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.

Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been limited in children and adolescents due to a lack of disease-specific instruments. To fill this gap, the Quality of Life after Traumatic Brain Injury for Children and Adolescents (QOLIBRI-KID/ADO) was developed for the German-speaking population. Reference values from a comparable general population are essential for comprehending the impact of TBI on health and well-being. This study examines the validity of the German QOLIBRI-KID/ADO in a general pediatric population in Germany and provides reference values for use in clinical practice. Overall, 1997 children and adolescents aged 8-17 years from the general population and 300 from the TBI population participated in the study. The questionnaire was tested for reliability and validity. A measurement invariance (MI) approach was used to assess the comparability of the HRQoL construct between both samples. Reference values were determined by percentile-based stratification according to factors that significantly influenced HRQoL in regression analyses. The QOLIBRI-KID/ADO demonstrated strong psychometric properties. The HRQoL construct was measured largely equivalently in both samples, and reference values could be provided. The QOLIBRI-KID/ADO was considered reliable and valid for assessing HRQoL in a general German-speaking pediatric population, allowing for clinically meaningful comparisons between general and TBI populations.

Mercury has a strong environmental impact since both its organic and inorganic forms are toxic and it represents a pollutant of global concern. Liquid Hg is highly volatile and it can be released during natural and anthropogenic processes in the hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. In this study the distribution of Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) and the total and leached mercury concentrations on paints, plasters, roof tiles, concretes, metals, dust and wood structures were determined in the main buildings and structures of the former Hg-mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Siena, Central Italy). The mining complex (divided into 7 units) covers a surface of about 65 ha and contains mining structures and managers and workers buildings. In this work, nine surveys of GEM measurements were carried out from July 2011 to August 2015 for the buildings and structures located in the units 2, 3 and 6. Moreover, detailed measurements were performed in February, April, July, September and December 2016 in the edifices and mining structures of Unit 6. GEM concentrations showed a strong variability in terms of space and time mostly depending on the distance from the building hosting driers, furnaces and condensers and ambient temperature, respectively. In the Unit 2 surveys carried out in the hotter period (from June to September) showed GEM concentrations up to 27,500 ng m⁻³, while in the Unit 6 they were on average much higher and occasionally they saturated the GEM measurement device (>50,000 ng m⁻³). Concentrations of total (in mg kg⁻¹) and leached (in μg L⁻¹) mercury measured in different building materials (up to 46,580 mg kg⁻¹ and 4,470 mg L⁻¹ for total and leached mercury, respectively) showed for the same type of material highly variable values in dependence on the edifice or mining structure from which they were collected. The results obtained in this study are of relevant interest for the operational cleanings to be carried out during the reclamation activities.

The effects of CO₂-water-rock interactions on the mechanical properties of shale are essential for estimating the possibility of sequestrating CO₂ in shale reservoirs. In this study, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests together with an acoustic emission (AE) system and SEM & EDS analysis were performed to investigate the mechanical properties and microstructural changes of black shales with different saturation times (10 days, 20 days and 30 days) in water dissoluted with sub-/super-critical CO₂. According to the experimental results, the values of UCS, Young’s modulus and brittleness index decrease gradually with increasing saturation time in water with sub-/super-critical CO₂. Compared to intact samples, 30-days’ saturation causes reductions of 56.43% in UCS and 54.21% in Young’s modulus for sub-critical saturated samples, and 66.05% in UCS and 56.32% in Young’s modulus for super-critical saturated samples, respectively. The brittleness index also decreases drastically from 84.3% for intact samples to 50.9% for samples saturated in water with sub-critical CO₂, to 47.9% for samples saturated in water with super-critical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂). SC-CO₂ causes a greater reduction of shale’s mechanical properties. The crack propagation results obtained from the AE system show that longer saturation time produces higher peak cumulative AE energy. SEM images show that many pores occur when shale samples are saturated in water with sub-/super-critical CO₂. The EDS results show that CO₂-water-rock interactions increase the percentages of C and Fe and decrease the percentages of Al and K on the surface of saturated samples when compared to intact samples.

Bread is one of the most popular products consumed almost daily and, simultaneously, the most frequently wasted product in large quantities. The factors determining this phenomenon in a household must first be known in order to develop and implement effective programmes to combat consumers throwing away bread. Minimizing bread waste contributes to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12 of "halting food waste by 2030". The aim of the study was to examine the influence of selected sociodemographic, economic and behavioural characteristics of consumers on the methods of managing stale bread. The study was conducted on a nationwide, random, and representative group of 1115 adult respondents. Over 15% of respondents admitted throwing stale bread into the waste container. Statistical analysis showed that the highest percentage of younger people, residents of large cities, and working people declared throwing unused bread into the waste container. More than 1/3 of respondents declared that they process stale bread into breadcrumbs. A higher percentage of the oldest people, residents of rural areas, and families with more than four adults declared that they manage bread this way. There was no significant relationship between the frequency of bread purchase and all methods of managing stale bread (except for feeding animals). The place of purchase influenced four methods of handling stale bread.

Contemporary urban areas are often characterized by various forms of enclaves, isolated from their surrounding geographical context. Urban Green Infrastructures provide an opportunity to open these enclaves, establishing physical and functional connections with the broader city, while also contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation. This study examines the district of San Bartolomeo in the Italian city of Cagliari as an example of urban enclave and employs a participatory planning process to design a project that transforms it into a hub open to the wider city community. The result is a neighborhood shaped by its community, where social, economic, and environmental needs are balanced, fostering constant interaction between residents and the city as a whole.

Vertical jump height is a reliable measure of lower limb functionality for countermovement jumps. Motion capture systems and force platforms are considered gold standards to assess athletes’ performance during these motions, however their use in ecological settings is limited by high costs and lack of portability. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of low-sampling rate Inertial Measurement Units as an alternative to gold standard systems. The validity of three computational methods for IMU-based data—Numerical Double Integration, Take-Off Velocity and Flight Time—was assessed using data from 18 healthy subjects who performed five bilateral and ten unilateral countermovement jumps. Data were simultaneously collected from an IMU positioned at the L5 level, a motion capture system, and two force platforms. Comparisons revealed that the Numerical Double Integration method exhibited the highest correlation (0.87), the lowest bias (2.5 cm) compared to gold standards, and excellent reliability (0.88). Although the Take-Off Velocity and Flight Time methods demonstrated comparable performance for bilateral jumps, their accuracy in unilateral jumps was reduced. Overall, low-sampling rate IMU with Numerical Double Integration method proves to be a reliable and portable alternative for field-based CMJs assessment, warranting future investigation across diverse populations and jump modalities.

The issue of degradation of drinking water quality has become a problem of great concern in Pakistan, and especially availability of water treatment facilities in the Sindh province of Pakistan is almost negligible, particularly in rural areas. And, the public has been using traditional methods to reduce the concentration of physic-chemical parameters in drinking water. Therefore this study was carried out to analyze the impact of a Clay-water cooler on physic-chemical parameters of drinking water. Analysis revealed that samples remained colorless, with the passage of time odor of water changed to a clayey odor; Turbidity increased with the passage of time and temperature decreased; the pH value of water increased initially and crossed the allowable limit but with time it was observed that pH of water decreased came under the limit; the concentration of EC, Cl, Ca, Total Hardness and TDS decreased for first 12 hours, but increased with increase in storage time. The value of Magnesium increased as storage time increased. Overall, it was disclosed that a Clay-water cooler has a positive impact on the quality of drinking water particularly if water is stored in a clay-water cooler for a time not longer than 8 hours.

Transition zones are in the places on the track, with a change in the basic composition of the railway body. There are many sections with a sudden change in the stiffness of the structures built. When the trains are running, a longitudinal shock wave is created from the wheels, which hits these building objects with a higher stiffness and deforms the surroundings of these zones. The greatest attention should be paid mainly to the transition points from the fixed track to the classic track with a track bed, including objects of the railway substructure such as bridges, portals of tunnels, etc. As part of the research sections on the main corridor lines, a long-term inspection and monitoring was carried out with a continuous measurement system using the KRAB trolley. Height changes in the deflections of rails are evidence of their behavior. The measurements took place on a fixed track and a track with a ballast. Changes in the height jumps between the fixed railway track and the track with a gravel bed are significant and have been recorded since the tracks were put into operation. These certain height deflections allow designers to develop new, more durable construction designs.

Maize mosaic virus (MMV) is a plant virus that is transmitted by the corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis Ashmead (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in a persistent and propagative manner. MMV is the causal agent for mosaic disease that can cause significant loss in corn yield. Management is focused on controlling insect vector population. The molecular mechanisms of virus transmission by the insect vector are not fully understood. Previously, we identified a receptor for MMV, the P. maidis syntaxin 18 (PmStx18). PmStx18 interacts with the viral glycoprotein and potentially facilitates MMV recognition and entry into the vector, enabling virus proliferation. Stx18 is a key component of the vesicular trafficking machinery and also plays a critical role in neurotransmitter release in insects. In this work, we investigated the expression of PmStx18 in different developmental stages and major parts of the insect vector. Primers were designed to generate templates for synthesis of double-stranded RNA fragments. A 374-bp amplicon was selected and gene-specific sequences were flanked by T7 promoter sequences for in vitro transcription. Results showed a significant difference in the expression of Stx18 in the different developmental stages of P. maidis but not between male and female adults and major body parts. In vitro transcription products indicated optimal reaction conditions and protocol suitability. The findings establish the initial steps for developing RNAi-based approach in controlling MMV transmission by targeting Syntaxin-18 in P. maidis. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.

This analysis investigates health outcomes by cause and income group across European and African countries, highlighting significant disparities tied to economic status. Low and lower-middle-income countries in Africa face a greater burden of disease, particularly in acute lower respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, bacterial infections, HIV/AIDS, and maternal conditions. This is primarily due to limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services. In contrast, high-income African countries exhibit better health outcomes. European countries show variations: lower-middle-income nations suffer more fro4m acute respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS, while high-income countries report higher incidences of cancer and bacterial infections. These differences reflect disparities in healthcare quality and social determinants. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policy initiatives to address these disparities by focusing on socioeconomic factors and improving healthcare access and quality across all income groups.

Despite the increasing prevalence of pet ownership in Chinese societies, standardized tools to assess grief from pet loss remain lacking. Research predominantly focuses on Western populations, creating a gap in understanding pet bereavement in Chinese cultural settings. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ-C) for a Chinese context to create a culturally appropriate assessment tool. A total of 245 participants with companion animal loss experiences were recruited through the university of the research team. They were invited to complete an online survey including the Chinese PBQ, the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). Both Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PBQ-C and the findings supported a three-factor structure—grief, anger, and guilt—aligned with the original PBQ, with three items were reassigned to different factors. Despite these adjustments, the PBQ-C showed strong internal consistency, split-half reliability, and concurrent validity. The validated PBQ-C provides a culturally sensitive tool for assessing pet bereavement in Chinese society that can promote research and counselling support for this under-researched and under-recognized type of loss of human-animal relationships.

Proper blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is essential to maintain homeostasis keeping the central nervous system healthy. Disruption of the BBB has been described in nearly all neurological disease and injury contexts. Given the various physical and metabolic roles of the BBB and gliovascular unit (GVU), dysfunction should be assessed across multiple levels to pinpoint the exact nature of the impairment. Here we describe imaging techniques for evaluating various aspects of BBB and GVU integrity and function, tailored for use in mouse models with protocols for quantitative image analysis. These imaging techniques complement classical dye tracer experiments and reveal underlying molecular causes of BBB dysfunction.

A theoretical framework for agricultural landscape pattern transitions in rural areas is proposed to fill the gap of current research with an empirical study in the Alabata farm settlement in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. Adopting the use of ArcGIS 10.8 and Surfer 27.3 to calculate the surface area and volume of the ground surface degraded and exposed to harsh weather conditions due to both natural and man-made anthropogenic activities causing runoffs and continuous soil erosion, which has affected agricultural production and sent some of the farmers packing and abandoning their farmlands. The farm settlement within the total sampled frame area of 1.50 km² covers a total distance of 5.11 km. The sample frame was divided into 36 frames with similar ecological terrain and soil types, which fell into either identified soil types 1 and 2. The study completed a questionnaire onsite using three major criteria. Only 23 farmers responded positively to the few questions with farmers either living on the farm or working as hired laborers on-site at the visit. The transition characteristics of agricultural landscape patterns as represented in abandoned land, and orchards are analyzed from a local perspective.

