MicroRNAs, short non-protein coding RNAs, are overexpressed in GCTs. Circulating levels of germ cell tumor (GCT)- associated miRNAs, such as miR-371a-3p, can be utilized as efficient and cost-effective alternatives in diagnosing and managing patients presenting with GCTs. This quality of miRNAs has demonstrated favorable performance characteristics as a reliable blood-based biomarker with high diagnostic accuracy compared to current serum tumor markers (STMs) including α-fetoprotein (AFP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The conventional STMs exhibit limited specificity and sensitivity. Potential clinical implications of miRNAs include impact on de-escalating or intensifying treatment, detecting recurrence at earlier stages, and lessening the necessity of cross-sectional imaging or invasive tissue biopsy for non-teratomatous GCTs. Here we also highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed prior to clinical implementation. Standards for measuring circulating miRNAs and determining ideal cutoff values are essential for integration into current clinical guidelines.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men, with the majority of newly diagnosed patients eligible for active surveillance. Despite definitive treatment, a considerable percentage of men will experience biochemical recurrence and even regional and distant metastatic recurrence after radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy. Salvage prostatectomy, while oncologically effective, poses significant morbidity with poor functional outcomes. Salvage cryotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative for localized recurrence, demonstrating safety and efficacy. This review examines the oncologic and functional outcomes of whole-gland and focal salvage cryotherapy, including disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. The crucial role of multiparametric prostate MRI and evolving role of next-generation PSMA-targeted PET imaging is also examined. Comparison of outcomes of cryotherapy to other salvage ablation modalities, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is also explored.

Background: Galectins are innate immune system regulators, associated with disease progression in cancer. This paper aims to investigate the correlation between mutated cancer-critical genes and galectin levels in breast cancer patients to determine whether galectins and genetic profiles can be used as biomarkers for disease and potential therapy targets. Materials and Methodology: Prisma Health Cancer Institute’s Biorepository provided seventy-one breast cancer patient samples, including all four stages as well as major molecular subtypes and histologies of breast cancer. Hotspot mutation statuses of cancer-critical genes were determined using multiplex PCR in tumor samples from the same patients by Precision Genetics and the University of South Carolina Functional Genomics Core Facility. The galectin levels of patients’ sera were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the concentrations of galectins-1, -3, and -9. Analysis was performed using JMP software to compare mean and median serum galectin levels between samples with and without specific cancer-critical genes including pooled t-test, Wilcoxon test, ANOVA, Tukey’s range test, and Steel Dwass Method (α=0.05). Results: Our analysis indicates that KIT mutations correlate with elevated serum levels of galectin-1 and -9 in patients with breast cancer. In patients with Luminal A subtype, FLT3 mutation correlates with lower serum galectin-1 and -9 levels and TP53 mutations correlate with higher serum galectin-3 levels. Patients with invasive ductal carcinoma had significantly higher serum galectin-3 levels than patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Patients with both TP53 and PIK3CA mutations exhibit elevated serum galectin-3 levels, while patients with one or neither mutation show no significant difference in serum galectin-3 levels. In addition, metastatic breast cancer samples were more likely to have KIT or PIK3CA mutation compared to primary breast cancer samples. Conclusion: The relationship between genetic mutations and galectin levels has the potential to identify appropriate candidates for combined therapy, targeting genetic mutations and galectins. Further understanding of the effect of genetic mutations and galectin levels on cancer progression and metastasis could aid in the search for biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis, disease progression, and prognosis.

DNA polymerases replicate cell genomes and/or participate in the maintenance of genome integrity. DNA polymerases sharing high sequence homology with E. coli DNA polymerase I (pol I), have been grouped in Family A. Pol I participates in Okazaki fragment maturation and in bacterial genome repair. Since its discovery in 1956, pol I has been extensively studied, primarily to get deeper insights into the mechanism of DNA replication. As research on DNA polymerases advances, many novel functions of this group of polymerases are uncovered. For example, human DNA polymerase θ (a Family A DNA pol) has been shown to synthesize DNA using RNA as a template, a function typically attributed to retroviral reverse transcriptase. A heightened interest in drug discovery against pol θ has emerged due to its roles in cancer. Likewise, Pol I family enzymes also appear attractive drug-development targets against microbial infections. Development of antimalarial compounds targeting apicoplast apPOL, an ortholog of Pol I, further extends the druggability of this family of enzymes. Here, we summarize reported drug-development efforts against Family A polymerases, and future perspective regarding these enzymes as antibiotic targets. Current techniques such artificial intelligence can be used to facilitate the goal of new drugs.

CX3CL1, also named fractalkine or neurotactin, the only known member of the CX3C chemokine family that can chemoattract several immune cells. CX3CL1 exists in both membrane-anchored and soluble forms, each mediating distinct biological activities. CX3CL1 signals are transmitted through its unique receptor, CX3CR1, primarily expressed in microglia of central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, CX3CL1 acts as a regulator of microglia activation in response to brain disorders or inflammation. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the roles of CX3CL1 in regulating cell adhesion, chemotaxis, and host immune response in viral infection. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the changes and function of CX3CL1 in various viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, to highlight the emerging roles of CX3CL1 in viral infection and the associated diseases.

The main challenges in oil platforms are how to define optimal setpoints and decision-making for controlling variables due to many existing dynamical production uncertainties while conceding safe operation and minimizing discharge to sea and atmosphere without killing plantwide inventory. A novel scheduling model to optimize the whole essential units of an oil platform production gathering topside and subsea variables is disclosed. A proper topside and subsea scheduling model enables and creates harmony between optimal production, supply chain, costs, and market dynamics, satisfying demands, environmental and operations constraints leading to stability. The interest of the present research lies in determining the optimal topside and subsea operational settings and decision-making, establishing maximum E&P performance and production control setpoints while predicting and manipulating reservoir lifespan and its revitalization. This objective is attained through a novel multiperiod large-scale model for the planning and operational production scheduling and model predictive control (MPC) in oil platforms complying with sustainability, profitability, platform design capacities, and offloading of oil and gas to supply chains or to pipeline exportation. The present model details heat and mass transfer, PVT, flow profiles along a planning horizon and can be used to any oil platform since comprises all the essential unit operations for oil, gas, CO₂, H₂S and water. The model maximizes the total oil production over any planning horizon. The model is versatile, and decision-making can be either linear or nonlinear but rather a MILP or LP as best choice on optimizing large-scale systems. If the model is applied with auto rescheduling on site within variable hours or minutes, it becomes a real-time optimization schedule approach. Due to its high-velocity performance and robustness, a novel multi-objective function strategy, acting as an LP generic plantwide MPC with industrial scope to maximize production while controlling the process is presented, and as an example is here used to control slug flow to avoid equipment trips and inventory instability, at the same time production is maximized. The output from the decision-making was compared to actual plant data, and the results proved compliance to the design capacity with process safety and sustainability. Comparing to official Brazil's government data for oil, the case study showed superiority to the same size platforms, like FPSOs P-75 and MV32, e.g., more than 101.5% more capacity to produce oil in beginning of campaign after first oil, and 10.5% during campaign. The present work indicates that: 1) the production of millions of barrels is being delayed or left aside; 2) not scheduling production harms the environment and diminish process safety; 3) not scheduling production can create stochastic supply chain deliveries instead of organizing it by deterministic offloading days; 4) scheduling is essential to manipulate, revitalize and monitor reservoir's pressure and content under uncertainty; 5) the oil platform can be automatic optimized by a plantwide MPC reducing human activity/dependency; 6) scheduling gives more transparency to stakeholders and contractors by forecasting business data and capability, and can design, develop or enable new businesses.

Background/ObjectivesMental health and substance use disorders (MHD, SUD) affect cardiac allograft and VAD recipients and impact their quality of life and compliance. Limited research on MHDs and SUDs in transplant and MCS candidates and recipients. This study compares the incidence of MHDs and SUDs in transplant list, VAD, and post-transplant patients with that in heart failure patients. MethodsStudy cohorts were derived from the TriNetX using ICD-10 codes. Differences in incidence were examined using the log-rank test. Adults with mental health disorders before the window of time were excluded. Propensity score matching was performed using TriNetX to balance demographic and medical comorbidities. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. All comparisons were made between propensity-matched cohorts. ResultsTransplant waitlist patients showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of anxiety, panic disorder, adjustment disorder, depression, mood disorder, alcohol use disorder, and eating disorder. Post-transplant patients showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of depression and opioid use compared to the heart failure population. VAD patients showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of depression and a statistically significant decrease in panic disorder and anxiety. ConclusionsThe results pave the pathway for further investigations on prevention and coping strategies because deterioration of mental health will significantly impact compliance with medications as well as patient survival and quality of life. The use of opioids for pain management in the early postoperative period should be further investigated to assess its impact on long-term substance use and addiction. .

In recent years, research has noted the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among university students. The current mental health needs of the university population, along with the multitude of stressors they face, increase the importance of examining their psychological well-being and determining the personal resources that effectively promote it. In this context, the present research aims to analyze the role of psychological capital (PsyCap) and coping strategies as personal resources facilitating psychological well-being (PWB) of university students. Specifically, the mediating role of coping strategies (both adaptive and maladaptive) in the relationship between PsyCap and PWB is explored. The study involved 391 university students from Spain. The results found a partial mediation effect of adaptive coping strategies on the relationship between PsyCap and PWB. Likewise, PsyCap was shown to be a direct positive predictor of adaptive coping strategies and PWB, as well as a direct negative predictor of maladaptive coping strategies. Therefore, it is concluded that PsyCap serves as a valuable personal resource that enhances and strengthens PWB in university students, as well as adaptive coping strategies. PsyCap also decreases the tendency to engage in maladaptive coping strategies. Similarly, the use of adaptive coping strategies contributes to improving students' PWB.

Surfing is a growing, high participation recreational and competitive activity. It is relatively unique being performed on, in, and through water with a range of temperatures. In other sports, warm-up and heat retention have proved useful at augmenting performance and ameliorating injury risk. Little work has been done examining this in surfing. The purpose of this work was to measure thermal profiles in surfers with and without warm-up and passive heat retention, and secondarily to assess any potential influence on free surfing. A repeated measures pre- and post- design was adopted whereby participants surfed in an artificial wave pool following an active warm-up combined with passive heat retention (experimental condition), and after no warm-up (control). Core body temperature was measured both occasions. Our results showed a clear advantage to body temperature for the experimental condition versus control. Both groups showed a warm-up effect in the water itself, presumably due to further activity (e.g. paddling) and wetsuit properties. Finally, performance trended to being superior following warm-up. We conclude, body warmth in surfers may be facilitated by an active warm-up and passive heat retention. In free surfing this is associated with a trend towards better performance; it may also reduce injury risk.

There has been debate recently on how the population in traditional mining areas of Central and Eastern Europe face precarity and marginalization. A spatial approach was employed in a Romanian context using available statistical data on a south Carpathian area (i.e Gorj County), surveys and in-depth interviews with residents in one of the rural communities of Gorj. Our findings highlight that a large number of rural localities in this county are technically, economically, and socially underdeveloped. Many inhabitants face a lack of financial resources and employment opportunities, which has led to the emigration of young people to larger Romanian cities or to other countries. We conclude that in order to avoid a much deeper social and spatial marginalization of local inhabitants, an integrated strategy is needed to target economic and social development, investment in infrastructure and public services, the promotion of employment and training opportunities, and to better integrate local culture and traditions into tourism.

Children—Dependents in Social Construction Theory—are assessed within democracies regarding their ability to self-direct their behavior concerning their associated society. In this regard, childhood represents a lack of self-direction, a life period when people require the guidance and protection of adults. The assumed necessity of adults supervising children in democracies requires substantial social resources, reducing the self-direction of those charged with overseeing children. Given that self-direction defines the optimal experience of people within democratic society, finding ways to increase the self-direction of children is an individual and a social benefit. In this regard, smartphones have improved self-direction in children. How children have become empowered to self-direct their lives with smartphone use considering Social Construction Theory—as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants—is the focus of a scoping review conducted on “children, empowerment, smartphones” of the following databases: OVID, JSTOR, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The result is that children permitted to self-direct their activities aided by smartphone technology have comparable social behavior to adults positioned as Advantaged, Contenders, or Deviants and, as such they should be encouraged to utilize smartphone technology to improve their self-direction, as doing so will augment individual and caregiver self-direction, providing increased social benefit.

