Main pathogens affecting carob (Ceratonia siliqua) tree in the Mediterranean basin are described in this overview. The most widespread diseases periodically occurring on carob orchards are powdery mildew (Pseudoidium ceratoniae) and cercospora leaf spot (Pseudocercospora ceratoniae). The causal agents of so-called “black leaf spots” (e.g. Pestaliotiopsis, Phyllosticta and Septoria spp.) are responsible for similar symptoms to above mentioned foliar diseases but are reported on carob orchards with a negligible frequency. Likewise, canker and branch diebacks caused by fungal species belonging to Botryosphaeriaceae are almost never recorded. Among wood diseases that may compromise old or previously damaged carob specimens, “brown cubical heart rot” caused by Laetiporus sulphureus is the most widespread and recurrent issue; this pathogen is also well-known for edible fruit bodies that are also appreciated for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. On the other hand, “white decays” caused by Fomes and Ganoderma species are less common and reported for the first time in this review. Like-gall protuberances on twigs at uncertain aetiology or tumours on branches associated to Rhyzobium radiobacter are described although these symptoms are seldom detected as it happens also for necrotic leaf spots caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. ciccaronei. A list of worldwide pathogens not yet recorded but at high-risk potential of introduction in Italian carob producing area is also provided. Finally, some concerns are addressed to new phytopathogenic fungi vectored by invasive Xylosandrus compactus ambrosia beetle. Comprehensively, all described pathogens could potentially in near future become limiting factors for carob production, because they could be favoured by high-density orchards, increasing global network of trade exchanges and high frequency through which extreme events of climate changes globally occur. Thus, symptoms and signs, causal agents, epidemiology and whenever applicable recommendations for disease prevention and management are provided in this review.

Advances in cardiovascular therapies and cancer treatments result in longer patient survival. The coexistence of cancer and cardiovascular disease has been recognized as a complex clinical scenario. Beside cardiovascular disease, older people with cancer are at greater risk of experiencing multimorbidity and the geriatric syndromes such as frailty. In older people, the concurrent presence of cancer and cardiovascular disease increased the risk of mortality, and the presence of frailty can exacerbate their conditions and hinder the treatment effectiveness. Given the significant intersection among frailty, cardiovascular disease and cancer in older people, this paper aims to provide an overview of the current research in this field and identifies gaps in research to understand the burden and impact of frailty in these populations. While many studies have examined the prevalence and impact of frailty on adverse outcomes in patients with cancer or with cardiovascular disease, evidence of frailty in individuals with both conditions is lacking. There is no universally accepted definition of frailty, which leads to inconsistencies in identifying and measuring frailty in older adults with cardiovascular disease and cancer. The frailty index seems to be a preferred frailty definition in studies in patients with cancer, while the frailty phenotype seems to be more commonly used in cardiovascular research. However, differences in how the frailty index was categorised and in how patients were classified as ‘frail’ depending on the cut points may have negative effect on understanding the impact of frailty in the studied populations. This makes it challenging to compare findings across different studies and limits our understanding of the prevalence and impact of frailty in these populations. Addressing these research gaps will contribute to our understanding of the burden of frailty in older people with cardiovascular disease and cancer, and improved clinical care protocols in this vulnerable population.

Adenylosuccinic acid (ASA) is a small molecule dicarboxylate that could be a strong clinical development candidate for inherited myopathies involving dysregulated purine nucleotide metabo-lism. Currently, there are no published pharmacokinetic/dynamic or toxicology data available, albeit 10-year clinical trial data in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients suggests a chronically safe drug. In this study, we tested the toxicity of ASA to cultured myoblasts in vitro and acute systemic toxicity in mice. ASA is a non-toxic small molecule with an LD50> 5000mg/kg. Some background necrotic foci in the liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract were shown that are likely incidental but warrant follow-up sub-/chronic oral exposure studies.

Based on the plate tectonic theory, using seismic, geology, and public literature data, the proto-type basins and lithofacies paleogeography during the main geological periods of the passive continental margin of East Africa are restored, and the architecture characteristics of the basins and the differences in sedimentary fillings are analyzed. Combined with the dissection of discovered oil and gas reservoirs, four types of hydrocarbon accumulation models are established, the favorable hydrocarbon accumulation combinations (plays), and the next exploration directions in this region are explored. The passive continental margin basins in East Africa experienced three proto-type stages: intracontinental aborted rift during the Late Carboniferous-Triassic Karoo period, intracontinental-intercontinental rift during the Jurassic period, and passive continental margin basin since the Cretaceous period. Affected by the difference in sedimentary filling thickness between the rift period and depression period, four types of passive continental margin basins are formed: rifted type, depressed type, faulted depression type, and reformed delta type. The maximum sedimentary thickness of the rifted basins during the rift period is greater than 3500 m, and that during the depression period is less than 4000 m, forming a "single-source structure type" hydrocarbon accumulation model. The exploration of rifted basins should focus on giant structural traps at the top of the rifted sequences. The maximum sedimentary thickness of the depressed basins during the depression period exceeds 4000 m, forming a "single-source fan group type" hydrocarbon accumulation model. The dominant exploration directions of depressed basins are sedimentary sand bodies and structural-lithologic traps during the depression and drift periods. The maximum sedimentary thickness of the faulted depression basins during the rift period is greater than 3500 m, and that during the depression period is greater than 4000 m, forming a "double-source and double-combination type" hydrocarbon accumulation model. The exploration of rifted basins should focus on giant slip-collapse-debris flow sedimentary sand bodies on the upper and middle slopes. In addition to the large sedimentary thickness of the early rift and the central depression, the delta thickness of the reformed delta basins during the late depression period since the Miocene is more than 4000 m, and four structural belts (growth fault, mud diapir, thrust fold, and foredeep gentle slope) were formed from onshore to offshore, forming a "three-source and multi-combination type" hydrocarbon accumulation model. All four structural belts can form giant oil and gas fields.

The genetic diversity of coronavirus (CoV) is high, and its infection in animals has not yet been fully revealed. By RT-PCR detection of partial RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of CoV, we screened a total of 502 small mammals belonging to 18 species in 12 genera and 4 orders collected in Dali and Nujiang Prefecture of Western Yunnan Province, China. The prevalence of β-CoV in Chevrieri's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) and Lancangjiang field mouse (A. ilex) were 3.54% (4/113) and 6.67% (6/90), respectively; the prevalence of α-CoV in White-footed Indochinese rat (Rattus nitidus) and long-tailed red-toothed shrew (Episoriculus leucops) was 75% (3/4) and 5.88% (1/17), respectively. The co-infection rates of β-CoV and α-CoV in Kachin red-backed vole (Eothenomys cachinus), Norway rat (R. norvegicus) were 2.22% (2/90), 3.85% (1/26) respectively. The identity of the partial RdRp genes obtained of 13 strains of β-CoV was 83.42%-99.23% at nucleotide level, and it is worth noting that the two strains from Kachin red-backed vole showed highly homology to BOV-36/IND/2015 from Indian bovine and DcCoV-HKU23 from one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Morocco, the nucleotide similarity between 97.86%-98.33%. Similarly, the identity of the 7 strains of α-CoV among the partial RdRp sequences was 94.00%-99.18% at nucleotide levels. The viral load in different tissues was measured by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The average CoV viral load in small mammalian intestinal tissue was 1.25×106copies/g, differently, the mean CoV viral load in liver, heart, lung, spleen and kidney tissue was from 1.29×103 to 4.02×103copies/g, which revealed that CoV has extensive tropism of intestinal tissue in small mammals (P < 0.0001). This result revealed the genetic diversity, epidemiology, and infective tropism of α-CoV and β-CoV in small mammals from Dali and Nujiang, which deepens the comprehending of the retention and infection of coronavirus in natural hosts.

Thermal comfort is extremely important in architecture, especially in environments with more people spending longer on studies or intellectual activities. This research describes a case study to investigate university buildings' energy and thermal performance as a part of the ANEEL program. Due to this importance, and the need to save energy in Brazilian public buildings, the ANEEL-the Brazilian Energy Electricity Regulatory Agency, launched 2016 a national program focusing on energy efficiency in public universities around the country. University offices and classrooms require high intellectual effort; thus, environmental comfort is critical for maintaining its users' physical and mental health. This study included a pre-diagnosis of the performance of the envelope, lighting, and air conditioning systems and a survey about the quality of the environments from the users' point of view. The Prescriptive Method of the Brazilian Labeling Program (PBE) for Commercial, Service, and Public Buildings (RTQ-C) assessed the building performance. Statistical analysis was applied to correlate the quality and thermal preference of the users from the PMV/PPD. The results showed a high rate of thermal discomfort in both environments of the studies, even when using air conditioning.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by memory impairment and existence of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neuroinflammation. Due to the pivotal role of oxidative damage in AD, natural antioxidative agents, such as polyphenol-rich fungi, have garnered scientific scrutiny. Here, the aqueous extract of mixed medicinal mushroom mycelia (MMMM) - Phellinus linteus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Inonotus obliquus - cultivated on a barley medium, was assessed for its anti-AD effects. A neuron-like PC12 cells, which were subjected to Zn2+, an Aβ aggregator, was employed as an in vitro AD model. The cells pretreated with or without MMMM assayed for Aβ immunofluorescence, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and antioxidant enzyme activity. 5XFAD mice were administered with 30 mg/kg/day MMMM for 8 weeks and underwent memory function tests and histologic analyses. In vitro results demonstrated that the cells pretreated with MMMM exhibited attenuation in Aβ immunofluorescence, ROS accumulation, and apoptosis, and increment in cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activity. In vivo results revealed that 5XFAD mice administered with MMMM showed attenuation in memory impairment and histologic deterioration such as Aβ plaques accumulation and neuroinflammation. MMMM might mitigate AD-associated memory impairment and cerebral pathologies, including Aβ plaque accumulation, and neuroinflammation, by impeding Aβ-induced neurotoxicity.

Laurencia seaweed species synthesize a broad range of secondary metabolites mainly terpenes, such as the elatol exhibiting ecological roles, such as defense against fouling and herbivores. Recently, an intricate cellular machinery was evidenced concerning terpenes biosynthetic pathways, storage inside corps en cerise - CC and regulated exocytosis in these species. But for seaweeds in general, the proteins involved in transmembrane transport of secondary metabolites remains unknown. Assays with Rhodamine-123 and cyclosporine A (CSA) revealed the presence of ABC transporters in CC membrane of Laurencia dendroidea. In vivo incubation assays with CSA resulted in CC morphological changes, reduced intracellular elatol concentrations and increased biofouling cover on the seaweed surface. Cultivation assays in the presence of a marine pathogenic bacteria induced the expression of ABC proteins belonging to the subfamilies ABCB, ABCD, ABCF and ABCG. The later subfamily is known to associated in the transport terpenes in plants. Our results shed new light on the role of ABC proteins in key mechanisms of the defensive system in seaweeds against fouling and herbivory.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice grains is posing a significant threat to global food security. To restrict the transport of Cd in the soil-rice system, an efficient way is to use the ionomics strate-gy. Since calcium (Ca) and Cd have similar ionic radii, their uptake and translocation may be linked in multiple aspects in rice. However, the underlying antagonistic mechanisms are still not fully understood. Therefore, we first summarized the current knowledge on the physiological and molecular footprints of Cd translocation in plants and then explored the potential antagonistic points between Ca and Cd in rice, including exchange adsorption on roots, plant cell wall compo-sition, co-transporter gene expression, and transpiration inhibition. This review provides sugges-tions for the Ca/Cd interacting study in rice and introduces the ionomics research to better control the accumulation of Cd in plants.

