The main characteristic of polycystic kidney disease is the development of multiple fluid filled renal cysts. The discovery of mislocated Na,K-ATPase in the apical membrane of cyst lining epithelia alluded to a reversal of polarity as a possible explanation to the fluid secretion. The topic of apical Na,K-ATPase in cysts remains controversial. We investigated the localization of the Na,K-ATPase and assessed the apical-basolateral polarization of cyst lining epithelia by means of immunohistochemistry in kidney tissue from six polycystic kidney disease patients undergoing nephrectomy. The Na,K-ATPase α1 subunit was conventionally situated in the basolateral membrane of all immunoreactive cysts. Proteins of the Crumbs and partitioning defective (Par) complexes were localized to the apical membrane domain in cyst epithelial cells. The apical t-SNARE protein Syntaxin-3 also immunolocalized to the apical domain of cyst lining epithelial cells. Proteins of the basolateral Scribble complex immunolocalized to the basolateral domain of cysts. Furthermore, we confirmed that cysts can originate from virtually any tubular segment with preserved polarity. In conclusion, we find no evidence of a reversal in apical-basolateral polarity in cyst lining epithelia in polycystic kidney disease.

The results of the investigation showed that second-order kinetics govern the adsorption process, and the corresponding rate constants were found. To evaluate the parameters related to the adsorption process, the adsorption equilibrium was examined using a variety of mathematical models, such as the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The Langmuir isotherm was found to be the best appropriate among all models for describing the adsorption of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions using bio-nanocomposite beads. The positive values of ΔH° indicate that the adsorption is physical and endothermic, in agreement with experimental results. The negative value of ∆G° shows that the adsorption process is spontaneous. Positive ΔS° values indicate increased randomness at the solid/liquid interface, during adsorption of Cu2+ and Ni2+ cations onto the engineered bio-nanocomposite. The maximum adsorbed amounts of metal ions by the bio-nanocomposite used were 370.37 mg/g for Ni2+ and 454.54 mg/g for Cu2+ from single system. For the binary system, according to the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum adsorbed amounts of Ni2+ and Cu2+ were 357.14 mg/g and 370,37 mg/g, respectively. There is proof that Alginate-Moroccan clay bio-nanocomposites can serve as a different, less expensive source of sorbents for the removal of metal ions from single and binary systems.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), domesticated in the Amazonian region of South America, presents an important diversity in Ecuador, where it is a main staple food; however, only few Ecuadorian cassava accessions have been included in international molecular assessments. The purpose of this study was to apply suitable cassava mi-crosatellites to characterize the genetic variability of the Ecuadorian cassava collection composed mainly of local landraces from the Coast, Andes and Amazonia regions. The use of microsatellite markers allowed the determination of the genetic diversity of the collection. Seven selected SSR primers, permitted to identify homozygous and hetero-zygous materials within the cassava collection of 133 accessions. The loci presented an average genetic diversity value of 0.7 and an average PIC value of 0.67, which is con-sidered high. Low number of duplicates (8.8%) were identified in the Ecuadorian col-lection which is not fully duplicated at CIAT. Currently, a wide range of cassava diver-sity is still cultivated in multi-crop agro-ecosystem, mainly in the Coast and Amazo-nian regions. Especially in the Amazonian region, due to important cultural uses of cassava by local ethnic communities, more in depth studies in the region could unveil the genetic diversity present in situ today.

Abstract: Safety issues related to the electrification of more electric aircraft (MEA) need to be addressed because of the increasing complexity of aircraft electrical power systems and the growing number of safety-critical sub-systems that need to be powered. Managing the energy storage systems and the flexibility in the load-side plays an important role in preserving the system’s safety when facing an energy shortage. This paper presents a system-level centralized operation management strategy based on model predictive control (MPC) for MEA to schedule battery systems and exploit flexibility in the demand-side while satisfying time-varying operational requirements. The proposed online control strategy aims to maintain energy storage (ES) and prolong the battery life cycle, while minimizing load shedding, with fewer switching activities to improve devices lifetime and to avoid unnecessary transients. Using a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation, different objective functions are proposed to realize the control targets, with soft constraints improving the robustness of the model. Besides, an evaluation framework is proposed to analyze the effects of various objective functions and the prediction horizon on system performance, which provides the designers and users of MEA and other complex systems with new insights into operation management problem formulation.

Emerging autologous cellular therapies that utilize platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applications have the potential to play adjunctive roles in a variety of regenerative medicine treatment plans. There is a global unmet need for tissue repair strategies to treat musculoskeletal (MSK) and spinal disorders, osteoarthritis (OA), and patients with chronic complex and recalcitrant wounds. PRP therapy is based on the fact that platelet growth factors (PGFs) support the three phases of wound healing and repair cascade (inflammation, proliferation, remodeling). Many different PRP formulations have been evaluated, originating from human, in vitro, and animal studies. However, recommendations from in vitro and animal research often lead to different clinical outcomes because it is difficult to translate non-clinical study outcomes and methodology recommendations to human clinical treatment protocols. In recent years, progress has been made in understanding PRP technology and the concepts for bioformulation, and new research directives and new indications have been suggested. In this review, we will discuss recent developments regarding PRP preparation and composition regarding platelet dosing, leukocyte activities concerning innate and adaptive immunomodulation, serotonin (5-HT) effects and pain killing. Furthermore, we discuss PRP mechanisms related to inflammation and angiogenesis in tissue repair and regenerative processes. Lastly, we will review the effect of certain drugs on PRP activity, and the combination of PRP and rehabilitation protocols.

We have successfully developed curcumin nanosuspension aimed for oral delivery. The main purpose is to improve bioavailability through enhancing its solubility. The nanoparticles were stabilized using various stabilizers including polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC), d-alpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The average diameter of particles, microscopic appearance, and sedimentation of each preparation was observed and compared. Each stabilizer demonstrated different degree of inhibition of particle aggregation under electrolyte-containing simulated gastrointestinal (GIT) fluid. Non-ionic stabilizers (PVA, PVP, and TPGS) has shown to preserve the nanosuspension stability against electrolytes. In contrast, strong ionic surfactants such as SDS were found to be very sensitive to electrolytes. The results can provide useful information for the formulators to choose the most suitable stabilizers by considering the nature of stabilizers and physiological characteristics of target site of the drug.

Local polynomial smoother (LPS) is a weighted local least-squares nonparametric method. It provides a local Taylor series fit of the data at any location and can be directly used in a differential equation to provide a numerical scheme. In this article, we introduce this new nonparametric idea based on local polynomial smoother, for acquiring the numerical solution of the Bagley-Torvik fractional-order differential equations. Furthermore, this paper will present a numerical comparison with some methods, such as legendre operational matrix and pseudo-spectral method. The efficiency and accuracy of the LPS method are demonstrated by two numerical examples.

Traumatic vascular injuries consist in direct or indirect damage to arteries and/or veins and accounts for 3% of all traumatic injuries. Typical consequences are hemorrhage and ischemia. Extremities vascular injuries can occur isolated or in association in major trauma with other organ injuries. They account for 1-2% of patients admitted to Emergency Department, for approximately 50% of all arterial injuries. Lower extremities are more frequently injured than the upper ones in adult population. The outcome of vascular injuries is strictly correlated to the environment and the time background. Treatment can be challenging notably in polytrauma because of the dilemma of which injury should be prioritized and treatment delay can cause disability or even death especially for limb vascular injury. Our purposes are to discuss the role of Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of vascular trauma and its optimized protocol to achieve the definitive diagnosis, and to assess the radiological signs of vascular injuries and the possible pitfalls.

The objective of this work was to investigate the deacidification of bio-oils (BOs) from triglyceride-based biomass through the application of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) in a simple stage, using methanol and water as a binary solvent and feed/solvent ratio of 1/1. For this, the effects of process parameters such as the water content present in the solvent, the content of carboxylic acids present in the bio-oil, and the extraction temperature on the deacidification process through the efficiency and distribution coefficient were evaluated, as well as the effects of such parameters on the quality of deacidified bio-oils through physical-chemical analyzes and GC-MS analysis. The results show that such process parameters significantly affect the quality of deacidified bio-oils. The ideal condition to have the highest acid removal, i.e., the highest deacidification efficiency (72.65%), is the one in which the deacidification process is performed with aqueous methanol (5% water) at 35 °C and for BOs that have a total acid number (TAN) equal to 24.38 mg KOH/g. Therefore, the process of deacidification by LLE using aqueous methanol is a promising alternative for removing carboxylic acids and other oxygenated compounds, contributing significantly to the upgrading or improving biofuels produced by catalytic thermal cracking.

The objective of this study was to detail the monomer composition of resin-based dental materials sold in the market in 2023 and to evaluate the proportion of BPA derivatives in relation with their applications. A search on manufacturers’ websites was performed to reference resin-based dental materials currently on the market. Their monomer composition was determined from material safety data sheets and completed with a search on PubMed database. Among the 543 material compositions exploitable, 382 (70.3%) contained BPA derivatives. Among them, 56.2% contained BisGMA, 28% BisEMA, the most frequently reported. A total of 59 monomers of which 6 BPA-derivatives were found. 309 materials (56.9%) contained UDMA and 292 (53.8%) TEGDMA. Less than one third of materials identified contained no BPA derivatives. These proportions vary a lot depending on their applications with materials dedicated to dental care of young populations containing the highest proportions of BPA-derivatives monomers. The long-term effects on human health of the different monomers identified including BPA-derivatives monomers is a source of concern. For children and pregnant or lactating women arises the question to take a precautionary principle and avoid the use of resin-based dental materials likely to release BPA by opting for alternative materials.

The aim of the study was to test the significance of the EPT index in the water quality assessment of three types of water bodies in hilly and mountainous region of Serbia. The aquatic macroinvertebrate community was dominated by the group of insects, of which 95 taxa represent the EPT group. We compared the obtained values of biological indices used for the assessment of water quality according to the national legislation with the overall status assessment represented by the ecological quality classes (EQC). The results of the Spearman correlation test showed a negative correlation of EQC with the EPT index, BMWP score, H', total number of taxa and number of sensitive taxa, while a positive correlation was observed for the values of SI and Tubificinae %. The values of EQC and biological indices were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the parameters that contributed most to the differences were the EPT index, the BMWP score and the number of sensitive taxa. The results indicate that the EPT index is an excellent indicator of changes in water quality and an important tool for the ecological categorization of water bodies in mountain regions.

Powdery mildew is a severe disease causing substantial yield losses in wheat production worldwide. The Chinese wheat landrace Changanhongmai (CAHM) exhibits high resistance to the physiological race E09 of powdery mildew. This study aims to characterize the powdery mildew resistance gene in CAHM, and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted selection of wheat. To investigate the genetic characteristics of this resistant gene, we developed F1 plants, F2 generation population, and F2:3 families from a cross between CAHM and SY225. Genetic analysis demonstrated that all F1 plants were resistant to the disease, while the ratio of resistant to susceptible plants was 3: 1 in both the F2 population and F2:3 families, indicating that CAHM is inherited in a manner of single dominant powdery mildew resistance gene, which was tentatively designated as PmCAHM. By using bulk segregation analysis, we constructed a genetic map encompassing Xgwm273, Xwmc626, Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xgdm28, Xgpw7812, Xgpw5195, Xwmc694 and PmCAHM. Among these markers, Xgpw7812 and Xgpw5195 were flanking markers tightly linked to PmCAHM at a genetic distance of 2.5 cM and 8.4 cM, respectively. Furthermore, nullisomic-tetrasomic analysis revealed that PmCAHM is located on chromosome 1B. These results indicate that PmCAHM differs from the internationally recognized powdery mildew resistance genes in both location and source. In addition, a new germplasm/line NW1748 with large seeds and powdery mildew resistance was developed from the cross and back cross populations of Fengyou 1718 (FY1718)/CAHM//FY 1718. Therefore, PmCAHM can serve as a novel powdery mildew resistance source for breeding of wheat by using NW1748 as the donor in the future.

Background: Schistosome egg deposition in pregnant women may affect the placenta of infected mothers and cause Placental Schistosomiasis (PS). Histopathological examination of placental tissue is an inadequate detection method due to low sensitivity. So far, there has not been any sys-tematic review on PS. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed and in-cluded relevant secondary literature found in the citations of the primarily included publications. Results: We found a total of 8 publications describing PS with a total of 92 cases, describing egg deposition of dead and/or viable eggs and worms of S. haematobium and S. mansoni in placental tissue. One cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of PS and its association to adverse birth outcomes, found 22% of placentas to be infested using a maceration technique but only < 1% using histologic examination. Additionally, no direct link to deleterious pregnancy outcomes could be shown. Conclusions: PS is a highly unattended and underdiagnosed condition in en-demic populations, due to a lack of awareness as well as low sensitivity of histopathological examinations. However, PS may play an important role in mediating or reinforcing adverse birth outcomes (ABO) such as fetal growth restriction (FGR) in maternal schistosomiasis, possibly by placental inflammation.