This study explored the feasibility of fluoride removal from simulated semiconductor industry wastewater and its recovery as calcium fluoride using fluidized bed crystallization. The continuous reactor showed best performance (>90% fluoride removal and >95% crystallization efficiency) at a calcium to fluoride ratio of 0.6 within first 40 days of continuous operation. The resulting particle size increased by more than double during this time along with a 36% increase in the seed bed height indicating deposition of CaF2 onto the silica seed. The SEM-EDX analysis showed the size and shape of the crystals formed along with high amount of Ca-F ions presence. The purity of the CaF2 crystals were determined to be 91.1% though ICP-OES analysis. Following the continuous experiment, different process improvement strategies are explored. The addition of excess amount of calcium resulted in an additional 6% fluoride removal, however, compared to this single stage process, a two-stage approach was found to be better strategy to achieve a low effluent fluoride concentration. The fluoride removal reached 94% with this two-stage approach under optimum condition of 4 + 1 h HRT combinations and a [Ca2+]/[F-] ratio of 0.55 and 0.7 for the two reactors, respectively. CFD simulation showed the impact of inlet diameter, bottom-angle shape and width and height ratio of the reactor on mixing inside reactor and possibility of further improvement in reactor performance by optimizing the FBR configuration.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most prevalent cancer in Korea, significantly impacting morbidity and mortality. While advancements in early detection and treatment have improved survival rates, managing post-surgical recovery remains vital. Herbal medicine (HM) has emerged as a potential adjunct therapy to enhance recovery and quality of life (QoL) in patients post-GC surgery. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of HM in the post-surgical recovery of GC patients. We searched both Korean and international databases, identifying 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting our criteria. We assessed study quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and analyzed data with Review Manager Software (RevMan). Results: Our analysis included 1,546 patients from the selected studies, demonstrating that HM significantly improved gastrointestinal recovery times, including time to first flatus, bowel movement, and return of bowel sounds. Significant improvements were also seen in nutritional markers such as albumin and prealbumin, alongside beneficial effects on immune markers like CD3+ and CD4+ levels. QoL assessments using WHOQOL-BREF and QLQ-C30 scores indicated substantial improvements. HM had a favorable safety profile, showing a reduced incidence of adverse effects compared to controls. Conclusion: The findings suggest that HM can significantly enhance recovery and improve the quality of life following gastric cancer surgery, with a favorable safety profile. However, due to considerable heterogeneity in study results, extended clinical trials and rigorous follow-ups are recommended to assess long-term effects and side effects comprehensively.

The inherited ‘EIA’ process at Brexit is based on a ‘Project’ period from Inception tothe start of construction works. The ‘Incompleteness’ of the process covers andidentifies stages that will impact on the environmental cycle: construction period,operational life, de-commissioning and a return to acceptable environmental footprint.A master environment structure-plan framework is required to commence with theupgrading of the complete ‘EIA’ process, embracing separate limbs for the UK’spriority environmental targets for climate change, and other major adverse effectswhich result in serious ‘harm’ to the UK environment. The identification of the processfor ‘incompleteness’ requires effective sustainability, and inclusion of effectivemanagement tools, for the essential ‘monitoring/control/recording’ proceduresthroughout the project life and the natural environmental cycle. This will allow theopportunity for a new approach to a structured ‘Suite of EIAR Directives’, to enable a‘EIAR’ regime that ‘will remain fit and proper for UK purpose’.

Goat milk's medicinal properties and potential cosmetic and health benefits have prompted extensive scientific investigation into its therapeutic applications, particularly for human skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Genetic factors, including genes such as lactoferrin (LTF), lysozyme (LYZ), and β-casein (CSN2), play a crucial role in shaping milk composition and its effects on skin health. This review explores the utilization of genomic tools to elucidate the genomic profiles of dairy goat breeds and the medicinal properties of goat milk, particularly in addressing key skin diseases. Genetic determinants of milk composition, quality, nutritional quality, and functional properties such as the growth hormone receptor (GHR), butyrophilin (BTN1A1) and lactoglobulin (LGB) genes, facilitating targeted breeding strategies to enhance the production of bioactive compounds with dermatological relevance have been identified. Future genomic approaches should aim at exploring goat milk's immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, offering potential applications in skin care formulations for managing inflammatory skin conditions. Furthermore, the integration of genomic data with functional studies can provide valuable insights into the therapeutic effects of goat’s milk and its derivatives in addressing skin diseases.

The major issue of raw materials depletion and more specifically of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect, due to expected depletion problems, needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologically treated) effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP “AINEIA”, located near Thessaloniki, N. Greece), treating the wastewaters of the nearby touristic area. Regarding the phosphorous supplementary removal and recovery treatment options, two methods mainly examined, initially in laboratory scale (batch experiments), i.e. (1) the adsorption of phosphorous, and (2) the chemical precipitation of phosphorus. Both methods further applied in pilot-scale, by performing initially the adsorption of phosphorous onto the AquAsZero commercial sorbent, which is a mixed manganese iron oxy-hydroxide, followed by the chemical precipitation of phosphorous, implemented after the de-sorption process of previously saturated adsorbent. The final precipitate of this procedure examined as an alternative/supplementary fertilizer, returning with this way phosphorus into the natural cycle. These experiments, as applied successfully in pilot-scale, set the basis for the larger-scale relevant application for similar WWTP facilities.

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in males and in females, representing 8% of estimated new cases and the third cause of cancer-related death in both sexes, accounting for 9% of cancer deaths in men and 8% in women. About 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC present metastatic disease. Although lung metachronous or synchronous metastatic spread without other involved sites has been reported in only a small proportion of patients, considering that this tumor is frequently diagnosed, the clinical approach to CRC pulmonary metastases represents a major issue for thoracic surgeons and CRC oncologists. Among patients diagnosed with pulmonary metastases from CRC, about 9 – 12% are eligible for local treatments with radical intent, including surgical resection, SBRT and ablation therapy. Due to the lack of randomized controlled trials among different local strategies, there is no definitive evidence about the optimal approach, although surgical resection is considered the most effective therapeutic option in this clinical scenario. Oncological achievement of primary radical resection, the biology of primary tumor and metastatic sites, disease free interval and or progression free survival are independent prognostic factors which make it possible to define a cohort of patients which might significantly benefit from pulmonary metastasectomy.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and substance use disorder (SUD) are of immense medical and social concerns. Although significant progress on neuronal involvement in mood and reward circuitries has been achieved, only relatively recently the role of glia in these disorders have attracted attention. Detail understanding of the glial function in these devastating diseases could offer novel interventions. Here, following a brief review of circuitries involved in mood regulation and reward perception, specific contribution of the neurotrophic factors, neuroinflammation and gut microbiota to these diseases are highlighted. In this context, the role of specific glial cells (e.g., microglia, astroglia, oligodendrocytes and synantocytes) on phenotypic manifestation of MDD or SUD are emphasized. In addition, potential use of this knowledge in developing novel therapeutics is touched upon.

Many studies have demonstrated hydrogen's therapeutic and preventive effects on various diseases. Its selective antioxidant properties against hydroxyl radicals, which are responsible for the indirect effects of ionizing radiation, may make it worthy of attention as a new radio-protector. We recently developed new hydrogen water that is more stable and has higher antioxidant activity by using ultra-fine bubbles. In this study, female C57BL/6J mice given ad libitum access to ultra-fine bubble hydrogen water (UBHW) were subjected to whole-body irradiation (WBI) with X-rays, and the radio-protective effect of UBHW was evaluated. Sub-lethal WBI resulted in a 30-day survival rate of 100% in UBHW-fed mice, compared with 37% in control mice. In the case of lethal WBI, while the control mice died out in about 3 weeks, the 30-day survival rate improved to 40% by UBHW due to the high scavenging activity of hydroxy radicals. Twenty-six serum proteins involved in inflammatory and immune responses were significantly identified in UBHW-fed mice by proteomics, and UBHW may enhance and regulate these functions, resulting in reduced damage in mice exposed to WBI. We conclude that UBHW has good potential in radio-protection, with evidence that warrants further research efforts in this field.

Polyesters based advanced thin films have versatile industrial applications, especially in the filed of textiles, packaging and electronics. Recent advances in polymer science and engineering resulted in development of advanced amorphous and semi-crystalline polyesters with exceptional performance compared to conventional polymeric films. Among these, 1,4-cycloheanedimethanol (CHDM) and cyclic monomer-based polyesters have gained considerable attention attention for their exceptional characteristics and potential applications in smart films. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of CHDM and cyclic monomer based advanced polymers for smart film applications. It discussed the structure-property relationship of these innovative polyesters and highlights their unique characteristics including thermal, mechanical, and barrier characteristics. Furthermore, this article also emphases the solution, melt, and solid state polymerization of the polymers. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of the addition of 2nd diol or 2nd diacid on the performance characteristics of synthesized polyesters/copolyesters to explore their versatile industrial applications. Additionally, the impact of stereochemistry of the monomers is also explored to optimized the characterization of polyester, suitable for the industrial applications. Furthermore, this article explores the potential of these advanced polyesters to be considered as a potential materials for smart film applications, especially in the filed of flexible electronics. Finally, the article examines the challenges and future recommendations for the development CHDM and cyclic monomer-based polyesters for smart film applications. It discusses potential avenues for further research, including in-depth studies for the synthesis and characterization of polyesters, development of sustainable and biodegradable alternatives cyclic monomers, alternative green approaches for the synthesis of polymers etc. This review article provides a valuable insights for the researcher from academia and industry working in the field of polymer science and materials engineering.

There is an increasing concern on the quality of jobs and productivity witnessed in the flexible employment arrangements. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between various employment arrangements and the workplace performance. Home-based working-teleworking, flexible timing and compressed hours are the main employment types examined using the Workplace Employee Relations Survey (WERS) in years 2004 and 2011. The workplace performance is measured by two outcomes- the financial performance and labour productivity. First, the determinants of those flexible employment types are explored. Second, the ordinary least squares (OLS) method is followed. Third, an instrumental variable (IV) approach is applied to account for plausible endogeneity and to estimate the causal effects. The findings reveal a significant and positive relationship between these types of flexible employment arrangements and the workplace performance. Education, age, wage, quality of relations between managers-employees, years of experience, the area of the market the workplace is operated and the competition are significant factors and are positively associated with the propensity of the flexible employment arrangements implementation. This can have various profound policy implications for employees, employers and the society overall, including family-work balance, coping with family demands, improving the firm performance, reducing traffic congestion and stress among others. It is the first study that explores the relationship between flexible employment types and workplace performance using an IV approach. This allows us to estimate the causal effects of flexible employment types and the possible associated social implications.

Prosthetic device is designed to function as a replacement for a missing limb and typically consists of suspension, liner, socket, pylon and foot components. The objectives of this research are to design a pylon component of a transtibial prosthetics by implementing auxetic metamaterial and to also validate performance of the designed pylon under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. The design and analysis processes are conducted using the finite element analysis and its effectiveness is validated by experimental testing of the prototype pylon sample. In the design process, the pylon structure is formulated by rearranging 2D re-entrant hexagon model into 3D model. It is identified from the design evaluation that the pylon exhibits the stiffness of the value of 79.24, 2371.6, and 13344 kN/m for the ligament thickness variation of 0.3 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm, respectively. This directly indicates a capability of the stiffness tuning of the pylon by changing the ligament thickness. It is evaluated that the pylon with the ligament thickness of 0.3 mm causes the deformation of 0.53 cm during a single period of gait cycle, while the ligament thickness of the 1 mm causes the deformation of 0.4 cm. The deformation physically indicates the energy absorption of the pylon structure and hence the thinner ligament, the higher energy absorption provides. It is also found from the deformation transition of the primary and secondary bends, the negative Poisson’s ratio is occurred in 3D model transformed from 2D re-entrant hexagon.

The high reliable correlations between CBR and DCP in general proposed are presented in this paper. We analyzed the test data and correlations from many researchers to find the best equation for prediction the CBR from DCP test. The findings show that all correlations from existing paper are based on local material and cannot apply to soil in a different location in general purpose. New correlations between CBR and DCP were proposed and validated in this paper for general uses. The validation confirmed that these new correlations can predict well with higher R2.

Background: The cumulative exposure of UV radiation can result in dangerous consequences such as skin burns, photoaging, and skin cancer, hence the importance of using photoprotective formulations. Currently, the formulations seek to be more efficient, innovative and reach a wider audience. Many sunscreens are vegan, and have antioxidant substances to ensure additional photochemoprotective action. To evaluate biological, functional, and mechanical characteristics of them on the skin, biometric and rheologic methods can be used. Objective: Evaluate biophysical, rheological and sensorial parameters of Face Care Facial Moisturizing Cream® (P1) and a vegan formulation (P2) by in vitro and in vivo tests. Methods: A UV scan experiment was performed covering the range of 250 to 400 nm. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) was evaluated by Mansur method. Rheological profiles were obtained using a MARS II (Haake®) controlled shear stress and gradient rheometer. Biophysical parameters were analyzed: skin sebum content, hydration level, transepidermal water loss, erythema and melanin level, skin color, and skin pH. The acceptance profile of the formulations by the volunteers was determined using a 9-point hedonic scale and a 5-point purchase intention test. Results: The formulations effectively absorbed light covering the UV radiation spectrum from UVA to UVB. The SPF of P1 was 25.21 and of P2 was 12.10 by in vitro tests. They had also pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior, it can contribute to better spreadability and to form a protective film. Biometric tests showed an increase in hydration and skin sebum, decreased erythema, and maintenance of skin pH after application of both formulations. The products also had similarly good acceptance and purchase intention by the volunteers. Conclusion: The comparation of a commercialized product and a vegan test version showed very similar rheological and great acceptance profiles. Therefore, the vegan formulation is a good alternative to reach a different market.

