The mechanisms of formation of induced intrinsic and impurity radiative states, which consist of intrinsic and impurity electron-hole trapping centers in irradiated Ca2P2O7-Mn and Ca2P2O7 phosphates, were investigated using thermoactivation and vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy methods. These centers are excited at photon energies of 4.0 eV and 4.5 eV, which are within the matrix's transparency region. New radiative induced states at 3.06 eV and 2.92 eV are demonstrated to be generated upon the excitation of anions by photons with energies of 5.0 and 5.64 eV. This process is due to charge transfer from the ion to the impurities, specifically Mn^2+ O^2- Mn^2+ and the neighboring ion O^2- (P2O7)^4-. Furthermore, upon the excitation of matrix anions with photon energies exceeding the band gap (8.0 - 8.25 eV), electron trapping by impurities such as Mn^2+ and (P2O7)^4- ions results.

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), as immune effectors synthesized by a variety of organisms, not only constitute a robust defense mechanism against a broad spectrum of pathogens in the host, but also show promising applications as effective antimicrobial agents. Notably, insects are significant reservoirs of natural AMPs. However, the complex array of variations in types, quantities, antimicrobial activities, production pathways of AMPs, and evolution of AMPs across insect species presents a significant challenge for immunity system understanding and AMP applications. This review covers insect AMP discoveries, classification, common properties, and mechanisms of action. Additionally, we summarize the types, quantities, and activities of im-mune-related AMPs in each model insect. We also conducted the first comprehensive investigation into the diversity, distribution, and evolution of 20 types of AMPs in model insects, employing phylogenetic analysis to describe their evolutionary relationships and shed light on conserved and distinctive AMP families. Furthermore, we summarize the regulatory pathways of AMP production through classical signaling pathways and additional pathways associated with Nitric Oxide, insulin-like signaling, and hormones. This review advances our understanding of AMP as guardians in insect immunity system and also unlocks a gateway to insect AMP resources, facilitating the use of AMPs to address food safety concerns.

How hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) fate decisions are affected by genetic alterations acquired during AML leukemogenesis is poorly understood and mainly explored in animal models. Here, we studied isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) genes mutations in the human model of HSPC and provide a review of the literature on this topic. IDH1/2 mutations occur in ~20% of AML, are recognized among the mutations earliest acquired during leukemogenesis, and are target of specific inhibitors (ivosidenib and enasidenib, respectively). In order to investigate the direct effects of these mutations on the HSPC we expressed by lentiviral transduction either IDH1-R132H or IDH2-R140Q mutants into human CD34+ healthy donor cells and analyzed the colony-forming unit (CFU) ability. CFU ability was dramatically compromised with a complete trilineage block of differentiation. Strikingly, the block was reversed by the specific inhibitors, confirming it was a specific effect induced by the mutants. In line with this observation, the CD34+ leukemic precursors isolated from a patient with IDH2-mutated AML at baseline and during enasidenib treatment showed over time a progressive and marked improvement of their fitness in terms of CFU ability and propensity to differentiate, attaining clonal trilinear reconstitution of hematopoiesis and complete hematological remission.

Efficient gene transfer and expression tool is lacking for shrimps and shrimp cells. To solve this, this study has developed a shrimp DNA virus-mediated gene transfer and expression system, consisting of insect Sf9 cells for viral packaging, shrimp viral vector of pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS and baculoviral vector of Bacmid or Bacmid-VP28 encoding shrimp WSSV envelope protein VP28. The pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS vector was constructed by assembling the genomic DNA of shrimp infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), which had shortened inverted terminal repeats, into pUC19 backbone, and then an expression cassette of baculoviral polyhedron (PH) promoter-driven GUS reporter gene was inserted immediately downstream of IHHNV for proof-of-concept. It was found that the viral vector of pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS could be successfully packaged into IHHNV-like infective virions in the Sf9 cells, and gene transfer efficiency of this system had been evaluated and verified in three systems of Sf9 cells, shrimp hemolymph cells and tissues of infected shrimps, but GUS expression could be detected only in the cases when the viral vector was co-transfected or co-infected with a baculovirus of Bacmid or Bacmid-VP28 due to the Bacmid-dependence of PH promoter. Moreover, the packaging and infection efficiencies could be significantly improved when Bacmid-VP28 was used instead of Bacmid.

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a complex issue caused by various fungal, oomycetes pathogens and parasites which can differ in their abundance between sites within a geographic region. Knowledge of the specific etiology of ARD at a particular site is required in order to develop commercially viable soil management strategies to combat specific/individual components of the disease. In this study we analyzed the soil from six ARD sites for the presence of fungal, bacterial and oomycetes communities and plant parasitic nematodes. Five fungal, and 17 bacterial classes were differentially represented in the microbiomes from different locations. Mortierellomycetes was the most abundant fungal taxa represented followed by Sordariomycetes. Mortierella exigua a fungal endophyte was the most abundant fungal amplicon sequence variant (ASV) in the core microbiome. Proteobacteria was the most prevalent phylum identified in orchard soils. Several potential phytopathogenic fungi involved in ARD and endophytes including Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Nectria ramulariae, Ilyonectria robusta and Nectriaceae were identfied in the orchard soil. Pythium attrantheridium (Globisporangium attrantheridium), P. monospermum and P. ultimum (Globisporangium ultimum) were the most abundant oomycete taxa identified in these soil samples. Six different groups of plant-parasitic nematodes were found across the six orchards soil. Root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp., which are commonly associated with ARD, were identified in all orchards soil at population densities ranging from 12 to 33/100 cm3 soil. This research contributes valuable understanding of the ARD complex as the apple industry needs alternative approaches to combat the disease.

As Li-ion batteries use is spreading, incidents in large energy storage systems (stationary storage containers, …) or in large-scale cell and battery storages (warehouse, recyclers, …), often leading to fire, are occurring on regular basis. Water remains one of the most efficient fire extinguishing agents for tackling those battery incidents and large quantities are usually necessary. Since bat-teries contains various potentially harmful components (metals and their oxides or salts, sol-vents…) and that thermal runway induced battery incidents are accompanied with complex and potentially multistage fume emissions (containing both gas and particles) the potential impact of fire run-off water on the environment should be considered and assessed carefully. The tests presented in this paper focus on the analysis of the composition of run-off waters used to spray NMC Li-ion modules under thermal runaway. It highlights that waters used for fire-fighting are susceptible to contain many metals, including Ni, Mn, Co, Li and Al mixed with other carbonaceous species (soot, tarballs) and sometimes undecomposed solvents used in the elec-trolyte. Extra-polation of pollutant concentrations compared with PNEC values showed that, for large scale incidents, run-off water could be potentially hazardous to the environment.

'Cv 'Doña María' table grape is a high-quality table grape variety included in the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) of the European Union "The bagged grape of the Vinalopó." The PDO stipulates that grape clusters must be protected with paper bags from inclement weather and insects, which helps enhance the final grape quality. However, 'Doña María' is a variety prone to high shattering in the late stages of ripening on the vine and during postharvest. Inorganic calcium treatments are one of the most commonly used tools to reduce this disorder, but the translocation of this mineral from veraison onward has been questioned. In this study, five applications were performed, from veraison to harvest, using sorbitol-chelated calcium (0.7 % + 1.0 %), Ca(NO3)2 (Ca) at 0.7% and sorbitol at 1%. It was observed that bagged grapes (not wetted with the solutions) only increased the concentration of total and bound calcium when treated with Sorbitol-Ca. This resulted in reduced berry drop during cultivation and postharvest and improved fruit firmness. Additionally, it reduced grape metabolism indicators such as respiration rate, weight loss, malic acid degradation, prevented abscisic acid (ABA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and favored the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as total polyphenols, increased antioxidant activity, and sugar content. The application of sorbitol-chelated calcium is an effective and safe tool that enhances fruit quality and prevents losses due to shattering during postharvest.

Compared to the general population, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are less likely to be vaccinated, putting them at an increased risk of vaccine-preventable illnesses. This risk is further compounded by the immunosuppressive therapies commonly used in IBD management. Therefore, developing new treatments for IBD that maintain immune function is crucial, as successful management can lead to better vaccination outcomes and overall health for these patients. Here, we investigate the potential of recombinant banana lectin (rBanLec) as a supporting therapeutic measure to improve IBD control and possibly increase vaccination rates among IBD patients. By examining the therapeutic efficacy of rBanLec in a murine model of experimental colitis, we aim to lay the foundation for its application in improving vaccination outcomes. After inducing experimental colitis in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, we treated animals orally with varying doses of rBanLec 0.1-10 µg/ml (0.01 – 1 µg/dose) during the course of the disease. We assessed the severity of colitis and rBanLec’s modulation of the immune response compared to control groups. rBanLec administration resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in colitis severity (less pronounced weight loss, less shortening of the colon) and an improved recovery profile, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Notably, rBanLec-treated mice exhibited significant modulation of the immune response, favoring anti-inflammatory pathways (primarily reduction in a local [TNFα]/[IL-10]) crucial for effective vaccination. Our findings suggest that rBanLec could mitigate the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy on vaccine responsiveness in IBD patients. By improving the underlying immune response, rBanLec may increase the efficacy of vaccinations, offering a dual benefit of disease management and prevention of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Further studies are required to translate these findings into clinical practice.

Pipeline conflicts arising from data dependencies are a common issue encountered in the hardware implementation of layered QC-LDPC decoders. This paper proposes an efficient layered decoding architecture to reduce pipeline conflicts without introducing stall cycles, by reordering the processing order offline and using the patch method based on variable-to-check message. The experimental results on the LDPC code of the IEEE802.16 standard in the OFDM-PON system demonstrate that the proposed architecture has a sensitivity improvement of 0.125 dBm and 0.375 dBm, respectively, compared with our previous work and the method described in the other work.

Background: Across the world, antibiotic resistance is a critical challenge. To address such a problem, it has to be done to investigate new antibiotic sources. Aim of the study: Study of the antibacterial activity of Corallopyronin A in preclinical animal testing and randomized human clinical trials stages 1/2, as well as investigating the purification of Corallopyronin A from different soil conditions in Egypt. Type of the study: Screening experimental study. Methodology: Egypt's various soil conditions were tested to develop bacterial isolates that produced the antibiotic compound Corallopyronin A. Reversed phase HPLC was used to purify Myxopyronin A. The broth microdilution method and the paper disc diffusion assay determined the test antibiotic's minimum inhibitory concentration( MIC) and in vitro antibacterial activity. Moreover, in vivo antibacterial spectrum, adverse medication responses, and pharmacokinetics were found in phases 1/2 of randomized clinical studies involving humans and animal models. Results: Corallopyronin A was generated from the culture supernatant of the soil bacterial isolate Corallococcus coralloides M2, cultivated on a Casein yeast peptone( CYP) plate. The test antibiotic prevented the growth of several Gram-ve bacteria, including Escherichia coli, at MICs higher than 100 mcg/ ml; while blocking the development of many Gram +ve bacteria, with MICs ranging from 3 to 15 mcg/ ml. However, eukaryotic cells—such as those found in fungi and humans—were unaffected. A bactericidal consequence of the test antibiotic was detected in the inhibition of prokaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerase( RNLP). Conclusion: The synthesis of the bactericidal antibiotic Corallopyronin A from Corallococcus coralloides M2 isolated from different soil settings in Egypt intrigued the current investigation.

Objective: Mechanical bowel preparation is essential for the visualisation of the colon during colonoscopy, and previous studies have identified changes in gut microbiota composition after bowel preparation and colonoscopy. Considering the gut microbiota is increasingly implicated in mood, we aimed to explore the potential impact of this intervention on mood and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Methods: We conducted a pre-post intervention study, with timepoints of one week before and one month after bowel preparation and colonoscopy, in community-dwelling adults referred for colonoscopy. Our primary outcome was change in average Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression sub-scores using generalised estimating equations. We also examined changes in average anxiety, stress, and quality of life scores, and faecal microbiota composition and potential function using 16S rRNA sequencing. We further explored associations between changes in depressive symptoms and the gut microbiota and conducted post-hoc analyses to explore potential effect modifiers. Key Results: 59 participants were included in the analyses. Depressive symptoms decreased one-month post-procedure compared to baseline (adjusted β=−0.64; 95%CI: −1.18, −0.11). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appeared to moderate this relationship (1.78; 0.292, 3.26); depressive symptoms increased in those with, and decreased in those without, IBS. Changes in gut microbiome composition included reduced alpha diversity, modest effects on beta-diversity, and increases in genera associated with potential health benefits, one-month post-procedure compared to baseline. Increases in the CLR-transformed abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-009 were associated with improvements in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: There is preliminary evidence of a potential mental health effect of bowel preparation and colonoscopy, which may be associated with changes to the gut microbiota. There may also be a differential mental health impact of this procedure for those with and without IBS. Considering the limitations of our study, further research is required to confirm these findings and their clinical relevance.

Silicon carbide single crystal (SiC) has been widely used in the field of power devices, while it is difficult to fabricate ultra-flat surface by traditional manufacturing technologies due to its difficult-to-machine property. This paper investigates the interaction process during femtosecond laser ablation of crystalline silicon carbide based on the two-temperature model simulation and experimental study. The findings reveal that parameters such as laser pulse energy, scanning interval, and defocus amount exert significant influence on ablation depth, roughness, and surface morphology. The femtosecond laser proves effective in removing surface defects from cut SiC substrates, albeit resulting in increased surface roughness. However, subsequent polishing treatment of the laser-ablated silicon carbide surface can mitigate this roughness, underscoring the feasibility of laser surface ablation for silicon carbide single crystals.

A major problem of the technological production process of the metallurgical-grade silicon is formation of a large amount of microsilica. However, this material can be a significant source of raw materials for its own production. Hence, this study is aimed to solve the problem of micro-silica utilization, i.e. the technogenic dust-like waste generated during the melting of the technical-grade silicon. Within this study, the technology of the joint briquetting of microsilica was investigated with the carbonaceous reducing agents, i.e. by obtaining of mono-charge and by melting of the technical-grade silicon from the obtained mono-charge in the 200kVA ore-thermal furnace. Results of the study show that the briquettes in the melting process of the technical-grade silicon can be used in the range from 0 to 50%. The using of briquettes may significantly improve the technological parameters. When briquetted charge is applied only, the technological parameters will deteriorate significantly. The material balance of silicon melting showed the recovery rates of the main elements (Si, Al, Ca and Fe). It recorded a decrease in content of aluminum from 1.9-2.1% to 0.5-0.7%, calcium from 0.2-0.3% to 0.07-0.1% and titanium from 0.2-0.23% to 0.11-0.13% during the transition to briquetted monocharge. Phosphorus content increased from 0.004-0.005 to 0.011-0.013%.