Piceatannol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound that is widely found in grapes, blueberries, mushrooms, passion fruit and other edible fruits and vegetables. It has a variety of biological activities and pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, antiaging, antiviral, antitumor, anticancer, antiatherosclerosis, antiparasitic, immunoregulatory, and cardiovascular protection effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiherpesvirus effects of piceatannol. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) belongs to the family Herpesviridae. PRV has a wide host range and can cause cytopathic effects (CPEs) in PK-15 cells. Therefore, PRV was used as a model to study the antiherpesvirus effect of piceatannol. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of piceatannol against PRV in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that piceatannol could reatrain PRV multiplication in PK-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0.0307 mg/mL, the IC50 was 0.0307 mg/mL, and the selectivity index (SI, CC50/IC50) was 3.68. The addition of piceatannol at different stages of PRV infection inhibited the viral adsorption and intracellular replication phases of PRV. Piceatannol significantly reduced the expression levels of the IE180, EP0, UL29, UL44, US6 and UL27 genes of PRV within 48 h, significantly reduced the expression levels of the PRV gB and gD proteins, and reduced PRV-induced apoptosis. Molecular docking showed that piceatannol had good binding activity with the PRV gB and gD proteins. The results of animal experiments in vitro indicated that piceatannol could delay the onset of disease, improve the survival rate of the mice (14.3%), reduce the viral load in the brain and kidney of the mice, alleviate the pathological changes in the mouse tissues and organs, and increase the levels of TNF-α, IEN-γ and IL-4 in the serum of the mice. These data indicate that piceatannol has good anti-PRV activity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that it could be a novel antiherpesvirus infection agent in the future.

Agroforestry homegardens are integrated arrangements of common vegetable plants in areas close to residences, which follow a structure similar to that of tropical forests, with the cultivation of multiple species to meet the basic needs of families, such as the provision of food and medicine, as well as ensuring an environment for other family activities. Considering the importance of these environments, this work aimed to address the composition and use of plant species in agroforestry homegardens, in order to support society initiatives and government policies to strengthen the management of natural resources and individual and collective well-being in the region. For this, 119 homegardens were studied in the municipalities of Belterra, Mojuí dos Campos and Santarém, in the state of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazonia, comprising five different zones (peri-urban, urban, floodplain, indigenous land and tourist land), obtaining the data via questionnaires and guided visitation by the residents. A total of 5,323 vegetal individual plants were surveyed, distributed in 188 species and 62 botanical families. The data showed that 80.5% of the individual plants are concentrated in 18.6% of the species, with no significant difference in the average of species per homegarden in the five zones. The predominance of species for food use, primarily fruit-bearing, stands out, showing a possible direction for incentive actions and/or for the ordering of public policies and programs aimed at these spaces. Most homegardens have up to 17 plant species; less than half of homegardens have species intended for medicinal use; and there is percentage parity between native plant species and those of exotic origin, where native plants stand out for shading. Agroforestry homegardens play a crucial role in the conservation and cultivation of species for food purposes, with the cultivation or maintenance of plants based on their various purposes, showing distinct profiles of distribution and choice of species, evidencing their socioeconomic and environmental importance. Thus, it is important that these land use systems are valued, investing financial resources in actions and projects aimed at maintaining and enhancing their benefits for the region.

Recent studies highlight the need to introduce objectives in Initial Teaching Education focused on the development of oral language competence (OLC). The main aim of the study is to examine activities to promote the development of OLC that are carried out in university classrooms and their evaluation, to analyze the relationship between students’ awareness of OLC work and class activities and to identify proposals to improve students’ OLC. Participants were 175 university teachers who teach on the bachelor’s degree in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and the master’s degree in Secondary Education (MSE) at seven Catalan universities. The data collection instrument was an online questionnaire with 69 questions. The results indicate that 92.5% of participants work on OLC in their subjects, that 76.5% propose activities that are specifically linked to OLC and that 65.1% of participants evaluate OLC in their subject. A total of 39.4% of participants reported the need to increase discussions to generate processes of collaborative and interdisciplinary reflection between university teachers from different areas of knowledge, among others. We conclude that professional development processes need to be designed for ITE teachers to reflect on how they help students to develop OLC from a pragmatic perspective.

The concerning rise in emergence and prevalence of resistant strains to drugs of M. tuberculosis has ,the prompted researchers to look for new and effective treatments. With this motive, biscoumarins were identified as the lead molecules on a whole-cell-based screening of several less explored low molecular weight bioactive compounds against M. tuberculosis strains. Among the screened biscoumarins, the highest dock score derivatives were synthesized (a-h) using a programmable microwave synthesizer for better yields and reaction control. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated against H37Rv, H37Ra, M. smegmatis, an MDR surrogate model, and other bacterial strains for the structure-activity response. Assessment of the synthesized library against mycobacterial strains led to the identification of compounds (f and d) as lead anti-tuberculosis agents. Compounds (f and d) exhibited less toxicity against human cell lines. At the same time, it displayed enjoyable activity wherein MIC concentrations were observed to be 16- and 32 µg/mL against the susceptible H37Rv, and H37Ra strains of M. tuberculosis and MIC value of 128 µg/mL for M. smegmatis, respectively. For mechanistic insights and identification of drug binding targets, molecular docking and dynamic simulations were employed for a panel of 16 mycobacterial enzymes essential for mycobacterial growth and survival. These in silico studies revealed the DprE1 enzyme as a druggable target for the anti-tuberculosis activity of the selected biscoumarins derivatives. Further investigation is underway in our laboratory, leading to its development as an anti-tuberculosis drug (animal model studies).

Background: Free-living amoebas (FLA), also amebas, are eukaryotic and mitochondrial microorganisms that are capable of growing in any environment, aquatic or terrestrial. These free-living amoebas are mostly non-pathogenic to humans. However, there exist some highly pathogenic species, such as Acanthamoeba — mainly T-4 genotype —, Naegleria fowleri (known as brain-eating amoeba), and Balamuthia mandrillaris. They can be called "brain-eating amoebas” because of their ability to cause substantial destruction of brain tissue. There is no standard treatment; immunological processes which predispose humans to acquire and infection and, then, a disease are unknown. In addition, there are other species of free-living amoebas such as, Sappinea pedata, Vermamoeba vermiformes, Vanellas sp,Vahlkampfia sp., and, more recently, Paravahlkampfia francinae, which is less virulent and aggressive than the first three mentioned above. Methods: All CSF samples were evaluated in our laboratory under the microscope. Monoxenic and axenic cultures were negative as well as the presence of cysts or exponential growth. PCR was negative using the FLA primers. Results: Under close observation of sterile CSF, we can see mobile forms of non-human cells. None of the observed forms has the morphotype of Acanthamoeba, Naegleria sp. or Balamuthia mandrillaris. Conclusions: Due to these findings, we know these structures can be observed in the CSF and many of them do not form cysts as others do. In addition, these microorganisms are uncultivable in conventional medium culture to FLA and impossible to detect even when using molecular tools such as PCR, using the primers for EUK A/B or 18s RNAr gene as a target.

This paper aims to list the current challenges in the study of Sports Medicine in Brazil based on a review of the literature and the author's experience as a member of a transdisciplinary team in this field, as well as to discuss methods for establishing an appropriate and organized course of health activities in this context. The authors identified four significant contemporary difficulties in the field of sports medicine in Brazil that, while minor, are complicated. There is a need to publish a greater number of national studies, generate integrated knowledge through transdisciplinary research, propose sports and movement as a tool for the prevention of degenerative conditions, and research and develop better therapeutic options through transdisciplinary research. It is expected that a transdisciplinary approach will reduce divergences between the real world and science, putting an end to dogmatism, prejudice, and theoretical thinking, increasing the scientificity of sports, bringing competitive advantages, improving training, performance, and athlete health management, and contributing to the advancement of sports medicine.

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue that requires a multifaceted approach. One potential source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is wastewater in developing countries, which often lacks proper treatment infrastructure and can release high levels of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the environment. This review article summarizes current knowledge on strategies to combat antibiotic resistance in wastewater in developing countries. Our review highlights the importance of improving wastewater treatment infrastructure to effectively remove antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, implementing measures to reduce the release of antibiotics into the environment, and monitoring and surveillance to track the presence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater. We also discuss the potential challenges and barriers to implementing these strategies and the need for further research to determine their effectiveness in real-world settings. Overall, this review highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address antibiotic resistance in wastewater in developing countries and underscores the importance of addressing this issue to protect public health.

To evaluate the nutrient load due to the grazing of laying hens in outdoor runs, soil characteristics were monitored in three Italian organic farms. For each farm, soil samples were taken from three increasing distances from the hen house and two depths and different chemical parameters were evaluated. The comparison among the results from the different distances shows that N-NO3 and Olsen P are the most affected parameters by hen faeces: both present high values with a statistically significant difference in the area close to the poultry house and for the most superficial layer. Even TKN and TOC show significant differences between the concentrations of the first layer (more concentrated) and those of the second layer (less concentrated). In general, the surface soil layer closest to the chicken house is the portion of the outdoor run most affected by chicken droppings and represents the most critical point in terms of potential environmental impact. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify the management of the outdoor run with tools that can facilitate the grazing of animals and with vegetation that can absorb nutrients by limiting leaching and run-off.

The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of the sacred groves and natural sites for tourism in local communities in Nigeria. Three communities in Inyi town were chosen as case studies: Umuome, Enugwu-Inyi, and Alum, using a purposive sampling technique. An ethnographic data collection method was adopted, using in-depth interviews and direct observation. Grove locations were located and mapped using a geographic information system (GIS) throughout the research area. The secondary data was obtained from scholarly journals. The findings showed that the sacred groves and natural sites had exceptional value for cultural and eco-tourism. There are not many works that have studied the tourism dimension of the sacred groves in the study domain. The implication of the study is that tourism aids in the preservation of the sites' integrity. The research helps the government and policymakers to adopt a policy that promotes tourism in the sacred groves. This research is important to researchers at the universities and research institutions that are seeking to carry out a related research. Conclusively, utilizing the area for tourism is a superior conservation alternative.

Disease transmission in wildlife is linked to ecosystem and human health, and host community structure can mediate pathogen spread. Here, we decompose the well-known susceptible-infected (SI) compartmental models of disease transmission for multi-host communities to explore the disease-biodiversity relationship. We examine the parameters involved in interspecific transmission and link them to the multi-host outbreak potential, R0. We partition R0 into its separate elements that can be associated with either the recipient or donating host, and show how this allows us to identify maintenance versus spillover hosts, allowing us to quantify separate stages of spillover into a novel, recipient host. We further suggest that the evolutionary relatedness between donating and recipient host may play a role in the probability a pathogen establishes in a novel species, as illustrated by the observed phylogenetic signal in the host-breadth of multi-host pathogens. We discuss how anthropogenic changes to the environment and wildlife communities, such as the reduction and fragmentation of wildlife habitat, might alter the mode and dynamics of disease transmission. This discussion contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between disease incidence and biodiversity. Through a synthesis of classic ecological theory, we illustrate how pathogens can affect host populations through phenomena such as in/direct symbioses, that can save a pathogen from extinction or suppress competing host species, but we highlight how host diversity can simultaneosuly influence the survival and success of the pathogen, suggesting a complex feedback between hosts and parasites in multi-host communities. Our review provides a guide to common derivations of interspecific transmission, and underscores the critical connections between community and disease-ecology.

Background: Studies have linked bats to outbreaks in human populations such as SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV and the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Method: We carried out a longitudinal survey from August 2020 to July 2021 at two sites in Zimbabwe with bat-human interactions: Magweto cave and Chirundu farm. A total 1732 and 1866 individual bat faecal samples were collected respectively. Coronaviruses and bat species were amplified using PCR systems respectively. Results: Analysis of the coronavirus sequences revealed a high genetic diversity and we identified different sub-viral groups in the Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus genus. The established sub-viral groups fell within the described Alphacoronavirus sub-genera: Decacovirus, Duvinacovirus, Rhinacovirus, Setracovirus and Minunacovirus and for Betacoronavirus sub-genera: Sarbecoviruses, Merbecovirus and Hibecovirus. Our results showed an overall proportion for CoV positive PCR tests of 23.7% at Chirundu site, 16.5% and 38.9% at Magweto site for small insectivorous bats and Macronycteris gigas respectively. Conclusion: The higher risk of bat coronaviruses exposure for humans ranged from December to March in relation to higher viral shedding peaks of coronaviruses in the parturition, lactation and weaning months of the bat populations at both sites. We also highlight the need to further document viral infectious risk in human/domestic animal populations surrounding bat habitats in Zimbabwe.

