This study examined the eye movement patterns of 317 elementary students across reading conditions (audio-assisted reading (AR) and reading-only (R)) and text types (fiction and non-fiction), and identified eye movement parameters that predict their literal comprehension (LC) and inferential comprehension (IC). Participants, randomly assigned to either reading condition and either text type, answered questions assessing their LC and IC. Average fixation duration (AFD), total fixation duration (TFD), and scanpath length were used as eye movement parameters. There were main effects of age on all parameters and interaction effects between age and reading condition on TFD and scanpath length. Controlling for age, TFD had a positive impact on LC of both text types in the AR, while under the R, it affected negatively on IC of both text types. Longer scanpaths predicted IC of fiction in the AR, LC and IC of non-fiction under the AR, and LC of non-fiction within the R. AFD influenced negatively on IC of fiction in the AR, LC and IC of non-fiction in the AR, and LC of non-fiction under the R. These eye movement patterns and predictors indicate children employ different reading strategies based on reading modality and text type.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors work by blocking the tyrosine kinases responsible of the dysregulation of intracellular signalling pathways in tumour cells. This study looked at the impact of age and sex on the levels of imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, and ponatinib in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Imatinib and dasatinib were used to treat the majority of the enrolled patient and most of them were paediatrics. The 82.4% of patients were men; however, sex-related differences in drugs pharmacokinetics were not found. Age and imatinib plasma concentration were found to be inversely correlated: as patients ages increased, drug levels decreased. The dasatinib concentrations in plasma were found to be substantially lower than those found in cerebrospinal fluid, particularly in paediatrics. Analysing the obtained data, we can state that Therapeutic Drug Monitoring is a useful method for adjusting a patient treatment schedule depending on drug concentrations in biological fluids. The use of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in conjunction with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia is supported by a number of sources of evidence. As a result, as the research develops, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Therapeutic Drug Monitoring classification needs to be refined in terms of factors like sexes and ages.

Mental health could worsen in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder during the Covid19 pandemic. In addition, their parents could be more at risk for an increase in anxiety and depression symptomatology. This study aims to understand the adaptation and the psychosocial well-being in a sample of 16 males aged 10-21 years old with Asperger syndrome after the quarantine for Covid19 when they return to school and partially to their activities in September 2020, The approach adopted is multi-informant with a battery of questionnaires on psychological health and adaptation given by a secure online web data Qualtrics both to adolescents and also to their parents. Paralleling matched peers with typically development were assessed adopting the same methodology. The results evidenced several difficulties in Asperger’s psychological health, especially in anxiety and socialization. Also adaptation is put in crisis, even if they reported a good comprehension and adoption of the behaviors anti-Covid19. Parents of children with Asperger reported similar psychological difficulties and general health than those of the group of children typically developing. Some clinical indications could be discussed for psychologists who follow children and adolescents with Asperger.

Background: Health inequity (HI) remains a major challenge in public health. Improving the health of children with low socioeconomic status (SES) can help to reduce overall HI in children. Childhood obesity is a global problem, entailing several adverse health effects. It is crucial to assess influencing factors for adoption, implementation and sustainment of interventions. This review aims to identify articles reporting about influencing factors for the implementation of school-based interventions promoting obesity prevention behaviors in children with low SES. It aims to critically appraise the articles’ quality, assess influencing factors, categorize and evaluate them, and to discuss possible implications. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in 7 databases with the following main inclusion criteria: 1) school-based interventions and 2) target group aged 5–14 years. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, its five domains (intervention characteristics, inner setting, outer setting, characteristics of individuals, process) along with 39 constructs within these domains were used to deductively analyze the data. We grouped the articles with regard to the characteristics of the interventions in simple and complex interventions. For each domain, and for the groups of simple and complex interventions, the most commonly reported influencing factors are identified. Results: 6452 articles were screened, and 16 met all eligibility criteria. Included articles applied mixed methods (n=10), qualitative (n=5) and quantitative design (n=1). Of these, five were considered to report simple interventions and eleven were considered to report complex interventions. In total, 295 influencing factors were assessed. Aspects of the inner setting were reported in every study, aspects of the outer setting were the least reported domain, and in the group of simple interventions not reported at all. In the inner setting, most reported influencing factors were time (n=7), scheduling (n=6) and communication (n=6). Conclusion: This review found a wide range of influencing factors for implementation. Most important influencing factors need to be assessed for every setting. Including all stakeholders involved in the implementation process enhances the prioritization of the most important influencing factors for the specific setting. More empirical research and practical guidance are needed to promote obesity prevention behaviors among children with low SES.

Being hospitalized is a threatening and stressful experience for many children. From a psychological point of view, children may experience increased feelings of anxiety and fear that can negatively interfere with behavioral, cognitive, and emotional outcomes. To limit these impacts on children's well-being and mental health, interventions that could contribute to protecting the emotional domain of hospitalized children are welcomed. The present research reported a single-setting case study intervention to evaluate the impact of educational play-based activity with a CoderBot robot in a pediatric short-term recovery ward (N=61). The methodology included multiple sources of data (i.e., children, parents, nurses), observations on the field, and a sequential (quantitative-qualitative) mixed-method approach to data analysis. Results supported the idea that robot-based activities were associated with increased participant well-being (particularly positive emotions). The conclusions of this pilot study discuss the strengths, limitations, and further developments of using robots with hospitalized children.

Social safety, security, and comfort of school-going children during the travel time to school becomes a subject of anxiety to the parents and is a crucial issue in recent times. In this regard, community-based transport can be a significant way to address social security issues in travel at a reasonable cost and reduce the burden on private mode. In Dhaka city, school van service already exists but due to some sort of problems the service has not been proved an efficient and formal mode of transport for solving mobility problems. This study seeks to identify the existing problems and prospects of the school van service and provide a unique, healthy, safe, and reliable transport mode for children. Applying different tools of the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method, the problems and solutions have been drawn from the community. The recommendations of this study will help the school van services (a community-managed para-transit system) to be more functional in playing a vital role in solving the problems of short-distance travel. This service has great potentialities to be adopted in other trips such as trips to and from offices which will lessen the road congestion at the peak periods.

This paper describes a research project carried out in an Italian public school to assess whether parents were willing to take part in food procurement decisions, as well as their ability to accurately predict what foods children would pick at school lunch and their propensity to support sustainable food choices made by the school. The methodology included a questionnaire to 500 parents and an in-depth study of 138 child/parent pairs. The study comprised: (i) presentation of an innovative recipe in the weekly menu of the school canteen; (ii) meal observations of children’s intake at school lunch during the week of the menu modification; (iii) collection of both parents’ and children’s reports on their choices of recipes from the modified weekly menu. The results are commented in light of two important changes that have recently affected Italian public school food procurement: the opening of school canteens to lunches brought from home and the measures adopted since 2020 to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. Both events go in the direction of delegating to parents the multifaceted role of the school in the food arena. The article concludes that the results of the study should discourage this approach.

The study investigated the influence of white vs 12 background and overlay colours on the reading process in school age children. Previous research reported that colours could affect reading skills as an important factor of the emotional and physiological state of the body. The aim of the study was to assess developmental differences between second and third grade students of elementary school and to evaluate differences in electroencephalography (EEG), ocular, electrodermal activities (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV). Our findings showed a decreasing trend with age regarding EEG power bands (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Theta) and lower scores of reading duration and eye-tracking measures in younger children compared to older children. As shown in the results, HRV parameters showed higher scores in 12 background and overlay colours among second than third grade students which is linearly correlated to the level of stress and readable from EDA measures as well. The existing study showed the calming effect on second graders in turquoise and blue background colours. Considering other colours separately for each parameter, we assumed that there are no systematic differences in Reading duration, EEG power band, Eye-tracking and EDA measures.

Rising child obesity rate creates a need for tools quantifying metabolic changes in obese children and adolescents for purposes of comorbidities early detection or prevention. A candidate for such role seem to be miRNAs – in vivo serving as the suppressing factors of the gene expression. The aim of this study was to review the recent discoveries in this field and to conclude directions of research or application of studied molecules. Repeated browsing of databases, followed by screening for eligibility of results, led to final approval of 9 articles. Filtered studies examined the differences in miRNA (miR) expression levels of obese subjects and children suffering from obesity comorbidities. Studies concerning the endothelial dysfunction (ED) identified miR-630 as a possible treatment option. Search for the alternative markers in diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) suggested value of miR-199a-5p and miR-122. MiR-486, miR-146b and miR-15b may serve as a panel of markers grading the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children, although further research raised doubts in that matter. Another panel of miRNA molecules was indicated as useful in early detection of alterations leading to metabolic syndrome (MetS). No valid link between studied miRNAs and atherosclerosis (AS) was found. MiRNAs seem to be promising prognostic markers for the diagnosis of NAFLD, T2DM and MetS in children. Further studies are required to support these findings.

Learning disorders (LD) are diagnosed in children whose academic skills of reading, writing or mathematics are impaired and lagged according to their age, schooling and intelligence. Children with LD experience substantial working memory (WM) deficits, even more pronounced if more than one of the academic skills is affected. We compared the task-related EEG power spectral density of children with LD (n= 23), with a control group of children with good academic achievement (n= 22), during the performance of a WM task. sLoreta was used to estimate the current distribution at the sources, and 18 brain regions of interests (ROIs) were chosen with an extended version of the eigenvector centrality mapping technique. In this way, we lessen some drawbacks of the traditional EEG at the sensor space by an analysis at the brain sources level over data-driven selected ROIs. Results: The LD group showed fewer correct responses at the WM task, an overall slower EEG with more theta activity in all ROIs, less upper-alpha power at posterior areas, and less high-frequency beta activity in frontal areas. We explain these EEG patterns in LD children as indices of an inefficient neural resource management related with a delay in the neural development.

Depressive disorder (DD) is a psychiatric disorder whose molecular basis is not fully understood. It is assumed that reduced consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids (FA) is associated with DD. Other lipids like total cholesterol (TCH), LDL- and HDL-cholesterols (LDL-CH, HDL-CH) also play a role in depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive disorder symptoms and lipid profile, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol subfractions, Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in 58 depressive children and adolescents, as well as the effect of omega-3 FA on the monitored parameters. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), lipid profile by standard biochemical procedures, LDL- and HDL-subfractions by the Lipoprint system. Basic biochemical parameters including lipid profile were compared with levels in 20 healthy children and were in the physiological range. We are the first to report that omega-3 FAs increase after 12 weeks of supplementation large HDL subfractions (anti-atherogenic) and decrease small HDL subfractions (pro-atherogenic) in depressed children. We found a negative correlation between CDI score and HDL-CH and large HDL subfraction, but not LDL-CH subfractions. CDI score was not associated with erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Our results suggest that HDL-CH and its subfractions, but not LDL-CH may play a role in the pathophysiology of depressive disorder.

The advancement of the pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) knowledge base requires biospecimens and data from large samples. This study seeks to describe a novel clinical research modality to establish best practices for enrolling a diverse pediatric TBI population and quantifying key information on enrollment into biobanks. Screening form responses were standardized and cleaned through Google Sheets. Data was used to analyze total individuals at each enrollment stage. R was utilized for final analysis, including chi-square goodness of fit and proportion statistical tests, to determine further significance and relationships. Issues throughout data cleaning shed light on limitations of the consent modality. Results suggest that through a diverse research team, the recruited sample exceeds traditional measures of representation (e.g. sex, race, ethnicity). Sex demographics of the study are representative of the local population. Screening for candidates is critical to the success of the consent modality. The consent modality may be modified to increase diversity of study population and accept bilingual candidates. Researchers must implement best practices, including increasing inclusivity of bilingual populations, utilizing technology, and improving participant follow-up, to improve health disparities for understudied clinical populations.

Recent reports suggest that the clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in previously healthy children is usually milder as compared to adults. However, children with comorbid conditions such as diabetes are at increased risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. Experience in adults with diabetes shows that they are prone to faster metabolic decompensation, develop diabetes-related complications, and have a poor prognosis when hospitalized with COVID-19. Data on children are limited. The aim of this mini-review is to discuss the possible risks to children and adolescents with diabetes during the current pandemic and the special considerations in management in those affected with COVID-19. The challenges for children who develop new-onset type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in accessing healthcare, are also discussed.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the shape of the anterior-posterior curvature of the spine and body composition in school-children. The study included 257 children, aged 11-12. Correct spinal curvature was established in 106 (41.08%) subjects. Other types included: decreased kyphosis and correct lordosis - 40 participants (15.50%), correct kyphosis and decreased lordosis - 24 individuals (9.30%), increased kyphosis and correct lordosis - 17 subjects (6.59%), correct kyphosis and increased lordosis - 22 children (8.53%), decreased kyphosis and decreased lordosis - 32 people (12.40%), decreased kyphosis and increased lordosis - 4 of the examined subjects (1.55%), increased kyphosis and lordosis - 13 people (5.04%). In addition, 134 (51.94%) demonstrated scoliotic posture and 8 (3.10%) scoliosis. There were significant relationships between the shape of the anterior-posterior curvatures and body composition in school-children. Those with a strong body build (predominance of mesomorphs) were generally characterised by the correct formation of these curvatures. In contrast, lean people (with the predominance of ectomorphic factors) were more likely to experience abnormalities. No correlations with body composition were observed in the group with scoliotic posture or scoliosis.