Evans' Syndrome (ES) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Thrombotic complications in ES patients are uncommon, particularly involving Buerger's Disease (BD). We report a case of a 49-year-old male with ES and a history of diabetes and heavy smoking, presenting with a necrotic wound on his right great toe. Diagnostic evaluations revealed severe stenosis and thrombosis in the lower limb arteries, diagnosed as BD. The patient underwent successful popliteal-tibioperoneal artery bypass surgery and subsequent disarticulation and revision of the distal phalanx, followed by the application of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to promote healing. Post-surgery, the patient showed significant improvement in blood flow and complete epithelialization without complications. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex wounds in ES patients, suggesting potential treatment pathways for future cases involving BD

Background This study aimed to identify the prominent risk factors that may trigger danger signals of early onset of vascular deregulation in T1D. The risk factors we have identified may serve as dual-purpose biomarkers of rapid diagnosis that offer prospective tailor-made resolution therapeutics. Methods The healthy control (HC) was compared with individuals diagnosed with T1D for the risk factors of vascular deregulation in published research studies from year 2013 to 2023. The PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched from 1/1/2013 to 1/9/2023. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane (ROBINS-I ) tool, which is relevant to clinical subjects. A random effect model for continuous data was followed and analysed by RevMan 5.4 and GraphPad Prism software. Results 80 relevant case-control studies having 5293 HC and 7492 T1D patients were included. The age and sex-matched HC consisted of persons free of disease and not under any medication while clinical subjects of all age groups were included. 28 risk factors were grouped into six primary outcome models, all of which favoured the T1D synonymous with a high risk of CVD. Conclusions Our findings have strong implications for improving the quality of life and health economics related to vascular disease in T1D. HbA1c% is the most effective biomarker, followed by FBG, LDL-C, and AI% which the clinicians could evaluate using a simple blood test or non-invasive techniques. (Protocol registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ CRD42022384636).

Aim: To evaluate the panmacular subthreshold micropulse laser treatment results among patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and their correlation with functional and morphological parameters. Material and methods: The examined group included 10 non-treated and 41 treated patients with acute, recurrent, and chronic CSC (13 F, 38 M, mean age 44.11±6.5) and 14 healthy controls (6 F, 8 M, mean age 45±9.3). The BCVA examination, ophthalmoscopy, microp-erimetry, angio-OCT and OCT were performed. The medical history regarding chronic general disorders and known risk factors were recorded. Results: Complete resorption of SRF was obtained in 100% aCSC, 86.66% cCSC, and 63.63% r CSC. BCVA and RetSens significantly improved most of the patients treated in aCSC. The lowest BCVA and RetSens, but the largest pachyvessel and disease duration, were found in rCSC. A strong negative correlation between final BCVA and disease duration was found. No patient demonstrated laser lesions following treatment. Conclusions: The panmacular MPLT therapy leads to long-term enhancement of functional and morphological parameters in all CSC patients. The acute CSC patients showed the most significant improvement. The procedure is safe and could be considered a preferred treatment option for all active CSC cases. Timely treatment is crucial for beneficial outcomes.

As companies increasingly undergo digital transformation, the role of talent management pro-cesses becomes pivotal in enhancing overall organizational performance. The research addresses the significance of talent management in corporate digital transformation, examining whether variations in the digitalization of these processes can be attributed to company size. A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire, collecting responses from 202 organizations across diverse sectors. Findings reveal disparities in digitalization throughout the talent man-agement process, with pronounced presence in the attracting, selecting, and rewarding phases, but diminishing in deployment and development, further declining in planning. A positive cor-relation between company size and adoption of specific digital platforms was observed. Larger enterprises exhibit greater utilization of digital platforms in talent deployment and development. Moreover, corporate communication tools are consistently utilized in the rewarding phase, irre-spective of company size. These findings offer practical insights for organizations to optimize their digitalization strategies based on their scale, thereby contributing to more effective and tailored digitalization endeavors. The uniqueness of this research lies in its exploration of the in-fluence of company size on the digitalization of talent management processes and its potential to explain variations across different stages of these processes.

This paper illustrates an experimental activity for the closed-loop position control of an actuator made using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. A solution with the self-sensing effect was implemented to miniaturize the systems, i.e., without external sensors. A proportional control algorithm was initially used, demonstrating the idea's feasibility: the wire can behave simultaneously as an actuator and sensor. An experimental investigation was subsequently conducted for the optimization of the developed actuator. As for the material, a Flexinol wire, Ni-Ti alloy, with a diameter of 0.150 mm and a length of 200 mm, was used. Preliminarily, a characterization of the SMA wire at constant and variable loads was carried out: the characteristics detected are elongation vs. electric current and elongation vs. electrical resistance. The control system is PC-based with a data acquisition card (DAQ). A drive board has been designed and built to read the wire's electrical resistance and power it by pulse width modulation (PWM). A notable result is that the actuator works with good precision and in dynamic conditions, even when it is called to support a load up to 65% different from that for which the electrical resistance-length correlation has previously been experimentally obtained, on which the control is based. This opens up the possibility of using the actuator in a counteracting configuration with a spring, which makes hardware implementation and control management simple.

Lifestyle interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, some in-dividuals do not experience anticipated improvements despite weight loss. Bi-omarkers to identify such individuals at early stages are lacking. IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 were shown to predict T2DM onset in prediabetes. We assessed if these markers also predict the success of lifestyle interventions, thereby possibly guid-ing personalized strategies. We analyzed fasting serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 in relation to changes in metabolic and anthropometric parameters, including intrahepatic li-pids (IHL) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume measured by MRI, in 345 high-risk prediabetic participants (54% female; aged 36-80 years). Participants were enrolled in three randomized dietary intervention trials and assessed both at baseline and one year post-intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 28), significance set at p

The Songpan-Ganze Orogenic Belt (SGOB) is bounded by the South China, North China, and Qiang-tang blocks and forms the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The Tiechanghe granite is located at the junction of the southeast margin of the SGOB and the western margin of the Yangtze Block. To elucidate the genetic relationship between the Tiechanghe granite and the surrounding molybdenum deposits in Western Sichuan, in this study, we conducted U-Pb zircon and molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating. The results indicate that the Tiechanghe granite predominantly consists of monzogranite, with minor occur-rences of syenogranite, while the molybdenum deposits are mainly found in skarn and quartz veins. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon ages of the Tiechanghe granite range from 162.9±0.7 Ma to 163.4±0.6 Ma, and the zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age of the pegmatite veins is 164.1±0.9 Ma. These ages are consistent with the weighted average Re-Os age of the Ziershi molybdenite (160.3±1.6 Ma) within the error margins. These findings and previously ob-tained magmatic and metallogenic ages for the region suggest that a magmatic and mineralization event involving granite, molybdenum, tungsten, and copper occurred at around 162–164 Ma in the study area. This discovery broadens the exploration perspective for mineral resources in the Jiulong area of Western Sichuan and the entirety of Western Sichuan.

This study investigates cloud cavitation suppression around a model scale NACA66 hydrofoil using active water injection and explores the effect of multiple injection parameters. Numerical simulations and a mixed-level orthogonal test method are employed to systematically analyze the impact of jet angle αjet, jet location Ljet, and jet velocity Ujet on cavitation suppression efficiency and hydrofoil energy performance. The study reveals that jet location has the greatest influence on cavitation suppression, while jet angle has the greatest influence on hydrofoil energy performance. The optimal parameter combination (Ljet = 0.30C, αjet = +60 degrees, Ujet = 3.25 m/s) effectively balances energy performance and cavitation suppression, reducing cavitation volume by 49.34% and improving lift-drag ratio by 8.55%. The study found that the jet's introduction not only enhances vapor condensation and reduces the intensity of the vapor-liquid exchange process but also disrupts the internal structure of cavitation clouds and elevates pressure on the hydrofoil suction surface, thereby effectively suppressing cavitation. Further analysis shows that positive-going horizontal jet components enhance the lift-drag ratio, while negative-going components have a detrimental effect. Jet arrangements near the trailing edge negatively impact both cavitation suppression and energy performance. These findings provide valuable reference for selecting optimal injection parameters to achieve a balance between cavitation suppression and energy performance in hydrodynamic systems.

Introduction: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may cause acute respiratory failure but also remains responsible for many other pathologies, including electrolyte disorders. SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause dysfunction of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and disrupt water hemostasis with thirst and appetite abnormalities. Dysnatremia affects prognosis and may be associated with mortality in patients admitted to SARS-CoV2 intensive care. Patients and Methods: The study included 209 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit between April 12, 2021, and March 1, 2022 who were over 18 years old and diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by clinical and thoracic tomography findings or with a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. The laboratory markers, treatment modalities, nutritional, and respiratory support also for outcome evaluation, length of stay in the ICU, total hospitalization duration, and mortality in ICU were recorded.The laboratory marker comparison was made admission with the final assessment performed before the time of mortality in ICU or discharge. Results: Inotropic requirements among patients were high which was reflected in the first-month mortality. Hypernatremia presence was associated with an increase in enteral support and inotropic support requirement and mortality. Hypernatremia was correlated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and a longer duration under mechanical ventilation. Discussion: Hypernatremia was an important risk factor in ICU patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was also affected by the treatment regimens given itself. This complex relationship underlies the importance of proper electrolyte management, especially in patients who were under severe stress and organ failure.

A new quinazolinone alkaloid, named peniquinazolinone A (1), as well as eleven known com-pounds, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionamido)-N-methylbenzamide (2), viridicatin (3), viridicatol (4), (±)-cyclopeptin (5a/5b), dehydrocyclopeptin (6), cyclopenin (7), cyclopenol (8), methyl-indole-3-carboxylate (9), 2,5-dihydroxyphenyl acetate (10), methyl m-hydroxyphenylacetate (11), conidiogenone B (12), was isolated from the endophytic Penicillium sp. HJT-A-6. The chemical structures of all compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration at C-13 of peniquinazolinone A (1) was established by applying the modified Mosher’s method. Compounds 2, 3, and 7 exhibited an op-timal promoting effect on the seed germination of Rhodiola tibetica at a concentration of 0.01 mg/mL, while the optimal concentration for compounds 4 and 9 to promote Rhodiola tibetica seed germination was 0.001 mg/mL. Compound 12 showed optimal seed-germination-promoting activity at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Compared with the positive drug 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), compounds 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 12 could extend the seed-germination period of Rhodiola tibetica up to the 11th day.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), one of the most promising biosurfactants (BS), are glycolipids produced by yeasts or fungi, with great environmental performance and a high compatibility with the human body. MELs besides working as typical surfactants, can form diverse structures when in the critical aggregation concentration (CAC), reducing the surface tension of water and other solutions, and being stable over a wide range of conditions. Among others, MELs present anti-microbial, antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, skin and hair repair capacity, which opens possibilities for their use in applications from cosmetics and pharmaceutics to bio-remediation and agriculture. However, their market share is still low when compared to other glycolipids, due to their less developed production process and higher production cost. This re-view gathers information on the potential applications of MELs mentioned on the literature since 1993. Furthermore, it is also explored the current strategies being developed to enhance the market presence of MELs, in parallel with the ones developed for rhamnolipids and sophorolipids.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Candida albicans on subgingival biofilm formation on dental implant surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to compare biofilm structure and microbial biomass in the presence and absence of the fungus after periods of 24, 48, and 72 h. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total micro-organisms for each of the biofilm-forming strains. A general linear model was applied to compare CLSM and qPCR results between control and test conditions. The biofilm developed with C. albicans at 72 h had a higher bacterial biomass, with a significantly higher cell viability (p < 0.05). After both 48 and 72 h of incubation, in the presence of C. albicans, there was a significant increase in counts of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and in the cell viability of Streptococcus oralis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis. Using a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model, C. albicans exacerbated the development of the biofilm grown on dental implant surfaces, significantly increasing the number and cell viability of periodontal bacteria.

In this paper, a semi-empirical model of air waves induced by falling rock is described. The model is composed of a uniform motion phase (velocity close to 0 m·s^-1) and an acceleration movement phase. The uniform motion phase was determined based on experimentally and the acceleration movement phase was derived by theoretical analysis. A series of experiments were performed to verify the semi-empirical model and elucidated the law of the uniform motion phase. The acceleration movement phase accounted for a larger portion with a greater height of the falling rock. Experimental results of different falling heights of the goaf showed close agreement with theoretical analysis values. The semi-empirical model could accurately and conveniently estimate the velocity of air wave induced by falling rock. Thus, the semi-empirical model can provide a reference and basis for estimating the speed of air waves and designing protective measures in mines.

The mutation in NF2 is the most common alteration associated with meningioma oncogenesis, and it is related to the loss of a suppressing protein called merlin. At the same time, alterations in energy production are visible in cancer cells where increased demand for energy is observed. Fatty acid oxidation could be one of the ways cancer cells obtain energy. This metabolic pathway uses the acylcarnitine shuttle system, which is responsible for the acylation of fatty acids and their transport through mitochondria. Therefore, this study aimed to profile acylcarnitines with short-, medium- and long-acyl chain length in meningiomas to assess their changes in tumors with different NF2 mutation statuses. For the analysis, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used. The presented sampling method enables low invasive and easy collection of the analytes from the studied lesions, which can be crucial for future analysis of potential biomarkers in the surgery room. It was observed that higher levels of these analytes characterized meningiomas with NF2 mutation. Moreover, increased energy consumption and elevated levels of acylcarnitines show that these analytes can be considered as a marker of increased fatty acid oxidation in NF2 mutated cells.

Elizabethkingia anophelis is an opportunistic pathogen causing lifethreatening infections in humans, particularly in immunocompromised patients, neonates and elderly. Infections caused by this species are exceptionally challenging to treat due to its multiresistance to antimicrobials. We report a case of central line-associated bloodstream infection by E. anophelis in a 2.5-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia successfully treated with a combination of piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin. The literature was also reviewed on paediatric infections caused by E. anophelis. Accurate identification with MALDI-TOF, or using molecular techniques, is crucial because of varying susceptibilities among species. Early, accurate diagnosis and prompt effective treatment optimize outcomes.

