Systems biology has been established for more than a decade in the post-genomic era. With the help of the computational and mathematical tools, systems biology reconstitutes the entire scenario of the cell, tissue and even organism from the pieces data generated in the past decades. However, the modern biology is mainly focusing on the structure and function of the biomolecule, cell, tissue or organ, which are far from the essence of the life because of missing thermodynamic information. It is doubtable that the current systems biology-based omics is no-how to fully understand the dynamic courses of the structure, function and information in life. For this reason, we promote a novel concept of aquamoleculomics, in which the biological structure and function as well as thermodynamic characteristics and bioinformation of the aquamolecule complexes are included in this theoretical model of systems biology. Water is mother of life, matter and matrix of organism. Indeed, the fundamental roles of H₂O molecules in biological processes might be dramatically underestimated. Extremely speaking, H₂O networks in the living system might be engaged in all the biological processes including building all the biological structures, the residential places of the motherhood molecules as the honeycombs of honeybees.

Migrate is a verb representing a process where the intention of providing social services to migrants is to reduce their instability and discomfort. Consequently, social service providers are inclined to view migrants as pitiful, often also those to be feared, with migrants learning to form negative views of themselves, decreasing their mental health. Considering migration as a verb neglects the noun initiating the migration when the migrant is heading to a person, place, thing, event, or idea. In viewing migration as noun-dependent, the migrant is identifiable as self-directed in seeking aid rather than pitiful or inciting fear. This study aims to examine the types of nouns migrants conceptualize for guiding their migration based on a Google Scholar search of “[noun-type] to which [whom] migrants head in their migration” for each noun type regarding the four most highly cited reports published since 2020. The purpose is to determine the social services applicable to migrants in their self-direction regarding theoretical foundations that contrast problem-focused with emotion-focused coping. Viewing such migration nouns as essential migration signifiers encourages migrants’ favorable identification. In recognizing the intended self-direction of the migrant, their mental health is improved and is supportable through relevant and appropriately available social services.

This study analyzed the influence of attitude toward innovation and creativity, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and institutional support in the consolidation of an entrepreneurial culture among Peruvian university students, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the theoretical framework. Data were collected from 948 students through a validated 29-item questionnaire, and the data analysis was conducted using the PLS-SEM method. The results showed that both attitude toward innovation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy have a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial culture, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy acted as a partial mediator in this relationship. However, external resources and institutional support were not significant mediators between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial culture. This study expands the understanding of TPB in the Peruvian context, highlighting the importance of fostering self-efficacy and an innovative attitude in students to strengthen entrepreneurial culture in universities. Educational institutions should consider these key factors when designing programs that promote entrepreneurship.

Self-esteem and student engagement play critical roles in shaping academic performance, particularly in the context of distance education, where direct classroom interaction is limited. This preliminary study examines the relationships between self-esteem, student engagement, and academic performance among 1,479 students at an Indonesia's open university, Universitas Terbuka. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the study employed multiple validated scales, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Student Engagement Scale, and self-reported academic performance measures, to explore how these variables interact. The results show that self-esteem alone does not significantly predict academic performance (F = 2.31, p = 0.071), but student engagement plays a moderating role, significantly enhancing the effect of self-esteem on academic outcomes (interaction term: B = 0.25, p = 0.010). Additionally, students from matrilineal family systems reported significantly higher self-esteem (M = 3.92, SD = 0.569, p = 0.014) and academic engagement (M = 3.93, SD = 0.870, p < 0.001) compared to their patrilineal counterparts. These preliminary findings highlight psychological and cultural factors in online education, with ongoing qualitative analyses in a broader mixed-method study set to deepen insights into technology challenges and further contribute to distance learning research.

Empirical findings support the important role played by prosocial behavior and scholastic per-formance in significantly affecting adolescents’ long term psychosocial adjustment. Furthermore, several studies showed the positive impact of academic self-efficacy in affecting adolescents’ social and academic functioning; however, no studies have investigated the effect of other important personality structures, such as students’ feedback sensitivity. The present study aims at investi-gating the effects of adolescents’ feedback sensitivity (reward sensitivity/punishment sensitivity) on their prosocial behavior and scholastic performance also examining the potential indirect effect of academic self-efficacy on the association between reward/punishment sensitivity and prosocial behavior/scholastic performance. Participants were 132 adolescents (53.1% males; Mage = 16.42, SD) from Rome (Italy). Students’ reward/punishment sensitivity, academic self-efficacy, prosocial behavior and scholastic performance were self-reported. A path analyses model showed a positive and significant effect of academic self-efficacy on scholastic performance, a positive significant ef-fect of punishment sensitivity on prosocial behavior, a positive significant effect of reward sensi-tivity on academic self-efficacy and a significant indirect effect of academic self-efficacy on the association between reward sensitivity and scholastic performance. Results of this study are useful in term of practical implications to promote students’ adjustment.

With Generation Z youths growing up with the Internet, the problem of mobile phone addiction is becoming increasingly worse. This paper administered questionnaires based on measures such as the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Research Self-Efficacy Scale, The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Stress Mindset Measure. The survey targeted 2,278 graduate students and explored the mechanism of mobile phone addiction on their research self-efficacy (RSE). The results revealed that such addiction has significant negative effects on self-efficacy, with mental stress playing a mediating role in this process. That is, mobile phone addiction lowers RSE by increasing mental stress. Meanwhile, the aforementioned negative impacts caused by addiction can be moderated through stress mindsets: the “stress-is-enhancing” mindset reduces the negative effects of addiction on scientific RSE, whereas the “stress-is-debilitating” mindset amplifies these negative effects by enhancing the mediating effect of mental stress.

DSSC devices are among the most widely studied thin-film solar cells because of their cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and simple fabrication method. However, there is still much scope for replacing current DSSC materials due to their high cost, low volume, and lack of long-term stability. Accordingly, ITO-nanorod films were fabricated by E-beam evaporation using the glancing angle deposition method in this study. Then, the ITO-nanorod was treated by oxygen plasma via a bias-magnetron RF sputtering process to improve the efficiency of DSSC under a varying gas flow rate of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 sccm. The FE-SEM investigation of the ITO film structure revealed that the obtained nanorod structures have slightly different diameters. At the same time, an increase in the oxygen flow rate resulted in a rougher film surface structure. In this, the lower sheet resistance was received because of rougher morphology. When comparing the DSSC efficiency test results, we found that at a gas flow rate of 100 sccm, the highest efficiency value showed by 9.5%. On the other hand, the ITO-nanorod without plasma treatment exhibited the lowest efficiency. Hence, plasma technology can be practically applied to improve the efficiency of DSSC devices. This study will be a prototype of a highly advanced solar cell manufacturing method for the solar cell industry.

This in vitro study aimed to analyze the surface roughness (Ra) and color stability (ΔEab, ΔE00) following simulated mechanical brushing, and to evaluate the microtensile (μTBS) to dentin of Self Adhering Resin Flowable (SARF). The selected materials were Constic, Yflow AS, and Tetric N flow (TNF/control). Thirty composite resin cylinders were fabricated for surface property evaluation. Ra and color were assessed both before and after simulated brushing. The thresholds of 50:50% perceptibility and acceptability of color difference of the evaluated resins were assessed. For μTBS analysis, fifteen molars were selected, sectioned to expose flat dentin surfaces, and restored according to manufacturers' instructions. Subsequently, they were sectioned into sticks for microtensile testing. Statistically significant differences in Ra among the groups, with Constic exhibiting the highest Ra value (p < 0.05), while Yflow AS showed the lowest Ra value. No statistically significant difference in color was observed among the groups (p > 0.05). The 50:50% perceptibility and acceptability thresholds set at 1.2 and 2.7 for ΔEab and 0.8 and 1.8 for ΔE 00. All the results fell within the acceptable limits. The mean μTBS values of Constic, Yflow AS, and TNF were 10.649 MPa, 8.170 MPa, and 33.669 MPa, respectively. The study revealed increased Ra and comparable color stability among all tested composite resins after abrasion. However, SARF exhibited lower μTBS compared to conventional using an adhesive system.

College students play an important role in higher education and future social life. Research has a significant impact on college students' self-efficacy. Taking college students in Chengdu, China as an example, this study adopts the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method, comprehensively incorporating various influencing factors such as demographic characteristics, physical exercise behavior, and life satisfaction. From the perspective of physical exercise behavior and life satisfaction, an asymmetric causal model that affects college students' high self-efficacy is constructed. The research results support the main principles of complexity theory, confirming the heterogeneity and complexity of the antecedent conditions for high self-efficacy among college students. Nineteen causal condition combinations that can promote high self-efficacy among college students are obtained. This study conducts exploratory research on the introduction of complexity theory analysis into the study of college students' physical exercise, life satisfaction, and self-efficacy. It also provides a decision-making reference path for improving the life satisfaction, physical exercise behavior, and self-efficacy of college students.

A single-track magnetic code tape based absolute position sensor system is demonstrated. Unlike traditional dual-track systems, our method simplifies manufacturing and avoids crosstalk between tracks, offering higher tolerance to alignment errors. The sensing system employs an array of magnetic field sensing elements that recognize the bit sequence encoded on the tape. This approach allows for accurate position determination even when the number of sensing elements is fewer than the number of bits covered, and without the need for specific spacing between sensing elements and bit length. We demonstrate the system's ability to learn and adapt to various magnetic code patterns, including those that are irregular or have been altered. Our method can identify and localize the sensed magnetic field pattern directly within a self-learned magnetic field map, providing robust performance in diverse conditions. This self-adaptive capability enhances operational safety and reliability, as the system can continue functioning even when the magnetic tape is misaligned or has undergone changes.

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) significantly influences teacher well-being and pedagogical quality, thereby impacting student learning outcomes. Despite the recognized effectiveness of Lesson Study (LS) in shaping teachers' practices and beliefs, there is a research gap in TSE, particularly in higher education. To address this, we conducted a longitudinal study at a northeastern Chinese university, tracking TSE evolution in three English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers, encompassing both novices and experienced educators, during a six-month LS program. We collected both quantitative and qualitative data, encompassing interviews, surveys, and observations. Underpinned by Bandura and Wyatt's self-efficacy theory, the impact of LS on teachers' TSE development was explored and interpreted. Our findings shed light on the many ways in which LS effects individual teachers' TSE. Notably, both novice and experienced teachers improved significantly in TSE, especially in the domains of instructional techniques and student engagement. However, in the context of classroom management, there was considerably less growth. Furthermore, our research identifies a number of challenges that can have a negative impact on teachers' TSE, such as adapting to students' changing needs, dealing with limited resources, managing time constraints, navigating the school examination system, and overcoming initial resistance to the LS approach.

The production of concrete and the manufacturing process of cement results in a significant carbon footprint, contributing to a large portion of global emissions in structures such as buildings, bridges, roads, and tunnels. Although concrete is an ideal building material that is durable and long-lasting, it can be susceptible to micro-cracks. These micro-cracks in concrete can allow water and chlorine ions to penetrate the structure, leading to the degradation of concrete and corrosion of the reinforcement, posing an unacceptable level of structural risk. Self-healing concrete is not a new material in the construction industry but can be characterized by the capability of concrete to repair its cracks autogenously or autonomously. Recent advancements in concrete research and technology have given us a better understanding of concrete's healing properties. Self-healing concrete combines durability with sustainability while offsetting the high carbon output of concrete manufacturing and production and associated life-cycle costs. Technologies such as microbially-induced calcite (calcium carbonate) precipitation (MICP), shape memory polymers, encapsulation methods, hydration, and swelling agents can potentially reduce carbon emissions while enhancing resilience and longevity. This paper examines these technologies and their applications in the construction industry by comprehensively reviewing the literature and available case studies. The study concluded that there are promising advancements and innovations in concrete, particularly when improving upon the autogenous healing properties. The recommendations for future research include exploring more ways to bring the concrete industry and cement manufacturing toward net zero carbon emissions.

