Water reuse for irrigation is increasingly recognized as an essential and economical strategy in areas with water scarcity. A simple, low-cost, low-maintenance, and highly efficient Pond-In-Pond (PIP) treatment system can be used for wastewater reuse. PIP is a treatment technology in which two types of ponds -- anaerobic and aerobic -- are combined into a single pond and consist of a deeper inner section entirely submerged within the outer pond. Previous studies on PIPs and PIP-like systems have reinforced the potential for reuse through promising performance results with BOD removal over 80% and a reduction in land area requirements by approximately 40%. Yet, no prior efforts have been made to understand the performance mechanism of such systems. This study makes use of two, 2-D modeling tools in developing a fundamental understanding of PIP flow dynamics and the expected performance. The modeling results showed that the PIP configuration offers improved flow diversion along with reduced flow velocity. Additionally, the PIP retained approximately 17% more (p<0.05) particles than the traditional pond with most of the particles concentrated within the inner pond. Lower velocity and the higher solids retention in the PIP thus allowed for better treatment performance compared to traditional ponds. The findings from this study can be used as preliminary data for future in-depth investigations of the PIP system leading toward effective and optimal designs. This will help address the major societal concern of water scarcity with low-cost and effective wastewater treatment.

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China has killed more than 2600 people since December 2019. Currently there is no effective treatment for this epidemic. Drug for anti SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. In this study we evaluated two compound libraries containing launched drugs and compounds from 300 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine in order to find anti SARS-CoV-2 drugs. Docking and then calculating binding free energy were performed as workflow against four key anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug targets, 3CLpro, PLpro and RdRp from SARSCoV-2, and AAK1 from human as well. As a result, drugs launched with potential for antiviral usage were selected in the hope of providing some knowledge for future drug discovery.

Large scale coherent structures in atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) are known to contribute to the power generation in wind farms. In the current paper, we perform a detailed analysis of the large scale structures in a finite sized wind turbine canopy using modal analysis from three dimensional proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). While POD analysis sheds light on the large scale coherent modes and scaling laws of the eigenspectra, we also observe a slow convergence of the spectral trends with the available number of snapshots. Since the finite sized array is periodic in the spanwise direction, we propose to adapt a novel approach of performing POD analysis of the spanwise/lateral Fourier transformed velocity snapshots instead of the snapshots themselves. This methodology not only helps in decoupling the length scales in the spanwise and the streamwise direction when studying the energetic coherent modes, but also provides a detailed guidance towards understanding the convergence of the eigenspectra. In particular, the Fourier-POD eigenspectra helps us illustrate if the dominant scaling laws observed in 3D POD are actually contributed by the laterally wider or thinner structures and provide more detailed insight on the structures themselves. We use the database from our previous large eddy simulation (LES) studies on finite-sized wind farms which uses wall-modeled LES for modeling the Atmospheric boundary layer laws, and actuator lines for the turbine blades. Understanding the behaviour of such structures would not only help better assess reduced order models (ROM) for forecasting the flow and power generation but would also play a vital role in improving the decision making abilities in wind farm optimization algorithms in future. Additionally, this study also provides guidance for better understanding the POD analysis in the turbulence and wind farm community.

Upper Blue Nile basin (UBNB) is the water tower of Ethiopia and downstream countries. It contributes significant moistures to the surrounding atmosphere. However, the contribution of the moisture from the basin to the precipitation in the area is not well documented. Therefore, this paper is aimed at seasonal variation of upper Blue Nile basin moisture budget and the global moistures in the role of temporal and spatial precipitation variability. To this end, we used European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) data from 1979-2017. The UBNB moisture contributed precipitation in the central parts of the study area during the summer season, while in spring; it contributed in southern part of the study area. Northwest part of the study area got precipitation from the basin moistures during autumn season. The recycling ratios for four seasons (summer, autumn, spring and winter) were 9.70%, 16.33%, 19.01%, and 35.30% respectively. The maximum amount of precipitation is extracted from the local moistures during winter season. The annual average value of recycling ratio was found 20.11%. Hence, we concluded that UBNB moisture budget had lesser contribution of precipitation over the study area. It rather contributed a significant precipitation to the neighboring countries such as Egypt and Sudan. Further studies on moisture budget are required to explain this phenomenon in the context of Ethiopia.

In this paper the authors describe the architecture of a multidisciplinary data acquisition and visualization platform devoted to the management of coastal environments. The platform integrates heterogeneous data acquisition sub-systems that can be roughly divided in two main categories: remote sensing systems and in-situ sensing systems. Remote sensing solutions include aerial and underwater remote data acquisition while in-situ sensing solutions include the use of RFID tracers, Wireless Sensor Networks and imaging techniques. All the data collected by these subsystems are stored, integrated and fused on a single platform that is also in charge of data visualization. This last task is carried out according to the paradigm of Augmented Virtuality which foresees the augmentation of a virtually reconstructed environment with data collected in the real world. The described solution proposes a novel holistic approach where different disciplines concur, with different data acquisition techniques, to a large scale definition of coastal dynamics, in order to better describe and face the coastal erosion phenomenon. The overall framework has been conceived by the so-called Team COSTE, a joint research team between the Universities of Pisa, Siena and Florence.

The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model is widely used for evaluating agricultural conservation efforts and their effects on soil and water. A key component of APEX application in Korea is simulating water quality impacts of rice paddies because rice agriculture claims the largest cropland area in the country. In this study, a computational module called APEX-Paddy is developed to simulate water quality with considering pertinent paddy management practices such as puddling, flood irrigation management. Data collected at two experimental paddy sites in Korea were used to calibrate and validate the model. Results indicate that APEX-Paddy performs well in predicting runoff discharge rate and nitrogen yield while the original APEX highly overestimates runoff rates and nitrogen yields on large storm events. With APEX-Paddy, simulated and observed flow and mineral nitrogen yield (QN) are found to be highly correlated after calibration (Nash & Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) = 0.87 and Percent Bias (PBIAS) = −14.6% for flow; NSE = 0.68 and PBIAS = 2.1% for QN). Consequently, the APEX-Paddy showed a greater accuracy in flow and QN prediction than the original APEX modeling practice using the SCS-CN method.

Fusarium solani KMZW-1, is recognized for its potential as a biocontrol 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 F. solani 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% and fungus identified as F. solani KMZW-1. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, DFVF sequence identifier was Fusarium 0G092560.1, AntiSMASH analysis identified 29 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomic analysis found 269 unique genes of F. solani KMZW-1 and the collinearity analysis exhibited a high degree of synteny with Fusarium solani-melongenae. The pathogenicity of F. solani KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1×10^4 to 1×10^11 conidia/mL. Higher concentrations (1×10^10 to 1×10^11 conidia/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 fe-male and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, F. solani KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecti-cidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of F. solani KMZW-1 in managing against B. dorsalis populations.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Although the cause of this disorder is still unclear, recent studies state that heredity is important in the development of ADHD. This is linked to a few comorbidities: depression, criminal behavior and anxiety. Although genetic factors play a major role in the pathogenesis of ADHD, there are also non-genetic factors, one of which would be oxidative stress (OS) that are associated with ADHD. OS is implicated in the pathogenesis of ADHD, through lower levels of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as a lower total antioxidant status (TOS) compared to control groups. Moreover, there is a close bidirectional connection between the nervous system and the intestinal microbiota, and the communication between the two systems is carried out through the gut-brain axis (GBA). A thorough review of diet, OS implications, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and drug-drug interactions are reviewed here, with a special focus on treatment in adults with comorbid conditions.

A novel scaffold design has been created to enhance tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by optimizing the controlled, prolonged release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a powerful chemoattractant for endogenous mesenchymal stem cells. We present a new stacked scaffold that is made up of three different fibrin gel layers, each of which has HGF integrated into the matrix. The design attempts to preserve HGF's regenerative properties for long periods of time, which is necessary for complex tissue regeneration. These multi-layered fibrin gels have been mechanically evaluated using rheometry, and their degradation behavior has been studied using D-Dimer ELISA. Understanding the kinetics of HGF release from this novel scaffold configuration is essential for understanding HGF's long-term sustained bioactivity. A range of cell-based tests were carried out to verify the functionality of HGF following extended incorporation. These tests included 2-photon microscopy using phalloidin staining to examine cellular morphology, SEM analysis for scaffold-cell interactions, and scratch and scatter assays to assess migration and motility. The analyses show that the novel stacking scaffold promotes vital cellular processes for tissue regeneration in addition to supporting HGF's bioactivity. This scaffold design was developed for in situ tissue engineering. Using the body as a bioreactor, the scaffold should recruit mesenchymal stem cells from their niche thus combining the regenerative abilities of HGF and MSCs to promote tissue remodeling and wound repair.

(Background) Canine mammary tumors (CMT) have emerged as an important model for understanding pathophysiological aspects of human disease. Liquid biopsy (LB), which relies on blood-borne biomarkers and offers minimal invasiveness, holds promise for reflecting the disease status of patients. Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) and their protein cargo have recently gained attention as potential tools for disease screening and monitoring. (Objectives) This study aimed to isolate SEVs from canine patients and analyze their proteomic profile to assess their diagnostic and prognostic potential. (Methods) Plasma samples were collected from female dogs grouped into CMT (malignant and benign), healthy controls, relapse, and remission groups. SEVs were isolated and characterized using ultracentrifugation (UC), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proteomic analysis of circulating SEVs was conducted using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS). (Results) While no significant differences were observed in the concentration and size of exosomes among the studied groups, proteomic profiling revealed important variations. Mass spectrometry identified exclusive proteins that could serve as potential biomarkers for mammary cancer. These included Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH2 and ITI4), phosphopyruvate hydratase or alpha enolase (ENO1), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), actin (ACTB), transthyretin (TTR), beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (APOH) and gelsolin (GSN) found in female dogs with malignant tumors. Additionally, Vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP), also known as group-specific component (GC), was identified as a protein present during remission. (Conclusion) The results underscore the potential of proteins found in SEVs as valuable biomarkers in CMT. Despite the lack of differences in vesicle concentration and size between the groups, the analysis of protein content revealed promising markers with potential applications in CMT diagnosis and monitoring. These findings suggest a novel approach in the development of more precise and effective diagnostic tools for this challenging clinical condition.

Background: The accurate diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis is critical for guiding treatment decisions in head and neck cancer patients. Despite advances in imaging techniques, detecting nodal metastasis remains challenging, leading to potential undertreatment or overtreatment. This systematic review aims to identify molecular markers associated with occult metastasis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Methods: The present research was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Prospero registration nr. CRD42024522985. Results: Through a comprehensive literature search and review process, 634 articles were considered, 103 of them were finally included. Conclusions: Several promising markers were identified, including miR-205, DSG3, pan-CK AE1/AE3, HPV-16, Activin-A, Cyclin D1, and NPL that demonstrated effectiveness across multiple studies. Future research should focus on exploring combination scoring systems to improve diagnostic precision and optimize treatment selection in HNSCC patients.

Currently, obesity is a critical global public health burden. Numerous studies have demonstrated the regulation of the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic abnormalities by the gut microbiota and microbial factors; however, their involvement in the various degrees of obesity is not yet understood well. Previously, obesity has been shown to be associated with decreased levels of vitamin B12. Considering exclusive microbial production of vitamin B12, we hypothesised that a decrease in cobalamin levels in obese individuals may be at least partially caused by its depleted production in the intestinal tract by the commensal microbiota. In the present study, our aim was to estimate the abundance of enzymes and metabolic pathways for vitamin B12 synthesis in the gut microbiota of mouse models of alimentary and genetically determined obesity, to evaluate the contribution of the obesogenic microbiome to vitamin B12 synthesis in the gut. We have defined a significantly lower representation of enzymes and metabolic pathways for vitamin B12 biosynthesis in obese mice compared to non-obese mice, wherein enzyme depletion was more pronounced in lepr(-/-) (db/db) mice, which developed severe obesity. The representation of enzymes involved in cobalamin synthesis is strongly correlated with representation of several microbes in high-fat diet fed mice, whereas there were almost no correlations in db/db mice. Therefore, the degree of obesity and the composition of the correspondent microbiota are the main contributors to the representation of genes and pathways for cobalamin biosynthesis in the mouse gut.

