The accumulation of loss of function mutations in the uricase gene well explains the high urate levels in hominoids (apes and humans) compared to other mammals. The loss of human uricase activity may have allowed humans to survive environmental stressors, evolution bottlenecks, and life-threatening pathogens. While high urate levels may contribute to developing cardiometabolic disorders such as hypertension and insulin resistance, low urate levels may increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. The double-edged sword effect of uric acid has resurrected a growing interest in the antioxidant role of urate and the role of the uricase gene in modulating the risk of obesity. Characterizing both the effect of uric acid levels and the uricase gene in different animal models may provide new insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of uric acid and novel uricase-based therapy.

Aims Earlier studies reported alterations of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The first rate-limiting enzymes indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan dioxygenase were observed upregulated, resulting elevated KYN/TRP ratios in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with PD. An increasing number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been identified in a population of PD. However, little is known if genetic variations of the IDO contribute to disturbance of the KYN metabolism in and the pathogenesis of PD. Main methods SNP analysis of IDO1 was performed by allelic discrimination assay with fluorescently labelled TaqMan probes and a subgroup analysis was conducted according to the age of PD onset. The frame shifts variant rs34155785, intronic variant rs7820268, and promotor region variant rs9657182 SNPs of 105 PD patients without comorbidity were analyzed and compared to 129 healthy controls. Key findings No significant correlation was found in three SNPs between PD patients and healthy controls. However, the subgroup analysis revealed that A alleles of rs7820268 SNP or rs9657182 SNP carriers contribute to later onset of PD than non-carriers. Significance The study suggested that SNPs of IDO1 influenced the age onset of PD and genotyping of SNPs in certain alleles potentially serves as a risk biomarker of PD.

Earlier studies reported alterations of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The first rate-limiting enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan dioxygenase were observed upregulated, resulting elevated KYN/TRP ratios in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with PD. An increasing number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in a population of PD. However, little is known if genetic variations of the IDO contribute to disturbance of the KYN metabolism in and the pathogenesis of PD. SNP analysis of IDO1 was performed by allelic discrimination assay with fluorescently labelled TaqMan probes and a subgroup analysis was conducted according to the age of PD onset. The frame shifts variant rs34155785, intronic variant rs7820268, and promotor region variant rs9657182 SNPs of 105 PD patients without comorbidity were analyzed and compared to 129 healthy controls. No significant correlation was found in three SNPs between PD patients and healthy controls. However, the subgroup analysis revealed that A alleles of rs7820268 SNP or rs9657182 SNP carriers contribute to later onset of PD than non-carriers. The study suggested that SNPs of IDO1 influenced the age onset of PD and genotyping of SNPs in certain alleles potentially serves as a risk biomarker of PD.

Background and Objectives: Trichomonas tenax is a protozoan, participating in the human oral microflora. It is considered as a potential paradontopathogen. This microorganism is also reported in the respiratory tract. We aimed to analyze the available literature about the prevalence of Trichomonas tenax in the population affected by periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: Тhe searching with keywords: ,,Trichomonas tenax” and “periodontal diseases’’ in Scopus, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases was able to identify several systematic reviews and original articles until July 2023. All studies with suffering from periodontal disease people, mentioned year of publication, country, specified detection methods, total number of tested samples as well as the percentage of those infected with Trichomonas tenax were included. Irrelevant articles were excluded. Results: We found 137 studies, but only 64 studies about distribution of Trichomonas tenax in patients with gum disease underwent qualitative analysis. The highest number of studies have been conducted in Iran, Poland and Iraq. Different methods have been used to detect the unicellular organism, each with different specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions: Interest in Trichomonas tenax has grown considerably since 2000. Because of its association with periodontal disease, Trichomonas tenax role in the inflammatory process shouldn’t be overlooked.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Therefore, there is in-creasing interest in dietary interventions to reduce risk factors associated with these conditions. Cherries and berries are rich sources of bioactive compounds and have attracted attention for their potential cardiovascular benefits. This review summarizes the current research on the effects of cherries and berries consumption on cardiovascular health, including in vivo studies and clinical trials. These red fruits are rich in phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins and flavonoids, which have multiple bioactive properties. These properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effects. Studies suggest that regular consumption of these fruits may reducing in-flammation and oxidative stress, leading to lower blood pressure, improved lipid profiles, and enhanced endothelial function. However, interpreting findings and establishing optimal dosages is challenge due to the variability in fruit composition, processing methods, and study design. Despite these limitations, the evidence highlights the potential of cherries and berries as components of preventive strategies against CVD. Further research is needed to maximize their health benefits and improve clinical practice.

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affects human respiratory function causing COVID-19 disease. Safe natural products with potential antiviral phytochemicals with benefits to control high-altitude sickness could be adopted as adjunct therapy for COVID-19. The red petals of Rhododendron arboreum, commonly available and consumed in the Himalayan region may have phytochemicals with potential antiviral properties against COVID-19 targets.Purpose: This study was aimed to profile the secondary metabolites of R. arboreum petals, to assess their absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) properties and evaluate their antiviral potential by docking against COVID-19 targets such as SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro PDB ID: 6LU7) and Human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor (PDB ID: 1R4L) that mediates the viral replication and entry into the host respectively.Methods: The phytochemicals of R. arboreum petals were mainly profiled using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and ¹H-NMR. In addition, the phytochemicals reported from the literature were tabulated. The ADME properties of the phytochemicals were predicted using SwissADME tool. Molecular docking simulation of the phytochemicals against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro PDB ID: 6LU7) and Human Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor (PDB ID: 1R4L) were carried out using PyRx.Results: R. arboreum petals were found to be rich in appreciable proportions of secondary metabolites such as Quinic acid, 3-Caffeoyl-quinic acid, 5-O-Coumaroyl-D-quinic acid, 5-O-Feruloylquinic acid, 2,4-Quinolinediamine, Coumaric acid, Caffeic acid, Epicatechin, Catechin, 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid, Shikimic acid, Protocatechuic acid, Epicatechin gallate, Quercetin, Quercetin-O-pentoside, Quercetin-O-rhamnoside, Kaempferol-O-pentoside and Kaempferol. Several of these phytochemicals were reported to exhibit inhibitory activities against a range of viruses. From the molecular docking studies, 5-O-Feruloylquinic acid, 3-Caffeoyl-quinic acid, 5-O-Coumaroyl-D-quinic acid, Epicatechin and Catechin showed strong binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 M^pro and human ACE2 receptor.Conclusion: This report showed that R. arboreum petals are rich in several antiviral phytochemicals that also docked against SARS-CoV-2 M^Pro and Human ACE2 receptor. This is the first report highlighting R. arboreum petals as a reservoir of antiviral phytochemicals with potential for synergetic activities. The outcomes merit further in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on R. arboreum phytochemicals to develop natural formulations against COVID-19 disease for therapeutic benefits.

Background: Lactate is a metabolic byproduct. It has traditionally been seen as a byproduct of oxygen-deprived glycolysis and ischemia. Therefore, our main goal is to examine the influence of lactate levels (LLs) on clinical outcomes in patients with severe Traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: This is a level 1 single-center, retrospective study of patients with severe TBI between January 1, 2020- December 31, 2023, inclusive. Only patients with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), value of 3 or higher were included. Results: Single-factor ANOVA indicated a significant increase in LLs with decreasing age (Hospital admission: p = 1.53E-13, ICU admission: p = 0.0183, Hospital discharge: p = 0.02, Death: p = 0.0149). Linear regression models showed a significant decrease in age compared to Hospital admission LLs (p = 2.65E-09), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission LLs (p = 0.01), and Death LLs (p = 0.00295). Prognostic scores such as Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) showed a strong correlation with both Hospital admission and ICU admission LLs. ANOVA indicated higher LLs with increasing ISS (Hospital admission: p = 5.22E-06, ICU admission: p = 1.92E-05) and increasing LLs with decreasing GCS (Admission: p = 3.42E-08, ICU admission: p = 1.74E-09). Linear regressions revealed a strong positive correlation between ISS and LLs (Hospital admission: p = 3.69E-07, ICU admission: p = 2.90E-06). On linear regression, the lactate level measured at hospital admission and ICU admission strongly positively associated with the length of stay (LOS) in the hospital (Hospital admission: p = 0.00342, ICU admission: p = 0.0163), LOS in the ICU (Hospital admission: p = 0.0141, ICU admission: p = 0.0234), ventilator days (Hospital admission: p = 0.002513, ICU admission: p = 8.23E-05), and mortality (Hospital admission: p = 8.13E-05, ICU admission: p = 3.93E-05). Discussion: We discovered that high LLs were linked to longer stays in the hospital and ICU, as well as more days requiring a ventilator, and higher mortality rates in patients with severe TBI. Enhanced LLs had the most notable impact on the number of days on a ventilator and mortality, followed by longer hospital and ICU stays. Therefore, lactate can be considered a strong predictor of poor clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI.

The research introduces the concept of Strong Energy (SE) as a force that encompasses all the different forms of energy in the universe. The study aims to create a mathematical framework that can describe the relationship between these different types of energy and how they can be converted from one form to another. The paper explores the theoretical implications of this model and investigates how it aligns with established physics principles like the conservation of energy and fundamental forces. The paper also discusses potential experiments and the impact this research could have on cosmology, particle physics, and our understanding of energy. This work sets the stage for future research in this area of study.

We are experiencing an unprecedented urbanization process that alongside with physical, social and economic developments is having a significant impact on population’s health. Due to higher apprehensions of pollution, violence and poverty, our modern cities no longer ensure a good quality of life so they become unhealthy environments. This study aims to measure the socio-environmental and hematologic profile of residents of Santo André’s landfill – “Bairro Espírito Santo” by using the contextualization of the studied area. The research method is Observational type and from Retrospective cohort and by convenience sampling in Santo André in the Greater ABC region. The study determined a socio environmental profile and the hematologic diseases screening related to a close location to the landfill. The disease manifests itself within a broad spectrum of symptoms that causes changes in blood count parameters. The full blood counts analysis was performed, indicating that the blood counts of residents living near the landfill led to positive hematological changes and diseases like Leukopenia, Anemia, Neutropenia and lymphocytosis were the most common changes. However it is considered that the proof of the relation of cause- effect to environmental exposures that may trigger chronic manifestations in humans requires specific studies that are often complicated.

Introductions- Liveable housing environments face the menace of global climate change. In-frastructure (including buildings and houses) continuously experiences significant impacts ex-acerbated by natural variability in climate. The study addressed how climate change impacts the resilience of residential buildings, increased maintenance frequency, and the wellbeing and comfort of residents in UK residential buildings. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used deductive reasoning and an empirical epis-temological methodology as a data-collecting basis to evaluate primary information obtained via a questionnaire. Regression analysis was ultimately employed to analyse the collected da-ta. Result/Discussions: The findings show a significant relationship between climate change and the wellbeing of the occupants of UK residential buildings. Also, the results show that social wellbeing is more important to the occupants than mental and physical wellbeing. It reveals that residential buildings in the UK suffer the cost of maintenance due to continuous reduc-tion in the building fabric's resilience to the impacts of climate change; for instance, a recent increase in rainfall/storms results in unprecedented flooding, which continues to damage the UK residential building fabrics.

The sustainable development goals(SDG) of the UNO would be difficult to achieve without prevention of metabolic diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Western diet and lifestyle, which are major risk factors of NCDs, are known to cause oxidative stress and decrease in production of molecular hydrogen in the intestines which leads to a decline in endogenous antioxidant status in the body, leading to increase in systemic inflammation. Many experts consider molecular hydrogen as a potential nutrient, which may be administered as gas in the body. There are gaps in the knowledge about the role molecular hydrogen plays, in the treatment of metabolic diseases and other NCDs This review aims to discuss the role of hydrogen in the pathogenesis and prevention of NCDs. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been studied extensively as a therapeutic gas, with an estimated 2000 publications to date, exploring its potential therapeutic use in 170 disease models across every organ in the mammalian body. Hydrogen therapy can be administered through several methods, such as H2 inhalation, dissolving H2 gas in water to make hydrogen-rich water (HRW) for oral consumption or topical application, or hydrogen-rich saline. The exact mechanism of action of molecular hydrogen is not known but it is in itself a potential antioxidant that can also inhibit hydroxyl and nitrosyl radicals in the cells and tissues. Hydrogen is known to cause a marked decline in oxidative stress, and inflammation that are crucial in the pathogenesis of NCDs. Hydrogen therapy has been found protective against NCDs, including, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), neurodegenerative diseases, chronic kidney disease, cancer and chronic lung diseases.

In an historic perspective on the development of the Standard Model of particle physics it is shown how mathematically driven axioms have masked the merits of a physically comprehensible structural view. It is concluded that the difference between the two approaches can be traced back to two major issues. Whereas in the Standard Model the quark is a Dirac particle with a single real dipole moment, the quark in the structural model, in confinement with other quarks, is a Dirac particle with two real dipole moments. The second issue is the view that empty space does not exist, but that space is filled with a polarisable energetic fluid. It is shown how recognition of these two issues pave a road to reconcile particle physics with gravity, in which the quark can be seen as a magnetic electron and in which the gluon, as the strong force carrier, can be seen as a massive photon.