A phase 1-2, prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial (Code RPCEC00000382, https://rpcec.sld.cu/trials/RPCEC00000382-En/), with parallel groups, involving 1161 participants was designed to assess safety and immunogenicity of two Cuban COVID-19 vaccines (Mambisa and Abdala) in boosting COVID-19 immunity of convalescent adults after receiving one dose of either vaccine. The main safety outcome was severe vaccination adverse events occurring in &lt;5% of vaccinees. Main immunogenicity success endpoints were ≥4-fold anti-RBD IgG seroconversion or ≥20% increase in ACE2-RBD inhibitory antibodies in &gt;55% of vaccinees in Phase 1 and &gt;70% in Phase 2. Neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants were evaluated. Both vaccines were safe; no deaths or severe adverse events occurred. Mild intensity adverse events were the most frequent (&gt;73%); headache predominated for both vaccines. Phase 1 responders were 83.3% (p = 0.0018) for Abdala. Mambisa showed similar results. Phase 2 responders were 88.6% for Abdala (p &lt;0.0001) and 74.2% for Mambisa (p = 0.0412). In both phases, anti-RBD IgG titers, inhibition percentages and neutralizing antibody titers increased significantly after the booster dose. Both vaccines were safe and their immunogenicity surpassed the study endpoints.

The continuing mutability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in failures of diagnostic assays. To address this, we describe a generalizable bioinformatics-to-biology pipeline developed for calibration and quality assurance of inactivated SARS-COV-2 variant panels provided to Radical Acceleration of Diagnostics programs (RADx)-radical program awardees. Heuristic genetic analysis based on variant-defining mutations demonstrated the lowest genetic variance in the Nucleocapsid protein (Np)- C-terminal domain (CTD) across all SARS-COV-2 variants. We then employed the Shannon entropy method on (Np) sequences collected from the major variants, verifying the CTD with lower entropy (less prone to mutations) than other Np regions. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against this target CTD antigen and used to develop an Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test for SARS-CoV-2. Blinded Viral Quality Assurance (VQA) panels comprising of UV-inactivated SARS CoV-2 variants (XBB.1.5, BF.7, BA.1, B.1.617.2, and WA1) and distractor respiratory viruses (CoV 229E, CoV OC43, RSV A2, RSV B, IAV H1N1, and IBV) were assembled by the RADx-rad Diagnostics core and tested using the ELISA described here. The assay tested positive for all variants with high sensitivity (Limit of Detection: 1.72-8.78 ng/mL) and negative for the distractor virus panel. Epitope mapping for the monoclonal antibodies identified a twenty amino acid antigenic peptide on the Np-CTD that an in-silico program also predicted for the highest antigenicity. This work provides a template for a bioinformatics pipeline to select genetic regions with a low propensity for mutation (low Shannon entropy) to develop robust ‘pan-variant’ antigen-based assays for viruses prone to high mutational rates.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe and chronic disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and remodeling often precipitating right-sided heart dysfunction and death. Although the condition is progressive and incurable, current therapies for the disease focus on multiple different drugs and general supportive therapies to manage symptoms and prolong survival, ranging from medications more specific to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to exercise training. Moreover, there are multiple studies exploring novel experimental drugs and therapies including unique neurostimulation, to help better manage the disease. Here we provide a narrative review focusing on current PH treatments that target multiple underlying biochemical mechanisms, including but not limited to imbalances in vasoconstrictor-vasodilator and autonomic nervous system function, inflammation, and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling. We also focus on the potential of novel therapies for managing PH, focusing on multiple types of neu-rostimulation including acupuncture. Lastly, we also touch upon the disease’s different subgroups, clinical presentations and prognosis, diagnostics, demographics, and cost.

Bioinformatics is a rapidly developing field enabling scientific experiments through computer models and simulations. Considering the vast databases of biological data available, it is ex-tremely important to develop efficient methods and algorithms for their processing. Sequence comparison is the best method for studying the evolutionary interaction between genes. It is based on alignment – the process of arranging two or more sequences to achieve the maximum level of identity and degree of similarity. The paper presents a new version of the algorithm for pairwise DNA sequences alignment, based on a new method called CAT, where a dependency with a previous match and the closes neighbor are taken in consideration to increase uniqueness of the CAT profile and to reduce possible collisions, i.e. two or more sequence having same CAT profiles. This makes proposed algorithm suitable for finding exact match of a concrete DNA se-quence in a big set of DNA data faster. The generation of CAT profiles is made once before data has been uploaded to the database, allowing the profiles to be used as metadata for the sequenc-es. It consists of an algorithm to calculate a CAT profile against the selected reference sequences and an algorithm to compare two sequences based on the calculated CAT profiles. Improve-ments in generation of the CAT profiles, are detailed described in the paper. Block scheme, pseudo code tables and figures were updated according to the proposed new version and ex-perimental results. Experiments have been carried out with the new version of the method and different datasets to align DNA sequences based on the CAT method. New experimental results in terms of collisions, speed, and efficiency of the proposed solutions are presented. Experiments related to the performance comparison with Needleman-Wunsch were re-executed with the new version of the algorithm to confirm that we have the same performance. An analysis of the per-formance of the proposed CAT based algorithm against Knuth–Morris–Pratt algorithm, which has a complexity of O(n) and is one of the most widely used for searching biological data, was performed. The impact of prior matching dependencies on uniqueness for generated CAT pro-files is investigated. The analysis of the experimental results obtained by sequence alignment shows a small deviation of the proposed algorithm based on the CAT method, which can be ig-nored if this deviation is acceptable at the expense of performance. The time efficiency of the CAT algorithm remains constant, regardless of the length of the sequences. Therefore, the ad-vantage of the proposed method is its fast processing in the alignment of large sequences, for which the execution of the exact algorithms takes a long time. The example code realization of the CAT Method, under the protection of the GNU General Public License v3.0, can be accessed on GitHub at: https://github.com/HristoS/CATSequenceAnalysis.

Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is difficult as signs and symptoms are nonspecific. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a promising marker for neonatal sepsis. We aimed to test the accuracy of IL-6 in term and preterm infants after 72 hours of life (late-onset sepsis-LOS). We searched for IL-6 diagnostic accuracy studies between 1990 and 2020 using the PubMed database. Study selection was performed. The range of reported IL-6 sensitivities and specificities was 68% to 100% and 28% to 100%, respectively, the median values were 85.7% and 82% from 15 studies including 1306 infants. Subgroup analysis was performed. Sensitivity (87% vs 82%), but not specificity (both 86%), was better in preterm infants than in preterm and term infants. Early sample collection had the highest sensitivity (84%), but the lowest specificity (86%). To assess quality we used a STARD checklist adapted for septic neonates. Limitation of this review include the heterogeneous group of studies on the one side and the small number of studies on the other side that analyzed different combinations of biomarker. We concluded that IL-6 had a good performance especially in the preterm infant population and best results are achieved by measurements at the time of LOS suspicion.

β-Ga2O3 is a well-known semiconductor material for power devices and other applications. Recently, β-Ga2O3 has also been reported as a scintillator material with a light yield of approximately 8400 ph./MeV, scintillation decay time of &lt;1 μs, and density of 6.44 g/cm3. In this study, 2-inch diameter β-Ga2O3 single crystals were prepared by oxide crystal growth using the cold crucible (OCCC) method under various oxygen partial pressures. In the OCCC method, as in the cold crucible method, a high frequency is applied directly to the oxide materials, which are heated and melted, and the melt is held by the outermost solid material itself that is cooled by water using a copper hearth. In the OCCC method, crystal growth is performed while rotating the seed crystal, as in the Czochralski method, to increase the crystal diameter. The optical properties and radiation responses of the crystals grown under various oxygen partial pressures were evaluated.

The extraction of cell cultures from fresh tissue is a process that requires significant computa-tional resources and is associated with substantial overheads. The objective of our research is to de-vise a rapid, straightforward, and efficient technique for the cultivation of neuronal cells derived from frozen biological material. We utilized freshly isolated hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissue from rats, in addition to whole brain tissue. This tissue underwent digestion and processing to yield a cellular suspension. This suspension was subsequently cryopreserved using a variety of cryopro-tectants: CTS™ Synth-a-Freeze™, SpermFreeze®, and a medium supplemented with 10% DMSO. CTS™ Synth-a-Freeze™ is a commercially available cryoprotectant typically employed in the preservation of cellular cultures, while the addition of 10% DMSO to the medium is a conventional technique for the cryopreservation of cells to mitigate damage. The innovative aspect of our meth-odology is the application of SpermFreeze®, a product used for the cryopreservation of sperm in in vitro clinics. We postulated that SpermFreeze® might enhance the viability and quality of the cryo-preserved neuronal cells, given the delicate and energetically demanding nature of both sperm and neuronal cells. The ultimate objective was to ascertain whether a cryoprotectant formulated for sperm could augment the post-thawing efficacy of our nervous system cells. This investigation intro-duces an innovative methodology for the optimization of neuronal cell isolation and cryopreserva-tion from animal-derived tissues.

The current research investigates the effects of material and riblets on cavitation-induced erosion morphology, depth, and cross-sectional area through experimental approaches. To achieve these aims, the erosion of pure aluminum (1xxxAl or Al) and alpha brass (CuZn37 or CZ108) in the presence and absence of bio-inspired sawtooth riblets was examined after exposure to multiple collapses of single cavitation bubbles with a wall distance of 1.8. The results indicate that the erosion morphology resembles a rounded cone with a circular cross-section. Brass provides 21.6% more erosion resistance compared to Al in terms of material properties. Furthermore, the erosion for both Al (depth by 3.8% and width by 18.3%) and brass (depth by 7.9% and width by 27.4%) decreases in the presence of riblets compared to flat surfaces. The greater erosion resistance of brass compared to Al is attributed to the superior mechanical stability of brass, making it a potentially suitable alloy for propellers and hulls. In sum, the results reveal that riblet-provided materials with high mechanical durability are promising erosion-resistant materials for the shipping industry. However, the potential for chemical reactions in a cathodic environment should be addressed to provide a comprehensive perspective on reducing corrosion intensity.

The affinity constant, also known as the equilibrium constant, binding constant, equilibrium association constant, or the reciprocal value, the equilibrium dissociation constant (K_d), can be considered as one of the most important characteristics for any antibody-antigen pair. Many methods based on different technologies have been proposed and used to determine this value. However, since a very large number of publications and commercial datasheets do not include this information, significant obstacles in performing such measurements seem to exist. In other cases where such data are reported, the results have often proved to be unreliable. This situation may indicate that most of the technologies available today require a high level of expertise that does not seem to be available in many laboratories. In this paper, we present a simple approach based on standard immunoassay technology that is easy and quick to perform. It relies on the effect that the molar IC₅₀ approaches the K_d value in the case of infinitely small concentrations of the reagent concentrations. A two-dimensional dilution of the reagents leads to an asymptotic convergence to K_d. The approach has some similarity to the well-known checkerboard titration used for the optimization of immunoassays. A well-known antibody against the FLAG peptide, clone M2, was used as a model system and the results were compared with other methods. This approach could be used in any case where a competitive assay is available or can be developed. The determination of an affinity constant should belong to the crucial parameters in any quality control of antibody-related products and assays and should be mandatory in papers using immunochemical protocols.

Motor imagery requires mental representation of the body, which is obtained by the integration of exteroceptive and interoceptive information. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of interoceptive sensitivity in motor imagery performed through visual and kinesthetic modalities in participants with low (lows, N = 26), medium (mediums, N = 11) and high hypnotizability scores (highs, N = 16), measured by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form A. These groups display different motor imagery abilities and interoceptive sensitivity. The efficacy of motor imagery was measured by chronometric index and self-reported experience, and interoceptive sensitivity by the Multisensory Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire. EEG alpha and beta power spectral densities were extracted from recordings acquired during baseline, actual movement, visually and kinesthetically imagined movements. The chronometric indices did not reveal significant differences among groups and between imagery modalities. In contrast, the self-reported imagery efficacy indicated better kinesthetic imagery in highs and mediums than in lows, and no modality difference among lows. MAIA dimensions sustained the differences in sub-jective experience and almost all the EEG differences, slightly different in highs, mediums and lows. This is the first report of a major role played by interoceptive sensitivity in motor imagery.