RTP801/REDD1 is a stress-regulated protein whose levels are increased in several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases (HD). RTP801 downregulation ameliorates behavioral abnormalities in several mouse models of these disorders. In HD, RTP801 mediates mutant huntingtin (mhtt) toxicity in in vitro models and its levels are increased in human iPSCs, human postmortem putamen samples and in striatal synaptosomes from mouse models of the disease. Here, we investigated the role of RTP801 in the hippocampal pathophysiology of HD. We found that RTP801 levels are increased in the hippocampus of HD patients in correlation with gliosis markers. Although RTP801 expression is not altered in the hippocampus of the R6/1 mouse model of HD, neuronal RTP801 silencing in the dorsal hippocampus with shRNA-containing AAV particles ameliorates cognitive alterations. This recovery is associated with a partial rescue of synaptic markers and with a reduction of inflammatory events, especially microgliosis. Altogether, our results indicate that RTP801 could be a marker of hippocampal neuroinflammation in HD patients and a promising therapeutic target of the disease.

The Wnt pathway plays an essential role in the initiation and progression of various types of cancer. ROR1 and ROR2 are Wnt receptors that are critical for β-catenin-independent (non-canonical) pathways and have been linked to processes driving tumor development and progression, such as cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and therapy resistance. Both receptors have garnered interest as potential therapeutic targets since they are largely absent in adult tissue, are overexpressed in several cancers, and, as members of the receptor tyrosine kinase family, are easier to target than all other components of the pathway. Unlike ROR1 which always promotes tumorigenesis, ROR2 has a very complex role in cancer acting either to promote or inhibit tumor progression in different tumor types. In the present article, we summarize the findings on ROR2 expression in cancer patients and its impact on clinical outcome. Further, we review the biological processes and signaling pathways regulated by ROR2 that explain its dual role in cancer. Finally, we describe the ongoing strategies to target ROR2 in cancer.

Placental hypervascularization has been reported in pregnancy-related pathologies such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Nevertheless, the underlying causes behind this abnormality are not well understood. In this study, we addressed the expression of SUCNR1 (cognate succinate receptor) in human placental endothelial cells and hypothesized that succinate-SUCNR1 axis might play a role in the placental hypervascularization reported in GDM. We measured significantly higher succinate levels in placental tissue lysates from women with GDM relative to matched controls. In parallel, SUCNR1 protein expression was upregulated in GDM tissue lysates as well as in isolated diabetic fetoplacental arterial endothelial cells (FpECAds). A positive correlation of SUCNR1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels in tissue lysates indicated a potential link between succinate-SUCNR1 axis and placental angiogenesis. In our in-vitro experiments, succinate prompted hallmarks of angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) such as proliferation, migration and spheroid sprouting. These results were further validated in fetoplacental arterial endothelial cells (FpECAs), where succinate induced endothelial tube formation. VEGF gene expression was increased in response to succinate in both HUVECs and FpECAs. Yet, knockdown of SUCNR1 in HUVECs led to suppression of VEGF gene expression and abrogated the migratory ability and wound healing in response to succinate. In conclusion, our data underline SUCNR1 as a promising metabolic target in human placenta and as a potential driver of enhanced placental angiogenesis in GDM.

There is growing recognition of the adverse effects of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and eating disorder (ED) symptoms on adolescent health. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ED symptoms, BID, and their relationship in adolescents from public schools in Southern Brazil. A total of 782 schoolchildren (male: n=420, female: n=362); age: 15 ± 0,4 years) answered a self-administrated questionnaire to identify sociodemographic data. Children´s Figure Rating Scale was adopted to identify body image and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was applied to investigate ED symptoms. Inferential statistics and hierarchical model-controlled logistic regression were used for association between variables. Most of the schoolchildren reported being satisfied with their bodies. However, we observed a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction among girls for being overweight and thinness among boys. Female students and students from schools located in the central area of the city showed higher chances of developing ED symptoms, and the absence of symptoms of ED appeared to act as a protective factor against BID in schoolchildren. Results of this study show the need to reflect on these factors that influence the development of ED and non-acceptance of their own body in a population concerned with their physical appearance.

Vision is our primary sense as the human eye is the gateway for more than 65% of information reaching the human brain. Today’s increased exposure to different wavelengths and intensities of light from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) sources could induce retinal degeneration and accompanying neuronal cell death. Damage induced by chronic phototoxic reactions occurring in the retina accumulates over years and it has been suggested to be responsible for the etiology of many debilitating ocular conditions. In this work, we examined how LED stimulation affects vision by monitoring changes in the expression of death and survival factors as well as microglial activation in LED-induced damage (LID) of the retinal tissue. We found an LED exposure-induced increase in the mRNA levels of major apoptosis-related markers -BAX, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 and an accompanying wide-spread microglial and Caspase-3 activation. Everyday LED light exposure was accounted for all the described changes in the retinal tissue of mice in this study, indicating that overuse of non-filtered direct LED light can have detrimental effects on the human retina as well.

Volcanism powered by tidal forces inside celestial bodies can provide enough energy to keep important solvents for living systems in the liquid phase. Moreover, tidal forces and their environmental consequences may strongly influence habitability of planets and other celestial bodies and may result in special forms of live and living conditions. A prerequisite to calculate such tidal interactions and consequences is depending on simulations for tidal accelerations in a multi-body system. Unfortunately, from measurements in many extrasolar planetary systems only few physical and orbital parameters are well enough known for investigated celestial bodies. For calculating tidal acceleration vectors under missing most orbital parameter exactly, a simulation method is developed that is only based on a few basic parameters, easily measurable even in extrasolar planetary systems. Such a method as being presented here, allows finding a relation between the tidal acceleration vectors and potential heating inside celestial objects. Using values and results of our model approach to our solar system as a “gold standard” for feasibility allowed us to classify this heating in relation to different forms of volcanism. This “gold standard” approach gave us a classification measure for the relevance of tidal heating in other extrasolar systems with a reduced availability of exact physical parameters. We would help to estimate conditions for the identification of potential candidates for further sophisticated investigations by more complex established methods like viscoelastic multi-body theories. As a first example, we applied the procedures developed here to the extrasolar planetary system TRAPPIST-1 as an example to check our working hypothesis.

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin. It is a non-toxic, biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable polymer. Due to its properties, chitosan has found applications in several and different fields such as agriculture, food industry, medicine, paper fabrication, textile industry, and water treatment. In addition to these properties, chitosan has a good film-forming ability which allows it to be widely used for the development of sensors and biosensors. This review is focused on the use of chitosan for the formulation of electrochemical chemosensors. It also aims to provide an overview of the advantages of using chitosan as an immobilization platform for biomolecules by highlighting its applications in electrochemical biosensors. Finally, applications of electro-chemical chitosan-based chemosensors and biosensors in food safety are illustrated

The paper presents the identification and classification of steel cord failures in the conveyor belt core based on an analysis of a two-dimensional image of magnetic field changes recorded using the Diagbelt system around scanned failures in the test belt. The obtained set of identified changes in images obtained for numerous devices parameters settings were the base for statistical analysis. It makes it possible to determine the Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient between the parameters being changed and the image of the failures. In the second stage of the research, artificial intelligence methods were applied to construct a multilayer neural network (MLP) and to teach its appropriate identification of damage. In both methods were used the same data sets, which made it possible to compare methods.

Severe malaria in adults is not well studied in Sahelian Africa. Clinical features and mortality associated with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adult patients hospitalized in Kiffa, southern Mauritania, were analysed. Patients over 15 years old admitted for severe malaria between August 2016 and December 2019 were included in the present retrospective study. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used to define severe malaria. The presenting clinical characteristics and outcome were compared. Of 4266 patients hospitalized during the study period, 573 (13.4%) had a positive rapid diagnostic test for malaria, and 99 (17.3%; mean age, 37.5 years; range 15–79 years; sex-ratio M/F, 2.1) satisfied the criteria for severe malaria. On admission, the following signs and symptoms were observed in more than one-fourth of the patients: fever (98%), impairment of consciousness (81.8%), multiple convulsions (70.7%), cardiovascular collapse (61.6%), respiratory distress (43.4%), severe anaemia ≤ 80 g/L (36.4%), haemoglobinuria (27.3%), and renal failure (25.3%). Patients were treated with parenteral quinine or artemether. Fourteen (14.1%) patients died. Multiple convulsions, respiratory distress, severe anaemia, haemoglobinuria, acute renal failure, jaundice, and abnormal bleeding occurred more frequently (P < 0.05) in deceased patients. Mortality due to severe falciparum malaria is high among adults in southern Mauritania. An adoption of the WHO-recommended first-line treatment for severe malaria, i.e. parenteral artesunate, is required to lower the mortality rate associated with severe malaria.

The primary purpose of the study was the determination of the spatial day-to-day variability of extreme temperatures in Poland and the dependency of large temperature changes on atmospheric circulation in accordance with the Grosswetterlagen (GWL) classification. The goal was implemented based on data from 1966 to 2015, made available by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute. Day-to-day changes in maximum and minimum temperatures were designated with a rate of ≥ 6 °C (large) and with a rate of ≥ 12 °C (very large) and their spatial distribution was presented. Finally, the analysis of the dependency of considerable temperature changes on atmospheric circulation in accordance with the Grosswetterlagen (GWL) classification was conducted. The obtained results showed that in Poland in the period 1966-2015 the number of large changes in both Tmax and Tmin slightly increased, although the fluctuations show spatial variability. Large changes in Tmax occur more frequently in spring, and in Tmin in winter. Large changes in Tmax and Tmin are mainly recorded during cyclonic circulation, however, the anticyclonic circulation types favour especially large decreases in Tmin.

The article is devoted to biological models using recurrence sequences, which are connected with the harmonic progression 1, 1/2, …, 1/n, and some cooperative properties of genomes. The harmonic progression is itself one of the recurrence sequences based on the harmonic mean. This progression appears in the hyperbolic rules of oligomer cooperative organization in eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. This allows thinking that the harmonic progression is also related to inherited physiological systems, which must be structurally consistent with the genetic coding system for their transmission to descendants and survival in evolution. The harmonic progression is one of historically known mathematical series, whose features were studied by Pythagoras, Leibniz, Newton, Euler, Fourier, Dirichlet, Riemann. It is widely used in many known algorithms and is closely related to some other important mathematical objects, for example, the function of the natural logarithm and harmonic numbers. Accordingly, the article describes the possibilities of using these interrelated mathematical objects to model biological structures, including logarithmic spirals and some other. Modeling inherited spiral configurations seems to be a particularly urgent task, since they are extremely common at all levels of organization of living bodies and, according to Goethe, are lines of life. The principle of a recurrence similarity, that is a special similarity of parts and transformations presented in recurrence sequences of numbers and matrix operators (the scale similarity and scale transformations are only particular cases of such similarity), is considered as one of the key principles of structural organization of living bodies.

The aim of the present research to identify the differences between the social acceptance, attention, and emotional and social loneliness feeling in women suffering from Alzheimer's and normal. The sample was analyzed in this study included 39 women age 51 to 69 years with the scope of that 19 of them with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 18 people had normal cognitive function and healthy in the city of Gorgan in the winter 1395 in the study. Identification of Alzheimer's sufferers and healthy based on the diagnosis of the physician and cognitive status questionnaire (SPMSQ) and they were asked to answer the social acceptance of the scale questionnaire Marlow and Craven, affective and social adults alone feel scale (SELSA-S), Spotlight questionnaire (FAQ). The data using analysis of variance, multivariate factor test method (MANOVA) were studied. The results of this test indicate that it is totally focused attention between petty scale, the Spotlight focused on the notion of social acceptance of social interaction and social-emotional feeling lonely scale in women suffering from Alzheimer's and normal according to the analysis of the one-way variance of a significant difference in the context of manova level (P < 0.001). But in the other scale retail spotlight focused on his research, a significant difference was not observed. According to the results of the research in general can be found stating that to provide family-centered care and the implementation of the health-welfare interventions by relevant organs with different educational, supportive, emotional and consultation approaches, can be effective on health promotion of public health and the actual need in the community.

Diarrhoea contributes significantly in the under-five childhood morality and mortality worldwide. This cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Ujjain, India from July 2015 to June 2016. Consecutive children aged 1 month to 12 years having “some dehydration” and “dehydration” according to World Health Organization classification were eligible to be included in the study. Other signs and symptoms used to assess severe dehydration were capillary refill time, urine output, and abnormal respiratory pattern. A questionnaire was administered to identify risk factors for severe dehydration, which was the primary outcome. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to detect independent risk factors for severe dehydration. The study included 332 children, with mean ± standard deviation age of 25.62 ± 31.85 months; out of which, 70%(95% confidence interval [CI] 65 to 75) were diagnosed to have severe dehydration. The independent risk factors for severe dehydration were: child not exclusive breast fed in the first six months of life (AOR 5.67, 95%CI 2.51 to 12.78; p<0.001), history of not receiving oral rehydration solution before hospitalization (AOR 1.34, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.78; p=0.038), history of not receiving oral zinc before hospitalization (AOR 2.66, 95%CI 1.68 to 4.21; p<0.001) and living in overcrowded conditions (AOR 5.52, 95%CI 2.19 to 13.93; p<0.001). The study identified many risk factors associated with severe childhood dehydration; many of them are modifiable though known and effective public health interventions.