This study focuses on enhancing controllable fibrin-based hydrogels for tissue engineering, addressing existing weaknesses. By integrating a novel copolymer, we improve the foundation for cell-based angiogenesis with adaptable structural features. Tissue engineering often faces challenges like waste disposal and nutrient supply beyond the 200 µm diffusion limit. Angiogenesis breaks through this limitation, allowing the construction of larger constructs. Our innovative scaffold combination significantly boosts angiogenesis, resulting in longer branches and more capillary network junctions. The copolymer attached to fibrin fibers enables precise adjustment of hydrogel mechanical-dynamic properties for specific applications. Our material proves effective for angiogenesis, even under suppression factors like suramin. In our study, we prepared fibrin-based hydrogels with and without the copolymer PVP12400-co-GMA10mol%. Using a co-culture system of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we analyzed angiogenetic behavior on and within the modified hydrogels. Capillary-like structures were reproducibly formed on different surfaces, demonstrating the general feasibility of three-dimensional endothelial cell networks in fibrin-based hydrogels. This highlights the biomaterial's suitability for in vitro pre-vascularization of biohybrid implants.

This study investigates the influence of internal factors on growth dynamics in four Cyprinus carpio varieties: three Romanian strains (Frăsinet, Ineu, and Podu Iloaiei) and the ornamental Koi variety. The research aims to elucidate variety-specific growth patterns and their implications for aquaculture and ecological management. Fish were measured for total length, maximum height, and weight at four ontogenic stages: 7 days post-hatch, summer fingerlings (0⁺), one year and summer old (1⁺), and two years and summer old (2⁺). Weight Gain (WG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Relative Growth Rate (RGR), Fulton's condition factor, and profile index were calculated and analyzed. Results revealed significant intervariety differences in growth performance, body shape development, and physiological condition across life stages. The Romanian varieties showed superior growth performance at later stages, while Koi exhibited unique growth patterns. Fulton's condition factor and profile index varied markedly among varieties and life stages, indicating differential energy allocation and morphological adaptations. These findings highlight the complex interplay between genetic factors and developmental processes in carp varieties, providing valuable insights for selective breeding programs, aquaculture practices, and ecological management strategies. The study underscores the importance of variety-specific approaches in carp cultivation and conservation efforts.

Cleomella serrulata is a native flowering plant found in North America. Even though this plant is of ecological and native medicinal importance, very little is known about the genomic makeup of Cleomella and the Cleomaceae family at large. Here we report the complete chloroplast genome of Cleomella serrulata and provide an evolutionary comparison to other chloroplast genomes from Cleomaceae and closely related families. This study confirms the taxonomic placement of Cleomella as a distinct genus, but also provides phylogenetic insights that imply potential adaptive strategies and evolutionary mechanisms driving genomic diversity of the Cleomella genus. Whole genome-based and ANI comparisons indicate that the Cleomella species form a distinct clade that is about equidistant from the other Cleomaceae genera as it is from the genera from the nearby Capparaceae and Brassicaceae. This is the first complete chloroplast-based phylogenetic comparison of Cleomella species to other related genera and helps refine the complex taxonomic distinctions of the Cleomaceae.

This study delves into the complex dynamics of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication (UWOC) in varied Harbor water conditions. Focusing on four distinct types of Harbor water, the research employs the Monte Carlo method to simulate photon transmission and analyze critical UWOC characteristics. Key parameters such as the transmitted full divergence angle, received aperture, and Field of View (FOV) are meticulously evaluated for their impact on communication efficacy. The study first explores the relationship between laser power variation, attenuation length, and divergence angle, revealing how different water qualities influence received power and time delay spread. Notably, the received normalized power loss and time delay spread are found to be more significantly affected by communication distance than water quality. In addition, under the condition of small received aperture and FOV, the influence on normalized power loss and time spread is more obvious in Harbor water. The findings offer novel insights into the challenges of UWOC in Harbor waters, particularly in terms of light scattering and absorption properties, and contribute to the optimization of communication systems in such complex underwater environments. Furthermore, the analysis of time pulse spread in turbid water quality is of great significance for the analysis and improvement of underwater wireless optical timing, ranging and positioning.

Understanding the dynamic interaction between piles and surrounding soil under vehicular impacts is essential for effectively designing and optimizing soil-embedded vehicle barrier systems. The complex behavior of pile-soil systems under impact loading, attributed to the soil’s nonlinear behavior and large deformation experienced by both components, presents significant simulation challenges. Popular computation techniques, such as the Updated Lagrangian Finite Element Method (UL-FEM), encounter difficulties in scenarios marked by large soil deformation, e.g., impacts involving rigid piles. While mesh-free particle and discrete element methods offer another option, their computational demands for field-scale pile-soil impact simulations are considerable. We introduce the erosion method to bridge this gap by integrating UL-FEM with an erosion algorithm designed for simulating large soil deformations during vehicular impacts. Validation against established physical impact tests confirmed the method’s effectiveness for flexible and rigid pile failure mechanisms. Additionally, this method was used to investigate the effects of soil mesh density, soil domain sizes, and boundary conditions on the dynamic impact response of pile-soil systems. Our findings provide guidelines for optimal soil domain size, mesh density, and boundary conditions. This investigation sets the stage for improved, computationally efficient techniques for the pile-soil impact problem, leading to better pile designs for vehicular impacts.

Pool boiling is extensively utilized in various fields, such as electronics cooling, battery cooling, nuclear power plants, and chemical processing. In the process of temperature control through boiling, the generation and transportation of bubbles play a crucial role in calculating the heat transfer capacity of the system. Therefore, it holds immense significance to gain a profound understanding of the mechanisms underlying bubble formation, growth, and detachment. Currently, numerous mechanistic explanations and empirical correlations have been proposed to elucidate various parameters of bubbles during the boiling process. These findings were considered valuable references in selecting appropriate boiling media and designing efficient heating surfaces. To comprehensively present the progress of bubble formation and heat transfer during the boiling process, the forces exerted on the bubbles was highlighted in this article. And a meticulous review on bubble force analysis and correlation formulas pertaining to various relevant parameters (e.g. nucleation sites density, bubble growth rate, detachment diameter, detachment frequency) were conducted. This review article also were expected to provide a novel foundation for further exploration of enhanced boiling heat transfer.

In recent years, applying deep learning to solve physics problems has attracted much attention. Data-driven deep learning methods produce operators that can learn solutions to the whole system of partial differential equations. However, the existing methods are only evaluated on simple flow equations (e.g., Burger's equation), and only consider the generalization ability on different initial conditions. In this paper, we construct CFDBench, a benchmark with four classic problems in computational fluid dynamics (CFD): lid-driven cavity flow, laminar boundary layer flow in circular tubes, dam flows through the steps, and periodic Karman vortex street. Each flow problem includes data with various boundary conditions, fluid physical properties, and domain geometries. Compared to existing datasets, the advantages of CFDBench are (1) comprehensive. It contains common physical parameters such as velocity, pressure, and cavity fraction. (2) realistic. It is very suitable for deep learning solutions of fluid mechanics equations. (3) challenging. It has a certain learning difficulty, prompting to find models with strong learning ability. (4) standardized. CFDBench facilitates a comprehensive and fair comparison of different deep learning methods for CFD. We make appropriate modifications to popular deep neural networks to apply them to CFDBench and enable the accommodation of more changing inputs. The evaluation on CFDBench reveals some new shortcomings of existing works and we propose possible directions for solving such problems.

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of sustainable fisheries through the lens of mathematical modeling, specifically employing the Lotka-Volterra equations. The Lotka-Volterra equations, originally conceived to understand predator-prey interactions, offer a potent framework to model and predict fish population dynamics within aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the applicability and efficacy of the Lotka-Volterra equations in understanding the delicate balance of fish populations and aiding sustainable fisheries management. Through this mathematical approach, we seek to provide a structured methodology and present results that showcase the potential of this model in predicting and managing fish populations. In our analysis, we adjust the parameters of the Lotka-Volterra equations to simulate various scenarios, enabling a comprehensive understanding of sustainable fishing practices. Our findings underscore the significance of mathematical models, particularly the Lotka-Volterra equations, in informing strategies to maintain fish populations in a sustainable and ecologically balanced manner, thereby ensuring the longevity of marine ecosystems and the fisheries thatrely upon them.

Herein, we report on a versatile system composed of two Ni(II)-based coordination compounds: a 3D metal-organic framework of {[Ni(μ-3isoani)2]·DMF}n (1) formula and a 0D monomeric [Ni(3isoani)2(H2O)4] (2) complex (where 3isoani = 3-aminoisonicotinato and DMF = dimethylformamide) which show mutual solvent-induced reversible transformations into each other. These 1 ↔ 2 transformations are triggered by the exposure of one compound to the solvent present in the other, that is, the MOF (1) in water and the monomer (2) in DMF. The process is easily followed by the naked eye because it involves a colour change from green (1)-to-brownish green (2), making the system potentially interesting to act as a sensor of those solvents. Moreover, these compounds present very different magnetic properties since 1 shows field-induced single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour, which corresponds to one of the few Ni(II)-based compounds showing this property, whereas 2 behaves as a regular paramagnet, all of which is explained according to a careful study of the magnetic properties by means of experimental direct-current (dc) and alternating-current (ac) measurements as well as complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations.

We present a new study of Jupiter atmosphere’s dynamics using for the first time the extremely high resolution capabilities of VLT/ESPRESSO to retrieve wind velocities in Jupiter’s troposphere, with a dedicated ground-based Doppler velocimetry method. These results are complemented by a deeper analysis of Cassini data during its flyby of Jupiter in December 2000, performing cloud tracking at visible wavelengths, obtaining a more comprehensive dynamical interpretation. We explore the effectiveness of this new method to measure winds in Jupiter, using high resolution spectroscopy data obtained from ESPRESSO observations performed in July 2019, with a Doppler velocimetry method based on back scattered solar radiation in the visible range. Coupled with our ground based results, we retrieved a latitudinal and longitudinal profile of Jupiter’s winds along select bands of the atmosphere. Comparing the results between cloud tracking methods, based on previous reference observations, and our new Doppler velocimetry approach we found a good agreement between them, demonstrating the eectiveness of this technique. The winds obtained in this exploratory study have a two-fold relevance: they contribute for the temporal and spatial variability study of Jupiter troposphere’s dynamics, and also the results presented here validate this Doppler technique to study the dynamics of Jupiter’s atmosphere and pave the way for further exploration of a broader region of Jupiter’s disk for a more comprehensive retrieval of winds and to evaluate their spatial and temporal variability.

The evolution of even and odd Schrödinger cat states of the inverted oscillator is obtained in the center-of-mass tomographic probability description of the two-mode oscillator.The notion of entangled probability distribution is reviewed. Evolution equations describing the time-dependence of probability distributions identified with quantum system states are discussed.The connection with the Schrödinger equation and the von Neumann equation is clarified.

Cancer diseases lead to the second-highest death rate all over the world. The dynamics of invasion of cancer cells into the human body tissues and metastasis are the main causes of death in patients with cancer. This study deals with theoretical investigation of the dynamics of invasion of cancer cells for tumour growths in human body tissues using discretized Cahn-Hilliard, concentration and reaction-diffusion equations which were solved by Finite Difference Method with the aid of MATLAB computer software. A Crank-Nicolson numerical scheme was developed for the discretized model equations. The numerical result obtained was used to describe the dynamics of cancer invasion of tissues with respect to cancer cells density on tumour growth, turbulence and mobility and equilibrium between charge and discharge of cancer cells. The results of the study provide new insights into combating cancer disease by providing mitigating and intervention measures to this major health problem.

The vibrational excitation cross section of a diatomic molecule by positron impact is obtained using wavepacket propagation techniques. The dynamics was carried on a two-dimensional potential energy surface which couples a hydrogen-like harmonic oscillator to a positron via a spherically symmetric correlation polarization potential. The cross section for the excitation of the first vibrational mode is in good agreement with previous reports. Our model suggests that a positron couples to the target vibration by responding instantly to an interaction potential which depends on the target vibrational coordinate.

Mesoscale eddies, the weather system of the oceans, although being on the scales of O(20-100km), have a disproportionate role in shaping the mean jets such as the separated Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic Ocean, which is on the scale of O(1000km) in the along-jet direction. With the increase in computational power, we are now able to partially resolve the eddies in basin-scale and global ocean simulations, a model resolution often referred to as mesoscale permitting. It is well known, however, that due to grid-scale numerical viscosity, mesoscale permitting simulations have less energetic eddies and consequently weaker eddy feedback onto the mean flow. In this study, we run a quasi-geostrophic model at mesoscale resolving resolution in a double gyre configuration and formulate a deterministic parametrization for the eddy rectification term of potential vorticity (PV), namely, the eddy PV flux divergence. We have moderate success in reproducing the spatial patterns and magnitude of eddy kinetic and potential energy diagnosed from the model. One novel point about our approach is that we account for non-local eddy feedbacks onto the mean flow by solving the eddy PV equation prognostically in addition to the mean flow. In return, we are able to parametrize the variability in total (mean+eddy) PV at each time step instead of solely the mean PV. A closure for the total PV is beneficial as we are able to account for both the mean state and extreme events.