Emerging infectious disease threats are becoming more frequent due to various social, political and geographical pressures including increased human-animal contact, global trade, transportation and changing climate conditions. As a result, the threat that emerging agents can be spread by blood contact or transfusion of blood products also becomes increasingly problematic. Blood transfusion is essential in treating patients with anemia, blood loss, and other medical conditions. However, these lifesaving components can become a vector for spreading diseases, particularly to vulnerable populations. New methods have been implemented on a global basis for prevention of transfusion transmission via plasma, platelet, and whole blood products. Implementing proactive pathogen reduction methods can significantly reduce the likelihood of disease transmission via blood transfusion, even for newly emerging agents whose transmissibility and susceptibility are still being evaluated as they emerge. In this review, we consider the Mirasol PRT system for blood safety which is based on a photochemical method involving Riboflavin and UV light. We provide examples of how emerging threats such as Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, Hepatitis E, monkeypox and other agents have been evaluated in real time regarding effectiveness of this method for reducing the likelihood of disease transmission via transfusion. Keywords: transfusion; blood; pathogen reduction; emerging infectious diseases.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland initiated by pathogenic bacteria. In fact, mastitis is the second most important reason for the culling of cows from dairy herds, after infertility. In this review we focus on various forms of mastitis, including subclinical and clinical mastitis. We also stress the importance of the dry-off period as an important time when pathogenic bacteria might start their insult to the mammary gland. An important part of the review is the negative effects of mastitis on milk production and composition, as well as economic consequences for dairy farms. The two most important groups of bacteria that are involved in infection of the udder, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, are also discussed. Although all cows have both innate and adaptive immunity against most pathogens, some are more susceptible to the disease than others. That’s why we summarize the most important components of innate and adaptive immunity so that the reader understands the specific immune responses of the udder to pathogenic bacteria. One of the most important sections of this review is interrelationship of mastitis with other diseases, especially retained placenta, metritis and endometritis, ketosis, and laminitis. Is mastitis the cause or the consequence of this disease? Finally, the review concludes with treatment and preventive approaches to mastitis.

The salt-controlled vertical segregation of the mixed polymer brushes in was studied using the self-consisting field approach. The brushes contained two types chains were considered. It was assumed that the selectivity to the solvent was varied for one type of chains carrying charge (polyelectrolyte chains) while the others polymer chains in brush remained hydrophilic and neutral. Solvent selectivity (i.e., the hydrophobicity of the polyelectrolyte chains) can be controlled by changing the temperature. At low salt concentrations, the polyelectrolyte chains swell and occupy the surface of the mixed brush. At high salt concentrations, the hydrophobic polyelectrolyte chains collapse and give place to neutral chains on the surface. By changing the selectivity of the solvent and the ionic strength of the solution, the surface properties of such mixed brushes can be controlled. Based on the numerical simulations results, it is shown how the critical selectivity corresponding to the segregation transition in polyelectrolyte/neutral brushes depends on the ionic strength of the solution. It is shown that at the same ionic strength, the critical selectivity increases with increasing chain grafting density and the degree of dissociation of charged groups, as well as with increasing share of polyelectrolyte chains in the mixed brush. Within the framework of the mean field theory, a two-parameter model has been constructed that quantitatively describes these dependencies.

A physical scrutiny of experimental results published in Physical Review Letters (December 2015, M. Giustina, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 250401, and L. K. Shalm et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 250402) is undertaken. These articles reported that measured outcomes were fitted with quantum states possessing a dominant component of non-entangled photons, thereby contradicting their own claim of quantum nonlocality. With probabilities of photon detections lower than 0.1 %, the alleged quantum nonlocality cannot be classified as a resource for developing quantum computing devices, despite recent publicity. Experimental evidence of a feasible process for quantum-strong correlations has been identified (M. Iannuzzi, et al., Phys. Lett. A, 384 (9), 126200, 2020) in terms of correlations between independent and multi-photon states evaluated as Stokes vectors on the Poincaré sphere. As single-photon sources are not needed, the design and implementation of quantum computing operations will be significantly streamlined.

The study investigated roles of institutional types and ethnic/racial background on academic credit among the traditionally underrepresented population of the U.S. study abroad program. Using archival data, the study sampled the student’s enrollment and academic credit information spanning a period of 20 years (2003 - 2022). Data analysis Using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicates significant main influence of institutional type (p<.001) and significant main influence of ethnic/racial identity (p<.001) on students’ academic credit. The result was discussed in terms of its relevance in educational policy re-evaluations, improvement of the study conditions of the underrepresented students, and enhancement of the enrollment opportunities of these minority population across all U.S. institutions of learning.

(1) Background: Mixed Reality is a technology that has gained attention due to its unique capabilities for accessing and visualizing information, becoming a valuable tool for medicine, particularly for the operating room and surgical learning; (2) Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to answer the research questions established using the PICO framework; (3) Results: Although implementation of Mixed Reality applications in the operations room presents some challenges, when used appropriately, it can yield remarkable results. It can make learning easier, flatten the learning curve for several procedures, and facilitate various aspects of the surgical processes; (4) Conclusion: Technical complexity, equipment costs, and steep learning curves present significant obstacles to the widespread adoption of Mixed Reality and computer-assisted evaluation. The possibility of integration of distinct medical imaging modalities and innovative functionalities holds promise for clinical applications. However, it is important to consider issues related to usability, bias, and statistical analyses need consideration. Mixed Reality offers significant benefits, but there are still open challenges such as ergonomic issues, limited field of view, and battery autonomy that must be addressed to ensure widespread acceptance.

Individuals with BPD grapple with unstable relationships, marked by extreme emotional swings and interpersonal conflicts. Emotional instability, a distorted self-image, and impulsivity further complicate matters, often leading to self-harm and suicide attempts as desperate coping mechanisms. Genetics and adverse childhood experiences contribute to BPD's development, shaping brain function and emotional regulation. Diagnosis involves meticulous assessments, paving the way for personalized treatments like dialectical behavior therapy and, in severe cases, hospitalization. Early intervention, professional support, and societal understanding are pivotal for positive outcomes, and challenging mental health stigma.

In order to the effect of hydrated phase change materials on suppressing coal spontaneous combustion, the thermogravimetric experiment and reaction activation energy analysis experiment were used to explore the changes of combustion characteristic, parameters characteristic temperature and activating energy of gas coal, long flame coal, meagre coal, and lean coal before and after adding hydrated phase change materials. The research results showed that hydrated phase change materials increased the coal samples’characteristic temperature point and have effective inhibitory effects on different stages of oxidation process.However, the effect was best at low temperatures, as hydrated phase change materials undergo phase change and absorb heat when heated at low temperatures, isolating coal from contact with oxygen. The activating energy increased by 1.138 KJmol-1～23.048 KJmol-1 and the mass loss reduced by 1.6%～9.3% after the inhibition of the coal sample,indicating that the oxidation rate of various coal samples can be slowed down and the spontaneous combustion can be suppressed by using hydrated phase change materials.At the same time, this material can also reduce the combustibility index of meagre coal and lean coal, as well as the comprehensive combustion index and maximum loss rate of long flame coal and gas coal.

Legumes develop root nodules that harbour endosymbiotic bacteria, rhizobia. These rhizobia convert nitrogen to ammonia by biological nitrogen fixation. A thorough understanding of the biological nitrogen fixation in legumes and its regulation is key to develop sustainable agriculture. It is well known that plant hormones affect nodule formation; however, most studies are limited to model legumes due to their suitability for in vitro, plate-based assays. Specifically, it is almost impossible to measure the effects of exogenous hormones or other additives during nodule development in crop legumes such as soybean as they have huge root system in soil. To circumvent this issue, the present research develops suitable media and growth conditions for efficient nodule development under in vitro, soil free conditions in an important legume crop, soybean. Moreover, we also evaluate the effects of all major phytohormones during soybean nodulation under identical conditions. This versatile, inexpensive, scalable and simple protocol provides several advantages over previously established methods. It is extremely time-and resource-efficient, does not require special training or equipment, and produces highly reproducible results. The approach is expandable to other large legumes as well as for other exogenous additives.

The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological links of HIV, HCV and HIV-HCV coinfections to less studied types of transmission in certain populations. We performed an observational, prospective study on 903 patients aged between 15-87 years who took part in the Open Test Project. They were divided into two subgroups: general population and individuals from prisons, and questioned about multiple risk factors. Chi-Square Independence Test was used to establish correlations between the risk factors and the results of the screening tests. Logistic regression was used to calculate the probability of a reactive screening test based on each independent risk factor and age. HIV was very strongly associated with unprotected sexual intercourse with HIV-positive partners (the strongest association), unprotected sexual intercourse with sex workers, newly diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), intravenous drug use (IDUs) and sharing injecting materials. In the case of HCV reactive tests, very strong associations have been established with injecting drug use (the strongest association), unprotected sexual intercourse with IDUs and sharing injecting materials. Our study indicates the need for implementing targeted public health programs, tailored to the local epidemiology that can ultimately lead to micro-elimination of hepatitis and HIV infections in this area.

In the present study. At first, some properties of r-fuzzy soft β-closed sets are introduced on fuzzy soft topological spaces based on the paper Aygunoglu et al. (Hacet. J. Math. Stat. 2014, 43, 193-208). Also, we define the closure and interior operators with respect to the classes of r-fuzzy soft β-closed and r-fuzzy soft β-open sets, and investigate some of their properties. In addition, the concept of r-fuzzy soft β-connected sets is introduced and characterized with help of fuzzy soft β-closure operators. Thereafter, some properties of a fuzzy soft β-continuity are studied. Furthermore, we introduce and study the concepts of fuzzy soft almost (weakly) β-continuous functions, which are weaker forms of a fuzzy soft β-continuity. Also, the relationships between these classes of functions are specified with the help of some illustrative examples. Finally, we explore new types of fuzzy soft functions called, fuzzy soft β-irresolute (strongly β-irresolute, β-irresolute open, β-irresolute closed and β-irresolute homeomorphism) functions, and discuss some properties of them. Also, we show that fuzzy soft strongly β-irresolute → fuzzy soft β-irresolute → fuzzy soft β-continuity, but the converse may not be true.

The importance of diet shaping the gut microbiota is well known and may help with improving the overall health of an individual. Many other factors also have an influence, such as genetics, age, exercise, antibiotic therapy, or tobacco use. The purpose of this review is to summarize how three distinct dietary types (plant-based diet, Mediterranean diet, and Western diet) affect the composition of gut microbiota and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were used for searching papers with an emphasis on keywords ‘‘dietary pattern’’, ‘‘gut microbiota’’ and ‘‘dysbiosis’’. Plant-based diet and Mediterranean diet promote the production of beneficial bacterial products, and more microbial diversity and therefore are generally considered healthy dietary types. On the other hand, the Western diet is a typical example of an unhealthy approach to nutrition which leads to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, understanding the impact of diet on the modulation of gut microbiota may give rise to new therapeutical strategies.

The ATP synthase is a mitochondrial complex embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The enzyme is under the double genetic control of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA). Fatal human diseases have been associated with defects in ATP synthase (Complex V) activity linked to mtDNA or nDNA pathogenetic variants in genes encoding structural subunits or assembly factors. Mitochondrial post-translational modifications of key amino acids, reduced/increased subunit expression, or protein to protein ATP synthase interaction, are also some of the mechanisms involved in the age-related disease pathway. All the major neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neuron diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis highlight an impaired ATP generation in a mechanism involving the permeability transition pore that triggers a cellular homeostasis failure responsible for different forms of regulated cell death. In this review, we will explore ATP synthase assembly and function in physiological and pathological conditions by referring to the recent cryo-EM studies and by exploring human diseases models.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a significant challenge in the field of neurodegenerative disor-ders, even nearly a century after its discovery, due to the elusive nature of its causes. The develop-ment of drugs that target multiple aspects of the disease has emerged as a promising strategy to address the complexities of AD and related conditions. The immune system's role, particularly in AD, has gained considerable interest, with nanobodies representing a new frontier in biomedical research. Advances in targeting antibodies against amyloid-β (Aβ) and using messenger RNA for genetic translation have revolutionized the production of antibodies and drug development, open-ing new possibilities for treatment. Despite these advancements, conventional treatments for AD, such as Cognex, Exelon, Razadyne, and Aricept, often have limited long-term effectiveness, under-scoring the need for innovative solutions. This necessity has led to the incorporating of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning into the drug discovery process for neurodegenerative diseases. These technologies help identify therapeutic targets and optimize lead compounds, offering a more effective approach to addressing the challenges of AD and similar conditions.

Globally, there is increasing prevalence of non- communicable chronic diseases (NCCD) like obesity, metabolic syndrome, type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, allergic asthma and neuro-developmental/psychiatric problems making NCCD a leading cause of disability, morbidity and mortality . Some of these NCCD are presenting at a younger age especially in the socio-economically disadvantaged communities of affluent countries, and in low and middle -income countries undergoing industrialization and socioeconomic transition.to more economic prosperity. NCCD are often attributed to unhealthy personal lifestyles, but there may be more at play. Through a case report-based discussion, I will illustrate how environmental exposures during the critical window of life, including in utero and early infancy, can significantly influence health as an adult . I will discuss how establishment of a rich and diverse symbiotic gut microbiota in the first three years of life promotes health while a loss of diversity and abundance of beneficial symbiotic gut microbes can predispose to aforementioned NCCD , and the best practices to establish a symbiotic gut.

