The diffusion process of water molecules within a polyetherimide (PEI) glassy matrix has been analyzed by combining the experimental analysis of water sorption kinetics performed by FTIR spectroscopy with theoretical information gathered from Molecular Dynamics simulations and with the expression of water chemical potential provided by a non-equilibrium lattice fluid model able to describe the thermodynamics of glassy polymers. This approach allowed to construct a convincing description of the diffusion mechanism of water in PEI providing molecular details of the process related to the effects of the cross- and self-hydrogen bondings established in the system on the dynamics of water mass transport.

Reservoir routing has been a routine procedure in hydrology, hydraulics and water management. It is typically based on the mass balance (continuity equation) and a conceptual equation relating storage and outflow. If the latter is linear, then there exists an analytical solution of the resulting differential equation, which can directly be utilized to find the outflow from known inflow, and to obtain macroscopic characteristics of the process, such as response and residence times, and their distribution functions. Here we streamline the reservoir routing framework and extend it to find approximate solutions for nonlinear cases. The proposed framework can also be useful for climatic tasks, such as describing the mass balance of atmospheric carbon dioxide and determining characteristic residence times, which have been an issue of controversy. Application of the theoretical framework results in excellent agreement with real world data. In this manner, we easily quantify the atmospheric carbon exchanges, and obtain reliable and intuitive results, without the need to resort to complex climate models. The mean residence time of atmospheric carbon dioxide turns out to be no more than four years and the response time is smaller than that, thus opposing the much longer mainstream estimates.

The bivalve mollusc Pinna nobilis, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, since 2016 is vanishing from the whole basin because of an infection by multiple pathogens that caused mass mortality events. In the Eastern Mediterranean some little populations seem to be resistant to the infection. These individuals could represent the only possibility for the species to recolonize now desert habitats. Thus, according to the recommendations of IUCN, the looking for living specimens of P. nobilis is a priority. As a result of a monitoring activity carried out in 2022-2024, along the Ionian cost of Apulia, in Southern Italy, the species has completely disappeared leaving only empty shells. Concurrent to the vanishing of P. nobilis, its congeneric P. rudis, resistant to the infection, seems to be taking advantage, becoming more common and colonizing habitats once exclusive of P. nobilis. In fact, from different areas of the Mediterranean, the sightings of P. rudis are increasing, together with the discovering of individuals exhibiting morphological traits that are a mixing between the two species. In some cases, these morphological features are not easy to detect, anyway the presence of these hybrids, resistant to the infection, is important for the conservation of the species.

The rise in population density, vehicle ownership, and urban development has significantly influenced travel demand and altered travel patterns, leading to traffic congestion in rapidly growing urban centers like Accra, Ghana. The traditional approach of expanding roadways to accommodate rising traffic is no longer environmentally sustainable. Instead, emphasis has shifted towards travel demand management (TDM) strategies as a more sustainable solution. This study aimed to investigate a range of TDM strategies that can be adopted in Accra to improve traffic flow through the lenses of everyday road users. The study employed a questionnaire survey and a stratified sampling technique to gather data from 615 respondents for relative importance index (RII) ranking, and Chi-square statistical analysis. The findings reveal that the topmost preferred strategies were mass transit improvements, walking and cycling improvements, and alternative work schedules. Notably, mass transit improvements emerged as the most preferred strategy. The study also unveiled a statistically significant correlation between variables such as age, education level, marital status, income level, and mode of transportation with all selected TDM preferences. However, no significant relationship was found between gender and car ownership with all selected TDM preferences. The study provides valuable insights regarding road users’ preferences for TDM strategies that can aid in planning future urban mobility systems to proactively manage travel demand, alleviate congestion, and promote sustainable transportation options for the city’s residents.

Exposure to malachite green (MG) may pose great health risks to humans, thus it is of prime importance to develop fast and robust methods to quantitatively screen the presence malachite green in environment. Herein application of extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) has been extended to the trace detection of MG within lake water and aquiculture water, due to the intensive use of MG as biocide in fisheries. This method has the advantage of obviating offline liquid-liquid extraction or tedious matrix separation prior to the measurement of malachite green in native aqueous medium. The experimental results indicate that the extrapolated detection limit for MG was ~3.8 ug L-1 (S/N=3) in lake water samples and ~ 0.5 ug L-1 in ultrapure water under optimized experimental conditions. The signal intensity of MG showed good linearity over the concentration range of 10–5000 ug L-1. Measurement of practical water samples fortified with MG at 0.01 and 0.1 mg L-1 gave a good validation of the established calibration curve. The average recoveries of malachite green in lake water and Carassius carassius fish farm effluent water were 114.9% (6.6% RSD) and 85.4% (9.2% RSD), respectively. Overall, the established EESI-MS/MS method has been demonstrated suitable for sensitive and rapid (<2 min per sample) quantitative detection of malachite green in various aqueous media, indicating its potential for online real-time monitoring of real life samples.

The characteristics of the eddy mass transport are estimated depending on the values of the parameters of a large-scale flow that forms under the conditions of the shelf seas in the Arctic. For this, the results of numerical simulation of the Kara Sea with a horizontal resolution permitting the development of mesoscale eddies are used. The parameters resulting from numerical experiment are considered as a statistical sample and are analyzed using methods of sensitivity study and clustering of sample elements. Functional dependencies are obtained that are closest to the simulated distributions of quantities. These expressions make it possible, within the framework of large-scale models, to evaluate the characteristics of the cross-isobatic eddy mass transport in the diffusion approximation with a counter-gradient flux. Numerical experiments using the SibCIOM model showed that areas along the Fram branch of the Atlantic waters trajectory in the Arctic as well as the shelf of the East Siberian and Laptev seas with adjacent deep water areas are most sensitive to proposed parameterization of eddy exchanges. Accounting for counter-gradient eddy fluxes turned out to be less important.

The world is moving to the next phase of the energy transition with high penetrations of renewable energy. Flexible and scalable redox flow battery (RFB) technology is expected to play an important role in ensuring electricity network security and reliability. Continuous performance improvements will further enhance their value by reducing parasitic losses and maximizing available energy conversion over broader operating conditions. Concentration overpotentials from poor internal reactant distribution at high and low states of charge (SOC) limit power densities and are thus an important area of investigation. However, efforts to address these coupled electrochemical phenomena can compromise mechanical performance. Modelling and simulation of cell design innovations have shown it is possible to reduce losses from pump energy while increasing the availability of active species where required. The combination of wedge-shaped cells with static mixers investigated in this paper can reduce pressure drop and improve energy efficiency. Toroidal vanadium redox flow battery (VRB/VRFB) designs incorporating this innovation are presented for further development to improve community engagement with the technology.

Samples of sunflower Waste Cooking Oils (WCOs) subjected to several cycles of frying were treated with water under four different combinations of temperature and pH. The variation of the chemical composition of the oil samples was monitored through headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas-chromatographic technique (GC), ¹H NMR spectroscopy and ESI⁺ mass spectrometry measurements. The possibility to modify the chemical composition of the recycled vegetable oil by tuning the water treatment parameters was exploited for the designing of a mini-plant for the production of bio-lubricants. A full description of the proposed prototype is also reported.

The Yang-Mills conjecture addresses the fundamental nature of the strong force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature, responsible for binding quarks together to form protons, neutrons, and other hadrons. It was proposed in the early 1950s, the Yang-Mills suggests a mathematical framework for describing the behaviours of gauge fields, which are the carriers of fundamental forces. In particular, it focuses on non-abelian gauge theories, where the gauge fields themselves interact with each other. The non-abelian aspect refers to the fact that the order of operations matters when combining these gauge transformations, leading to a more intricate structure compared to abelian theories. This conjecture posits the existence and significance of certain mathematical structures, known as Yang-Mills fields, which play a crucial role in the formulation of the Standard Model of particle physics. The Standard Model describes the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear forces, as well as the elementary particles that constitute matter. Despite its foundational importance, proving the Yang-Mills conjecture has proven to be a formidable challenge. The conjecture is intimately connected to the concept of mass gap, which refers to the idea that the particles involved in the strong force interactions exhibit mass, in contrast to the photon in electromagnetism, which is massless. The successful resolution of the Yang-Mills conjecture is expected to deepen our understanding of the nature of particle physics and may provide insights into the unification of fundamental forces. In this regard we hereby provide solutions to solve Yang-Mills conjecture using the method of Self Information Entanglement and Quantum Information Transport Equations to elucidate the origin of Universe from Unperceivable Information called “Avyaktham” through the emergence of perceivable information “Vyaktham”. For the first time in the world we provided an empirically verifiable solution to the origin of emergence and existence of Universe based on the methods to predict the emergence using working model of clinical Ayurveda. It is computed that the value of mass gap mentioned in Yang-Mills conjecture is around mYM = mbit ≈ 1.06×10⁻⁴¹kg.

Mass transfer and phase transition have important effect on the velocity of bubble migration in deepwater wellbore, and accurate prediction of bubble migration velocity is crucial for calculating the safe shut-in period of deepwater oil and gas well. Therefore, the effect of bubble dissolution mass transfer and hydrate phase transition on bubble migration behavior in deepwater environment have attracted extensive attention from researchers in the fields of energy, marine chemistry, and marine engineering safety. In this work, a new model of bubble migration velocity in deepwater is developed, which considers the effect of hydrate phase transition and gas-water bidirectional cross-shell mass transfer during bubble migration. Based on the observation data of bubble migration in deepwater, the reliability of the model in predicting bubble migration velocity is verified. Then, the model is used to calculate and analyze the bubble migration velocity and bubble migration cycle under different initial bubble size, different annular fluid viscosity and density. The results show that the initial size of bubble and the viscosity of annulus fluid are the main factors affecting the migration velocity of bubble, but the density of annulus fluid has little effect on the migration velocity of hydrated bubble and clean bubble. In addition, the migration velocity of clean bubble gradually increases during the migration process from the bottom to the wellhead, while the migration velocity of hydrated bubble is divided into gradually decreasing stage and slowly increasing stage. The gas consumption and the thickening of hydrate shell in the gradually decreasing stage play a dominant role, and the increase of bubble volume caused by the decrease of pressure in the slowly increasing stage is the most important factor. The formation of hydrated bubble can significantly reduce the migration velocity of bubble and effectively prolong the safe shut-in period. This study provides a reference for quantitative description and characterization of complex bubble migration behavior with phase change and mass transfer in deepwater environment.

Background: The manifestations, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 are considered to be associated with the changes in various hematological parameters and in immunity. Associations of immunoglobulin G antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome-linked coronavirus (IgG-SARS)-positive status with cardiac function and hematological and biochemical parameters in apparently health subjects are poorly understood. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 307 healthy volunteers (24-69 years of age; 44.8±8.6 years; 80.4% men) and was initiated in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 episodes were confirmed by detection of IgG-SARS against SARS-CoV-2 S1 RBD to reveal 70 IgG-SARS-positive and 237 negative participants. Numerous ultrasound characteristics were assessed by echocardiography, and 15 hematological and biochemical parameters were assayed in the blood. Descriptive and comparative analysis was based on the IgG-SARS status of the participants. Results: The left ventricular mass index, mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity or flow velocity across the mitral valve, and deceleration time of early mitral inflow were decreased (P<0.05) in IgG-SARS-positive participants versus those in IgG-SARS-negative participants according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and platelet count were slightly increased, and blood hemoglobin was decreased in IgG-SARS-positive participants compared with those in IgG-SARS-negative participants. Conclusions: LV filling, inflammation, blood coagulation, and hemoglobin appear to be influenced by COVID-19 infection in healthy participants. These observations contribute to the development of a population recovery strategy after the episodes of COVID-19.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is an important candidate gene in musculoskeletal phenotypes. Polymorphisms in VDR have been previously associated with several pathologies and muscular strength in athletes and elderly people, however literature reported contradictory results. The object of this research is to verify the association between the most studied VDR variants (rs2228570, rs7975232, and rs1544410) and the increase of muscle mass in elite young soccer players. A sample of 55 soccer players (15-18 years old) form a professional team was selected for this study. DNA was extracted by salting out method and polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, followed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. To test the effect of the three SNPs, logistic regression analysis was applied. Body composition was carried out through skinfold thickness method, and muscular area of arm and lower limb were calculated using Frisancho formulas. All three polymorphisms met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p &gt; 0.05) and their frequencies fell within the worldwide variability. A significant correlation between rs1544410 and increase of calf muscle mass was observed. Individuals carrying A allele showed higher calf muscular mass than those carrying the G allele (p = 0.034). Moreover, haplotype analysis applied to the two SNPs in linkage disequilibrium (rs7975232 and rs1544410), showed that AG haplotype resulted negatively correlated to calf muscle area. In conclusion, we confirm an association between VDR polymorphisms and muscular mass that could encourage the genetic screening of VDR gene to identify a potential risk of injury and for individual nutritional interventions.