Two new Mn(II) and Zn(II) metal-organic compounds of 1,10-phenanthroline and methyl benzoates viz. [Mn(phen)2Cl2]2-ClBzH (1) and [Zn(4-MeBz)2(2-AmPy)2] (2) (where, 4-MeBz = 4-methylbenzoate, 2-AmPy = 2-aminopyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2-ClBzH = 2-chlorobenzoic acid) have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, TGA, spectroscopic (FTIR, electronic) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Crystal structure analysis of the compounds reveals the presence of various non-covalent interactions which provides stability to the crystal structures. Crystal structure analysis of the compound 1 reveals the formation of supramolecular dimer of 2-ClBzH enclathrated within the hexameric host cavity formed by the neighboring monomeric units. Compound 2 is a mononuclear compound of Zn(II) where flexible binding topologies of 4-CH3Bz is observed with the metal centre. Moreover various non-covalent interactions such as lp(O)-π, lp(Cl)-π, C‒H∙∙∙Cl, π-stacking interactions as well as N‒H∙∙∙O, C‒H∙∙∙O and C‒H∙∙∙π hydrogen bonding interactions are found to be involved in plateauing the molecular self-association of the compounds. The remarkable enclathration of the H-bonded 2-ClBzH dimer into a supramolecular cavity formed by two [Mn(phen)2Cl2] complexes has been further studied theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, non-covalent interaction (NCI) plot index and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) computational tools. Synergistic effects have been also analysed using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface analysis.

Motivated by experimental success in designing linear amphiphilic copolymers with selective demicellization capabilities through head-to-tail depolymerization triggered by specific stimuli, we advanced the design paradigm by increasing the number of triggering groups on the copolymer chain through architectural modifications. Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we explored the demicellization and cargo release dynamics of linear and miktoarm copolymers, featuring one, two and three hydrophobic block or branches, each capable for head-to-tail depolymerization. Our findings revealed that, under stoichiometric trigger molecule concentrations, miktoarms with three branches exhibited consistently faster depolymerization rates than those with two branches and linear copolymers. Conversely, at constant trigger molecule concentrations, the depolymerization rates of copolymers exhibited more complex behavior influenced by two opposing factors: the excess of trigger molecules, which increased with a decrease in the number of hydrophobic branches or blocks, and simultaneous head-to-tail depolymerization, which intensified with an increasing number of branches. Our study elucidates the intricate interplay between copolymer architecture, trigger molecule concentrations, and depolymerization dynamics, providing valuable insights for the rational design of amphiphilic copolymers with tunable demicellization and cargo release properties.

The research of object classification and part segmentation is a hot topic in computer vision. A considerable number of studies have been carried out about deep learning on 3D point clouds. However,it is challenging to achieve effective feature learning due to sparsity of point clouds. Recently, a variety of Transformers have been adopted to improve point cloud processing and display great potential. Nevertheless, large numbers of Transformer layers tend to incur huge computational and memory costs. PointNet++ is one of the most influential neural architectures for point cloud understanding. Although the accuracy of PointNet++ has been largely surpassed by recent networks, this does not mean that PointNet++ has no potential.Thus, this paper offer two major contributions that significantly improve PointNet++ performance. Firstly, we introduce a novel contextual feature extraction (CFE) block that significantly enhances the feature extraction capabilities of PointNet++ networks. Secondly, to further enhance feature fusion, we seamlessly integrate a mutual learning (ML) block into the network architecture. By embedding these two innovative blocks within each layer of the network, we not only enrich the network's functionality but also impart it with greater robustness and adaptability. The specific experiments were conducted on the S3DIS (6-fold cross-validation) and Modelnet40 datasets with 86.5% and 92.7% accuracy, respectively, which proved that our model is comparable or even better than most existing methods for classification and segmentation tasks.

Children—Dependents in Social Construction Theory—are assessed within democracies regarding their ability to self-direct their behavior concerning their associated society. In this regard, childhood represents a lack of self-direction, a life period when people require the guidance and protection of adults. The assumed necessity of adults supervising children in democracies requires substantial social resources, reducing the self-direction of those charged with overseeing children. Given that self-direction defines the optimal experience of people within democratic society, finding ways to increase the self-direction of children is an individual and a social benefit. In this regard, smartphones have improved self-direction in children. How children have become empowered to self-direct their lives with smartphone use considering Social Construction Theory—as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants—is the focus of a scoping review conducted on “children, empowerment, smartphones” of the following databases: OVID, JSTOR, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The result is that children permitted to self-direct their activities aided by smartphone technology have comparable social behavior to adults positioned as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants and, as such they should be encouraged to utilize smartphone technology to improve their self-direction, as doing so will augment individual and caregiver self-direction, providing increased social benefit.

Most of the educational interventions proposed so far in the field of mental well-being in education ‎usually address just students. In this study, we focused on teachers as the Covid-19 pandemic reiterated ‎the importance of their mental well-being during demanding times. We investigated whether ‎neurofeedback (NF) training can increase optimism, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and the ability to ‎cope with stressful events, reflecting on the research literature that emphasizes these four factors, ‎which affect the ability to be confident in dealing with uncertainty and distress. ‎ Forty teachers aged 35-55 participated in the study. The test group took part in 12 NF training sessions, ‎and the control group was not treated. Our findings indicate that compared to the control group, ‎measures of optimism, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and coping with stressful events improved ‎significantly in the test group.‎ To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test a mental welfare intervention program for ‎teachers through NF. This study responded to a call to develop teacher intervention programs using ‎physiological measurement and technological innovations to improve their mental health and allow ‎them to cope better with stressful teaching conditions.

This paper delves into the critical issue of concrete cracks, a common consequence of environmental factors and external forces, and their potential impact on the structural integrity of buildings. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, the concept of self-healing concrete has emerged, aiming to revolutionize the construction industry by autonomously repairing cracks and minimizing the need for labor-intensive and time-consuming manual interventions. The paper employs a bibliographic analysis methodology to comprehensively explore the most significant technologies associated with self-healing concrete, identifying key research countries/regions and prominent research institutions in this field. Through an examination of scholarly articles, the analysis seeks to uncover key themes, technologies, and contributors within the self-healing concrete domain. Insights into the geographical distribution of research efforts and the roles of influential research institutions are provided, shedding light on collaborative networks and knowledge-sharing dynamics that drive innovation in this evolving field.

Diabetes self-management education helps to improve health outcomes, quality of life and to reduce expenses for diabetic patients. This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education used for newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). A review of studies that have researched the use and the impact of health education in newly diabetic patients with T2DM was implemented. A literature search was conducted using the electronic database of Pub MED, Walters Kluwer, Cochrane Library, Elsevier, JSTORE between January 2017 – November 2022. The data on participants and intervention characteristics were extracted by two reviewers independently. We found 789 studies and after selection of PRISMA flow chart we selected 19 studies, including 2512 newly diagnosed adult T2DM. Biomedical results presented the pooled effect of HbA1c -0.64%, FBG -0.32. The evaluation of emotional and social results and behavioral effects has been evaluated respectively in 10 and 9 studies. The education and support of recently diabetic patients help to improve biomedical, psychosocial, and behavioral results. This intervention must be ongoing to maintain healthy behaviors

Currently, the use of medications during pregnancy in Latin America is common; studies with Latin American samples find that nearly 90% of pregnant women use some medication at least once during pregnancy. Furthermore, approximately 21% of the respondents self-medicated. Worldwide, the prevalence of this disease is 32%. The most common medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. Many of these drugs are available over the counter without a prescription. For this reason, a systematic review of the literature on the adverse effects on the woman and the fetus was performed. Objective: To determine the adverse effects associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on pregnant women and fetuses during pregnancy. Methods: Systematic literature review. The following search strategy was used for the databases: Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, through September 3, 2022. The population of pregnant women without previous comorbidities was defined. The intervention of interest was the use of NSAIDs during pregnancy. The outcomes of interest were adverse effects for the mother or fetus (weight of the newborn, congenital malformations present in the fetus, systemic effects in the pregnant woman during her gestation period). The types of studies included clinical trials, cohort studies and case‒control studies. Results: 1 study included 2,985 pregnant women without previous comorbidities. The use of aspirin more frequently during pregnancy stands out. The adverse effects on the fetus were preterm birth <37 weeks, low birth weight < 2500 g and increased admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. No adverse effects were found for the mother. Conclusions: There are not enough data indicating that the use of NSAIDs during pregnancy is safe. Some studies show that the use of NSAIDs during pregnancy could be related to problems in the development and growth of the fetus and health effects for the mother during pregnancy, so it is advisable to use these drugs under medical prescription and for the shortest possible time. in the gestation stage.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety among healthcare workers (HCWs) during the Covid-19 pandemics is high. The aim of the study is to identify the importance of self-esteem and occupational factors in association with the incidence of depression and anxiety among HCWs through a longitudinal cohort study during the Covid-19 pandemics in Latvia. Participants were interviewed repeatedly seven times during the Covid-19 pandemics. 322 participants were included in the data analysis for depression and 352 for anxiety. Low self-esteem and working in the general practitioner's office is associated with the incidence of depression and anxiety. Undergraduate education and direct contact with Covid-19 patients are associated with the incidence of depression. The risk of anxiety decreases by 1% each year among HCWs. Our study shows the importance of personality factors of HCWs during the Covid-19 pandemics.

The contemporary landscape of education is witnessing a paradigm shift towards innovative instructional methods, with the flipped learning approach gaining considerable attention. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of the flipped learning approach on students' perception and acceptance throughout an entire semester in the 'Introduction to Programming with Java' course, using a research design with a quantitative approach, ultimately aiming to inform educational practice and advance our knowledge of innovative teaching methods in higher education. This study was conducted at a university with 174 students involved, divided into two groups, 87 students in the experimental group and 87 students in the control group. The data collected through the scales were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis techniques in statistical software. At the end of the measurements, the technology acceptance level and self-directed learning perceptions of engineering students who received education with flipped learning were high. The results suggest that educators should consider students' readiness for self-directed learning when implementing the flipped learning approach and focus on creating an environment that supports their autonomy and engagement. This research offers valuable guidance for instructors, curriculum designers, and educational policymakers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of flipped learning in higher education courses.

We used a mixed-method single-case experimental research design to examine the effect of modelling (peer versus non-peer) on exercise self-efficacy in stroke survivors who participated in a community-based exercise program. Quantitative data were obtained using a ABCA design: (A1) no model/baseline 1 (3 weeks); (B) peer model (6 weeks); (C) non-peer model (6 weeks); and (A2) no model/baseline 2 (3 weeks). Four participants completed self-efficacy questionnaires after each weekly session. Qualitative data were obtained using researcher diaries and two semi-structured interviews: after B and A2. Based on quantitative and qualitative results, participants reported higher exercise self-efficacy in the model conditions, with ratings appearing highest for the non-peer model. This finding could be due to a lack of full integration of the peer model and low feelings of similarity. Modelling in general could help people recovering from a stroke increase their exercise self-efficacy, but non-peer models may not be most advantageous.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is among the leading causes of mortality and long-term impairment globally. TBI has a dynamic pathology encompassing a variety of metabolic and molecular events that occur in two phases, primary and secondary. An external forceful blow to the brain initiates the primary phase, which is followed by a secondary phase that involves the release of calcium ions (Ca2+) and the initiation of a cascade of inflammatory processes, including mitochondrial dysfunction, rise in oxidative stress, activation of glial cells, and damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), resulting in paracellular leakage. There is currently no FDA-approved drug for TBI, but existing approaches rely on delivering small and macromolecular treatments, which are severely constrained by the BBB, poor retention, off-target toxicity, and complex pathology of TBI. Therefore, there is a demand for innovative and alternative therapeutics with effective delivery tactics for diagnosis and treatment of TBI. Tissue engineering and use of biomaterials is one such alternative approach. With this approach, neuronal stem cell therapy is combined with synthetically generated tissue materials such as hydrogels, self-assembling peptides, and electrospun nanofibers, which may induce neurite outgrowth, differentiation of human neural stem cells, and nerve gap bridging in TBI. This review examines tissue engineering and the use of biomaterials as potential treatments for TBI, including their synthesis, mechanisms of action, and limitations. The review also discusses challenges facing tissue engineering and biomaterial technology including survival rate of transplanted stem cells and the development of biodegradable, biocompatible, and mechanically flexible biomaterials. A better understanding of the mechanisms and drawbacks of these novel therapeutic approaches will help guide the design of future TBI therapies.

