field characters based on their planting stages can also positively affect the visual quality of rural road landscapes. The study also revealed that rural LCs with roadside settlements, commercial structures, mixed agricultural crops, and vegetation received low preference ratings. These characters negatively impact the visual quality of the rural road landscape. These findings provide significant insight for planners and decision-makers regarding protecting and preserving the essential rural road landscapes for the rural tourism experience.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a serious public health concern with a considerable impact on patients' health and substantial healthcare costs. In this study, patients, and healthcare workers (HCWs)from six public hospitals in Benin were screened for MRSA. Strains were identified as MRSA using conventional microbiological methods in Benin and confirmed using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry in Belgium. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used on confirmed MRSA isolates to characterize their genomic content and study their relatedness. In total,304 and 61 samples were collected from patients and HCWs, respectively. The mecA gene was detected in all isolates. The isolates were assigned to five sequence types (STs), with ST8 (55.6%, n=15), ST152 (18.52%, n=5), and ST121 (18.52%, n=5) being the most common. All isolates carried multiple virulence genes, including genes encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin (48.15%, n=13) and the test gene (29.63%, n=8) associated with toxic shock syndrome. The presence of strains carrying numerous genomic features associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence in HCWs is a major public health concern. This study highlights the need to implement a multimodal strategy for reducing the risk of cross-transmission of MRSA in hospitals.

Nurses and paramedics play a pivotal role when Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) occur, yet they often feel unprepared for such events. Implementation strategies for training activities, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) simulations, offer realistic and immersive learning experiences, enhancing skills and competencies for nursing students. The aim of this work was to investigate the adopted tools in studies on VR&amp;AR simulations for training nursing and paramedic students in managing MCI. A scoping review was performed following the PRISMA-ScR statement, and the search strategy was conducted through five electronic databases from December 2022 to March 2023. Of 162 records identified, 27 full-text were screened and, six studies were included in this review. These studies involved students who were assigned to different training methods, including immersive VR simulation, written instruction, and traditional lecture. VR&amp;AR and immersive simulation generally show promising evidences in enhancing practical skills and knowledge in MCI management. VR&amp;AR showed to be promising in disaster education and preparedness training, offering different levels of immersiveness and engagement, encouraging active and experential learning. Further research is needed to determine their long-term effectiveness. The choice of training method should consider program goals, target population, and available resources.

The nursing process in clinical practice can be assessed using standardized language systems. The purpose is to find evidence on the effectiveness of the nursing process with standardized terminology using NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcome Classification improving diag-nostic accuracy, nursing interventions, health outcomes, and people’s satisfaction. A systematic review was carried out in Medline and PreMedline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI and Scielo and LILACS including randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental, cohort and case-control studies. Selection and critical appraisal were conducted by two independent reviewers. The certainty of the evidence was assessed with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Methodology. 17 studies were included with variability in the level and certainty of evidence. According to outcomes, 6 evaluated improvements in diagnostic accuracy and 11 evaluated improvements in individual health outcomes. No studies evaluated improvements in intervention efficacy or population satisfaction. There is a need to increase studies with rigorous methodologies that address diagnostic accuracy and indi-viduals’ health outcomes using NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcome Classification; as well as implementing studies that evaluate the use of these terminologies for improvements in the efficacy of nurses' interventions and population satisfaction with the nursing process.

Worldwide, the cesarean section rate has steadily increased from 6.7% in 1990 to 21.1% in 2018 and is expected to rise even more. World Health Organization propose the adoption of the Robson classification system as a global standard for monitoring, evaluating, and comparing delivery rates. The purpose of the current study is to use the Robson classification system to investigate how, independently of medical factors, the day of the week and time of delivery may affect the mode of birth. In the sample analysis, we included the records of 8572 women giving birth in one private health facility in Greece. Over 60% of deliveries during the study period were performed by a cesarean section and 8.5% of deliveries were performed by operative vaginal delivery. The results of this study indicate that the lowest birth rates are observed on Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. In Robson category 1 women are 73% more likely to deliver by cesarean section between 08:00 a.m. - 03:59 p.m. compared to those who give birth between 12:00 a.m. - 07:59 a.m. Also, women in group 5.1 are 16.7 times more likely to deliver by cesarean section in the morning compared to overnight deliveries. These result point out two non-clinical variables that influences the CS rate. The Robson classification system was a useful tool for the above comparisons.

Algorithms for machine learning have found extensive use in numerous fields and applications. One important aspect of effectively utilizing these algorithms is tuning the hyperparameters to match the specific task at hand. The selection and configuration of hyperparameters directly impact the performance of machine learning models. Achieving optimal hyperparameter settings often requires a deep understanding of the underlying models and the appropriate optimization techniques. While there are many automatic optimization techniques available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, this article focuses on hyperparameter optimization for well-known machine learning models. It explores cutting-edge optimization methods and provides guidance on applying them to different machine learning algorithms. The article also presents real-world applications of hyperparameter optimization by conducting tests on spatial data collections for landslide susceptibility mapping. Based on the experiment's results, both Bayesian optimization and metaheuristic algorithms showed promising performance compared to baseline algorithms. For example, the metaheuristic algorithm improved the overall accuracy of the random forest model. Additionally, Bayesian algorithms, such as Gaussian processes, performed well for models like KNN and SVM. The paper thoroughly discusses the reasons behind the efficiency of these algorithms. By successfully identifying appropriate hyperparameter configurations, this research paper aims to assist researchers, spatial data analysts, and industrial users in developing machine learning models more effectively. The findings and insights provided in this paper can contribute to enhancing the performance and applicability of machine learning algorithms in various domains.