A new formalism is introduced that makes it possible to elucidate the physical and geometric content of quantum spacetime. It is based in the Minimum Group Representation Principle (MGRP). Within this framework new results for entanglement and geometrical/topological phases are found and implemented in cosmological and black hole space-times. Our main results here are: {\bf(i)} We find the Berry phases for inflation and for the cosmological perturbations and express them in terms of the observables, as the spectral scalar and tensor indices, $n_S$ an $n_T$, and the tensor to scalar ratio $r$. The Berry phase for de Sitter inflation is imaginary with the sign describing the exponential acceleration. {\bf(ii)} The pure entangled states in the minimum group (metaplectic) $Mp(n)$ representation for quantum de Sitter space-time and black holes are found. {\bf(iii)} For entanglement, the relation between the Schmidt type representation and the physical states of the $Mp(n)$ group is found: This is a {\it new non-diagonal} coherent state representation complementary to the known Sudarshan diagonal one. {\bf(iv)} Mean value generators of $Mp(2)$ are related to the adiabatic invariant and topological charge of the spacetime (matrix element of the transition $-\infty < t < \infty$). {\bf(v)} The basic {\it even} and {\it odd} $n$-sectors of the Hilbert space are intrinsic to the quantum spacetime and its discrete levels (in particular continuum for $n \rightarrow \infty$), they do not require any extrinsic generation process as the standard Schrodinger cat states, and are {\it entangled}. {\bf(vi)} The gravity or cosmological domains in one side and another of the Planck scale are {\it entangled}. Examples: The quantum primordial trans-Planckian de Sitter vacuum and the classical late de Sitter vacuum today; the central quantum gravity reqion and the external classical gravity region of black holes. The classical and quantum dual gravity regions of the space-time are entangled. {\bf(vii)} The general classical-quantum gravity duality is associated to the Metaplectic $Mp(n)$ group symmetry which provides the complete full covering of the phase space and of the quantum space-time mapped from it.

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of orthorhombic Cd2SiO4 and Hg2GeO4 were examined under varying pressure conditions using first-principles calculations based on densi-ty-functional theory employing the projector augmented wave method. The obtained cell pa-rameters at 0 GPa were found to align well with existing experimental data. We delved into the pressure-dependence of normalized lattice parameters and elastic constants. In Cd2SiO4, all lat-tice constants decreased as pressure increased, whereas in Hg2GeO4, parameters a and b de-creased while parameter c increased under pressure. Employing the Hill average method, we calculated the elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratio up to 10 GPa, noting an increase with pressure. Evaluation of ductility/brittleness under pressure indicated both compounds remained ductile throughout. We also estimated elastic anisotropy and Debye temperature under varying pres-sures. Cd2SiO4 and Hg2GeO4 were identified as indirect band gap insulators, with estimated band gaps of 3.34 eV and 2.09 eV, respectively. Interestingly, Cd2SiO4 exhibited a significant increase in band gap with increasing pressure, whereas the band gap of Hg2GeO4 decreased under pres-sure, revealing distinct structural and electronic responses despite their similar structures.

Time, traditionally viewed as a linear, non-dynamic parameter, is re-envisioned in this study as a Hyperdimensional concept. This paper conducts a cross-disciplinary examination, critically analysing the conceptualization of time in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and cosmology to propose a ground breaking reconceptualisation that extends beyond conventional frameworks. In classical mechanics, time is perceived as an absolute, continuously progressing backdrop, largely independent of events. Quantum mechanics treats time as a static parameter that does not influence quantum states but provides a framework for their evolution. In cosmology, time is considered a dimension that emerges from the Big Bang and serves as a measure for the universe's expansion, yet it does not interact with the structural dynamics of the cosmos. Challenging the transformative insights of Einstein’s relativity, which merges time with spatial dimensions under extreme conditions, we advocate for a perspective that views time as a Hyperdimensional and universal constant. This perspective posits that time, despite its unique and intrinsic properties, does not dynamically interact with or alter physical phenomena. Instead, it underpins our understanding of phenomena across different scales—from the minutiae of quantum states to the macroscopic dynamics of cosmology—without direct causation or change. A critical examination of time dilation and relativistic assumptions reveals significant discrepancies in traditional interpretations, particularly in how they are applied across different physical contexts. Our findings challenge the uniform applicability of time dilation, suggesting that observed phenomena often attributed to relativistic effects might better be explained through non-relativistic mechanisms such as phase shifts or changes in wavelength rather than temporal dilation. By synthesizing insights from various scientific domains, we advocate for a unified theory that recognizes time as a fundamental, universal dimension that is conceptual and non-interactive. Our goal is to bridge existing gaps between diverse scientific interpretations and promote a more integrated, profound understanding of time's autonomous and intrinsic nature.

This cross-country four-year longitudinal study investigated the development of processing speed throughout primary school education. The analyses were conducted on data collected from 441 schoolchildren in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 (aged 6.42 to 11.85 years) in the Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Mixed effects growth modeling was applied to estimate average and individual growth trajectories for processing speed at two cross-country samples. Latent class growth modeling was conducted to identify different types of growth trajectories for processing speed and to compare the distribution of the types within the analyzed samples. According to the results, processing speed significantly increases across primary school years. The trajectory is characterized by nonlinear changes with more intensive growth between Grades 1 and 2, which later slows down until Grade 4. There were no significant cross-country differences in the initial score of processing speed or developmental changes in processing speed across primary school years. The development of processing speed is described by a model with three quadratic growth types but minimally differs. It is concluded that in both samples, the development of processing speed may be characterized by homogeneity, with the most intensive growth from Grade 1 to Grade 2 and subsequent linear improvement until Grade 4.

The potentially active A subunit of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII-A) is an intracellular transglutaminase expressed in various cell types including platelets and monocytes/macrophages. It is involved in stabilizing protein structures by cross-linking through Nε-(?-L-glutamyl)-L-lysyl iso-peptide bonds. Macrophages are major cellular constituents of the atherosclerotic plaque and are important in determining its structural/functional features. Two of their important functions are the accumulation of oxidized LDL in the lipid core, and by cross-linking structural proteins they may stabilize the plaque and protect the thrombi of atherogenic origin against fibrinolytic degradation. It is important to know whether these functions operate in parallel utilizing the same cellular compartments. First, we showed that monocyte-derived human macrophages significantly increase their FXIII-A content when up-taking oxidized LDL. This phenomenon is very likely independent of the process of transformation into foam cells, as the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells into foam cells fails to result in the expression of FXIII-A. FXIII containing macrophage-like cells are abundant in the plaque and FXIII-A is also present in the extracellular core. Several cells co-stained for FXIII-A and for Oil Red O suggest that expression of FXIII-A and lipid up-take are common features of macrophages present in the atherosclerotic plaque.

Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect, both UNESCO and other international organisations recommend empowering youth to implement the SDGs in universities. Getting started with the SDGs at university level is of special relevance in pre-service teacher training since future teachers are powerful agents of change in the lives of young people. Future teachers need to acquire competencies in sustainability to be able to promote meaningful changes in sustainable behaviour. To that end, holistic approaches to facilitate their acquirement need to be developed. The aim of this study is to explore which teaching methodologies are suitable for the development of competencies in sustainability in Higher Education (HE) and how to empower students to take a leading role in implementing the SDGs in universities. The participants in the study are a group of 23 students in pre-service teacher training. The experimental educational model used for the development of sustainable competencies consists of a methodological sequence of Project-Oriented Learning (POL) and a Cross-disciplinary Workshop on Sustainable Food. This study provides evidence that a holistic approach is appropriate for developing sustainable competencies and contributes to empowering students to implement SDG 12 at their university.

The importance of sleep for healthy brain function is widely acknowledged. However, it remains unclear how the internal generation of dreams might facilitate cognitive processes. In this perspective we review a computational approach inspired by artificial intelligence that proposes a framework for how dreams occurring during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep can contribute to learning and creativity. In this framework, REM dreams are characterized by an adversarial process that, against the dream reality, tell a discriminator network to classify the internally created sensory activity as real. Such an adversarial dreaming process is shown to facilitate the emergence of real-world semantic representations in higher cortical areas. We further discuss the potential contributions of adversarial dreaming beyond learning, such as balancing fantastic and realistic dream elements, and facilitating the occurrence of creative insights. We characterize non-REM (NREM) dreams, where a single hippocampal memory is replayed at a time, as serving a complementary role of improving the robustness of cortical representations to environmental perturbations. We finally explain how subjects can become aware of the adversarial REM dreams, but less of the NREM dreams, and how the awareness phenomenon of wake, dream and lucid dreaming may appear.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulatory RNAs, originated from hairpin precursors. For the past decade, researchers are focusing extensively on miRNA profiles in various plants. However studies on precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) global profiling stay static even in model plants. Here, for the first time in a non-model plant, Abelmoschus esculentus with negligible genome information, we are reporting the global profiling to characterize the miRNAs and their associated pre-miRNAs by applying next generation sequencing approach. Preliminarily we performed sRNA (small RNA) sequencing with five biological replicates of leaf samples to attain 207,285,863 reads and data analysis using miRPlant keyed out 128 known and 845 novel miRNA candidates. With the objective to seize their associated hairpin precursors, we accomplished pre-miRNA sequencing to attain 83,269,844 reads. The paired end reads are merged, adaptor trimmed and the resulting 40-241 nt (nucleotide) sequences were picked out for analysis by using perl scripts from miRGrep tool and in-house built shell script for Minimum Fold Energy Index (MFEI) calculation. Applying stringent criteria of dicer cleavage pattern and perfect stem loop structure revealed precursors for 57 known miRNAs of 15 families and 18 novel miRNAs. Quantitative Real Time (qRT) PCR was performed to determine the expression of selected miRNAs.

The delivery of therapeutical molecules through the skin, particularly to its deeper layers is impaired due to the stratum corneum layer, which acts as barrier to foreign substances. Thus, for the past years, scientists have focused on the development of more efficient methods to deliver molecules to skin distinct layers. Microneedles, as a new class of biomedical devices, consists on an array of microscale needles. This particular biomedical device had been drawing attention due to their ability to breach the stratum corneum, forming micro-conduits to facilitate the passage of therapeutical molecules. The microneedle device has several advantages over conventional methods, such as better medication adherence, easiness and painless self-administration. Moreover, it is possible to deliver the molecules swiftly or over time. Microneedles can vary in shape, size and composition. The design process of a microneedle device must take in account several factors, like the location delivery, the material and manufacturing process. Microneedles have been used in a large number of fields from drug and vaccine application, cosmetics, therapy, diagnosis, tissue engineering, sample extraction, cancer research, wound healing, among others.

The Microwave Humidity and Temperature sounder (MWHTS) on board the Fengyun (FY)-3C satellite measure the outgoing radiance form the Earth surface and atmospheric constituents. MWHTS makes measurements in the isolated oxygen absorption line near 118 GHz and the vicinity of strong water vapor line around 183 GHz, can provide fine vertical distribution structure of both atmospheric humidity and temperature. However, in order to obtain the accurate soundings of humidity and temperature by the physical retrieval method, bias between the observed radiance and those simulated by radiative transfer model from the background or first guess profiles must be correct. In this study, two bias correction methods are developed through the correlation analysis between MWHTS measurements and air mass identified by the first guess profiles of the physical inversion, one is the linear regression correction (LRC) and the other is neural networks correction (NNC), representing the linear and nonlinear nature between MWHTS measurements and air mass, respectively. Both correction methods have been applied to MWHTS observed brightness temperatures over the geographic area (180° W-180° E, 60° S-60° N). The corrected results are evaluated by the probability density function of the difference between corrected observations and simulated values and the root mean square error (RMSE) with respect to simulated observations. The numerical results show that the NNC method perform better, especially in MWHTS channels 1 and 7-9 whose peak weight function heights are close to the surface. In order to assess the effects of bias correction methods proposed in this study on the retrieval accuracy, a one-dimensional variational system was built and applied to the MWHTS uncorrected and corrected brightness temperatures to estimated atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, The retrieval results show that the NNC has better performance which is to be expected. An indication of the stability and robustness of NNC method is given which suggests that the NNC method has promising application perspectives in the physical retrieval.

Buildings’ thermal energy needs are inherently linked to climate conditions. Consequently, it is crucial to evaluate how climate changes affect these energy demands. Despite extensive analysis, a comprehensive assessment involving a diverse range of building types has not been consistently conducted. The primary objective of this research is to perform a coherent evaluation of the influence of climate changes, construction element properties, and the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system type of control on the energy requirements of six buildings (residential, services, and commercial). The buildings are considered located in a temperate Mediterranean climate. Our focus is on the year 2070, considering three distinct climatic scenarios: (i) maintaining the current climate without further changes, (ii) moderate climate changes, and (iii) extreme climate changes. The buildings are distributed across three different locations, each characterized by unique climatic conditions. Buildings’ envelope features a traditional External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) serves as thermal insulation material. Two critical design factors are explored: EPS thickness ranging from 0 (no insulation) to 12 cm; and horizontal external fixed shading elements varying lengths from 0 (absence) to 150 cm. Six alternative setpoint ranges are assessed for the HVAC system control: three based on the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and three based on indoor air temperature (Tair). Results were obtained with a validated in-home software tool. They show that, even under extreme climate conditions, the application of thermal insulation remains energetically favorable, however its relative importance diminishes as climate severity increases. Then, proper insulation design remains important for energy efficiency. The use of external shading elements for glazing (e.g., overhangs, louvers) proves beneficial in specific cases. As climate changes intensify, the significance of shading elements grows. Thus, strategic placement and design are necessary for good results. The HVAC system’s energy consumption depends on the level of thermal comfort requirements, on the climate characteristics and on the building’s type of use. As climate change severity intensifies, energy demands for cooling increase, while energy needs for heating decrease. However, it’s essential to recognize that the impact of climate changes on HVAC system energy consumption significantly depends on the type of building.

