This research article investigates the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resource management (HRM) within the Australian commercial media sector, addressing a critical gap in scholarly knowledge. Despite increasing interest in AI’s potential, there is a lack of consensus among managers and HR professionals regarding its application. Through qualitative interviews with 22 industry professionals, this study examines perceptions, understanding, and the potential for leveraging AI across key HRM functions. Findings indicate significant potential for AI to enhance HRM processes, particularly in job/work design and staffing. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of AI’s role in HRM and offers insights to optimize organizational efficiency and effectiveness in the Australian commercial media sector.

Research on high-volume fly ash concrete, which utilizes large quantities of fly ash, has been actively conducted to promote resource recycling and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, while cement mixed with fly ash exhibits different temperature sensitivities compared to traditional cement, its hydration and mechanical properties vary depending on curing conditions. Despite this, there is a significant gap in research on this topic. In this study, high-volume fly ash concrete was produced with fly ash replacement rates of 35 % and 55 %. Compression strength tests were performed at various curing ages under three different curing temperature conditions, and the results were analyzed. Additionally, an isothermal calorimeter was used to analyze hydration characteristics under different curing conditions. The results indicated that concrete with high fly ash content was more sensitive to curing temperature compared to ordinary Portland cement.

This scoping review explores the intersection of Extended Mind Theory and Extended Reality (XR) technologies, focusing on how Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality reshape human cognition and interaction. XR enables users to offload cognitive tasks and engage in embodied experiences, extending cognition beyond the brain into digital environments. The review highlights a wide range of XR applications, from immersive learning in STEM education and medical training, neuropsychological assessment to therapeutic interventions, arts and entertainment, professional skills development, retail and e-commerce, remote work, sports training, architecture and urban planning, and cultural heritage preservation. XR's integration with modalities like haptics, eye-tracking, face- and body-tracking, and brain-computer interfaces further enhances cognitive extension and user engagement. However, alongside these advancements come significant ethical, psychological, and societal challenges, such as data privacy concerns, the psychological effects of prolonged immersion, and social inequality arising from disparate access to XR technologies. This review emphasizes the need for robust ethical frameworks that address these challenges, ensuring that XR technologies enhance human development while maintaining autonomy, privacy, and mental well-being. As XR continues to evolve and integrate with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, its role in expanding human cognition will depend on responsible implementation and governance.

To be CMOS-compatible, a low preparation temperature (< 500 °C) of ferroelectric films is required. In this study, BiFeO3 films were successfully fabricated at a low annealing temperature (< 450 °C) on aluminum foils by a metal-organic decomposition process. The annealing atmosphere on performance of BiFeO3 films was assessed at 440 ± 5℃. By replacing an O2-rich atmosphere with an N2-rich one, a better crystalline morphology was achieved in BiFeO3 films, resulting in better electric properties targeted for high-density ferroelectric random-access memory applications. These properties included a large remnant polarization (Pr~78.1 μC/cm2 @ 1165.2 kV/cm) and a high rectangularity (~91.3% @ 1165.2 kV/cm) of the P-E loop, along with excellent charge-retaining ability up to 1.0 × 103 s and a fatigue resistance reaching 1.0 × 109 switching cycles. The enhanced performance of BiFeO3 film in an N2-rich atmosphere maybe originated from the slightly high content of oxygen vacancies during the annealing process. Furthermore, decent electrical properties (Pr~70 μC/cm2 @ 1118.1 kV/cm) of the BiFeO3 films were achieved at a very low annealing temperature of 365 ±5 °C on aluminum foil substrates. These results offer a new idea for lowering the annealing temperature for integrated ferroelectrics in high-density FeRAM applications.

Background. The possible interactions between anger and fear have not been widely explored in the psychological literature. Fear and anger are currently beginning to be studied by looking at their interrelationships, rather than seeing them as simply opposing emotions. Furthermore, there is a tendency to think that anger is more typical of men and fear of women. Our contribution proposes a particular perspective of affective neuroscience. The objectives of the study are: 1) To assess possible differences in affective systems, states, and traits of anger in relation to biological sex; 2) To assess correlations between ANGER, FEAR, and PANIC, state and trait anger in both a female and male sample; 3) To assess possible differences in basic affective systems in relation to different levels of ANGER, FEAR, and PANIC, state and trait anger, in sample of female and in sample of male. Methods. A non-clinical sample of 339 females and 99 males completed the ANPS 3.1 to assess basic affective states and the STAXI 2 to assess anger states and traits. Results. No significant differences were found for ANGER and FEAR scores and for state and trait scores between the male and female samples. Clear correlations emerged (p < .01) between FEAR. PANIC and FEAR in both the female and male samples. Among the differences that emerged in the affective systems, we emphasise that in the female group as FEAR increases, there are significant variations in systems of SEEKING, PLAY, and CARE. Furthermore, only in the female sample as PANIC increases, PLAY progressively decreases, and CARE shows an irregular trend. Discussion. Given the importance of the SEEKING and PLAY systems for well-being and gender equality the hypoactivation of these systems to increases in FEAR and PANIC highlights the need to monitor conditions that may trigger these affective systems.

Fixed-time artificial insemination is an important technique in swine production that can improve reproductive efficiency and meat production quality by making better use of the genetic potential of breeding males and reducing the costs associated with double or multiple inseminations. Our goal was to evaluate the vaginal application of the GnRH agonist triptorelin acetate to synchronize post-weaning sows and facilitate implantation of a single fixed-time insemination. In a first experiment, the efficacy of treatment with the triptorelin in animals with or without signs of estrus was analyzed using a single insemination at a fixed time compared to the control following the standard insemination strategy. Farrowing rate was comparable between triptorelin and control groups (100 vs. 87.50%), but triptorelin without estrus had a lower rate (50%). Litter size did not differ between groups. Estradiol and progesterone levels at 96- and 120-hours post-weaning were similar in the control and triptorelin groups (P>0.05). These results suggest that Triptorelin has the potential to synchronize ovulation in pigs without affecting post-weaning hormonal profiles. In a second experiment, the objective was to evaluate the productive and economic impact of implementing a treatment with triptorelin acetate 96 hours after weaning compared to the standard insemination protocol. Sows were grouped according to treatment (control vs. triptorelin) and estrus onset (≤5 days and >5 days after weaning considered as late estrus). Farrowing rate was lower in the control late estrus group than in the control and triptorelin groups and similar to the triptorelin late estrus group. No differences were found for litter size, live or dead piglets born (P>0.05). We developed an estimation model to assess the cost/benefit of intravaginal triptorelin administration at 96 h post-weaning. The overall result is that the use of triptorelin increases the benefit per inseminated sow in the range of €15-20. This improvement is mainly related to an increase in the reproductive performance of the treated sows compared to the control sows and the reduction in the number of inseminations per sow. These results highlight the potential of triptorelin to optimize reproductive management in pigs, improving efficiency and economic viability.

In this paper, the results of a high-precision control survey carried out in the underground mining of the Oyu Tolgoi project using terrestrial laser scanning technology are presented. The purpose of the measurements was to ensure that the direction, total length and volume of the penetration and excavation works were being implemented in accordance with the planned and designed dimensions. The coordinates of the geodetic traverse checkpoints were also assessed. In addition, we checked a traverse network of 18 checkpoints in the tunnel of the selected underground level. These checkpoints were repeatedly measured four times by two using readings of the Trimble S7 1” total station and were processed using the Compass/Bowditch method with Trimble Business Center software. All points except for one were within the tolerance limits. Based on these points, the excavation length and volumes were determined using the terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs) Trimble X7 and Trimble SX12 [25]. The difference between the planned work quantity provided by the Oyu Tolgoi project and the actual values measured using laser scanner was calculated with the comparative method. The TLS partial control measurements in the excavations made through the ore bodies revealed a length of 20285.72m and a volume of 441128.80m3 for the seven underground mine levels, while their project values were 16158.26m length and 422837.50m3 volume.

The two combined technologies WPT and AI still have huge prospects for several industries such as consumer electronics and industry. This paper looks at the recent developments in WPT, particularly concerning AI-improved efficiency, range, and reliability. AI-driven also works to control power, manage device alignment, and test when maintenance is necessary, this makes powering smarter and more efficient. Accuracy is given by deploying machine learning and computer vision, and on the other hand, the maintenance procedure is done through predictions. Furthermore, the ability of the management system to include the use of AI in power regulation enables the control of consumption based on the load. In this study, the positive future effect of AI is discussed concerning improvements in WPT technologies, which is paramount in subsequent applications. Based on the results, it is essential to continue the investigation of the topic within this interdisciplinary science to advance existing problems and discover novel possibilities for evolution. Data based on experiments shows a significant improvement in the efficiency of information transfer where AI is used with rates up to 25% higher than those using the traditional ways. Additionally, advanced maintenance forecasting algorithms improve system availability by cutting down on 30% of the downtimes when applied in real-life applications of AI technology. The study also looks at the possibilities of the outlook to the future including emergence of the distributed artificial intelligence for autonomous WPT network, and additional potential of quantum computing for the use to improve the algorithm. This indicates that there is a new era for the convergence of WPT and AI to enhance the progress of power transfer system in conditions of elegant, efficient, and robust.

This article titled "AI and IoT in Automation and Security: A Vision for Next Generation Applications," explored the implications of marrying IoT with AI in the realms of automation and security; this piece goes further into what that entails. In this paper, we present innovative application descriptions arising from this technology convergence and its future-generation applications. We found that AI brings strong cyber security, predictive maintenance, and decision-making capabilities to the table due to its advanced algorithms and machine learning models. IoT has the potential to allow businesses to extract and generate big data, automate processes, and monitor in real-time thousands and even millions of businesses at once. For now, we believe some of the possible main conclusions will be that the smart city, stand-alone systems, and user experience will be quite consumer-friendly. Importantly, the study also assessed facets such as data protection, system interoperability, and a few others. Our vision underscores the essential of a strong structure to connect the full latent of AI and IoT, finally aiming to create more capable, protected, and approachable environments. Significant results include achieving 95.8% accuracy in anomaly detection and 93.4% accuracy in predictive maintenance. The showcasing results efficacy of AI models to enhance system reliability as well as operational efficiency. Vigorous encryption protocols performance ensures data security hence addressing issues of privacy. These culminations underscore the transformative potential of AI-IoT integration in next-generation automation and security applications.

In this very personal hunt for the meaning of the bacterial cell cycle, the snark, I briefly revisit and update some of the mechanisms we and many others have proposed to regulate the bacterial cell cycle. These mechanisms, which include the dynamics of calcium, membranes, hyperstructures and networks, are based on physical and physico-chemical concepts such as ion condensation, phase transition, crowding, liquid crystal immiscibility, collective vibrational modes, reptation, and water availability. I draw on ideas from subjects such as the ‘prebiotic ecology’ and phenotypic diversity to help with the hunt. Given the fundamental nature of the snark, I would expect that its capture would make sense of other parts of biology. The route therefore followed by the hunt has involved trying to answer questions like “why do cells replicate their DNA?”, “why is DNA replication semi-conservative?”, “why is DNA a double helix?”, “why do cells divide?”, “is cell division a spandrel?” and “how are catabolism and anabolism balanced?”. Here, I propose some relatively unexplored, experimental approaches to testing snark-related hypotheses and, finally, I propose some possibly original ideas about DNA packing, about phase separations, and about computing with populations of virtual bacteria.

Our recent analysis of empirical limit order flow data in financial markets reveals a power-law distribution in limit order cancellation times. These times are modeled using a discrete probability mass function derived from the Tsallis q-exponential distribution, closely aligned with the second form of the Pareto distribution. We elucidate this distinctive power-law statistical property through the lens of agent heterogeneity in trading activity and asset possession. Our study introduces a novel modeling approach that combines fractional Lévy stable motion for limit order inflow with this power-law distribution for cancellation times, significantly enhancing the prediction of order imbalances. This model not only addresses gaps in current financial market modeling but also extends to broader contexts such as opinion dynamics in social systems, capturing the finite lifespan of opinions. Characterized by stationary increments and a departure from self-similarity, our model provides a unique framework for exploring long-range dependencies in time series. This work paves the way for more precise financial market analyses and offers new insights into the dynamic nature of opinion formation in social systems.

The cause of the systematic daily march of barometric pressure in the tropics, notably the late morning and late evening peaks seen almost every day at all locations, was a puzzle that persisted through the nineteenth and much of the twentieth centuries. The efforts to explain the physics of the prominent 12-hour solar tidal variation helped inspire some of the earliest developments in theoretical atmospheric dynamics and ultimately led in the 1960’s to a satisfactory dynamical theory for the atmospheric tides. These important theoretical developments followed the observational discoveries, which date to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, of the surprising character of the barometric daily march and of its resolution into solar and lunar period cycles. These important, if simple, discoveries emerged primarily from the efforts of European scientists to systematically study the environment in remote areas of the globe. The two key figures in initially advancing the scientific community’s understanding of the character of barometric tides were the great German polymath Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) and the French naturalist Robert de Lamanon (1752-1787), who each made their discoveries on their most famous and colorful scientific expeditions of their respective careers. This paper examines the history of the early observations of the barometric tide.