Family Integrated Care (FICare) is associated with improved developmental outcomes and decreased parental mental health risks in stable preterm infants. However, less is known about its application in critically ill infants who are at greater risk for adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of implementation of FICare in critically ill infants in the first few weeks of life. In this prospective cohort study, 41 critically ill infants were enrolled: 17 in observational group receiving standard care (SC)and 24 in the FICare Plus group. Resources were developed for staff and parents to support earlier engagement in infant care. Outcomes were assessed using standardized questionnaires. The t-test or Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test were used to compare continuous variables, while Chi-square or Fisher exact test were used for categorical variables, respectively. Baseline maternal and infant characteristics were similar in both groups. The tools and procedures developed for FICare Plus successfully supported greater engagement in the care of their infant with no increase in adverse events and no increase in parent stress. Preliminary measures of infant efficacy were similar in both groups. Total anxiety scores were high among all parents at enrolment {83.1 (67-94) vs 77.3 (66-86); p-value 0.4}. However, the scores prior to discharge were lower in FICare Plus group {78 (71-90) vs 63 (52-74.5); p-value 0.02}. This pilot study showed that it is feasible and safe to implement family integrated care in critically ill infants.

High temperature titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace hot parts, however, the thermal barrier temperature of 600 oC limits its service temperature. In this paper, a two-step hot-dip plating method is proposed to prepare the composite coating containing Ce on the surface of titanium alloy, which can make the oxidation resistance temperature of titanium alloy reach 800 oC The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating, Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating and Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si high-temperature oxidation coating were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results show that the Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating containing Ce is mainly composed of (Ti,Ce)(Al,Si)3 alloy phase layer, and the Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating containing Ce is mainly composed of Ti-Al binary system phase layer and dense Al2O3 layer rich in CeO2. Ce in the high temperature oxidation coating of Ti-Al-Si containing Ce is mainly distributed in Ti3Al, TiAl, TiAl3+Ti5Si3 mixed phase layer and Al2O3. The addition of Ce can promote the formation of continuous Al2O3 layer, improve the uniformity of composite coating, prevent the spread of cracks, and improve the high temperature oxidation resistance of Ti-Al-Si coating.

Ti-Al alloy phase layer/Ti-Al carburizing composite coating was prepared on the surface of titanium alloy by the stepwise coating method of hot dip aluminization and then carburizing. The weight gain results of the composite coating showed that the titanium alloy coated with the composite coating had long-term stability (≥16 days) at 800oC. The microstructure, phase structure and composition of the composite coating were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).The composite coating is composed of an alloy phase layer and a carburized layer. The natural transition of four phases (Ti3Al/TiAl/TiAl2/TiAl3) in the alloy phase layer, significantly improves the interfacial bonding between the coating and the substrate, and slows down the propagation of microcracks through the coating.Al2O3, TiC and C in the carburizing layer improve the surface hardness of the coating, and TiAl2 and Al2O3 also have excellent oxidation resistance at high temperature.

The possibility of increasing the resource of steel fingers working in tandem with bronze bushings by plasma-electrolytic nitrocarburizing of the surface of medium carbon steel is shown. The phase composition, microhardness, morphology and surface roughness were studied. Tribological tests were carried out under dry friction conditions according to the shaft-pad scheme. It has been established that plasma-electrolytic nitrocarburizing of the surface of medium carbon steel at a temperature of 700 °C for 5 minutes leads to a decrease in a friction coefficient by 2.3 times, weight wear of steel by 24.9 times, and bronze counterbody by 5.9 times. At the same time, the contact stiffness increases 2.6 times. The type of wear is fatigue with dry friction and plastic contact. Changes in tribological characteristics are associated with the high hardness of the hardened steel surface together with the influence of dispersed nitrides and iron carbonitrides distributed in it.

The potential use of nanostructured dipeptide self-assemblies in materials science for energy harvesting devices is a highly sought-after area of research. Specifically, aromatic cyclo-dipeptides containing tryptophan have garnered attention due to their wide-bandgap semiconductor properties, high mechanical rigidity, photoluminescence, and nonlinear optical behavior. In this study, we present the development of a hybrid system comprising biopolymer electrospun fibers incorporated with the chiral cyclo-dipeptide L-Tryptophan-L-Tyrosine. The resulting nanofibers are wide-bandgap semiconductors (bandgap energy 4.0 eV) and consist of self-assembled nanotubes embedded within a polymer matrix, exhibiting intense blue photoluminescence. Moreover, the cyclo-dipeptide L-Tryptophan-L-Tyrosine incorporated into polycaprolactone nanofibers displays a strong effective second harmonic generation signal of 0.36 pm/V and also shows notable piezoelectric properties with a high effective coefficient of 22 pCN−1. These hybrid systems hold great promise for applications in the field of nanoenergy harvesting and nanophotonics.

Recently, cobalt iron boron (CoFeB) thin films have been widely investigated to apply to magnetic sensors, due to their high magnetic moment, anisotropy, and stability. However, most of these studies are conducted on rigid silicon substrates. For more diverse applications of magnetic sensors and angle sensors, it is important to explore the properties of ferromagnetic thin films grown on non-rigid deformable substrates. Here, using representative deformable substrates such as polyimide (PI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that can be bent or stretched, we report experimental comparison of in-plane magnetic field angle-dependent properties of the amorphous Ta/CoFeB/MgO/Ta thin film which is grown on those deformable substrates. We investigate effects of substrate roughness, tensile stress, characteristics of deformable substrates, and sputtering process on the change of magnetic properties like coercive field (Hc), remanence over saturation magnetization (Mr/Ms), and their biaxial characteristics. This work presents unconventional foundations for exploring deformable magnetic sensors capable of detecting magnetic field angle.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate some mechanisms of the immune response of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in both acute infection and early and late convalescence phases. Methods: This is a cohort study of 70 cases of COVID-19, confirmed by RT-PCR, followed up to 60 days. Plasma Samples and clinical data were. Viral load, blood count, indicators inflammation were the parameters evaluated. Cellular immune response was evaluated by flow cytometry and Luminex immunoassays. Results: In the severe group, hypertension was the only reported comorbidity. Non severe patients have activated memory naive CD4+ T cells. Critically ill patients have central memory CD4+ T cell activation. Severe COVIS-19 patients have both central memory TCD8+ T cells and activated effector TCD8+ cells. Non-severe COVID-19 cases showed an increase in IL1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF and severely ill patients had higher levels of the cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL8.Conclusion: The present work showed that different cellular responses are observed according to the COVID-19 severity in patients from Brazil an epicenter the pandemic in South America. Also, we notice that some cytokines can be used as predictive markers for the disease outcome, possibility implementation of strategies effective by health managers.

