This paper introduces a low-tech capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) designed with low environmental footprint materials. The fabrication process involves a copper plate as the fixed bottom electrode, a polymer-based adhesive as a dielectric material, and an aluminum foil as the top electrode.Finite element simulations include studies of displacement, mechanical stresses, and eigenfrequency. Experimental measurements validate the device's electromechanical behavior, showing an eigenfrequency of 88.6 kHz and a displacement of 22 pm. The low-tech CMUT demonstrates potential for applications such as ultrasonic actuation and energy harvesting, offering simplicity, biocompatibility, and low environmental impact. While not directly ready for applications, these transducers provide hands-on experience with technology similar to high-performance silicon-based implementations. These low-tech MUTs are perfect practical case studies for teaching purposes, combining simulation and experimental validation.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) tegument protein pp150 is essential for the completion of final steps in virion maturation. Earlier studies indicated that three pp150nt (N terminal one-third of pp150) conformers cluster on each triplex (Tri1, Tri2A and Tri2B) and extend towards small capsid proteins atop nearby major capsid proteins forming a net-like layer of tegument densities that enmesh and stabilize HCMV capsids. Based on this atomic detail, we designed several peptides targeting pp150nt. Our data show significant reduction in virus growth upon treatment with one of these peptides (pep-CR2) with an IC50 of 1.33 μM. Based on 3D modeling, pep-CR2 specifically interferes with the pp150-capsid binding interface. Cells pre-treated with pep-CR2 and infected with HCMV sequester pp150 in the nucleus indicating a mechanistic disruption of pp150 loading onto capsids and subsequent nuclear egress. To enhance the in-vivo inhibitory potential and bioavailability of pep-CR2, we conjugated it with a carrier molecule (elastin like polypeptide (ELP)). The ELP-pep-CR2 conjugate was expressed in E.coli and purified. Upon treatment with ELP-pep-CR2, HCMV showed significant titer reductions with no significant impact on cell viability. These results indicate that CR2 of pp150 is amenable to targeting by a peptide inhibitor and can be developed into an effective antiviral.

The discrete element method (DEM) coupled with computational dynamics (CFD) has been considered one of the most sensitive ways of studying fluidized beds. This paper presents gas-solid fluidized bed simulations by use of CFD-DEM. The two-phase interaction is calculated in a way of decoupling. Within the effective neighborhood of the particles, the kernel approximation method is used to calculate the local porosity, thereby calculating the drag force on the particles. At the grid scale, the momentum exchange coefficient is calculated using a two fluid model based method, thereby calculating the source term of the phase interaction in the fluid control equation. The simulated form, size and motion process of the big bubble are all consistent with experimental observations. The simulated solid volume fraction and relative pressure averaged in a horizontal plane at 45 mm above the bottom are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The fluctuation of the simulated bed height over time is similar to the experimental measurement results. The reproduction of these qualitative and quantitative results indicates that the proposed method effectively improves simulation performance and accuracy.

This study analyses regional development in one of the poorest provinces in China, Guizhou Province, between 2000 and 2012 using a multiscale and multi-mechanism framework. In general, regional inequality has been declining since 2000. In addition, economic development in Guizhou Province presented spatial agglomeration and club convergence, which shows how the development pattern of one core area, two-wing areas and a contiguous area at the edge of the province have been developed between 2006 and 2012. Multilevel regression analysis revealed that industrialization and investment level were the primary driving forces of regional economic disparity in Guizhou Province. The influences of marketization and decentralization on regional economic disparity were relatively weak. Investment level reinforced regional economic disparity and the development of core-periphery structure in the province. However, investment level actually weakened the regional economic disparity in Guizhou Province when the variable of time was considered. In addition, both the topography and urban–rural differentiation were the two main reasons for forming a core-periphery structure in Guizhou Province.

The problems of modeling the human bladder and its stress-strain state under external static influence were considered. A method for identification of the anisotropic biomechanical characteristics of bladder tissue was proposed. A FEM model was created, which accepts into regard that the bladder is surrounded by fiber and affected by surrounding organs, and partially protected by pelvic bones. The model considered the presence of constant hydrostatic pressure on the walls of the bladder when it is full. It has been shown that isotropic mechanical characteristics of biological tissue can be used for studying the deformed state of a filled bladder if the filled bladder 300 ml is considered as initial non-deformed stage. This was shown by modeling and verification the effect of the external static force on the bladder. Numerical experiments were conducted based on the constructed model. To validate the results obtained, a series of natural experiments on the effect of external pressure on the bladder under ultrasound control was conducted. In the future, it is planned to use the constructed model to study rupture deformations of the bladder under the influence of static and dynamic loads.

In Bangladesh, climate change is a major concern because of its geophysical location and climate dependent agriculture. As sessile organisms, crops plants have to face difficulties often in this environmentally vulnerable country. Therefore, this study examines the seasonal trend of two climatic parameters viz. temperature (maximum and minimum) and rainfall over a period of 1983 to 2013. Besides, this study provides insight into the relationship between climatic parameters and crop yield of two major crops viz. rice and wheat during 1997-2013. To assess the relationship of climatic parameters with time and yield using Pearson correlation analysis, time series data used at an aggregate level. SPSS software utilized for this analysis. The cropping seasons such as rice growing seasons Aus (summer rice), Aman (autumn rice) and Boro (winter rice) exhibited a significant increase in maximum and minimum temperature. Rainfall found to have a decreasing trend for all the seasons. This study also revealed that the climatic parameters had significant effects on rice yield, but these results varied among three rice crops. Maximum temperature had positive effects on all rice yields, especially on Aus and Aman. Minimum temperature had a negative effect on Aman rice yield but a positive effect on Aus rice yield. Wheat yield negatively associated with temperature. Rainfall exhibited negative relation with both rice and wheat yield.

In this work we explore the utilization of plasmonic resonance (PR) in silver nanowires to enhance the performance of organic solar cells. Plasmonic resonance is a phenomenon in which nanoscale conductive materials exhibit oscillation of conduction electrons, resulting in the creation of an electric field. Enhancing light absorption is crucial for improving organic solar cell efficiency and incorporating metallic nanostructures to induce surface plasmon resonance (SPR) shows promise in achieving this goal. We discuss the two key mechanisms of plasmonic effects: far-field scattering and near-field resonance modes. Far-field scattering extends the optical path of incident light, while near-field plasmonic effects involve localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and plasmonic cavity modes, enhancing absorption by strengthening electric fields near the nanostructures. Silver nanowires are the focus of this study, and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation software is used to investigate their plasmonic resonance behavior in a ZnO/Silver nanowires/ZnO (ZAZ) electrode structure. The simulations reveal the dominance of LSPR in this configuration, with intense electric fields inside the nanowire and propagation into the surrounding medium, offering opportunities for enhanced light absorption in the organic solar cell's active layer.

This paper presents an algorithm for the fully automatic mesh generation for the finite element analysis of ships and offshore structures. The quality requirements on the mesh generator are imposed by the acceptance criteria of the classification societies as well as the need to avoid shear locking when using low degree shell elements. The meshing algorithm will be generating quadrilateral dominated meshes (consisting of quads and triangles) and the mesh quality requirements mandate that quadrilaterals with internal angles close to $90\degree$ are to be preferred. The geometry is described by a dictionary containing points, rods, surfaces and openings. The first part of the proposed method consist of an algorithm to automatically clean the geometry. The corrected geometry is then meshed by the frontal Delaunay mesh generator as implemented in the gmsh package. We present a heuristic method to precondition the cross field of the frontal quadrilateral mesher. Also the influence of the order in which the plates are meshed will be explored as a preconditioning step.

Sedimentation processes have negative socioeconomic and environmental consequences, ranging from eutrophication phenomena, loss of water quality in surface water bodies, effects on the potential for hydroelectric generation, etc. Frequently, anthropic activity is the main cause that enhances these processes through changes in land use that can lead to landscape modifications. Therefore, it is relevant to evaluate this phenomenon and to be able to discriminate the influence of different land uses on the contributions to sediment loads at different scales. The novel Compound Specific Stable Isotopes technique allows the evaluation of sediment inputs associated with different land use changes in a study region. In the present work this technique was used in the Alhajuela Lake sub-basin, within the Panama Canal Watershed. The contribution levels of three (3) representative land uses (forest, pasture and sediment) in the study area were evaluated for the sediments present in sixteen (16) selected mixing points. The main contributions of the sources to the sediments present in the main rivers and tributaries flowing into Alhajuela Lake, in the sub-basin of the same name, were identified. The results obtained are consistent with observations and measurements of sedimentation in the study area.

Shared e-scooters are gaining popularity as a solution for first and last-mile connectivity in urban areas. This study conducted in Doha, Qatar, aimed to understand how weather and land use patterns affect e-scooter usage, utilizing various datasets. Given the novelty of micromobility systems in Qatar and their sensitivity to the local hot and humid climate, the study employed a comprehensive analytical approach. Analysis revealed that e-scooter demand spikes on weekends, particularly in the afternoon. Influential land use factors include proximity to universities and employment centers, while a higher presence of Qatari females in an area correlates with reduced usage, pointing to cultural influences. Weather conditions, especially humidity and extreme temperatures, significantly impact e-scooter demand. The study employed the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm for trip clustering and the Random Forest (RF) algorithm to model trip counts, considering temperature and humidity. Insights showed humidity as a critical predictor of hourly e-scooter trip counts. These findings underscore the importance of considering weather, land use, the relationship between land use characteristics and weather variations, and finally cultural factors in optimizing e-scooter services. By integrating data analysis and machine learning, the study offers valuable insights for enhancing urban mobility and transportation planning in GCC countries, promoting sustainable urban mobility.

A superior variant of dried jujube in China is ‘Huizao’ (HZ) jujube. Nonetheless, detailed evaluations of the texture quality of HZ fruits have been the subject of few studies. Texture is a significant indicator of the sensory and processed quality of a fruit. Here, we differentiate and characterize the texture quality of HZ fruits from the four primary producing regions in southern Xinjiang, as well as develop a system for assessing the texture quality of HZ fruits. Furthermore, five texture indices of HZ fruits from 109 plantations were exhaustively evaluated utilizing principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical clustering analysis. Consequently, by the 10th, 30th, 70th, and 90th percentiles, each index was classified into five grades—lower, medium, high, and higher. Correlation investigation indicated strong relationships between the springiness, chewiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and hardness of HZ fruits. Springiness, hardness, and adhesiveness are essential indicators that influence the texture of HZ fruits. We used clustering analysis to separate the six texture indices into three major categories (hard factor, stick-elastic factor, and adhesive factor), with indices representing hardness, springiness, and adhesiveness, respectively. Furthermore, according to the factor molecules, the texture quality of HZ fruits in the four production areas was evaluated as Bazhou (1.24) > Hotan (0.773) > Kashi (-0.577) > Aksu (-0.852). RDA analysis of six texture quality parameters and 24 climate conditions identified higher mean temperature (TEM) and lower relative humidity (RHU) as the primary factors contributing to the improved texture quality of HZ fruits in Xinjiang. This study identified the texture quality characteristics of HZ fruits in four major producing areas of Southern Xinjiang, and it offered a theoretical foundation for optimizing the dominant producing areas and regional production of HZ varieties in Xinjiang.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a vital tool for assessing and understanding the state of hunger and food security across the world. In this review article, we examine the GHI scores of various countries in the years 2000, 2008, 2015, and 2023. We aim to explore the changes in GHI scores over this period, identify trends, and discuss the implications for global food security. The GHI provides a comprehensive snapshot of the world's progress in reducing hunger, and this analysis sheds light on the successes and challenges faced by different countries.

This paper reveals some properties of the cumulative entropy of consecutive k-out-of-n:F system's lifetime. First, we introduce a method for calculating the cumulative entropy of their lifetime and explore its preservation properties using established stochastic orders. Ad- ditionally, we obtain useful bounds that can used in situations where the distribution function of the system's component lifetimes are complicated or systems have large components. To support practical applications, we present two nonparametric estimators for the cumulative entropy of these systems. The efficiency and performance of these estimators are illustrated with simulated datasets and further validated with real data sets.

Implant-supported-screw-retained prostheses are really popular. Some of the most frequent complications have been mechanical complications. These include abutment screw loosening or even screw fracture. Using an intermediate abutment can offer several advantages. However, little literature has been found regarding how this affects the mechanical behavior of dental restorations. This study focuses on understanding the mechanical behavior of implant-supported restorations with a transepithelial component compared to those with a direct implant-supported restoration. It was carried out by using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and was experi-mentally validated. The results showed that in the case of transepithelial-supported restoration, the prosthetic screw mounted over the transepithelial component suffers higher stress than the one screwed directly to the implant. After applying a cyclic fatigue load, it is experimentally proven that, in the transepithelial-supported restorations, the fuse changes from being the screw that goes to the implant, to being the upper one. As a conclusion we can say that the use of an intermediate abutment in dental restoration not only provides better protection to the rest of the dental restoration but also allows easier repair in the event of a fracture. This can potentially lead to more efficient procedures and improved patient outcomes.

This study develops an intelligent fire suppression device that links microcapsule-based IoT to extinguish early fires, such as blind spots that cannot be seen by humans or places that are difficult to recognize fires. The microcapsule is a micro-unit collection that collects Novak 1230 gas generated in the semiconductor production process. The microcapsule is molded into a form with a fire suppression function, and when a fire occurs, the molded body explodes and absorbs ambient oxygen to suppress the fire. The complex sensor IoT executes smoke and heat detection generated when a fire is suppressed within 10 seconds, which derives the reliability of the detector by notifying the fire and detecting the ignition point through communication linkages such as Ieee 485 and WiFi or LoRa.