Biological function depends on the composition as well as structure of the organism, that is the organization of interactions between its parts. In multicellular organisms, the complex communication between cells is crucial for the coordination of cellular functions (growth, differentiation, apoptosis), compartmentalization of cellular processes within the organism, and the integration of cells into functioning higher levels of structural organization. Here we focus on the interaction among cells, as the basic level of biological organization, capable of a remarkable degree of autonomy and self-maintenance. While a wealth of data on putative cell interactions has recently become available, its biological interpretation depends on expectations we have for the structure of these interaction networks. This contribution is an attempt at formulating basic questions we may ask about cell interaction data. We build on the understanding that cells fulfill two general functions: the integrity-maintaining and the organismal service function. We derive the expected patterns of cell interactions considering two intertwined aspects: the immediate functional and the evolutionary. Based on these, we propose several guidelines for analysis and interpretation of transcriptional cell-interactome data.

This article describes the impact of restricting the air intake in industrial 250 m3 WEMCO flotation cells at Los Pelambres concentrator. The influence of this air restriction on the hydrodynamic and metallurgical performance of this type of machine was evaluated. The experiments were conducted in single flotation cells and in entire rougher banks. In all cases, the gas holdup was measured to estimate the effectiveness of the obstruction system to decrease the air concentration. In single cells, axial profiles for solid percentage and particle size were evaluated. In addition, a mass balance was conducted to assess the copper recovery and concentrate features. In individual cells, the air restriction led to a decrease in the gas holdup. However, this slight change was enough to obtain a more stable froth zone and a better solids suspension. The latter was observed as a higher P80 below the pulp-froth interface, a less diluted pulp at this level, a slightly higher Cu recovery, and a coarser concentrate product. A mineralogical analysis of the concentrate sample also showed the presence of coarser liberated Cu-sulfide particles. The results in single cells suggested an improvement in the recovery of coarse particles by a more intense solids suspension. The air intake was also restricted in 3 rougher banks to assess the impact of the air obstruction on the overall performance of the respective circuit. Eleven out of fourteen cells were operated with air restriction, which led to a significant recovery improvement of 0.9%-1.6% (absolute) with a 95% confidence level. Size-by-size mass balances were also conducted for the rougher circuits, which proved that the recovery improvements were justified by the simultaneous increase in the recovery of coarse and fine particles. Thus, a restriction of the air intake showed that the decrease in the gas holdup (and in the bubble surface area flux) was compensated by a better solids suspension and a higher turbulence in the impeller. The former promotes the recovery of coarse particles, whereas the latter improves the interaction between bubbles and fine particles. Further developments are being made to implement a regulatory control strategy to control the air intake in self-aspirated flotation cells, and to use this approach for optimizing industrial flotation banks.

Machinery degradation assessment can offer meaningful prognosis and health management in-formation. Although numerous machine prediction models based on artificial intelligence have emerged in recent years, they still face a series of challenges: (1) Many models continue to rely on manual feature extraction. (2) Deep learning models still struggle with long sequence prediction tasks. (3) Health indicators are inefficient for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction with cross-operational environments when dealing with high-dimensional datasets as inputs. This research proposes a health indicator construction methodology based on a transformer self-attention transfer network (TSTN). This methodology can directly deal with the high-dimensional raw dataset and keep all the information without missing when the signals are taken as the input of the diagnosis and prognosis model. First, we design an encoder with a long-term and short-term self-attention mechanism to capture crucial time-varying information from a high-dimensional dataset. Second, we propose an estimator that can map the embedding from the encoder output to the estimated degradation trends. Then, we present a domain dis-criminator to extract invariant features from different machine operating conditions. The case studies with the FEMTO-ST bearing dataset and the Monte Carlo method for RUL prediction during the degradation process are conducted. The experiment results fully exhibited the signif-icant advantages of the proposed method compared to other state-of-the-art techniques.

Oxytocin (OXT), a pro-social peptide, is increasingly recognized as a potential protective substance against drug addiction. In the context of ethanol, previous researches have shown OXT properties to reduce self-administration, alleviate motor impairment in rodents, and reduce craving in humans. However, its role in behavioral sensitization, a neuroadaptive response resulting from repeated drug exposure linked to increased drug incentive, remains unexplored. OXT is also associated with modulating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, with corticosterone well-known as a significant factor in behavioral sensitization development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Carbetocin (CBT), an analogue of OXT, on the expression of behavioral sensitization to ethanol and concurrent alterations in plasma corticosterone levels in male and female Swiss mice. We also aimed to confirm previous studies on OXT impact on ethanol consumption in male mice, but with a focus on CBT, using the two-bottle choice model and drinking in the dark (DID) methodology. For the sensitization study, mice received either ethanol (1.8 g/kg, ip) or saline treatments daily for 15 consecutive days, followed by treatment with carbetocin (0.64 mg/kg, ip) or a vehicle for 6 days. Subsequently, on day 22, all animals underwent an ethanol challenge to assess the expression of behavioral sensitization. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured on days 21 and 22. CBT effectively prevented the expression of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in both male and female subjects, with no alterations detected in corticosterone levels. In the ethanol consumption study, following an initial phase of ethanol acquisition, mice underwent a 6-day treatment with CBT i.p or saline before being reexposed to ethanol. We also found a reduction in ethanol consumption due to CBT treatment. In conclusion, carbetocin emerges as a promising and effective intervention in mitigating ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and reducing ethanol intake, highlighting its potential significance in alcohol addiction treatment.

This study uses explainable artificial intelligence to analyze major predictors of poor self-rated health, dementia and their comorbidity, which include various aspects of social support. Data came from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2016-2018), with 5527 participants aged 56 or more. The dependent variables were: (1) poor self-rated health (SRH) with 5 categories (very good, good, middle, poor, very poor); (2) dementia (no, yes); and (3) their comorbidity with 4 categories (SRH very good, good or middle, dementia no; SRH very good, good or middle, dementia yes; SRH poor or very poor, dementia no; SRH poor or very poor, dementia yes). The 49 demographic, socioeconomic and health-related predictors were included. The accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were compared for logistic regression and the random forest. Logistic regression and the random forest registered similar AUCs with the range of 0.80-0.87. Based on random forest variable importance, 18 out of top-20 predictors were identical for SRH, dementia and their comorbidity: previous SRH, life satisfaction - health, age, body mass index, income, chronic diseases, life satisfaction - economic, life satisfaction - overall, grandchildren alive, friendship meeting, brothers/sisters alive, class identity, children alive, social activity - friendship, education, children in weekly contact, religion and drinker. However, some variations were found among the three dependent variables, i.e., previous SRH for comorbidity (1st) and SRH (1st) compared to dementia (11th), grandchildren alive for SRH (6th) and dementia (4th) compared to comorbidity (9th), chronic diseases for comorbidity (6th) compared to SRH (10th) and dementia (10th). In terms of Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values, the probability of dementia is expected to decrease by 5.57% in case a predictor grandchildren alive is included to the model. This study highlights the importance of social support for the prediction of poor self-rated health, dementia and their comorbidity. Specifically, the promotion of family support and friendship activity for elders would be vital for the prevention and management of their self-rated health and dementia.

Previous studies on the mechanisms underlying willed actions reported that the premotor cortex may be involved in the construction of motor awareness. However, its exact role is still under investigation. Here we investigated the role of the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) in motor awareness by modulating its activity applying inhibitory rTMS to PMd, before a specific motor awareness task (under three conditions: without stimulation, after rTMS and after sham stimulation). During the task, subjects had to trace straight lines to a given target, receiving a visual feedback of the line trajectories on a computer screen. Crucially, in most trials the trajectories on the screen were deviated and to produce straight lines, subjects had to correct their movements towards the opposite direction. After each trial, participants were asked to judge whether the line seen on the computer screen corresponded to the line actually drawn. Results show that participants in the no stimulation condition did not recognize the perturbation until 14 degrees of deviation. Importantly, active, but not sham, rTMS significantly modulated motor awareness, decreasing the amplitude of the angle at which participants became aware of the trajectory correction. These results suggest that PMd plays a crucial role in action self- monitoring.

This paper proposes a Grouped Contrastive Learning of self-supervised Sentence Representation (GCLSR), which can learn an effective and meaningful representation of sentences. Previous works maximize the similarity between two vectors to be the objective of contrastive learning, suffering from the high-dimensionality of the vectors. In addition, most previous works have adopted discrete data augmentation to obtain positive samples and directly employed contrastive framework of computer vision to perform contrastive training, which could hamper contrastive training because text data is discrete and sparse compared with image data. To address those issues, we propose a grouped contrastive learning framework, i.e., GCLSR, which divides the high-dimensional feature vector into several groups and respectively computes the groups’ contrastive losses to make use of more local information, eventually obtaining a more fine-grained sentence representation. In addition, in GCLSR, we design a new self-attention mechanism and a continuous as well as partial word vector augmentation (PWVA). For the discrete and sparse text data, the usage of self-attention could help model focus the informative words by measuring the importance of every word in a sentence. By using the PWVA, GCLSR can obtain high-quality positive samples used for contrastive learning. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed GCLSR achieves an encouraging result on the challenging datasets of the standard semantic textual similarity (STS) task and transfer task.

The genetic systems of Paspalum species have not been extensively studied. We analysed the ploidy, reproductive mode, mating system, and fertility of four Paspalum species - P. durifolium, P. ionan-thum, P. regnellii, and P. urvillei. An analysis of 378 individuals from 20 populations of north-eastern Argentina was conducted. All populations of the four Paspalum species were pure tetraploid and had a sexual and stable reproductive mode. However, some populations of P. durifolium and P. ionanthum showed low levels of apospory. Populations of P. durifolium and P. ionanthum had low seed sets under self-pollination but were fertile under open pollination, showing that self-incompatibility likely caused self-sterility. In contrast, populations of P. regnellii or P. urvillei showed no evidence of apospory and seed set in both self- and open pollination conditions were high, suggesting that they are self-compatible, due to the absence of pollen-pistil molecular in-compatibility mechanisms. The evolutionary origin of the four Paspalum species could explain these differences. This study supplies valuable insights into the genetic systems of Paspalum species, which could have implications for their conservation and management.

Despite empirical findings that prosociality can prevent children and adolescents from developing psychological maladjustment, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. The goal of the present study was to examine the mediating effects of peer preference and self-perceived social competence on the associations between prosociality and psychological maladjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms and loneliness). Participants were 951 students (Mage = 11 years, 442 girls) in Grades 3~7 from Shanghai, China. They completed peer nominations of prosociality and peer preference, and self-report measures of self-perceived social competence, depressive symptoms, and loneliness. Multiple mediation analyses revealed that: (a) both peer preference and self-perceived social competence mediated the relations between prosociality and psychological maladjustment; and (b) a serial indirect pathway (i.e., prosociality  →  peer preference  →  self-perceived social competence →  psychological maladjustment) emerged when controlling for grade and gender. These findings point to potential targets in the prevention and intervention of adolescent internalizing problems.

Nowadays Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) in combination with a Photovoltaic (PV) installation are a very promising option for a necessary and urgent energy transformation in European Union (EU). It is extremely important to develop solutions that will help maximize the use of energy generated from renewable energy sources (RES). Such issues include the problem of insufficient use of generated electricity in PV on-grid microinstallations in residential buildings. This paper's aim is to analyze the results of one-year-round operation of a PV array grid-connected hybrid installation with ASHP for domestic hot water (DHW) preparation in a residential building in Cracow, Poland in the context of increasing self-consumption (SC) of PV energy. Models of systems are built and simulated in Transient System Simulation Tool 18 (TRNSYS) software. Simulations were carried out for different scenarios involving different building electricity consumption profiles, PV system capacity and specified runtime management of ASHP. The novelty of this study lies in the evaluation of the impact of a certain range of conditions on the energy performance of the system, in particular on SC. The results showed that the use of ASHP, with specified runtime management, results in an increase in monthly SC values from 7 to 18%, and annual SC values up to 13%. Also determining the appropriate size of the used PV system depending on whether it is present ASHP in the installation is crucial to increase the value of the SC parameter. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of PV panels and ASHP operating together, in particular on SC values.

The dynamic and surface manipulation of the M13 bacteriophage meeting application demands enable a pathway to design efficient applications with high selectivity and responsivity rate. Herein, we report the role of the M13 bacteriophage thin film layer deposited on an optical nanostructure involving gold nanoparticles/SiO2/Si and its influence on optical and geometrical properties. The thickness of the M13 phage layer was either controlled by varying the concentration or humidity exposure levels, and optical studies were conducted. We designed a standard and dynamic model based upon three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D FDTD) simulations distinguishing the necessity of each model under variable conditions. As seen from the experiments, the origin of respective peak wavelength positions is addressed in detail with the help of simulations. The importance of the dynamic model was noted when humidity-based experiments were conducted. Inexpensive, multi-wavelength optical characteristics from a single structure, reproducibility, and reversible properties are significant advantages of involving M13 bacteriophage. We believe this work will provide fundamental insight into understanding and interpreting the geometrical and optical properties of the nanostructures involving M13 bacteriophage.