CGT is composed of fiber residues, leaves, dust particles, soil and others derived during the ginning and yarn spinning process at processing industries,. In the cotton spinning industrial clusters, farmers are using CGT) as one of the alternative roughage feed for their sheep, mainly during forage shortages in the summer months. To have baseline information on farmers using gin and factors driving them to choose CGT as a roughage source, which need to be identified for future planning on the usage of CGT in sheep feeding. Considering the above facts, the present study was undertaken to assess socio-personal characteristics, managemental practices associated with farmers using cotton gin in the feeding of sheep and also identify the factors driving the choice of the CGT as the primary source of roughage in the cotton spinning industry cluster of Tamil Nadu. For this, a survey among 80 sheep farmers was carried out using a pre-tested in-terview schedule. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regres-sion. The results indicated that the majority of male, aged, and large-land farmers were involved in practicing CGT feeding during the summer and also indicated the non-availability of green fodder during the summer season. The coarse type of CGT preferred more than the fine type of CGT trash in that area due to quality perception and price. The replacement level of CGT as roughage ranged from 33 to 75% of the total roughage requirement per day. About 88 percent-age of farmers were highly satisfied with the results of using CGT and they also expressed that the presence of foreign particles and dust were the major problems with using CGT. The choice of CGT as primary roughage among sheep farmers was primarily influenced by selective farming contexts, namely landholding, access to labour, and feeding practices of other livestock with cotton gin. Further, research has to be focused on to improve the quality of CGT in the future, as it is being utilised largely by sheep farmers.

Despite evidence-based therapies, patients presenting with atherosclerosis involving more than one vascular bed, such as those with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD), constitute a particular vulnerable group characterized by enhanced residual long-term risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), as well as major adverse limb events (MALE). The latter are progressively emerging as a hard outcome to be targeted, being correlated with increased mortality. Antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of secondary prevention in both patients with PAD or CAD however, the optimal intensity of such therapy is still topic of debate, particularly in the post-acute and long-term setting. Recent well powered randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have provided data in favor of a more intense antithrombotic therapy, such as prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor or a therapy with aspirin combined with an anticoagulant drug. Both approaches increase bleeding and patients selection is a key issue. The aim of this review is therefore to discuss and summarize the most updated available evidences for different strategies of anti-thrombotic therapies in patients with chronic PAD and CAD, particularly focusing on studies enrolling patients with both type of atherosclerotic disease and comparing a higher versus a lower intensity antithrombotic strategy. The final objective is to identify the optimal tailored approach in this setting, to achieve the greatest cardiovascular benefit and improving precision medicine.

Starting from the fact that in sensorless control systems of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) the load torque can have short and significant variations, this paper presents the sensorless control of a PMSM based on a Linear Adaptive Disturbance Rejection Controller (LADRC) type controller. Essentially, the successful operation of the LADRC controller to achieve PMSM rotor speed control performance depends on a good estimation of the disturbances acting on the system. Traditionally, an Extended State Observer (ESO) is used to make such an estimate. In this paper, it is proposed to use a Disturbance Observer (DO) to estimate the external disturbances, and after their rejection, the LADRC controller ensures an equivalent global behavior of the control system with an ideal double integrator, and thus increased ease in achieving the desired control performance. Control structures and Matlab/Simulink implementation of the sensorless PMSM control system based on LADRC controller with ESO/DO type observer are presented, as well as its use in tandem with a Reinforcement Learning Twin-Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (RL-TD3) specially trained agent that provides correction signals for more accurate estimation of external disturbances and hence improved control performance. Qualitatively superior performance is achieved by using LADRC with the RL-TD3 agent control structure in terms of parametric robustness, response time, and steady-state error. Also, by calculating the fractal dimension (DF) of the controlled signal and the PMSM rotor speed, it is found that the higher the DF, the better the performance of the control system. The validation of the superiority of the proposed control structures is carried out by means of numerical simulations in the Matlab/Simulink environment.

Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) analysis between the anomalies of Lake Titicaca water levels (WLs) and the Pacific Interdecadal Oscillation (IPO) reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.71 between the WLs and the principal component (PC1). These findings demonstrate the high accuracy of the IPO in representing the positive and negative phases of the water levels. By utilizing wavelet functions, we identified multi-decadal variability with periods ranging between 20 and 30 years. The statistical techniques employed indicate a relationship between IPO and ENSO; however, they operate on different timescales of climate variability. The IPO exhibits longer-term variability, typically spanning 20-30 years, while ENSO events occur on average every 2-7 years. Nevertheless, the IPO has the ability to modulate the strength and frequency of El Niño and La Niña events, and vice versa. During the positive phase of the IPO, there is a tendency for more frequent and intense El Niño events, accompanied by fewer La Niña events. This can be attributed to warmer sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, which create favorable conditions for El Niño development. Conversely, during the negative phase of the IPO, there is a tendency for more frequent and intense La Niña events, with fewer occurrences of El Niño events, due to cooler sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.