Presence detection is essential in many applications, including smart homes, office automation, and public space management. Traditional technologies like infrared sensors and cameras frequently encounter obstacles due to privacy concerns, high costs, and complexity. The study provides a novel way to detect presence based on Wi-Fi signals and machine learning algorithms, utilizing the ESP8266 microcontroller. The suggested system attempts to reliably detect the presence of people in a given place by evaluating fluctuations in Wi-Fi signal strength and patterns. The theoretical basis of this strategy is investigated, including the ESP8266’s capabilities for Wi-Fi data gathering and the use of machine learning methods for data analysis. The methodology includes data collecting with the ESP8266, preprocessing, feature extraction, and training and evaluating machine learning models. This system’s potential uses include smart home automation, office occupancy tracking, and crowd management in public settings. The paper also discusses potential issues such as signal interference, data privacy concerns, and the limitations of Wi-Fi detection. Future work is also mentioned, including the suggested system’s installation and testing and enhancement proposals to improve accuracy and scalability. This research aims to provide a cost-effective, non-intrusive, and scalable presence detection system by harnessing the power of Wi-Fi signals and machine learning, enhancing intelligent environments

One of the oldest problems in physics is that of calculating the motion of N particles under a specified mutual force: the N-body problem. Much is known about this problem if the specified force is non-relativistic gravity, and considerable progress has been made by considering the problem in one spatial dimension. Here I review what is known about the relativistic gravitational N-body problem. Reduction to one spatial dimension has the feature that gravitational radiation is absent, thereby allowing for a clear comparison between the physics of one-dimensional relativistic and non-relativistic self-gravitating systems. After describing how to obtain a relativistic theory of gravity coupled to N point particles, I discuss in turn the 2-body, 3-body, 4-body, and N-body problems. Quite general exact solutions can be obtained for the 2-body problem, unlike the situation in general relativity in 3 spatial dimensions for which only highly specified solutions exist. The 3-body problem exhibits mild forms of chaos, and provides one of the first theoretical settings in which relativistic chaos can be studied. For N4 other interesting features emerge. Relativistic self-gravitating systems have a number of interesting problems awaiting further investigation, providing us with a new frontier for exploring relativistic many-body systems.

This review is dedicated to sustainable practices in liquid chromatography. HPLC and UHPLC methods contribute significantly to routine analytical techniques. Therefore, the transfer of classical liquid chromatographic methods into sustainable ones is of utmost importance in moving toward sustainable development goals. Among other principles to render a liquid chromatographic method green, substitution of the organic solvent component in the mobile phase with a greener one received great attention. This review concentrates on choosing the best alternative green organic solvent to replace the classical solvent in the mobile phase for easy rapid transfer to a more sustainable normal phase or reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The main focus of this review will be on describing the transfer of non-green to green and white chromatographic methods in an effort to elevate the sustainability best practice in analytical chemistry. The greenness properties and greenness ranking in addition to the chromatographic suitability of seventeen organic solvents for liquid chromatography are mentioned to have a clear insight into the issue of rapidly choosing the appropriate solvent to transfer a classical HPLC or UHPLC method into a more sustainable one. A simple guide is proposed for making the liquid chromatographic method more sustainable.

The most recent National Research Council Nutrient Requirements for Sheep and Goats was published in 2007, one of the most consequential nutrient requirement recommendations for sheep and goats in the world. It is pertinent to continue the refinement and discussion of nutrient utilization and requirements for the purposes of enhancing the efficiency of production systems, maximizing resource economy, and minimizing the carbon footprint, among others. Progress has been made in the estimation of energy and protein requirements in sheep and goats, mainly utilizing empirical feeding experimentation, comparative slaughter technique and minimum endogenous loss method. In sheep, newer estimates of energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth and partial efficiencies had been reported since 2007. There were suggestions that energy and protein requirements could have been affected by breed, wool growth, gender and size; with these reported values being similar or lower than the recommended values in international feeding systems such as NRC, ARC, INRA and AFRC. In goats, energy and protein requirements for growing goats were reported to be either higher or lower than the established recommendations, depending upon meat or dairy breeds. Effect of gender on energy requirement appeared to be related to the stage of growth or degree of maturity. Newer data also suggested that the guidelines of the major feeding systems for the entire growth phase may not be adequate for non-pregnant and non-lactating pubertal females. In multiparous pregnant goats, energy and protein requirements for maintenance did not appear to be affected by days of pregnancy, but efficiencies of metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein utilization for pregnancy were. There were suggestions that that metabolizable protein synthesis in the rumen can be predicted from energy intake using combined equations that encompass both sheep and goats, but more data on goats were called for to account for specific differences in nutrition. In addition to sulfur, there has been progress made on the estimation of maintenance and growth requirements of calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in goats, with suggestions on the consideration of gender and breed differences. Species, level of Intake, genotype, mature size, age, gender, body composition, use of tissue energy, activity, season, and acclimatization continue to be important considerations for the estimation of nutrient requirements in sheep and goats, with emerging factors such as climate change, heat stress, parasitism and secondary plant compounds. Model equations and partial efficiencies used by NRC to predict energy and protein requirements for maintenance, growth, lactation, and fiber have been highlighted and discussed for the purpose of a more focus discussion and refinement for the future. Potential and limitation of both traditional and emerging methodologies in determining the nutrient requirements in sheep and goats were discussed. To justify the research investment, emerging methodologies such as nutrigenomics will have to be linked more directly to the improvement of production efficiency via more precise prediction of nutrient requirement.

Entanglement is one of the most striking features in quantum systems. Today, quantum entanglement plays a vital role in quantum technology, the non-classical correlation of quantum entanglement is an important resource for quantum communication and quantum computing. Entanglement can be divided into two categories: between multi-particle systems and between various degrees of freedom in a single-particle system (intraparticle entangled states). This work first analogized the distinctions and connections between two kinds of entangled states. Then it designed three types of entanglement-swapping methods based on Bell state joint measurement, cross-Kerr medium, and linear optical elements for intraparticle entangled states by analogizing the entanglement swapping between multiple particles. Intraparticle entanglement swapping can be applied in super quantum dense encoding, quantum information transmission, and quantum teleportation. This work is beneficial for promoting the development of quantum information technologies.

In this paper we present a city-scale (possibly global) air pollution network made of low-cost sensors for particulate matter concentration in the air. The components of presented system are based on our research and experience from previous studies focused on air quality instruments and sensors for addressing urban air pollution. Sensor nodes are produced locally and distributed over a city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The system collects, calibrates and displays particulate metal concentrations in real-time. In comparison to the available measurements from governmental institutions, our system demonstrated good agreement of measured parameters, with several advantages including: higher resolution in space and time, lower costs, both horizontal and vertical measurements and many more. One of the capabilities of the system is the real-time air pollution city map with animations. By installing multiple sensor nodes over a slope (cable car), we receive vertical measurements of temperature, humidity and particulate matter concentration in real time, which gives a valuable insight into the dynamics of temperature inversion episodes and air pollution below the inversion layer.

Ten new Schiff bases, including thiocarbohydrazone derivatives (1–10), were synthesized using an efficient, uncomplicated, and environmentally friendly approach using the reaction of alkyl-substituted aldehydes. The thiocarbohydrazones that were obtained were derived from o-phthalaldehyde. The chemical structures of the compounds were identified by the utilization of UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR), and elemental analysis methods. The thermal stability of thiocarbohydrazones was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC). Investigations were conducted on urease inhibition tests, pharmacokinetic property research, and molecular docking. The collection of samples with the urease enzyme revealed significant molecular docking findings, with MolDock scores ranging from -153 to -189. The compounds have the potential to be effective drug candidates for treating certain diseases, as indicated by the consistent results of molecular docking, urease inhibition tests, and pharmacokinetic characteristics investigations.

Creating accurate emission models capable of capturing the variability and dynamics of modern propulsion systems is crucial for future mobility planning. This paper presents a methodology for creating THC and NOx emission models for vehicles equipped with start-stop technology. A key aspect of this endeavor is to find techniques that accurately replicate the engine stop stages when there are no emissions. To this end, several machine learning techniques were tested using the Python programming language. Random forest and gradient boosting methods demonstrated the best predictive capabilities for THC and NOx emissions, achieving R2 scores of approximately 0.9 for both cold and hot engine emissions. Additionally, recommendations for effective modeling of such emissions from vehicles are presented in the paper.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of manual therapy and exercise versus synchronized telerehabilitation with self-manual therapy and exercise in treating Subacromial Pain Syndrome (SAPS). Sixty individuals diagnosed with SPS, aged 18-50 years, were randomly assigned to home exercise (HE), manual therapy (MT), and telerehabilitation (TR) groups. Treatment protocols were administered over 8 weeks and included specific exercises and therapy interventions. Out-come measures included Visual Pain Scale (VAS), shoulder range of motion (ROM) via gonio-metric measurements, Quick Disability Arm-Shoulder-Hand Problems Survey (Q-DASH), and patient satisfaction. Results revealed that both MT and TR groups exhibited reduced pain, in-creased ROM, lower Q-DASH scores, and higher patient satisfaction compared to the HE group. However, no significant differences were found between MT and TR groups in pain levels, ROM, Q-DASH scores, or patient satisfaction. The study concludes that both telerehabilitation and manual therapy effectively alleviate pain and are well-received by patients with SPS. Addition-ally, manual therapy demonstrates superiority in enhancing functional levels compared to exer-cise-based interventions. (Registration: NCT05200130)

Cars are a highly inefficient mode of urban transport with significant negative impacts. Electric vehicles make it possible to eliminate direct CO2 emissions (though the total over a vehicle’s entire life cycle greatly offsets the advantages) but leave unchanged – or even aggravate – all the other negative effects on the quality of urban environments. Three visions for urban transport were presented: automobility, multimodality and accessibility. The first dominates North American cities, the second European one. The anomalies of these two visions have been examined. The automobility cities cannot manage the congestion and the attempts are self- defeating. The anomalies of multimodality city are related to the public space consumption for mobility and the impossibility to plan spatial proximity. The sustainable vision, that resolve the anomalies, is represented by the accessibility city in the Triple Access System (TAS) version which, however, still has a long way to go to be accepted and implemented.

The review explores the therapeutic potential of mangrove plants as sources of bioactive compounds, particularly focusing on their anti-inflammatory properties. Mangroves, found in tropical and sub-tropical tidal coasts, exhibit unique ecological and biological activities. The review compiles and examines 136 research findings published between 1982 and 2018, with 41 studies specifically addressing the anti-inflammatory properties of mangroves in Indian coastal regions, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It summarizes the chemical structures, molecular weights, formulas, solvents, and biological activities of these mangroves, as reported by various researchers over time. The data underscore the significant potential of tropical Indian mangroves in anti-inflammatory applications. However, a notable research gap exists regarding the extraction of bioactive compounds from mangrove species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands compared to other regions such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Puducherry. Overall, the compilation provides valuable insights into mangrove-based studies for drug discovery research, emphasizing the need for further exploration and exploitation of these natural resources.

Use of MS Excel as a platform for teaching simple iterative solution of partial differential equations runs into issues of reliability of the computation because of the large number of calculations required. This article documents the problem and an empirical solution. The cause of this unreliability was found by detailed examination of the numerical results from three simultaneous iterations. Computers of several types from different manufacturers were found to fail occasionally in updating variables in the numerical iteration. A simple work-around is suggested and was tested on several platforms.

Semi-continuous data are very common in the social science and economics. In this paper, a Bayesian variable selection procedure is developed to assess the influence of exogenous factors including observed and unobserved on the semi-continuous data. Our formulation is based on the two-part latent variable model with polytomous response. We consider two schemes for the penalties of regression coefficients and factor loadings: the Bayesian spike and slab bimodal prior and the Bayesian lasso prior. Within the Bayesian framework, we implement Markov Chains Monte Carlo sampling method to conduct posterior inference. To facilitate posterior sampling, we recast the logistic model in part one as the norm-like mixture model. Gibbs sampler is designed to draw observations from the posterior. Our empirical results show that with suitable hyper-parameters, the spike and slab bimodal method slightly outperforms the Bayesian lasso in the current analysis. Finally, a real example related to the China household finance survey is analyzed to illustrate the application of the methodology.. .

The teaching and learning environment have changed significantly over the last decade with the integration of an increasing amount of information and communication technologies, especially in distance education due to global pandemics, total lockdowns, isolation, and quarantine periods. The number of numerous virtual and non-virtual tools involved in educational processes is growing day by day. In terms of technological innovations used in learning environments, many researchers and educators are trying their best to bring more creative ideas into the technology- based learning environments. Although higher educational institutions have greatly benefited from the growing number of hardware and software resources in the educational process, they have also faced some setbacks that have harmed the learning processes. These technologies have in turn complicated some of the processes in the learning atmosphere. Therefore, we take Spanish teaching course as an example to present the challenging smarter teaching and learning systems that higher educational institutions face today.