From professors overwhelmed by anxiety-driven e-mails from students, through faculty and administrative staff wasting valued time on e-mail minutia, misuse of electronic mail in the academy has become ubiquitous. After a brief overview of the unique features of e-mail communication, this study provides insight and guidelines to plan new educational activities on healthy and productive utilization of e-mail in the academy of the digital era. The overall aim is to prioritize scholarly deep work by focusing on teaching and research work, freeing working time wasted on unproductive use of e-mail.

Managing household solid waste is an urban problem in recent years. To tackle this problem, recycling is one of the most effective methods applicable in waste management. Recycling in the city of Laramie in Wyoming has a history that dates to 1983 with the establishment of Ark Recycling center. Laramie officially started its curbside recycling services in September 2011 and In April 2012, the city declared its long-term goal to achieve 40% diversion rate by 2030. The study involved a mail-back survey to understand public participation landscape and factors affecting recycling behaviors and attitudes of residents in Laramie. Quantitative result of the survey responses, civic engagement score, recycling importance score recycling satisfaction and recycling behavior scores were created to understand these attributes. In addition, three key informant interviews were conducted to explore efforts of the city, the University of Wyoming and the Ark Regional Services. Findings of the study show that more than 80% of the survey respondents indicated environmental concern was the major motivation to join recycling with high level of recycling importance and satisfaction. The Study further uncovered hints that Laramie needs to introduce an aggressive educational policy, incentive policies and a Master Plan to meet its 40% waste diversion rate by 2030 by maintaining stronger public participation in its planning process and community outreach programs.

Ransomware, a combination of "ransom" and "malware," is a type of malicious software designed to encrypt or block access to a victim's data or system, demanding a ransom for its release Initially targeting individuals, ransomware has evolved to attack businesses for greater financial gain. It mainly exists in two forms: encrypting ransomware, which holds data hostage, and non-encrypting ransomware, which blocks system access and displays a ransom note. The energy sector has been notably targeted by ransomware, exemplified by the 2021 attack on Colonial Pipeline by the DarkSide group, which led to a temporary shutdown and a significant fuel shortage on the US East Coast. Similarly, in 2023, Russian hackers using LockBit ransomware disrupted Royal Mail, halting international deliveries and incurring millions in recovery costs despite no ransom payment. These incidents underscore the need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies that combine human vigilance with advanced technologies like AI and machine learning. By adopting a multi-layered protection approach, organizations can better prepare for and mitigate the risks posed by ransomware attacks safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring business continuity.

Federated Learning (FL) represents a promising distributed learning methodology, particularly suitable for dynamic and heterogeneous environments characterized by the presence of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and Edge Computing infrastructures. In this context, FL allows you to train machine learning models directly on edge devices, mitigating data privacy concerns and reducing latency due to transmitting data to central servers. However, the heterogeneity of computational resources, the variability of network connections, and the mobility of IoT devices pose significant challenges to the efficient implementation of FL. This work explores advanced techniques for dynamic model adaptation and heterogeneous data management in edge computing scenarios, proposing innovative solutions to improve the robustness and efficiency of federated learning. We present an innovative solution based on Kubernetes which enables the fast application of FL models to Heterogeneous Architectures. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposals can improve the performance of FL in IoT and edge environments, offering new perspectives for the practical implementation of decentralized intelligent systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing head and neck cancer (HNC) care by providing innovative tools that enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatment strategies. This review highlights the advancements in AI technologies, including deep learning and natural language processing, and their applications in HNC. The integration of AI with imaging techniques, genomics, and electronic health records is explored, emphasizing its role in early detection, biomarker discovery, and treatment planning. Despite noticeable progress, challenges such as data quality, algorithmic bias, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration remain. Emerging innovations like explainable AI, AI-powered robotics, and real-time monitoring systems are poised to further advance the field. Addressing these challenges and fostering collaboration among AI experts, clinicians, and researchers is crucial for developing equitable and effective AI applications. The future of AI in HNC holds significant promise, offering potential breakthroughs in diagnostics, personalized therapies, and improved patient outcomes.

We utilized camera traps to assess animal diversity, relative abundance, and anthropogenic activities in the Jhalana Reserve Forest (JRF), located amidst Jaipur, with a population of 3.9 million people. Between November 2017 and November 2019, camera traps were strategically deployed in both the tourist zone and peripheral areas, capturing 16,328 photos. This study represents the first comprehensive baseline assessment of animal diversity in JRF, documenting a total of 39 species, including 18 bird species, 14 mammals, and six domestic species, alongside human activity. Among the 14 mammal species, seven were carnivores. Notably, we identified 25 individual Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) during 2017-2018, comprising 8 males and 17 females, highlighting the leopard as the apex predator in JRF. Concurrently, domestic animals accompanied by humans were observed within JRF. However, rigorous conservation efforts and patrols by the Rajasthan Forest Department resulted in a notable decline in human intrusion, reducing from 28.0% in 2017-18 to 3.9% in 2018-2019, with domestic animal activity reaching zero in the latter period. Consequently, the relative abundance of wildlife species increased during the study period of 2018-2019, underscoring the positive impact of conservation strategies implemented by authorities. Our findings affirm that camera traps effectively establish baseline data, assess animal diversity, and evaluate relative abundance in reserve forests situated within human-dominated landscapes. This study provides critical insights to inform the development and implementation of conservation strategies in similar protected areas.

Globalization is a basic feature of contemporary digital society related to increasing level of informatization, electroniztion and communications through the global network and share different information. Regardless of the many advantages of the digital age, related to the intellectualization of various activities and objects (e-governance, e-health, social computing, smart home, smart city, etc.), the need for secure protection of users' privacy should not be overlooked. In this reason, the goal of the article is to determine the specific features of the main components of the globalization and the impact on the privacy and data protection. Based on the analysis of possible impacts the main recommendation for adequate data security and privacy protection are determined.

Community engagement in climate action and adaptation planning is an essential prerequisite for overcoming existing and projected environmental injustices associated with the negative impacts of climate change. Diversity and inclusion of stakeholders are crucial for addressing equity both in the development and implementation of local climate plans. Our study attempts to evaluate and compare consideration of equity in climate action and climate adaptation plans of Michigan cities and its association with a diversity of stakeholders involved in the planning process. Data analysis is based on the content of eight municipal climate action and/or climate adaptation plans, related documents, and interviews with city planners along with community activists. Data derived from climate action and adaptation plans were also compared to the strategies outlined in the Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu, which integrates climate science and indigenous knowledge. The study concludes that municipalities that engage more diverse groups of stakeholders appear to be more attentive to social equity and more likely to offer specific climate action and adaptation measures focusing on vulnerable groups. Integration of indigenous knowledge could provide valuable insights for municipalities through collaboration with tribal communities and climate adaptation experts.

This study investigates the impact of AI regulations and adoption on labor markets and employment in the USA. In order to achieve the study's objective, a robust econometric approach was employed using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to address multicollinearity among the variables. The regression analysis incorporated principal components representing overall AI adoption and education (PC1), AI innovation and academic output (PC2), economic growth (PC3), and unemployment and AI strategies (PC4). The analysis utilized heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors to ensure reliable coefficient estimates and tested for stationarity to confirm the stability of the time series data. Data were collected from 2010 to 2022, encompassing key AI-related and economic indicators. The results reveal that higher AI adoption and education levels initially lead to job displacement, negatively impacting labor market metrics. Similarly, AI innovation and economic growth driven by AI do not immediately translate into job creation, reflecting transitional challenges. However, the strategic implementation of AI significantly mitigates these adverse effects and enhances employment conditions. The study finds that comprehensive AI strategies, robust regulatory frameworks, and effective workforce retraining and upskilling programs are essential for supporting labor market stability and promoting employment growth. Based on the findings, the study recommended that there is the need to develop and implement comprehensive AI strategies that include robust regulatory frameworks to support workforce transitions. Policies should focus on retraining and upskilling programs to help displaced workers adapt to new AI-driven roles.

In the era of Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring the security and privacy of patient data within distributed health systems is paramount. This research delves into the challenges posed by these advancements and explores viable solutions, focusing notably on blockchain technology, data encryption methods, and access control mechanisms. Employing a comprehensive literature review approach, the study synthesizes current research findings, complemented by analyses of existing frameworks and case studies from healthcare organizations, offering practical insights. Interviews with cybersecurity experts and healthcare IT professionals provide nuanced perspectives on current security issues and emerging trends. Through qualitative and quantitative data analyses, the study generates recommendations aimed at enhancing patient data security. These include the adoption of new frameworks and innovative technologies to fortify healthcare data systems. By addressing these critical aspects, this research aims to significantly contribute to the advancement of a more secure and efficient healthcare ecosystem in today's digital landscape.

SerpinB3, a member of the serine-protease inhibitor family, has emerged as a crucial player in various physiological and pathological processes. Initially identified as an oncogenic factor in squamous cell carcinomas, SerpinB3's intricate involvement extends from fibrosis progression and cancer to cell protection in acute oxidative stress conditions. This review explores the multi-faceted roles of SerpinB3, focusing on its implications in fibrosis, metabolic syndrome, carcino-genesis, and immune system impairment. Furthermore, its involvement in tissue protection from oxidative stress and wound healing underscores its potential as diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Recent studies have described the therapeutic potential of targeting SerpinB3 through its upstream regulators, offering novel strategies for cancer treatment development. Overall, this review underscores the importance of further research to fully elucidate the mechanisms of ac-tion of SerpinB3 and to exploit its therapeutic potential across various medical conditions.

The lexical analysis of seminal policy-to-diplomacy documents from the socio-environmental discourse of the last fifty year agendas allowed examining the evolution of five themes: resources/waste, pollution, social and economic development, justice, and health. Contextual affinities were strongest between resources, pollution, and health and are linked to societal trends and pressures. On those grounds, the central role of resource stewardship according to nature’s physical limits is highlighted, and dedicated concepts, analytical frameworks, and methodologies with different degrees of sustainability are analyzed. To reframe the identified social and economic problems, the work proposes criteria and choices that (1) allow to compare the dynamics of socioecological states across the planet, (2) help matching the pace of socioecological change by addressing path dependencies through participation and engagement of communities, and (3) enable stakeholders to make trade-offs and take decisions in specific social, economic, political, and cultural contexts. The prioritization of resource justice and responsibility becomes a societal project : from Wellfare State to commonfare communities.

The emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is revolutionizing healthcare. This dynamic healthcare environment relies on Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT) and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technologies. Economic, social, and technological opportunities from the IoHT are transforming healthcare systems. This article covers the history, present condition, and future prospects of IoHT, as well as its topologies, platforms, services, applications, market trends, and solution types. It examines security issues, requirements, and a threat taxonomy, studying smart healthcare privacy and security. It explores future research and the challenges IoHT-based solutions face. International health rules and regulations based on the IoT and their social and economic effects on long-term development are also examined. Integrating IoMT into healthcare infrastructures enhances scalability, efficiency, reliability, and accuracy. Through communication networks and data-processing algorithms, IoMT creates smart hardware and software platforms that enhance decision-making. IoMT devices' low resources raise privacy and security concerns. Security and privacy issues are organised by healthcare IoMT adoption in this study. We give an extensive attack taxonomy against the IoMT infrastructure, encompassing devices, security mechanisms, and their pros and cons. Furthermore, it describes the privacy and security requirements for any unique security solutions against IoMT's multiple attack vectors. This article explains the complicated difficulties, security concerns, and future research pathways needed to safeguard and ensure the long-term expansion of these game-changing technologies in the healthcare ecosystem.