The paper presents the results of modeling the problem of injecting liquid sulfur dioxide into a porous reservoir initially saturated with methane and ice. The model presented in the paper assumes the formation of three different regions, namely, the near one, saturated with liquid SO2 and its hydrate; the far one, containing methane and ice, and the intermediate one, saturated with methane and water. The effects of various parameters of the porous medium and injected SO2 on the nature of the course of the hydrate formation process have been studied. It is shown that with a decrease in reservoir permeability or injection pressure, the length of the intermediate region decreases, which in the limiting case means the formation of SO2 hydrate in the mode without the formation of an extended region saturated with methane and water. It is shown that such a regime is also typical for the case of high initial injection pressures, as well as low values of the initial reservoir temperature and injection temperature.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an antibiotic-resistant priority pathogen as listed by the World Health Organization. P. aeruginosa, a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, is frequently encountered in hospital settings as an opportunistic pathogen in nosocomial infections. P. aeruginosa has shown high antibiotic resistance, which has been attributed to several mechanisms, such as intrinsic, acquired, and adaptive resistance. This study investigates several genes which may be attributed to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in the bacteria P. aeruginosa, as it transitions from its planktonic form to the more threatening and resistant biofilm form. Subsequently, the study assesses the comparative efficacy of three antibiotics, Ofloxacin (OFX), Tobramycin (TOB), and Ceftazidime (CAZ), in altering the expression levels of the identified multidrug efflux pump genes associated with the ability to extrude antibiotics from the cell when in the biofilm form. Efflux transporter gene expression in P. aeruginosa was conducted via extraction of total RNA in planktonic and biofilm- both untreated and treated - with Tobramycin (TOB), Ofloxacin (OFX), and Ceftazidime (CAZ). Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR was employed to analyze alterations in expression levels of the Mex A, Mex B, Mex X, Mex Y, OprM, and RPSL genes in the collected samples. In samples where no antibiotics were administered, an increase in expression of the Mex B efflux pump gene was observed compared to all other efflux pump genes in the biofilm form, providing multidrug resistance when active. The gene of interest, Mex B, was assessed for antibiotic resistance by P. aeruginosa culturing in the planktonic and biofilm forms with simultaneous treatment with TOB, OFX, and CAZ. Of the three antibiotics used, OFX showed more effectiveness in preventing biofilm growth by reducing the expression level of the Mex B efflux pump gene in the biofilm form, making P. Aeruginosa more antibiotic sensitive to OFX. TOB has similar results compared to OFX but was slightly less effective in reducing the expression of Mex B. Conversely, CAZ was not effective in reducing expression of the Mex B gene in the biofilm form or the planktonic form and was determined to be ineffective at eradicating the organism.

The hypothesis that health status is the highest-ranking concept, followed by respiratory symptoms and dyspnea as the lowest-ranking concepts in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was tested in a real clinical setting with 157 subjects with stable COPD. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for scores of health status using the COPD assessment test (CAT), respiratory symptoms using the COPD Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS) and dyspnea using the Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) between any two were 0.6 to 0.7. Upon categorizing the patients as "abnormal" or "normal" according to the threshold, it was found that 30 patients (19.1%) had dyspnea, respiratory symptoms, and impaired the health status. Dyspnea was considered an important part of respiratory symptoms though seven patients had dyspnea but no respiratory symptoms. There were 10 patients who had respiratory symptoms without dyspnea but without health status problems. Furthermore, there were six patients who had both dyspnea and respiratory symptoms but whose health status was classified as fine. Thus, the hypothesis was correct in approximately 85% of cases.

Background and Objectives: Mechanical and biological complications can lead to system fracture or screw loss on dental implants. Narrow and regular platforms have been used without a consensus about the effect of distance the abutment from the prosthetic platform margin. The aim of this study is to evaluate different insertion torques in the deformation of tri-channel platform connections through two- and three-dimensional measurements with micro-CT. Materials and Methods: 164 implants were divided into groups (platform diameter and type): 3.5, 3.75, and 4.3 mm NP (Narrow Platform), and 4.3 mm RP (Regular Platform). Each implant-platform group was then divided into four subgroups (n = 10) with different torques: T45 (45 Ncm), T80 (80 Ncm), T120 (120 Ncm) and T150 (150 Ncm). The implant-abutment-screw assemblies were scanned and the images obtained were analyzed. Results: A significant difference was observed for the linear and volume measures between the different platforms (p &lt;0.01) and the different implant insertion torques (p &lt;0.01). Qualitative analysis suggested higher deformation resistance for the 3.75 NP compared to the 3.5 NP, and RP was more resistant compared to the NP. Conclusions: The 0.25-mm increment in the implant platform did not increase the resistance to the applied insertion torques; the 4.3-mm implant was significantly stronger compared to the 3.5-mm implant and the proposed micro-CT analysis was considered valid for both 2D and 3D analyses of micro gaps, qualitatively and quantitatively.

Surimi consists in a technique for concentrating myofibrillar proteins with gelling ability, which aims to make use of by-products from fish slaughter, such as bullfrog back, which can be basis for the manufacture of emulsified products. Due to the strategic need to develop clean label foods, products such as collagen have been reported as potential natural additives with bioactive properties. The objective was to elaborate a surimi from the mechanically separated bullfrog back and to develop an emulsion, replacing the soy lecithin used by hydrolyzed collagen, evaluating its emulsifying and antioxidant potential during 120 days of storage under freezing. Three meat emulsions were prepared: EC0 (100% soy lecithin), EC50 (50% soy lecithin + 50% collagen), and EC100 (100% collagen), which were subjected to analysis of chemical composition, emulsion stability, water holding capacity, luminosity, whiteness, texture profile, TBARS and antioxidant activity. Insertion of collagen increased whiteness, lightness, hardness, and chewiness values compared to the EC0, but showed greater fluid loss. All treatments showed stable WHC values (88 – 91%) over time. Replacement with collagen was satisfactory as an emulsifier and as an antioxidant, and the EC50 and EC100 treatments were not negatively affected in the investigated parameters.

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective long-term treatment for Class III obesity. Reduced dietary intake is considered a behavioral driver of post-surgical weight loss, but limited data have examined this association. Therefore, this study examined prospective, longitudinal relationships between dietary intake and weight loss over 24 months following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Relationships between weight loss and dietary intake were examined using a validated 24-hour dietary recall method. Associations between total energy/macronutrient intake and weight loss outcomes were assessed at 12-, 18-, and 24-months following MBS, defining patients as “responders” and “suboptimal responders” according to the Reinhold criteria of 50% excess weight loss. Consistent with previous literature, 12-month responders and suboptimal responders showed significant associations between weight loss and dietary intake. Unlike previous work, this study revealed that many of these associations are no longer significant 24 months post-MBS, despite consistent weight loss trends. This study suggests a short-term signal between these dietary factors and weight loss outcomes 12 months post-MBS, consistent with previous observations. However, this signal does not persist beyond 12 months. These results are essential for interpreting and designing clinical studies measuring long-term post-surgical weight loss outcomes.