The objective of this quantitative study was to examine the impact of selected factors on the level and state of public health in local self-government units in 2021, with the consideration of data from 2020 and 2019. This survey included 77 out of 145 local self-government units in the Republic of Serbia and examined six dimensions defined by the Law on Public Health: social care for the public health of the city/municipality in regard to the physical, mental, and social health of the population; health promotion and disease prevention; the environment and health; working environments and population health; the organization and functioning of the health system; and actions in emergency situations. The results of the Pearson correlation showed that there were statistically significant correlations between the effectiveness of the realized program budget and microbiologically defective drinking water samples from the so-called village water supply systems, defective samples of drinking water from public taps, unsatisfactory analyses of wastewater samples, the total number of air samples on an annual level for PM25s, and the number of mandated fines issued. The results of the logistic regression model showed that the local self-government units that received assistance from the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities were 5.6 times more likely to perform analyses of their health status. Furthermore, we determined that the units of local self-governments that appointed a coordinator of the health council identified vulnerable groups in the analysis of the state of health four and a half times more often. In contrast, the units of local self-governments that prepared health status analyses could be used to identify vulnerable groups to a six times greater extent within the framework of the health status analysis. The results showed that in improving the state of public health at the local level, it is necessary to provide systematic institutional support to cities and municipalities in exercising their responsibilities. Based on these results, recommendations were made for the further development of support, i.e., the planning of further activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of the health councils and local self-government units in this area.

Self-conscious emotions, such as shame and guilt, play a fundamental role in regulating moral behavior and in promoting the welfare of the society. Despite their relevance, the neural bases of these emotions are uncertain. In the present meta-analysis, we performed a systematic literature review in order to single out functional neuroimaging studies on healthy individuals specifically investigating the neural substrates of shame, embarrassment and guilt. Seventeen studies investigating the neural correlates of shame/embarrassment, and seventeen studies investigating guilt brain representation met our inclusion criteria. The analyses revealed that both guilt and shame/embarrassment were associated with the activation of the left anterior insula, involved in emotional awareness processing, and arousal. Guilt specific areas were located within the left temporo-parietal junction, which is thought to be involved in social cognitive processes. Moreover, specific activations for shame/embarrassment involved areas related to social pain (dorsal anterior cingulate, insula, thalamus), behavioral inhibition (premotor cortex) networks. This pattern of results might reflect distinct action tendencies associated with the two emotions.

This study examines demographic factors which may influence opinions concerning medical students’ self-care and substance use behaviors as a means of providing insights into how future doctors view these issues compared to Australian doctors and members of the public. We conducted national, multicenter, prospective, on-line cross-sectional surveys using hypothetical scenarios to three cohorts- Australian medical students, medical doctors, and the public. Participants’ responses were compared for the different contextual variables within the scenarios and the participants’ demographic characteristics. In total 2,602 medical students, 809 doctors and 503 members of the public participated. Compared with doctors and the public, medical students were least tolerant of alcohol intoxication, and most tolerant of using stimulants to assist with study, and cannabis for anxiety. Doctor respondents more often aligned with the public’s opinions on the acceptability of the medical students’ behaviors. Although opinions are not equivalent to behaviour, Australian students’ views on the acceptability for cannabis to help manage anxiety, and inappropriate use of prescription-only drugs are concerning; these future doctors will be responsible for prescribing drugs and managing patients with substance abuse problems. However, if current Australian medical student’s opinions on alcohol misuse persist, one of the commonest substance addictions amongst doctors may decrease in future.

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 self-tests have the potential to expand access to COVID-19 testing and improve community-level case detection, particularly in resource-constrained countries such as Kenya. However, prior to their introduction, their acceptability must be assessed. This qualitative study explored key decision-takers’ values towards SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Kenya. Healthcare workers, representatives of civil society, and potential implementors from Mombasa and Taita-Taveta were selected as decision-takers. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data on their values towards self-testing. A thematic analysis approach was applied. Most informants considered that the Kenyan public is equipped to accept and use self-testing safely as an approach to help to reduce workload at public healthcare facilities, and know one’s COVID-19 status in a private manner. The informants emphasized the need to provide counselling to end-users, to support those needing to self-isolate, and to engage different civil society stakeholders in information provision on self-testing. Fear of stigma and of forced isolation were noted as potential deterrents to self-testing uptake for some individuals. In conclusion, there is high acceptability of self-testing in Kenya among decision-takers. However, enhanced education, counselling, and addressing deterrents to testing would be helpful to ensure effective use of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Kenya.

Building on a framework of risk transmission to children of depressed parents, the present study investigated the associations between parents’ self-compassion, parent’s depressive symptoms, and child adjustment. A total 189 Chinese parents (101 mothers) whose children were 2-8 years old were recruited to complete a questionnaire, including measures of self-compassion, depressive symptoms and children’s prosocial behavior, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. Findings indicated mediation effects, in that parents’ depressive symptoms mediated the associ-ation between their self-compassion and child adjustment outcomes, namely children’s internal-izing and externalizing problems, after controlling the effects of monthly family income, child gender, and parent gender. Competing hypothesis suggested that parents’ self-compassion did not moderate between parents’ depressive symptoms and child adjustment outcomes. Hence, the association between parental depressive symptoms and child adjustment was not dependent on the level of parents’ self-compassion. As an implication, researchers and practitioners should be made aware of the protective role of parents’ self-compassion in the family context.

Tinnitus is an auditory phantom perception in the ears or head in the absence of a corresponding external stimulus. There is currently no effective treatment available that reliably reduces tinnitus. Educative counseling is a treatment approach that aims to educate patients and inform them about possible coping strategies. For this feasability study, we implemented educational material and self-help advice in a smartphone app. Participants used the educational smartphone unsupervised during their daily routine over a period of 4 months. Comparing the tinnitus outcome measures before and after smartphone-guided treatment, we measured changes in the tinnitus-related distress, but not in tinnitus loudness. Improvements on the Tinnitus Severity numeric rating scale reached an effect size of .408, while the improvements on the THI were much smaller with an effect size of .168. Analysis on the user behavior showed that frequent and intensive use of the app is a crucial factor for treatment success: participants that used the app more often and interacted with the app intensively, reported a stronger improvement of the tinnitus. Between study allocation and final assessment, 26 of 52 participants dropped out of the study. Reasons for the dropouts and lessons for future studies are discussed in this paper.

Ordinary computing machines prohibit self-reference because it leads to logical inconsistencies and undecidability. In contrast, the human mind can understand self-referential statements without necessitating physically impossible brain states. Why can the brain make sense of self-reference? Here, we address this question by defining the Strange Loop Model, which features causal feedback between two brain modules, and circumvents the paradoxes of self-reference and negation by unfolding the inconsistency in time. We also argue that the metastable dynamics of the brain inhibit and terminate unhalting inferences. Finally, we show that the representation of logical inconsistencies in the Strange Loop Model leads to causal incongruence between brain subsystems in Integrated Information Theory.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling (Self-HPV) is a promising strategy to improve cervical cancer screening coverage in low-income countries. However, issues associated with women who prefer conventional HPV clinical-sampling over HPV self-sampling may affect screening participation. To address this issue, our study assessed factors associated with women’s preferences related to Self-HPV. This study was embedded in a large clinical trial recruiting women aged 30–49 years in a primary HPV-based study termed “3T-Approach” (for Test-Triage-Treatment), launched in 2018 at Dschang District Hospital, West Cameroon. Participants were invited to perform a Self-HPV. After the sampling and before receiving the results, participants completed a questionnaire about cervical cancer screening and their preferences and perceptions around Self-HPV. The median age of the 2201 participants was 40.6 (IQR 35–45) years. Most (1693 (76.9%)) preferred HPV self-sampling or had no preference for either method and 508 (23.1%) preferred clinician-sampling. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of reporting a clinician-sampling preference were tertiary educational level (14.4% CI: 12.8–16.1 vs 29.5% CI: 25.6–33.6) and being an employee with higher grade professional or managerial occupations (5.5% CI: 3.8–7.9 vs 2.6% CI: 2.3–2.8). The main reported reason for women preferring clinician-sampling was a lack of “self-expertise”. Most women (&gt;99%) would agree to repeat HPV self-sampling and would recommend it to their relatives. HPV self-sampling in the cultural context of central Africa was well accepted by participants, but some participants would prefer to undergo clinician sampling. Health systems should support well-educated women to increase self-confidence in using HPV self-sampling.

With the development of science and technology, buying has become much easier. At the same time, however, impulsive buying has many negative consequences for college students, and the causes of impulsive buying should therefore be explored. To explore the relationship between social exclusion and impulsive buying and its underlying mechanism, this study used the Social Exclusion Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Risk Preference Scale, and Impulsive Buying Scale to investigate the roles of self-esteem and risk preference in the relationship between social exclusion and impulsive buying among 768 college students (387 were female, Mage = 20.25 years). The results were as follows: (1) when controlling for gender, age, family monthly income, and monthly living expenses, social exclusion significantly and positively predicted impulsive buying; (2) self-esteem played a mediating role between social exclusion and impulsive buying; (3) risk preference moderated the relationship between the second half of the mediating path and the direct path. These results reveal the mechanism underlying impulsive buying in college students, that is, social exclusion will predict the decrease of college students' self-esteem, and low self-esteem will further predict college students' impulsive buying which is a way for them to gain a sense of self-worth. Relatively low risk preference can well alleviate the negative impact of social exclusion and low self-esteem on impulsive buying. What’s more, these results have implications for impulsive buying interventions. Schools should aim to create a good peer atmosphere by making certain rules that help to reduce social exclusion and parents and education departments should cultivate students’ risk awareness to avoid risk behaviors in college students, such as impulsive buying behavior.

Patients with heart failure have difficulty in self-care management, as daily monitoring and recognizing symptoms do not readily triggers an action to avoid hospital admissions. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a nurse-led complex intervention on symptom recognition and fluid restriction. A latent growth model was designed to estimate self-care management and quality of life changes on patients with heart failure and assessed by a pilot study, for three months, to sixty-three patients (33 control, 30 intervention). Patients in the control group had a higher risk of hospitalisation (IRR 11.36; p<.001) and emergency admission (IRR 4.24; p<.001) at three-months follow-up. Analysis of the time scores demonstrated that the intervention group had a clear improvement in self-care behaviours (βSlope. Assignment_group=-.881; p<.001) and in the quality of life (βSlope. Assignment_group=1.739; p<.001). This study supports that a nurse-led program on symptom recognition and fluid restriction can have a positive impact on self-care behaviours and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Smart air filters are beneficial to provide highly efficient particle removal, treat multiple contaminants simultaneously and conserve energy during air filtration processes. Herein, a type of self-supporting smart air filter (SSSAF) was fabricated by sandwiching the VOC-responsive PZT/PVDF electrospun membrane with two metal mesh electrodes. Besides the high filtration efficiency for sub-micron particles, the SSSAF showed good responses to pressure drop in the range of 0 to 500 Pa via the electroactivity of PZT/PVDF membrane. In addition, the SSSAF achieved VOC sensing function via the swelling properties of PZT/PVDF membrane in organic vapors, demonstrated by its signal to 50 to 200 ppm ethanol gases. The SSSAF based nanogenerator was employed to harvest wind energy, which was further applied to inhibit bacterial growth without the need of additional power input. The results provide new insight into development of all-in-one smart air filters.

The field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth over the past few years due to the ever-increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended lifespans. The present work aims to introduce an approach to harvesting electrical energy from a mechanically excited piezoelectric element and investigates a power analytical model generated by a smart structure of type polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) that can be stuck onto fabrics and flexible substrates, although we report the effects of various substrates and investigates the sticking of these substrates on the characterization of the piezoelectric material.