Introduction: Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is the most common congenital face anomaly in the world of multifactorial etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of cleft palate. To identify associated risk factors to guide prevention and/or prenatal detection for early intervention and better health outcomes. To assess the rehabilitation protocols after operations in cleft palate. Design: Retrospective descriptive and clinical study. Patients: One hundred and three children with cleft palate treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery Clinic for Children and Young Adults, Department of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Warmia and Mazury, were included in the study. Methods: Records evaluation was conducted regarding sex, cleft type, mother occupation, parents education, histories of cleft in any of parents. The data were analyzed using R (R core team 2021) and the ordinal logistic regression analyses. Results: Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had 9.4 times higher odds of having bilateral cleft. While there was no evidence that children sex, order of birth, and body mass as well as risk of maternal toxicity at work or reporting infections or drugs toxicity had a significant effect on the dependent variable. Conclusions: Children of parents with cleft history and having low educated mothers had higher probability of bilateral cleft palate. Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had higher odds of having bilateral cleft. In literature, there is a lack of reports about rehabilitation in different operations methods in children with cleft palates.

Startups often face uncertainty and the potential Valley of Death. To address these challenges, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can serve as a starting point to identify business opportunities in markets driven by SDG-related issues, which is, in this case, using Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a “painkiller.” This study aims to explore VR use cases and their implications for startup business models and discover a problem-solution fit—defined as the degree to which VR applications effectively address actual problems as “killer applications.” The study employs a customized customer discovery technique, an essential process in the Customer Development methodology. By exploring VR's applicability in various domains such as entertainment, training, education, and tourism, this study unveils compelling use cases that align with SDG aspects, thus validating the hypothesis on startups' potential to harness VR for SDG contributions. Furthermore, the study produces VR business model designs based on solutions to SDG-related problems. Thus, startups can function effectively as “painkillers,” offering solutions that are not only desired but urgently needed (problem-solution fit). The implications of these findings extend globally, underlining VR's role in addressing SDG issues and offering practical insights for startup business model development that are applicable to broader technology adoptions.

In this paper, Rice water requirement and irrigation water requirement in Amol agro meteorological Station in 2016-2045 are forecasted based on the projected meteorological data of Hadcm3 under A2 scenario. Rice water requirements are estimated by using crop coefficient approach. Reference evapotranspiration are calculated by FAO Penman-Monteith method. Moreover, the irrigation water requirements are simulated by calibrated CROPWAT model using the meteorological parameters. The results show that both crop water requirement and irrigation water requirement present downward trend in the future. In 2016-2045, the rice water requirement and irrigation water requirement decrease by more than 9.9% under A2 scenario, respectively. Furthermore, the precipitation rise may be the main reason for the decrease in crop water requirement, while significant decrease of irrigation water requirement should be attributed to combined action of rising precipitation and a slight increase in temperature.

Aluminum, a contentious trace element found in the environment, has been demonstrated to have harmful effects on both humans and animals. In contrast, Sempervivum tectorum, an evergreen plant, has been found to offer numerous beneficial effects for both humans and animals. Therefore, this study aims to assess the protective effect of S. tectorum on certain reproductive biomarkers in male rats exposed to aluminum. Thirty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: NTC (no-treatment control) received distilled water; NC (negative control) received drinking water containing 1 mg/L aluminum sulfate (AS); E1 received 1 mg/L AS along with an 8% S. tectorum extract; PC (positive control) received only 8% S. tectorum extract; E2 received 1 mg/L AS for three months followed by 8% extract for one month. The study analyzed testosterone, LH, FSH, body weight, and the histological structure of the testis, epididymis, and prostate, as well as the levels of zinc, manganese, copper, and iron in these organs. Significant decreases in body weight, testis, and epididymis size were observed in the aluminum-exposed groups compared to the control, whereas these decreases were not significant in the S. tectorum-treated groups compared to the control. Aluminum exposure led to significant decreases in testosterone and LH levels, with FSH levels showing a non-significant decrease in males, which were mitigated significantly by the administration of the plant extract. Histological analysis revealed alterations in the testis, epididymis, and prostate of the AS-exposed groups, including necrosis of seminiferous tubule epithelium and Leydig cells in the testis, and basal epithelial necrosis in the epididymis and prostate. Aluminum levels increased in all organs studied, while levels of zinc, copper, iron, and manganese decreased, showing a negative and significant correlation with aluminum levels. The aqueous extract of S. tectorum demonstrated a protective effect on certain studied biomarkers in male rats affected by aluminum exposure.

For monitoring of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies antigen-based CAR detection methods are usually applied. However, for each target-antigen a separate detection system is required. Furthermore, when monitoring CAR T-cells in the blood of patients treated with bispecific antibodies or T-cell engagers (bsAbs/BiTEs) recognize the same antigen, these methods producing false-positive results in clinical diagnostics. Anti-CAR-linker monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the linker sequence between the variable domains of the antigen binding CAR fragment, promise an universal and unbiased CAR detection. To test this, we analyzed clinical specimens of all BCMA- and CD19 targeting CAR T-cell products currently approved for clinical use. We found a highly specific and sensitive CAR detection by using anti-CAR-linker mAb in blood cells from patients treated with Ide-cel, Tisa-cel, Axi-cel, Brexu-cel, and Liso-cel. For Ide-cel and Tisa-cel the sensitivity was significant lower compared to antigen-based CAR detection assays. Strikingly, the specificity of anti-CAR linker mAb was not affected by the simultaneous presence of bispecific blinatumomab or teclistamab for Axi-cel, Brexu-cel, Liso-cel or Ide-cel, respectively. Cilta-cel (containing an monomeric G4S-CAR linker) could not be detected by anti-CAR linker mAb. In conclusion, anti-CAR-linker mAbs are highly specific and useful for CAR T-cell monitoring but not universal applicable.

Source water quality is a key determinant of drinking water quality. The recast European Union 2020/2184 drinking water directive (DWD) introduced the obligation for comprehensive risk assessment in drinking water supplies, including the water source and incorporated new elements of natural origin in the list of parameters to be monitored. The current study is the first comprehensive assessment of 15 natural elements (B, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, K, Li, Mg, Mo, Na, Se, Sr, Ti, U and V) in 1155 (82%) Hungarian drinking water sources, including surface water, bank filtered and groundwater sources. Parameters posing a risk to health (Se, V and U) were typically below the lower limit of quantification (LOQ), but higher concentrations (max. 7.0, 17 and 41 µg/L, respectively) may occur in confined locations, the latter exceeding the DWD parametric value in one water supply. Li in a small geographical area, Mg and Ca in the majority of the water supplies reached the concentration range assumed to be protective to health. Water sources were grouped in 6 clusters based on their element distribution, some of them also showing clear geographical patterns. Water types were not differentiated, with the exception of karstic waters (dominated by Ca and Mg). None of the investigated parameters are expected to be a source of public health concern.

Background/Aim: Stool gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) determination is now considered a valuable tool for detecting dietary lapses in treated celiac disease (CeD) patients. Our study aims to explore the diagnostic performance of a qualitative lateral flow immunoassay point-of-care test (LFIA/PoCT) compared with a qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of stool GIP. Methods: The study is a post hoc analysis of stool samples collected in the real-life conditions from a cohort of gluten-free diet-treated CeD patients. Stool GIP was measured in µg/g of stool using an ELISA kit (iVYLISA GIP S®, Biomedal SL). For the qualitative evaluation of stool GIP, a LFIA/PoCT test (GlutenDetect®; Biomedal S.L) was employed, which reported results as positive or negative. The LFIA/PoCT performance was evaluated against ELISA, considered as the gold standard. GIP concentrations

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disorder characterized by renal tubular cystic dilatations. The cysts can develop anywhere along the nephron and over time the cystic dilatation lead to kidney enlargement. On the other hand, the cysts begin to reduce the number of functional nephrons as a consequence of cystic expansion that further contributes to the decline in renal function over the years. The pressure exerted by the dilated cysts lead to compensatory mechanisms that further contribute to the decline in renal function. These structural changes are responsible of glomerular hyperfiltration states, albuminuria, proteinuria, and haematuria. However, the presentation of ADPKD varies in children from a completely asymptomatic child with incidental ultrasound detection of cysts to a rapidly progressive disease. There have been reports of early onset of ADPKD in children younger than 2 years that showed a more rapid decline in renal function. ADPKD is caused by mutation in PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Today, the PKD1 gene mutation seems to account for up to 85% of the cases worldwide, and it is associated with worse renal outcomes. Individuals with PKD2 gene mutation seem to present a milder form of the disease, with a more delayed onset of end stage kidney disease. The cardinal sign of ADPKD is the presence of renal cysts during renal ultrasound. The current guidelines provide the clinicians the recommendations for genetic testing in children with a positive family history. Given that the vast majority of children with ADPKD present with normal or supra normal kidney function we explored the glomerular filtration rates dynamics and the renal ultrasound adjusted percentiles. 14 out of 16 patients had kidney percentile over 90%. The gene mutations were equally distributed among our cohort. In addition, we compared the modified Schwartz formula to the quadratic equation after adjusting the serum creatinine measurements. It seems that even though children with ADPKD have enlarged kidneys, the renal function is more likely normal or near normal when the quadratic estimation of glomerular filtration rate is used (qGFR tended to be lower, 111.95 ± 12.43 ml/min/1.73m2 compared to Schwartz eGFR 126.28 ± 33.07ml/min/1.73m2, p=0.14). Also, when the quadratic equation was employed, not even a patient reached the glomerular hyperfiltration thresholds. The quadratic formula showed that glomerular filtration rates are linear or slightly decreasing after 1-year of follow-up (Quadratic ΔeGFR=0.32±5.78ml/min/1.73m2) as opposed to Schwartz formula that can falsely classify children in a hyperfiltration state ΔeGFR=7.51±19.46ml/min/1.73m2), p=0.019.

A large diversity of epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs and histones modifications, are known to be capable of regulating gene expression without altering DNA sequence itself. In particular, miR-1 is considered the first essential microRNA in cardiac development. In this study, miR-1 potential role in early cardiac chamber differentiation is analyzed through specific signaling pathways. For this, we performed in chick embryos functional experiments by means of miR-1 microinjections into the posterior cardiac precursors -of both primitive endocardial tubes- committed to sinoatrial region fates. Subsequently, embryos were subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR analysis. As a relevant nov-elty, our results revealed that miR-1 increases Tbx5, Gata4 and AMHC1, while this microRNA diminishes Mef2c expression, during early differentiation of cardiac sinoatrial region. Further-more, we observed in this developmental context that miR-1 upregulates CRABPII and RARß, and downregulates CRABPI, which are three crucial factors in retinoic acid signaling pathway. Interestingly, we also noticed that miR-1 directly interacts with HDAC4 and Calmodulin, as well as with Erk2/MAPK1, which are three key factors actively involved in Mef2c regulation. Our study shows, for the first time, a key role of miR-1 as an epigenetic regulator in early differenti-ation of cardiac sinoatrial region through orchestrating opposite actions between retinoic acid and Mef2c, fundamental to properly assign cardiac cells to their respective heart chambers. A better understanding of those molecular mechanisms modulated by miR-1 will definitely help in fields applied to therapy and cardiac regeneration and repair.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) has emerged as the predominant causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children. Since the declaration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic, the incidence of infectious diseases, including HFMD, has decreased markedly. When social mitigation was relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, re-emergence of HFMD was observed in Gwangju, South Korea, and seasonal characteristics of the disease appeared to have changed. To investigate the molecular characteristics of enterovirus (EV) associated with HFMD during 2022, 277 specimens were collected. Children aged under 5 years accounted for the majority of affected individuals. EV detection and genotyping were performed using real-time RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR followed by sequence analysis. EV detection rate was found to be 82.3%, and the main genotype identified was CV-A6. Sixteen CV-A6 samples were selected for whole genome sequencing. According to phylogenetic analysis, all CV-A6 strains from this study belonged to the sub-genotype D3 clade based on VP1 sequences. Analysis of 3D polymerase phylogeny showed that only the recombinant RF-A group was identified. In conclusion, circulating EV types should be continuously monitored to understand pathogen emergence and evolution during the post-pandemic era.

Introduction: maxillary hypoplasia and mandibular asymmetry may be corrected with orthognathic surgery at the completion of growth. Many patients require segmental Le Fort I osteotomies to obtain the most stable results. Unfortunately, if Invisalign is chosen for pre-surgical preparation, ClinCheck © software does not allow for prediction when these complex surgeries are planned. The objective of this paper was to show the potential of aligners beyond its software in most complex cases like multiple-piece maxillary osteotomies in cleft and non-cleft patients. Method: Thirteen patients who underwent pre-surgical treatment with clear aligners-Invisalign (study group) were matched in terms of diagnosis, surgical procedure, and orthodontic complexity with thirteen patients treated using fixed appliances (control group). A technique based on simple superimposition was devised to enhance the software for creating a suitable occlusion for segmental pre-surgical treatments. Virtual curves following the lower arch were employed to guide the correct pre-surgical positions of the upper teeth. The amount of impressions required in both groups to achieve satisfactory pre-surgical alignment of the segmented arches was compared. Results: one or no refinement phase were needed in the Invisalign group to reach an acceptable pre-surgical occlusion while the amount of pre-surgical impressions taken in order to reach adequate coordination with fixed appliance treatment was slightly higher. The average overall treatment duration did not show a statistically significant variation between the groups. Conclusions: it appears that clear aligner could serve as an effective treatment for individuals with skeletal discrepancies, including cleft and craniofacial anomalies, necessitating segmental Le Fort I osteotomies when aided by the suggested superimposition approach during digital pre-surgical movement simulations. More sophisticated softwares will certainly be implemented in the future.

