Within the field of nanomedicine, which is revolutionizing cancer treatment, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have shown advantages over conventional chemotherapy when tested on cancer cells in preclinical studies. SLNs have proven to be an innovative strategy for the treatment of tri-ple-negative breast cancer cells, providing greater efficiency than existing treatments in various studies. The encapsulation of antineoplastic drugs in SLNs has facilitated a sustained, controlled, and targeted release, which enhances therapeutic efficiency and reduces adverse effects. Moreover, the surface of SLNs can be modified to increase efficiency. For instance, the coating of these particles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) decreases their opsonization, resulting in a longer life in the circulatory system. The creation of positively charged cationic SLNs (cSLNs), achieved by the utilization of surfactants or ionic lipids with positively charged structural groups, increases their affinity for cell membranes and plasma proteins. Hyaluronic acid has been added to SLNs, so that the distinct pH of tumor cells, would stimulate the release of the drug and/or genetic materi-al. The current revision summarizes the recent research on SLNs, focusing on the encapsulation and transport of therapeutic agents with a cytotoxic effect on triple-negative breast cancer.

This study examines the differential impact of proactive and reactive job crafting behaviors on job well-being, drawing from the perspective of boundary theory. The increasing popularity of work connectivity behavior after-hours (WCBA) after work has attracted widespread attention from scholars on the relationship between WCBA and employee well-being. One view suggests that the impact of WCBA is negative, while another view suggests it is positive. Obviously, the impact of (WCBA) on well-being at work is still contradictory. To clarify the complexity of the impact of WCBA on well-being at work, based on boundary theory, we divided WCBA into proactive WCBA (PC) and reactive WCBA (RC), and examined the double-edged sword effect of WCBA on well-being at work, as well as the mediating mechanisms of job control and work-to-home conflict, and the moderated effects of boundary segmentation preferences. This study uses empirical sampling method to collect data from 125 employees for a period of five days for quantitative research. The results show that, first, PC has an inverted U-shaped effect on job control, and job control is negatively related to well-being at work. Thus the mediating effect of job control is significant. Second, RC has a negative impact on job control, and there is also a negative relationship between job control and well-being at work. Therefore, the mediating effect of job control is significant. Third, PC and RC are positively correlated with work-to-home conflict, and work-to-home conflict has a significant positive impact on well-being at work. Therefore, the mediating effect of work-family conflict is significant. Fourth, the study also found that integration preference moderates the relationship between work-to-home conflict and PC on well-being at work, that is, the mediating effect of work-to-home conflict is stronger for employees with low integration preference. This study enriches our understanding of WCBA, PC and RC from the perspective of proactive and passive employee behaviors. The study also provides a new interpretation of the impact of WCBA on well-being at work and offers valuable insights for the sustainable development in digital social transformation and the application of boundary theory and the theory of empowerment-subjugation in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the study deepens our understanding of the heterogeneous regulatory role played by work-family integration preferences in influencing well-being at work under different types of WCBA.

This literature review aims to gain a deeper understanding of the anatomy behind the jaw strength of Tyrannosaurus rex and analyze how these features contribute to its predatory behavior. This review will examine various studies and fossil excavations, exploring ideas such as the bite force of T. rex and its variations across different life stages. This will be obtained from numerous biomechanical models of both juvenile and adult Tyrannosaurus rex, as well as reference animals and dinosaurs for comparison. To provide additional information behind T. rex’s hunting techniques, we will also discuss the fauna of herbivorous dinosaurs that were part of T. rex’s diet. Furthermore, we will explore how mandibular stress concentration can vary between ages, a crucial topic in determining what T. rex could consume at certain stages of its life. Finally, we obtain a well-evidenced analysis of the various aspects of Tyrannosaurus rex’s hunting strategies throughout its lifetime.

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a fundamental and pivotal stage in the development of various knowledge-based support systems, including knowledge retrieval and question-answering systems. In the domain of pig diseases, Chinese NER models encounter several challenges such as the scarcity of annotated data, domain-specific vocabulary, diverse entity categories, and ambiguous entity boundaries. To address these challenges, we propose PDCNER, a Pig Disease Chinese Named Entity Recognition method leveraging lexicon-enhanced BERT and contrastive learning. Firstly, we construct a domain-specific lexicon and pre-train word embeddings in the pig disease domain. Secondly, we integrate lexicon information of pig diseases into the lower layers of BERT using a Lexicon Adapter layer, which employs char-word pair sequences. Thirdly, to enhance feature representation, we propose a lexicon-enhanced contrastive loss layer on top of BERT. Finally, a Conditional Random Field (CRF) layer is employed as the model's decoder. Experimental results show that our proposed model demonstrates superior performance over several mainstream models, achieving a precision of 87.76%, a recall of 86.97%, and an F1-score of 87.36%. The proposed model outperforms BERT-BiLSTM-CRF and LEBERT by 14.05% and 6.8%, respectively, with only 10% of the samples available, showcasing its robustness in data scarcity scenarios. Furthermore, the model exhibits generalizability across publicly available datasets. Our work provides reliable technical support for the information extraction of pig diseases in Chinese and can be easily extended to other domains, thereby facilitating seamless adaptation for named entity identification across diverse contexts. The codes have been open-sourced at https://github.com/tufeifei923/pdcner.

Background: Early diagnosis of postoperative complications is an urgent task, allowing timely prescribing of appropriate therapy and reducing the cost of patient treatment. Prognostic models based on various data could help in the early diagnosis of postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine whether an integrated approach based on clinical data along with metabolites and biomarkers had greater predictive value than the models built on less data. Methods: The study included patients (n=62) admitted for planned cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass), who were retrospectively divided into two groups depending on the presence (n=26) or absence (n=36) of postoperative complications of all types. Clinical and laboratory data on the first day after surgery were analyzed. Additionally, patients' blood samples were collected before and on the first day after surgery to determine biomarkers (interleukin-6, procalcitonin, NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin T) and metabolites (8 aromatic and 2 dicarboxylic acids were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Results: Patients before surgery, compared with healthy donors, differed in the concentration of metabolites (p < 0.05), and had concentrations of a number of biomarkers exceeding the corresponding reference values. Multivariate PLS-DA models, predicting the presence or absence of postoperative complications, were built using clinical data (ROC-AUC=0.71), concentrations of metabolites and biomarkers (ROC-AUC=0.60), and the entire data set (ROC-AUC=0.75). For comparison we built univariate models using the EuroScore2 (ROC-AUC=0.59) and SOFA (ROC-AUC=0.76) scales; concentrations of lactate (ROC-AUC=0.71), the dynamic changes of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (ROC-AUC=0.69), and the sum of three sepsis-associated metabolites (ROC-AUC=0.70). The proposed complex model using entire data set was comparable to the SOFA scale, which confirms the expediency of searching for new predictive models based on a variety of factors.

Deep cavity configurations are common in various industrial applications, including automotive windows, sunroofs, and many other applications in aerospace engineering. Flows over such a geometry can result in an Aero-Acoustic coupling between the cavity shear layer and the acoustic modes of the surrounding. This phenomenon can lead to significant noise and may cause damage to structures due to resonance caused by high-pressure fluctuations produced nearby the cavity. The aims when employing a passive control device is to disturb the cavity flow in order to reduce or eliminate the involved resonance. An experimental set up was developed to study the effectiveness of using either a cylinder or a profiled cylinder positioned upstream from the cavity. A decrease of as high as 30 dB was obtained in the Sound Pressure Levels (SPL). Additionally, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was employed to get the kinematic fields of the flow past the cavity for both controlled and non-controlled configurations. A Snapshot Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) was applied to better understand the cavity flow dynamics in both controlled and non-controlled cases. Furthermore, the interaction of the wake of the control mechanisms with the shear layer of the cavity and its consequence on the Aero-Acoustic coupling was investigated and new flow physics is revealed.

The surge in big data and analytics has catalysed the proliferation of cybercrime, largely driven by organisations' intensified focus on gathering and processing personal data for profit, often overlooking security considerations. Hadoop and its derivatives are prominent platforms for managing big data, however, investigating security incidents within Hadoop environments poses intricate challenges due to scale, distribution, data diversity, replication, component complexity, and dynamicity. This paper proposes a digital forensics readiness framework and an incident response script for Linux-Hadoop systems, streamlining preliminary investigations. The framework offers a novel approach to digital forensics in the domains of big data and Hadoop environments. A prototype implementing important aspects of the DFR framework was developed and evaluated through comprehensive functionality and usability testing. The results demonstrated robust performance and efficacy.

This work reports a characterization of crystallographic phases and chemical composition of hercynite-spinel (FeAl2O4) natural long crystals and their powders using X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spectrometry, and mineralographic/petrographic analysis. The samples studied show a high content of hercynite with Neumann bands/Widmanstätten patterns, coexisting with other crystallographic phases such as corundum, spinel (MgAl2O4), esseneite, kamacite, hedenbergite, pseudobrookite, and ulvospinel. The diffractograms of two of the samples examined exhibit an extraordinary sharpness of the diffraction peaks that determines a high degree of crystallinity, which is hard to obtain in hercynite synthesized by artificial methods. In addition, the hercynite natural samples are less porous than the artificially synthesized hercynite. The x-ray diffraction pattern of one of the pulverized crystalline samples allowed us to estimate the percentage of the main phases present. The crystallographic existent phases with the highest participation in one of the spinel samples were hercynite (43.4%), corundum (18.7%), spinel (18.4%), esseneite (17.2%), and kamacite with a 2.3 %. These results contribute to the structural characterization of this unique material widely used in many technological applications.

This study compares the effects of three supplementary diets—Egg yolk, Artemia, and Commercial pellets with 48% crude protein—on the growth performance and survival rate of red-breast tilapia (Coptodon rendalli) under intensive culture conditions at the Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute in the Kavango East region of Namibia. The study was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024, using a complete randomized design replicated three times. Results showed that fish fed with Commercial pellets exhibited the highest specific growth rate (1.39±0.80%) com-pared to Egg yolk (0.94±0.54%) and Artemia (0.33±0.19%). Commercial pellets also had the best survival rate (254 ± 146.66), compare to Egg York and Artemia (70.47±40.69;33±19.05) respective-ly. However, egg yolk had the best feed conversion ratio (204±117.74), compared to Commercial (219 ± 127.17) and Artemia (254±146.66). Critical water quality parameters were maintained within acceptable survival ranges for C. rendalli across all treatments. These findings highlight the importance of dietary protein content in optimizing the growth and survival of C. rendalli under intensive culture conditions and provide insights for effective feeding strategies. However, Commercial pellets are expensive and inaccessible to small-scale fish farmers. As an alternative, egg yolk emerged as a viable and affordable feed option, promoting fish growth and sup-porting the establishment of small-scale fish farming practices in the region.

Background/Objectives: Conventional surgery gland using the naked eye remains the standard for submandibular gland resection. Owing to its excellent automatic focus and high magnification, the ORBEYE 3D system introduces precise submandibular resection with less stress. Therefore, we examined the usefulness of the exoscope in submandibular gland resection for the first time. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 12 patients who underwent submandibular gland resection using an ORBEYE exoscope at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology at Kansai Medical University from April 2021 to March 2024. Surgical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The mean age of the 12 patients (six females and six males) was 58.5 years (23–83 years). The final histopathology showed pleomorphic adenoma in eight cases, non-sebaceous-type lymphadenoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in one case each, and sialolithiasis with chronic inflammation in two cases. We performed facial artery and vein sparing in all cases except one in which level I neck dissection, including the submandibular gland, was performed. In all cases, we identified the marginal mandibular branches of the facial, hypoglossal, and lingual nerves, as well as the submandibular duct. No postoperative complications occurred in any patient. The mean operative time was 104 min (80–129 min). The mean blood volume lost was 20 mL (5–43 mL). Conclusions: Using ORBEYE in submandibular gland resection will contribute to preserving the mandibular marginal branch of the facial and lingual nerves and the facial artery and vein, and visualizing the submandibular duct, which are important structures surrounding the submandibular gland.