The primary objective of this study is to examine the extent of financial integration between Latin American and US financial markets, particularly in light of recent efforts to foster integration through trade agreements. Spanning from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2019, the sample focuses on major market indices and key sectors. Financial integration is quantified using a DCC multivariate GARCH model, incorporating a smooth transition model, structural breaks, and regression-based approaches. Results indicate increased comovement with the US for main market indices in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, while Brazil shows a decrease. Similar trends are observed in sectoral analyses. The study also reveals heightened correlation post-trade agreements. Structural break analysis highlights significant shifts in dynamic correlations for countries with US free trade agreements. These findings support the argument of increased financial integration, bearing significance for portfolio diversification and international policy formulation.

Obesity is invariably accompanied by autonomic dysfunction, although data in pediatric populations are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies (totaling 1102 participants) comparing obese and normal-weight subjects (5-18 years of age), defined as body mass index &gt;95th or &lt;85th percentile, respectively. Using a random-effects model, we report the standardized mean differences (SMD) of sympathetic and vagal indices, calculated by heart rate variability. Autonomic dysfunction was present in the obese group, based on the average SMD in the standard deviation of sinus intervals (at -0.5340), and on the ratio of low (LF) to high (HF) frequency spectra (at 0.5735). There was no difference in sympathetic activity, but the heterogeneity among the relevant studies weakens this result. SMD in HF (at 0.5876), in the root mean square of successive differences between intervals (at -0.6333), and in the number of times successive intervals exceeded 50ms divided by the total number of intervals (at -0.5867) indicated lower vagal activity in the obesity group. Thus, autonomic dysfunction is present in obese children and adolescents, attributed to lower vagal activity. Further studies on autonomic function are needed in various pediatric cohorts, placing emphasis on sympathetic activity.

Hybrid organic/inorganic conducting and magnetic composites of core–shell type have been prepared by in-situ coating of nickel microparticles with polypyrrole. Three series of syntheses have been made. In the first, pyrrole was oxidized with ammonium peroxydisulfate in water in the presence of various amounts of nickel and the composites contained up to 83 wt% of this metal. The similar syntheses in 0.1 M sulfuric acid followed. Finally, the composites with polypyrrole nanotubes were prepared in water in the presence of structure-guiding methyl orange dye. FTIR and Raman spectroscopies confirmed the formation of polypyrrole. The resistivity of composite powders of the order of tens to hundreds Ω cm was monitored as a function of pressure up to 10 MPa. The resistivity of composites slightly increased with increasing content of conducting nickel. This apparent paradox is explained by the coating of nickel particles, which prevents their contacts and generation of metallic conducting pathways. Electrical properties were practically independent of the way of composite preparation or nickel fraction and were controlled by polypyrrole phase. On the contrary, magnetic properties were determined exclusively by nickel content. The composites were used as a solid phase to prepare a magnetorheological fluid. The test showed better performance when compared with a different nickel system.

It is generally accepted that atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. The link between atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via metabolic, inflammatory, and immunoregulatory pathways is well established. The aim of our review was to summarize the associations between selected microRNAs (miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and atherosclerosis, psoriasis, T2DM, and RA. MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNA molecules involved in cell signaling, intracellular communication, and gene expression. We reviewed the role of miR-146a, miR-210, miR-143, miR-223, miR-126, miR-21, miR-155, miR-145, miR-200, miR-133, miR-135, miR-221, miR-424, and let-7 in atherosclerosis, psoriasis, T2DM, and RA. LncRNAs are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are involved in cellular processes such as apoptosis, metabolism, inflammation, cell differentiation, and proliferation. We evaluated the role of lncRNA-H19, lncRNA-MEG3, lncRNA-UCA1, and lncRNA-XIST in atherosclerosis and psoriasis, T2DM, and RA. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a method of intracellular signal transduction. Their function depends on surface expression, cargo, and the cell from which they originate.

Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering are interdisciplinary fields that combine cell biology, material science, and bioengineering to develop therapies for tissue repair and regeneration. This field has made significant advances in recent years, particularly in the use of stem cells and biomaterials. Advancements in cell-based therapies have involved the use of cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. Tissue engineering involves using scaffolds and growth factors to promote tissue regeneration. However, a major challenge in this field is the formation of adhesions, which can cause complications, such as intestinal obstruction and chronic pain. Adhesion barriers are used to prevent adhesion of tissues and organs during recovery, thereby reducing the risk of complications. Anti-adhesion materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic polymers, are used to create a physical barrier between tissues and prevent adhesion. These materials can be used alone or in combination, but their effectiveness varies.

Next-generation cancer and oncology research needs to take full advantage of the multi-modal structured, or graph, information, with the graph datatypes ranging from molecular structures to spatially resolved imaging and digital pathology to biological networks to knowledge graphs. Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) efficiently combine the graph structure representations with the high predictive performance of deep learning, especially on the large multi-modal datasets. In this review article, we survey the landscape of recent (2020-present) GNN applications in the context of cancer and oncology research, and delineate six currently predominant research areas. Subsequently, we identify the most promising directions for future research. We compare GNNs with graphical models and "non-structured" deep learning, and devise the guidelines for cancer and oncology researchers or physician-scientists asking the question of whether they should adopt the GNN methodology in their research pipelines.

This paper delves into the intricate interactions of photons in the realms of gravity and antigravity. Photons, being fundamental particles of light, exhibit remarkable behaviors as they traverse through the cosmos. They journey through the vast expanses of the universe until they venture into the enigmatic invisible realm. The photon's encounters with gravity and antigravity are explored in detail. When confronting the gravitational influence of massive objects, such as celestial bodies, photons neither gain nor lose energy, but they exchange momentum with the external gravitational field while steadfastly preserving their intrinsic momentum. Intriguingly, the photon's interaction with the mysterious force of antigravity, propelled by dark energy, presents an irreversible transformation. The consequences of this interaction are profound, as photons undergo a cosmic redshift of a magnitude greater than that induced by gravity or other redshift mechanisms. This distinctive effect manifests as the photon departs from the gravitational embrace of galaxies and embarks on a journey beyond their boundaries, where the domain of zero gravity commences. Furthermore, the paper elucidates the dynamics of external forces exerted by massive objects on photons during their interactions. These forces momentarily carry the photons while they engage with the massive objects. Yet, despite this external assistance, the photons maintain their original momentum. Notably, within a gravitational field, the effective deviation from this transportation remains zero, reaffirming the photon's commitment to its initial trajectory.

Training researchers and stakeholders is crucial to mitigate the risks associated with toxins and venom. By sharing knowledge on the responsible use of toxins, venoms, chemicals, and data from biosecurity and cyberbiosecurity perspectives, we empower laboratorians to make informed choices. We need to remember that cultivating a culture of sustainable biosafety and biosecurity is vital for one health. This technical note highlights the essence of safeguarding biosecurity and cyberbiosecurity in toxin and venom research laboratories workshop designed and implemented to boost biosecurity.

It has long been known that phytohormone auxin plays a promoting role in tuber formation and stress tolerance in potatoes. Our study aimed to identify and characterize the complete sets of auxin-related genes that presumably constitute the entire auxin signaling system in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The corresponding genes were retrieved from sequenced genomes of the doubled monoploid S. tuberosum DM1-3-516-R44 (DM) of the Phureja group, the heterozygous diploid line RH89-039-16 (RH), and the autotetraploid cultivar Otava. Both canonical and noncanonical auxin signaling pathways were considered. Phylogenetic and domain analyzes of deduced proteins were supplemented by their expression profiling and 3D molecular modeling. The canonical and ABP1-mediated pathways of auxin signaling appeared to be well conserved. Total number of potato genes/proteins presumably involved in canonical auxin signaling is 46 and 108 in monoploid DM and tetraploid Otava, respectively. Among studied potatoes, spectra of expressed genes obviously associated with auxin signaling were partly cultivar-specific and quite different from analogous spectrum in Arabidopsis. Most of the noncanonical pathways found in Arabidopsis appeared to be low probable in potato. This was equally applied to all cultivars used irrespective of their ploidy. Thus, some important features of the (noncanonical) auxin signaling pathways may be variable and species-specific.

This paper aims to unify q-derivative/q-integral and h-derivative/h-integral in a single definition, this will be called q−h-derivative/q−h-integral. These notions are further extended on finite interval [a,b] in the form of left and right q−h-derivatives and q−h-integrals. Some inequalities are studied for q−h-integrals which are directly connected with well known results. In diverse fields of science and engineering the theory based on q-derivatives/q-integrals and h-derivatives/h-integrals can be unified by using the concept of q−h-derivative/q−h-integral.

Deficiencies of vitamin B12 (B12) and folate (FA) are of particular interest due to their pleiotropic role in 1-carbon metabolism. In addition to adverse birth outcomes, deficiencies of B12 and FA, or an imbalance in FA/B12 status, are linked to metabolic disorders. Indian diets that are predominantly plant food-based could be deficient in these vitamins, but there are no national estimates of the prevalence of B12 and FA deficiency in Indian children and adolescents, nor of their associations with age, sex, and growth indicators. The recent Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS-2016-18) provided estimates of the prevalence of B12 and FA deficiency at the national and state level among preschool (1-4y: 9,976 and 11,004 children respectively), school-age children (5-9y: 12,156 and 14,125) and adolescents (10-19y: 11,748 and 13,621). Serum B12 and erythrocyte FA were measured by the direct chemiluminescence method and their deficiency was defined using WHO cut-offs. The prevalence of B12 and FA deficiency was high among adolescents (31.0%, CI: 28.7-33.5 and 35.6%, CI: 33.1-8.2), compared to school-age (17.3%, CI: 15.4-19.3 and 27.6%, CI: 25.5-29.9) and preschool children (13.8%, CI: 11.7-16.2 and 22.8%, CI: 20.5-25.2, respectively). The prevalence of both B12 and FA deficiency was significantly higher by 8 and 5% points respectively, in adolescent boys compared to girls. The prevalence of B12 deficiency was higher in moderately stunted school children (by 18.9% points) than in normal children, but no such difference was observed for FA deficiency. There was wide regional variation in the prevalence of B12 and FA deficiency, but no rural-urban differences were observed across all age groups. The national prevalence of B12 deficiency among preschool or school-age children was <20% (the cut-off that indicates a public health problem). However, FA deficiency in these age groups and both FA and B12 deficiencies in adolescents were >20%, which warrants further investigation.

Nickelate superconductors, R1-xAxNiO2 (where R is a rare earth metal and A = Sr, Ca), experimentally discovered in 2019 exhibit many unexplained mysteries as the existence of a superconducting state with Tc (up to 18 K) in thin films and its absence in bulk materials. Another unexplained mystery of nickelates is their temperature-dependent upper critical field, Bc2T, which can be nicely fitted to two-dimensional (2D) models; however the deduced film thickness, dsc,GL, exceeds the physical film thickness, dsc, by a manifold. To address the latter, it should be noted that 2D models assume that dsc is less than the in-plane and out-of-plane ground state coherence lengths, dsc&lt;ξab0 and dsc&lt;ξc0, respectively, and, in addition, that the inequality ξc0&lt;ξab0 satisfies. Analysis of the reported experimental Bc2T data showed that at least one of these conditions does not satisfy for R1-xAxNiO2 films. This implies that nickelate films are not 2D superconductors, even despite though that the superconducting state is observed only in thin films. Based on this, here we proposed analytical three dimensional (3D) model for global data fit of in-plane and out-of-plane Bc2T in nickelates. The model is based on a heuristic expression for temperature dependent coherence length anisotropy: γξT=γξ01-1a×TTc, where a&gt;1 is a unitless free-fitting parameter. The proposed expression for γξT, perhaps, has a much broader application because it has been successfully applied to bulk pnictide and chalcogenide superconductors.

The objective of this research article is to determine if social and cultural capital are factors that cause inequalities in the level of knowledge in civic and citizenship education, between Latin American and European countries. To achieve this purpose, information from the National Study of Civic and Citizen Education -ICCS-, of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement -IEA-, of the year 2016, is used. Methodologically speaking, the Educational Production Function -EPF- is estimated and subsequently, the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique is applied to quantify the differences in civic and citizenship education and see how much they are explained by the characteristics of the student and their family. the school, the social and cultural capital. As a main result, educational inequalities were found in favor of European countries, and are due to a greater extent to differences in school resources, between Latin American and European countries, followed by differences in social and cultural capital, therefore, it is the European students who make the best use of and benefit from the differences in school endowments and in social and cultural capital.