Introduction: Obesity affects over 650 million individuals worldwide and it is a major public health problem. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity, resulting in significant weight reduction and improvement in obesity-related conditions. However, the weight loss achieved through bariatric surgery often correlates with a notable decrease in skeletal muscle. This correlation suggests an elevated risk of sarcopenia among patients after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of obesity and bariatric surgery on sarcopenia-related indicators and diagnosis before and after surgery. Methods: A total of 17 bariatric surgery patients were included in this prospective study. The parameters to diagnose sarcopenia were determined for each participant, based on EWGSOP2 and EASO/ESPEN consensuses. All evaluations were performed on the five moments of this study: before surgery and at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery. Results: In this study, 88.2% of the subjects were female, the mean BMI was 42.9 kg/m² and the mean weight was 105.9 kg. After surgery, the mean weight consistently decreased, with all differences from baseline being statistically significant (p<0.001). When using the SARC-F questionnaire for screening, the risk of sarcopenia increased post-surgery, and decreased at 12 months, declining to zero at 18 months. Muscle strength decreased significantly (p=0.002) at the 1 month after surgery assessment, with slight variations thereafter, none statistically significant. Muscle mass was normal before surgery but decreased significantly post-surgery (p<0.001). When applying the ESPEN/EASO consensus cut-off criteria for sarcopenic obesity, 35.3% of the patients met the criteria preoperatively. After surgery, the results increased to 70.6% in the first month but decreased afterward to 41.2% at 6 months. Discussion: This study evaluated the impact of bariatric surgery on sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, for a duration of up to 18 months after surgery, using the EWGSOP2 and ESPEN/EASO consensuses criteria. Bariatric surgery, the most effective treatment for severe obesity, often results in muscle mass loss alongside fat loss. Handgrip strength, a key sarcopenia indicator, showed a significant early post-surgery decline, whereas the weight-dependent sit-to-stand test did not. This suggests weight loss impacts different muscle function tests variably. Muscle mass decreased continuously after surgery. However, other indicators had mixed results. Applying ESPEN/EASO guidelines, the study found a temporary post-surgery increase in sarcopenic obesity, peaking at one month and returning to pre-surgery levels by six months. However, different criteria led to different results. Conclusion: The results indicate a clear deleterious impact of bariatric surgery on muscle strength and mass, the most important indicators of sarcopenia. Also, the impact seems to occur very early after surgery, indicating that the appropriate timeframe to try to prevent this effect may be the prehabilitation period followed by the post-surgery timeframe.

The article focusses on detecting the unbalance of a mechanical component in the electric drive system of a two-mass servomechanism with a PMSM motor, which is connected to the load via a long, flexible shaft. In the example analysed, the degree of unbalance was determined using the reference current signal from the speed controller of the FOC control system. The authors pre-sented a two-mass model with an unbalanced mechanical system. The STFT transform was used to analyse the symptoms of unbalance and an artificial neural network MLP was used for system state inference. The effectiveness of the presented analysis, based on the reference current signal from the sensor embedded in the control system, was experimentally confirmed.

Endometriosis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a considerable delay between initial symptoms and diagnosis through surgery. The pressing need for a timely, non-invasive diagnostic solution underscores the focus of current research efforts. This study examines the diagnostic potential of the menstrual blood lipidome. The lipid profile of 39 samples (23 women with endometriosis and 16 patient of control group) was acquired using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with LipidMatch processing and identification. Profiles were normalized based on total ion counts. Significant differences in lipids were determined using the Mann-Whitney test. Lipids for the diagnostic model, based on logistic regression, were selected using a combination of variance importance projection filters and Akaike information criteria. Levels of ceramides, sphingomyelins, cardiolipins, triacylglycerols, acyl- and alkenyl-phosphatidylethanolamines, and alkenyl-phosphatidylcholines increased, while acyl- and alkyl-phosphatidylcholines decreased in cases of endometriosis. PE P-16:0/18:1 and CL 16:0_18:0_22:5_22:6 serve as marker lipids in the diagnostic model, exhibiting a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 85%. The diagnostic approach based on dried spots of menstrual blood holds promise as an alternative to traditional non-invasive methods for endometriosis screening.

In our recent publications, based on strong and electroweak interactions, we have developed a completely new formula for estimating nuclear binding energy. With reference to currently believed Semi Empirical Mass Formula (SEMF), we call our formula as ‘Strong and Electroweak Mass Formula’ (SEWMF). Our formula constitutes 4 simple terms and only one energy coefficient of magnitude 10.1 MeV. First term is a volume term, second term seems to be a representation of free nucleons associated with electroweak interaction, third term is a radial term and fourth one is an asymmetry term about the mean stable mass number. In this paper, we make an attempt to understand and estimate the maximum binding energy associated with any mass number. It can be expressed as, for A > 4, $\left(BE\right)_A\cong \left[A-0.000935A^2-A^{1/3}-A^{-1/2}\right]$ MeV. We are working on refining the 4^th term with even-odd corrections, shell corrections and other microscopic corrections. Proceeding further, stable mass numbers and super heavy mass numbers can be understood with a relation of the form, $\left[\textrm{RoundOff}\left(\left(Z+2.9464\right)^{1.2}-1.7165\right)\right]\pm\left[0,1\right]\pm\left(2n\right)$ where $n \cong 0,1,2$. It needs a review with respect to even-odd proton numbers and other microscopic corrections.Very interesting point to be noted is that based on the concept of “binding energy per nucleon”, the most complicated Avogadro number and Unified atomic mass unit can be estimated in a unified approach.

The presenting pattern of celiac disease (CD) at diagnosis in children has changed over time, with a reduction of malabsorption-related phenotypes and an increase in regular or even excessive growth patterns. We retrospectively reviewed the body mass index (BMI) distribution of all patients with a new diagnosis of CD made in a Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic in 1990-2011, compared to those diagnosed in 2012-2022, according to their clinical and serological characteristics. The 1990-2011 and 2012-2022 cohorts included 250 (M:F=90:160, mean age 7.3±6.1 years) and 243 children (M:F=81:162, mean age 7.1±3.7 years, NS), respectively. The prevalence of underweight (UW) was higher in the 1990-2011 cohort (61/250, 24.4% in 1990-2011 vs. 31/243, 12.7% in 2012-2022, p=0.0001), whereas that of overweight (OW) and obese (OB) subjects was significantly higher in 2012-2022 (10/250, 4% in 1990-2011 vs. 24/243, 9.9% in 2012-2022, p=0.012, and 1/250, 0.4% in 1990-2011 vs 8/243, 3.3% in 2012-2022, p=0.018, respectively). In both cohorts, gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent in OW/OB than in UW children (6/11, 54.5% vs. 5/61, 8.2% in 1990-2011, p<0.0001, and 24/32, 75% vs. 10/31, 32.3%, p<0.0001 in 2012-2022) and the extent of anti-transglutaminase antibodies increase was similar in OW/OB and UW subjects. The prevalence of children with a normal or even high BMI at CD diagnosis has increased in the past three decades, therefore CD should be suspected regardless of the BMI status.

This work focuses on the well-known issue of mass conservation in the context of the finite element technique for computational fluid dynamic simulations. Specifically, non-conventional finite element families for solving Navier-Stokes equations are investigated to address the mathematical constraint of incompressible flows. Raviart-Thomas finite elements are employed for the achievement of a discrete free-divergence velocity. In particular, the proposed algorithm projects the velocity field into the discrete free-divergence space by using the lowest-order Raviart-Thomas element. This decomposition is applied in the context of the projection method, a numerical algorithm employed for solving Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical examples validate the approach’s effectiveness, considering different types of computational grids. Additionally, the presented paper considers an interface advection problem using marker approximation, in the context of multiphase flow simulations. Numerical tests, equipped with an analytical velocity field for the surface advection, are presented to compare exact and non-exact divergence-free velocity interpolation.

Despite the recognized influence of body mass on combat techniques, the relationship between body segment mass (BSM) and combat moves remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine the relationship between striking arm mass (SAM), kicking leg mass (KLM), and body mass (BM) with the dynamic forces of the direct punches (DP), palm strikes (PS), elbow strikes (ES), front kicks (FK), and countermovement jumps (CMJ) performance. Sixteen male military cadets (22.3 ± 1.8 years, 181.4 ± 7.0 cm, 82.1 ± 8.5 kg) performed combat techniques, with performance measured by using a force plate and body segment mass assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Spearman's correlation analysis, the Wilcoxon test, and Cohen's d were applied. Results indicated the relationship between KLM or BM and FK impulse (r = 0.64, p = 0.01; r = 0.52, p = 0.04, respectively) and CMJ impact force (r = 0.80, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.70, p ≤ 0.01, respectively). Moreover, FK peak and impact forces were moderately correlated with CMJ jump height (r = 0.74, p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.77, p ≤ 0.01). The highest relationship was found between KLM and FK impulse; however, the difference in variability explained by KLM versus body mass is only 12%. This suggests that knowledge of BSM did not provide a significantly better estimate of the dynamic forces of the punches and FK than BM.

Fabric phase sorptive extraction, an innovative integration of solid phase extraction and solid phase microextraction principles, has been combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the rapid extraction and determination of nineteen organochlorine pesticides in various fruit juices and water samples. FPSE consolidates the advanced features of sol-gel derived extraction sorbents with the rich surface chemistry of cellulose fabric substrate, which could directly extract target analytes from complex sample matrices and substantially simplifies the sample preparation operation. Important FPSE parameters including sorbent chemistry, extraction time, stirring speed, type and volume of back-extraction solvent and back-extraction time have been optimized. Calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range 0.1-500 ng/mL. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection were obtained in the range 0.007-0.032 ng/mL with satisfactory precision (RSD<6%). The relative recoveries obtained by spiking organochlorine pesticides in water and selected juice samples were in the range of 91.56–99.83%. The sorbent sol-gel poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene glycol)-poly(ethylene glycol) was applied for the extraction and preconcentration of organochlorine pesticides in aqueous and fruit juice samples prior to analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated that the present method is simple, rapid, and precise for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in aqueous samples.

Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein that is competitively bound by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a possible biomarker for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Our group has previously shown the usage of gelsolin 1-3 (a fragment of gelsolin composed of the first three of its six subdomains) along with actin to detect the presence of lysophosphatidic acid. This histidine-tagged gelsolin 1-3 fragment is synthesized in our lab using bl21 Rosetta cells but required further characterization. This study aims to provide sufficient characterization of gelsolin 1-3 synthesized in our lab via both sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry using a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICR-MS). Both techniques show the presence of protein at the expected mass of approximately 41 kDa. Additionally, the dissociation of a smaller fragment of the complex when introduced into the gas phase which was equivalent to the approximate mass of one subdomain of gelsolin 1-3 further supports this conclusion.

For each measurement, at least three objects are needed: a solid, neutral object as a measuring instrument and two objects for comparison. This system of three spatial dimensions per object has a common time. All measurements are based on orbits relative to the firmament and coincidences of the spatial coordinates of the objects after rotations with π and provide the energy of the system. These results in the most suitable coordinate system with dimensions of powers of π in which the radius is curved, as are the longitude and latitude. Polynomials P(2π) correspond to neutral objects, in addition to P(π) for charge, spin, isospin. In addition, it is assumed that the cosmos consists of a single type of particle with a speed of light c. Normalizing to the rest mass of the electron, the neutrinos are ντ=π, νμ=1, and νe=1/π. The energy of an electron is: Ee=gfreq(π)+1−1/π. An algorithm is derived from a Christoffel symbol and similar to a lattice gauge calculation. It provides exact residual masses for neutrons, protons, muons, tauons, quarks u, d, and pions. The theory can be applied to the inner planetary system and the cosmos and explains the hierarchy problem.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex and multifaceted obstetric syndrome characterized by several distinct molecular subtypes. It complicates up to 5% of pregnancies and significantly contributes to maternal and newborn morbidity, thereby diminishing the long-term quality of life for affected women. Due to the widespread dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of existing approaches for assessing PE risk, there is a pressing need for ongoing research to identify newer, more accurate predictors. This study aimed to investigate early changes in the maternal serum proteome and associated signaling pathways. The levels of 125 maternal serum proteins at 11-13 weeks of gestation were quantified using liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM MS) with the BAK-125 kit. Ten serum proteins emerged as potential early markers for PE: Apolipoprotein M (APOM), Complement C1q subcomponent subunit B (C1QB), Lysozyme (LYZ), Prothrombin (F2), Albumin (ALB), Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (AZGP1), Tenascin-X (TNXB), Alpha-1-antitrypsin (SERPINA1), Attractin (ATRN), and Apolipoprotein A-IV (APOA4). Notably, nine of these proteins have previously been associated with PE in prior research, underscoring the consistency and reliability of our findings. These proteins play key roles in critical molecular processes, including complement and coagulation cascades, platelet activation, and insulin-like growth factor pathways. To improve the early prediction of PE, a highly effective Support Vector Machine (SVM) model was developed, analyzing 19 maternal serum proteins from the first trimester. This model achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.91, with 87% sensitivity and 95% specificity, and a hazard ratio (HR) of 13.5 (4.6 - 40.8) with p&lt;0.001. These findings demonstrate that serum protein-based SVM models possess significantly higher predictive power compared to the routine first-trimester screening test, highlighting their superior utility in the early detection and risk stratification of PE.