This paper proposes two max-pooling engines, named the RTB-MAXP engine and the CMB-MAXP engine, with a scalable window size parameter for FPGA-based convolutional neural network (CNN) implementation. The max-pooling operation for the CNN can be decomposed into two stages, i.e., a horizontal axis max-pooling operation and a vertical axis max-pooling operation. These two one-dimensional max-pooling operations are performed by tracking the rank of the values within the window in the RTB-MAXP engine and cascading the maximum operations of the values in CMB-MAXP engine. Both the RBM-MAXP engine and the CMB-MAXP engine were implemented using VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and verified by simulations. They have been employed for and tested in our CNN accelerator targeting at the CNN model YOLOv4-CSP-S-Leaky for object detection.

The increasing regulatory pressure to monitor and reduce GHG emissions and air pollutants requires cost-effective methods for their surveillance. The most common technique used for scientific investigations on gas concentration monitoring in barns are accurate but expensive and with a complex maintenance. This research study analysed the potential use of a low-cost portable measurement devices for the measurement of ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in an open dairy barn. A comparison between gas concentrations acquired at different heights from the floor by using portable devices and those acquired by a photoacoustic infrared multigas spectroscope (i.e., reference measurement) in the same sampling locations was carried out to determine the precision of the low-cost portable devices. The performance of low-cost portable devices was statistically analysed by the application of the one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results showed a significant difference between gas concentration values at various heights from the floor for both NH3 and CO2. The correlations between concentrations acquired by the low-cost portable device and the INNOVA were statistically significant (r=0.83; P&lt;0.001) for gas concentrations monitored at 0.4 m from the floor. Compared with the reference measurement device, the low-cost devices were effective in the monitoring of NH3 concentrations at 0.40 m from the floor though it underestimated them in the barn at increasing of the height from the floor, whereas the device was not adequate for CO2 concentrations. In detail, the relative measurement error of the low-cost devices compared to INNOVA was reduced close to the floor during NH3 concentration measurements. Within these limitations, this device could be useful for monitoring NH3 concentration in the barn and to assess variation in NH3 concentrations mainly related to the animal occupied zone. Further efforts are needed in this field of research to identify low-cost device that could simplify emission estimation from open dairy barns.

Sesamum indicum is considered an underutilized oil-bearing seed in the semi-arid regions of Ghana. Nonetheless, it is a promising source of food with both nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties S. indicum seeds using different extraction solvents. The seeds were obtained from the local farmers and prepared for analysis. The bioactive compounds present in the seeds were extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water and their yields quantified. Total phenolic content (TPC), Condensed tannin content (TTC) and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) , and DPPH radical scaveging assay were analyzed using standard methods. Antinutrients such as saponins, alkaloids, phytates and oxalates were also analyzed from the powdered seeds. Two chemometric methods; hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Pearson correlation were employed to evaluate the interdependence of the various parameters to result in their antioxidant properties. The re-sults revealed that the solvents utilized had a significant impact on the extraction yield, phyto-chemical component concentration, and antioxidant activities. Hexane extracts of S. indicum seeds significantly exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (p &lt; 0.05). It was marked with the highest TAC value of 232.6 ± 6.267 mg/g AAE and a strong DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 of 52.81 ± 2.30 µg/mL. Correlations (p &lt; 0.05) was established between TPC,CTC, TAC and DPPH radical scavenging activity) of the extracts. Antinutrients such as; phytate, oxalate, saponins and alkaloids were found to be 7.691 ± 0.8576, 1.501 ± 0.1375, 21.33 ± 4.619 and 317.33 ± 30.29 mg/g respectively. Data obtained suggest that S. indicum possess rich bioactive compounds that can be used in neutraceuticals and food products.

Depressive disorder in childhood and adolescence is a highly prevalent mood disorder that tends to recur throughout life. Untreated mood disorders can adversely impact a patient's quality of life and cause socioeconomic loss. Thus, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is crucial. However, until now, diagnoses and treatments are conducted according to clinical symptoms. Objective and biological validation are lacking. This may result in a poor outcome for patients with depressive disorder. Research has been conducted to identify the biomarkers that are related to depressive disorder. Cumulative evidence has revealed that certain immunologic biomarkers in-cluding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines, gastrointestinal biomarkers, hormones, oxidative stress, and certain hypothalamus-pituitary axis biomarkers are associated with depressive disorder. This article reviews the biomarkers related to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric depressive disorders. To date, clinical biomarker tests are not yet available for diagnosis or for the prediction of treatment prognosis. However, cytokines such as Interleukin-2, interfer-on-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and BDNF have shown significant results in previous studies of pediatric depressive disorder. These biomarkers have the potential to be used for diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and group screening for those at high risk.

Expansion tube is ideal energy absorber which dissipates kinetic energy through plastic deformation and friction. There is an urgent need to understand the influence of key parameter, e.g. semi angle, tube material, and friction coefficient, on the mechanical response and energy absorption characteristics of expansion tube. In the present work, the material properties of the tubes were tested under quasi-static loading condition, and the numerical simulations were carried out by using commercial software ABAQUS. Based on the validated finite element simulation, all the semi angle, tube material, and friction have significant effects on the energy absorption capacity of expansion tube. The expansion tube with high tensile stress of parent material have high energy absorption capacity, while the specific energy absorption is linear with the tensile stress/density of tube material. This work would give a guidance to the structural design and parent materials selection for expansion tubes.

Euler’s product formula over the primes and Euler’s zeta function equate to enshrine the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic that every integer > 1 is the product of a unique set of primes. The product formula has no zero, and with a domain ≤1 Euler’s zeta diverges. Dirichlet’s eta function η(s), negates alternate terms of zeta, permitting convergence when s∈C and Re(s) < 1, and its non-trivial zeros {ρ}, have a deep relationship with the distribution of the primes. The Riemann Hypothesis is that all the non-trivial zeros have Re(ρ) = 1/2. This work examines the symmetries in a partial Euler’s zeta series with a complex domain equating it to the difference between two finite vector series whose matched terms have mirror-image arguments, but whose magnitudes differ when Re(s) ≠ 1/2. Analytical continuation generates a modified eta series η_l(s), in which every l^th term is multiplied by (1-l). If the integer l is appropriately determined by the Im(s), similar paired finite vector series have a difference that closely follows η_l (s) and their terminal vectors intersect in a unique way permitting zeros only when Re(s) = 1/2. Furthermore, those vectors tracking the derivatives of the series, have a special relationship permitting zeros of the differential only when Re(s) > 1/2.

The philosophy of testing statistical hypothesis is a natural consequence and functional extension of mathematical analysis of Probability. Along with the concept of recurrence when applied to random sequences and functions, it leads to the analysis of a priori and posterior which implies testing statistical hypothesis. Testing statistical hypothesis also involves algebraic, functional and dimensional considerations, which are found in the works of Laplace. Aspects of mathematical analysis such as universality of solutions, Laws of Large Numbers, Entropy, Information, and various functional dependencies are the main factors explained in the five properties that lead to implication of testing statistical hypothesis. Various interesting examples with modern scientific significance from genetics, astrophysics, and other areas give methodological access to answers of different problems and phenomena which are involved in the logic of testing statistical hypothesis.

Named Entity Recognition (NER) serves as a fundamental and pivotal stage in the development of various knowledge-based support systems, including knowledge retrieval and question answering systems. In the domain of pig diseases, Chinese NER models encounter several challenges such as the scarcity of annotated data, domain-specific vocabulary, diverse entity categories, and ambiguous entity boundaries.To address these challenges, a corpus, labeled datasets and a lexicon specific to pig diseases for Chinese named entity recognition were constructed. Subsequently, a Pig Disease Chinese Named Entity Recognition (PDCNER) model was proposed. The model integrates external lexicon knowledge of pig disease by employing Lexicon-enhanced BERT and enhance feature representation by incorporating contrastive learning. Experimental results show that the model achieved the best recognition results, with a precision of 86.92%, a recall of 85.08%, and an F1-score of 85.99% respectively. Furthermore, the model exhibits robustness and generalizability across few-shot and publicly available datasets. Experimental results illustrate the proposed model could effectively identify Chinese named entities of pig diseases, outperforming several existing baseline methods. Moreover, the proposed model can be extended to other animal disease domains, such as chicken and cattle, thereby facilitating seamless adaptation for named entity identification across diverse contexts.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis can be a challenge due to the large spectrum of pathogenic variants in the CFTR gene and the effects of complex alleles. Next-generation sequencing has improved our understanding of the contribution of these complex alleles to the wide spectrum of CF clinical symptoms and to the response to medications. Herein, we studied nine CF patients from six unrelated families carrying the complex allele p.[Ile148Thr;Ile1023_Val1024del] with a frequency of 0.18%. All the patients were from Central Mexico. This complex allele was found in trans with Class I and II pathogenic variants (PVs) such as [c.1521_1523del, p.(Phe508del), and c.3231_3232del, p.(Phe1078Profs*77)]. A targeted search of a dataset of 2,217 exomes from healthy individuals revealed that eight individuals (0.18%) carried the p.(Ile148Thr) variant, but only one (0.022%), who was also born in Central Mexico, was a carrier of the complex allele. These findings led us to hypothesize a founder effect for the p.[Ile148Thr;Ile1023_Val1024del] complex allele in Mexican patients with CF, probably through migration from the French-Canadian population in Mexico. Finally, protein modeling revealed that this complex allele disrupts the secondary structure of the CFTR protein and might alter the ion flow.

This six-year multicentre study investigated acute intentional poisoning with substances of abuse in adolescents to identify changes and patterns in substance use. Data from 568 adolescents were collected from three paediatric poison centres in Romania between January 2017 and December 2022. The study analysed the epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents, including age, gender, place of residence, history of substance abuse, psychiatric history, and history of institutionalized care. The findings revealed that cannabis and new psychoactive sub-stances (NPSs) are the most commonly implicated substances, each with distinct profiles among adolescents. Cannabis was involved in 45.6% of cases, with a significant association with urban residency. NPSs were identified as the second most prevalent substance, accounting for 38.9% of cases. These were more prevalent in rural areas and among patients with psychiatric disorders. Cannabis and NPSs were also the most commonly implicated substances in acute intentional poisoning cases with substances of abuse. These substances have distinct profiles among adolescents, including age, gender, residency area, history of substance abuse, psychiatric history, and institutional care. These findings underscore the necessity of targeted public health interventions and integrated care approaches to address substance use and related mental health issues in adolescents.

Implant-associated infections and aseptic loosening of prosthesis due to insufficient secondary stability continue to present a challenging issue in arthroplasty. Potential solutions include bioactive coatings to promote osseointegration. With this in mind, this project aims to investigate and compare thin bioactive and bioresorbable β-tricalcium phosphate and calcium alkaliphosphate coatings, both produced via High Velocity Suspension Flame Spraying. To achieve an additional antibacterial effect, Cu-doped TCP supraparticles are incorporated into the coatings. β-TCP and GB14 coatings with 0.5 wt.% Cu-doped TCP supraparticles each were investigated. According to ISO EN 10993-14, a degradation test was performed in TRIS-buffer at pH 7.4 over 120 hours. Biocompatibility tests were performed on human osteoblasts. Live/Dead staining was performed on day 1, 3 and 7 to visualize live and dead cells. Furthermore, cytotoxicity was evaluated over 3 days using the LDH assay. To determine the antibacterial efficacy Safe Airborne Antibacterial Assays using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were performed. Our investigations demonstrate that copper is released from the coatings over a period of 120 hours. Both coatings exhibit good biocompatibility, with cell counts varying depending on the amount of Cu released. Cytotoxicity testing showed no cytotoxic effects for the samples examined. Cu-doping of the coatings achieved a significant reduction in colony-forming units across all coatings.

Background/Objectives: Alcohol can directly damage the liver, causing steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer. The aim of this study was to examine 28-day survival in hospitalized patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) cirrhosis, as well as to develop and validate a new survival prediction model. Methods: A total of 145 patients with ALD cirrhosis were included, 107 were diagnosed with acute decompensation (AD) and 38 with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The new LIV-IN (LIVer mortality INpatients) score was calculated using the following variables: hepatic encephalopathy (HE), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), ascites, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), community-acquired infection (CAI), and fibrinogen. The diagnostic accuracy of the LIV-IN score, as well as Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), Model for end-stage liver disease-Sodium (MELD-Na), albumin-bilirubin (ALBI), Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Chronic Liver Failure Consortium-C acute decompensation (CLIF-C AD), Chronic Liver Failure Consortium- acute-on-chronic liver failure (CLIF-C ACLF) was tested. Results: Lethal outcome occurred in 46 (31.7%) patients. The mortality rate was higher in the ACLF group (n=22, 57.9%) compared to the AD group (n=24, 22.4%) (p<0.01). The highest predictive power for short-term mortality was observed for the LIV-IN score (AUC 73.4%, p<0.01). In patients with AD, the diagnostic accuracy of the CLIF-C AD score was better than for the LIV-IN score (AUC 0.699; p=0.004, AUC 0.686; p=0.007, respectively). In patients with ACLF, only the LIV-IN score had statistically significant discriminative power in predicting 28-day survival. Conclusion: LIVer mortality Inpatients prognostic score is a new, reliable prognostic model in predicting 28-day mortality.