Road safety and the effectiveness of the transportation system as a whole are significantly impacted by driver comfort. Road surface quality can play a significant part in the driver’s comfort experienced on roads in any country. This study employs a Random Forest technique to examine the association between road roughness and drivers' comfort during long-distance driving. Using Random Forest, a dependable machine learning technique that can handle big datasets and detect nonlinear correlations, this work aims to shed light on the complex dynamics between road conditions and driver’s comfort. 1,048,576 rows of data from MIRANDA, an application developed at the University of Gustave Eiffel, were used in this study as part of the data collected from a probe vehicle. The data collected includes an International Roughness Index (IRI). The IRI thresholds offer a simple method for assessing driver comfort and road irregularity. While highlighting how uneven and uncomfortable the road is, the research's findings (Road Roughness: SD – 0.73; Driver's Comfort: - Mean, 10.01, SD – 0.64) also contribute to the standardization of road condition evaluation and maintenance communication. This finding is anticipated to aid in the development of strategies for improving the welfare of long-haul drivers and fixing road infrastructure to comply with standard road index, ultimately leading to the creation of more efficient and sustainable transportation systems.

Grain trade plays a pivotal role in international trade, serving not only as a primary component of the global agricultural market but also as a crucial factor in ensuring global food security and price stability. This study utilizes panel data from Russia, one of the largest players in the grain market, to investigate the determinants of cereal exports. The results of the gravity model estimation reveal a positive impact of demand factors, population differences, and the level of economic openness of importing countries, while distance and tariffs exert a negative influence on exports. The findings also indicate that Russia possesses significant untapped potential for cereal export growth, which has only increased in the context of geopolitical instability. The paper identifies regions with potential for export expansion and outlines the conditions necessary for realizing this potential. The results of this study contribute to the development of evidence-based policies aimed at enhancing the sustainability of regional export flows in global systems.

Conventional farming relies on large-scale, intensive crop production using mechanical tillage and synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which, despite being economically beneficial, can be environmentally destructive, whereas organic cropping system offers a more sustainable alternative with less harmful environmental impact. But is organic system more beneficial for soil health than conventional? In this study, we focused on evaluating the functional potential of soil for the conversion of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, as well as measuring the actual activity of enzymes involved in these cycles. We used Chernozem soil samples from fields that were managed using organic (OCS) and conventional (CCS) methods as the objects of our study. Another objective of the study was to compare two methods: profiling of functional genes of the microbial community and measurement of actual enzyme activity. The comparison of OCS versus CCS indicates that functional gene profiling and enzymatic activity measurements similarly capture qualitative differences between these systems, but diverge in how they assess quantitative differences. A combination of these two methods for assessing soil conditions appears to be promising. Overall, the study demonstrated that the agronomic practices used in the conventional cropping system not only preserved the functional properties of the soil microbiome but also significantly enhanced its microbiological activity for nutrient bioconversion compared to the organic cropping system. However, the question remains as to how long the conventional system can sustain its high potential.

Titanium-based Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) manufactured by additive manufacturing offer tremendous lightweighting opportunities. However, processing the high reinforcement contents needed to substantially improve elastic modulus while conserving significant ductility remains a challenge. Ti-TiC MMCs fabricated in this study report fracture strains in tension up to 1.7% for a Young’s modulus of 149 GPa. This fracture strain is 30% higher than previously reported values for Ti-based MMCs produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) displaying similar Young’s moduli. The heat treatment used after the LPBF process leads to the doubling of the fracture strain due to the conversion of TiCx dendrites into equiaxed TiCx grains. As-built microstructure shows both un-dissolved TiC particles and sub-stoichiometric TiC dendrites resulting from a partial dissolution of TiC particles. Reduction of the C/Ti ratio in TiC during the process results in an increase in the reinforcement content, from a nominal 12 vol% to an effective 21.5 vol%. The variation of the TiC lattice constant with its stoichiometry is measured, and an empirical expression is proposed for its effect on TiC’s Young’s modulus. The lower TiC initial powder size distribution displayed the best mechanical performance.

Lidocaine hydrochloride (HCl) 2% with 1:100,000 epinephrine (LW/E) is widely used to prevent pain during dental procedures and has been associated with injection sting, jittering effects, slow onset, and a bitter aftertaste. Since LW/E’s introduction in 1948, no significant modifications have been proposed. This study aims to design and characterize an improved dental lidocaine HCl injectable formulation without epinephrine (LW/O/E) via buffers, sweeteners, and amino acids. LW/O/E injections were prepared with pH and osmolality values of 6.5 – 7.0 and 590-610 mOsm/kg. Using the electronic tongue (ETongue), the LW/O/E injectable formulations were characterized for viscosity, injectability, and taste analysis. The results were compared with the LW/E control. In vivo efficacy and anesthetic duration of the samples were measured through radiant heat tail-flick latency (RHTFL) and hot plate (HP) tests and local toxicity was assessed after a single intra-oral injection in Sprague Dawley rats (SDR). The viscosity and injectability values of the LW/O/E samples were found to be comparable to the LW/E injection. ETongue taste analysis showed an improvement in bitterness reduction of the LW/O/E samples compared to the LW/E formulation. Toxicity studies of samples in SDR showed minor and transient signs of erythema/eschar and edema. Anesthetic duration via RHTFL and HP paw withdrawal latency time in SDR were found to be comparable for the LW/O/E Sample 3A and the LW/E injection (p<0.05). In conclusion, the buffered, higher osmolality and reduced bitterness developed LW/O/E formulation (Sample 3A) could be considered a promising alternative to the LW/E formulation for dental use.

The exponential growth and widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices have introduced many vulnerabilities. Attackers frequently exploit these flaws, necessitating advanced technological approaches to protect against emerging cyber threats. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing hardware honeypots as an additional defensive layer against hardware vulnerabilities, particularly hardware trojans (HTs). HTs pose significant risks to the security of modern integrated circuits (ICs), potentially causing operational failures, denial of service, or data leakage through intentional modifications. The proposed system was implemented on a Raspberry Pi and tested on an emulated HT circuit using a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This approach leverages hardware honeypots to detect and mitigate HTs in IoT devices. The results demonstrate that the system effectively detects and mitigates HTs without imposing additional complexity on the IoT devices. The trojan-agnostic solution offers full customization to meet specific security needs, providing a flexible and robust layer of security. The findings provide valuable insights into enhancing the security of IoT devices against hardware-based cyber threats, thereby contributing to the overall resilience of IoT networks. This innovative approach offers a promising solution to address the growing security challenges in IoT environments.

Osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity are insufficiently studied, and the reciprocal impact of these conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate potential predictors for the development of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity, as well as complications associated with this comorbidity. A cohort of 150 patients was categorized into three groups: a control group (n=30), patients with osteoarthritis (n=68), and patients with comorbid osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis (n=52). Potential predictors for comorbidity development and associated complications were explored. The study revealed that concurrent osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbate each other's progression and contribute to malnutrition. Body Mass Index (BMI) emerged as a potential predictor for chronic pancreatitis development in osteoarthritis patients. In osteoarthritis patients, fecal elastase-1 levels were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Factors such as WOMAC total score, fecal elastase-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, and BMI were found to influence comorbidity development between osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Diarrhea Syndrome (GSRS-DS), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Constipation syndrome (GSRS-CS), Qualitative Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency domain A (PEI-Q-A), retinol, tocopherol, and iron were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in osteoarthritis patients. In conclusion, the comorbidity of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbates disease progression and complications, necessitating further investigation.

: Background. Delivering bad news is a sensitive and challenging aspect of nursing healthcare, requiring a holistic approach that respects patients' preferences, cultural values, and religious beliefs to promote adaptation to the state's health. Aim: map the evidence of the dimensions present in the communication and management of bad news by nurses, with the person in a palliative situation, their caregivers, and family members. Methods: Based on Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, the search was conducted through MEDLINE Complete (EBSCOhost), CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), SciELO, and Open Access Scientific Repository in Portugal. From a total of 756 articles, 14 were included, published between 2018 and 2023. Results: Structure components in bad news are influenced by the characteristics of the palliative patients, their caregivers, family members; nurses; and the organizational environment. Promoting the quality of the communication process is desirable through continuous and advanced training in end-of-life; training in bad news; religiously and culturally sensitive nursing interventions centered on hope and maintaining faith; emotional management; and utilization of a checklist protocol. Conclusions: Honest communication allows people to actively participate in the decision-making process and in the trajectory of the care plan that is focused on themselves and their preferences, which has outcomes in functional capacity and readaptation.

Prunus armeniaca L. is the native species of cultivated apricot, which is important information for studying the origin, succession pattern, pest control, sustainable development of biodiversity of economic tree species of the genus Apricot, etc. However, with global climate change and increasingly intense human activities, the survival environment of Prunus armeniaca L. is under serious stress, and exploring the potential survival space of Prunus armeniaca L. is an important way to protect the health and development of Prunus armeniaca L.. Exploring the potential living space of Prunus armeniaca L. is an important way to protect the healthy development of Prunus armeniaca L. The Yili River Valley is a typical distribution area of Prunus armeniaca L. . Exploring the potential distribution suitable area of Prunus armeniaca L. in the Yili River Valley and analyzing its future change trend can provide scientific guidance for the protection, development, and utilization of Prunus armeniaca L.. Based on the Geographic Information System software platform combined with the MaxEnt Model, we simulated the potential distribution areas and the degree of adaptation of Prunus armeniaca L. in the Yili River Valley, and predicted the potential distribution changes of Prunus armeniaca L. in the future under different situations. Based on the above methods, the following results were obtained: (1) The MaxEnt Model simulated the geographic distribution of Prunus armeniaca L. with high accuracy and an AUC value of 0.969, and the area of the currently suitable area for Prunus armeniaca L. in the Yili River Valley was about 10407.77 km2, accounting for about 18.45% of the overall land area of the Yili River Valley; the area of the highly suitable area was about 1380.9 km², accounting for about 13.26%, the area of the medium suitable zone is about 2830.15km², and the area of low suitable zone is about 6196.05km². (2) The maximum increase in the total area of the suitable zone under the future low-radiation forcing scenario is 11.49%, and the minimum increase under the future medium-high forcing scenario is 4.94%. (3) The overall migration was in the southwest direction, with the largest migration angle under the SSP245 scenario and the largest migration distance under the SSP585 scenario. Under the background of future climate change, there is a tendency for the potential habitat of Prunus armeniaca L. in the Yili River Valley to expand from low altitude to high altitude, and altitude is the dominant geographic factor influencing the distribution of Prunus armeniaca L.. By simulating and studying the potential geographic distribution of Prunus armeniaca L. in the Yili River Valley under the background of climate change, we can reveal the response mechanism between the geographic distribution of Prunus armeniaca L. and the natural environment, which can provide scientific guidance and data support for the exploitation and protection of Prunus armeniaca L. in the future.

The detection of early biomarkers and molecular mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains a challenge. Recent research has pointed to potential roles for peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), a family of calcium activated enzymes, and associated post-translational protein citrul-lination/deimination in early stages of the disease, with a focus on hippocampal and cortex re-gions of the brain. Further analysis of brain region specific changes in PAD isozymes and identi-fication of brain-region specific citrullinomes, therefore remain to be studied. This study assessed brain-region specific PAD isozyme expression (PADs 1-4; PAD6) and associated citrullinated protein targets in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced rat model of pre-motor PD. Cortex, hippocampus, striatum, midbrain, cerebellum and olfactory bulb were compared between con-trols/shams and the PD model. In cortex, a significant increase of PAD2 and PAD3 was observed in the PD model. In hippocampus, PAD3, PAD4 and PAD6 showed strongest levels, but with no significant changes observed between PD and controls. In striatum, a significant reduction in all PAD isozymes was observed in the PD model. In the olfactory bulb, PAD3 was significantly el-evated in PD. In midbrain, PAD2, PAD4 and PAD6 showed strongest signal but with no signifi-cant changes between PD and controls. In cerebellum, a significant increase was seen in PAD3, PAD4 and PAD6 in the PD model. Citrullinated protein hits were most abundant in cortex and hippocampus, while for the PD model an increase in citrullinated hits was particularly observed in cortex and cerebellum, compared to controls. For all brain regions there was a considerable difference in citrullinated protein IDs between the PD model and the controls. Citrullinome as-sociated KEGG pathways differed in the six brain regions; some were overlapping for controls and PD, some were identified for the PD model only, and some were identified in control brains only. KEGG pathways identified in PD brains onlywere: “Axon guidance”; “Spinocerebellar ataxia”; “Hippo signalling pathway”; “NOD-like receptor signalling pathway”; “Phosphatidyl-inositol signalling system”; “Rap1 signalling pathway”; “Platelet activation”; “Yersinia infection”; “Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis”; “Human cytomegalovirus infection”; “Inositol phosphate metabolism”; “Thyroid hormone signalling pathway”; “Progesterone-mediated oocyte matura-tion”; “Oocyte meiosis”; and “Choline metabolism in cancer”. Our findings highlight differences in PAD isozymes, citrullinated proteins and associated KEGG pathways between brain regions, in pre-motor PD.