Construction using earth materials demonstrates ecological sustainability using locally sourced natural materials and environmentally friendly demolition methods. In this study, the environmental impact of adding cement to soil materials for rammed-earth farmhouse construction in rural China was investigated and comparatively simulated using the One Click LCA database, focusing on the conflict between sustainability objectives and the practical aspects of cement addition. By analyzing how the addition of cement aligns with local construction practices and by addressing the debate surrounding the inclusion of cement in rammed earth construction, our objective is to provide insights into achieving a balance between the environmental impact and the pragmatic considerations of using cement in earthen building practices. Three local structure scenarios are evaluated via simulations: a cement-stabilized rammed earth wall, a fired brick wall, and a localized reinforced concrete frame structure. The quantitative environmental impacts are assessed, and the qualitative differences in adaptation, economic sustainability, and other factors are examined in the context of present-day development in rural China. The results show that the use of cement-stabilized rammed earth wall-supported structures is associated with higher embodied carbon emissions compared to structures supported by reinforced concrete frames and enclosed by brick walls; however, these emissions are lower than those for brick wall-supported structures, while effectively meeting the structural requirements. In addition, the use of cement-stabilized earth for perimeter walls simplifies material management and disposal throughout the building's life cycle, and the cost-effectiveness of cement has been found to be substantially greater than that of reinforced concrete frames and brick structures, improving economic viability and social acceptability, especially among low-income communities in rural areas.

Keywords: contamination; bioaccumulation; fish and mollusks tissue; ecosystem components; heavy metals; organochlorine pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

This study aimed to examine the chemical makeup and antioxidant properties of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Lonicera japonica Thunb. Thunb. (honeysuckle) flowers collected from two geographically distinct regions of Romania: a mountainous region (Făgăraș Mountainous, Brașov) and a coastal region (Black Sea, Constanța). Our research revealed that the extracts from these two regions differed significantly in terms of their total polyphenol, flavone, and phenolic carboxylic acid content, as well as their antioxidant activity. These results suggest that climatic factors play a crucial role in shaping the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Thunb. extracts. Therefore, these findings could potentially contribute to the development of standardized herbal preparations and nutraceutical products.

Background: Existing human cell immortalization methods made the cells obtain oncogenesis phenotype and/or caused the cells gain and/or lose chromosomes. Immortalized normal human T cells lines provide critical in vitro models for basic research and therapeutic products development.Methods: We utilized a CRISPR/Cas9 system to replace a single copy of the exon 2 of the cell cycle inhibitor gene CDKN2A (encoding p16 and p14 proteins) with a single copy of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) to immortalize human primary CD8⁺ T cells (hCD8⁺T-TERT). By using Cas9 protein and low donor DNA copies/cell, we successfully immortalized hCD8⁺T cells with a single copy of hTERT transgene, which also avoided uncontrolled insertion of Cas9 gene and guide RNA vector.Results: Human primary CD8+ cells were immortalized and expanded more than 2.6 × 10⁷ times. Characterization of the cells revealed that the immortalized CD8⁺ T-TERT cells retained most of the cell surface markers and normal karyotype. The CD8⁺ T-TERT cells also retained the dependence of IL-2 and CD3/CD28 activator for survival and expansion.Conclusion: we established a stable immortalized CD8⁺ T cell line that had a phenotype consistent with T cells and will be a useful research model.

Objective: Subclinical left ventricular disfunction (LVD) is common in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Many patients with diabetes have an impaired diastolic and systolic function. With preserved ejection fraction LV (EFLV), the latter is defined as reduced global longitudinal strain (GLS), detected using the speckle-tracking echocardiography. This study is aimed to define the long-term structural and functional disorders of the LV myocardium in patients with T2D without CVD. Methods: Of the 120 patients with and without T2D of both sexes aged from 45 to 75 years (57.11±7.9 years), included in the study in 2012-2013, only 57 responded to the follow-up study. The patients were divided into two groups: one with T2D (n=29), the other without it, control (n=28). All patients underwent transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography with assessment of standard indicators of systolic and diastolic cardiac function, as well as GLS. In addition, all participants underwent laboratory diagnostics of carbohydrate metabolism disorders markers, NT-proBNP and CRP. The median follow-up duration was 7.2 [7.0-7.8] years. Results: During the follow-up, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in the type 2 diabetes group was found from 53% to 61% (p = 0.004); no significant dynamics were noted in the control group (p = 0.48). The presence of T2D significantly increases the risk of developing DD (p=0.04). The presence of T2D, increased fasting glucose levels, and an increased HOMA index were independent predictors of the development of DD. Impairment of LVEF was not observed in both groups. At the same time, the proportion of patients with reduced GLS (< -18%) increased in the T2D group (p = 0.036). A significant difference in the frequency of decreased GLS depending on T2D was demonstrated. The presence of obesity, an increase in the HOMA index and an increase in CRP levels are independent predictors of impaired GLS. Conclusions: T2D is an independent risk factor for the worsening of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with T2D without CVD over 7-year follow-up. Diastolic dysfunction is represented by delayed relaxation of the LV myocardium; with preserved LVEF, reduced 2D GLS identifies systolic dysfunction. The tight control of glycemia, lipidemia, blood pressure and body weight is associated with the absence of poor clinical outcomes.

Despite the demonstrated benefits of data monetization initiatives in achieving competitive advantages, many of these efforts struggle to realize their potential. Companies often find it challenging to sustain even initially successful data monetization initiatives due to significant data quality issues. This reflects a disconnect between advancements in data monetization research—spanning digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation—and practical implementation within companies. Consequently, misguided approaches to data monetization are relatively common. A critical prerequisite for successful data monetization is the establishment and maintenance of clean, high-quality data. This study underscores the importance of data quality by conducting an in-depth analysis of Medical Inc., a company engaged in preparing pristine customer master data for advanced customer analytics. The investigation aims to elucidate Medical Inc.’s approach to addressing data cleanliness challenges and to distill a general framework for the customer master data cleansing process. This framework illuminates a relatively unexplored aspect of data monetization supplementing existing literature on digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation.

Background/Objectives: Malignant neoplasms represent the most common diseases worldwide, and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the female population. One of the critical features of this cancer type is the ability to metastasize. This process is related to adhesion, migration, and invasiveness. As demonstrated, the catalytic telomerase subunit, hTERT, may control these processes. The expression and activity of telomerase in normal somatic cells are very low or absent, which makes it a universal and attractive target for cancer diagnostics and therapy; Methods: In this work, we assessed the influence of telomerase inhibitors TMPyP4, BIBR 1532, or imetelstat on the ability to form spheroids in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Cells of both lines were treated with specific compounds in concentrations: TMPyP4 - 5, 10, 20 µM; BIBR 1532 - 1, 5, 10 µM or imetelstat 1, 5, 10 µM for 72 hours. Cells were then trypsinized and applied to 96-well low-adhesive plates at 500 cells per well, followed by observation at different time intervals, i.e., 24, 48, and 72 hours; Results: As shown, the applied telomerase inhibitors influenced the ability of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to form spheroids in a concentration- and incubation-time-dependent manner; Conclusions: Although the mechanism of this phenomenon has not been fully understood, it seems that the use of telomerase expression/activity inhibitors to reduce the adhesive capacity and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells may play a significant role in cancer therapy.

The energy matrix worldwide has been going through difficulties in its discussions - such as irregular exploration, inefficient public policies, and arbitrariness concerning diplomatic and political definitions of those involved in this market. This work's general objective consists in analyzing associations and statistical inferences of the largest world oil producers, assimilating the contributions and singularities of this market from 1993 to 2020. Based on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), it was possible to identify the possible inferences and contributions of the ten largest oil producers in the world in more than two decades using statistical analysis through correlation, regression, and statistical analysis of variables. According to the research and the literature on the area, the oil market proposes support to its discussions, mainly in its productive approaches. It is possible to identify this market as a solid link to geopolitical actions, distributing the possibilities through economic bias and socio-cultural and historical factors on a global level.

Recently, a large number of Transformer-based solutions have emerged for the trajectory prediction task, but there are shortcomings in the effectiveness of Transformers in trajectory prediction. Specifically, while position encoding preserves some of the ordering information, the self-attention mechanism at the core of the Transformer has its alignment invariance that leads to the loss of temporal information, which is crucial for trajectory prediction. For this reason, we design a simple and efficient strategy for temporal information extraction and prediction of trajectory sequences using the self-attention mechanism and linear layers. Experimental results show that the strategy we designed can effectively combine the advantages of the linear layer and self-attention mechanisms, compensating for the shortcomings of the Transformer. Additionally, we conducted an empirical study to explore the effectiveness of the linear layer and sparse self-attention mechanisms in trajectory prediction.

We are witnessing a dramatic transformation in the way we do science. In recent years, significant flaws with existing scientific methods have come to light, including lack of transparency, insufficient involvement of stakeholders, disconnection from the public, and limited reproducibility of research findings. These concerns have sparked a global movement to revolutionize scientific practice and the emergence of Open Science. This new approach to science extends principles of openness to the entire research cycle, from hypothesis generation to data collection, analysis, replication, and translation from research to practice. Open Science seeks to remove all barriers to conducting high quality, rigorous, and impactful scientific research by ensuring that the data, methods, and opportunities for collaboration are open to all. Emerging digital technologies and "big data" (see "Ten simple rules for responsible big data research") have further accelerated the Open Science movement by affording new approaches to data sharing, connecting researcher networks, and facilitating the dissemination of research findings. Open scientific practices are also having a profound impact on the health sciences and medical research, and specifically how we conduct clinical research with human participants. Human health research necessitates careful considerations for practicing science in an ethical manner. There is also a particular urgency to human health research since the goal is to help people, so doing good science takes on a different meaning than simply doing science well. It also implores the scientist to reassess the conventional view of human health research as a pursuit conducted by scientists on human subjects, and lays a greater emphasis on inclusive and ethical practices to ensure that the research takes into account the interests of those who would be most impacted by the research. Openness in the context of human health research also raises greater concerns about privacy and security and presents more opportunities for people, including participants of research studies, to contribute in every capacity. At the core of open health research, scientific discoveries are not only the product of collaboration across disciplines, but must also be owned by the community that is inclusive of researchers, health workers, and patients and their families. To guide successful open health research practices, it is essential to carefully consider and delineate its guiding principles. This editorial is aimed at individuals participating in health science in any capacity, including but not limited to people living with medical conditions, health professionals, study participants, and researchers spanning all types of disciplines. We present ten simple rules that, while not comprehensive, offer guidance for conducting health research with human participants in an open, ethical, and rigorous manner. These rules can be difficult, resource-intensive, and can conflict with one another. They are aspirational and are intended to accelerate and improve the quality of human health research. Work that fails to follow these rules is not necessarily an indication of poor quality research, especially if the reasons for breaking the rules are considered and articulated (see rule 6: document everything). While most of the responsibility of following these rules falls on researchers, anyone involved in human health research in any capacity can apply them.

The monitoring of coastal waters using satellite data, from sensors including Sentinel-3 OLCI, has become a vital tool in the management of these water environments; especially when it comes to improving our understanding of the effects of climate change on these regions. In this study, Level-2 water products derived from different OLCI Sentinel-3 processors were validated against a comprehensive in situ dataset from the NW Baltic Sea proper region. The products validated were those of the regionally adapted Case-2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) OLCI processor (v1.0 and v2.1), as well as the latest standard Level-2 OLCI case 2 (Neural Network) products from Sentinel-3’s processing baseline: Baseline Collection 003 (BC003), including “CHL_NN”, “TSM_NN”, and “ADG443_NN”. Furthermore, the effect of the current EUMETSAT system vicarious calibration (SVC) on the Level-2 water products was also validated. Results showed that the system vicarious calibration (SVC) reduces the reliability of the Level-2 OLCI products. For example, the application of these SVC gains to the OLCI data for the regionally adapted v2.1 C2RCC products resulted in RMSD increases of 36% for “conc_tsm”; 118% for “conc_chl”; 33% for “iop_agelb”; 50% for “iop_adg”; and 10% for “kd_z90max” using a ±3h validation window. The findings indicate that the current EUMETSAT SVC gains should be applied and interpreted with caution in the region of study at present. A key outcome of the paper recommends the development of a regionally specific SVC against AERONET-OC data for the region.

Pandemics, and other risk-related contexts, require dynamic changes in behavior as situations develop. Human behavior is influenced by both explicit (cognitive) and implicit (intuitive) factors. In this study, we used psychological distance as a lens to understand what influences our decision-making with regards to risk in the context of COVID-19. The study was based on the rationale that our relational needs are more concrete to us than the risk of the virus. First, we explored the impact of social-psychological distance on participants’ risk perceptions and behavioral willingness. As hypothesized, we found that close social relationships of agents promoted willingness to engage in risky behavior. In the second phase, we tested an intervention designed to increase the concreteness of information about virus transmission as a mechanism to mitigate the bias of social influence. We found that the concreteness intervention resulted in significantly reduced willingness to engage in risky behavior. As such, communications aimed at changing the behavior of citizens during times of increased risk or danger, should consider conceptually concrete messaging when communicating complex risk, and hence may provide a valuable tool in promoting health-related behavior.

Comparison between hydraulic and hydrologic computational methods is conducted in this study, regarding prismatic open channels under unsteady subcritical flow conditions. One-dimensional unsteady flow continuity and momentum equations are solved using explicit and implicit finite difference schemes for a symmetrical trapezoidal cross section, where the flow discharge and depth are the dependent variables. The results have been compared to those derived from Muskingum-Cunge hydraulic/hydrologic method as well as the commercial software HEC-RAS. The results from explicit and implicit code compare well to those from commercial software and hydraulic/hydrologic methods for long prismatic channels, thus directing the hydraulic engineer to quick preliminary design of prismatic open channels for unsteady flow with satisfactory accuracy.

Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) integrate renewable sources, storage, and optionally conventional energies, offering an eco-friendly solution to fossil fuels. Microgrids (MGs) bolster HRES integration, enhancing energy management, resilience, and reliability at various levels. This study, emphasizing the need for refined optimization methods, investigates three themes: renewable energy, microgrid, and multiobjective optimization (MOO), through a bibliometric analysis of 470 Scopus documents from 2010-2023, analyzed with SciMAT software. It segments the research into two periods, 2010-2019 and 2020-2023, revealing a surge in MOO focus, especially in the latter period, with a 35% increase in MOO-related research. This indicates a shift towards com-prehensive energy ecosystem management that balances environmental, technical, and economic elements. The initial focus on MOO, genetic algorithms, and energy management systems has expanded to include smart grids and electric power systems, with MOO remaining a primary theme in the second period. The increased application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optimizing HMGS within the MOO framework signals a move towards more sustainable, intelligent energy solutions. Despite progress, challenges remain, including high battery costs, the need for reliable MOO data, the intermittency of renewable energy sources, and HMGS network scalability issues, highlighting directions for future research.

Knowing the mechanical properties of fibrous composite materials used in aeronautical industry from the design phase is a primary objective for designers. There are many methods for determining them, but they are laborious and require a long calculation time. And some of the methods are very approximate, giving only upper and lower bounds for these values. Experimental measurements also consume time and others resources. A method for sufficiently accurate and quickly obtained estimation of the engineering constants of the homogenized material is presented in the work. FEM is used to determine the natural frequencies of a standard bar, for which there are sufficiently precise classical methods for expressing these constants according to the properties of the homogenized material. In this way, these sought constants can be determined. In the work, Young's modulus will be determined for such a material, using the relationships that provide the proper pulsations for the longitudinal vibrations. Within the adopted model, transverse and torsional vibrations will be eliminated by blocking the nodes on the surface of the bars. In this way, more longitudinal self-pulsations can be obtained, so the precision in calculating the Young's modulus will increase.

To investigate the effect of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) addition and consequently porosity, two different sets of membranes are manufactured, since PVP is a widely used poring agent which has an impact on the mechanical properties of the membrane material. The first set (PAN 1) includes PAN and the necessary solvent while the second set (PAN 2) is made of PAN and PVP. These membranes are put through several characterisation processes including tensile testing. The obtained data are used to model the static behaviour of the membranes with different geometries, but similar loading and boundary conditions that represent their operating conditions. This modelling process is undertaken by using finite element method. The main idea is to investigate how geometry affects the load-carrying capacity of the membranes. Alongside membrane modelling, their materials are modelled with representative elements with hexagonal and rectangular pore arrays (RE) to understand the impact of porosity on the mechanical properties. Exploring the results, the best geometry is found as the elliptic membrane with the aspect ratio 4 and the better RE as the hexagonal array which can predict the elastic properties with an approximate error of 12%.

Legionella bacteria can proliferate in poorly maintained water systems, posing risks to users. All Legionella species are potentially pathogenic but Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is usually the primary focus of testing. However, Legionella anisa (L. anisa) also colonises water distribution systems, is frequently found with L. pneumophila and could be a good indicator for increased risk of nosocomial infection. Anonymized data from three commercial Legionella testing laboratories afforded analysis of 565,750 water samples. Data covered July 2019 to August 2021, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Results confirmed L. anisa commonly colonises water distribution systems, being the most frequently identified non-L. pneumophila species. Proportions of L. anisa and L. pneumophila generally remained similar but increases in L. pneumophila during COVID-19 lockdown suggests static water supplies might favour its growth. Disinfection of hospital water systems was effective but re-colonization did occur, appearing to favour L. pneumophila, although L. anisa colony numbers also increased as a proportion of the total. While L. pneumophila remains the main species of concern as a risk to human health, L. anisa’s role should not be under-estimated, either as a potential infection risk or as an indicator of the need to intervene to control Legionella colonization of water supplies.

The successful handling of large semiconductor wafers is crucial for scaling up their production. Early-stage warpage control allows to prevent undesirable asymmetric warpage, known as wafer bifurcation or buckling. Indeed, even in a gravity-free environment, thinning an 8" or 12" semiconductor wafer can result in warpage and bifurcation. To mitigate this issue, the taiko method, which involves creating a thicker ring region around the rim of the wafer, has been widely used. Previous research has focused on the theoretical factors affecting the warpage of a backside metalized taiko wafer. This work extends the case to a front-side metalized taiko wafer and introduces the concept of the equivalent thickness of a taiko wafer. The equivalent thickness of a taiko wafer, influenced by the ring region, lies in between the thickness of the central region and that of the annular region. Because of the limited number of taiko wafers that can be produced on a production line, modelling can be beneficial. In this work we compared the results of a developed analytical model with those obtained from a finite element analysis (FEA) approach with ANSYSY® software to model the equivalent thickness of a taiko wafer. We investigated the curvature as a function of the stress of the metal layer, considering key design factors such as the substrate region thickness, the thickness of the thin metal film, the step height, and the width of the ring region. By systematically varying the thickness of the central region of the taiko wafer, we explored the curvature as a function of stress induced by thermal load in the linear regime and determined the slopes in the linear region of the curvature vs. stress curves. The aim of this study is to identify regularities and similarities with the Stoney equation and investigate the validity of the analytical approach for the case of a taiko substrate. It results that there is a good agreement between the analytical model of a taiko wafer and the numerical analysis gained by the FEA methods.

Efficiency serves as a crucial metric in assessing the advancement of scientific research for universities. Reasonable inputs of human resources, finances, materials, and other resources, along with high-quality research output, are important guarantees for the research efficiency of Chinese universities. This study delves into the patterns of changes of research efficiency among universities across the 31 provinces and municipalities of China from 2012 to 2022. By scrutinizing input-output perspectives and utilizing data sourced from the China Statistical Yearbook, the analysis unveils prevailing scenarios of input redundancy and output insufficiency in research efficiency across universities. The static and dynamic trends in research efficiency were further investigated by employing a static non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-BCC model and a dynamic Malmquist index. Key findings from the analysis from 2012 to 2022 include: (1) notable growth in investments in teaching, research equipment assets, and research and development funds among nationwide universities; (2) a steady increase in the mean value of technical efficiency (TE) from 0.97 to 0.99, indicating continuous enhancement in overall efficiency in research input resource allocation across the provinces; (3) the mean Malmquist productivity index of 1.285, with an average annual increase of 28.5%, signifying a consistent improvement in university research efficiency throughout the study period; and (4) the provinces experiencing varying degrees of input redundancy or output insufficiency were selected to suggest the need for tailored strategies in resource allocation. The study underscores the importance of a holistic evaluation system involving stakeholders from government, universities, and society to optimize research efficiency and promote scientific innovation and social development.

Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked nation in Central Asia, is characterized by its rugged mountainous terrain, which covers approximately 90% of its land area. This unique geography poses specific challenges related to climate vulnerability. To address these challenges, we propose a comprehensive approach that involves gathering meteorological data and making it accessible to decision-makers. By leveraging LoRaWAN communication technology, which efficiently transmits sparse and low-speed data over long distances while minimizing power consumption, we can enhance climate resilience. The Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter, in collaboration with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the Central Asia Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG), has initiated the installation of meteorological sensors and disaster mitigation devices, including river water level sensors, terrain moisture sensors, and tilt detectors. These sensors collect critical data, which is stored within the country on an ad hoc server. Stakeholders can access this data according to their specific requirements. This paper outlines the criteria for selecting the deployed equipment and provides details on the installation process at pilot sites, along with the challenges encountered during project execution.

Every finite simple group P can be generated by two of its elements. Pairs of generators forP are available in the Atlas of finite group representations as (not necessarily minimal) permutation representations P . It is unusual but significant to recognize that a P is a Grothendieck’s dessin d’enfant D and that a wealth of standard graphs and finite geometries G - such as near polygons and their generalizations - are stabilized by a D. In our paper, tripods P − D − G of rank larger than two,corresponding to simple groups, are organized into classes, e.g. symplectic, unitary, sporadic, etc (as in the Atlas). An exhaustive search and characterization of non-trivial point-line configurationsdefined from small index representations of simple groups is performed, with the goal to recognize their quantum physical significance. All the defined geometries G's have a contextuality parameterclose to its maximal value 1.

The analytical method for the calculation of the properties of a bolted connection established by the structural Eurocodes proposes the T-stub as a component for the characterization of the tension and compression zones in moment joints. In this article, a review of the state of the art on the T-stub component is developed, where the works developed since it was initially defined, and from the perspectives of formulation, experimentation and numerical simulation are summarized and discussed. Additionally, possible future lines of work are proposed.

This paper investigates the integration of SHM within the frame of Industry 4.0 technologies, highlighting the potential for intelligent infrastructure management through the utilization of Big Data analytics, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The study also presents a success case focused on a novel SHM methodology for detecting and locating damages in metallic aircraft structures, employing dimensional reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). By analyzing strain data collected from a network of sensors and comparing it to a baseline pristine condition, the methodology aims to identify subtle changes in local strain distribution indicative of damage. Through extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations and a PCA contribution analysis, the research explores the influence of various factors on damage detection, including sensor placement, noise levels, and damage size and type. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in detecting cracks and holes as small as 2mm in length, showcasing the potential for early damage identification and targeted interventions in diverse sectors such as aerospace, civil engineering, and manufacturing. Ultimately, this paper underscores the synergistic relationship between SHM and Industry 4.0, paving the way for a future of intelligent, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure.

Obesity results in hepatic fat accumulation, i.e., steatosis. Besides the fat overload, impaired fatty acid β-oxidation also promotes steatosis. Fatty acid β-oxidation takes place in mitochondria and peroxisomes. Usually very long chain and branched-chain fatty acids are first oxidized in peroxisomes, and the resultant short chain fatty acids are further oxidized in mitochondria. Peroxisome biogenesis is regulated by peroxin 16 (PEX16). In liver-specific PEX16 knockout (Pex16Alb-Cre) mice, hepatocyte peroxisomes were absent, but hepatocytes proliferated, and liver mass was enlarged. These results suggest that normal liver peroxisomes restrain hepatocyte proliferation and liver sizes. After high fat diet (HFD) feeding, body weights were increased in PEX16 floxed (Pex16fl/fl) mice and adipose-specific PEX16 knockout (Pex16AdipoQ-Cre) mice but not in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice, suggesting that the development of obesity is regulated by liver PEX16 but not by adipose PEX16. However, it was previously reported that HFD-induced obesity in the Pex16AdipoQ-Cre mice was more severe than in the wild type mice, which was not observed until 27 weeks of HFD feeding. Thus, liver initiates the development of obesity, which is enhanced by abnormal adipocytes. HFD increased liver mass in the Pex16fl/fl mice but somehow reduced the already enlarged liver mass in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice. Basal levels of serum triglyceride, free fatty acids and cholesterol were decreased whereas serum bile acids were increased in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice, and HFD-induced steatosis was not observed in the Pex16Alb-Cre mice. These results suggest that normal liver peroxisomes contribute to the development of liver steatosis and obesity.

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis and is primarily transmitted via the faecal-oral route. The clinical presentation and progression of the disease vary based on the patient’s age. Turkey is classified as an intermediate endemic country, and HAV infection remains a significant public health issue worldwide. Methods: This study conducted a systematic meta-analysis to evaluate age-specific HAV seroprevalence rates in Turkey from 2000 to 2023. A comprehensive literature search identified 177 articles, of which 57 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were assessed for quality and categorized by age groups: 0-<5, 5-<15, 15-35, and >35 years and older. Statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (CMA) and SPSS. Results: The meta-analysis found that HAV seroprevalence rates for the age group 0-<5 were 73.18%, for 5-<15 were 46.88%, for 15-35 were 55.77%, and for those aged >35 were 90.90%. The overall seroprevalence, calculated using a random effects model, was 64.5% (95% CI: 58.3-70). High heterogeneity (I² = 99.77) was observed across studies, and excluding low-quality studies resulted in changes to the prevalence estimate. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that inclining trend in HAV IgG seroprevalence in Turkey, particularly among younger populations, likely due to the vaccination program initiated in 2012. Furthermore, the observed heterogeneity across regions highlights the importance of regional public health strategies. Future studies should focus on studies that provide more detailed data to evaluate the long-term effects of vaccination and explain regional differences in HAV seroprevalence.

This review provides an overview of eXplainable AI (XAI) methods for oncological ultrasound image analysis and compares their performance evaluations. A systematic search of Medline Embase and Scopus between March 25 and April 14 2024 identified 17 studies describing 14 XAI methods, including visualization, semantics, example-based, and hybrid functions. These methods primarily provided specific, local, and post-hoc explanations. Performance evaluations focused on AI model performance, with limited assessment of explainability impact. Standardized evaluations incorporating clinical end-users are generally lacking. Enhanced XAI transparency may facilitate AI integration into clinical workflows. Future research should develop real-time methodologies and standardized quantitative evaluative metrics.

The article presents the case of a 27-year-old female patient with idiopathic congenital complete heart block who was referred by her primary care physician for cardiological evaluation. The conduction disturbance was recognized at the age of 6 years and was asymptomatic. The disqualification from pacemaker implantation included detailed history of a patient’s symptoms, echocardiographic assessment of the heart, exercise testing and ECG Holter monitoring. The aid of salbutamol administered orally was also useful.