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is frequently analyzed using liquid biopsy to investigate cancer markers. Accordingly, we hypothesized this concept could be applied to the field of exercise physiology. Here, we aimed to identify specific cfDNA (spcfDNA) sequences in the plasma of non-treated human participants using next generation sequencing (NGS) and to clearly define the dynamics regarding the amounts of spcfDNA-fragments upon extreme exercise, such as running a full marathon. NGS analysis was performed using cfDNA of pooled plasma collected from non-treated participants. We confirmed the TaqMan-qPCR assay had a high sensitivity and found the spcfDNA sequence abundance was 16,600-fold higher than a normal genomic region. We then used the TaqMan-qPCR assay to investigate the dynamics of the levels of spcfDNA-fragments upon running a full marathon. Quantities of the spcfDNA fragments were significantly increased post marathon. Furthermore, the amounts of spcfDNA fragments strongly correlated with the numbers of white blood cells and plasma myoglobin concentrations. These results suggest the spcfDNA fragments identified in this study were highly sensitive response markers to extreme physical stress. The findings of this study may provide new insights into exercise physiology and genome biology on the human.

In this work, a tool for estimating the contact angle from the molecular dynamics simulations is developed and presented. The tool (Achilles) can detect water droplet on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. The tool can reconstruct the droplets broken across the periodic boundaries. Further a neighbor density based accurate filter is used to find the droplet liquid vapor interface and a circle is fitted using it after removing the dense layers of water next to solid surface. This fitted circle is solved for contact angle and results are outputted in the form of graphical images and text. The entire content of the internal computations of the tool is broken down into 4 phases and users can monitor the outcomes at every phase through output images. The tool is tested using sample molecular dynamics results of water droplet on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. We believe this tool can be a good addition to the molecular dynamics simulation community who work on the interfacial physics, droplet evaporation, super hydrophobic surfaces, and wettability etc.

The spatiotemporal variability of vegetation in the Middle East was investigated for the period 2001–2019 using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 16-day/500 m composites of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI; MOD13A1). The results reveal a strong increase in the NDVI coverage in the Middle East during the study period (R = 0.75, p-value = 0.05). In Egypt, the annual coverage exhibits the strongest positive trend (R = 0.99, p-value = 0.05). In Turkey, both the vegetation coverage and density increased from 2001 to 2019, which can be attributed to the construction of some of the biggest dams in the Middle East, such as the Atatürk and Ilisu dams. Significant increases in the annual coverage and maximum and average NDVI in Saudi Arabia are due to farming in the northern part of the country for which groundwater and desalinated seawater are used. The results of this study suggest that the main factors affecting the vegetation coverage in the Middle East are governmental policies. These policies can have a positive effect on the vegetation coverage in some countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, and Turkey.

The work is devoted to the study of a MEMS resonator dynamics under the action of phase-locked and automatic gain control loops. Particular attention is directed to the study of the nonlinearity factor of the resonator elastic restoring force. It was found that the determination of control system parameters based on the stability analysis of the operating resonant mode, in the general case, does not provide the required phase adjustment and stabilization of the oscillation amplitude. Stable multifrequency modes of oscillations are found, an analytical study of the mechanisms of their appearance and evolution is carried out under variation of the key parameters of the system. The real regions of the control system stable operation are determined (which do not coincide, as was found, with the regions of stability of the operating resonant mode, due to the presence of hidden attractors in the phase space of the system). A methodology has been developed for identifying such areas of stable operation. A significant complication of the structure of possible motions in the system with an increase in the Q-factor of the resonator is revealed.

This paper aims to investigate the global asymptotic stability of following system of higher order difference equations with quadratic terms: x_{n+1}=A+B((y_{n})/(y_{n-m}²)),y_{n+1}=A+B((x_{n})/(x_{n-m}²)) where A and B are positive numbers and the initial values are positive numbers. We also study the rate of convergence and oscillation behaviour of the solutions of related system.

Human civilizations are under enormous threats due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) originated from Wuhan, China. The asymptomatic carriers are the potential spreads of this novel virus. Since, guaranteed antiviral treatments have not been available in the market so far, it is really challenging to fight against this contagious disease. To save the living mankind, it is urgent to know more about how the virus transmits itself from one to another quite rapidly and how we can predict future infections. Scientists and Researchers are working hard in investigating to understand its high infection rate and transmission process. One possible way to know is to use our existing COVID-19 infection data and prepare a useful model to predict the future trend. Mathematical modelling is very useful to understand the basic principle of COVID-19 transmission and provide necessary guidelines for future prediction. Here, we have reviewed 9 distinct commonly used models based on Mathematical implementations for COVID-19 transmission and dig into the deep head to head comparison of each model. Finally, we have discussed interesting key behaviour of each model, relevant upcoming important issues, challenges and future directions.

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of following higher order difference equation x_{n+1}=A+B((x_{n})/(x_{n-m}²)) with A,B and initial conditions are positive numbers, and m∈{2,3,⋯}. Especially we study the boundedness, periodicity, semi-cycles, global asymptotically stability and rate of convergence of solutions of related higher order difference equations.

Firebrands are an important agent of wildfire spread and structure fire ignitions at the wildland urban interface. Bark flake morphology has been highlighted as an important, yet poorly characterized factor in firebrand generation, transport, deposition, and ignition of unburned material. Using pine species where bark flakes are the documented source of embers, we conducted experiments to investigate how bark structure changes in response to diurnal drying. Over a 3-day period in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stand in Florida, we recorded changes in temperature, moisture content and structure of bark across different facing aspects of mature pine trees to examine the effects of varying solar exposure on bark moisture. We further compared results to bark drying in a pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) plantation in New Jersey. Under all conditions, bark peeled and lifted away from the tree trunk over the study periods. Tree bole aspect and the time of day interacted to significantly affect bark peeling. General temperature increases and moisture content decreases were significantly different between east and west aspects in pitch pine, and with time of day and aspect in longleaf pine. These results illustrate that bark moisture and flakiness is highly dynamic on short time scales, driven largely by solar exposure. These diurnal changes likely influence the probability of firebrand production during fire events via controls on moisture (ignition) and peeling (lofting).

We review a number of preconditioners for the advection-diffusion operator and for the Schur complement matrix which in turn constitute the building blocks for Constraint and Triangular Preconditioners to accelerate the iterative solution of the discretized and linearized Navier-Stokes equations. An intensive numerical testing is performed onto the driven cavity problem with low values of the viscosity coefficient. We devise an efficient multigrid preconditioner for the advection-diffusion matrix which, combined with the commuted BFBt Schur complement approximation, and inserted in a 2 x 2 block preconditioner, provides convergence of the GMRES method in a number of iteration independent of the meshsize for the lowest values of the viscosity parameter. The low-rank acceleration of such preconditioner is also investigated showing its great potential.

The COVID-19 epidemic is an emerging infectious disease of the viral zoonosis type caused by the corona-virus strain SARS-CoV-2, is classified as a human-to-human communicable disease and is currently a pandemic worldwide. In this paper, we propose conceptual mathematical models the epidemic dynamics of four compartments. We have collected data from the Djibouti health ministry. We define the positivity, boundedness of solutions and basic reproduction number. Then, we study local and global stability and bifurcation analysis of equilibrium to examine its epidemiological relevance. Finally, we analyze the fit of the data in comparison with the result of our mathematical results, to validate the model and estimating the important model parameters and prediction about the disease, we consider the real cases of Djibouti from 23th March to 10th June, 2020.

The asymptotic dynamics of the classes of rational difference equations (RDEs) of third order defined over the positive real-line as $$\displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{x_{n}}{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}}, \displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{x_{n-1}}{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}}, \displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{x_{n-2}}{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}}$$ and $$\displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}{x_{n}}}, \displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}{x_{n-1}}}, \displaystyle{x_{n+1}=\frac{ax_n+bx_{n-1}+cx_{n-2}}{x_{n-2}}}$$ is investigated computationally with theoretical discussions and examples. It is noted that all the parameters $a, b, c$ and the initial values $x_{-2}, x_{-1}$ and $x_0$ are all positive real numbers such that the denominator is always positive. Several periodic solutions with high periods of the RDEs as well as their inter-intra dynamical behaviours are studied.

In this study the tachyon-like Dirac equation, formulated by Chodos to describe superluminal neutrino, is solved. The analytical solutions are Gaussian wave packets obtained using the envelope method. It is shown that the superluminal neutrino behaves like a pseudo-tachyon, namely a particle with subluminal velocity and pure imaginary mass that fulfils the energy-momentum relation typical of classical tachyons. The obtained results are used to prove that the trembling motion of the particle position around the median, known as Zitterbewegung, also takes place for the superluminal neutrino, even if the oscillation velocity is always lower than the speed of light. Finally, the pseudo-tachyon wave packet is used to calculate the probability of oscillation between mass states, obtaining a formula analogous to the one obtained for the ordinary neutrino. This suggest that in the experiments concerning neutrino oscillation is not possible to distinguish tachyonic neutrinos from ordinary ones.

In this work, we have studied the propagation of ultrasonic waves of lysozyme solutions characterized by different degrees of aggregation and networking. The experimental investigation has been performed by means of the Transient Grating (TG) spectroscopy as a function of temperature; this technique enables to measure the ultrasonic acoustic proprieties over a wide time window, ranging from nanoseconds to milliseconds. The fitting of the measured TG signal allows the extraction of several dynamic properties, here we focused on the speed and the damping rate of sound. The temperature variation induces in the lysozyme solutions a series of processes: protein folding-unfolding, aggregation and sol-gel transition. Our TG investigation shows how these self-assembling phenomena modulate the sound propagation, affecting both the velocity and the damping rate of the ultrasonic waves. In particular, the damping of ultrasonic acoustic waves proves to be a dynamic property very sensitive to the protein conformational rearrangements and aggregation processes.

The use of mixed-state ionic beams in collision dynamics investigations is examined. Using high resolution Auger projectile spectroscopy involving He-like ($1s^2\thinspace^1\!S, 1s2s\thinspace^{3,1}\!S$) mixed-state beams, the spectrum contributions of the $1s2s\thinspace^3\!S$ metastable beam component is effectively separated and clearly identified. This is performed with a technique that exploits two independent spectrum measurements under the same collision conditions, but with ions having quite different metastable fractions, judiciously selected by varying the ion beam charge-stripping conditions. Details of the technique are presented together with characteristic examples. In collisions of 4 MeV B$^{3+}$ with H$_2$ targets, the Auger electron spectrum of the separated $1s2s\thinspace^{3}S$ boron beam component allows for a detailed analysis of the formation of the $1s2s(^3\!S)nl \thinspace^2\!L$ states by direct $nl$ transfer. In addition, the production of hollow $2s2p\thinspace^{1,3}\!P$ doubly- and $2s2p^2\thinspace^2\!D$ triply-excited states, by direct excitation and transfer-excitation processes, respectively, can also be independently studied. In similar mixed-state beam collisions of 15 MeV C$^{4+}$ with H$_2$, He, Ne and Ar targets, the contributions of the $1s^2$, $1s2s\thinspace^{3,1}S$ beam components to the formation of the $2s2p\thinspace^{3,1}\!P$ states by double-excitation, $1s\rightarrow2p$ excitation and transfer-loss processes can be clearly identified, facilitating comparisons with theoretical calculations.