Finishing coatings in the wood-based composites industry not only influence the final appearance of the product but also serve to protect against fungi, and molds, and reduce the release of harmful substances, particularly formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carbon-rich materials, such as those derived from birch bark extraction, specifically suberin acids, can fulfil this role. Previous research has demonstrated that adding suberin acid residues (SAR) at 20% and 50% by weight significantly enhances the gas barrier properties of surface finishing materials based on poly(lactide) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), particularly in terms of Total VOC (TVOC) and formaldehyde emissions. This study aims to explore whether these properties can be further improved through the incorporation of nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO). Previous research has shown that these nanoparticles possess strong resistance to biological factors and can positively affect the characteristics of nanofilms applied as surface protection. The study employed PLA and PCL finishing layers blended with SAR powder at 10% w/w and included 2% and 4% nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles. The resulting blends were milled to create a powder, which was subsequently pressed into 1 mm thick films. These films were then applied to raw particleboard surfaces. TVOC and formaldehyde emission tests were conducted. Additionally, the fungal resistance of the coated surfaces was assessed. The results showed that PLA/SAR and PCL/SAR composites with the addition of nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited significantly improved barrier properties, offering a promising avenue for developing biodegradable, formaldehyde-free coatings in the furniture industry with enhanced features. Furthermore, by utilizing SAR as a post-extraction residue, this project aligns perfectly with the concept of upcycling.

Non-invasive continuous health monitoring has become feasible with the advancement of biosensors. While monitoring certain biomarkers such as heart rate or skin temperature are now at certain maturity, monitoring molecular biomarkers is still challenging. Progress has been shown in sampling, measurement and interpretation of data towards non-invasive molecular sensors that can be integrated in daily wearable items. Towards this goal, this paper explores the potential of embroidered interdigitated transducer (IDT)-based sensors for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of human biomarkers, particularly glucose levels, in human sweat. The study employs innovative embroidery techniques to create flexible fabric-based sensors with gold-coated IDTs. In controlled experiments, we have shown the variation of glucose concentration in water can be wirelessly detected by tracking the resonant frequency of the embroidered sensors. The current sensors operate at 1.8GHz–2GHz and respond to the change of glucose concentration with a sensitivity of 0.17 MHz/(mg/dl). The embroidered IDT-based sensors with wireless sensing will be a new measurement modality for molecular wearable sensors. The establishment of a wireless sensing mechanism for embroidered IDT-based sensors will be followed by investigation of sweat for molecular detection. This will require adding functionalities for sampling and interpretation of acquired data. We envisage the embroidered IDT-based sensors offer a unique approach for seamless integration into clothing, paving the way for personalised, continuous health data capture.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are vital for their optical and electrical properties, with lead-based PSCs reaching a remarkable efficiency of 26.1%, while tin-based counterparts achieve 18.71%. Due to lead's toxicity, there's a push for alternatives like tin. However, tin-based PSCs suffer from stability issues and high defect density states, necessitating the development of cost-effective, high-performance, and eco-friendly alternatives. In this study, we designed a hetero-junction architecture using MASnI3-based Perovskite, opti-mized with SCAPs-1D. After exhaustive analysis, our device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 24.18%, with enhanced parameters including Voc of 0.09323V, Jsc of 30.8360 mA/cm2, and FF of 84.10%. Recombination rates, particularly Shockley-Read Hall recom-bination, were significantly reduced. Parametric analyses, encompassing absorber layer thickness, band gap, defect density, doping concentration, and operating temperature, in-dicate potential efficiency enhancements. This underscores the viability of Sn-based PSCs as a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally benevolent alternative to lead-based counterparts, promising advancements in future research and development efforts.

It has been proven that in standard Einstein gravity, exotic matter (i.e. matter violating the point-wise and averaged weak and null energy conditions) is required to stabilize traversable wormholes. Quantum field theory permits these violations due to the quantum coherent effects found in any quantum field . Even reasonable classical scalar fields violate the energy conditions. In the case of the Casimir effect and squeezed vacuum states, these violations have been experimentally proven. It is advantageous to investigate methods of minimizing the use of exotic matter. One such area of interest is extended theories of Einstein gravity. It has been claimed that in some extended theories, stable traversable wormholes solutions can be found without the use of exotic matter. There are many extended theories of gravity and in this review paper we first explore f(R) theories and then explore some wormhole solutions in f(R) theories including Lovelock gravity.

The magnesium ion is an essential cation in the human body and participates in numerous physiological activities. A deficiency in magnesium ions is closely associated with tumor development, and supplementation with magnesium ions has been shown to partially inhibit tumor growth. However, the specific mechanisms by which magnesium ions suppress tumor proliferation remain unclear. Currently, studies have revealed that mitochondria may serve as a crucial intermediate link in the regulation of tumors by magnesium ions. Mitochondria might intervene in the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells by modulating energy metabolism and oxidative stress levels. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between magnesium ions and tumors, the mechanisms by which magnesium ions regulate mitochondrial function, and the theoretical basis and prospects of magnesium ion regulation of mitochondrial function for tumor treatment. This review aims to offer insights for clinical tumor treatment strategies involving magnesium ion intervention.

This study addresses the pressing need for flood extent and exposure information in data-scarce and vulnerable regions, with a specific focus on West Africa, particularly Senegal. Leveraging the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and integrating data from Sentinel-1 SAR, Global Surface Water, HydroSHEDS, Global Human Layer Settlement, and MODIS Land Cover, our primary ob-jective is to delineate flood extents and compare them with centennial flood-prone areas, offering a comprehensive assessment of exposure during the period from July to October 2022 across Sen-egal's 14 regions. The findings underscore a total inundation area of 2 951 square kilometers, impacting 297 142 people, 175 square kilometers of urban and 16 square kilometers of crops. Notably, August wit-nessed the largest flooded areas, reaching 780 square kilometers, constituting 0.40% of the coun-try's surface. Subsequent regions, including Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, Fatick, and Matam, experi-enced varying extents of flooding, with August data showing a 1.34% overall overlap compared to centennial flood-prone areas derived from hydrological and hydraulic modeling. This low per-centage reveals the distinct purposes and natures of the two approaches (remote sensing and modeling), as well as their complementarity. Turning to flood exposure, August emerges as the most critical month, affecting 76 595 people (0.43% of the total population). Dakar, Diourbel, Thiès, and Saint-Louis regions bore substantial impacts, affecting 100 707, 57 648, 31 579, and 26 581 people, respectively. These findings emphasize the imperative for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. The study provides a crucial national-scale perspective to guide Senegal's authorities in formulating effective flood management, intervention, and adaptation strategies.

Nanling Mountain region is a typical southern hilly region, which plays an important ecological and environmental protection role in China's overall land protection pattern. Based on the remote sensing image data of Longnan City in Nanling Mountain in 2013, 2018 and 2023, this paper interpreted the land use type and analyzed the land use transfer situation by using Land use transfer flow, and Land use transfer matrix. At the same time, based on the remote sensing Ecological index (RSEI) model, the ecological environment quality of Longnan City from 2013 to 2023 was retrieved. The temporal and spatial response model of ecological environment quality to land use transfer in Longnan City from 2013 to 2023 was discussed based on Spatial autocorrelation and Geographic detector. The results show that from 2013 to 2023, the decrease of forest land (16.23km²) and the increase of construction land (13.25km²) were the main land use transfer in Longnan City. The ecological environment index of Longnan City in 2013, 2018 and 2023 was 0.789, 0.917 and 0.872, respectively, showing a trend of "first rising and then decreasing". The ecological environment quality in the north of Longnan City was significantly lower than that in the south, and the poor ecological quality area appeared in and around the northern main urban area, showing a trend of "inward contraction". Forest land, garden land, grassland, cultivated land and water area have a positive impact on ecological environment quality, while traffic land, construction land and other land have a negative impact on ecological environment quality. The response of ecological environment quality to different land use transfer modes is related to the change of the overall ecological environment quality. The interaction between LUCC and other factors had a great impact on the evolution of ecological environment quality in Longnan City.

Background: to analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics and management of uveal melanoma (UM) in National Referral Center in Poland. Materials and Methods: the retrospective analysis of 1336 patients who were newly diagnosed with UM at Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Oncology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum Krakow, Poland between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2021. The demographic and clinical data were compiled including localization, size and treatment methods of tumors. Results: In total, 728 patients with UM were included before COVID-19 pandemic in years 2018-2019 and 608 were included during COVID-19 pandemic in years 2020-2021. Fixed-base dynamics indicators for the incidence of uveal melanoma (base year 2018) in the national referral center in Poland were 80.22% and 86.81% in year 2020 and 2021, respectively. UMs were statistically significantly larger and more frequently localized anterior to the equator of the eye globe in year 2021 than in year 2018 (Chi^2 Pearson test p= 0.0001 and p= 0.0077, respectively). The rate of patients treated with enucleation increased from 15.94% in year 2018 to 26.90% in year 2021 (Chi^2 Pearson test p=0.0005). Conclusions: statistically significant differences were found in the management of uveal melanoma in National Referral Center in Poland during COVID-19 pandemic with tumors being larger, more frequently localized anterior to the equator of the eye globe and more often enucleated.

Semantic segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing images provides detailed and precise feature information, playing a pivotal role in decision-making and analysis in sectors such as water management, agriculture, military, and environmental protection. However, most methods merely combine features from various branches directly, without a mechanism for spatial location feature screening, and treat all extracted features as equally important. To overcome these limitations, we introduce a novel spatially adaptive interaction network (SAINet) for dynamic interaction across different features in remote sensing semantic segmentation task. Specifically, we propose a spatial refined module that leverages local context information to filter spatial locations and extract salient regions. Following this, we introduce an innovative spatial interaction module that uses a spatial adaptive modulation mechanism to dynamically select and allocate spatial position weights. This facilitates interaction between local salient areas and global information, allowing the network to focus more on relevant regions. This flexible approach enables the network to capture more informative features, thereby enhancing segmentation accuracy. Experiments conducted on the DeepGlobe, Vaihingen, and Potsdam public datasets confirm the effectiveness and capability of SAINet. Our code and models will be publicly available

This work proposes a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber-based edible oil sensor in the terahertz (THz) range (e.g., 1.0THz ≤ f ≤ 3.0THz) and different sensing characteristics are numerically analyzed. The suggested sensor’s performance was assessed by means of COMSOL Multiphysics, a commercial program that uses the finite element approach. The computational results indicate that the relative sensitivity is 85.591%, 84.648%, 82.625%, 82.683%, and 79.161%, respectively, at f = 2.2 THz, for several types of sunflower oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, olive oil and palm oil; and the corresponding effective areas are 7.22×10-8 um2, 7.09×10-8 um2, 6.83×10-8 um2,7.09×10-8 um2, 6.5231 ×10-8 um2. In addition, the effective material loss for sunflower oil, muster oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and palm oil has been found to be 0.02561 cm-1, 0.027054 cm-1, 0.030322 cm-1, 0.028854 cm-1 ,0.035427cm-1 respectively. Moreover, the proposed sensor also has low confinement loss are 1.55×10-8 dB/m, 1.63×10-8 dB/m, 1.31×10-8 dB/m, 1.99×10-8 dB/m, 4.0345×10-8 dB/m.This proposed sensor can be fabricated using extrusion and 3D-printing technologies, and due to its augmented detecting capabilities, it can be a vital part of oil sensing devices implemented in real life such as industry fields.