Data on immunogenicity, immune response persistency, and safety of COVID-19 boosters in patients with comorbidities are limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate and compare three different boosters in individuals who received two doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine including underlying diseases and healthy cases as control. One hundred forty subjects including 63 ones with at least one of three underlying diseases (UD) (including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) and 77 healthy ones (HC) who had received a booster dose (either PastoCovac Plus or PastoCovac or BBIBP-CorV) were enrolled. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was assessed before the booster injection and 28, 60, 90, and 180 days after it. Moreover, the adverse events (AEs) were recorded on days 7 and 21 post-booster shot for evaluating safety outcomes. Significantly increased titers of anti-spike, anti-RBD, and neutralizing antibodies were observed in both UD and HC groups 28 days after the booster dose, although the titer rise of anti-spike IgG and anti-RBD IgG was insignificantly inferior in the UD group compared to the HC group. All antibodies’ titers declined, with no significant differences between the two groups over time. Notably, all specific antibodies persisted up to 180 days; particularly the neutralizing antibody in both groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in antibody levels was observed between each UD subgroup and the HC group, except for neutralizing antibodies in the hypertension sub-group. PastoCovac Plus and PastoCovac boosters induced higher antibodies’ fold rise in UD individuals than BBIBP-CorV booster recipients. Safety outcomes did not show any serious AEs after the booster injection. The overall incidence of AEs post the booster injection was higher in the UD group than the HC group. Furthermore, the highest systemic AEs rate was reported in the UD group receiving the BBIBP-CorV booster. In conclusion, administration of COVID-19 boosters can equally induce robust and persistent humoral immune responses in individuals with or without UD primarily vaccinated with 2-doses of the BBIBP-CorV. Protein-based boosters with higher antibodies' fold rise and lower AEs in individuals with comorbidities might be considered a better choice for these individuals.

As the world's population ages and the resulting health problems become more serious, medical and health policies in developed countries are focused on how to prevent and treat the diseases of the aging population and how to maintain their quality of life. Typical age-related diseases include deafness, cataracts, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and dementia. Although the mechanisms by which these diseases develop differ, they are all caused by the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage over time. In addition, age-related diseases can cause a decline in physical and mental functions and the ability to perform activities of daily living, as well as the loss of roles in society and a sense of fulfillment in life. Therefore, there is a need for treatment and measures to accurately grasp and maintain their quality of life.

Background: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody widely used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Despite reports of its effectiveness in the treatment of demyelinating diseases of central nervous system (DDCNS), it is not yet approved for use in these disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of low dose rituximab in three different subgroups of DDCNS including relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and neuromyelitis-optica-spectrum disorders (NMOSD).Methods: In a prospective cohort study, we monitored expanded-disability-status-scale (EDSS), relapses (new attacks) and serum-IgG levels to assess effectiveness and drug-adverse-events for safety in patients with RRMS, SPMS and NMOSD. These patients were candidates to receive rituximab according to our common practice protocol. We switched patients to rituximab if there was poor response to first line therapies. We follow a low dose protocol in our center (500 mg twice, two weeks apart, repeating every six months) and these patients treated in a 4-year period were assessed retrospectively for evaluation of our protocol’s safety and effectiveness. Results: 99 patients (42 RRMS, 43 SPMS and 14 NMOSD) received rituximab for a range of 12 to 40 months period. New attacks occurred in 8 RRMS (19%), 10 SPMS (23%) and 1 NMOSD (7%) patients. EDSS decreased in RRMS and NMOSD cases. Serum-IgG levels decremented in SPMS and NMOSD patients. Drug-adverse-events happened in two cases.Conclusion: In this study, low dose rituximab showed substantial effectiveness in preventing disease progression with a considerably good safety profile.

Endocytosis in mammalian cells is a fundamental cellular machinery that regulates vital physiological processes, such as the absorption of metabolites, release of neurotransmitters, hormonal secretion, cellular defense, and delivery of biomolecules across the plasma membrane. A remarkable characteristic of the endocytic machinery is the sequential assembly of the complex proteins at the plasma membrane followed by transportation of various cargo molecules to different cellular compartments. In all eukaryotic cells, functional characterization of endocytic pathways is based on dynamics of the protein complex modules. To coordinate the assembly and functions of the numerous parts of the endocytic machinery, the endocytic proteins interact significantly within and between the modules. Clathrin dependent and independent endocytosis, caveolar pathway and receptor mediated endocytosis have been attributed in a greater variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles such as, autophagy, metabolism, cell division, apoptosis, cellular defense, and intestinal permeabilization. Notably, any defect or alteration in the endocytic machinery results in the development of pathological consequences associated with human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and inflammatory diseases. In this review, an in-depth endeavor has made to illustrate the process of endocytosis, and associated mechanisms describing pathological manifestation associated with dysregulated endocytosis machinery.

Three decades have now passed since the first papers linking climate change to issues in human disease and healthcare. One of the most active topics in this area has been the implication of climate change events, particularly temperature and humidity fluctuations, in the northward spread of vector-borne viruses from more tropical regions into Europe and North America. However, some detailed studies of one such emerging disease, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv), have called the connection into question, concentrating the debate on the investigation of precise mechanisms for the spread of viral disease. More recently, firmer statistical correlations have been made between climate variables, the presence of insect vectors and the prevalence of viral disease, particularly for West Nile Virus (WNV). These insights suggest avenues for mechanistic confirmation of the involvement of climate change in other diseases where the connection remains conjectural.

Hearing loss (HL) is a major clinical, population and public health leading to serious disorders and often early mortality. However, there is a significant paucity in high quality data. Saudi Arabia has a genetically uniform and young population; however factors and estimates on prevalence of HL remains unknown. Background/Objectives: we aimed to determine the frequency, factors, and patterns of HL in different regions. Methods: this study was a descriptive cross-sectional design using a web-based online public questionnaire sent out simultaneously to different regions of Saudi Arabia; namely Eastern, Western, Northen, and Southern as self-administered non-probability sample of social media users mainly WhatsApp, Twitter, and others. Results: Among 789 responses, 6.6 % reported HL, 62.4% were from the Eastern province of which 41.2% were employed and 31.7% were students. Many (36.5%) reported HL &gt; 5-years while 21.2% had programmed and fitted with hearing aids or cochlear implants implying negligence. 19.2% reported diabetes and 51.9% had family history. Ages (11– 50 years) were examined with a slight female predominance (females 59.1%, males 41%). Age was significantly associated with HL (P &lt;0.001) irrespective of gender (males 6.8%, females 6.4%, P value =0.838) reaching peaks at 17.2% in age groups 51-60 years and 25% in 71-80 indicating a risk for HL (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.78-2.81, p = 0.032). Genetic diseases reported as leading cause in 34.6% (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.34-3.58, p = 0.432) followed by noise (26.9%), while other factors including infections, stroke, and fevers made 19.2%. Work involving air or sea travels reported (7.7%) with no significant association (P = 0.628) while history of head injury or trauma (11.5%), or relocation between low- and high-altitudes showed 21.2%. However, frequent noise pollution (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.83-3.01, p = 0.048), regular use of medications (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.03-3.32, p = 0.017), and history of inflammatory disorders (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.32-1.87, p = 0.229) were also associated with higher odds of HL. Conclusion: thus, these findings have significant clinical implications in early diagnosis and management of HL in genetic disorders, diabetes, geriatrics, as well as awareness on family history and occupational health and safety. The study was limited in size and use of online questionnaires. Future large cohort multicenter study would gain more insights.

Air pollution, climate change and global warming show direct linkage. Introduction - Background: Research in the field has proposed and demonstrated their link to increased allergenicity in plants, leading to increased allergic diseases. Allergen patterns are changing in response to climate change. Across Europe, up to 12% of the population suffers from allergic diseases (bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis) caused by the pollen grains. The medical costs of these types of allergies are enormous and are increasing with the spread of common ragweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia* in Europe. In practice, more and more patients are turning to allergists. Methods: Based on these data, the research aims to identify safety measures and specific legislation to control and eradicate common ragweed in the countries most affected by the spread of this plant in Europe, increase in population exposure in countries affected by the presence of common ragweed and the socio-economic impact of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma at European level.[1][2] Our database search did not reveal any other research that has addressed this topic to date. Results: This research identifies specific legislation to the countries most affected by the spread of this plant pollen grains at European level, changes in allergen patterns and monitoring/safety eradication measures decided by local authorities, and data on the spread of common ragweed over the last two decades, costs per treatment, increased allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma morbidity in the most affected areas. Conclusions: At European level, there are no universally valid models for eradicating this weed. Various methods can be used to limit the spread of common ragweed and its pollen production (e.g. mowing once or twice a year of overgrown land, ploughing, chemical control, public information, etc.). Local and regional cooperation should be considered essential to promote phytosanitary &amp; safety measures and exchange of information on methods to identify and manage the spread of common ragweed. Unified legislation at European level would help all affected countries; reduce morbidity from respiratory allergic diseases and the costs of treating these diseases.

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by impairment of protein quality control mechanisms in neuronal cells. Ineffective clearance of misfolded proteins by the proteasome, autophagy pathways and exocytosis leads to accumulation of toxic protein oligomers and aggregates in neurons. Toxic protein species affect various cellular functions resulting in the development of a spectrum of different neurodegenerative proteinopathies, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Playing an integral role in proteostasis, dysfunction of the ubiquitylation system in HD is progressive and multi-faceted with numerous biochemical pathways affected, in particular the ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy routes for protein aggregate degradation. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms involved in HD pathogenesis of proteostasis provides insight in disease progression in HD as well as possible therapeutic avenues. Recent developments of potential therapeutics are discussed in this review.

Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is a bacterium that causes infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Treatment is challenging due to biofilm formation by AB strains, which hinders antibiotic effec-tiveness and promotes drug resistance. The aim of our study was to analyze the biofilm-producing capacity of AB isolates from various forms of infections in relation to biofilm-related genes and their drug resistance. We tested one hundred isolates for biofilm formation using the crystal violet microplate method. Drug re-sistance analyses were performed based on EUCAST and CLSI guidelines, and biofilm genes were detected using PCR. All tested strains were found to form biofilms, with 50% being ICU strains and 72% classified as strong biofilm-producers. Among these, 87% were extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and 2% were extra extensively drug-resistant (E-XDR). The most common gene set was bap, bfmS, csuE, and ompA, found in 57% of all isolates. Our research has shown that, regardless of the form of infection, biofilm-forming strains can be expected among AB isolates. The emergence of E-XDR and XDR strains among non-ICU infections highlights the necessity for the rational use of antibiotics to stop or limit the further acquisition of drug re-sistance by A. baumannii.

Of the roughly 20,000 canonical human protein sequences, as of September 15, 2020, 6,937 proteins have had their full or partial, medium- to high-resolution structures determined by x-ray crystallography or other methods. Which of these proteins dominate the Protein Data Bank (the PDB) and why? In this paper, we list the 273 top human protein structures based on the number of their PDB entries. This set of proteins accounts for more than 40% of all available human PDB entries and represent past trends as well as current status for protein structural biology. We briefly discuss the relationship which some of the prominent protein structures have with protein research as a whole and mention their relevance to human diseases. The top-10 soluble and membrane proteins are all well-known (most of their first structures being deposited more than 30 years ago). Overall, there is no dramatic change in recent trends in the PDB. Remarkably, the number of structure depositions has grown nearly exponentially over the last 10 or more years (with a doubling time of 7 yrs for proteins from all organisms). Growth in human protein structures is slightly faster (at 5.9 yrs, while E.Coli and Mouse+Rat protein structures accumulate more slowly, Zebrafish protein structures are growing most, at a doubling every 3.7 years, albeit starting from only approx. 100 structure entries in 2010). The information may be informative to senior scientists but also inspire researchers who are new to protein science, providing the year 2020 snap-shot for the state of protein structural biology.

The COVID-19 pandemic and increased rates of documented Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) in human populations over the last century have drawn attention on understanding pathogens spill over to humans and their zoonotic origin. In this paper we argue that we need to change the thinking about the fundamental cause of zoonoses. Our premise is that deforestation is the primary cause of EIDs events and that, to prevent future pandemics, it needs to be addressed without further delays. Therefore, we review recent trends of proximate and underlying determinants of deforestation, forest degradation and related biodiversity losses while seeking to clarify their links to the determinants of EIDs events. Acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge, we propose responses to stop global deforestation from a trans-disciplinary, intersectoral perspective led by indigenous people. While we envisage that stopping deforestation is the most important approach with long term direct and indirect effects on human, animal and plants health, providing climate changes mitigation and preventing otherwise difficult to predict EID events, we argue that such an initiative may usefully be complemented by reducing contacts between humans and wildlife animals and regulating rather than banning markets where wild animals are sold alive.Finally, we discuss transformative changes to improve planetary-wide forests preservation, soil, plants, animal, and human protection, together with a further understanding of EIDs transmission dynamics, public health veterinary and human disease surveillance, for improved global collective preparedness and action for the management of zoonotic EIDs.

In case of a discrete-time Hopfield neural network of two neurons with two delays and no self- connections at 23 bifurcation values 23 voltage trajectories appear.Among the 23 voltage trajectories 14 voltage trajectory are not what we call orbits in classic sense. The geometrical aspect of these trajectories suggest that they are fractals. Our conjecture is that the 14 trajectories in discussion are fractals having real couterpart. In case of a discrete-time Hopfield neural network of five neuron with delay and ring architecture at 9 bifurcation values 9 voltage trajectories appear.Among the 9 voltage trajectories we find 5 voltage trajectory which are not what we call orbits in classic sense.The geometrical aspect of these trajectories suggest that they are fractals.Our conjecture is that the 5 trajectories in discussion are fractals having real couterpart.. In case of a discrete-time Hopfield neural network of two neurons with a single delay and self- connections the computed trajectories are what we call orbits in classic sense. In case of a discrete-time Hopfield neural network of two neurons with two delays and self- connections the computed trajectories are what we call orbits in classic sense.

QSO B0218+357 is a blazar located at a cosmological redshift of 0.944. The source is gravitationally lensed by a spiral galaxy located at the redshift of 0.68. Strong gravitational lensing splits the signals emitted by the source into two components separated by 10-12 days, as observed in radio and gamma-ray bands. In July 2014 a GeV flare was observed by Fermi-LAT, triggering follow-up observations with the MAGIC telescopes at energies above 100 GeV. The expected time delay between the components allowed us to plan broad band MWL observations before, during and after the trailing component of the emission. The MAGIC observations at the expected time of arrival of the trailing component resulted in the first detection of QSO B0218+357 in Very-High-Energy (VHE, >100 GeV) gamma rays. It is both the farthest known VHE object and one of only a few Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars detected in this energy range. We report here the observed multiwavelength spectral and temporal properties of the emission during the 2014 flare.