Large language models (LLMs) have recently garnered significant attention due to their remarkable ability to assimilate vast amounts of information and effectively process natural language. In healthcare, natural language constitutes a substantial portion of medical data, rendering LLMs highly promising for various healthcare applications. This study seeks to explore the potential of LLMs in healthcare and clinical decision support (CDS), following PRISMA guidelines for reviews. The analysis encompasses 44 LLMs, each influenced by several factors impacting their performance. Notably, the datasets utilized for pretraining and finetuning processes play a crucial role in determining the model’s domain specificity. Furthermore, distinct model architectures are tailored for specific tasks, while prompting strategies are frequently employed to refine and enhance the model’s performance. LLMs exhibit considerable promise for a wide array of healthcare applications. For instance, LLMs possess the potential to handle and analyze medical information efficiently, facilitate contextual understanding among clinicians and patients, as well as automate the documentation of clinical notes and reports. Presently, however, their implementation within the field remains limited. Notable improvements have been witnessed in the performance of current healthcare-oriented LLMs, with some achieving expert-level competence in medical question-answering (MQA). However, these LLMs face prominent challenges, encompassing ethical concerns, issues related to accountability, and a lack of appropriate regulations. Nevertheless, this study reveals numerous promising applications in healthcare where LLMs could significantly augment the efficiency, accessibility, and manageability of healthcare delivery. Addressing the challenges LLMs encounter is essential for their seamless integration into practical healthcare applications. As a relatively new technology, the development of LLMs is still in its early stages, but their potential is evident through this study. Consequently, fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals, developers, regulators, and other stakeholders is imperative to cultivate dependable LLMs that align with the demands of the healthcare sector.

Based on the composite perspective of environment-building-resource(EBR), influencing factors of the greenness of rural buildings were sorted out by brainstorming and expert consultation, an innovative comprehensive evaluation system was constructed and the weight ofthe impact factors were calculated by fuzzy analytic network process(FANP). The EBR greenness comprehensive scoring standards of each influence factor were established by means of questionnaire, field measurement and numerical simulation. As a typical representative of human populated areas in southwest China, 13 villages in the second circle of Chengdu were selected as case study areas by means of the regional average distribution theory and minimum sampling criteria. Innovative combination of obstacle degree model and spatial interpolation analysis, the key factors affecting the greening of rural buildings were diagnosed. The results showed that, indoor thermal environment(E21), indoor light environment(E22), popularity of biogas facilities (R12), green building material usage(R13) have a significant impact on the EBR greenness score. The EBR score of study area shows a spatial distribution pattern of high in the west and low in the east, with extremely uneven scores in various dimensions. According to the key factors obtained from the systematic evaluation, the refined exploration of promotion strategies and measures was carried out, the greenness improvement suggestion was put forward.

Background: Cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) are significant health concerns among adults with overweight and obesity. Resistance training (RT) is known to manage CRFs, but the impact of moderate-frequency RT (two to three times weekly) remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing moderate-frequency RT with non-exercise control or usual care in overweight and obese adults. Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library up to February 2024, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included non-athletic adults (BMI ≥ 25) aged 18 years or older, with RT interventions lasting 7 weeks or longer. Results: Fifteen RCTs were included. Moderate-frequency RT significantly reduced systolic blood pressure by -4.66 mmHg (95% CI -9.34 to 0.02, p=0.01) and mean arterial pressure by -6.48 mmHg (95% CI -10.63 to -2.33, p=0.002) compared to controls. Additionally, RT significantly lowered fasting insulin levels by -12.52 mmol/L (95% CI -24.17 to -0.88, p=0.04) and HOMA-IR by -1.49 (95% CI -1.63 to -1.35, p＜0.00001). Improvements were more pronounced in participants with dietary control. Conclusion: Moderate-frequency RT effectively improves CRFs in overweight and obese adults, suggesting its potential as a beneficial intervention for this population. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022343167.

The ASEAN Community-based Tourism (CBT) Standard has been adopted by 10 ASEAN member states in 2016 in order to collectively promote ASEAN as a competitive community-based tourism destination. Among the ASEAN member states, Lao PDR (Laos), has a unique CBT development experience through collaboration with various international development agencies. Such history has brought about issues when ASEAN CBT Standard was implemented at to provincial and district levels in Laos, including concerns of related communities on the Standard being not easily applicable considering the state of tourism development. While the application of the regional standard is a significant issue to the tourism industries in the Member States, however, there has been a lack of studies regarding the dynamics of implementation of regional tourism standards at the national level. In order to fill the research gap, this study utilized in-depth interviews with seven executives with significant experiences from the government, international development agency, international organization, and the private sector. Interviewees projected a diversity of perspectives on enabling factors and challenges in implementing ASEAN Community-based Tourism Standard at the national level focusing on Laos, which showed the complexity of CBT dynamics. The results also revealed how regional standards can be further recognized and promoted to the key stakeholders of Laos, better accepted and utilized by end users, and possibly better customized according to the local circumstances. Findings of this study evidence that collaboration among key stakeholders and the expected role of these stakeholders are critical when implementing ASEAN CBT Standard.

This paper proposes a new dynamic analysis of reasoning. It makes the following contributions. First, the current states of the psychology of reasoning are critically reviewed from theoretical and empirical perspectives. The long-standing controversies between logicians and psychologists are clarified by introducing the gauge theoretic structure. The debates between the mental logic theory and the mental models theory are carefully reviewed by identifying the problem types used in the empirical studies. Certain mental fluctuations are found and a quantum theoretic solution is examined. Second, it solves the measurement problem within the Hamiltonian framework. The modeling structure underlying reasoning dynamics is the electrodynamics. They are both the single-charge dynamic systems sharing the U(1) symmetry. The mental logic theory and the mental models theory are now characterized as wavefunctions in a unified account of the dynamic analysis with the yes/no measurements. The stochastic sampling method is introduced to solve the measurement problem, which has a wide range of applications in social sciences. Third, a novel metatheoretic framework of reasoning dynamics within Lagrangian framework is proposed. It solves the “Man vs. Men” problem via gauge theoretic modeling, by making the distinction between the global level and the local level. At each level, the gauge transformations are applied to achieve the global symmetry and the local gauge symmetry. It explains the meanings of the gauge principle and the Nether theorem. Fourth, the special theory of relativity is applied to address the “Man vs. Men” problem. It explains how to draw the global language cone and the individualized local language cones. Finally, it points out that borrowing modeling methods from physics has a long tradition in psychology. The present work utilizes the conceptual and modeling methods found in modern theoretical physics.

This study examines the relationship between Bitcoin market dynamics and user activity on the r/cryptocurrency subreddit. The purpose of this research is to understand how social media activity correlates with Bitcoin price and trading volume, and to explore the sentiment and topical focus of Reddit discussions. We collected data on Bitcoin’s closing price and trading volume from January 2021 to December 2022, alongside the most popular posts and comments from the subreddit during the same period. Our analysis revealed significant correlations between Bitcoin market metrics and Reddit activity, with user discussions often reacting to market changes. Additionally, user activity on Reddit may indirectly influence the market through broader social and economic factors. Sentiment analysis showed that positive comments were more prevalent during price surges, while negative comments increased during downturns. Topic modeling identified four main discussion themes, which varied over time, particularly during market dips. These findings suggest that social media activity on Reddit can provide valuable insights into market trends and investor sentiment. Overall, our study highlights the influential role of online communities in shaping cryptocurrency market dynamics, offering potential tools for market prediction and regulation.

The extracellular matrix of most bacterial biofilms contains polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids. These biopolymers have been shown to mediate fundamental biofilm-related phenotypes including surface attachment, intercellular adhesion, and biocide resistance. Enzymes that degrade polymeric biofilm matrix components, including glycoside hydrolases, proteases, and nucleases, are useful tools for studying the structure and function of biofilm matrix components and are also being investigated as potential antibiofilm agents for clinical use. Dispersin B is a well-studied, broad spectrum antibiofilm glycoside hydrolase produced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Dispersin B degrades poly-N-acetylglucosamine, a biofilm matrix polysaccharide that mediates biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and biocide resistance in numerous Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Dispersin B has been shown to inhibit biofilm and pellicle formation; detach pre-formed biofilms; disaggregate bacterial flocs; sensitize pre-formed biofilms to detachment by enzymes, detergents, and metal chelators; and sensitize pre-formed biofilms to killing by antiseptics, antibiotics, bacteriophages, macrophages, and predatory bacteria. This review summarizes the results of nearly 100 in vitro and in vivo studies that have been carried out on dispersin B since it’s discovery 20 years ago. These include investigations into the biological function of the enzyme, it’s structure and mechanism of action, and its in vitro and in vivo antibiofilm activities against numerous bacterial species. Also discussed are potential clinical applications of dispersin B.

Around $1637$, Pierre de Fermat famously scribbled, and claimed to have a proof for, his statement that equation $a^{n} + b^{n} = c^{n}$ has no positive integer solutions for exponents $n>2$. The theorem stood unproven for centuries until Andrew Wiles' groundbreaking work in $1994$, with a notable caveat: Wiles' proof, while successful, relied on modern tools far beyond Fermat's claimed approach in terms of complexity. The present work potentially offers a solution which is closer in spirit to Fermat's original idea.

The general synthesis of boron-containing cyclic compounds (boracycles) necessitates toxic organotin precursors or highly reactive boron halides. Here we report the synthesis of seven- and five-membered boracycles utilizing arylboronic acid pinacol esters (ArBpins) as stable boron sources. Grignard reagents generated from 2,2′-dibromodibenzyl or 2,2′-dibromobiphenyl reacted with ArBpins, where Ar = 9-anthryl (Anth), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes), 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl (Tip), to give 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]borepins or dibenzoborole derivatives. This Bpin-based method was successfully applied to a one-shot double boracycle formation, providing a dihydrodibenzoborepin–anthracene–dihydrodibenzoborepin triad molecule in a good yield. The dihydrodibenzoborepin bearing the Anth group was directly converted to the unsaturated borepin by NBS/AIBN. All products were characterized by NMR, HRMS, and in some cases, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, the photophysical properties of the products are also reported.

Human development encompasses the integration of neuromotor, psychological, social-emotional, and cognitive processes across time. However, a better understanding of the interconnectedness of motor and cognitive development throughout the lifespan is needed. The integrative and dynamic nature of short-term motor skill acquisition and long-term developmental processes may foster executive functions. Unfortunately, assessments of motor competence have traditionally focused on skillfulness from a movement perspective, using restrictive task protocols that decontextualize performance and limit cognitive involvement. Additionally, traditional motor-cognitive dual-task assessments centered on cognitive involvement during specific movement protocols, have minimized impacts of task complexity and motor competence on cognitive performance. To gain a more ecologically valid understanding of the relation between motor and cognitive development, a novel assessment paradigm using an integrative approach to motor-cognitive dual-tasking is needed. The purpose of the present paper is to: 1) provide a conceptual bridge, based on multidisciplinary evidence, to effectively link the concurrent development of motor competence and executive functions via learning-related and exercise-related neurotrophic mechanisms, and 2) use this conceptual bridge to inform the development of novel motor-cognitive dual-task assessments that account for the role of task complexity, current levels of motor competence, and the continuous decision-making inherent in “real world” performance environments.

Analysis of tRNA sequence structural features from forty mammals proves neither isoacceptors nor isodecoders are degenerate, and model organisms are inadequate representatives for multiple aspects of the translational process. It is proposed tRNA participate in protein construction beyond mere transport of amino acids to ribosomes: specifically, to facilitate amino acid modification and promote development of protein folding characteristics.