Applied talent is not only a builder of human civilization but also a promoter of economic development. They not only need systematic and solid engineering theoretical knowledge but also rich engineering practical experience. Applied undergraduate colleges are the cradle for cultivating applied talent and shoulder the important mission of cultivating various types of applied talent for society. With the rapid development of higher education, the number of applied undergraduate institutions has sharply increased, but the quality of applied talent cultivated by them has shown a significant decline, which greatly restricts the pace of industrial development in the world. This article proposes a new concept of promoting the "three certificates" (graduation certificate, degree certificate, and skill certificate) education model in applied undergraduate colleges, which is of great significance for the country to cultivate composite talents with the ability of "product design, production management, and product processing" at the same time.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction can lead to debilitating pain but can be treated with minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF). This treatment is commonly performed using 2D fluoroscopic guidance. This makes placing the implants without damaging surrounding neural structures challenging. Virtual surgical planning (VSP) using simulated fluoroscopic images may improve perioperative guidance. This article describes a workflow with VSP in SIJF using simulated fluoroscopic images and evaluates achieved implant placement accuracy. Routinely collected survey data on the added value of VSP were also evaluated. Ten interventions were performed on 10 patients by the same surgeon, comprising 30 implants; the median age was 39 years, and all patients were female. The overall mean implant placement accuracy was 4.9 ± 1.26 mm and 4.0 ± 1.44°. There were no malpositioning complications. The VSP helped the surgeon understand the anatomy and determine the optimal position and length of the implants. The average Likert scale score of the survey was 4.7, suggesting a positive role of VSP for SIJF. Planned positions of the implants could be reproduced in surgery with clinically acceptable accuracy and VSP was a valuable asset for the surgeon.

1) Background: One of the most common cancer that affects men worldwide and North American men is prostate cancer. Gleason score is a pathological grading system to examine the potential aggressiveness of the disease in the prostate tissue. The advancement in computing and next-generation sequencing technology now allow us to study the genomic profiles of patients in association with their different Gleason score more accurately and effectively. 2) Methods: In this study, we used a novel machine learning method to analyze gene expression of prostate tumors with different Gleason scores, and identify potential genetic biomarkers for each Gleason group. We obtained a publicly-available RNA-Seq dataset of a cohort of 104 prostate cancer patients from the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository, and categorized patients based on their Gleason scores to create a hierarchy of disease progression. A hierarchical model with standard classifiers in different Gleason groups, also known as nodes, was developed to identify and predict nodes based on their mRNA or gene expression. In each node, patient samples were analyzed via class imbalance and hybrid feature selection techniques to build the prediction model. The outcome from analysis of each node is a set of genes that can differentiate each Gleason group from the remaining groups. To validate the proposed method, the set of identified genes are used to classify a second dataset of 499 prostate cancer patients collected from cBioportal [1]. 3) Results: The overall accuracy of applying this novel method to the first dataset was 93.3%, and further validated to 87% accuracy using the second dataset. This method also identified genes that were not previously reported as potential biomarkers for specific Gleason groups. In particular, PIAS3 was identified as a potential biomarker for Gleason score 4+3=7, and UBE2V2 for Gleason score 6. 4) Insight: Previous reports show that the genes predicted by this newly proposed method strongly correlate with prostate cancer development and progression. Furthermore, pathway analysis shows that both PIAS3 and UBE2V2 share similar protein interaction pathways, the JAK/STAT signaling process.

Here we investigate how the local properties of particles in a thermal bath may influence the thermodynamics of the bath, and consequently alter the statistical mechanics of subsystems that comprise the bath. We are guided by the theory of small-system thermodynamics, which is based on two primary postulates: that small systems can be treated self-consistently by coupling them to an ensemble of similarly small systems, and that a large ensemble of small systems forms its own thermodynamic bath. We adapt this “nanothermodynamics” to investigate how a large system may subdivide into an ensemble of smaller subsystems, causing internal heterogeneity across multiple size scales. For the semi-classical ideal gas, maximum entropy favors subdividing a large system of “atoms” into an ensemble of “regions” of variable size. The mechanism of region formation could come from quantum exchange symmetry that makes atoms in each region indistinguishable, while decoherence between regions allows atoms in separate regions to be distinguishable by their distinct locations. Combining regions reduces the total entropy, as expected when distinguishable particles become indistinguishable, and as required by a theorem in quantum mechanics for sub-additive entropy. Combining large volumes of small regions gives the usual entropy of mixing for a semi-classical ideal gas, resolving Gibbs paradox without invoking quantum symmetry for atoms that may be meters apart. Other models presented here are based on Ising-like spins, which are solved analytically in one dimension. Focusing on the bonds between the Ising-like spins we find similarity in the equilibrium properties of a two-state model in the nanocanonical ensemble and a three-state model in the canonical ensemble. Thus, emergent phenomena may alter the thermal behavior of microscopic models, and the correct ensemble is necessary for fully-accurate predictions. Another result using Ising-like spins involves simulations that include a nonlinear correction to Boltzmann’s factor, which mimics the statistics of indistinguishable states by imitating the dynamics of spin exchange on intermediate lengths. These simulations exhibit 1/f-like noise at low frequencies (f), and white noise at higher f, similar to equilibrium thermal fluctuations found in many materials.

A game problem of structural design is defined as a problem of playing against external circumstances. The scalar criterion serves the function of the payoff function. There are two classes of players, the “ordinal” and “cardinal” players. The ordinal players, designated as the "operator" and "nature," endeavor to respectively minimize or maximize the payoff function, operating within the constraints of limited resources. The fundamental premise of this study is that the probability distribution governing nature's "choice" of states remains unknown. Statistical decision theory addresses decision-making scenarios where these probabilities, whether or not they are known, must be considered. The solution to the substratum game is expressed as a value of the game. The value of the game is contingent upon the design parameters. The cardinal players, "designers", oversee the design parameters. For the se single cardinal player, the pursuit of the maximum and minimum values of the game reduces to the problem of optimal design. In the event that there are multiple cardinal players with conflicting objectives, a superstratum game emerges, which addresses the interests of the superstratum players. The optimal design problems for games with closed forms are presented. The game formulations could be applied for optimal design with uncertain loading.

Preterm infants are at significant risk to develop reduced bone mineralization based on inadequate supply of calcium and phosphorus (Ca-P). Biochemical parameters can be used to evaluate the nutritional intake. The direct effect of nutritional intake on changes in biochemical parameters has not been studied. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of Ca-P supplementation on biochemical markers as serum (s)/urinary (u) Ca and P; alkaline phosphatase (ALP); tubular reabsorption of P (TrP) and urinary ratios for Ca/creatinin and P/creatinin in Very-Low-Birth-Weight infants on postnatal day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. This observational study compared two groups with High (n = 30) and Low (n = 40) intake of Ca-P. Birth weight: median (IRQ) 948 (772-1225) vs. 939 (776-1163) grams; Gestational age: 28.2 (26.5-29.6) vs. 27.8 (26.1-29.4) weeks. Daily median concentrations of biochemical parameter were not different between the groups but linear regression mixed model analyses showed that Ca intake increased the uCa and TrP (p = 0.04) and decreased ALP (p = 0.00). Phosphorus intake increased sP, uP and uP/creat ratio and ALP (p ≤ 0.02) and caused decrease in TrP (p = 0.00). Protein intake decreased sP (p = 0.000), while low gestational age and male gender increased renal excretion of P (p < 0.03). Standardized repeated measurements showed that biochemical parameters were affected by nutritional intake, gestational age and gender.

Several pathotypes of enteric E. coli have been identified. The group represented by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is of particular interest. Raw milk and raw milk products are significant sources of STEC infection in humans; therefore, identifying pathogens at the herd level is crucial for public health. Most national surveillance programs focus solely on raw milk and raw milk cheeses that are ready for retail sale, neglecting the possibility of evaluating the source of contamination directly at the beginning of the dairy chain. In order to assess the viability of new molecular methodologies applied to raw milk filters enabling the identification of the presence of STEC serotypes in milk production and apply the same methods to identify the presence of these pathogens in calf feces we analyzed, through a commercial real-time PCR assay, a total of 290 samples coming from 18 different dairy herds; 88 bulk tank milk (BTM), 104 raw milk filters (RMF) and 98 calves’ feces samples. In total 3.4% of BTM, 41.4% of RMF and 73.4% of calves’ feces tested positive for stx presence, supporting our hypothesis that BTM is not a suitable matrix to assess the STEC presence at herd level, underestimating it. Our conclusion is that the surveillance program needs critical and extensive improvements such as RMF and calves’ feces analysis implementation in order to be more efficient in detecting and preventing STEC infections. The epidemiology of these infections and the characteristics of the pathogen clearly show how a One Health approach will be pivotal to improve our capabilities to control the spread of these infections.

BACKGROUND: Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) remains a primary concern for surgeons performing cervical deformity (CD) surgery. Many times post-operative complications from CD surgeries render patients with worse recovery profiles than their peers. It is important to understand DJK recovery profiles following CD surgery patients. PURPOSE: To identify if DJK patients successfully recover from treatment/reoperation STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective review of prospectively collected database PATIENT SAMPLE: 113 CD patients OUTCOME MEASURES: CD, HRQL, DJK, Recovery kinetics METHODS: CD patients with available BL and 2Y follow-up data. DJK angle (DJKA) was defined as >10° change in kyphosis between LIV and LIV-2, and a >10° index angle. Patients were stratified into two groups: 1) those who developed DJK by 3M and 2) those that did not develop DJK. Patients who developed DJK beyond 3M were excluded from the study. Means comparison tests analyzed differences in demographic, surgical, radiographic, and health related quality of life (HRQL) scores. Normalized HRQL scores at 3M and follow-up intervals (6M, 1Y, 2Y) were generated. Regression analysis assessed patient reported outcomes adjusting for baseline and surgical characteristics. RESULTS: 113 patients were included (17 DJK, 96 no DJK). Age (60.3 vs 62.2), gender (F: 71.0% vs 61.0%), BMI (27.0 vs 28.3), CCI (0.77 vs 0.98), OpTime (484.0 vs 556.5min), EBL (1028.3 vs 843.9mL), and presenting neurologic symptoms (70.6% vs 76.0%) were similar between groups (P > .05). DJK patients were more sagittally-malaligned preop (cervical sagittal vertical axis {cSVA}: 59.0 vs 43.9); had more osteotomies (76.5% vs 49.0%), and underwent more combined approaches (64.7% vs 26.0%), all p < .05. Posterior approaches, decompressions, and levels fused were similar between groups (p > .05). Following surgery, rate of complications and neurologic symptoms were similar between groups, except DJK patients experienced more dysphagia (17.7% vs 4.2%; p=0.034). DJK patients remained more malaligned in cSVA through 2-yr follow-up (p < .05). DJK patients exhibited worse reported outcomes from 3M to 1Y (p < .05), but these differences subsided when following patients through to 2Y: worse NDI (65.3 vs 35.3) and EQ5D (0.68 vs 0.79) scores at 1Y (both P

Interferons were the original prototype cytokine system discovered in 20th-century research. As the name implies, they were originally thought to be synthesised and secreted between cells. Thanks to technological advances, the processes involved in protein secretion can be explained comparatively more clearly at both the genetic and biochemical levels. The discovery of interferon (IFN) occurred when genetic research was still in its infancy. Franklin and Wilkins discovered the structure and function of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) at the same time as Crick and Watson; however, Isaacs and Lindemann, two scientists, described the first IFN in 1957. Mutations can be caused by inherent genetic protein synthesis and during infection as well as within IFN regulation pathways affecting cell proliferation. This remains central to host cell IFN synthesis and effects through IFN protein receptor subunits defined by 6 protein domains. Type II IFN is key to immune cell function secreted by a variety of immune cells, mainly natural killer (NK) as well as T cells. Single–stranded and/or double–stranded RNA/DNA viruses, as well as bacterial infections (e.g., Escherichia coli) and fungal infections (e.g., Aspergillus), also affect IFN regulation. Pathogenic proteins utilise intra/extracellular proteins that sense foreign antigens like Toll–like Receptors (TLRs), affected by mutations within the human cellular IFN transduction pathways. Since the discovery of the third IFN type in 2003, when immune cell phenotypes were further characterised, questions remain about the immunological mechanisms contributing to the regulation of the innate and adaptive host immune system. Alterations in the synthesis of type I/II/III host IFNs can differentially and beneficially alter homeostatic cellular pathways in pathological disease, with type I IFN being synthesised in cancer as well as by homeostatic cells. Therefore, considered here are the overall IFN molecular, cell regulatory mechanisms in the context of immune cell research developments.

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to estimate adherence to methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and identify specific nonadherence risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 111 patients (age mean 56.2±10.6 years, 78.4% female, and disease duration mean 6 (3-13) years). Three adherence self-assessment questionnaires were used: the Compli-ance-Questionnaire-Rheumatology (CQR19), the Medication Adherence Reports Scale (MARS-5), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). We also collected demographic data, disease and treatment characteristics, and anxiety/depression estimation results (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale- HADS). Results: Adherence was identified in 48.6% of patients (COR19), 70.3% (MARS-5), and 82.9% of patients in the VAS questionnaire. All three questionnaires displayed a significant positive mutual correlation: CQR19 with MARS-5 and VAS (r =0.364, r=0.329 respectively, p<0.001 for both), between VAS and MARS-5 score (r=0.496, p<0.001). A significant positive prediction was shown for urban residence (0.347 (0.134-0.901), p=0.030), using the MARS-5 scale, female sex (0.264 (0.095-0.730), p=0.010) according to CQR19 and for a dose of methotrexate (0.881 (0.783-0.992), p=0.036) in VAS scale, while negative prediction were shown for comorbidity number (3.062 (1.057-8.874), p=0.039), and depression (1.142 (1.010-1.293), p=0.035) using MARS-5 scale and for older age (1.041 (1.003-1.081), p=0.034) according to CQR19. The use of steroids was a significant positive predictor in all three questionnaires and remained an independent predictor for metho-trexate adherence in multivariant logistic regression. Conclusion: We showed nonadherence to methotrexate in a significant number of patients using all three questionnaires. Concomitant steroid therapy emerged as an independent positive predictor for adherence.