A high intake of carbohydrates, associated with obesity, is one of the major causes of fatty liver disease in humans. This study investigated how high carbohydrate intake induces fatty liver disease in Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Blunt snout bream were fed a high-carbohydrate diet (HCBD) for 60 days. Their growth indices were evaluated, and the transcriptomes, metabolites, biochemistry, and histology of their blood and livers were analyzed. The final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio were all higher in the HCBD group than in the control group, but not significantly so (P > 0.05). The hepatosomatic index (HSI) differed significantly in the two groups (P < 0.05), and the metabolomics results showed that a high carbohydrate intake induced significant increases in plasma α/β-glucose, succinate, and tyrosine, which could increase hepatic glycogen and triglyceride. Low levels of betaine were also found in the livers of the HCBD group. The histology and blood biochemistry results suggested abnormal liver, with excessive lipid accumulation and liver damage. A transcriptome analysis and quantitative reverse transcription–PCR (RT–qPCR) indicated that the expression of the factors INSR, IRS, PI3K, PDK, AKT, ACC, IL6, AP1, ChREBP-MLX, PEPCK, and FBP in the insulin signaling pathway was significantly upregulated and that of SOCS3, GSK3β, and AMPK significantly downregulated in the HCBD. This pattern is associated with the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathway. This study extends our understanding of how high carbohydrate causes increased fat deposition in the liver, enhanced glycolysis (α/β-glucose) in the plasma, and reduced betaine in the liver. This leads to activation of hepatocyte insulin resistance and lipogenesis by regulating the expression of genes related to fatty liver disease.

Climate change is an important threat to orchard production at Mediterranean basin. Diversification seems to be implemented at a farm level as an important strategy to face these challenges. This paper aims to analyse farmer’s perceptions on crop diversification as a way to enhance farm’s adaptive capacity in a context of current and future climate changes impacts. Our case study is focused in orchards growers from French department of Vaucluse recently diversifying their activities through pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). We did in-depth semi-structured farmers’ interviews in 2021. The results show that diversification is supposed to enhance 3 main components of farms adaptative capacity: (1) strengthening robustness through improvement of buffering capacities to climate impacts (trough robust and adapted plants), economic uncertainties (by exploring local/niche markets) and labour scarcity (by lowering workforce requirements and mechanization); (2) Learning by experimenting, monitoring and exchanging with pairs and advisors (3) Cope with change related with societal demands and helps to increase personal satisfaction. Finally, promote farm’s diversification can contribute to enhance farm’s adaptive capacity under climate change impacts.

Many risk-modifying factors affect cancer incidence and mortality rates. We present an ecological study of incidence and/or mortality rates for cancers during 2007–2016 of 17 anatomical sites with respect to solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses and obesity prevalence. Solar UVB reduces cancer risk by producing vitamin D, which has many mechanisms to reduce risk of cancer incidence, progression, and metastasis. Obesity increases cancer risk through several mechanisms, including increased systemic inflammation. Data were averaged for 12 geographical regions. Solar UVB doses were significantly inversely correlated with mortality rates for five cancers for males and four for females. Obesity prevalence was directly correlated with mortality rates for three cancers for males and seven for females. The population attributable fraction of cancer mortality rates ascribed to low solar UVB dose was 0.03 for both males and females, whereas that for obesity prevalence was 0.05 for males and 0.08 for females. Thus, cancer mortality rates in France could be reduced through vitamin D supplementation and reducing the prevalence of obesity. Doing so also could reduce risk of other adverse health outcomes.

The integration of robotic devices into healthcare settings for rehabilitation purposes represents a rapidly advancing field with significant benefits for both therapists and patients. However, standalone robot systems face limitations such as inefficient processing of patient data and logistical challenges for patients, such as travel time to rehabilitation centers. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes the integration of cyber-physical systems into rehabilitation robotics. Cyber-physical systems leverage network connectivity and real-time data processing to enhance the efficiency and convenience of robot-based rehabilitation. By seamlessly integrating sensors, actuators, and computational algorithms, cyber-physical rehabilitation systems empower therapists to more effectively treat patients by providing actionable insights derived from comprehensive data analysis. This enables therapists to tailor treatment plans precisely to each patient’s unique needs, ultimately leading to improved outcomes. Additionally, cyber-physical rehabilitation systems facilitate remote monitoring and intervention, allowing therapists to oversee patient progress and make timely adjustments to treatment protocols without the need for in-person visits. This not only saves patients valuable time and resources but also ensures continuity of care, particularly for individuals residing in remote or underserved areas. Furthermore, cyber-physical rehabilitation systems enable collaborative decision-making by facilitating communication and information sharing among healthcare professionals, further enhancing the quality and efficacy of rehabilitation services. In summary, integrating cyber-physical systems into rehabilitation robotics represents a significant advancement in leveraging technology to optimize patient care and outcomes, promising to revolutionize rehabilitation therapy.

Predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using phenotypic data with machine learning (ML) techniques has received significant attention in recent years. PyCaret, an ML tool that enables the simultaneous application of 16 different algorithms, was used to predict T2DM using phenotypic variables from the “Nurses’ Health Study” and “Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study” datasets. Ridge classifier, Linear Discriminant Analysis, and Logistic Regression (LR) were the best-performing models for the male-only data subset. For the female-only data subset, LR, Gra-dient Boosting Classifier, and CatBoost Classifier were the strongest models. The AUC, accuracy, and precision were 0.77, 0.70, and 0.70 for males and 0.79, 0.70, and 0.71 for females, respective-ly. The feature importance plot showed that familial history of diabetes (famdb), never having smoked, and high blood pressure (hbp) were the most influential features in females, while famdb, hbp, and current smoking were the major variables in males. In conclusion, PyCaret was used successfully for speed analysis for the prediction of T2DM by simplifying complex ML tasks. Gen-der differences are an important consideration for T2DM prediction. Despite this comprehensive ML tool, phenotypic variables alone may not be sufficient for early T2DM prediction; genotypic variables could also be used in combination for future studies.

This paper presents a comprehensive analytical-numerical algorithm constructed for proprotor performance evaluation, focusing on accommodating large inflow angles. The algorithm’s design, range, and analytical features are clarified, indicating its potential to improve performance analysis, particularly for blades with substantial pitch variations. The Stahlhut model has not been validated against the conventional BEMT small-inflow angle methodology. This paper implements a modified Stahlhut model, coupled with the conventional BEMT theory. Preliminary validations of the model demonstrate promising results, with deviations reduced to -3% to 4% compared to conventional BEMT methods exhibiting deviations as high as 20% to 88% against experimental data for a highly twisted proprotor. The reconsideration of the computational module carries considerable implications for the design and refinement of proprotors, providing alternative analysis methods that could improve operational effectiveness across a range of flight scenarios. Drawing upon the theoretical framework presented by Stahlhut, the algorithm enables a more complex understanding of proprotor dynamics, facilitating accurate predictions of the loads at each blade section. The introduced algorithm emerges as a valuable asset for evaluating proprotor performance during the early stages of design and certification, offering both low computational cost and medium to high reliability.

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for detecting aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research – in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project - measures local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros Island (Greece) in relation with recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e. promoting (a) Nature protection, (b) Agro-pastoralism and (c) Ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. Local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities, preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education, interactive informing and consultation could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

Clostridial infections in cattle are a significant concern for Brazilian livestock. These diseases are caused by various species of Clostridium, which are known for their ability to produce potent toxins. Botulism in cattle is a serious and often fatal condition caused by the ingestion of neurotoxins produced by C. botulinum. This bacterium thrives in decomposing organic matter, such as spoiled feed, carcasses, and contaminated water. Tetanus while less common, tetanus is a serious disease following contamination of wounds with Clostridium tetani spores. It results in muscle stiffness, spasms, and often death due to respiratory failure. Blackleg (C. chauvoei) is this disease primarily affects young cattle, leading to acute lameness, swelling, and high fever. Malignant edema (C. septicum and others) is characterized by rapid onset of swelling at wound sites, malignant edema can occur after injuries or surgical procedures. Enterotoxemia is triggered by the rapid growth of C. perfringens in the gut following excessive carbohydrate intake. This leads to toxin production that causing sudden death. In conclusion, clostridial bovine infections remain a persistent challenge for Brazilian cattle farmers. With continued focus on vaccination, good management practices, and research, the impact of these diseases can be minimized, safeguarding the livestock industry's economic viability.

The current work reveals the fine tuning between stability zones and randomness of GI/M/1 Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary D/M/1 queueing system. More specifically, this clearly provides more insights into developing a contemporary PSFFA theory that unifies non-stationary queueing theory with chaos theory and fields in both theoretical physics and chaotic systems. This opens new grounds for stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems. A notable application of GI/M/1 queueing model to achieve ultra-low latency of autonomous driving service is highlighted. Concluding remarks associated with future avenues of research are given.

The current work reveals the fine tuning between stability zones and randomness of Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary queueing D/M/1 system. More specifically, this clearly provides more insights into developing a contemporary PSFFA theory that unifies non-stationary queueing theory with chaos theory and fields in both theoretical physics and chaotic systems. This opens new grounds for stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems.

In Indonesia, types of meat are still identified manually due to increasing prices for beef and buf-falo ahead of Idul Fitri. Traders mix beef with pork to thwart the beef scam. Haar wavelet and GLCM, GLCM with angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°, as well as matrices using contrast, correlation, energy, homogeneity, and entropy, are used in feature extraction. The following are the results of meat image classification testing using k-NN, Haar wavelet, and GLCM: The k-NN algorithm shows superiority in identifying fresh (99%), frozen (99%), and rotten (96%) meat texture images with the most fantastic accuracy results in every situation. Meanwhile, GLCM routinely provides good results, especially regarding the texture image of fresh meat (183.21) and rotten meat (115.79). However, despite delivering less throughput than k-NN and GLCM, Haar wavelets are still helpful, especially when dealing with fresh meat texture images (89,96).

Mutual exclusion algorithms are at the heart of concurrent, distributed/parallel, real-time and operating systems. It is well-known that such algorithms are very difficult to analyze and in the literature different conjectures about starvation-freedom and the number of by-passes (also said the overtaking factor), which in turn affects the (hopefully) bounded waiting time that a process competing for entering the critical section has to suffer before accessing the shared resource, have been formulated for specific algorithms. This paper proposes a novel modelling approach based on Timed Automata and the Uppaal toolset, which proves effective for studying all the properties of a mutual exclusion algorithm for N≥2 processes, by exhaustive model checking. Although the approach, as already confirmed by similar experiments reported in the literature, is not scalable due to state explosion problems, and can be practically applied until N≤5, it is of great value for revealing true properties of analyzed algorithms. For dimensions N>5 the statistical model checker of Uppaal can be used which, although based on simulations, can confirm properties by estimations and probabilities. The paper describes the proposed modelling and verification method and applies it to several mutual exclusion algorithms, thus retrieving known properties but also showing new results about properties often studied only by peer-review and intuitive reasoning.

Knowledge is not merely the characteristic of certain pieces of information being deemed true and justifiable, but rather a process. Within an axiomatic system, the set of information that reaches the status of knowledge forms a universe that provides an interpretation of the reality one aims to describe. Language exchanges information through communication and the process of justification (exchange of information), if it consistently justifies a particular piece of information, it elevates it to knowledge. In this paper, we provide a framework for knowledge within an axiomatic model where we define the fundamental elements of communication and grammar. As a result, the structure dictates that knowledge, to be considered as such, must be investigateable by anyone who utilizes it in its entirety, both in form and content. Ultimately, the development of knowledge processing, referred to as \emph{knowmatics}, represents a clear evolution of the computer science that processes information (subset of knowledge).

The global craft beer market is witnessing substantial growth, with a particular spotlight on sour beers. These unique brews are created through lactic fermentation initiated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). However, the presence of hops, renowned for their antimicrobial properties, can pose a limitation within the realm of sour beer production. This research aims to explore and assess the potential of sour beer as a probiotic beverage. It involves a comparative analysis of the viability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 (F19) and 431 (L431) in a sour beer with an International Bitterness Unit (IBU) value of 26.65, alongside examining the ex-pression of genes such as horA, horB, horC, hitA, bsrA, and recA, which are associated with hop resistance. The study encompasses the development of two formulations of sour beers characterized by both high hop content and a robust probiotic count (8.44 – 8.77 log CFU/mL). The findings suggest that both probiotic strains of F19 and L431, are well-suited to produce sour beers with elevated hop levels, demonstrating excellent stability. Notably, the expression of genes responsible for hops resistance exhibited distinct modulation patterns among the two strains. It appears that a higher concentration of bsrA, as observed in strain L431, may be more effective in mitigating the effects of hop-related stress, potentially surpassing the combined expression of horA and bsrA. Nonetheless, further research is essential to validate this observation in gene expression. F19 and L431 emerge as promising candidates for the development of sour beers with increased hop intensity.

The cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is an important element of biodiversity conservation. One species in need of conservation is the honey bee Apis mellifera L. Changing environmental factors, especially the anthropogenic factor, have led to a reduction in the numbers of this insect species. In this study, we provide an example of the creation of a biobank of honey bee drone sperm. For sperm cryopreservation, drones of the most common subspecies of honey bees common in Russia were selected. These were the dark forest bee, Apis mellifera mellifera from the Republic of Bashkortostan, with three subspecies (A. m. carnica, A. m. carpatica, and A. m. caucasica) from the southern regions of Russia, as well as two breeding stocks, the Far Eastern bee and Prioksky bee. For subspecies identification, morphometric and genetic methods were used. The subspecies of the studied samples were confirmed by the analysis of the tRNAleu-COII locus of mitochondrial DNA and nine microsatellite markers of nuclear DNA. It was shown that bees of the Prioksky breeding stock belong to the subspecies A. m. caucasica based on phylogenetic analysis, and the Far Eastern breeding stock is a stable hybrid, descending on the maternal line from the evolutionary lineage C or O. The results of the morphometric analysis are consistent with the results of the genetic analysis. For the cryopreservation of sperm, we used a honey diluent. As a result, the viability of frozen–thawed sperm decreased by 20.3% compared to fresh sperm, and overall motility decreased by 25-fold. The measurement of the sperm concentration in the spermatheca of artificially inseminated queens showed that it varied from 0.22 to 4.4 million/μL. Therefore, the use of honey in sperm cryopreservation has great potential.