Customized wrist splints, particularly for upper extremity orthoses like wrist support braces, are commonly used across numerous clinical scenarios. However, the traditional process for producing personalized wrist splints is largely manual and highly dependent on the expertise of orthopedic specialists. This experience-based approach often leads to suboptimal outcomes, necessitating further refinement of the designs. Recent advancements in Additive Manufacturing (AM) have brought significant innovation to various industries, including orthopedics. This study aims to present a comprehensive methodology that integrates advanced design tools ,like 3D Scanning, with digital manufacturing techniques to produce tailored wrist splints. The produced hand brace aims to offer enhanced mechanical performance and comfort by precisely fitting an individual’s anatomy while minimizing material usage and weight. To achieve optimal design efficiency, the study explores the application of a Topology Optimization (TO) approach for design, while the manufacturing process utilizes Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), an evolving technology within the Additive Manufacturing (AM) sector.

The primary therapeutic method for correcting hyperglycemia today is diet therapy. Lipids are not only a source of nutrients but can also act as initiators of adipocyte differentiation in the fetus, which explains the development of fetal macrosomia and future metabolic disorders in children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Changes in the profile of circulating lipids in the maternal bloodstream, depending on adherence to a rational diet among mothers with GDM and the development of fetal macrosomia, is a complex and not fully understood process. The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of the lipid profile in the blood plasma of pregnant women with GDM in all trimesters of pregnancy based on adherence to diet therapy. The design of the clinical part of the work was carried out within the framework of a 'case-control' study.The study included 110 women, 80 of whom were in the control group, 20 in the group with GDM adhering to the diet, and 10 in the group with GDM not adhering to the diet. The laboratory part was conducted as part of a longitudinal dynamic study with venous blood samples taken at three points: 11-13, 24-26, and 30-32 weeks of pregnancy.A significant impact of diet therapy on the blood lipid composition throughout pregnancy was demonstrated, starting as early as the first trimester. ROC analysis showed high effectiveness of the developed models with an AUC of 0.98 for the "30-32 weeks" model, with sensitivity and specificity of 1 and 0.9, respectively. An association was found between diet, maternal blood lipid composition at 32 weeks of pregnancy, and newborn weight. The direction of changes in the lipid spectrum during the development of macrosomia and diet therapy is diametrically opposed. This confirms at the molecular level that diet therapy can normalize not only carbohydrate but also lipid metabolism in the mother and fetus. Based on the obtained data, it can be suggested that after validation, the developed models could be used to refine the prognosis of macrosomia development based on the lipid profile of blood plasma at different stages of pregnancy.

Lung cancer, including both non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide representing 18% of the total cancer deaths in 2020. Many patients are identified already at an advanced stage with metastatic disease and have a worsening prognosis. Recent advances in the genetic understanding of lung cancer have opened new avenues for personalized treatments and targeted therapies. This review examines the latest discoveries in the genetics of lung cancer, discusses key biomarkers, and analyzes current clinical therapies based on this genetic information. It will conclude with a discussion of future prospects and potential research directions.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are characterized by abnormal trophoblastic invasion into the myometrium, leading to significant maternal health risks. PAS includes placenta accreta (invasion &lt;50% of the myometrium), increta (invasion &gt;50%), and percreta (invasion through the entire myometrium). The condition is most associated with previous cesarean deliveries, and its incidence increases with the number of cesareans. Other risk factors include advanced maternal age, multiparity, and various uterine surgeries. The increasing global cesarean rates heighten the importance of early PAS diagnosis and management. The study reviewed molecular mechanisms driving PAS, focusing on signaling pathways, genetic expression, biomarkers, and non-coding RNAs involved in trophoblastic invasion. It explored genetic expression and key regulatory processes such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, invasion, and inflammation. The manuscript was compiled from recent scientific literature (2014 – 2024) from the Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Placenta Acreta Spectrum; acreta; increta; percreta; trophoblast invasion; miRNAs, lncRNAs; genetic expression; biomarkers; signaling pathways were the employed keywords to compile relevant literature. The PAS is an important obstetric health problem that challenges maternal health risks associated with abnormal trophoblastic invasion that relies on abnormal placentation, uterine scarring, and impaired decidualization. Identifying new biomarkers like AFP, sFlt-1, β-hCG, PlGF, and PAPP-A aids early detection and management. Understanding genetic expression and non-coding RNAs is crucial for unraveling PAS complexities. Besides, aberrant signaling pathways like Notch, PI3K/Akt, STAT3, and TGF-β offer potential therapeutic targets to modulate trophoblastic invasion. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary care, early diagnosis, and ongoing research into PAS biomarkers and molecular mechanisms to improve prognosis and quality of life for affected women.

Lecanicillium lecanii KMZW-1, is recognized for its potential as a bio-control agent against agricultural and forestry pests, particularly due to its compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study aimed to investigate the complete genome of L. lecanii KMZW-1 and assess its pathogenicity against Bactrocera dorsalis. Whole genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 47,239,278 bp, comprising 27 contigs, with a GC content of 51.16%. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, AntiSMASH analysis identified 29 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. The pathogenicity of L. lecanii KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1×10^4 to 1×10^11 spores/mL. Higher-concentrations (1×10^10 to 1×10^11 spores/mL), resulted in significantly increased cumulative mortality rates of B. dorsalis adults compared to the control group. Notably, the pathogenicity was higher in male adults than in females. Probit regression analysis yielded LogLC50 values as 5.662 for female and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, L. lecanii KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecticidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of L. lecanii KMZW-1in managing against B. dorsalis populations.

Alkaloid-based urea derivatives were produced with high yield through the reaction of anabasine and cytisine with isoxazolylphenylcarbamates in boiling benzene. Their antitumor ac-tivity in combination with the commonly used six anticancer drugs namely cyclophosphane, fluorouracil, etoposide, cysplatine, ribomustine with different mechanisms of action was investi-gated. Based on the quantum chemical calculations data and molecular docking, hypotheses have been put forward to explain their mutual influence when affecting on the С6 rat glioma model cells.

This research concerns in to understand the link between urban heat and cool island, the Local Climatic Zones (LCZ) and atmospheric systems during the winter season in the city of Balneário Camboriú, Southern Brazil. To collect meteorological data on urban environmental, 11 permanent points in the Balneário Camboriú metropolitan region were installed. To understand the atmos-pheric systems operating in the region, a synoptic analysis of the dates was performed, and then, the LCZs map created for the city in World Urban Database and Acess Portal Tools was used to cor-relate the magnitudes of the heat and cool islands found in Balneário Camboriú in the winter period. The results indicate that the increasing verticalization with the construction of skyscrapers in Balneário Camboriú has a significant influence on local conditions for the occurrence of heat and cold islands. The findings indicate that LCZs with sparsely distributed buildings (LCZs 6, 8 and 9) and LCZs with dense vegetation (LCZ A) have lower intensity magnitudes of heat and cool con-ditions. The biggest magnitudes of heat and cool islands were reported in LCZs 1 and 3 during the timeframe. The synoptic analysis supports earlier researches that points to atmospheric stability (Anticyclonic domain) as a favorable atmospheric setting for the emergence of urban hear and coolness islands.

(1) Background: Grapes and their associated by-products (as grape pomace, GP) stand out for their polyphenol content, which makes them a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. The aim of this research was to determine if the inclusion of 50 g/kg of GP in the diet of hens could enrich egg with antioxidants and to study its effect on internal and external egg quality parameters. (2) Methods: A trial was conducted with two genetic lines of hens, which were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 50 g/kg of GP. Performance, internal and external egg quality, and egg yolk content of vitamins E and A, and gallic acid were determined; (3) Results: In eggs laid by hens fed GP diet, Haugh units and yolk colour score were enhanced, and eggshell became thinner, but without affecting the breaking strength. No dietary effect was observed on vitamin contents in yolk. Higher gallic acid content was observed in yolk of eggs laid by hens fed the GP diet, suggesting that some dietary phenolic compounds could be transferred to the eggs. Hen genetics influenced egg weight, albumen Haugh units, shell thickness and α- and γ-tocopherol concentration in yolks; (4) Conclusions: Dietary inclusion of GP improved the internal quality of eggs, enriching yolks with a phenolic compound, but reduced shell thickness.

Shigella and Salmonella have been implicated in neonatal sepsis, food poisoning, and bacteremia. Their increasing resistance to antibiotics has undermined treatment options, constituting a public health crisis. Also, the scarcity of new antibiotics in the development pipeline compounds multidrug-resistance (MDR). Hence, there is a need to potentiate antibiotics to mitigate resistance. This study leveraged riboflavin to re-sensitize fluoroquinolones and carbapenems against MDR Shigella and Salmonella spp. Disk diffusion, microbroth-dilution, chequerboard, and time-kill assays were used to determine resistance profiles and riboflavin-antibiotic activity. Biofilm-formation and bacterial viability (after riboflavin-antibiotic challenge) was determined with crystal-violet and Macrophage infection assays, respectively. Strains exhibited &gt;80% resistance to fluoroquinolones and carbapenems, with 160–320 µg MIC ranges and 0.5–2 FIC, indicating no synergy. At 40–80 µg riboflavin, there was two-fold reduction in bacterial survival, with meropenem-riboflavin exhibiting significant reduction and FIC of 0.075 indicating high synergistic activity. Biofilm-formation was altered (from strong to weak phenotype) with 40 µg riboflavin-antibiotic treatment. There was a 40–70% reduction in bacterial survival in THP-1 cells treated with meropenem-riboflavin after 3 hours, and complete clearance between 24-48 hpi. Riboflavin potentiated fluoroquinolones and meropenem, leading to modulation of the host immune response for the clearance of the strains.

Chronic joint inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have in common an upsurge of inflammation, and oxidative stress, resulting in progressive histological alterations and disabling symptoms. Currently used conventional medication (ranging from pain-killers to biological agents) is potent, but frequently associated with serious, even life-threatening side effects. Used for millennia in traditional herbalism, medicinal plants are a promising alternative, with lower rate of adverse events and an efficiency frequently comparable with that of conventional drugs. Nevertheless, their mechanism of action is in many cases elusive and/or uncertain. Even many of them have been proved effective in studies done in vitro or on animal models, there is a scarcity of human clinical evidence. The purpose of this review is to summarise the available scientific information on these joint-friendly medicinal plants, which have been already tested in human studies: Arnica montana, Boswelliaspp., Curcuma spp., Equisetum arvense, Harpagophytumprocumbens, Salix spp., Sesamumindicum, Symphytumofficinalis, Zingiberofficinalis, Panaxnotoginseng, Whitaniasomnifera.

Cut-off Low (COL) pressure systems significantly influence local weather in regions with high COL frequency, such as western North America. However, future changes in COL frequency, intensity, and precipitation patterns remain uncertain. This study examines projected COL changes and their drivers in western North America under a high-emission scenario (SSP585) using a multi-model ensemble from CMIP6 and a feature tracking algorithm. We compare historical simulations (1980-2009) and future projections (2070-2099), revealing a marked increase in COL track density during summer in the northeast Pacific and western United States, while a strong decrease is projected for winter, associated with shifts in jet streams. Climate models project an increase in COL-related precipitation in future climate, with winter and spring experiencing more intense and localized precipitation, while autumn showing a more widespread precipitation pattern. Additionally, there is an increased frequency of extreme precipitation events, though accompanied by large uncertainties. The projected increase in extreme precipitation highlights the need to understand COL dynamics for effective climate adaptation in affected areas. Further research should aim to refine projections and reduce uncertainties, supporting better-informed policy and decision-making.

The interactive knowledge platform, FaST, can be used by general public, various government and non-government agencies, and businesses for the advancement of the local economy in the community, creating jobs for community members, increasing income potentials, and thus alleviating poverty; and provide enhanced educational opportunities, and can also indirectly benefit to improve health and other prospects.

A recently developed differential geometric representation of redundant serial robot kinematics is employed to create an extended operational space dynamics and control formulation that explicitly accounts for redundant robot degrees of freedom. This formulation corrects deficiencies in kinematics and dynamics of redundant serial robots that have relied for over half a century on error prone generalized inverse velocity-based kinematics for redundancy resolution. New ordinary differential equations of robot operational space dynamics are obtained, without the need for ad-hoc derivation, in terms of task coordinates and self-motion coordinates that represent robot redundancy. A new extended operational space control approach is presented that exploits ordinary differential equations of motion in term of task and self-motion coordinates. This enables enforcement of desired output trajectories, in tandem with direct enforcement of self-motion dependent operational space trajectories that are subject to obstacle avoidance and performance constraints. Four examples are presented with a one degree of redundancy robot that demonstrate validity and superior performance of the new formulation, relative to traditional task space methods used for redundant serial robot control. Finally, an example with eight degrees of redundancy is presented that further illustrates superior performance of the new formulation.