The steady streaming (SS) phenomenon is gaining increased attention in the microfluidics community, because it can generate net mass flow from the zero-mean vibration. We developed numerical simulation and experimental measurement tools to analyze this vibration induced flow, which has been challenging due to its unsteady nature. Validity of these analysis methods is confirmed by comparing the three-dimensional (3D) flow field induced around a cylindrical micropillar under circular vibration. In the numerical modeling, we directly solved the flow in the Lagrangian frame so that the substrate with a micropillar becomes stationary, and the result was converted to the Eulerian frame to compare them with the experimental results. The present approach enables to avoid the introduction of moving boundary or small perturbation approximation. The flow field obtained by the micro particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement supported the three-dimensionality observed in the numerical results, which could be important for controlling the mass transport and manipulating particulate objects in the microfluidic systems.

Post-Shoah Christology is embedded in the unique relationship of Jews and Christians, especially Jesus’ Jewishness and the Jewish roots of Christianity, as well as Christian moral failures towards Jews before and during the Shoah. Essential for contemporary Christianity, a vibrant post-Shoah Christology confronts three main challenges, each demanding a different response. The first challenge is the reality that soon there will be no more first-generation witnesses to the Final Solution. Such is an inevitable challenge that has to be faced and prepared for. Religious pluralism is the second challenge, and includes a number of related threads, yet should ultimately be embraced. The third challenge is the (inevitable?) loss of memory, passion, and urgency, a willful forgetfulness by Christians towards the importance of the Jewish-Christian relationship, and especially, Christian failure in the Shoah. This challenge demands robust refutation and ongoing struggle. Before addressing these challenges, I will first further define and highlight the need for a post-Shoah Christology and will conclude this article with three general and three concrete hopes for a viable post-Shoah Christology.

Barley mlo mutants are well known for their profound resistance against powdery mildew disease. Recently, mlo mutant plants were generated in hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) with the help of transgenic (transcription-activator-like nuclease, TALEN) and non-transgenic (targeted induced local lesions in genomes, TILLING) biotechnological approaches. While full gene knockouts in the three wheat Mlo (TaMlo) homoeologs, created via TALEN, confer full resistance to the wheat powdery mildew pathogen (Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici), the currently available TILLING-derived Tamlo missense mutants provide only partial protection against powdery mildew attack. Here we studied the infection phenotypes of TALEN- and TILLING-derived Tamlo plants to the two hemibiotrophic pathogens Zymoseptoria tritici, causing Septoria leaf blotch in wheat, and Magnaporthe oryzae pv. Triticum (MoT), the causal agent of wheat blast disease. While Tamlo plants showed unaltered outcomes upon challenge with Z. tritici, we found allele-specific levels of enhanced susceptibility to MoT, with stronger powdery mildew resistance correlated with more invasive growth by the blast pathogen. Surprisingly, unlike barley mlo mutants, young wheat mlo mutant plants do not show undesired pleiotropic phenotypes such as spontaneous callose deposits in leaf mesophyll cells or signs of early leaf senescence. In conclusion, our study provides evidence for allele-specific levels of enhanced susceptibility of Tamlo plants to the hemibiotrophic wheat pathogen MoT.

The textile processing sector is accountable for the extensive utilisation and pollution of freshwater resources. Due to heightened consumer awareness of environmental legislation regarding freshwater contamination, the textile sector is compelled to review and improve their current water consumption practices. Foan dyeing technique is a highly promising alternative that has the ability to contribute to a more sustainable future. This review paper discussed the current state of foam dyeing technology, highlighting its advantages in terms of re-duced consumption of water and energy, as well as minimal usage of dyes and chemicals compared to conventional methods. The foam configuration allows for more effective application of dyes. As a result, there is a decrease in dye consumption and a reduction in processing time. The process is environmen-tally sustainable since it significantly reduces water pollution. Furthermore, foam dyeing method consumes less energy due to its lower dying temperature need compared to conventional processing technology. Additionally, this paper highlights the continued investigation of foam dyeing on many types of textile substrates (such as fibres, yarns, and fabric) and compositions including cotton, polyester, and their mixtures. In addition, the techno-economic comparison of foam dyeing and conventional dyeing is also given. This review paper addi-tionally endorses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, clean water and sanitation) by examining the preservation of usable water and the decrease in wastewater discharge through foam dyeing technology. Lastly, the potential advantages of foam dyeing in terms of significantly reducing water consump-tion and the generation of waste in the textile industry were also addressed.

Under suitable continuity and uniqueness conditions, solutions of an α order Caputo fractional boundary value problem are differentiated with respect to boundary values and boundary points. This extends well-known results for nth order boundary value problems. The approach used is a standard technique and makes heavy use of recent results for differentiation of solutions of Caputo fractional intial value problems with respect to initial conditions and continuous dependence for Caputo fractional boundary value problems.

This study investigates the effect of altitude on the fatty acid composition of grass, yak milk, and yak ghee on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, aiming to understand how environmental factors influence the nutritional quality of these products. Samples were collected from four different altitudes and analyzed for fatty acid profiles using gas chromatography. The findings reveal significant differences in fatty acid profiles, with notably higher concentrations of lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0) at altitude A2 compared to others (p＜ 0.001). Furthermore, the fatty acid composition in yak milk and ghee is influenced by the grass consumed and the metabolism of rumen microorganisms. The results indicate that yaks adapt their lipid biosynthesis to high-altitude conditions, as evidenced by a significant increase in stearic acid (C18:0) levels at higher altitudes, which subsequently affects the nutritional value of their milk and ghee. These insights are crucial for improving yak breeding and dairy production practices, ultimately enhancing food security and nutritional health for local communities residing in high-altitude areas. The study underscores the necessity for further research on optimizing these natural resources for better health outcomes.

Background & Objective: Acne Vulgaris is a common skin disease, with 5 % prevalence in Pakistan and has a significant physiological, psychological, emotional and social impact on the population, our study aims to estimate its annual economic burden per person in Pakistan.Methodology: Economic burden was estimated by using Cost of Illness analysis. All types of costs, including direct medication costs, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs due to loss of work. Data were collected from online databases and literature reviews. Results: Cost of illness analysis estimated that the cost of Acne Vulgaris treatment varies for mild, Moderate and severe acne. Acne is causing an annual economic burden of PKR 1,92,366 PKR per person (direct cost is PKR 1,86,366 and indirect cost 6,000) for an expensive treatment and PKR 53,550 (direct cost is PKR 47550 and indirect cost 6,000) for a cheap treatment. Limitation: Being an LMIC, Pakistan needs extensive study on the pharmacoeconomic analysis of Acne for proper and rational allocation of resources. Conclusion: Acne has a significant economic burden in Pakistan. Even with significant impact of Acne, there is very minute work done about Acne in Pakistan.

Commercial formulates of beneficial microbes have been used to enrich the rhizosphere microbiome of tomato plants grown in pots located in a glasshouse. These plants have been subjected to attacks by soil-borne parasites, such as root-knot nematodes (RKNs), and herbivores, such as the miner insect Tuta absoluta. The development of both parasites and the symptoms of their parasitism were restricted in these plants with respect to plants left untreated. A mixture, named in the text as Myco, containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), opportunistic biocontrol fungi (BCF), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was more effective in limiting pest damages than a formulate containing the sole AMF (Ozor). Therefore, Myco-treated plants inoculated with RKNs were taken as a model to further study which biocontrol agent (BCA) was specifically responsible of plant immunization and the molecular pathways exploited to achieve such an immunization. The PGPR contained in Myco were not able to reduce nematode infection, rather, they worsened symptoms on plants, compared with those observed on untreated plants. When plants were treated with suspensions of Bacillus subtilis at concentrations similar to those provided with Myco and then inoculated with RKNs, infection was actually more severe than that on untreated plants. Therefore, it was argued that both BCF and AMFwere the microorganisms that, colonizing roots, synergistically stimulate plant immune system against RKNs. Beneficial fungi lowered the activities of the defense supporting enzymes endochitinases and β-1,3-glucanase to be able to colonize the roots. However, as early as three days after nematode inoculation, these enzyme activities, and the expression of the encoding pathogenesis related genes (PR-2, PR-3) were found to be enhanced in roots with respect to not inoculated plants, thus indicating that plants had been primed against RKNs. Addition of paclobutrazol, which reduced salicylic acid (SA) levels in cells, and of diphenyliodonium chloride, which inhibits superoxides generation, completely abolished the repressive effect of Myco on nematode infection and presumably plant immune reaction. Inhibitors of copper enzymes and of the alternative cyanide-resistant respiration did not significantly alter resistance induction by Myco. When Myco-treated plants were subjected to a moderate water stress and inoculated with nematodes, they retained numbers of developed individuals in the roots similar to those present in regularly watered plants, in contrast to what occurred in roots of untreated stressed plants that hosted very few individuals because of poor nutrient availability.

Recent results have shown that the human malaria-resistant hemoglobin S mutation originates de novo more frequently in the gene and in the population where it is of adaptive significance, namely, in the hemoglobin subunit beta gene compared to the non-resistant but otherwise identical 20A>T mutation in the hemoglobin subunit delta gene, and in sub-Saharan Africans, who have been subject to intense malarial pressure for many generations, compared to Northern Europeans, who have not. This finding raises a fundamental challenge to the traditional notion of accidental mutation. Here we address this finding with the replacement hypothesis, according to which pre-existing genetic interactions can lead directly and mechanistically to mutations that simplify and replace them. Thus, a gradual evolutionary process under selection can hone in on interactions of importance for the currently evolving adaptations, from which large-effect mutations follow that are relevant to these adaptations. We exemplify this hypothesis using multiple types of mutation, including gene fusion mutations, gene duplication mutations, A>G mutations in RNA-edited sites and transcription-associated mutations, and place it in the broader context of a system-level view of mutation origination called Interaction-based Evolution. Potential consequences include that similarity of mutation pressures may contribute to parallel evolution in genetically related species, that the evolution of genome organization may be driven by mutational mechanisms, that transposable element movements may also be explained by replacement, and that long-term directional mutational responses to specific environmental pressures are possible. Such responses need to be further tested by future studies in natural and artificial settings.

This paper reviews numerical methods used to simulate desiccation cracks in clayey soils. It examines five numerical approaches: Finite Element (FEM), Lattice Boltzmann (LBM), Discrete Element (DEM), Cellular Automaton (CAM), and Phase Field (PFM) Methods. The FEM is widely used to capture moisture diffusion, shrinkage, and cracking during drying. LBM is used to simulate fluid flow in clayey soils, while the DEM focuses on capturing the behavior of individual particles and their interactions. CAM simplifies crack evolution with computational efficiency, while PFM provides a continuous representation of crack formation and propagation. The author discusses the complexity of the problem, the continuum mechanics governing and constitutive equations that describe it, and the influence of various factors such as the multiphase nature of soils, heterogeneity, nonlinearities, coupling, scales of analysis, and computational aspects. The review highlights the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of each method. It emphasizes the importance of appropriate method selection for every problem depending on the aim of the analysis. The article concludes by reviewing the integration of multiple numerical methods to enhance the simulation of desiccation cracks in clayey soils.

Supplementing essential amino acids (EAA), without considering non-EAA (NEAA) and energy contents in reduced crude protein (CP) diets may alter essential-to-total AA or true protein (E:T) and energy-to-protein ratios, potentially compromising growth. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CP, E:T and net energy (NE) on broiler performance. Treatments were: T1— reduced CP (16%, RP), low NE (9.9 MJ/kg, LNE), low E:T (0.56, LE:T); T2—RP, LNE, high E:T (0.60, HE:T), with imbalanced EAA (excess Met and deficient Thr); T3—RP, high NE (10.4 MJ/kg, HNE), LE:T; T4—RP, HNE, HE:T; T5— normal CP (18%, NP), LNE, LE:T; T6—NP, LNE, HE:T; T7—NP, HNE, LE:T; and T8—NP, HNE, HE:T. The study employed as-hatched Cobb 500 broilers in two experiments. Exp.1 studied performance from d19 to 35, with 8 replicates per treatment and 16 birds per replicate (n=1024). Exp.2 measured NE values in respiration chambers from d25 to 28, with 6 replicates per treatment, and 2 birds (a male and a female) per replicate (n=96). The measured NE values were used to calculate NE intake (NEi) in Exp.1. The results showed that T4 improved (P &lt; 0.001) weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and NEi relative to T1, T2 and T3, and protein efficiency (WG/CP intake) relative to all treatments. The live performance (feed intake, WG, FCR) and NEi of birds fed T4 reached a level equal to those of birds fed NP-diets (T5 to T8). These results suggest that a dietary E:T ratio of 0.60 is necessary to maximize nutrient utilization and to restore growth rate in broilers fed RP-diets.

Recycling information can be complex and often confusing which may subsequently reduce the participations in any waste recycling schemes. As a result, this research explored the roles as well as the importance of a holistic approach in designing recycling information using 15 expert-based in-depth interviews. The rationale was to offer a better understanding of what constitutes waste, recycling, and how recycling information should be designed and presented to make recycling more attractive/convenient. Based on the research participants’ perceptions with supports from the existing studies, this research sub-categorised recycling information into three different themes, termed the “WWW” of recycling information components. As a result, these components (or attributes) were extensively described (using findings of semi-structured interviews) to elicit pragmatic guidance for practitioners, policy-makers, and other stakeholders in designing structured communication or information strategies that may simplify and subsequently increase waste-recycling practices. The policy implications of holistic information in enhancing recycling are further discussed.

Amidst the backdrop of continually declining total fertility rates and a population structure trending towards super-aging in China, can simple adjustments to birth policies effectively address the challenges of low fertility and aging? This study constructs a three-phase overlapping-generation model that incorporates fertility rates and delayed retirement. It investigates the economic impact of adjustments in birth policies and delayed retirement, and utilizes simulations and analyses based on real-world data from China. The research yields several key findings:1.Although theoretically, the impact of population aging on economic growth rates is uncertain, empirical data simulations indicate that the current level of population aging in China has already exerted a certain adverse impact on economic growth.2.Given the current population structure, delayed retirement can, to some extent, promote economic growth. However, due to potential vulnerabilities of older individuals who choose delayed retirement, such as reduced labor efficiency and learning abilities, the implementation of delayed retirement policies should be flexible and context-specific.3.Increasing fertility rates can mitigate the economic impact of the current demographic challenges. Thus, relaxing birth policies remains a crucial strategy that China must implement. A coordinated adjustment of delayed retirement and fertility rates is more likely to enhance economic growth.