There is still little research on psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction and reported problems in preadolescents and adolescents under therapy for leukaemia, and also little research comparing them with their healthy peers. The present study aims to analyse the life satisfaction, hope, psychological wellbeing and reported problems’ intensity in patients aged 8-18 during the first year of therapy, to identify those more at risk and to compare their reports with matched healthy peers. After the parental written consent signature, a battery of self-reported questionnaires was administered during hospitalisation or day hospital admissions post 6 months and post 12 months from the diagnosis. Younger patients (aged 8–13 years) were more at risk than older ones in their problems’ intensity and psychological symptoms; females and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia patients reported lower current life satisfaction perceptions; hope was associated with lower depression symptoms and mood problems. Healthy peers have a better perception of current life, but reported a lower hope score, more anxiety symptoms and more cognitive problems than patients. The first 6 months were more critical for patients’ psychological health. The clinical aim was to identify the patients more at risk in order to prepare ad hoc psychological interventions.

Big data-driven machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) is not all computational social sciences (CSS) have. Agent-based modeling (ABM) or multi-agent system (MAS) is another fundamentally different but equally useful approach in CSS. In fact, the two approaches start from very different orientations and their differences have deeper root in ontology. ML/AI aims to imitate and then surpass human capacities, from sensing to perceiving, reasoning, calculating, and acting. In contrast, ABM seeks to simulate how social outcomes emerge from the complex interactions of agents’ actions within a specific environment. Yet, precisely because these two technologies are different, they can be complementary to each other. There is a bright future for integrating ABM with ML/AI for tackling real world challenges.

Migraine and stroke are neurological disorders with significant global prevalence and impact. Recent advances in migraine therapy have focused on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway. This review examines the shared pathomechanisms between migraine and stroke, with emphasis on the role of CGRP. We analyze current literature on CGRP's functions in cerebrovascular regulation, edema formation, neuroinflammation, and neuroprotection. CGRP acts as a potent vasodilator and plays a crucial role in trigeminovascular activation during migraine attacks. In stroke, CGRP has demonstrated neuroprotective effects by improving collateral circulation and reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of CGRP inhibsitors on stroke risk and outcomes. Studies in animals suggest that CGRP receptor antagonists may worsen cerebral ischemia by impairing collateral flow. We discuss the implications of these findings for the use of CGRP-targeting therapies in migraine patients, especially those at increased risk of stroke. Additionally, we explore the complex interplay between CGRP, endothelial function, and platelet activity in both conditions. This review highlights the need for further research to elucidate the long-term cerebrovascular safety of CGRP pathway inhibitors and to identify potential subgroups of migraine patients who may be at higher risk of adverse cerebrovascular events with these novel therapies.

Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of performing phacoemulsification using the eight-chop technique with iris hooks in patients with small pupils. Methods: The iris hooks and control groups each included 65 eyes. Cataract surgeries were performed using the eight-chop technique. The operative time, phaco time, aspiration time, cumulative dissipated energy, and volume of fluid used were measured. Best-corrected visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell density (CECD), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: In total, 130 eyes of 107 patients (mean age, 75.9 ± 7.1 years; 58 men, 72 women) with cataracts were evaluated. The mean operative time, phaco time, aspiration time, cumulative dissipated energy, and volume of fluid used were 10.6 min, 20.7 s, 101.1 s, 7.8, and 38.0 mL, respectively, in the iris hooks group and 4.6 min, 16.2 s, 72.1 s, 7.0, and 28.9 mL, respectively, in the control group. The decrease in CECD at 19 weeks postoperatively was 2.1% and 1.2% for the iris hooks and control groups, respectively. In both groups, IOP decreased significantly (all p < .01) at 7 and 19 weeks postoperatively. No intraoperative complications were observed in either group. Conclusions: The eight-chop technique using iris hooks resulted in a small postoperative reduction in CECD and excellent values for intraoperative outcome measures. In addition, those cataract surgeries were very short, efficient, and safe, without complications. The eight-chop technique using iris hooks could provide an ideal solution for patients with small pupils.

Delayed Gastric Conduit Emptying (DGCE) occurs in 15-39% of patients who underwent esophagectomy. Intra-Pyloric Injection of Botulinum Toxin (IPBT), Pneumatic Balloon Dilation (PBD), and the same session combination (BTPD), represent the main endoscopic procedures, but comparative data are currently unavailable. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data on all consecutive patients with DGCE treated endoscopically with IPBT, PBD, or BTPD. ISDE Diagnostic Criteria were used for DGCE diagnosis and classification. Gastric Outlet Obstruction Score was used for clinical staging. All patients undergoing IPBT received 100 UI of toxin, while those undergoing PBD were dilated up to 20mm. Clinical success (CS) was defined as the resolution of symptoms/resumption of feeding at discharge or expanding dietary intake at any rate. Recurrence was defined as symptom relapse after more than 15 days of well-being requiring endoscopic/surgical intervention. 64 patients (81.2% male, 90.6% Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy, 77.4% adenocarcinoma), median age 62 years (IQR 55-70), were enrolled: 18 (28.1%) in the IPBT group, 24 (37.5%) in the PBD group and 22 (34.4%) in the BTPD group. No statistically significant differences were found in the baseline characteristics, surgical techniques, and median follow-up among the three groups. BTPD showed a higher CS rate (100%) compared to the PD and BTPD groups (p=0.02) and Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test revealed that the BTPD group was associated both with a significatively shorter mean time to refeed of 1.16 days (95% CI 0.8-1.5; p=0.001) and a shorter median time to discharge of 1 day (95% CI 1-3; p=0.0001). Endoscopic management of DGCE remains challenging. Waiting for further strong evidence, BTPD can offer patients a higher clinical efficacy rate and a shorter time to refeed and be discharged.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by hyperreactivity in the airways, which can lead to significant lung damage if not properly managed. While placebos—medications with no active therapeutic ingredients—are sometimes used in clinical trials to gauge the effectiveness of asthma treatments, their long-term use raises concerns. Placebos work primarily through psychological mechanisms by enhancing patients’ expectations of treatment. However, prolonged reliance on placebo treatment in asthma could potentially mask symptoms, delay proper management, and lead to undetected lung damage or other adverse effects. This study explores the potential risks and consequences associated with long-term placebo use in asthma management.

Background and Aim: Patients with Type 2-diabetes condition tend to have multiple medications in various dosage which leads to complex medication regimens. Complexity of regimen results in poor adherence, uncontrolled glycemic value and treatment failure. The research aimed to investigate medication regimen complexity index, medication adherence, and impact of medication regimen complexity on glycemic control and medication adherence.Materials and Methods: A Crossectional Study methods was conducted at Bheri Hospital Nepalgunj, among 145 Diabetes patients. Medication adherence was assessed by using a General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS Nep-Tool). Medication regimen complexity was assessed by using a Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) tool. Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, Paired t-test, and binary logistic regression were used for inferential statistics. Results: This study shows that most of the participants were female and aged group 50-59 years. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity, followed by hypothyroidism. The majority of participants exhibited partial adherence 90 (62.1%) to their medication regimen. It was seen that medications prescribed for diabetes were more complex than non-diabetes medications (Mean±SD MRCI: 8.28±3.155 vs. 4.57±2.107). The negative correlation was seen with diabetes MRCI and medication adherence (r=-0.090). There was statistically significant association between diabetes MRCI and glycemic control, (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression revealed that females had lower odds of high MRCI compared to males ( multivariate p-value: 0.014, AOR: 0.403, 95% CI: 0.195-0.832), while sedentary lifestyle showed high Diabetes MRCI (COR: 4.709, 95% CI: 0.962-23.05) and abnormal BMI were associated with higher MRCI (binary p-value: 0.067, COR: 2.30, 95% CI: 0.942-5.65; multivariate p-value: 0.092, AOR: 2.323, 95% CI: 0.878-5.67). Conclusion: Diabetes medications are more complex, reducing adherence and worsening A1C outcomes. Simplifying regimens improves results, with MRCI being valuable for healthcare providers. The medication adherence and therapeutic outcomes can be improved by the improved by the involvement of clinical pharmacist using MRCI.

Recently, environmental degradation has become an international issue due to the extensive economic activities around the globe. This aspect demands the policymakers' and new researchers’ emphasis. Hence, the present article examines the impact of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to community and environment on the environmental performance (ENP) of the manufacturing industry in China. The article also investigates the mediating role of green innovation and environmental strategy among CSR to community, CSR to environment and ENP of manufacturing industry in China. The article gets the primary data from the selected employees of the manufacturing industry using questionnaires. The article also tests the data's validity and reliability, and association among variables using smart-PLS. The outcomes indicated that CSR to environment has a positive association with ENP. The outcomes also revealed that green innovation and environmental strategy significantly mediate among CSR to community, CSR to environment and ENP. The article guides the policymakers in making policies related to improve ENP using CSR to environment and green innovation.

This study presents the complexity and sensitivity of chaotic system dynamics in the case of the double pendulum. It applied detailed numerical analyses of the double pendulum in multiple computing platforms in order to demonstrate the complexity in behavior of the system of double pendulums. The equations of motion were derived from the Euler-Lagrange formalism, in order to capture the system's dynamics, which is coupled nonlinearly. These were solved numerically using the efficient Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method, implemented in Python, R, GNU Octave, and Julia, while runtimes and memory usage were extensively benchmarked across these environments. Time series analyses, including the calculation of Shannon entropy and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, quantified the system's unpredictability and sensitivity to infinitesimal perturbations of the initial conditions. Phase space diagrams illustrated the intricate trajectories and strange attractors, as further confirmation of the chaotic nature of the double pendulum. All the findings have a clear indication of the importance of accurate measurements of the initial condition in a chaotic system, contributing to an increased understanding of nonlinear dynamics. Future research directions are faster simulations using Numba and GPU computing, stochastic effects, chaotic synchronization, and applications in climate modeling. This work will be useful for understanding chaos theory and efficient computational approaches in complex systems of dynamical nature.

Trade liberalization is commonly pursued to improve welfare of households in a country. However, the effects of liberalization are not evenly distributed. Certain households and sectors may benefit more than others. This study focuses on the East African Community Common External Tariff (EAC-CET), to analyze the distributional effects of trade liberalization in Kenya. The study utilizes two household budget surveys capturing pre- and post-trade liberalization scenarios. The paper examines changes in consumer prices, labor incomes, and consumption patterns to assess the effects of liberalization. A pass-through equation for prices and a negative compensation variation equation are estimated. The findings indicate that the EAC-CET had a significant pass-through effect on prices of manufactured goods, but incomplete pass-through for agricultural goods. This suggests a lack of competitiveness in domestic value chains. The distributional effects differ across worker categories, favoring skilled and formal workers over unskilled and informal workers. The income effect outweighs the negative expenditure effect for households in the middle- and upper-income deciles. However, the study reveals negative welfare effects for the poorest households in the lowest income deciles. Furthermore, the study identifies the EAC-CET to be pro-poor, with households in rural areas benefiting more than those in urban areas.

Stroke survivors often face diverse unmet needs, highlighting the significance of identifying and addressing these needs to enhance rehabilitation outcomes and overall quality of life. This study aimed to validate the modified Needs Assessment Questionnaire (mNAQ) as a reliable and valid tool for assessing the needs of stroke patients in the Greek context. Additionally, the research sought to identify potential differences in the assessment of stroke patients' needs based on their stroke phase and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. A sample of 71 adult stroke survivors, adhering to World Health Organization guidelines and providing autonomous consent, participated in the study. The mNAQ, comprising 141 items across 12 domains, was uti-lized to evaluate stroke patients' needs. The NIHSS and Barthel Index (BI) were employed for functional independence and mobility assessment. Data analysis incorporated confirmatory fac-tor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and Cronbach's reliability analysis to establish con-struct validity and internal consistency. Concurrent and known-groups validity analyses were conducted, and Spearman’s rho correlation explored the relationship between mNAQ and BI scores. Non-parametric analyses were applied to identify differences based on stroke phase and NIHSS scores. The study revealed that the mNAQ initially lacked satisfactory psychometric properties in the Greek context. Subsequent modifications, guided by confirmatory and explora-tory factor analyses, resulted in a refined three-factor scale encompassing 31 items in the domains of communication, mobility, and social functioning needs. This adapted measure effectively dif-ferentiated between acute and chronic stroke patients and those with minor and moderate strokes. In conclusion, the validated 31-item Greek mNAQ emerges as a crucial tool for compre-hensively assessing the needs of stroke patients. Its application holds promise for optimizing post-stroke care, improving functional outcomes, and ultimately enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life for stroke survivors.