The cellular behavior of Voronoi tessellation has generated interest due to its applicability in various fields and its notable structural properties. Controlling factors such as the gradient of the cells, the position of seed points and the thickness of the arms allows for adjusting rigidity and flexibility according to specific needs. This article analyzes the state of the art of this technique, exploring its modification for applications in engineering and design, complemented with information on natural structural properties. This comprehensive analysis provides a complete overview of Voronoi tessellation and its potential in engineering and design, categorizing methodologies according to selected processing methods and highlighting techniques for altering structural behavior. Additionally, it emphasizes the integration of biomimetic approaches, connecting nature with technology to foster continuous innovation. Finally, the article addresses encountered limitations, offering future perspectives for the cellular technique and highlights the complexity of reproducibility due to reserved or generalized steps, despite the significant diversity in implemented techniques.

This study explores the impact of carbon fiber length and content on the rheological properties and performance of coatings used in lost foam casting. The investigation encompassed fiber lengths of 1 mm, 3 mm, and 6 mm, and fiber contents of 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.8%. The effects on coating viscosity, shear stress, coating weight, and surface morphology were meticulously evaluated. The results demonstrate that incorporating carbon fibers significantly enhances coating viscosity and shear stress compared to fiber-free coatings, with more pronounced effects observed at higher fiber contents and longer fiber lengths. Nevertheless, excessive fiber content and length can lead to agglomeration, negatively impacting coating uniformity. Optimal fiber length and content were identified, striking a balance between improved rheological properties and coating performance. These findings provide critical insights for the development and industrial application of high-performance coatings in lost foam casting.

This study introduces a data obfuscation technique, leveraging the exponential map associated with the generators of Lie groups. Originating from quantum machine learning frameworks, our method illustrates the practical application of quantum mechanics principles in data processing. Specifically, it employs the exponential map of a generator algebra to introduce controlled noise into the data, achieving obfuscated data while preserving its utility for machine learning tasks. This strategy is shown to safeguard privacy in sensitive datasets, such as discussed medical records, and to enhance dataset volume and diversity through augmentation. Our empirical analysis, benchmarked against standard machine learning approaches, demonstrates that our method can maintain or even improve the predictive accuracy of the original data. This research highlights the potential of Lie group theory for advancing data privacy in medicine, marking a significant contribution to machine learning methodologies by offering the dual benefits of data obfuscation and enrichment. Through this synthesis of algebraic structures and machine learning, we propose new pathways for the secure and effective use of data in sensitive areas.

Weather conditions appear to be undergoing significant deviations from the long-term average, marked by pronounced extremes of heat, prolonged droughts, and heightened rainfall occurring with greater frequency worldwide. Consequently, new patterns of extreme weather are emerging, like the unusual and unorganized tropical cyclone called "Yaku", that influenced the extreme amount of rain that between March 6th to 10th, 2023 hits more than 1000 districts in the northwestern of Peru. One of the district more affected was Íllimo, in the Lambayeque province, due to the river that pass through the city, so called “La Leche”, after the continuous and intensive rain overflow devastating his surrounding areas and causing victims and damage. This emergency provided and excellent opportunity to apply, on the aforementioned areas, the “change detection” technique, that allows identifying areas of change between data obtained before and after of emergency events. In this research, optical data (Sentinel-2, Landsat, MODIS Terra and Aqua, and PeruSAT-1) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data (Sentinel-1 and COSMO SkyMed) were analyzed. A benchmark could also be carried out between open-source and commercial spatial analysis tools. The results indicated that in an extreme rain event the optical data are obscured by clouds and do not allow their use, while SAR data overcome clouds, and can be used for this research. The benchmark indicated that using the Jaccard index score, the Sentinel-1A set showed a 33% of correlation, while COSMO SkyMed demonstrated a 38% of match between the maps. The results obtained could be used to sensitize the population and develop a better management of future emergency events (floods) in different areas of Peru.

Background: Young people with intellectual developmental disabilities have a persistent delay in the development of executive functions. Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used as a cognitive intervention tool, with significant effectiveness demonstrated in different types of populations. Methods: This pilot study aims to investigate the impact of a cognitive training program utilizing VR on young adults diagnosed with intellectual developmental disability (IDD). The participants (N=15) served as their own control group and were assessed three times: weeks 0, 8 and 16, with a rest period (0-8 weeks) and an intervention period (8-16 weeks). The assessments included measures of cognitive function, provided by E-Prime®. Results: Overall, an improvement in working memory and inhibitory control was found after the intervention, but not in sustained attention. Conclusions: These findings suggest that VR-based cognitive training holds promise as an effective intervention for enhancing cognitive abilities in young adults with intellectual developmental disability.

As environmental and health concerns increase, the trend of sustainable agriculture moves toward using biological agents. About 60% of all biological fungicides have Trichoderma species as the active ingredient, with T. harzianum as the most common species in these products. However, the name T. harzianum has often been incorrectly used in culture collections, databases, and the scientific literature due to the division of the Harzianum Complex Clade (HCC) into more than 95 cryptic species with only one being named T. harzianum. In this study, strains previously identified as T. harzianum in three surveys of Trichoderma species from soils in South and Central America were reanalyzed using phylogeny based on tef1α, rpb2, and ITS loci and combined with the corresponding species in two other studies, where the species were correctly identified. Based on the results of the five surveys, T. afroharzianum, T. lentiforme, T. endophyticum followed by T. azedevio and T. harzianum were found to be the dominant species of the HCC in South and Central America. This is the first report of identifying dominant Trichoderma species within the HCC in South and Central American soil based on multiple studies, which will be useful in selecting strains within the complex clade for formulation of biocontrol and biofertilizer products in the continent.

New homogeneous bilayer membranes with a thin anion-exchange layer have been developed based on the copolymer of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) on the surface of a membrane substrate made from polyfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA). The overall and partial current-voltage characteristics, as well as external and internaldiffusion limiting currents, were theoretically and experimentally investigated. Parameters such as specific conductivity, sorption, and diffusion permeability of individual membrane layers were determined, along with effective transport numbers and specific permselectivity of the bilayer homogeneous membranes in mixed solutions of calcium chloride and sodium chloride. It was found that applying a thin anion-exchange layer of DADMAC and EMA to the homogeneous membrane allows for the creation of a charge-selective bilayer membrane with enhanced selectivity towards monovalent metal cations. The specific selectivity of the bilayer membrane for sodium cations increases more than 6-fold (from 0.8 to 4.8). Verification of the obtained experimental data was performed within a four-layer mathematical model with quasi-equilibrium boundary conditions for the diffusion layer (I)/modifying layer (II)/membrane substrate (III)/diffusion layer (IV) in ternary NaCl+CaCl2 solutions.

In previous papers we have shown how Schr\"{o}dinger's equation which includes an electromagnetic field interaction can be deduced from a fluid dynamical Lagrangian of a charged potential flow that interacts with an electromagnetic field. The quantum behaviour was derived from Fisher information terms which were added to the classical Lagrangian. It was thus shown that a quantum mechanical system is drived by information and not only electromagnetic fields. This program was applied also to Pauli's equations by removing the restriction of potential flow and using the Clebsch formalism. Although the analysis was quite successful there were still terms that did not admit interpretation, some of them can be easily traced to the relativistic Dirac theory. Here we repeat the analysis for a relativistic flow, pointing to a new approach for deriving relativistic quantum mechanics.

With increasing numbers of older adults worldwide, multimorbidity and polypharmacy are on the rise, highlighting the risks of harmful drug-drug interactions (DDIs) to patients. As cardiovascular agents are among the most prescribed medications, we performed an observational cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of DDIs in a cardiology department of a secondary hospital. Patient data was obtained from medical records and screened for DDIs using the Micromedex drug interaction software. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square (χ2) test, Student's t test and Pearson's correlation test were used to analyse the results. Out of 50 participants, 45 (90%) had at least one DDI. A total of 266 DDIs were identified, with more than half classified as major. At least one major DDI was found in 78% of patients. 42% of patients were at an increased risk of bleeding due to DDIs. A statistically significant relationship was found between the detection of DDIs and both patient age (p = 0.005) and the number of drugs used (p < 0.001). Our findings pose questions about the wider prevalence and risks of drug-drug interactions among patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: The last-mile delivery phase, the final stage where goods move from a distribution center to customers, is pivotal but faces significant inefficiencies and high costs due to its complexity. Recent advancements in Edge AI or Edge Intelligence (EI) offer promising solutions to these challenges. Methods: This study explores how AI-driven technologies and real-time data processing, combined with EI, can enhance last-mile delivery operations. A thorough literature review was conducted to assess technological advancements, and a Delphi method was used to systematically and empirically assess the impact of EI solutions on both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Results: Although EI technologies offer substantial benefits, EU companies are hesitant to adopt these innovations due to high implementation costs. However, firms that have embraced these technologies report significant improvements, including better route optimization, reduced delivery times, and enhanced service reliability. These findings highlight the need for a culture of innovation and the recruitment of experts with advanced qualifications to drive technological advancement in last-mile logistics. Conclusions: The integration of EI represents a significant step towards more efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused last-mile delivery solutions. Future research should aim to refine these technologies and explore their long-term impacts on the logistics industry.

The objective of this work is to analyze publications on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), since 1956 (in the last sixty-five years), identifying evolution trends. Based on bibliometric techniques, the study was carried out based on data available in the Web of Science database through a systematic literature review. Web of Science is one of the main databases in the world, indexing the most cited journals in different areas of research and thus providing a set of data, essential for systematic analyses, including areas of study, list of journals, year of publication, citations from articles, among other relevant information. Because the chosen database is very complete, multidisciplinary and access to the use of Vosviewer software, which we used in this study, is acceptable.From the systematic search, 694 articles published until December 2021 were identified. The analysis of these publications indicates a growing trend in the publication of articles on BSC, highlighting partnership publications as well as their dispersion across journals from different areas.Most are qualitative studies (namely case studies) and questionnaires, as the main method of data collection. The main themes studied, we found that there are several articles on the application or integration of the BSC as a management model and that the studies are essentially concentrated on large companies belonging to the private sector, to the detriment of small and medium-sized companies and public and non-profit organizations profitable.

Digitalization plays a crucial role in improving the performance of chemical companies. In this context, different modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques like MILP, discrete-event simulation (DES), and data-driven (DD) models are being used. Due to their heterogeneity, these techniques must be executed individually, and holistic optimization is a manual and time-consuming process. We propose Benders decomposition to combine these techniques into one rigorous optimization procedure. The main idea is that heterogeneous models can simultaneously be optimized as Benders subproblems. We illustrate this concept with the distributed permutation flow shop scheduling problem (DPFSP) and assume that a MILP, DES, and DD model exist for three flow shops. Our approach can compute bounds and report gap information on the optimal makespan for five medium-sized literature instances. The approach is promising because it enables the optimization of heterogeneous models and makes it possible to build optimization capabilities on an existing model and tool landscape in chemical companies.