Human existence and development ever demanded suitable shelter, the dual direc-tion relationship of human-residence have always been a material dealt with to enhance residential living conditions. The emersion of COVID-19 pandemic had introduced ab-rupt and dramatic changes in human life protocols, that exerted clear pressure on differ-ent sectors within the built environment. Housing beard great impact due to needs of so-cial distancing and quarantine obligations to increase chances of human existence. In order to measure human adaptation and residence alterations following new residential requirements, Quality of life investigations to promotse better built environment for oc-cupants had been facilitated using theory of residential dissatisfaction already been adopted in current study. Residents’ responses had been extracted regarding their dissat-isfaction applying Likert scale for measurement and evaluation. The study focused on homogenous housing estates in Erbil City precisely apartments have been selected with different plans and building layouts for their widespread use in the city and have been occupied during the three stages of study to go beyond investigating direct impact of the pandemic towards permanence of alterations and adaptation even after pandemic. Rea-sons causing changed dissatisfaction levels have been investigated for better reliability towards formulating final conclusions and recommendations. Findings showed in-creased dissatisfaction during pandemic in most of spaces, apartment layout and space design significantly affected responses and demands. Levels of dissatisfaction after pan-demic were different from stability to slight decline in dissatisfaction. The effect of limited external spaces in apartments had limited the possibility to manage the pressure, a case that might be less demanding in single family housing due to availability of private gar-dens.

This article introduces an analytical framework that interprets individual measures of entropy-based mobility derived from mobile phone data. We explore and analyze two widely recognized entropy metrics: random entropy and uncorrelated Shannon entropy. These metrics are estimated through collective variables of human mobility, including movement trends and population density. By employing a collisional model, we establish statistical relationships between entropy measures and mobility variables. Furthermore, our research addresses three primary objectives: firstly, validating the model; secondly, exploring correlations between aggregated mobility and entropy measures in comparison to five economic indicators; and finally, demonstrating the utility of entropy measures. Specifically, we provide an effective population density estimate that offers a more realistic understanding of social interactions. This estimation takes into account both movement regularities and intensity, utilizing real-time data analysis conducted during the peak period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2016, two special issues have been launched and attended in this journal, "Challenges in New Technologies for Security" (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges/special_issues/tech_security) and “Food Microbiology: Technologies and processes, microbiology analysis methods, and antimicrobials” (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges/special_issues/food-microbiology). In this editorial, I will review one of the topics of biological hazards detection, i.e. the rapid analysis of biological agents (DNA and antigens of fungi, bacteria, and viruses) and their toxins.

Background: GaitSmart (GS) is a sensor-based digital medical device that can be used with the integrated app vGym to provide a personalised rehabilitation programme for older people undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to determine whether the GS intervention used in the rehabilitation of older people undergoing THA or TKA is potentially cost-effective compared to the current standard of care (SoC). Methods: Decision-analytic modelling was conducted to estimate cost-effectiveness over a seventeen- week time horizon, from an NHS perspective. UK clinical and cost data from the GaitSmart randomised clinical trial was used to obtain input parameters, and sensitivity analysis was performed to address uncertainty. Results: Over a seventeen-week time horizon, GS incurred cost savings of £450.56 and a 0.02 gain in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared to the SoC. These results indicate that GS is the dominant intervention because the device demonstrated greater effectiveness and lower costs. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness of our results. Conclusion: GS appears to offer short-term efficiency benefits and demonstrates cost-effectiveness for the improvement of gait in people undergoing THA or TKA, compared to the SoC. These findings provided new evidence to inform policymakers.

The extensive use of polypropylene (PP) in various industries has heightened interest in devel-oping efficient methods for recycling and optimising its mixtures. This study focuses on formu-lating predictive models for the Melt Flow Rate (MFR) and shear viscosity of PP blends. The in-vestigation involved characterising various grades, including virgin homopolymers, copolymers, and post-consumer recyclates, in accordance with ISO 1133 standards. The research examined both binary and ternary blends, utilising traditional mixing rules and symbolic regression to predict rheological properties. High accuracy was achieved with the Arrhenius and Cragoe models, at-taining R² values over 0.99. Symbolic regression further enhanced these models, offering signif-icant improvements. To mitigate overfitting, empirical noise and variable swapping were in-troduced, increasing the models' robustness and generalisability. The results demonstrated that the developed models could reliably predict MFR and shear viscosity, providing a valuable tool for improving the quality and consistency of PP mixtures. These advancements support the de-velopment of recycling technologies and sustainable practices in the polymer industry by opti-mising processing and enhancing the use of recycled materials.

This paper explores indigenous perspectives on the understanding and management of cultural heritage within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural landscapes in South Africa. State-based management system paid little attention to indigeneity resulting in contested interpretation of the archaeological past. This by-passing of indigenous input is a product of colonial and apartheid policies that glorified Western practices at the expense of black African heritage stakeholders. World heritage mechanisms are also skewed in favor of modern practice which is overly designed to be sensitive to tangible aspects of the past than the intangible elements that make up much of indigenous African heritage. We used the archaeology of Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural landscapes as a test case for the impact of indigenous voices on heritage, but the results have wider applicability. We employed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to gather qualitative data that we calibrated with our lived experiences as products of Tsonga-speakers from this broader landscape. The results expose that indigenous people use physical manifestation of sites, ethnographic inquiry, names, oral history, spirit mediums, landscape memory, genealogy, and praise poetry to identify, interpret, evaluate, and manage their cultural heritage. Additionally, indigenous perspectives which rely on collective memory, ritual practices, and indigenous knowledge systems have huge potential for enriching our understanding of the archaeological heritage. We propose a more inclusive archaeology and heritage management practice that involve indigenous groups in the identification, interpretation, grading, and presentation of the African past.

The purpose of current study was to investigate the expression characteristic of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in peripheral blood of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and their potentials as diagnostic biomarkers for pre-diabetes and T2DM. In present study, the circRNAs in the peripheral blood from 6 healthy individuals and 6 T2DM patients were collected for microarray analysis. The results indicated that there were 489 differentially expressed circRNAs, of which 78 were upregulated and 411 were downregulated in the T2DM group. Then we selected 5 circRNAs as the candidate biomarkers under a stricter screening criteria and further verified them in another cohort (control group, n=20; pre-diabetes group, n =20; T2DM group; n=20). 3 of the 5 circRNAs presented upregulated expression in the experimental groups, including 2 circRNAs of the T2DM group that had higher expression than the pre-diabetes group. Hsa_circ_0054633 was identified to have the largest area value under the carve (AUC). In another independent cohort (control group, n=60; pre-diabetes group, n=63; T2DM group, n=64), the diagnostic capacity of hsa_circ_0054633 was tested. The results showed that the AUC for the diagnosis of pre-diabetes was 0.751(95% confidence interval=[0. 666-0.835], P＜0.001) while it was 0.793 ([0.716-0.871], P＜0.001) for the diagnosis of T2DM. After including the risk factors of T2DM, the AUC increased to 0.841 ([0.773-0.910], P <0.001) and 0.834 ([0.762-0.905], P <0.001), respectively. Hsa_circ_0054633 presented a certain diagnostic capability for pre-diabetes and T2DM.

Ultra-wide field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) has been recently introduced into clinical ophthalmological practice. To date, there is little data on the reference values of retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT) measured with this technique. This study aimed to analyze the variance of RT and CT in healthy eyes with UWF-OCT tests performed with the largest available scan size of 23 x 20 mm. The data were analyzed with reference to the patients' age, gender, and the axial length of the eyeball. The results of UWF-OCT scanning enabled us to picture the shape of the retina and choroid in a large portion of the eyeball. Both anatomical entities become significantly thinner at the periphery. The peripheral CT is greater in the upper and temporal sectors; the RT is higher in the nasal compared to the temporal sectors. Both choroid and retina lose thickness with age, however, CT and RT do not show a statistically significant correlation with the axial length after adjusting for age and gender. Age-related variations in thickness are especially prominent in the choroid. The CT in UWF-OCT testing is significantly greater in females while the RT is greater in males. UWF-OCT testing provides additional information on the anatomical structure of the retina and choroid compared to standard-field OCT

The external and internal structures of male and female adults of Culicoides grisescens Edwards, were examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and tissue section techniques. Specimens were collected from Qilian Mountain National Park in Qinghai Province, China. The ultrastructure and morphology of compound eyes, antenna, maxillary palpus, spermathecae, genitalia and other structural characteristics of both male and female adults of C. grisescens are described. Internal structures of the species are described, including histological sections of the digestive, nervous, respiratory, and reproductive systems. This paper provides visual and descriptive details for the systematic taxonomic study of Ceratopogonidae.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of legends associated with diagnostic images in the published oral and maxillofacial radiology literature using a novel rating scale. Images and their corresponding legends were randomly selected from published manuscripts over the last ten years in the Oral Radiology journals, namely Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Imaging Science in Dentistry, Oral Radiology, and Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology. An Image Quality Rating Scale (IQRS) was introduced to assess the quality of the legends associated with images. A program was developed for the rating scale form using Google Apps Script API to gather and analyze the data. The rating scale ranged from 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest rating. The highest average IQRS rating for one journal was 3.04. The overall IQRS rating average across all four journals was 2.87, which is 2.13 rating scores lower than the ideal score of 5. There is room for improvement in the legends that accompany diagnostic images and figures in the oral and maxillofacial radiology literature. A proper legend provides an excellent diagnostic teaching opportunity for the reader and enhances the quality of a publication.

The reduction in rheological parameters and dissolution rate of precursors in geopolymer coatings during early hydration significantly contributes to sagging. This study aims to improve the sag resistance of these coatings by incorporating diatomite filler. Rheological testing was conducted to assess the impact of diatomite and its concentration on yield stress, plastic viscosity, and thixotropy of the geopolymer coatings. The results indicated that diatomite's large specific surface area and high reactivity have a significant influence on the rheological parameters and early dissolution rate of precursors. With a diatomite concentration of 1.1%, the coating exhibited a yield stress of 2.749 Pa and a plastic viscosity of 0.921 Pa·s, maintaining stability, homogeneity, and no sagging at a thickness of 600 μm. Furthermore, the highly active SiO2 in diatomite participates in the secondary hydration reaction of the geopolymer materials, leading to the formation of substantial C-(A)-S-H gel. This gel enhances internal interconnectivity within the coating, thereby improving its rheological and mechanical properties.

This study investigates the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of steel subjected to high-temperature heat treatment, with a focus on the formation and effects of dark phase precipitates. High Temperature Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (HTCLSM) was employed to observe the in-situ changes in microstructure as the steel was heated from room temperature to 900°C. The observations revealed that dark phase precipitates, identified as chromium carbides (Cr7C3), began forming at approximately 820°C and increased in quantity and size up to 900°C. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed that these precipitates significantly enhance the material's hardness, with microhardness values of 320 HV for the precipitates compared to 270 HV for the matrix. Tensile tests showed that the tensile strength of the steel increases with soaking time at 900°C, reaching a maximum after 3 minutes due to the strengthening effect of the precipitates. Beyond this point, strength decreases due to grain coarsening.

Today, with the increase in population, technological developments, industrialization and urbanization, the problems related to waste management (WM) have become increasingly important to sustainably global clean environment. The gradual change in the quality of the elements that make up the environment, increasing environmental problems, and gaining global quality have caused societies to focus more on environmental problems. Waste management is a form of management that includes the prevention, non-prevention, reuse, recovery, and disposal of domestic, medical, hazardous, and non-hazardous wastes. In this study, it is aimed to prioritize critical success factors with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in industrial waste management and to determine the most important critical success factor. The four main criteria and 23 sub-criteria were scored by the AHP method by five expert environmental engineers. Accordingly, after critical success factors were determined, survey questions were prepared to make employees rank these factors. While "national/local waste management strategies and policies" factor was the most important critical success factor according to experts, the most important critical success factor for employees was "enterprise waste management strategies and policies". In addition, differences in the priorities of CSFs were found in the opinions of employees in different sectors.