The effect of the antioxidant vitamin C in cancer has been studied for over 30 years with conflict-ing results ranging from total absence of effect, to possible protective effect, to potential therapeutic effect when administered in high doses. The aim of the study was to define the effect of vitamin C in breast cancer and the possible involvement of sphingomyelin metabolism. Therefore, the effect of low and high dose of vitamin C on cells reproducing luminal A type (MCF7) and triple negative type (MB231) of breast cancer was analyzed. The results showed that high dose of vitamin C produced effects only in MCF7 cells such as decreased cell viability, modulation of cell cycle re-lated genes, unexpected change in cell phenotype due to estrogen receptor downregulation, catabo-lism of sphingomyelin with a large increase in ceramide. In conclusion, we demonstrated that high doses of VitC on the one hand reduce the growth of lu-minal A type breast cancer cells and on the other hand induce their phenotypic change towards hormone therapy resistant cells. The effect of vitamin C on therapeutic treatment failure of luminal A breast cancer and the possible involvement of high ceramide levels were discussed.

Living walls (LWs) are a climate change adaptation strategy for cities, as they have a cooling effect. Previous studies of the cooling effect of LWs were carried out in different climatic zones. These studies differed in their experimental design, or simulated data via models. Plants’ cooling capacity is explained by shading and transpiration, and depends on physical plant parameters, environmental factors, and system-related influences. A three-year-long trial was carried out between 2017 and 2019 at an experimental garden in Geisenheim, Germany. We chose a textile-based LW system with high water demand and plants from a wet/fresh habitat. We assumed that this would achieve high evaporative cooling. The experimental setup included four experimental walls which were exposed to the north, south, east, and west, respectively. The plant choice was divided into three plant mix variants (Cascade, Ground cover, and Meadow) and a Control with no vegetation. We measured the temperature with sensors and a thermal imaging (IR) camera in different setups. The main results were that the measured vegetation temperature (TV) depends on air temperature (TA), measurement position, plant mix variant, and plant species. We could detect the cooling effect only at a small distance from the LW (microclimatic). Our methodological approaches should be continued in further studies.

Background: Non-surgical organ preservation protocols have known a large diffusion worldwide in the last decades. Their oncological and functional effectiveness in a real-world setting has been recently ques-tioned, also because of the high morbidity of salvage procedures. The aim of this study is to review the outcomes of post irradiation salvage total laryngectomy (STL) and reconstruction with pectoralis major flap. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 37 cases of STL in the period going from January 2015 to December 2021. Data for each patient were extracted from the hospital information system and reviewed. Results: The 3-year overall and disease specific survival are respectively 28% and 51%. All patients with recurrences died from the disease. Only 7 recurrences and 7 consequent deaths for cancer were rec-orded. The other 14 deaths derived from comorbidities, being diabetes the most significant predictive parameter for overall survival. Also low-er postoperative albumin levels were associated with a higher risk of death. Conclusions: Overall survival after STL and reconstruction with PMMF is low but most deaths are due to comorbidities and not to cancer progression or recurrence.

The cough assessment is fundamental in the weaning process as it gives information on the possibility to expel food and secretion from the airways. The majority of persons suffering from severe acquired brain injury (ABI) are not able to cough voluntarily due to severe motor deficits. In the present study, we evaluated the cough reflex in ABI patients using a new method based on a capsaicin spray stimulation test. 100 Healthy controls demographically matched with 50 ABI patients were included in this study. Clinical observations demonstrated robust cough response in both healthy controls and ABI patients, as well as the safety and tolerability of capsaicin spray stimulation. ABI patients with dysphagia were characterized by slower and delayed cough responses. Further studies are needed to validate this feasible, less-invasive, and simple-to-comprehend technique in inducing cough reflex. According to this preliminary evidence, we believe that this test might be translated into a simple and effective treatment to improve cough strength training reflexive cough modulation in ABI patients.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic posed major challenges to local, regional, and global economies and health systems, and fast clinical diagnostic workflows were urgently needed to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the platform and workflow established at the Cornell COVID-19 Testing Laboratory (CCTL) for high-throughput testing of clinical samples from the university and the surrounding community. This workflow enabled efficient and rapid detection, and successful control of SARS-CoV-2 infection on campus and its surrounding communities. Our cost-effective and fully automated workflow enabled testing of over 8,000 pooled samples per day and provided results for over 2 million samples. Automation of time- and effort-intensive sample processing steps such as accessioning and pooling increased laboratory efficiency. Customized software applications were developed to track and store samples, deconvolute positive pools, track and report results and for workflow integration from sample receipt to result reporting. Additionally, quality control dashboards and turn-around time tracking applications were built to monitor assay and laboratory performance. As infectious disease outbreaks pose a constant threat to both human and animal health, the highly effective workflow implemented at CCTL could be modeled to establish regional high-capacity testing hubs for infectious disease preparedness and emergency response.

SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers distinct patterns of disease development, characterized by significant alterations in host regulatory responses. Severe cases exhibit profound lung inflammation and systemic repercussions. Remarkably, critically ill patients display a "lipid storm", influencing the inflammatory process and tissue damage. Sphingolipids (SL) play pivotal roles in various cellular and tissue processes, including inflammation, metabolic disorders, and cancer. In this study, we employed high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate SL metabolism in plasma samples obtained from control subjects (n=55), COVID-19 patients (n=204), and convalescent individuals (n=77). These data were correlated with inflammatory parameters associated with the clinical severity of COVID-19. Additionally, we utilized RNAseq analysis to examine the gene expression of enzymes involved in the SL pathway. Our analysis revealed the presence of thirty-eight SL species from seven families in the plasma of study participants. The most profound alterations in the SL species profile were observed in patients with severe disease. Notably, the predominant sphingomyelin (SM d18:1) species emerged as a potential biomarker for COVID-19 severity, showing decreased levels in the plasma of convalescent individuals. Elevated SM levels were positively correlated with age, hospitalization duration, clinical score, neutrophil count, as well as the production of IL-6 and IL-8. Intriguingly, we identified a putative protective effect against disease severity mediated by SM (d18:1/24:0), while ceramide (Cer) d18:1/24:1 and d18:1/24:0 was associated with increased risk. Moreover, we observed enhanced expression of key enzymes involved in SL pathway, in blood cells from severe COVID-19 patients, suggesting a primary flow towards Cer generation in tandem with SM synthesis. These findings underscore the potential of SM as a prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 and highlight promising pharmacological targets. By targeting sphingolipid pathways, novel therapeutic strategies may emerge to mitigate the severity of COVID-19 and improve patient outcomes.