Dietary habits, including meal frequency, meal timing, and skipping meals, have been extensively studied due to their association with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study describes dietary habits, meal timing, meal frequency, skipping meals, and late-night eating in Kuwaiti adults. The Kuwait National Nutrition Surveillance System data was utilized to reach the objectives of this study. The findings reveal that approximately 50% of the adults in Kuwait eat after 10 p.m., 29% skip breakfast, and 9.8% skip dinner. Furthermore, adults in Kuwait consume 4.4 meals per day on average. Women skip breakfast more often and have extended night fasting than men (p&lt;0.001). Married adults skip breakfast and dinner less than unmarried adults (p&lt;0.001). In conclusion, this descriptive study provides valuable insights into the dietary habits of Kuwaiti adults, emphasizing the importance of further investigating the association between meal timing, meal frequency, and the prevalence of NCDs in Kuwait.

In order to study the effects of irradiation on the physicochemical properties and digestion behavior of chickpea protein, chickpea protein concentrate (CPC) was treated with electron beam irradiation (EBI) at doses of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kGy, respectively. After irradiation, protein solubility first increased at 10 kGy and 15 kGy, and then decreased at higher dose of 20 kGy. This was supported by SDS-PAGE where the intensity of major protein bands first increased and then decreased. Increased does of EBI generally led to greater oxidative modification of proteins in CPC, indicated by reduced sulfhydryls and increased carbonyls. In addition, protein structure was modified by EBI shown by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis where α-helix generally decreased and β-sheet increased. Although the protein digestibility was not significantly affected by EBI, the peptidomic analysis of the digests revealed significant difference among CPC irradiated with varying doses. A total of 337 peptides were identified from CPC irradiated with 0 kGy, 10 kGy and 20 kGy, respectively, with 18 overlapping peptides and 60, 29 and 40 peptides specific to the groups of 0, 10 and 20 kGy respectively. Theoretical calculation showed that the distribution of peptide length, hydrophobicity, net charge, and C-terminal residues were affected by irradiation. The 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity showed a marginal decrease with increasing dose of irradiation. In conclusion, EBI led to oxidative modification and structural changes of the chickpea protein, which subsequently affected the physicochemical properties of peptides obtained from in-vitro digestion of CPC despite of similar digestibility.

Extracts of Cordyceps militaris which possess the bioactive capacity such as antimicrobial activity and DPPH-free radical scavenging capacity, are applied to the serum product. This finished serum product has been evaluated the in vitro bioactivity and the stability with expect to find out a good extract with a suitable percentage used for serum product as natural materials on preservatives and antioxidation.

Lead-acid batteries utilised in electrical substations release hydrogen and oxygen when these are charged. These gases could be dangerous and cause a risk of fire if they are not properly ventilated. Therefore, this research seeks to design and implement a network control panel for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems (HVACS). This is done using a specific range of controllers, which have more than thirty loops of proportional, integral and derivative (PID) control to achieve a cost-effective design. It performs the required function of extracting hydrogen, oxygen, and maintaining the desired temperature of the battery storage room within the recommended limits (i.e. 25°C ±1°C tolerance) without compromising quality as set out in the user requirement specification in Appendix-A. The system control panel allows the user to access control parameters such as changing temperature set-points, fan-speed, sensor database amongst others. The hardware is configured to detect extreme hydrogen and oxygen gas content in the battery room and ensure that the HVACS extract the gas content to the outside environment. The results of the system show that the network control panel effectively operates as per the recommended system requirements. Therefore, the effective operation of the HVACS ensures sufficient gas ventilation, thus mitigating the risk of fire in a typical battery storage room. Furthermore, the effective operation of HVACS enhances battery lifespan because of regulated operating temperature, which is conducive to minimise the effect of sulfation in lead acid Batteries (LABs).

The nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-ĸB) transcriptional system is a major effector pathway involved in inflammatory responses. Previous studies found that a Gardenia decoction (GD) inhibited the expression of NF-κB in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse intestinal injury model. Herein, we hypothesized that geniposide (GE), a component of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, also exerts anti-inflammatory effects and inhibits NF-ĸB activity in LPS-induced intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6). IEC-6 cells were stimulated with LPS, following which the effects of GE on NF-ĸB signaling in the IEC-6 cells were examined by western blotting to detect IĸB phosphorylation/degradation. The expression of NF-κB was determined by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inhibitory effect of GE on the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) activated by LPS in IEC-6 cells. In addition, the migration ability of IEC-6 cells was observed by the scratch method. These results showed that GE dose-dependently downregulated levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β that had been upregulated by LPS and suppressed the phosphorylation of IĸB and NF-ĸB induced by LPS. Our findings indicated that GE could reduce LPS-induced NF-ĸB signaling and proinflammatory expression in IEC-6 cells and significantly enhance the migration of IEC-6 cells. Moreover, GE inhibited the expression of NF-κB, nuclear transfer, and transcriptional activity in IEC-6 cells. GE could block the synthesis of inflammatory factors of IEC-6 cells by inhibiting activation of the IĸB/NF-κB signaling pathway induced by LPS.

Micro plasma devices (MPD) with power gains are of interest in applications involving operations in the presence of ionizing radiations, in propulsion, in control, amplification of high power electromagnetic waves, and in metamaterials for energy management. Here we review and discuss MPDs with an emphasis on new architectures that have evolved during the past 7 years. Devices with programmable impact ionization rates and programmable boundaries are developed to control the plasma ignition voltage and current to achieve power gain. Plasma devices with 1-10 μm gaps are shown to operate in the sub-Paschen regime in atmospheric pressures where ion-assisted field emission results in a breakdown voltage that linearly depends on the gap distance in contrast to the exponential dependence dictated by the Paschen curve. Small gap devices offer higher operation frequencies at low operation voltages with applications in metamaterial skins for energy management and in harsh environment inside nuclear reactors and in space. In addition to analog plasma devices, logic gates, digital circuits, and distributed amplifiers are also discussed.

The paper examines the impact of inward remittances flows on per capita GDP growth in Bangladesh during 1976-2012. We find that the growth effect of remittances is negative at first but becomes positive at a later stage, an evidence of a non-linear. Unproductive use of remittances was rampant in the beginning when they were received by migrant families but better social and economic investments led to more productive utilisation of remittances receipts at later periods. This was the possible mechanism behind the U-shaped relationship. Unlike what is suggested in the literature that the effect of remittances is more pronounced in a less financially developed economy, our evidence do not show that the effect of remittances on per capita GDP growth in Bangladesh is conditional on the level of financial development.

Sewage surveillance can be used as an effective complementary tool for detecting pathogens in local communities, providing insights into emerging threats and aiding in the monitoring of outbreaks. In this study using qPCR and whole genomic sewage surveillance, we detected Mpox virus along with other viruses, in municipal and hospital wastewaters in Belo Horizonte, Brazil over a 9 months period (from July 2022 till March 2023). MPXV DNA detection rates varied in our study, with 19.6% (11 out of 56 samples) detected through the hybrid capture method of whole genome sequencing and 20% (12 out of 60 samples) through qPCR. In hospital wastewaters, the detection rate was higher at 40% (12 out of 30 samples), compared to 13.3%(4 out of 30 samples) in municipal wastewaters. This variation could be attributed to the relatively low number of MPXV cases reported in the city, which ranged from 106 to 341 cases during the study period, and to dilution effects, given that each of the two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) investigated serves approximately 1.1 million inhabitants. Additionally, nine other virus families were identified in both hospitals and municipal wastewaters including Adenoviridade, Astroviridae, Caliciviridae, Picornaviridade, Polyomaviridae, Coronaviridae (which includes SARS-CoV-2), Herspesviridae, Papillomaviridae and Flaviviridae (notably including Dengue). These findings underscore the potential of genomic sewage surveillance as a robust public health tool for monitoring a wide range of viruses circulating in both community and hospitals environments including MPXV.

Epidemic diseases that arise from infectious RNA viruses, particularly influenza viruses, pose a constant threat to the global economy and public health. Viral evolution has undermined the efficacy of acquired immunity from vaccines and the antiviral effects of FDA-approved drugs. As such, there is an urgent need to develop new antiviral lead agents. Natural compounds, owing to their historical validation of application and safety, have become a promising solution. In this light, a novel marine bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. M20A4R8, has been found to exhibit significant antiviral activity [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 1.3 µg/mL, selectivity index (SI) = 919.4] against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34, surpassing the activity of chloroquine. The antiviral response by M20A4R8 extract was induced during post-entry stages of the influenza virus, indicating suitability for post-application after the establishment of viral infection. Furthermore, post-treatment with M20A4R8 extract protected the host from virus-induced apoptosis, suggesting its potential use in acute respiratory disease complexes resulting from immune effectors' overstimulation and autophagy-mediated self-apoptosis. The extract demonstrated an outstanding therapeutic index against influenza virus A/Wisconsin/15/2009 (IC50 = 8.1 µg/mL, SI = 146.2) and B/Florida/78/2015 Victoria lineage (IC50 = 3.5 µg/mL, SI = 343.8), indicating a broad anti-influenza virus activity with guaranteed safety and effectiveness. This study provides a new perspective on mechanisms for preventing a broad spectrum of viral infections through antiviral agents from novel and natural origins. Future studies on a single or combined compound from the extract hold promise, encouraging its use in preclinical challenge tests with various influenza virus strains.

Background: Despite recent advancements, medical technology has not yet reached its peak. Precision medicine is growing rapidly, thanks to machine learning breakthroughs powered by increased computational capabilities. This article explores a deep-learning application for computer-aided diagnosis in dermatology. Methods: Using a custom model based on EfficientNetB3 and deep learning, we propose an approach for skin lesion classification that offers superior results with smaller, cheaper, and faster inference times compared to other models. The skin images dataset used for this research includes 8,222 files selected from the authors' collection and the ISIC2019 archive, covering six dermatological conditions. Results: The model achieved 95.4% validation accuracy on four categories—melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, benign keratosis-like lesions, and melanocytic nevi—using an average of 1,600 images per category. Adding two categories with fewer images (about 700 each)—squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses—reduced the validation accuracy to 88.8%. The model maintained accuracy on new clinical test images taken under the same conditions as the training dataset. Conclusions: The custom model demonstrated excellent performance on the diverse skin lesions dataset, with significant potential for further enhancements.

This paper investigates the periodic and quasi-periodic orbits in the symmetric collinear four-body problem through a variational approach. In Section 3, we analyze the conditions under which homographic solutions minimize the action functional. We demonstrate that these solutions for four equal masses arranged in a linear configuration are indeed the minimizers of the action functional and compute the minimum value of the action functional for these solutions. Additionally, we employ numerical experiments using Poincaré sections to explore the existence and stability of periodic and quasi-periodic solutions within this dynamical system. Our results provide a deeper understanding of the variational principles in celestial mechanics and reveal complex dynamical behaviors that are crucial for further studies in multi-body problems. The findings have significant implications for theoretical research and practical applications in astrodynamics and space mission planning.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, with a highly variable expression of phenotypes (restricted interest or activity and repetitive behavior in communication and social interactions), genes (mutation), markers (alteration of transcription) and pathways. Loss of function of the CC2D1A gene appears to primarily affect the brain, leading to a range of behavioral problems in humans. In our study published in 2020; we found that the expressions of miR-19a-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-3613-3p, miR-126-3p and miR-499a-5p were downregulated in the serum samples of autistic patients and their families. Here, acquired non-Mendelian hereditary character in a genetically defined mouse model of autism (Cc2d1a +/-) correlates with the transcriptional alteration of five miRNAs. We seek to test the hypothesis that miRNA levels are varying by changes in RNA/DNA structure during development, thereby creating transcription alteration. Behavioral tests were conducted on the offspring of Cc2d1a +/- mutant and control mice, such as novel object, social interaction, marble burying and tail suspension behavior. Two RNA fractions were isolated from mouse hippocampal tissues and sperm cells by standard TRIzol extraction: total RNA and fraction of RNA bound to DNA in the form of a DNA/RNA hybrid (R-loop). The expression levels of miR-19a-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-126-3p and miR-499a-5p were investigated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. We report differences in the distribution of five miRNAs in the hippocampus between male and female mice in RNA fractions, particularly in colonies of Cc2d1a +/- mice. Furthermore, the number of miRNAs engaged in the DNA/RNA hybrid fraction is generally higher in the mutant pedigree than in the control group. On the other hand, in sperm both fractions are at lower levels than in controls. R-loops contribute to the physiology and pathology of organisms including human disease. Here we report a variation in five miRNA levels between gender and tissue. Our results suggest that the transcription levels of these five miRNAs are directly regulated by their RNA.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognized as the main drivers of economic growth and development in many countries throughout the world. SMEs represent about 90% of the manufacturing sector and contribute about 14% of the total manufacturing contribution to GDP. Despite SMEs’ potential to change Nigeria’s status from a consumer economy to a production economy, policies that will ensure that environmentally- friendly manufacturing processes and production technology are not implemented or complied with. SMEs’ operational activities may be deleterious to human health and the ecosystem if environmental management practices are not adopted or prioritized. This paper evaluated the perception and adoption of the Environmental Management System, mainly ISO 14001, by SMEs in Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Lagos and Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria, were randomly selected for this study. The paper posits that environmental management literacy and advocacy should be carried out in SMEs. Environmental management practices involve engaging both industries and product end-users in sustainable practices. The paper concludes that the implementation of environmental management practices and culture by SMEs will abate environmental pollution and its concomitant health risks to humans, the environment, flora, and fauna. Mandatory and voluntary environmental measures are suggested as a means of engendering eco-friendly innovation for sustainable development, triggering employment, job security, and gross domestic product.