Isotopes at the limits of nuclear existence are of great interest for their critical role in nuclear astrophysical reactions and their exotic structure. Experimentally, exotic nuclides are challenging to address due to low production cross-sections, overwhelming amounts of contamination, and lifetimes typically less than a second. To this end, a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer at the TITAN-TRIUMF facility was built to determine atomic masses. This device is a preferred tool to work with exotic nuclides due to its ability to resolve the species of interest from contamination and short measurement cycle times enabling mass measurements of isotopes with millisecond half-lives. With a relative precision of order $10^{-7}$, we demonstrate why the TITAN MR-TOF MS is the tool of choice for precision mass surveys for nuclear structure and astrophysics. The capabilities of the device are showcased in this work including new mass measurements of short-lived tin isotopes ($^{104-107}$Sn) approaching the proton dripline as well as $^{89}$Zr, $^{90}$Y, and $^{91}$Y. The last three illustrate how the broadband surveys of MR-TOF MS reach beyond the species of immediate interest.

Abstract: (1) Background and rationale: To validate the reported therapeutic coverage, a lymphatic filariasis post-mass drug administration (MDA) campaign survey was conducted in the Lukonga health zone from 10 June to 15 July 2023. (2) Materials and methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at the community level in 30 villages in the Lukonga health zone from 10 June to 15 July 2023. The study population included all individuals from the visited com-munities. The study variables included age, sex, drug use (ivermectin + albendazole), adverse events, and adherence to MDA guidelines for supervised drug use. Questionnaires were administered on Android phones using the SurveyCTO platform. Stata version 17 was used for data analysis. (3) Results: Of the 1092 respondents, 54.8% were female and one-third were between the ages of 5 and 14. Two-thirds of the households surveyed, or 64%, had more than six people living in them, and 1031 individuals, or 94%, reported being present during the community mass drug distribution. Notably, 678 individuals, or 66%, reported taking the drugs offered, and 66.4% of those who took the drugs reported doing so in the presence of drug distributors. Thus, the survey coverage was 65.7% [95% CI: 62.9–68.7]. The results of this study show that the survey coverage was above the 65% threshold recommended by the WHO but below the 82.3% reported by the Lukonga health zone. The main reason for non-compliance was a fear of ivermectin-related side effects (47%). Supervised or directly observed treatment was not adhered to (66.4%). (4) Discussion and conclusions: Key challenges to further increase treatment coverage include assessing data quality, building capacity, motivating drug distributors, improving data reporting tools, proper recording by drug distributors, and ac-curate reporting on non-residents who take the drugs during the MDA. In addition, harmonization of the numerator for calculating drug coverage in the health zone is critical.

In this study, the use of recycled diatomaceous earth as the extraction phase in a the solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in river water samples, with separation/detection performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), is proposed. The optimized extraction conditions are extraction time 70 min at 80 ºC with no addition of salt. The limits of quantification were close to 0.5 μg L-1 with RSD values lower than 25% (n = 3). The linear working range was 0.5 μg L-1 to 25 μg L-1 for all analytes. The method was applied to samples collected from the Itajaí River (Santa Catarina, Brazil) and the RSD values for repeatability and reproducibility were lower than 15% and 17%, respectively. The efficiency of the recycled diatomaceous earth fiber was compared with that of commercial fibers and good results were obtained, confirming that this is a promising option for use as the extraction phase in SPME.

ObjectivesIn increasingly stressful times, many people are increasingly turning to fast food, neglecting to drink enough fluids and often forgoing regular exercise. The fast tempo of everyday life leaves little room for healthy habits, such as cooking at home, which means that a conscious and balanced diet takes a back seat.MethodsA descriptive pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of an eight-week intervention program. This program included the daily intake of breakfast, cooking at home, adequate fluid intake and daily physical activity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of these measures on the participants' body weight and general health.Results During the 56-day intervention, there was a steady trend towards weight reduction, and at the end of the intervention phase, a significant weight reduction in the test person could be observed. At the end of the intervention, the participant was still 45 years old, measured a body weight of 73.4 kg, which represents a BMI of 25.1 and is classified as slightly overweight. ConclusionThe results of the pilot study demonstrate clearly that the health mix of regular cooking at home, a daily breakfast, a daily physical activity session and sufficient fluid intake can be an effective booster for weight loss in adults. This combination has not only led to a significant reduction in body weight, but has also shown that simple, everyday measures can have a profound effect on health.

Myelolipoma is a benign, typically inert neoplasm of uncertain aetiology that is rarely reported in cats. Although commonly asymptomatic, in some cases, myelolipomas can cause abdominal discomfort or present with rupture and haemorrhage. Here, we describe a rare case of a splenic myelolipoma in a Domestic Long Hair cat in which, after extensive diagnostic investigations, clinical signs of hyporexia and weight loss were attributable to the presence of an intra-abdominal mass. The patient was treated by splenectomy and unexpectedly died during the post-operative period. Although splenectomy appears to be a sensible intervention in symptomatic patients, the optimal management of splenic myelolipomas in cats remains unknown. The risk-benefit ratio of surgical management needs to be carefully considered, and therapeutic intervention should be tailored individually to each patient.

The paper presents theoretical notions with practical applications for establishing of one dental bur lifetime (durability and reliability based on the active part wear considering a series of statistical indicators. For the justification application of theoretical notions in practice, a conical-cylindrical dental bur was studied experimentally, to obtain a series of data in the work process, necessary for statistical calculation. The parameter taken into consideration in this paper is mass lost through the dental bur active part wear, tested. This is useful for the dental bur lifetime establishment and its extension or even optimization in operation. The loss of mass of the dental bur active part is analyzed in the work process by the results and experimental data obtained and validated by a numerical calculation statistical-mathematical. The numerical calculation approximates very well the mass lost through the wear at different rotation speeds and operation times, with those experimentally determined ones, based on which it was established lifetime. The results showed that the dental bur works with high yield in the first 20 hours of work, , after which it should be replaced with a new one.

Mass spectrometry (MS) has revolutionized clinical chemistry, offering unparalleled capabilities for biomolecule analysis. This review explores the growing significance of MS, particularly when coupled with liquid chromatography (LC-MS), in identifying disease biomarkers and quantifying biomolecules for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The unique advantages of MS in accurately identifying and quantifying diverse molecules have positioned it as a cornerstone in personalized medicine advancement. MS-based technologies have transformed precision medicine, enabling comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms and patient-specific treatment responses. LC-MS has shown exceptional utility in analyzing complex biological matrices, while high-resolution MS has expanded analytical capabilities, allowing detection of low-abundance molecules and elucidation of complex biological pathways. The integration of MS with other techniques, such as ion mobility spectrometry, has opened new avenues for biomarker discovery and validation. As we progress towards precision medicine, MS-based technologies will be crucial in addressing the challenges of individualized patient care, driving innovations in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies.

The photosystem I (PSI) of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii associates with 10 light-harvesting proteins (LHCI) to form the PSI-LHCI complex. Binding of LHCII to PSI may also occur and is controlled by a process called state transitions. Hereby, two LHCII trimers bind to the PSAL, PSAH and PSAO side of PSI to produce the PSI-LHCI-LHCII complex. In this work, we took advantage of chemical crosslinking of proteins in conjunction with mass spectrometry to identify protein-protein interactions between the light-harvesting proteins of PSI and PSII. We detected binding of LHCBM proteins to the LHCA1-PSAG side of PSI and identified protein-protein interactions of LHCSR3 with LHCA5 and LHCA3. Our data indicate that the binding of LHCII to PSI is more versatile as anticipated and reveal that LHCSR3 likely regulates excitation energy transfer to the PSI core via LHCA5/LHCA3.

This study addresses the importance of conducting mass movement susceptibility mapping and hazard assessment using quantitative techniques, including machine learning, in the Northern Lima Commonwealth (NLC). Previous exploration of the topographic variables revealed high correlation and multicollinearity among some of them, which led to dimensionality reduction through principal component analysis (PCA). Six susceptibility models were generated using weights of evidence, logistic regression, multilayer perceptron, support vector machine, random forest, and naive Bayes methods to produce quantitative susceptibility maps and assess the hazard associated with two scenarios: the first being an El Niño phenomenon and the second being an earthquake exceeding 8.8Mw. The main findings indicate that machine learning models exhibit excellent predictive performance for the presence and absence of mass movement events, as all models surpassed an AUC value of &gt;0.9, with the random forest model standing out. In terms of hazard levels, in the event of an El Niño phenomenon or an earthquake exceeding 8.8Mw, approximately 40% of the NLC area would be exposed to the highest hazard levels. It also highlights the importance of integrating methodologies to reduce model uncertainty, such as comprehensive analysis of variables supported by high quality data and organized workflows. The findings of this research are expected to serve as a supportive tool for land managers in formulating effective disaster prevention and risk reduction strategies.

In this paper, we make an attempt to estimate the famous Avogadro number with programming logics written in Python associated with advanced nuclear binding energy formulae. Average rest mass of nucleon, nuclear binding energy per nucleon and electron rest mass seem to play a vital role in estimating the unified atomic mass unit and Avogadro number. Interesting point to be noted is that, Avogadro number seems to be the inverse of the Unified atomic mass unit. With further study, it seems possible to estimate the unified atomic mass unit and Avogadro number accurately. Our interesting observation is that, short range strong nuclear force seems to have a vital role in deciding the accuracy of Avogadro number. For that purpose one may consider AI techniques along with newly observed atomic nuclides and their nuclear binding energies. For Z=6 to 118 and A_low=2Z and A_upper=3.5Z, estimated average value of Avogadro number is $N_{Average} \cong 6.01938 \times 10 ^{26}$. Considering the saturation of nuclear binding energy, at Z=26, $N_{Z=26} \cong \left(6.02229 \textrm{to} 6.02285\right) \times 10 ^{26}$. At academic level, our proposal can be given a chance as a case study. It is planned to develop a web application for this purpose.

The rapidly increasing adoption of high-resolution accurate-mass methods in analytical laboratories has fueled demand for instruments that combine high performance and reliability with small size and greater ease-of-use. This paper presents the major design principles that are driving the evolution of the hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap instrument architecture to enable a greater range of applications and users. These principles may be summarized as follows: better usage of physical space and better access for service by means of size reduction of pumping and ion optics; expanded use of technologies from electronics in ion-optical design; flexibility in performance via modularity of design of the hardware and software components; and, harmonization of interfaces with other instruments to facilitate sharing and transferability of analytical workflows. The design of a novel family of hybrid mass spectrometers is described in detail, and performance evaluation is carried out on a wide variety of samples for its three representatives: the Orbitrap Exploris 120, Orbitrap Exploris 240 and Orbitrap Exploris 480 mass spectrometers.The new instrument family is shown to offer compelling potential not only for high-end proteomics and biopharmaceutical applications, but also for screening, trace, targeted and clinical analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods.

Certain species of Mucorales have been identified as causative agents of mucormycosis, a rare yet often lethal fungal infection. Notably, these fungi exhibit intrinsic resistance to common azole drugs, which target lipids. Given the pivotal role of lipids in drug resistance and their contribution to the innate resistance to azoles, this study provides a comprehensive overview of key lipid classes, including sphingolipids (SLs), glycerophospholipids(GPLs), and sterols, in Rhizopus delemar 99-880, a well-characterized reference strain among Mucorales. Through high-throughput analysis involving the identification and quantification of intermediates, we have elucidated the biosynthetic pathways of SLs, PGLs, and sterols. Notably, the acidic SLs were not found probably because the acidic branch of the SL biosynthesis pathway terminates at α-hydroxy phytoceramides as evident by their high abundance. Intermediates in the neutral SL pathway incorporated higher levels of 16:0 fatty acid compared to other pathogenic fungi. A strikingly high phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)/phosphatidylcholine (PC) ratio was observed among GPLs. Ergosterol remains the major sterol, similar to other fungi, and our analysis confirms the existence of alternate ergosterol biosynthesis pathways. The total lipidomic profile of R. delemar 99-880 offers insights into its lipid metabolism and potential implications for studying pathogenesis and drug resistance mechanisms.

Identification of drug targets and biochemical investigations on mechanisms of action is a are major issues in modern drug development. The present article reviews the classical “one drug” – “one target” paradigm. Novel methods for target deconvolution and for investigation of resistant strains based on protein mass spectrometry have shown that multiple gene products and adapta-tion mechanisms are involved in responses of pathogens to xenobiotics. This review is focused on protozoan pathogens. The conclusions can, however, be extended to chemotherapies against other pathogens or cancer. For this review we have searched Pubmed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and Web of Science (webofscience.com) using the key words listed below (status May 2024)

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

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a vital process for depositing thin films of various materials with precise control over thickness, composition, and properties. Understanding the heat and mass transfer mechanisms during CVD is essential for optimizing process parameters and ensuring high-quality film deposition. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in the heat and mass transfer modeling for chemical vapor deposition processes. It explores innovative modeling techniques, recent research findings, emerging applications, and challenges in the field. Additionally, it discusses future directions and potential areas for further advancement in CVD modeling.