Vision impairment may delay responses to hazards when driving. In a proof-of-concept driving simulator study, we evaluated a hazard warning device designed for vision impaired drivers. Three groups participated: 11 persons with central vision loss (CVL; median age 60 years), 12 with homonymous field loss (HFL; 52 years) and 11 with normal vision (NV; 60 years). CVL is characterised by impaired visual acuity and contrast sensitivity while HFL is a loss of vision in the same half of the visual field (blind side) in both eyes. Participants completed drives with and without the device which gave a directional vibro-tactile warning for an approaching pedestrian hazard when collision risk exceeded a pre-defined threshold. Warnings significantly (p< 0.001) reduced brake response times for CVL (∆= 0.54s) and HFL (∆= 0.30s), but not NV participants. For HFL participants, the reduction was greater (p = 0.02) for hazards on the blind (∆= 0.57s) than seeing side (∆= 0.10s). The warnings significantly reduced collision rates for CVL participants from 11 to 0% (all hazards) and for HFL participants from 30 to 1.7% (blind side hazards). Thus, hazard warnings may be beneficial in improving safety of vision impaired drivers; further research is warranted.

The aim of this study is to solve the problems of complicated pretreatment and high analytical cost in the detection technology of trace drug toxicants in municipal wastewater. A high-performance magnetic sorbent was synthesized for enrichment of trace drug substances in wastewater to develop magnetic solid-phase extraction pretreatment combined with the acoustic ejection mass spectrometry (AEMS) analytical methods for the molecules in wastewater drug toxicants. The magnetic nanospheres was successfully prepared by magnetic nanoparticles modified with divinylbenzene and vinyl pyrrolidone.The results showed that the linear dynamic range of 17 drugs was 1-500 ng/L, the recovery was 43%-105%, the matrix effect was more than 67%, the limit of quantitative detection was 1-2 ng/L, and the detection time of each sample was 2.98s. It can be seen that the developed magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method is a good solution to the problem of complicated pre-treatment and analytical cost in the detection of drugs in wastewater. The developed magnetic material and acoustic excitation coupled mass spectrometry analysis method can realize the low-cost, efficient enrichment and fast analysis of different kinds of drug molecules in urban sewage.

The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of drought such as intensity, cumulative curves and trends, based on SPEI (Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index) at 8 stations in Korea from 1981 to 2010. The traditional SPEI is based on Thornthwaite equation for estimating evapotranspiration; SPEI_th. However, a standard of agricultural water management in Korea suggests FAO Penman-Monteith equation; SPEI_pm. In this study, we analyzed the intensity and trends of drought using SPEI_th and SPEI_pm, respectively, and analyzed the relationship between them. Both of central and southern region, the SPEIs were below -1.0 (moderated drought) for the periods May-August in the representative drought year such as 1988, 2001, and 2008-09. The frequency of drought was higher in southern region than central region. In addition, SPEI_pm showed slightly more intensive drought rather than SPEI_th except for Chuncheon and Gwangju. In 5 stations except for Cheoncheon, Gwangju and Jinju, the cumulative probability that SPEI_pm is below -1.5 was significantly increased from 1981-1995 to 1996-2010. As the results of drought trends, the increasing trend of SPEIs was shown on fall season, and the cumulative probability that SPEI_pm is below -1.5 was also significantly increased.

One consequence of the global technological advancement in conventional metallurgy is the fast depletion rate of valuable minerals, which are also becoming increasingly difficult to find in pure and economically viable forms. This has spurred more interest in technologies that investigate ability of different microorganisms to mobilize valuable metals from their ores via diverse metabolic processes. This study was carried out therefore to isolate, identify and characterize iron solubilizing bacteria from Iron stones of Agbaja iron ore mining site of Kogi State, Nigeria. Crushed samples in the range of 0.25µm and 0.75µm particle sizes were cultured in a modified 9k media to facilitate bacterial growth and pure cultures were then isolated and sub-cultured for further bioleaching studies. Morphological and biochemical analysis suggests that some of the bacteria identified are members of Acidithiobacillus spp, Pseudomonas spp, and Leptospirillum spp. Studies conducted on pure cultures and mixed consortium of the identified organisms shows that a mixture of the three organisms leached iron ore to about 96.16%. Also results of growth pattern due to bacteria countafter 24-72hours of incubation ranged between 0.1×10³ cfu/ml and 12.3 ×10³ cfu/ml for Acidithiobacillus spp. The need to explore the molecular characteristics of these organisms with a view to generating more information on the quality/quantity of their DNA for future cloning activities was also investigated in this work. DNA was extracted using zymo fungal/bacterial extraction mini prep kit ^TM (cat #6001) and subsequently subjected to 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Visible bands were obtained with Alpha Innotech Gel Documentation Machine. DNA amplification was carried out using a pettier based thermo cycler PCR machine and electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel. Results of the PCR shows a visible band corresponding to 1.5kbp using this primer 27F (5¹-GAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3¹) and 1492R (5^1-GGTTACCTTGTTACGACT-3¹). DNA purity check shows two of the bacteria possess very good qualities for sequencing for further molecular analysis.

Background: Codonopsis pilosula (CP) is one of the most popular Qi-invigorating herbal medicines and has been extensively used to promote health and vitality in China for a long time. C. pilosula polysaccharide (CPP) is the principal active components of CP, which is considered as the reason for CP widespread application. However, there are not revealed that CPP exert a Qi-invigoration effect by protecting mitochondria and/or improving mitochondrial function in the existing traditional Chinese medicine theories. Methods: Herein, we extracted CPP from C. pilosula and investigated the effects of CPP on energy metabolism and mitochondrial protection. Based on the mice chronic hypoxia model for imitating the “Qi” deficiency state of the human body in traditional Chinese medicine, which was administered with CPP by oral gavage daily for 10 days, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain, mitochondrial respiratory function, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in liver cells were assayed. Adenylate energy charge (AEC), total adenylate pool (TAP), ATP/ADP, and ATP/AMP ratios were calculated. Results: CPP could inhibit the formation of MDA in mice brains, decrease oxygen consuming rate and respiratory control ratio (RCR) of liver mitochondria, increase levels of ATP, TAP and AEC in liver cells under chronic hypoxia condition. Conclusion: Overall, CPP can invigorate “Qi” by improving mitochondrial energy metabolism and bioenergetic levels.

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in clinical settings has become a significant global concern. Among these bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii stands out due to its remarkable ability to acquire resistance genes and persist in hospital environments, leading to some of the most challenging infections. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a crucial role in the evolution of this pathogen. The A. baumannii AMA205 strain, belonging to sequence type ST79, was isolated from a COVID-19 patient in Argentina in 2021. This strain’s antimicrobial resistance profile is notable as it harbors multiple resistance genes, some of which had not been previously described in this species. The AmpC family β-lactamase blaCMY-6, commonly found in Enterobacterales, had never been detected in A. baumannii before. Furthermore, this is the first ST79 strain known to carry the carbapenemase blaNDM-1 gene. Other acquired resistance genes include the carbapenemase blaOXA-23, further complicating treatment. Susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to most antibiotic families, including cefiderocol, with significant contributions from blaCMY-6 and blaNDM-1 genes to the cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance profiles. The A. baumannii AMA205 genome also contains genetic traits coding for 111 potential virulence factors, such as the iron-uptake system and biofilm-associated proteins. This study underscores A. baumannii's ability to acquire multiple resistance genes and highlights the need for alternative therapies and effective antimicrobial stewardship to control the spread of these highly resistant strains.

Background/Objectives: Telenutrition has been reported to enable dietitians to support outpa-tients remotely in an accessible and most convenient state. The literature has also proved that both telemonitoring and health coaching are effective approaches for a greater impact on weight loss and client’s compliance to the diet. The purpose of the present study is to assess the impact of a Telenutrition Weight Loss Program supported with telemonitoring and health coaching on weight reduction.; Methods: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted among 50 overweight and obese adults. The control group (n=25) have received a hypocaloric and tailored diet via telenutrition. Intervention group (n=25) have also received hypocaloric and tailored diet via telenutrition but supported with weekly telemonitoring and monthly health coaching; Results: Participants who joined the intervention group had a reduction in weight, BMI, fat%, visceral fat, and WC. Whereas participants in the control group only had a reduction in WC after a period of 3 months. In comparison between the groups, a greater reduction in weight, BMI, fat % and visceral fat was seen in the intervention group. Furthermore, muscle % after a period of 3 months was sig-nificantly higher in the intervention group. At 6 months follow-up, the intervention group still showed promising results, but it was not significant; Conclusions: Our data indicate that all three approaches telenutrition, telemonitoring and health coaching when combined provides an integrative personalized approach, which may have a significant impact on weight loss in obese and overweight individuals.

(1) Background: The literature has demonstrated several pathways which links obesity and stress. Thus, new approaches of weight management programs must also integrate health coach-ing and telemonitoring for overall health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to measure stress, anxiety, and depression scales (DASS-21) in overweight and obese participants who joined a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the association between changes in DASS-21 scores and changes in anthropometric measures.; (2) Methods: 50 participants have been enrolled in a ran-domized controlled trial and divided in two groups; Intervention group who received a hy-pocaloric diet remotely, weekly telemonitoring and monthly health coaching; Control group who only followed a the hypocaloric diet without any support. The Arabic version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to measure depression, anxiety, and stress scales; (3) Results: Data revealed that participants from the intervention group had a significant decrease in anxiety scales after 3months when compared to the control group. In addition, correlation be-tween depression, anxiety, stress, and all anthropometric measures in the intervention group showed a moderate significant positive correlation between changes in waist circumference and depression. (4) Conclusions: Findings confirms that integrating health coaching and telemonitor-ing have a strong potential in improving wellbeing and weight loss.

(1) Background: General nutrition knowledge is a fundamental pillar of well-being and healthy lifestyles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a weight loss intervention sup-ported with telemonitoring and telehealth coaching, on improving the general nutrition in over-weight and obese individuals. (2) Methods: A total of 30 participants have completed the trial at the 3-month visit, and a total of 25 have completed the trial at the 6-month visit. All participants have enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and received a hypocaloric tailored diet and 3 online nutrition education sessions over a 6-month period. Participants were randomly di-vided into two groups, where the intervention group were supported with weekly telemonitoring and monthly telehealth coaching vs. a control group. The Arabic validated General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) was used, which covered 4 sections; dietary recommenda-tions; food groups and nutrient sources; healthy food choices; associations between diet–disease and weight (3) Results: Findings showed that both intervention and control groups have im-provements in GNKQ scores over time, with the intervention group demonstrating significant in-creases in overall nutrition knowledge and specific areas such as the diet-disease relationship and weight management at 3 months. In addition, changes in GNKQ scores had a significant negative association with BMI and visceral fat percentage. The findings underline the benefits of supporting nutrition interventions with telemonitoring and telehealth coaching suggesting that increased nutrition knowledge may relate to lower body fat metrics. Still, small sample size and high attrition rate of participants were considered a significant limitation in the current study, where large populations is required to confirm reliability of the obtained findings.

The monkeypox outbreak has grown beyond the regions in which it was considered endemic. It has spread from Central and West Africa to non-endemic Regions like Europe, America, and other parts of the world. It has recently been classified as a public health emergency of international concern. This study evaluated the Challenges faced in Global and equitable access to monkeypox vaccines. Global competition has been observed in the race to get vaccines, with low and middle-income countries being disadvantaged. Great inequity exists in the distribution of vaccines globally through advance purchase agreements, vaccine stockpiling, vaccine nationalism, inequitable distribution of existing resources, and insufficient surveillance and reporting mechanisms. To address some of these challenges, there needs to be a global strengthening of vaccine manufacturing capacity, targeting countries with elevated risk profiles and limited resources, overcoming vaccine hesitancy, strengthening surveillance systems, and addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Climate variations in temperature and precipitation significantly impact forest productivity. Precipitation influences the physiology and growth of species, while temperature regulates photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. This study developed bioclimatic models to as-sess how climate change will affect the carbon density of aboveground biomass (cdAGB) in Mex-ico's coniferous forests for 2050 and 2070. We used cdAGB data from the National Forest and Soils Inventory (INFyS) of Mexico and 19 bioclimatic variables from WorldClim ver. 2.0. The best predictors of cdAGB were obtained using machine learning techniques with the 'caret' library in R. The model was trained with 80% of the data and validated with the remaining 20% using Generalized Linear Models (GLM). Current cdAGB prediction maps were generated using the best predictors. Future cdAGB was calculated with the average of three general circulation mod-els (GCMs) of future climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 W/m². The results indicate cdAGB losses in all climate scenarios, reaching up to 15 Mg C ha-1, and could occur under the RCP 8.5 scenario by 2070 in the central region of the country. Tempera-ture-related variables are more important than precipitation variables. Bioclimatic variables can explain up to 20% of the total variance in cdAGB. The temperature in the study area is expected to increase by 2.66 °C by 2050 and 3.36 °C by 2070, while precipitation is expected to fluctuate by ±10% relative to the current values, which. could geographically redistribute the cdAGB of the country's coniferous forests. These findings underscore the need for forest management to focus not only on biodiversity conservation but also on the carbon storage capacity of these ecosys-tems.