Evaluation ecosystem service value (ESV) is critical for “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. However, the ESV estimation and spatial-temporal analysis for mountainous soil erosion area is rare, e.g., Changting county, China. In this study, we developed a remote sensing driven mountainous equivalent factor (RS-MEF) method to estimate the ESV of soil erosion area in subtropical mountain. It is a hybrid of a conventional equivalent factor framework and the remote sensing techniques for mountains, and achieves several highlights of spatial adjustment using carbon sink with vegetation canopy, improvement spatial resolution, and removal topographic effect. Using the RS-MEF method, we estimated that the ESV of Changting county was about 15.80 billion CNY in 2010 and 34.83 billion CNY in 2022. Specifically, the ESV per unit area of major soil erosion area (MSEA) in the county was less than that of non-major soil erosion area (n-MSEA), however, the ESV growth rate of MSEA from 2010 to 2022 was faster than that of n-MSEA. Therefore, the ESV gap between two areas was shortened from 28.99% in 2010 to 15.83% in 2022. Topographic gradient effect analysis illustrates that the area with high elevation and small slope is one control focus in the next step. Our study indicates that the ecological restoration in the county has made great achievements in the ESV perspective, with low ESV area shrank evidently in MSEA; and the achieved knowledge of the ESV growth and inherent factors is valuable and instructive for the next soil and water conservation.

The concept of Digital Twins has been in the field for a long time, constantly challenging the specification, modeling, design, implementation, and exploitation of complex cyber-physical systems. Despite the various foundations, standards, and platforms in Systems Engineering, there are ongoing challenges with Verification and Validation methodology. This study aims to establish a generic framework that addresses the various aspects of Digital Twinning. The multifaceted nature of the problem requires raising the abstraction level in both the Real (Actual) and Virtual domains, effective dissemination of information resources, and a design inspired by verification and validation. The proposed framework combines the Quintuple Helix model with the Problem and Operational Domains of a Real (Actual) Twin, the Solution and Implementation Domains of a Virtual Twin, and the Execution Domain as the bridge that links them. Verification and Validation dimensions follow the Meta Object Facility abstraction layers (Instance, Model, Meta-model, and Meta-meta-model) mapping over five Helices. Embedding the complexity reduction mechanisms in the proposed framework builds a suite for extendible and verifiable digital twinning in simulation and real-time scenarios.

Temperature and pressure sensors currently encounter challenges such as slow response times, large sizes, and insufficient sensitivity. To address these issues, we developed tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes using electrospinning, with process parameters optimized through a convolutional neural network (CNN). We systematically analyzed the effects of PVDF concentration, spinning voltage, tip-to-collector distance, and flow rate on fiber morphology and diameter. The CNN model achieved high predictive accuracy, resulting in uniform and smooth nanofibers under optimal conditions. Incorporating TPE enhanced the hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the nanofibers. Additionally, the fluorescent properties of the TPE-doped nanofibers remained stable under UV exposure and exhibited significant linear responses to temperature and pressure variations. The nanofibers demonstrated a temperature sensitivity of -0.976 gray value/°C and pressure sensitivity with an increase in fluorescence intensity from 537 a.u. to 649 a.u. under 600 g pressure. These findings highlight the potential of TPE-doped PVDF nanofiber membranes for advanced temperature and pressure sensing applications.

Accurate and timely prediction of Napa cabbage (Brissica rapa subsp. Perkinensis) fresh weight is crucial for optimizing harvest timing, crop management, and supply chain logistics, contributing to food security and price stabilization. Traditional manual sampling methods are labor-intensive and imprecise. This study addresses this challenge by developing a comprehensive (artificial intelligence) AI-powered model for predicting Napa cabbage fresh weight using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based multi-sensor data. High-resolution RGB, multispectral, and thermal infrared (TIR) imagery were collected over a Napa cabbage field throughout the 2020 growing season. Various vegetation indices, crop features (vegetation fraction, crop height model), and water stress indi-cators (CWSI) were extracted from the imagery. Three AI algorithms—deep neural network (DNN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF)—were trained and evaluated, with the DNN model consistently outperforming the others. The DNN model achieved the highest accuracy (R² = 0.86 for training, 0.82 for testing; root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.432 kg for training, 0.465 kg for testing) during the mid-to-late rosette growth stage (DAP 35-42), highlighting this period as crucial for fresh weight estimation due to stable leaf area and well-developed canopy structure. The model tended to underestimate the weight of Napa cabbages exceeding 5 kg, potentially due to limited samples and saturation effects of vegetation indices. However, the overall error rate was less than 5%, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach. Spatial analysis revealed that the model accurately captured the variability in Napa cabbage growth across different soil types and irrigation conditions, particularly reflecting the positive impact of drip irrigation on the sandy loam plot. Bias analysis indicated the DNN model's tendency to overestimate smaller Napa cabbages (2 kg), suggesting areas for future refinement. This study demonstrates the potential of UAV-based multi-sensor data and AI algorithms for accurate and non-invasive prediction of Napa cabbage fresh weight. The developed DNN model offers a promising tool for optimizing harvest timing, improving crop management practices, and en-hancing supply chain efficiency. Future research should focus on refining the model for specific weight ranges and diverse environmental conditions, as well as extending its application to other crops, to further advance precision agriculture and contribute to sustainable food production.

Background: Health care providers (HCPs) may required to initiate a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while patients are in a prone position. Healthcare providers must possess the necessary information, abilities and experience to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a prone position (PPCPR) confidently. Aim: This study aimed to assess healthcare providers' (HCPs) preparedness to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a prone position at specialized units in Jordan's healthcare sectors. Methods: In eight tertiary hospitals, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out. An on-line questionnaire was conducted among 332 healthcare professionals who are employed in operating rooms, intensive care units or interventional procedure rooms. Results: Preparedness levels among healthcare providers were 24.4% excellent, 2.1% acceptable and 73.5% poor. The average preparedness score was 32.38 (SD = 39.90), indicating significant variability. A lack of targeted training was associated with lower preparedness levels. Notably, providers with Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training showed significantly higher preparedness. Conclusion: The HCPs in Jordan are poorly prepared to perform PPCPR whenever indicated. However, the study findings represent a significant step towards improving HCPs' preparedness to perform PPCPR. They serve as a baseline assessment and highlight the gaps in HCPs' readiness, which help their organizations develop and implement targeted training strategies and interventions. Nevertheless, incorporating this training in the hospital orientation, training policies, and clinical guidelines is equally important to enhance their capabilities for better outcomes. Implications for Clinical Practice: The findings emphasize the urgent need for hospitals to integrate PPCPR training into their standard orientation and ongoing training programs. Providing comprehensive ACLS training and regular PPCPR drills will enhance HCPs' competence and confidence, leading to improved patient outcomes during emergency situations involving prone position CPR.

Dopaminergic replacement therapy remains the mainstay of symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but many unmet needs and gaps remain. Device based treatments or device-aided non-oral therapies are typically used in the advanced stages of PD, ranging from stereotactic deep brain stimulation to levodopa or apomorphine infusion therapies but there are concerns due to a number of procedural, hardware, or long-term treatment-related side effects of these treatments, and limited nonmotor benefit in PD. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need for low risk adjuvants or standalone therapies which can address the range of burdensome motor and nonmotor symptoms that occur in PD. Recent studies suggest that non-invasive neurostimulation of the vestibular system may be able to address these gaps with stimulation of the vestibular brainstem sensory network which extensively innervates brain regions regulating both motor and a range of nonmotor functions. Therapeutic non-invasive vestibular stimulation is a relatively modern concept that may potentially improve a broad range of motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD, even at early stages of the disease. Here we review previous studies supporting the therapeutic potential of vestibular stimulation for the treatment of PD and discuss ongoing clinical trials and potential areas for future investigations.

Choosing a career path is an important decision in a person’s life and forms the basis for their future direction. It impacts the future career and influences financial stability as well as the person’s well-being. Many people struggle to find out what they are interested in and talented in, making it difficult to choose a fitting career path. Therefore, the decision-making process requires careful consideration, self-reflection, and exploring numerous options. While virtual environments provide an effective way to explore different experiences, virtual reality (VR) offers users immersive interactions with simulated 3D environments. This allows the realistic exploration of different job fields in a virtual environment without being physically present. VR 360-degree videos have been shown to significantly increase job interest among students. The ability to review and refine performance makes VR an ideal tool for career skill development as well as career guidance. In this paper, we present a tool that offers young people virtual career guidance through an immersive VR experience. The study investigates the extent to which performing occupational tasks in a virtual environment influences the career perceptions of young adults and whether it enhances their understanding of professions. In total, 23 teenagers and 8 application experts were involved to assess the teenager’s expectations and the potential of the career guidance tool.

In China, preschool teachers have a significant influence on the development of young children aged 3-6. It is imperative to understand their mental health and the factors associated with it to inform policies, optimize their mental well-being, and support their job performance. This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to anxiety symptoms among preschool teachers. A sample of 393 Chinese preschool teachers (279 females, 114 males) aged 21-56 completed online questionnaires collecting their socio-demographic and work-related information and assessing anxiety symptoms, interpersonal difficulties, personality traits, perceived stress, resilience, and inner strength. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses identified significant predictors of anxiety symptoms. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms among the studied cohort was found to be 12.2%. Statistically significant factors positively correlated with anxiety symptoms included objective work-related stress (B=0.149, p<.001), interpersonal difficulties (B=0.921, p<.001), perceived stress (B=0.108, p=.001), and neuroticism (B=0.071, p=.002). The findings highlight the urgent need for measures to reduce work-related stress and anxiety. However, when negative mental health predictors were included, the effect of positive psychological factors became nullified. Positive mental health might have a moderating role in such a negative mental health outcome as anxiety. Therefore, further research is required to understand the impact of positive mental health factors more clearly.

Left displaced abomasum (LDA) is a multifactorial disease of cattle that occurs mainly during the transition postpartum period and is characterized by a decrease in milk production and an increased risk of culling. Despite the widespread prevalence of this pathology, its etiology remains unclear. It is believed that unbalanced nutrition, disturbances in energy and calcium metabolism in the post-calving period lead to impaired motility of the gastrointestinal tract of cows. However, studies have been conducted confirming the hereditary nature of predisposition to this disease. Currently, the search for genetic determinants reliably associated with predisposition to LDA is actively underway. The aim of our study is to identify genetic associations characterizing the genomic variability of susceptibility to LDA in Holstein cattle in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. The object of the study was 360 highly productive dairy cows divided into two groups: with LDA and healthy ones (control). Fourteen candidate SNPs were found to be significantly associated with leftward displacement of the abomasum (P&lt;1e-4). When performing functional annotation of genes containing associated polymorphisms or located close to them, candidate genes presumably associated with the development of LDA were identified: ABCB11, SRP72, RGS18, SOX4, GSG1L, FBXL19, PNPLA4.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and factors associated with adverse drug reactions (ADR) in liver cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin‐based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 137 patients with liver cancer who received oxaliplatin‐based HAIC. Changes in baseline characteristics, inflammatory factors, and other laboratory indicators in the no‐ADR and ADR groups were analyzed. Results: The incidence of serious ADR (CTCAE ≥ 3) was 21.9% (30/137). There was no significant difference in the cumulative dose of oxaliplatin between the two groups [157.3 (80.3, 322.4) vs. 206.6 (139.1, 324.2), P=0.161]. The increase in NEUT and IL‐6 was greater in the group treated with ADR than in the group not treated with ADR. Changes in NEUT [4.1 (1.5, 6.2) vs. 2.5 (0.5, 4.9), P=0.045] and changes in NEUTIL‐6 [4.2 (‐0.2, 22.9) vs. 0.8 (‐3.9, 7.7), P=0.026]. TBIL, ALT, AST, ALP, WBC, NEUT, PCT, CRP, TNF, IL‐2R, IL‐6, and IL‐10 were significantly higher after treatment than before in the ADR group (P < 0.05). In contrast, ALB and AFP were decreased. Conclusions: The severe ADR (CTCAE ≥ 3) associated with oxaliplatin‐based HAIC may be closely related to increased inflammatory factors such as NEUT and IL‐6. We should be vigilant for allergic reactions to oxaliplatin and increase monitoring during treatment

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, has been an innovative method of demure neuromodulation. This paper aims to delve into the different forms of its existence and to evaluate the use of TMS in five psychiatric disorders; Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, and major anxiety disorder. Literature pertaining to the use of TMS in treating these specific diseases will be analyzed, and its efficacy and mechanisms will be explored. The literature will be evaluated through sources with established facts and research studies demonstrating function, potency, or inefficacy. TMS poses a method to have a more explicit effect on the regions of the brain, and the exploration of its use in the treatment of psychiatric diseases poses new possibilities in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Venturing into the options it could have in a sole or combinatorial setting could provide penetrating insight into innovative forms of treatment and research.