Introduction: The combination of Virtual Screening (VS) techniques with in vivo screening in the zebrafish model is currently being used in tandem for drug development in a faster and more efficient way. Areas covered: We review the different virtual screening techniques, the use of zebrafish as a vertebrate model for drug discovery and the synergy that exists between them. Expert opinion: We highlight the advantages of combining virtual and zebrafish larvae screening for drug discovery. On the one hand, VS is a faster and cheaper tool for searching active compounds and possible candidates for therapy than in vivo screening when processing large compound libraries. On the other hand, zebrafish larvae form a vertebrate model which allows in vivo screening of large amounts of the compounds. Importantly physiology and chemical response are mostly conserved between zebrafish and mammals. The availability of the transgenic and mutant zebrafish lines allows an analysis of a specific phenotype upon treatment along with toxicity, off-target effect, side effects, and dosage. Advantages of VS, in vivo whole animal approach screening, and the screening combinations are also reviewed.

The article is devoted to issues related to the propagation and transformation of vortexes in the optical range of frequency. Within the framework of the traditional and modified model of slowly varying envelope approximation (SVEA), the process of converting vortex beams of the optical domain into vortex beams of the terahertz radio range based on nonlinear generation of a difference frequency in a medium with a second-order susceptibility is considered. The modified SVEA splits a slowly varying amplitude into two factors, which makes it possible to more accurately describe the three-wave mixing process. The theoretical substantiation of the rule of vortex beams topological charges conversion is given – the topological charge of the output radio-vortex beam is equal to the difference between the topological charges of the input optical vortex beams. A numerical simulation model of the processes under consideration has been implemented and analyzed.

Adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) contribute to learning, memory, maintenance of homeostasis, energy metabolism and many other essential processes. They are highly heterogeneous populations that require input from a regionally distinct microenvironment including a mix of neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, NG2+ glia, vasculature, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and others. The diversity of NSPCs is present in all three major parts of the CNS, i.e., the brain, spinal cord, and retina. Intrinsic and extrinsic signals, e.g., neurotrophic and growth factors, master transcription factors, and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), collectively regulate activities and characteristics of NSPCs: quiescence/survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and integration. This review discusses the heterogeneous NSPC populations in the normal physiology and highlights their potentials and roles in injured/diseased states for regenerative medicine.

In this study, we have first studied the trend in meteorological data from the Harmaleh, Vanai and Farsesh stations in the 50-year period in the Dez catchment area. The meteorological data will be then forecasted using SWAT and Mann-Kendall. Forecasting the results in the Mann-Kendall and SWAT model has been done using the code written in MATLAB software and RCP (4.5, 8.5) scenarios, respectively. Studying the results of the trend in the data of meteorological stations in this catchment area indicated that these two parametric and non-parametric methods have been used to determine trends in meteorological data. The results of the parametric method are positive in all meteorological parameters. Non-parametric method over a period of 50 years shows the presence of trends in the data. The comparison on the forecasting results at maximum temperature suggested that during summer, we will see an increase in temperature compared to the ground state in all three forecasts. The results of the minimum temperature forecast show a decrease in the minimum increase during the winter and the precipitation forecast indicates that at the end of autumn (Nov) precipitation decreased by 20 mm in the Mann-Kendall and 4.5 RCP while RCP8.5 suggests the increase in precipitation compared to the ground state. Studying the runoff forecast results using SWOT show that at the end of winter (Feb) and almost all spring (Mar, Apr) a decrease of about 40%, 15% and 14% will be seen, respectively

Information taken from David A. Scott’s book “Copper and Bronze in Art” was crucial for research on copper corrosion products in Stuttgart. Examples discussed are the nature and variability of ‘Black Spots’ (aka ‘Brown Fuzzies’); cupric hydroxide by cleaning, patination, and pigment synthesis; the wondrous phenomenon of curly malachite; chalconatronite formed by contact to soda glass; the formation of copper formates by glass-induced metal corrosion; and synthesis and X-ray diffraction of basic copper acetates (‘verdigris’).

This paper presents an advanced microstructural analysis of the AlSiMg, Ti64 and N700 powders used for additive manufacturing. The internal microstructure of the regular and irregular powder grains were characterized down to atomic resolution by using scanning electron microscopy and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy.The accretionary forms on top of the irregular AlSiMg powder grains exhibit a slightly coarse microstructure with a network of eutectic Si consisting of nano-crystallites, suggestinga slower cooling than the grain itself that contain a predominately amorphous Si network. A nm thin amorphous C layer on the surface of some Ti64 plasma atomized powder grains promoted the attachment of satellites and growth of envelopes. In case of gas atomized N700 powder grains, we identified thin oxide and carbon amorphous layers as well as metal segregations at the interface between the grain body and the accretionary forms.

Psychotherapy is a comprehensive biological treatment modifying complex underlying cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and regulatory responses in the brain, leading patients with mental illness to a new interpretation of the sense of self and others. Psychotherapy is an art of science integrated with psychology and/or philosophy. Neurological science studies the neurological basis of cognition, memory, and behavior as well as the impact of neurological damage and disease on the functions, and their treatment. Both psychotherapy and neurological science deal with the brain; nevertheless, they continue to stay polarized far. Existential phenomenological psychotherapy (EPP) has been in the forefront of meaning-centered counseling for almost a century. The phenomenological approach in psychotherapy originated in the works of Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss and Viktor Frankl, and it has been committed to account for the existential possibilities and limitations of one’s life. EPP provides philosophically rich interpretations and empowers counseling techniques to assist mentally suffering individuals by finding meaning and purpose of life. The approach has proven to be effective in treating mood and anxiety disorders. This narrative review article demonstrates the development of EPP, the therapeutic methodology, evidence-based accounts of its curative techniques, current understanding of mood and anxiety disorders in neurological science, and a possible converging path to translate and integrate meaning-centered psychotherapy and neuroscience, concluding that the existential phenomenological psychotherapy potently plays a synergistic role with the currently prevailing medication-based approaches for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

In this era of technology, programming has become more significant than ever before. Python and C++ are both widely used programming languages. Python, the most popular programming language in today’s world, is a high-level object-oriented language whereas C++, the language behind most operating systems, is a low-level object-oriented language. In this paper, we present a comparative study of Python and C++. This paper discusses the introduction to these languages, their memory management techniques, and the reasons behind their program execution speed. Furthermore, we analyzed the execution time and memory used by multiple algorithms in both the languages with best, average, and worst cases. They are also compared with respect to the benefits and issues related to them. Results indicate that C++ is faster than Python in execution speed but Python serves as a better language for beginners due to its simplicity. Moreover, for the best results, the language should be selected according to the type of project.

Aging is associated with an increasing dysfunction of key brain homeostasis mechanisms and represents the main risk factor across most neurodegenerative disorders. However, the degree of dysregulation and the affectation of specific pathways set apart normal aging from neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, the neuronal metabolism of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters appears to be a specifically sensitive pathway that is affected in different neurodegenerations. In humans, catecholaminergic neurons are characterized by an age-related accumulation of neuromelanin (NM), rendering the soma of the neurons black. This intracellular NM appears to serve as a very efficient quencher for toxic molecules. However, when a neuron degenerates, NM is released together with its load (many undegraded cellular components, transition metals, lipids, antibiotics) contributing to initiate and worsen an eventual immune response, exacerbating the oxidative stress, ultimately leading to the neurodegenerative process. This review focuses on the analysis of the role of NM in normal aging and catecholaminergic metabolism due to its capability as a pro-oxidant and other harmful molecules, versus its involvement in oxidative stress and aberrant immune response, which it is highly dependent on NM saturation state and its extracellular release.

Net CO2 emissions and sequestration from European forests are the result of removal and growth of flora. To arrive at aggregated measurements of these processes at a country's level, local observations of increments and harvest rates are up-scaled to national forest areas. Each country releases these statistics through their individual National Forest Inventory using their particular definitions and methodologies. In addition, five international processes deal with the harmonization and comparability of such forest datasets in Europe, namely the IPCC, SOEF, FAOSTAT, HPFFRE, FRA (definitions follow in the article). In this study, we retrieved living biomass dynamics from each of these sources for 27 European Union member states. To demonstrate the reproducibility of our method, we release an open source python package that allows for automated data retrieval and analysis, as new data becomes available. The comparison of the published values shows discrepancies in the magnitude of forest biomass changes for several countries. In some cases, the direction of these changes also differ between sources. The scarcity of the data provided, along with the low spatial resolution, forbids the creation or calibration of a pan-European forest dynamics model, which could ultimately be used to simulate future scenarios and support policy decisions. To attain these goals, an improvement in forest data availability and harmonization is needed.

The Kenya Forestry Service permits rental of low-density national forest areas for use as common farmland, but public access to such areas is restricted to prevent deforestation against a background of rising demand for fuel wood. This study was conducted to clarify characteristics relating to the production of indigenous bamboo (a useful wood resource) by the approximately 23% of locals who work on common farmland in central Kenya’s Kamae forest management area, with estimation to determine above-ground biomass. The results showed that bamboo still represents 60% of such biomass, indicating sustainability in the industry.

In million years, under the pressure of natural selection, hominins acquired vocal learning, music, language, and intense cooperation, thanks to the efficacy of music in enhancing sociality. Thus, early in human evolution music became part of human life, a relevant activity, which required sophisticated perceptual and motor skills. It contributed to developing cultures and history, social bonding, and from the beginning of life strengthens the mother-baby relation while within the mother’s womb. Music existed in all known human cultures, although it varies in rhythmic and melodic complexity. It is art made of sounds capable of arousing emotions, evokes memories, engages multiple cognitive functions, and promotes attention, concentration, stimulates the imagination, creativity, and harmony of movement. Music and language share the same complex neural network. Music changes the chemistry of the brain activating the reward and prosocial systems, altruism, and allowing its use in therapy. This review explores "what" is music and illustrates the neural circuits that allow the production of music and language and those that transduce the sounds perceived by the ear, localize and archive them, allowing to recall them. Interestingly, songbirds share many commonalities with human music:, common neural pathways that shape vocal learning, and how they make sounds.

Metal foams are widely studied as possible tools for the enhancement of heat transfer from hot bodies. The basic idea is that a metal foam tends to increase significantly the heat exchange area between the hot solid body and the external cooling fluid. For this reason, this class of porous materials are considered as good candidates for an alternative to finned surfaces, with different pros and cons. Among the pros, we mention the generally wider area of contact between solid and fluid. Among the cons is the difficulty of producing different specimens with the same inner structure, with the consequence that their performance may be significantly variable. This paper will offer a survey of the literature with a focus on the main heat transfer characteristics of the metal foams. Then, a numerical simulation of the heat transfer at the pore scale level for an artificial foam with a spatially periodic structure will be discussed. Finally, these numerical results will be employed to assess the macroscopic modelling of the flow and heat transfer in a metal foam.

The detection of SARS-Cov-2 in the sewage and water resources has increased the awareness among the people about the possibility survival of SARS-Cov-2 in the environment and the potential to transmit into the human through food chain or water resources. Moreover, the surface contaminated by the virus need to be disinfected frequently by using an effective disinfectant, the current chapter discussed the efficiency of the most traditional treatment process of the sewage and wastewater, and their role in the elimination of the virus as well as the sterility assurance level concept. Moreover, the chemical disinfectant used currently and their temporary efficiency has been reviewed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many knowledge gaps with implications toward the speed and nature of our response to contain, assess and mitigate risk. The routine discharge of treated and untreated wastewater into rivers and coastal waters has placed SARS-CoV-2 viability in wastewater at the centre of an emerging hazard and potential risk to water industry workers and the public who come into contact with sewage-impacted water. Here we provide a review of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus primary literature that presents the evidence base pertaining to the key questions of whether the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 is shed in stool and urine, is recoverable, and infectious in wastewater. We discuss the challenges posed by the current literature base and the extent to which the current evidence is fit for the purpose of informing robust human and environmental risk assessments.