To examine the effect of synchronous dance movements on social bonding and perceived closeness between generations, 168 young (20-45 years) and older (65-90 years) participants were randomly assigned to six dyad conditions. These included dancing synchronously or asynchronously with an in-age-group or an out-age-group unfamiliar partner for 11 minutes. Participants completed social bonding and groups’ closeness questionnaires. To assess variation across individuals’ and dyads’ measurements, a generalized estimating equations modeling analysis was conducted. In line with the first two hypotheses, synchronized dance increased social bonding, and young adults showed enhanced perception of closeness between generations. Hypothesis 3 that synchronous dance with out-age-group members would foster greater perceived closeness compared to in-age-group members was not confirmed. Surprisingly, results indicated that asynchronous movements with the in-age-group led to a higher degree of closeness between generations than asynchronous movements with the out-age-group. The study offers new directions for practitioners in welfare, nursing, and therapy fields, particularly for engaging young adults in intergenerational dance interventions.

Background/Purpose: Multimorbidity of malaria, anaemia, and malnutrition (MAMM) is a condition in which an individual cohabits with two or more of these health outcomes and is becoming an emergent public health concern in sub-Saharan African countries. The independent associations of a child’s demographic variables and socioeconomic disparities with a child’s health outcomes have been established in literature. However, the effects of the intersection of these factors on MAMM, while accounting for other covariates have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how children’s sex, age and socioeconomic status interact to explain the variations in MAMM among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. Methods: Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report (NHDR) were used. The study includes weighted samples of 10,184 children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. A three-level multilevel mixed effect ordinal logistic regression model such that individual characteristics at level 1 are nested in communities at level 2 and nested in states at level 3 was used. Subsequently, predictive probability charts and average adjusted probability tables were used to interpret the intersectional effects. Five models were created in this scenario. Model 1 is the interaction between the child's sex and wealth status; model 2, child's sex and age; model 3 is between child's age and wealth status; model 4 has the three 2-way interactions of child's sex, age, and household wealth status, and model 5 includes model 4 and the 3-way interactions between a child's sex, age, and wealth quintiles. Results: The prevalence of children with ‘none of the three diseases’ outcomes was 17.3% (1767/10,184), while, 34.4% (3499/10,184) had ‘only one of the diseases’, and 48.3% (4,918/10,184) cohabit with ‘two or more’ of MAMM. However, in the multivariate analyses, model 3 was the best fit compared with other models, so, that the two-way interaction effects of a child's age and wealth status are significant predictors in the model. Children aged 36-47 months living in the poorest households have the probability of 0.11, 0.18, and 0.32 of contracting MAMM above the probability of children of the same age and live in the middle, more prosperous and richest households, respectively, while all other covariates are held constant. Thus, the variation in MAMM over a child's age differs depending on the household wealth quintile. In other words, as the children grow older, variations in MAMM become more evident between the rich and the poor household. Conclusion: Therefore, it is recommended that policies that are geared toward economic redistribution will help bridged the disparities observed in multiple diseases among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria

Recent experiments devoted to characterizing the behavior of sessile ferroelectric liquid droplets on ferroelectric solid substrates, showed the existence of a droplet electromechanical Rayleigh-like instability. The instability is induced by the bulk polarization of the ferroelectric fluid which couples to the polarization of the underlying substrate through its fringing field and solid-fluid interface coupling. With the aim of characterizing this phenomenon, namely the coupling between the polarizations of a fluid and a solid material, we studied the behavior of ferroelectric liquid droplets confined between two solid substrates, arranged in different configurations realized so to generate fringing fields with different profiles. Results show that the features of the droplets instability are indeed affected by the specific fringing field shape in a way dominated by the minimization of the electrostatic energy associated to the bulk polarization of the ferroelectric fluid.

In this work, a novel approach is presented for the multivariate prediction of hydrological variables, employing a specialized type of recurrent neural network (RNN) known as the long-term memory network (LSTM).The central objective is to develop a flood prediction model using data collected from two hydrological stations situated along the Atrato River in the Choc´o Department, Colombia. The interconnected variables of water level, water flow, and water precipitation are analyzed in this model to enhance flood prediction accuracy. The LSTM model, integrated into an RNN structure, is designed to capture the complex dynamics and cross-correlations inherent in these hydrological variables. Validation involves a comparison with linear and nonlinear Nonlinear AutoRegressive with eXogenous input (NARX) models, considering factors such as estimation error and computational time. Additionally, the study conducts further analysis for water level prediction under two scenarios: utilizing only outflow and inflow measurements or predicting outflow alongside measuring inflow, with the objective of utilizing the proposed approach as a flood early warning system. † This article is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled Multivariable NARX based Neural Networks Models for Short-term Water Level Forecasting, which was presented at International Conference on Time Series and Forecasting (ITISE-2023), Gran Canaria, Spain, 12th-14th July, 2023.

The most frequent cause of cardiac failure globally is ischemic heart disease, with chemothera-py-related cardiovascular side effects emerging as the second most frequent cause. Cancer therapy can result in acute cardiac events, such as coronary artery spasm, acute myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, myocarditis, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, atrio-ventricular blocks, QT pro-longation, torsades de pointes, pericardial effusion and hypotension, as well as chronic conditions, such as hypertension, systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction presenting clinically as heart failure or cardiomyopathy. In cardio-oncology, when referring to cardiac toxicity and cardiovas-cular hypersensitivity, there is a great deal of misunderstanding. When a dose-related cardiovas-cular side effect continues even after the causative medication is stopped, it is referred to as cardi-otoxicity. A fibrotic response is the ultimate outcome of cardiac toxicity, which is defined as a dose-related cardiovascular adverse impact that lasts even after the causative treatment is stopped. Cardiotoxicity can occur after a single or brief exposure. On the other hand, the term cardiac or cardiovascular hypersensitivity describes an inflammatory reaction that is not dose-dependent, can occur at any point during therapy, even with very low medication dosages, and can show up as Kounis syndrome. It may also be accompanied by anti-drug antibodies and tryptase levels. In this comprehensive review, we present the current views on cardiac toxicity and cardiovascular hypersensitivity, together with the reviewed cardiac literature on the chemotherapeutic agents inducing hypersensitivity reactions. Cardiac hypersensitivity seems to be the pathophysiologic basis of coronary artery spasm, acute coronary syndromes such as Kounis syndrome and myocardi-tis caused by cancer therapy.

Abstract—Hydraulic switching actuators are high efficiency, fast response, and low cost solutions for hydraulic control systems. One of the challenging problems is throttling losses during valve transitions. Previously the authors proposed a zero-flowrate switching method to reduce throttling energy loss of the switching valve, where a hydraulic resonator is applied to make the flowrates through the lines approaching zero before the valves are switched off. The major challenge of this approach is fast switching valves whose transition times are less than 2 ms. In this paper, an improved zero-flowrate switching method is presented. It utilizes the capacity with independent inlet/outlet ports to regulate flowrates through the lines. Models of capacity applied in a simple line with different pressure signals are developed to explore characteristics of the capacity, based on which a complete actuation system is developed. In the complete model, resistance and inductance are optimized to achieve desired flowrate response. The improved zero-flowrate switching method reduces throttling energy losses by 99.945% compared to a hard switching system. The simulation results demonstrated that the improved zero-flowrate switching method performs as expected in the design condition. A capacity with proper volume is able to regulate flowrates through all the lines to zero, with the help of appropriate resistance and inductance. Compared to previous zero-flowrate switching method, the novel strategy allows slower switching valves applied in hydraulic actuation systems and achieves better efficiency performance. This research paves a new avenue for reducing throttling energy losses and improves system efficiency in hydraulic switching actuators, as well as most of the hydraulic switch-mode circuits.

Currently, in some domestic and foreign mines, the backfill drilling pipeline experience a rupture phenomenon even when the wear degree is low. This results in a delay in production due to the filling becoming 'sick'. This paper presents, for the first time, the damage mechanism from a mechanical perspective and re-derives the anti-extrusion strength model of the backfill drilling pipeline. We investigate the influence of law on the anti-extrusion strength of pipelines from the perspective of stratum and cement ring. We then verify the theoretical and simulation results through engineering examples. The results demonstrate that the Mises stress criterion is a suitable modification principle for the anti-extrusion strength model of the backfill drilling pipeline. The anti-extrusion strength of the pipeline is related to the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of the stratum, and the thickness of the cement ring. It is negatively affected by the depth of the stratum. For hard strata, a cement ring with a smaller elastic modulus is suitable, while for soft stratum, a cement ring with a larger elastic modulus is recommended. When the missing angle of the cement ring is less than 60°, the stress concentration factor increases up to 2.2. The stress unloading capacity of the cement ring ranges from 32.7% to 37.8%, and optimal performance of the cement ring is achieved when it has high strength and low rigidity. The backfill filling pipeline of a copper mine abroad was destroyed due to external extrusion force exceeding its anti-extrusion strength value. The modified pipeline anti-extrusion strength model is 18.2% higher than the casing API strength value. This finding can inform the design of the backfill filling pipeline for China's kilometer-deep wells in the future.

The escalating demand for multifunctional and advanced materials for growing industries has turned scientific exploration to graphene-based hybrid filler polymer composites. The introduction of graphene with other fillers into polymer matrices results in astonishing properties and thus has gained significant attention in recent years. This study addresses the significance of graphene-based hybrid filler polymer composites in progressive materials science and engineering. The paper encloses some traditional and current preparation techniques employed in the fabrication of composites and a comprehensive review of successfully prepared graphene hybrid polymer composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties reported in published research. The role of different factors, e.g., filler type, aspect ratios, filler-matrix compatibility, dispersion effects, homogeneity, filler orientation through polymer matrices, and curing conditions, are summarized. Finally, the applications in heavy industries, e.g., aerospace, electronics, energy storage, and automotive sectors were also analyzed. We hope this study will serve as a practical resource for new researchers and practitioners to understand and harness the full potential of these composites in various scientific and industrial fields.

This paper provides the first-time ever analytic modelling for Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation(PSFFA) model of the non-stationary

Epidemiological and clinical evidence have extensively documented the role of obesity in the develop-ment of endometrial cancer. However, the effect of fatty acids on cell growth in endometrial cancer has not been widely studied. Here we reported that palmitic acid significantly inhibited cell proliferation of endometrial cancer cells and primary cultures of endometrial cancer, and reduced tumor growth in a transgenic mouse model of endometrial cancer, in parallel with increased cellular stress and apoptosis and decreased cellular adhesion and invasion. Inhibition of cellular stress by N-acetyl-L-cysteine effec-tively reversed the effects of palmitic acid on cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasive capacity in the endometrial cancer cells. Palmitic acid increased the intracellular formation of lipid droplets in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Depletion of lipid droplets by blocking DGAT1 and DGAT2 effectively increased the ability of palmitic acid to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cleaved caspase 3 activity. Collectively, this study provides new insight into the effect of palmitic acid on cell proliferation, inva-sion and the formation of lipid droplets that may have potential clinical relevance in the treatment of obesity-driven endometrial cancer

The article discusses how tourism policy has changed since World War II, highlighting how the everchanging political and economic climate has shaped policies that were formerly centered on promoting inbound travel and tourist growth to becoming more inclusive and sustainable. Within that framework, the paper systematically examines the development of Indian tourism policy and thoroughly explores the implications of its most recent version. It concludes that modern tourism policies have evolved into comprehensive frameworks that structure the growth of the industry and make it more inclusive and sustainable. Nations such as India are well-suited to meet the demands of modern tourism and offer appropriate frameworks for sustainable and resilient tourist growth.

The electronic nose (e-nose) is an innovative device that mimics the human olfactory system, allowing for the detection and identification of numerous scents. This abstract gives an in-depth examination of the current status of electronic nose technologies, with an emphasis on sensing mechanisms, applications, and recent breakthroughs. The research delves into the many uses of e-nose, such as food quality control, environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and industrial operations. It also covers the problems and potential future applications of electronic nose technology. The literature review highlights the importance of this technology in improving our capacity to evaluate complex scents in several domains.