Bat feces were reported in ancient Chinese medicine books to have the effect of reducing heat and improving eyesight, but the mechanism of vision improvement still needs further research. To this end, we used 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to analyze the antioxidant capacity of and the types of vitamins in bat feces. We hoped to screen the pharmacological components of bat feces, and to explain the role that these components may play in the treatment of visual deterioration. Our results found that bat feces had a good antioxidant capacity and mainly contain vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B3 (nicotinic acid), and B5 (pantothenic acid). Although these vitamins may help maintain the health of the optic nerve and cornea, the vitamin content of bat feces is low, but the heavy metal content is high, as shown using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. Therefore, we suggest that the use of bat feces as traditional Chinese medicine to improve vision should be strictly restricted.

With reference to our recently proposed Planck Scale White Hole Cosmology (PS-WHC) or Flat Space Cosmology (PS-FSC), we make an attempt to quantify galactic dark matter and flat rotation speeds in terms of galactic visible matter and cosmic mass. Considering recently observed dwarf galaxies having very little dark matter and assuming a time dependent reference mass unit of $M_X\cong \left(\mbox{3.0 to 4.0}\right)\times 10^{38}$ kg, we suggest an empirical relation for galactic dark matter $M_d$ via galactic visible mass $M_v$ as,$M_d \cong \frac{M_v^{3/2}}{M_X^{1/2}}$. This relation helps in fitting flat rotation speeds starting from 8 km/sec (for Segue 2) to 500 km/sec (for UGC12591). Modifying MOND's galactic flat rotation speed relation with Hubble mass $M_0\cong \left(\frac{c^3}{2GH_0}\right)$ of the universe, ratio of galactic flat rotation speed $V_G$ to speed of light $c$ can be shown to be approximately $\frac{V_G}{c} \cong 0.5 \left(\frac{M_v}{M_0}\right)^{1/4}$. Considering the sum of galactic dark matter and visible matter, ratio of galactic flat rotation speed to speed of light can be shown to be approximately $\frac{V_G}{c}\cong 0.25 \left(\frac{M_v+M_d}{M_0}\right)^{1/4}$. With further study, dark matter's nature, effect and distribution can be understood in terms of visible matter's extended gravity and extended theories of gravity can be understood with 'distance cosmic mass' rather than the empirical 'minimum acceleration'.

Nanocomposites of TiO₂ Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiO₂/AC ) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process. The effects of TiO₂/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiO₂ and bare AC. TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases, and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm; while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon, and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiO₂ nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiO₂/AC composites were obtained as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiO₂ (e.g., E_1g⁽¹⁾, B_1g⁽¹⁾, E_g⁽³⁾) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiO₂/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiO₂ or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiO₂/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2×10^-3 min^-1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cm²). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiO₂/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. Furthermore, TiO₂/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (e^-/h⁺) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiO₂/AC composite in this study can be used for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants.

The purpose of this study was to establish the association between total and segmental body composition (BC) variables and anaerobic performance and to create optimal models that best predict such performance in CrossFit® (CF) athletes. Fifty athletes, 25 males and 25 females (age: 33.26 ± 6.81 years; body mass: 72.57 ± 12.17 kg; height: 169.55 ± 8.71 cm; BMI: 25.06 ± 2.31 kg·m−2) were recruited to participate and underwent BC analysis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and an all-out laboratory test on a cycle ergometer (Wingate) to determine their anaerobic performance. The results show a significant correlation between BC values and performance, ranging from moderate (r = -0.34, p = 0.015) to near-perfect (r = 0.96, p &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, the created performance prediction models exhibited predictive capacities ranging from 19% (p = 0.017) to 93% (p &lt; 0.001). All prediction models were created using total or segmental lean mass variables, excluding others. BC and performance variables found significant differences between males and females. The findings demonstrate that BC variables are crucial indicators of anaerobic performance in CF athletes. Professionals responsible for athlete performance should use this information to monitor athletes and design training programs.

The leaves of Nicotiana glauca (Solanaceae) plant, are known for its major cause of health concern. This study investigated the antioxidant activity and polyphenols composition of aerial parts of N.glauca collected from its wild habitat in Jordan, using Methanol-Conventional (MC) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) extraction methods in addition to nicotine content determination using UHPLC. The results have shown that the MC extract contains fewer total phenols and flavonoid content than the DES extract at ratio of 90% (0.1194 ±0.009 and 0.311± 0.020 mg/mL equivalent to gallic acid) and (0.01084±0.005 and 0.928 ± 0.09 mg/mL equivalent to rutin), respectively. Moreover, the study showed that the MC extract contains 635.07 ppm nicotine compared to the DES extraction method, which contains 1194.91 ppm. Both the MC and the DES extracts exhibited weak antioxidant activities with the highest was 33%inhibition equivalent to ascorbic acid was found for DES at (90%) ratio. The UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of variations in the detected compounds between the two extraction methods used. This study found that en-vironmentally friendly DES extraction of N. glauca produced higher phenol and flavonoid content than MC method, highlighting green chemistry methods' superior efficiency and environmental benefits for extracting valuable phytoconstituents.

To investigate the mass mortality of asari clams triggered by upwelling-driven hypoxia, we conducted biological and oceanographic observations of the Rokujo tidal flat in Mikawa Bay, central Japan. In addition, a simple laboratory experiment was conducted using sediments on a tidal flat containing macrobenthos to examine the possibility of hydrogen sulfide formation in tidal flats. The results of field observations showed that the number and biomass of asari clams decreased from September to October in the tidal flat when hypoxia was intermittent. In particular, hypoxia persisted for approximately one week from September 21, which was associated with the calm weather and stagnation of tidal currents owing to the neap tide. The hydrogen sulfide concentration in the water directly above the sediment exceeded 30 mg L-1 after 3 days of incubation. Our results suggest that the mass mortality of asari clams may be caused by the high concentration of hydrogen sulfide produced by sulfate reduction, which is attributed to the chain of biological die-off caused by the upwelling of hypoxic water mass accompanied by meteorological events, and calm conditions such as the neap tide period.

Saffron, renowned for its aroma and flavor, is susceptible to adulteration due to its high value and demand. Current detection methods, including ISO standards, often fail to identify specific adulterants such as safflower or turmeric up to 20% (w/w). Therefore, the quest continues for robust screening methods using advanced techniques to tackle this persistent challenge in safeguarding saffron quality and authenticity. Advanced techniques like Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), with its molecular specificity and high sensitivity, offer promising solutions. Samples of pure saffron and saffron adulterated with safflower and turmeric at three levels of inclusion (5%, 10%, and 20%) were analyzed without prior treatment. Spectral analysis revealed distinct signatures for pure saffron, safflower, and turmeric. Through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), TOF-SIMS effectively discriminated between pure saffron and saffron adulterated with turmeric and safflower at different inclusion levels. The variation between the groups is attributed to the characteristic peaks of safflower and the amino group peaks and mineral peaks of saffron. Additionally, a study was conducted to demonstrate that semi-quantification of the level of safflower inclusion can be achieved from the normalized values of its characteristic peaks in the saffron matrix.

This work aims to investigate systematically the influence of process temperature and biomass-to-water ration on the chemical composition of aqueous and gaseous phases and mass production of chemical by hydrothermal processing of Açaí (Euterpe Oleraceae, Mart.) seeds. The hydrothermal carbonization carried out at 175, 200, 225, and 250 °C, 2 °C/min, biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, and at 250 °C, 2 °C/min, and biomass-to-water ratios of 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20, in technical scale. The chemical composition of aqueous phase determined by GC and HPLC and the volumetric composition of gaseous phase by using an infrared gas analyzer. For constant biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous phases varied between 53.39 and 37.01% (wt.), 46.61 and 59.19% (wt.), and 0.00 and 3.80% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids shows a smooth exponential decay with temperature, while that of liquid and gaseous phases a smooth growth. By variation of biomass-to-water ratios, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous reaction products varied between 53.39 and 32.09% (wt.), 46.61 and 67.28% (wt.), and 0.00 and 0.634% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids decreases exponentially with increasing water-to-biomass ratio and that of liquid phase increases in a sigmoid fashion. For constant biomass-to-water ratio, the concentrations of Furfural and HMF decrease drastically with temperature, reaching a minimum at 250 °C, while that of phenols increases. In addition, the concentrations of CH3COOH and total carboxylic acids increase, reaching a maximum at 250 °C. For constant process temperature, the concentrations of aromatics vary smoothly with the temperature. The concentrations of furfural, HMF, and cathecol decrease with temperature, while that of phenols increases. The concentrations of CH3COOH and total carboxylic acids decrease exponentially with temperature. Finally, for the experiments with varying water-to-biomass ratios, the productions of chemicals (furfural, HMF, phenols, cathecol, and acetic acid) in the aqueous phase is highly dependent on the biomass-to-water ratio.

Proteomics is the study of cellular proteome by investigating how different proteins interact with each other and the roles they play in the organism. For mRNA expression levels do not always correlate well with protein expression levels, and the study of mRNA does not consider protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), complex formation and localization; all of which are key to protein function. Quantitative proteomics uses mass spectrometry to identify and quantify proteins so as to find differentially expressed proteins under different condition. This allows us to gain biological insights under stress or other pathological conditions. posttranslational modifications, such as lysine acetylation, succinylation and lactylation, occur after protein biosynthesis and play vital roles in protein activity and cell physiology regulation. Here we present the mass spectrometry analysis in detail to unveil protein acylase and deacylase’ roles in metabolic regulation based on PTMomics lysine acetylome and suincylome.

We calculate the hydrodynamic forces exerted on an oscillating circular cylinder when it moves translationally perpendicular to its axis in the infinitely deep water covered by compressed ice. The cylinder can oscillate both horizontally and vertically. In the linear approximation, we find a solution for the steady wave motion generated by the cylinder within the hydrodynamic set of equations for the incompressible ideal fluid. We show that depending on the rate of ice compression, the normal and anomalous dispersion can occur in the system. In the latter case, the group velocity can be opposite to the phase velocity in a certain range of wavenumbers. We investigate the dependences of the hydrodynamic loads (added mass, damping coefficients, wave resistance, and lift force) exerting on the cylinder on the translational velocity and frequency of oscillation. It is shown that there is a possibility of the appearance of negative values for the damping coefficients at the relatively big cylinder velocity; then the wave resistance decreases with increasing of cylinder velocity. The theoretical results are underpinned by the numerical calculations for the real parameters of ice and cylinder motion.

Background: Obesity remains a widely debated issue, often criticized for the limitations in its identification and classification. This study aims to compare two distinct systems for classifying obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) as assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). By examining these measures, the study seeks to clarify how different metrics of body composition influence the identification of obesity-related risk factors. Methods: The study enrolled 1255 adults, comprising 471 males and 784 females, with a mean age of 36 ± 11.90 years. Participants exhibited varying degrees of weight status, including optimal weight, overweight, and obesity. Body composition analysis was conducted using the TANITA Body Composition Analyzer BC-418 MA III device (T5896, Tokyo, Japan), evaluating the following parameters: current weight, basal metabolic rate (BMR), adipose tissue (%), muscle mass (%), and hydration status (%). Results: Age and psychological factors like cravings, fatigue, stress, and compulsive eating were significant predictors of obesity in the BMI model but not in the BFP model. Additionally, having a family history of diabetes was protective in the BMI model (OR: 0.33) but increased risk in the BFP model (OR: 1.66). The BMI model demonstrates exceptional predictive ability (AUC=0.998). In contrast, the BFP model, while still performing well, exhibits a lower AUC (0.975), indicating slightly reduced discriminative power compared to the BMI model. Conclusions:BMI classification demonstrates superior predictive accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. This suggests that BMI remains a more reliable measure for identifying obesity-related risk factors compared to the BFP model.

The presence and localization of plant metabolites are indicative of physiological processes, e.g., under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Further, the chemical composition of plant parts is related to their quality as food or for medicinal applications. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has become a popular analytical technique for exploring and visualizing the spatial distribution of plant molecules within a tissue. This review provides a summary of mass spectrometry methods used for mapping and identifying metabolites in plant tissues. We present the benefits and the disadvantages of both vacuum and ambient ionization methods, considering direct and indirect approaches. Finally, we discuss the current limitations in annotating and identifying molecules and perspectives for future investigations.

The presence of antibiotic residues in honey has recently become a growing public health concern due to the overuse of these products in beekeeping and their transfer to the food industry. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple, selective and sensitive method for the simultaneous identification and quantification of residues of twenty-two sulfonamides, trimethoprim and dapsone in honey using a rapid and reliable liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method. The developed method showed good linearity, specificity, precision (repeatability and intra-laboratory reproducibility) and recovery. The decision limit (CCalpha) ranged between 2.16-22.12 µg/kg for CCα, while the detection capability (CCbeta) was between 2.16- 2.67-27.36 µg/kg. The method proved to be rapid, reliable and effective for the determination of sulfonamides, trimethoprim and dapsone from honey samples. The average recoveries were estimated to be between 70 and 106%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were between 6-18%. In practice, the method is essential to check the honey sold on the market and ensure its safety before it reaches the consumer.