Aloe vera is well known for its biological properties as a bioflavonoid-anti-inflammatory, antibacterial agent. It has been used frequently in the food sector as food coating for its hygroscopic properties and as an ingredient in the lucrative industry. Studies have also included Aloe vera as an eco-friendly green solution based on these properties. The current research focuses on the use of Aloe vera gel in printing pastes as an alternative sustainable solution to synthetic thickeners, evaluating its wet performance and ease of fabric stitching, and has been inspired by studies that similarly used this substance measuring its effect on the fabric's coefficient of friction and antimicrobial action. In the current study, printing pastes with natural colourants and Aloe vera gel thickener derived from natural leaves from Crete increased the fabric's mechanical resistance to abrasion compared to the untreated pastes. The measured performance did not differ substantially from prints with traditional synthetic pastes, hence tolerating the substitution with the non-contaminant variant. The enhanced resistance to abrasion and wear prolongates the fabric's serviceable life and resulting garments, decreasing the need for high industry processing volumes and, as a result, reducing pollution. The resistance to wear was evaluated using the dominant method in textile testing of the Martindale apparatus, which measured the cycles to failure, weight loss, and general appearance deterioration using the official photographic standards.

The repeated application of herbicides has led to the development of herbicide resistance. Models are useful for identifying key processes and understanding the evolution of resistance. This study developed a spatially explicit model at a landscape scale to examine the dynamics of Lolium rigidum populations in dryland cereal crops and the evolution of herbicide resistance under var-ious management strategies. Resistance evolved rapidly under repeated herbicide use, driven by weed fecundity and herbicide efficacy. Although fitness costs associated with resistant plants re-duced resistance evolution, they did not affect the speed of spread. The most effective strategies to slow resistance involved diversifying cropping sequences (e.g., crop rotation) and the herbicide applications (e.g., rotating different herbicide modes of action). Pollen flow was the main disper-sal vector, with seed dispersal also contributing significantly. Strategies limiting seed dispersal effectively decreased resistance spread. However, the use of a seed-catching device at harvest could unintentionally enrich resistance in the area. It would be beneficial to optimise the move-ment of harvesters between fields. The model presented here is a useful tool that may assist in the exploration of novel management strategies within the context of site-specific weed management at the landscape scale, as well as in the advancement of our understanding of resistance dynamics.

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Unfortunately, the current etiological treatment for CD is unsatisfactory, due to the high toxicity and low cure efficacy of compounds, mainly during the chronic phase of this disease. Thus, the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of CD is urgent. In the present study, we report the synthesis of a series of guanidines and its evaluation in in vitro assays to determine the trypanocidal effects on the Tulahuen T. cruzi strain, transfected with a β-galactosidase reporter gene, in comparison to the cytotoxic effects on vertebrate cells. The most potent and selective compounds LQOF-G1 and LQOF-G29 were considered good drug prototypes and candidates for in vivo tests using mice. Both compounds possess an electron withdrawing group on the aniline moiety, namely a NO2 and Br group, respectively, which effectively decrease the electron density. LQOF-G29 stands out among the investigated compounds due to the replacement of the benzyl group by methyladamantane.

Objectives: Evaluate the performance of diagnostic measures (sensitivity and specificity) of the intrinsic capacity (IC) construct recommended by the WHO ICOPE guidelines by domain and by age group. Study design: This cross-sectional study included 164 community-dwelling elderly (95 women and 69 men). The participants completed the assessment of the 5 domains of IC (cognition, psychological, vitality, locomotion and sensory). In addition, they were assessed for activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), frailty and urinary incontinence. Main outcomes measures: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the intrinsic capacity and identify which domains were compromised. Comparisons between three or more samples were made by 1-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test and those with two samples by the t-test or Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables. Chi-square test was used for qualitative variables. The sensitivity and specificity of each domain and each domain by age group were evaluated using the ROC curve. Results: Participants with a decline in IC were older, worse ADL, IADL and mental function, low gait speed, and higher depression scores. In addition, people with a decline in IC had frailty, urinary incontinence. Other issues related to the decline in CI were self-reported non-practice of physical activities and level of schooling.The evaluation of each domain did not prove to be a good screening tool (sensitivity or specificity &lt; 80%, but both values &gt; 50%). When the analyses were separated by domain and age group, good performance was found in the psychological (69-69 years and ≥80 years), vitality (≥80 years) and sensory (≥80 years) domains. Conclusions: The ICOPE screening tool performed well in terms of diagnostic measures when applied by domain and age group.

Any material object vibrating or rotating excites in spacetime around gravitational waves. Atomic nucleus being highly dynamical object also excites continuously micro gravitational waves which might form around the nucleus specific structure resembling optical diffraction grating and which gives huge effect to nuclear elastic scattering cross sections. The close similarity between the nuclear diffractive scattering and the optical Debye-Sears Effect is shown.

This article aims to analyze household energy data to predict electricity self-sufficiency and identify the key features that impact it. For this purpose, we use SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations), LightGBM (Light Gradient Boosting Machine), and a correlation heatmap-based framework to analyze 12 months of energy and questionnaire survey data collected from over 200 smart houses in Kitakyushu, Japan. We use the SHAP summary plot to identify the impact-wise order of key features influencing the electricity self-sufficiency rate (ESSR). Using SHAP, we demonstrated that key features are; housing types, average monthly electricity bill, floor heating, electric capacity, number of washing and drying machines, fee plans, occupation of household head, total floor area, average monthly gas bill, cooking equipment, etc. Furthermore, we adopted the LightGBM classifier with $\ell^1$ regularization to extract the most significant features and predict the electricity self-sufficiency rate of households. This LightGBM-based model can also predict the electricity self-sufficiency rate of households that did not participate in the questionnaire survey. A heat map is also used to analyze the correlation among household variables. The findings discussed in this article offer valuable insights for energy policymakers to achieve the targets of energy self-sufficient houses.

A simulation is performed to analyze the forces that arise in a conducting DNA-like double helix in the field of a microwave electromagnetic wave under half-wave resonance conditions. The helix is comprised of twenty-and-a-half turns and has geometric parameters proportional to the size of an actual DNA molecule. The forces acting on the strands of a double helix, both in the central region and at the edges of the helix, are investigated. It has been demonstrated that the afore-mentioned forces induce a change in the shape of the helix, specifically mutual repulsion of the strands, as well as their stretching and twisting in the field of electromagnetic waves. As opposed to a pair of parallel straight conductors, there is a radial repulsion of strands in all regions of a double DNA-like helix, including the center and the edges. This unique interaction of currents in a double DNA-like helix can be attributed to its pitch angle, a characteristic that has been estab-lished through empirical evidence. Consequently, exposure to an electromagnetic wave under half-wave resonance can damage the double helix. Conversely, the impact of electromagnetic waves has the potential to introduce novel avenues for controlling the shape of the double helix. These nonlinear effects must be considered for both actual DNA molecules and double DNA-like helices that serve as components of metamaterials and metasurfaces.

Traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often limited in its efficacy by insufficient light penetration, inefficient photosensitizer energy transfer, and inadequate target tissue oxygenation. X-ray activated PDT (XPDT), using nanoparticle (NPs) photosensitizers comprised of europium-doped yttrium oxide cores encased within silica shells (Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂), offers the potential of overcoming most of these limitations. Aimed at maximizing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), this study reports methodologies for investigation of the effects of synthesis conditions on the characteristics of Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ NP. Transmission electronic microscope (TEM) revealed that the NP core diameter was linearly, positively correlated with condensation time (R2 = 0.7357, p < 0.05) and linearly, negatively correlated with urea concentration (R2 = 0.958, p < 0.05). The addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) during core synthesis demonstrated enhanced particle dispersion. Silica coating via APTES-1 and TEOS-3 conditions resulted in Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ NPs that generated the highest ROS, with 8.7-fold and 8.9-fold increase respectively in relative fluorescence intensity at 8 Gy irradiation compared to a 5.2-fold increase in PBS under the same condition. In vivo evaluation using 18F-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (18F-FLT PET) of mouse xenografts of a human prototypical cancer (ovarian) revealed a 55% reduction in tumor proliferation of radiation-sensitive CAOV3 tumors treated with Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ NPs compared to a 19% reduction in tumor proliferation of radiation-resistant SKOV3 tumors on the fourth day post-treatment. Taken together, these findings suggest Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ NPs can serve as effective photosensitizers for XPDT and their performance characteristics can be optimized by selecting synthesis conditions and parameters to deliver the desirable therapeutic effects, offering novel approaches to circumventing many of the limitations of conventional PDT in the treatment of cancer.

Freezing of Gait (FoG) is a disabling motor complication in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting approximately 50% of advanced PD patients. It is characterized by sudden and transient inability to initiate or maintain walking, leading to falls and reduced quality of life. This study investigates the relationship between white matter integrity and step initiation impairments in FoG. Forty-three PD patients (26 with FoG) underwent diffusion-weighted imaging to assess white matter DTI metrics and kinematic analysis during step initiation tasks. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the connection between white matter tract integrity and step initiation behavior. The multiple regression analysis shows that (1) Right Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus RD explained 31% of APA duration’s variance; (2) Corpus Callosum Forceps Major explained 25% of the step length's variance. There was a positive correlation between the Right Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus RD and APA duration and a negative correlation between Corpus Callosum Forceps Major RD and step length. The findings suggest that compromised white matter integrity in RILF and CC contributes to impaired motor control during step initiation in FoG. These regions are critical for inhibitory control and interhemispheric coordination, crucial for APA execution and step length regulation.

The phenomena of light absorption, fluorescence and laser emission are accounted for within a unique picture. The atomic dipole is dealt with in a quantum framework, whereas the electromagnetic field is assumed to be a classical sine-wave. The on and off resonance cases are investigated. This is achieved owing to a novel application of Poynting's theorem. Observable predictions are made, regarding absorption of the electromagnetic energy and the frequency bandwidth of light emitted either by fluorescence or laser effect.

During the peak height velocity, it is crucial to adjust training intensity to optimize performance and minimize injury risk. This cross-sectional study compared external and internal intensities according to the type of training task (i.e., analytical tasks, small-sided games, and training matches). Similarly, the effect of these training tasks on the maturation age of young players was analyzed. Fifty-five U-15 and U-16 boys, representatives of two soccer clubs in southwestern Spain, were monitored using inertial measurement units and heart rate monitors. These devices reported data on training intensities. Their anthropometric data were also taken, along with the date of birth and measurement, to estimate the maturation age. To identify specific differences between groups, the nonparametric Friedman test and pairwise comparisons were performed using the Durbin-Conover post-hoc test. In addition, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated to better understand the impact of the variables. There were significant differences in favor of training matches in distance covered, maximum and average speed, and maximum and average heart rate compared to small-sided games and analytical tasks. In addition, high intensity actions and sprints were significantly higher during training matches compared to analytical tasks, and during small-sided games compared to analytical tasks. Player Load per minute was significantly higher during training matches compared to small-sided games, and during small-sided games compared to analytical tasks. Maximum speed, and maximum and average heart rate were also significantly higher during small-sided games compared to analytical tasks. Positive correlations between maturational age and high-intensity actions, accelerations, and decelerations were found, indicating higher intensity activities in more mature players. A negative correlation between Player Load per minute and maturational age suggests more efficient load management in mature players. No significant differences were found in distance per minute, sprints, speed, and heart rate, implying other factors influence these variables. These findings underscore the importance of considering biological maturation and the variability of training tasks in the planning and evaluation of the development and performance of youth athletes.