We produced a recombinant eel luteinizing hormone (rec-eel LH) analog with high potency in Chinese hamster ovary DG44 (CHO DG44) cells. The eel LH mutant (LH-M), which had a linker comprising the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) β-subunit carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) region (amino acids 115 to149), was inserted between the β-subunit and α-subunit of wild-type tethered eel LH (LH-wt). Monoclonal cells transfected with the eel LH-wt and eel LH-M plasmids were isolated from five and nine clones of CHO DG44 cells, respectively. The secreted quantities abruptly increased on day 3, with peak levels of 5,000–7,500 ng/mL on day 9. The molecular weight of eel LH-wt was 32–36 kDa while that of eel LH-M increased to approximately 38–44 kDa, indicating the detection of two bands. Treatment with peptide N-glycanase F decreased the molecular weight by approximately 8 kDa. The oligosaccharides at the eCG β-subunit O-linked glycosylation sites were appropriately modified post-translation. The EC50 value and maximal responsiveness of eel LH-M increased by approximately 2.90- and 1.29-fold, respectively, indicating that the mutant exhibited more potent biological activity than eel LH-wt. Phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (pERK1/2) activation resulted in a sharp peak 5 min after agonist treatment, with a rapid decrease thereafter. These results indicate that the new rec-eel LH analog which contains the eCG β-subunit CTP linker comprising O-linked glycosylation sites, had more potent activity than the wild-type in vitro. Taken together, this new eel LH analog can be produced in large quantities using a stable CHO DG44 cell system.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide (HP) use in the hospital water network disinfection to control Legionella spp. colonization. Methods: Following the detection of high levels of Legionella contamination in a 136-bed general hospital water network, an HP treatment of the hot water (25 mg/L) was adopted. During a period of 34 months, the effectiveness of HP on Legionella colonization was assessed. Legionella was isolated in accordance with ISO-11731 and identification was carried out by sequencing of the mip gene. Results: Before HP treatment L.pneumophila sg 2-15 was isolated in all sites with a mean count of 9950±8279 CFU/L. After one month of HP-treatment, we observed the disappearance of L. pneumophila 2-15, however other Legionella species never cultured before appeared; Legionella pneumophila 1 was isolated in 1 out of 4 sampling sites (2,000 CFU/L) and other non-pneumophila species in all sites (mean load 3,000 ±2887 CFU/L). Starting from September 2013, HP-treatment was modified adding food-grade polyphosphates and in the following months we observed a progressive reduction of the mean load of all species (p<0.05), until to a substantial disappearing of Legionella colonization. Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide demonstrated a good efficacy in controlling Legionella. Although in the initial phases of treatment it seemed unable to eliminate all the species, by keeping HP levels to 25 mg/L and adding food-grade polyphosphates, a progressive and complete control of colonisation was obtained.

This study aimed to evaluate the discrepancies between genetic and visual coat color assignment in the Sarcidano Horse and to elucidate potential reasons. Individual DNA from 90 Sarcidano Horses was used for genetic assignment of coat color to explore the correspondence with individual forms containing phenotypical traits. The MC1R exon 1 and ASIP exon 3 have been genotyped and sequenced to obtain a picture of the coat color distribution in this breed. Surprisingly, once we compared the genetic results with the individual forms reporting the phenotypic data for each subject, a certain degree of non-correspondence between the phenotypic and genetic data in relation to coat color emerged. From the genetic analysis, Chestnuts (n = 58) resulted the most common Sarcidano Horse (n = 58), followed by a quite large number of Blacks (n = 28) and a very small number of Bays (n = 4), whereas phenotypic distribution resulted in 38 Chestnuts, 40 Bays, only 2 Blacks, and 10 Grays (without the possibility of recognizing the true color they carried). Chestnut resulted a very representative coat color, while many horses that visually identified as Bays were genetically Blacks. This discrepancy, that could be due to a variety of individual and external factors, including age, time of year, living situation and dietary condition, suggesting the importance of accurate coat color identification to ensure adequate features registration and reliable prediction of offspring’s coat color.

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

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

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

Background and Objectives: To assess femoral shaft bowing (FSB) in the coronal and sagittal planes and introduce the clinical implications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by analyzing a three-dimensional (3D) model with virtual implantation of the femoral component. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight patients (average age: 69.1 years) underwent 3D model reconstruction, incorporating medullary canals, by importing computed tomography (CT) data into Mimics® software. A mechanical axis (MA) line was drawn from the midportion of the femoral head to the center of the intercondylar notch; proximal/distal straight centerlines (length, 60 mm; diameter, 1 mm) were placed in the center of the medulla canal. Acute angles between the two centerlines were measured as lateral and anterior bowing. The acute angle by distal centerline and MA line was measured as distal coronal and sagittal alignment in both anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views. The diameter of curve (DOC) of the medulla along the posterior border was measured. Results: The mean lateral bowing on the AP view was 3.71°, and the mean anterior bowing on the lateral view was 11.82°. The average DOC of the medullary canal was 1501.68 mm. The distal coronal alignment of all femurs was an average of 6.40°, and the distal sagittal alignment was 2.66°. Overall, 22 femurs had coronal bowing, 42 had sagittal bowing, and 15 had both. Conclusion: In Asians, FSB is present in coronal, sagittal, or both directions. Increased anterolateral FSB may lead to cortical abutment in the sagittal plane despite limited space in the coronal plane. During TKA, distal coronal alignment can guide distal femoral valgus cut angle, whereas distal sagittal alignment helps anticipate femoral component positioning, avoiding anterior notching. Osteotomy along the anterior cortical bone to prevent notching may result in outliers due to differences between distal sagittal alignment and distal anterior cortical axis.

Collaborative robotics is a major topic in current robotics research posing new challenges, especially in Human-Robot Interaction. The crucial aspect in this area of research focuses on understanding the behavior of robots when engaging with humans, where reinforcement learning is a key discipline that allows us to explore sophisticated emerging reactions. This review aims to delve into the relevance of different sensors and techniques, with special attention to EEG (electroencephalography data on brain activity) and its influence on the behavior of robots interacting with humans. In addition, mechanisms available to mitigate potential risks during the experimentation process such as virtual reality will also be addressed. In the final part of the paper, future lines of research combining the areas of collaborative robotics, reinforcement learning, virtual reality and human factors will be explored, as this last aspect is vital to ensure safe and effective Human-Robot Interactions.

This study examines the potential of UiO-66 and g-C3N4-based composite catalysts for environmental purification and pesticide degradation. By integrating zirconium-based metal-organic framework UiO-66 with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a composite with a Z-type heterojunction structure is created, enhancing photocatalytic pesticide degradation and phosphorus recovery. The optimal composite, UiO-66/g-C3N4(UG6:4), shows high efficiency in degrading organophosphorus pesticides like DDVP under visible light. This catalyst's high surface area and porous nature efficiently adsorb and break down persistent soil pollutants, including DDT and DDVP. Featuring robust stability and effective photocatalytic activity, the UiO-66/g-C3N4 composite holds promise for soil remediation and dealing with organic pollutants. Future research will aim to further refine this material’s structure and properties, ensuring its practical application in environmental cleanup.

The growing prevalence of disposable toilet seat covers in public restrooms stems from concerns about personal hygiene, given the direct contact between the seat and various users' skin. To enable flushing these disposable cover sheets down the toilet instead of discarding them in the trash, they must possess specific properties. These include rapid water absorption for quick disintegration, strength to endure user movement or moisture on the toilet seat surface, and a comfortable texture. To address these challenges, the study investigated the disintegration characteristics of flushable cover sheets prepared under different refining conditions. Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was also employed to enhance water resistance, while an organic antibacterial agent was used to impart antimicrobial properties. The findings revealed that adding 0.2% AKD and 1% organic antibacterial agent to pulp stock with a freeness of about 650 mL CSF was suitable for manufacturing disposable cover sheets with disintegration characteristics like toilet tissue paper.

Diarrhoea is a serious cause of mortality worldwide that can lead to dehydration, gut barrier function impairment, nutrient malabsorption, and alterations of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis). Current solutions for its management, such as oral rehydration salts (ORS), inhibitors of the gut motility, antibiotics, and living probiotics only partially counteract the mechanisms of the disease and do not provide a full coverage of the problem. Potential risks of the use of living probiotic strains, particularly in immunocompromised patients, can be eliminated with the use of tyndallized (heat-killed) postbiotic bacteria and yeast. ABB C22® is a postbiotic combination of three tyndallized yeasts, namely Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces marxianus. To assess the action of the postbiotic combination on diarrhoea, immune and gut epithelial cell signaling assays, gut barrier formation assay and rotavirus gene expression assay were performed. ABB C22® showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect, an induction of the build-up of the gut epithelium, and a degree of protection against rotavirus infection. These experimental studies support the use of the postbiotic ABB C22® as a solution for the management of diarrhoea and gastrointestinal conditions, alone or in combination with existing but incomplete treatments.

Physics-informed neural networks can be trained to serve as surrogate models by learning how spatial physical fields develop with change of parameters. This is an advantage over traditional numerical methods that can only be used to calculate a single solution field for a single discrete setting of a parameter. While many studies report accurate results of physics-informed deep learning of laminar flows, evaluations of surrogate modeling of high Reynolds number flows remain sparse. To contribute to this question, we here explore the capabilities and limits of physics-informed deep learning to solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for the flow around two airfoils under variable angles of attack. No labeled training data were provided and a single network was trained to simultaneously learn several solution fields in a single training run. The network captured essential flow features such as boundary layers and high and low pressure regions. Moreover, the qualitative correlations of lift and drag with the angle of attack and the higher drag of the thicker airfoil were captured. However, comparisons with reference simulations revealed an underestimation of the shear layer gradients as well as deviations of the fields' extrema. Thus, we also debate potential future improvements to increase the accuracy of the predicted flow. This work offers a prospect on the capabilities and current limitations of physics-informed neural networks for surrogate modeling of high Reynolds number flows. We argue that the method is promising and this work is aimed to encourage further research and development of the method when applied to Reynolds-averaged flows at high Reynolds numbers.

The current study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of salidroside (SDS) and the underlying mechanism by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro and a mouse model of binge drinking induced liver injury in vivo. SDS downregulated protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14. SDS inhibited LPS-triggered phosphorylation of LPS-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), p38, c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Degradation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB were effectively blocked by SDS. SDS concentration-dependently suppressed LPS mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein levels, as well as their downstream products, NO. SDS significantly inhibited protein secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β. Additionally C57BL/6 mice were orally administrated SDS for continuous 5 days, followed by three gavages of ethanol every 30 min. Alcohol binge drinking caused the increasing of hepatic lipid accumulation and serum transaminases levels. SDS pretreatment significantly alleviated liver inflammatory changes and serum transaminases levels. Further investigation indicated that SDS markedly decreased protein level of IL-1β in serum. Taken together, these data implied that SDS inhibits liver inflammation both in vitro and in vivo, and may be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory liver injury.

(1) Background: Second Victims are health care workers negatively affected by adverse events and are prone to developing dysfunctional coping strategies compromising not only their own, but also patient safety. An effective way to address this issue is the implementation of peer support programs. This paper reports on the effectiveness of a peer support program at the Austrian Hietzing Clinic (KHI). (2) Methods: Telephone interviews were carried out after peer support sessions using a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was carried out reporting frequencies and proportions for nominal variables, means with standard deviations for ordinal and interval-scaled variables. (3) Results: So far, 45 peer supporters have completed telephone interviews after a peer support session. The main reasons for the session were bad news from the private sphere and death of a patient. The peer supporters rated the helpfulness of the sessions for their colleagues as very high while not feeling very burdened themselves afterwards. (4) Conclusions: Underutilization of the program is probable. However, the high rating of helpfulness of the carried-out sessions by the peer supporters in combination with them not feeling very burdened, shows that the program is safe for the peer supporters and an upscaling is warranted.

Based on the theory of behavioral economics, this study deeply analyzes the principles of behavioral economics involved in the development of mass sports, including psychological expectation, selection deviation and incentive mechanism, rationalize the current situation of group sports development, discusses how to effectively promote the development of mass sports, and puts forward a series of concrete countermeasures. In view of the problem of behavioral expectations, it is suggested to establish a comprehensive publicity and education system to improve the public's awareness and understanding of sports, and to stimulate individuals' active participation through self-setting goals and planning methods. In view of the selection bias, it is suggested that the government and relevant institutions provide diversified and attractive sports activity options, and make full use of technological means to increase the visibility and participation of activities.In addition, in view of the incentive mechanism problem, it is advocated to adopt differentiated incentive measures to meet the needs of different groups. The government can provide some preferential policies and establish incentive mechanisms to provide support for the organization of mass sports activities. It is expected that this research can stimulate the enthusiasm of the masses to participate in sports and promote the healthy development of mass sports.

Prostate cancer lung metastasis represents a clinical conundrum due to their implication of advanced disease progression and the complexities they introduce in treatment planning. As the disease progresses to distant sites such as the lung, the clinical management becomes increasingly intricate, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies to address the unique characteristics of metastatic lesions. This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge surrounding prostate cancer metastasis to the lung, shedding light on the diverse array of clinical presentations encountered, ranging from subtle radiological findings to overt symptomatic manifestations. By examining the diagnostic modalities utilized in identifying this metastasis, including advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analyses, the review aims to provide insights into the diagnostic landscape and the challenges associated with accurately characterizing lung metastatic lesions in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, the review delves into the nuances of therapeutic interventions employed in managing prostate cancer lung metastasis, encompassing systemic treatments such as hormonal therapies and chemotherapy, as well as metastasis-directed therapies including surgery and radiotherapy.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major medical health burden and leading cause of chronic liver disease and cancer worldwide. More than 58 million people are chronically infected with HCV, with 1.5 million new infections occurring each year. An effective HCV vaccine is a major public health and medical need as recognized by the World Health Organization. However, due to the high variability of the virus and its ability to escape the immune response, HCV rapidly accumulates mutations making a vaccine a formidable challenge. An effective vaccine must elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in a consistent fashion. After decades of studies from basic research through clinical development, the antigen of choice is considered to be the E1E2 envelope glycoprotein due to conserved, broadly neutralizing antigenic domains located in the constituent subunits of E1, E2, and the E1E2 heterodimeric complex itself. The challenge has been elicitation of robust humoral and cellular responses leading to broad virus neutralization due to the relatively low immunogenicity of this antigen. In view of this challenge, structure-based vaccine design approaches to stabilize key antigenic domains have been hampered due to the lack of E1E2 atomic-level resolution structures to guide them. Another challenge has been development of a delivery platform in which a multivalent form of the antigen can be presented in order to elicit a more robust anti-HCV immune response. Recent nanoparticle vaccines are gaining prominence in the field due to their ability to facilitate a controlled multivalent presentation and trafficking to lymph nodes, where they can interact with both the cellular and humoral components of the immune system. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding the E1E2 heterodimeric structure to facilitate a rational design approach and the potential for development of a multivalent nanoparticle-based HCV E1E2 vaccine. Both aspects are considered important in the development of an effective HCV vaccine that can effectively address viral diversity and escape.