Learning dental procedures is a complex task involving the development of fine motor skills. The reported use of theories and/ or evidence for designing learning activities to develop the fine motor skills needed for dental practice is limited. The aim of this review is to explore the available body of knowledge related to learning fine motor skills in dentistry. Evidence from studies investigating motor skill learning highlights the negative impact of self-focus and self-regulation on learning outcomes, particularly during the early stages of learning. The development of activities and schedules that enable novices to demonstrate characteristics similar to experts, without the reported long period of ‘deliberate practice’, is clearly of value. Outcomes of learning implicitly are important in dentistry because working under stressful conditions is common, either during undergraduate study or in practice. It is suggested that learning implicitly in the simulation stage can reduce disrupted performance when transitioning to clinical settings. Therefore, further investigation of effective methods for learning dental fine motor skills is indicated, using approaches that result in robust performance, even under stressful conditions.

Afghanistan is overwhelmed with food insecurity that is a large percentage of the population lacks reliable access to food supplies. Grains play a vital role in the country's food security due to their importance in terms of consumption and production quantity. This paper estimates cereal self-sufficiency and then makes a food balance forecast of the three major food crops cultivated in Afghanistan over six-decades. Descriptive statistics and coarse metric techniques were employed to determine cereal self-sufficiency and food balance forecast. The econometric analysis demonstrated that (1) Afghanistan is not yet self-sufficient in meeting grain consumption, and the production and consumption ratio declined from 0.9 to 0.55 from 1979 to 2030. (2) The gap of theoretical food imbalance will increase, and by the year 2030, cereal production will likely be sufficient for only 49.8 percentage of inhabitants, leaving a high shortage equivalent to the amount required by 24.4 million people. By evaluating the quantitative food balance and the growing population change, this study presents an analysis of the emerging threat to Afghanistan's food security and suggests a solution for food security, should increase the size of public agricultural expenditure, improve the level of agriculture infrastructure, and continue to introduce a policy to achieve higher yield.

In this paper, closed and semi-closed form solutions are presented for the self - and mutual inductance of ordinary and Better disk coils which lie concentrically in a plane. The solutions are given as the combination of the elliptic integral of the first kind and a simple integral or only as the second elliptic integral of the second kind. All formulas or obtained in remarkably simple form and give extremely accurate results with significantly neglectable computational time. All cases either regular or singular (disks in contact or overlap) are covered. The formulas for the mutual inductances can be directly used to calculating the self-inductance of the ordinary disk coil or the Bitter disk coil, respectively. Many presented examples show the excellent numerical agreement with previous publish methods.

Quantification of physical activity (PA) depends on the type of measurement and analysis method making it difficult to compare adherence to PA guidelines. Therefore, test-retest reliability, criterion validity, and stability for self-reported (i.e. questionnaire and diary) and device-based measured (i.e. accelerometry with 10/60 second epochs) PA was compared in 32 adults and 32 children from the SMARTFAMILY study to examine if differences in these measurement tools are systematic. PA was collected during two separate measurement weeks and the relationship for each quality criteria was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Results showed the highest PA values for questionnaires followed by 10-second and 60-second epochs measured by accelerometers. Levels of PA were lowest when measured by diary. Only accelerometry demonstrated reliable, valid, and stable results for the two measurement weeks, the questionnaire yielded mixed results and the diary showed only few significant correlations. Overall, higher correlations for the quality criteria were found for moderate than for vigorous PA and the results differed between children and adults. Since the differences were not found to be systematic, the choice of measurement tools should be carefully considered by anyone working with PA outcomes, especially if vigorous PA is the parameter of interest.

Patients with heart failure have difficulty in self-care management, as daily monitoring and recognizing symptoms do not readily trigger an action to avoid hospital admissions. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a nurse-led complex intervention on symptom recognition and fluid restriction. A latent growth model was designed to estimate self-care management and quality of life changes on patients with heart failure and assessed by a pilot study, for three months, to sixty-three patients (33 control, 30 intervention). Patients in the control group had a higher risk of hospitalisation (IRR 11.36; p<.001) and emergency admission (IRR 4.24; p<.001) at three-months follow-up. Analysis of the time scores demonstrated that the intervention group had a clear improvement in self-care behaviours (βSlope. Assign-ment_group=-.881; p<.001) and in the quality of life (βSlope. Assignment_group=1.739; p<.001). This study supports that a nurse-led program on symptom recognition and fluid restriction can have a positive impact on self-care behaviours and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyze the differential impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (3rd April 2020) on stress, health practices, and self-care activities across different Hispanic countries, age range and gender groups. 1082 participants from Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador took part in this study. Irrespective of the country, and controlling for income level, young people, especially females, suffered a greater level of stress, perceived the situation as more severe, showed less adherence to health guidelines and reported lower levels of health consciousness, in comparison to their male peers and older groups. However, in the case of self-care, it seems that older and female groups are generally more involved in self-care activities and adopt more healthy daily routines. These results are mostly similar between Colombia, Ecuador, and Spain. However, Chile showed some different tendencies, as males reported higher levels of healthy daily routines and better adherence to health guidelines compared to females and people over the age of 60. Differences between countries, genders and age ranges should be considered in order to improve health recommendations and adherence to guidelines. It would also be crucial to identify vulnerable groups to promote the adoption of health behaviors that may help in the development of effective public health strategies. Future studies should be addressed to explore the possible causations of such differences in more cultural-distant samples and at later stages of the current outbreak.

Choline and choline metabolites are essential for all cellular functions. They have also been reported to be crucial for neural development. In this work, we studied the functional characteristics of the choline uptake system in human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Additionally, we investigated the effect of extracellular choline uptake inhibition on the cellular activities in hNSCs. We found that the mRNAs and proteins of choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) and CTL2 were expressed at high levels. Immunostaining showed that CTL1 and CTL2 were localized in the cell membrane and partly in the mitochondria, respectively. The uptake of extracellular choline was saturable and performed by a single uptake mechanism, which was Na+-independent and pH-dependent. We conclude that CTL1 is responsible for extracellular choline uptake, and CTL2 may uptake choline in the mitochondria and be involved in DNA methylation via choline oxidation. Extracellular choline uptake inhibition caused intracellular choline deficiency in hNSCs, which suppressed cell proliferation, cell viability, and neurite outgrowth. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of choline in neural development as well as the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases caused by choline deficiency or choline uptake impairment.

Background and objectives: Suicide is a topical issue in Lithuania and all around the world. It is the second most common cause of death among young people. There is a lack of research studies on the psychosocial aspects of adolescent suicide in Lithuania. This study aimed to evaluate demographics, life circumstances, and health conditions as factors related to suicide attempt in adolescents. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed at the Children’s Hospital (Vilnius University Santara Clinics). Medical documentation of adolescents treated in this hospital after suicide attempts from January 2011 to April 2018 were analyzed. Results: There were 117 cases of hospitalization due to suicide attempts during this period, and 102 cases were included in the study. There were 83.8% female and 16.2% male patients with an average age of 15.02 ± 1.9 years (p = 0.405); 40.6% of patients lived in divorced families, 17.7% lived in orphanages, 4.2% lived in foster care, 36.4% suffered from parental alcoholism, and 17.2% experienced suicide in their close surroundings. They had comorbidities (girls 72.5%, boys 68.8%), mostly depression (31.3%), were suffering from bullying (54.1%) or violence (26.0%), and 85.4% showed signs of other types of self-harm (girls more often (p < 0.001)). Most of them chose to cut for suicide attempts (86.0% girls, 56.2% boys). In 52.8% of cases, the attempt was spontaneous and 34% relapsed. Thirty-four events occurred in March (18.9%) (p = 0.688). Conclusions: Our study revealed the possible circumstances related to adolescent suicide attempt. Female gender was more common overall and males were more likely to carry out more potentially lethal methods. Other common associated factors were a lack of prosperity in family life, experience of bullying, violence, comorbidities, and the early spring period. Signs of any self-harm could be an indicator of later suicide attempt.

Viruses have established symbiotic relationships with almost every other living organism on Earth and at all levels of biological organisation, from other viruses up to entire ecosystems. In most cases, peacefully coexisting with their hosts, but in most relevant cases, parasitising them and inducing diseases. Viruses are playing an essential role in shaping the eco-evolutionary dynamics of their hosts, and have been also involved in some of the major evolutionary innovations either by working as vectors of genetic information or by being themselves coopted by the host into their genomes. Viruses can be studied at different levels of biological organisation, from the molecular mechanisms of genome replication, gene expression and encapsidation, to global pandemics. All these levels are different and yet connected through the presence of threshold conditions allowing for the formation of a capsid, the loss of genetic information or epidemic spreading. These thresholds, as it occurs with temperatures separating phases in a liquid, define sharp qualitative types of behaviour. These {\em phase transitions} are very well known in Physics. They have been studied by means of simple, but powerful models able to capture their essential properties, allowing to understand them. Can the physics of phase transitions be an inspiration for our understanding of viral dynamics at different scales? Here we review well-known examples of transition phenomena in virology and their simplest mathematical modelling approaches. We suggest that the advantages of abstract, simplified pictures used in Physics are also the key to properly understand the origins and evolution of complexity in viruses. By means of several examples, we explore this multilevel landscape and how minimal models provide deep insights into a diverse array of problems. The relevance of these transitions in connecting dynamical patterns across levels and their evolutionary and clinical implications are outlined.

Modified ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP) as a novel mono-component intumescent flame retardant (IFR) was prepared via the ionic exchange between ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and piperazine sulfonate, which is synthesized by self-assembly using 1-(2-Amioethyl) piperazine (AEP) and p-amino benzene sulfonic acid (ASC) as raw materials. This all-in-one IFR integrating three functional elements (carbon, acid, and gas source) showed more efficient flame retardancy and excellent smoke suppression as well as better mechanical properties than the conventional APP. The incorporation of 22.5 wt.% MAPP into polypropylene (PP) eliminated the melt dripping phenomenon and passed the UL-94 V-0 rating. The results of the cone calorimetry test (CCT) revealed that the release of heat, smoke, and CO is significantly decreased, demonstrating that this novel IFR endows PP with excellent fire safety more effectively. For PP/MAPP composites, a possible IFR mechanism was proposed based on the analysis of the pyrolysis gas and char residues.

For a hierarchy of large scale structures, like galaxies, galaxy clusters, super-clusters, etc. the requirement that their gravitational (binding) self-energy density must at least equal or exceed the background repulsive dark energy density implies a universal mass-radius relation given by M/R² ~ 1g/cm². Here we point out that this mass-radius relation also holds for important individual biological structures, and even various organisms as a whole such as humans, trees, and to behemoths like whales, even though the physics is different. Here we try to understand this universality from two different physical considerations. We also point out the coincidence that the densities of most biological entities are close to that of water, and that the average density of main-sequence stars and giant planets are close to this density. We give a physical basis for the same.

Cortical actomyosin flows, among other mechanisms, scale up spontaneous symmetry breaking and thus play pivotal roles in cell differentiation, division, and motility. According to many model systems, myosin motor-induced local contractions of initially isotropic actomyosin cortices are nucleation points for generating cortical flows. However, the positive feedback mechanisms by which spontaneous contractions can be amplified towards large-scale directed flows remain mostly speculative. To investigate such a process on spherical surfaces, we reconstituted and confined initially isotropic minimal actomyosin cortices to the interfaces of emulsion droplets. The presence of ATP leads to myosin-induced local contractions that self-organize and amplify into directed, large-scale actomyosin flows. By combining our experiments with theory, we found that the feedback mechanism leading to a coordinated, directional motion of actomyosin clusters can be described as asymmetric cluster vibrations, caused by intrinsic non-isotropic ATP consumption, in conjunction with spatial confinement. By tracking individual actomyosin clusters, we identified fingerprints of vibrational states as the basis of directed motions. These vibrations may represent a generic key driver of directed actomyosin flows under spatial confinement in vitro and in living systems.

This review describes major advances in the use of functionalized molecular metal oxides (polyoxometalates, POMs) as water oxidation catalysts under electrochemical conditions. The fundamentals of POM-based water oxidation are described together with a brief overview of general approaches to designing POM water oxidation catalysts. Next, the use of POMs for homogeneous, solution-phase water oxidation is described together with a summary of theoretical studies shedding light on the POM-WOC mechanism. This is followed by a discussion of heterogenization of POMs on electrically conductive substrates for technologically more relevant application studies. Stability of POM water oxidation catalysts are discussed on selected examples where detailed data is already available. The review finishes with an outlook on future perspective and emerging themes in electrocatalytic polyoxometalate-based water oxidation research.