The establishment of protected areas and the practice of ecotourism are generally considered to be one of the crucial means for achieving sustainable development. This study focused on the development of ecotourism in oceanic island national parks, applying System Dynamics theory to explore the core mechanisms, system behaviors, and promotion strategies of sustainable development. We adopted the driving force–state–response (DSR) indicator framework and combined it with System Dynamics theory to construct a sustainable development model for ecotourism in oceanic island national parks. Through this model, we discovered that the intricate causal relationships between indicator factors form three dominant causal feedback loops that drive system behavior. The three causal feedback loops comprise one reinforcing loop and two balancing loops. Through the interaction and mutual regulation between these three loops, preliminary estimates can be made regarding the specific behavioral trends that promote ecotourism in oceanic island national parks. In addition, we further investigated whether the implementation of fee-based policies in oceanic island national parks contributes to these parks’ sustainability goals. Subsequently, this model could be developed into a numerical simulation program based on System Dynamics theory, thereby enabling the computer simulation of system behavior under various scenarios and conditions.

For the past 20 years, reintroduction efforts have been underway to reestablish a migratory population of Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in Central Europe, which now consists of more than 250 birds. They breed both north and south of the Alps and migrate to a common wintering ground in Tuscany. Recently, the start of autumn migration is increasingly delayed, which correlates with extended warm periods in autumn. Later in the year, however, the birds no longer find sufficient thermals to cross the Alps and remain in the northern Alpine foothills. In order to save their lives, we had to capture the affected birds before onset of winter, which is not a sustainable solution. A new approach to solving the problem is the establishment of a second migration route to a wintering area in Andalusia, Spain, connecting our population with a sedentary population there. The new migration route bypasses mountain barriers and allows the birds to reach the wintering grounds also later in the year. The modelling of a pan-European population will provide the birds with high ecological and spatial flexibility. Our project exemplifies the consequences of advancing global warming for animal populations and the associated challenges for conservation projects.

Educational institutions are increasingly utilizing chatbots to enhance communication and streamline administrative tasks, including answering frequently asked questions (FAQs). Serving as the first review about employing chatbots in educational administration, this systematic review explores the potential of chatbots to improve educational administration. While research on chatbots in education has primarily focused on their role in learning, their application for administrative tasks remains underexplored. This gap necessitates a systematic investigation of how chatbots are utilized and implemented to streamline administrative processes. Following the PRISMA framework, this review analyzes 54 studies to address five key areas: functionalities performed, data employed, technologies used, evaluation methods, and future development challenges. The review reveals a critical need for a comprehensive framework for developing administrative chatbots that are specifically tailored to educational institutions. This review underscores the importance of such a framework in addressing identified gaps in the literature and in incorporating generative AI into educational administrative tasks management. The review also highlights a noticeable lack of research in this domain, including the potential of generative AI, like ChatGPT, to improve administrative efficiency. Furthermore, the study discusses the potential impact, practical applications of administrative chatbots in education and future research directions.

Bands of interdendritic porosity and positive macrosegregation are commonly observed in pressure die castings, with previous studies demonstrating their close relation to dilatant shear bands in granular materials. Despite recent technological developments, the micromechanism governing dilatancy in the high pressure die casting (HPDC) process for alloys between liquidus and solidus temperature region is still not fully understood. To investigate the influence of fluid flow and the size of externally solidified crystals (ESCs) on the evolution of dilatant shear bands in HPDC, various filling velocities were trialled to produce HPDC samples of Al8SiMnMg alloy. This study demonstrates that crystal fragmentation is accompanied by a decrease in dilatational concentration, thus producing an indistinct shear band. Once crystal fragmentation stagnates, the enhanced deformation rate associated with a further increase in filling velocity (from 2.2 ms^-1 to 4.6 ms^-1) localises dilatancy into a highly concentrated shear band. The optimal piston velocity is 3.6 ms-1, under which the average ESC size reaches the minimum and the average yield stress and overall product of strength and elongation reaches the maximum value of 144.6 MPa and 3.664 GPa%, respectively. By adopting the concept of force chain buckling in granular media, the evolution of dilatant shear bands in equiaxed solidifying alloys can be adequately explained based on further verification with DEM-type modelling in OpenFOAM. Three mechanisms for ESC enhanced dilation are presented, elucidating previous reports relating the presence of ESCs to the subsequent shear band characteristics. By applying the physics of granular materials to equiaxed solidifying alloys, unique opportunities are presented for process optimization and microstructural modelling in HPDC.

This paper investigates a Local Strategy-Driven Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (LSD-MADDPG) method for demand-side energy management systems (EMS) in smart communities. Addressing critical challenges in EMS solutions such as data overhead, single-point failures, nonstationary environments, and scalability, the proposed LSD-MADDPG effectively harmonizes individual building needs with entire community energy management goals. By leveraging and sharing only strategic information among agents, the proposed approach demonstrates to optimize the EMS decision-making processes, while enhancing training efficiency and safeguarding data privacy - a critical concern in the community setting. The proposed LSD-MADDPG has proven to be capable of reducing energy costs and flattening community demand curve by coordinating indoor temperature control and electric vehicle charging schedules across multiple buildings. Comparative case studies reveal that LSD-MADDPG excels in both cooperative and competitive settings, aligning individual buildings’ energy management actions with overall community goals in a fair manner, highlighting its potential for future smart community energy management advancements.

Keywords: Urban Heritage, Resilience, Urban Planning, Climate change, Urban Development, Sustainable Urban Development

Grilling has become a widespread method of thermal food processing. However, food prepared this way may be a source of carcinogenic organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of different marinades and grilling tools on PAH contamination of chicken breast tenderloins. Together with the determination of PAHs carried out using the QuEChERS–HPLC–FLD/DAD method, the amount of meat weight loss after the thermal process and the color of raw and grilled samples were analyzed. Statistically, the highest levels of PAH contamination were stated in samples prepared on a charcoal grill without a tray, whereas the lowest using the ceramic contact grill. Meat marination showed that universal and chicken marinades can be barriers against PAHs. Following requirements set in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 915/2023, none of the analyzed samples exceeded the maximum allowable level for B[a]P (5.0 µg/kg), and the sum of 4 marker–heavy PAHs (30.0 µg/kg). Thus, preparing meat before the thermal process, including marinades rich in phenolic compounds, and selecting a grilling method with appropriate grilling tools can ensure food safety and effectively reduce PAH contamination in grilled poultry meat.

The issue of suicide has garnered considerable attention in refugee scholarship, where research examines how unique forced migration and resettlement challenges exacerbate risks and vul-nerabilities to suicide. However, there are gaps in understanding the social and cultural factors shaping the lived experience of suicide in refugee communities. Using the example of Afri-can-background young people in Australia, this paper presents a collaboration among two aca-demics and two South Sudanese youth advocates to explore the sociocultural factors impacting suicidality through reflexive discussions and collaborative poetry. This combined approach of-fered a unique and nuanced conceptual and methodological framework to contribute culturally specific narratives to critical suicide studies and challenge western-centric and biomedical per-spectives on suicide. The process highlighted (i) the lack of dialogue about suicide in the South Sudanese community, and (ii) an absence of community-based support structures to address sui-cide. This paper provides useful insights on the culturally specific context of suicide, adding ref-ugee perspectives to the discipline of critical suicide studies.

To promote of the rural revitalization strategy in China, this study attempts to summarize the gains and losses by the review of the design practice of rural buildings of the People's Commune in the late 1950s. Firstly, from the macro perspective, this paper gleans the relevant commune housing design cases in the Architectural Journal from 1958 to 1960 and summarizes the overall common design policies. Secondly, from the micro perspective, the paper analyzes the process of the investigation and creation through a concrete case. The paper concludes that the actual production and living needs of farmers must be taken into consideration in the process of the implementation of rural modernization, instead of simply putting the focus on standardized construction. Finally, the article points out the two characteristics of "rural modernity" reflected in the process of promoting rural modernization during the early stage of modern China: 1) collective wisdom and efforts; 2) combining local and foreign cultures. This article aims to provide a historical reference for current architects to carry out effective design practices in combination with rural development.

The rapid development of specific-purpose Large Language Models (LLMs), such as Med-PaLM, MEDITRON-70B, and Med-Gemini, has significantly impacted healthcare, offering unprecedented capabilities in clinical decision support, diagnostics, and personalized health monitoring. This paper reviews the advancements in medicine-specific LLMs, the integration of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and prompt engineering, and their applications in improving diagnostic accuracy and educational utility. Despite the potential, these technologies present challenges, including bias, hallucinations, and the need for robust safety protocols. The paper also discusses the regulatory and ethical considerations necessary for integrating these models into mainstream healthcare. By examining current studies and developments, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of LLMs in medicine and highlight the future directions for research and application. The study concludes that while LLMs hold immense potential, their safe and effective integration into clinical practice requires rigorous testing, ongoing evaluation, and continuous collaboration among stakeholders.

Climate change poses a significant threat to European security, implicitly to Romania’s naval forces in the Black Sea. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification impact maritime operations, infrastructure, and personnel, with potential ramifications for regional stability. This paper explores the implications of climate change for the Romanian Navy and proposes "Green Defence" strategies to enhance resilience and sustainability. These strategies encompass energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, sustainable procurement, and the application of advanced functional materials in naval operations and infrastructure. By adopting a proactive and multifaceted approach, the Romanian Navy can adapt to the changing climate, ensuring operational effectiveness while minimizing environmental impact. This approach aligns with broader European security concerns and contributes to a more sustainable and resilient defence posture in the face of climate-related challenges.

Objective Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting more than 20 % of the population. The side effects experienced due to antihypertensive medications such as tired-ness, muscle pain, and insomnia are often a significant predictor of poor adherence to therapy. The goal of the current study is to present the frequency, type, seriousness, and severity of adverse drug reactions reported to the BDA via Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSR) and following differentiation of messages found in more than one patient. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the reported adverse drug reactions (ADR) reported in the Bulgarian Drug Agency database after treatment with antihyperlipidemic medicines, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) - inhibitors, and sartans for the period 2017-2021. Each ICSR form was observed and data for suspected medicine and type of adverse reaction was analyzed. Results The total number of processed notifications for adverse drug reactions (ADR) included in the database is 142. The highest number of ADRs was reported for ARB (58), followed by antihyperlipidemic medicines (55) and ACE inhibitors (29.) Most of the assessed adverse events experienced by more than one patient fall into the probable and related categories based on Global Introspection method classification. Therefore, they have been investigated and are consistent with exposure in the population. Conclusion Cardiovascular medicines from the groups of ACE inhibitors, sartans and statins are with high share of reported ADRs in the BDA system. Some of them are severe and need further investigation.

While Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) enhances Large Language Models (LLMs), it also presents challenges that can affect model accuracy and performance. Practical applications show that RAG can mask the intrinsic capabilities of LLMs. Firstly, LLMs may become overly dependent on external retrieval, underutilizing their own knowledge and inference abilities, which can reduce responsiveness. Secondly, RAG techniques might introduce irrelevant or low-quality information, adding noise to the LLM. This can disrupt the normal generation process, leading to inefficient and low-quality content, especially when dealing with complex problems. This paper proposes a RAG framework that uses reflective tags to control retrieval. This framework evaluates retrieved documents in parallel and incorporates the Chain of Thought (CoT) technique for step-by-step content generation. The model selects the highest quality and most accurate content for final generation. The main contributions include: 1) Reducing the hallucination problem by selectively utilizing high-scoring document, 2) Enhancing real-time performance through timely external database retrieval, and 3) Minimizing negative impacts by filtering out irrelevant or unreliable information through parallel content generation and reflective tagging. These advancements aim to optimize the integration of retrieval mechanisms with LLMs, ensuring high-quality and reliable outputs.

Globally, 77\% of the elderly aged 65 and above suffer from multiple chronic ailments, according to recent research. However, several barriers within the healthcare system in the developing world hinder the adoption of home-based patient management. IoMT is beneficial for healthcare personnel, but its application raises security concerns, particularly in authentication. Several authentication techniques have been proposed which, however, lack a balance of security and usability. By analyzing the shortcomings of the existing authentication methods and the available sensors on smartphones, this paper proposes to explore the possibility of using a smartphone’s embedded sensors for elderly user identification process in IoMT. We proposed an adaptive authentication technique for the elderly patients using the MAPE-K$_{\text{HMT}}$ framework by developing an android application that takes as input, the user’s contextual information including device fingerprint, location, network, and user data to monitor the user and estimate the risk associated with a user using the Naïve Bayes algorithm. The risk score was then used as input to the rule-based module that assigned authenticators according to user age, health condition and available authenticators. The model demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing between authorized and unauthorized access attempts and supported the usable security goal for the elderly users.