The ubiquitous nature of polymers have led to a widespread demand for sustainable polymers in numerous industrial applications. However, lack of well laid out guidelines, product development pathways and certifications have resulted in a lot of commotions and confusions within the polymer value chain. Herein, a meticulous review is conducted on the topic of polymer sustainability shedding light on the standards, product declarations, biobased-biomass concepts, product carbon footprint etc. It is critical that companies significantly contribute on such sustainability efforts in lieu of market readiness and competitive advantages. Any discussion within the sustainability horizon references a couple of terms/ abbreviations/concepts. In this article, such key terminologies and concepts related to polymer sustainability are reviewed with a holistic outlook on the widespread approaches within the polymer sustainability horizon.

This work aims to investigate systematically the influence of process temperature, bio-mass-to-water ratio, and production scales (laboratory and pilot) on the chemical composition of aqueous and gaseous phases and mass production of chemical by hydrothermal processing of Açaí (Euterpe Oleraceae, Mart.) seeds. The hydrothermal carbonization carried out at 175, 200, 225, and 250 °C, 2 °C/min, biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, and at 250 °C, 2 °C/min, and biomass-to-water ratios of 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20, in technical scale, as well as at 200, 225, and 250 °C, 2 °C/min, bio-mass-to-water ratio of 1:10, in laboratory scale. The elemental composition (C, H, N, S) of solid phase determined to compute the HHV. The chemical composition of aqueous phase determined by GC and HPLC and the volumetric composition of gaseous phase by using an infrared gas an-alyzer. For the experiments in pilot scale with constant biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous phases varied between 53.39 and 37.01% (wt.), 46.61 and 59.19% (wt.), and 0.00 and 3.80% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids shows a smooth exponential de-cay with temperature, while that of liquid and gaseous phases a smooth growth. By varying the biomass-to-water ratios, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous reaction products varied be-tween 53.39 and 32.09% (wt.), 46.61 and 67.28% (wt.), and 0.00 and 0.634% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids decreases exponentially with increasing water-to-biomass ratio and that of liquid phase increases in a sigmoid fashion. For constant biomass-to-water ratio, the concentrations of Furfural and HMF decrease drastically with increasing temperature, reaching a minimum at 250 °C, while that of phenols increases. In addition, the concentrations of CH3COOH and total car-boxylic acids increase, reaching a maximum at 250 °C. For constant process temperature, the concentrations of aromatics vary smoothly with the temperature. The concentrations of furfural, HMF, and cathecol decrease with temperature, while that of phenols increases. The concentra-tions of CH3COOH and total carboxylic acids decrease exponentially with temperature. Finally, for the experiments with varying water-to-biomass ratios, the productions of chemicals (furfu-ral, HMF, phenols, cathecol, and acetic acid) in the aqueous phase is highly dependent on the biomass-to-water ratio. For the experiments in laboratory scale with constant biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, the yields of solid ranged between 55.9 and 51.1% (wt.), showing not only a linear decay with tem-perature, but also a lower degradation grade. The chemical composition of main organic compounds (furfu-ral, HMF, phenols, cathecol, and acetic acid) dissolved in the aqueous phase in laboratory scale shows the same behavior of those in obtained in pilot scale.

Background Sarcopenia is a state with progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It is a serious complication occurring in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients which increases morbidity and mortality rate. Sarcopenia is diagnosed when loss of both compartments - muscle strength and skeletal muscle quality or quantity are present. However, there are still numerous patients, also with CKD, diagnosed as pre-sarcopenic individuals with low muscle strength and normal skeletal muscle quality or quantity and conversely, with correct muscle strength and decreased skeletal muscle mass, who are prone to develop sarcopenia in future life. It is crucial to examine numerous variables possibly associated with changes of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in terms of preventing the development of sarcopenia. The aim of the study was to investigate anthropometric and clinical correlates and sources of variation in both skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in advanced stages of CKD. Methods The study sample consisted of 84 non-dialysis dependent patients of both sexes (including 45.2% of women) with eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73m²: 26.2% with eGFR 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m², 65.5% with eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m² and 8.3% with eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m². Muscle strength was estimated by measuring hand grip strength (HGS) with the use of handheld hydraulic dynamometer. Muscle quantity was measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy using Body Composition Monitor. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was calculated according to Lin’s formula. Serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and albumin were measured. Results In bivariate analysis we found that ASM significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric variables such as body mass (r=0.903, p<0.001), NH weight (r=0.882, p<0.001), height (r=0.694, p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.701, p<0.001), lean tissue mass (LTM) (r=0.664, p<0.001), lean tissue index (LTI) (r=0.433, p<0.001), fat mass (r=0.614, p<0.001) and fat tissue index (FTI) (r=0.449, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variable such as hydration status (p<0.001). HGS significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric parameters such as body mass (r=0.319, p=0.003), NH weight (r=0.315, p=0.004), height (r=0.666, p<0.001), LTM (r=0.490, p<0.001), LTI (r=0.238, p=0.029), and ASM (r=0.501, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variables like uric acid (p=0.039) and urea (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and height, HGS remained significantly and negatively related with uric acid (β=-1.078, p=0.041) and hydration status (β=-0.805, p=0.042). Conclusions In CKD patients, ASM is determined mainly by anthropometric parameters but HGS - both by anthropometric and clinical variables specific for CKD.

A finite element model of 100m X-BOW polar exploration cruise is established. The entire ship frequency response analysis was carried out, comparing the simulated values with the test values, the maximum error is 22%, but only 0.24mm/s difference, the error can be ignored from the perspective of comfort, therefore, the simulation results meet the requirements of engineering accuracy and verify the effectiveness of the model. According to the solution method for global modal equivalent mass, combing the spatial distribution principle of local modal mass, the method for solving the equivalent mass of a single local mode in mixed mode is proposed, the equivalent mass of the local vibration region of 100m X-BOW polar exploration cruise ship is solved by this method, tuned mass dampers mass ratio parameters are calculated using the equivalent mass. According to the analysis, tuned mass dampers has 31dB vibration absorption effect at 13.4Hz when the mass ratio is 0.05, it also has certain control effect at 10Hz and 18.8Hz, the control effect is 3dB and 2dB respectively, the overall control frequency band is flat and robust.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not significantly benefited from advances in immunotherapy, mainly because of the lack of well-defined actionable antigen targets. Using proteogenomic analyses of primary EOC tumors, we previously identified 91 aberrantly expressed tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) originating from unmutated genomic sequences. Most of these TSAs derive from non-exonic regions, and their expression results from cancer-specific epigenetic changes. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of 48 TSAs selected according to two criteria: presentation by highly prevalent HLA allotypes and expression in a significant fraction of EOC tumors. Using targeted mass spectrometry analyses, we found that pulsing with synthetic TSA peptides leads to a high-level presentation on dendritic cells. TSA abundance correlated with the predicted binding affinity to the HLA allotype. We stimulated naïve CD8 T cells from healthy blood donors with TSA-pulsed dendritic cells and assessed their expansion with two assays: MHC-peptide tetramer staining and TCR Vβ CDR3 sequencing. We report that these TSAs can expand sizeable populations of CD8 T cells and, therefore, represent attractive targets for EOC immunotherapy.

The neutrino is perhaps the most elusive member of the particle zoo. The questions about its nature, namely: Dirac or Majorana, the value of its mass and the interactions with other particles, the number of its components including sterile species, are long standing ones and still re- main in large extent without conclusive answers. From the side of the nuclear structure and nuclear reactions, both theories and experiments, the need to elucidate these questions have, and still has, prompt crucial developments in the fields of double beta decay, double charge exchange and neutrino induced reactions. The measurements of neutrino flavor os- cillation parameters contribute largely to restrict models with massless neutrinos. From the particle physics side, the possibilities to extent the standard model of electroweak interactions to incorporate a right handed sector of the electroweak lagrangian are directly linked to the adopted neu- trino model. Here, I would like to address another aspect of the problem by asking the question of the neutrino mass mechanism in the cosmological context, and particularly about dark matter.

A spinning gyroscope precesses about the vertical due to a torque acting upon the wheel. The torque is generated by the shift of moment of force by gravity and it points to the vertical instead of the tangential direction of precession. This intuition offers an alternative and straightforward view of precession dynamics in comparison with the literature. It also presumes a dynamic balance of momentum between circular motions of the wheel spin and precession. Accordingly, the gyroscopic dynamics is then applied to the study of galactic motion of the solar system in space and the Galactic mass is calculated with the inclusion of gyroscopic effect of the solar planets. Results indicate that the gyroscopic effect of Mercury orbiting around the Sun can increase the calculated Galactic mass by 23% in comparison with the result obtained by the classic approach.

Water resources provided by alpine glaciers are an important pillar for people living in the arid regions in the west of China. In this study, the HBV (Hydrologiska Byrans Vattenavdelning) light model was applied to simulate glacier mass balance and runoff in the Koxkar River Basin (KRB) on the south slope of Mt. Tumur, western Tianshan Mts.. Daily temperature and precipitation were calculated by multiple linear regressions and gradient-inverse distance weighting, respectively, based on in-situ observed data by automatic weather stations (AWSs) in the basin (2007–2009) and at four meteorological stations neighbering the basin (1959–2009). Observed daily air temperature and precipitation were taken as input data for the HBV model, which was calibrated using runoff in 2007/08 and 2009/10, and validated in 2008/09 and 2010/11. Generally, the model could simulate runoff very well. The annual glacier mass balance and runoff were calculated using the HBV model driven by interpolated meteorological data for the period of 1959–2009. The simulated glacier mass balance were reasonable when compared with those observed values at nearby glaciers, indicating a decrease trend of mass balance in the basin with an average value of –370.4 mm a^-1 since 1959. The annual runoff showed a slight increase trend (5.51 mm a^-1). Futher analysis indicated that the runoff is more sensitive to temperature than precipitation amuont in the Koxkar river basin.

Mass transfer restrictions of scaffolds are currently hindering the development of three-dimensional (3D), clinically viable, and tissue engineered constructs. For this situation, a 3D poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite porous scaffold, which was much favorable for transfer of nutrients to and waste products from the cells in the pores, was developed in this study. The 3D scaffold had an innovative structure, including macropores with diameters of 300−450 μm for cell ingrowth and microchannels with diameters of 2−4 μm for nutrition and waste exchange. The mechanical strength in wet state was strong enough to offer the structural support. The typical structure was more beneficial for the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium (Ca) deposition were evaluated on the differentiation of rBMSCs, and the results indicated that the microchannel structure was very favorable for differentiating rBMSCs into maturing osteoblasts. For repairing rabbit radius defects in vivo, there was rapid healing in the defects treated with the 3D porous scaffold with microchannels, where the bridging by a large bony callus was observed at 12 weeks post-surgery. Based on the results, the 3D porous scaffold with microchannels was a promising candidate for bone defect repair.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to rise globally, posing significant health challenges and burdens. This metabolic disorder, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, contributes to various complications including cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and stroke. While conventional diabetic drugs exist, they often come with adverse side effects, necessitating the exploration of safer and more cost-effective alternatives, particularly from natural sources like medicinal plants. This study investigates the potential of Neocarya macrophylla (Nm) Ethyl acetate leaf fraction in managing DM. Utilizing a high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, the study explores several key aspects including effective dose determination, biological activity, impact on body mass index (BMI), and complete blood count. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism version 9.1. The determination of the minimum effective dose reveals that 120mg/kg of Ethyl acetate fraction of Nm reduced the blood glucose by 28.9% after 4 hours. In addition, ethyl acetate fraction (120 mg/kg) possessed the most hypoglycemic activity compared to the other fractions of Nm. The Ethyl acetate fraction of Nm at 120mg/kg significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic control(p=0.001) and slightly decreased BMI. Furthermore, the fraction demonstrated significant improvement in the parameters of some of the blood count indices such as red blood cells (p<0.001), total white cells (p<0.01) and platelet (p<0.001) compared to the diabetic control. These findings underscore the potential of Nm as a holistic therapeutic option for managing DM and its haematological complications. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the hypoglycemic potential of Nm Ethyl acetate leaf fraction, offering valuable insights into its effectiveness, safety, and broader physiological impacts. Further research into the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects is warranted to fully harness its therapeutic potential in diabetes management.

Pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) as the third most widely used pesticides, following organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides, which are of significant importance in the analysis and detection of vegetables. However, the current pretreatment technology for PYRs confronts challenges of difficult separation and low enrichment efficiency, resulting in a cumbersome and time-consuming pretreatment process with poor selectivity. Here, a simple and efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) strategy was developed to simultaneously purify and enrich five PYRs in vegetables, with the magnetic covalent organic framework nanomaterial COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 as an adsorbent. The COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was prepared by a simple solvothermal conditions method, using Fe3O4 as magnetic core, benzidine and 3,3,5,5-tetraaldehyde biphenyl as two building units. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 could effectively capture the targeted PYRs by virtue of its abundant π-electron system and hydroxyl groups. The impact of various experimental parameters on extraction efficiency was investigated to optimize the MSPE conditions, including adsorbent amount, extraction time, elution solvent type and elution time. Subsequently, method validation was conducted under the optimal conditions in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Within the range of 5.00–100 μg·kg-1 (1.00–100 μg·kg-1 for bifenthrin and 2.5–100 μg·kg-1 for fenpropathrin), the five PYRs exhibited a strong linear relationship, with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9990 to 0.9997. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.3–1.5 μg·kg-1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.9–4.5 μg·kg-1. The recoveries were 80.2–116.7% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 7.0%. Finally, COF-SiO2@Fe3O4, NH2-SiO2@Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 were compared as MSPE adsorbents for PYRs. The results indicated that COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was an efficient and rapid selective adsorbent for PYRs. This method holds promising prospects for the determination of PYRs in real samples.

The experiments of Project 8 have been excellent, but the expected goals still difficult to achieve. So much so that some of the results at your fingertips were also missing. In view of this, the focus of this article is to clarify several easy confused concepts. Only in this way, we can reasonably explain the experimental data. The main points are as follows: 1. The value c of the light speed in vacuum and a particle with zero static mass, both of which do not exist in the reality. That is to say, the so-called a photon's static mass is equal to zero but has energy, which is a paradox that confuses two different definitional domains. 2. In the reality, photons are high-speed particles generated by electromagnetic radiation. They must have the characteristics of (static) mass, energy and wave, in order to describe the main body to aim at photons from different angles. 3. After any main body comes into being electromagnetic radiation, its static mass will inevitably decrease accordingly. 4. The charge-mass ratio of an electron is a physical constant, which is the ratio of its charge to the amount of matter, and is not affected by relativistic effects and electromagnetic radiation. 5. The uncertainty of moving electrons is caused by random electromagnetic radiations. Finally, it is pointed out that if the cyclotron frequency of a single electron is measured, and at the same time, its de Broglie wavelength or frequency can also be measured, then its static mass can be obtained. Even so, the expected goals are still difficult to achieve, because random electromagnetic radiations are always taking away continually the matter composition of the single electron being measured. However, this was precisely a result of the research obtained by Project 8, and had universality, which should be reflect on.

Sialyllactose (SL) is a functional human milk oligosaccharide essential for immune support, brain development, intestinal maturation, and antiviral defense. However, despite its established health benefits, the effect of SL on exercise performance and muscle mass in mice remains unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate, for the first time, the effects of 6′-SL on muscle functions. Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were administered 100 mg/kg 6′-SL for 12 weeks, after which exhaustive treadmill performance, muscle strength, and muscle phenotype were examined. The administration of 6′-SL significantly improved exhaustive treadmill performance metrics, including distance and exhaustion time. Grip strength was also increased by 6′-SL administration. Additionally, 6′-SL increased muscle mass in both the gastrocnemius (GAS) and soleus. 6′-SL administration led to an increase in the minimum Feret’s diameter and the protein expression of total myosin heavy chain in the GAS muscle. In conclusion, 6′-SL administration in vivo led to increased running distance and time by increasing muscle mass and strength. These findings collectively indicate that 6′-SL is a potential agent for improving muscle health and exercise performance.

A simple mathematical interaction function, with the limit value w = e2π/e, derived as a basis for modelling emergent properties of nanoparticles, nanodrops and liquids, has been further developed. A correlation between physical systems of uniform particles and fundamental properties of natural numbers leads to a model, which acts as a bridge between properties of macroscopic systems and fundamental physical constants. The four fundamental coupling constants, and the masses of fundamental elementary particles, including the Higgs and Z bosons, are derived by using this interaction function. A proposal for the mass of the electron neutrino is given. Finally, the nuclear binding interaction is modeled with the interaction function. Only the experimental values of the Planck constant h and the speed of light c are needed for the model.

Lactoperoxidase (LP), which is a high-value minor whey protein, has recently drawn extensive attention from research scientists and industry due to its multi-function and potential therapeutic applications. In this study, the separation and optimization of two similar-sized proteins, LP and lactoferrin (LF) were investigated using strong cation exchange column chromatography. Optimization was started with central composite design based experiments to characterize the importance of different decision variables. The three variables used in the optimization were flow rate, length of gradient and final salt concentration in the linear elution gradient step. The obtained empiric functional model represented the effect of the significant factors on the yield as the objective function. Afterwards, the calibrated mechanistic model was employed to predict accurate optimal set of variables. The optimal operating points were found and the results were compared with validation experiments. Predictions respecting yield confirmed a very good agreement with experimental results while keeping purity, a product quality characteristic, equal or above to a predefined value.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder that impacts both the endocrine and metabolic systems. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in in metabolism regulation and immune responses through its interaction with the external environment. This article explores the intricate interplay between intestinal flora and the pathogenesis of PCOS, focusing on the pivotal role of microbial metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFA levels in fecal and blood samples from women with PCOS (n=69) and healthy controls (n=18) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for precise measurement. The results revealed that women with PCOS exhibited a significant reduction in beneficial bacteria alongside a notable overgrowth of opportunistic microorganisms. An overproduction of acetic acid (AA) and valeric acid (VA) in fecal samples suggests a link between elevated SCFAs and the development of obesity and PCOS. Interestingly, AA in the bloodstream might offer a protective effect against PCOS by ameliorating key symptoms such as high body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance (IR), and chronic inflammation. This finding points to the potential therapeutic value of maintaining optimal AA levels in the blood. Although serum SCFA levels showed non-significant changes following metformin treatment, the normalization of AA in the gut underscores that metformin exerts a more pronounced effect locally within the gastrointestinal tract. This treatment also led to an increase in beneficial gut bacteria and a reduction in opportunistic pathogens, suggesting a restoration of gut microbial balance. Furthermore, the study identified the most effective model for predicting the success of metformin therapy, based on serum concentrations of butyric acid (BA) and VA, achieving a 91% accuracy rate, 100% sensitivity, and 80% specificity. These promising findings highlight the potential for developing targeted interventions and personalized treatments, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for women with PCOS.

Technological developments within the maritime sector are resulting in rapid progress that will see the commercial use of autonomous vessels, known as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). Such ships are equipped with a range of advanced technologies, such as IoT devices, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, machine learning (ML) based algorithms and augmented reality (AR) tools. Through such technologies, the autonomous vessels can be remotely controlled from Shore Control Centres (SCC) by using real-time data to optimise their operations, enhance safety and reduce the possibility of human error. Apart from the regulatory aspects, which are under definition by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), cybersecurity aspects must be considered and properly addressed to prevent such complex systems from being tampered with. In this paper, we propose an approach to secure communication channels between the SCCs and the vessels using SECOM standard and the underlying digital infrastructure in charge of data collection, storage and processing by relying on a set of machine learning (ML) algorithms for anomaly detection. The proposed approach is validated against a real implementation of the SCC deployed at Livorno seaport premises. Finally, the experimental results and the performance evaluation are provided to assess its effectiveness accordingly.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) are associated with higher recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful catheter ablation (CA). The same has been proven for left atrial volume index (LAVI). It has also been shown that there is a correlation between LAVI and BMI. However, whether LAVI prognostic impact on AF recurrence is BMI independent, remains unclear. METHODS: We prospectively included 62 patients with paroxysmal AF who were referred to our institution for CA. All patients underwent radiofrequency CA with standard pulmonary veins isolation. Transthoracic 2-D echocardiography was performed one day after CA to obtain standard measures of cardiac function and morphology. Recurrence was defined as documented AF within 6 months of follow-up period. Patients were also instructed to visit outpatient clinic earlier in case of symptoms suggesting AF recurrence. RESULTS: We observed AF recurrence in 27% of patients after 6 months. The mean BMI in our cohort was 29.65 ± 5.08 kg/cm2 and the mean LAVI was 38.04 ±11.38 ml/m2. We further divided patients into 2 groups according to BMI. Even though LAVI was similar in both groups, we found it to be significant predictor of AF recurrence only in obese patients (BMI ≥ 30), but not in the non-obese group (BMI < 30). There was also no significant difference in AF recurrence between both cohorts. The significance of LAVI as AF recurrence predictor in obesity group was also confirmed in multivariate model. CONCLUSION: According to our results LAVI tends to be significant predictor of AF recurrence after successful catheter ablation in obese patients, but not in normal-weight and overweight patients. This would suggest different mechanisms of AF in non-obese patients in comparison to the obese. Further studies are needed in this regard.

It is discovered that the gravitational field on the surface of a neutron star is with a relativistic mass density of 2.65*10¹⁶~5.87*10¹⁸kgm^-3 which can be larger than the mass density of the neutron star (~10¹⁷kgm^-3). And, the total relativistic mass of the gravitational field of the Sun is ~10⁷ times the mass of the Sun. For different stars, the relativistic mass of the gravitational field is larger as the mass density of the star is larger. In the Milky Way, the total relativistic mass of the gravitational fields is much larger than the total mass of the stars, planets and gas. And, the relativistic mass density of the observed strongest magnetic field is 2.17*10⁸kgm^-3. This discovery should be a new frame to understand the fundamental problem of physics.

Abstract The value of the mass of the particles is one more mystery that current theories cannot predict, so they have to be determined experimentally. In this paper we will see how the quantization of 4D space gives rise to the quantization of mass and, in turn, the quantization of mass implies that space-time is discrete.

Methionine oxidation to the sulfoxide form (MSox) is a poorly understood post-translational modification of proteins associated with nonspecific chemical oxidation from reactive oxygen species (ROS) whose chemistries are linked to various disease pathologies including neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence shows MSox site occupancy is in some cases under enzymatic regulatory control mediating cellular signaling including phosphorylation and/or calcium signaling, raising questions as to the speciation and functional nature of MSox across the proteome. The 5XFAD lineage of the C57BL/6 mouse has well-defined Alzheimer’s and aging states. Using this model, we analyzed age, sex and disease dependent MSox speciation in mouse hippocampus. In addition, we explore chemical stability and statistical variance of oxidized peptide signals to understand needed power for MSox based proteome studies. Our results identify mitochondrial and glycolytic pathway targets with increases in MSox with age as well as neuroinflammatory targets accumulating MSox with AD in proteome studies of mouse hippocampus. Further, the paper establishes a foundation for reproducible and rigorous experimental MSox-omics appropriate for biological discovery novel target identification, and biomarker analysis in ROS and other oxidation linked diseases.

Objective: To analyse the association between maternal risk factors such as age, body mass index (BMI) and cigarette smoking, with perinatal outcomes. Materials and Methods: This a retrospective analysis from prospectively collected data performed at Hospital Universitario de Torrejón (Madrid, Spain), between September 2017 and December 2019. All pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and non-malformed live fetuses attending their routine ultrasound examination at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks' gestation were invited to participate. Association between preeclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), small for gestational age (SGA) or fetal growth restricted (FGR) neonates and type of delivery according to maternal age, BMI, and cigarrete smoking was studied. Logistic mixed models were used to analyze the data. Results: 1921 patients were included in the analysis. Women of 40 years old had a significantly higher risk of having GDM (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.08 to 2.36), and SGA neonates (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.37). Women with a BMI &lt;18 had an increased rate of birth SGA and FGR neonates (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.51 to 7.05, and OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.54 to 8.37, respectively), whereas women with a BMI ≥35 had a higher risk of GDM (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.95 to 4.89). Smoking increased the risk of having SGA and FGR neonates (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.46, and OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.78). Conclusions: Advanced maternal age, low or high BMI, and smoking status are significant risk factors for pregnancy complications. Both clinicians and society should concentrate their efforts on addressing these factors to enhance reproductive health.

Abstract: Field studies with large-stemmed plants Artemisia dubia (wormwood) have been carried out at Vėžaičiai Branch LAMMC since 2018. According to three years of experimental results, annual dry matter (DM) yield varied from 7.94 to 10.14 t ha-1. Growing conditions, nitrogen ap-plication level and harvesting time had significant impacts on Artemisia dubia productivity. This article presents the results of research on preparation and use of Artemisia dubia biomass for en-ergy conversion and evaluation of technological-technical and environmental parameters of these plants utilization for solid biofuel. For experiments were used 6 variants of Artemisia dubia samples, which were grown in 2021: plants were cut three times and two fertilization options were used: (1) no fertilization and (2) fertilization with 180 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer. These harvested plants were chopped, milled and were pressed into the pellets. The physi-cal-mechanical characteristics (mоisture content, density and strength) of Artemisia dubia pellets were investigated. During this study, it was found that the density in dry mass (DM) of pellets ranged from 1119.86 to 1192.44 kg m-3. The pellet moisture content ranged from 8.80 to 10.49%. After testing of pellet strength, it was found that the pellets which were made from plant bio-mass PK-1-1, were the most resistant to compression, they withstood 560.36 N of pressure. Dry fuel lower heating value (LHV) of pellets was sufficiently high and was very close to pine saw-dust pellets, it varied from 17.46±0.25 MJ kg-1 to 18.14±0.28 MJ kg-1. The ash content of burned pellets ranged from 3.62±0.02% to 6.47±0.09%. Emissions of harmful pollutants – CO2, CO, NOx and unburnt hydrocarbons (CxHy) did not exceed the maximum permissible levels. Summariz-ing the results of investigated properties, cоmbustion and emissiоns of Artemisia dubia pellets, it can be concluded that this biofuel can be used for production of pressed biofuel and it is charac-terized by sufficient high quality, efficient combustion and permissible emissions to the envi-ronment.