This article presents an automated vision-based algorithm for the die-scale inspection of wafer images captured using scanning acoustic tomography (SAT). This algorithm can find defective and abnormal die-scale patterns, and produce a wafer map to visualize the distribution of defects and anomalies on the wafer. The main procedures include standard template extraction, die detection through template matching, pattern candidate prediction through clustering, and pattern classification through deep learning. To conduct the template matching, we first introduce a two-step method to obtain a standard template from the original SAT image. Subsequently, a majority of the die patterns are detected through template matching. Thereafter, the columns and rows arranged from the detected dies are predicted using a clustering method; thus, an initial wafer map is produced. This map is composed of detected die patterns and predicted pattern candidates. In the final phase of the proposed algorithm, we implement a deep learning-based model to determine defective and abnormal patterns in the wafer map. The experimental results verified the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed algorithm. In conclusion, the proposed method performs well in identifying defective and abnormal die patterns, and produces a wafer map that presents important information for solving wafer fabrication issues.

The industry is increasingly relying on fish for toxicity assessment. However, current guidelines for toxicity assessment focus on teratogenicity and mortality. From an ecotoxicological point of view, however, these endpoints may not reflect the “full picture” of possible deleterious effects that can nonetheless result in decreased fitness and/or inability to adapt to a changing environment, affecting whole populations. Therefore, assessing sublethal effects add relevant data covering different aspects of toxicity at different levels of analysis. Impacts of toxicants on neurobehavioral function have the potential to affect many different life-history traits, and are easier to assess in the laboratory than in the wild. We propose that carefully-controlled laboratory experiments on different behavioral domains – including anxiety, aggression, and exploration – can increase our understanding of the ecotoxicological impacts of contaminants, since these domains are related to traits such as defense, sociality, and reproduction, directly impacting life-history traits. The effects of selected contaminants on these tests are reviewed, focusing on larval and adult zebrafish, showing that these behavioral domains are highly sensitive to small concentrations of these substances. These strategies suggest a way forward on ecotoxicological research using fish.

Understanding the complex relationship between sleep and memory is a major challenge in neuroscience. Many studies on memory consolidation in humans suggest that sleep triggers offline memory processes, resulting in less forgetting of declarative memory and performance stabilization in non-declarative memory. However, issues related to non-optimal experimental designs, task characteristics and measurements, and inappropriate data analysis practices can significantly affect the interpretation of the effect of sleep on memory. In this article, we discuss these issues and suggest constructive solutions to address them. We believe that implementing these solutions in future sleep and memory research will significantly advance this field by improving the understanding of the specific role of sleep in memory consolidation.

Academic entrepreneurship focuses on commercialization of research. Even though it is practiced worldwide for decades, Bangladesh is a newcomer in this segment. In Bangladesh only 2 Universities have Technology Transfer Offices or TTOs which are established with the sole focus of commercialization of researches of the students and the faculty members of the Universities. This article focuses on worldwide practices of technology transfer and academic entrepreneurial activities and also explores the opportunities and challenges of such entrepreneurs through detail investigation of the existing body of knowledge. Apart from exploring the problems and prospect of academic entrepreneurship in Bangladesh, this article also introduces the concept of Full-Service Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO), which existing literatures do not offer. The authors believe that by establishing such KTOs as a self-sustaining body, it is possible for an academic entrepreneur to stimulate, support and sustain their activities in Bangladesh. The concept of full service KTOs can also become models for other nations, specially the developing ones, to establish and nurture a culture of academic entrepreneurship.

Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes are implicated in DNA demethylation through dioxygenase activity, which converts 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC). However, the specific roles of TET enzymes and 5-hmC levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we analyzed 5-hmC levels and TET mRNA expression in a well-characterized dataset of 117 matched pairs of HNSCC tissues and normal tissues. 5-hmC levels and TET mRNA expression were examined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. 5-hmC levels were evaluated according to various clinical characteristics and prognostic implications. Notably, we found that 5-hmC levels were significantly correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.032) and recurrence (P = 0.018). Univariate analysis revealed that low levels of 5-hmC were correlated with poor disease-free survival (DFS; log-rank test, P = 0.038). The expression of TET family genes was not associated with outcomes. In multivariate analysis, low levels of 5-hmC were evaluated as a significant independent prognostic factor of DFS (hazard ratio: 2.352, 95% confidence interval: 1.136–4.896; P = 0.021). Taken together, our findings showed that reduction of TET family gene expression and subsequent low levels of 5-hmC may affect the development of HNSCC.

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary science covering matters involving nanoscale level that is being developed for a great variety of applications. Nanomedicine is one of these attractive and challenging uses focused on the employment of nanomaterials in medical applications such as drug delivery. However, the uses of these nanometric systems requires specific parameters to establish the possible advantages and disadvantages in specific applications. This review presents the fundamental factors of nanoparticles and it´s microenvironment that must be considered to make an appropriate design for medical applications: (i) Interactions between nanoparticles and their biological environment, (ii) the interaction mechanisms, (iii) and the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. On the other hand, the repercussions of the control, alteration and modification of these parameters in the final applications. Additionally, we here briefly report the implications of nanoparticles in nanomedicine and provide perspectives for some particular applications which still are challenged

Huge amounts of chitin and chitosans can be found in the biosphere as important constituent of the exoskeleton of many organisms, as well as waste by worldwide seafood companies. Nowadays, politicians, environmentalists, and industrialists encouraged the use of these marine polysaccharides as renewable source, particularly when developed by alternative eco-friendly processes, especially in the production of regular cosmetics. The aim of this review is to outline the physicochemical and biological properties and the different bioextraction methods of chitin and chitosans sources, focusing on enzymatic deproteinization, bacteria fermentation, and enzymatic deacetylation methods. Thanks to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and bioactivity, the application of these marine polymers is widely used in the contemporary manufacturing of biomedical and pharmaceutical products. In the end, advanced cosmetic products based on chitin and chitosans are presented, analyzing different therapeutic aspects about skin, hair, nail, and oral care. The innovative formulations described can be considered as excellent solutions regarding problems in the various body anatomical sectors.

After brings about a brief review of the theoretical explanations and researches on the reasons for being a victim, this article is organized into two sections. The first presents a comparative analysis of the data for 1999 and 2016 in terms of perceptions, profiles and most significant sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables. The second one shows an explanatory analysis based on a multivariate logistical regression model using as an independent variable lifestyle of the population and socioeconomic variables, and as dependent variables individual’s susceptibility to becoming a victim of certain crimes. The results points towards an explanatory model of victimization in which sociodemographic variables play an increasingly less important role while variables related to lifestyle and subjective perceptions make a significant contribution to greater understanding of the nature of being the victim of a crime.

How to achieve sustainable development and protection of historical district is a worthwhile research topic. As a vital way to update urban space, tourism development in historical district is an effective solution to redistribute urban functions and increase urban vitality. This paper takes the Insadong in South Korea as a case to carry out the evaluation of tourist satisfaction in historical districts. The research finds that: 1) The tourist satisfaction evaluation of Insadong includes 6 dimensions in total, namely “Embodiment of historical elements”, “The blend of tradition and modernity”, Industry distribution and type", "Consumer demand", "Street layout and function", "Landscaping". The most satisfying for tourists is "Landscaping", and the most dissatisfying is "Street layout and function". 2) “The blend of tradition and modernity” has the highest weight while “Industry distribution and type” has the lowest one in the analysis of influencing factors on overall satisfaction. 3) The analysis of the common factor weight and the common factor satisfaction shows that “The blend of tradition and modernity” and “Street layout and function” are the parts that need to be improved. “Consumer demand” also has a lot of room for promotion. The research results will benefit to enhance the tourist experiences of historical district and provide theoretical basis and practical experience reference for effective protection and sustainable development of historical district.

The present study examines inner and outer suburban ring attainment outcomes among racial and ethnic groups residing in the nation’s metropolitan areas. The main objective is to evaluate the extent to which the relationship between racial and ethnic group’s socioeconomic status characteristics and residence between inner and outer suburban rings conforms to the tenets of the spatial assimilation model. Using micro-level data from the 5-year 2012-2016 American Community Survey, the author calculates multinomial logistic regression models to determine the effects of SES and other relevant predictors on residence within the nation’s metropolitan area’s suburban inner and outer rings. The results both confirm and contradict the main tenets of the spatial assimilation model. To the extent that income, education, and homeownership are positively related to residence in both suburban rings, the findings also suggest that access to inner and outer rings is hierarchically stratified by race and ethnicity.

Accent is on determination of appropriate friction factor of the pipes and on selection of the representative equation for water or natural gas flow which is valuable for existing conditions in the looped network of pipelines. Note that in a municipal gas pipeline, natural gas can be treated as incompressible fluid (liquid) i.e. as water or oil. Even under this circumstance, calculation of water pipelines cannot be literary copied and applied for calculation of gas pipelines. Inappropriate friction factor, equally as e.g. inappropriate usage of water flow equations for calculation of gas networks can lead to inaccurate final results. Few iterative methods for determining the optimal hydraulic solution of water- and gas- looped pipeline networks, such as, Hardy Cross, modified Hardy Cross, node-loop method, node and M.M. Andrijashev method, will be shown. Speed of convergence will be compared and discussed using a simple network with three loops.

Decomposition of natural and synthetic polymeric materials (peat, humates, biochar, strongly swelling hydrogels and other soil conditioners) in a biologically- and chemically- active soil environment inevitably leads to their degradation and ability to improve the structure, water-retention, absorptive capacity and actual fertility of artificial soil constructions in urbanized ecosystems and agro landscapes (constructozems). Quantitative assessment of the biodegradation process using field and laboratory incubation experiments, as well as mathematical modeling, showed the possibility of significant (up to 30-50% per year) losses of organic matter of constructozems and a corresponding deterioration in their quality. Incubation experiments with the analysis of carbon dioxide emission for polymeric materials under given thermodynamic conditions allow to estimate the potential rates of their decomposition (half-life) and their dependence on the dose of inhibitors of microbial activity. Special nomographs provide an opportunity to determine the optimum depth of the arrangement of organic components in soil constructions to ensure their stable functioning during a fixed operating time in urban conditions. The results of the study are useful for geo-engineers and landscaping practitioners.

This study provides a unique procedure for validating and reconstructing temperature and precipitation data. Although developed from data in Middle Italy, the validation method is intended to be universal, subject to appropriate calibration according to the climate zones analysed. This~research is an attempt to create shared applicative procedures that are most of the time only theorized or included in some software without a clear definition of the methods. The purpose is to detect most types of errors according to the procedures for data validation prescribed by the World Meteorological Organization, defining practical operations for each of the five types of data controls: gross error checking, internal consistency check, tolerance test, temporal consistency, and~spatial consistency. Temperature and~precipitation data over the period 1931--2014 were investigated. The~outcomes of this process have led to the removal of 375 records (0.02%) of temperature data from 40 weather stations and 1286 records (1.67%) of precipitation data from 118 weather stations, and 171 data points reconstructed. In conclusion, this work contributes to the development of standardized methodologies to validate climate data and provides an innovative procedure to reconstruct missing data in the absence of reliable reference time series.

Friction and wear take place on two solid surfaces in sliding contact as a result of the mechanical, thermal and chemical interactions with the participation of environmental species. Electron microscopy and the associated spectroscopic analyses are powerful in probing these mechanisms in spatial resolutions from micro to atomic scale. This article provides a review of the author’s work in the wear and friction mechanisms of PVD hard coatings in which various SEM- and TEM-based microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were employed. Understanding on the failure mechanisms and the origin of self-adaptive friction has been improved to nano-scale. Other related issues are also discussed, such as sample preparation techniques for cross-sectional electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy.

The societies of Western Europe, following the territorial delimitation of the corresponding State, have gone through different historical processes of internal homogenization. After the Peace of Westphalia (1648) the application of the principle cuius regio eius religio induced the religious homogenization of the population. Then, due to the ethnic diversity of its population, the State tried to homogenize it from the cultural point of view; it was the process of nationalization and democratization of the State. This process lead to the separation of religion from politics and from culture. After the two world wars, national reconstruction needed a foreign population: this need for labor was filled in the most developed countries by population of the countries that were least (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian ...) and also by population flows coming from the old colonies. The cultural and religious homogeneity of these countries began to lose force. With the oil crisis of the 1970s, a period of major economic fluctuations began in Europe. In those years, the second generation of the population of immigrant origin began to go to a job market that was not in good health. The religion and culture of their predecessors became autonomous resources for the reconstruction of their identity and to achieve a personal and social esteem. This process is necessarily leading States to rethink the relations between politics, culture and religion.