Lactate plays a critical role in cell metabolism and disease development. Under conditions of hypoxia or high-intensity exercise, cells use the glycolytic pathway to convert glucose into pyruvate, which is then reduced to lactate to quickly obtain energy. The traditional role of lactate is being redefined, as it is not only a provider of energy but also an important signaling molecule that regulates cell physiological functions, including histone lactylation modification, which affects gene expression. However, excessive accumulation of lactate is associated with the development of various diseases, such as liver disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Research has also found that small-molecule drugs can regulate lactate levels, providing new possibilities for treating related diseases.

Haemosporidians are a group of vector-borne parasites belonging to the order Haemosporida. They infect avian hosts and require blood-sucking insects (Diptera) for their transmission. The occurrence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites are shaped primarily by the specificity of the parasite and the susceptibility of the host/vector. In this study, the presence and distribution of haemosporidians in blood samples from birds in urbanized and natural habitats were estimated using microscopic and molecular approaches. Birds in urbanized habitats were infected with four different species of Plasmodium: Plasmodium relictum, P. vaughani, P. matutinum, P. circumflexum, two different species of Haemoproteus: Haemoproteus majoris, H. parabelopolskyi, and Leucocytozoon sp. The species, H. attenuatus, H. concavocentralis, H. minutus, H. pallidus, H. noctue and H. tartakovskyi were additionally identified in birds in natural habitats. Typically, juvenile birds are essential markers of parasite species transmitted in the study area. The juveniles in the urbanized habitats carried the P. relictum, P. vaughani, P. circumflexum, H. parabelopolskyi, H. majoris, and Leucocytozoon species. The most abundant parasite was H. parabelopolskyi, which was found in both types of habitats. The prevalence of the Haemoproteus/Plasmodium species by nested PCR in birds in natural habitats (in totally 43.80%; 53/121) was significantly higher than that in birds in urbanized habitats (in totally 21.94%; 43/196) (p < 0.05), even in spring. There was no statistically significant difference between habitat types in overall infection rate of Leucocytozoon sp. (p > 0.05; 10/121 vs. 19/196), neither overall nor in the spring.

Acetyleugenol is a phytochemical compound with broad effect against infectious diseases and tumors. Here, we extracted, characterized and elucidated the structure of acetyeugenol, for the first time, from the leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.)―a well-known medicinal plant. The broad antibacterial potential of acetyleugenol was first confirmed against seven bacterial pathogenic isolates with best activity against Proteus sp., Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcu aureus, and Streptococcus pneumonia, which showed similar or better zone of inhibition to that of the control amoxicillin. To further investigate its effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, acetyleugenol and its indole and phenyl analogs were subjected to molecular docking experiments against two potential tuberculosis drug targets―MtPknE and MtPknB Ser/Thr protein kinases. The results reveal that all of the analogs have improved docking scores comparing to the acetyleugenol. The indole analogs EUG-1 and EUG-3 were more effective with better docking scores for MtPknE with –11.08 and –10.05 kcal/mol, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the MtPknB. In contrast, only the EUG-2 phenyl analog has given rise to similar docking scores for both targets. This opens the door for further comprehensive studies on these acetyleugenol analogs with in vitro and in vivo experiments to validate and get more insights into their mechanisms of action.

Horseshoe crabs represent the most ancestral chelicerate lineage characterized by marine ecology and the possession of lateral compound eyes. While considered living fossils, recent studies reported an unusual number of Pax6 transcription factor genes in the Atlantic horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. Pax genes encode a family of ancient metazoan transcription factors, which comprise seven subfamilies. Among these, the members of the Pax6 subfamily confer critical functions in the development of the head, the visual system, and further body plan components. Arthropods are characterized by two Pax6 subfamily homologs that were discovered in Drosophila and named eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy). However, whole genome sequence searches uncovered three homologs of ey and two homologs of toy in L. polyphemus. These numbers are explained by the occurrence of three whole genome duplications (WGD) in the lineage to the last common ancestor of L. polyphemus and its closely related three additional members of the extant horseshoe crab species cluster. Here we report comparative sequence evidence for the functional conservation of the five L. polyphemus Pax6 transcription factor homologs. Our analyses reveal that all paralogs are conserved in the approximately 135 million-year-old horseshoe crab species cluster and that they evolve under strong purifying selection. These findings identify subfunctionalization as the likeliest post-WGD outcome for the five Pax6 homologs. While awaiting confirmation by gene expression studies, this scenario would reconcile the discrepancy between the WGD-expanded gene repertoires and phenotypic stasis in the horseshoe crabs.

The present study illustrates the strong effect of geometrical parameters on the magneto-structural properties of Co2MnSi glass-coated microwires prepared using the Taylor-Ulitovsky method. Thus, two samples with different geometrical aspect ratios (ρ= d / D) have been fabricated, where d is the metallic nuclei diameter and D is the total diameter of the Co2MnSi microwire. The XRD analysis shows a significant change by modifying the aspect ratio, for ρ = 0.46 the main peak with miller indices (220) is recognized as an A2-type disordered cubic structure. Meanwhile, in the sample with a low aspect ratio, ρ = 0.31, the perfect L21 ordered cubic structure is attained. In addition, a decrease in average grain size from 36.62 nm to 28.07 nm by increasing the aspect ratio from 0.46 to 0.31 is observed. The magnetic characterization has been done in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. Both of Co2MnSi samples show ferromagnetic behavior in a whole measuring temperatures range. A significant increase in coercivity and normalized reduced remanence by decreasing the aspect ratio is observed. The change in the magnetic properties is attributed to the modification in the microstructure, which is induced during the fabrication process. Such a dependence on the microstructure and magnetic properties on the ρ-ratio can be associated either with the internal stresses distribution and magnitude or with different quenching rates of microwires with different aspect ratios. The current findings demonstrate the tunability of microstructure and magnetic properties of Co2MnSi-glass-coated microwires simply, by a small modification in the geometric properties during the manufacturing process and without excreting any additional post-processing. The variation in geometric parameters of Co2MnSi glass-coated microwires allows us to tune magnetic properties and structure, which is essentially advantageous for sensing devices development.

Time evolution operators of a strongly ionizing medium are calculated by a time-dependent unitary transformation (TDUT) method. The TDUT method has been employed in quantum mechanical system composed of discrete states. This method is especially helpful for solving molecular rotational dynamics in quasi-adiabatic regimes because the strict unitary nature of the propagation operator allows us to set the temporal step size large; a tight limitation on the temporal step size ($\delta t <<1$) can be circumvented by the strict unitary nature. On the other hand, in a strongly ionizing system where the Hamiltonian is not Hermitian, the same approach cannot be directly applied because it is demanding to define a set of field-dressed eigenstates. In this study, the TDUT method was applied to the ionizing regime using the Kramers-Henneberger frame, in which the strong-field-dressed discrete eigenstates are given by the field-free discrete eigenstates in a moving frame. Although the present work verifies the method for a one-dimensional atom as a prototype, the method can be applied to three-dimensional atoms, and molecules exposed to strong laser fields.

During the period January 2014 – October 2018, four strong earthquakes occurred in the Ionian Sea, Greece. A rich aftershock sequence followed each event of them. More analytically, according to the manual solutions of National Observatory of Athens, the first event (K1), occurred on 26 January 2014 in Kefallinia Island with magnitude M_L = 5.8, which was followed by another in the same region (K2) on 3 February 2014 with magnitude M_L = 5.7. The third event occurred on 17 November 2015, M_L = 6.0 in Lefkas Island (L1) and the last on 25 October 2018, M_L = 6.6 in Zande Island (Z1). The first three of these earthquakes caused moderate structural damages mainly in houses and produced particular unrest to the local population. This work presents first the calculation of the source parameters of the strong events as well as for all earthquakes with magnitude M_L > 4.0, using the methodology of the Moment tensor inversion and secondary data from permanent GPS stations were analyzed to confirm the findings from seismological data and to investigate the displacement due to the earthquakes.

Abstract: In the Western of Mekong Delta belong to Vietnam a amount of alluvium sediments flows from upstream China to Vietnam, they are going from the river branches to in the Mekong Delta, then get out the Western Sea of Vietnam. This sediments accumulated gradually elevation the new land. The increase elevation of the land creates a fertile coastal plain where mangrove forests with a rich ecosystem of plants and animals. Over time, these forests change, with different plant species succeeding each other. This aims of this study to finding plant species in the forest, classification of forest types based on ecological regions, assessement the biodiversity of tree species, and compare the abundance communities, measuring the growth of the forest in these regions. In 2023, a comprehensive survey was conducted by using a systematic approach. The number of survey plots have done depend on the density of the forest, Base on the width of the forest range, the number of survey plots from 500m to 1,000m set up 1-2 plots, sub region set up from 10 to 15 plots. In total, 68 plots have done established in the erea, the area of plot is 100 square meters (10m x 10m). Using the statistical software in forestry to survey and analysis data. The result provided a complete picture of the tree species composition, distribution, and community structure characteristics in each ecological sub-region. The result of survey showed in the sub-region 1 have seven species as Sonneracia ovate, Rhzophora apiculata, Excoecaria agallochha, Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia alba, Agricerasvcoculatum, Bruguiera gymnorhiza. In the sub region 2 have eleven species as Sonneracia caseolaris, Annona reticulata, Lumnitzera littorea, Lumnizera racemosa, Rhizophora apiculata, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia alba, Hibiscus tillacerus, Bruguiera gymorhiza, Aericeras comiculatum. In the sub region 3 have eight as Sonratia caseolaris, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia marine, Avicennia alba, Bruguiera gymorhiza. In the region 4 have ten species as Sonneracia caseolaris, Sonneracia ovate, Lumnizera racemosa, Rhizophoa apiculata, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Aviecnnia alba, Bruguiera gymorhiza, Bruguiera cylindrica The total species of the mangrove forest in the Western Mekong Delta have 16 species from 11 plant families have been identified. Among these species have 6 dominant species include Avicennia oficinali),Avicennia alba, Rhizophora apiculata, Excoecaria agallocha, Someratia caseolaris, and Bruguiera yipamoriza. Two species easy grow on the new land are Avicennia officinalis Avicennia alba this findings show they can develope on the original new land for the shore of the Western Mekong Delta. The surveyed results also calculated the average of the height, diameter (D1.3), canopy, health of the nature mangrove tree for each sub region and total region. From these results showed the division of foresty structure, the structure of height, diameter (D1.3), canopy, vitality of the sub region and total region in the Western Mekong Delta.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are derived from reprogrammed adult somatic cells. These adult cells are manipulated in vitro to express genes and factors essential for acquiring and maintaining embryonic stem cell (ESC) properties. This technology is widely applied in many fields, and there has been much attention to developing iPSC-based disease models to validate drug discovery platforms and study pathophysiological molecular processes underlying disease onset. Especially in neurological diseases, there is a great need for iPSC-based technological research, as these cells can be obtained from each patient and carry the individual’s bulk of genetic mutations and properties. Moreover, iPSC can differentiate into multiple cell types. These are essential characteristics since the study of neurological diseases is affected by limited access to injured sites, in vitro models composed of various cell types, the complexity of reproducing the brain’s anatomy, ethical issues, and the fact that post-mortem cell culture is challenging. Neurodegenerative diseases enormously impact global health due to their high incidence, symptoms severity, and usually lack of effective therapies. Recently, analyses using disease-specific iPSC-based models confirmed their efficacy for testing multiple drugs. This review summarizes the advances in iPSC technology used in disease modeling and drug testing with a primary focus on neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the management of patients with immune mediated rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (imRMDs) in various ways. The goal of our systematic review was to determine the influence of the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of imRMDs. Materials and Methods: Systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases, including studies with adult patients on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of imRMDs. There were no restrictions regarding to study-design except for systematic reviews and case reports that were excluded as well as articles on the disease outcomes in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two reviewers screened the studies for inclusion, and, in case of disagreement, consensus was reached after discussion. Results: A total of 5969 potentially relevant studies were found, and, after title, abstract and full-text screening, 35 studies were included with data from 182’746 patients and 2018 rheumatologists. Non-availability of drugs, e.g., hydroxychloroquine and tocilizuab, was frequent (16–69% of patients). Further, medication non-adherence was reported among patients with different RMDs and between different drugs in 4–46% of patients. Changes to preexisting medication were reported in up to 33% of patients (e.g. reducing dose of steroids or cessation of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). Physical in-office consultations and laboratory testing decreased and as a consequence newly implemented remote consultations increased greatly with an increase of up to 80%. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the management of imRMDs, especially at the beginning. Influences were wide-ranging, affecting availability of pharmacies, adherence to medication or medication changes, doctor visits and laboratory testing. New systems of care were set up, including virtual clinics and video consultations. These new forms of health care delivery should be spread and implemented worldwide to routine clinical practice to be ready for future pandemics.