Conclusions: The quantitative method provides a large-scale overview of the biometry measurements of an entire practice. Image audits can then be focused on sonographers whose measurements are outliers, avoiding the time, complexity, and expense of auditing those whose measurements fall within the expected range. We encourage commercial software developers to include tools in their ultrasound reporting software to facilitate such quantitative review.

: Background: Since the consensus of ISAPP on the definition of the term “postbiotic” there has been an enthusiasm for publications, in review form - their number being disproportionate to the primary research. The aim of this bibliometry is to analyze the perspectives of the first and the last authors of such reviews; and, specifically, to note the connection of these authors with the broader subject of microbiome and probiotics. Methods: Search of the PubMed database for review articles on post-biotics, published between November 2021 and December 2023. Results: Analysis was performed on 76 review articles, the number corresponding to 2.9 reviews per month. Poland, China, Italy, Argentina and Iran had the maximum productivity among the 30 countries involved; 39 articles were published in 12 high-impact journals, while 31 were in journals with an IF between 5 and 5.9. The authors were mainly affiliated to universities with specialization in both basic research and technology, as well as food science. Eighteen first authors and six last authors had zero previous publications on the related topic of the microbiome and probiotics; and another 7 last authors had only one publication each. There were, however, 5 authors with 142, 92, 76, 71 and 41 related publications. Conclusions: It is clear that a part of this productivity is written by first authors with no previous engagement with related research and lacking colleagues or mentors involved with microbiome/probiotics research to support them as senior authors.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous inherited retinal disorder. Mutations in KIZ cause autosomal recessive (AR) RP. We aimed to characterize the genotype, expression pattern, and phenotype in a large cohort of KIZ cases. Sanger and whole exome sequencing were used to identify KIZ variants. Medical records were reviewed and analyzed. Thirty one patients with biallelic KIZ mutations were identified: 28 homozygous for c.226C>T (p.R76*), 2 compound heterozygous for p.R76* and c.3G>A (p.M1?), and one homozygous for c.247C>T (p.R83*). c.226C>T is a founder mutation among patients of Jewish descent. Clinical parameters were less severe in KIZ compared to DHDDS and FAM161A cases. RT-PCR analysis in fibroblast cells revealed the presence of four different transcripts in both WT and mutant samples with a lower percentage of the WT transcript in patients. Sequence analysis identified an exonic sequence enhancer (ESE) that includes the c.226 position which is affected by the mutation. KIZ mutations are an uncommon cause of IRD worldwide, but are not rare among Ashkenazi Jews. Our data indicate that p.R76* affect an ESE which in turn results in pronounced skipping of exon 3. Therefore, RNA-based therapies might show low efficacy since the mutant transcripts is spliced.

Transactivation Response Element RNA-binding Protein (TRBP) is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein widely known for its critical contribution to RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved mechanism of gene-expression regulation mediated through small non-coding RNA moieties (ncRNAs). Nevertheless, TRBP has proved to be also involved in other molecular pathways and biological processes, such as cell growth, organism development, spermatogenesis and stress response. Mutations or aberrant expression of TRBP have been previously associated with diverse human pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease, Cardiomyopathy and Cancer, with TRBP playing essential role(s) in proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Hence, the present study aims to investigate new, still elusive, functions and properties of TRBP, particularly regarding its cell cycle-dependent regulation during cancer-cell division. Our results unveil, for the first time, the tight and remarkable, mitosis-dependent, control of TRBP protein expression, as clearly evidenced by the lack of its immunofluorescence-facilitated detection, during mitotic phases, in several human cancer-cell lines of different tissue origin. Notably, the obtained TRBP-downregulation patterns seem to derive from molecular mechanisms that act independently of oncogenic activities (e.g., malignancy grade), metastatic capacities (e.g., low versus high) and mutational signatures (e.g., p53-/- or p53ΔΥ126) of cancer cells. Taken together, we, herein, propose that TRBP serves as a novel cell cycle-dependent regulator, likely exerting mitosis-suppression functions, and, thus, its mitosis-specific downregulation can hold strong promise to be exploited for the efficient and successful prognosis, diagnosis and (radio-/chemo-)therapy of diverse human malignancies, in the clinic.

Background: Mental capacity is a fundamental aspect that enables patients to fully par-ticipate in various healthcare procedures. To assist healthcare professionals (HCPs) in assessing patients' capacity, especially in the mental health field, several standardized tools have been developed. These tools include the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T), the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR), and the Competence Assessment Tool for Psychiatric Advance Directives (CAT-PAD). The core dimensions explored by these tools include Understanding, Appreciation, Reasoning, and Expression of a choice. Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate potential differences in deci-sion-making capacity within the healthcare context among groups of patients with bi-polar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Methods: A systematic search was conducted on Medline/Pubmed, and Scopus. Addi-tionally, Google Scholar was manually inspected, and a manual search of emerging re-views and reference lists of the retrieved papers was performed. Eligible studies were specifically cross-sectional, utilizing standardized assessment tools, and involving pa-tients diagnosed with BD and SSD. Data from the studies were independently extracted and pooled using random-effect models. Hedges g was used as a measure for outcomes. Results: Six studies were identified, with three studies using the MacCAT-CR, two studies the MacCAT-T, and one the CAT-PAD. The participants included 189 individuals with BD and 324 individuals with SSD. The meta-analysis revealed that patients with BD performed slightly better, and the difference was statistically significant, compared to patients with SSD, particularly in the domain of Appreciation (ES=0.23, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04, p=0.037). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for Understanding (ES=0.09, 95% CI: - 0.10 to 0.27, p=0.352), Reasoning (ES=0.18, 95% CI: - 0.12 to 0.47, p=0.074), and Expression of a choice (ES = 0.23, 95% CI: - 0.01 to 0.48, p=0.60). In the sensitivity analysis, furthermore, when considering only studies involving patients in symptomatic remission, the difference for Appreciation also resulted in non-significant (ES=0.21, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.46, p=0.102). (ES=0.21, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.46, p=0.102). Conclusions: These findings indicate that there are no significant differences between patients with BD and SSD during remission phases, while differences are minimal during acute phases. The usefulness of standardized assessment of capacity at any stage of the illness should be considered, both for diagnostic-therapeutic phases and for research and advance directives. Further studies are necessary to understand the reasons for the overlap in capacity between the two diagnostic categories compared in this study.

The oral microbiome, studied by sampling the saliva or oral rinse, has been long thought to have diagnostic capacity for head and neck cancers (HNC). However, previous reports on the HNC oral microbiome provide inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to consolidate these datasets and determine the oral microbial composition between HNC patients to healthy and premalignant individuals. We analyzed 16 published head and neck cancer (HNC) short-read 16S rRNA sequencing datasets, specifically targeting the V3V4, V4 and V4V5 regions. These datasets included saliva and oral rinse samples from donors with HNC, as well as from healthy and premalignant donors. Differences in diversities and microbial abundance were determined. HNC saliva displayed lower alpha diversity than healthy donors. In contrast, the opposite trend was observed for oral rinse samples. Beta diversity were largely similar across different patient types. Similar oral phyla were detected for all samples, but proportions were largely dependent on sample type (i.e. saliva or oral rinse) and primer set utilised for 16S rRNA sequencing. Neisseria, Leptotrichia and Megasphaera were elevated in healthy saliva, while Mycoplasma was elevated in HNC saliva. Oral rinse and saliva displayed similar enrichment for Fusobacterium, while Veillonella, Alloprevotella, and Campylobacter had conflicting results. The sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis model performed effectively in discriminating HNC from healthy or premalignant patients using V3V4 saliva (AUC = 0.888), and V3V4 oral rinse (AUC = 0.928), while poor discriminative capacity was observed for V4 saliva (AUC = 0.688). In conclusion, our meta-analysis highlighted the limitations of 16S rRNA sequencing, particularly due to variations across study batches, primer sets (i.e. V3V4, V4), and sample types. Hence, caution should be exercised when interpreting 16S rRNA sequencing results across studies, especially when different primer sets and sample types are used.

An update was made on the flora of the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, located in the Atlantic Forest domain, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Collections of plant samples were carried out from 2007 to 2010. These data were complemented by consultations with national and international herbaria, and scientific publications related to the flora of the Park. The total number of known plants is 3096, divided into 2412 angiosperms, 1 gymnosperm, 434 ferns and lycophytes and 249 bryophytes. Of these, 33 are endemic to the Park, 190 are endemic to the state of Rio de Janeiro, and 97 are classified in one of the IUCN threat categories. With these results, Serra dos Órgãos National Park becomes the Brazilian protected area with the richest known flora, harboring 38% of the species known to Rio de Janeiro state in an area of about 0,5% of its size. Despite the park’s great plant diversity, about 38% of the species had only one record and may be considered locally rare. Encouraging research and botanical collection in the park may increase the representation of locally rare species, rediscover species which are considered extinct and record new species for science.

There is increasing interest in the application of near-infrared (NIR) laser light for the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders. The present study thoroughly examined the physical characteristics of laser beams from two different laser therapy devices that are commercially available for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Then, these laser beams were used to measure the penetration depth in various biological tissues from different animal species. The key result of the present study was the finding that for all investigated tissues, most of the initial light energy was lost in the first one to two millimeters, more than 90% of the light energy was absorbed within the first ten millimeters, and there was hardly any light energy left after 15 – 20 mm of tissue. Furthermore, the investigated laser therapy devices fundamentally differed in several laser beam parameters that can have an influence on how light is transmitted through tissue. Overall, the present study showed that a laser therapy device that is supposed to reach deep layers of tissue for treatments of musculoskeletal disorders should operate with a wavelength between 800 nm and 905 nm, a top-hat beam profile, and it should emit very short pulses with a large peak power.

Geothermal energy, being a clean energy source, has immense potential, and accurate wellbore modeling is crucial for optimizing the drilling process and ensuring safety. This paper presents a novel geothermal wellbore model based on the drift-flux approach, tested under three different temperature and pressure well conditions. The proposed model integrates the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, incorporating the gas-liquid two-phase flow drift-flux model and heat transfer model. Key features include handling heat transfer between the for-mation and the wellbore, addressing the slip relationship between gas and liquid phases, and accounting for wellbore friction. The nonlinear equations are discretized using the finite differ-ence method, and the highly nonlinear system is solved using the Newton-Raphson method. Numerical simulation, validation, and comparison with existing models demonstrate the en-hanced accuracy of this model. In our tests, the model achieved high accuracy in calculating bottom hole pressure and temperature, with Mean Relative Errors (MRE) significantly lower than those of other models. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing drilling parameters and ensuring drilling safety. Comparisons indicate that this approach significantly outperforms others in capturing the complex dynamics of geothermal wellbores, making it a superior tool for geo-thermal energy development.

In ocean engineering, accurate and efficient numerical simulations are crucial. Leveraging axisymmetry vastly enhances the efficiency of a simulation, reducing a three-dimensional scenario to a two-dimensional simulation. Exploiting axisymmetry enables a significant reduction in computational demand while maintaining simulation fidelity. In this paper, axisymmetry is leveraged to perform a large ensemble of simulations, in order to evaluate and maximise the accuracy and efficiency of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. In particular, the free decay motion and wave radiation from a heaving semi-submerged sphere are simulated, using the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) solver, interFOAM, in the opensource finite volume CFD software OpenFOAM. Validated against highly accurate experimental data, extensive parametric studies are conducted, previously limited by computational constraints, which facilitate the refinement of simulation setups. More than 50 iterations of the same heaving sphere simulation are performed, informing efficient trade-offs between computational cost and accuracy across various simulation parameters and mesh configurations. Ultimately, by employing axisymmetry, this research contributes to the development of more accurate and efficient numerical modeling in ocean engineering.

Microneedle technology is a novel platform technology that revolutionizes ocular drug delivery and addresses critical challenges in the treatment of ocular diseases. Routine treatment methods, such as eye drops and intravitreal injections, suffer from low bioavailability and poor patient compliance. So, novel advanced platform technologies are required to overcome these challenges. Microneedle is a minimally invasive and promising alternative technique that helps precisely control drug delivery to targeted tissues and organs. This review investigates the potential impact of microneedle technology for eye care, underscoring recent advancements, underlying mechanisms, and emerging preclinical and clinical uses. Different types of microneedles, including solid, coated, dissolvable, and hollow, have demonstrated their potential and capability to bypass several barriers in the cornea and sclera. This ensures effective drug penetration and delivery. The current innovations in material science and fabrication methods have enhanced the safety and efficacy of microneedles, reducing discomfort and the chances of infections. These microneedle technologies offer sustained and controlled drug delivery, which could improve therapeutic outcomes for various disease conditions like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic neuropathy, etc. In the current review, recent preclinical and clinical studies emphasize microneedle-based ocular drug delivery's feasibility and potential benefits. These include improved pharmacokinetics, reduced dosing frequency, enhanced patient adherence, and, most importantly, microneedles offer versatile platforms for delivering a wide range of small and large molecules and gene therapies. Despite the exciting progress, obstacles such as regulatory barriers, scalability, and long-term biocompatibility persist. It will be essential to tackle these challenges through interdisciplinary research and partnerships to integrate microneedle technology into standard clinical use effectively. Ultimately, microneedle drug delivery offers a revolutionary method that has the potential to significantly enhance the treatment and results of ocular diseases, marking the dawn of a new era in eye care.