Background/Objectives: Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices for adults offers improved patient outcomes. However, bedside transmitters utilized so far are not optimal due to limited patient adherence. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of RM regarding the connectivity of smartphone app-based solutions, adherence to planned automatic follow-ups, and occurrence of alert-based events. Methods: We evaluated the adult heart failure (HF) population with implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) divided into two arms: with app-based RM (abRM) and without app-based RM (control). Results: A total of 81 patients (median age of 69.0) were included in our study. 65 patients received a CRT-D with abRM functionality, and 16 did not. 12 patients had no smartphone, and 2 provided no consent, resulting in their transfer to the control group. Finally abRM arm consisted of 51 patients, while 30 patients were in the control group. Median period of follow-up lasted 12 months. Among abRM patients, 98.0% successfully transmitted their first scheduled follow-up, and 80.4% were continuously monitored. Alert-based events were mainly related to arrhythmic events and device functionality with significantly shorter median time to notification (1 day vs. 101 days; p&lt;0.0001) in the abRM group. Conclusions: Our study showed a high level of compliance with timely initial transmission and adherence to scheduled remote follow-ups. Patient enrollment eligibility was a major challenge due to the limited accessibility of smartphones in the population. App-based RM demonstrated an accurate notification of events and patient-initiated transmissions in emergencies, regardless of location.

Carcinoid syndrome (CS) is a rare condition associated with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), particularly those originating in the gastrointestinal tract, which secrete bioactive substances like serotonin. The management of CS requires a multidisciplinary approach due to its complex clinical manifestations, including flushing, diarrhea, bronchospasm, and carcinoid heart disease. Optimal care involves collaboration between several professional figures like oncologists, endocrinolo-gists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and dietitians. Currently, a wide range of treatments are available focused on both symptom control and tumor burden reduction. Somatostatin analogs (SSAs) are the first-line therapy for symptom relief. Still, in patients with progressive disease or refractory CS, other options include targeted therapies, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), liver-directed therapies, and surgical resection when feasible. Furthermore, management of complications related to prolonged serotonin release and malnutrition as a result of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, post-surgical conditions, vitamin deficit, and chronic diarrhea often re-quires early detection to mitigate symptoms and improve the quality of life in these patients. The complexity of CS necessitates individualized care and continuous coordination among specialists to optimize outcomes and enhance patient well-being.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the correlation between 68Ga-PSMA uptake in PSMA PET/CT in primary prostate cancer (PC) and its histopathological grading (Gleason Score and ISUP grade). Additionally, we compared preoperative biopsy histopathological findings with definitive pathology results in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 86 patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for primary PC staging, of which 40 patients later underwent radical prostatectomy. PET/CT results, including SUVmax values, were correlated with GS and PSA concentrations. Histopathology reports were analyzed and compared between biopsy and final pathology results following RP. Results: A significant positive correlation was observed between SUVmax and ISUP grades (Pearson's ρ = 0.34, p < 0.001), with higher SUVmax values associated with more advanced grades. A cut-off SUVmax value of 5.64 was determined to predict upstaging in patients, yielding a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 60% (AUC = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70–0.94). Additionally, 57.5% of patients experienced a grade shift following RP, with a 35% upgrade and 22.5% downgrade in ISUP grades. Conclusion: 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting high-risk prostate cancer, particularly in patients with GS > 7 or PSA levels ≥ 10 ng/ml. The findings suggest that this imaging modality may be less effective for staging of patients with lower GS or PSA values, that is low-risk PCa. Further prospective studies are necessary to validate these results.

Metal-reinforced polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) is considered the gold standard material for immediate loading on dental implants. However, mechanical problems under loading cycles can occur, such as fractures. To overcome these drawbacks, a novel polymer-based material has been proposed. The aim of the present in vitro comparative research is to validate a novel composite polymer developed to replace metal-reinforced PMMA interim restoration due to its advantages of good mechanical proprieties, easier manufacturing, and handling. Ten interim restorations were CAD/CAM designed and fabricated (five in the composite "ONLY" group, and five in the metal-reinforced PMMA group). All the samples were screwed into the prototype models, simulating a complete edentulous mandible rehabilitated with six straight implants. Outcome measures were breakpoint (load, N) and displacement (mm) thought a static, compression test and material behavior under dynamic cyclic test method (fatigue test). A total of twenty samples were tested. Ten samples were used for each test (10 for static and 10 for dynamic), five samples were used in each group (test and control). All the specimens completed the mechanical tests, as planned. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for all, breakpoint, displacement and fatigue tests. Breakpoint in the test group was 1953.19 ± 543.73 N, while, it was 2031.10 ± 716.68 N in the control group, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.775). The displacement was 1.89 ± 0.34 mm in the test group and 1.98 ± 0.75 mm in the control group, again, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.763). Under dynamic cyclic test method, in the control group the mean load was 2504.6 ± 972.15 N, while, in the test group the mean load was 3382 ± 578.5 N. The difference between group was 877.4 ± 579.3 N (p value=0.121). With the limitation of this in vitro study, the novel composite polymer can be used to immediately load dental implants. Further clinical researches are needed to confirm this preliminary results.

It’s very well known that the world's attention is currently focused on the energy transition. The energy security, in addition to the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming, and the generalization of the access to energy, have contributed to adoption of the Moroccan Energy Strategy with a strong focus on Renewable Energies (RE). Morocco is notoriously poor in conventional fossil primary energy resources with an energy dependence on the order of 90%. The energy crisis and that resulted from Covid-19 pandemic and the geopolitical conflicts, combined compounded with steady increase in demand have heavily affected the security and the stability of the country's energy situation. The transition to RE, by strongly engaging in the implementation of several solar, wind and hydro energy projects benefiting from the country's excellent solar and wind energy potential, has made the country the leader in RE in Africa. By 2030, the share of RE in the installed capacity is expected to reach 52%. In this work, an overview of the current situation of RE (particularly solar energy) in Morocco is provided, including, the potentials, obstacles and challenges, and future perspectives. Thanks to its high solar potential location, it’s predictable that Morocco effort will be focused on this field: the Erasmus Plus Innomed Project is a virtuous example of international cooperation, aiming at create a Solar Energy Network, in synergy with EU Partners.

This study investigated subclinical atherosclerosis progression in low-risk, middle-aged adults (N=141; mean age 49.6±4.7 years) using a 5-year ultrasound follow-up. We compared in-volvement of the carotid and femoral arteries. Methods: Clinical data, risk factors, and carotid/femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque presence were analyzed. Results: Cardiovascular risk factors and scores increased significantly at follow-up. Both carotid and femoral IMT increased (p&lt;0.001) but remained within the normal range. While plaque prev-alence rose and was similar in both arteries (carotid: 4.8% to 17.9%, femoral: 3.6% to 17.7%, p&lt;0.001 for both), the progression of plaque burden was greater in femorals. Notably, carotid IMT demonstrated a faster yearly progression rate compared to femoral IMT. The age- and sex-adjusted increase in IMT was also more frequent in the carotids (52.9% to 78.8%, p&lt;0.001) compared to femorals (23.2% to 44.7%, p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrates significant subclinical atherosclerosis progression in low-risk middle-aged adults during 5 years. Carotid arteries showed a faster progression rate and higher prevalence of increased age- and sex-adjusted IMT compared to the femoral arteries. However, plaque burden was similar in both territories, with greater progression in femorals. Identifying carotid and femoral atherosclerosis burden may be a valuable tool for risk stratification in this population.

The injury causes resistance in human gastric cancer (GC). This Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) entitled “Increases in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chronic ROS leading to human treatment-resistant gastric cancer (GC)” consists of molecular initiating event (MIE) as “Increases in cellular ROS” and “Chronic ROS”, followed by series of key events (KEs); “porcupine-induced Wnt secretion and Wnt signaling activation”, “beta-catenin activation”, “epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and adverse outcome (AO) as “human treatment-resistant GC” in the sequence. ROS has multiple roles in disease such as development and progression of cancer, or apoptotic induction causing anti-tumor effects. In this AOP, we focus on the role of sustained levels of chronic ROS to induce the therapy-resistance in human GC. EMT, which is cellular phenotypic change from epithelial to mesenchymal-like features, demonstrates cancer stem cell (CSC)-like characteristics in human GC. EMT is induced by Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, providing the rationale to have Wnt secretion and beta-catenin activation as KEs in the AOP.

In the course of our ongoing research targeting the identification of potential biocontrol agents from entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), we explored a solid-state rice fungal extract of Blackwellomyces roseostromatus BCC56290 derived from infected lepidopteran larvae. Chemical and biological prospections afforded four unprecedently reported natural products differentiated into one dimeric naphthopyran bioxanthracene ES-242 derivative (1) and three cyclodepsipeptides (2-4) in addition to two known cyclodepsipeptides, cardinalisamides B (5) and C (6). Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated through comprehensive 1D/2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data together with comparisons to the reported literature. The absolute configuration of the isolated cyclodepsipeptide was determined using Marfey’s method. All isolated compounds were assessed for their antimicrobial, cytotoxic and nematicidal activities with some compounds revealed significant activities.

Global warming caused by climate change is a challenge for dairy farming, especially in sub-Saharan countries. Under high temperature and relative humidity dairy cows suffer from heat stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and relationship of heat stress (HS) measured by temperature-humidity index (THI) on physiological parameters and milk yield and composition of lactating Holstein Friesian crosses reared in the humid coastal region of Tanzania. A total of 29 lactating Holstein Friesian x Zebu crossbred dairy cattle with 50% (HF50) and 75% (HF75) Holstein Friesian blood levels in their second and third month of lactation were used. Breed composition of Holstein Friesian was determined based on animal recording system used at the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Tanga. Data collected included daily temperature, relative humidity, daily milk yield, and physiological parameters (core-body temperature, rectal temperature, respiration rate, and panting score). The THI was calculated using the equation of National Research Council [39]. The THI values were categorized into three classes i.e. low THI (76-78), moderate THI (79-81) and high THI (82-84). The effects of THI on physiological parameters and milk yield and composition were assessed. Also, the effects of genotype, parity, lactation month, and interaction of these parameters with THI i on milk yield, milk composition, and physiological parameters were investigated. The results indicate that THI and its interaction with genotypes, parity, and lactation month had highly significant effect on all the parameters. THI affected (P ˂ 0.05) average daily milk yield and milk fat %, protein %, lactose %, and solids – not – fat %. When THI increased from moderate to high values, average daily milk yield declined from 3.49 ± 0.04 to 3.43 ± 0.05 liters/day while fat % increased from 2.66 ± 0.05% to 3.04 ± 0.06% and protein decreased from 3.15 ± 0.02% to 3.13 ± 0.03%. No decline was observed on lactose % whilst solids – not – fat % declined from 8.56 ± 0.08% to 8.55 ± 0.10%, when the THI values increased from moderate to high. Also, THI affected (P˂0.05) physiological parameters. Core-body temperature (CBT), rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR) and panting score (PS) increased from 35.60 ± 0.01 to 36.00 ± 0.01oC, 38.03 ± 0.02 to 38.3.30 ± 0.02oC, 62.53 ± 0.29 to 72.35 ± 0.28 breaths/min and 1.35 ± 0.01 to 1.47 ± 0.09, respectively, when THI increased from low to high. THI showed a low positive correlation with average daily milk yield and fat percentage whilst protein, lactose, and solids – not - fat percentages showed negative relationships with THI (P ≤ 0.05). The CBT, RT, RR, and PS showed positive relationships (P ≤ 0.05) with THI. These negative relationships indicate that there is an antagonistic correlation between sensitivity to HS and degree of production. It is concluded that the THI, genotype, parity, and lactation month, and their interactions with THI significantly affected milk yield, milk composition, and physiological parameters of lactating Holstein Friesian dairy crosses at THI thresholds ranging from 77 to 84.