Human sepsis is one of the leading cause of death worldwide and is known to be a harmful damaging host inflammatory condition, primarily caused by endotoxin released by gram-negative bacteria. Despite antibiotics administration being widely used to treat disease, effective targeted therapeutic strategies for the sepsis are still lacking. Here, we demonstrate that CM1, a derivative of natural polyphenol chrysin, exerts anti-inflammatory activity by inducing the ubiquitin-editing protein TNFAIP3 and NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). We found that CM1 attenuated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-induced the generation of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/MAPK and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In addition, the treatment of macrophages with CM1 induced the expression of TNFAIP3 and SIRT1 in TLR4-stimulated primary macrophages, however the anti-inflammatory properties of CM1 was disappeared by siRNA silencing of TNFAPI3 or by the genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of SIRT1. Importantly, intravenously administration of CM1 resulted in the decreased susceptibility to endotoxin-induced sepsis, leading to inhibition of the generation of proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophils infiltration into lung than control mice. Collectively, these findings suggest that CM1 has the potential to be a treatment candidate for diverse inflammatory diseases including sepsis.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive neurological complication that affects the central nervous system. It occurs as a late complication of the measles infection the young children and adolescents who are commonly affected present with personality changes and neurological deficits. The diagnosis can be done via clinical features, electroencephalography, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. At present, there is no cure for SSPE. The immunisation against measles is the main strategy in preventing this condition. Here, we present a case of a 22-year-old Indian male diagnosed with Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in community and hospital settings. Infections of the urinary system can range from pyelonephritis to urethritis. Acute renal infections encompass entities such as acute pyelonephritis, acute focal bacterial nephritis, renal and perinephric abscesses, emphysematous pyelonephritis, and pyonephrosis,while xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory condition that affects the kidneys. The diagnosis of UTIs predominantly relies on clinical assessment and confirmation through abnormal laboratory results. Therefore, routine medical imaging is typically reserved for complicated cases, aiming to identify contributing factors such as renal calculi, determine the type of infection, and evaluate the extent of the infection and its associated complications. Furthermore, imaging has become crucial for radiologists during interventional procedures in the treatment of pyonephrosis and renal abscesses. Traditional imaging tools, like abdominal X-rays, are vital for identifying renal calculi and gas shadows in emphysematous pyelonephritis, while ultrasonography emerges as an excellent modality for assessing urinary infections in emergency scenarios, pregnancy, and paediatric cases. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is the imaging method of choice in the most complex situations, allowing for precise assessment of the disease burden. Current MRI sequences yield promising results in specific scenarios, such as pregnancy and paediatric subjects, where minimising radiation exposure is a concern. This article focuses on elucidating the essential radiological modalities and their distinctive features in the context of renal infections, offering valuable guidance to microbiologists and physicians.

The classification and summarization of online reviews using machine learning and deep learningbased approaches are the subject of this systematic literature review. Consumers, companies, and researchers can now find vital information from online reviews. Automatically categorizing and summarizing these reviews can offer useful information and facilitate decision-making. The purpose of this study is to offer a thorough overview of the current methodology, approaches, and developments in this area. The review concentrates on machine learning-based methods for categorization and summarizing tasks, highlighting their advantages, drawbacks, and new developments. This systematic review provides insights into the most recent methodologies and indicates prospective directions for further investigation by synthesizing the data from a wide range of pertinent research publications

Abstract: The septum pellucidum is a thin, translucent double-membrane structure located between the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles. This mini-review explores the gross and radiological anatomy, variations, and clinical significance of the septum pellucidum. The article elaborates on the different types of variations, including cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), cavum vergae (CV), and cavum veli interpositi (CVI). The CSP is a fluid-filled pocket located within the two leaflets of the SP. It forms during fetal development and gradually obliterates before birth. However, the fusion may be prolonged or persist into adulthood in some individuals. The CV is formed when the two commissural plates fail to fuse completely during foetal development. When associated with CSP, the CV is collectively known as the cavum septum pellucidum et vergae (CSPV). However, the isolated CV is rare. The CVI is a CSF-filled space between two tela choroidea layers and communicates with the quadrigeminal cistern, superior to the pineal gland. This article discusses the radiological features of these variations using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT). Ultrasonography is particularly useful for evaluating the SP in fetuses and infants, while MRI and CT scans provide detailed visualisation of the SP and its variations. The SP has the potential to be associated with cerebral anomalies, hydrocephalus, mental disorders, and neurological symptoms. Knowing the related anatomy and detecting variations using imaging modalities are crucial for accurately diagnosing and managing these conditions.

Gene therapy is becoming increasingly prevalent, with new gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) being approved for use every year. Hospital pharmacists are expected to prepare and dispense these products, but there is substantial heterogeneity in the availability of up-to-date, practical guidance at a national level in Europe. Many institutions have no or very limited experience in handling GTMPs. As such, there is a need for updated, practical guidance to aid hospital pharmacy teams in developing institutional standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safe handling of GTMPs across the entire workflow. Here, we present the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists’ updated guidance on the handling of GTMPs, developed by a team of recognised experts from around Europe. Each aspect of the GTMP handling process is addressed, including receipt and storage, dispensing and reconstitution, transportation, administration, waste disposal, decontamination of spills and accidental exposure. A series of charts are provided to aid the development of practical workflows. This guidance document is intended as a framework to help develop institutional SOPs and should always be used in conjunction with local regulations.

The material undergoes high temperature and high strain rate deformation process during cutting process, may induce the dynamic recrystallization behavior and result the evolution of dynamic mechanical properties of the material to be machined. In this paper, the modified Johnson-Cook(J-C) model for Nickel based powder metallurgy superalloy considering dynamic recrystallization behavior in high strain rate and temperature is proposed. The dynamic mechanical properties of the material under different strain rates and temperature conditions are obtained by quasi-static compression test and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test. The coefficients of the modified J-C model are obtained by linear regression method. The modified model is verified by comparison with experimental and model prediction results. The results show that the modified J-C model proposed in this paper can accurately describe the mechanical properties of nickel-based powder metallurgy superalloys at high temperature and high strain rate. Which provides help for studying the cutting mechanism and finite element simulation of nickel-based powder metallurgy superalloy.

Antibiotic Resistance (ABR) is increasing the mortality and morbidity associated with infectious diseases, besides increasing the cost of healthcare, saturating health-system capacity, and adversely affecting food security. Framing an appropriate narrative and engaging local communities through ‘One Health’ approach is essential to complement the top down measures. However, the absence of objective criteria to measure the performance of ABR interventions at community settings make it difficult to mobilize interest and investment for such interventions. An exercise was therefore done to develop an indicator framework for this purpose. An exhaustive list of indicators was developed from experiences gathered through community engagement work in a local panchayat (small administrative area) in Kerala, India, and a consultative process with health, veterinary, environment, and development experts. A prioritization exercise was done, looking at appropriateness, feasibility and validity, by global experts on ABR. A 15-point indicator framework was designed based on the prioritization process. The final set of indicators covers human health, animal health, environment management and Water Sanitation and hygiene (WASH) domains. The indicator framework was piloted in the panchayat(located in Kerala), which attained a score of 34 (maximum 45). The score increased when interventions were implemented to mitigate the ABR drives, indicating the framework is sensitive to change. Simultaneously, the indicator framework was tested in four sites from three other Indian states with different socioeconomic and health profiles, yielding different scores. Those collecting the field data were able to use it with minimal training. To conclude, this indicator framework can help policymakers broadly understand the factors contributing to ABR and measure the performance of interventions they choose to implement in the community

Physical activity is especially important of children's everyday life with chronic disease. The aim of the study was to show whether asthma is a barrier to physical activity in our society. The correlation between the severity of the disease, body mass index, and physical activity were analyzed, and, parents' opinion whether children should participate in active sports was assessed. Physical activity of children with asthma was analyzed by questionnaires and activity-measuring armbands. 93 parents and their children were involved in the survey, while 20 children were wearing the armband. The age of children was 12.6±3.5 years (mean±SD), 69.9% were boys, 30.1% were girls. 93.4% of the respondents participated in physical education program and 56.5% also attended sporting activities on a regular basis. 61.2% of the children had mild, 37.6% moderate, and 1.2% severe asthma. 6.5% of the respondents stated that their illness had been consistently or frequently limiting the performance concerning their school or home duties over the past 4 weeks. Twelve percent of parents felt that physical activity was not appropriate in the context of this disease. We conclude, that fear of the consequences of physical activity depends largely on education which should involve their parents, teachers and coaches.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a complex additive manufacturing process that requires precise control of thermal conditions to ensure the quality and reliability of produced parts. The main challenge lies in accurately predicting the thermal behavior during SLM, which is influenced by rapid heating and cooling cycles, high thermal gradients, and temperature-dependent material properties. This study addresses this challenge by developing a comprehensive thermal model for the SLM process of 316L stainless steel (316L SS) and Ti6Al4V titanium alloy using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in Abaqus. The model incorporates temperature-dependent material properties and phase transformations to simulate the temperature distribution and thermal history during SLM. To validate the model, experimental studies were conducted using custom-designed argon chambers and stainless-steel powder. The experimental results showed strong agreement with the simulated melt pool dimensions and thermal histories, confirming the model's accuracy. Key findings include the model's ability to predict the effects of varying processing parameters such as laser power and scanning speed on thermal behavior and melt pool characteristics. This validated model serves as a valuable tool for optimizing SLM processing parameters, enhancing the un-derstanding of thermal phenomena in additive manufacturing, and improving the quality and reliability of manufactured parts. Due to budget constraints, experimental validation was initially performed only on 316L SS. This approach allowed for the tuning of the finite element model before extending its application to Ti6Al4V. The successful validation with 316L SS provides a solid foundation for applying the model to more challenging materials like Ti6Al4V, ensuring cost-effectiveness and safety in initial experimentation. The novelty of this research lies in its detailed and validated thermal model, which bridges the gap between experimental and numerical approaches in SLM. By accurately simulating and validating the thermal processes involved in SLM, this study contributes to the advancement of additive manufacturing technologies and offers practical insights for industrial applications.

In the realm of molecular science, intricate relationships between molecular structures and their biomedical and pharmacological characteristics have been revealed through empirical experiments. This exploration hinges on the application of numerical descriptors, known as Topological Indices, which illuminate the inherent properties of diverse molecular structures. With particular significance in the medical and pharmaceutical domains, these indices facilitate the prediction of biological features for new chemical compounds and drugs by quantifying weighted entropies. In the context of this paper, we delve into the concept of graph entropy, weaving it intricately with the topological properties of the crystalline framework of the copper oxide molecule, denoted as Cu\textsubscript{2}O$[i,j,t]$. Our primary objective is to unravel the mathematical symphony underlying the structural intricacies of Cu\textsubscript{2}O$[i,j,t]$ and to imbue it with the conceptual essence of entropy. We accomplish this through the computation of entropy, leveraging various topological indices, including weight. In addition to our analytical journey, we present a graphical comparison that juxtaposes the computed indices and entropies, shedding light on the interplay between mathematical analysis and the structural elegance of Cu\textsubscript{2}O$[i,j,t]$. This endeavor contributes to a deeper understanding of the material's multifaceted applications, spanning domains from chemical sensors to solar cells, photocatalysis, and batteries, where Cu\textsubscript{2}O's crystallographic structure plays a pivotal role.

Natural Gas (NG) processing is a prominent industrial separation process. Among the available techniques, the innovative membrane process shows potential for efficient removal of impurities, including carbon dioxide (CO₂). This study focuses on utilizing breakthroughs in membrane separation to drive sustainable CO₂ extraction from natural gas. Through comprehensive research and analysis, we explore the effectiveness and feasibility of membrane-based systems in removing CO₂ impurities from NG, thus promoting greener and more sustainable industrial practices. Our findings underscore the transformative nature of membrane separation technology, presenting new possibilities for a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable approach to CO₂ extraction from natural gas.Natural Gas (NG) processing utilizes various techniques for impurity removal, with the membrane process emerging as a promising option for efficient carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction. This research proposes the integration of a simple mathematical model into ASPEN HYSYS to design a membrane system for CO₂/CH₄ separation. The study also investigates parameter sensitivities by altering operating conditions, such as feed composition and pressure, as well as membrane properties, including selectivity. By analyzing these variables, we aim to optimize the performance and efficiency of the membrane system, facilitating the sustainable extraction of CO₂ from NG. The findings contribute to advancing the design and operation of membrane-based processes for CO₂ separation, paving the way for greener and more sustainable industrial practices. In addition, this study explores various configurations for optimizing the design of the membrane system, including single-stage with and without recycling as well as double-stage configurations. The investigation demonstrates that methane recovery can be enhanced through the recycling of the permeate stream and by implementing a double stage membrane system. These findings highlight the potential for improving the efficiency and performance of the membrane system, enabling higher methane recovery rates. By considering different configurations, this research contributes to the development of more effective and sustainable CO₂ extraction processes from natural gas.

This research arises from the need to rethink children’s play spaces found in the city through new manufacturing methods of Solid Surface materials such as Krion K-Life 1100 from the Porcelanosa Group, which allow the creation of complex ergonomic shapes. The method consisted of an iterative digital fabrication process, in which a series of molds were developed and adjusted to thermoform the Krion, adapting the design in each iteration according to the results obtained. Parametric digital modeling techniques and in-detph curvature analysis were used to optimize the geometry to meet the technical limitations of the material and the thermoforming process. The results showed that, through precise adjustments in the curvature and thickness of the surface, it is possible to thermoform Krion without defects such as folds or wrinkles, obtaining a complex modular and ergonomic surface suitable for children’s play. In conclusions, Krion is a viable material for the generation of complex double-curved geometries, thus opening up a range of possibilities from the creation of new children’s spaces to parametric facades optimized according to their location.