Mustard, a widely used condiment, is derived from mustard seeds and partially defatted mustard flour. Varieties of mustard are primarily distinguished by the ratios of mustard seeds and spices used in their production. This study assessed the microbiological safety of mustard products from the Mustard and Ketchup Factory in Poland, produced between 2019-2021, in compliance with Polish and EU regulations. Three mustard types were analyzed: gourmet, creamy, and spicy, crafted from 'Borowska' white mustard and 'Małopolska' Sarepta mustard seeds. The preparation included powdered mustard seeds, water, sugar, and vinegar. Samples of mustards (20 g each) were tested in triplicate for Salmonella, spore-forming anaerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, mold, and yeast. Additionally, water and spices used in production were analyzed for total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Salmonella, aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, and mold. Results indicated that spices and water met all microbiological criteria. Mustard samples tested negative for Salmonella and anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, with coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, mold, and yeast counts within acceptable limits, ensuring compliance with food safety and hygiene standards. This research underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and strict microbiological standards to maintain food safety. Future studies should develop advanced microbial detection methods and implement robust quality control measures to reduce contamination risks in mustard and other food products.

Percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI) has become the treatment of choice for elderly patients with severe aortic valve stenosis because of its less invasiveness compared to surgery. However, it introduces new complications, such as vascular lesions, access site problems, paravalvular leaks, and aortic dissection. Aortic dissection after TAVI is rare but serious, occurring in 0.2% to 0.3% of cases, with both intraprocedural and late cases reported. This case study concerns a 68-year-old woman who developed Stanford B aortic dissection, external iliac artery dissection, and right common femoral artery occlusion after TAVI. Treatment included stenting of the iliac and common femoral arteries, followed by a staged procedure: debranching, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), with satisfactory results. This case, underscores the importance of vigilance in the management of TAVI-related complications to optimize patient care and outcomes.

Complexity science studies physical phenomena that cannot be explained by the mere analysis of the single units of a system but requires to account for their interactions. A feature of complexity in connected systems is the emergence of mesoscale patterns in a geometric space, such as groupings in bird flocks. These patterns are formed by groups of points that tend to separate from each other, creating mesoscale structures. When multidimensional data or complex networks are embedded in a geometric space, some mesoscale patterns can appear respectively as clusters or communities, and their geometric separability is a feature according to which the performance of an algorithm for network embedding can be evaluated. Here, we introduce a framework for the definition and measure of the geometric separability (linear and nonlinear) of mesoscale patterns by solving the travelling salesman problem (TSP), and we offer experimental evidence on embedding and visualization of multidimensional data or complex networks, which are generated artificially or are derived from real complex systems. For the first time in literature the TSP’s solution is used to define a criterion of nonlinear separability of points in a geometric space, hence redefining the separability problem in terms of the travelling salesman problem is an innovation which impacts both computer science and complexity theory.

The corporate strategic planning of businesses in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) largely focuses on immediate financial performances with minimal credence to social sustainability. Thus, studies on the linkage between corporate governance and sustainability reporting have focused on developed economies. This study therefore investigated the role of institutional ownership in the impact of board committee characteristics on social sustainability reporting. The study involved strongly balanced panel data with 1,969 observations of 275 publicly listed non-financial firms in SSA within the timeframe of 2012 to 2021. Data was analyzed using STATA 14.1. The hypotheses were tested using the two-step system of the generalized method of moment (GMM) using the Arellano-Bond dynamic panel-data estimation method. The rate of social sustainability reporting was 39.4%. Relatively, Mauritius and South African firms had the most effective board committee characteristics and higher levels of social sustainability reporting. Institutional ownership had no significant effect on social sustainability reporting. Institutional ownership moderated the effect of sustainability committee independence and sustainability committee gender diversity on social sustainability reporting negatively. The paper presents a new perspective on corporate governance and social sustainability literature by examining the effect of institutional ownership on board committee characteristics and social sustainability reporting in SSA.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a critically endangered species, primarily due to intense fishing and other anthropogenic effects such as pollution. Nowadays, plastic debris contamination is a subject of concern due to its extensive presence in the sea and the digestive tracts of many fish species. The possible effects of plastic debris as a vector of other pollutants are still unknown. We analyzed the digestive tract of hammerhead sharks to investigate the correlation between plastic and other anthropic debris contamination and feeding habits in the eastern region of the Gulf of California. A total of 58 specimens were analyzed from the coastal area, revealing a plastic occurrence frequency of 79.3%. Of these, 91.4% corresponded to fibers, and 8.6% to fragments. The composition of the polymers was primarily cellulose (64.4%). According to their diet, these organisms exhibit benthopelagic habits, feeding both in the water column and on the seabed. These results indicate a high level of contamination of anthropogenic cellulosic microfibers in the area. This changed according to the year, indicating that the anthropic debris ingestion is related to the discharges of human activities and their seasonality rather than to a selection process by the sharks. Although cellulosic microfibers are recognized as a biomaterial, they can harm marine species, posing an additional threat to this iconic shark.

Cerebral palsy (CP) presents challenges in movement and posture due to central nervous system damage, necessitating lifelong management. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited access to traditional treatments, increasing demand for home-based therapies and digital resources. This study analyzed the qualitative and quantitative aspects of YouTube videos focusing on CP therapy for children. In total, 95 videos were evaluated for content quality, therapeutic program efficacy, and popularity. Most videos were uploaded by health professionals. Neuromotor therapy types varied, with Bobath therapy being prominent. The quality assessments revealed moderate to high reliability in video content; nonetheless, shortcomings in addressing uncertainties were observed. Therapeutic programs often lack crucial details such as intensity and outcome assessment methods. No significant differences were found between professional and non-professional uploads. Classifiable videos based on exercise type, in contrast to the types of neuromotor therapy, exhibited better therapeutic quality than unclassified ones. Notably, video popularity did not correlate with quality. This study underscores the need for improved educational content on YouTube, particularly in providing comprehensive therapeutic information for CP management. Further refinement of evaluation tools is essential for assessing the rationale behind neuromotor therapeutic modalities for children with CP.

The design and integration of intelligent energy management systems in hybrid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, leveraging Industry 4.0 and renewable energy sources, is crucial for advancing sustainability, efficiency, and technological development. This paper introduces a pioneering hybrid EV charging station that employs hybrid power sources, combining photovoltaic panels, a battery, and a fuel cell, each operating at 240V and 14A. Utilizing wireless power transfer technology, the system comprises five integral blocks: a power source, a boost converter, a High-Frequency (HF) inverter, transfer coils, and EV batteries. The optimization process involves two key stages: i) maximum power point tracking optimization of the boost converter, ensuring maximum power generation by varying the duty cycle between 10% and 90%, and ii) the HF phase employing a class-ϕ2 inverter at 30 MHz, synchronized with the resonant frequency of wireless power transfer coils. Control is executed through a digital signal processor card utilizing zero-voltage switching for efficient operations. This design enhances sustainability in EV charging solutions by optimizing power transfer through the use of hybrid sources.

This work investigates the stability conditions for linear systems with time-varying delays via augmented Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional(LKF). Two types of augmented LKFs with cross terms in integral are suggested to improve the stability conditions for interval time-varying linear systems. Through this work, the compositions of the LKFs are considered to enhance the feasible region of stability criterion for linear systems. Mathematical tools such as Wirtinger-based integral inequality(WBII), zero equalities, reciprocally convex approach, and Finsler’s lemma are utilized to solve the problem of stability criteria. Two sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the systems using linear matrix inequality(LMI). First, asymptotic stability criteria are induced by constructing the new augmented LKFs in Theorem 1. And then simplified LKFs in Corollary 1 are proposed to show the effectiveness of Theorem 1. Second, asymmetric LKFs are shown to reduce the conservatism and the number of decision variables in Theorem 2. Finally, the advantages of the proposed criteria are verified by comparing maximum delay bounds in two examples. Two numerical examples show that the proposed Theorem 1 and 2 obtained less conservative results than existing outcomes. Also, Example 2 shows that the asymmetric LKF methods of Theorem 2 can provide larger delay bounds and fewer decision variables than Theorem 1’s in some specific systems.

Human milk (HM) feedings are associated with reduced risks of neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive delays and systemic inflammatory diseases in infants born prematurely and/or at a low birth weight. Utilizing a neonatal piglet model, HM feedings were compared to bovine milk-derived infant formula (IF)-feedings with the aim of understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in reducing these risks. Six male piglets at postnatal-day (PD)2 were randomized into two feeding groups: HM-fed (n = 3) or IF-fed (n = 3) for 28 days. At 3- and 4-weeks-old, piglet memory and learning performance were assessed using novel object recognition (NOR). At PD30 piglets were euthanized, and whole brains were excised, weighed, and preserved for further analyses, and brain microglial morphology, and systemic inflammatory cytokines were quantified. During NOR, HM-fed piglets had significantly more non-novel revisits at both 3- and 4-weeks-old compared to IF-fed piglets. Microglia of HM-fed piglets had longer processes, more branch points, more endpoints, and a larger territorial volume compared to IF-fed piglets at PD30. In a neonatal piglet model, HM-feedings may improve cognition and reduce brain inflammatory response compared to IF-feedings.

In recent years, technical processes for the sequestration of CO2 through industrial waste mineral carbonation have been explored and developed. There is a large portfolio of Carbon Capture, Uti-lisation and Storage (CCUS) techniques that have been employed on a laboratory and at pilot scale. These include geological storage, ocean storage and mineralisation by carbonate ores. In view of this, the main purpose of this research was to investigate and explore chemical variables, particularly ammonium salts as lixiviants for calcium mineral extraction from iron making slag. The slag in use was acquired from a Steel Mill in the Vaal Triangle Region in Gauteng, South Af-rica. The experimental test work was conducted using different ammonium lixiviants, namely, NH4NO3, NH4Cl and CH3COONH4 to understand the influence of anion type as well as possible differences in mechanisms of interactions. Lixiviant concentration as well as the reaction time were varied in this research study. The three selected ammonium based lixiviants showed different extents of calcium extraction owing to differences in the anion groups. NH4NO3, NH4Cl and CH3COONH4 were found capable of dissolving 50% to 80% of calcium from the selected slag for different molar concentrations. Anion type and leaching time also had significant influences on the leaching of calcium from the slag. Rapid pH degradation resulted in better calcium extraction ca-pabilities. This work has shown that the selected ammonium salts have a potential as lixiviants for calcium dissolution from iron making blast furnace slags. These lixiviants would therefore be important to consider during calcium mineral carbonation for CO2 sequestration.

Introduction: The image of the nurse is a source of concern because of its impact on recruitment to the profession, policy decisions about the profession, funding of nursing services, consumer use of nursing services and how the image of the nurse affects nursing practice. Aim: This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Nursing Attitudes Questionnaire (NAQ-IV). Methods: 564 persons between the years 2022 and 2023 with heterogeneous ages and occupations from Northern, Central and Southern Italy participated in the study. Cronbach's alpha, item versus total correlations, skewness and kurtosis were calculated; factor analysis was performed using principal axis factoring and the viramax rotation method. Results: The results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 on the scale and between 0.88 and 0.89 between the factors; all items tested for correlation between the item and the total and the criteria for variance in the responses. Factor analysis showed a 4-factor model explaining more than 59.91% of the variance, with the largest variance being explained by the 'Role & professionalism' factor (25.96%). Conclusion: These results allow for a discussion regarding the theoretical framework of the NAQ-IV and provide a reliable and valid instrument for the comparison of welfare, organisation of health services, role, professionalism, stereotypes, values, advocacy, motivation and perceived satisfaction with the figure of the nurse and nursing care.

As the educational landscape evolves, understanding and fostering student adaptability has become increasingly critical. This study presents a comparative analysis of (XAI) techniques to interpret machine learning models aimed at classifying student adaptability levels. Leveraging a robust dataset, we employed several machine learning algorithms with a particular focus on Random Forest, which demonstrated a 91% accuracy. Our study utilizes (SHAP), (LIME), Anchors, (ALE), and counterfactual explanations to reveal the specific contributions of various features impacting adaptability predictions. Consistently, 'Class Duration' and 'Financial Condition' emerge as key factors, while the study also underscores the subtle effects of 'Institution Type' and 'Load-shedding'. This multi-faceted interpretability approach bridges the gap between machine learning performance and educational relevance, presenting a model that not only predicts but also explains the dynamic factors influencing student adaptability. The synthesized insights advocate for educational policies accommodating socioeconomic factors, instructional time, and infrastructure stability to enhance student adaptability. The implications extend to informed and personalized educational interventions, fostering an adaptable learning environment. This methodical research contributes to responsible AI application in education, promoting predictive and interpretable models for equitable and effective educational strategies.