Porcine parvovirus 8 (PPV8), a novel virus in the Parvoviridae family, was first identified in 2022 in lung samples of domestic pigs from China. Retrospective analyses showed that it had been circulating in China since 1998, but no other countries had reported its presence so far. A recent study conducted in South America did not detect any PPV8-positive samples in that region. Here we report the detection of PPV8 in Hungarian and Slovakian pig farms and the estimated prevalence of the virus in Hungary. Altogether 2230 serum, 233 oral fluid, and 115 processing fluid samples were systematically collected from 23 Hungarian and 2 Slovakian pig farms between 2020 and 2023. A real-time quantitative PCR method was developed to detect the viral genome. Our results revealed the presence of PPV8 on 65% of the Hungarian farms and on both Slovakian farms included in our study, marking its first detection in Europe. Oral fluid samples showed the highest positivity rates, reaching up to 100% in some herds. The viral genome was successfully detected in serum and processing fluid samples too, but with significantly lower prevalence rates of 4% and 5%, respectively. Genetic analysis of 11 partial VP2 sequences demonstrated high similarity to the original Chinese strain but with unique amino acid mutations, suggesting possible local evolution of the virus. Our study presents the first scientific evidence of PPV8 infection outside of China and offers a comprehensive assessment of its prevalence in the Hungarian pig population. Further research is required to understand its potential impact on swine health.

We investigated the micro-threaded stem taper surface and the impact on premature failures, aseptic loosening, and infection. We have focused on the fretting, and crevice corrosion of micro-threaded tapers, as well as the characterization of microstructure and surface properties of two new and three retrieved Zweymüller stem tapers of cementless hip endoprostheses selected from a set of 45 stems. The retrievals examined were those in which the sole source of modularity with a metallic component was the head-stem taper interface between the Ti alloy taper stem and the ceramic head. To determine the surface chemistry and microstructures of both new and retrieved hip endoprostheses stem taper titanium alloy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphological and microstructural analyses. At the same time, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was utilized for characterizing chemical element distribution, and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was used for phase analysis. The micro-threated stem taper’s roughness for different manufacturers was investigated using an optical profilometer. Standard roughness pa-rameters Ra (average surface roughness) and Rz (mean peak to valley height of the roughness pro-file) were used in this investigation.Additionally, profile depth and peak spacing for different samples were investigated. The surface roughness results indicate no significant difference in roughness associated with varying survivorship times, ranging from 3 to 239 months, and across different manufacturers. Electrochemical studies revealed no fretting corrosion in retrieved stem tapers (ceramic head) that prematurely failed due to aseptic loosening after 239 months, infection after 3 months, and low-grade infection after a 32-month lifetime. Therefore, three retrieved ta-pers and two new ones for comparison underwent potentiodynamic measurements in Hank’s so-lution to ascertain the corrosion rate of new and retrieved stem taper surfaces. The results show a low corrosion rate for both new and retrieved samples that failed prematurely due to aseptic loosening. However, the corrosion rate of infected and low-grade infected tapers was higher. In conclusion, our study aligns with existing literature, suggesting that the use of ceramic heads de-creases the problem of taper corrosion and subsequently reduces premature failures in total hip arthroplasty.

Motor intention is a high-level brain function related to planning for movement. Although studies have shown that motor intentions can be decoded from brain signals before movement execution, it was unclear whether intentions relating to mental imagery of movement could be decoded. Here, we investigated whether differences in spatial and temporal patterns of brain activation were elicited by intentions to perform different types of motor imagery and whether the patterns could be used by a multivariate pattern classifier to detect such differential intentions. The results showed that it is possible to decode intentions before the onset of different types of motor imagery from functional MR signals obtained from fronto-parietal brain regions, such as the premotor cortex and posterior parietal cortex, while controlling for eye movements and for muscular activity of the hands. These results highlight the critical role played by the aforementioned brain regions in covert motor intentions. Moreover, they have substantial implications for rehabilitating patients with motor disabilities.

The main challenge in milk production has been to maintain a focus on efficient processes that enhance production outcomes, while aligning with animal welfare and sustainability and being valued by society. As an alternative to improve cow welfare in production and provide better handling of the waste generated by the activity, the system called compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) is an alternative that has been widely adopted in countries with temperate climates and higher milk production. This CBP has been attracting global interest, including from countries with tropical and subtropical climates, such as Brazil, where many producers have started to use it due to the response in terms of milk productivity. A CBP can be designed either in a) an open facility with natural ventilation or positive pressure ventilation system or b) totally closed facilities, equipped with negative pressure ventilation systems and permanent thermal control. The latter system is being implemented in Brazil, despite insufficient knowledge about its efficiency. The objective of this study was, through a review, to gather and describe the most recent information on the use of open and closed CBP systems for dairy cattle housing, mainly how it is applied in tropical climate regions. To achieve the proposed objective, this review study included the following topics related to CBPs: (i) implementation; (ii) bedding; (iii) general construction and architectural characteristics; iv) ambient thermal conditioning. Knowledge gaps and directions for future research are also identified.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenic cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder, is caused by a full mutation (&gt;200 CGG repeats) in the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene. Individuals with FXS experience a wide range of challenges related to social interaction (SI). Animal models, such as Drosophila melanogaster model for FXS where the only ortholog of human FMR1 (dFMR1) is mutated, have played a crucial role in understanding of FXS. The aim of this study was to investigate SI in the dFMR1B55 mutants using the novel Drosophila Shallow Chamber and a Python data processing pipeline based on social network analysis (SNA). In comparison with wild-type flies (w1118), SNA analysis in dFMR1B55 mutants revealed hypoactivity, fewer connections in their networks, a lower ability to efficiently transmit information, fewer alternative pathways for information transmission, a higher variability in the number of interactions they achieved, and tended to stay near the boundaries of the testing chamber. These observed alterations indicate the presence of characteristic strain-dependent social networks in dFMR1B55 flies, commonly referred to as the group phenotype. Finally, a combination of novel research tools is a valuable method for SI research in fruit flies.

This article explores the emerging concept of atrial myopathy (AM) and its potential role as a risk factor for stroke and dementia, both independently and in association with atrial fibrillation (AF). AM refers to structural and functional abnormalities of the atria, potentially causing blood clots formation and their subsequent embolization even in patients without AF. Echocardiography, particularly Left Atrial (LA) strain analysis, is a promising non-invasive tool for AM evaluation and might offer additional risk stratification beyond the established CHADS2-VASc score, potentially impacting anticoagulation decisions. By understanding AM and utilizing advanced imaging techniques like LA strain, clinicians can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of thromboembolic risk in specific patient groups. Integrating LA strain analysis into routine clinical practice holds promise for improved patient management and targeted therapies, allowing for better risk stratification in AF patients. However, standardized definitions and diagnostic criteria for AM are essential for consistent evaluation and research. Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in AM patients without AF.

Systemic inflammation and coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction are essential pathophysiological factors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) that support the use of statins. The pleiotropic properties of statins, such as anti-inflammatory, antihypertrophic, antifibrotic, and antioxidant effects, are generally accepted and may be beneficial in HF, especially in HFpEF. Numerous observational clinical trials have consistently shown a beneficial prognostic effect of statins in patients with HFpEF, while the results of two larger trials in patients with HFrEF have been controversial. Such differences may be related to a more pronounced impact of the pleiotropic properties of statins on the pathophysiology of HFpEF and pro-inflammatory comorbidities (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic kidney disease) that are more common in HFpEF. This review discusses the potential mechanisms of statin action that may be beneficial for patients with HFpEF, as well as clinical trials that have evaluated the statin effects on left ventricular diastolic function and clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF.

The pervasive presence of atmospheric pollution, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, instigates aberrant cellular and tissue conditions, precipitating oxidative damage and inflammatory cascades conducive to the onset of cancer, notably mammary cancer. Given the hepatic metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, the imperative of employing natural antioxidants becomes apparent. In this study, we delve into the antioxidant and hepato-protective properties of Pistacia lentiscus against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced toxicity, alongside exploring its potential anticancer attributes. Our investigations unveil Pistacia lentiscus's anti-proliferative efficacy against human breast cancer cell lines. Notably, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-intoxication escalates body weight, disrupts lipid profiles, and incites serum oxidative damage. Concurrently, hepatic and renal oxidative stress ensue, accompanied by heightened antioxidant enzyme activity in the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-exposed-group compared to controls (p&lt;0.05). Nonetheless, Pistacia lentiscus co-administration rectifies biochemical imbalances, significantly attenuates oxidative stress aberrations, and augments antioxidant enzyme responses (p&lt;0.05). Importantly, histological analysis evinces Pistacia lentiscus's shielding effect against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced hepatocyte injury and steatosis. Our findings underscore Pistacia lentiscus's robust anti-proliferative, antioxidant, and hepato-protective capacities, mitigating metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress propagation in liver and kidney functions, and potential histological alterations, thereby impeding 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary cancer initiation. We posit that Pistacia lentiscus may serve as a prophylactic agent against breast cancer instigated by this carcinogen.

Currently, SARS-CoV-2 has evolved into various variants, including the numerous highly mutated Omicron sub-lineages, significantly increasing immune evasion ability. The development raises concerns about possibly diminished effectiveness of available vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics. Here, we describe those representative categories of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that retain prominent effectiveness against emerging variants including Omicron sub-lineages. The molecular characteristics, epitope conservation, and resistance mechanisms of these antibodies are further detailed, aiming to offer suggestion or direction for the development of therapeutic antibodies, and facilitate the vaccine design with broad-spectrum potential.

Cutaneous mycoses are common infections whose treatment has become more complex due to increasing antifungal resistance and the need for prolonged therapies, hindering patient adher-ence and increasing the incidence of adverse effects. Consequently, the use of physical therapies, especially photodynamic therapy (PDT), has increased for the treatment of onychomycosis due to its antimicrobial capacity mediated by the production of reactive oxygen species. This study investigates the in vitro effect of the combination of blue light (448 nm) and red light (645 nm) with terbinafine on the cell viability of human keratinocytes and the production of reactive ox-ygen species. The combination of terbinafine and blue light exhibits a synergistic effect on the production of reactive oxygen species and a significant increase in the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme involved in the reduction of superoxide ions (O2-) and the genera-tion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Such effect could be useful in clinical practice to improve the response of cutaneous mycoses to pharmacological treatment, reduce their toxicity, and shorten their duration.

Data4HumanRights training materials have been developed as open-source and tailored to limited resource settings where community data collectors often live and work. An overview of how the training material was developed together with community data collectors in Nigeria and Kenya is provided. The paper gives insights into the fundamental principles (i.e., inclusiveness, adaptive, limited resources, gender- and incentive-sensitive) and the structure of the open-access training materials. This resulted in 28 modules designed to be delivered in a face-to-face format in less than one day by a local trainer. To maximize adaptivity, the training modules can be mixed and matched (e.g., as individual modules or a learning path of several modules around a specific training need). The individual modules cover a range of methods and tools that are useful to human rights work, for example, documenting evictions, performing rapid needs assessments after acute crises, community profiling, and monitoring community development indicators. The training materials contain instructions for the facilitator(s) of the training and all necessary training materials to conduct the training. To maximize inclusivity, the training covers basic to advanced topics. Most training modules address basic training topics that can be optimally followed with a mobile phone (to avoid using a computer and printing handouts). The training was developed and implemented with local community groups in Nigeria and Kenya. The material is free to use, adapt, and translate into different contexts and languages.

Recent research efforts in bone tissue engineering have been primarily directed towards manufacture-viable synthesis of biomaterials that can significantly enhance the biocompatibilities and osteogenic capabilities on the new biomaterials. This paper presents a straightforward, cost-effective, optimized, and well-controlled hydrothermal synthesis of Nb-doped potassium titanate nanofibers in high-purity. Characterization data revealed that the Nb-doping potassium titanate maintained the crystal structure, showing great promise for applications in bone tissue engineering.

Patients with predominantly antibody deficiencies (PAD) display hypogammaglobulinemia with a high prevalence of infections, along with autoimmune manifestations, benign and malignant lymphoproliferation and granulomatous disease. It is noteworthy that PAD patients, even those with defects in the same causative genes display a variable clinical phenotype, suggesting that additional genetic polymorphisms, located in either immune-related or non-immune-related genes, may affect their clinical and laboratory phenotype. In this context, we analyzed 80 PAD patients, including 70 with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) for SERPINA1 defects, in order to investigate their possible contribution to PAD clinical phenotype. Eight CVID patients carried heterozygous pathogenic SERPINA1 defects with normal alpha-1 antitrypsin levels. Interestingly, the presence of the Z allele (rs28929474) which was found in three patients, was significantly associated with liver disease; hepatic complications were also observed in patients carrying the p.Leu23Gln (rs1379209512) and the p.Phe76del (rs775982338) alleles. Conversely, no correlation of SERPINA1 defective variants with respiratory complications was observed, although patients with pathogenic variants exhibit a reduced probability of developing autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we recommend SERPINA1 genetic analysis in PAD, in order to identify patients with a higher risk for liver disease.