Secretory and membrane proteins are vital for cell activities, including intra- and intercellular communication. Therefore, protein quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential and crucial process for eukaryotic cells. Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) targets misfolded proteins during the protein maturation process in the ER and leads to their disposal. This process maintains the ER productive function and prevents misfolded protein stress (i.e., ER stress). The ERAD-stimulating factor ER degradation-enhancing α mannosidase-like 1 protein (EDEM1) acts on misfolded proteins to accelerate ERAD, thereby maintaining the productivity of the ER. However, the detail mechanism underlying the function of EDEM1 in ERAD is not completely understood due to lack of established physiological substrate proteins. In this study, we attempted to identify substrate proteins for EDEM1 using siRNA. The matrix component thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were identified as candidate targets of EDEM1. Their protein maturation status and cellular localization were markedly affected by knockdown of EDEM1. We also showed that EDEM1 physically associates with EGFR and enhances EGFR degradation via ERAD. Our data highlight the physiological role of EDEM1 in maintaining specific target proteins and provide a potential approach to the regulation of expression of clinically important proteins.

Since 2017 Cartagena UNESCO World Heritage has threatened to be categorized as "in Danger" by UNESCO. This research analyzes two main critical aspects, Governance and Current state of the Site. Regarding Governance, the study aims to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats in the UNESCO Site. Exemplary heritage management systems are studied to propose an adaptable management approach specifically for Cartagena. On the other hand, a comprehensive analysis is conducted utilizing a photographic report that highlights the major issues arising from inadequate heritage management. Hyperspectral images obtained from a previous study are employed to identify vegetation and asbestos-cement roofs within the cultural heritage Site. The study reveals that the ambiguity surrounding decision-making authority for heritage management, distributed between the Mayor's Office and the Ministry of Culture, is a primary challenge. This fragmentation has resulted in duplicated efforts and a lack of coordinated action, significantly compromising the conservation and protection of the cultural heritage Site. Moreover, twelve current shortcomings of cultural heritage in Cartagena are identified through authors' five-year on-site regular visits, photographic reports and observation. To address the prevailing concerns, a new line of command for cultural heritage management is proposed as the most effective means of tackling these challenges. Additionally, general recommendations are presented to mitigate the existing problems and prevent the classification of Cartagena's heritage as "at risk" by UNESCO in the near future. This research provides a scientific perspective, drawing upon years of experience studying heritage and residing in the city, devoid of political influences or conflicts of interest.

In order to improve the adaptability of broilers to low-temperature environments and their ability to resist acute cold stress (ACS), 240 one-day-old broilers were selected and randomly divided into three groups. The control treatment (CC) was raised at the conventional feeding temperature from 1-43 days (d), the cold stimulation treatments (CS) were kept at 3 °C below the temperature of CC at 1-d intervals for 3 and 6 hours from 15 to 35 d, namely CS3 and CS6, respectively. Then all broilers were kept at 20 °C from 36 to 43 d. ACS was then carried out at 44 d, and the ambient temperature was dropped to 10 °C for 6 hours. The study investigated the production perfor-mance, as well as levels of intestinal barrier genes (including Claudin-1, E-cadherin, Occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2 and Mucin2), secretory IgA in duodenum and jejunum, and immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) in serum. The results showed that IMCS could increase the daily weight gain and decrease the feed conversion ratio. During the IMCS, the expression levels of intestinal barrier genes were up-regulated and the content of secretory IgA was increased. When IMCS ceased for one week, the level of immunoglobulins in serum stabilized, and the expression levels of Occludin, ZO-2 and Mucin2 still maintained high levels. After ACS, broilers that received IMCS training maintained the high levels of intestinal barrier genes and secretory IgA.

Abstract: Background and Objectives: Holter-based late potentials (LPs) are useful for predicting lethal arrhythmias in organic cardiac diseases. Although Holter-based LPs exhibit diurnal varia-tion, no studies have evaluated the optimal timing of LP measurement over 24 h for predicting lethal arrhythmia that leads to sudden cardiac death. Thus, this study aimed to validate the most effective timing for Holter-based LP testing and to explore factors influencing diurnal variability of LP parameters. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) status and 60 control participants who underwent high-resolution Holter electrocardiography. Among the 126 post-MI patients, 23 developed sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) (the MI-VT group), while 103 did not (the MI-non-VT group) during the obser-vation period. Holter-based LPs were measured at 0:00, 4:00, 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00, and heart rate variability analysis was simultaneously performed to investigate factors influencing diurnal variability of LP parameters. Results: Holter-based LP parameters showed diurnal variation with significant deterioration at night and improvement during the day. Assessment at the time with the longest duration of low-amplitude signals <40 μV in the filtered QRS complex terminus (LAS40) gave the highest receiver operating characteristics curve (area under the curve, 0.659) and the highest odds ratio (3.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.45–9.71; p=0.006) for predicting VT. In the multiple regression analysis, heart rate and noise were significant factors affecting LP parameters in the MI-VT and control groups. In the non-VT group, LP parameters were significantly influenced by noise and parasympathetic heart rate variability parameters such as logPNN50. Conclusions: For Holter-based LP measurements, test accuracy was higher when LP was measured at the time of the highest or worst value of LAS40. Changes in autonomic nervous system activity, including heart rate and noise levels, were factors influencing diurnal variability.

Background: This is a comparative analysis of upgrade to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) of an existing pacemaker implanted for bradyarrhythmia or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). International guidelines recommend an upgrade to CRT for both groups based on the same criteria; this may lead to a hypothesis of whether we are under-treating a population that would otherwise benefit more from a CRT than the other. Methods: So far, this is the largest multicentre retrospective study that includes in total, 151 (93 upgrades to CRT-P and 58 upgrades to CRT-D) participants who had an upgrade to a CRT device between January 2010 and January 2020. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analysed both, before and after an upgrade to CRT. Results: EF was greater in patients with PPM, both before and after upgrade. Moreover, the post upgrade increase in EF was significantly greater in patients with PPM. Patients with ICD have, on average, an NYHA class ranking greater than PPM patients, both before and after upgrade. Conclusions: These data show that the PPM group patients have a greater response to upgrade to CRT compared to those from the ICD group. It also demonstrates that patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy are better responders compared to those with ischaemic aetiology.