Background:Caregiving for individuals with neurological disease involves providing physical, emotional, and social support, which can be a challenging and stressful experience. This study aims to compare the caregivers' burden, including the impact on mental and physical health, social support, and quality of life, in different neurodegenerative disorders. Methods:Fifty-five primary caregivers (F=41;mean age=53.07±12.29) of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD=26), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA=16), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS=13), took part in the study. Standardized screening scales for the quality of life (EQ-5D/EQ-VAS and PQoL), levels of the caregiving burden (CBI and FSQ), and the assessment of the anxiety-depressive axis (HADS) were administered. Results: The mean CBI score was higher for caregivers of MSA patients (28.81±21.90) and ALS (25.15±16.23) than for caregivers of PD patients (16.08±10.34; p=0.036). Critical burden (cut-off>36) was present in the caregivers of MSA (31.3%), ALS (23.1%), and PD (19.2%) patients. Caregivers of patients with ALS had a worse perception of quality of life (EQ-5D total score) than caregivers of patients with MSA and PD (p

The rationalization and modeling of an electric discharge in a fluid require the knowledge of electron swarm parameters. In this work, transport coefficients of alcohols, including methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol are reported. The electron energy distribution function, mean energy, reduced mobility, and diffusion coefficient, are calculated using the two-term expansion of the electron Boltzmann equation in the frame of BOLSIG+ and the Monte Carlo collision code METHES. For such, experimental and theoretical values of the electron-alcohol collision cross-section, covering a range of electron impact energy from 1 eV to 1000 eV, are employed. A temperature of 300K, reduced fields E/N between $1-10^4$ Td (1Td = $10^{-21}~\rm Vm^2$), and Plasma density of $10^{19}~\rm m^{-3}$ were used in simulations. The calculated coefficients are compared with data available from previous studies.

In this paper presents analytical findings regarding the influence of gravity disturbance on INS. A data from the high-precision gravity model, EGM2008, we introduce a novel real-time gravity disturbance compensation approach for INS. This method estimates gravity disturbances along paths for platforms on both land and water, utilizing the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) technique. To estimate these gravity disturbances, we developed four distinct MLP models and compared their training results using Half-Mean Square Error (half-MSE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). This comparative analysis allowed us to identify the MLP model that exhibited the best performance. In order to validate the proposed gravity compensation method, field test was conducted using a test vehicle. The results of this field test unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach in enhancing positioning accuracy. Over the course of a 2-hour field experiment, it was evident that employing the proposed gravity compensation method improved positioning accuracy by a notable 24%.

High-quality ionization injection methods for Wake Field Acceleration driven by lasers or charged beams (LWFA/PWFA) can be optimised so as to generate high-brightness electron beams with tuneable duration in the attosecond range. We present a model of the minimum bunch duration obtainable with low-emittance ionization injection schemes, by spotting the roles of the ionization pulse duration, of the wake field longitudinal shape and of the delay of the ionization pulse position with respect to the node of the accelerating field. The model is tested for the resonant multi-pulse ionization injection (ReMPI) scheme, showing that bunches having length of about 300as can be obtained with a ionization pulse having duration of 30fs FWHM

Overhead power transmission line icing (PTLI) disasters are one of the most severe dangers to power grid safety. Automatic iced transmission line identification is critical in various fields. However, existing methods primarily focus on the linear characteristics of transmission lines, employing a two-step process involving edge and line detection for PTLI identification. Nonetheless, these traditional methods are often difficult when confronted with challenges such as background noise or variations in illumination, leading to incomplete identification of the target area, missed target regions, or misclassification of background pixels as foreground. We propose a new iced transmission line identification scheme to overcome this limitation. In the initial stage, we integrate the image restoration method with image filter enhancement to restore the image's color information. This combined approach effectively retains valuable information and preserves the original image quality, thereby mitigating noise presented during the image acquisition. Subsequently, in the second stage, we introduce an enhanced multi-threshold algorithm to separate background and target pixels. After image segmentation, we enhance the image and obtain the region of interest (ROI) through connected component labeling modification and mathematical morphology operations, eliminating background regions. Our proposed scheme achieves an accuracy value of 97.72%, a precision value of 96.24%, a recall value of 86.22%, and the specificity value of 99.48% based on the average value of test images. Through object segmentation and location, the proposed method can avoid background interference, effectively solve the problem of transmission line icing identification, and achieve 90% measurement accuracy compared to manual measurement on the collected PTLI dataset.

Laser direct writing allows for the fabrication of complex structures, which is particularly advantageous in micro-optic applications. However, the increasing demand for optics quality requires the lowest optical power loss, which can occur from unwanted reflections. This research demonstrates the possibility of forming an anti-reflective coating on hybrid-polymer micro-lenses fabricated by employing laser direct writing (LDW), without changing their geometry. Such coating deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) decreased the reflection from 3.3 % to 0.1 % at the wavelength of 633 nm for one surface of SZ2080™.

Natural image matting is an essential technique for image processing that enables various applications, such as image synthesis, video editing, and target tracking. However, the existing image matting methods may fail to produce satisfactory results when computing resources are limited. Sampling-based methods can reduce the dimensionality of the decision space and therefore reduce computational resources by employing different sampling strategies. While these approaches reduce computational consumption, they may miss an optimal pixel pair when the number of available high-quality pixel pairs is limited. To address this shortcoming, we propose a novel multi-criterion sampling strategy that avoids missing high-quality pixel pairs by incorporating multi-range pixel pair sampling and high-quality samples selection method. This strategy is employed to develop a multi-criterion matting algorithm via Gaussian process, which searches for the optimal pixel pair by using the Gaussian process fitting model instead of solving the original pixel pair objective function. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms other methods even with 1% computing resources, and achieves alpha matte results comparable to those yielded by the state-of-the-art optimization algorithms.

Enteric protozoan pathogenic infections significantly contribute to the global burden of gastrointestinal illnesses. Their occurrence is considerable within remote and indigenous communities and regions due to reduced access to clean water and adequate sanitation. The robustness of these pathogens means requirement of harsh treatment methods such as medicinal drugs or antibiotics. However, such treatments impact the gut microbiome, and create dysbiosis, often leading to opportunistic pathogens, anti-microbial resistance, or functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recent studies have shown that these impacts do not remain confined to gut, and are reflected across the gut-brain, gut-liver, and gut-lung axes, among others. Therefore, apart from the medicinal treatment, nutritional supplementation is also a key aspect of providing the recovery from this dysbiosis. Future proteins, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and food formulations offer a good solution to remedy this dysbiosis. Furthermore, the nutritional supplementation also helps to build a resilience against the opportunistic pathogens and potential future infections and disorders that may arise due to the dysbiosis. Systems biology techniques have shown to be highly effective tools to understand the biochemistry of these processes. Systems biology techniques characterises the fundamental host-pathogen interaction biochemical pathways, at various infection and recovery stages. This same mechanism also allows to track the impact of abovementioned treatment methods of gut microbiome remediation. This manuscript is organised in sections delving into system biology approaches and upcoming developments to understand (1) Infection mechanism and current global status; (2) Cross-organ impacts of dysbiosis, particularly within gut-liver and gut-lung axes; (3) Nutritional interventions. It highlights the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Multi-drug resistance (MDR) from a perspective of protozoal infections. It also highlights the role of nutritional interventions to add resilience against the chronic problems caused by these phenomena.

The performance of a small reconfigurable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is evaluated, 1 combining a multidisciplinary approach in computational analysis of additive manufactured struc- 2 tures, fluid dynamics, and experiments. Reconfigurable UAVs promise cost savings and efficiency 3 without sacrificing performance, while demonstrating versatility to fulfill different military mission 4 profiles. The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in UAV design produces higher accuracy 5 aerodynamic data, which is particularly important for complex aircraft concepts such as blended 6 wing bodies. To address challenges relating to anisotropic materials, the Tsai-Wu failure criterion is 7 applied to structural analysis, using CFD solutions as load inputs. Aerodynamic performance results 8 show the low-speed variant attains an endurance of 1 hour, 48 minutes, whereas for its high-speed 9 counterpart, it is 29 minutes at 66.7% higher cruise speed. Each variant serves different aspects of 10 small UAS deployment in combat, with low-speed envisioned for close surveillance, and high-speed 11 for incursions. Experimental and simulation results suggest room for design iteration, in wing area 12 and geometry adjustments. Structural simulations demonstrated the need for airframe improvements 13 in the low-speed configuration. This paper highlights the potential of reconfigurable UAVs to disrupt 14 the industry, advocating for further research and design improvements.

Compared to wide-field telescopes, small-field detection systems have higher spatial resolution, resulting in stronger detection capabilities and higher positioning accuracy. When detecting by small-field in synchronous orbit, both space debris and fixed stars are imaged as point targets, making it difficult to distinguish them. In addition, with the improvement of detection capabilities, the number of stars in the background rapidly increases, which puts higher requirements on recognition algorithms. Therefore, star detection is indispensable for identifying and locating space debris in complex backgrounds. To address these difficulties, this paper proposes a real-time star extraction method based on adaptive filtering and multi frame projection. We use bad point repair and background suppression algorithms to preprocess star image. Afterwards, we analyze and enhance the target signal-to-noise ratio(SNR). Then, we use multi frame projection to fuse information. Subsequently, adaptive filtering, adaptive morphology, and adaptive median filtering algorithms are proposed to detect trajectories. Finally, the projection is released to locate the target. Our recognition algorithm has been verified by real star images, and the images were captured using small-field telescope. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in this paper. We successfully extracted hip-27066 star, which has magnitudes about 12 and SNR about 1.5. Compared with existing methods, our algorithm has advantages in both recognition rate and false-alarm rate, and can be used as real time target recognition algorithm for space-based synchronous orbit detection payload.

Geometrical assessments of human skull have been done based on the anatomical landmarks. Automatic detection of the landmarks, if developed, will be a great help not only medically, but also anthropologically. An automated system with multi-phased deep learning networks to predict three-dimensional coordinate values of cranio-facial landmarks, was developed. From a publicly available database, computed tomography images of craniofacial area were obtained. They were digitally reconstructed into three-dimensional models. Sixteen anatomical landmarks were plotted on each of the models and coordinate values of them were recorded. Three-phased regression deep learning networks were trained respectively with 90 training datasets. For evaluation, 30 testing datasets were employed. Three-dimensional error for the first phase, testing 30 data, was 11.60 pixels in average. (1 pixel = 500 / 512 mm) For the second phase, it was significantly improved to 4.66 pixels. For the third phase, it was significantly progressed to 2.88. This was comparable to the gaps between the landmarks, plotted by two experienced practitioners. Our proposing method of multi-phased prediction, coarse detection first and narrowing down the detection area, may be a possible solution, within the physical limitation of memory and computation.

The most widely spread and neglected zoonotic disease – Leptospirosis, with an estimated 1.03 million cases and 58,900 deaths occurring annually, is a concern and can be prevented only by effective immunization. Due to the urgent need for a novel vaccine, various research organizations have been evaluating the protective immune response elicited by recombinant vaccines. In this study amino-acid sequences of Outermembrane protein (OMPL) 1, LipL 32, 41 and 46 from ten pathogenic serovars of Leptospira were selected to obtain epitopes that induce CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses by binding to the MHC molecules. These B cell and T cell epitopes were used to design multi-epitope vaccine to which an adjuvant sequence was added at the N-terminal end and appropriate linkers were used to join the different epitopes to increase the efficiency of the vaccine constructs. Using an immuno-informatics approach, constructs were analyzed for the physiochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structure and its validation, docking with different receptors and prediction of binding affinity for each docked complex, followed by molecular dynamics simulation. Taking in consideration all the results, multi-epitope constructs designed may prove to be promising vaccine candidates against Leptospirosis and warrants experimental validation.

The development trends of the modern world of power electronics dictate the requirements for the use of AC voltage converters as soft starters for induction motors. A direct connection of the motors to the mains voltage negatively affects both the motor itself and the mains system as a whole due to high starting currents values, which entail, as a rule, more frequent accidents and shorter the drive system service life. The paper presents a study of the control system of a multi-zone AC voltage regulator. The use of capacitive voltage dividers will also compensate for the consumed reactive power. The article analyzes the features of modern soft starters, describes the circuit design, presents a mathematical calculation by the method of algebraization of differential equations, a performed simulation modeling in Matlab/Simulink, and also an assembled experimental stand for further research. Particular attention is paid to the definition of the multizonality concept of the proposed converter and the analysis of the control method. The developed algorithm of the double-loop automatic control system will minimize the influence of induction motors on the mains voltage, and thus improve electromagnetic compatibility.

A problem with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is that, due to the poor penetrating action of electromagnetic waves inside solid bodies, the capability to observe inside distributed targets is precluded. Under these conditions, imaging action is provided only on the surface of distributed targets. The present work describes an imaging method based on the analysis of micro-movements on the Khnum-Khufu Pyramid, which are usually generated by background seismic waves. The results obtained prove to be very promising, as high-resolution full 3D tomographic imaging of the pyramid's interior and subsurface was achieved. Khnum-Khufu becomes transparent like a crystal when observed in the micro-movement domain. Based on this novelty, we have completely reconstructed internal objects, observing and measuring structures that have never been discovered before. The experimental results are estimated by processing series of SAR images from the second-generation Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellite system, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Clustering algorithms for multi-database mining (MDM) rely on computing $(n^2-n)/2$ pairwise similarities between $n$ multiple databases to generate and evaluate $m\in[1, (n^2-n)/2]$ candidate clusterings in order to select the ideal partitioning which optimizes a predefined goodness measure. However, when these pairwise similarities are distributed around the mean value, the clustering algorithm becomes indecisive when choosing what database pairs are considered eligible to be grouped together. Consequently, a trivial result is produced by putting all the $n$ databases in one cluster or by returning $n$ singleton clusters. To tackle the latter problem, we propose a learning algorithm to reduce the fuzziness in the similarity matrix by minimizing a weighted binary entropy loss function via gradient descent and back-propagation. As a result, the learned model will improve the certainty of the clustering algorithm by correctly identifying the optimal database clusters. Additionally, in contrast to gradient-based clustering algorithms which are sensitive to the choice of the learning rate and require more iterations to converge, we propose a learning-rate-free algorithm to assess the candidate clusterings generated on the fly in a fewer upper-bounded iterations. Through a series of experiments on multiple database samples, we show that our algorithm outperforms the existing clustering algorithms for MDM.

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) established a multi-dimensional hydrogen analysis system to evaluate a hydrogen release, distribution, and combustion in the containment of a nuclear power plant using MAAP, GASFLOW, and COM3D. KAERI developed the COM3D analysis methodology on the basis of the COM3D validation results against the experiments of ENACCEF and THAI. The proposed analysis methodology accurately predicts the peak overpressure with an error range of approximately ±10% using the Kawanabe turbulent flame speed model. KAERI performed a hydrogen flame acceleration analysis using the multi-dimensional hydrogen analysis system for a severe accident initiated by a station blackout (SBO) under the assumption of 100% metal-water reaction in the reactor pressure vessel for evaluating an overpressure buildup in the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 MWe (APR1400). The COM3D calculation results using the established analysis methodology showed that the calculated peak pressure in the containment was much lower than the fracture pressure of the APR1400 containment. This calculation result may have resulted from a large air volume of the containment, a reduced hydrogen concentration owing to passive auto-catalytic recombiners installed in the containment, and a lot of stem presence during the hydrogen flame acceleration in the containment. Therefore, we can know that the current design of the APR1400 containment maintains its integrity when the flame acceleration occurs during the severe accident initiated by the SBO accident.

Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chamber has been attracting increasing attention and has been studied in recent decades because of its good efficiency, high time resolution and relatively low cost. It has become a new standard technology for the Time of Flight system in particle and high energy physics experiments. In this paper, we introduce the operation principle and structure of the MRPC detector and review the applications on the Time of Flight system in several famous experiments, such as STAR, CBM and SoLID. The performances including time resolution and particle identification are discussed in detail. Some recent advances and perspectives with regard to the future development of the next generation MRPC are also outlined.

A multi-server parallel system dispatches the incoming job, which contains kn tasks into n servers. A job is considered to be computed if all the tasks associated with the job are processed. One job’s tasks can be encoded into at least kn “replicas” such that the job is considered to be served if any kn replicas finishing computation. In this paper, we analyze the random scheduling policy of a multi-server computing system under discrete time model in terms of Quality of Exponent (QoE), which is defined as the probability exponent that a typical job can be computed within a given number of time slots. We let kn/n be a constant. Assuming that any task of any job can be randomly dispatched by a “scheduler” to any server, and computing each task takes exactly one time slot. We divide the calculation of probability exponent into two parts, exponent of numerator and exponent of denominator. For the denominator, we give the almost exact exponent using Lagrange multiplier method, while for the numerator, an upper bound of the numerator’s exponent is provided. In addition, we also express the exponent in terms of information theoretical quantities and reconsider both of exponents in the context of large deviation theory.

Immersion in salt-lake solution was adopted to periodically test the concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient. The regression analysis was also completed. Also investigated was the time-dependent law of concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient with time. The influence of chloride-ion concentration in solution, water-to-cement ratio, and corrosion time on the largeness and accumulation rate of the concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient was also analyzed. Test results show that the concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient gradually decreased with increasing time and increased with increasing chloride-ion concentration in a salt lake . Taking into account the influence of factors such as water–binder ratio, chloride-ion concentration, and time-varying characteristics, a multi-factor calculation model for the concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient was established. Combining the prediction results and the measured data reported in this paper, the effectiveness and applicability of the established concrete chloride-ion diffusion coefficient calculation model were compared and verified, and the durability design and service life of a concrete structure under cool chlorine were compared. The results of analysis provide important boundary conditions.

The creation of hydrophobic, antifreeze and self-cleaning coatings is currently being pursued by many industrial sectors. The potential applications include the production of liquid and gas separators and filters, new materials, optical and microelectronic devices, and textiles and clothing. These coatings will also have wide application in the construction and automobile industries, shipping, and energy and agricultural sectors. The article proposes a simple approach to the creation of superhydrophobic and antifreeze coatings, by applying powder from multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) to the sample surface. This method enables combination of the necessary factors: low surface energy, micro–nano-roughness and hierarchical multi-scale. The authors investigated the dependence of the wetting angle of such a surface on the time, type and degree of functionalization. The electrophysical properties of modified MW-CNTs were studied over wide frequency and temperature ranges. This method of obtaining hydrophobic coatings differs from currently available methods in that it is simpler to prepare, is of lower cost and has less environmental impact. The proposed approach can be used to create superhydrophobic coatings that have the additional function of removing static charge and therefore reducing surface heating, and which can be used in the field of energetics for protection against the freezing of wind turbine blades and aircraft surfaces.

The Pythagorean fuzzy set (PFS), which is characterized by a membership and a non-membership degree and the square sum of them is less or equal to one, can act as an effective tool to express decision makers’ fuzziness and uncertainty. Considering that the Heronian mean (HM) is a powerful aggregation operator which can take the interrelationship between any two arguments, we study the HM in Pythagorean fuzzy environment and propose new operators for aggregating interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy information. First, we investigate the HM and geometric HM (GHM) under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment and develop a series of aggregation operators for interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IVIFNs) including interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Heronian mean (IVIFHM), interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy geometric Heronian mean (IVIFGHM), interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted Heronian mean (IVIFWHM) and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted geometric Heronian mean (IVIFWGHM). Second, some desirable and important properties of these aggregation operators are discussed. Third, based on these aggregation operators, a novel approach to multi-attribute decision making (MADM) is proposed. Finally, to demonstrate the validity of the approach, a numerical example is provided and discussed. Moreover, we discuss several real-world applications of these operators within policy-making contexts.

This study presents application of demand response strategy in a standalone wind-solar-battery hybrid energy system (HES). Inputs for the designed HES are wind speed, solar radiation, temperature and load demand which is variable with time. In this study, hourly values of meteorological data and hourly load demand are considered in one year. An improved gravitational search algorithm (IGSA) is used to optimize the configuration of the standalone wind-solar-battery hybrid power system. The optimal objectives of the system are cost of the system in life cycle, the loss of power supply probability（LPSP）and the energy excess percentage（EXC）.The effect of demand response on economic benefit and energy storage allocation of the standalone wind-solar-battery system is studied. The obtained optimal configuration of the proposed HES can provide minimal energy cost with excellent performance and reduced waste and unmet load.

In the future, the power of commercial ocean current generators can reach MW level, and the corresponding mooring rope tension is very great. But the power of the ocean current generator in research stage is KW level and it can bear less rope tension. Its main mooring rope adopts a single cable and a single foundation. This paper studies the dynamic response and rope tension of the MW-level ocean current generator mooring system. It is assumed that the commercial MW-level ocean current generator is similar to the research-type KW level, and the similarity law and several dimensionless similar parameters are proposed, including for the turbine and platform the power number, tip speed ratio, hydrodynamic damping and stiffness coefficient and others. Based on these dimensionless similar formula and the known parameters of the researched KW-level convertor, all parameters of the MW-level ocean current generator are derived. In order to overcome the extreme tension of a MW-level mooring system and provide good stability, this paper proposes the pulley-traction rope design to replace the traditional single traction rope design. The static and dynamic mathematical models of this mooring system subjected to typhoon wave impact and current are proposed and analytical solutions are obtained. The study found that the dynamic rope tension of the MW-level system with the traditional single rope system is significantly greater than its fracture strength and the dynamic tension of the pulley- traction rope system. It means that this design can effectively reduce the dynamic rope tensions of the mooring system. Moreover, if the length ratio of rope A to the seabed depth is within a safe range, the maximum rope dynamic tension will be less than the fracture strength. In addition to the MW level, the dynamic response of the 700kW level power generation system under the action of typhoon waves is also studied. It is discovered that the dynamic tension of rope D is the largest. In addition, the dynamic tension of rope D for 700kW system will exceed the original strength of design. However, only the specification of rope D is increased, the new dynamic tension is still close to the original such that the dynamic tension of rope D is significantly less than the adjusted fracture strength and the mooring system becomes safety.

L-arginine is involved in a number of biological processes in our bodies. Metabolism of L-arginine by the enzyme arginase has been found to be associated with cancer cell proliferation. Arginase inhibition has been proposed as a potential therapeutic means to inhibit this process. N-hydroxy-nor-L-Arg (nor-NOHA) and N (omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) has shown promise in inhibiting cancer progression through arginase inhibition. In this study, nor-NOHA and NOHA-associated genes and proteins were analyzed with several Bioinformatics and Systems Biology tools to identify the associated pathways and the key players involved so that a more comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms including the regulatory mechanisms can be achieved and more potential targets for treatment of cancer can be discovered. Based on the analyses carried out, 3 significant modules have been identified from the PPI network. Five pathways/processes have been found to be significantly associated with nor-NOHA and NOHA associated genes. Out of the 1996 proteins in the PPI network, 4 have been identified as hub proteins-SOD, SOD1, AMD1, and NOS2. These 4 proteins have been implicated in cancer by other studies. Thus, this study provided further validation into the claim of these 4 proteins being potential targets for cancer treatment.

Autoimmune blistering diseases represent a group of chronic severe, disabling, potentially fatal disorders of the skin and/or mucous membranes primarily mediated by pathogenic auto-antibodies. Despite their rarity, these diseases are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, a profound negative impact on the patient’s quality of life and impose a considerable economic burden. Rituximab, an anti CD-20 monoclonal antibody represents the first line of therapy for pemphigus, regardless of its severity as it ensures high rates of rapid, long-lasting complete remission. Nevertheless, disease recurrence is the rule, all patients requiring maintenance therapy with rituximab sooner or later. While innate resistance to rituximab in pemphigus patients is exceptional, acquired resistance is frequent and may develop even in patients with initial complete response to rituximab, representing a real challenge for physicians. We discuss the various resistance mechanisms and their complex interplay, as well as the numerous therapeutic alternatives that may be used to circumvent rituximab resistance. As no therapeutic measure is universally efficient, individualization of rituximab treatment regimen and tailored adjuvant therapies in refractory pemphigus cases are mandatory.

Drought affects human and natural systems, human and animal life and health, and socioeconomic activities. Drought consequences depend on its type and class, but also on the preparedness and resistance of communities to this climate disturbance. In the last decades, droughts accounted for about 16% of the total number of disasters but were responsible for 95% of the number of deaths and 26% of economic losses in Africa. This study aims to assess the drought regime in Southern Africa based on drought and vegetation indices. The SPI and SPEI were calculated at different timescales, using ERA5 data for the 1971 – 2020 period. The spatiotemporal distribution of drought descriptors was analyzed and compared with the patterns of the NDVI, EVI and VCI vegetation indices. The results reveal (i) the occurrence of droughts of various classes and at different timescales throughout the study period and region, (ii) high spatial variability in the number, duration, severity and intensity of drought, which tends to decrease with increasing timescale, (iii) high spatial-temporal agreement between drought and vegetation indices that confirm the dryness of vegetation during drought. These results aim to support policymakers in defining legislation to manage drought and water resources.

Ferritin is an indirect marker for total body iron stores. Comparison of the ferritin concentrations in the meconium with the concentrations of proteins regulating iron metabolism could aid better understanding of principles behind the adjustment between the fetal iron pool and newborn body size. Ferritin, transferrin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and calprotectin concentrations were measured by ELISA in meconium samples from 122 neonates. The neonates were classified according to the meconium ferritin tertiles and the values were collated with the meconium concentrations of other proteins and newborn body weight and length measurements. Increasing ferritin concentrations in meconium in consecutive tertiles (p < 0.05) were parallel to increased NGAL concentrations (p < 0.05). The interrelationships between the meconium concentrations of transferrin, haptoglobin and NGAL as well as between myeloperoxidase, calprotectin and lactoferrin are maintained in all subsequent tertiles of ferritin concentrations, (p < 0.05). In contrast to ferritin, increasing meconium NGAL concentrations in consecutive tertiles were linked to increased concentrations of transferrin, haptoglobin, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase (p < 0.05) and of calprotectin, ferritin and ceruloplasmin (p < 0.1). Meconium ceruloplasmin concentrations correlate exclusively with neutrophil granule proteins, i.e. myeloperoxidase, NGAL, lactoferrin and calprotectin (p < 0.05). Meconium ferritin concentrations negatively correlates with birth weight (r= -0.20) and length (r= -0.31) of neonates, whereas NGAL concentrations just with birth length (r= -0.26). The remaining proteins did not show such relationships with the size of the newborn. High meconium concentrations of both ferritin and NGAL may specifically characterize neonates of smaller size. High meconium concentrations of both ferritin and NGAL may specifically characterize neonates with lower body measurements. Correlations between meconium transferrin, haptoglobin and NGAL may confirm the interrelationships of these proteins for proper iron control and transport in the intrauterine environment. Meconium ceruloplasmin concentrations may reflect the control of neutrophil activity in utero.

Chronic stress, culminating in burnout, evolves gradually and is notoriously difficult to detect due to vague symptoms and individuals' hesitance to acknowledge their struggles. To expedite the identification and recognition of this condition, enabling timely psychological intervention, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly considered. This research does not assert the feasibility of an AI system managing all aspects of chronic stress's impact. However, it highlights the capability of current technology to detect stress indicators based on quantifiable data like Heart Rate (HR) and organizational climate dimensions. Although other physiological markers such as oximetry, skin galvanic response, and EKG have been explored, they have not shown reliable differentiation between stress and joy. Focused on the unique context of school principals in the Bedouin regions of Israel, this study investigates the interplay between HR, organizational climate, and stress levels. It introduces a novel application of a fuzzy logic tool that combines HR and organizational climate metrics to aid in stress diagnosis. This tool incorporates the psychologist's expertise to provide real-time data crucial for developing effective coping strategies. While the AI-supported fuzzy system does not replace professional psychological intervention, it significantly enhances the speed of condition identification and intervention planning, thus shortening the response time to stress-related issues in educational leadership within culturally specific settings. The application of such AI-driven tools is pivotal for sustaining the well-being and effectiveness of educational leaders, thereby supporting the broader goal of educational sustainability.

Systematic reviews represent a powerful instrument to summarize the existing evidence in medical literature. However, articles for a systematic review are hard to identify, and mostly require a structured search of the literature through a number of databases, using keyword-based search strategies, followed by the painstaking manual selection of pieces of evidence that are pertinent to the query. A.I. algorithms may offer solutions to reduce the workload on investigators. We applied BERTopic, a newer and much-recognized transformer-based topic-modeling algorithm, to two datasets of 6137 and 5309 articles of newly published systematic reviews in the area of peri-implantitis and bone regeneration in implant dentistry. In the two datasets, BERTopic identified 14 and 22 clusters, respectively, and it automatically created labels describing the nature of the topics for each individual cluster based on semantic interpretation of their titles. Most themes regarded the query theme, but in both conditions, BERTopic also uncovered articles related to off-themes, which composed around 30% of the dataset—with sensitivity up to 0.79 and specificities of at least 0.99. Our results suggest that adding a topic-modeling step to the screening process could potentially save working hours for researchers involved in systematic reviews of the literature.