Despite needs for new therapies and improvements in existing approaches in cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, and renal disease, investment in these areas is lagging relative to other specialties. This article summarizes a meeting of key stakeholders of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials, representatives from academia, national organizations, and patients and caregivers. The purpose was to identify and discuss high-priority issues, establish areas of common interest, and explore opportunities for collaboration. During the meeting (September 2016), the construct of a “multimorbidity continuum” emerged, in which chronic diseases are understood as their effects on the whole rather than individual organ systems. Cross-disciplinary priorities included: 1) the need to generate greater high-quality evidence at lower cost; 2) the imperative to develop and implement patient-centered approaches to clinical investigations; 3) the importance of trial participation in under-represented populations, particularly with comorbid conditions, and 4) the need for progress in tobacco regulation. Representatives from each therapeutic area reported on their consensus priorities, and FDA representatives discussed the agency’s role in facilitating broader approaches to therapeutic development and evaluation of disease as linked across organ systems rather than in isolation, and emphasized the importance of patient engagement, collaboration and communication across stakeholders.

Four fundamental forces of nature are too important to say because they dominate the formation and evolution of the universe. However, until now, their origins and physical essences have not been answered with wide acceptations. This paper gives new explanations for the origins and essences of these four forces based on different understandings, which can easily explain that all of the four fundamental forces of nature are originated from the electric force only and so can be unified to be one force. First of all, the gravitational force is a synthesized electric force produced by a huge amount of electric charges via particular movements and distributions. Depending on inference of nuclear structure, which has strong supports by observed phenomena, the strong and weak forces are deduced to be electric forces too. The introduced new understandings can explain observed confusing phenomena simply and effectively, such as “galaxy shape”, “dark matter”, “dark energy”, “gamma-ray bursts” in nuclear fission or fusion and from black holes, and so on. The author wrote this paper is for helping to find the natural truth earlier.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays a crucial role in controlling inflammation and cell death. Its function is tightly controlled through post-translational modifications, enabling its dynamic switch between promoting cell survival and triggering cell death. Phosphorylation of RIPK1 at various sites serves as a critical mechanism for regulating its activity, exerting either activating or inhibitory effects. Perturbations in RIPK1 phosphorylation status have profound implications for the development of severe inflammatory diseases in humans. This review explores the intricate regulation of RIPK1 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and highlights the potential of targeting RIPK1 phosphorylation as a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating human diseases.

Background: Garlic primarily reproduces through vegetative propagation using seed cloves due to infrequent sexual reproduction by true seeds. Growers encounter challenges with pathogens due to the larger size and vegetative nature of seed cloves, as well as the storage conditions conducive to fungal growth. Some Phyto-pathogenic fungi, previously unrecognized as garlic infections, can remain latent within bulb tissues long after harvest. Although outwardly healthy, these infected bulbs may develop rot under specific conditions. Aim of Review: Planting diseased seed cloves can contaminate field soil, with some fungal and bacterial infections persisting for extended periods. The substantial size of seed cloves makes complete eradication of deeply ingrained infections difficult, despite the use of systemic fungicides during pre-planting and post-harvest phases. Additionally, viruses, resistant to fungicides, persist in vegetative material. They are prevalent in much of the garlic used for planting and their host vectors are difficult to eliminate. To address these challenges, tissue culture techniques are increasingly employed to produce disease-free planting stock. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: This review delves into crucial scientific aspects related to garlic propagation and health. Garlic primarily reproduces through vegetative propagation using seed cloves, facing challenges due to their large size and susceptibility to fungal infections. Some fungal pathogens, recently identified as garlic threats, remain dormant within bulbs long after harvest, potentially causing rot under specific conditions. Planting infected seed cloves can introduce pathogens into the soil, where they may persist. Deeply ingrained infections can be challenging to eradicate due to the size of seed cloves. Additionally, viruses persist in garlic seeds and spread through their carrier vectors, unaffected by fungicides. To address these issues, tissue culture techniques offer a promising approach to produce disease-free garlic planting material. This review explores these concepts, emphasizing the importance of producing disease-free garlic seeds and strategies for mitigation.

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) continue to be a problem all across the world, but in certain areas the threat is greater than in others. The detection of new diseases will aid in the focus of surveillance efforts. Specifically, identifying a "patient zero" is critical step to help limit further transmission. In fact, several factors have been found to contribute to emerging infectious diseases emergence and transmission. Antigenic drift is an important factor that affects vaccine effectiveness and it is important for scientists and healthcare providers alike to understand how this process works in order to ensure that people receive effective vaccinations against infectious diseases. However, recent advances in biotechnology, immunology and artificial intelligence have enabled us to make progress in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of infectious diseases. The fight against infectious diseases will always be ongoing, but the advancement of bioscience offers a promising outlook for the near future. In the last two decades, several high impact zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to bat-borne viruses. These include SARS coronavirus, Hendra virus and Nipah virus. In addition, it has been suspected that ebolaviruses and MERS coronavirus are also linked to bats. It is being increasingly accepted that bats are potential reservoirs of a large number of known and unknown viruses, many of which could spillover into animal and human populations. In this article, we discuss the potential risk factors that contribute in emerging infectious diseases. Also, we discuss the management of disease prevention and control.

The emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak has caused a pandemic situation in over 210 countries. Controlling the spread of this disease has proven difficult despite several resources employed. Millions of hospitalization and deaths have been observed, and thousands of cases daily with many measures in place. Due to the complex nature of COVID-19, we proposed a system of time-fractional equations to understand the transmission of the disease better. Nonlocality involved in the model has made fractional differential equations appropriate for modeling the behavior. However, solving these types of models is computationally demanding. Our proposed generalized compartmental COVID-19 model incorporates effective contact rate, transition rate (from exposed quarantine and recovered to susceptible and infected quarantined individuals), quarantine rate, disease-induced death rate, natural death rate, natural recovery rate, recovery rate of quarantine infected for a holistic study of the coronavirus disease. A detailed analysis of the proposed model is carried out, including the existence and uniqueness of solutions, local and global stability analysis of the disease-free equilibrium analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, numerical solutions of the proposed model are obtained with the generalized Adam-Bashforth-Moulton method developed for the fractional order model. Our analysis and solutions profile show that each of these incorporated parameters is very important in controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially quarantining exposed and infected individuals and the effective contact rate. Based on the results with different fractional order, we observe that there seems to be a third or even fourth wave of the spike in cases of COVID-19, which is what is happening right now in many countries.

In this paper, a kind of single-walled carbon nanotube nonlinear model is developed, and the strongly nonlinear dynamic characteristics of such carbon nanotubes subjected to random magnetic field are studied. The nonlocal effect of microstructure is considered based on the theory of nonlocal elasticity. The natural frequency of the strongly nonlinear dynamic system is obtained by the energy function method, the drift coefficient and the diffusion coefficient are verified. The stationary probability density function of the system dynamic response is given and the fractal boundary of the safe basin is provided. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that stochastic resonance occurs when varying the random magnetic field intensity. The boundary of safe basin has fractal characteristics and the area of safe basin decreases when the intensity of the magnetic field permeability increases.

In this paper we propose and study in the setting of a Hilbert space an averaged Halpern type algorithm for approximating the solution of a common fixed point problem for a couple of nonexpansive and demicontractive mappings with a variational inequality constraint. The strong convergence of the sequence generated by the algorithm is established under feasible assumptions on the parameters involved. In particular, we also obtain the common solution of the fixed point problem for nonexpansive or demicontractive mappings and of a variational inequality problem. Our results extend and generalize various important related results in literature that were established for the pairs (nonexpansive, nonspreading) or (nonexpansive, strongly quasi-nonexpansive) mappings. Numerical tests to illustrate the superiority of our algorithm over the ones existing in literature are also reported.

Cerebrovascular diseases represent a significant mortality rate worldwide and constitute a major public health and economic challenge. Many African countries such as Cape Verde are going through an epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases, demographic and socioeconomic changes and facing an increase in cerebrocardiovascular diseases associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of risk factors that predispose to cardiovascular diseases in adult individuals residing on the island of Santiago. Cross-sectional population-based study with individuals over 18 years of age, of both sexes. Data collection took place in October and November 2021, in all municipalities on the island of Santiago. Individuals with Cape Verdean nationality who stayed abroad for more than one year and who arrived on the island of Santiago less than 30 days ago and individuals with any type of disability that could prevent them from participating in the study were excluded from the study. The sample size was calculated based on the projection of the population of the island of Santiago for the year 2021, according to the appropriate epidemiological model. Sociodemographic data were obtained through the application of a questionnaire containing age, sex, race, weight, height, risk factors (presence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, heredity, physical activity, smoking habits, history of cerebrovascular events, control of weight and blood pressure). RESULTS: Study sample is predominantly female (54.8%), the age group with the largest number was 18-27 years (21%); 42.2% with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2; 65.1% sedentary; Smoking 7.3% and alcoholism 14.4%; 6.5% with diagnosed heart disease; 19.9% with close family members with cardiac pathology; 2.7% had a stroke, 0.1% had a transient ischemic attack; 0.5% acute myocardial infarction; 23.5% had the periodic habit of assessing blood pressure; 32.6% hypertensive; 4.5% with diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that there is a high prevalence of cerebrovascular risk factors on Santiago Island, especially in females. Smoking and alcoholism showed a relationship with males. BMI, physical inactivity, diabetes and dyslipidemia were shown to be related to sex. Hypertension and Diabetes revealed a significant relationship with age group. Alcoholism, smoking, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia maintained a significant relationship with the municipalities.

Chronic liver diseases stimulate a degree of hepatocyte injury. This previously mentioned modifications, alters the known liver architecture and finally ends in cirrhosis. Liver pathology as cirrhosis develops after a long period of pathological alterations. The management of this liver pathology, is centred on the treatment of the causes and complications. Liver transplantation can be required in some cases. The aim of this article is to identify the best available evidences analyzing liver samples, normall and pathological. Normal liver with hepatocytes, Kiernann space, connective septa, observations using lens x10 and samples colored with Goldner Szekely trichrome stains. Beside, for comparisions, ill liver images, classic stain H&E. Inflammation is a great point that results in replacement of the healthy liver parenchyma with fibrotic tissue and regenerative nodules. In addition, progressive portal hypertension, systemic inflammation, and liver failure drive cirrhosis outcomes. All this previously mentioned factors, area great impact on the health-related quality of life of adult patients with liver cirrhosis. The management of this liver pathology, is centred on the treatment of the causes and complications. Liver transplantation can be required in some cases.

Tobacco use is bad for your health in many ways, not just your lungs. It affects many other parts of your body, including your nervous system. This abstract looks at the link between smoking and the nervous system and shows how smoking affects the nerve system in specific ways. There are a lot of different diseases and risks that can come from smoking. By weakening blood vessels and making it easier for blood clots to form, smoking makes the chance of having a stroke much higher. Using tobacco is also linked to a drop in brain function and memory problems, as well as a higher chance of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Also, people who smoke have a higher chance of getting multiple sclerosis, which is a long-term autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It can also cause peripheral neuropathy, which can damage nerves and cause tingling, pain, and stiffness in the limbs. Nicotine, the substance that makes tobacco addicting, changes the brain's reward circuits. This makes it hard to stop smoking because it leads to addiction. In addition to these effects on the body, smoking also has effects on the mind. It makes mood disorders like sadness and anxiety more likely, making the symptoms worse and hurting general health. Understanding the effects of smoking on the brain is important for improving overall health and getting people to stop smoking. Public health efforts, education, and targeted interventions are needed to make people aware of these risks and help them make choices about smoking that are based on accurate information. By looking at how smoking affects the brain, we can try to make people's lives better and protect their and their communities' well-being.

The most recent and non-invasive approach for studying early-stage biomarkers is liquid biopsy. It implies the extraction and analysis of non-solid biological tissues (serum, plasma, saliva, urine and cerebrospinal fluid) without undergoing invasive procedures to determine disease prognosis. Liquid biopsy can be used for the screening of several components such as extracellular vesicles, microRNAs, cell-free DNA, cell-free mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, transfer RNA and circular DNA or RNA derived from body fluids. Its application includes early disease diagnosis, surveillance of disease activity, and treatment response monitoring, with growing evidence for validating this methodology in cancer, liver disease, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review will provide an overview of mentioned liquid biopsy components, which could serve as valuable biomarkers for the evaluation of complex neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, CNS tumors, and neuroinfectious diseases. Furthermore, this review highlights the future directions and potential limitations associated with liquid biopsy.

Biomarkers play key roles in diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment and supervision of car-diovascular diseases (CVD). Optical biosensors and assays are valuable analytical tools answering the need for fast and reliable measurements of biomarkers levels. This review presents a survey of recent literature with a focus on the past 5 years. The data indicates continuing trends towards multiplexed, simpler, cheaper, faster and innovative sensing while newer tendencies concern minimizing the sample volume or using alternative sam-pling matrices such as saliva, for less invasive assays. The use of enzyme mimicking activity of nanomaterials gained ground in comparison to their more traditional roles as signaling probe, immobilization support for biomolecules or for signal amplification. The growing use of aptamers as replacements for antibodies prompted emerging applications of DNA am-plification and editing techniques. Optical biosensors and assays were tested with larger sets of clinical samples and compared with the current standard methods. The ambitious goals on the horizon for CVD testing include the discovery and determination of relevant biomarkers with the help of artificial intelligence, more stable specific recognition elements for biomarkers and fast, cheap readers and disposable tests to facilitate rapid testing at home. As the field is progressing at an impressive pace the opportunities for biosensors in the optical sensing of CVD biomarkers remain significant.

Tree members of the genus Acacia have benefits that are obvious for enhancing soil fertility in farming, forestry and agroforestry in regions with nutrient-poor soils, and for restoring degraded ecosystems and lands. Nevertheless, the species of the genus Acacia have got the potential to bring about significant adverse impacts on biodiversity or ecosystem functioning when it gets invasive. The ecology of the species in nearly all areas of its created range remains poorly understood. Here we have compiled the information regarding the importance, cultivation and the production of important species of genus Acacia. We hope this information will be useful to get awareness about the crucial trees in the genus Acacia.