Retroviruses perpetuate their survival by incorporating a copy of their genome into the host cell, a critical step catalyzed by the virally encoded integrase. The viral capsid plays an important role during the viral life-cycle, including nuclear importation in case of lentiviruses and integration targeting events, hence, targeting the integrase and the viral capsid is a favorable therapeutic strategy. While integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are recommended as first-line regimens given their high efficacy and tolerability, lenacapavir is the first capsid inhibitor and the newest addition to the HIV treatment arsenal. These inhibitors are however designed for treatment of HIV-1 infection, and their efficacy against HIV-2 remains widely understudied and inconclusive, supported only by few limited phenotypic susceptibility studies. We therefore carried out inhibition profiling of a panel of second-generation INSTIs and lenacapavir against HIV-2 in cell culture, utilizing pseudovirion inhibition profiling assays. Our results show that the tested INSTIs and lenacapavir exerted excellent efficacy against ROD-based HIV-2 integrase, and interestingly, raltegravir also showed modest antiviral activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in antiviral assays carried out in Vero E6 cells.

Background/Purpose: Multimorbidity of malaria, anaemia, and malnutrition (MAMM) is a condition in which an individual cohabits with two or more of these health outcomes and is becoming an emergent public health concern in sub-Saharan African countries. The independent associations of a child’s demographic variables and socioeconomic disparities with a child’s health outcomes have been established in literature. However, the effects of the intersection of these factors on MAMM, while accounting for other covariates have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how children’s sex, age and socioeconomic status interact to explain the variations in MAMM among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. Methods: Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report (NHDR) were used. The study includes weighted samples of 10,184 children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. A three-level multilevel mixed effect ordinal logistic regression model such that individual characteristics at level 1 are nested in communities at level 2 and nested in states at level 3 was used. Subsequently, predictive probability charts and average adjusted probability tables were used to interpret the intersectional effects. Five models were created in this scenario. Model 1 is the interaction between the child's sex and wealth status; model 2, child's sex and age; model 3 is between child's age and wealth status; model 4 has the three 2-way interactions of child's sex, age, and household wealth status, and model 5 includes model 4 and the 3-way interactions between a child's sex, age, and wealth quintiles. Results: The prevalence of children with ‘none of the three diseases’ outcomes was 17.3% (1767/10,184), while, 34.4% (3499/10,184) had ‘only one of the diseases’, and 48.3% (4,918/10,184) cohabit with ‘two or more’ of MAMM. However, in the multivariate analyses, model 3 was the best fit compared with other models, so, that the two-way interaction effects of a child's age and wealth status are significant predictors in the model. Children aged 36-47 months living in the poorest households have the probability of 0.11, 0.18, and 0.32 of contracting MAMM above the probability of children of the same age and live in the middle, more prosperous and richest households, respectively, while all other covariates are held constant. Thus, the variation in MAMM over a child's age differs depending on the household wealth quintile. In other words, as the children grow older, variations in MAMM become more evident between the rich and the poor household. Conclusion: Therefore, it is recommended that policies that are geared toward economic redistribution will help bridged the disparities observed in multiple diseases among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria

Cell-to-cell distant mechanical communication has been demonstrated by using in-vitro and in-vivo models. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying long-range cell mechanoresponsive interactions remain to be more elucidated. This study further examined the roles of α-Catenin and Piezo in traction force-induced rapid branch assembly of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells on Matrigel hydrogel containing type I collagen. Our findings demonstrate that siRNA-mediated downregulation of α-Catenin or chemical inhibition of Piezo activity significantly reduced both cell directional movement and branching assembly. In regarding the role of N-cadherin in regulating branch assembly but not directional migration, our results further confirmed that siRNA downregulation of α-Catenin caused a remarked reduction of focal adhesion formation, as assessed by focal Paxillin and Integrin α5 localization. These observations implied that mechanosensitive α-Catenin was involved in both cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions. Additionally, Piezo showed partial localization with Paxillin in focal adhesions, which was inhibited by α-Catenin downregulation with siRNA. This provides a plausible clue for Piezo mechanosensing traction force in the hydrogel. Collectively, our findings highlight the significance of α-Catenin in regulating cell-matrix interactions along with possible interpretation for Piezo mechanosensation at focal adhesions during cell-cell distant mechanical communication.

The focus of our study was the changes in the composition of semi-natural dry grasslands in Hungary. Since these valuable habitats were created with the help of humans, their preservation also requires regular treatment. Our mowing experiment aimed to investigate the suppression of the native Calamagrostis epigejos L. Roth. In Hungary, in the Cserhát Mountains, eight permanent plots were mowed twice a year. The vegetation was sampled annually between 2001 and 2011. The effects of mowing were investigated with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). After 10 years, the C. epigejos cover of the mowed plots decreased significantly, from the initial average of 62.38 to 7.50%. Surprisingly, we also experienced a similar decrease in the control plots. Regular treatment also had a positive effect on the number of species and diversity. Species richness increased continuously in both treatment types, which indicates the combined effect of vegetation succession and treatment. The biomass growth of other Poaceae and Fabaceae species, which are important from a grassland management perspective, was also facilitated by mowing. Our results suggest that long-term in situ experiments and continuous botanical studies are needed to establish a reliable utilization of grasslands.

This review delves into the growing field of flexible and stretchable strain sensors utilized in human gait analysis, focusing on determining knee bending angle and muscle activities when a human subject walks. Recent advancements have enabled these sensors to accurately capture biomechanical parameters while accommodating the body's natural movements. We examine the principles underlying these sensors' design and fabrication techniques, emphasizing their flexibility, stretchability, and biocompatibility for seamless integration into wearable systems. Through critical evaluation of existing methodologies, we assess the reliability and validity of these sensors in quantifying gait parameters. Furthermore, we discuss this technology's clinical and research implications, highlighting its potential in personalized rehabilitation and sports performance optimization. We provide an overview of flexible strain sensors and their application for analyzing human walking gait, especially for observing walking gait in rehabilitation programs. First, we present the basic working principles of various flexible strain sensors. Second, by the application of flexible strain sensors as walking gait monitoring. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities in this research area are discussed. By synthesizing current knowledge and outlining future directions, this review aims to provide insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to leverage flexible and stretchable strain sensors for comprehensive human gait analysis.

Although various atmospheric corrosion simulation models have been developed that give good results, industrial environments are still challenging. This paper aims to investigate the effect industrial atmospheres in Bor on the mechanical properties of structural steel S235JR and to create a constitutive model and also laboratory experimental conditions that will give the best results as an accelerated corrosion test. Atmospheric corrosion tests lasted six months, using sites close to the Electrolytic Refining Plant and Sulphuric Acid Plant, as well as air quality monitoring stations at a remote location in the city of Bor. The laboratory experiments included a salt chamber test lasting 120 h and 240 h and immersing the specimen in the electrolyte from the Electrolytic Refining Plant for 30 days. The results were compared with the standard specimens stored in the laboratory. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) method was used to identify the composition of corrosion products. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was applied to analyze the fracture surfaces of the specimens. The use of the Complete Gurson Model (CGM) described the tensile characteristics of the corroded specimens. The study has shown that an enhanced acceleration model and conditions could be developed using numerical analysis of the test results.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous malignancy with complex carcinogenesis. Although there has been significant progress in the treatment of HCC over the past decades, drug resistance to chemotherapy remains a major obstacle in its successful management. In this study we were able to reduce chemoresistance in cisplatin-resistant HepG2 cells by either silencing the expression of transglutaminase type 2 (TG2) using siRNA or by pre-treatment of cells with the TG2 enzyme inhibitor cystamine. Further analysis revealed that, whereas the full-length TG2 isoform (TG2-L) was almost completely cytoplasmic in its distribution, the majority of the short TG2 isoform (TG2-S) was membrane-associated in both parental and chemoresistant HepG2 cells. Following induction of cisplatin toxicity in non-chemoresistant parental cells, TG2-S together with cisplatin quickly relocated to the cytosolic fraction. Conversely, no cytosolic relocalisation of TG2-S or nuclear accumulation cisplatin was observed following identical treatment of chemoresistant cells, where TG2-S remained predominantly membrane-associated. This suggests that deficient subcellular relocalisation of TG2-S from membranous structures into the cytoplasm may limit the apoptic response to cisplatin toxicity in chemoresistant cells. Structural analysis of TG2 revealed the presence of binding motifs for interaction of TG-S with the membrane scaffold protein LC3/LC3 homologue that could contribute to a novel mechanism of chemotherapeutic resistance in HepG2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Lower limb skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury associated with increased morbidity and mortality is common in several clinical situations such as aortic aneurysms repairment, peripheral arterial surgery, vascular injury repairment, and shock. Although it is generally accepted that oxidative stress mediators have a significant role in IR injury, its precise mechanism is still unknown. Anecdotally, it is sustained not only by structural and functional changes in the organ it affects but also by damage to distant organs. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the effect of proanthocyanidin on IR injury. METHODS: In our study, 18 male Wistar albino rats were used. The subjects were divided into three groups of six each. (Group Control-C, Group Ischemia-Reperfusion -IR, Group Ischemia-Reperfusion and Proanthocyanidin-IR-PRO). Intraperitoneal proanthocyanidin was given to the IR and proanthocyanidin groups 30 minutes before laparotomy and 1-hour ischemia led to these two groups. After one hour, reperfusion started. Muscle atrophy-hypertrophy, muscle degeneration-congestion, fragmentation-hyalinization, muscle oval-central nucleus ratio, leukocyte cell infiltration, catalase enzyme activity, and TBARS were all examined in lower-limb muscle samples after one hour of reperfusion. RESULTS: When skeletal muscle samples were evaluated histopathologically, it was discovered that muscle atrophy-hypertrophy, muscle degeneration-congestion, fragmentation-hyalinization, and leukocyte cell infiltration with oval-central nucleus standardization were significantly higher in the IR group than group control and group IR-proanthocyanidin. Besides, oval-central nucleus standardization was significantly higher in the IR and proanthocyanidin group than in the control group. TBARS levels were significantly higher in the IR group than in the control and IR-proanthocyanidin groups while, catalase enzyme activity was found to be significantly lower in the IR group than in the control and IR and proanthocyanidin groups. CONCLUSION: As a consequence of our research, we discovered that proanthocyanidins administered before IR have a protective impact on skeletal muscle in rats. Further research in this area is required.

Globally, road traffic collisions cause over a million deaths annually, with pedestrians accounting for nearly one-quarter (23%) of these fatalities. This casualty proportion highlights the critical importance of adhering to traffic regulations. This study analyzes the factors influencing driver yielding behavior at midblock crosswalk improvements, comparing (1) a typical zebra crossing (C1) and (2) an intelligent signalized crosswalk (C2). The study used video-based observational data to investigate driver behaviors and factors influencing driver behaviors. The study applied multinomial logistic regression to formulate yielding behavior models. The results indicate that the number of traffic lanes, width of the traffic lanes, width and length of the crosswalk, vulnerable group, the number of pedestrian crossings, pedestrian crossing time, the number of vehicles approaching a crosswalk, speed of vehicle, headway, the post-encroachment time (PET) between vehicles and pedestrian, and roadside parking are the significant factors influence yielding behavior. These findings provide a better understanding of the factors influencing driver yielding behavior and propose measures to set proper physical improvements (e.g., curb extensions, raised pedestrian platforms, and pedestrian fencing), enforcement (e.g., parking restriction, speed violation detection), public awareness campaigns, and education initiatives.

Noninvasive brain stimulation technique can be used for modulation of motor behaviors such as reaction time (RT). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether RT during a sequential visual isometric pinch task (SVIPT) can be affected by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) over three different stimulation sites such as dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), primary motor cortex (M1) or posterior parietal cortex (PPC). We also aimed to assess if stimulation of these cortical sites affect the transfer of learning during SVIPT. A total of 48 right-handed healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of the four a-tDCS groups: 1) left M1, 2) left DLPFC, 3) left PPC and 4) sham. A-tDCS was applied concurrent with SVIPT in which the participants were precisely controlled their forces to reach seven different target forces from 10 to 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) presenting on a computer screen with right dominant hand. Four test blocks were randomly performed at baseline and 15 min after the intervention including sequence and random blocks with either hand. Our results showed significant differences between a-tDCS groups on ratio RT in the sequence blocks of both the right trained (P = .041) and left untrained hands (P = .023) for target forces of 15% and 30 % of MVC, respectively. In sequence blocks, M1 showed significant elongation in ratio RT for the target force of 15% and 30 % MVC compared to PPC and Sham groups in the right hand. In sequence blocks with left hand, this negative effect were found between M1-DLPFC and M1-Sham groups. In random blocks, no significant differences were found among four groups at each target forces for the left hand while there were significant differences for 15% (P =. 04) and 40% MVC (P =. 035) in the right hand. Our findings suggest that three different stimulation sites (DLPFC, M1 or PPC) were differentially affected by a single session of a-tDCS at some target forces during SVIPT. The effects of a-tDCS on ratio RT were transferred in the left untrained hand for sequence blocks but not random blocks. Further research is needed to understand fundamental aspects of these main areas of the brain on temporal processing in a precision control task such as SVIPT.