This study aimed to explore the factors that influence parental involvement in supporting 7 the education of children with disabilities in Malawi, thereby generating insights into the barriers 8 and facilitators they face. We conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with 25 participants 9 from the Nkhata Bay District: teachers, parents, and children with disabilities. We used the COM-B 10 model to analyse how parents' capabilities, opportunities, and behaviours influence their involve- 11 ment in their children's education. The study revealed that parents of children with disabilities 12 showed willingness, optimism about their children's future, and a strong sense of responsibility for 13 their education. However, factors such as the limited knowledge of children's learning needs, time, 14 low confidence, and financial challenges have constrained their involvement. Schools and commu- 15 nities frequently limit participation opportunities by not consistently practicing or championing pa- 16 rental involvement in policies or actions. The study sheds light on the complex interplay between 17 knowledge, practical constraints, and external support systems that shape parental involvement in 18 the education of children with disabilities. Further research aimed at creating tailored and context- 19 relevant interventions to improve parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities 20 in low-income settings is required.

Understanding whether the long-term follow-up (LTFU) system is working for families is critical to measuring the success of newborn screening (NBS) and understanding why some families are lost to follow-up. Caregivers were recruited from six pediatric specialty care clinics. Data was gathered from caregivers via six focus groups (n=24) and open-ended responses on a survey (n=33). Caregiver participants represented a wide range of NBS-related conditions and children’s ages. While this is not the first study to gather caregivers’ input, it is unique in its breadth of perspectives (e.g., metabolic, endocrine, hemoglobinopathy, etc.) and its focus on LTFU. When asked about goals for their children, caregivers identified health-related goals (i.e., ability for children to care for themselves, not being hindered by diagnosis) and non-health related goals (i.e., defining themselves outside of disease, participating in sports, making friends). In qualifying the LTFU care they want and need for their child and the key factors that influence access and engagement, caregivers identified three themes: communication and relationships with providers; care team roles and factors; and care access and utilization factors. The themes identified are not disjoint; they are intertwined and collectively illustrate the lived experiences of families at the epicenter of LTFU care.

There is evidence that the tendency to adopt a particular pattern of causal inference, known as attributional style, is likely to be associated with specific pattern of psychopathology among youth. This study aims to assess preliminary psychometric properties of the Italian Children’s Attributional Style Questionnaire-Revised (CASQ-R) and to explore the presence of any subgroups of children and early adolescents from the general population who might exhibit internally homogeneous and externally heterogeneous attributional styles, through cluster analyses, delving also potential sociodemographic and clinical differences among the identified clusters of attributional styles. A sample of 337 children was recruited and their attributional styles and depressive symptoms were analyzed. Four distinct clusters emerged using the six CASQ-R subscales in a multivariate finite mixture model. In particular, high levels of depressive symptoms were reported by children showing high scores in all the negative attributional subscales (globality, internality and stability) and medium scores in all the positive attributional subscales. Conversely, low levels of depressive symptoms were reported by children showing medium-to-high scores in the positive attributional subscales and low-to-medium scores in the negative attributional subscales. The identified clusters shed light on distinct patterns associated with depressive symptoms, offering potential insights for targeted interventions.

Furthermore, the nasal congestion typical of rhinitis can contribute to upper airway obstruction and sleep-disordered breathing. A vicious circle is created between asthma and sleep-disordered breathing: uncontrolled asthma and sleep-disordered breathing can worsen each other. In children with genetic obesity, despite alterations in the immune system, fewer allergies are found compared to the general population. The causes of this reduced allergenicity are unclear but probably involve genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms. The study emphasizes the importance of jointly evaluating and managing allergies, obesity, and sleep-disordered breathing in children, considering their close interconnection.

(1) Background: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) represents unexplained and sudden deaths during the sleep of infants under one year of age, despite thorough investigation. Screening for prolonged QTc or Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) should be conducted on all newborns to reduce the incidence of SIDS. Neonatal electrocardiogram (ECG) could identify congenital heart defects (CHD) early, especially those not detected at birth. Infants with prolonged QT intervals typically undergo genetic analysis for Long QT Syndrome; (2) Methods: The study involved infants aged 20-40 days, born clinically healthy, with initial ECG screening. Infants with prenatal diagnoses or signs/symptoms of CHD identified immediately after birth, as well as those who underwent ECG or echocardiogram for other clinical or historical indications, were excluded from the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0; (3) Results: Of the 42,200 infants involved, 2,245 were enrolled, with 39.9% being males. Subsequently, 164 children (37.8% males) with prolonged QT intervals underwent further diagnostic investigations. Genetic mutations were identified in 11 out of 18 tested children. The most common mutations were LQT1 (54.5%), LQT2 (36.4%), and LQT3 (1 patient). Medications used included propranolol (39.8%), nadolol (22.2%), inderal (11.1%), metoprolol (11.1%), and no treatment (16.7%). The most common abnormalities were focal right bundle branch block (54.5%), left axis deviation (9.2%), and nonspecific ventricular repolarization abnormalities (7.1%). Multiple anomalies were found in 0.47% of children with focal right bundle branch block. Structural abnormalities were associated with specific features in 267 patients (11.9%), primarily isolated patent foramen ovale (PFO) at 61.4%; (4) Conclusions: The screening has proven effective in early diagnosing Long QT Syndrome and other cardiac rhythm anomalies, with additional benefits in detecting mutations and/or QTc prolongations in family members. Identifying other ECG abnormalities and congenital heart malformations further enhances the benefits of the screening.

A community-level nutrition intervention was implemented among tribal children (3 to 6 years) in Telangana, India. The one-year intervention involved six nutrient-rich formulations of millet-pulse-groundnut based products, suited to local taste preferences. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight and Mid-Upper-Arm -Circumference (MUAC) along with haemoglobin (Hb) levels were monitored at baseline and endline. The treatment group showed considerable gain in height (3.2 cm), weight (1.68 kg) and MUAC (0.33 cm), over the control group. Paired t-test indicated significant differences (p<.01) between pre- and post-intervention anthropometric measurements. Positive shifts were observed in wasting (WHZ; -1.2 ±1.3 to -0.9± 1), stunting (HAZ; -1.8±1.6 to -0.3±1.3) and underweight (WAZ; -1.9±1.2 to -0.7±1) among treatment group. Hb levels in the treatment group also improved significantly from 9.70 ± 0.14 g/dl (moderately-anaemic) to 11.08 ± 0.13 g/dl (non-anaemic). Post-intervention Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving mothers and teachers confirmed the positive impact. Thus, nutritional intervention formulated using climate resilient millets, pulses and groundnut, promotes dietary diversity and improves the nutrition & health status of children.

(1) Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is mostly accompanied by mild COVID-19 symptoms in children. However, the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and long-term sequelae are often severe complications. Therefore, the protection of the pediatric population against SARS-CoV-2 with effective vaccines is particularly important. Here we compare the humoral and cellular immune responses elicited in children (n=15) aged 5-11 years vaccinated with RBD-based vaccines combined in a heterologous scheme of SOBERANA® 02 and SOBERANA® Plus with those from children (n=10) aged 4-11 years who recovered from mild symptomatic COVID-19. (2) Methods: Blood samples were taken 14 days after last dose for vaccinated and 45-60 days after the infection diagnosis for COVID-19 recovered children. Anti-RBD IgG and ACE2-RBD inhibition were assessed by ELISA; IgA, cytokine and cytotoxic related proteins profile were determined by multiplex assays. Total B and T cell subpopulations and IFN-γ release were measured by multiparametric flow cytometry using a large panel of antibodies after in vitro stimulation with S1 peptides. (3) Results: Significant higher levels of specific anti-RBD IgG and IgA and ACE2-RBD inhibition capacity were found in vaccinated children in comparison to COVID-19 recovered children. Th1-like and Th2-like CD4+ T cells were also significantly higher in vaccinated subjects. IFN-γ secretion were higher in central memory CD4+ T cells of COVID-19 recovered children, but no differences between both groups were found in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells effector, terminal and naïve T cell subpopulations. High levels of IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-10 in contrast to low levels of IL-4 suggesting a predominant Th1 cell polarization. Cytotoxic-related proteins granzyme A and B, perforin and granulin were also found in the supernatant after S1 stimulation in both vaccinated and recovered children. (4) Conclusions: Vaccination with the heterologous scheme of SOBERANA® 02/ SOBERANA® Plus induces strong antibody and cellular immune response compared to natural infections of young children.

This study aimed to present a systematic meta-analysis examining the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, hemoglobin A1c levels, and the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The initial search identified 451 articles related to the association between H. pylori infection and T1DM. Among them, 14 articles had 2,971 participants meeting the inclusion criteria for advanced meta-analysis. A significant association was observed between H. pylori infection and T1DM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–2.78, p = 0.002). A subgroup analysis on H. pylori status showed that a longer duration of diabetes diagnosis and higher hemoglobin A1c levels were significantly associated with H. pylori infection (p < 0.001 for both). However, there was no significant association between H. pylori infection and the diagnostic age of diabetes (p = 0.306). These findings contribute to the understanding of the association between H. pylori infection and T1DM, thereby highlighting the potential role of H. pylori in influencing the duration and glycemic control of diabetes.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the associated bacteria that can cause the rare but high mortality hematological disease known as purpura fulminans (PF) in both adults and children. Patients with PF can progress quickly to sepsis and multiorgan failure, especially in immunocompromised individuals and young children. Due to the thrombotic blockage of blood arteries in PF, there is diffuse intravascular thrombosis and hemorrhagic infarction of the skin, which evolves from ecchymosis to skin necrosis, risk of limb sequelae, sepsis and fatality. We present a case of a previously healthy 1-year and 9-month female who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Balș"- Bucharest, Romania. The patient presented with erythematous patches on left upper limb and trunk, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, anuria and altered sensorium with an indication of intubation for 8 Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Cerebrospinal culture grew Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1. She required peritoneal dialysis due to acute kidney injury (AKI) and surgeries for affected areas. After multiple organ system failures, our patient evolved rapidly to irreversible tissue necrosis and death. We aim to report a rare case of PF associated with pneumococcal meningoencephalitis in immunocompetent children to better appreciate the risk of fatal evolution when managing this disease in children. To date, few studies report favourable evolution. We discuss the etiology, rapid diagnosis and treatment of immunocompetent children with PF and the importance of interprofessional teams to increase the outcomes in patients with infectious diseases.

Cognitive biases towards disorder-specific stimuli are suggested to be crucial in the development and maintenance of symptoms in adults with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD), a subtype of FGID, are common in children and adolescents, but the influence of cognitive biases is sparsely examined. The aim of this study was to 1) develop a new experimental design for assessing cognitive biases towards gastrointestinal stimuli in children and adolescents (age 8-17 years) and 2) test its feasibility on a healthy sample exploring potential sex- and age-related differences. The online experimental design – BY-FAP (Bias in Youth with Functional Abdominal Pain) includes a word task and a picture task. Stimuli in both tasks are related to general and gastrointestinal symptoms and the design includes three phases: 1) encoding, 2) free recall and 3) recognition. Results from 96 healthy participants (Mage = 12.3, 47.9% female) found no significant difference between sex or age groups in recall and recognition of either words or pictures. The results support that the design is feasible for children and adolescents. In the future, BY-FAP can be used to explore possible cognitive biases in children and adolescents with FAPD.

The introduction of stool as a readily obtainable sample and the recently developed simple-one-step (SOS) stool processing method offer an opportunity for TB diagnosis in children. We conducted this study at secondary health facilities in Ethiopia which are the first level referral facilities for childhood TB diagnosis and treatment with the aim to determine if stool-based TB diagnosis can be performed with reasonable level of concordance with sputum tests in using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra. Eligible children 0-14 years with presumptive pulmonary TB were asked to provide stools in addition to routinely requested sputum samples. We computed Cohen’s kappa statistic in SPSS to determine the level of agreement between stool and sputum test results. Of the 373 children included in the study, 61% were &lt;5 years of age and 56% were male. Thirty-six children (9.7%) were diagnosed with TB and all started treatment. The rate of concordance between stool and sputum was high with kappa value of 0.83 (P&lt;0.001). There were more Xpert ultra positive test results on stool (n=27 (7.2%)) than on sputum/NGA (n=23 (6.2%)). Laboratories in secondary hospitals can perform stool-based TB diagnosis in children with high concordance between stool and sputum test results reaffirming the applicability of the SOS method.