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

Nanocellulose (CNC) seems to be a promising surfactant, which, together with expandable graphite (EG), forms the essence of an effective natural-based fire retardant wood coating. In our research, the most suitable composition of the mixture was tested concerning good solubility, dispersion, and consistency. Favorable results were achieved with the formulation composed of a 4% CNC alkaline solution with 80 wt.% of selected EG. Subsequently, six different EG were used to prepare these wood fire retardant coatings. The effectiveness of treatments was verified using a test with a radiant heat source, where the test samples' relative weight loss, relative burning rate, and surface temperature during 600 sec were evaluated. All prepared formulations can be characterized as more or less equally effective. However, the best results were obtained with EG of GG 200 – 100 N, where the mass loss of the sample was 8.10 ± 1.24%. Very good results were also achieved by graphite 25 E + 180 HPH (8.70 ± 0.89%), which is similar to the previous one, even according to the microscopic assessment of the coating as well as the expanded layer. Graphite type 25 K + 180 (8.86 ± 0.65 %) shows the expanded layer's best cohesion, coating uniformity, and ease of application. The results of this work confirmed that the CNC coating itself has significant retardation effects.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) exert regulatory actions via base-pairing with their binding sites on target mRNAs. Cooperative-binding, i.e., synergism, among binding sites on a mRNA is biochemically well-characterized. We studied whether this synergism is reflected in global relationship between miRNA-mediated regulatory activity and miRNA-binding-site count on the target mRNAs, i.e., leading to a non-linear relationship between the two. Recently, using our own and public datasets, we have enquired into miRNA regulatory actions: first, we analyzed the power-law distribution pattern of miRNA binding sites; second, strikingly, mRNAs for core miRNA regulatory apparatus proteins have extra-ordinarily high binding site counts, forming self-feedback-control loops; third, we revealed that tumor suppressor mRNAs generally have more sites than oncogene mRNAs; and fourth, we characterized enrichment of miRNA target mRNAs in translationally less-active polysomes relative to more-active polysomes. In these four studies, obvious correlation was observed qualitatively between the extent to which a mRNA is miRNA-regulated and its binding sites count. This paper summarizes the used datasets. We also re-analyzed the correlation by comparative linear and non-linear regression analyses. The results support a non-linear, instead of linear, relationship between the two parameters, conceivably a transcriptome-level reflection of cooperative-binding/synergism among miRNA binding sites on a target mRNA.

Background: In response to inflammation, the absorption of nutritional iron is restricted. Multiple inflammation-related signaling pathways can lead to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent mechanism of programmed cell death. Since the pathophysiological significance of the presence and uptake of iron in chronic inflammation is still unknown, we tested the effect of a low iron diet on the clinical course of arthritis in the mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods: Six- to eight-week-old male DBA/1 mice were fed either a normal or a low iron diet starting three weeks before arthritis induction. From day four after the collagen-booster made on day 25, the development of arthritis was regularly monitored until the end of the experiment (day 34), using a standard clinical arthritis score. The complete blood count was determined as well as Fe2+, Fe3+, oxidized and reduced glutathione (GSH and GSSG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in whole paw tissue by ELISA. Quantitative PCR was performed from whole paw tissue for glutathione peroxidase 4 and other key regulator genes of iron metabolism and ferroptosis. We used nonparametric tests to com-pare markers of iron metabolism and ferroptosis as well as nonlinear regression models for longitu-dinal data for signs of arthritis. Results: Mice fed a low iron diet showed a significantly less severe course of arthritis compared to mice fed a normal iron diet (p

We report the case of a 61-year-old woman who was referred to the Oral Surgery and Implantology Unit of the University Hospitals of Geneva to take care edentulous sites after dental avulsions of teeth 11 and 21 following traumatic shock due to endotracheal intubation under general anaesthesia. The dental history revealed that the patient had a history of generalized chronic periodontitis that had been treated several years earlier. Treatment consisted, for the first time to our knowledge, of immediate insertion of implants at sites 11 and 21 with simultaneous bone augmentation in a single surgical procedure and immediate restorations.

Existing research indicates that mineralization of Carlin-type gold deposit is related to geological structures, but current studies mostly focus on the qualitative association, and lack quantitative analysis of the relationship between mineralization and structural features, which limits the potential for predictive mineral exploration. In this study, the Nibao Carlin-type gold deposit was selected as the research area to conduct three-dimensional geological modeling, spatial analysis, and three-dimensional prospectivity modeling. Spatial analysis revealed that the majority of gold ore bodies are situated near the main fault, with gold mineralization primarily occurring within a spatial range of approximately -80 meters to 20 meters from the main fault plane. This spatial distribution predominantly aligns in a SW-NE direction. Spatial characteristic extraction of fault slope indicators suggests that the slope angles are conducive to the migration and accumulation of ore-forming hydrothermal fluids, with ore body metal content rapidly increasing within an angle range of approximately 20° to 60°. The shape analysis of the mainfault indicates that the principal spaces of mineralization enrichment are within -10m to 20m of the fault plane undulations, where gold resources are concentrated in a relatively flat area. However, the degree of mineralization is more pronounced in the protruding sections than in the depressed areas. The areas with significant dip changes in faults display higher variations in orebody attitudes, with mineralization noticeably weaker in areas where the fault steepness changes markedly. Ore-bearing units exhibit significantly higher grades within the -17° to 3° interval of fault steepness transition. This interval also sees a rapid accumulation of gold resources. The Nibao gold mine's mineralization is derived from deep, ore-bearing hydrothermal fluids ascending along major fractures, precipitating, and accumulating in favorable ore-hosting spaces (faults, anticline cores) and lithological combinations (sedimentary tuffs, tuffs). Three deep potential gold targets were identified, highlighting the deep western edge of the F1 fault and the deep southeast-trending lower plate as prospective areas for future exploration. This study underscores the effectiveness of 3D prospective modeling as an indispensable tool for elucidating the spatial distribution of fault-controlled Carlin-type gold deposits and their tectonic determinants.

Background and Objectives: High job strain is worsening the outcome in coronary artery disease, CAD. Severe dissatisfaction on workplace, imbalance between high demands , and low rewards, are affecting the quality of life, and diminishing the duration of life, especially in CAD patients. Our study included two samples : CAD patients (experimental group), and without CAD patients, but with traditional risk factors (control group). The main objective of the study was the role played by high sensitivity C reactive protein, hs CRP, and microalbuminuria, as mediators of job strain and CAD relationship. Secondary objectives were the following: identification of the most vulnerable patients( with significant job strain) and intervention towards this category, for cardiovascular events prevention (primary or secondary). Materials and Methods: The utilized methods were the following : clinical exam; electrocardiogram; echocardiogram; non contrast enhanced computed chest tomography; laboratory findings ( lipid profile, glycemia, hs CRP, microalbuminuria); type D scale, DS 14; depression questionnaire, PHQ-9; and satisfaction with work scale, SWWS. Results: The highest values for hs CRP and microalbuminuria were noticed in patients with the lowest Likert score, for both samples CAD, and without CAD patients. The highest job strain was noticed in females. More than half of CAD patients ,with low Likert scores, revealed myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Microalbuminuria and hs CRP were statistical significant in the study as intercessors, in job strain and CAD relationship. The most vulnerable patients for vascular events were females, in both groups : CAD and “CAD waiting desk”. In CAD sample, the vascular vulnerability was also increased by high job strain.

Background/Objectives:The first attempts of posterior lumbar interbody fusion can be traced back to the 1940s, where their performance was marked by animosity due to high rates of failure. Nowadays, the use of interbody fusion involves a much more complicated consideration of factors such as global alignment, disc height, fusion rates, and operative risk, all combined at once.Our study aims to examine all these effects using Flarehawk 9 as a means of interbody fusion.Materials and methods: A total of 58 patients underwent open posterior lumbar surgery using Flarehawk 9 between September 2021 and February 2023 with a mean follow up of 1 year.The mean age was 59.8 years old ( range between 33 and 79 years old), 36 of them are males while 22 of them are females. The diagnostic groups included spinal canal stenosis (n=40), failed back surgery syndrome-revision surgery (n=5),spondylolisthesis with slip percentage 25% (n=4),recurrent herniated disc (n=7) and adjacent segment disease (n=2). Results: The majority of patients demonstrated remarkable improvement based on ODI scores.The rate of union varied based on the fused levels and whether the patients had previous surgery or not.The amount of lordosis postoperatively is increased by 2±0.4 degrees.Conclusions: Even though anterior approaches become more and more popular and advanced nowadays, posterior fusion with interbody cage still remains a safe and effective method to treat various spine surgical pathologies with optimal results.

In the drive towards environmental restoration and sustainable energy solutions, effective utilization and management of agricultural crop residues are vital to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste accumulation. Converting biogenic wastes into biofuels and bioproducts has the potential to tackle the energy crisis and contribute to environmental remediation. In this investigation, teff husk, primarily generated in Ethiopia during teff production within the agro-industrial sector, is used as the feedstock for the slow pyrolysis process. In Ethiopia, it is estimated that over 1.75 million tons of teff husk are generated annually, with a significant portion being incinerated in the fields, resulting in substantial environmental pollution. This study focuses on assessing teff husk as a potential material for slow pyrolysis, a crucial stage in biochar production, to tap into its biochar-producing potential. To determine the composition of the biomass, the teff-husk was initially analyzed by thermogravimetry. The significant presence of fixed carbon indicates that teff husk is a viable candidate for pyrolytic conversion into biochar particles. The process of slow pyrolysis took place at three varied temperatures—specifically, at 400, 450, and 500 °C. Process parameters of slow pyrolysis such as reaction time, temperature, and heating rate were enhanced to obtain maximum biochar yields. The highest biochar yield of 43.4 wt% was recorded at optimized reaction time, temperature, and heating rate of 120 min, 400 °C, and 4.2 °C/min, respectively. Furthermore, biochar's physicochemical, SEM-EDX, FTIR, and TGA characterization were performed. The thermal stability and carbon content of biochar were found to rise at higher temperatures. Unlike fuel recovery, the results suggest that teff-husk can be used as a feedstock for biochar production.

Computational methods are essential to support and advance nuclear technologies due to the hazards of handling and analysing highly radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuel (SNF). However, many such methods, including those thatcan predict SNF compositions and decay heat parameters, require expensive, proprietary software, alongside significant programming experience and computational power for utilisation, severely limiting availability of data and hampering research throughput. Although some datasets are available, many are incomplete or only cover certain fuel systems for older reactor types. Research investigating new methods for SNF recycling, for example, requires compositional and decay heat data for fuel systems not covered by extant data, though analogous source data may be available. With this in mind, we have developed a simple, accessible, and flexible method for extrapolation of isotopic, elemental, and decayheat compositions for SNF at discharge and following decay storage before recycling, based on an extant dataset. This semi-empirical method uses physical and mathematical first principles and can be performed using software accessible to all researchers. This provides outputs accurate to within 1% of reference values interpolated within the range of available data for isotopic compositions, with sensible extrapolations at higher burnups beyond those reported, withoverall elemental outputs accurate to within 0.1%of expected totals. In this publication, we present the developmental methodology, some sample data, the present limitations, and options for future development and expansion of functionality.

The use of Hyperspectral (HS) and LiDAR acquisitions has a great potential to enhance mapping and monitoring practices of endangered grasslands habitats, beyond conventional botanical field surveys. In this study we assess the potentiality of Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) in combination with Random Forest (RF) classification in extracting the main HS and LiDAR features needed to map selected Natura 2000 grasslands along Polish lowland river valleys, in particular alluvial meadows 6440, lowland hay meadows 6510 and xeric and calcareous grasslands 6120. We developed an automated RFE-RF system capable to combine the potentials of both techniques and applied it to multiple acquisitions. Several LiDAR-based products and different Spectral Indexes (SI) were computed and used as input in the system, with the aim of shedding light on the best-to-use features. Results showed a remarkable increase in classification accuracy when LiDAR and SI products are added to the HS dataset, strengthening in particular the importance of employing LiDAR in combination with HS. Using only the 24 optimal features selection generalized over the three study areas, strongly linked to the highly heterogeneous characteristics of the habitats and landscapes investigated, it was possible to achieve rather high classification results (K around 0.7-0.77 and habitats F1 accuracy around 0.8-0.85), indicating that the selected Natura 2000 meadows and dry grasslands habitats can be automatically mapped by airborne HS and LiDAR data. Similar approaches might be considered for future monitoring activities in the context of habitats protection and conservation

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the most optimal type of nutritional intervention to prevent GDM in high-risk women is not clearly defined. This study investigates if nutritional treatment based on the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) before 12th gestational week (GW) in women at high risk due to a body mass index (BMI)≥25kg/m2, reduces the rate of GDM and metabolic syndrome (MetS) at 3 years postpartum. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the San Carlos Gestational Prevention Study. A total of 735 women with BMI≥25kg/m2 were evaluated between 2015-2018, 246 in standard diet control group (CG) and 489 in MedDiet intervention group (IG). The rate of GDM was significantly lower in IG compared to CG (25.1%vs31.7%;p=0.037). Postnatal follow-up was completed by 141 women in CG (57%) and 312 women in IG (64%). At 3 years postpartum, we observed a reduction (relative risk 95% confidence interval) in the rates of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (0.51 (0.28-0.92);p=0.019), obesity (0.51 (0.28-0.92),p=0.041), waist circumference (WC)≥89.5cm (0.54 (0.31-0.94);p=0.022) and MetS (0.56 (0.33-0.94);p=0.003). MedDiet reduces the rate of GDM and postpartum MetS in women with BMI)≥25kg/m2, suggesting that its implementation should be routinely recommended from the first GWs.