Lung transplantation offers patients with end stage lung disease an opportunity for a better quality of life, but with limited organ availability it is paramount that selected patients have the best opportunity for successful outcomes. Nutrition plays a central role in post-surgical outcomes and historically, body mass index (BMI) has been used as the de facto method of assessing a lung transplant candidate’s nutritional status. Here we review the historical origins of BMI in lung transplantation, summarize the current BMI literature, and review studies of alternative/complementary body composition assessment tools, including lean psoas area, creatinine-height index, leptin, and dual x-ray absorptometry. These body composition measures quantify lean body mass versus fat mass and may provide a more comprehensive analysis of a patient’s nutritional state than BMI alone.

Onions are known not only for their culinary importance but also for their nutritional and health-promoting properties. Both properties are closely linked to its content of organosulfur compounds, which account for up to 5% of the dry weight of an onion. Given the importance of these compounds, suitable analytical methods are required for their study. Two techniques should be highlighted in this context: gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In this study, eight different onion varieties were analyzed using two distinct analytical techniques: direct thermal desorption–gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (DTD-GC-MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on an LC-ESI-QqTOF instrument. Each method identified 18 different organosulfur compounds, with LC-HRMS targeting non-volatile compounds, such as cysteine sulfoxides, and GC-MS targeting volatiles, such as disulfides and trisulfides. The results obtained were studied using Pearson correlations and principal component analysis. No precise correlation was found between the initial organosulfur compounds in onions and their hydrolysates. Consequently, although GC is one of the most employed techniques in the scientific literature, the use of LC-HRMS or a combination of both techniques may offer a more comprehensive and accurate description of the metabolomic profile of onions.

Recent experimental research has shown that mass is linked to Compton periodicity. We suggest a new way to look at mass: Namely that mass at its most fundamental level can simply be seen as reduced Compton frequency over the Planck time. In this way, surprisingly, neither the Planck constant nor Newton's gravitational constant are needed to observe the Planck length, nor in any type of calculation or gravitational predictions. The Planck constant is only needed when we want to convert back to the more traditional and we would say arbitrary mass measures such as kg. The theory gives the same predictions as Einstein's special relativity theory, with one very important exception: anything with mass must have a maximum velocity that is a function of the Planck length and the reduced Compton wavelength. For all observed subatomic particles, such as the electron, this velocity is considerably above what is achieved in particle accelerators, but always below the speed of light. This removes a series of infinity challenges in physics. The theory also offers a way to look at a new type of quantum probabilities. As we will show, a long series of equations become simplied in this way. Further Newton's gravitational constant G is clearly not needed for gravity calculations or predictions; it is the Planck length and the speed of light (gravity) that are essential for gravity, and both can be measured easily with no knowledge of G.

Maize is the staple cereal in Malawi, with a daily per capita consumption of 383g (dry matter basis), primarily consumed as dehulled maize flour used to cook nsima, a thick porridge. However, the extent of mass and nutrient loss during dehulling remains unclear in this food-insecure country, where the household maize harvest typically lasts only 6–7 months. In the current study, a milling experiment to determine yield and micronutrient losses was conducted. Milling batches (30 kg) of four maize grain varieties were dehulled at three abrasive disk dehullers under controlled conditions. Mass losses ranged from 18.8% to 42.7%, with a mean of 28.2±5.7%. Maize variety and dehuller significantly affected mass loss (p&lt;0.05). Initial protein, iron, and zinc concentrations were 8.8 ±1.0 g/100g, 20.5±2.0 µg/g, and 18.2 ±2.6 µg/g, respectively. Post-dehulling nutrient true retention varied for protein (49.7% to 75.6%, mean=64.7±7.0%), iron (18.7% to 71.6%, mean=37.6±12.0 %), and zinc (11.0% to 46.2%, mean=27.9±8.7 %). Maize variety significantly influenced mass and protein loss (p &lt; 0.05), while dehuller influenced mass, iron, and zinc losses. However, no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) was found in the interaction between dehullers and variety on mass and nutrient losses, respectively. Given Malawi's precarious food insecurity situation, transitioning from dehulled maize flour nsima to whole maize flour or less refined nsima, is imperative. Our study findings can have food and nutritional savings for other southern Africa countries where the dehulling practice is rampant.

VITEK MS PRIME (bioMerieux), a newly developed Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system, alongside VITEK PICKME Pen (PICKME), offers easy sample preparation for bacteria and yeast. VITEK MS PRIME also offers two software platforms for filamentous fungi: the IVD database and the RUO database. Our study evaluated its identification agreement on 320 clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts, comparing PICKME and traditional wooden toothpick sampling techniques against ASTA Mi-croIDSys Elite results. Additionally, we assessed the IVD (v3.2) and SARAMIS (v4.16) RUO data-bases on 289 filamentous fungi against molecular sequencing. The concordant rates for spe-cies-level identification of bacteria and yeasts were about 89.4% (286/320) between the PICKME and wooden toothpick, about 83.4-85.3% between VITEK MS PRIME and ASTA MicroIDSys Elite. Retesting with PICKME improved concordance to 91.9%. For filamentous fungi, species-level identification reached 71.3% with the IVD database and 85.8% with RUO, which significantly enhanced basidiomycetes' identification from 35.3% to 100%. Some strains in the IVD database, like Aspergillus vesicolor, Exophiala xenobiotica, and Nannizzia gypsea failed to be identified. VITEK MS PRIME with PICKME offers reliable and efficient microorganism identification. For fila-mentous fungi, combining the use of the RUO database can be beneficial, especially for basidi-omycetes.

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for diagnosing inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is recognized as an ethical, safe, simple, and reliable screening test. Presented bibliometric analysis aims to describe the network structure of the scientific community in the study area at the level of countries, institutions, authors, papers, keywords, and sources; scientific productivity, directions, and collaboration efforts in a considered period (1991–2023.) Using the PRISMA method, we conducted a systematic search for articles reporting using MS/MS to screen for inherited metabolic disorders and inborn errors of metabolism collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC.) A total of 451 articles out of 546, by 2,682 authors, published in 190 journals, with 15,440 citations in 8,181 citing articles, with an average citation of 34.24 per article, and an H-index of 64 were retrieved from the WOSCC. The research status of MS/MS in IEM screening was identified. The most relevant current research directions and future areas of interest were revealed: "selective screening for IEM," "new treatments for IEM," "new disorders considered for MS/MS testing," "ethical issues associated with newborn screening," "new technologies that may be used for newborn screening," "use of a combination of MS/MS and gene sequencing," etc.

It has been theorized that black holes are surrounded by firewalls, although there is not universal agreement concerning this. We first review basic concepts pertaining to Schwarzschild black holes and Hawking radiation. Then we discuss the anticipation of Hawking radiation—albeit from non-black holes—initially by R. C. Tolman and shortly thereafter with P. Ehrenfest. We compare evaporation into a vacuum at absolute zero (0 K) of black holes with that of non-black holes, and show that not only black holes but also non-black holes evaporate within a finite time. The times required for evaporation of black holes and non-black holes are compared. Next, we show that (i) if firewalls exist, they can originate via Hawking radiation at the minimum possible ruler distance (the Planck length) beyond the Schwarzschild horizon, where it has not suffered any gravitational redshift, or, alternatively, suffered maximal gravitational blueshift and (ii) the firewall temperature is on the order of the Planck temperature, independently of the mass and hence also of the Schwarzschild radius of a Schwarzschild black hole. We then explain the exponential nature of the gravitational frequency shift as a function of the gravitational potential. Next, we consider the firewall-mass problem, and provide an at least prima facie tentative resolution thereto based on: (i) the mass of a firewall being canceled by the negative gravitational mass = (negative gravitational energy)/c² accompanying its formation, (ii) the unchanged observations of a distant observer upon formation of a firewall, and (iii) Birkhoff's Theorem (actually first discovered by Jørg Tofte Jebsen). We then consider one aspect of thermodynamics in gravitational fields, showing that equilibrium relativistic gravitational temperature gradients cannot be exploited to violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Technological advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and novel technological tools have transformed disaster management practices from localized approaches to a global framework. These innovations necessitate a unified understanding and application of diverse methodologies at an international level, ensuring they are accessible and operational across different sectors. This integration is crucial not only for technical personnel but also for medical teams, who play a pivotal role in disaster response and management. By fostering a comprehensive grasp of these methods, we can enhance coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in addressing disasters on a global scale. The authors aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging techniques that are driving shifts in strategic approaches and treatment technologies. Recognized as a domain of continuous research and development, this overview, by necessity, remains an incomplete snapshot of an evolving field. It highlights the dynamic nature of technological and strategic advancements, underscoring the importance of ongoing investigation and innovation to stay abreast of current trends and future directions. The article also highlights the importance of international collaboration beyond societal and national boundaries A single paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: Place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: briefly describe the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: summarize the article’s main findings; (4) Conclusions: indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article and it must not contain results that are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.

Five fundamental problems—neutrino mass, baryogenesis, dark matter, inflation, strong CP problem—are solved at one stroke in a model, dubbed as “SM-A-S-H” (Standard Model-Axion-Seesaw-Higgs portal inflation) by Andreas Ringwald et. al. The Standard Model (SM) particle content is extended by three right-handed SM-singlet neutrinos $N_i$, a vector-like color triplet quark $Q$, a complex SM-singlet scalar field $\sigma$ that stabilises the Higgs potential, all of them being charged under Peccei-Quinn (PQ) $U(1)$ symmetry, the vacuum expectation value $v_\sigma\sim10^{11}$ GeV breaks the lepton number and the Peccei-Quinn symmetry simultaneously. We found that numerically SMASH model not only solves five fundamental problems but also the sixth problem “Vacuum Metastability” through the extended scalar sector and can predict approximately correct atmospheric neutrino mass splitting around 0.05 eV and the solar neutrino mass splitting around 0.009 eV.

Neck lymphangiomas are rare, benign congenital malformations that predominate in childhood. Most present before the age of two. There are no risk factors related to sex, ethnic origin or predominance on either side, and they can occur in any anatomical location, although the most frequent is in the head and neck. The clinical presentation depends on its location. The most frequent symptom is the existence of a painless mass that grows slowly. Available therapeutic tools include surgery, systemic treatment, and injection of sclerosing agents.

The aim of this study is to solve the problems of complicated pretreatment and high analytical cost in the detection technology of trace drug toxicants in municipal wastewater. A high-performance magnetic sorbent was synthesized for enrichment of trace drug substances in wastewater to develop magnetic solid-phase extraction pretreatment combined with the acoustic ejection mass spectrometry (AEMS) analytical methods for the molecules in wastewater drug toxicants. The magnetic nanospheres was successfully prepared by magnetic nanoparticles modified with divinylbenzene and vinyl pyrrolidone.The results showed that the linear dynamic range of 17 drugs was 1-500 ng/L, the recovery was 43%-105%, the matrix effect was more than 67%, the limit of quantitative detection was 1-2 ng/L, and the detection time of each sample was 2.98s. It can be seen that the developed magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method is a good solution to the problem of complicated pre-treatment and analytical cost in the detection of drugs in wastewater. The developed magnetic material and acoustic excitation coupled mass spectrometry analysis method can realize the low-cost, efficient enrichment and fast analysis of different kinds of drug molecules in urban sewage.

In our recent publications pertaining to 4G model of final unification and based on strong and electroweak interactions, we have developed a completely new formula for estimating nuclear binding energy. With reference to currently believed Semi Empirical Mass Formula (SEMF), we call our formula as ‘Strong and Electroweak Mass Formula’ (SEWMF). Our formula constitutes 4 simple terms and only one energy coefficient of magnitude 10.1 MeV. First term is a volume term, second term seems to be a representation of free nucleons associated with electroweak interaction, third term is a radial term and fourth one is an asymmetry term about the mean stable mass number. Considering this kind of approach, nuclear structure can be understood in terms of strong and weak interactions and cold nuclear fusion like complicated concepts can be understood in a theoretical approach positively. In this paper, by considering the accountability of we are making an attempt to improve the applicability and effectiveness of SEWMF. Number 0.00125 being a workable electroweak coefficient for Z=6 to 132 and A=2Z to 3.5Z, number of free nucleons assumed to be associated with electroweak interaction can be expressed as Improved asymmetry term can be expressed as, where represents the light house like stable mass number. With reference to old version, our improved binding energy formula can be expressed as, We are working on its possible modification for mass numbers less than the stable mass numbers. Following this approach, it is possible to show that nuclear binding energy scheme is associated with strong and weak interactions and is practically independent of Coulombic repulsions. Proceeding further, currently believed cold nuclear fusion assumed be associated with hydrated metals can be understood and can be confirmed with strong and weak interactions independent of coulombic repulsions. We are very confident to say that our approach will certainly motivate modern science community in this new direction.