This paper explores the development of a sophisticated system for automatic test generation tailored specifically for Java web applications utilizing REST interfaces. Writing tests ensures the quality of the software solution event after the introduction of subsequent changes, because automated regression testing can detect potential bugs in the code event before the application is resealed into production. By utilizing and comparing various automatic test generators, the system described provides users with a visual representation of code structure and coverage, enhancing insights through call graph visualization. The paper describes the concepts of theoretical automatic test generators, gives an overview of generators, and details the design and implementation of the implemented solution, which integrates the system test generator and the unit test generator based on open source to achieve the maximum code coverage level.

Background: Glutathione and its related enzymes constitute one of the most important antioxidant defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and cancer formation in the body. Bladder cancer is the second most common urological malignancy after prostate cancer. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the development and prognosis of bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of glutathione on the prognosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods: The 98 patients with bladder tumors were those with T1G3 pathology who had undergone intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy, while the 30 controls were healthy individuals with no history of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The 128 participants were divided into four groups: Group 1 comprised 41 patients who did not experience recurrence during follow-up, Group 2 included 28 patients who had recurrent tumors, Group 3 consisted of 29 patients who progressed to muscle-invasive stages, and Group 4 was composed of 30 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected from all participants. Glutathione levels were measured, and statistical analysis were performed. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in reduced glutathione levels among the groups (p < 0.001), attributed to Group 4 exhibiting higher reduced glutathione levels compared to Groups 1, 2, and 3 (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in reduced glutathione levels between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, or Groups 2 and 3 (p > 0.999). Total glutathione levels varied significantly among the groups (p < 0.001), with Group 4 having higher levels than Groups 1, 2, and 3 (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, or Groups 2 and 3 in terms of total glutathione levels (p = 0.473, p = 0.747, and p > 0.999, respectively). Regarding oxidized glutathione levels, a significant difference was observed (p < 0.001), with Group 4 showing lower levels than the remaining three groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, or Groups 2 and 3 in relation to oxidized glutathione levels (p > 0.999, p = 0.171, and p > 0.999, respectively). Conclusions: The current study revealed that glutathione is a factor influencing the development of new bladder cancer but did not affect its prognosis. Nevertheless, we recommend that future studies with larger bladder cancer patient cohorts should be conducted to comprehensively determine the effect of glutathione on the prognosis of bladder cancer.

Background: Alarming data indicates that low back pain (LBP) affected around 619 million people globally in 2020, that presenting significant health and economic burden. Importantly, the chronic LBP (cLBP) strongly impairs quality of life and leads to disability and premature retirement thus emphasizing the urgent need for providing deeper insight into the factors that affect treatment outcomes and offer thorough guidance for the assessment and management of this disease. Taking into consideration the rising prevalence of cLBP and knowledge gap referring to the overall health benefits of balneotherapy (BT), the aim of this study was to assess the effects of BT on functional status, quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with cLBP. Methods: A total 210 patients were recruited and divided into two groups: patients receiving conventional pharmacological therapy (CT) and receiving BT. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed on the basis of Visual Analog Scale for pain intensity, EuroQol (EQ-5D) for the patient’s self-rated health and Work Ability Index Questionnaire to evaluate functional ability. In order to provide deeper insight into the quality of life and also factors associated with the functional status and mental health affected by BT, we also used the Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire and Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Our findings suggest that BT significantly contributed to reduction of pain, better functionality and disability perception status. Conclusions: Understanding the association between individual perceptions of functionality, emotional and social elements provides basis for providing comprehensive guidelines and recommendations for cLBP management.

Since the discovery of the phenomenon of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), it has gradually become an important tool for the analysis of material compositions and structures. The applications of SERS have been expanded from the fields of environmental and materials science to biomedicine, due to the extremely high sensitivity and non-destructiveness of SERS-based analytical technology that even allows single molecule detection. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) phenomenon. The content is divided into several main sections: basic principles and the significance of Raman spectroscopy; historical advancements and technological progress in SERS, as well as various practical applications across different fields. We also discussed how electromagnetic fields contribute to the SERS effect, the role of chemical interactions in enhancing Raman signals, modeling and computational approaches to understand and predict SERS effects.

The basic idea is to expand the completed zeta function $\xi(s)$ in MacLaurin series (infinite polynomial), which can be further expressed as infinite product (Hadamard product) by conjugate complex roots. Finally, the functional equation $\xi(s)=\xi(1-s)$ leads to $(s-\alpha_i)^2 = (1-s-\alpha_i)^2, i \in \mathbb{N}$ with solution $\alpha_i= \frac{1}{2}, i \in \mathbb{N}$, where $\alpha_i$ are the real parts of the zeros of $\xi(s)$, i.e., $s_i =\alpha_i\pm j\beta_i, i\in \mathbb{N}$. Therefore, a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis is achieved.

An over-active renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is characterized by elevated angiotensin II (Ang II). While Ang II can promote metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues, little is known about its role in the gastrointestinal system (GI). Here, we treated rat primary colonic epithelial cells to Ang II (1-5000 nM) to better define its role in the GI. We hypothesized that Ang II would negatively affect mitochondrial bioenergetics as these organelles express Ang II receptors. Ang II increased cellular ATP production but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of colonocytes. However, cells maintained mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis with treatment, reflecting metabolic compensation with impaired MMP. To determine whether lipid dysregulation was evident, untargeted lipidomics were conducted. 1949 lipids were detected in colonocytes spanning 55 distinct (sub)classes. Ang II (1 nM) altered the abundance of some sphingosines [So(d16:1)], ceramides [Cer-AP(t18:0/24:0)], and phosphatidylcholines [OxPC(16:0_20:5(2O)], while 100 nM Ang II altered some triglycerides and phosphatidylserines [PS(19:0_22:1). Ang II did not alter the relative expression of several enzymes in lipid metabolism; however, expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) was increased and PDK2 can be protective against dyslipidemia. This study is the first to investigate the role of Ang II on colonic epithelial cell metabolism.

BReast CAncer gene 1 (BRCA1) and BReast CAncer gene 2 (BRCA2) encode for tumor suppressor proteins which are critical regulators of the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, the most precise and important DNA damage response mechanism. Dysfunctional HR proteins cannot repair double-stranded DNA breaks in mammalian cells, a situation called HR deficiency. Since their identification, pathogenic variants and other alterations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been associated with an increased risk of developing mainly breast and ovarian cancer. Interestingly, HR deficiency is also detected in tumors not carrying BRCA1/2 mutations, a condition termed “BRCAness”. One of the main mechanisms causing the BRCAness phenotype is the methylation of the BRCA1/2 promoters and this epigenetic modification is associated with carcinogenesis and poor prognosis mainly among patients with breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 promoter methylation has been suggested as an emerging biomarker of great predictive significance, especially concerning Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitor-PARPi) responsiveness, along with or beyond BRCA1/2 mutations. However, as its clinical exploitation is still insufficient, the impact of BRCA1/2 promoter methylation status needs to be further evaluated. The current review aims to gather the latest findings about the mechanisms that underline BRCA1/2 function as well as the molecular characteristics of tumors associated with BRCA1/2 defects, by focusing on DNA methylation. Furthermore, we critically analyze their translational meaning and the validity of BRCA methylation biomarkers in predicting treatment response and we suggest a diagnostic pipeline that could be implemented in liquid biopsy to aid precision pharmacotherapy in BRCA-associated tumors.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. The human gut microbiome is implicated in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance acquisition and transmission, with the gut microbiota thought to play a crucial role. This study aimed to determine the potential influence of human gut bacteria microbiota on the gut resistome and the relationship between gut background microbiota and Escherichia coli resistome. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was used to systematically review studies that characterised gut microbiota and resistome using metagenomic analysis and/or those that reported gut E. coli resistome in healthy individuals. Changes in the diversity and abundance of bacterial gut microbiota and the resistome across different groups and the microbiota composition of the gut harbouring antibiotic-resistant E. coli were summarised. Findings suggest that lower bacterial microbiota diversity is likely associated with an increased abundance of the overall gut resistome. Age-related differences were observed, with younger infants exhibiting lower microbiota diversity and higher ARG abundance compared to older infants and adults. Studies that reported correlation revealed positive correlations between the compositional relative abundance of Proteobacteria and ARGs abundance, mainly driven by members within the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly E. coli. This study also revealed that human gut microbiome studies that investigate gut resistome using metagenomic sequencing approaches in apparently healthy individuals are at least uncommon.

The study aimed to evaluate the nutritional value of watermelon plant silage (WPS) and to assess the effect of replacing alfalfa hay (AH) with WPS in a diet formulated for dairy goats. The study used four goats as donors of rumen microbiota to analyze in vitro fermentation parameters. The chemical composition analysis revealed that WPS and AH had similar protein content (21.1 vs. 18.9 g CP/100 g DM), but WPS had lower contents of organic matter (77.4 vs. 89.6 g/100 g DM), NDF (36.3 vs. 49.4 g/100 g DM), ADF (26.4 vs. 34.6 g/100 g DM), LAD (6.40 vs. 8.01 g/100 g DM), and amino acids (716 vs. 874 g AA/kg N) compared to AH. Conversely, WPS had higher fat content (3.09 vs. 1.29 g CF/100 g DM) and different macro- and micromineral content values than AH. In a first in vitro experiment, WPS and AH were incubated independently to compare their fermentation behaviour, indicating that the metabolizable energy (ME) tended to be higher for WPS compared to the AH diet (6.67 vs. 5.72 MJ/kg DM; p = 0.058). WPS fermentation produced lower concentrations of total VFA than AH (66.6 vs. 115 mM; p = 0.011), lower proportions of propionate and valerate (p ≤ 0.022), and higher proportions of isobutyrate (p = 0.001), without altering gas production (GP) kinetics as degradation rate and its potential release. In a second in vitro trial, a formulated goat diet (consisting of commercial concentrate and AH in a 1:1 ratio) was used as a control to assay the impact of AH replacing by WPS at 25% and 50% respectively. Trends were observed in several parameters, such as a linear increase in GP rate (p = 0.088), organic matter digestibility (p = 0.067), and CH4 concentration in the gas produced (p = 0.094) as AH was replaced by WPS. The study concluded that WPS could serve as a viable fodder to replace AH in conventional dairy goat diets while simultaneously reducing agricultural waste and serving as a regenerative model for implementing the circular economy strategy in the affected sectors.

The study reveals correlations between the parameters of ions and their HOMO and LUMO orbital energy level values. In particular, it demonstrates a clear correlation for the ion adsorption parameters on model electrodes: the aluminum oxide (0001) surface, graphene and Au (111) surface. Correlations are also observed for the parameters of ion binding to water and dimethyl carbonate molecules, which are often used as solvents. In addition, the dipole moment, polarizability and solvation energy of ions are well correlated with the values of the molecular orbital energies, and for anions a dependence on the oxidation potential is observed. The obtained descriptors make it possible to select ions with desired values for a specific problem. As an illustrative example, in this work we consider the problem of displacement of water molecules from the inner electric double layer by ions, which is one of the factors increasing the potential window in electrolytes of aqueous batteries. This approach can be applied in the rapidly developing field of aqueous electrolytes for battery or supercapacitor design, catalysis control through surface composition variations, as well as in studies of heavy metal ion binding to sorption materials.

The UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Journal House Information System encounters significant usability challenges stemming from inadequate UI/UX design and sub-optimal integration across its components, resulting in diminished user efficiency and adoption rates. To tackle these issues effectively, a bespoke acquisition approach coupled with prototype development was implemented. This method facilitated a structured software development life cycle emphasizing iterative feedback loops and active stakeholder participation. By iteratively refining requirements and ensuring continuous alignment with user expectations, the prototype development process aimed to deliver a final system that not only meets but exceeds user needs. Rigorous testing, ongoing support, and a commitment to continuous improvement were pivotal in transforming the initial prototype into a robust and user-friendly system. This approach not only promises to enhance overall system effectiveness but also ensures sustained value delivery to stakeholders over the system's lifecycle.

The inability to delineate a unified physical ontology that accounts simultaneously for the laws of special relativity and the results of quantum experiments has been a defining problem in physics for more than 100 years. This analysis addresses the problem by positing an ontic, mixed ontology composed of a “discrete” 4D spacetime and a physical, ultra-high dimensional (3 x N) “Planck Space.” Together, Planck Space and the three spatial dimensions of 4D spacetime form a tightly integrated ((3 x N) + 3) hyperspace (the “Dual Ontology”). Critically, the Dual Ontology’s structure replaces 1) the continuous, differentiable manifold of 4D spacetime with a discrete 4D spacetime and 2) mathematical 3N configuration spaces with a physical (3 x N) Planck Space. Moreover, the Dual Ontology is structurally and dynamically predicated on the one-to-one mapping and identity between the discrete spatial units that simultaneously form 4D spacetime and Planck Space. The one-to-one mapping and identity of the discrete spatial units support an integrated quantum dynamics based upon the dynamic evolution of single and N-body quantum states in 4D spacetime in full compliance with the laws of special relativity and the instantaneous collapse of all quantum states in an ontic Planck Space, where special and general relativity and more generally, 4D spacetime’s laws of physics, do not apply.

Functional neurological disorder, or FND, is widely misunderstood, particularly when considering recent research that suggests that the illness has a biological rather than a psychiatric basis. Nonetheless, the long-held view that FND is a purely psychiatric disorder without biological basis, or even a contrived (malingered) illness, remains pervasive both in modern medical care and general society. This is because FND involves an intermittent course of involuntary disability that rapidly alternates with improved neurological control. This has in turn caused shaming, low self-efficacy, and social isolation of the patients. Little research has examined the numerous biomarkers that are shared between FND and canonical neurological disorders and the encouraging outcomes that can follow conventional neurological rehabilitation, modified for this disorder. This review summarizes current research on FND biomarkers and physical rehabilitation results. General healthcare providers would benefit their care for their patients through their improved understanding the illness and recourses for support and treatment that are provided in this review.

Marijuana is the most used illicit drug among youths in the United States. The objectives of the study were to identify the association between marijuana use and other risk behaviors including suicidality among high school students. The 2021 Mississippi Youth Risk Behavior Survey data sets were combined for this study. Crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval were generated using the survey packages in R to account for weights and the complex sampling design of YRBS data. Tobacco products and alcohol use were significantly associated with marijuana use. Students who responded “Yes” to questions “currently used an electronic vapor product?”, “currently smoked cigarettes or cigars?” or “currently drank alcohol?” were more likely to use marijuana compared to students who responded “No”, after adjusting for other risk factors. Marijuana use is also significantly associated with students who had sex, compared to those who never had sex. The adjusted odds ratio is nearly doubled in those who had sex with the same sex or both sexes, compared to those who had heterosexual sex only. After adjusting for other health risk factors, the association between current marijuana use and attempted suicide was not statistically significant. The impact of students’ not sleeping in their parent's or guardian's home on current marijuana use was not significant after adjusting for other risk factors. Marijuana use is evenly burdened between males and females and between all race categories among Mississippi high school students. The identified associations seem to indicate that electronic vapor, tobacco products, and alcohol use could be the forerunners for drug use and should be treated accordingly in drug use prevention programs.

Liver cancer imposes a pervasive global health challenge, ranking among the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Its prevalence and mortality rates are on a concerning upward trajectory and exacerbated by the dearth efficacious treatment options. The Hippo signaling pathway, originally discovered in Drosophila, comprises four core components: MST1/2, WW45, MOB1A/B, and LATS1/2. This pathway regulates the cellular localization of the transcriptional coactivator YAP/TAZ (Yes-associated protein/PDZ-binding motif) through a series of enzymatic reactions. The Hippo/YAP/TAZZ pathway maintains a balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, regu-lates tissue and organ sizes, and stabilizes the internal environment. Abnormalities of any genes within the Hippo signaling pathway, such as deletion or mutation, disturb the delicate balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, creating a favorable condition for tumor initiation and progression. Mutations or epigenetic alterations in the Hippo signaling pathway components can lead to its inactivation. Consequently, YAP/TAZ becomes overexpressed and activated, promoting excessive cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. This dysregulation is closely associated with the development of liver cancer. This review discusses the pivotal role of the Hippo signaling pathway in the pathogenesis and progression of liver cancer. By elucidating its mechanisms, we aim to offer new insights into potential therapeutic targets for effectively combating liver cancer.

Background: Rectal prolapse is usually self-limiting in early childhood. Laparoscopic rectopexy has become a safe and effective method for treating children with rectal prolapse recurrence, especially those older than 4 years of age. We present the clinical case of an infant with recurrent rectal prolapse and secondary complications. The infant required surgical intervention with laparoscopic rectopexy after the failure of conservative management. Case presentation: A 2-year- and 7-month-old infant with a 15-month history of rectal prolapse who did not respond to conservative management developed bloody diarrhea, intestinal infection and electrolyte imbalance. Laparoscopic surgical correction was performed via anterior ventral rectopexy, and the results were satisfactory. Conclusion: Infants with recurrent rectal prolapse and associated complications who do not respond to conservative measures may benefit from laparoscopic rectopexy.

Anthropogenic lighting elicits positive phototaxis responses (i.e., attraction) in birds, insects, and many other species across ecosystems. Impacts from lights in marine systems are poorly understood, despite evidence that vessel lighting can cause seabird disorientation and collisions, potentially leading to injury or mortality. The level of attraction generated by different types of lighting, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is also not well understood in most seabirds. Using fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur), a species showing strong positive phototaxis particularly to artificial lights on vessels, we investigated the effects of LED colour and lumen output at a colony during the breeding season. We used six random treatment groups (control (dark), red light, amber low lumen, amber high lumen, white low lumen, and white high lumen) and measured attraction and disorientation. Data was analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models while accounting for environmental variables. Results showed that the control (“dark”) and red light attracted fewest birds, and attraction/disorientation did not differ between these. Medium responses were elicited by amber low/high and white low, while white high lumen induced the highest abundance and attraction/disorientation response. These results agreed with our desktop study, which predicted response rankings based on each light treatment’s colour spectrum and lumen output and a related species’ spectral response. Furthermore, time of night increased bird counts, as did higher humidity, increased moon illumination, and reduced moon visibility. Our data highlight the need to consider LED colour, lumen output, and time of night to reduce anthropogenic lighting impacts on land and at sea.

This paper presents a particular tunneling method or new Austrian tunneling method (NATM) which plays an important role in reducing the subsidence of the Earth surface and the damage to the structures in urban areas. It has a wide range of applications in shallow tunneling projects all over the world. In this study, numerical modeling of third-line Metro tunnel in Tehran is under discussion which is designed and stabilized by NATM. The foregoing tunnel is excavated manually with a one-meter advancing step. In this project, the constructors used a lattice girder and sprayed concrete with 31 cm thickness as the initial lining. A suitable numerical software for this modeling is Plaxis 3D tunnel, which allows performing high-resolution finite element modeling (FEM) of the studied object. The performance of this method is investigated and compared with other NATM methods. As a result of numerical modeling, we give a value of 30.01 mm earth subsidence in the most damaged area of the settlement, in comparing with that of earth surface monitoring, which confirmed it with a dramatically low difference. Moreover, this tunnel was drilled and excavated with various methods, among which the less settlement has obtained by the proposed method. The results are promising to continue the tunneling with this method to expand the subway line in the city.

We are losing love. By studying porn movies to understand love, I discovered that love originally comes from the body, from positive emotions and vibrations of the wonderful body, from the heart and all other parts of the body, such as sexual organs. António Damásio made Descartes’ error by postulating that feelings increase their power from homeostasis (mechanisms of life regu-lation from bacteria to humans). He made this mistake unconsciously because many people un-consciously have a very bad opinion of sexual organs. We consider them ugly because they come from the prehistoric period. I have combined António and Hanna Damásio’s work (body emotions, thinking and language). I discovered that porn actors do not talk during sex, and this is striking. Porn actors mirror what happens in society. This means that people come from prehistory, do not talk during sex, and still unconsciously behave like primitive animals during sexual intercourse; we do not respect the body sufficiently during sex. Therefore, love, which comes from the body, is smothered and buried. We must very delicately talk to the wonderful, delicious and respectful body to wake up love feelings, body emotions and vibrations during sex. We must invent talking movies with porn films. Language of positive emotions associated with the language of wonderful and delicious body will warm love feelings and will give envy to love through sexual intercourse because António Damásio discovered that emotions are social.

Este estudio examina la implementación de redes bayesianas para el diagnóstico de afecciones respiratorias utilizando datos clínicos. Se analizaron 5725 registros de una clínica privada en Francia, obtenidos de Kaggle, centrándose en seis variables clave: glucosa en sangre, frecuencia cardíaca, saturación de oxígeno, presión arterial, temperatura y estado de salud del paciente. El objetivo era crear un modelo que mejorara la precisión y eficiencia en el diagnóstico de infecciones respiratorias. Se desarrolló una red bayesiana para modelar las interacciones fisiológicas en condiciones respiratorias, destacando la influencia de la glucosa en sangre en la oxigenación y la interacción entre la frecuencia cardíaca y la saturación de oxígeno. La mediana de la temperatura corporal fue de 38,18 °C y la mediana de la frecuencia cardíaca fue de 92,00 lpm. El modelo, basado en sólidos principios médicos, considera tanto los mecanismos patológicos directos como las respuestas compensatorias del cuerpo. Se utilizó Netica para la simulación y análisis del modelo, proporcionando una visualización clara de las probabilidades condicionales y las relaciones entre las variables. Los hallazgos demuestran que las redes bayesianas son herramientas efectivas para apoyar el diagnóstico de afecciones respiratorias, proporcionando una evaluación integral del estado de salud del paciente. La matriz de confusión reveló una precisión del 94%, una especificidad del 100% y una sensibilidad del 86,53%. Además, la calidad de la prueba para el estado "enfermo" mostró una sensibilidad de hasta el 98,49% y una especificidad de hasta el 98,85%, con un área bajo la curva ROC (AUC) de 0,9592. Estos resultados indican que el modelo tiene un alto rendimiento en la clasificación correcta de los casos de salud y enfermedad normales. Este enfoque tiene el potencial de mejorar la precisión y la eficiencia del diagnóstico, especialmente en entornos clínicos que requieren decisiones rápidas y precisas. Este estudio destaca la aplicación innovadora de las redes bayesianas en medicina respiratoria, ofreciendo una herramienta prometedora para mejorar el diagnóstico y el manejo de pacientes con afecciones respiratorias, y estableciendo una base para futuras investigaciones en el uso de métodos probabilísticos en el diagnóstico médico.