Background and Objectives: Non-cognitive skills (NCS) are vital components of a socially and financially successful life. They are developed through childhood education, family and school environments, and social settings. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between NCS and the parent–child relationship, mental health, and lifestyle at school and at home for adolescents. Materials and Methods: An internet-based survey was conducted with 1,566 mothers and their children (aged 14) in Japan. Survey items for the children included background (i.e., sociodemographic items, school achievements, and lifestyle), NCS (i.e., grit and self-control scales), and mental health, while their mothers provided social, financial, and educational information, and information on parent–child relationships, including descriptions of the fathers and the father–child relationship. Results: Parent–child relationships were mostly good (i.e., 90.9% for mothers and 75.6% for fathers), with bad relationships being less common (1.6% for mothers and 6.7% for fathers). Adolescent lifestyle parameters and mental health were significantly associated with grit and self-control. Adolescents with good parent–child relationships had significantly higher NCS scores regardless of the gender of the parent. Higher NCS scores were significantly associated with better parent–child relationships, more favorable lifestyles, and better mental health among adolescents. Conclusions: These findings imply that good parent–child relationships may aid in the development of adolescents’ NCS, thereby facilitating positive lifestyles at school and home.

The importance of genome organization at the supranucleosomal scale in the control of gene expression is increasingly recognized today. In mammals, Topologically Associating Domains (TADs) and the active / inactive chromosomal compartments are two of the main nuclear structures that contribute to this organization level. However, recent works reviewed here indicate that, at specific loci, chromatin interactions with nuclear bodies could also be crucial to regulate genome functions, in particular transcription. They moreover suggest that these nuclear bodies are membrane-less organelles dynamically self-assembled and disassembled through mechanisms of phase separation. We have recently developed a novel genome-wide experimental method, High-salt Recovered Sequences sequencing (HRS-seq), which allows the identification of chromatin regions associated with large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes and nuclear bodies. We argue that the physical nature of such RNP complexes and nuclear bodies appears to be central in their ability to promote efficient interactions between distant genomic regions. The development of novel experimental approaches, including our HRS-seq method, is opening new avenues to understand how self-assembly of phase separated nuclear bodies possibly contributes to mammalian genome organization and gene expression.

Based on a measuring system to determine levels of spatial organization in 2D polygons (homogeneous or heterogeneous partition of defined areas) lying on principles of regularity, we propose the entropy term linked to the concept of “information”, from the “information theory field”, in order to obtain an information measurement regarding a quantity of or amount of information in the architecture of complex 2D biological organizations. The term “quantity” does not refer to the amount of data (size), but to the probability of a geometrical basic pattern within a set of possible statistical configurations regarding levels of homogeneity and heterogeneity. It is this notion of information that is important in information theory, and measures of information in units of bits, what we propose to use for measuring quantities of organization in the architecture of complex geometrical systems. Two complex systems are tested, biological and non biological in order to obtain experimental results, which are verified with the evaluation criteria “entropy”. Experimental results show that the lowest levels of information and entropy, in addition with low rates of heterogeneity and high rates of homogeneity are particular features of geometrical organizations in biological systems.

This research aims to introduce a new technique, off-site and self-form segmental concrete masonry arches fabrication, without the need of construction formwork or centering. The innovative construction method in the current study encompasses two construction materials forms the self-form masonry arches, wedge-shape plain concrete voussoirs, and Carbon Fibers Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) composites. The employment of CFRP fabrics was for two main reasons; bond the voussoirs and forming the masonry arches. However, CFRP proved to be efficient for strengthening the extrados of the arch rings under service loadings. An experimental test conducted on four sophisticated masonry arch specimens. Research parameters were using thicker keystone as well as the partial strengthening of the self-form arch ring at the intrados. Major test finding was the use of thicker Keystone, alter the behavior of the self-form arch, considerably increased the load carrying capacity by 79%. Partial strengthening of the intrados with CFRP fabrics of typical arch ring Keystone resulted considerable increased the debonding load of fabrication CFRP sheets by 81%, increase the localized crushing load by 13%, and considerably increase voussoir sliding load by 107%.

Changes brought about by the Internet to Scholarly Communication and the spread of Open Access movement, have made it possible to increase the number of potential readers of published research dramatically. This two-phase study aims, at first, to assert the satisfaction of the potential for increased open access to articles published by authors at the University of Coimbra, in a context when there was no stimulus for the openness of published science other than an institutional mandate set by the University policy on Open Access (“Acesso Livre”). The satisfaction of the access openness was measured by observing the actual archiving behavior of researchers (either directly or through their agents). We started by selecting the top journal titles used to publish the STEM research of the University of Coimbra (2004-2013) by using Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index (SCI). These titles were available at the University libraries or through online subscriptions, some of them in open access (21%). By checking the journals' policy at the time regarding self-archiving at the SHERPA/RoMEO service, we found that the percentage of articles in Open Access (OA) could rise to 80% if deposited at Estudo Geral, the Institutional Repository of the University of Coimbra, as prescribed by the Open Access Policy of the University. As we concluded by verifying the deposit status of every single paper of researchers of the University that published in those journals, this potential was far from being fulfilled, despite the existence of the institutional mandate and favorable editorial conditions. We concluded, therefore, that an institutional mandate was not sufficient by itself to fully implement an open access policy and to close the gap between publication and access. The second phase of the study, to follow, will rescan the status of published papers in a context where the Portuguese public funding agency, the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, introduced in 2014 a new significant stimulus for open access in science. The FCT Open Access Policy stipulates that publicly funded published research must be available as soon as possible in a repository of the Portuguese network of scientific repositories, RCAAP, which integrates the Estudo Geral.

In this study, a parameter of volume stability was proposed for the first time to design polymorph zirconia ceramics used for special components. A series of heterogeneous polymorph zirconia ceramics with various amounts of monoclinic (M) phase were fabricated by two-step sintering. Samples with about 27%, 31%, and 51% M phase content were selected to study the properties. The thermal shock durability was found to be associated with thermal expansion behavior and noncritical micro cracks, which both based on M phase initial content. In good agreement with experimental results, the correlation of normalized K versus M phase initial content was established. It could provide a repeatable reference to prepare special zirconia components without loss of density.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were suggested for treating degenerative osteoarthritis, suppressing inflammatory responses, and repairing damaged soft tissues. Moreover, the ADSCs have the potential to undergo self-renewal and differentiate into bone, tendon, cartilage, and ligament. Recently, investigation of the self-renewal and differentiation of the ADSCs becomes an attractive area. In this work, a pneumatic microdevice has been developed to study the gene expression of the ADSCs after the stimulation of multi-axial tensile strain. The ADSCs were cultured on the microdevice and experienced multi-axial tensile strain during a 3-day culture course. Self-renewal and differentiation abilities were investigated by mRNA expressions of NANOG, SOX2, OCT4, SOX9, PPAR-γ, and RUNX2. The result showed that the genes related self-renewal were significantly up-regulated after the tensile stimulation. Higher proliferation ratio of the ADSCs was also shown by cell viability assay. The microdevice provides a promising platform for cell-based study under mechanical tensile stimulation.

We obtain two generalizations of a known theorem of A. Alam and M. Imdad (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 17 (2015) 693–702) showing that some standard proofs can be obtained involving only Cauchy sequences of the successive approximations instead of the usual successive approximations sequences. Suitable examples prove the effective generalization of our results in metric spaces not necessarily complete.

Burning Man is probably the most famous art festival in the world. What started as a bonfire ritual for a small group of friends held on San Francisco beach in 1986, has evolved into an iconic event. Held annually for one week before the Labor Day weekend, the festival attracts over 60,000 participants each year and yields over $8 million in tickets and contributions.This preprint reveals some preliminary results from the economic analysis of Burning Man that is based on the unique data from over 500 surveys collected during several Burning Man events between 2012 and 2018.The paper’s main findings demonstrate that Burning Man is not some hippie get-together with lots of booze and drugs. Instead, it is a lucrative and exclusive event that is attended by bright, wealthy and well-educated people, both from the United States and abroad. A typical Burner is a 32-old childless male with a college degree and an average annual income above $100,000 who attended Burning Man at least two times before and who spends between $5,000 and $6,000 on tickets, fares, gear, and supplies.

The resonance spectra of neutral silver indicate self-absorption for the studied Ag I lines at the wavelengths of 327.9 nm and 338.2 nm. The center dip is associated with self-reversal due to self-absorption in the plasma. The Q-switched radiation of 355 nm, 532 nm, or 1064 nm from a Nd:YAG laser device generates the plasma at the surface of silver nano-material targets, with experiments conducted in standard ambient temperature and pressure laboratory air. Procedures for recovery of the spectral line shapes confirm that over and above the effects of self-reversal, line shape distortion are important in the analysis. The work discusses parameters describing self-absorption when using fluence levels of 2 to 33 J/cm² to generate the plasma. Furthermore, subsidiary calibration efforts that utilize the hydrogen alpha line of the Balmer series show that the Ag I lines at 827.35 nm and 768.7 nm are optically thin.

Hydrophilic coatings have recently emerged as a new approach to avoid the adhesion of (bio)organisms on surfaces immersed in water. In these coatings the hydrophilic character is crucial for the anti-fouling (AF) performance. However, this property can be rapidly lost due to the inevitable damages which occur at the surface, reducing the long-term effectiveness of the AF functionality. We report hydrophilic polycarbonate-mPEG polyurethane coatings with tunable hydrophilic properties as well as an excellent and long-term stability in water. The coatings exhibit low protein adhesion values and are able to self-replenish their hydrophilicity after damage, due to the existence of a reservoir of hydrophilic dangling chains incorporated in the bulk. The combination of low T_g and sufficient mobility of the mPEG dangling chains (enabled by chains with higher molecular weight) proved to be crucial to ensure autonomous surface hydrophilicity recovery when the coatings were immersed in water. This coatings and design approach offer new possibilities towards high performance AF coatings with an extended service life-time which can be used in several major applications areas, such as marine and biomedical coatings, with major economic and environmental benefits.

In this work, we develop a self-consistent physical model of bubbles in a gas solid two-phase flow. Using the Peng-Robonson state equation and a detailed specific heat ratio equation of bubbles, we obtain the kinetic equations of the bubbles on the basis of the Ergun equation, thermodynamic equations, and kinetic equations. It is found that the specific heat ratio of bubbles in such systems strongly depends on bubble pressures and temperatures, which play an important role in the characteristics of the bubbles. The theoretical studies show that with increasing height in the systems, the gas flow rate shows a downward trend. Moreover, the larger particles in the gas solid flows are, the greater the gas velocity is. The bubble sizes increase with the increasing heights of the gas solid systems, and then decrease. The bubble velocity is affected by the gas velocity and the bubble size, which gradually increase and eventually quasi-stabilize. This shows that gas and solid phases in a gas solid two-phase flow interact with each other and a self-consistent system comes into being. The theoretical results have exhibited important value as a guide for understanding the properties and effects of bubbles in gas solid two-phase flows.

This paper presents the design and measurement of an IEEE 802.11ad standard compatible RF transceiver for 60GHz wireless communication system. In addition to the traditional half-duplex (HD) mode, this work supports full-duplex (FD) operation to deliver better channel utilization and faster response time for the system. The isolation between the transmitter and receiver from the architecture design to system integration for FD operation has been fully considered. A digital self-interference cancellation (DSIC) is implemented in MATLAB to verify the FD performance. The super-heterodyne architecture with an intermediate frequency (IF) of 12GHz is designed to suppress the image frequencies without using extra filters. A flexible phase-locked loop (PLL) synthesizer provides a local oscillator (LO) frequency with a 2kHz resolution. Other than the time division duplex (TDD) mode used in the conventional 60GHz system, a wide bandwidth baseband digital variable gain amplifier (DVGA) with a 3dB bandwidth of more than 4GHz also supports frequency division duplex (FDD) operation. The transceiver chip is fabricated in Tower Jazz 0.18µm SiGe BiCMOS process. With on-board antenna, the transceiver covers all four channels in 802.11ad standard with MCS-12 (7.04Gbps under 1.76GSym/s and 16-QAM) under 1.5m. In the proposed system design, the RF frontend based self-interference (SI) suppression from the local transmitter to receiver LNA is around 54dB. To achieve a practical FD application, the SI is further suppressed with the help of digital SI compensation. The measured power consumption for transmitter and receiver configuration is 194mW and 231mW, respectively, in HD mode and 398mW for FDD or FD operation mode.