The spillover of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram, a Nigerian jihadi group, into Cameroon’s northern region has resulted in security challenges and humanitarian activity opportunities for Christian churches. The insurgents have attacked and destroyed churches, abducted Christians, worsened Muslim-Christian relations, and caused a humanitarian crisis. Aggregately, these ensuing phenomena have adversely affected Christian churches in this region, triggering an aura of responses: coping strategies, humanitarian work among refugees, and inter-faith dialogue. These responses are predicated on Christianity’s potential as a resource for peace, compassion, and love. In this study we emphasize the role of Christian churches in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency. It opens up with a contextualization of Boko Haram in Cameroon’s north. This is followed by an examination of the brutality meted out on Christians and church property. The final section is an examination of the spiritual, humanitarian and relief services provided by Christian churches. The paper argues that although Christian churches have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, they have engaged in various beneficial responses underpinned by the Christian values of peace and love.

Etiological factors involved in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) include immunologic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory factors, among others, and these are targets for microRNAs (miRNs). Here, we evaluated whether some miRNs may affect the tumor development comparing untreated and 5-azacitidine (5-AZA) MDS-treated patients. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 20 controls and 24 MDS patients, and selected miRNs related to redox balance and inflammation, including miR-18a, miR-21, miR-34a and miR-146a, were isolated and measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR). A differential expression profile of miRNs was detected in untreated MDS patients and 5-AZA group. MiR-18a, miR-21, miR-34a and miR-146a were significantly overexpressed in untreated MDS, compared to controls. However, we did not observe any miRNs profile alteration during the progression of the disease. On the other hand, 5-AZA treatment tends to restore miRNs expression levels. Relating to prognostic risk factors, high risk MDS groups (high IPSS-R, high cytogenetic risk, high molecular risk (HMR) mutations tended to be related with higher expression levels of miR-18a and miR-34a. Higher miRNs expression is correlated with lower glutathione peroxidase activity, while they are related with a higher profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α). Although our study was limited by the low number of MDS patients included, we identified miRNs deregulation involved in the MDS development, that could regulate redox sensors and inflammatory responses. Finally, 5-AZA treatment is related with lower miRNs expression levels in MDS patients.

Microplastics, plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm present in the environment due to the decomposition of larger plastics, can cause damage to various ecosystems and species of pollinating insects such as Apis mellifera bees. These bees play a crucial role in the ecology and production of honey and pollen, also serving as bioindicators of environmental quality as they are sensitive to contaminants such as microplastics. In this study, the presence of microplastics in these insects and their bee products, pollen, and honey, collected in August 2021 and August 2023 in rural areas (Tabio and Guasca) of Cundinamarca, Colombia, and urban areas (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) was evaluated. and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) of Bogotá, Colombia. In each year, 24 bees, 10 grams of honey and 10 grams of pollen were collected per sampling point. Microplastics in bees and their products were identified and quantified by stereomicroscopy, with or without hydrogen peroxide digestion pretreatment. Microplastics were found in bees, pollen, and honey in both periods, with an increase in their quantity observed over time due to increasing environmental pollution. Blue fibers were the most common microplastics, with a greater amount recorded in 2023 compared to 2021.

Globally, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Cancer are the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is considered to be one of the most significant public health concerns of the 21st century. Over the next two decades, the global burden is expected to increase by approximately 60%. Several observational studies as well as clinical trials have demonstrated the health benefits of consuming whole grains and lower the risk of several chronic non communicable diseases including T2D and cancer. Cereals grains are the primary source of energy in the human diet. The most widely consumed pseudo cereals include (quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat) and cereals (wheat, rice and corn). From a nutritional perspective, both pseudo cereals and cereals are recognized for their complete protein, essential amino acids, dietary fibres and phenolic acids. The bran layer of the seed contains the majority of these components. Greater intake of whole grains than refined grains has been consistently linked to a lower risk of T2D and cancer. Due to their superior nutritional compositions, whole grains make them a preferred choice over refined grains. The modulatory effects of whole grains on T2D and cancer are also likely to be influenced by several mechanisms, some of these effects may be direct; while others involve altering the composition of gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and lowering harmful bacteria, increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering solubility of free bile acids, protein broken down into peptides and amino acids, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other beneficial metabolites that promote the proliferation in the colon which modulate the anti-diabetic and anti-cancer pathway. Thus the present review are two folded; first summarizes the recent knowledge about the nutritional composition and bioactive acids in pseudo cereals (quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat) and cereals (wheat, rice and corn); the second section summarizes and discusses the progress in recent human studies, such as observational (cross-sectional studies, case-control studies and cohort studies) and intervention studies in understanding their role in T2D and cancer including the potential mechanism. Overall according to the scientific data, whole grain consumption may reduce the incidence of T2D and cancer. Future studies should carry out randomized controlled trials to validate observational results and establish causality; in addition the current manuscript encourages to investigate the specific mechanisms by which whole grains exert their beneficial effects on health by examining the effects of different types of specific protein, dietary fibres and phenolic acids that might help to prevent or treat T2D and cancer.

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) has caused several environmental impacts, resulting in significant siltation of water bodies due to the deposition of sediments on river banks. Based on this perspective, this study aims to investigate the water bodies and regions most impacted by mining activities, especially in relation to the increase in the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) caused by ASGM, focusing on the territories of Suriname and French Guiana, over the period from 2017 to 2023, through the creation of an algorithm in Google Earth Engine. The research also aims to map and describe active mining in this region using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) method, which achieved an overall accuracy of 82% and a kappa index of 0.77. The results reveal that from 2017 to 2024 there was an increase of 148.09 km² of mining, with an average increase in TSS of up to 167 mg/l in water bodies most affected by mining activities. Finally, the continued importance of using remote sensing technologies, such as GEE, together with innovative methodological approaches, to monitor and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner is highlighted.

In the domain of drug discovery and design, the acquisition of precise structural and intermolecular Kd data for biological molecules is paramount. However, conventional methods for obtaining such data are often beset by challenges including high costs, time intensiveness, and inherent limitations in scalability and diversity. This article puts forward a high-throughput approach for in silico generation of structural and intermolecular binding affinity (Kd) data, which keeps exploring the uncharted territories of drug discovery & design by harnessing computational methodologies to synthetically generate diverse datasets. Through a meticulously designed workflow encompassing molecular structural modeling, structural biophysics-based calculations of intermolecular binding affinity (Kd), this innovative methodology transcends the constraints of traditional experimentation, offering a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient alternative. By simulating molecular interactions and binding interfaces and predicting binding affinities with reasonable accuracy, this approach not only expedites the drug development process but also enables the exploration of vast molecular space, thereby facilitating the discovery of novel therapeutics beyond conventional drug modality as a form factor. Moreover, the versatility of synthetic data extends beyond virtual screening and lead optimization, encompassing applications such as dataset augmentation, model validation, and benchmarking against experimental data. This article elucidates the conceptual underpinnings, methodological intricacies, validation strategies, and potential ramifications of in silico generated data, heralding a paradigm shift in drug discovery paradigms. By fostering synergy between computational and experimental research domains, this innovative approach promises to accelerate the pace of drug discovery, enhance the robustness of predictive models, and pave the way for transformative advancements in the entire pharmaceutical industry.

Despite substantial evidence supporting the efficacy of prebiotics for promoting host health and stress resilience, few experiments present evidence documenting the dynamic changes in microbial ecology and fecal microbial-modified metabolites across time. Furthermore, the literature reports a lack of reproducible effects of prebiotics on specific bacteria and bacterial-modified metabolites. The current experiments examined whether consumption of diets enriched in prebiotics (galactooligosaccharides, GOS and polydextrose, PDX) compared to control diet, would consistently impact the gut microbiome and microbial-modified bile acids across time and between two research sites. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed control or prebiotic diets for several weeks, and their gut microbiome and metabolome were examined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted LC-MS/MS analysis. Dietary prebiotics altered beta diversity, relative abundances of bacterial genera, and microbially modified bile acids across time. PICRUSt2 analyses identified four inferred functional metabolic pathways modified by prebiotic diet. Correlational network analyses between inferred metabolic pathways and microbial-modified bile acids revealed deoxycholic acid as a potential network hub. All these reported effects were consistent between the two research sites supporting the conclusion that dietary prebiotics robustly changed the gut microbial ecosystem. Consistent with our previous work demonstrating that GOS/PDX reduces the negative impacts of stressor exposure, we propose that ingesting a diet enriched in prebiotics facilitates the development of a health-promoting gut microbial ecosystem.

In the rapidly evolving FinTech sector, risk management is paramount for dealers and brokers. This paper underscores the significance and progression of risk management within this realm. Initially, it reviews the traditional risk management technologies and their inherent limitations. The discourse then shifts to contemporary solutions, specifically emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and big data analytics in forecasting and mitigating potential risks. The paper also presents case studies of companies effectively utilizing these advanced techniques, highlighting their benefits in real-world scenarios. Additionally, it addresses forthcoming challenges, including regulatory compliance, data privacy issues, and the imperative for strengthened cybersecurity measures. The conclusion acknowledges that the adoption of these innovative technologies not only boosts operational efficiency but also markedly diminishes financial risks, thereby contributing to a more stable and reliable financial market

Polysaccharide from Ficus carica L. (FCP) exert multiple biological activities, as a biological macromolecule, the available knowledge about the specific structures and mechanisms of biological activity of purified 'Brunswick' fig polysaccharide is currently limited. In the present study, by chemical purification and characteristics identified via specific instruments, and then the impact of FCP on the immunomodulation activity in vitro and in vivo was examined. Structural char-acteristics showed that the molecular weight of the FCP was determined to be 127.5 kDa, the primary monosaccharides present in the FCP were galacturonic acid (GalA), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and xylose (Xyl) at a ratio of 0.321:0.287:0.269:0.091:0.013:0.011. Based on the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory ac-tivity, FCP was found to stimulate the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increased the pi-nocytic activity of macrophages. Further analysis revealed that FCP activated macrophages by interacting with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, the in vivo test results indicate that FCP showed significant increase serum pro-inflammatory factors in immunosuppressed mice. Overall, this study suggests that FCP has the potential to be utilized as a novel immunomodulator in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

The migration paths and distribution driving factors of heavy metals in dry and windy area polluted by their production in the North China need a further research. To address this research gap, we collected 675 soil samples, 72 atmospheric deposition samples and 20 water samples around a production area and measured its heavy metal concentrations. Results showed that the Cu, Zn, As and Pb in 0-10 cm soil layer showed a fan-shaped distribution, which was consistent with their atmospheric deposition fluxes. It indicated the distribution patterns of these heavy metals were driven by strong winds in studied area. Although Cr concentrated to the production area in the 0-10 cm soil layer, principal component analysis showed that this migration was through wind as well. The concentration of Cd in the river increased from 0.257 mg/L to 0.460 mg/L along water flowing, and caused the same distribution trend in soil near the river from upstream to downstream. Unlike the above, surface runoff should drive the Cd migration. The concentration of Pb in the river was over threshold of pollution, and also led to an accumulation in the 5-10 cm soil layer. It suggested that the migration of Pb was through both wind and surface runoff. Six studied heavy metals showed different migration behaviors, and specific control strategies for individual heavy metal should be concerned.

The recent introduction of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O (O/EA-2 topotype) in Southern Africa region has changed virus dynamics and the FMD vaccine requirements. This study describes an assessment of the heterologous antibody responses induced by O Manisa vaccine (three PD50/dose) against a representative O/EA-2 virus collected from an FMD outbreak in Zambia. Commercial and subsistence cattle herds were monitored following vaccination, where the benefits of employing a double vaccination schedule were compared to single-dose vaccination. Testing using virus neutralisation showed cattle that received two vaccine doses had a mean reciprocal log virus neutralisation titre of 2.02 (standard error [SE] = 0.16, n = 9) for commercial herds and 1.65 (SE = 0.17, n = 5) for subsistence herds , 56 days after first vaccination (dpv). Significantly lower mean titres were observed for single-dosed commercial herds (0.90, SE = 0.08, n = 9) and subsistence herds (1.15, SE = 0.18, n = 3), 56 dpv. Comparison of these results and those generated by solid-phase competitive ELISA by cohen’s kappa coefficient observed a statistically significant (ρ = 0.598 for 1:10 dilution, and ρ = 0.562 for 1:30 dilution of SPCE % inhibition results, p &lt; 0.001 for both dilutions) positive correlation.