Pycnodont fishes were a successful clade of neopterygian fishes that are predominantly found from shallow marine deposits. However, throughout their long 180 million years reign (Late Triassic - end Eocene), they have made multiple incursions into both brackish and freshwater environments. This fossil record mostly consists of fragmentary dental material but articulated specimens are known from Early Cretaceous lacustrine localities in Spain. This review article aims to document all non-marine occurrences of Pycnodontiformes throughout most of the Mesozoic and early Palaeogene. This review highlights two interesting trends in the history of non-marine habitat colonization by pycnodonts: (1) a huge spike in non-marine occurrences during the Cretaceous, (2) the most occurrences in non-marine localities occurred at the latest Cretaceous, the Maastrichtian. The high number of colonization events within the Cretaceous lines up with extreme climatic events such as high temperatures resulting in high sea levels which regularly flooded continental masses, allowing pycnodonts easier access to non-marine habitats. The increased presence of pycnodonts in brackish and freshwater habitats during the Maastrichtian might have played a role in their survival through the K/Pg extinction event. Freshwater habitats are not as vulnerable as marine ecosystems to environmental disturbance as the base of their food chain relies on detritus. Pycnodonts might have used such environments as a refuge and began to occupy marine waters after the K/Pg extinction event.

Long COVID is a persistent symptom that appears in many COVID-19 patients, regardless of whether they are asymptomatic, mild, or severe. At least 10% worldwide are suffering from long COVID. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells using six Korean national insurance-covered herbal prescriptions with therapeutic potential for mitigating inflammation in the respiratory tract, and additional network pharmacology analysis was performed. Soshihotang (SST) significantly downregulated iNOS and COX2 expression, reduced the production of NO (nitric oxide) and inflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6, and inhibited IκBα phosphorylation and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Network pharmacological analysis showed that SST was closely related to the NF-κB signaling pathway. Further study on the potential of herbal prescriptions will be needed before they can be used clinically by long COVID patients.

This study investigates the effects of home-based Kakao health care breathing exercises and stretching on respiratory function and fatigue in COVID-19 cured patients. A total of 35 participants performed four movements of home-based breathing exercise and five respiratory muscle stretching exercises four times a week for four weeks. Respiratory function was measured using FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Data analysis was performed using Independent Samples and Paired Samples T-tests in SPSS 24, with a significance level set at p &lt; 0.05. After four weeks of Home based Kakao health care Breathing Exercise, there were significant increases in respiratory FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF function values observed in the training group (T.G.) after the exercise intervention (p &lt; 0.05). Such an increase was observed when comparing these values with the pre-exercise measurements. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in respiratory function outcomes before and after exercise in the control group (C.G.) (p &gt; 0.05). The FSS scores were statistically significant within the training group (T.G.). (p &gt;0.05). The 4-week Kakao health care Breathing Exercise was found to be capable of improving some respiratory functions in COVID-19-recovered patients, but it showed no significant improvement in fatigue levels.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a difficult to treat condition to treat with a high mortality rate. While preclinical models such as Bleomycin (Bleo)-induced fibrosis recapitulate some aspects of IPF, new models that more closely mimic the disease are warranted. We have developed and characterized a novel model in BALB/c mice using a transient overexpression of IL-6 combined with Bleo. This model’s transcriptomic signature was compared to published human IPF datasets. BALB/c females were treated with AdIL-6 in combination with Bleo (AdIL-6+Bleo) or control comparators, and underwent assessments of histopathology (ECM, α-SMA accumulation), collagen content and lung physiology (Elastance, EST). Flow cytometry was used to characterize T cell and Macrophage subsets, and T cell depletion studies (anti-CD4/CD8) were completed to assess T cells role in fibrosis. Bulk RNA sequencing generated gene signatures were compared to that of other rodent fibrosis models and published human datasets of IPF datasets. The AdIL-6+Bleo treatment resulted in robust fibrosis measures (day21), sustained fibrosis until at least day 50, a unique cytokine profile at day 7, and increased activated CD4+Tcells, CD8+Tcells, and CD16+MHChi/Clec7a/iNOS-/Arg1-/CD206- macrophages. T cell depletion markedly decreased fi-brotic responses and this population of macrophages. The Day 21 AdIL-6+Bleo transcriptome shared more genes with each of two human IPF datasets than Bleo alone in C57Bl/6 mice or other rodent models. We conclude that AdIL-6+Bleo in BALB/c mice offers a superior preclinical model for studying IPF mechanisms and potential therapeutic intervention.

In recent times, the increasing concern for climate control has led to the widespread application of grid-connected inverter (GIC) based renewable energy systems. In addition, the increased usage of non-linear loads and electrification of the transport sector cause ineffective grid-frequency management and the introduction of harmonics. These grid conditions affect power quality and result in uncertainty and inaccuracy in monitoring and measurement. Incorrect measurement leads to overbilling/underbilling, ineffective demand and supply forecasts for the power system, and inefficient performance analysis. To address the outlined problem, a novel three-phase frequency component extraction and power measurement method based on Digital Lock-in Amplifier (DLIA) and Digital Lock-in Amplifier Frequency-Locked Loop (DLIA-FLL) is proposed to provide accurate measurement under the conditions of harmonics and frequency offset. A combined filter with a lowpass filter and notch filter for DLIA is employed to improve computation speed. A comparative study is performed to validate the performance of the proposed power measurement method, by comparing the proposed method to the windowed interpolated fast Fourier transform (WIFFT). The ZERA COM 3003 (a commercial high-accuracy power measurement instrument) is used as the reference instrument in the experiment

Ab initio density functional theory molecular dynamics extensive calculations were used for the first time to evaluate stability conditions for relevant phases of InN. In particular, thermal decomposition of InN with formation of N2 molecules and pressure induced wurtzite – rocksalt solid-solid phase transition were established. The results consistent with available experimental data allowed a critical evaluation of potential and limitations of the proposed simulation method. The ab initio molecular dynamics as an efficient tool for simulations of phase transformations of InN including solid-solid structural transition and thermal decomposition with formation of N2 molecules has been demonstrated. It is of high interest because InN being important component of epitaxial quantum structures has still not been obtained as a bulk single crystal making difficult a determination of its basic physical properties and designing new applications.

Recent interest in preventing the development of osteoporosis has focused on the regulation of redox homeostasis. However, the action of lycopene (LYC), a strong natural antioxidant com-pound, on osteoporotic bone loss remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the administra-tion of LYC to OVX rats reduces body weight gain, improves lipid metabolism and preserves bone quality. In addition, LYC treatment inhibits ROS overgeneration in serum and bone marrow in OVX rats, and in BMSCs upon H2O2 stimulation, leading to inhibiting adipogenesis and pro-moting osteogenesis during bone remodeling. Mechanically, LYC may improve bone quality via an increase in the expressions of FoxO1 and Runx2, and a decrease in the expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα in OVX rats and BMSCs. Collectively, these findings suggest that LYC attenuates osteoporotic bone loss through promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis via regula-tion of the FoxO1/PPARγ pathway driven by oxidative stress, presenting a novel strategy for os-teoporosis management.

Recently concluded, large-scale cancer genomics studies involving multiregion sequencing of primary tumors and paired metastases appear to indicate that many or most cancer patients have one or more “clonal" mutations in their tumors. Clonal mutations are those that are present in all of a patient’s cancer cells. Clonally mutated proteins can potentially be targeted by inhibitors or E3 ligase small molecule glues, but developing new small molecule drugs for each patient is not feasible currently. Achilles Therapeutics is currently the only company specifically targeting clonal mutations. However, they are doing so with tumor-derived T cells. To address the potential limitations of immunotherapy, I have devised another approach for exploiting clonal mutations, which I call “Oncolytic Vector Efficient Replication Contingent on Omnipresent Mutation Engagement” (OVERCOME). The ideal version of OVERCOME would likely employ a bioengineered facultative intracellular bacterium. The bacterium would initially be attenuated, but (transiently) reverse its attenuation upon clonal mutation detection.

The study was conducted at El-Sabahia Research Station (latitude 31°12'N, longitude 29°58'E), Alexandria, Egypt, to evaluate the effect of Spirulina platensis algae extract on the growth, yield, and juice quality of four sugarcane genotypes during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons. The sugarcane genotypes tested (G.T. 54-9, G. 2003-47, G. 84-47, and G. 2004-27) were treated with four concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) of Spirulina algae extract (SE) during their development as plant cane and first ratoon crops. At harvest, the growth, physiological, and juice quality characteristics were documented, while chlorophyll content was measured 210 days after sowing. Spraying canes with 0.2% of SE was the most effective treatment in enhancing all of the evaluated characteristics compared to those left without SE. Cane yield was more closely correlated with stalk weight (r = 0.88), followed by leaf area index (r = 0.82), chlorophyll content (r = 0.82), stalk length (r = 0.76), and number of tillers (r = 0.73), while recoverable sugar yield was closely correlated (P < 0.01) with sugar content% (r = 0.76).

There have been multiple technological advancements that promise to gradually enable devices to measure and record signals with high resolution and accuracy in the domain of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI). This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of fNIRS, EEG, and fMRI, including their principles, advantages, limitations, and integration with other modalities for advanced BCIs. The paper highlights the advantages of integrating multiple modalities, such as increased accuracy and reliability, and discusses the challenges and limitations of multimodal integration. Applications of advanced BCIs in clinical, assistive, gaming, and entertainment domains are also discussed. Furthermore, we explain the data acquisition approaches for each of these modalities. We also demonstrate various software programs that help in extracting, cleaning, and refining the data. We conclude this paper with discussion on the available literature on data acquisition approaches and a comparison of the ease of use for each of the modalities.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in cellular function, and their overproduction contributes to oxidative stress, fatigue, aging, and diseases. To counteract these effects, incorpo-rating antioxidant-rich nutrients is recommended. Functional waters, including electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW), are gaining attention for potential antioxidant effects through daily in-take. This study employs aquaphotomics and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the antioxidant activity of EHW. Previous investigation reported a 100% loss in antioxidant functionality through autoclaving, and a 40% decrease with hydrogen gas removal, prompting the current investigation into the mechanisms of antioxidant effects and especially the role of water molecular structure in it. Aquaphotomics analysis of near infrared (NIR) spectral data revealed that the primary characteristic of EHW associated with anti-radical function is presence of water solvation shells. Autoclaving and degassing led to loss of these water molecular species and a significant increase in free water molecules. The study suggests that water shells (solvation shells) in EHW play a crucial role in neutralizing ROS, although the specific ions or nanoparticles responsible for creating these shells remain unidentified. This concept aligns well with existing proposals of the crucial role of water solvation shells in ROS neutralization.

Cognitive impairment affects 34-65% of People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS), significantly impacting their quality of life. Clinicians routinely address cognitive deficits with in-clinic neuro-behavioural interventions, but accessibility issues exist. Telerehabilitation is a promising solution that utilises digital tools for home-based cognitive remediation. This narrative review assessed the feasibility and efficacy of cognitive telerehabilitation in PwMS, identifying 13 relevant studies. Regarding the feasibility of cognitive telerehabilitation, evidence shows adherence rates are generally good, although, surprisingly, not all studies reported a measure of compliance with the cognitive training explored. Considering the efficacy of different rehabilitative techniques on cognitive performance of PwMS, findings are generally inconsistent, with only one study reporting consistently positive results. A range of methodological limitations are reported as potential factors contributing to the variability of results. Overcoming some of these issues will be key. Upcoming research is necessary to determine optimal intervention approaches, long-term effects of rehabilitation, and how to best integrate the use of telerehabilitation into routine clinical practice. By exploiting digital tools in the best way and addressing methodological concerns, home-based rehabilitation holds the potential for improving cognitive functions and enhancing the quality of life in PwMS.

The method for quantitative analysis is based on the direct measurement of the analyte using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), exploiting its oxidation peak. Calibration curves are set up to evaluate the figures of merit of the analytical method (LOD, LOQ, linear range). The application of the sensor for the dosing of GA in real matrices is carried out by analyzing non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and comparing the results with those reported in the literature and with the content of total polyphenols determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. In all cases, concentrations of GA align with those previously found in the literature for the beverages examined. Moreover, the values are always lower than the total polyphenols content; this demonstrates the good selectivity of the sensor that can discriminate the target molecule from other polyphenols present.