Mucosal vaccines can target specific mucosal surfaces, such as the respiratory, genital, or intestinal mucosa. Conventional systemic immunization, such as intramuscular injections, do not provide mucosal immunity, including IgA, nor do they prevent pathogens from entering the mucous membranes. Nasal immunization protects mucosal membranes, but nasal antigen presentation appears to entail adjuvant to stimulate immunogenicity. Current treatments for mucosal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and allergic dermatitis only aimed to temporarily relieve symptoms. Moreover, these treatments not only have drug resistance or side effects, but the disease can recur, leading to switching to other treatments. Therefore, there is a need to develop safe and effective treatments that provide better long-term outcomes to reduce the risk of recurrence. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been used to suppress inflammation. To find advances in mucosal treatment, we investigated the therapeutic effects of intranasal pep27 mutant immunization. Here, a new method of Treg induction through intranasal immunization without adjuvant has been developed to potentially overcome allergies and mucosal inflammation of the lung-gut axis in animal models. The implementation of the pep27 mutant for these therapies should be preceded by studies of Treg resilience through clinical translational studies of dietary changes.

We introduce a new variation on the domination theme which we call vertex domination as reducing waste of time in transportation planning and optimization of transport routes. We determine the vertex domination number $\gamma_v$ for several classes of fuzzy graphs. The bounds is obtained for it. In fuzzy graphs, monotone decreasing property and monotone increasing property are introduced. We prove both of the vizing's conjecture and the Grarier-Khelladi's conjecture are monotone decreasing fuzzy graph property for vertex domination. We obtain Nordhaus-Gaddum (NG) type results for these parameters. The relationship between several classes of operations on fuzzy graphs with the vertex domination number of them is studied. Finally, we discuss about vertex dominating set of a fuzzy tree by using the bridges and $\alpha$-strong edges equivalence.

Prototypical functions of the chemokine receptor CCR6 include immune regulation by manoeuvring cell chemotaxis and selective delimiting of the pro-inflammatory TH17 and regulatory Treg subsets during chronic or acute systemic inflammation. Inhibition of CCR6 is proposed to attenuate disease symptoms and promote recuperation of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Prescription medicines with pharmacodynamics involving the inhibition of the chemokine axis CCR6-CCL20 is very limited. Developing such therapeutics is still at an early experimental stage which has mostly utilized pre-clinical models and neutralizing mono or polyclonal antibodies against either partner, CCR6 or CCL20. Other methods have been constitutive use of small molecules as peptide inhibitors or small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) to interfere with transcription at the nuclear level. We in our review aim at introducing the wide array of potential CCR6-CCL20 inhibitors that have been tried to date in the research field with accent on attendant immune-modulator capacity and which are immensely promising compounds as forerunners of future curatives. 16 different tractable inhibitors of the CCR6-CCL20 duo have been identified to possess high medicinal potential to the drug developers worldwide to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. A multitude of antibody preparations are already available in the current pharmaceutical market as patented treatment for diseases in which the CCR6-CCL20 axis is operative, yet must be used only as supplements with existing routinely prescribed medication as they collectively produce adverse side effects. Novel inhibitors are needed to evaluate this invaluable therapeutic target which holds much promise in the research and development of complaisant remedies for inflammatory diseases.

Leishmaniasis is one of the Neglected tropical diseases. Studies show that the poor knowledge about epidemiological aspects of Leishmaniasis within communities causes the collapse of existing disease control programs. Therefore, the present study focuses on a detailed survey of the existing awareness among the threatened population in the Medawachchiya PHI Area in the Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka aiming to assist the health staff to organize community-based vector control programs effectively in the future. Assessment of the awareness of the two hundred and seventy households (n=270) residents from ten GNDs was carried out by using a structured questionnaire. Among 143 females and 134 males, only 75.1% have knowledge about the disease. 5.8%(n=16) of the participants know only about the vector and 28.9% (n=80) know their control methods. The study shows a shortage of a considerable amount of awareness about the disease among the studied population The study found that age and education levels had significant impacts on knowledge, attitudes, and practices. However, factors like gender, marital status, occupation, income, and expenses did not show significant correlations. The present study suggests the huge scope for community-related vector control methods for greater achievements in vector control methods by implementing a continuous educational program.

This commentary is focused on radioactive contaminations in the Urals, where the consequences were more severe in the long term than those after the Chernobyl accident. The difference is that the latter was a technogenic catastrophe, but the former - a radioactive contamination tolerated since 70 years with several accidents in between. In earlier publications of Russian researchers no cancer frequency elevation was reported after exposures below 0.5 Sv or generally in the populations exposed to low doses. Later on, the same scientists started to claim similar relative risks for cancer and other diseases among exposed people in the Urals and in atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Apparently, an unofficial directive has been behind this ideological shift noticed around the year 2005. Trimming of statistics has been not unusual in the former Soviet Union. Potential motives included fostering radiophobia, stirring anti-nuclear protests in other countries and strangulation of nuclear energy aimed at the boosting of fossil fuel prices. Recent publications claiming cardiovascular risks after low-dose low-rate exposures and recommending more stringent standards of radiological protection are discussed here in some detail. Such recommendations for dose rates compatible with the natural radiation background are obviously nonsensical.

This article presents a systematic mapping study dedicated to conduct a literature review on machine learning and IoT applied in the identification of diseases through heart sounds. This research was conducted between January 2010 and July 2021, considering IEEE Xplore, PubMed Central, ACM Digital Library, JMIR- Journal of Medical Internet Research, Springer Library, and Science Direct. The initial search resulted in 4,372 papers, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 papers were selected for full reading to answer the research questions. The main results are: of the 58 articles selected, 46 (79.31%) mention heart rate observation methods with wearable sensors and digital stethoscopes, and 34 (58.62%) mention care with machine learning algorithms. The analysis of the studies based on the bibliometric network generated by the VOSviewer showed in 13 studies (22.41%) a trend related to the use of intelligent services in the prediction of diagnoses related to cardiovascular disorders.

Cystic artery bleeding (CAB), a relatively uncommon entity, can arise from both traumatic and non-traumatic etiologies. This pictorial essay aims to elucidate the computed tomography (CT) findings associated with CAB in these distinct contexts. In traumatic CAB, particularly blunt or penetrating trauma, a cystic artery lesion is the culprit behind the hemoperitoneum characteristically located within the gallbladder fossa. Prompt diagnosis is crucial. Fortunately, trans-arterial embolization offers a successful treatment option for traumatic cystic artery lesions, especially in settings where non-operative management is preferred. Non-traumatic CAB, on the other hand, often stems from inflammation in the hepatobiliary and pancreatic system, gallbladder tumours, or iatrogenic injuries. The underlying mechanism typically involves cystic artery wall damage, either due to inflammation or procedural complications, leading to the formation of a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm (CAP). Notably, CAP bleeding can manifest long after the causative event, posing a diagnostic challenge with a variable clinical presentation. This pictorial essay serves to illustrate the CT signs and features of CAB in both traumatic and non-traumatic scenarios. Additionally, it will delve into the characteristic CT appearance of CAP.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a complex genetic disorder with a distinct set of facial features, growth limitations, and limb anomalies. Its clinical spectrum is broad and presents significant challenges in pediatric diagnosis and management. The variable presentation of the disorder, due to cohesin complex mutations, requires extensive research to refine care and improve outcomes. This article provides a case series review of pediatric CdLS patients, alongside a comprehensive literature review, exploring clinical variability and the relationship between genotypic changes and phenotypic outcomes. It also discusses the evolution of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, with an emphasis on innovations in genetic testing, including the detection of mosaicism and novel genetic variations. The aim is to synthesise case studies with current research to advance our understanding of CdLS and the effectiveness of management strategies in pediatric healthcare. This work highlights the need for an integrated, evidence-based approach to diagnosis and treatment, and aims to fill existing research gaps and advocate for holistic care protocols and tailored treatment plans for CdLS patients, ultimately improving their quality of life.

We studied the effect of annealing and the applied magnetic field from 50 Oe to 20 kOe on the magneto-structural behavior of Ni2FeSi-based Heusler microwires fabricated by using Taylor-Ulitovsky technique. Using the XRD analysis, a strong effect of annealing, manifested as the development of the crystallization process, was observed. The average grain size and crystalline phase content of annealed sample increase from 21.3 nm and 34 % to 32.8 nm and 79%, respectively, as-compared to the as-prepared one. In addition, upon annealing phase transforms into a monoclinic martensitic structure with modulation 10M were observed, which cannot be found in the as-prepared sample. Concerning the magnetic properties, both samples show ferromagnetic behavior below and above the room temperature, where the Curie temperature of Ni2FeSi is higher than room temperature. The induced secondary phases have a noticeable effect on the magnetic behavior of the annealed sample, where a high normalized saturation magnetization (NMs) and low normalized reduced remenance (Mr = M/M5K), compared to the as- prepared have been detected. Additionally, the coercivity of annealed sample shows one flipping point at 155 K where it behavior with temperature is changed. Meanwhile, the as-prepared sample show two flipped point at 205 K and 55 K. A mismatch between field cooling (FC) and field heating (FH) magnetization curves with temperature has been detected for annealed sample at low applied magnetic field. In addition the FC and FH curves shows different slopes with variation the temperature and the magnetic field. By increasing the external magnetic field higher than 200 Oe and up to 20 kOe a gradual changing in the magnetic behavior has been detected, where the mismatch and different slopes disappeared at applying magnetic field about 20 kOe. The difference in magnetic and structure behavior of Ni2FeSi microwires sample is discussed considering the effect of induced internal stresses by the presence of a glass coating and the recrystallization and stresses relaxation upon annealing.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important crop that serves as a source of edible oil and protein. However, little is known about its molecular mechanism of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. Based on the Arabidopsis thaliana sequence database and Phytozome, a soybean gene that was highly homogenous with the reduced induction of the non-photochemical quenching2 (AtRIQ2) gene, GmRIQ2-like (accession NO.: Glyma.04G174400), was identified in this study. The gene structure analysis revealed that GmRIQ2-like encoded a transmembrane protein. Elements of the promoter analysis indicated that GmRIQ2-like participated in the photosynthesis and abiotic stress pathways. The subcellular localization results revealed that the protein encoded by GmRIQ2-like was located in chloroplasts. The quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR results revealed that GmRIQ2-like-overexpression (OE) and -knock-out (KO) transgenic soybean seedlings were cultivated successfully. The relative chlorophyll (Chl) and zeaxanthin contents and Chl fluorescence kinetic parameters demonstrated that GmRIQ2-like dissipated excess light energy by enhancing the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and reduced plant photoinhibition. These results suggested that GmRIQ2-like was induced in response to strong light and depressed Chl production involved in soybean stress tolerance. These findings indicate that the transgenic seedlings of GmRIQ2-like could be used to enhance strong light stress tolerance and protect soybean plants from photoinhibition damage. This study will serve as a reference for studying crop photoprotection regulation mechanisms and benefits the research and development of new cultivars.

Given the remarkable progress in global health and overall quality of life, the significant rise in life expectancy has become intertwined with the surging occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders (ND). This emerging trend is poised to pose a substantial challenge to the fields of medicine and public health in the years ahead. In this context, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is regarded as a ND that causes recent memory loss, motor impairment and cognitive deficits. AD is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly and its development is linked to multifactorial interac-tions between the environment, genetics, aging and lifestyle. The pathological hallmarks in AD are the accumulation of beta amyloid (A) peptide, the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, neuro-toxic events and impaired glucose metabolism. Due to pharmacological limitations and in view of the prevailing glycemic hypometabolism, the ketogenic diet (KD) emerges as a promising non-pharmacological possibility for managing AD, an approach that has already demonstrated efficacy in addressing other disorders, notably epilepsy. KD consists of a food regimen in which carbohydrate intake is discouraged at the expense of increased lipid consumption, inducing met-abolic ketosis, whereby the main source of energy becomes ketone bodies, instead of glucose. Thus, under these dietary conditions, neuronal death through lack of energy would be decreased, inasmuch as the metabolism of lipids is not impaired in AD. In this way, the clinical picture of patients with AD would potentially improve, through the slowing down of symptoms and delaying the progression of the disease. Hence, this review aims to explore the rationale behind utilizing the KD in AD treatment while emphasizing the metabolic interplay between KD and the improvement of AD indicators, drawing insights from both pre-clinical and clinical investigations.

There is a need for a modified Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to estimate physical activity levels more accurately in populations. We aimed to develop a modified GPAQ and examine its construct validity among adults in Kerala state, India. We incorporated locality-specific, metabolic equivalent task (MET)-based activities into the original GPAQ and administered this modified GPAQ among randomly selected 451 individuals (age ≥20 years) residing in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. Construct validity was assessed using Generalized Linear Models by examining the association of total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) MET-minutes per week estimated by the modified GPAQ with clinical measures. The mean age of participants was 45.4 (SD: 14.1) years and 52.6% were female. Increasing total MVPA MET-minutes per week was associated with decreasing weight (β=-0.011 kg, 95% CI: -0.020, -0.002), waist circumference (β=-0.013 cm, 95% CI: -0.023, -0.004), and systolic blood pressure (β=-0.009 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.015, -0.002), independent of age, sex, education, occupation, current smoking, current alcohol use, and fruit and vegetable intake. The validity coefficients and associations between total MVPA MET-minutes per week and theoretical constructs of physical activity were in agreement with those predicted, providing evidence of construct validity for the modified GPAQ.