Chicken infectious anemia (CIA) poses a significant threat to the chicken industry in China. De-spite its non-specific symptoms, the disease is often overlooked. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the etiology and pathology of CIA in Guangxi Province, China. Three strains of the chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) were isolated from liver samples of diseased 20-week-old chickens. The complete genomes of these strains were sequenced, and experiments on specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks revealed that the GX21121 strain exhibited high virulence. Histopathological examination of the deceased chicks showed liver cell necrosis, fibrous-serous exudation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage in liver tissues, as well as congestion in lung and renal tissues. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome revealed that the three strains had a close genetic relationship to the Heilongjiang wild-type (GenBank KY486144). The genetic evolu-tion of their VP1 genes indicated that all three CIAV isolates belonged to genotype IIIc. In sum-mary, this study demonstrated the genomic diversity of three CIAV strains in adult layer hens. The isolation and characterization of the GX21121 strain as a highly virulent isolate provide val-uable information for further investigations into the etiology, molecular epidemiology, and viral evolution of CIAV.

We hereby describe an efficient method for the preparation of a series of new 1-substituted 1,2,3-triazole-based acetaminophen derivatives through a clean, good-yielding, simple, and expeditious procedure based on the O-propargylation reaction of the acetaminophen (APAP) obtained from expired commercial tablets and the CuBr(PPh3)3-catalyzed Huisgen reaction be-tween O-propargylated APAP and diverse organoazides prepared from commercially available anilines as available starting reagents. An interesting nitric oxide-releasing 1,2,3-triazole hybrid of APAP was also obtained easily using the developed method. The structures of the designed hybrid compounds, which are expected to be pharmacologically active, were fully characterized by FT-IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR and are reported for the first time. According to the in-silico studies performed in this work and literature analysis, these hybrids are interesting models in search of new pharmacological nontoxic agents endowed with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Information regarding physiological and molecular plant responses to the treatment with new biofertilizers is limited. In this study a fast-composting soil amendment (FCA), obtained from solid waste by means of a Fenton reaction, was tested to evaluate the effects on the growth of Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia seedlings. Growth rate, leaves and roots biomass, chlorophyll concentration and total soluble proteins of seedlings treated with the 2% FCA soil amendment showed significant increase in comparison with control seedlings. Leaf proteomic analysis revealed that the FCA soil amendment induced the up-regulation of proteins belonging to photosynthesis machinery, carbohydrate metabolism and promoted the up-regulation of the water stress response. Root proteomics indicated that FCA strongly induced the organs morphogenesis and developments; root cap development, lateral root formation, post-embryonic root morphogenesis were the main biological processes enriched by the treatment. Overall, our data suggest that addition of FCA formulation to the base soils might ameliorate plant growth by inducing carbohydrates primary metabolism and the differentiation of a robust root system.

The European Green Deal has set a concrete strategic plan to increase farm sustainability. At the same time, the current global challenges, due to climate change and fuels and commodity market crisis, combined with the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, comprise the need for quality food, but also the reduction of negative external effects of agricultural production, with fair remuneration for the farmers. In response, precision agriculture has great potential to contribute to the sustainable development. Precision agriculture is a farming management that provides a holistic system approach to managing the spatial and temporal crop and soil variability within a field to improve the farm’s performance and sustainability. However, farmers are still hesitant to adopt it. On these premises, the study aims to evaluate the impacts of precision agriculture technologies on farm profitability, agronomic and environmental management by farmers adopting (or not) these technologies, using the case study method. In detail, the work focuses on the period 2014-2022 for two farms that cultivate durum wheat in Central Italy. The results suggest that the implementation of precision technologies can guarantee economic and agri-environmental efficiency. Results could serve as a basis for developing a program to start training in farms as well as suggest policy strategies.

Climate change affects both human and natural systems. Afghanistan ranked globally on the top of highly vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change. The agricultural communities of Afghanistan is highly affected by climate change. Understanding farmers’ real experiences on changing climate become crucial in planning the future adaptation strategies. This study assessed the farmers' perception of climate change and its impacts on farming communities. Primary data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted with 120 household heads. Additional qualitative data were collected by conducting 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), 4 Historical Timeline Calendars (HTCs), 18 Key Informant Interviews (KII), and sketches of 4 Crop Calendars. The study reveals that climate indicators have varied and changed. The farmers express their experiences of decreasing snowfall in winter and annual rainfall in spring and summer, which led to the intensity and frequency of drought and water shortages for agriculture and rangelands in the upper and lower part of the valleys. The temperatures in winter and summer have increased and led to earlier snow melting, earlier blooming, flowering, and greening of the plants. These changes affected both positively and negatively. There is a half-month new opportunity for cultivation and increased earlier animal ranching in the rangelands. These findings can be valuable inputs for developing effective and efficient adaptation strategies.

The increasing prevalence of depression worldwide requires more effectiveness in therapy approaches and a molecular understanding of antidepressants mode of action. We carried out untargeted metabolomics of the prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to chronic social isolation (CSIS), a rat model of depression, and/or fluoxetine treatment using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The behavioral phenotype was assessed by the forced swim test. To analyze metabolomics data, univariate and multivariate analysis and biomarker capacity assessment using the classical receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used. Support vector machine-linear kernel (SVM-LK), as a machine-learning algorithm was performed for binary classification. Upregulated myo-inositol following CSIS may represent a potential marker of depressive phenotype. Effective fluoxetine treatment reversed depressive-like behavior and increased sedoheptulose 7-phosphate, hypotaurine, and acetyl-L-carnitine contents, which were identified as potential markers. We identified 4 or 10 marker candidates with ROC curve greater than 0.9 for CSIS or fluoxetine effectiveness designation. SVM-LK has given accuracy of 61.50%, or 93.30%, and 7 or 25 predictive metabolites for CSIS vs. control and fluoxetine-treated CSIS vs. CSIS classification. Overall, metabolic fingerprints combined with ROC curve and SVM-LK may represent a new approach to identifying potential markers or predicting metabolites for group designation or classification.