Despite concerns about the negative effects of social distancing and prolonged school closures on children’s lifestyle and physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, robust evidence is lacking on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s wellbeing and daily life. This study aimed to examine changes in the PA levels, sleep patterns and screen time of school-aged children during the different phases of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong using a repeated cross-sectional design. School students (Grades 1 to 12) were asked to report their daily electronic device usage and to fill in a sleep dairy recording their daily sleep and wake-up time. They were equipped with a PA monitor, Actigraph wGT3X-BT, to obtain objective data on their PA levels and sleep patterns. Students were recruited before the pandemic (Sep 2019 – Jan 2020; n=577), during school closures (Mar 2020 – Apr 2020; n=146), and after schools partially reopened (Oct 2020 – Jul 2021; n=227). Our results indicated lower PA levels, longer sleep duration, and longer screen time among participants recruited during school closures than those recruited before the COVID-19 outbreak. Primary school students were found to sleep on average for an extra hour during school closures. Our findings illustrate the impact of social distancing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep pattern, screen time, and PA level in school-aged children in Hong Kong. Professionals should reinforce the importance of maintaining a physically active lifestyle, good sleep hygiene, and healthy use of electronic devices to parents and school-aged children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Early stroke diagnosis remains a big challenge in healthcare partly due to the lack of reliable diagnostic blood biomarkers, which in turn leads to increased rates of mortality and disability. Current screening methods are optimised to identify patients with a high risk of cardio-vascular disease, especially among the elderly. However, in young adults and children, these methods suffer low sensitivity and specificity and contribute to further delays in their triage and diagnosis. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop reliable blood biomarkers for triaging patients suspected of stroke in all age groups, especially children and young adults. This review explores some of the existing blood biomarkers, as single biomarkers, or biomarker panels, and examine their sensitivity and specificity for predicting stroke. A review was performed on PubMed and Web of Science for journal articles published in English during the period 2001 to 2021 which contained information regarding biomarkers of stroke. In this review article, we provide comparative information on the availability, clinical usefulness, and time-window periods of eight single blood biomarkers and six biomarker panels that have been used for predicting stroke in emergency situations. The outcomes of this review can be used in future research for developing more effective stroke biomarkers.

Background: Lactate is a metabolic byproduct. It has traditionally been seen as a byproduct of oxygen-deprived glycolysis and ischemia. Therefore, our main goal is to examine the influence of lactate levels (LLs) on clinical outcomes in patients with severe Traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: This is a level 1 single-center, retrospective study of patients with severe TBI between January 1, 2020- December 31, 2023, inclusive. Only patients with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), value of 3 or higher were included. Results: Single-factor ANOVA indicated a significant increase in LLs with decreasing age (Hospital admission: p = 1.53E-13, ICU admission: p = 0.0183, Hospital discharge: p = 0.02, Death: p = 0.0149). Linear regression models showed a significant decrease in age compared to Hospital admission LLs (p = 2.65E-09), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission LLs (p = 0.01), and Death LLs (p = 0.00295). Prognostic scores such as Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) showed a strong correlation with both Hospital admission and ICU admission LLs. ANOVA indicated higher LLs with increasing ISS (Hospital admission: p = 5.22E-06, ICU admission: p = 1.92E-05) and increasing LLs with decreasing GCS (Admission: p = 3.42E-08, ICU admission: p = 1.74E-09). Linear regressions revealed a strong positive correlation between ISS and LLs (Hospital admission: p = 3.69E-07, ICU admission: p = 2.90E-06). On linear regression, the lactate level measured at hospital admission and ICU admission strongly positively associated with the length of stay (LOS) in the hospital (Hospital admission: p = 0.00342, ICU admission: p = 0.0163), LOS in the ICU (Hospital admission: p = 0.0141, ICU admission: p = 0.0234), ventilator days (Hospital admission: p = 0.002513, ICU admission: p = 8.23E-05), and mortality (Hospital admission: p = 8.13E-05, ICU admission: p = 3.93E-05). Discussion: We discovered that high LLs were linked to longer stays in the hospital and ICU, as well as more days requiring a ventilator, and higher mortality rates in patients with severe TBI. Enhanced LLs had the most notable impact on the number of days on a ventilator and mortality, followed by longer hospital and ICU stays. Therefore, lactate can be considered a strong predictor of poor clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI.

There is considerable interest in cellulose solubilisation in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a new emerging class of green solvents. However, the experimental data have indicated that cellulose is almost insoluble in most of DESs. Carboxylic acid-based DESs are a category of DESs that exhibit a modest ability to solubilise cellulose. However, the molecular-level reasons why carboxylic acid-based DESs can dissolve cellulose are unknown. Such information is crucial in developing DESs with enhanced cellulose solubilising ability. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to explore the molecular mechanism of cellulose solubility in oxaline (choline chloride/oxalic acid) as a typical carboxylic acid-based DES and cellulose insolubility in reline (choline chloride/urea) as the most famous DES. It was revealed that oxalic acid possesses a greater ability to weaken the interaction between the chloride anion and the choline cation when compared to other urea in reline. Self-interactions of hydrogen bond donors are also highly attenuated in oxaline than in reline. These results explain the observed more significant melting point depression of oxaline in comparison to reline. We depict a molecular mechanism indicating how oxalic acid synergically works with chloride ion to dissolve cellulose and why urea cannot play such a role in reline.

One of the foundations of Smart Cities is mobility. To manage the efficiency of urban mobility, continuous recording of traffic flows is essential. The road traffic parameters in the cross section of the road network can be registered with the use of various measurement technologies. This is indirectly due to the complexity of the phenomenon of vehicle traffic and the disturbances in physical quantities generated as a result of it. Traffic data carries: sound waves, vibrations, optical waves and other media. The characteristics of these physical media, properly recorded and mathematically transformed, may constitute a superposition of the position of individual vehicles moving in the traffic flow. Moreover, these waves interfere with each other depending on the observed parameters of the movement of individual vehicles at different places of the network. In this context, information obtained from various media is the overall view of traffic. This article focuses on acquiring infrared traffic data. The movement of each vehicle, regardless of its type, is inextricably linked to infrared radiation, the distribution changing as a function of the road network. Each vehicle is a source of heat and therefore also emits infrared radiation (it heats up gradually while driving, with small temperature fluctuations). Therefore, the temperature of a moving vehicle is generally different from the background (road network) temperature. This article presents a successful attempt to analyze the infrared radiation accompanying road traffic in a selected cross section of the road. In order to register infrared radiation in the traffic stream, a prototype of a measuring system consisting of a pyrometer commonly used in thermometers (cost about 10 € and less) was used. Measurements of infrared radiation of the vehicle stream obtained in this way were compared with the measurement data of handheld traffic recorders, the so-called mechanical vehicle counters. The comparison of the results from both recording methods allows for the formulation of further research hypotheses towards extended research in the field of infrared radiation of the traffic stream. In this regard, it is important to research with various disturbances in the measurements that come from other heat sources located in the road network and its immediate vicinity. This study is important from the point of view of smart cities and C-ITS systems (mainly V2I communication). The registration of data describing the traffic flow with the use of a single pyrometer, instead of an expensive IR camera, is a cheap alternative in modern city information networks. This allows you to create intelligent sensor networks using connectivity based on, e.g., mesh networks. Such activities are possible with costs for one measuring point reduced by one or two orders of magnitude compared to the costs incurred with the use of IR cameras ( € 1000, € 10,000 and more). In the current situation of the energy crisis, the search for innovative solutions with lower energy demand is very important in the Smart City policy.

Background/Objectives: Stroke patients generally have balance and gait dysfunction due to decreased range of motion (ROM) and muscle strength of the ankle joint. A therapist can apply a floss band to enhance ROM, pain control, jumping performance, strength, myofascial release, and recovery from fatigue. This study compared the immediate effects of floss band application on ankle ROM, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients.; Methods: This study randomized 40 chronic stroke patients to either the floss (n = 20) or sham (n = 20) band group. Outcome measures were ankle ROM, weight bearing lunge test (WBLT) performance, standing balance, and gait ability. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and immediately after applying the floss or placebo band.; Results: There were significant improvements in dorsiflexion (DF), WBLT, static balance, and foot strike in those who used the floss band compared to the sham group (all p &lt; 0.05).; Conclusions: The floss band improved ankle DF, balance, and gait, indicating that it is a feasible therapeutic method for improving ankle DF, balance, and gait in chronic stroke patients.

In the aerospace industry, composites based on polymer or metal matrices and fillers made from granite, marble, lime and other rock powders are used. These fillers are similar in composition to cement and glass used for immobilization of radioactive waste (RW). In this paper, it is proposed to grind cemented or vitrified radioactive waste into micro or nanopowder and introduce this powder into a polymer or metal matrix to obtain a composite with improved physical characteristics, which can be used as a structural element or equipment element of automated space stations, satellites or rovers. In this way, it is possible to dispose of a huge amount of accumulated radioactive waste into space as a payload.

Studies on integrating Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) with the Transformer architecture holds promise for enabling models to achieve ultra-low energy consumption while possessing the performance of the Transformer architecture. Currently, studies on ANN-to-SNN conversion of integrating Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) with the Transformer architecture mainly focuses on simple activation functions in MLPs, and has not yet addressed the mismatch between the Softmax activation function in the self-attention mechanism and the computation rules of SNNs. Consequently, the ANN-to-SNN conversion efforts have consistently failed to make the Transformer architecture directly applicable to SNNs. To address this challenge, we propose the Spiking-Softmax method, which integrates Spiking Exponential Neuron (SI-exp) and Spiking Collaboration Normalized Neuron (SI-norm). The Spiking-Softmax method accurately simulates the Softmax activation function with only 12 time steps. Building upon this, we propose the Spike Integrated Transformer conversion (SIT-conversion) method, which enables the conversion of the Transformer architecture to SNNs. The SNNs generated by the SIT-conversion of Transformer models of various sizes achieve accuracy nearly identical to their ANNs counterparts, achieving nearly lossless and ultra-low-latency ANN-to-SNN conversion. This work represents the first implementation of simulating the Softmax activation function and fully converting the Transformer architecture into SNNs through spike firing.

The urinary tract, once considered sterile, is now understood to host a diverse community of microorganisms known as the urinary microbiome. This microbiome, which is made up of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, is important for preserving urological health and has been linked to the pathogenesis of a number of urinary tract disorders. In this review, we offer a consolidated overview of the urinary tract bacterial population, including its composition, diversity, and factors influencing its dynamics. We explore its involvement in urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), urinary stone formation, and other urological diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding its correlation with disease pathology for the development of therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we explore its role in autoimmune diseases of the urinary tract and the potential of leveraging the urinary microbiome for targeted interventions in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Longitudinal studies are emphasized for their ability to elucidate microbial dynamics, establish causality, and ensure consistency and reproducibility across research endeavors. These efforts underscore the necessity for continued research and multidisciplinary collaborations in this rapidly evolving field to advance our understanding and therapeutic strategies for urinary tract disorders.

Background. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex condition marked by increased pain sensitivity and central sensitization. Studies often explore the link between FM and depressive-anxiety disorders, but few focus on dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which can be more disabling than major depression (MD). Objective. To identify clinical scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) that effectively describe and differentiate the psychological profile of PDD, with or without comorbid MD, in FM patients with PDD previously dimensionally classified by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III). Method. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 66 women (mean age 49.18, SD=8.09) from Hospital del Mar. The PAI, the MCMI-III, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were used to assess the sample. Results. The PAI showed strong discriminative ability in detecting PDD, characterized by high scores in cognitive and emotional depression, and low scores in identity alteration, dominance, and grandeur. High scores in cognitive, emotional, and physiological depression, identity alteration, cognitive anxiety, and suicidal ideation, along with low scores in dominance and grandeur, were needed to detect MD with PDD. Discriminant analysis could differentiate 69.6-73.9% of the PDD group and 84.6% of the PDD+MD group. Group comparisons showed that 72.2% of patients with an affective disorder by PAI were correctly classified in the MCMI-III affective disorder group, and 70% without affective disorder were correctly classified. Conclusions. The PAI effectively identifies PDD in FM patients and detects concurrent MD episodes, aiding in better prognostic and therapeutic guidance.

In the domain of software engineering, the accurate and effective classification of requirements is of paramount importance. Proper classifications of these requirements enable developers to create robust and error-free software solution. Traditional methods of user requirements classification face the issue of the reliance on manual processes, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error. The limitations of traditional methods underscore the need for more automated, scalable, and robust approaches to user requirements classification in order to meet the demands of modern software development practices. To improve the classification process, we employed a Deep Learning (DL) methodology termed the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) model to conduct feature extraction, after which we merged these feature vectors into ML classifiers. Our research methodology is structured around a five-step process. Initially, the textual input is tokenized and converted to lowercase. Subsequently, we eliminate all punctuation. The pre-processed text is then subjected to a Bi-LSTM (Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory) model for feature vector extraction. After that, this feature vector is fed into different classifiers such as Medium KNN, Cubic KNN, Linear SVM, Quadratic SVM, and Cubic SVM and obtained an accuracy of around 99.60% to 99.80% on a publicly available dataset of requirements.