Finding sustainable renewable energy sources for energy conversion and management is still an obscure topic. This paper presents a model-based simulation for an energy conversion system using piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) technology. A dynamic mathematical model of a PEH device consists of a piezoelectric transducer, a controlled PWM rectifier, and a closed-loop buck boost converter is developed. A piezoelectric transducer converts mechanical vibrations from a wind force into an oscillating train of electrical charges. The sinewave peak-to-peak level relationship describes the changeable values of these charges, which depend on the severity of the wind vibration. The controlled PWM rectifier, in conjunction with a closed-loop buck-boost converter, converts this train of sinewave cycles into DC voltages. The control blocks of the closed-loop buck-boost converter use the perturbation and observation (P&amp;O) algorithm based on maximum power point tracking (MPPT), which adapts the operational voltage of the piezoelectric source to deliver the maximum power to load and improves the PEHS output voltage stability. A simulation program is employed to perform mathematical analysis on various wind vibration scenarios, piezoelectric sources without PWM converters, and piezoelectric vibration sources connected to a closed-loop P&amp;O converter. The crucial results of this paper demonstrate that the proposed dynamic PEHS model effectively feeds low-power electronic loads by directly adjusting the output voltage level to the set voltage, even under different vibration severity levels. As a result, the proposed PEHS dynamic model serves as a guideline for researchers in the development of self-powered sensors, which contributes to understanding sustainable energy alternatives.

A well-prepared public health workforce is essential for reducing disease burdens and improving population health, requiring an education that addresses global and complex challenges. This paper examines the integration of the relational employability framework in public health education to cultivate critical global citizenship among students and graduates. Our research, conducted at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, involved two case studies using qualitative interviews. Case Study 1, drawn from Cook’s doctoral research, explored student experiences with the relational employability framework within an undergraduate capstone unit. Case Study 2, a school-funded project, gathered graduate perspectives to inform ongoing curriculum development. The findings indicate that the relational employability framework enhances global competencies among students and graduates, through research skills development and critical reflective practice. Students reported improved awareness of their learning needs, self-confidence, and an increased ability to engage with diverse perspectives and societal challenges. Graduates highlighted the framework’s role in understanding ethical standards, conducting rigorous research and applying evidence-based practices in professional settings. Additionally, the framework supported the development of a reflective mindset, enabling graduates to make informed, value-based career decisions and advance their professional growth. The study suggests that adopting a relational employability approach can effectively prepare globally competent and reflective public health professionals. We advocate for the broader implementation of this framework in health education and higher education, offering practical recommendations for curriculum transformation. Such an approach will equip future professionals to contribute meaningfully to public health debates and embody the principles of global citizenship in their practice.

Several studies report an impact of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) on human immune cells, with effects dependent on immune cell type addressed and their activation status. Another contributing factor appears to be sex, as sex-specific differences in the dopaminergic pathway are described in the neurological context as well as in autoimmune diseases. However, a deeper understanding of these differences in peripheral immune cells remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of dopaminergic stimulation on activation and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from women and men using flow cytometry, ELISA and multiplex assay. We found a B cell-driven downregulation in cytokine secretion of monocytes exclusively from women under physiological conditions. Moreover, B cells from men showed higher dopamine receptor (DR) expression, which was shown to be further increased by sex hormones only in men. In monocytes from women, an acute inflammatory stimulus via CpG combined with dopaminergic stimulation caused a switch to a proinflammatory phenotype, which was less pronounced in men. These novel findings in sex-specific responses to dopaminergic stimulation are crucial for understanding DA’s function in the healthy and activated immune system and provide evidence to treat DA-related pathologies in a sex-specific manner.

In 2018, Iran witnessed approximately 21,000 fatalities resulting from road accidents, ranking it as the fifth leading cause of death across all age groups. These incidents carry substantial economic and social burden for the nation, claiming more than 5% of its GDP. Human behavior emerges as a significant contributing factor to high-risk driving offenses. It has been proposed that by influencing general deterrence, a rigorous defense can be established against such violations. Various theories posit that by reinforcing or diminishing influential factors, general deterrence perception can be molded, presenting a potential avenue for an effective deterrent against traffic infractions. This study examines deterrence perceptions prevailing among the public in Iran regarding the enforcement of traffic laws. Employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we delve into the intricate relationships between variables, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the factors influencing general deterrence. The study draws on the data derived from a survey comprising 548 questionnaires for modeling purposes. An innovative concept, private sector enforcement, is introduced and incorporated into the questioning and modeling process. The findings reveal that socioeconomic status (p-value&lt;0.01), police enforcement (p-value&lt;0.05), private sector enforcement (p-value&lt;0.05), specific deterrence (p-value&lt;0.01), and the use of technology (p-value&lt;0.01) have direct and indirect impacts on the general deterrence perception of drivers.

With the offshore oil-gas fields entering decline phase, high-efficiency separation of oil-gas-water mixtures becomes a significant challenge. As essential equipment for separation, the three-phase separators play a key role in Offshore Oil-Gas production. However, level control is critical in the operation of three-phase gravity separators on offshore facilities, as it directly affects the efficacy and safety of the separation process. This paper introduces an advanced deep deterministic policy gradient with adaptive learning rate weights (ALRW-DDPG) control algorithm, which improves the convergence and stability of the conventional DDPG algorithm. An adaptive learning rate weight function is meticulously designed, and an ALRW-DDPG algorithm network is constructed for simulating three-phase separator liquid level control. The effectiveness of the ALRW-DDPG algorithm is subsequently validated through simulation experiments. The results show that the ALRW-DDPG algorithm achieves a 15.38% improvement in convergence rate compared to the traditional DDPG algorithm, and the control error is significantly smaller than that of PID and DDPG algorithms.

This paper deals with the design and kinematic analysis of a novel mechanism for the elbow joint of an upper-limb exoskeleton, with the aim of helping operators, in terms of effort and physical resistance, in carrying out heavy operations. In particular, the proposed eight-bar el-bow joint exoskeleton mechanism consists of a motorized Watt I six-bar linkage and a suitable RP dyad, which connects mechanically the external parts of the human arm with the corre-sponding forearm by hook and loop velcro and thus, helping their closing relative motion for lifting objects during repetitive and heavy operations. This relative motion is not a pure rotation and thus, the upper part of the exoskeleton is fastened to the arm, while the lower part is not rigidly connected to the forearm, but through a prismatic pair which allows both rotation and sliding along the forearm axis. Instead, the human arm is sketched by means of a crossed four-bar linkage, which coupler link is considered as attached to the glyph of the prismatic pair, that is fastened to the forearm. Therefore, the kinematic analysis of the whole ten-bar mecha-nism, which is obtained by joining the Watt I six-bar linkage and the RP dyad to the crossed four-bar linkage, is formulated to investigate the main kinematic performance and for design purposes. The proposed algorithm has given several numerical and graphical results. Finally, a double-parallelogram linkage, as particular case of the Watt I six-bar linkage, was considered in combination with the RP dyad and the crossed four-bar linkage, by giving a first mechanical de-sign and a 3D printed prototype.

The ascidian fauna of the Bahamas remains grossly understudied. Here, we examined specimens of the genus Clavelina collected from four Bahamian islands using morphological observations and genetic barcoding. Only 3 species of Clavelina have been previously reported in the Caribbean: C. picta, C. oblonga, and C. puertosecensis. Here, we report C. picta (Verrill, 1900) and three new species in the Bahamas: C. rochae; C. pawliki; and C. erwinorum. C. picta and C. pawliki were found in the northernmost island surveyed, while C. rochae and C. erwinorum were particularly prevalent on the southeastern Bahamian islands. A complete review of genetic barcoding data and morphological characters of accepted Clavelina species was performed. The unique combination of in vivo coloration, morphological characteristics, haplotypes, and species distribution all supported the establishment of three new species, significantly adding to the diversity of the genus Clavelina in the Caribbean.

In July 2017, a family of three members; a 46-year-old male, a 45-year-old female and their 8-year-old daughter, returned to South Africa from Thailand. They presented symptoms consistent with mosquito-borne diseases, including fever, headaches, severe body aches and nausea. Mosquito bites in all family members suggested recent exposure to arthropod-borne viruses. Dengue virus 1 (Genus Orthoflavivirus) was isolated (isolate no. SA397) from the serum of the 45-year-old female via intracerebral injection in neonatal mice and subsequent passage in VeroE6 cells. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain indicated close genetic identity with cosmopolitan genotype 1 DENV1 strains from Southeast Asia, assigned to major lineage K, minor lineage 1 (DENV1I_K.1), such as GZ8H (99.92%) collected in November 2018 from China and DV1I-TM19-74 isolate (99.72%) identified in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019. Serum samples from the 46-year-old male yielded a virus isolate that could not be confirmed as DENV1, prompting unbiased metagenomic sequencing for virus identification and characterization. Illumina sequencing identified multiple segments of a Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV), designated Human/SA395/SA/2017. Genomic and phylogenetic analysis classified Human/SA395/SA/2017 as MRV-3 and assigned a tentative genotype MRV-3d based on the S1 segment. Genomic analyses suggested Human/SA395/SA/2017 may have originated from reassortments of segments among swine, bat, and human MRVs. The closest identity of the viral attachment protein σ1 (S1) was related to a human isolate identified from Tahiti, French Polynesia, in 1960. This indicates ongoing circulation and cocirculation of Southeast Asian and Polynesian strains, but detailed knowledge is hampered by limited availability of genomic surveillance. This case represents a rare concurrent importation of two distinct viruses with different transmission routes in the same family with similar clinical presentations. It highlights the complexities of diagnosing diseases with similar sequelae in travellers returning from tropical areas.

Sinkhole formation caused by leaking pipes in karst soluble rocks is a significant concern, leading to infrastructure damage and safety risks. In this paper, an experiment was conducted to investigate sinkhole formation in dense sand induced by a leaking pipe. Fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) sensors were used to record the strain. A balloon was gradually deflated within a bed of wet silica sand to create an underground cavity. Eighteen FBG sensors, with a wavelength range between 1550 nm and 1560 nm, were embedded horizontally and vertically in the physical model at different levels to monitor deformation at various locations. A leaking pipe was installed to induce the collapse of the formed arch above the cavity. The strain measurements suggest four phases in the sinkhole formation process: (1) cavity formation, (2) progressive weathering and erosion, (3) catastrophic collapse, and (4) subsequent equilibrium conditions. The results showed differences in strain signatures and distributions between horizontal and vertical measurements. During the critical phase of sinkhole collapse, horizontal measurements primarily showed tension, while vertical measurements indicated compression. This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of FBGs as advanced monitoring tools for sinkhole precursor identification. The study also suggests using FBGs in geotechnical monitoring applications to improve understanding and mitigation of sinkholes and related geohazards.

Iron supplementation is associated with side effects and thus reduces the intake compliance. Because it has fewer side effects, a recent trial recommended low-iron micronutrient powder (MNP) for the prevention of anemia in Bangladeshi children exposed to a high concentration of iron from drinking groundwater. In the present study, we hypothesize that the low-iron MNP is a potential intervention to prevent childhood anemia in the low groundwater-iron settings in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh with children aged 2-5 years who drank groundwater containing a low level of iron (0-&lt;2 mg/L).The combined intake of iron was calculated from the key sources--diet, groundwater and MNPs. The intakes of iron were compared against the standard reference intake. The children’s hemoglobin was measured using a photometer. Combined intake of iron from dietary, groundwater and low-iron MNP in children was 5.8±2.0 and 6.9±2.5 mg/day comprising 193% and 169% of the Estimated Average Requirement in the 2-3 year-old and 4-5 year-old subgroups, respectively. Combined intake of bioavailable iron from dietary and groundwater sources was 0.42±0.023 and 0.22±0.019 mg/day in children exposed to groundwater concentration 0.8-&lt;2.0 mg/L and 0.0-&lt;0.8 mg/L respectively (p&lt;0.001). The mean concentration of hemoglobin in the respective groups was 12.17±0.94 mg/dl and 11.91±0.91 mg/dl (p=0.30). The combined intake of iron from dietary and groundwater sources was associated with maintenance of hemoglobin concentration at the non-anemic level in most of the children. The finding highlights the potential of low-iron MNP in controlling childhood anemia in this setting.

This study investigates the evolving corporate governance mechanisms within the context of an emerging economy. Addressing a literature gap, we analyse the influence of corporate governance and earnings quality on idiosyncratic risk in an emerging economy. In particular, this research explores the impact of corporate governance practices and earnings quality on idiosyncratic risk. For this purpose, we utilise a sample of 75 non-financial firms listed on the Pakistani equity market over nine years from 2010 to 2018. Employing the generalised method of moments, the findings of our empirical analysis reveal that firms with robust governance mechanisms and higher earnings quality experience minimal idiosyncratic risk. These outcomes provide valuable insights for standard setters, regulatory authorities, policymakers, and other stakeholders, emphasising the importance of governance mechanisms and earnings management in mitigating idiosyncratic return volatility.