A “watch and wait” strategy, delaying treatment until active disease manifests, is adopted for most CLL cases; however prognostic models incorporating biomarkers have shown to be useful to predict treatment requirement. In our prospective O-CLL1 study including 224 patients, we investigated the predictive role of 513 microRNAs (miRNAs) on time to first treatment (TTFT). In the context of this study six well-established variables (i.e., Rai stage, beta-2-microglobulin levels, IGVH mutational status, del11q, del17p, and NOTCH1 mutations) maintained significant associations with TTFT in a basic multivariable model, collectively yielding a Harrell's C-index of 75% and explaining 45.4% of the variance in the prediction of TTFT. Concerning miRNAs, 73 out of 513 were significantly associated with TTFT in a univariable model; of these, 16 retained an in-dependent relationship with the outcome in a multivariable analysis. For 8 of these (i.e., miR-582-3p, miR-33a-3p, miR-516a-5p, miR-99a-5p, and miR-296-3p, miR-502-5p, miR-625-5p, and miR-29c-3p) a lower expression correlated with a shorter TTFT, whereas in the remaining eight (i.e., miR-150-5p, miR-148a-3p, miR-28-5p, miR-144-5p, miR-671-5p, miR-1-3p, miR-193a-3p, and miR-124-3p) the higher expression was associated with shorter TTFT. Integrating these miRNAs into the basic model significantly enhanced predictive accuracy, raising the Harrell’C index to 81.1% and the explained variation in TTFT to 63.3%. Moreover, the inclusion of the miRNA scores enhanced the Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) and the Net Reclassification Index (NRI), underscoring the potential of miRNAs to refine CLL prognostic models and providing insights for clinical decision-making. In silico analyses on the differently expressed miRNAs revealed their potential regulatory functions of several pathways, including those involved in the therapeutic responses. To add a bio-logical context to the clinical evidence, a miRNA-mRNA correlation analysis revealed at least one significant negative correlation between 15 of the identified miRNAs and a set of 50 Artificial Intelligence (AI) selected genes, previously identified by us as relevant for TTFT prediction in the same cohort of CLL patients. In conclusion, the identification of specific miRNAs as predictors of TTFT holds promise for enhancing risk stratification in CLL to predict therapeutic needs. However, further validation studies and in-depth functional analyses are required to confirm the robustness of these observations and to facilitate their translation into meaningful clinical utility.

Following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in countries bordering Kenya to the west, we conducted surveillance among domestic and wild birds along the shores of Lake Victoria. In addition, between 2018 and 2020, we conducted surveillance among poultry and poultry workers in live bird markets and among wild migratory birds in various lakes that are resting sites during migration to assess introduction and circulation of avian influenza viruses in these populations. We tested 7,464 specimens (oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs) from poultry and 6,531 fresh fecal specimens from wild birds for influenza A viruses by real-time RT-PCR. Influenza was detected in 3.9% (n=292) of specimens collected from poultry and 0.2% (n=10) of fecal specimens from wild birds. On hemagglutinin subtyping, most of the influenza A positives from poultry (274/292, 93.8%) were H9. Of 34 H9 specimens randomly selected for further subtyping, all were H9N2. On phylogenetic analysis, these viruses were genetically similar to other H9 viruses detected in East Africa. Only two of the ten influenza A positive specimens from the wild bird fecal specimens were successfully subtyped; sequencing analysis of one specimen collected in 2018 was identified as low pathogenicity avian influenza H5N2 virus of the Eurasian lineage and the second specimen, collected in 2020, was subtyped as H11. A total of 18 OP/NS swabs from poultry workers with ARI (12%) were collected; none were positive for influenza A virus. We observed significant circulation of H9N2 influenza viruses in poultry in live bird markets in Kenya. During the same period, low pathogenic H5N2 virus was detected in a fecal specimen collected in a site hosting a variety of migratory and resident birds. Although HPAI H5N8 was not detected in this survey, these results highlight the potential for introduction and establishment of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry populations and the associated risk of spillover to human populations.

Considering the worldwide impact of heart failure, it is crucial to develop approaches that can help us comprehend its root cause and make accurate predictions about its outcome. This is essential for lowering the suffering and death rates connected with this widespread illness. Cardiomyopathies frequently result from genetic factors, and the study of heart failure genetics is advancing quickly. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent kind of cardiomyopathy, encompassing both hereditary and nongenetic abnormalities. It is distinguished by the enlargement of the left ventricle or both ventricles, accompanied by reduced contractility. The discovery of the molecular origins and subsequent awareness of the molecular mechanism is broadening our knowledge of DCM development. Additionally, it emphasizes the complicated nature of DCM and the necessity to formulate several different strategies to address the diverse underlying factors contributing to this disease. Genetic variations that can be transmitted from one generation to another can be a significant contributor to causing family or isolated DCM. Genetic variation also plays a significant role in determining susceptibility for acquired triggers for DCM. The genetic causes of DCM can have a diverse range of phenotypic expressions. It is crucial to select the most probable patients to have advantages from genetic testing. The purpose of this research is to emphasize the significance of identifying genetic DCM, the crucial relationships between genotype and phenotype, and the usefulness of genetic testing in the therapeutic care of both those affected and their relatives. This approach is expected to gain importance once treatment is guided by genotype-specific advice and disease-modifying medications.

Background: Breast cancer and other neoplasms, such as acute lymphocytic leukaemia, are a severe hazard to public health globally. L-glutamine-degrading enzymes are required for the treatment of malignancies such as acute lymphocytic leukemia and breast cancer. L-glutaminase, an amidohydrolase, has been shown to be an effective chemotherapeutic tool for treating a variety of malignancies. The aim of the study: Molecular characterization is used in the study and production of bacterial L- glutaminase as an anticancer agent from a variety of Egyptian soil locales. The type of the study: Screening experimental study. Methodology: In the current study, many bacterial isolates were tested on mineral L-glutamine agar selective medium (MGA) to evaluate if they generated L-glutaminase. The most effective positive bacterial isolates that produce L-glutaminase, however, were discovered by morphological and biochemical analysis. The primary positive isolate producing L-glutaminase was also identified utilizing molecular detection by 16S rRNA sequencing homology technique. The properties of bacteria-produced L- glutaminase were investigated. The anticancer activity was assessed with an MTT assay. Results: Sole bacterial isolates that only needed L-glutamine for metabolic nitrogen grew well on MGA. The optimal conditions for producing positive bacterial isolates were pH 7.4 and 37 ̊C. The morphological and biochemical investigations of soil samples from diverse soil conditions in Egypt revealed that Bacillus subtilis subsp. niger (ATCC 9372) was the primary positive bacterial isolate producing L-glutaminase. At a pH of 7.4 and a temperature of 37 °C, the activators KCL, ZnSO4, FeSO4, K2HPO4, and MgSO4 offered ideal conditions for defining L-glutaminase production. L-glutaminase from Bacillus subtilis was detected to be a highly bioavailable and efficient anticancer treatment. The original yield [productivity] from MGA was 6.3 U/ml, but invitro coupled transcription and translation production raised it to 89± 1 U/ml. L-glutaminase had a molecular mass of approximately 36 kDa. The purification of L-glutaminase resulted total activity of 21,883 ± 15.67 (U), specific activity of 379.14 ± 7.35 (U/mg of protein), and purification fold of 1.82 ± 3.06. The enzymatic activators Ni2+ and Mg 2+ increased L-glutaminase activity by 20%, 27%, respectively. The compound showed significant anticancer activity (IC50 = 38.72, 8.6, 6.41, 19.02, 49.83, and 9.45 μg/ml) against cancer cell lines from the liver (HepG-2), colon (HCT- 116), breast (MCF-7), lung (A-549), lymphocytic (CCL-120), and cervical (Hela). The kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were 15.2^ 10 -3 M and 119.86 μmol/ml/min, indicating a higher affinity for the substrate. The enzyme demonstrated high efficacy at pH 6.5 and temperature 35. The enzyme was thermostable at 58 ̊C for 1 hour. Conclusion: Acute lymphocytic leukemia and breast cancer are two instances of auxotrophic malignancies for which L-glutamine is the sole metabolic source, and Bacillus subtilis- derived L-glutaminase was a suitable enzyme in their treatment.

Background: The World Health Organization identifies lung and prostatic cancers as solid tumors with significant global lethality, both being auxotrophic cancers for L-arginine aminoacid. The aim of the study: The study aims to detect L-arginase-expressing bacteria from various soil environments in Egypt using 16S rRNA and characterize its anticancer activity. Methodology: A hundred samples of Egyptian grassland soil were gathered at a depth of 11–20 cm, close to wheat mills. Using fast plate assay screening and spectrophotometric analysis, the presence of bacteria generating L-arginase was verified. The major soil bacterial isolates were identified by morphological characterization, biochemical responses, and 16SrRNA sequencing methods. The anticancer activity of the test enzyme was assessed using MTT assay. Results: On the MAA medium, only the bacterial isolates capable of using L-arginine as the only metabolic source for carbon and nitrogen were cultivated. Bacillus cereus DSM 360 was shown to be the prevailing bacterial isolate generating L-arginase using molecular detection and biochemical reactions. When Co+2, Ni+2, and Mn+2 metal ions were present as co-factors, bacterial L-arginase demonstrated remarkable anticancer action against auxotrophic tumors for L-arginine. The total protein content was 0.349 mg, while total enzyme activity was 8.174 U with 61% enzyme recovery. As well as the specific activity reached 23.4212 U/mg. Using the mass spectrometer, the molecular weight of the bacterial L-arginase was revealed to be 37 KDa. The bacterial L-arginase's IC50 values were 3.12 U/ml for the lung cancer cell line, 3.91 U/ml for prostatic cancer cell line, 0.91 U/ml for acute promyelocytic leukemia cancer cell line and 2.73 U/ml for kidney cancer cell line. The enzyme under test showed kinetic characteristics of 7.36 mmol/l and 6.14 μmol/min for Km and Vmax, respectively. The half-life time (T1/2) was 90.17 min at 50°С, while being 86.53 min at 60°С. The test enzyme was thermostable at 60°С for 1 hour. Conclusion: The study showed a potential strategy by identifying and determining a newly discovered bacterial L-arginase enzyme as an anticancer agent in Egypt's soil settings.

In this paper, a generic fractional derivative is defined as a set of the linear operators left-inverse to the Riemann-Liouville fractional integral. Then the theory of the left-invertible operators developed by Przeworska-Rolewicz is applied for derivation of its properties. In particular, we characterize its domain, null-space, and projector operator, establish the interrelations between its different realisations, and present a generalized fractional Taylor formula involving the generic fractional derivative. Then we consider the fractional relaxation equation containing the generic fractional derivative, derive a closed form formula for its unique solution, and study its complete monotonicity.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is an urgent issue everywhere in the globe. It is necessary to look into new sources of antibiotics to address this issue. Aim of the study: studying the purification of Corallopyronin B from various soil conditions in Egypt, as well as the antibacterial effectiveness of Corallopyronin B in preclinical animal testing and randomized human clinical trials phases 1/2. Type of the study: Screening experimental study. Methodology: Several soil conditions in Egypt were examined to create bacterial isolates that generated the antibiotic chemical Corallopyronin B. Using reversed-phase HPLC, Myxopyronin B was purified. The test antibiotic's minimum inhibitory concentration( MIC) and in vitro antibacterial activity were ascertained using the paper disc diffusion assay and the broth microdilution technique. Furthermore, in stages 1/2 of randomized clinical trials including human and animal models, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions, and the in vivo antibacterial spectrum were discovered. Results: The soil bacterial isolate Corallococcus coralloides DSM 2259, grown on a Casein yeast peptone( CYP) plate, produced Corallopyronin B from its culture supernatant. At MICs more than 100 mcg/ml, the test antibiotic inhibited the growth of many Gram -ve bacteria, including Escherichia coli, while preventing the growth of numerous Gram +ve bacteria, with MICs ranging from 1 to 10 mcg/ml. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, including those in humans and fungi, were unharmed. The test antibiotic was shown to have a bactericidal effect by inhibiting bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase( RNLP). In phases 1/2 of randomized human clinical trials, when 600 mg of the dose per 70 kg of body weight was administered SC, the Cmax was 8.6 mcg/ml at Tmax 1 hour; T1/2 reached 136 min following first-order kinetics of elimination. It stopped acting around 6-7 hours after SC was administered. In the preclinical and randomized human clinical trial phases 1/2, less than 6 percent of experimental candidates had uncommon toxicity, showing reduced bile flow. Protein binding with plasma albumin was detected which reached about 83%. Conclusion: The current work was noteworthy since it involved the production of the bactericidal antibiotic Corallopyronin B from Corallococcus coralloides DSM 2259 which was isolated from several soil environments in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic disorders including Myocardial infarction[ MI] and stroke represent the leading causes of death worldwide. Fibrinolytic enzymes extracted from microbial sources showed high efficacy in the dissolution of different blood clots. AIM OF THE STUDY: Screening and the bacterial recombinant DNA manufacture of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes from different soil environments in Egypt. METHODOLOGY: A total of 50 soil samples were screened for their fibrinolytic enzyme production. The potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterial isolates were evaluated for their thrombolytic activities using the plasma plate method. The characterization of the enzyme activity and thermostability were carried out; also, the determination of molecular mass using a mass spectrometer and western blot technique was performed. The purification of the fibrinolytic enzymes was done through the affinity chromatography technique. On the other hand, the production of the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was achieved via bacterial recombinant DNA technology. Formulation of fibrinolytic enzymes in different dosage forms was tried. RESULTS: In the present study, the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was approximately 83% pure through affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE assay. The predominating bacterial isolate secreting fibrinolytic enzymes was found to be Bacillus cereus. The fibrinolytic enzyme activities of 50 soil samples were found to be in the range of 0.167-1.853 U/ ml. The fibrinolytic activity of the extracellular enzyme refined from the culture supernatant of Bacillus cereus was relatively stable over the PH range from 7.4-10 for 18 hours and also it showed stability with the highest productivity at a temperature of 43 0C for nearly 60 minutes. The enzyme was called fibrin-proteinase[ FP] in the present study. The FP degraded the fibrin clots via direct thrombolysis. The specific activity and the molecular mass of the FP were estimated to be nearly 40.71 Units/ mg protein and nearly 30 KDa respectively. Protease activity was noticed to be slightly increased in the presence of Fe+3; While it was inhibited in the presence of EDTA. On the other hand, the FP fibrinolytic activity was enhanced greatly after the addition of monovalent cations such as K+1 and Na +1. The enzyme was also active over the temperature range of 20- 65 0C with the highest activity at 55 0C. The optimum temperature and PH of protease production was at 35-43 0C and PH 8.0-10. Conclusion: During the present study, the thermostable fibrinolytic enzyme FP purified from Bacillus cereus in different soil environments in Egypt was a promising fibrinolytic enzyme because it showed a broader efficacious fibrinolytic activity as well as less adverse effects than the current fibrinolytic enzymes globally. It is recommended in the future advanced exploration of the optimization of suitable formulation of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes to aid in the dissolution of various blood clots and as a consequence overcoming the high rate of mortality globally.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is an urgent issue everywhere in the globe. It is necessary to look into new sources of antibiotics to address this issue. Aim of the study: studying the purification of Corallopyronin B from various soil conditions in Egypt, as well as the antibacterial effectiveness of Corallopyronin B in preclinical animal testing and randomized human clinical trials phases 1/2. Type of the study: Screening experimental study. Methodology: Several soil conditions in Egypt were examined to create bacterial isolates that generated the antibiotic chemical Corallopyronin B. Using reversed-phase HPLC, Myxopyronin B was purified. The test antibiotic's minimum inhibitory concentration( MIC) and in vitro antibacterial activity were ascertained using the paper disc diffusion assay and the broth microdilution technique. Furthermore, in stages 1/2 of randomized clinical trials including human and animal models, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions, and the in vivo antibacterial spectrum were discovered. Results: The soil bacterial isolate Corallococcus coralloides DSM 2259, which was grown on a Casein yeast peptone( CYP) plate, produced Corallopyronin B from its culture supernatant. At MICs more than 100 mcg/ml, the test antibiotic inhibited the growth of many Gram -ve bacteria, including Escherichia coli, while also preventing the growth of numerous Gram +ve bacteria, with MICs ranging from 1 to 10 mcg/ml. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, including those in humans and fungi, were unharmed. The test antibiotic was shown to have a bactericidal effect by inhibiting bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase( RNLP). In phases 1/2 of randomized human clinical trials, when 600 mg of the dose per 70 kg of body weight was administered SC, the Cmax was 8.6 mcg/ml at Tmax 1 hour; T1/2 reached 136 min following first-order kinetics of elimination. It stopped acting around 6-7 hours after SC was administered. In the preclinical and randomized human clinical trial phases 1/2, less than 6 percent of experimental candidates had uncommon toxicity, which showed up as reduced bile flow. Protein binding with plasma albumin was detected which reached about 83%. Conclusion: The current work was noteworthy since it involved the production of the bactericidal antibiotic Corallopyronin B from Corallococcus coralloides DSM 2259 which was isolated from several soil environments in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic disorders including Myocardial infarction[ MI] and stroke represent the leading causes of death worldwide. Fibrinolytic enzymes extracted from microbial sources showed high efficacy in the dissolution of different blood clots. AIM OF THE STUDY: Screening and the bacterial recombinant DNA manufacture of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes from different soil environments in Egypt. METHODOLOGY: A total of 50 soil samples were screened for their fibrinolytic enzyme production. The potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterial isolates were evaluated for their thrombolytic activities using the plasma plate method. The characterization of the enzyme activity and thermostability were carried out; also, the determination of molecular mass using a mass spectrometer and western blot technique was performed. The purification of the fibrinolytic enzymes was done through the affinity chromatography technique. On the other hand, the production of the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was achieved via bacterial recombinant DNA technology. Formulation of fibrinolytic enzymes in different dosage forms was tried. RESULTS: In the present study, the purified bacterial fibrinolytic enzyme was approximately 83% pure through affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE assay. The predominating bacterial isolate secreting fibrinolytic enzymes was found to be Bacillus cereus. The fibrinolytic enzyme activities of 50 soil samples were found to be in the range of 0.167-1.853 U/ ml. The fibrinolytic activity of the extracellular enzyme refined from the culture supernatant of Bacillus cereus was relatively stable over the PH range from 7.4-10 for 18 hours and also it showed stability with the highest productivity at a temperature of 43 0C for nearly 60 minutes. The enzyme was called fibrin-proteinase[ FP] in the present study. The FP degraded the fibrin clots via direct thrombolysis. The specific activity and the molecular mass of the FP were estimated to be nearly 40.71 Units/ mg protein and nearly 30 KDa respectively. Protease activity was noticed to be slightly increased in the presence of Fe+3; While it was inhibited in the presence of EDTA. On the other hand, the FP fibrinolytic activity was enhanced greatly after the addition of monovalent cations such as K+1 and Na +1. The enzyme was also active over the temperature range of 20- 65 0C with the highest activity at 55 0C. The optimum temperature and PH of protease production was at 35-43 0C and PH 8.0-10. Conclusion: During the present study, the thermostable fibrinolytic enzyme FP purified from Bacillus cereus in different soil environments in Egypt was a promising fibrinolytic enzyme because it showed a broader efficacious fibrinolytic activity as well as less adverse effects than the current fibrinolytic enzymes globally. It is recommended in the future advanced exploration of the optimization of suitable formulation of bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes to aid in the dissolution of various blood clots and as a consequence overcoming the high rate of mortality globally.