Galactic rotation curve was formulated before the Sgr A* had been confirmed. The action of the Sgr A* on the rotation curve has not been considered. Now, it was observed that the fastest stars in the Milky Way is in the distance less than 0.5pc from the Sgr A*. It is contradicted with the current galactic rotation curve in which the orbital velocity near the center of the galaxy is the smallest. And, because of the advance of technology, it was observed that the circular velocity curve of the Milky Way from 5 to 30 kpc is with a significantly faster decline (Keplerian decline) compared to the inner parts. It is contradicted with the current curve in which the out parts could be larger or no decline. And, it was observed that the fast galaxy bar continue challenge the standard cosmology. For the reasons, we present an improved galactic rotation curve.

As a branch of regional innovation theories, social filter theory fundamentally reveals the reasons for the geography of innovation in different countries and regions. However, compared with some other regional innovation theories, social filter theory has been as silent as a sleeping beauty and hasn’t been fully developed. For enriching and developing social filter theory, this article systematically traces the source and comments on four aspects: the concept of social filter, the construction and measurement of indicators of social filter, the mechanism and empirical re-search of social filter affecting regional innovation and innovation transformation. Until recently regional innovation theories primarily focused on the superficial description of the phenomenon of innovation, but lack of attention to the local social filter condition of innovation generation and innovation transformation, which are the pre-condition of constructing mature innovation system. Therefore, additional efforts are still required to fill the current knowledge gap from the recom-mended directions in the article.

This paper presents a comparative bibliometric analysis of digital transformation in small and medium enterprises, focusing on the before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Using data from the Scopus database, the study analyzes 1,566 articles published between 2001 and 2024, focusing on pre-COVID (2001–2018) and post-COVID (2019–2024). Bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, were employed to conduct performance analysis, scientific mapping, and co-occurrence analyses of keywords and co-authorship. The results demonstrate a substantial increase in research output post-COVID, particularly in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and e-commerce. These technologies have become vital for the survival and competitiveness of SMEs in the post-pandemic world. However, the study also highlights significant challenges, including limited financial resources and a lack of skilled personnel, which have hindered SMEs' ability to implement digital transformation fully. Government intervention, through financial assistance and strategic support, is identified as crucial in enabling SMEs to overcome these obstacles and successfully navigate the digital era. This analysis contributes to the growing body of literature on SMEs' digitalization, offering key insights for policymakers, researchers, and businesses aiming to adapt to the evolving digital landscape in a post-pandemic economy.

This paper is a part of the broader research on “Adaptation of Laws in Science” and explores the limitations and challenges involved in adapting mathematical concepts to describe natural reality in physics. Specifically, the analysis focuses on two major examples: Euler's exponential laws and spacetime dilation derived from Lorentz transformations. By examining these concepts, the paper emphasizes that some complex laws are not universally applicable for deeper studies of nature, as they originate from mathematics and are correct only for specific parts of nature to which they have been adapted. These complex laws are particularly unsuitable where there is limited information available for adaptation. Therefore, without appropriate adaptations and a deep understanding of the physical context under investigation, the direct use of complex laws can lead to incorrect results. It is essential to avoid excessive generalization of these laws, once they become part of physics, unless a corresponding adaptation to the research context can be made. Furthermore, this paper supports the correctness of relativity theories by invoking that, like Euler's exponential growth theory, they were initially mathematical concepts. However, the nature of mathematics coincided with that of the phenomena in our universe, although through certain adaptations.

This study examines stress distributions in adhesive joints under various loading and temperature conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to compute the peel and shear stresses at the adhesive interface and bondline midpoint. The analytical solutions proposed by Goland and Reissner were analyzed with modifications by Hart-Smith and Zhao. FEA revealed stress distributions at the adhesive/adherend interface and bondline midpoint. DP490 adhesive joints exhibited lower stresses than EA9696 due to a lower Young's modulus and the use of thicker adherends. Temperature variations significantly affected joint behavior, particularly above the adhesive’s glass transition temperature (Tg). Both EA9696 and DP490 adhesive joints displayed distinct responses to stress and temperature changes. The comparison between parabolic and biquadratic solutions for functionally graded adhesive (FGA) joints showed that the biquadratic solution consistently yielded higher shear and peel stress values, with an increase ranging from 15% to 71% compared to the parabolic solution at various temperatures. Comparing stress distributions between peel and shear stresses, emphasizing the importance of selecting adhesives based on stress type, temperature, and solution methods in optimizing adhesive bonding applications. These findings provide valuable insights for thermomechanical applications where thermal stimuli may be used for controlled debonding.

This paper presents and demonstrates the development of a new lightweight coating for aluminium alloy using a novel multicomponent alloy based on the AlSiMgCu system. This coating was applied using a newly designed approach that combined High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) and Plasma Spraying processes. This hybrid technique enables the deposition of coatings with enhanced performance characteristics. The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM+EDS) microscopy, revealing good adhesion and compaction between the multicomponent coating and the A6061 substrate with 50 to 150 µm thickness. Vickers indentations were performed on the substrate and the new coating material, revealing a 50% improvement in the material's hardness compared to the casted alloy. Additionally, electrical conductivity measurements showed approximative x3.3 times values compared to the alloy in as-cast condition due to high solidification rates altering the morphology of the phases. Corrosion tests demonstrated a lower corrosion rate compared to other multicomponent aluminium alloys and similar to thermal treated A6061 alloy. Finally, tribological results obtained using ball on disc (BOD) test and laser scanning confocal microscopy, confirmed that the new multicomponent coating exhibited reductions in both friction coefficient and wear rate by more than 20% and 50%, respectively. This study demonstrates that using multi-component aluminium coatings could lead to developing of new automotive parts with enhanced properties for corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and wear conditions. Optimizing the thermal spraying parameters could further enhance the coating, achieving greater and more homogeneous thicknesses and yielding even higher performance properties.

Commercial production of Choromytilus meridionalis (black mussel) and Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mediterranean mussel) contributes to half of the South African marine aquaculture production per year. However, limited ready-to-eat black mussel products are available. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the effects of storage (15 days at room temperature) on the total viable counts (TVC), coliforms, proximate composition, and fat oxidation (TBARS) of a small-scale kitchen-based ready-to-eat hot smoked black mussel product preserved with vegetable oil. Three batches of black mussel meat were smoked at 80ºC for 15 minutes. Half of each batch were packaged in sterile glass jars with heated (50ºC) vegetable oil and half without oil. Microbiological analyses were done at days 1, 3, 9 and 15. Proximate composition was determined at day 1 and TBARS at days 1 and 15. Coliforms for all samples throughout the storage period were undetected. TVC plates for mussels stored without oil had no growth at days 1 to 5, however, reached TVC > 5 log10.g-1 at day 15. TVC for mussels with oil increased from 0 at day 1 to > 5 log10.g-1 at day 3 and remained at counts > 5 log10.g-1. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in moisture, protein, and ash for mussels stored with oil and those without oil, while significant differences (P < 0.001) in total fat and carbohydrates (10.27 ± 2.10% and 6.80 ± 2.22% with oil, and 5.05 ± 1.49% and 10.59 ± 3.00% without oil) were detected. These differences were due to the presence of additional fats from the vegetable oil. TBARS at day 15 showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between mussels stored with oil and those without oil. There were no significant differences in TBARS from day 1 to 15 for both oil and without oil. Small-scale kitchen-based smoked black mussels preserved without vegetable oil could be stored for up to 9 days at room temperature.

Due to its potential harm to space payload, microwave corona breakdown of microstrip circuits has attracted much attention. This work describes an efficient way to suppress corona breakdown. Since corona breakdown threshold is determined by the highest electric field intensity at the surface of microstrip circuits, lacquer coating with thickness of tens of microns is sprayed on the top of microstrip circuits. The applied dielectric coating is used to move the discharge location away from circuit’s surface which is equivalent to reduce the highest electric field intensity on the in-terface of solid/air of the circuit and thus results into higher breakdown threshold. Two designs of classic coupled-line band-pass filter were used for verification. Corona experimental results at 2.5 GHz show that, in the interested low pressure range (100 to 4500 Pa), 5.3 dB improvement of mi-crowave corona breakdown threshold can be achieved for a filter with narrowest gap of 0.2 mm while its electrical performances like insertion loss, Q-factor are still acceptable. A threshold improvement prediction method is also presented and validated.

To meet the dual-carbon objective, China's economy needs to move from a carbon-intensive to a green economy. Green technology innovation and renewable energy development are key to promoting green economic growth. The study uses 2010–2022 provincial panel data from 30 Chinese provinces. The super-efficient SBM model measures the province's green economic growth index. A panel fixed-effects model is used to experimentally evaluate how green technology innovation and renewable energy development affect green economic growth. Green financing moderates and a panel threshold model tests the threshold effect of renewable energy development on green economic growth. The results demonstrate that (1) China's green economic growth is rising and has a "U" shape. (2) all selected variables significantly impact green economic growth. However, population density, government intervention, and industrial structure are inversely associated with GEG. Green economic growth is significantly boosted by the moderate role of green finance in the development of renewable energy and green technological innovation. (3) Renewable energy development has a single threshold non-linear effect on green economic growth, depending on its development level and green technological innovation. Considering China's current condition and research findings, this study examines the green energy transition to promote green economic growth and high-quality economic development. Meanwhile, puts forward some important policy recommendations.

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.

We humans are natural-born engineers. As such, we model after machines not only isolated, naturally occurring systems, but also the basic laws of physics, sharing with machines a local-evolution-of-state `grammar'. However, previous work by the author casts doubt upon this mechanistic paradigm, suggesting that it is to blame for the stubbornness of many open problems in physics. Simple experiments are therefore proposed to identify `non-machines'. In one experiment, `non mechanistic correlations' in the spirit of Bell are sought in a pair of separated but previously coupled (macroscopic) chaotic systems. In another it is tested whether chaotic systems could fuzzily `remember their future' in the sense that a future binary perturbation applied to them could be inferred from their present behavior with probability>1/2. Chaotic systems are chosen as candidates because the long-time application of their (deterministic) mechanistic description is conceptually groundless: All scales are significant and mutually coupled in that regime, down to scales governed by QM, yet the quantum-classical transition remains inexplicable---if only due to the measurement problem. Similarly for non-deterministic chaotic systems, modeled as such purely for defying a short-time deterministic mechanistic description. Should a non mechanistic signature be found in such simple systems, the implications for science as a whole and life sciences in particular cannot be overstated.

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

Financial fraud poses a severe threat to the integrity of corporate financial statements and market efficiency. While auditors play a crucial role in detecting and preventing such fraud, the unique characteristics of this domain, including class imbalance, high misclassification costs, and am-biguous attributes, pose significant challenges. Traditional classification algorithms may not be optimally suited for this task. This paper proposes a novel stacking ensemble learning approach to enhanced detecting of Financial Statement Scam. By combining the strengths of multiple base learners, including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Gradient Boosting Decision Trees, our model leverages their diverse predictions to improve overall performance. A Logistic Regression me-ta-learner is employed to integrate the outputs of the base learners, capturing their collective wisdom while mitigating individual weaknesses. Extensive experimentation using a real-world dataset shown the superiority of our approach, achieving remarkable recall, precision, accuracy, and area under the curve metrics. The proposed model outperforms individual base learners, under-scoring the efficacy of ensemble learning in tackling the intricate problem of financial fraud detection. This research contributes to the creation of substantial and robust fraud detection systems, fostering trust and transparency in financial markets.

Though nowadays germanium do not reach the range of popularity than other metals, i.e. rare earth elements, its utility in target industries makes of it also a strategic metal. Though germanium can be find in a series of raw materials, the principal source for its recovery is from secondary wastes of the zinc industry, and also, the recycle of germanium-bearing waste materials is becoming of interest. In this recovery, Hydrometallurgy is performing a key role to the successful achievement of this goal. The present work reviews the most recent applications (2023 and 2024 years) of hydrometallurgical operations on the recovery of germanium from different solid and liquid sources.

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The agent was also found in wild mammals such as wild boar (Sus scrofa), however, the role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of MAP is unclear. During the research period, 941 free-ranging wild boar (S. scrofa) legally hunted in two locations in the Centre-eastern region of Portugal were examined. Ninety-seven wild boar exhibited one or more gross lesions and were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using acid-fast staining, mycobacterial culture, poly-merase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathological examination. Forty-five animals (46.4%, 95% CI: 36.5-56.3%) were identified as infected, as indicated by positive results in culture and/or PCR. The findings revealed that the most significant risk factor was being a juvenile compared to year-lings and adults (OR = 10.2, 95% CI: 2.2-48.0). Based on our results, 37.9% (n = 11) of the infected animals were considered suitable for human consumption. Our findings offer novel insights into mycobacterial infections in wild boar populations in Portugal and suggest that wild boar could be a source of human infection if zoonotic potential is considered.