Nanostructured materials have already become an integral part of our daily life. In many applications ion mobility decisively affects the performance of, e.g., batteries and sensors. Nanocrystalline ceramics often exhibit enhanced transport properties due to their heterogeneous structure showing crystalline (defect-rich) grains and disordered interfacial regions. In particular, anion conductivity in nonstructural binary fluorides easily exceeds that of their coarse-grained counterparts. To further increase ion dynamics aliovalent substitution is a practical method to influence the number of (i) defect sites and (ii) the charge carrier density. Here, we used high energy-ball milling to incorporate Y³⁺ ions into the cubic structure of SrF₂. As compared to pure nanocrystalline SrF2 the ionic conductivity of Sr_1-xYxF_2+x with x = 0.3 increased by 4 orders of magnitude reaching 0.8 x 10 ^-5 S/cm^-1 at 450 K. We discuss the effect of YF₃ incorporation on conductivities isotherms determined by both activation energies and Arrhenius pre-factors. The enhancement seen is explained by size mismatch of the cations involved, which are forced to form a cubic crystal structure with extra F anions if x is kept smaller than 0.5

Based on the fractional order of nonlinear system for love model with a periodic function as an external force, analyzed the characteristics of the chaotic dynamic in this study. The relationship between the chaotic dynamic of the fractional-love model with the external force and the fractional-order system was analyzed when the parameters are fixed. Further, we also studied the relationship between the chaotic systemic dynamic and the parameters when the fractional-order system is fixed. The results show that when the parameters are fixed, the fractional-order system exhibited segmented chaotic states for the different fractional orders of the system. When fixed the fractional-order system, the system exhibited the periodic and chaotic states as parameter changes.

The Atoyac River crosses the metropolitan area of Puebla, Mexico, and presents a condition of severe degradation that has been poorly studied. The research was conducted in the year 2016 and analyzed the space-time dynamics of the water quality of the river, the increase in pollution in the period 2011–2016, and the water quality of the Atoyac River used for agricultural irrigation and human consumption in the population of Emilio Portes Gil, Ocoyucan, based on official Mexican standards (NOMs). The anoxic state of the river was demonstrated (~1.47 mgO₂/L) and the high organic pollution, particularly in drought, as well as the presence of large populations of coliform bacteria, and 11 enterobacteries of pathogenic importance. The pollution recorded an average increase of 49% in the period 2011-2016, and the values of Fe, Al, Pb, and Cd in variable percentages. It was evidenced that water for irrigation and wells is contaminated with fecal bacteria (104–549 NMP/100 mL), including pathogenic. In wells, the concentration of heavy metals was 5 times higher in drought. These results represent a serious threat for the population of Emilio Portes Gil and the environment in the metropolitan area of Puebla.

We study latching dynamics in the adaptive Potts model network, through numerical simulations with randomly and also weakly correlated patterns, and we focus on comparing its slowly and fast adapting regimes. A measure, Q, is used to quantify the quality of latching in the phase space spanned by the number of Potts states S, the number of connections per Potts unit C and the number of stored memory patterns p. We find narrow regions, or bands in phase space, where distinct pattern retrieval and duration of latching combine to yield the highest values of Q. The bands are confined by the storage capacity curve, for large p, and by the onset of finite latching, for low p. Inside the band, in the slowly adapting regime, we observe complex structured dynamics, with transitions at high crossover between correlated memory patterns; while away from the band latching transitions lose complexity in different ways: below, they are clear-cut but last so few steps as to span a transition matrix between states with few asymmetrical entries and limited entropy; while above, they tend to become random, with large entropy and bi-directional transition frequencies, but indistinguishable from noise. Extrapolating from the simulations, the band appears to scale almost quadratically in the p - S plane, and sublinearly in p - C. In the fast adapting regime the band scales similarly, and it can be made even wider and more robust, but transitions between anti-correlated patterns dominate latching dynamics. This suggest that slow and fast adaptation have to be integrated in a scenario for viable latching in a cortical system. The results for the slowly adapting regime, obtained with randomly correlated patterns, remain valid also for the case with correlated patterns, with just a simple shift in phase space.

Considerable attention has recently been given to the contribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the healthcare sector to climate change, which represents 4-6% of emissions worldwide. GHGs used in medical practice are regularly released into the atmosphere and contribute to elevation in global temperatures that produce detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of their global warming potential (GWP) characteristics and clinical uses, many of which have evaded scrutiny from policy makers due to their medical necessity, is needed. Of major interest are volatile anesthetics, analgesics, and inhalers, as well as fluorinated gases used as tamponades in retinal detachment surgery. In this review, we compare estimates of these gases’ GHG emissions in metric tons CO₂ equivalent (MTCO₂e) and their relative GWP. Notably, the anesthetics desflurane and nitrous oxide contribute the most emissions out of the major medical GHGs, equivalent to driving 12 million gasoline-powered cars annually in the US. Retinal tamponade gases have markedly high GWP up to 23,500 times compared to CO₂ and long atmospheric lifetimes up to 10,000 years, thus bearing the potential to contribute to climate change long-term. This review provides the basis for discussions on examining the environmental impacts of medical gases with high GWP, determining whether alternatives may be available, and reducing emissions while maintaining or even improving patient care.

The textile industry plays a vital role in the global economy and faces increasing pressures related to sustainability and efficiency. Given the industry's significant environmental impact and the need for improved operational strategies, our review addresses the critical intersection of decision-making methodologies and sustainable practices. Specifically, This review aims to explore the applications of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques within the textile supply chain to enhance operational performance and decision-making processes. Utilizing a systematic literature review method, we analyzed articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, focusing on those that address MCDM applications in the textile supply chain. The findings reveal a strong emphasis on supplier selection and evaluation as determinants of competitive advantage, with significant trends toward integrating fuzzy set theory and advanced MCDM methodologies to address uncertainties. Additionally, Sustainability emerges as a core theme, emphasizing the necessity for firms to incorporate green practices into decision frameworks. The insights suggest that by adopting innovative analytical techniques, organizations can improve supplier relationships and operational efficiency.

AI-driven tools can identify nursing students' strengths and weaknesses, thus enabling the development of customized learning plans that target specific areas for improvement. This targeted approach can enhance knowledge retention and skill development, resulting in better prepared healthcare professionals. Nursing students are required to overcome their own psychological stress during their internship in order to understand sick children’s emotional reactions, as well as to be able to interact and communicate with such children. The application of AI picture-based teaching e-books helps nursing students to understand how to use therapeutic games to improve communication with sick children. A comparison of the differences between nursing teachers’ self-efficacy scores and nursing students’ application of AI picture-based teaching e-books (experimental group) and narrative handouts (control group) was achieved via therapeutic games to deal with sick children’s fear of medical examinations and treatments. In addition, a comparison was also conducted on the differences between the impact of the self-efficacy of the experimental group and that of the control group in dealing with sick children’s behavioral responses with respect to fears of medical examinations and treatments. This study is a quasi-experimental study, in which the self-efficacy scores of 30 nursing students were collected and analyzed in both the experimental group and the control group before and after intervention in dealing with sick children’s behavioral responses to fears of medical examinations and treatments. It was found that the self-efficacy score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (β coefficient is 0.356) when assessing the self-efficacy scores and behavior of the experimental and control groups in dealing with sick children’s fears of medical examinations and treatments through one-way analysis of covariance (one-way ANCOVA), moreover, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed. The experimental group’s score of behavioral responses to the fears of sick children to examinations and treatments was lower than that of the control group (β coefficient was -1.540), wherein a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was shown. The self-efficacy of the experimental group in dealing with sick children’s fears of medical examinations and treatments had a statistically significant impact on the sick children’s behavioral responses to the fear of medical examinations and treatments (p < 0.05). In addition, the higher the self-efficacy scores of the experimental group in dealing with sick children’s fear of medical examinations and treatments, the lower the sick children’s behavioral responses to fears of medical examinations and treatments (the β coefficient was -0.914), the control group’s self-efficacy scores in dealing with sick children’s fears of medical examinations and treatments did not have a statistically significant impact on the sick children’s behavioral responses to fears of medical examinations and treatments (p > 0.05). This study proves that the application of AI picture-based teaching e-books by nursing teachers is more effective than narrative handouts in improving nursing students’ self-efficacy when using therapeutic games to deal with, as well as reduce, sick children’s fears of medical examinations and treatments.

The thesis proposes a argument that a mass point moving in a horizontal circle on the Earth’s surface can generate a radial centrifugal force of the Earth’s center of mass, thus realizing an unconventional anti-gravity path. Based on the author’s theory of absolute airspace and its reference system, and through the theoretical analysis of the difference in the distribution of gravitational acceleration at different latitudes caused by the rotation of the earth, and the centrifugal force of a mass point moving in a horizontal circle on the earth’s surface is analyzed, the validity of the argument is demonstrated. At the same time, the paper puts forward two possible basic principles, and makes theoretical analysis and demonstration. Conceive of the concrete experimental verification of principle two is proposed. Four technical schemes for anti-gravity ascent are proposed and basic analysis is made. On the premise of not fully considering the practical technical ability, it is theoretically proved that three of them have realistic operability and development potential. In theory, this paper opens up a different way of anti-gravity for human beings, which will bring new ideas and prospects for human beings to get rid of the bondage of gravity.

Recent advances in satellite technology have brought enormous potential to ecosystem mapping, which is one of the fundamental components of environmental studies. In this paper, a Random Forest classifier is applied for the strict assessment of the efficiency of ecosystem mapping through a detailed comparative analysis between combined Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data and stand-alone Sentinel-2 imagery over three priority ecosystems, including wetlands, riverine areas, and mangroves in Bangladesh. The collocated images, based on the integration of Sentinel-1 data with Sentinel-2 data, would do better than Sentinel-2 imagery alone over various ecosystems. Particularly, in this study, attention focused on the Hakaluki Haor area for the wetlands, the Padma-Jamuna River confluence for the riverine ecosystem, and the Sundarban forest for mangroves. By leveraging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in C-band dual-polarization from Sentinel-1 and four spectral bands (blue, green, red, and near-infrared) from Sentinel-2, the study analyzes imagery from December 2022 to February 2023. A 5% cloud masking filter is applied to optical data to enhance accuracy. In this methodology, 70% of the total signature values are used for training the classification model and the remaining 30% for testing. It can be noticed from the results that with the use of fused data, remarkably high accuracy in classification has been improved, such as overall accuracies of 94.17% for mangroves, 87.30% for riverine, and 85.96% for wetland ecosystems. In contrast, the use of singular Sentinel-2 imagery yields lower accuracies of 91.56%, 85.21%, and 82.51% for the respective ecosystems. The integration of radar data is shown to provide critical information, especially in environments with dense vegetation or cloud cover, where optical data alone may be insufficient. The findings of this study underline the limitations of relying on Sentinel-2 imagery to capture complex details of diverse ecosystems and highlight the need to include Sentinel-1 data for a more holistic analysis. This fusion allows improved accuracy to be achieved, which not only brings in more depth of ecological knowledge but also underpins more effective conservation strategies.

Cyber-physical testing has been applied for a decade in hydrodynamic laboratories to assess the dynamic performance of floating wind turbines (FWT). Rotor loads, computed by a numerical simulator fed with measurements, are applied in real time on the physical floater by using actuators. The present paper proposes a set of short and targeted benchmark tests that aim at quantifying the performance of actuators used in cyber-physical testing of FWT. They aim at ensuring good load tracking over all frequencies of interest, and satisfactory disturbance rejection for large motions. These benchmark tests are exemplified on two radically different 15MW FWT models tested at SINTEF Ocean.

The branding of cities through their historical and cultural assets has become a pivotal strategy in urban development and tourism. This study focuses on Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its potential as a brand for Erbil, a city with a rich historical backdrop and flourishing urban landscape. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of Erbil's residents regarding the cultural significance of the Citadel and its potential as a city brand. A mixed-method survey questionnaire was conducted, collecting data from around 440 residents through both manual distribution around the Citadel and an online platform. The findings were analysed using SPSS to provide both descriptive and inferential statistical insights.

Cool roofs are roofing systems designed to reflect significant solar radiation, reducing heat absorption and subsequent cooling energy demands in buildings. This paper provides a comprehensive review of cool roof technologies, covering performance standards, material options, energy-saving potential, and hygrothermal considerations. The review examines provisions in current codes and standards, which specify minimum requirements for solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and solar reflectance index (SRI) values. These criteria often vary based on factors like roof slope, climate zone, and building type. Different cool roof materials are explored, including reflective paints and coatings that can be applied to existing roofs as cost-effective solutions. Several studies demonstrated the energy performance benefits of cool roofs, showing significant reductions in cooling loads, indoor air temperatures, peak cooling demand, and overall cooling energy consumption compared to traditional roofs. However, hygrothermal performance must be evaluated, especially in cold climates, to optimize insulation levels and avoid moisture accumulation risks, as reduced heat absorption can alter moisture migration patterns within the building envelope. While cool roofs provide substantial energy savings in hot climates, further research is needed to validate modeling approaches against real-world studies, investigate the impact of seasonality and green spaces on cool roof efficacy and urban heat island mitigation, and explore energy savings potential, moisture control, and condensation risks in cold and humid environments.