The effectiveness of combining strength-specific training with endurance training to enhance the performance of endurance runners remains uncertain. This study aimed to analyze effect of practising maximum-strength (MAX), explosive strength (EXP) or both combined (COMB) on seven runners’ performance-indicators: vertical jump (VJ), one-repetition-maximum-squat (1RM), peak-velocity/peak-running-speed (PV), lactate-threshold (over incremental-test-protocols, LT), middle-distance-time-trial (TT), maximum-oxygen-consumption (VO2max), running-economy (RE). Systematic-review (Scopus, Wed of Science, Sports Discuss, PubMed) with meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA standards. Inclusion-criteria (PICOS) were: recreational or well-trained athletes aged 18-45 performing concurrent-training ≥five-week. Used search-terms were related to different types of strength/endurance, participants’ age, sport-modality. 20 manuscripts were selected, quality-assessed with PEDro. MAX training is more effective than EXP, COMB in improving VJ, 1RM, PV, while COMB is more effective than MAX, EXP to enhance TT. MAX is more effective than EXP in improving LT. Concurrent-workouts do not provide additional benefits to VO2max. It is unknown which strength-modality (MAX, EXP or COMB) is more effective in improving RE. Concurrent-training is more effective than single-mode-endurance-training for enhancing specific performance-variables in adult-endurance-runners. Middle-, long-distance-runners may consider incorporating MAX-training to target specific goals, e.g., improving VJ, 1RM, LT, PV while utilizing COMB-training to enhance TT. Certain variables may benefit from EXP. New randomized-controlled-trials are required to confirm these findings.

Proteins need to be located in appropriate spatiotemporal contexts to carry out their diverse biological functions. Mislocalized proteins may lead to a broad range of diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing where a target protein resides within a cell will give insights into tailored drug design for a disease. As the gold validation standard, the conventional wet lab uses fluorescent microscopy imaging, immunoelectron microscopy, and fluorescent biomarker tags for protein subcellular location identification. However, the booming era of proteomics and high-throughput sequencing generates tons of newly discovered proteins, making protein subcel-lular localization by wet-lab experiments a mission impossible. To tackle this concern, in the past decades, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), especially deep learning methods, have made significant progress in this research area. In this article, we review the latest advances in AI-based method development in three typical types of approaches, including sequence-based, knowledge-based, and image-based methods. We also elaborately discuss existing challenges and future directions in AI-based method development in this research field.

This research investigates entrepreneurial attitudes among 415 students in the academic sports domain. Utilizing a 15-item questionnaire, participants were categorized into four groups based on their sports background: individual and team sports with competitive history, amateur athletes, and non-practitioners. The questionnaire exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.755). Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square Test of Homogeneity across criteria such as gender, competitive sports involvement, type of competitive sports, and engagement in amateur sports revealed significant differences in nine out of 60 comparisons. Furthermore, this study employs an explanatory approach to elucidate the distinctions among athletes, amateur, and non-athlete students in academic sports programs regarding assumption of responsibilities, proactive initiative, determination to establish their own businesses, perception of the comfort zone, and the perception of post-sports career adaptation. Additionally, a gender comparison is conducted concerning the perception of business risk, comfort and security in a stable workplace, and the applicability of sports-oriented approaches in business. These results provide valuable insights into how sports backgrounds shape entrepreneurial perspectives, thereby contributing to the development of customized entrepreneurial programs. Moreover, the study seeks to offer a nuanced comprehension of the diverse factors influencing the entrepreneurial attitudes and perceptions of students in sports academic programs.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in adopting novel sensing technologies for the continuous monitoring of structural systems. In this respect, Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors are widely used in several applications, including Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Thanks to their significantly lower cost, ease of installation on the structure, and lower power consumption, they enable extensive, pervasive, and battery-less monitoring systems. This paper presents an innovative high-performance device for SHM applications, based on a low-noise triaxial MEMS accelerometer, providing a guideline and insightful results about the opportunities and capabilities of these devices. Sensor nodes have been designed, developed, and calibrated to meet structural vibration monitoring and modal identification requirements. These components include a protocol for reliable command dissemination through the network and data collection, and improvements to software components for data pipelining, jitter control, and high-frequency sampling. Devices were tested in the lab using shaker excitation. Results demonstrate that MEMS-based accelerometers are a feasible solution to replace expensive piezo-based accelerometers. Deploying MEMS is promising to minimize sensor node energy consumption. Time and frequency domain analysis show that MEMS can correctly detect modal frequencies, useful parameters for damage detection. The acquired data from the test bed were used to examine the functioning of the network, data transmission, and data quality. The proposed architecture has been successfully deployed in a real case study to monitor the structural health of the Marcus Aurelius Exedra Hall within the Capitoline Museum of Rome. The performance robustness was demonstrated and the results showed that the wired sensor network provides dense and accurate vibration data for structural continuous monitoring.

With the development of higher voltage power grid, the high and low voltage parallel loops are emerging, which lead to energy losses, even threaten the security and stability of power system. The multi-infeed HVDC configurations widely appearing in AC/DC interconnected power system make this situation even worse. Aimed at energy saving and system security, a decision optimization method for power grid operating condition with high and low voltage parallel loops is proposed in this paper. Firstly, considering hub substation distribution and power grid structure, parallel loop opening schemes are generated with GN algorithm. Then, candidate opening schemes are preliminarily selected from all these generated schemes based on a filtering index. Finally, with the influence on power system security, stability and operation economy in consideration, an evaluation model for candidate opening schemes is founded based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP). And a fuzzy evaluation algorithm is used to find the optimal scheme. Simulation results of New England 39-bus system and an actual power system validate the effectiveness and superiority of this proposed method.

The variability of ozone over Egypt has been studied in this work. Higher values of coefficient of variation (COV) at eight stations occur at winter while lowest values occur at summer. The COV is function of latitude in annual, winter and spring where it decreases gradually from the north to south of Egypt. The trend analysis of ozone over the eight stations indicates negative trends over northern stations for both annual and seasonal time series with the greatest one at winter. The horizontal distribution of ozone trend values is negative over all Egypt in winter while it positive over middle and south Egypt in the other seasons. The long-term variability of the behavior of the annual ozone shows positive trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1979- 1989 at the most stations. Negative trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1990- 2014 at all stations. The Mann–Kendall test confirms that there is an abrupt change towards decreasing of ozone occurs in 1981, 1984, 2012, 1999, 2000, 1998 and 2010, while a change towards increasing of ozone appears in 2006, 2014, 1993 and 1989.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents an extremely aggressive type of cancer due in part to early invasion and metastasis, which in turn involves epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the tumor cells. Prompted by the discovery that two PDAC-derived tumor cell lines of the quasi-mesenchymal subtype (PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2) exhibit neuroendocrine differentiation (NED), we asked whether NED is associated with EMT. Using quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblot analysis, we initially verified endogenous expression of various NED markers, i.e., chromogranin A (CHGA), synaptophysin (SYP), somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) and SSTR5 in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. In HPDE6c7 normal pancreatic duct epithelial cells and in BxPC-3, another PDAC cell line with an epithelial phenotype, the expression of CHGA, SYP and neuron-specific enolase 2 (NSE) was either undetectable or much lower than in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. Parental cultures of PANC-1 cells exhibit EM plasticity (EMP) and harbor clonal subpopulations with different EMT phenotypes [Ungefroren et al 2022]. Monitoring the NED state of mesenchymal and epithelial PANC-1 subclones showed that the NE phenotype is more pronounced in M-type clones when compared to E-type ones. Inducing EMT in parental cultures of PANC-1 cells by treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 repressed epithelial genes and co-induced mesenchymal and NED genes, except for SSTR5. Surprisingly, treatment with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 differentially affected gene expression in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. It synergised with TGF-β1 in the induction of vimentin, SNAIL, SSTR2 and NSE but antagonised it in the regulation of CHGA and SSTR5. From these data, we conclude that in EMT of PDAC cells mesenchymal and NED markers are co-regulated, and that mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is associated with a loss of both the mesenchymal and NED phenotypes. Analysing NED in another tumor type, small cell carcinoma of the ovary hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), revealed that two model cell lines of this disease (SCCOHT-1, BIN-67) do express CDH1, SNAI1, VIM, CHGA, SYP, ENO2 and SSTR2, but that in contrast to BMP-7 none of these genes was transcriptionally regulated by TGF-β1. We conclude that in PDAC-derived tumor cells, NED is closely linked to EMT and TGF-β signaling, which may have implications for the therapeutic use of TGF-β inhibitors in PDAC management.

Recent advancements in mass spectrometry have significantly enhanced our understanding of complex lipid profiles, opening new avenues for oncological diagnostics. This review highlights the importance of lipidomics in the comprehension of certain metabolic pathways and its potential for the detection and characterization of various cancers, in particular melanoma. Through detailed case studies, we demonstrate how lipidomic analysis has led to significant breakthroughs in the identification and understanding of cancer types and its potential for detecting unique biomarkers that are instrumental in its diagnosis. Additionally, the review addresses the technical challenges and future perspectives of these methodologies, including their potential expansion and refinement for clinical applications. The discussion underscores the critical role of lipidomic profiling in advancing cancer diagnostics, proposing a new paradigm in how we approach this devastating disease, with particular emphasis on its application in comparative oncology.

The causal networks are important for understanding the signaling alterations in diseases. To reveal the network pathways affected in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are related to poor prognosis of cancer, the molecular networks and gene expression in diffuse- and intestinal-type gastric cancer (GC) have been analyzed. The network pathways in GC were analyzed in Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The analysis of the probe sets of which gene expression has significant differences between diffuse- and intestinal-type GC in RNA Sequencing publicly available data identified 1099 causal networks in diffuse- and intestinal-type GC. Master regulators of the causal networks included lenvatinib, pyrotinib, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), mir-196, and erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2). The analysis of the HDAC1-interacting network identified the involvement of regulation of EMT by growth factors pathway, coronavirus pathogenesis pathway, and vorinostat. The network had RNA-RNA interactions with microRNAs such as mir-10, mir-15, mir-17, mir-19, mir-21, mir-217, mir-223, mir-25, mir-27, and mir-34. These molecular networks revealed in the study may lead to the identification of drug targets for GC.

(1) Background: Emotional resilience is defined as the capacity of individuals to cultivate positive emotions and effectively navigate through negative emotions in terms of stress or adversity. Recent research has focused on the significant impact of adolescents’ negative emotions, as opposed to positive emotions, on mental health. The examination of positive emotion provides a distinct viewpoint on the relationship between emotional resilience and mental health in adolescents. Consequently, the current research conducted two separate investigations to examine the impact of adolescent emotional resilience on mental health, as well as the mediating influence of positive emotion. (2) Methods: Study 1 comprised a cross-sectional analysis of 3086 Chinese adolescents, while Study 2 involved a longitudinal examination of 266 Chinese adolescents. (3) Results: Results indicated that emotional resilience was associated with enhanced levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and overall mental health, while also demonstrating a negative correlation with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Positive emotions were found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between emotional resilience and mental health. These results indicate that emotional resilience not only has a direct impact on mental health but also influences mental health indirectly through positive emotions. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlighted the role of emotional resilience in mitigating psychological problems and enhancing mental health in Chinese adolescents. The implications and limitations were discussed.

Background: Pediatric mallet finger injuries lack specific treatment guidelines, necessitating an exploration of effective techniques. Our aim was to evaluate the outcomes of the extension block technique in adolescent mallet finger management. Methods: A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted involving 36 adolescents who underwent surgery between 2014 and 2022. Ishiguro’s extension block pinning technique was the primary method employed. Treatment outcomes were evaluated using Crawford's criteria, and complications were also assessed. Results: Bone union was achieved in all cases with a mean union time of 42 days (range: 30-92 days). According to Crawford's criteria, 27 cases (75%) were classified as excellent, 5 cases (14%) as good, and 4 cases (11%) as fair. Minimal complications were observed, including three cases (8%) of superficial infections, one case (3%) of dermal necrosis, and another rare instance (3%) of osteomyelitis. No cases of poor outcomes or significant long-term complications were noted. The average follow-up period was 8.6 months (range: 2-42 months). Conclusions: Ishiguro’s extension block technique is a promising surgical option for adolescent mallet fingers. Its adoption could enhance pediatric orthopedic care, offering a valuable child-friendly treatment alternative.

Asparagus shoots are worldwide consumed, although most of such species have a restricted range, and several taxa still remain unstudied. In this work, a total of four taxa from different locations were scrutinized and compared with cultivated A. officinalis. All shoots were screened for saponins by LC-MS, and in vitro antiproliferative activities against the HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line (by MTT assay). The total saponins (TS) contained in the crude extracts ranged from 710.0 (A. officinalis) to 1258.6 mg/100 g dw (A. acutifolius). It stands out the richness of compounds detected in this work: a total of 47 saponins have been detected and quantified in the edible parts (shoots) of 5 taxa of Asparagus. The structure of all the saponins found present skeletons of the furostane and spirostane type. In turn, the structures with a furostane skeleton are divided into unsaturated and dioxygenated, both in the 20-22 position. The sum of dioscin and derivatives varied largely along the studied taxa. It reached the following percentages of TS: 27.11 (A. officinalis), 18.96 (A. aphyllus), 5.37 (A. acutifolius), and 0.59 (A. albus), while in A. horridus such compound remains undetected. Aspachiosde A, D, and M varied largely among samples, while a total of seven aspaspirostanosides were characterized in the analyzed species. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the saponin profiles clearly separated the various taxa and demonstrated that the taxonomic position is more important than the place from which the samples were acquired. Thus, saponin profiles have chemotaxonomic significance in Asparagus taxa. The MTT assay showed dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effects of several saponins extracts on HT-29 cancer cells, standing out the cell growth inhibition exercised by A. albus and A. acutifolius (GI50 of 125 and 175 µg/mL). This work constitutes a whole approach to evaluate the saponins from shoots of different Asparagus taxa and provide arguments for use them as functional foods.