Childhood nutrition is a cornerstone of long-term health, yet many children exhibit reluctance to consume healthy foods such as vegetables. This aversion can be influenced by various factors, including food neophobia and the sensory and visual appeal of the foods presented. Understanding how visual cues affect children's willingness behaviors can provide insights into effective strategies to enhance their dietary habits. This study aims to investigate the liking and emotional responses on the relationships between intrinsic and extrinsic cues and children's willingness to eat and to ask parents to buy. To understand how these factors influence children with food neophobia food-related behaviors and to identify effective strategies to promote healthier eating habits. A sample size consisting of 420 children recruited was needed in this cross-sectional study. A validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire was employed. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used to test the differences between gender and food neophobia means. Spearman correlations were used for correlation analysis. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationships among intrinsic cues, extrinsic cues, and the mediating effect of liking and emotional responses. Attributes such as plate color and shape significantly influence children's food-related behaviors and their emotions. Liking and emotional responses significantly mediates the relationship between intrinsic/extrinsic cues and willingness. Positive visual cues experiences are crucial for increasing children's inclination to purchase and consume. Positive emotional responses enhance acceptance and purchase. There are significant differences between boys and girls. Boys prefer blue and triangular plates, while girls prefer pink plates and generate more positive emotions. Children with food neophobia will initially experience a disorder, but its negative effects can be mitigated by increasing sensory appeal and emotional engagement. By employing strategies designed to enhance visual cues and liking and emotions, children’s willingness to choose healthy eating habits can be effectively increased.

We develop an action principle for producing a single fluid, two-constituent system with dissipation in general relativity. The two constituents in the model are particles and entropy. The particle flux creation rate is taken to be zero, while the entropy creation rate is non-zero. Building on previous work, it is demonstrated that a new term (the proper time derivative of the matter space ``metric'') is required in the Lagrangian in order to produce terms typically associated with bulk and shear viscosity. Equations of motion, entropy creation rate, and energy-momentum-stress tensor are derived. Using an Onsager approach of identifying thermodynamic ``forces'' and ``fluxes'' a model is produced which delivers the same entropy creation rate as the standard, relativistic Navier-Stokes equations. This result is then contrasted with a model generated in the spirit of the action principle, which takes as its starting point a specific Lagrangian and then produces the equations of motion, entropy creation rate, and energy-momentum-stress tensor. Unlike the equations derived from Onsager reasoning, where the analogs of the bulk and shear viscosity coefficients are prescribed ``externally'', we find that the form of the coefficients in the second example are a direct result of the specified Lagrangian. Furthermore, the coefficients are shown to satisfy evolution equations along the fluid worldline; also a product of the specific Lagrangian.

With the rapid developments that have been made in computer vision and computer technology, semantic segmentation of high-resolution images has emerged as a mainstream and challenging task. The, segmentation of water areas remains a complex task due to the similar features between water areas or between water areas and other land objects. Meanwhile, since coastlines and riverbanks are typically presented in irregular shapes, it is difficult to obtain the categories of pixels at boundaries. This paper proposed the use of a Water-Land Boundary Attention Network (WLBANet) to improve the accuracy of pixels at boundaries between water and land. This network also reinforced the performance of contextual information extraction into distinguishing between water areas and other land objects. To prove the validity of this proposed network, WLBANet was performed on the Water Land Dataset (WLD), which is also by this paper, and which contains water areas and other land objects categories. The results demonstrates that the proposed method has significant effectiveness.

Most cervical cancer cases are a result of persistent high-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Cervical cancer is prevalent in LMICs especially in SSA where it is second most prevalent cancer. In South Africa, it is the second most common cancer affecting women aged between 15 and 44 years. The host immune response has been shown as an important factor in controlling the progression or regression of high-risk HPV infection of the cervix to cervical cancer. The risk of cervical cancer is known to be influenced by the host's genetic diversity, particularly by immune response-regulating genes such as the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I and II genes. HLA class I genes present viral peptides to CD8+ T cells which are restricted and pre-programmed for cytotoxic functions. There is very little known about the HLA genes of South African women and how these influence outcome of HPV infections. This review aims to understand the role and influence of HLA class I genes in HPV clearance, persistence, and CD8+ T cell mediated immunity in African women by examining existing literature in this area. Understanding this role can influence and inform therapeutic vaccine design that is population specific.

Because Canadian Nitrogen (N) fertilizer use has more than doubled since 1990 (1.2 to 2.9 MtN by 2021), a better understanding of this trend is needed. A comprehensive set of Recommended N Rates (RNR) that agreed with fertilizer sales data from 1996 and 2001 was compared with the Fertilizer Use Survey (FUS). The FUS was conducted from 2014 to 2021, with 2017 being the most representative year for these data. Using non-parametric statistics, confidence intervals were derived from the histograms used to present the FUS data. N application rates from the RNR for Canola, Spring and Duram wheat, and Oats in the west were all below their respective FUS confidence intervals, whereas N application rates for Grain corn showed almost no difference in N use between the RNR and FUS. Crop-specific N application rates interpolated from the RNR and FUS were integrated over their respective crop areas and plotted against national fertilizer sales records from 1990 to 2021. The rapid increase in N use between 2001 and 2017 (0.89 MtN), 90% of it (0.80 MtN) in Western Canada, was primarily due to increased application rates per crop, rather than crop area changes. The FUS-RNR interpolations were a good approximation of N sales records and could improve farm GHG emissions modelling. The economically important crops in Western Canada should be the main focus for N-related GHG reduction measures, but production losses need to be avoided.

The focus was on developing machine learning models to predict the IC50 values of the compound OTX015 using gene expression levels of cancer cell lines. Through regression-based machine learning models, particularly the SVM model, trained on pre-laboratory data, consistent and generalizable performance with low error scores was achieved. These models underwent enhancement via hyperparameter optimization and were tested on validation data. The results indicate the utility of machine learning in drug discovery processes and personalized medicine, offering rapid and cost-effective predictions of IC50 values. However, for enhanced reliability, further model development, data gathering, and evaluation with diverse compounds are recommended. In conclusion, this research demonstrates the potential of machine learning approaches to optimize experimental processes, reduce costs, and contribute to personalized treatments in healthcare by accurately predicting compound responses.

Solid waste management is a major environmental challenge, especially in developing countries, with increasing amounts of waste glass (WG) and waste plastics (WP) not being recycled. In Ethiopia, managing WG and WP requires innovative recycling techniques. This study examines concrete properties with WG and WP as partial replacements for fine aggregate. Tests were conducted on cement setting time, workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. Concrete grade C-25, with a compressive strength of 25 MPa, was prepared using an optimum ratio of 14% WG and 6% WP. Mechanical properties were tested at 7 and 28 days of curing. At 20% replacement, workability decreased at water-cement ratios of 0.5 and 0.6 but remained stable at 0.4. Thus, a 0.4 ratio was used. For 10% replacement, compressive strength increased by 12.55% and 6.44% on the 7th and 28th days, respectively. At 20% replacement, compressive strength decreased by 14.35% and 0.73% on the 7th and 28th days, respectively. On the 28th day, splitting tensile strength at optimum replacement was 4.3 MPa, an 8.5% reduction from the control mix. However, flexural strength increased by 19.7%, from 12.46 MPa to 15.52 MPa. Overall, WG and WP improved flexural strength but slightly reduced splitting tensile strength.

This retrospective study aimed to assess coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression in serial computed tomography measurements according to risk factor changes. In 448 asymptomatic adults who underwent CAC measurements with more than one-year intervals, CAC progression was assessed according to age, sex, variable traditional risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking), and initial CAC score (0, 0.1–100, and &gt;100). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were assessed for independent predictors of rapid CAC progression (△CAC/year&gt;20). During the 3.5-year follow-up, coronary artery calcifications occurred in 43 (12.8%) of 336 individuals with an initial CAC score of zero. Of 112 individuals with initial CAC presence, 60 (53.6%) had △CAC/year&gt;20. Age, male sex, body mass index, and all risk factors were significantly associated with △CAC/year&gt;20, but recently diagnosed hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 11.3) and initial CAC score (OR, 1.05) were significant independent predictors in multivariate regression analyses. CAC progression was affected by demographic and traditional risk factors, but adjusting for these factors, recently diagnosed hypertension and initial CAC score were the most influential factors for rapid CAC progression. These findings suggest that patients with higher initial CAC scores may benefit from more frequent follow-up scans and checks regarding risk factor changes.

This study investigated the efficiency of scale-propellers, typically used on small drones. A scale-propeller is accepted as having a diameter of 7 to 21 inches. The Ukraine War has demonstrated the utility of relatively small, low-cost first-person view (FPV) drones, which are attritable. This investigation outlines the development of a MATLAB optimisation code, based on minimum induced loss propeller theory, which calculates the optimal chord and twist distribution for a chosen propeller operating in known flight conditions. The MATLAB code includes a minimum Reynolds number functionality, which provides the option to alter the chord distribution to ensure the entire propeller is operating above a set threshold value of Reynolds (&gt;100,000), as this has been found to be a transition point between low and high section lift-to-drag ratios. Additional functions allow plotting of torque and thrust distributions along the blade. The results have been validated on experimental data taken from an APC ‘Thin Electric’ 10” x 7” propeller, where it was found that both the chord and twist distributions were accurately modelled. The MATLAB code resulted in a 16% increase in the maximum propulsive efficiency. Further work will investigate a direct interface to SolidWorks to aid rapid propeller manufacturing capability.

Self-sustained learning (SSL) is considered a crucial factor in promoting students’ long-term learning and development in a sustainable society. To deepen the understanding of SSL, especially in the context of learning English as a second language, the current study examined the influence of intercultural communicative skills, language mindset, and positive L2 self on SSL in English learning among 1,238 college students in China. The results showed that students not only had a strong language mindset, positive L2 self, and intercultural communicative skills but also scored higher in long-term self-sustained English learning. Findings from the Structural Equation Modeling indicated that both language mindset and intercultural communicative skills positively predicted positive L2 self and self-sustained English learning. Furthermore, language mindset and intercultural communicative skills had an indirect impact on self-sustained English learning through positive L2 self. These findings suggest that to promote English learners’ SSL, instructors should help facilitate students’ intercultural communicative skills and foster a growth language mindset, as well as positive language learning beliefs.

Increased norepinephrine (NE) release from the sympathetic nerves during pregnancy in women or animal models, as occurs during stress, modifies the fetal environment and increases flow of NE to the fetus, programing the progeny and affecting its cardiovascular and metabolic function in adulthood. In the present work, gestating rats were exposed to stress during gestation and the female progeny was analyzed for heart and metabolic function. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to cold stress (4 °C/3 h/day); rats’ female progeny were euthanized at 4, 20 and 60 days old and their hearts evaluated to determine the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) mRNA, abundance and affinity to agonists and NE concentration. The in vivo response to glucose overload and the arterial pressure response to isoproterenol (ISO, 125 µg/kg weight/day/10 days) were monitored. Results: At 20 and 60 days old, stressed female progeny presented an increase in ventricular weight and no changes in the cardiac NE as compared with their age-matched controls. The β1AR mRNA in control rats decreased between 4 and 20 days of age, but stressed rats maintained 50% higher levels of mRNA as compared with their age-matched controls. This difference was also found in the protein abundance of β1AR. No differences were found at 60 days old. The β2AR mRNA levels were higher than in controls at both 4 and 20 days old, but not expressed in the amount of protein. An increase in the ratio of β1/β2 receptors was found at 20 days old but not at 60 days old. The displacement of 3H-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) from a membrane fraction with propranolol (β antagonist) showed decreased affinity (at 60 days old) but no changes in the βAR number. In vivo exposure to ISO induced a β-adrenergic overload and provoked death in 40% of stressed females by day 3 of ISO treatment. Regarding metabolic function, we found that stressed rats presented insulin resistance when adults. These data suggest permanent changes to the heart’s adrenergic response and metabolic function after rat progeny were stressed in the uterus.

Nutritional status problems in school-age children are a crucial public health problem worldwide. This research explored the relationships between family factors, food consumption behaviors, and the nutritional status of Muslim school-age children in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. This descriptive research was conducted among 228 children aged 9-12 years. Data were collected using demographic data, nutritional status, and food consumption behaviors assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive, chi-square, and binary logistic regression statistics. The results revealed that most samples reported having moderately healthy food consumption behaviors (M = 2.01, SD = 0.56). The samples had a normal weight (72.4%), while 15.8% were classified as overweight and obese. The number of siblings and food consumption behaviors had a significant relationship with nutritional status (p &lt; 0.05). Confirmation with binary logistic regression results also revealed that the likelihood of normal nutritional status was 2.40 times higher in children who had 3 or 4 siblings compared to those with 1 or 2 siblings (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.299-4.459). Additionally, children with healthy food consumption behaviors were 2.34 times more likely to have normal nutritional status compared to those with unhealthy dietary consumption (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.183-4.631). Conclusion: Since the number of siblings and healthy food consumption behaviors were associated with nutritional status, healthcare providers must consider these 2 factors when establishing health education and behavior modification care plans to promote healthy food consumption and nutritional status among this group.