Background: Though ancient Greece preserves many pictures of combat sports, there is research in terms of biomechanics on the principles of human motion. This research aimed to investigate Pankration postures of ancient Greek athletics, expecting to bridge the gap between historical sports practices and contemporary biomechanical applications. Methods: This study employed computational tools to analyze two images from ancient Greek Pankration, constructing a static multi-segmental model. Anthropometric models simulated postures analogous to those in historical depictions. Analysis estimated joint forces and moments, along with weight distribution and ground reaction forces for these postures. Implications for training and strength development were deduced through integration with modern scientific insights. Moreover, strategic elements of these postures were assessed using game theory to explore their correspondence with contemporary theoretical constructs. Results: The findings indicated that static postures facilitate the development of tendon stiffness, joint stability, and neuromuscular control. In the "readiness" posture, 68% of the athlete's centre of gravity (CoG) was distributed to the hind leg, enhancing stability and power generation, while the front leg promoted agility. Analysis of the kick posture revealed delivery with a dorsiflexed ankle and pronounced heel protrusion.Conclusion: The application of the proposed model suggests that ancient athletes optimized their performance using biomechanical principles, thereby gaining a competitive advantage. This study highlights the value of integrating ancient biomechanical strategies with contemporary athletic training and injury prevention, advocating for a synthesis of historical practices and modern biomechanical analysis in combat sports.

Before the Bronze age, when agricultural practices spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the diet of natives was based on hunting, fishing and gathering wild plants. On spite of modern agriculture, the popular gathering of wild species for medical use, feeding, craftwork, etc. for centuries, has left a deep knowledge on the use of many of those species. Of the 6.176 Angiosperms native to the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, over 200 species were introduced into cultivation from the Neolithic outside the Iberian Peninsula. The name of 30 of the progenitors still popularly used as food, are listed in this paper, together with the name of the derived crops. Special attention is paid to five wild species, including their composition and pharmacological properties, collected as food from ancient times, that in response to their great demand, have been recently introduced into cultivation in Spain and are now harvested and commercialized as new crops.

This paper is based on the concept of absolute airspace and its local absolute stationary reference system proposed by the author, on the premise of abandoning space concept and the relativity principle of relativity theory, It is proposed that general relativity and special relativity can be unified into Simple and practical a space-time transformation theory which fully includes other basic physical principles of relativity. And the unified and simple expression of the time transformation effect is proved and deduced. By comparing with the theoretical derivation and checking calculation of Hafele-Keating experiment in an ideal state, It is proved that the expression of time transformation effect proposed in this paper is completely correct. Compared with the theory of relativity, the calculation is simpler and more accurate. The paper also puts forward two checking prediction of physical cases about the time transformation effect, which are left for the capable competent unit or individual to verify in practice.

Leafhopper Yamatotettix flavovittatus Matsumura is a phloem feeder that causes significant damage to sugarcane and also transmits sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) disease. Understanding the settling preference, feeding behavior, honeydew production and biophysical factors affecting Y. flavovittatus leafhopper infestation in sugarcane cultivation is crucial for effective pest management strategies. This study investigated these aspects across nine sugarcane cultivars. Significant variability was observed among cultivars in terms of settling behavior, with KK3 and LK92-11 showing the highest number of settled leafhopper adults. Similarly, honeydew production varied significantly among cultivars, with KK3 and LK92-11 exhibiting the highest production. Employing the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique provided insights into distinct probing behaviors across cultivars, highlighting correlations between settling preference, honeydew production, and specific EPG waveforms. Principal component analysis (PCA) categorized cultivars into four groups based on settling preference, honeydew production, feeding behavior, and biophysical factors. Strong correlations were found between settling preference, honeydew production, and various EPG waveforms, while negative correlations were observed with the number of silica cells and rows per unit area, indicating their potential role in deterring leafhopper settlement. We concluded that TPJ04-768 and K84-200 are promising for resistance to leafhoppers and exploited in sugarcane breeding programs for resistance to insects.

The paper suggests that the physical priciple of special relativity's space-time transformation effect is wrong, Uniform linear motion without acceleration does not exist objectively, nor does its same reference frames. Therefore, it is inferred that the space-time transformation effect of special relativity is caused by the acceleration of moving objects, special relativity is only a part of general relativity, not a theoretical system that exists independently from general relativity. The corresponding mathematical demonstration and calculation verification are carried out, and the result proves that the inference of the paper is correct. At the same time, it further explains that the concept of absolute airspace is correct. Special relativity has serious errors in the concept of space, the principle of relativity and the physical principle of space-time transformation effect. Therefore, it is necessary to make a series of revisions to the theory of relativity and to reinterpret some related physical problems.

The eutrophication of open water bodies, especially in coastal water area, has received intensive public focuses in recent years. Biological treatment of organic pollutants in industrial and domestic wastewater requires microbial flora to participate. The environmental impact of these microbes, particularly in regard to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenicity in coastal water, remains largely unknown. We initiate studies to examine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microbial flora and study the mode of antibiotic spread in the coastal waters of Bohai Bay, North China by using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrum analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The metabolic features of bacteria related to the presence of ARGs in the coastal area showed the enrichment of Pseudomonadale species with triple resistance properties (ampicillin, kanamycin and gentamycin) at the estuary site locating adjacent to a coastal sewage treatment plant where both type I and type II polyketide synthase genes and b-lactam type antibiotics are detected. Pseudomonadale order is phylogenetically belonged to Proteobacteria Phylum, Gamma-proteobacteria Class and contains Pseudomonadaceae family and Pseudomonas genus. QPCR analysis suggests that the percent occupation of Pseudomonadale species to total Proteobacteria in the examined stations is close to several sampling stations close to sewage treatment plants, where consistent release of organic wastes occurred.

(1) Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping represents an accurate and feasible technique for the surgical staging of endometrial and cervical cancer. This is commonly performed by conventional laparoscopy or robotic-assisted laparoscopy, but in recent years, a new retroperitoneal transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) approach has been described. This technique provides easy visualization of lymphatic afferent vessels and pelvic lymph nodes, early SLNs assessment, and a coherent mapping methodology following the lymphatic flow from caudal to cranial. However, only a few publications have reported it. Following the IDEAL (Idea Development Exploration Assessment Long-term follow-up) framework, research concerning this technique is at stage 2a, with only small case series as evidence of its feasibility. Its standardized description appears necessary to provide the surgical homogeneity required to move further. (2) Methods: description of a standardized approach for retroperitoneal pelvic SLN mapping by vNOTES. (3) Results: we described a 10-step approach to successfully perform retroperitoneal vNOTES SLN mapping, including pre-, intra-, and postoperative management. (4) Conclusions: This IDEAL stage 2a study could help other surgeons approach this new technique, and it proposes a common methodology necessary to evolve through future IDEAL stage 2b (multi-center studies) and stage 3 (randomized controlled trials) studies.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide therefore studies about the etiological factors and carcinogenesis are important.The aim of the study is to detect the presence and types of Human papilloma virus (HPV) in lung cancer and non-tumoral lung and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation prevalance in lung cancer with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.Fifty patients who were histopathologically diagnosed lung cancer and 7 patients with non-neoplastic lung disease were enrolled in the study. HPV positivity was detected in 75.4% of the patients. The rate of high-risk HPV positivity was 100% in adenocarcinomas, 64.5% in squamous cell carcinomas, and 57% in non-neoplastic lung. HPV 51 was the most frequent type followed by HPV 16 (43.9%). There was no statistically significant relationship between HPV infection and age, gender and smoking history and EGFR mutation. The prevalence of HPV positivity is variable in lung cancer in different studies and this may be due to many factors including HPV detection methods, number of patients, geographic regions. New studies about the role of HPV infection need to be performed in order to obtain information about the use of prophylactic and theurepatic agents in lung cancer.

Accurate classification of objects in 3D point clouds is a significant problem in several applications, such as autonomous navigation and augmented/virtual reality scenarios, which has become a research hot spot. In this paper, we presented a deep learning strategy for 3D object classification in augmented reality. The proposed approach is a combination of the GRU and LSTM. LSTM networks learn longer dependencies well, but due to the number of gates, it takes longer to train; on the other hand, GRU networks have a weaker performance than LSTM, but their training speed is much higher than GRU, which is The speed is due to its fewer gates. The proposed approach used the combination of speed and accuracy of these two networks. The proposed approach achieved an accuracy of 0.99 in the 4,499,0641 points dataset, which includes eight classes (unlabeled, man-made terrain, natural terrain, high vegetation, low vegetation, buildings, hardscape, scanning artifacts, cars). Meanwhile, the traditional machine learning approaches could achieve a maximum accuracy of 0.9489 in the best case.

Nowadays, unmanned vehicles are widely used in various fields. However, the safety of unmanned vehicles is directly determined by the autopilot systems, and sensor faults are a very critical factor that affects the normal operation of the autopilot systems. To efficiently and comprehensively test unmanned systems for sensor faults, this paper proposes a chip-level testing platform for unmanned vehicle autopilot systems based on FPGA hardware-in-the-loop simulation. Unlike existing testing platforms, the introduction of FPGA technology allows us to achieve nanosecond real-time simulation frequency, thus realizing chip-level simulation of sensors and black-box automated testing. Firstly, we propose a set of general platform and modeling methods, and the paper presents a detailed application of the four most common necessary sensors in autopilot systems as examples. Secondly, we propose for the first time a chip-level fault testing method for unmanned systems, and build a test platform with a quadrotor vehicle, the PX4 software platform, and the Pixhawk4 hardware platform as examples. Finally, the experimental results verify that the testing platform proposed in this paper can adapt to various autopilot systems and has high simulation test reliability.

In this paper, the Hafele‐Keating experiment and the geostationary orbit satellite of related physics problems of are analyzed and discussed in detail. If researchers read the paper and think about it, It will be found that the Hafele‐Keating experiment and the geostationary satellite problem prove that some of the core ideas and theories of relativity are seriously wrong. Isnʹt that a very serious problem in physics? Canʹt this cause the academic circles to pay great attention to it? Isnʹt this worthy of in‐depth analysis and research? The core of the paper is to point out that there are problems with the space concept and the reference system theory of classical physics and relativity, And that would bring up a whole host of physics problems. It takes a concerted effort from the academic community, Do furtherin‐depth analysis and research. Strive forthe further discovery and perfection of physics theory.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role and impact of public governance on European supranational public policies that seek to foster scientific and economic growth within innovation ecosystems (IEs) through the PITCCH initiative. The PITCCH is a European innovation development initiative funded by Horizon 2020 under the 'Innovation in SMEs' measure.The research methodology for this study is based on a 10-month real-time ethnographic field study of the PITCCH project, which allowed for the observation of the project governance and the capture of the perspectives of innovation-driven small and medium enterprises (i-SMEs) in their engagement with IE stakeholders.The findings of this research demonstrate the role of public governance in providing result-oriented practical support to the IE through the lens of i-SMEs, and they contribute to the existing literature on regional economic growth supported by supranational public policies. These findings have both academic and practical applications. They enrich the current literature on this topic and provide insights for policymakers and governing representatives seeking to implement effective public policies.

Brushless Synchronous Machines (BSM) are replacing conventional synchronous machines with static excitation in generation facilities due to the absence of sparking and lower maintenance. However, this excitation system makes challenging measuring electric parameters in the rotor. This fact highly difficult the detection of ground faults, which are the most common type of electrical fault in electric machines. In this paper, a ground fault detection method for BSM is proposed. It is based on an inductive AC/DC rotating current sensor installed in the shaft. In case of a ground fault in the rotating parts of the BSM, a fault current will flow through the rotor’s sensor, inducing voltage in its stator. Analyzing the frequency components of the induced voltage the detection of a ground fault in the rotating elements is possible. The ground faults detection method proposed covers the whole rotor and discern between DC and AC sides. To corroborate the detection method, experimental tests have been performed using a prototype of this sensor connected to laboratory synchronous machines achieving satisfactory results.