Background The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship structure of quality of life (QOL) in survivors of breast cancer, including difficulty in daily life and negative experience as health-related indicators. Methods Participants were survivors of breast cancer for more than 2 years after primary breast cancer surgery and belonged to self-help groups. The assessment used FACT-B (QOL), HADS (anxiety and depression), SOC (sense of coherence), WHODAS 2.0 (difficulties in daily life), and CAOD (negative experiences). Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM) was performed to analyze the hypothesized model. If the causal model was significant, multiplication of the path coefficient from anxiety and depression to QOL, and from SOC to anxiety and depression, was considered a direct effect on QOL, and from SOC to difficulty in daily life, from difficulty in daily life to negative experiences, and from negative experiences to anxiety and depression were considered indirect effects on QOL. Results Goodness of fit of the model in the BSEM was satisfactory. The direct effect was 0.274, and indirect effect was 0.163. Conclusions These direct and indirect approaches to difficulties in daily life are very significant because they can provide a basis for development of support strategies to increase QOL.

In this study, we evaluated the physicochemical and microbial qualities of source and stored household waters in some communities in Southwestern Nigeria using standard methods. Compared parameters include physicochemical constituents; Temperature (T), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) and Calcium ion (Ca²⁺) and microbiological parameters included Total Coliform Counts (TC), Faecal Coliform Counts (FC), Fungal Counts (Fung C), Heterotrophic Plate Counts (HPC). Comparing Stored and Source samples, the mean values of some physicochemical parameters of most of the stored water samples significantly (P<0.05) exceeded that of Sources and ranged in the following order: T (15.3±0.3^oC - 28.3±0.5^oC), pH (6.4±0.1 - 7.6±0.1), TDS (192.1±11.1 ppm - 473.7±27.9 ppm), TH (10.6±1.7 mg/L - 248.6±18.6 mg/L), BOD (0.5±0.0 mg/L - 3.2±0.3 mg/L), Mg²⁺ (6.5±2.4 mg/L - 29.1±3.2 mg/L) and Ca²⁺ (6.5±2.4 mg/L - 51.6±4.4 mg/L). The mean microbial counts obtained from microbial comparison of different points (Stored and Source) of collection showed that most of the stored water had counts significantly exceeding (P<0.05) those of the source water samples (cfu/100 mL) which ranged as follows: TC (3.1±1.5 - 156.8±42.9), FC (0.0±0.0 - 64.3±14.2) and HPC (47.8±12.1 - 266.1±12.2) across all sampled communities. Also, the predominant isolates recovered from the samples were identified as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Aspergillus spp, Mucor spp, Rhizopus spp and Candida spp. The presence of these pathogenic and potentially pathogenic organisms in the waters and the high counts of the indicator organisms suggest the waters to be a threat to public health.

We previously found that chronic adenosine A1 receptor stimulation with N6-Cyclopentyladenosine increased α-synuclein misfolding and neurodegeneration in a novel α-synucleinopathy model, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Here, we aimed to synthesize a dimer caffeine-indan linked by a 6-carbon chain to cross the blood-brain barrier and tested its ability to bind α-synuclein, reducing misfolding, behavioural abnormalities, and neurodegeneration in our rodent model. Behavioural tests and histological stains assessed neuroprotective effects of the dimer compound. A rapid synthesis of the 18F-labelled analogue enabled Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography imaging for biodistribution measurement. Molecular docking analysis showed that the dimer binds to α-synuclein N- and C-termini and the non-amyloid-β-component (NAC) domain, similar to 1-aminoindan, and this binding promotes a neuroprotective α-synuclein “loop” conformation. The dimer also binds to the orthosteric binding site for adenosine within the adenosine A1 receptor. Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging showed the dimer abolished α-synuclein upregulation and aggregation in the substantia nigra and hippocampus, and the dimer mitigated cognitive deficits, anxiety, despair, and motor abnormalities. The 18F-labelled dimer remained stable post-injection and distributed in various organs, notably in the brain, suggesting its potential as a Positron Emission Tomography tracer for α-synuclein and adenosine A1 receptor in Parkinson’s disease therapy.

This study delves into the dynamics of 'Variations' and 'Claims' within construction projects, specifically under the FIDIC-Red Book 1999 framework. The study aims to identify, categorize, and devise mitigation strategies for key types of variations and claims aligning with the FIDIC conditions of contract. The research is drawing on inputs from construction industry professionals including contract administrators and project managers, focusing on the MENA region. This choice is driven by the region's extensive adoption of FIDIC standards and its rapidly growing construction sector. Data collection encompassed a questionnaire distributed to 80 industry experts predominantly through interviews that focused on countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt. These locations were chosen to reflect diverse construction practices and the involvement of international firms. Utilizing SPSS-V.25 for statistical analysis, the study uncovers the most prevalent and impactful causes of variations and claims, highlighting the critical need for managerial intervention. A key feature is the integration of scientometric analysis for a quantitative finding. A significant addition to the methodology is the implementation of a k-means clustering analysis. The survey had high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.97, and respondents reported frequent and significant claims like delayed drawings, ambiguous documents, and client changes. The results showed that effective claims management requires clear communication and balanced contracts, while poor design and contract documentation cause variations and claims. Spearman's correlation showed strong positive relationships between certain claim types and causes, emphasizing the importance of dealing with these factors to reduce claims. Most respondents said the survey could predict and reduce claims.

Autoimmune kidney diseases arise from a loss of tolerance to antigens, often with unclear triggers. In this review we explore the role of the gut microbiome and how disease, diet and therapy can alter the gut microbiota consortium. Perturbations in the gut microbiota may induce the translocation of microbiota-derived inflammatory molecules such as liposaccharide (LPS) and other toxins systemically by penetrating the gut epithelial barrier. Once in the blood stream these pro-inflammatory mediators activate immune cells which release pro-inflammatory molecules many of which are antigens in autoimmune diseases. The ratio of gut bacteria Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes is associated with worse outcomes in multiple autoimmune kidney diseases including Lupus nephritis, MPO-ANCA vasculitis and Goodpasture’s syndrome. Therapies which enhance short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria in the gut have powerful therapeutic potential. Dietary fibre is fermented by gut bacteria which in turn release SCFAs which protect the gut barrier as well as modulate immune responses towards a tolerogenic anti-inflammatory state. Herein, we describe where the current field of research is and the strategies to harness the gut microbiome as potential therapy.

In the last few years, the agricultural field has undergone a digital transformation, incorporating artificial intelligence systems to make good employment of the growing volume of data from various sources and derive value from it. Within artificial intelligence, machine learning is a powerful tool for confronting the numerous challenges of developing knowledge-based farming systems. This study aims to comprehensively review the current scientific literature from 2017 to 2023, emphasizing machine learning in agriculture, especially viticulture, to detect and predict grape infections. Most of these studies (88%) were conducted within the last five years. A variety of machine learning algorithms were used, with those belonging to the neural network (CNN) standing out having the best results most of the time. Out of the list of diseases, the ones most researched were Grapevine Yellow, Flavescence Dorée, Esca, Downy mildew, Leafroll, Pierce’s, and Root Rot. Also, some other fields were studied which are water management, plant deficiencies, and classification. Because of the difficulty of the topic, it was collected all datasets that were available about grapevines, and it is described each dataset with the type of data (e.g., statistical, images, type of images), along with the number of images where it was mentioned. This work provides a unique source of information for a general audience comprising AI researchers, agricultural scientists, wine grape growers, and policymakers. Among others, its outcomes could be effective at curbing diseases in viticulture, which in turn will drive sustainable gains and boost success. Additionally, it could help build resilience in related farming industries such as winemaking.

Understanding the interaction between pharmaceuticals and serum proteins is crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies, especially in patients with coexisting chronic diseases. The primary goal of this study was to assess the potential changes in binding affinity and competition between glipizide (GLP, a second-generation sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drug) and losartan (LOS, a medication commonly prescribed for hypertension, particularly for patients with concurrent diabetes) with non-glycated (HSA) and glycated (gHSAGLC, gHSAFRC) human serum albumin using multiple spectroscopic techniques (fluorescence, UV-visible absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopy). The results indicate that FRC is a more effective glycation agent for HSA than GLC, significantly altering the albumin structure and affecting the microenvironment around critical amino acid residues, Trp-214 and Tyr. These modifications reduce the binding affinity of LOS and GLP to gHSAGLC and gHSAFRC, compared to HSA, resulting in less stable drug-protein complexes. The study reveals that LOS and GLP interact nonspecifically with the hydrophobic regions of the albumin surface in both binary (ligand-albumin) and ternary systems (ligand-albumin-ligandconst) and specifically saturate the binding sites within the protein molecule. Furthermore, the presence of an additional drug (GLP in the LOS-albumin complex or LOS in the GLP-albumin complex) complicates the interactions, likely leading to competitive binding or displacement of the initially bound drug in both non-glycated and glycated albumins. Analysis of the CD spectra suggests mutual interactions between GLP and LOS, underscoring the importance of closely monitoring patients co-administered these drugs to ensure optimal therapeutic efficacy and safety. Początek formularzaDół formularza

Biochar (BC) is a carbonaceous material obtained by pyrolysis at 200−1000 °C in the limited presence of O2 of different vegetable and animal biomass feedstocks. BC has demonstrated great potential, mainly in environmental applications, due to its high sorption ability and persistent free radicals (PFRs) content. These characteristics enable BCs to carry out the direct and PFRs-mediated removal/degradation of environmental organic and inorganic contaminants. The types of PFRs possibly present in BC depend mainly on the pyrolysis temperature and the kind of pristine biomass. Since they also can cause ecological and human damage, a systematic evaluation of the environmental behavior, risks, or management techniques of BC-derived PFRs is urgent. PFRs generally could consist of a mixture of carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals, and of oxygenated carbon-centered radicals, depending on the pyrolytic conditions. Here, to promote a more productive and beneficial use of BC and related PFRs and stimulate further studies to make them environmentally safer and less hazardous to humans, we have first reviewed the most common methods used to produce BC, its main environmental applications, the primary mechanisms by which BC remove xenobiotics, as well as the reported mechanisms for PFRs formation in BCs. Secondly, we have discussed the PFRs environmental migration and transformation; we have reported the main PFRs-mediated applications of BCs to degrade inorganic and organic pollutants, the correlated environmental potential risks, and the possible strategies to limit them.

Abstract Objectives: Aging may challenge life and even affect individuals' well-being and flourishing. This includes challenges of shrinking social relations and being by yourself in old age while using your personal strengths. The current study examines two important personal resources, i.e., the skill of positive solitude and the 24 character-strengths, that may be associated with flourishing in old age. Methods: A convenience sample of 1085 community-dwelling adults (M = 57.20, SD = 6.24, range = 50-87), completed an online self-report survey with demographic measures and scales measuring personal strengths, the skill of positive solitude, and flourishing. Results: As hypothesized, the 24 character-strengths and positive solitude, were each associated with flourishing, and positive solitude moderated the relationships between the 24 character-strengths and flourishing. The 24 character-strengths and flourishing relationship was stronger among participants with lower levels of positive solitude. Conclusion: These findings highlight that despite the decrease in social relations which often characterizes old age, the skill of positive solitude serves as a valuable resource for flourishing in the later stages of life.

This paper is concerned about the novel exact solitons to the truncated M-fractional (1+1)-dimensional non-linear generalized Bretherton model with arbitrary constants . This model is used to explain the resonant nonlinear interaction between the waves in different phenomenon, including fluid dynamics, plasma physics, ocean waves, and many others. A series of exact solitons, including bright, dark, periodic, singular, singular-bright, singular-dark, and other solitons are obtained by applying the extended sinh-Gordon equation expansion (EShGEE), and the modified (G′/G2)-expansion tech- niques. A novel definition of Fractional derivative provides the solutions distinct from the present solutions. Mathematica software is used to obtain, and verify the solutions. The solutions are shown through 2-D, 3-D, and density plots. The stability process is performed to verify that the solutions are exact and accurate. The modulation instability is used to determine the steady-state stable results to the corresponding equation.

Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by trans-generationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for pregnancy-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish the exposure threshold to the fetus due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can lead to clinically relevant epigenetic changes that modulate disease risks. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development.

Aimed to obtain purple garlic varieties, 360 bolting bulbs from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Las Pedroñeras” were selected for their size, and the presence of abundant external scales. After a further selection, 243 out of the 360 bulbs were discarded due to undesired characteristics, as light purple color, high number of small cloves, cloves affected by Fusarium spp. and mites, among other. It was stablished that each bulb would give rise to a family. Thus, 117 families were planted under a random design during season 2021-2022. Either physiological, morphological and phenological traits were assessed for each family, and the affectations by pest and pathogens were also controlled. After the assessment of this trial, 103 out 117 families remained in the program, and were used for the establishment of a second trial the next season. Unlike the first trial, after the evaluations only 23 families remained in the program. There was observed a high variability for most of traits, with a great influence of families. The phenotypic behavior of families was significative influenced by environment, highlighting the need of their assessment under different environmental conditions. The high variability registered for the target sample, opens the possibility to select new garlic varieties from this PGI.