As the demand for high-frequency and high-power electronic devices has increased, gallium nitride (GaN), particularly in the context of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), has attracted considerable attention. However, the ‘self-heating effect' of GaN HEMTs represents a significant limitation in terms of both performance and reliability. Diamond, renowned for its exceptional thermal conductivity, represents an optimal material for the enhancement of thermal management in HEMTs. This paper puts forward a novel method for directly depositing diamond films onto N-polar GaN (NP-GaN) epitaxial layers. This eliminates the complexities of the traditional diamond growth process and the need for temporary substrate steps. Given the relative lag in N-polar material growth technologies, which are marked by surface roughness issues, and the recognition that the thermal boundary resistance (TBRGaN/diamond) represents a critical factor constraining efficient heat transfer, our study introduced a series of optimisations with the objective of enhancing the quality of the diamond nucleation layer while ensuring that the integrity of the GaN buffer layer remains intact. Moreover, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology was employed to effectively reduce the surface roughness of the NP-GaN base, thereby providing a more favourable foundation for diamond growth. The optimisation trends observed in the thermal performance test results were encouraging. The integration of diamond films onto highly smooth NP-GaN epitaxial layers demonstrated a reduction in TBRGaN/Diamond compared to diamond layers deposited onto NP-GaN with higher surface roughness that had undergone no prior process treatment.

Self-assembling peptides have emerged as promising materials for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications due to their unique biocompatibility, biodegradability, and multifunctionality. These properties make them ideal candidates for addressing the challenges posed by biofilm-associated infections linked to implanted medical devices. Additionally, these peptides can form a variety of nanostructures, including nanotubes, hydrogels, and nanosheets, which facilitate targeted drug delivery and enhance therapeutic efficacy. The successful translation of peptide-based materials into clinical applications is exemplified by products like RADA16 and lanreotide, which improve therapeutic outcomes and enhance patient compliance. Furthermore, the development of peptidomimetics extends the versatility of these materials across various biomedical applications. This review highlights the potential of peptide-based biomaterials as effective tools in combating infections and as innovative platforms for drug delivery, emphasising their significance in modern medical therapies.

Speech emotion recognition (SER) is important in facilitating natural human-computer interactions. In speech sequence modelling, a vital challenge is to learn context-aware sentence expression and temporal dynamics of para-linguistic features to achieve unambiguous emotional semantic understand-ing. In previous studies, the SER method based on the single-scale cascade feature extraction module could not effectively preserve the temporal structure of speech signals in the deep layer, downgrading the sequence modeling performance. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-scale feature pyramid network to mitigate the above limitations. With the aid of the bi-directional feature fusion of the pyramid network, the emotional representation with adequate temporal semantics is obtained. Experiments on the IEMOCAP corpus demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and achieve competitive results under speaker-independent validation.

The Chinese stock market, marked by rapid growth and significant volatility, presents unique challenges for investors and analysts. A-share stocks, traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, are crucial to China’s financial system and offer opportunities for both domestic and international investors. Accurate stock recommendation tools are vital for informed decision-making, especially given the ongoing regulatory changes and economic reforms in China. Current stock recommendation methods often fall short, as they typically fail to capture the complex inter-company relationships and rely heavily on financial reports, neglecting the potential of unlabeled data and historical price trends. In response, we propose a novel approach that combines graph-based structures with historical price data to develop self-learned stock embeddings for A-share recommendations. Our method leverages self-supervised learning, bypassing the need for human-generated labels and autonomously uncovering latent relationships and patterns within the data. This dual-input strategy enhances the understanding of market dynamics, leading to more accurate stock predictions. Our contributions include a novel framework for label-free stock recommendations with modeling stock connections and pricing information, and empirical evidence demonstrating the robustness and adaptability of our approach in the volatile Chinese stock market.

This study investigates the necessity of particle asymmetry for self-propulsion in nanomotors. While conventional wisdom posits that asymmetric designs are crucial for generating phoretic forces or localized bubble propulsion, recent research suggests that symmetrical particles may also exhibit motility. To address this debate, we developed a robust workflow for synthesizing gold grafted silica nanoparticles with precise control over size and shape, enabling the direct comparison of their motile behavior by dynamic light scattering and particle tracking velocimetry. Our results indicate that the inherent asymmetry generated during isotropic gold nanoparticle deposition onto silica surfaces may enable particle motility.

In Korea, substantial disparities exist in physical environments across regions, exacerbating the polarization between metropolitan and provincial areas, and urban and rural regions. This study examines the differences in physical activity and self-rated health of local communities in relation to satisfaction with the physical environment. By identifying and addressing these underlying causes of health disparities, the study provides foundational data to inform policy efforts. The study utilized data from the 2023 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It included 231,752 individuals aged 19 and older (105,754 men and 125,998 women) selected through a two-stage probability proportional systematic sampling method. One-on-one online interviews were conducted from May 16 to July 31, 2023. Physical environment was assessed based on public satisfaction with safety, natural and living environments, public transportation, and medical services. Study variables included subjective health status and physical activity, with sub-variables for physical activity encompassing the duration of vigorous and moderate physical activity, walking, and flexibility exercises. For data analysis, MANOVA and ANOVA were conducted, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Considerable variations in physical activity were observed based on satisfaction with the local community environment. Regarding self-rated health, significant differences were found in safety levels, living environment, and medical services. Satisfaction with the physical environment positively influenced physical activity and self-rated health. Therefore, it is imperative to reduce disparities in the physical environment between regions and enhance residents' satisfaction.

This study assesses the effectiveness of HCV self-testing (HCVST) distribution models compared to provider-led HCV testing (PL-HCVT), including the standard of care facility-based HCVT (SOC-HCVT) and community-based organization HCVT (CBO-HCVT) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a larger implementation science study in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from September 2023 to April 2024. We engaged 8 CBOs and 10 public and private clinics in offering choice of HCVST through community-based and facility-based distribution, and secondary distribution), or PL-HCVT via SOC-HCVT and CBO-HCVT. Among 1,165 PWID, 693 opted for HCVST and 472 for PL-HCVT. The proportion of first-time testers was significantly higher in HIVST community-based and secondary distribution as well as CBO-HCVT compared to SOC-HCVT and facility-based HCVST (87.1%, 93.3% and 82.7% vs. 41.9% and 35.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Overall, HCV seropositivity rate was lower in HCVST than PL-HCVT, however, higher in HCVST facility-based and community-based distribution compared to HCVST secondary distribution (28.1% and 20.4% vs. 5.7%, respectively). Community-based HCVST was most effective, followed by facility-based HCVST and secondary distribution. Our findings indicate that HCVST effectively reaches first-time testers and results in more people diagnosed and treated among PWID.

A low cost, scalable and robust process has been proposed as innovative method for coating solar mirrors with a self-cleaning, transparent in the full solar range and versatile material based on auxetic aluminium nitrides, previously obtained on the laboratory scale. This work presents the scaling-up of fabrication process from laboratory to prototypal scale and pre-liminary results of outdoor self-cleaning solar mirror prototypes testing in the demonstrative CSP plant ENEASHIP located in Casaccia (Rome) ENEA research centre. Prototypes 50x40cm have shown stability in external conditions: no degradation occurs during the test campaign. Their washing restores the initial reflectance affected by soiling and the self-cleaning performance allows the utilization of a reduced quantity of water for cleaning operations with respect to uncoated glass of back surface mirrors. A similar self-cleaning AlN coating could be utilized on other solar components affected by soiling, such as glass envelopes of heat collecting elements, PV panels and everywhere are required self-cleaning performance combined to optical ones.

The paper examines the evolution and crucial role of energy communities in the context of the transition to renewable energy sources. Such communities are presented as an innovative and resilient response to the challenges posed by climate change. Their importance emerges from their ability to decentralise energy production, increasing local security and reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources and external suppliers. However, despite the obvious benefits, the contribution highlights several challenges, such as the need for significant upfront investment and the presence of regulatory barriers that may hinder the integration of these solutions into existing energy systems. A detailed bibliometric analysis is used, focusing on specific research areas and using tools to map the most relevant keywords and emerging trends. The results of the bibliometric analysis highlight how energy communities are emerging as key players in the sustainability landscape, capable of addressing and overcoming contemporary environmental challenges. The research reaffirms the transformative potential of energy communities in promoting a more sustainable and resilient future.

This study aims to broaden the current understanding of the antecedents and consequences of green purchase intention within the realm of perceived green value (PGV) A mixed-method approach is deployed, integrating PLS-SEM and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to examine the role of influence and interaction as key precursors to perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy, and explores how perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy impacts green purchasing intention, mainly through the mediation of perceived responsibility (PER) and perceived self-efficacy (PSE) using survey data gathered from consumers participating. The results indicate that PGV positively influences green purchase intention (GPI). Moreover, PER and PSE exhibit significant chain mediation effects, with the mediation effect of perceived environmental responsibility being particularly strong. It is recommended that the government intensify green disseminate and education, promote the establishment of certification and evaluation systems for electric vehicle products, and that electric vehicle factories emphasize the environmental attributes and economic interest of their products to encourage green purchasing behavior.

Improvement of hydrophysical properties and corrosion resistance of self-compacting concrete to the effects of alternate freezing-thawing and aggressive soils of southern and central Kazakhstan is of interest to a wide range of researchers from the side of practical application of the obtained results in construction practice. It is proposed to form a spatially reinforced fine crystalline structure of cement matrix with maximum dense packing by using a complex modifier (Hyperplasticiser + Polymer + Microsilica + Fibro fibers) in the composition of self-compacting concretes (SCC). The introduction of the calculated amount of the above additives increases the operational reliability of the current SCC compositions, increasing the water resistance to W16, frost resistance to F=500, increasing the compressive strength by 20%, reducing the mass loss of samples during corrosion leaching to 50%. It has been experimentally established that the proposed addition of complex modifier (Hyperplasticiser + Polymer + Microsilica + Fiber fibers) to the SCC composition allows obtaining self-compacting concrete of high quality with improved performance characteristics (compressive strength, water resistance, frost resistance and corrosion resistance). Studies have shown that the complex modifier-modified SCC compositions have a high degree of resistance in aggressive environments and leaching corrosion. Based on the results of the conducted tests, it is possible to recommend the obtained SCC compositions for production of building products working in the zone of alternating freezing-thawing and aggressive soils.

Citizen science substantially contributes to large-scale biodiversity monitoring and the enhancement of public literacy. While both of the contributions largely depend on the public’s self- regulated learning. In this study, we employed a mix- method approach, incorporating both a questionnaire survey of 133 participants and interviews with 12 volunteers, aiming to explore the feature of self- regulated learning in citizen science, as well as identify the main factors impacting it. The volunteers are all different ages, from different jobs, with varying educational backgrounds. The findings revealed that the educational background of volunteers did not significantly impact their self-regulated learning. However, an increased frequency of participation was linked to higher levels of self-regulated learning. Furthermore, achievement goal orientation mediates the prediction of self-regulation by scientific epistemology. These insights underscore the importance of enhancing citizen science's impact on scientific literacy by fostering self-regulated learning among participants. This can be achieved through explicit instruction in scientific epistemology and by fostering a sense of achievement to boost achievement goal orientations. Additionally, our study advocates for the promotion of social interaction between students and out- of- school citizen scientists in school-based citizen science projects. The main innovation of this study is to consider volunteers as learners, not merely as contributors of data.

Background: Dental education blends theoretical and practical training to prepare students for independent patient care. This study examines the confidence levels of dental students in Umeå regarding independent performance of general dentistry tasks, and whether this confidence changes after clinical training. Methods: Surveys were conducted before and after a summer clinical internship, with s tudents rating their comfort levels on a scale from 0 to 10 for various procedures. Results: Results from 64 initial surveys and 54 follow-up surveys showed no significant difference in confidence before and after the internship. However, confidence levels varied based on whether students had practiced specific tasks during the internship. Students felt least confident in managing acute dental trauma and treating cavities in young children, while they were most confident in tasks like obtaining radiographic surveys and debriding periodontally compromised dentition. Tooth extraction and dental fillings were the most practiced procedures during the internship. Conclusions: The study concludes that the internship between the ninth and tenth semesters does not notably boost students' confidence in specific dental procedures, possibly due to the short duration of the training. Further exploration, including input from clinical supervisors, is suggested to optimize clinical training in dental education.