Urban spatial perception critically influences human behavior and emotional reactions, emphasizing the necessity of aligning urban spaces with human needs for enhanced urban living. However, functionality-based categorization of urban architecture is prone to biases, stemming from disparities between objective mapping and subjective perception. These biases can result in urban planning and designs that fail to cater adequately to the needs and preferences of city residents, negatively impacting their quality of life and the city's overall functionality. In this study, we apply machine learning to elucidate these biases within urban spatial perception research, utilizing a three-step methodology: objective mapping, subjective perception analysis, and perception deviation assessment. Our findings reveal that machine learning can expose hidden patterns within this research field, bearing substantial implications for urban planning and design. Of particular note, the study revealed significant discrepancies in the distribution centroids between commercial buildings and residential or public buildings. This result illuminates the spatial organization characteristics of urban architectural functions, serving as a valuable reference for urban planning and development. Moreover, it uncovers the advantages and disadvantages of different data sources and techniques in interpreting urban spatial perception, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. These findings underscore the importance of integrating both objective mapping and subjective perspectives in urban architectural functionality classification.

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) occurs when insulin is not produced in the Pancreas due to the autoimmune destruction of the beta cells. The patients may be diagnosed after 80-90% of the beta cells are destroyed. Insulin remains the essential medicine in T1DM management, under continuous monitoring of glucose levels. T1DM management consists of a complex and precise set of self-care measures for the entire life; during this continuous process, the patients could become overwhelmed, angry, anxious, frustrated, and/or discouraged. Therefore, to be widely used and provide general benefits, new technologies for DM management must provide clinical advantages without compromising safety. The compliance of T1DM patients is also essential, thus improving their quality of life (QoL). Moreover, the accessibility of the new system for patients through healthcare coverage is critical; they must be able to buy the new devices and accessories and pay for their maintenance. In this context, our work aims to describe the most recent technologies regarding continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) systems, correlated with psychosocial impact and capacity to improve T1DM patients' life quality.

Abstract: The study aimed to investigate the antitumor efficacy of anti-LMP1 antibodies in EBV-positive nasopharyngeal and stomach cell lines and xenograft models. The study also exam-ined the NF-κB expression and cell cycle activation of NPC serum exosome-associated LMP1. An-ti-LMP1 antibody treatment before or during cell implantation prevented tumor growth in nude mice. A small dose of antibodies resulted in complete tumor regression for at least three months af-ter the tumors had grown in size. The consumption of antigen-antibody complexes by tumor cells limited tumor growth. In vitro experiments showed that anti-LMP1 antibodies killed EBV-positive NPC- or GC-derived epithelial cell lines and EBV-positive human B cell lines but not EBV-negative cell lines. Treatment with anti-LMP1 reduced NF-κB expression in cells. The animal model experi-ments showed anti-LMP1 inhibited and prevented NPC- or GC-derived tumor growth. The results suggest that LMP1 antibody immunotherapy could cure nasopharyngeal cancer, EBV-positive gastric carcinoma, and EBV-associated lymphomas. However, further validation of these findings is required through human clinical trials.

As in many parts of the world, rural-urban, forest-urban interface areas surrounding urban regions expose the natural areas they interact with to a threat of fire risk that can reach various sizes. This risk has been assessed for various regions of the world using many different methods and numerical models so far. Among these, it is seen that machine learning models have successful applications in risk assessment and risk prediction studies. For the fire risk prediction of Istanbul's yet unurbanized regions, but where the city is anticipated to potentially shift, data was collected using the opportunities provided by Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing technologies based on fires that occurred between 2000-2021, and the region was examined. Machine learning methods' Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting (LGB) models were applied for the classification of factors effective in fire. The best result was given by the RF model with 0.93 accuracy, 0.062 F1 score, and 0.753 Area Under Curve (AUC) value. In the classification of factors in the RF model, the grouping between fire-initiating factors and factors effective in spreading is evident, while this distinction is partially noticeable in the other two models.

Carbapenemase resistance in Enterobacterales is a global public health problem and rapid and effective methods to detect resistance mechanisms are needed urgently. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of a MALDI-TOF MS based KPC detection protocol from patients’ positive blood cultures, short-term cultures and colonies at health care settings. Bacterial identification and KPC detection were achieved after protein extraction with organic solvents and target spot loading with suitable organic matrices. Confirmation of KPC production was performed by susceptibility tests, blaKPC amplification by PCR and sequencing. KPC direct detection (KPC-peak at approximately 28.681 Da) from patients’ positive blood cultures, short-term cultures and colonies, once bacterial identification was achieved, showed an overall sensibility and specificity of 100% (CI95: [95%,100%] and CI95: [99%, 100%], respectively). Concordance between hospital routine bacterial identification protocol and identification with this new methodology from the same extract used for KPC detection was ≥92%. This study represents the pioneering effort to directly detect KPC using MALD-TOF MS technology, conducted on patient-derived samples obtained at the hospitals for validation purposes, in a multi-resistance global context that requires concrete actions to preserve available therapeutic options and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance markers.

In this paper, mesoporous electrodes consisted of Sb-doped SnO2 deposited onto Ti plates controlled corroded under acidic medium were synthesized by spin-coating method, and morpho structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrodes were electrochemical testing in the degradation/mineralization by electrooxidation (EO) of doxorubicin (DOX) as single-component and multi-component together with capecitabine (CCB)-from cytostatic class and humic acid (HA)-from natural organic matter (NOM) class in the absence/the presence of activated carbon (AC) as particulate electrode. The best mineralization efficiency of 67 % was achieved for DOX mineralization using Sb-doped SnO2 deposited onto Ti plate controlled corroded with oxalic acid in electrooxidation process. The presence of AC within the electrolysis process generated a synergy effect of 52.75 % for TOC parameter removal, which is in accordance and quite better than the result reported in the literature. The aspects related to the complex mechanism of DOX degradation and mineralization are discussed. The superiority of AC assisted electrooxidation, as electrochemical filtering (EF), was proved considering simultaneous degradation and mineralization of mixture of doxorubicin, capecitabine and humic acid.