The pH-related metabolic paradigm has rapidly grown in cancer research and treatment. In this contribution, this recent oncological perspective has been laterally for the first time in order to integrate neurodegeneration within the energetics of the cancer acid-base conceptual frame. At all levels of study, molecular, biochemical, metabolic and clinical, the intimate nature of both processes appears to be opposite mechanisms occurring at the far ends of a physiopathological intracellular pH/extracellular pH (pHi/pHe) spectrum. This wide-ranged original approach now permits an increase in our understanding of these opposite processes, cancer and neurodegeneration, and, as a consequence, allows to propose new avenues of treatment based upon the intracellular and microenvironmental hydrogen ion dynamics regulating and deregulating the biochemistry and metabolism of both cancer and neural cells. Under the same perspective, the etiopathogenesis and special characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) becomes an excellent model for the study of neurodegenerative diseases and, utilizing this pioneering approach, we find that MS appears to be a metabolic disease even before an autoimmune one. Also within this paradigm, several important aspects of MS, from mitochondrial failure to microbiota functional abnormalities, are analyzed in depth.

Controlling the selectivity of detonation initiation reaction of explosive is a Holy Grail, and it seems to be an “idiot's daydream”, by strengthening external electric field, to reduce the explosive sensitivity. The effects of external electric fields on the initiation reactions in NH2NO2∙∙∙NH3, a model system of the nitroamine explosive with alkaline additive, were investigated at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) and CCSD/6-311++G(2d,p) level. The concerted effect in the intermolecular hydrogen exchange is characterized by an index of the imaginary vibrations. Due to the weakened concerted effects by the electric field along the −x-direction opposite to the “reaction axis”, the dominant reaction changes from the hydrogen exchange to 1,3-intramolecular hydrogen transference with the increase of the field strengths. Furthermore, the stronger the field strengths, the higher the barrier heights become, indicating the lower sensitivities. Therefore, by strengthening the field strength and adjusting the orientation between the field and “reaction axis”, not only can the reaction selectivity be controlled, but also the sensitivity can be reduced, in particular under a super-strong field. Thus, a traditional concept, which the explosive is dangerous under the super-strong external electric field, is broken theoretically. Compared to the neutral medium, the low sensitivity of the explosive with alkaline can be achieved under the stronger field. Employing atoms in molecules, reduced density gradient and surface electrostatic potentials, the origin of the reaction selectivity and sensitivity change is revealed. This work provides a new idea to the technical improvement for adding the external electric field into the explosive system.

One of the most destructive natural disasters is the earthquake which brings enormous risks to humankind. The objective of the current study was to determine the Earthquake’s remote sensing multiparameter (i.e. land surface temperature (LST), air temperature, specific humidity, precipitation and wind speed) spatiotemporal anomaly of many earthquake samples occurred during 2018 around the world. In this research 11 earthquake (M > 6:0) studied (4 samples selected in a land with transparent sky situations, 3 samples in land within cloudy situations and 4 samples in marine earthquakes). The interquartile range (IQR) and mean ± 2σ methods utilized to improve the efficiency of anomalous differences. As a result, based on the IQR method, negative anomaly before the event detected during the daytime in Mexico and during the nighttime in Afghanistan. In addition, a negative outlier of brightness temperature (BT) detected in Alaska before, after and during the event. In contrast, based on IQR and mean ± 2σ positive anomaly detected in precipitation before and after the event in all investigated examples. According to mean ± 2σ, negative anomaly LST, specific humidity, sea surface temperature (SST_100) and wind detected in most examined earthquake samples. In contrast, positive SST_0 anomaly observed in Fiji and Honduras after the earthquake. Our results suggested in marine earthquakes, for earthquake forecasting we can merge a prior negative anomaly in the wind speed and SST_100. Regarding the in land cloudy sky earthquakes, merging anomaly parameters could be the negative prior anomaly in BT, skin temperature, in contrast, a positive anomaly in precipitation. In land transparent sky earthquake, usually negative prior anomalies in air temperature, specific humidity and LST.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD´s) continue as the primary cause of death worldwide. During the past couple of years, and with the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths linked to CVD´s were -slightly overshadowed by those deaths related to COVID-19, albeit during the highest peaks of the pandemic. The present study derived form understanding the correlation between both diseases, from the standpoint of patients already diagnosed with CVD´s (n = 41883) and what comorbidities had the highest influence on overall patient death (n = 3637). Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are all linked to worsening the outcome of COVID-19 positive patients, hence they were considered when looking at the overview of all CVD positive patients. Our finding showed that 1697 deaths were related to diabetes (p < 0.001), 987 deaths were related to obesity (p < 0.001), and lastly 2499 deaths were attributed to hypertension (p < 0.001) individually. Using logistic regression modeling, we found diabetes (OR: 1.744, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR: 2.179, p < 0.001) had a high impact on patient deaths. Hence, having a CVD diagnosis, with hypertension and/or diabetes seems to increase the likely-hood of complication leading to death in COVID-19 positive patients.

Endothelial cells are the crucial inner lining of blood vessels, pivotal in vascular homeostasis and integrity. However, these cells are perpetually subjected to a myriad of mechanical, chemical, and biological stresses that can compromise their plasma membranes. A sophisticated repair system involving key molecules, such as calcium, annexins, dysferlin, and MG53, is essential for maintaining endothelial viability. These components orchestrate complex mechanisms, including exocytosis and endocytosis, to repair membrane disruptions. Dysfunctions in this repair machinery, often exacerbated by aging, are linked to endothelial cell death, subsequently contributing to the onset of atherosclerosis and the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and stroke, major causes of mortality in the United States. Thus, identifying the core machinery for endothelial cell membrane repair is critically important for understanding the pathogenesis of CVD and stroke and developing novel therapeutic strategies for combating CVD and stroke. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of endothelial cell membrane repair. The future directions of this research area are also highlighted.

Chronic inflammation, the activation of immune cells and their cross-talk with cardiomyocytes in the pathogenesis and progression of heart diseases has long been overlooked. However, with the latest research developments, it is increasingly accepted that a vicious cycle exists where cardiomyocytes release cardiocrine signaling molecules that spirals down to immune cell activation and chronic state of low‐level inflammation. For example, cardiocrine molecules released from injured or stressed cardiomyocytes can stimulate macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and even T-cells, which then subsequently increase cardiac inflammation by co-stimulation and positive feedback-loops. One of the key proteins involved in stress-mediated cardiomyocyte signal transduction is a small GTPase RhoA. Importantly, the regulation of RhoA activation is critical for effective immune cell response and is being considered as one of the potential therapeutic targets in many immune-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. In this review we provide an update on the role of RhoA at the juncture of immune cell activation, inflammation and cardiac disease.

Background. A strong association between Activities of Daily Living (ADL)/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) disability, chronic disease, and depressive symptoms among different racial/ethnic groups of older adults has been well established. However, whether this relationship remains true among refugee populations such as Vietnamese in the United States has not yet been investigated. Methods. Using linear regressions, we tested the relationships between ADL/IADL disability, common chronic diseases, and depressive symptoms among 208 Vietnamese-origin older adults from the two convenience samples in 2017 and 2018 (≥65 years) from the Vietnamese Aging and Care Survey (VACS) in the Houston, Texas area. Results. Study participants (N=208) were 56.2% female of average 75.4 years old with low education and low socioeconomic status. Most self-rated their health as fair/poor (80%). Regression analyses showed significant associations between liver disease and total ADL/IADL difficulties with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions. Older Vietnamese with more ADL/IADL disability and liver disease reported higher depressive symptoms. Complications from chronic conditions and pain might limit activities and impact older Vietnamese psychologically. Healthcare professionals can connect older Vietnamese with culturally and linguistically relevant adult daycare centers to provide them with social and exercise opportunities.

The multitarget therapeutic strategy, as opposed to the more traditional ‘one disease-one tar-get-one drug’, may hold promise in treating multifactorial neurodegenerative syndromes, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. Recently, combining a photopharmacology approach with the multitarget-directed ligand (MTDL) design strategy, we disclosed a novel donepezil-like compound, namely 2-(4-((diethylamino)methyl)benzylidene)-5-methoxy- 2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one (1a), which in the E diastereomeric form (and about tenfold less in the UV-B photo-induced isomer Z) showed the best activity as dual inhibitor of the AD-related targets acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Herein, we investigated further photoisomerizable 2-benzylideneindan-1-one analogs 1b-h with the unconjugated tertiary amino moiety bearing alkyls of different bulkiness and lipophilicity. For each compound the thermal stable E diastereoisomer, along with the E/Z mixture as produced by UV-B light irradia-tion in the photostationary state (PSS, 75% Z), was investigated for the inhibition of human ChEs and MAOs. The pure E-diastereoisomer of the N-benzyl(ethyl)amino analog 1h achieved low nanomolar AChE and high nanomolar MAO-B inhibition potencies (IC50s 39 and 355 nM, re-spectively), whereas photoisomerization to the Z isomer (75% Z in the PSS mixture) resulted in a decrease (about 30%) of AChE inhibitory potency, and not in the MAO-B one. Molecular docking studies were performed to rationalize the different E/Z diastereoselectivity of 1h toward the two target enzymes.

China is not only short of fresh water resources per capita, but also faces a serious problem of water pollution in recent years, with 190 million people suffering from excessive levels of harmful substances in their drinking water. Such as arsenic poisoning and fluorosis and other endemic water diseases high incidence. As a series of water pollution prevention plan of action by the Chinese government announced that, this paper uses the modified Undesirable Dynamic Network model empirical analysis of China's 31 provincial administrative region economic growth, wastewater treatment, and water disease control efficiency between 2013 and 2017. The results show that the efficiency of water pollution disease in all four regions of China and the total efficiency in the three regions of east, west and central China all show a decreasing trend, and the efficiency scores and rankings of all provinces and cities within the region fluctuate greatly. The eastern region with the most developed economy has the best overall performance, with higher efficiency in Water consumption and Water disease control. However, the efficiency of wastewater treatment in northeast China is stable and better. Given the high level of economic development in China and the results of the above mentioned efficiency in water pollution and water diseases, improving the efficiency and quality of wastewater treatment in China is regarded as an important factor in achieving the strategic goal of green growth.

Summary: Hypertension is a public health problem with serious social, economic, and health consequences. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 in 3 adults worldwide suffers from hypertension. In Cameroon, the prevalence of hypertension is estimated at 35%, with nearly 17,000 deaths recorded each year. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with the occurrence and complications of hypertension at the Sangmélima Referral Hospital (HRS). A total of 528 patients treated in the cardiology department of the HRS were identified between January and December 2023. The data were analyzed using SPSS 28 software. Binary logistic regression determined the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with each variable. Differences were statistically significant for a p-value &lt; 0.05. At the HRS, the annual incidence of hypertension was 16.13%. Hypertension was present in 78.8% of patients. The factors associated with the occurrence and complications of hypertension were age (OR=1.028; p=0.003 ), level of education (OR=15.49; p=0.023), marital status (OR=3.859; p=0.04), hypercholesterolemia (OR=2.856; p=0.01), monthly income (OR=0.882; p=0.026), number of dependents (OR=1.231; p=0.025), food security (OR=16.666; p&lt;0.001), tobacco consumption (OR=8.592; p=0.041), fruit and vegetable consumption (OR=0.027; p=0.031), salt/sugar consumption (OR=8.129; p&lt;0.001), place of residence (OR=4.794; p=0.005), access to essential technologies (OR=8.851; p=0.002), and use of traditional care (OR=3.137; np=0.032). HTA at the HRS is associated with several factors. In order to limit the impact of hypertension, it is crucial to emphasize improving socioeconomic and health conditions.

Although significant efforts have been made to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), they still account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 216 million estimated cases in 2016, which is a 9.3% decrease from the estimated cases reported one decade earlier. It is known that the built environment, through features such as openings, can propagate the spread of malaria. There have been some significant efforts directed at addressing this risk. This notwithstanding, there are some knowledge gaps that have resulted in a missed opportunity for synergistically tackling the problem of vectors through leveraging design decisions made by built environment professionals. This work assesses the extent to which design decisions in the built environment can have a positive impact on the efforts directed at mitigating the risk of malaria based on selected cases from East Africa. Secondary data derived from relevant urban health journals as well as repositories curated by leading health agencies such as WHO were synthesized and analyzed using a web of causation approach. The outcome of the analysis is a schema of primary and secondary source (risk) factors. The use of the web of causation approach revealed the existing factor-to-factor interactions that could have a reinforcing effect. This information was used to identify the critical linkages and interdependencies across different factors. The outcome of the analysis was mapped against risk factors that can be linked to decisions made during the six primary phases of the construction life cycle: preliminary phase, conceptual design, detailed design, construction, facilities management, and end of life/disuse. The findings of the research have established that 1) there is, in fact, a built environment–related opportunity that can be leveraged to advance the impact of malaria mitigation effort; 2) cross-disciplinary synergies are critical to managing the interdependencies and complexity of malaria risk factors that have a reinforcing effect; and 3) a knowledge-management framework that serves as a decision support tool would be valuable for sharing data under a push-and-pull mechanism, in which data shared in real time can address the timeliness of mitigating the spread of malaria at the earliest stages for the greatest impact. Based on the findings, a conceptual architecture for a decision support framework has been proposed. This will be developed into a knowledge-management platform in subsequent efforts.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) affect millions of people worldwide, and to date Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are the most common NDs. The risk of developing NDs increases dra-matically with age, and genetic and environmental factors can be crucial in their progression. The main feature of NDs is the abnormal presence of specific proteins that can lead to neuronal death, proteotoxic stress, and alteration of catabolic systems, which are major players in the processes of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Despite research efforts to date, the therapies cur-rently in use for the treatment of NDs provide marginal therapeutic benefit, so the focus is now being direct toward the search of natural products that could be a valuable aid in combating these diseases, including the natural compound Andrographis paniculata (Ap) and especially its main constituent Andrographolide (Andro). Preclinical studies have shown that the aqueous extract of Ap is capable to modulate neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative responses, determining a reduction in inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in various NDs. Therefore, in this review we will focus on the molecular mechanisms through which Ap and Andro are able to modulate the processes of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation that are major causes of neuronal death and cognitive decline.