Resection of malignant lesions in the oral and maxillofacial area causes functional and morphological defects. To recover from these defects, reconstruction surgery is needed such as a primary closure or a flap. There are advantages and disadvantages to the method of using the primary closure and the flap, and the choice of procedure is entirely up to a surgeon. The purpose of this study is to evaluate availability of primary closure in patients. For 10 years from January 2010 to May 2020, patients who recovered using flaps after removing malignant lesions from the oral cavity and those who closed the lesion using primary closure were investigated. The investigation was conducted by searching the database of the hospital. There were 85 patients who removed malignant lesions in the oral and maxillofacial area, and among them 16 patients closed the soft tissue defects using primary closure. Operation time, histologic types, stages, wound status, and period of hospitalization according to the patients' medical records were investigated retrospectively. Between the staging and the primary closure, statistically significant differences were observed between stage I and stage II patients in 13 patients using the primary closure. (P=0.046). Statistically significant differences were identified between operation time and primary closure, with an average of 4.02 hours (P=0.015). The average period of hospitality for patients who underwent primary closure was 13.4 days, compared to 26.7 days for those who underwent flap surgery. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.0003). This study evaluated the use of primary closure in patients who underwent resection of malignant lesions in the oral and maxillofacial area. Although the majority of patients underwent reconstruction with flaps, our results showed that primary closure can be a viable option for certain patients with early-stage lesions. Therefore, oral and maxillofacial surgeons should carefully consider various evaluation criteria and select appropriate reconstruction methods to optimize functional and aesthetic outcomes for each patient.

The Solvency II regulatory framework specifies procedures and parameters for determining solvency capital requirements (SCRs) for insurance companies. The proposed standard SCR calculations involve two steps. The Value–at–Risk (VaR) of each risk driver is measured and, in a second step, all components are aggregated to the company’s overall SCR, using the Standard Formula. This formula has two inputs: the VaRs of the individual risk drivers and their correlations. The appropriate calibration of these input parameters has been the purpose of various Quantitative Impact Studies that have been conducted during recent years. This paper demonstrates that the parameter calibration for the equity–risk module—overall, with about 25%, the most significant risk component—is seriously flawed, giving rise to spurious and highly erratic parameter values. As a consequence, an implementation of the Standard Formula with the currently proposed calibration settings for equity–risk is likely to produce inaccurate, biased and, over time, highly erratic capital requirements.

Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is a crucial technology for mitigating global temperature rise. Near-depleted edge-bottom water reservoirs are attractive targets for CO2 storage, as they can not only enhance oil recovery (EOR) but also provide important potential candidates for geological storage. This study investigated CO2 enhanced oil recovery and storage for a typical near-depleted edge-bottom water reservoir that had been developed for a long time with a recovery factor of 51.93%. To improve the oil recovery and CO2 storage, new production scenarios are explored. At the near-depleted stage, by comparing the four different scenarios of water injection, gas injection, water alternating gas injection, and bi-directional injection, the highest additional recovery of 8.64% is achieved by the bi-directional injection scenario. Increasing the injection pressure leads to a higher gas-oil ratio and liquid production rate. After shifting from the near-depleted to depleted stage, the most effective approach to improve CO2 storage capacity is to increase reservoir pressure. At 1.4 times the initial reservoir pressure, the maximum storage capacity is 6.52×108 m3. However, excessive pressures boosting poses potential storage and leakage risks. Therefore, lower injection rates and longer intermittent injections are expected to achieve a larger amount of long-term CO2 storage. Through the numerical simulation study, a gas injection rate of 80,000 m3/day and a schedule of 4-6 years injection with 1 year shut-in was shown to be effective for the case considered. During 31 years of CO2 injection, the percentage dissolved CO2 increased from 5.46% to 6.23% during the near-depleted period, and to 7.76% during the depleted period. This study acts as a guide for the CO2 geological storage of typical near-depleted edge-bottom water reservoirs.

This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of head and neck cancer (HNC) biomarkers, a prevalent but molecularly diverse malignancy. We detail the roles of key proteins and genes in tumorigenesis and progression, emphasizing their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance. Our bioinformatic validation reveals crucial genes such as AURKA, HMGA2, MMP1, PLAU, and SERPINE1, along with microRNAs (miRNA) linked to HNC progression. OncomiRs, including hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-31-5p, hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-196a-5p, and hsa-miR-200c-3p, drive tumorigenesis, while tumour-suppressive miRNAs like hsa-miR-375 and hsa-miR-145-5p inhibit it. Notably, hsa-miR-155-3p correlates with survival outcomes in addition to genes RAI14, S1PR5, OSBPL10, and METTL6, highlighting its prognostic potential. Future directions focus on leveraging precision medicine, novel therapeutics, and AI integration to advance personalized treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes in HNC care.

This work refers to sustainability (SDG - Sustainable Development Goals) highlighting the idea of ​​harmony of life along the lines of the biological model at various levels and of nature alike, thus defining the concept of bioharmonism. The purpose of this paradigm is to find a way of transition in the contemporary societal change, connecting the natural sciences, more precisely the life sciences, with the social sciences, more concretely along the lines of holistic approaches to the evolution of human society. The objective of this point of view is related to sustainability, resilience and planetary health, which indicates the need to analyse planetary bioharmony and transpose the model to the structure and functionality of human society through the complex, unitary and coherent approach of the bioharmonization process. The study analyses the issue, through: the definition and role of societal bioharmonism, then the argument related to the transition to another world using the proposed path, based on specific notions, principles and laws, and finally, the description of some lines of application of the pillars of bioharmonism. A series of solutions are highlighted that can contribute conceptually to the evolution of contemporary society, to the convergence of anthroposystems with ecosystems by interconnecting the aspects of the biological revolution with those specific to the information age. The solutions aim at societal bioharmonization supported by its specific pillars, which through integration and emergence lead to a dynamic balance. The state of equilibrium, sustainability can be highlighted at a systemic level by the directions of action in which the bioharmonization complementarities that indicate the Environment and biodiversity in the economic equation, the Citizen in the social equation and Science in the political equation will be taken into account.

Fucoidans, known for their diverse biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, and immune-stimulatory effects, have recently gained attention for their potential benefits in exercise endurance, muscle mass, and anti-fatigue. However, the mechanisms by which fucoidans enhance exercise performance are still unclear. To investigate these effects, we administered 400 mg/kg/day of fucoidan extract derived from Undaria pinnatifida to sixty-four C57BL/6J mice over ten weeks. We evaluated changes in running activity, mitochondrial-related gene expression in skeletal muscle, and alterations in the intestinal microbiome. Our results showed that fucoidan supplementation significantly increased daily running distance and muscle mass by 25.5% and 10.4%, respectively, in mice on a standard chow diet, and with more modest effects observed in those on a high-fat diet (HFD). Additionally, fucoidan supplementation led to a significant increase in beneficial gut bacteria, including Bacteroides/Prevotella, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Lactobacillus, along with a notable reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, indicating improved gut microbiome health. Mechanistically, fucoidan supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of key genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative capacity, such as COX4, MYH1, PGC-1α, PPAR-γ, and IGF1, in both standard chow and HFD-fed mice. Our findings suggest that fucoidan supplementation enhances exercise performance, improves muscle function, and positively modulates the gut microbiome in mice, regardless of diet. These effects may be attributed to fucoidans' potential prebiotic role, promoting the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and contributing to enhanced exercise performance, increased muscle strength, and improved recovery.

It is difficult for ordinary rice to break the zinc-rich standard. However, employing multiple unique rice cultivar resources through biofortification of agronomic measures to achieve this target is a novel attempt that has rarely been reported. In this study, the effects of foliar application of water-soluble zinc-rich fertilizer (400 g/ha Zn) on seven different cultivars (GFHN 166, GFHN168, GFHN 169, GH 1, GXHZ, GHSZ and YXN) of colored rice at heading stage were investigated through pot experiment. The result indicated that foliar biofortification significantly increased the zinc content of colored rice grains by 43.89%, and the zinc accumulation in grains increased by 64.50%. In addition, the SPAD value and grain protein content also increased significantly by 2.15% and 2.86%, respectively. Among these, GXHZ and GHSZ could realize the zinc content of polished rice up to 69.7 mg/kg and 55.4mg/kg, breaking through the standard of zinc-enrich rice (45mg/kg). GXHZ plant height increased by 11.22%, and the zinc harvest index (6.44%) and zinc use efficiency (26.79%) were the highest. Meanwhile, the biofortification promoted the SPAD value of GHSZ and the protein content of GFHN 166 by 4.95% and 24.81%, respectively. And zinc-treated colored rice at the concentration used in this study has no risk to human health. Combining the foliar application of exogenous zinc with the utilization of specific cultivars resources could realize zinc-enrich rice production, and provide an additional resolution for tackling the hidden hunger problems.

Honey is a natural product that, thanks to its composition, particularly the high sugar content, is highly appreciated as an energy nourishment. In addition to sugars, it contains many other substances (carbohydrates, free amino acids, enzymatic proteins, organic acids, polyphenols) from which the therapeutic properties of honey arise: hydrating and osmotic activity, antimicrobial action, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power. The present work aims to deepen the activity of skin protection exerted by honey, as a synergic result of its multiple therapeutic effects.Moreover, the study want to find possible correlations between biological properties and chemical-physical traits of honey. To carry out this research, five varieties of citrus honey, one of acacia honey, one of chestnut honey and, finally, one of multifloral honey were used. The honeys were first characterized by chemical-physical analysis (determination of water content, sugars, amino acids, polyphenols) and then subjected to qualitative melissopalynological analysis. Tests were also carried out to evaluate both their antioxidant power and the effect on collagenase, an enzyme involved in the degradation of collagen present in the extracellular matrix and, therefore, in the processes of skin aging. Finally, they were used in in vitro experiments to assess their action in stimulating cell viability and proliferation on human keratinocytes.

Non-viral mediated plasmid DNA transfection by electroporation (EP) is an established method for gene transfection. In this study, the usefulness of direct EP at an intradermal (i.d.) site (D_EP) with implanted electrodes to achieve a high protein expression level was investigated. In addition, D_EP application with various intervals with a low application voltage was also evaluated to confirm its effect on protein expression. A higher protein expression level was observed after green fluorescent protein (GFP)- and luciferase-encoding DNA were delivered by i.d. injection followed by D_EP application. When luciferase expression was observed with an in vivo imaging system, continuous expression was confirmed over 21 days after i.d. injection followed by D_EP at 100 V. This approach provided increased gene expression levels compared with conventional EP methods via the stratum corneum layer. In addition, the effect of application voltage on luciferase expression was investigated; two-time applications (repeated D_EP) at 20 V with 5 min intervals showed similar luciferase expression level to single D_EP application with 100 V. Histological observations showed the skin became thicker after a single D_EP at 100 V, whereas no apparent thickness changes was confirmed after repeated D_EP at 20 V with 5 min intervals. This study revealed that direct i.d. voltage application achieved high protein expression levels even at low voltages. Skin is a promising administration site for DNA vaccines, so this approach may be effective in DNA vaccine delivery into skin tissue.

The material properties and structural characteristics of ballistic composites are crucial to their ballistic performance. Investigation for the influence of the material and structural parameters of UHMWPE body armor on anti-fragmentation penetration performance has been made by numerical simulation in this paper, with a numerical modeling simulating the penetration of a 1.1 g FSP into the target plate of UHMWPE body armor, by which the simulation results demonstrate that the failure process of the body armor target plate primarily involves shear damage, interlayer delamination, and tensile damage. Furthermore, the study evaluates the effects of elastic modulus, tensile strength, shear strength, number of layers, and interlayer strength on the ballistic limit velocity of UHMWPE body armor. The findings reveal that the ballistic limit velocity is most sensitive to changes in shear strength, with variation rates ranging from -18.02% to 10.81%, showing an approximate positive correlation, while the elastic modulus has the smallest impact on ballistic limit velocity, with variation rates ranging from -1.8% to 3.6%. Additionally, appropriate interlayer strength can improve the ballistic limit velocity of the body armor to a certain extent. This study provides theoretical methods and recommendations for optimizing anti-penetration performance of UHMWPE body armor.

In diabetic foot injury prevention, no studies relate physical activity with the inflammatory response of the plantar tissues, evaluated by thermography and pressure distribution. These measurements are easy to be implemented in diabetic foot follow-up. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the plantar skin response, evaluated with thermography, after physical activity in healthy or diabetic patients, is a foot ulcer prognostic tool and to asses if there is a correlation between exercise intensity, plantar pressure and plantar thermographic response. A systematic review was carried out following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) format in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases, with no year limit during the second quarter of 2024. A total of 14 studies have been included in this review. The use of infrared thermography for early inflammatory tissue detection, plantar pressures and the monitoring of controlled physical activity, make possible to monitor changes that allow the identification of patients at risk of developing foot ulcers.