Introduction The placement of implants is often hindered by a severely atrophic mandibular edentulous ridge. A sufficient volume of bone graft is crucial for successful implant restoration. The required bone graft volume directly correlates with the deficiency present in the edentulous ridge. If the residual crestal bone height is so low that the distance between the crestal ridge and the inferior alveolar nerve is less than 2 mm, a significant bone augmentation procedure is necessary. This procedure must ensure the implants are surrounded by a sufficient margin of bone, aiming for a final height of more than 8 mm and a width of more than 7 mm. Achieving primary closure with adequate soft tissue is vital for the success of the bone graft procedure. The key to successful bone grafting lies in the effective management of the soft tissue covering. Case Report This case report details the treatment of a patient with severely atrophic edentulous ridges on both sides, addressed using Self Inflating Tissue Expanders (SITEs) to facilitate bone grafting and implant placement. Following soft tissue expansion, bone grafting and implant placement were successfully performed. The implants supported a fixed restoration, which remained stable and complication-free over a seven-year observation period. Conclusion The SITE (Self-Inflating Tissue Expander) proved effective in obtaining a substantial amount of bone graft needed for implant installation. A seven-year follow-up confirmed the implants were well-functioning with stable bone support, healthy soft tissue coverage, and adequate vestibular depth.

In this essay, I revisit Neural Networks (NNs) through the lens of evolutionary dynamics. From the two most important features of NNs, I recover the two most general equations of evolutionary dynamics. These two equations may thus serve as a connection between NNs and a body of knowledge that has been built over multiple centuries and has found application across a vast range of disciplines. This connection may therefore also help explain why NNs with the two features in question are applicable across a much broader range of domains than initially envisioned.

It is known that breastfeeding difficulties are often seen in the first weeks of the postpartum period and that various factors are effective in the mother's early cessation of breastfeeding. Mothers' self-efficacy and perception of insufficient milk are among these factors. This study aimed to examine the effect of hot application applied to the breast with the help of Thera Pearl in the postpartum period on milk perception and postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy. This is a randomized controlled study. The study was completed with a total of 64 puerperal mothers, 31 of whom were control and 33 were experimental. Personal Information Form, Breastfeeding Observation Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Insufficient Milk Perception Scale were used to collect data. As a result, self-efficacy and milk perception are important factors affecting breastfeeding. In this study, we found that Thera pearl application increased breastfeeding self-efficacy, but did not affect milk perception.

Background: Recent research suggests a concerning trend of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors emerging at younger ages (as early as age 12). Early onset of NSSI is linked to more severe outcomes. While universal school-based prevention programs have shown promise in addressing suicidal behaviors, there's limited research on their effectiveness in preventing NSSI onset among adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a universal prevention program in schools for NSSI and mental complaints while enhancing resilience and mental health in 11-14-year-old adolescents. Methods: In total, 329 Flemish secondary school students (55.6% female), aged 11 to 14 years, participated in a 4-hour classroom universal prevention, with a focus on emotion regulation, mental health, and specific strategies to prevent NSSI and reduce stigma. For both the intervention and control group (N = 124), a pre-, post- and one-month follow-up questionnaire was administered, containing reliable and valid measures for NSSI and suicidality, emotion regulation, help-seeking behaviors, well-being, and psychological distress. Results: The prevention program effectively reduced NSSI and psychological distress, particularly for adolescents with a history of NSSI. Conclusions: These findings support previous research on the effectiveness of school-based programs in reducing mental complaints and suggest promising outcomes for NSSI prevention.

Background: Breast cancer remains a significant health concern among women globally. Despite advancements in awareness and diagnostic techniques, it persists as a leading cause of death, with profound impacts on affected individuals' quality of life. Primary and secondary prevention, including regular screenings and practices like Breast Self-Examination (BSE), are pivotal in ensuring early diagnosis. The NHS in Italy offers screenings for women aged 50-69 every two years, managed by the Local Health Authority. However, the participation rates, especially among the Chinese female population residing in Italy, are not well-understood. Methods: Using a snowball method, we electronically disseminated a survey to investigate how Chinese women living in Italy engage with available NHS screening programs. The survey also explores their practice of BSE, the use and impact of technological tools on prevention, and aims to understand their depth of knowledge and misconceptions about breast cancer. Results: The data revealed a significant gap in breast cancer screening adherence and knowledge among Chinese women in Italy, with a notable discrepancy between the general population and those who have previously encountered cancer. Conclusions: The results highlight the urgent need for interventions that are culturally sensitive, stressing that these actions are not only desirable but essential.

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a monoecious species and although it exhibits self-compatibility, presents incomplete overlap of pollen shed and female receptivity. Thus, cross-pollination is prerequisite for optimal fruit production. Cross-pollination can occur naturally by the wind, the insects, artificially, or by hand. Pollen has been recognized as one possible pathway for Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis infection, a pathogenic bacterium responsible for walnut blight disease. Other than the well-known cultural and chemical control practices, artificial pollination technologies with the use of drones could be a successful tool for walnut blight disease management of orchards. Drones may carry pollen and release it over crops or mimic the action of bees or other pollinators. Although this new pollination technology could be regarded as a promising tool, pollen germination and knowledge of pollen as a possible pathway for the dissemination of bacterial diseases remain crucial information for design and manufacture of aerial pollinator robot for walnut trees. Thus, our purpose was to describe a pollination model with fundamental components, the identification of the “core” pollen microbiota, specify an appropriate flower pollination algorithm, design an autonomous precision pollination robot, and minimize the average errors of flower pollination algorithm parameters through machine learning and meta-heuristic algorithms.

This article introduces a new physically based Lyapunov function difinition, which can be used as acoustic energy for finite amplitude pressure oscillations in reacting systems especially in combustion chambers. Reacting flow is seen as an open, non-equilibrium (parameters are distributed unevenly locally) thermodynamic system. This Lyapunov function is defined as the maximum mechanical work, which could be extracted by a heat engine from studied system, if this system would be disconnected from inlet and outlet and from any other surrounding environment, and the engine could transfer to the surrounding environment only mechanical work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare worldwide, potentially impacting disease management. This cross-sectional study assessed the influence of COVID-19 on diabetes self-management in 341 Saudis with type 2 diabetes using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). The DSMQ contains 16 items across 4 domains assessing glucose management, dietary control, physical activity, and healthcare use. Three additional items measured the perceived overall impact of COVID-19. Total DSMQ scores were significantly higher in patients aged &gt;60 years versus younger groups. Scores were significantly lower in patients diagnosed for 1-5 years versus longer durations. Patients on insulin had higher glucose management subscores than oral medication users. Overall, DSMQ scores were higher than the pre-pandemic Saudi population and Turkish post-pandemic findings. DSMQ results suggest that while COVID-19 negatively impacted some self-management domains, Saudi patients upheld relatively good diabetes control during the pandemic. Further research is warranted on specific barriers to optimize diabetes care during public health crises.

Advances in biomimetic triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have significant implications for electronic skin (e-skin) and human-machine interaction (HMI). Emphasizing the need to mimic complex functionalities of natural systems, particularly human skin, TENGs leverage triboelectricity and electrostatic induction to bridge the gap in traditional electronic devices' responsiveness and adaptability. The exploration begins with an overview of TENGs' operational principles and modes, transitioning into structural and material biomimicry inspired by plant and animal models, proteins, fibers, and hydrogels. Key applications in tactile sensing, motion sensing, and intelligent control within e-skins and HMI systems are highlighted, showcasing TENGs' potential in revolutionizing wearable technologies and robotic systems. This review also addresses the challenges in performance enhancement, scalability, and system integration of TENGs. It points to future research directions, including optimizing energy conversion efficiency, discovering new materials, and employing micro-nanostructuring techniques for enhanced triboelectric charges and energy conversion. The scalability and cost-effectiveness of TENG production, pivotal for mainstream application, are discussed along with the need for versatile integration with various electronic systems. The review underlines the significance of making bioinspired TENGs more accessible and applicable in everyday technology, focusing on compatibility, user comfort, and durability. Conclusively, it underscores the role of bioinspired TENGs in advancing wearable technology and interactive systems, indicating a bright future for these innovations in practical applications.

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a high-quality construction solution combining high fluidity, passing and filling ability with improved mechanical properties and durability. In the present study, the effect of incorporating alternative waste materials, such as two by-products of the ce-ment industry, namely cement kiln dust (CKD) and by-pass dust (BPD), into SCC as partial re-placement for traditional filler material was investigated. The produced compositions were compared with reference mixtures containing only marble powder (MP) as a filler. A series of tests including specific test methods for wet SCC, compressive, flexural and tensile splitting strength tests as well as drying shrinkage determination were conducted to evaluate the quality of the produced SCC in terms of fresh and hardened SCC properties. The use of alternative fine filler materials resulted in a high-performance sustainable SCC of low cement content. Specifi-cally, incorporating CKD into the SCC enhanced its rheological behavior and improved slightly its mechanical properties, while the use of BPD led to SCC mixtures of adequate rheological characteristics but with highly upgraded mechanical and physical properties

We report a detailed investigation of vibrational modes, structure, and dynamics of glutathione (GSH) solutions using ultrasonic relaxation spectroscopy, FT-IR vibrational spectroscopy and electronic absorption measurements. The experimental data were analyzed in view of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking calculations. Three distinct Debye-type relaxation processes are resolved in the acoustic spectra, which are assigned to conformational changes between GSH conformers, self-association of GSH, and protonation processes. The standard volume changes for each process were estimated both experimentally and theoretically revealing a close resemblance among them. The higher the effect of the relaxation process in the structure, the greater the induced volume changes. From the temperature dependence of specific acoustic parameters, the thermodynamic characteristics of each process were determined. The experimental FT-IR spectra were compared with the corresponding theoretically predicted vibrational spectra revealing that the GSH dimers and extended conformers dominate the structure of GSH solutions in the high concentration region. The absorption spectra in the ultraviolet region confirmed the gradual aggregation mechanism that takes place in the aqueous GSH solutions. The results of the present study were discussed and analyzed in the framework of the current phenomenological status of the field.

Resistive random-access memory has emerged as a promising non-volatile memory technology, garnering substantial attention due to its potential for high operational performance, low power consumption, and scalability. Two-dimensional nanostructured materials play a pivotal role in RRAM devices, offering enhanced electrical properties and physical attributes that contribute to overall device improvement. In this study, self-rectifying switching behavior in RRAM devices is proposed based on molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites decorated with palladium on SiO2/Si substrates. The integration of Pd and MoS2 at the nanoscale effectively mitigates leakage currents decreasing from cross-talk in the RRAM array, eliminating the need for a separate selector device. The successful demonstration of the expected RRAM switching behavior follows the application of a Pd nanoparticle coating. The fabricated Pd-MoS2 synaptic device showed a high current ratio for forward/reverse current higher than 60 at a low resistance state and observed a memory on/off ratio of 103 performing stable resistance switching behavior.

Ionic gel electrolyte retains the characteristics of non-volatilization, non-flammability and outstanding electrochemical stability of ionic liquid, and shows good electrochemical performance combined with the excellent characteristics of different matrix materials, which is considered to be the best choice to achieve the high energy density and safety at the same time. In this paper, a flexible and self-healing ionic gel electrolyte is prepared by solvent-assisted method based on a zteric ion (ZI) copolymer. Abundant hydrogen bonds and synergistic interaction of ions in the electrolyte system endowed it with wonderful self-healing ability. The ionic conductivity of 9.06×10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature was achieved. Besides, the tLi+ was also increased to 0.312. The self-healing function of the ionic gel electrolyte ensured the long-term tolerance of the SHIGE. The capacity retention rate of the Li//LiFePO4 battery is 96% after 155 cycles at 0.1 C at 60 oC. This polymer electrolyte is expected to solve the problem of increasing polarization，which is caused by the low lithium ions migration number in ionic liquid electrolyte. And ultimately, it gives rise to a good rate performance.

The implementation of residential distributed generation (DG) in South America has shown significant growth in the last decade, driven by increased research on photovoltaics and renewable energy sources. Regulatory policies and business models have been crucial in fostering the adoption of DG in the region, with residential self-supply being the most receptive sector for implementing the concept. This article presents a literature review on DG as applied to residential self-supply in South America by comprehensively analyzing documents published between 2013 and 2023, applying the PRISMA methodology. In total, 37 literature resources have been systematically selected and reviewed to contribute to the identification of trends and developments in the field of DG in the residential sector, as well as highlighting areas that require further research and attention from stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, technology providers and consumers in the South American context.