Abstract: Background: The optimal strategy for the microelimination of HCV within community settings remains ambiguous. We evaluated the percentage of participants who achieved linkage to care (LTC) following the conclusion of the screening campaign, and examined the diverse factors influencing LTC among these individuals. The effectiveness of recall intervention for the non-LTC population and its barriers were analyzed. Methods: We initiated an HCV patients recall program to identify the HCV participants who might not be treated after the HCV screening campaign. A program staff recalled HCV participants who lost to follow-up through the telephone from March 2019 to June 2019. They were informed of HCV treatment's importance, efficacy, availability, and safety. Result: Among 185 HCV-infected participants, 109 (58.9%) HCV-infected participants had obtained LTC. Compared with those who had LTC, those without LTC were older, lower education levels, were less aware of their HCV infection, less frequently lived in urban areas, and had less health insurance. At the end of the recall program, 125 (67.6 %) persons had liked to care. The proportion of LTC increased by 8.7 %. 119 persons had an HCV RNA test, and 82 (68.9%) had viremia. Of 82 patients with viremia, 78 (95.1%) received antiviral therapy. 76 (97.4 %) of them achieved a sustained virological response. Conclusion: After a community screening campaign, 59 % of participants with anti-HCV positive had LTC. The recall program can increase by 9 %. However, there were still 32% of HCV participants who couldn't be linked to care. Outreach care for non-LTC patients is a way worth trying to achieve micro-elimination of HCV in the rural community.

In the present work, an innovative range of foams, based on flax gum-filled epoxy resin was developed, reinforced or not by flax fibers. Foams and composites with different gum and epoxy resin contents were produced and characterized for mechanical and thermal performances. To enhance the organic flax gum filler's cross-linking, we exploited the oxidized components' reactivity with the amine hardener (isophorone diamine). We compared the materials obtained with those derived from the native components. Flax gum and fibers were primarily characterized by chemical analysis, NMR, and FTIR to evaluate the mild oxidation of native materials. The formation of chemical bonds between oxidized polymer chains, epoxy resin, and hardener has been evidenced by FTIR, and the materials were then studied by SEM, X-ray computed micro-tomography (CT), and submitted to mechanical and thermal tests. The relevance of oxidation treatment was highlighted, through a significant increase in density and mechanical performances (+36% and +81%, respectively for the 100% flax gum material). The positive effect of flax fibers on homogeneity evidenced through micro-CT analysis was also clearly addressed. This set of promising results paves the way for future development of fully flax-based insulation composite materials.

Exosomes, natural nanovesicles that contain a cargo of biologically active molecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, are released from cells to the extracellular environment. They then act as autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine mediators of communication between cells by delivering their cargo into recipient cells and causing downstream effects. Exosomes are greatly enriched in miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs that act as cytoplasmic posttranscriptional repression agents, modulating the translation of mRNAs into proteins, as well as nuclear transcriptional gene activators. Neuronal exosomal miRNAs have important physiologic functions in the Central Nervous System (CNS), including cell-to-cell communication, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis, as well as modulating stress and inflammatory responses. Stress-induced changes of exosomal functions include effects on neurogenesis and neuroinflammation, which can lead to the appearance of various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's and Huntington’s's diseases. The current knowledge regarding the roles of exosomes in the pathophysiology of common mental disorders is discussed in this review.

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid in mammals obtained from the diet, is influenced by maternal diet, which impacts early life and development of offspring. This is studied under the Developmental Origins of Diseases and Health (DOHaD) concept, so factors from conception to early childhood affect health and disease susceptibility. Tryptophan is metabolized mainly through two pathways: serotonin (5-HT) and kynurenine. The kynurenine pathway, active in the brain, gut, liver, and placenta, breaks down over 95% of tryptophan and plays roles in inflammation, neurotransmission, immune responses, and immune modulation during pregnancy. The serotonin pathway uses up to 5% of Tryptophan, mainly in the gut, adipose tissues, pancreatic cells, and central nervous system, and regulates responses to environmental changes, including sleep, cognition, and feeding behavior. Key enzymes in these pathways include Trp-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) type1 (IDO1), and type 2 (IDO2) (kynurenine pathway), and tryptophan hydroxylase type 1 (TPH1) and type 2 (TPH2), serotonin pathway. The fetus-placental unit manages tryptophan metabolism. Serotonin and kynurenine are crucial for placental health and fetal development. Serotonin adjusts placental blood volume and aids neurodevelopment. Kynurenine metabolites protect the fetus from maternal immunity and offer initial neuroprotection. At birth, infants switch from placental nutrients to breast milk, rich in tryptophan and protective bioactive molecules. Tryptophan, solely from breast milk, is crucial for infants. Its levels are high in newborns (first three weeks, 2-4 times higher than in adults), gradually declining to adult levels by the fourth week. The highlights the importance of tryptophan for the serotonin and kynurenine pathways in fetuses, newborns and babies applied to the DOHaD concept.

Aluminum (Al), making up a third of the Earth's crust, is a widespread toxic contaminant, particularly in acidic soils. It impacts crops at multiple levels, from the cellular to the whole plant. This review delves into aluminum's reactivity, including its cellular transport, involvement in oxidative redox reactions, development of specific metabolites, and the influence of genes on the production of membrane channels and transporters, as well as its role in triggering apoptosis leading to senescence. It discusses the involvement of channel proteins in calcium influx, vacuolar proton pumping, the suppression of mitochondrial respiration, and the initiation of programmed cell death. At the cellular nucleus level, the effects of Al on gene regulation through alterations in nucleic acid modifications, such as methylation and histone acetylation, are examined. The review in addition outlines the pathways of Al induced metabolic disruption specifically citric acid metabolism, regulation of proton excretion, induction of specific transcription factors, modulation of Al-responsive proteins, changes of citrate and nucleotide glucose transporters and overall metal detoxification pathways in tolerant genotypes. It also considers the expression of phenolic oxidases in response to oxidative stress, their regulatory feedback on mitochondrial cytochrome proteins, and their consequences on root development. Ultimately, the review focuses on the selective metabolic pathways that facilitate Al exclusion and tolerance, emphasizing compartmentalization, antioxidative defense mechanisms, and the control of programmed cell death to manage metal toxicity.

Phytopathogenic fungi are living organisms that cause plant diseases and great damage to agri-cultural products. Despite the wide range of commercial fungicide products in use, there is a clear need for new and environmentally friendly fungicides. Here we propose a new ecological fun-gicide, copper alginate microspheres prepared by ionic gelation. The microspheres were charac-terized (morphology and topography, encapsulation efficiency, load capacity, swelling behavior, rheology, kinetics and mechanism of copper ions release) and their in vitro antifungal potential against selected genera of phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated. Novel copper alginate micro-spheres inhibited spore germination of Botrytis cinerea and mycelial growth of Cercospora beticola and Phytophthora ramorum. They offer effective disease control while minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

Multifunctional landscapes are complex systems that integrate biophysical, cultural-historical and socio-economic components into unique territorial structures and regional ensembles. Facing increasing pressures generated by urbanization, climate change and overexploitation of natural resources, assessing the sustainability of these landscapes has become an urgent priority. The present research is based on the development and parametrization of a new tool for evaluating the sustainability of multifunctional landscapes that aims to measure the level of biocultural resilience of a landscape, integrating biological, cultural and socio-economic indicators in a single analytical framework. This index, called the biocultural resilience index (BRI), provides a holistic perspective on the dynamics of landscapes, allowing the identification of vulnerability areas and the development of conservation and sustainable management strategies. The evaluation of the of multifunctional landscapes sustainability requires a comprehensive approach that has to integrate both biological aspects, such as biodiversity and ecosystem health, as well as identity and cultural aspects, such as cultural value and the relationship of the local communities with the environment. In this context, this study highlights the fact that the development of appropriate tools and methods for assessing and monitoring the sustainability of multifunctional landscapes becomes essential for their sustainable management and for protecting the benefits they offer to society. Our findings show that the biocultural resilience index (BRI) can be used in a variety of contexts and fields, including spatial planning, biodiversity conservation, sustainable rural development and ecotourism. In the meanwhile, this index offers a robust and flexible analytical framework, adaptable to the needs and particularities of different regions and communities.

In this pilot study, 84 subjects with a history of poor oral hygiene were enrolled in an interventional, randomized, prospective, open-label controlled trial. The aim was to provide preliminary clinical data on the products, the recruitment monthly rate, and patient satisfaction to estimate resources for the main study, as well as descriptive data on oral microbiota rebalancing. The population was divided into five groups: 20 participants received delicate mint toothpaste, 12 mint toothpaste, 20 mint mouthwash, and 20 delicate mint toothpaste and mint mouthwash using a specifically custom-designed toothbrush. The 12 subjects in the control group continued to use their oral care products without changing their normal routine. The study duration was 28 days.All subjects tolerated the products well, and there were no adverse events. Recruitment capability and procedures allowed a realistic estimation for the future main trial. The products did not cause any changes in tooth color. The participants who completed the treatment consisting of delicate mint toothpaste, mint mouthwash, and the specifically custom-designed toothbrush showed the gingival sensitivity best results (p≤0.000). The products induced a statistically significant decrease in plaque in all treated groups (p≤0.000) and an improvement of gingival sensitivity (delicate mint toothpaste, p≤0.005; mint toothpaste, p≤0.015; and mint mouthwash, p≤0.015). All the products were effective in stabilizing the oral microbiota.The tested products showed an optimal safety profile. They also stabilized the biodiversity of the oral microbiota, making it less susceptible to microbial fluctuations than the control group.

In arid and semi-arid regions like Tunisia, irrigation water is typically saline, posing a soil and crop salinization risk and yield reduction. This research aims to study the combined effects of soil matric and osmotic potential stresses on tomato root water uptake. Plants were grown in pot and field experiments in loamy-clay soils and were irrigated with three different irrigation water qualities: 0, 3.5, and 7 dS/m. The Hydrus-1D model was used to simulate the combined dynamics of subsurface soil water and salts. Successful calibration and validation of the model against measured water and salt profiles enabled the examination of the combined effects of osmotic and matric potential stresses on root water uptake. Relative yields, indirectly estimated from actual and potential transpiration, indicated that the multiplicative stress response model effectively simulated measured yields and the impact of saline water irrigation on crop yields. The gradual salinization of the root zone further evidenced this effect. The scenario considering a temperature increase of 2°C had no significant impact on crop yields in the pot and field experiments.

With recent advancements in network technology and spread of Internet, use of social network services and Internet of Things devices has flourished, leading to a continuous generation of large volumes of graph stream data, where changes, such as additions or deletions of vertices and edges occur over time. Additionally, owing to the need for efficient use of storage space and security requirements, graph stream data compression has become essential in various applications. Even though various studies on graph compression methods have been conducted, most of them do not fully reflect the dynamic characteristics of graph streams and complexity of large graphs. In this paper, we propose a compression scheme using provenance data to efficiently process and analyze large graph stream data. It obtains provenance data by analyzing graph stream data and builds a pattern dictionary based on this to perform dictionary-based compression. By improving the existing dictionary-based graph compression methods, it enables more efficient dictionary management through tracking pattern changes and evaluating their importance using provenance. Furthermore, it considers the relationships among sub-patterns using an FP-tree and performs pattern dictionary management that updates pattern scores based on time. Our experiments show that the proposed scheme outperforms existing graph compression methods in key performance metrics, such as compression rate and processing time.

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP) represent a global clinical challenge, affecting 5-10% of women and leading to complications for both maternal well-being and fetal development. At the heart of these complications is endothelial dysfunction, with oxidative stress emerging as a pivotal causative factor. The reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a vital indicator of this dysfunction, culminating in blood pressure dysregulation. In the therapeutic context, although antihypertensive medications are commonly used, they come with inherent concerns related to maternal-fetal safety, and a percentage of women do not respond to these therapies. Therefore, alternative strategies that directly address the pathophysiology of HDP are required. This article focuses on the potential of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, abundantly present in dark leafy greens and beetroot, as an alternative approach to treating HDP. The objective of this review is to discuss the prospective antioxidant role of nitrate. We hope our discussion paves the way for using nitrate to improve endothelial dysfunction and control oxidative stress, offering a potential therapy for managing HDP.

The study of rare diseases is important not only for the individuals affected but also for the advancement of medical knowledge and a deeper understanding of human biology and genetics. The wide repertoire of structural information now available from reliable and accurate prediction methods provides the opportunity to investigate the molecular origins of most of the rare diseases reviewed in the Orpha.net database. Thus, it has been possible to analyze the topology of the missense mutations found in the 2,535 proteins involved in Mendelian rare diseases (MRD), which form the database for our structural bioinformatics study. The amino acid substitutions responsible for MRD show different mutation site distributions at different three-dimensional protein depths. We then predicted the depth-dependent effects of mutations for the 20,248 pathogenic variants that are present in our database. The results of this structural bioinformatics investigation are relevant, as they provide additional clues to mitigate the damage caused by MRD.