Substance use is a growing problem among young people in sub-Saharan Africa; tobacco use is the dominant one among these practices. The aim was to analyse prevalence rates and determinants for cigarette smoking of school-attending adolescents in the capital, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. In June 2017, a survey questionnaire was implemented in 16 schools among adolescents aged 14–19 (52% girls). The Chi-square (p&lt;0.05) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Potential explanatory variables for the dependent variables were introduced into a multinomial logistic regression model, and p-values were transformed to LogWorth values. The prevalence of lifetime smoking experience among 1,845 participants was 14.8%; 6.5% were current users, and 2.2% were daily smokers. The most significant determinants for cigarette smoking included having friends who smoke, being a boy, attending a private school, smoking initiation at a young age, other substance use and violent behaviour. It is imperative to initiate preventive actions against smoking and other use of tobacco in Guinea-Bissau. Considering the significant impact of the peer group, policymakers need to engage young people in developing primary prevention strategies to curb the use of tobacco and other substances.

Before calcification begins, the early embryonic and fetal skeletal development of both mammalian Homo sapiens and the chondrichthyan fish Raja asterias consists exclusively of cartilage. This cartilage is formed and shaped through processes involving tissue segmentation and the frequency, distribution, and orientation of chondrocyte mitoses. In the subsequent developmental phase, mineral deposition in the cartilage matrix conditions the development further. The stiffness and structural layout of the mineralized cartilage have a significant impact on the shape of the anlagen (early formative structures of organs or tissues) and the mechanical properties of the skeletal segments. The fundamental difference between the two studied species lies in how calcified cartilage serves as a scaffold for osteoblasts to deposit bone matrix, which is then remodeled. In contrast, chondrichthyans retain the calcified cartilage as the definitive skeletal structure. This study documents the distinct mineral deposition pattern in the cartilage of the chondrichthyan R. asterias, in which calcification progresses with the formation of focal calcification nuclei or “tesserae”. These are arranged on the flat surface of the endo-skeleton (crustal pattern) or aligned in columns (catenated pattern) in the radials of the appendicular skeleton. This anatomical structure is well adapted to meet the mechanical requirements of locomotion in the water column. Conversely, in terrestrial mammals, endochondral ossification (associated with the remodeling of the calcified matrix) provides limb bones with the necessary stiffness to withstand the strong bending and twisting stresses of terrestrial locomotion. In this study, X-rays of marine mammals (reproduced from previously published studies) document how the endochondral ossification in dolphin’s flipper adapts to the mechanical demands of aquatic locomotion. This adaptation includes the reduction in the length of the stylopodium and zeugopodium and an increase in the number of elements in the autopodium’s central rays.

This study aimed to compare the levels of physical activity and quality of life reported by Chileans with and without osteoarthritis (OA). Educational level and monthly income data were collected from eighty-two participants (62 women and 20 men), of whom 41 had OA. Concerning the medical information of the persons suffering from OA, diseases, and date of diagnosis were indicated. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and its Elderly version (IPAQ-E) estimated physical activity levels. The Short Form 36 Questionnaire (SF-36) assessed health-related quality of life. The findings indicate that non-OA subjects scored higher on all dimensions of the SF-36, including physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role, and mental health. Individuals with OA reported better physical function and role, general health, vitality, social function, and mental health when they walked more. However, no associations were found between any physical activity levels and the degree of pain in people with OA. Our findings underscore the critical role of investigating physical activity in OA patients to enhance their quality of life, particularly in light of the increased sedentary behavior observed post-pandemic.

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, marital status, educational level, socioeconomic status, and working mode) and physical activity levels declared by Chilean adults. The sample comprised 483 Chilean adults, 159 men (32.9%), and 324 women (67.1%) aged from 18 to 69 years old (36.5±12.0). The participants completed an ad-hoc sociodemographic online survey that included questions about characteristics of participants such as sex, age, educational level, household income, marital status, and working mode. Vigorous, moderate, and walking activities were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Men declared significantly higher vigorous and moderated physical activity than women. People aged 18 to 25, single or unmarried, and with the lowest household income, showed significantly higher scores in vigorous physical activity than those aged 26 to 45, cohabiting with a partner or married, and middle household income, respectively. Regarding working mode, people working on their job site said walking more than people not working, working on hybrid, and online mode. Our findings suggest that promoting strategies that increase physical activity during the pandemic is necessary to avoid health problems.

Explosion monitoring is performed by infrasound and seismoacoustic sensor networks that are distributed globally, regionally, and locally. However, these networks are unevenly and sparsely distributed, especially in the local scale as maintaining and deploying networks is costly. With increasing interest in smaller yield explosions, the need for more dense networks has increased. To address this issue, we propose using smartphone sensors for explosion detection as they are cost-effective and easy to deploy. Although there are studies using smartphone sensors for explosion detection, the field is still in its infancy and new technologies need to be developed. We applied a machine learning model for explosion detection using smartphone microphones. The data used were from the Smartphone High-explosion Audio Recordings Dataset (SHAReD), a collection of 326 waveforms from 70 high-explosive (HE) events recorded on smartphones, and the ESC-50 dataset, a benchmarking dataset commonly used for environmental sound classification. Two machine learning models were trained and combined into an ensemble model for explosion detection. The resulting ensemble model classified audio signals as either “explosion,” “ambient,” or “other” with true positive rates (recall) greater than 96% for all three categories.

In this work, we report the synthesis of a new thiosemicarbazone-based drug of N'-(di(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-4-(thiazol-2-yl)piperazine-1-carbothiohydrazide (HL) featuring a thiazole spectator for the efficient coordination with Cu(II) to give [CuCl(L)]2 (1) and [Cu(NO3)(L)]2 (2). Both 1 and 2 exhibit dimeric structures ascribed to the presence of di-2-pyridylketone moieties that demonstrate dual functions of chelation and intermolecular bridging. HL, 1 and 2 are highly toxic against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Hep-G2, PLC/PRF/5, and HuH-7, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values as low as 3.26 nmol/mL (HL), 2.18 nmol/mL (1), and 2.54 × 10−5 nmol/mL (2) for PLC/PRF/5. While the free ligand HL may elicit its anticancer effect via sequestration of bio-relevant metal ions (i.e. Fe3+ and Cu2+), 1 and 2 are also capable of generating cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Our preliminary pharmacokinetic studies revealed that oral administration (per os, PO) of HL has a significantly longer half-life t1/2 of 21.61 ± 9.4 h, nearly doubled as compared to that of the intravenous (i.v.) administration of 11.88 ± 1.66 h, certifying HL as an effective chemotherapeutic drug via PO administration.

The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is used worldwide to classify stroke severity as ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ based on neurological impairment. Yet stroke survivors argue that the classification of ‘mild’ does not represent the holistic experience and impact of stroke on their daily lives. In this observational cohort study, we aimed to identify different types of impairment among stroke survivors classified as mild. We used mild stroke survivors’ data from the START longitudinal stroke cohort (n=73) with measures related to sensorimotor, cognition, depression, functional disability, physical activity, work and social adjustment over 12 months. Given the multi-source, multi-granular and unlabelled nature of data, we utilised a structure-adapting, unsupervised machine learning approach, the Growing Self-organising Map (GSOM) algorithm to generate distinct clinical profiles. These diverse impairment profiles revealed that mild stroke survivors experience varying degrees of impairment and impact (cognitive, depression, physical activity, work/social adjustment) at different time points, despite the uniformity implied by their NIHSS-classified ‘mild’ stroke. This emphasises the necessity of creating a holistic and comprehensive representation of mild stroke survivors’ needs over the first-year post-stroke to improve rehabilitation and post-stroke care.

Abstract Background: Occipital neuralgia is a debilitating condition and traditional treatments often provide limited or temporary relief. Recently, ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the greater occipital nerve (GON) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive approach. Objectives: To describe two novel ultrasound-guided hydrodissection with 5% dextrose for GON and discuss their advantages, disadvantages, and considerations. Methods: Two case reports are presented. Case 1 describes a lateral decubitus approach for hydrodissecting the GON between the semispinalis capitis (SSC) and obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscles. Case 2 details a cranial-to-caudal approach for hydrodissecting the GON within the SSC and upper trapezius (UT) muscles when the GON pass through these two muscles. Results: Both patients experienced significant and sustained pain relief with improvements in function and quality of life. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided GON hydrodissection using 5% dextrose is a promising treatment for occipital neuralgia. The lateral decubitus and cranial to caudal approaches provide additional options to address patient-specific anatomical considerations and preferences.

Integrating optical coherence tomography (OCT) into the pre-surgical stage of cataract management holds significant clinical and economic potential, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries like Kazakhstan. This study aimed to evaluate these impacts by prospectively recruiting 124 patients, aged 70±8 years, from two ophthalmology surgical centers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Patients undergoing phacoemulsification of cataracts with monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation between January and December 2022 were divided into two groups: the OCT group (n=75) received pre-operative OCT, while the Control group (n=49) did not. Visual acuity (VA) was measured pre- and post-surgery, and the cost-effectiveness of the surgical strategies was analyzed. The OCT group experienced a significantly greater improvement in VA (-0.647±0.232 logMAR) compared to the Control group (-0.543±0.244 logMAR), with a notable interaction between time and group (F(df) = 217.2, p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, pre-existing concomitant diseases were diagnosed in 25.3% of cases in the OCT group and 28.6% in the Control group. The economic analysis revealed that the integration of OCT facilitated multiple surgeries in one appointment, thereby reducing overall costs. These findings suggest that implementing OCT in the pre-surgical stage of cataract management can significantly enhance visual outcomes and decrease the cost of ophthalmology services in Kazakhstan.

In Southeast Asia, the incidence of Leukemia, a malignant blood cancer originating from hema-topoietic progenitor cells, is on the rise, marked by a concerning 54% mortality rate. This study focuses on enhancing early-stage prediction to improve patient recovery prospects significantly. Leveraging Machine Learning and Data Science, we employ protein sequential data from frequently mutated genes such as BCL2, HSP90, PARP, and RB to predict Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Our approach relies on robust feature extraction techniques, namely Di-peptide Composition (DPC), Amino Acid Composition (AAC), and Pseudo amino acid composition (Pse-AAC), with prior attention to addressing outliers and validating feature selection through the Pearson Corre-lation Coefficient. Data augmentation ensures a well-rounded dataset for analysis. Employing a range of Machine Learning models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), and Logistic Regression (LR), we achieve accuracy rates spanning from 66% to 94%. These classifiers undergo comprehensive as-sessment using performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, and the confusion matrix. Our proposed solution, encompassing a user-friendly web application dashboard, presents an invaluable tool for early CML diagnosis with profound implications for practitioners, offering a deploy-able asset within healthcare institutions and hospitals.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an allotetraploid (2n = 4X= 40) drupe fruit and has high nutritional value belongs to genus Mangifera and family Anacardiaceae. Mango cultivars are used with worldwide acceptance to pharmacological, ethnomedical, and phytochemical industries. Assessment of the genetic distinctiveness of a cultivar through morphological descriptors is an important tool for both the registration and the protection. New mango genotypes have been improved using valuable diverse germplasm resources to ensure food security. DNA fingerprinting based simple sequence repeats (SSR)-markers have been the most broadly used, effective and accurate in evaluation of genetic characterization of a cultivar. Molecular breeding is an effective source of genetic gain after improvement of fruit trees using marker assisted genomic selection. Total genomic DNA (gDNA) was generated using CTAB method from each cultivar. The most effective 50 hyper-variable SSR markers were selected. Highly specific DNA fingerprints were identified in the candidate line ‘Azeem Chaunsa’ compared with three standard cultivars using SSR-PCR. An agglomerative hierarchical clustering method was used to construct dendrogram based on the UPGMA clustering method. Cultivar identification diagram (CID) was constructed to evaluate association among standard cultivars and Azeem Chaunsa. Our results showed that SSR markers could efficiently assess genetic diversity in mango. The genetic similarity coefficients were recorded between the cultivars of mango ranged from 0.49 to 0.67. CID results concluded that cultivar ‘Azeem Chaunsa’ varied significantly from the check cultivar, Sindhri (46.2%), S.B Chaunsa (45%) and Sufaid Chaunsa (46.7%). The results obtained in this study will orient cultivar identification strategies for a successful future.

Hemicellulose is one of the most important natural polysaccharides in nature. Hemicellulose from different sources varies in chemical composition and structure, which in turn affects the modification effects and industrial applications. Grain and oil by-products (GOBP) are important raw materials for hemicellulose. This article reviews the modification methods of hemicellulose in GOBP. The effects of chemical and physical modification methods on the properties of hemicellulose biomaterials were evaluated. The potential applications of GOBP hemicellulose in films, hydrogel, Three-dimensional (3D) printing and adsorbent are discussed. Future research directions and recommendations are also proposed to provide theoretical foundations and technical support for the efficient utilization of these by-products.