A single water pollution by dyes is a huge environmental problem; there is a necessity to produce new decolorization methods that are effective, cost-attractive, and suitable in industrial use. Magnetic chitosan polymers offer the advantage of easy separation from the dye solution. In this work, a Chitosan-Fe polymer was synthesized, characterized, and tested for removal of the azo dye Direct Red 83:1 from water. The polymer was characterized in terms of surface morphology (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectrophotometry (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and density functional theory (DFT). The reported results hint that 1 g and pH 7.0 were the best conditions to carry out both kinetic and isotherm models. To understand the adsorption behavior of Direct Red 83:1 onto the polymers, adsorption rate and maximum adsorption capacity were calculated using kinetic tests and isotherm curves respectively. The kinetic data and mechanism of the adsorption process were analyzed by three models and the equilibrium data by three adsorption isotherms. The results indicated that the adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2= 0.999) and fits the Temkin isotherm (R2= 0.946), indicating that the adsorption occurred on heterogeneous surfaces. The newly synthesized Chitosan-Fe polymer exhibited good adsorption properties and easy separation of cleaned water.

Background: Bacteria can survive antibiotic exposure by mechanisms like tolerance without a shift in antimicrobial susceptibility. In this study, we investigated the presence of tolerance to three antimicrobials, ceftriaxone (CRO), azithromycin (AZM), and ciprofloxacin (CIP), in clinical isolates and WHO reference panel of N. gonorrhoeae and explored the prevalence between urogenital and anorectal infection sites. Methods: We examined 66 N. gonorrhoeae clinical isolates, evenly divided between anorectal and urogenital infection sites, using a modified tolerance disk (TD test) for three antibiotics. The isolates underwent a three-step incubation process wherein the isolates were exposed to an antibiotic disc for 20 hours of incubation (Step I), followed by the replacement of the antibiotic disc with a nutrient disc for overnight incubation (Step II) and additional overnight incubation with extra nutrients (Step III). Results: Four isolates were lost due to contamination. Of 62 clinical isolates, 7 exhibited tolerance to AZM, with 6 from anorectal and 1 from urogenital sites (p = 0.0496). Tolerance to CRO was observed in 11 isolates, which was significantly associated with the infection site, with 9 from the anorectum, and 2 from the urogenital site being tolerant (p = 0.02). Tolerance to CIP was found in 11 isolates, but was not significantly associated with the infection site. Tolerance was also detected in 8 (K, M, N, O, P, U, V, W) out of the 14 WHO (World Health Organization) reference strains, with varying patterns of tolerance to CRO (n=8), CIP (n=2) and AZM (n=1). Conclusion: This study identified CRO, AZM, and CIP tolerance in clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates. Significant variations in tolerance proportions between anorectal and urogenital infection sites, particularly for CRO, were observed. Additionally, tolerance was detected in WHO reference strains.

Infections caused by KPC-producing K. pneumoniae continue to pose a significant clinical challenge due to emerging resistance to new antimicrobials. We investigated the association between two drugs whose roles have been repurposed against multidrug-resistant bacteria: fosfomycin and temocillin. Temocillin exhibits unusual stability against KPC enzymes, while fosfomycin acts as a potent “synergizer”. We conducted in vitro antimicrobial activity studies on 100 clinical isolates of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae using a combination of fosfomycin and temocillin. The results demonstrated synergistic activity in 91% of the isolates. Subsequently, we assessed the effect on Galleria mellonella larvae using 5 different KPC-Kp isolates. The addition of fosfomycin to temocillin increased larvae survival from 73 to 97% (+Δ 32%; isolate 1), from 93 to 100% (+Δ 7%; isolate 2), from 63 to 86% (+Δ 36%; isolate 3), from 63 to 90% (+Δ 42%; isolate 4), and from 93 to 97% (+Δ 4%; isolate 10), respectively. Among the temocillin-resistant KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates (24 isolates), the addition of fosfomycin reduced temocillin MIC values below the resistance breakpoint in all isolated except one. Temocillin combined with fosfomycin emerges as a promising combination against KPC-producing K. pneumoniae, warranting further clinical evaluation.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its enablers would shape community uptake of non-covid vaccines such as oral cholera vaccine (OCV) in the post-COVID-19 era. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its drivers on OCV hesitancy in a cholera endemic region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We conducted a community-based survey in Bukavu. The survey included characteristics, intention to take OCV and COVID-19, reasons for COVID-19 hesitancy, and thinking and feeling about COVID-19 vaccines. Poisson regression analyses were performed. Of the 1708 respondents, 84.66% and 77.57% were hesitant to OCV alone and to both OCV and COVID-19, respectively. Hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines rose OCV hesitancy by 12% (crude Prevalence Ratio, [cPR]=1.12, 95%CI[1.03-1.21]). Independent predictors of OCV hesitancy were living in semi-urban area (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR]=1.10, 95%CI[1.03-1.12]), religious refusal of vaccines (aPR=1.06, 95%CI[1.02-1.12]), concerns about vaccine safety (aPR=1.05, 95%CI[1.01-1.11]) and adverse effects (aPR=1.06, 95%CI[1.01-1.12]), as well as poor knowledge (aPR=1.07, 95%CI[1.01-1.14]). Conversely, the belief about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness reduced OCV hesitancy (aPR=0.76, 95%CI[0.62-0.93]). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its drivers exhibiting a significant domino effect on OCV uptake. Addressing vaccine hesitancy through community-based health literacy interventions would likely improve the introduction of novel non-COVID-19 vaccines in post-COVID-19 era.

The over use of pharmaceutical compounds, essentially antibiotics, led to an increase of their concentrations in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the white-rot fungus Coriolopsis gallica (high-laccase-producing fungus) was investigated for the biodegradation of ampicillin (AMP) under different cultivation conditions. The biotransformation of the antibiotic was confirmed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the antibacterial activity was evaluated via the bacterial growth inhibition agar well diffusion method using Escherichia coli as an ampicillin-sensitive test strain. The results showed that AMP (50 mg L-1) was totally removed by C. gallica after 6 days of incubation in a liquid medium. The antibiotic removal rate was maximal with a fungal culture aged 9 days. Such a culture achieved the removal of a higher concentration of up to 500 mg L-1 of ampicillin in 3 days. This higher antibiotic removal rate was concomitant with the maximal laccase production in culture supernatant. In addition, four consecutive doses of 500 mg L-1 of ampicillin were transformed by the same fungal culture in 24 days. After that, the fungus was unable to remove the antibiotic. The measurement of ligninolytic enzyme activity showed that laccase of C. gallica might participate in the biotransformation of AMP.

An adequate representation of the water infiltration process in the soil allows improving the efficiency in application and the uniformity in surface irrigation. The Green and Ampt model has shown a good representation of the process, and researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined the values of their parameters for soils of that country, which are shown in tables or through functional relationships and this information is used as reference in several parts of the world, although there is no certainty that they are representative of the soils in Mexico. In this study, the parameters of the Green & Ampt equation were determined and evaluated in some soils of agricultural importance in Mexico. The parameters were obtained in four ways: one of them applied a methodology adapted from Brooks and Corey to quantify the wetting front capillary pressure head and used an permeameter under constant hydraulic head to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity, and the other three consisted in taking them from three studies reported by the USDA. The values of the parameters suggested in Mexico drastically underestimated the results with relative errors (RE) in a range of -49.0 to -94.0% and the most representative were those obtained with the methodology proposed in this research with RE of -15.0 to 6.0%.

Tea (Camellia sinenesis) is a health beneficial beverage and is also a source for extracting bioactive components such as theanine, tea polyphenols (TPP) and tea polysaccharides (TPS). TPS is a group of hetero-polysaccharides bounded with proteins. There were tests showing that TPS had various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antitumors, antihyperglycemia, anti-inflammation and improving immunity. However, inconsistent results concerning chemical composition and bioactivity of TPS were published in recent years. The advances in chemical composition and bioactivities of TPS were reviewed in the present paper. The inconsistent and controversial results regarding composition and bioactivities of TPS were also discussed.

Background: Disparity in adult mortality (AM) with reference to social dynamics and health care has not been sufficiently examined. This study aimed to identify the gap in the understanding of AM in relation to religion, political stability, economic level, and universal health coverage (UHC). Methods: A cross-national study was performed with different sources of data, using the administrative record linkage theory. We created a new data set using data from the 2013 World Bank data catalogue by region, The Economist (Political instability index 2013), Stuckler David et al. (Universal health coverage, 2010), and religious categories of all UN country members. Descriptive statistics, a t-test, an ANOVA followed by a post hoc test, and a linear regression were used where applicable. Result: The average AM rate for males and females was 0.20 ± 0.10 and 0.14 ± 0.10, respectively. AM was significantly higher in economically weak countries, countries with political instability, countries with traditional religion, without achievement of UHC, and Sub-Saharan Africa (p<0.01). There was high disparity of AM between countries with and without UHC (F = male: 61.89, female: 51.85, p<0.001) and between groups with low and high income (F = male: 36.33, female: 42.39, p<0.001). UHC and political stability would significantly reduce AMR by > 0.41 in both sexes and high economic status would reduce male AMR by 0.44, and female AMR by 0.70, in relation to countries without UHC, with political instability, and low economic status. Conclusions: Disparities in AM can be reduced after the achievement of UHC and economically productive activities for those adults affected by conflict and political unrest.

This paper proposes the use of Bayesian inference techniques to search for and obtain valid instruments in dynamic panel data models where endogenous variables may exist. The use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allows for obtaining a reduced number of instruments in comparison to the high number of instruments commonly used in the literature, and Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) methods enable efficient exploration of the instrument space, deriving accurate point estimates of the elements of interest. The proposed methodology is illustrated in a simulated case and in an empirical application, where the partial effect of a series of determinants on the attraction of international bank flows is quantified. The results highlight the importance of promoting and developing the private sector in these economies, as well as the importance of maintaining good levels of credit worthiness.

Water containing fluoride concentrations greater than 1.5 mg/L is a public health problem. Adsorption on activated carbon is one of the most commonly used methods for removing elevated fluoride concentrations in water. This research was tested the parameters of fluoride adsorption on four modified activated carbons with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Adsorption properties includes initial fluoride concentrations (2-40 mg/L), pH (4-9), dosage of activated carbon (2-20 g/L), contact time (15-360 min) and temperature (25-45°C). The research results showed a decrease in the proportion of adsorbed fluorides by increasing their initial concentration, while an increase in temperature had a positive effect on the proportion of removed fluorides. The optimal pH value of adsorption at which the largest amount of fluoride is adsorbed is from 4 to 6. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms were used to determine the adsorption mechanism. The experimental data showed the best agreement with the Freundlich model at all temperatures, while the pseudo second-order kinetic model best described the adsorption rate. An increase in the adsorption temperature had a positive effect on the adsorption properties of activated carbons for all tested parameters.