Clockwork fermions represent a novel theoretical construct in high-energy physics, addressing such fundamental issues as mass hierarchies and dark matter. This review provides an examination of the theoretical underpinnings of clockwork fermions, their implications for particle physics, and the current state of experimental validations. Clockwork fermions represent a paradigm in particle physics, elegantly addressing the hierarchy problem and offering insights into the generation of small neutrino masses. We provide an analysis of the clockwork mechanism, emphasizing its theoretical innovation and the unique mass hierarchies it produces. We examine recent experimental efforts, including collider searches and direct detection experiments, that place constraints on clockwork models, while also exploring their potential cosmological implications.

Flares, sometimes accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are the result of sudden changes in the magnetic field of stars with high energy release through magnetic reconnection, which can be observed across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to the optical range to X-rays. In our review, we attempt to collect some fundamental new results, which can largely be linked to the Big data era that has arrived due to the expansion of space photometric observations of the last two decades. We list the different types of stars showing flare activity, their observation strategies, and discuss how their main stellar properties relate to the characteristics of the flares (or even CMEs) they emit. Our goal is to focus, without claiming to be complete, on those results that may in one way or another challenge the "standard" flare model based on the solar paradigm.

Maritime data not only identify financial resources that can significantly enhance the efficiency of shipping companies but also play a pivotal role in promoting eco-friendly and sustainable shipping practices. However, active corporate strategies are required to include maritime data essential for the commercial operation of autonomous ships in the form of corporate assets by transparent evaluating the data. The aim of this study is to review previous studies on da-ta-valuation models, identify a valuation model suitable for maritime business, consider the characteristics of maritime data. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is used to derive priorities for valuing maritime data assets, with emphasis placed on the characteristics of mari-time data, followed by the character of the future-oriented maritime-data market and the da-ta-valuation model. The results obtained that the most important factors in selecting a maritime data-valuation model by analyzing the AHP method were identified as the characteristics of the maritime data(M1). The next most important factors analyzed were the features of the mari-time-data market(M2) and the features of the maritime data-valuation model(M3) in order. In addition, the characteristics of maritime data were preferentially considered among the main criteria, and the market approach (A2) was selected as the most optimal valuation model. The potential impact of this implementation could contribute to the establishment of an intelligent technology market by estimating the value of data and developing a platform for maritime data trading, allowing for more efficient data sharing and utilization by maritime autonomous sur-face ship(MASS).

Scarification involves the partial removal of the seed coat on the side of the hilum, opposite the radicle, to speed up germination in acorns. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of scarification on the germination capacity of pedunculate oak acorns, selected and prepared for sowing. The diameter, length and mass of acorns were measured before and after scarification in four batches of acorns harvested from uneven-aged trees (76, 91, 131 and 161 years). The measured parameters were used to determine the correlations between acorn dimensions and mass, and to calculate the dimensional scarification index and the mass scarification index in acorns. Scarified and non-scarified acorns from every batch were germinated on sand and peat substrate for 28 days. The analyzed acorns were characterized by average size and mass. Scarification decreased acorn mass by around 22% and acorn length by around 31% on average. Scarification and the elimination of infected acorns increased germination capacity from around 64% to around 81% on average. Acorns can be divided into size groups before scarification to obtain seed material with varied germination capacity. Larger acorns with higher germination capacity can be used for sowing in container nurseries, whereas smaller acorns with lower germination capacity can be sown in open-field nurseries.

This study documented the experiences of health system personnel in the implementation of mass distribution campaigns for the control of Lymphatic Filariasis in rural Guinea. This was an exploratory qualitative study using data collected from implementing actors of mass distribution campaigns in the Boké health district. Results showed four main facilitators of mass distribution campaigns rollout in Boké health district: i) support to the district teams in the organization of the campaigns; ii) involvement of community-based associations in social mobilization; iii) strong adherence of the communities to the different mass distribution campaigns, facilitated through the involvement of community relays, who are members of these communities, in the distribution of drugs; and iv) transparency in the allocation of incentives to drug dispensers and supervisors. However, the frequent shortages of medicines, the difficulties of access to rural areas and the lack of logistical means for the su-pervision of activities were the main obstacles to the success of the various mass distribution campaigns in Boké. The provision of buffer stocks for special areas such as Boké by national program actors and partners, joint planning of campaign activities with local managers of health systems and services, and improvement of existing mechanisms for motivating health workers, including community health workers, during future campaigns should help to achieve national objectives in the fight against NTDs in Guinea.

Background: The Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) is a novel, comprehensive index that integrates inflammation and nutritional status, incorporating parameters such as albumin, body mass index (BMI), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Unlike traditional inflammation biomarkers, this study aims to evaluate the prognosis of IPF patients by considering both inflammation and nutritional status. Method: A total of 102 patients with IPF were included in the study. Clinical data were obtained from the patients’ medical records. NLR and ALI score were calculated based on data collected at the initiation of antifibrotic treatment using the following formula: Neut/Lym and albumin × BMI / NLR. Results: IPF subject subgroups in terms of ALI based on gender–age–physiology (GAP) stages (1,2,3), FVC (median split, <70% vs ≥70%), DLCO (<51% vs ≥51%), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) (<350 vs ≥350) and CCI (≤1 vs >1). ALI showed significant difference depending on the categories of GAP stage, FVC, DLCO, and 6MWT but these differences were not observed based on the charlson comorbidity index (CCI) categories (sırasıyla p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.001, p=0.233). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ALI, albumin, NLR, and BMI in determining the mortality risk in IPF patients. ALI demonstrated a sensitivity of 63.6% and a specificity of 98.9% at a threshold of 11.2 (AUC = 0.945, 95% CI 0.892–0.998, p < 0.000). Conclusion: We determined that ALI levels are significantly associated with disease severity and mortality in patients with IPF.

During summer 2016 in the District of Palermo, Italy, the rapid succession of four cases of invasive meningococcal disease among young adults, with one death, have had an extraordinary emphasis by Local and National mass media. The resultant “epidemic of panic” among general population overloaded vaccination Units of the Palermo District during following months. Strategies implemented by Sicilian and Local Public Health Authorities to counteract “meningitis fear” were: a) extension of active and free of charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12–18 to 12–30 years old; b) implementation of vaccination units usual opening hours and rooms tailored for vaccine administration; c) development of informative institutional tools and timely communications throughout local mass media to reassure general population. In 2016, was observed an increase of anti-meningococcal coverage in Palermo District (+18% for 16th y.o. and + 14% for 18th y.o. cohorts) and at Regional Level (+11.2% and +13.5% respectively). Concurrent catch-up of other recommended vaccination for age (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis and papillomavirus), resulted in further increase of doses administered. The fear for meningitis, managed by Sicilian Public Health Authorities, had positive reverberations in terms of prevention. In particular, informative strategies adopted sensibly contributed to get Sicilian young adults closer to vaccination issues.

In this paper, we consider particles together with the surrounding space as an indivisible system, and then investigate the maximum symmetry of the system at the quantum level. We introduce a new quantity to describe the evolution of this system before and after measurement. The effective mass of gravity is estimated. We also show that a free quantum particle as the source of energy and momentum do not produce gravity.

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a key structural parameter that reflects the functional traits of leaves and plays a vital role in simulating the material and energy cycle of plant ecosystems. In this study, vertical whorl-by-whorl sampling of LMA was conducted in a young Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation during the growing season at the Saihanba Forest Farm. The vertical and seasonal variations in LMA were analysed. Subsequently, a predictive model of LMA was constructed. The results revealed that the LMA varied significantly between different crown whorls and growing periods. In the vertical direction of the crown, the LMA decreased with increasing crown depth, but the range of LMA values from the tree top to the bottom was, on average, 30.4 g/m2, which was approximately 2.5 times greater in the fully expanded phase than in the early leaf-expanding phase. The LMA exhibited an allometric growth trend that increased during the leaf-expanding phase and then tended to stabilize. However, the range of LMA values throughout the growing period was, on average, 40.4 g/m2. Among the univariate models, the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) performed well (Ra2=0.45, RMSE=13.48 g/m2) in estimating the LMA. The correlation between LMA and LDMC significantly differed at different growth stages and at different vertical crown whorls. The dynamic predictive model of LMA constructed with the RDINC and DOY as independent variables was reliable in both the assessments (Ra2=0.68, RMSE=10.25 g/m2) and the validation (MAE=8.05 g/m2, FI=0.682). Dynamic simulations of crown LMA provide a basis for elucidating the mechanism of crown development and laying the foundation for the construction of an ecological process model..

The introduction of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) through the development of autonomous navigation technologies is expected to bring about new technologies, new vessel types, and new job roles such as remote operation center (ROC) and remote operator (RO). The MASS Code are currently being discussed through Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of International Maritime Organization (IMO). This code is expected to be adopted in the form of non-mandatory guidelines until 2025, with the goal of establishing mandatory requirements by 2028. Additionally, revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) related to crew training and qualifications are planned for adoption by 2027, which will include requirements for MASS operators. This paper aims to examine the fundamental competencies required for safe MASS operation by remote operators using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, considering the emergence of the new profession of RO. Building upon the 66 Knowledge, Understanding &amp; Proficiencies (KUPs) outlined for marine officer in the STCW Convention, the study seeks to identify the additional competencies necessary for RO and contribute to the development of a training model for the future.

Fermenter is a vessel that maintains optimum environment for the development of significant microorganism used in large scale fermentation process and the commercial production of products like Alcoholic beverages, Enzymes, Antibiotics, Organic acids etc. The fermenter aims to produce biological product like vaccines and hormones, it is necessary to monitor and control the different parameters like external and internal mass transfer, heat transfer, fluid velocity, shear stress, agitation speed, aeration rate, cooling rate or heating intensity, and the feeding rate, nutrients, base or acid valve. Fermentation in the fermenter are accomplished in several configuration and these simple configurations are batch, fed-batch and continuous fermentation process. Fermentation process is carried out in small or large size fermenter depending on product quantity. The selection of the suitable process depends on the fermentation kinetics, type of microorganism used and process economic aspects. Improved modelling tools, reactor operation and reactor design in bioreactor is because of mass transfer behavior and it is important for reaction rate maximizing, throughput rates optimization and cost minimizing. The fermenter design, fermentation process, types of the fermenter that are used in industries and heat and mass transfer in fermenter is discussed.

The use of the Google Scholar produces about 278 hits on the term ‘‘inertial propulsion.’’ If patents are also included, the number of hits increases to 536. This paper discusses, in a critical way, some characteristic aspects of this controversial topic. The review starts with the halteres of athletes in the Olympic games of ancient times and then continues with some typical devices which were developed or/and patented from the second fourth of the twentieth century till today.

We constrain two dynamical dark energy models that are parametrized by the logarithm form of $w(z)=w_{0}+w_{1}\left(\frac{\ln (2+z)}{1+z}-\ln 2\right)$ and the oscillating form of $w(z)=w_{0}+w_{1}\left(\frac{\sin(1+z)}{1+z}-\sin(1)\right)$. Comparing with the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) model, the two parametrizations for dark energy can explore the whole evolution history of the universe properly. Using the current mainstream observational data including the cosmic microwave background data and the baryon acoustic oscillation data as well as the type Ia supernovae data, we perform the $\chi^2$ statistic analysis to global fit these models, finding that the logarithm parametrization and the oscillating parametrization are almost as well as the CPL scenario in fitting these data. We make a comparison for the impacts of the dynamical dark energy on the cosmological constraints on the total mass of active neutrinos. We find that the dark energy properties could significantly change the fitting results of neutrino mass. Looser constraints on $\sum m_{\nu}$ are obtained in the logarithm and oscillating models than those derived in the CPL model. Consideration of the possible mass ordering of neutrinos reveals that the most stringent constraint on $\sum m_{\nu}$ appears in the degenerate hierarchy case.

Recent satellite measurements of glacier mass balance show mountain glaciers all over the world had generally negative mass balances in the first decades of the 21st century. Mean summer temperatures all over the world rose from 1961-90 to 1991-2020, implying increasingly negative mass balances. We study archived annual balances for 38 Northern Hemisphere glaciers to assess changes within in the 19612020 period. We use a modified doublemass curve to visualize mass balance changes occurring around 1990. Mean balances 196190 were already small negative for many of the studied glaciers and became even more negative in 19912020 for glaciers in the Alps, at high latitudes and in western North America. The largest mass balance changes are for some glaciers in the Alps. We are unable to explain the lack of change in mean balance for one glacier in High Mountain Asia. We find complex changes for eight glaciers in Scandinavia, even including one glacier with positive balance. We explain these changes by visualizing deviations of winter and summer balances from their respective 1961-90 mean values. High winter balances in the 1990s for Scandinavia partly obscured the emerging trend of increasingly negative summer balances, which we expect to continue in the future.