Obesity is related to the establishment of chronic inflammation and metabolic diseases, but it can be positively influenced by the regular practice of physical activity. The study aimed to compare the anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters of physically active Military Police Officers (MPOs) with those who are less physically active. Sixty male MPOs, low activity (n=28) and physically active (n=32) participated. The following parameters were measured: plasma cytokine levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, circulating glucose triglyceride (TAG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and plasma glutamic oxalacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. The physically active group presented lower body fat and reduced TAG and IL-8 levels compared to the low activity group. Moreover, a negative correlation between SPE and SBP, DBP, BPM was detected for the physically active group (p<0.05) but not in the low activity group. Furthermore, the physically active group's work time (WT) values were not correlated with the important metabolic markers SBP, DBP, BPM, GLU, TAG (p>0.05) but could be in the low activity group (p<0.05). These findings highlight the fundamental protective role of physical activity in controlling body composition, subclinical inflammation, and cardiovascular risk in MPOs.

Background/Objectives: Dengue is an arbovirus caused by a virus. It is an endemic infectious and occurs in warmer climates. It is not uncommon for the disease to be asymptomatic. However, the severe form can also be triggered and require intensive care. In this sense, patients present a wide variety of symptoms, which can trigger comorbidities such as arthritis, hematologic diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases, autoimmune diseases, and, mainly, diabetes and hypertension. Among the symptoms, the presence of fever, myalgia, headache, nausea, vomiting, leukopenia, petechiae, retroorbital pain, arthralgia, rashes, skin eruptions, cardiovascular symptoms, respiratory symptoms and, depending on the severity, the presence of hemorrhages may occur. Methods: 235 patients' anonymized records from a secondary hospital were analyzed. Ethics approval was obtained and no patients’ consent was needed. Statistical analysis used frequency distributions and Chi-square tests, with SPSS software. Results: Similar to other studies, our results show that dengue can lead to complications. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the distribution of the proportion of symptoms between patients with positive and negative serology. However, there was a significant association between age group and symptoms of fever and myalgia, with the occurrence of fever decreasing with increasing age and myalgia being more frequent in adults and less frequent in those &lt;10 years old. Conclusions: Dengue can lead to complications, with fever becoming less common and muscle pain increasing as people age. Climate change could spread dengue to new areas. To address this, we need better vaccines and more effective mosquito control.

The importance of diet and the gut-brain axis for brain health and cognitive function is increasingly acknowledged. Dietary interventions are tested for their potential to prevent and/or treat brain disorders. Intermittent fasting (IF), the abstinence or strong limitation of calories for 12 to 48 hours, alternated with periods of regular food intake, has shown promising results on neurobiological health in animal models. In this review article, we discuss the potential benefits of IF on cognitive function and the possible effects on the prevention and progress of brain-related disorders in animals and humans. We do so by summarizing the effects of IF which - through metabolic, cellular and circadian mechanisms - lead to anatomical and functional changes in the brain. Our review shows that there is no clear evidence of a positive short-term effect of IF on cognition in healthy subjects. Clinical studies show benefits of IF for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis on disease symptoms and progress. Findings from animal studies show mechanisms by which Parkinson’s disease, ischaemic stroke, autism spectrum disorder and mood- and anxiety disorders could benefit from IF. Future research should disentangle whether positive effects of IF hold true regardless of age or the presence of obesity. Also, variations in fasting patterns, total caloric intake and intake of specific nutrients may be relevant components of IF success. Longitudinal studies and Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) will provide a window into the long-term effects of IF on the development and progress of brain-related diseases.

Air pollution has been a major environmental issue worldwide from the last few decades. It is a man-made issue that has a serious harmful impact on the environment and the health of humans. There are different sources of emission, but industrial processes and motor vehicles contribute to a chief part of air pollution. It has acute as well as chronic effects on the health of humans and affects different organs. It is thought the main environmental risk factor in the incidence and progression of several diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Long-term exposure to air pollution has different toxicological impacts on humans such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric complications, eye irritation and skin diseases. As per the study by the World Health Organization (WHO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals are the major air contaminants. These pollutants are different in their properties, composition and time of disintegration. The aim of this study is to review the different sources, types, impacts, challenges and mitigation of air pollution in detail.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated risk factors are a growing concern in Cameroon. Physiotherapists (PTs) can play a crucial role in prevention and management. However, the extent of Cameroonian PT involvement in health promotion (HP) activities remains unclear. This study assessed Cameroonian physiotherapists’ current HP practices for people at risk of developing or living with CVDs (pwCVDs). A cross-sectional survey was administered online to PTs practising in Cameroon. Out of 181 PT responses, 95% reported providing a variety of HP activities, including weight management (74%), dietary advice (73%), physical activity (69%), smoking cessation (69%), stress management (61%), and sleep promotion (48%). While PTs were confident in lifestyle assessments, they felt less confident about sleep interventions. Strong beliefs, confidence, team support, and time allocation enhanced HP practice. However, preference for passive modalities, patient adherence issues, organisational challenges within healthcare services, role ambiguity among healthcare providers, inadequate training opportunities, and the absence of established guidelines for CVD prevention negatively affect HP practice. These findings highlight the challenges and opportunities for enhancing HP delivery within the physiotherapy profession in Cameroon. Strategic investments and concerted efforts are necessary to address barriers and leverage facilitators effectively for scaling up HP initiatives, given the significant burden of CVDs in the country.

Brain-stimulation reward, also known as intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), is a commonly used procedure for studying brain reward function and drug reward. In electrical ICSS, an electrode is surgically implanted into the medial forebrain bundle in the lateral hypothalamus or the ventral tegmental area in the midbrain. Operant lever responding leads to the delivery of electrical pulse stimulation. The alteration in the stimulation frequency-lever response curve is used to evaluate the impact of pharmacological agents on brain reward function. If a test drug induces a leftward or upward shift in the ICSS response curve, it implies a reward-enhancing or abuse-like effect. Conversely, if a drug causes a rightward or downward shift in the functional response curve, it suggests a reward-attenuating or aversive effect. A significant drawback of electrical ICSS is the lack of cellular selectivity in understanding the neural substrates underlying drug reward versus aversion. Excitingly, recent advancements in optical ICSS (oICSS) have facilitated the development of at least three cell type-specific oICSS models – dopamine-, glutamate-, and GABA-dependent oICSS. In these new models, a comparable frequency-rate response curve has been established and employed to study the substrate-specific mechanisms underlying brain reward function and a drug's rewarding versus aversive effects. In this review article, we summarize recent progress in this exciting research area. The findings in these new behavioral models have not only increased our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying drug reward and addiction but have also introduced a novel experimental approach in preclinical medication development for treating substance use disorders.

Objective: To explore sex differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) related risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and nutritional differences among 40-60 years old Pakistani CVD patients.Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study.Setting: The present study was conducted at the Mayo/King Edward Medical University (K.E.M.U) Hospital Cardiology Department (CCU-I & CCU-II), Lahore, from February 2020 to June 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.Participants: A random sample of 300 cardiac patients was included in the study. Patient records, food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall was used to solicit information about demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical measurements; dietary intake parameters; and CVD risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. Results: Men CVD patients had higher BMI (33.43 kg/m² vs. 28.69 kg/m²) and higher prevalence of hypertension (81.1% vs. 59%), hypercholesterolemia (82.4% vs. 54.5%) and smoked more cigarettes (72.6% vs. 9%) as compared to women while there was higher prevalence of diabetes among women as compared to men (59% vs. 29.4%). There were 85% women vs. 80% men consuming white bread, while half of the men reported using meat daily, as compared to only 16.6% women. There were 51.5% women and 17% men who reported consuming fruits and vegetables daily. There were 40% men and 16% women who reported consuming soft drinks. Conclusion: The study showed significant sex differences in the nutritional status and risk factors of patients with CVD.

Background: In our recent publications pertaining to 4G model of final unification and based on strong and electroweak interactions, we have proposed the existence of a weak fermion of rest energy 585 GeV. Objective: To confirm the physical existence of the proposed 585 GeV weak fermion by analyzing weak and strong interactions in a unified approach via 4G model of final unification, super symmetry and string theory. Method: Considering the proposed nuclear charge of 2.95e, proton, electron mass ratio, specific charge ratios of proton and electron, Fermi’s weak coupling constant, Reduced Planck’s constant, nucleon magnetic moments, nuclear stability, nuclear binding energy, nuclear mass and neutron lifetime, it is planned to confirm the physical existence of the proposed 585 GeV weak fermion. Results: All proposed logics and formulae clearly establish the physical existence of 585 GeV weak fermion directly and indirectly. Conclusion: Believing in the physical existence of the proposed 585 GeV weak fermion, there is a scope for observing galactic TeV radiation coming by virtue of annihilation of 585 GeV fermions and radiation associated with various astrophysical acceleration mechanisms of 585 GeV fermions. Appeal: As we are beginners of astrophysics domain, we appeal the science community to see the possibility of considering the proposed 585 GeV weak fermion with a charge of $\pm\left(e\right)$ in place of electron and proton.

Patients with sAID are a population at high risk of severe COVID outcomes but evidence on the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in this group of patients is scarce. To investigate the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with systemic autoinflammatory diseases (sAID) receiving interleukin-1 inhibition is important. Vaccination responses from 100 sAID patients most of whom were treated with IL-1inhibitors (N=96) and 100 healthy controls (HC) were ana-lyzed. After 2nd SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, sAID patients showed similar anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-body responses (mean (SD): 6.7 (2.7)) compared to HC (5.7 (2.4)) as well as similar neutralizing antibodies (85.1 ±22.9% vs. 82.5 ±19.7%). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses and neutralizing antibodies were similar in sAID patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection and double vaccination. Furthermore, while antibodies increased after 1st and 2nd vaccination in sAID patients they did not further increase after 3rd and 4th vaccination. No difference was found in antibody responses between anakinra and anti-IL-1 antibody treatments and also the additional use of colchicine or other drugs did not impair vaccination responses. Primary and booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccination lead to protective antibody responses in sAID patients, which are at the same level of vaccination responses in HC and in sAID patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immunomodulatory treatments used in sAID do not seem to affect antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Urban environments are frequently populated by different insect species. Some of them are very beautiful and appealing to the people around them, such as ladybugs and butterflies, while some others are molestants and even dangerous to public health. Mosquitoes often inhabit urban environments by staying close to their hosts (humans, birds, etc.), while phytophagous species such as stinkbugs find hosts among ornamental plants and shelters during the winter around humans. This article describes the early discoveries and distribution of two invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus, and Ae. japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae), which were recorded in Serbia in 2009 and 2018, respectively. Both species are important for human health, due to their nuisance behavior and because they are vectors of many viruses. On the other hand, in 2015 and 2008, two invasive stinkbug species, Halyomorpha halys and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were observed to spread, respectively. Since then, these species have disrupted human population in urban areas, but also damaged a range of crops and ornamental plants. All species have been monitored in the territory of Serbia, and establishment and distribution have been confirmed so far.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) belong to the family of heme containing peroxidases, produced mostly from polymorphonuclear neutrophils. The active enzyme (150 kD) is the product of MPO gene located on long arm of chromosome 17. The primary gene product undergoes several modifications like removal of introns and signal peptide and leads to the formation of enzymatically inactive glycosylated apoproMPO which complexes with chaperons, producing active proMPO by the insertion of heme moiety. The active enzyme is a homodimer of heavy and light chain protomers. This enzyme is released into extracellular fluid after oxidative stress and different inflammatory responses. MPO is the only type of peroxidase using H2O2 to oxidize several halides and pseudohalides to form different hypohalous acids. So the antibacterial activities of MPO involve the production of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species. Controlled MPO release at the site of infection is of prime importance for its efficient activities. Any uncontrolled degranulation exaggerates the inflammation that can also lead to tissue damage even in absence of inflammation. Several types of tissue injuries and pathogenesis of several other major chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, diabetes and cancer have been reported to be linked with myeloperoxidase derived oxidants. So the enhanced level of MPO activity is one of the best diagnostic tool of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers among these commonly occurring diseases.

The modeling of psychiatric disorders poses significant challenges due to the complex nature of these conditions, which encompass a range of neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. The rising global prevalence of mental disorders and the urgency for more effective treatments have propelled the development of innovative in vitro models. This review presents a thorough examination of two-dimensional (2D) versus three-dimensional (3D) induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of neuropsychiatric diseases, offering insights into their respective capacities to mimic neurodevelopment and cellular phenotypes observed in these conditions. Our comparative analysis reveals that while traditional 2D cultures have been instrumental in elucidating disease pathways and high-throughput drug screening, they fall short in replicating the intricate cellular architecture and environment of the human brain. On the other hand, 3D organoid models, including brain organoids, better recapitulate the spatial organization, cell-type diversity, and functional connectivity of brain tissue, offering a more physiologically relevant context for studying disease mechanisms and testing therapeutic interventions. We assess the progress in modeling ASD, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and depression, highlighting the advanced understanding of disease etiology and potential treatment avenues offered by 3D iPSC technologies. Challenges remain, including the scalability, reproducibility, and maturation of organoids, but the potential for personalized medicine and the elucidation of disease ontogeny is unparalleled. The review concludes with a perspective on the future directions of psychiatric disease modeling, emphasizing the integration of 3D iPSC models with high-throughput technologies and computational approaches to enhance our understanding and treatment of these debilitating conditions.