This article delves into the enduring relevance of Liberal International Relations (IR) Theory amidst persistent criticisms regarding power dynamics and its applicability in emerging states. Despite its detractors, Liberal IR Theory offers a nuanced understanding of state behavior, blending social contexts with power dynamics. It recognizes the intricacies of economic interdependence and advocates for a balanced approach in advancing democracy and human rights. While nationalism poses challenges to international institutions, their adaptability endures. Leaders, albeit constrained, retain the capacity to foster peace through visionary leadership and global cooperation. By acknowledging its limitations and fostering open dialogue, Liberal IR Theory continues to evolve, poised to contribute to a just and peaceful global order.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the therapies of AD with anti-amyloid1-42 (Aβ) monoclonal antibodies are associated with the vascular complications of brain edema, hemorrhage, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) termed amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIAs). The neuropathology of normal and AD brains demonstrates that monocyte/macrophages (MMs) are critical in successful brain clearance in healthy brain by up-loading, transporting, and degrading Aβ but fail degradation and clearance in AD patients by releasing Aβ into vessels at the blood-brain barrier, causing vasculitis and ARIAs. The naturally-formed epoxides (EpFAs) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s), including arachidonic, docosahexaenoic, and eicosapentaenoic fatty acids, may repair degradation of Aβ by regulating Aβ-degrading enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and unfolded protein response (UPR) to endoplasmic reticulum stress in a homeostatic fashion. EpFAs are, however, degraded by the soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme (sEH) but are protected by the sEH inhibitor (sEHI) TPPU. In the cultures of AD patients’ macrophages, TPPU with the epoxide EEQ, and the cGAS/STING inhibitor H-151 increased uptake of Aβ at 2 hours and degradation of Aβ at 24 hours. In conclusion, the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor TPPU with omega-3 fatty acids and the cGAS/STING inhibitor H-151 increase Aβ uptake and degradation in macrophages of AD patients, and potentially enhancing Aβ clearance in the AD brain.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) strongly linked to a nearly five-fold higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are a significant cohort in which these assessments have particular relevance to the increased cardiovascular risk inherent in the condition. This study aimed to explore the subtle correlation between the Ewing test, Sudoscan-cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy score, and cardiovascular risk calculated using SCORE 2 Diabetes in individuals with T2DM. The cohort consisted of 211 patients diagnosed with T2DM with overweight or obesity without established ASCVD, aged between 40 to 69 years. The prevalence of CAN in our group was 67.2%. In the study group, according SCORE2-Diabetes, four patients (1.9%) were classified with moderate cardiovascular risk, thirty-five (16.6%) with high risk, and one hundred seventy-two (81.5%) with very high cardiovascular risk. On multiple linear regression, the SCORE2-Diabetes algorithm remained significantly associated with Sudoscan CAN-score and Sudoscan Nephro-score and Ewing test score. Testing for the diagnosis of CAN in very high-risk patients should be performed because approximately 70% of them associate CAN. Increased cardiovascular risk is associated with sudomotor damage and that Sudoscan is an effective and non-invasive measure of identifying such risk.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a set of progressive, chronic, and incurable diseases characterized by the gradual loss of neurons, culminating in the decline of cognitive and/or motor functions. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the most common NDs and represent an enormous burden both in terms of human suffering and economic cost. The available therapies for AD and PD only provide symptomatic and palliative relief for a limited period and are unable to modify the diseases’ progression. Over the last decades, research efforts have been focused on developing new pharmacological treatments for these NDs. However, to date, no breakthrough treatment has been discovered. Hence, the development of disease-modifying drugs able to halt or reverse the progression of NDs remains an unmet clinical need. This review summarizes the major hallmarks of AD and PD and the drugs available for pharmacological treatment. It also sheds light on potential directions that can be pursued to develop of new, disease-modifying drugs to treat AD and PD, thereby decreasing the social and economic burdens linked to these NDs.

In agriculture, soil-borne fungal pathogens, especially Fusarium oxysporum strains, are posing a serious threat to efforts to achieve global food security. In the search for safer agrochemicals, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have recently been proposed as a new tool to alleviate pathogen damage including Fusarium wilt. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), a unique class of SiO2NPs, have been widely accepted as a desired pesticide carrier. However, their role in enhancing the disease resistance and the specific mechanism remain unknown. In this study, three sizes of HMSNs (19, 96 and 406 nm as HMSNs–19, HMSNs–96 and HMSNs–406, respectively) were synthesized and characterized to determine their effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseolus (FOP) suppression in cowpea roots by foliar spray using phenotypes, fresh biomass and disease progression as indicators. The results revealed that three HMSNs exhibited no adverse impacts on seed germination and tended to improve plant growth. Also, they exert their FOP suppression with a size- and concentration-dependent manner. HMSNs–406 possessed the best control effect at a concentration of 1000 mg/L showing an upto 40.00% decline in the disease severity. The Si(OH)4 control was also effective on FOP suppression at a lower concentration of 100 mg/L, whereas its higher concentrations exhibited obviously adverse impacts on FOP control, seed germination and plant growth. Moreover, we conformed that HMSNs posed their Fusarium wilt suppression in cowpea plant by activating SA (salicylic acid)-dependent SAR (systemic acquired resistance) responses rather than directly suppressing FOP. A higher level of SA content and elevated expression of its maker genes of PR-1 and PR-5 in HMSNs–406 treated cowpea roots provided substantial evidences of this mode of action. Other resistance-related genes, as well as defense-responsive enzymes, were also involved in the HMSNs-activated SAR pathway. Overall, for the first time, our results extended a new role of HMSNs as a potent elicitor to serve as a versatile alternative for plant disease protection of low cost, highly efficiency and sustainability.

The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) in natural killer (NK) cells for cancer therapy is gaining momentum, marking a significant shift in cancer treatment. This review aims to explore the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy, providing a fresh perspective. It discusses the innovative approaches in CAR-NK cell design and engineering, particularly targeting refractory or recurrent cancers. By comparing CAR-NK cells with traditional therapies, the review highlights their unique ability to tackle tumor heterogeneity and immune system suppression. Additionally, it explains how novel cytokines and receptors can enhance CAR-NK cell efficacy, specificity, and functionality. The review underscores the advantages of CAR-NK cells, including reduced toxicity, lower cost, and broader accessibility compared to CAR-T cells, along with their potential in treating both blood cancers and solid tumors.

The application of antimicrobials in aquaculture primarily aims to prevent and treat bacterial infections in fish. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in fish farming may result in the emergence of zoonotic antibiotic-resistant bacteria and subsequent transmission of resistant strains to humans via food consumption. From recently, AMR emerged as a significant public health concern in the aquaculture ecosystem and fisheries. The aquatic environment serves as a potential reservoir for resistant bacteria, with aquaculture practices providing an ideal breeding ground for AMR due to the excessive use of antimicrobials to prevent and treat diseases. The mutual inter-connection of intensive fish farming systems with terrestrial environments, food processing industry and human population creates pathways for the transmission of resistant bacteria, exacerbating the problem further. One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, enables a holistic approach to address the challenges posed by AMR. By understanding the evolution of such approach, the future of aquaculture, being the important source of a global animal protein supply, can be safeguarded. Risk mitigation strategies for AMR should be based on One Health concept to contribute to sustainable aquaculture practices that protect human and animal health, ensure food safety and protection of environment.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and encompasses two main subtypes, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD is frequently accompanied by extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), with axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) being the most common. Enthesitis, an inflammation of the bone insertions of capsules, ligaments, and tendons, represents an initial lesion in SpA. However, enthesitis remains an underestimated and often obscured EIM. The early detection of subclinical enthesial involvement in IBD patients using ultrasound (US) could provide an opportunity for timely intervention. While previous meta-analyses have reported on the incidence and prevalence of SpA in IBD, specific attention to enthesitis has been lacking. Therefore, this narrative review aims to resume the current knowledge on existing IBD-SpA cohorts, focusing specifically on enthesitis.

Pore structure characterization and fractal analysis have great significance for understanding and evaluating tight limestone reservoirs. In this work, the pore structure of tight limestone is characterized combined with low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the fractal dimension of tight limestone pore structure is discussed based on LTNA and NMR data. The results indicate that the pores of tight limestone have H3 and H4 types, the pore size distribution (PSD) of H3 type is a wave distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm, and the PSD of H4 type is a unimodal distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm. The transverse relaxation time (T2) spectrum of tight limestone shows single peak (DF), double peak (SF) and three peak (TF), and the T2 spectrums for micropores, mesopores and macropores range from 0.1 to 10 ms, from 10 to 100 ms, and greater than 100 ms, respectively. The LTNA fractal dimension of tight limestone (DL) ranges between 2.4446 and 2.7688, with an average of 2.5729, and the NMR fractal dimensions of micropores (DNMR1), mesopores (DNMR2) and macropores (DNMR3) are distributed between 0.3744 to 1.1293, 2.4263 to 2.9395 and 2.6582 to 2.9989, respectively. Moreover, there is no correlation between fractal dimension and permeability and porosity, a negative correlation between DL and average pore radius, a positive correlation between DL and specific surface area, and a positive correlation between DNMR2 and DNMR3 and micropore content, while DNMR2 and DNMR3 are negatively correlated with the content of mesopores and macropores.

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is common among postmenopausal women and is frequently treated with Letrozole. Letrozole inhibits aromatase from synthesizing estrogen from androgens. Decreased estrogen slows the growth of tumors and can be an effective treatment. Letrozole resistance is increasingly being observed, which poses a unique problem for patients. We reanalyzed transcriptomic data comparing individuals who responded to Letrozole therapy (responders) to those who were resistant to treatment (non-responders). We identified SOX11 and S100A9 as two genes that significantly differed between these patients; with “PLK1 signaling events” being the most significant signaling pathway. We also identified PRDX4 and E2F8 as the top transcriptional biomarkers for ER+ treatment resistance. Many of the other significant gene products play a known role in ER+ breast cancer or other types of cancer, which partially validate our results. Several of the gene products we identified do not have a characterized role in ER+ breast cancer. Our analysis identified a set of genes that warrant further research to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Letrozole resistance in this patient population, as well as novel high-performing biomarkers. We anticipate that these findings could contribute to improved therapeutic outcomes in human patients.