Abstract: The study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis for the genomic characterization of 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from cattle farms, cattle abattoirs, and retail outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. The isolates' sequence types (STs), clonal complexes (CCs), and lineages were determined using in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We used BLAST-based analyses to identify virulence and antimicrobial genes, plasmids, proviruses, and the CRISPR-Cas system. The study investigated any association of the detected genes to the origin in the beef production chain of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Overall, in 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, there were 7 STs, 6 CCs, 44 putative virulence factors, 2 resistance genes, 1 plasmid with AMR genes and 3 with conjugative genes, 1 CRISPR gene, and all 60 isolates were positive for proviruses. Among the 7 STs detected, ST204 (46.7%) and ST2 (21.7%) were the most prominent, with ST frequency varying significantly (p&lt;0.001). The predominant CC detected were CC2 (21.7%) and CC204 (46.7%) in lineages I and II, respectively. Of the 44 virulence factors detected, 26 (across Listeria Pathogenicity Islands, LIPIs) were present in all the isolates. The difference in the detection frequency varied significantly (P&lt;0.001). The two AMR genes (fosX and vga(G)) detected were present in all 60 (100%) isolates of L. monocytogenes. The only plasmid, NF033156, was present in 3 (5%) isolates. A CRISPR-Cas system was detected in 6 (10%), and all the isolates carried proviruses. Significant differences were detected in the frequencies of STs and virulence factors regarding the source and sample type of the L. monocytogenes isolates. The presence of both fosX and vga(G) genes in all the isolates from the three industries (cattle farms, abattoirs, and retail outlets) can potentially cause therapeutic implications. Our study, which characterized L. monocytogenes recovered from the three levels in the beef production chain in the country, provides the first evidence of the distribution of the pathogen with potential food safety and therapeutic implications.

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a co-inhibitory molecule expressed on the surface of various cell types, known for its suppressive effect on T cells through interaction with PD-1. Neutrophils also express PD-L1, and its expression is elevated in specific situations; however, the immunobiological role of PD-L1+ neutrophil has not been fully characterized. Here, we report that PD-L1-expressing neutrophils increased in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection are highly functional in bacterial elimination and supporting inflammatory resolution. The frequency of PD-L1+ neutrophils was dramatically increased in MRSA-infected mice, and this population exhibited enhanced activity in bacterial elimination compared to PD-L1- neutrophils. An administration of PD-L1 monoclonal antibody did not impair PD-L1+ neutrophil function suggesting that PD-L1 expression itself does not influence neutrophil activity. However, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade significantly delayed liver inflammation resolution in MRSA-infected mice, as indicated by increased plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) level and frequencies of inflammatory leukocytes in the liver implying that neutrophil PD-L1 suppresses the inflammatory response of these cells during the acute phase of MRSA infection. Our results reveal that elevated PD-L1 expression can be a marker for enhanced anti-bacterial function of neutrophils. Moreover, PD-L1+ neutrophils are an indispensable population attenuating inflammatory leukocyte activities assisting in a smooth transition into the resolution phase in MRSA infection.

The effects of the climate crisis are affecting ecosystems at different scales and magnitudes. This paper focuses on a massive Mediterranean mussel die-off observed along the middle Italian Adriatic coast in the summer of 2022. We considered the possible environmental causes of this phenomenon and carried out a climatic analysis of the last decade. We performed field surveys in different locations along a 16 Km coastal stretch (from Martinsicuro (TE) on the South, to Grottammare (AP) on the North). The study area includes two marine Sites of Community Importance under the European Natura 2000 network. The mussels die-off has interested practically all the natural mussel-beds colonizing the study area. Mussels are sessile filter-feeding organisms inhabiting the intertidal zone, therefore, are highly exposed to variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and nutrient load. We discuss the possible causes of this die-off, proposing that high temperature and the scarce availability of food acted simultaneously as stress factors, generating local unsustainable living conditions for this species.

This study addresses the challenge of treating skin cancer effectively, especially in visible areas like the face, where traditional methods may be undesirable. Current options, including surgery and radiation therapy, have limitations such as complexity, expense, and imprecise dose delivery. The proposed solution involves additively manufacturing personalized patches using diagnostic imaging data, offering a targeted and controlled dose of beta-emitting isotopes like Y-90. The patches, tailored to the tumor's shape and depth, aim to minimize damage to healthy tissues and structures. Through 3D printing technology we demonstrated the feasibility of creating individualized applicators filled with radioisotopes, that have the potential to deliver therapeutic doses while ensuring patient comfort and affordability. This innovative approach, based on radiation delivery simulations, offers a promising future alternative to conventional radiation therapy methods. Clinical trials are required to validate its efficacy and safety, but the potential for reduced radiation exposure and enhanced treatment precision positions this personalized and targeted therapy as a valuable advancement in skin cancer treatment.

Background: The effect of COVID-19 infection, versus the indirect effect of the pandemic on body composition remains unclear. This study investigates long-term changes in body composition in COVID–19 survivors compared to a contemporary control group. Method: This is a prospective study involving adults who had a pre-pandemic whole-body DXA scan (DXA#1) performed between 2017 and 2019. Participants were asked to return for a repeat whole-body DXA scan (DXA#2) after the pandemic. Detailed data were collected including medical and COVID history. Inflammation markers and fasting lipids were measured. For those participants who had a COVID-19 infection between the 2 DXAs, DXA#2 was acquired at least one year after COVID-19 infection. Results: Overall, 160 adults were enrolled; 32.5% females, 51.8% non-white, with mean age of 43.2 years. Half (n=80) of the participants had documented COVID infection between their 2 DXA scans (COVID+ group), and the other half never had COVID. COVID-negative participants had an increase in annualized trunk fat (g) [922.5 vs. 159.7; P=0.01], total fat (g) [1564.3 vs. 199.9; P=0.2], and LBM (g) [974.9 vs. -64.5; P=0.0002], when compared to COVID+ group. However, among the COVID+ group, no differences were seen in annualized trunk fat, total fat mass, or LBM between those with PASC and without (p>0.05). Conclusion: During the pandemic, both COVID-19-survivors and COVID-negative groups exhibited increases in weight, and total and trunk fat, likely associated with pandemic-linked lifestyle modifications. However, only COVID-19-survivors had a decline in lean body mass over the same period, regardless of PASC symptoms.

Glycerol represents a useful functional component of heat-transfer fluids. Glycerol is known to be triboelectrically active. We report how the flow of glycerol, stopped in a cylindrical coiled pipe, influences horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme. Namely, glycerol flow was pumped through the coil and then stopped. After that, we incubated the 0.1 µM solution of HRP near the side of the coil, and then adsorbed HRP onto mica. This operation markedly increased the HRP aggregation on mica in comparison with the control sample. We explain this phenomenon by the influence of triboelectrically induced electromagnetic fields. Our results can be useful in the development of flow-based systems for biosensors and bioreactors.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor 1 (PAC1-R) has a higher affinity for pituitary adenylate cyclase- activating polypeptide (PACAP) than for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). PACAP exerts its neuroprotective effects through PAC1-R. PAC1-R has become a target for drug development, and we targeted PAC1-R to screen small positive allosteric modulator 1 (SPAM1). SPAM1 has a neuroprotective effects, and in the D-galactose (D-gal) mouse model, SPAM1 improved the structure of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and restored the number of neurons. Compared with D-gal model mice, SPAM1 treatment upregulated the expression of Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) and Lamin B1, and downregulated the expression of YinYang 1 (YY1) and p16. Consistent with this, the same results were obtained in senescent RGC-5 cells. Meanwhile, SPAM1 was also found to up-regulate SIRT6 and down-regulate YY1 expression in normal RGC-5 cells. Then, we further explored the mechanism of SPAM1 neuroprotection by whole transcriptome sequencing and proteomic analysis, and found that SPAM is involved in the longevity regulating pathway, and confirmed the up-regulation of neurofilament light polypeptide and neurofilament medium polypeptide by western blot, thus laying a pharmacological foundation for SPAM1 as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases. polypeptide and neurofilament medium polypeptide. Thus, it lays a pharmacological foundation for SPAM1 as a therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases.

The up-to-date challenge towards clean road transport are non-exhaust emissions. Important advances regarding measurement systems, including well defined characterisation techniques, as well as regulation, will happen in the next few years. In this work we present detailed results of particle emissions from a test bed for wheel suspension and brakes, consisting of aerosol (size distribution, particle number (PN) and mass (PM)) and electron microscopy measurements (EM) under different load conditions. Standard tyres and brakes from series production were tested with a high-load driving cycle while particle measurements were conducted by gravimetric measurements and with a TSI SMPS, a TSI APS and a GRIMM OPS. Furthermore, samples were analyzed by electron microscopy. A bimodal particle size distribution (PSD) was obtained with the SMPS, with peaks at 20nm and around 400nm. EM analysis of &gt;1400 single particles from the electrostatic sampler matches the PSD results. EM analysis also showed ultrafine particles, mainly from O, Fe, Si, Ba, Mg and S and also fractal particles with high C fractions. Our results suggest, in agreement with previously published literature, that particulate emissions are related to brake disc temperature and occur in significant amounts above a threshold temperature.

Among magnetoelectric (ME) heterostructures, ME laminates of the type Metglas-like / PVDF (magnetostrictive+piezoelectric constituents) have shown the highest induced ME voltages, usually detected at the magnetoelastic resonance of the magnetostrictive constituent. This ME coupling happens because of the high cross-correlation coupling between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric material, and is usually associated with a promising application scenario for sensors or actuators. In this work we detail the basis of the operation of such devices, as well as some arising questions (as size effects) concerning their best performance. Also, some examples of their use as very sensitive magnetic fields sensors or innovative energy harvesting devices will be presented At the end, the challenges, future perspectives and technical difficulties that will determine the success of ME composites for sensor applications are discussed.

Based upon Maxwell's equations, it has long been established that oscillating electromagnetic (EM) fields incident upon a metal surface decay exponentially inside the conductor, leading to a virtual EM vacuum at sufficient depths. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizes radiofrequency (r.f.) EM fields to produce images. Here we present the first visualization of a virtual EM vacuum inside a bulk metal strip by MRI, amongst several novel findings. We uncover unexpected MRI intensity patterns arising from two orthogonal pairs of faces of a metal strip, and derive formulae for their intensity ratios, revealing differing effective elemental volumes (voxels) underneath these faces. Further, we furnish chemical shift imaging (CSI) results that discriminate different faces (surfaces) of a metal block according to their distinct nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts, which holds much promise for monitoring surface chemical reactions noninvasively. Bulk metals are ubiquitous, and MRI is a premier noninvasive diagnostic tool. Combining the two, the emerging field of bulk metal MRI can be expected to grow in importance. The fundamental nature of results presented here may impact bulk metal MRI and CSI across many fields.

The exponential growth of user-contributed data provides a comprehensive basis for assessing collective perceptions of landscape change. A variety of possible public data sources exist, such as geospatial data from social media or Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). Key challenges with such ‘opportunistic’ data sampling are variability in platform popularity and bias due to changing user groups and contribution rules. In this study, we use five case studies to demonstrate how intra- and inter-dataset comparisons can help to assess the temporality of landscape scenic resources, such as identifying seasonal characteristics for a given area, or testing hypotheses about shifting popularity trends observed in the field. By focusing on the consistency and reproducibility of temporal patterns for selected scenic resources and comparisons across different dimensions of data, we aim to contribute to the development of systematic methods for disentangling the perceived impact of events and trends from other technological and social phenomena included in the data. The proposed techniques may help to draw attention to overlooked or underestimated patterns of landscape change, fill in missing data between periodic surveys, or corroborate and support field observations. Despite limitations, the results already provide a comprehensive basis for developing indicators with a high degree of timeliness for monitoring perceived landscape change over time.

Background and Objectives: To analyze survival in peritoneal and hemodialysis patients using chest radiography and biochemical parameters, determine dialysis etiologies and common mortality causes, reveal prognostic factors, and contribute to clinical practice. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on the analysis of data from 33 peritoneal dialysis and 37 hemodialysis patients who were followed and treated in our hospital between October 2018 and February 2020. Chest X-ray measurements (cardiothoracic index, pulmonary vascular pedicle width, right pulmonary artery diameter, diaphragmatic height) and biochemical parameters (urea, albumin, creatinine, parathormone, ferritin, hemoglobin, arterial blood gas, potassium) were analyzed to assess their impact on survival. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mann-Whitney U test, McNemar test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, Spearman correlation test, Phi test, and ROC analysis. Results: The most common etiologies of dialysis were hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and urogenital disorders. The most common cause of death in peritoneal dialysis patients was peritonitis (38.5%), while in hemodialysis patients, it was cardiovascular diseases (47.4%). In chest X-ray measurements, pulmonary vascular pedicle width (p=0.003) and pulmonary artery diameter increased significantly (p=0.002) in hemodialysis patients, while pulmonary vascular pedicle width (p=0.028) and diaphragmatic height (p=0.004) increased significantly in peritoneal dialysis patients. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of biochemical parameters. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference in survival between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis methods (P>0.05). Significant correlations were found between both radiologic status and clinical status and between intact parathormone levels and pulmonary vascular pedicle width (p=0.016, p=0.024). In Cox regression analysis, age, intact parathormone levels, iPTH/PVPW ratio, and clinical status were found to be factors affecting survival (p

Precipitation patterns are critical for understanding the hydrological and climatological dynamics of any region. Sicily, the largest island of the Mediterranean sea, with its diverse topography and climatic conditions, serves as an ideal case study for analyzing precipitation data to gain insights into regional water resources, agricultural productivity, and climate change impacts. This paper employs advanced statistical physics methods, particularly Tsallis q-statistics, to analyze sub-hourly precipitation data from 2002 to 2023, provided by the Sicilian Agrometeorological Informative System (SIAS). We investigate several critical variables related to rainfall events, including duration, depth, maximum record, and inter-event time. The study spans two decades (2002-2012 and 2013-2023), analyzing the distributions of relevant variables. Additionally, we examine the simple returns of these variables to identify significant temporal changes, fitting these returns with q-Gaussian distributions. Our findings reveal the scale-invariant nature of precipitation events, the presence of long-range interactions and memory effects, characteristic of complex environmental processes.