The volatility of global energy markets, particularly electricity prices, plays a crucial role in influencing international economic activities. In the era of big data, machine learning has revolutionized the field of cancer research, particularly in analyzing gene expression data. This study explores the application of machine learning models to the GSE45827 dataset, which contains breast cancer gene expression profiles. With over 54,000 genes and 151 samples categorized into six classes, the dataset presents a high-dimensional challenge that is addressed using dimensionality reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE). The PCA method proved most effective in retaining the critical features of the data in lower dimensions, allowing for clearer visualization and enhanced model performance.The reduced dataset was then classified using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model, achieving promising multi-class classification results. The model demonstrated high precision, recall, and F1-scores across several classes, particularly excelling in classes 1, 2, and 5. However, certain classes, such as 0 and 4, exhibited lower recall, highlighting areas for further refinement. The integration of PCA and XGBoost not only improved the interpretability and computational efficiency of the model but also contributed to the accurate identification of breast cancer subtypes, emphasizing the importance of machine learning in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The rise of abusive language on social media is a significant threat to mental health and 1 social cohesion. For Bengali speakers, the need for effective detection is critical. However, current 2 methods fall short in addressing the massive volume of content. Improved techniques are urgently 3 needed to combat online hate speech in Bengali. Traditional machine learning techniques, while 4 useful, often require large, linguistically diverse datasets to train models effectively. This paper 5 addresses the urgent need for improved hate speech detection methods in Bengali, aiming to fill the 6 existing research gap. Contextual understanding is crucial in differentiating between harmful speech 7 and benign expressions. Large language models (LLMs) have shown state-of-the-art performance in 8 various natural language tasks due to their extensive training on vast amounts of data. We explore the 9 application of LLMs, specifically GPT-3.5 Turbo and Gemini 1.5 Pro, for Bengali hate speech detection 10 using Zero-Shot and Few-Shot Learning approaches. Unlike conventional methods, Zero-Shot 11 Learning identifies hate speech without task-specific training data, making it highly adaptable to new 12 datasets and languages. Few-Shot Learning, on the other hand, requires minimal labeled examples, 13 allowing for efficient model training with limited resources. Our experimental results show that 14 LLMs outperform traditional approaches. In this study, we evaluated GPT-3.5 Turbo and Gemini 1.5 15 Pro on multiple datasets. To further enhance our study, we considered the distribution of comments 16 in different datasets and the challenge of class imbalance, which can affect model performance. The 17 BD-SHS dataset consists of 35,197 comments in the training set, 7,542 in the validation set, and 7,542 18 in the test set. The Bengali Hate Speech Dataset v1.0 & v2.0 includes comments distributed across 19 various hate categories: personal hate (629), political hate (1,771), religious hate (502), geopolitical hate 20 (1,179), and gender abusive hate (316). The Bengali Hate Dataset comprises 7,500 non-hate and 7,500 21 hate comments. GPT-3.5 Turbo achieved impressive results with 97.33%, 98.42%, and 98.53% accuracy. 22 In contrast, Gemini 1.5 Pro showed lower performance across all datasets. Specifically, GPT-3.5 Turbo 23 excelled with significantly higher accuracy compared to Gemini 1.5 Pro. These outcomes highlight a 24 6.28% increase in accuracy compared to traditional methods, which achieved 92.25%. Our research 25 contributes to the growing body of literature on LLM applications in natural language processing, 26 particularly in the context of low-resource languages.

Vector published map, as a result of pre-press printing of paper map digital publishing, is a page file in line with PostScript standards. With large amount of data and a large number of map page graphics objects, the browsing speed is slow and the hardware performance is very high, which seriously affects the breadth and depth of the application of vector published map. In response to this problem, this paper proposes a visualization method of large-size vector published map. This method adopts the idea of tiling. The vector published map is physically cropped into several PDF tiles to form a map logically. Data encoding and organization are based on the GeoSOT earth division grid to realize the rapid loading, scaling, display of map data and the correlation retrieval of map product "map and spatial data integration". The experiment shows that the response time of map data loading and browsing is much less than that of professional software, and the method is insensitive to data volume and has low requirement on hardware performance. This method can not only make up the disadvantages of image tiles in the existing network map service, but also make the vector published map can be used in embedded devices, mobile terminals, network modes and other cross-media applications.

Wildfires increasingly threaten ecosystems and infrastructure, making accurate burn severity mapping (BSM) essential for effective disaster response and environmental management. Machine learning (ML) models utilizing satellite-derived vegetation indices are crucial for assessing wildfire damage; however, incorporating many indices can lead to multicollinearity, reducing classification accuracy. While Principal component analysis (PCA) is commonly used to address this issue, its effectiveness relative to other feature extraction (FE) methods in BSM remains un-derexplored. This study aims to enhance ML classifier accuracy in BSM by evaluating various FE techniques that mitigate multicollinearity among vegetation indices. Using composite burn index (CBI) data from the 2014 Carlton Complex fire in the United States as a case study, we extracted 118 vegetation indices from seven Landsat-8 spectral bands. We applied and compared 13 different FE techniques—including linear and nonlinear methods such as PCA, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), Isomap, uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP), factor analysis (FA), independent component analysis (ICA), multidimensional scaling (MDS), truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD), non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), locally linear embedding (LLE), spectral embedding (SE), and neighborhood components analysis (NCA). The performance of these techniques was benchmarked against six ML classifiers to determine their effectiveness in improving BSM accu-racy. Our results show that alternative FE techniques can outperform PCA, improving classifica-tion accuracy and computational efficiency. Techniques like LDA effectively captured nonlinear relationships critical for accurate BSM. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive comparison of FE methods, highlighting the potential benefits of underutilized techniques in BSM

Keywords: Security robot; kalman filtering; millimeter wave; inertial navigation system.

In the World one of the main issues with public health is the lack of fermented cereal grain. One of the solutions is understanding the physicochemical properties of millet grains is optimizing their processing and fermentation. This study examines the effects of fermentation time on the physicochemical properties of finger millet flour batter, using four varieties: Axum, Meba, Padet, and Quncho Teff. Batters were fermented for 24, 48, and 72 hours at room temperature. The pH decreased from 5.8 to 4.5, while titratable acidity (TA%) increased from 0.5% to 1.2%. Viscosity decreased significantly from 420 cP to 190 cP over 72 hr. The number of eyes (NOE) increased from 170 to 240 eyes per 2x2 cm², indicating enhanced porosity. Sensory attributes (SAI%) improved, reflecting better acceptability. These results confirm that fermentation time significantly influences the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of finger millet flour batter, enhanced quality for finger millet-based food products.

This paper explores how smart cities can cope with land subsidence and liquefaction in the context of rapid urbanization in Japan. Since the 1960s, liquefaction has become an important topic in geotechnical engineering, and great efforts have been made to evaluate the resistance of soil to liquefaction. There is currently a lack of machine learning applications specifically for smart cities in areas such as geological hazards. This study uses two machine learning techniques, artificial neural networks and ensemble learning, to obtain a prediction model with high performance in predicting the bearing layer depth to improve the accuracy of geo-engineering surveys. The model was developed by analyzing actual survey data from 433 locations in Setegaya, Tokyo, by using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and bagging, respectively. The results show that machine learning has great advantages in predicting the bearing layer depth. In addition, compared with a single model such as artificial neural networks, the prediction performance of ensemble learning can be improved by about 20%. Both interdisciplinary approaches can help predict address risks and thus promote sustainable urban development, highlighting the potential of smart cities in the future.

Since the beginning of the 21th century, infrared Nd:YVO4 pulsed lasers have been widely applied especially in some actual industrial processes. In the working process of a laser-aided etching device, the “match-head” effect must be effectively controlled by suppressing the first giant pulse for a solid-state Q-switched laser. In the process of optimizing the infrared Nd:YVO4 pulsed laser by adjusting the slope parameters of the radio frequency (RF) modulation to suppress the first giant pulse, it has been come across that some abnormal horizontally polarized emission with a very short time appears before the formal vertically polarized emission when the gate signal is artificially started. Actually, abnormal horizontally polarized emission will bring some unexpected machining traces during the production process and even greater dangers. The experimental results show that with the increase of the slope duration of a RF signal, the existence time of abnormal output horizontal polarized light will be shortened, and the horizontal giant pulse and vertical giant pulse are well suppressed. When the slope duration is greater than 0.18 ms both horizontal and vertical giant pulses will disappear. The horizontal polarized light can be thoroughly suppressed when the slope duration is greater than 13.7 ms. Compared with the method of adding polarizer to eliminate abnormal output horizontal polarized light, this method does not add elements in the laser, ensuring that the laser volume is relatively small, and does not affect the quality of the normal output laser. The research conclusion is thought to be of great practical significance especially for processing transparent materials.

The pervasive use of plastic for milk packaging has raised significant health concerns, despite its advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness, convenience, and durability. The potential correlation between cancer and plastic packaging is one of these concerns. This mini-review examines the health implications of plastic materials used in milk packaging, with a particular emphasis on their carcinogenic hazards. This work endeavors to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of plastic components on human health and underscore the importance of ongoing research in this field by utilizing insights from a comprehensive review article. Harmful chemicals have been observed to leach into milk from plastics used in milk packaging, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), particularly under conditions of protracted storage and heat. Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and styrene are among the most prevalent leachates. These chemicals have been associated with a variety of health issues, such as an elevated risk of cancer, and are recognized for their endocrine-disrupting properties. BPA and phthalates, in particular, have the potential to disrupt hormone function, which may result in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other hormone-related malignancies.This review emphasizes the significance of comprehending the precise components of plastics utilized in milk packaging and their potential health consequences. It advocates for more rigorous research to completely elucidate the long-term health impacts of these materials by emphasizing the current state of knowledge and regulatory initiatives. Additionally, it underscores the necessity of innovative packaging technologies to guarantee consumer protection and mitigate the risk of exposure to carcinogenic substances.

The nonlinear dynamics exhibited by aircraft flying at high angle of attack (AOA) pose great challenges to the design of flight control. The control design based on nonlinear dynamic inversion (NDI) is to reversely find the required control input based on the current nonlinear dynamics of the aircraft and the control objectives to be achieved. Since it is derived from the nonlinear dynamics of the aircraft, a single NDI controller can cover the entire flight envelope without the need for controller switching or gain scheduling. This paper employs the layered structure of the flight control loop to implement the NDI controller through the combination of aerodynamic control and thrust vectoring control (TVC). The resulting NDI controller is applied to an experimental F-16 installed with TVC to verify its high AOA maneuverability in the post-stall region. The verification simulation shows that the experimental F-16 under the NDI control can effectively track the high AOA command and successfully demonstrate the Herbst maneuver by performing the heading reversal with 70° AOA.

The surface thermodynamic properties of polymers and copolymers modified by supramolecular structures are very used in several industrial processes, such as selective adsorption, paints, coatings, colloids, and adhesion applications. Background: Inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution was proved to be the best technique to determine the surface properties of solid surfaces by studying the adsorption of some model polar and non-polar organic molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces by varying the temperature. Methods: The retention volume of adsorbed solvents is a precious parameter to obtain the London dispersive and polar free energies and the London dispersive surface energy of styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer modified by supramolecular structure of melamine using the Hamieh thermal model and our new methodology consisting in the separation of the two polar and dispersive free energy of interaction. This led to the determination of the polar acid and base surface energy, and the Lewis’s acid-base constants of the various solid materials. Results: all surface energetic properties of styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer modified by melamine at different percentages were determined as a function of temperature, following our new methodology. Conclusions: It was observed that the styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer exhibited the highest London dispersive surface energy which decreased when the melamine percentage increased. All materials presented higher Lewis’s basicity and this Lewis’s basicity increased with the percentage of melamine.

Article explores participant specific study of muscle inherehit dynamics hidden inside the diognostic electromyography (D-EMG) signals during load pull exercises, aiming to uncover underlying patterns and nonlinear behaviors. Employing a multi-step analytical framework, the study first evaluates signal stationarity through Quantile-Quantile (Q-Q) plot and surrogate data analyses, revealing insights into signal stability. Subsequent use of phase space reconstruction techniques exposes intrinsic dynamics within the EMG signals, visualized through Poincar´e maps, elucidating attractor geometry and system dynamics. Histogram analysis further dissects the Poincar´e maps, offering insights into signal behavior relative to physiological processes. Additionally, the study quantifies the largest Lyapunov exponent from the Poincar´e maps, providing a measure of dynamical complexity within the muscle EMG signals during load pull exercises. By integrating these methods, this research sheds light on the nuanced interplay between EMG signals and muscle activity during dynamic exercises, offering valuable insights for rehabilitation strategies.

This narrative review examines the crucial role of physical activity in managing long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and cognitive impairments following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, EBSCO (EDS), and Google Scholar, selecting peer-reviewed articles from December 2019 focusing on long-term COVID physical activity interventions. The review highlights that tailored exercise programs, adjusted to individual health status and abilities, significantly alleviate symptoms and enhance psychological well-being. Key findings emphasize the importance of personalized exercise prescriptions due to the variability in patient responses and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in developing and monitoring interventions. Despite promising outcomes, the review identifies research gaps, including the need for long-term studies, randomized controlled trials, and deeper mechanistic insights. It suggests that standardized reporting, templates like CERT, and integrating digital health tools are essential for optimizing interventions. Overall, the review advocates including personalized physical activity programs in standard care for long COVID to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

While digitization can make the health industry faster and more efficient, there are many financial, social and organizational obstacles and barriers to its implementation. This article offers a systematic review of the main troubles detected from the literature review. Also there is a proposal of new kind of restrictions to pay attention. Finally, its offer an heterodox reading about the problem analyzed.