Groundwater flow and transport models are essential tools for assessing and quantifying the mi-gration of organic contaminants at polluted sites. Uncertainties in the hydrodynamic and transport parameters of the aquifer have a significant effect on model predictions. Uncertainties can be quantified with advanced sensitivity methods such as Sobol’s High Dimensional Model Reduction (HDMR) and Variogram Analysis of Response Surfaces (VARS). Here we present the application of VARS and HDMR to assess the global sensitivities of the outputs of a transient groundwater flow model of the Gállego alluvial aquifer which is located downstream the Sardas landfill in Huesca (Spain). The aquifer is subject to the tidal effects caused by the daily oscillations of the water level in the Sabiñánigo reservoir. Global sensitivities are analysed for hydraulic heads, aquifer/reservoir fluxes, groundwater Darcy velocity and hydraulic head calibration metrics. Input parameters in-clude aquifer hydraulic conductivities and specific storage, aquitard vertical hydraulic conductiv-ities, and boundary inflows and conductances. VARS, HDMR and graphical methods agree to identify the most influential parameters which for most of the outputs are the hydraulic conduc-tivities of the zones closest to the landfill, the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the most permeable zones of the aquitard, and the boundary inflow coming from the landfill. The sensitivity of heads and aquifer/reservoir fluxes with respect to specific storage change with time. The aquifer/reservoir flux when the reservoir level is high shows interactions between specific storage and aquitard conductivity. VARS and HDMR parameter rankings are similar for the most influential parameters. However, there are discrepancies for the less relevant parameters. The efficiency of VARS was demonstrated by achieving stable results with a relatively small number of simulations.

Background and Purpose: This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of 12 sessions of patient-specific adaptive dynamic cycling (PSADC) versus non-adaptive cycling (NA) on motor function and mobility in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), using IMU sensors for objective assessment. Methods: Twenty-three participants with PD (13 in the PSADC group and 10 in the NA group) completed the study over a 4-week period. Motor function was measured using the Kinesia™ sensors and the MDS-UPDRS Motor III, while mobility was assessed with the TUG test using OPAL IMU sensors. Results: The PSADC group showed significant improvements in MDS-UPDRS Motor III scores (t = 5.165, p &lt; 0.001) and dopamine-sensitive symptoms (t = 4.629, p = 0.001), whereas the NA group did not improve. Both groups showed non-significant improvements in TUG time. IMU sensors provided continuous, quantitative, and unbiased measurements of motor function and mobility, offering a more accurate tracking of improvements over time. Conclusion: PSADC demonstrated enhanced treatment effects on PD motor function compared to NA, while also reducing variability in individual responses. The integration of IMU sensors was essential for precise monitoring, supporting the feasibility of a data-driven, individualized exercise approach to optimize treatment outcomes for individuals with PD.

Background/Objectives: COVID-19 led to a pandemic that has brought misery to millions of people but more so to those with pre-existing conditions. For this infection, several antiviral drugs were employed, including remdesivir (R) and paxlovid [nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NR)]; Methods: The current study compared the effectiveness of remdesivir and paxlovid treatment for COVID-19 patients with comorbid conditions. Data from a cohort of 151 adult patients with COVID-19 who also had associated comorbidities were used in this study. These patients were treated with antivirals according to local guidelines. The subjects included 78 case-patients assigned to group R and 73 to group NR; Results: In group NR, a considerable improvement in oxygen saturation was seen in the first 24 hours of treatment (p=0.010), but the levels were significantly higher from the second day of treatment (p &lt;0.001) in group R of patients. At the end of the 5 days of treatment, the oxygen saturation improved statistically significantly compared to the admission day, but only in the R group (95.11±1.80; 91.76±1.80; p&lt;0.001); Conclusions: Both drugs can be considered a breakthrough in the current treatment approach to the COVID-19 disease since they provide readily available options that can alleviate the severity of the disease and, hence, the prognosis of patients. That is why their effectiveness relies on the correct administration time and choosing the patient with suitable characteristics regarding the presence of comorbidities and the likelihood of the critical further development of the process.

Several sun models suggest the radioactive balance where the concentration of greenhouse gases and the albedo effect are related to the Earth's surface temperature. There is a considerable increment of greenhouse gases due to anthropogenic activities. Climate change correlates with this alteration in the atmosphere and an increase in surface temperature. Efficient forecasting of climate change and its impacts of 1.5°C global warming above pre-industrial levels could be helpful to respond to the threat of c.c. and develop sustainably. Many studies have predicted the temperature change in the coming years. The global community has to create a model that can realize good predictions to ensure the best way to deal with the warming. Thus, we propose a finite-time thermodynamic (FTT) approach in the present work. The FTT can solve problems such as the faint young sun paradox. In addition, we use different machine learning models to evaluate our method and compare the experimental prediction and results.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations pose significant challenges to diagnostic tests as these mutations can reduce the sensitivity of commonly used RT-PCR assays. Therefore, there is a need to design diagnostic assays with multiple targets to enhance sensitivity. In this study, we identified a novel diagnostic target, nsp10 gene, using nanopore sequencing. Firstly, we determined the analytical sensitivity and specificity of our COVID-19-nsp10 assay. The COVID-19-nsp10 assay had the limit of detection of 74 copies/mL (95% confidence interval: 48-299 copies/mL) and did not show cross-reactivity with other respiratory viruses. Next, we determined the diagnostic performance of the COVID-19-nsp10 assay using 261 respiratory specimens, including 147 SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens belonging to ancestral strain and Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Mu, Eta, Kappa, Theta and Omicron lineages. Using the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR assay as the reference method, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the COVID-19-nsp10 assay were 100%. The median Cp values for the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR and our COVID-19-nsp10 RT-PCR were 22.48 (range: 12.95-36.60) and 25.94 (range 16.37-36.87), respectively. The Cp values of the COVID-19-nsp10 RT-PCR assay correlated well with those of the LightMix E-gene RT-PCR assay (Spearman’s ρ = 0.968; P&lt;0.0001). In conclusion, nsp10 is a suitable target for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay.

This paper deals with a non-contact method to identify the aerodynamic propeller parameters of the Parrot AR.Drone quadrotor. The experimental set consists in a camera recording the vehicle flights, the audio signal is extracted and is used a spectrogram analysis to estimates the propeller velocity. First, the aerial vehicle takes off and starts a hovering maneuver. The experiment is repeated with different additional masses attached to its rigid body. If the weight over the UAV increases/decreases, then the propeller must rotates faster/slower to produce a higher/lower thrust, and consequently, the sound frequency increases/decreases. Finally, this proposition is validated experimentally, and the estimated velocity is used to identify the quadrotor thrust parameters.

Carotid atherosclerotic lesions are a major cause of cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Identification and quantification of carotid plaques are important for categorizing the vulnerability of plaques for rupture and assessing the impact of treatments. The irregularity of plaque surface is associated with previous plaque rupture and plays an important role in the risk of stroke. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop and validate novel vulnerability biomarkers from three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) images by analyzing the surface morphological characterization of carotid plaque using fractal geometry features. 3D box-counting and 3D blanket are the two types of 3D fractal dimension that were employed to describe the smoothness of plaques. This fractal dimension analysis tool was used to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin using 3DUS carotid images, which were acquired from 6 patients treated with atorvastatin with 80 mg daily and 5 patients with placebo. The Student's T Test results showed that those two fractal features were effective for detecting the statin-related changes in carotid atherosclerosis with p<0.0068 and p<0.015 respectively, suggesting that 3D fractal dimension measurements can be used effectively to analyze the surface characteristics of carotid plaques, especially for evaluating the impact of the treatment.

In this study, the autofrettage method, which is used to increase the durability of cylindrical parts, was applied to a barrel made of steel material according to the AISI 4340 standard. Assuming that the barrel works continuously under the pressure of 400 MPa, optimum autofrettage was performed. The stresses occurring on the barrel before and after autofretage were calculated. Additionally, analytical equivalent stress values (Von-Mises) formed on the part's wall were compared with numerical analysis results obtained with a commercial finite element program ANSYS®, and their compatibility was examined. As a result of the calculations and analysis performed, it was observed that autofretage has positive effect on increasing the pressure carrying capacity of the barrel. After autofrettage the cylindrical part, it was determined that the Von-Mises stress values formed in the part wall changed and these stresses took the lowest value at a point (elastic-plastic interface). It has been evaluated that this point gives the optimal autofretage pressure value for a certain operating pressure. After the autofrettage application, it was determined that the Von-Mises Stress value in the barrel wall decreased by 25.27 % and the pressure carrying capacity of the barrel increased without any design or dimensional change. It has been seen that the analytical and numerical analysis results are consistent with each other, and it is expected that this study will guide and contribute to the studies to be conducted on increasing the strength or lightening the weight of the parts.

Regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic containment, it remains paramount to comprehensively understand its underlying mechanisms to mitigate potential future health and economic impacts, comparable to those experienced throughout the course of the pandemic. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) provide anchorage for SARS-CoV-2 binding, thus implicating that ACE and ACE2 might contribute to the variability in infection severity. This study aimed to elucidate predisposing factors influencing the disease course among people infected by SARS-CoV-2, focusing on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 polymorphisms. Notably, despite similar demographics and comorbidities, COVID-19 patients exhibit substantial differences in prognosis. Genetic polymorphisms in ACE and ACE2 have been implicated in disease progression, prompting our investigation into their role in COVID-19 evolution. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we analyzed ACE and ACE2 genes in a sample group comprising six subjects infected by SARS-CoV-2. Our findings revealed a correlation between specific polymorphisms and COVID-19 outcomes. Specifically, ACE and ACE2 intronic deletions were observed in all deceased patients, suggesting a potential association with mortality. These results highlight the significance of genetic factors in shaping the clinical course of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of further research into the impact of genetic variations on COVID-19 severity.

Evapotranspiration is a critical component of the hydrological cycle, and it has a decisive impact on the ecosystem balance in arid and semi-arid regions. The Yinchuan Plain, located in the Gobi of Northwest China, has a strong surface ET. In order to assess the ET pattern in this region, we obtained the ETa of Yinchuan Plain between 1987 and 2020 using the GEE platform. We employed the Surface Energy Balance Model (SEBAL), specifically geeSEBAL, to analyze the change pattern of ET over different seasons, years, and land types. The results show that: ① In spring, the daily ETa of the Yinchuan Plain is highest in the central lake wetland area, with a maximum value of 4.32 mm day-1. In summer, it is concentrated around the croplands and water bodies, with a maximum value of 6.90 mm day-1; In Autumn and winter, it is mainly concentrated around the water bodies and impervious areas, with maximum values of 3.93 and 1.56 mm day-1, respectively. ② From 1987 to 2020, the ET of the Yinchuan Plain showed an obvious upward and downward trend in some areas with significant land use changes, but the overall ET of the region remained relatively stable without dramatic fluctuations. ③ The evapotranspiration of different underlying land use types in the Yinchuan Plain region is as follows: water body&gt;cultivated land&gt;impervious&gt;grassland&gt;bare land. Our results showed that geeSEBAL is highly applicable in the Yinchuan Plain area. It allows for the accurate and detailed inversion of ET in the study area, which facilitates the study of regional hydrological cycle and water governance.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive malignancy, with mortality rates that reach 60%, mainly due to an excessive diagnostic delay. MiRNAs, a class of crucial epigenetic gene-expression regulators, have emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers, with >200 molecules reported to be dysregulated in OSCC. We had previously established an in silico methodology for the identification of the most disease-specific molecules by bridging genetics and epigenetics. Here, we identified the stage-specific miRNAs that govern the asymptomatic early stages of oral tumorigenesis by exploiting the reverse interplay between miRNA-levels and their target-genes’ expression. Incorporating gene expression data from our group’s experimental hamster model of sequential oral oncogenesis, we bioinformatically detected the miRNAs that simultaneously target/regulate >75% of the genes that are characteristically upregulated or downregulated in the consecutive stages of hyperplasia, dysplasia and early-invasion OSCC, while exhibiting the opposite expressional dysregulation in OSCC-derived tissue and/or saliva specimens. We found that all stages share the downregulation of miR-34a-5p, miR124-3p, and miR-125b-5p, while miR-1-3p is underexpressed in dysplasia and early-invasion. Malignant early-invasion stage is distinguished by the downregulation of miR-147a and the overexpression of miR-155-5p, miR-423-3p and miR-34a-5p. The identification of stage-specific miRNA molecules may facilitate their utilization as biomarkers for presymptomatic OSCC diagnosis.

Purpose: To analyze the genetic and molecular profile of liver nodules in the context of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) with the aim of identifying possible biomarkers for predictive outcome and personalized therapy. Methods: this retrospective monocentric study included 9 patients who developed FALD in the context of congestive cirrhosis:1 regenerative nodular hyperplasia, 2 hepatic adenomas (HA) and 4 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 1 fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) and 1 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The lesions were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry (b-catenin, glypican 3, glutamine synthetase and SOX9). To study the molecular profile of neoplastic FALD, targeted NGS was performed on DNA and RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded neoplastic liver tissue of 1 HA, 2 HCCs, 1 FLC and 1 ICC. Results: Molecular analysis showed 3 patients with copy number alteration involving FGFR3, and one patient with a hotspot mutation on CTNNB1 and NRAS genes. All 5 patients showed a tumor mutational burden ranging from low to intermediate. Variants of unknown significance in GNAS were present in 2 HCC and 1 ICC. The single FLC had a DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion. Conclusions: The molecular results seem to be consistent with a peculiar molecular profile of the malignant FALD which may be useful for new target therapies for HCC/ICC in FALD.