In this study, MBBR, utilizing kaldnes as a media to attach and grow microorganisms, was used to treat organics in a Compact Septage Treatment Plant (CSTP). Seeding and acclimatization processes were done initially to ensure the microorganisms were able to grow and adapt well within their environments. This research was done to determine the time required for those processes, the optimum conditions, and the growth mechanism of microorganisms during the acclimatization process. Both processes were run in a batch mode. Changes in colour and weight of kaldnes were analyzed for the seeding stage; while COD, MLVSS, pH &amp; temperature were observed for the acclimatization stage. Seeding and acclimatization were run for 6 and 16 days respectively. Acclimatization stage was halted when MLVSS, pH, temperature and COD reduction efficiency were stable. Three phases of microorganism growth were clearly observed in the end of the acclimatization stage, i.e., lag, constant increasing and declining rates. This indicated that microorganisms could adapt well with the MBBR system, and were ready to be utilized further to treat septage in the MBBR of the CSTP. Further research is required to investigate the efficacy of the MBBR with the acclimatized microorganisms in the CSTP.

The DNA Damage Response (DDR) network and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway are crucial mechanisms for the survival of all living beings. An accumulating body of evidence suggests that there is a crosstalk between these two systems, thus favoring the appropriate functioning of multi-cellular organisms. On the other hand, aberrations within these mechanisms are thought to play a vital role in the onset and progression of several diseases, including cancer, as well as in the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding alterations in the DDR machinery and the MAPK signaling pathway, as well as abnormalities in the DDR-MAPK functional crosstalk in multiple myeloma, the second most common hematologic malignancy. We also present the latest advances in the development of anti-myeloma drugs targeting crucial DDR- and MAPK-associated molecular components. These data could potentially be exploited to discover new therapeutic targets and effective biomarkers, as well as for the design of novel clinical trials. Interestingly, they might provide a new approach to increase the efficacy of anti-myeloma therapy by combining drugs targeting the DDR network and the MAPK signaling pathway.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) represent a subtype of glia giving rise to oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). While OPCs are highly proliferating during development, they become relatively quiescent during adulthood, when their fate is strictly influenced by the extracellular context. In traumatic injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions including those of autoimmune origin, oligodendrocytes undergo apoptosis, and demyelination starts. Adult OPCs become immediately activated, they migrate at the lesion site and proliferate to replenish the damaged area, but their efficiency is hampered by the presence of a glial scar, a barrier mainly formed by reactive astrocytes, microglia, and the deposition of inhibitory extracellular matrix components. If, on one hand, glial scar limits the lesion spreading, it also blocks tissue regeneration. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing astrocyte or microglia activation and shifting them toward a neuroprotective phenotype have been proposed, whereas the role of OPCs has been largely overlooked. In this review, we have considered glial scar from the perspective of OPCs, analysing their behaviour when lesions originate and exploring the potential therapies aimed at sustaining OPCs to efficiently differentiate and promote remyelination.

Accurate and reliable mid-long runoff prediction (MLTRP) is of great importance in water re-sources management. However the MLTRP is not suitable in each basin and how to evaluate the applicability of MLTRP is still a question. Therefore, the total mutual information (TMI) index is developed in this study based on the predictor selection method using mutual information (MI) and partial MI (PMI). The relationship between the TMI and the predictive performance of five models is analyzed by applying five models in 222 forecasting scenarios in Australia. The results over 222 forecasting scenarios demonstrate that, compared with the MI, the developed TMI index can better represent the available information in the predictors, and has more significant negative correlation with the RRMSE with the correlation coefficient between -0.62 and -0.85. This means the model's predictive performance will become better along with the increase of TMI, and there-fore the developed TMI index can be used to evaluate the applicability of MLTRP. When TMI is more than 0.1, the available information in the predictors can support the construction of MLTRP models. In addition, the TMI is used to partly explain the difference of predictive performance among five models. In general, the complex models, which can better utilize the contained infor-mation, are more sensitive to the TMI, and have more significant improvement in terms of predic-tive performance along with the increase of TMI. This research can provide support for the study of MLTRP.

Porous α-Al2O3 ceramics is a highly demanded material for multitude applications such as filters, substrates, biomedicine materials, etc. Despite the availability of the raw materials, a challenge of their technology is in a high energy budget caused by the sintering above 1500 °C. For a cold sintering processing (CSP) of ceramics, the lowering of α-Al2O3 sintering temperature is one of the most urgent challenges at the background of its rapid development. The current paper for the first time demonstrates the solution of the mentioned problem by the CSP of α-alumina ceramics in a presence of pure water as a transient liquid. The manufactured materials were examined by XRD analysis; the evolution of their microstructures during the CSP was revealed by SEM, and the porosity evaluated by the Archimedes method. The ceramics with an open porosity up to 36 % was produced at 380-450 °C, 220 MPa in 30 min. An increase in the pressure was found to impede α-Al2O3 formation from γ-AlOOH. The development of the microstructure was discussed within the frameworks of the dissolution-precipitation model and the homogenous nucleation. The results of the SEM study pointed to the coalescence of γ-AlOOH grains during the CSP.

In this study, we present data on the effects of condensed (CTs) and hydrolysable (HTs) tannins, polyphenols extracted from plants, at different concentrations on zebrafish development to identify the range of concentrations with toxic effects. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to CTs and HTs at two different concentration ranges (5.0, 10.0, 20.0 μgL-1 and 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mgL-1) for 72 h. The toxicity parameters were observed up to 72 h of treatment. The uptake of CTs and HTs by zebrafish larvae was assessed by HPLC analysis. The qRT-PCR analysis was performed to evaluate gene expression of cd63, zhe1 and klf4, involved in the hatching process of zebrafish. CTs and HTs at 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 μgL-1 were not toxic. On the contrary, at 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mgL-1 HTs induced a delayed in hatching starting from 48 h of treatment, while CTs showed a delayed in hatching mainly at 48h. The analysis of gene expression showed a down-regulation in the group exposed to HTs confirming the hatching data. We believe that this study is important to define the optimal doses of CTs and HTs, to be employed in different application fields such as chemical and animal feed industry, and medical science.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) significantly affect the lives of patients and increase the risk of hospital stay and amputation. We suggest a remote-monitoring platform for better DFU care. This system uses digital health metrics (scaled from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate a greater risk of slow healing) to provide a comprehensive overview through a visual interface. The platform features smart offloading devices that capture behavioral metrics such as offloading adherence, daily steps, and cadence. Coupled with remotely measurable frailty and phenotypic metrics, it offers an in-depth patient profile. Additional demographic data, wound characteristics, and clinical parameters, such as cognitive function, were integrated, contributing to a comprehensive risk factor profile. We evaluated the feasibility of this platform with 124 DFU patients over 12 weeks; 39% experienced unfavorable outcomes such as dropout, adverse events, or non-healing. Digital biomarkers were benchmarked (0-10), categorized into low, medium, and high risk for unfavorable outcomes, and visually represented using color-coded radar plots. The initial results of case reports illustrate the value of this holistic visualization to pinpoint the underlying risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, including a high number of steps, poor adherence, and cognitive impairment. Although future studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of this visualization in personalizing care and improving wound outcomes, early results in identifying risk factors for unfavorable outcomes are promising.

Quality of life (QoL) assessments are integral to cancer care, yet their effectiveness in providing essential information for supporting survivors varies. This study aimed to elucidate key indicators of QoL among colorectal cancer survivors from the perspective of healthcare professionals, and to evaluate existing QoL questionnaires in relation to these indicators. Two studies were conducted: a Delphi study to identify key QoL indicators and a scoping review of questionnaires suitable for colorectal cancer survivors. Fifty-four healthcare professionals participated in the Delphi study's first round, with 25 in the second. The study identified two primary QoL domains (Physical and Psychological) and 17 subdomains deemed most critical. Additionally, a review of 12 questionnaires revealed two instruments assessing the most important general domains. Findings underscored a misalignment between existing assessment tools and healthcare professionals' clinical priorities in working with colorectal cancer survivors. To enhance support for survivors' QoL, efforts are needed to develop instruments that better align with the demands of routine QoL assessment in clinical practice.

This study investigates the mean annual water temperature trends at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, along with air temperature trends at the Belgrade meteorological station, spanning from 1956 to 2020. Results reveal a consistent increase in temperature across all three measuring stations, with the Danube experiencing a rise of 0.34°C/10 years, the Sava at 0.44°C/10 years, and Belgrade's air temperature increasing by 0.39°C/10 years. Employing the RAPS method, sharp rises in water temperature were pinpointed in 1989 for the Sava and 1990 for the Danube, while Belgrade's air temperature surge began in 1998. The highest intensity of air temperature increase within the recent period (1998-2020) was observed at the Belgrade observatory, reaching 0.76°C/10 years. Notably, the Sava exhibited a faster increase in water temperature over the last thirty years compared to the Danube. August marked the peak average water temperature for both rivers, while July recorded the highest average air temperature in Belgrade. Despite differing flow rates, both rivers exhibit similar hydrological regimes, with maximum flows occurring in April and minimum flows in August for the Sava, and October for the Danube. Seasonal temperature increases were most pronounced in summer, notably in August, with the smallest rises occurring during cold periods. Additionally, an inverse proportional relationship between mean annual water temperatures and discharges was observed at both river stations.

The composites of heteropolyacids (H3PW12, H3PMo12) incorporated into amine-functionalized silica materials, were used for the first time as heterogeneous catalysts in the valorisation of glycerol (a large waste from biodiesel industry) by acetalization reaction with acetone. The polyoxotungstate catalyst H3PW12@AptesSBA-15 presented higher catalytic efficiency than the phosphomolybdate, with 97% of conversion with 97% of solketal selectivity, after 60 min at 25 °C, or 91% of glycerol conversion and the same selectivity, after 5 min, performing the reaction at 60 ºC. A relation of catalytic performance and acidity of the catalyst is here presented. Furthermore, the stability of the solid catalyst was investigated and discussed.

Job characteristics shape organizational sustainability, conferring tangible benefits to employees. Job characteristics shape attitudes toward work, such as satisfaction and engagement, and are related to the well-being and health of employees. The aim of the study was to determine and describe the role of work engagement and support at work in the relation between selected job characteristics (organizational justice, job control, and role clarity) and self-rated health. The study was conducted on a sample of 368 employees representing various industries. The study used: Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Organizational Justice Survey, Coworker Support Scale, Supervisor Support Scale, Role Clarity Scale, Job Control Scale. Cantril ladder was used to measure self-rated health. The presented study established the importance of lower scores on the UWES subscale: dedication as a significant moderator of the examined correlations. In relation to the correlation: justice and its dimensions, and self-rated health, support from supervisors showed a greater effect than that from coworkers. The conducted study expands knowledge on the formation of employees' self-rated health through the sense of justice experienced within the organization. The results obtained are applicable to organizational practice. This finding highlights the importance of supporting organizational justice, which contributes to employee well-being (particularly when combined with high levels of work engagement and supervisor support) and ultimately increases organizational sustainability. Further research can be continued taking into account the limitations of the previous procedure of selecting people for the study and the measurement tools used.

Annually, the oak forests of the Zagros Mountain chains, in western Iran and northeastern Iraq, face recurring challenges posed by forest fires, particularly in the Kurdo-Zagrosian forests situated in western Iran and northeastern Iraq. Assessing fire susceptibility relies significantly on vegetation condition. Integrating in situ data, Remote Sensing (RS) data, alongside the integration of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), presents a cost-effective and precise approach to capturing environmental conditions before, during, and after fire events, minimizing the need for extensive fieldwork. This study refines and applies the Zagros Grass Index (ZGI), a local vegetation index tailored to discern between grass-covered surfaces from tree canopies in Zagros forests, identifying the grass masses as the most flammable fuel type. Utilizing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) product as input, from 2013 to 2022, the ZGI aims to mitigate the influence of tree canopies, isolating NDVI values solely attributable to grass cover. By incorporating phenological characteristics of forest trees and grass species, the ZGI outperforms NDVI in mapping grass-covered areas that are crucial for fire susceptibility assessment in the study region. Results demonstrate a strong overlap between ZGI-based maps and recorded fire occurrences, validating the efficacy of the index in fire susceptibility estimation.