The construction time of concrete structures in hydraulic tunnels is long, the construction environment is complex, and there are many influencing factors. The requirements for construction quality are high, not only to meet the strength requirements, but also to meet the design requirements of erosion resistance, crack resistance, and seepage resistance according to its specific operating environment. Therefore, evaluating the construction quality of concrete structures in hydraulic tunnels is of great significance. Considering the randomness and fuzziness of factors affecting the construction quality of concrete structures in hydraulic tunnels, this paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation model based on Combined Weighting (CWM) and Uncertainty Measurement Theory (UM). The IAHP method and CRITIC method are used to determine the subjective and objective weights of evaluation indicators, combined weighting is based on the principle of minimum entropy, and the UM method is used to evaluate the construction quality level. Finally, taking a hydraulic tunnel as an example, its construction quality grade is calculated to be III according to the evaluation model proposed in this paper, which matches with the engineering reality, and a comparative study is made with the mixture element topology theory at the same time. It is verified that the evaluation model can scientifically and reasonably evaluate the construction quality level of concrete structures in hydraulic tunnels.

Previous reviews have investigated machine learning (ML) models used to predict the risk of developing preeclampsia but have not described how the ML models are intended to be deployed throughout pregnancy or feature performance. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the existing ML models and their intended deployment patterns and performance along with identified features of high importance. This review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Engineering Village, and the Association for Computing Machinery were searched between January and February 2024. A total of 86 studies were found of which 14 were included. Out of 12 studies, eight showed the intent to use the ML model as a single-use, two intended a dual-use, and two intended multiple-use. A total of seven studies listed the features of the highest importance. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were listed along with mean arterial pressure to be of high importance. Out of four studies intending to use the ML model more than a single-use, three of them were conducted in the years 2023 and 2024, whereas the remaining study is from 2011. No ML model emerged as superior across the subgroups of PE. Utilizing body mass index and either mean arterial pressure or diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure may benefit the performance. The deployment patterns are mainly single use being within the gestation weeks 11+0 to 14+1.

The increasing prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), a serious condition associated with elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, underscores the urgent need for effective diagnostic tools. This research carefully examines the effectiveness of 16 diverse machine learning (ML) models in predicting MetS, a multifaceted health condition linked to increased risks of heart disease and other serious health complications. Utilizing a comprehensive, unpublished dataset of imbalanced blood test results, spanning from 2017 to 2022, from the Laboratory Information System of the General Hospital of Amfissa, Greece, our study embarks on a novel approach to enhance MetS diagnosis. By harnessing the power of advanced ML techniques, we aim to predict MetS with greater accuracy using non-invasive blood test data, thereby reducing the reliance on more invasive diagnostic methods. Central to our methodology is the application of the Borda count method, an innovative technique employed to refine the dataset. This process prioritizes the most relevant variables, as determined by the performance of the leading ML models, ensuring a more focused and effective analysis. Our selection of models, encompassing a wide array of ML techniques, allows for a comprehensive comparison of their individual predictive capabilities in identifying MetS. This study not only illuminates the unique strengths of each ML model in predicting MetS but also reveals the expansive potential of these methods in the broader landscape of health diagnostics. The insights gleaned from our analysis are pivotal in shaping more efficient strategies for the management and prevention of Metabolic Syndrome, thereby addressing a significant concern in public health.

Abstract A multiple number of studies provide evidence that vasopressin (AVP) and steroid hormones are frequently secreted together and closely cooperate in the regulation of blood pressure, metabolism, water-electrolyte balance, and behavior, securing thereby survival and comfort of life. Vasopressin interacts with hormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) at several levels through regulation of release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH, and multiple steroid hormones, as well as through interactions with steroids in the target organs. The interactions are facilitated by positive and negative feedbacks occurring between specific components of the HPA axis with engagement of other regulatory molecules. Altogether AVP and HPA cooperate closely as a coordinated functional AVP-HPA system. It has been shown that cooperation between AVP and steroid hormones may be affected by the cellular stress combined with hypoxia, and by metabolic, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, neurogenic stress and inflammation. Growing evidence indicates that central and peripheral interactions of AVP and steroid hormones are reprogrammed in cardiovascular diseases and that the rearrangements play either beneficial or harmful effects. The present review highlights specific mechanisms of interactions of AVP and steroids at cellular and systemic levels and analyses consequences of inappropriate cooperation between various components of the AVP-HPA system for the regulation of the cardiovascular system and energy balance in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has transitioned from a progressive, fatal disease to a chronic, manageable disease thanks to better defining of antiretroviral therapy, hence contributing to increased life expectancy. In parallel, a growing number of subjects without overt clinical signs of disease but living with chronic HIV infection (people living with HIV, PLWH) are experiencing early cardiovascular disease worldwide. However, a progressive increase in the prevalence of multiple comorbid diseases has been reported as these patients age, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular mortality can be either directly related to the viral infection, a progressive reduction of response to the antiretroviral therapy, chronic inflammation or lifestyle-related. Cardiovascular ageing represents a relevant issue in the management of HIV-infected patients. Although the exact pathophysiological mechanism that leads PLWH to develop cardiovascular disease is not entirely understood, there is substantial evidence that they accumulate age-related conditions earlier than the general population. Furthermore, since the proportion of PLWH growing older than 50 years has progressively increased, this results in a complex interaction between disease-related pathophysiology and the exposition of a growing burden of cardiovascular risk factors. For this reason, we performed a systematic review of the genes most frequently associated with ageing in HIV-infected subjects, followed by a bioinformatic analysis to explore the biological impact of the genes related to ageing.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) continues to pose a significant challenge, contributing to elevated hospitalization rates among children up to 5 years old, with a disproportionate burden on newborn and infants under 6 months old. The unique characteristics of the young immune system make it prone to altered responses to infections and vaccinations, requiring a tailored approach to disease prevention. The recent approval of the maternal RSV vaccine, (brand name ABRYSVO), represents a pivotal advancement in preventive strategies among newborns and infants, marking a milestone in RSV research as the first market-approved maternal vaccine. The present review examines clinical trial data on both recent and previous vaccine candidates, as well as the licensed vaccine, focusing on the prevention of RSV disease in newborns and young infants through the passive acquisition of antibodies following maternal immunization. Additionally, it evaluates the safety profile of these vaccines.

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is an evergreen tree that occupies 19% of the woody crop area and is cultivated in 67 countries on five continents. The largest olive production is concentrated in the Mediterranean basin, where the olive tree has had an enormous economic, cultural and environmental impact since the 7th century BC. In the Mediterranean region, salinity stands out as one of the main abiotic stress factors significantly affecting agricultural production. Moreover, climate change is expected to lead to increased salinisation in this region, threatening olive productivity. Salt stress causes combined damage by osmotic stress and ionic toxicity, restricting olive growth and interfering with multiple metabolic processes. A large variability in salinity tolerance among olive cultivars has been described. This paper aims to synthesize information from the published literature on olive adaptations to salt stress and its importance in salinity tolerance. The morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of olive tolerance to salt stress are reviewed.

In this study, the microbial community during the barley yeast fermentation of stevia leaves and its correlation with antioxidant, antiobesity, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as metabolites, were investigated using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Stevia was fermented using commercial TSB media (TSB 1, TSB 2, and TSB 3) and sucrose (Sucrose 1, Sucrose 3, and Sucrose 3) for 1, 3, and 5 days, respectively. Stevia ferments showed higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity compared to samples incubated with sucrose for 5 days, and all six ferments inhibited nitric oxide production in a concentration-dependent manner in LPS-induced mouse macrophages. Furthermore, UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis identified 23 related substances, including 10 terpenoids, including rubusoside, steviolbioside, and rebadioside derivatives; dulcoside A; and phlomisoside II, which are indicators of stevia, as well as five flavonoids, four phenolic acids, and four fatty acids. We also identified the microbial community during fermentation via the next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene for fungi. The results showed that TSB 1 and Sucrose 1 ferments were dominated by the pathogens Enterococcus hirae (58.93%) and Cronobacter sakazakii (80.92%), while samples fermented for more than 3 days were pathogen-free and dominated by lactic acid bacteria such as Pediococcus stilesii (73.37%). Microbial community analysis using the ITS region showed that Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, classified as a yeast rather than a mold, dominated the stevia fermentation regardless of the fermentation duration. In particular, the microbial community of the fermentation with a sugar solution was dominated by S. fibuligera by more than 99% throughout the fermentation periods of 1, 3, and 5 days. Finally, to apply the stevia ferments topically to human skin, skin irritation tests were performed on 30 volunteers. The results showed that the highly concentrated extracts (1 mg/mL) of all six stevia ferments were hypoallergenic. Taken together, these findings suggest that brewer's yeast fermented from stevia leaves with a sugar solution offers promise as a natural ingredient for use in functional foods and cosmetics.

Conventional traceability systems in Cambodian agriculture, such as Rubber Supply Chain Management (RSCM), often struggle to provide timely data and fair market prices, leading to mistrust among stakeholders, exploitation by intermediaries, and hindering progress towards ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. This research aims to showcase the potential of integrating blockchain technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and Differential Privacy (DP) methods to empower Cambodian rubber farmers. By enhancing transparency, facilitating fair pricing, and promoting sustainable methods in the rubber industry, this integrated approach leverages Hyperledger Fabric (HLF) to create a decentralized and secure system for tracking rubber from its source to the end consumer. Integration with IPFS ensures secure and easily accessible data storage, further enhancing the system’s reliability. Additionally, the implementation of differential privacy techniques safeguards confidential data during information sharing among farmers and supply chain stakeholders, minimizing potential privacy concerns. This comprehensive system encourages consumers to make ethical and sustainable alternative options by providing accessible information on harvesting methods, processing procedures, labor conditions, and environmental impacts. The potential benefits extend beyond Cambodia, serving as a model for other developing countries aiming to modernize and enhance the agricultural distribution networks. Our results show that transaction send rates (TPS) and throughput in systems with and without differential privacy grow with increased transaction volumes. However, the system without differential privacy achieves greater scalability and efficiency above a certain threshold. However, it offers a slightly reduced latency, reflecting a trade-off between privacy and performance efficiency in blockchain-based agricultural traceability systems.

Climate warming is expected to have pronounced effects on Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems, especially regions underlain by discontinuous and relatively warm permafrost. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the vulnerability and dynamics of permafrost under climate warming across the various ecotypes in respect of ecosystem stability, socioeconomic impact, and for better understanding possible future environmental changes. We suggested the new version of the spatially distributed permafrost dynamics model (GIPL2-MPI), which is developed in the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. This model is based on the ecosystem approach to simulate the permafrost dynamics, which we are discussing in this paper. We combined ground-based observations and numerical freeze/thaw modeling using climate-ecosystem-permafrost interactions to understand the physical processes and mechanisms controlling permafrost physical state. We predict the changes in permafrost conditions using output from two GCMs (NCAR-CCSM4 and GFDL-CM3) and Five-Model Average Ensemble for the RCP-4.5 and RCP-8.5 scaled down to 1 by 1 km spatial resolution (https://uaf-snap.org/) across entire Alaska. Our result shows that by the end of the current century widespread near-surface permafrost degradation could begin everywhere in Alaska southward of the Brooks Range as well as across some spots at the North Slope Alaska.

Recently, methods to detect DoS and spoofing attacks that occur on in-vehicle networks using CAN Protocol are being studied through deep learning models such as CNN, RNN, and LSTM. These studies have produced significant results in the field of In-Vehicle Network attack detection using deep learning models. In addition, significant results are being achieved through research on applying time series-based deep learning models such as LSTM to detect DoS attacks and replay attacks occurring in in-drone networks by expanding them to drones using the UAVCAN protocol. In this paper, we conducted an experiment to detect in-drone network attacks through non-time series analysis using machine learning models and deep learning models, and through appropriate learning for each attack type, it can also be analyzed through non-time series analysis. The results showed that it was possible to detect attacks.

Although the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia explains the effects of all the available antipsychotics in clinical use, there is an increasing need for developing new drugs for the treatment of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of chronic psychoses. Xanomeline-trospium (KarXT) is a drug combination that is based on the essential role played by acetylcholine in the regulation of cognitive processes and the interactions between this neurotransmitter and other signaling pathways in the central nervous system, with a potential role in the onset of schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and substance use disorders. A systematic literature review that included four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Clarivate/Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and the US National Library of Medicine database for clinical trials detected 21 sources referring to 14 studies focused on KarXT, out of which only four have published results. Based on the results of these trials, the short-term efficacy and tolerability of xanomeline-trospium are good, but more data is needed before this drug combination may be recommended for clinical use. However, on a theoretical level, the exploration of KarXT is useful for increasing the interest of researchers in finding new, non-dopaminergic, antipsychotics that could be used either as monotherapy or as add-on drugs.