This study investigates the impact of specimen size on the mechanical properties of wood, specifically focusing on compression strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson's ratio. Compression tests were conducted using three different specimen sizes (20mm×20mm×30mm, 40mm×40mm×60mm, 60mm×90mm×90mm) in the longitudinal, radial, and tangential directions. Mechanical parameters, failure mechanisms, load-displacement curves, and stress-strain relationships were systematically analyzed for each size. The study also evaluated the influence of specimen size on the accuracy of finite element numerical simulations by utilizing the obtained mechanical parameters. The results reveal a significant correlation between compressive strength and specimen size, indicating a decrease in compressive strength with increasing specimen size. Conversely, elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio exhibit less sensitivity to variations in specimen size. Notably, parameters derived from small-sized specimens (20mm×20mm×30mm) exhibited substantial errors, while those obtained from medium-sized (40mm×40mm×60mm) and large-sized specimens (60mm×90mm×90mm) demonstrated greater reliability, providing precise results in finite element numerical simulations.

Taking due account of users' perspectives is crucial for improving the quality of healthcare services. This study aimed to analyse the representations and evaluation criteria that users of a public health agency express towards care and treatment services and to explore whether and how the content and meaning of their communications varied according to pre-pandemic, pandemic or post-pandemic periods. 501 communications (73.4% complaints, 16% appreciations, 10.6% enquiries) sent to the public relations office of an Italian health agency were collected. An automatic content analysis procedure (ACASM) was applied to the textual corpus. Four main thematic cores were identified concerning the request for care and respect, the value of the doctor-patient relationship and the difficulties in contacting services and accessing care. Two main latent dimensions of meaning were identified, which capture the dialectic between the demand for relationships and the demand for access to care, and between attention to the relational competence of health workers and attention to the needs and rights of users. Communications collected during the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods mainly concern the difficulty of access to care; those collected during the pandemic period mainly concern the doctor-patient relationship. Interpersonal aspects and timely access to care appear to be crucial in users' assessment of the quality of care.

Theoretical approaches were applied to study the effect of magnetic field and heat transfer on the flow of blood plasma through an asymmetric arterial segment. The plasma was considered to be unsteady, laminar and an incompressible fluid through non-uniform arterial segment in a two-dimensional flow. Axial velocity, pressure gradient, stream function and pressure shift per wavelength were evaluated in blood plasma flow in arteries by use of coupled linear partial differential equations, solved with the help of Finite difference method. The corresponding initial and boundary conditions were obtained by discretizing the flow channel. The effect of magnetic field on blood plasma in arteries was determined by creating a magnetic field gradient through the application of a varying strength of magnetic field on the flow. Heat transfer characteristics due to applied magnetic field and viscosity of blood was obtained by use of linear partial differential equations to determine varying temperature conditions in heat transfer characteristics. Numerical results for velocity profiles, magnetic profiles and temperature profiles were obtained to characterize blood plasma viscosity by use of various non-dimensional parameters. The results were graphically presented using MATLAB software. The results obtained helped in analyzing theoretically the effects of magnetic field and heat transfer in arterial plasma flow.

Background/methods: For mechanistic studies, in vitro human B cell differentiation and generation of plasma cells are invaluable techniques. However, the heterogeneity of both T cell-dependent (TD) and T cell-independent (TI) stimuli and the disparity of culture conditions used in existing protocols makes interpretation of results challenging. The aim of the present study was to achieve the most optimal B cell differentiation conditions using isolated CD19⁺ B cells and PBMC cultures. We addressed multiple seeding densities, different durations of culturing and various combinations of TD stimuli and TI stimuli including B cell receptor (BCR) triggering. B cell expansion, proliferation and differentiation was analyzed after 6 and 9 days by measuring B cell proliferation and expansion, plasmablast and plasma cell formation and immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. In addition, these conditions were extrapolated using cryopreserved cells and differentiation potential was compared. Results: This study demonstrates improved differentiation efficiency after 9 days of culturing for both B cell and PBMC cultures using CD40L and IL-21 as TD stimuli and 6 days for CpG and IL-2 as TI stimuli. We arrived at optimized protocols requiring 2500 and 25.000 B cells per culture well for TD and TI assays, respectively. The results of the PBMC cultures were highly comparable to the B cell cultures, which allows dismissal of additional B cell isolation steps prior to culturing. In these optimized TD conditions, the addition of anti-BCR showed little effect on phenotypic B cell differentiation, however it interferes with Ig secretion measurements. Addition of IL-4 to the TD stimuli showed significantly lower Ig secretion. The addition of BAFF to optimized TI conditions showed enhanced B cell differentiation and Ig secretion in B cell but not in PBMC cultures. With this approach, efficient B cell differentiation and Ig secretion was accomplished when starting from fresh or cryopreserved samples. Conclusion: Our methodology demonstrates optimized TD and TI stimulation protocols for more indepth analysis of B cell differentiation in primary human B cell and PBMC cultures while requiring low amounts of B cells, making them ideally suited for future clinical and research studies on B cell differentiation of patient samples from different cohorts of B cell-mediated diseases.

A two-year experiment was conducted with a local maize hybrid under full irrigation (F), deficit irrigation (D) and rainfed conditions (R) to estimate maize evapotranspiration in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Three approaches (Allen & Pereira (A&P), SIMDualKc (SD), and Vegetation Index (VI)) were used to estimate the actual crop coefficient (Kc act), actual basal crop coefficient (Kcb act), and actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) were applied with the dual crop coefficient method and remote sensing (RS) data. While Kcb act from all approaches matched FAO56 tabulated values, SD showed differences, in comparison to A&P, of up to 0.24 in D and R conditions, especially in initial and mid-season stages. VI demonstrated very good performance in all treatments. In F, the obtained Kc act for all approaches during the initial and end stages were higher than the tabulated values, ranging from 0.71-0.87 for Kc ini act and from 0.80-1.06 for Kc end act, while the mid-season period showed very good agreement with the literature. Maize crop evapotranspiration range is 769-813 mm, 480-752 mm, and 332-618 mm for F, D and R, respectively. The results confirmed the suitability of both approaches (SD and VI) to estimate maize crop evapotranspiration under F, with the VI approach demonstrating an advantage in calculating Kcb act, Kc act, and ETc act values under water stress conditions. The 67.6% increase in grain yields with irrigation emphasizes the need to transition from rainfed to irrigation-dependent agriculture, even for drought-resistant crops like maize.

There is a need to find methods to intensify the anaerobic digestion process. One possibility is the use of pre-treatment techniques. Many laboratory tests confirm their effectiveness, but in most cases, there is no verification work carried out on industrial plants. The aim of the research carried out under laboratory conditions and on a large scale was to determine the technological and energy efficiency of the use of hydrodynamic cavitation in the pre-treatment of a waste mixture from dairy farms. It has been shown that hydrodynamic cavitation significantly increases the concentration of organic compounds in the dissolved phase. In the most effective variants, the increase in the content of these indicators was over 90% for both COD and TOC. The degree of solubilisation achieved was 49±2.6% for COD and almost 52±4.4% for TOC. Under laboratory conditions, the highest effects of anaerobic digestion were achieved after 10 minutes of pre-treatment. The amount of biogas was on average 367±18 mL/gCOD and the amount of methane 233±13 mL/gCOD. Further large-scale optimisation trials showed that after 8 minutes of hydrodynamic cavitation, the biogas yield was 327±8 L/kgCOD with a CH4 content of 62.9±1.9%. With this variant, the net energy yield was 66.4±2.6 kWh/day, a value that was 13.9% higher than the original variant with 10 minutes of disintegration and 3.1% higher than the variant without pre-treatment.

The formation of rock fractures in nature has a certain relationship with water seepage. In order to analyze the shape of rock fracture, we propose a rock deformation theoretical model in three-dimensional space considering with the condition of seepage water pressure, and establish the mass conservation equation, seepage equation, surrounding rock displacement equation, so as to deduce the rock deformation control equation under seepage pressure action. The numerical analysis of the nonlinear quadratic partial differential equation obtains the fracture deformation distribution in the example, and verifies with the calculated fracture morphology. And we further use this principle to analyze the fracture morphology in nature and prove the rationality of the theory.

Bioglasses are highly adoptable bone substitute materials, which can be combined with so-called therapeutic ions. These ions have shown to influence underlying molecular processes of the bone regeneration cascade. Moreover, it is known that bone substitutes induce an immune reaction within their implantation area involving macrophages and their pro- and anti-inflammatory subtypes dependent on their chemical composition. However, only poor knowledge exists regarding the influence of therapeutic ions onto the immune reactions and the associated bone healing. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of strontium- and copper-doped bioglasses on the induction of M1- and M2-macrophages as well as the implant bed vascularization. (2) Methods: For this study, two alkali glasses were produced on basis of ICIE-16 bioglass via the melt-quench route with the addition of 5 wt% copper or strontium (ICIE16-Cu and ICIE16-Sr). Pure ICIE16 and 45S5 bioglasses were used as control materials. The bioactivity (ion release), chemical composition and the surface pattern were investigated, as well as an in vivo experiment was performed using the subcutaneous implantation model in rats. (3) Results: SEM imaging showed different formations of hydroxyapatite on the surfaces of the bioglass systems after submersion in simulated body fluid. EDX analysis confirmed the doping process by showing the release kinetics. Copper-doped bioglass exhibited a higher ion release than strontium-doped bioglass. Copper induced both a low immune cell migration and triggered a low number of M1- and M2-macrophages but also of blood vessels. The strontium-containing bioactive glass induced higher numbers of M1-macrophages after 30 days. Both copper- and strontium-doped bioglasses induced comparable numbers of M2-macrophages as found in the control groups. (4) Conclusions: Bioglass doping with copper and strontium did not exhibit significant influence on the foreign body response or the implantation bed vascularization in vivo. However, the prepared bioglass systems seemed to be biocompatible.

A quantum time-dependent spectrum analysis, or simply, quantum spectral analysis (QSA) is presented in this work, and it’s based on Schrödinger’s equation. In the classical world, it is named frequency in time (FIT), which is used here as a complement of the traditional frequency-dependent spectral analysis based on Fourier theory. Besides, FIT is a metric which assesses the impact of the flanks of a signal on its frequency spectrum - not taken into account by Fourier theory and let alone in real time. Even more, and unlike all derived tools from Fourier Theory (i.e., continuous, discrete, fast, short-time, fractional and quantum Fourier Transform, as well as, Gabor) FIT has the following advantages, among others: a) compact support with excellent energy output treatment, b) low computational cost, O(N) for signals and O(N2) for images, c) it does not have phase uncertainties (i.e., indeterminate phase for a magnitude = 0) as in the case of Discrete and Fast Fourier Transform (DFT, FFT, respectively). Finally, we can apply QSA to a quantum signal, that is, to a qubit stream in order to analyze it spectrally.

In this paper, we succeed to discover the new exact wave solutions to the truncated M-fractional complex three coupled Maccari’s system by utilizing the Sardar sub-equation scheme. The obtained solutions are in the form of trigonometric and hyperbolic forms. These solutions have many applications in nonlinear optics, fiber optics, deep water-waves, plasma physics, mathematical physics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics and engineering where the propagation of nonlinear waves is important. Achieved solutions are verified with the use of Mathematica software. Some of the achieved solutions are also described graphically by 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional and contour plots with the help of Maple software. The gained solutions are helpful for the further development of concerned model. Finally, this technique is simple, fruitful and reliable to handle the nonlinear FPDEs.

Seeds of Arazá and Acai, in addition to the byproduct of the Sacha inchi seed, after the extraction of the oil known as Sacha Inchi oil press-cake (SIOPC), are considered wastes and often discarded; however, they have valuable potential as sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. We aimed to analyze, the bromatological, and chemical composition of these three byproducts of the fruit industry. Further cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities of extracts ethanol: water were evaluated through in vitro tests. The Bromatological test showed that SIOPC had a low protein content (8.1%), while AS had a high fiber content (48.9%), however, were poorest in nutrients Ethanol: water extracts from all seeds exhibited diverse profiles of secondary metabolites, with significant concentrations of polyphenols (155.88 µg gallic acid/100 mg dry weight), flavonoids (411.69 µg quercetin/100 mg dry weight), and carotenoids in AS (43.66 µg ß-carotene/100 mg dry weight). AS and ACS extracts excelled in ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays, and AS showed high α-glucosidase inhibition, previously unreported in the literature. The results suggest that both seeds and extracts are sources of nutritional and bioactive metabolites with high antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. that could be used in the food industry and the health sector. These by-products underline the importance of sustainable harnessing these sources of the native Amazonian Region

Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite, is believed to exert neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain. The study aimed to examine the KYNA’s capacity to modify gene expression and the activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes in specific structures of the sheep brain. Anestrous sheep were infused intracerebroventricularly with two KYNA doses: lower (4×5 μg/60 μL/30 min, KYNA20) and higher (4×25 μg/60 μL/30 min, KYNA100) at 30min intervals. The abundance of superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) mRNA, as well as enzyme activities (µM/µg of protein), were determined in the hypothalamic medial-basal (MBH) and preoptic (POA) areas, and in the hippocampal CA1 field. Both doses of KYNA caused a decrease (P&lt;0.01) in the expression of SOD2 and CAT mRNA in all structures examined compared to the control group (except for CAT in the POA at the KYNA100 dose). Furthermore, lower levels of SOD2 mRNA (P&lt;0.05) and CAT mRNA (P&lt;0.01) were found in the MBH and POA and in the POA and CA, respectively, in sheep administered with the KYNA20 dose. Different stimulatory effects on GPx1 mRNA expression were observed for both doses (P&lt;0.05-P&lt;0.01). KYNA exerted stimulatory, but dose-dependent effects on SOD2, CAT and GPx1 activities (P&lt;0.05-P&lt;0.01) in all brain tissues examined. The results indicate that KYNA may influence the level of oxidative stress in individual brain structures in sheep by modulating the expression of genes and activity of at least SOD2, CAT and GPx1. The present findings also expand the general knowledge about the potential neuroprotective properties of KYNA in the central nervous system.