Objective. To evaluate serum neuronal and inflammatory biomarkers in asphyctic newborns treated with hypothermia alone or hypothermia plus melatonin, and whether biomarkers correlate with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Design. This is a pilot multicentre, randomised, controlled, double blind clinical trial. Neuronal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-7 and IL-13) were measured in serum samples at hospital admission (T0), 24 hours (T1), 72 hours (T2) and 7-10 days of age (T3). Neurodevelopmental outcomes (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III scales, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Tardieu scale) were performed at 6 and 18 months. Setting: Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. Patients and interventions: 25 newborns were recruited. The treated patients received a daily dose of intravenous melatonin, 5 mg per kg body weight, for 3 days. Results. After adjusting the data for severity, in the group treated with melatonin, there is a decrease in plasma levels of GM-CSF, IL-2 and IL-13 at T1 compared to placebo, as well as, at T2, in GM-CSF concentrations, as well as IL-7 and IL-13 at T3. Evolutionarily, we found a significant decrease in GM-CSF concentrations in the treatment group compared to placebo, with no differences for the rest of the biomarkers. It is noteworthy that the sustained decrease in GM-CSF and inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-7 and IL-13 correlated with better neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 and 18 months. Conclusions. In neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, the addition of iv melatonin to hypothermia therapy affects the plasma concentration of biomarkers in the first week of life, with a high correlation with long-term neurological prognosis.

Hazelnut, pistachio and cashew are tree nuts with health benefits but also with allergenic properties being prevalent food allergens in Europe. The allergic characteristics of these tree nuts after processing combining heat, pressure and enzymatic digestion were analyzed through in vitro (Western blot and ELISA) and in vivo test (Prick-Prick). In the analyzed population, the patients sensitized to Cor a 8 (nsLTP) were predominant over those sensitized against hazelnut seed storage proteins (Sprot, Cor a 9 and 14), which displayed higher IgE reactivity. The protease E5 effectively hydrolyzed proteins from hazelnut and pistachio, while E7 was efficient for cashew protein hydrolysis. When combined with pressured heating (autoclave and Controlled Instantaneous Depressurization (DIC)), these proteases notably reduced the allergenic reactivity. The combination of DIC treatment before enzymatic digestion resulted in the most effective methodology to drastically reduce or indeed eliminate the allergenic capacity of tree nuts.

The therapeutic, attenuative, and morphological effects of proprietary neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (NSC EVs, AB126) produced by Aruna Bio, Inc. were assessed in a range of in vitro and in vivo models of stroke. We emphasize that modulation of neuroinflammation is a key target and suggest further studies to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of action and ultimately how best to dose and monitor the benefits of AB126 in stroke patients.

Permafrost covers about 23% ~ 25% of the land in the northern hemisphere, mainly in Russia, Canada, Alaska, Northeast and Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP) in China. Many engineering especially the transportation has been in the permafrost regions above. Under the action of highways construction and global warming, permafrost under infrastructures is degraded and causes serious damage. Two phases closed thermosyphon (TPCT) is a widely accepted green countermeasure against the problem in permafrost regions. Although it has been applied to prevent permafrost degradation, their application presents significant challenges on account of the stronger endothermic action of asphalt pavement. This paper focused on the thermosyphon technology and application in the permafrost. Moreover, the article highlighted the excellent working performance of the TPCT that improving the stability of the infrastructures and prevent it degrading due its excellent efficiency of heat transfer. The industrial applications of the TPCT were also summarized, along with their limitations. Finally, the results reported in this paper can provide a valuable guidance for the design of the TPCT and construction of the permafrost regions in the future.

In "genome editing," a type of genetic engineering, DNA is added, taken away, or changed in an organism's genome. Biomedicine, biotechnology, and synthetic biology, just to name a few, have all gained a lot from how often this method is used. Before the editing process can start, a Double-Strand Breaks (DSB) must be made in the DNA at a specific gene. Researchers have made nucleases, which are sometimes called "molecular scissors," to fix this DSB. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), and homing endonucleases are all examples of protein targets that have been studied and changed. The last part gave an overview of these study projects and explained how to make Cas12a for specific uses. The applications of Cas12a have been extensively studied in recent years, but the protein still holds a lot of promise as a treatment and screening tool. In order to give a quick review of CRISPR-Cas12a and its uses, we will briefly talk about the structure and function of the different parts of the reaction pathway that lead up to the catalysis of the target DNA. Cas12a uses a multistep process to make sure that it is selecting the right DNA. This is a good trait for a device that changes the DNA because it makes it less likely that something bad will happen. Even though data shows that a new CRISPR RNAs (crRNA) molecule can stop Cas12a from randomly destroying ssDNA, it may still hurt the host cell while trying to change the genome. The action of Cas12a catalysis, which is a powerful tool for changing the genome, needs to be changed so that it can be more easily controlled and managed. Using what we know about how Cas12a works, we have made mutants that are less active on ssDNA and more active on dsDNA. So far, only Cas9 and Cas12a, which are both part of the CRISPR family, have been used to change the genome. Because of how similar and different these two endonucleases are, CRISPR can now be used for multiple scientific purposes. Cas12a is better than Cas9 because it makes double-strand breaks (DSBs) that favor Homology-Directed Repair (HDR) over Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and can change more than one copy of the genome at the same time. Both Cas9 and Cas12a are being changed to make them better at detecting Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM) than they are in their natural state. This will make it possible to start focusing on more genes.

This article describes a novel topical composition constituted by gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and microbial chondroitin sulfate. This composition exhibits potential for non-invasive intervention in anxiety management, sleep quality enhancement, and promotion of brain-related functions like meditation and nonlocal consciousness. The core component comprises GABA, a key inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system, complexed with a suitable carrier molecule, microbial chondroitin sulfate. This complexation aims to enhance transdermal absorption and optimize delivery of GABA to target tissues. The proposed mechanism of action involves modulation of GABAergic signal transduction pathways. Application of the topical composition allows GABA penetration into the skin and potentially deeper tissues, where it interacts with GABA receptors. This interaction leads to mental calmness and relaxation as assessed by electroencephalography. The influence of GABAergic signaling on brain circuits demonstrated in this article, when associated with meditation and nonlocal consciousness, suggests potential for the composition to support these practices. The advantage of such an approach consists in avoiding the potential systemic side effects associated with oral or injectable administration of GABA, anxiolytics or hypnotics. Furthermore, the combination of GABA and microbial chondroitin sulfate may offer synergistic benefits, potentially enhancing the overall biological effects. In conclusion, this article presents a novel topical approach for managing anxiety, enhancing sleep quality, and potentially facilitating meditation and nonlocal consciousness through modulation of GABAergic signaling pathways. While further research is necessary, the potential for a non-invasive and potentially side-effect-free intervention in these areas is promising.

Nanoindentation load-depth (P-h) plots is the basis for determination of mechanical properties of the samples and is especially vital for thin coatings deposited on substrates of various mechanical makeup from amorphous-brittle (borosilicate glass) to Silicon (having different crystallographic texture) to ductile substrates like stainless steel as well other aspects like indenter tip shape. The elastic-plastic response by simulated P-h plots as per modified empirical relations have been presented. The outcomes of this computational studies enlighten the database on the P-h plots for various coating/substrate systems and shall aid in the analysis of experimental P-h plots obtained,

Among other fossil fuels, natural gas is a major energy source. It is generally created saturated with water vapor. Dehydration of natural gas is vital in the gas business to remove water vapor from the gas supply, which may cause hydrate development in pipes. Gas dehydration employs Tri ethylene glycol (TEG) to remove water vapor from natural gas flow. The wet gas is dehydrated with lean glycol in an absorber, and the rich glycol is recovered and reused. This work investigates the use of dry natural gas instead of nitrogen in the glycol dehydration re-generator, and compares the results using HYSYS modeling and simulation. The two techniques were compared for capital and utility expenses, while maintaining the identical glycol purity criteria. The wet gas from the stripping mechanisms may also be utilized to run steam pumps and compressors or recycled. The model is based on the real mechanism flow diagram. Finally, the findings of this model might be used to design a new heat and material balance for the plant.

Solid-state transformer (SST) is a promising technology for smart grids due to its flexible power control (better reliability) and high efficacy (by decreasing losses) compared with traditional transformers. The SST is designed in tandem with three stages, i.e., the input, isolation, and output stages. As three converter stages are used to design the SST to make a more reliable device in practice, it is highly prone to instabilities. Moreover, the key objective of SST design is to implement a modern power distribution system to make it more intelligent and reliable. The stability issue can be even more complicated by the presence of distributed energy resources in the distribution system. Thus, the stability of SST must be measured prior to /during the design, and to determine, a state-space model is used, which is developed in this paper. Each stage of SST is modeled with its controller, and the system's stability is measured through the controllability and observability test. Further, the conversion from state-space to transfer function model is done, and the stability of SST is shown using frequency and time-domain diagrams. With these, the different plots, namely, the Bode plot, Nyquist plot, Nichols chart, Root locus, pole-zero plot, and Eigen plot, are used to ascertain the relative and absolute stability. Finally, the SST Simulink model is tested and validated through hardwate-in-the-loop simulation, i.e., OPALRT, to show its effectiveness and applicability.

Traditional methods of non-metallic materials joining for industrial uses are limited to lasers, or induction or conduction heating. The precision and efficiency for large-scale applications are difficult to be achieved at the same time. Here in this paper, we report a precise microwave welding method induced by localized surface plasmon of metallic macro-gaps under microwave excitation. The proposed method utilizes energy from well-developed commercial microwaver, and benefits from the precision of localized surface plasmon, an oscillating electron cloud excited by electromagnetic waves, which is currently under hot investigation only at micro- or nano-scales. The method is applied to the welding of polymers to solve the problems of complex processing equipment and high processing energy consumption in the traditional welding process, so as to cope with the growing energy and environmental crisis. Finite element numerical simulations are used to study the distribution characteristics of electric fields and temperature fields. The results show that the process is a high quality, efficient, low consumption and environmentally friendly green process compared to traditional polymer welding methods.

The cycling of soil phosphorus (P) is inherently linked with soil organic carbon-iron (C-Fe) cycling, yet empirical integration of these processes within paddy soils remains scarce. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment using paddy soils subjected to six distinct fertilization regimes involving varying P inputs for five years. In addition to evaluating P activation under reflooding conditions, we assessed the Fe reduction process and characterized the properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) at the molecular level using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), alongside profiling the composition of soil microbial communities with high-throughput sequencing. Our findings revealed that after 25 days of reflooding, soil Olsen-P content increased by an average of 73% compared to its initial state, showing a strong correlation with the Fe reduction process. Specifically, treatments involving pig manure application exhibited higher Fe reduction rates and enhanced P activation, highlighting the role of organic matter in facilitating Fe reduction. Investigations on the relative abundance of typical iron-reducing microbes further supported their importance in P activation, but the rate of iron reduction is limited by soil organic matter content. Delving deeper into DOM properties, soil DOM composition profiling and network analysis suggested that high-molecular-weight DOM, particularly lignins, served as the primary resources driving Fe reduction by iron-reducing microbes, consequently promoting Fe reduction and P release. Taken together, our study assembled the C-Fe-P cycling dynamics in paddy soils, emphasizing the pivotal role of microbial-driven Fe reduction facilitated by soil DOM in P availability and subsequently sustainable agricultural practices.

This study investigated how broader parental factors including parental happiness, parental play engagement, and parenting stress are related to Korean children’s happiness and weight status across three years via indirect pathways through the children’s energy-related behaviors of healthy and unhealthy food intake, physical activity, and screen time. Data from 1551 Korean parent pairs and 7-yaer-old children in the Panel Study on Korean Children were analyzed. Path analysis and gender-based structural equation modeling were conducted. Maternal happiness was negatively related to child screen time. Maternal play engagement showed positive concurrent associations with child healthy food intake and physical activity and negative associations with screen time. Maternal parenting stress was negatively related to child healthy eating. There was one significant finding related to fathers’ role on children’s energy-related behaviors, happiness, and weight status: the positive association between parental happiness and boys’ unhealthy food intake. Child screen time was positively related to child weight status and negatively to child happiness at each age. Broader maternal parenting factors can serve as a protective factor for childhood happiness and weight status in 7-to 9-year-olds through being associated with a reduction in child screen time.

The decade of research concentrating on the area of Easter Slavonia revealed abundance of large on complex late Neolithic sites. It changed profoundly how we perceive late Neolithic settlement and space size and organization. As s first step in particular site detection we mostly conducted aerial reconnaissance and satellite image analysis but also data from the field such as excavation. On detected potential sites we conducted intensive field surveys and confirmed the attribution to the late Neolithic by surface finds. On those confirmed sites in the vicinity of Đakovo, Croatia, magnetic survey was conducted on 5 sites so far and the results confirmed presence of large scale late Neolithic settlements with complex spatial organization and enclosure(s). Most complex remains so far is site Gorjani Kremenjača and Topole which we present in this paper where a remains of one or two settlements covers the area of 70 hectares and is currently in the process of formal protection as a cultural landscape by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. Special focus of the paper is the application of remote sensing in detection, archaeological confirmation and protection of the position Gorjani Topole.