Management of resistant Tuberculosis (TB) can be extremely difficult, especially in case of novel unpredicted complications. In this report, we present a case of a 48-year-old patient with pre-extensive-drug-resistant-(XDR)-TB who received a treatment regimen including Pretomanid, Bedaquiline, Linezolid, Cycloserine and Amikacin and died due to myocarditis. Acquired resistance to first- and second-line drugs developed due to previous poor adherence to medication. The clinical presentation of the patient, along with her initial ultrasonographical, electrocardiogram (ECG) and laboratory examinations, were typical for acute myocarditis, however, the patient was considered unstable and further investigation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), pericardiocentesis and endomyocardial biopsy were not performed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of myocarditis in such a patient, the clinical features of which set a high suspicion of drug-induction that could be attributed to the treatment regimen that was administered. Clinicians who manage cases of drug-resistant TB should be aware of this, newly reported, potentially lethal, adverse event.

We conducted a study to determine if antenatally collected maternal urine cotinine (a me- 13 tabolite of nicotine) measurements can be used to assess the neonatal impact of nicotine exposure 14 during pregnancy. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort of mother-infant dyads. Only term 15 singleton pregnancies were included. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between 16 maternal urine cotinine and infant birth weight. We analysed data from 238 mother-neonates' dy- 17 ads. Urine cotinine was detected in 50.4 % (120/238) women from the whole cohort, but only 16% 18 (38/238) self-reported as smokers (chi-square 39.7, p<0.0001), and these women had significantly 19 smaller babies (p=0.010). There was a significant negative correlation between maternal urine co- 20 tinine and birth weight (Spearman's coefficient = -0.0226, p=0.013). Female babies born to women 21 with nicotine in the urine were significantly smaller (p= 0.001). The number of women exposed to 22 nicotine during late pregnancy (measured in urine) was markedly higher than self-reported and 23 National smoking percentages, suggesting an urgent need for improvement of medical record re- 24 porting on smoking habits to better assess neonatal outcomes.

In this study, Fluent software 2020R2 is used to simulate vertical axis turbine in two dimensions, aiming to analyze the influence of turbulence intensity on wake characteristics. The detailed flow field data are obtained by simulating the operation of turbine under different turbulence intensities. On this basis, the influence factor of turbulence intensity are creatively introduced into the wake mathematical formula of vertical axis turbine established by Lam, and some parameter calculations of the formula are supplemented and perfected. The results show that the theoretical model can well reflect the influence of turbulence intensity on the wake distribution of vertical axis turbines. The formula can provide a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of vertical axis turbines and the array arrangement, and can be used to predict the wake characteristics under different turbulence intensity operating conditions.

Digitalization has fundamentally changed the global economy and will continue to do so. This study investigates how the US Federal Reserve and US Treasury may work together to use decentralized finance (DeFi) systems to promote economic growth in local communities. The study looks into the potential for transformation and the difficulties in incorporating DeFi into conventional financial institutions. Research shows that the use of cash as a means of payment is widely expected to decline in the future. As a result, the public’s ability to make transactions using central bank money may decline rapidly. This study's goals are to solve economic issues, promote innovation, and increase financial efficiency. The use of in-depth interviews, theme analysis, case studies, stakeholder perspectives, comparative analysis, and document analysis is suggested as part of a qualitative research methodology. The goal of these approaches is to offer a sophisticated comprehension of the dynamics of collaboration and the consequences of DeFi integration in the context of the Federal Reserve-Treasury relationship. Important data sources that are necessary to answer the research question are indicated, such as US Treasury statistics, Federal Reserve publications, DeFi platforms, and International Monetary Fund economic indicators. Informed decision-making and policy formation may pave the way for a more inclusive and efficient financial ecosystem, which will eventually drive regional economic growth in the United States and promote monetary sovereignty for the aforementioned monetary entities. This can be achieved by investigating creative collaboration tactics between the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury.

Swampy land in Banjarmasin has special characteristics for building house constructions. The foundation for very low soil bearing capacity requires special treatment as well. Many building collapses are caused by foundation failures due to mismatched building loads and foundation functions, as well as construction material errors. The need for house design follows the development of building functions. Nowadays, a one-story house is no longer sufficient due to limited land. The need to elevate houses to two stories or to develop houses (renovations) often leads to foundation construction errors. The commonly used foundation, wooden pile foundation, has limited load-bearing capacity, necessitating modification steps in the form of foundation reinforcement. Several steps, including material combinations or combinations of various types of foundations, can be implemented. Therefore, a specific model is required to obtain a foundation design that can accommodate construction needs. The aim of the research is to create a foundation design model capable of reinforcing wooden pile foundations for both house construction development and as a reference for building one-story and two-story houses. In this research, field observations will be conducted at various house construction sites in Banjarmasin, both residential and individual objects. Data will be presented descriptively and analyzed to obtain an applicable model as a reference for house construction on swampy land. The model will provide an applicable depiction and will be tested against foundation construction implementation methods.

In order to serve the online monitoring of the aging state of high-voltage (HV) cables, a novel method based on impedance spectroscopy has been proposed. Firstly, the method uses the Debye model to restore the dielectric response of the insulating material from the mechanism. Secondly, based on the transmission line equation, a calculation model for the impedance spectroscopy of HV cables was established. Then, the characteristics of the impedance spectroscopy under different overall aging and local deterioration states were analyzed. Further, the simulation analysis of the influence of factors such as load factor, length, metal resistivity, and geometric parameters on the impedance spectroscopy was carried out. Finally, diagnostic criteria were proposed, which are divided into two major categories: known cable parameters and unknown cable parameters. If the geometric parameters are known, the aging state can be determined using the resonance peak values and the resonance peak frequencies. If the geometric parameters are unknown, it is necessary to test the impedance spectroscopy in the healthy condition of the cable as the baseline curve. By comparing the impedance spectroscopy of the cable under test with the baseline curve, the aging development trend of the cable can also be determined.

This systematic review explores the cross-cultural validation of neuropsychological assessments and their clinical applications in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focusing on culturally adapted CBT (CA-CBT) across diverse populations and settings. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in multiple academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Keywords related to cognitive-behavioral therapy, cultural adaptation, and specific populations were used. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pilot studies that assessed CA-CBT for various mental health conditions. Results: The review included studies involving Chinese Americans, Latino caregivers, Syrian refugees, Jordanian children, Malaysian Muslims, Afghan refugees, Iraqi women, Japanese children and adolescents, and Tanzanian and Kenyan children. CA-CBT demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and psychosis. For instance, Research has shown that CA-CBT is more effective than standard CBT in reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese Americans and significantly lowering PTSD symptoms in Syrian refugee women. The method has been well-received and feasible in diverse populations, such as Jordanian children and Afghan refugees. Long-term benefits are promising, with sustained improvements reported in various studies. Additionally, digital and remote delivery methods have demonstrated potential for expanding the accessibility of CA-CBT. Conclusions: CA-CBT is a valuable and effective intervention for diverse cultural populations, significantly improving mental health outcomes. However, future research must address limitations such as small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and variability in assessment tools. Studies should include larger and more diverse sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, rigorous control groups, and comprehensive outcome measures to further validate and enhance the application of CA-CBT across different cultural contexts.

The shear stress generated by wall turbulence is the main cause of wall friction resistance in turbulent flow through pipes. This paper investigates the impact of inserting rest periods (regions of constant Reynolds number) within the pulsating operating cycle of velocity on the fully turbulent flow at large time-averaged Reynolds numbers, using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method. The study aims to explore the effect of increasing rest periods within pulsations on drag resistance. The dimensionless shear stress and drag reduction rates during different time periods of rest were analyzed. Numerical simulation results indicate that the pulsating velocity operation mode does not necessarily lead to drag reduction; it may even result in increased resistance. Inserting rest periods within the pulsation cycle can achieve drag reduction effects, with the maximum drag reduction rate reaching 21.8\%. Comparisons with experimental data and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) from the literature validate the feasibility of using the LES method for pipe pulsating operation modes.

This study focuses on examining the determinants of capital structure and the influence of taxes within Iran Khodro Company in the automobile industry from 2016 to 2023. The research analyzes the relationship between debt, taxes, and various company-specific factors. Findings indicate a direct relationship between taxes and debt, with financial leverage being the most significant element related to taxes. The study aims to provide valuable insights for managers and decision-makers in enhancing financial decision-making and shareholder wealth. Various studies have also been conducted on the impact of taxes and different factors on the capital structure of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, highlighting the importance of tax implications in financial decisions.

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between leverage and dividend policy in Nigerian manufacturing enterprises. Utilizing panel data from 26 firms between 2016 and 2020, our findings reveal that while dividend payments boost firm value, leverage typically diminishes it. Intriguingly, when leverage interacts with dividend policy, the combined effect on firm value becomes significantly positive. This observation, despite Nigeria's institutional differences from advanced economies, supports modern capital structure theories such as the pecking order and static trade-off theories. Our results suggest that for mature Nigerian companies with limited growth opportunities, high leverage and dividends effectively mitigate the "free cash flow" problem, curbing managerial tendencies to overinvest or underinvest. Thus, leverage and dividends serve as complementary mechanisms for monitoring and controlling managerial discretion. Consequently, firms with high leverage ratios can leverage dividend policies as disciplinary tools, and vice versa. This underscores the necessity for Nigerian manufacturing firms to carefully balance debt and equity to sustain market confidence and investment potential.

Seedling establishment is often a critical bottleneck to revegetation of mine tailings and similar substrates with a low capacity to retain water and plant nutrients. Biochar and deactivated yeast are potential sustainable, low-cost materials with high nutrient- and water-holding capacity that could be used in this context as seed coatings to aid in seedling establishment on challenging sub-strates. We conducted a greenhouse study to assess the effectiveness of biochar and deactivated yeast, applied alone in a factorial combination, as seed coatings, on the germination, establish-ment, and early growth of white clover (Trifolium repens) and purple prairie clover (Dalea pur-purea). Coated seeds were applied to a mine tailing, a coarse granitic sand, and potting soil mix substates; seedling establishment and growth were monitored over 75 days. Results indicate strong interactive effects of seed coatings with species and substrate. Biochar coatings enhanced seedling establishment of Trifolium, with biochar or biochar plus yeast coatings giving the best results. In some cases, these effects persisted throughout the experiment: biochar coatings resulted in a ~5-fold increase in Trifolium biomass at harvest for plants in the potting soil mix but had neutral effects on sand or tailings. Biochar seed coatings also enhanced Dalea germination in some cases, but benefits did not persist. Our results indicate that biochar-based seed coatings can have lasting effects on plant growth well beyond germination, but also emphasize highly spe-cies-specific responses that highlight the need for further study of broader patterns and mecha-nisms.

In this study, a novel oral formulation of berberine hydrochloride (BBH) hydrogel was successfully synthesized through physical cross-linking using chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD). The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of CS/CMCD hydrogel and the subsequent loading of BBH into this composite (CS/CMCD/BBH) was effectively accomplished. BBH was used as a model drug and the resulting hydrogel demonstrated a sustained drug release profile. In addition to its improved solubility and sustained release characteristics, the hydrogel exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against common pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Additionally, in vitro studies indicated that the hydrogel was not cytotoxic to NIH3T3 and HaCaT cells, suggesting its safety for biomedical applications. This lack of cytotoxic effects, combined with the mechanical strength, solubility improvements, and antibacterial properties of the hydrogel, positions the CS/CMCD/BBH hydrogel as a promising candidate for effective oral delivery of BBH. By addressing the solubility and delivery challenges of BBH, this hydrogel offers a viable solution for the oral administration of berberine hydrochloride, with potential applications in various biomedical fields.

Safety signal detection, an integral component of Pharmacovigilance (PhV), aims to identify new or known adverse events (AEs) resulting from the use of pharmacotherapeutic products. Post-marketing spontaneous reports from different sources are commonly utilized as a data source for detecting these signals but there are underlying challenges arising from data complexity. This paper investigates the implementation of the Apriori algorithm, a popular method in association rule mining, to identify frequently co-occurring drugs and AEs within safety data. We discuss previous applications of the Apriori algorithm for safety signal detection and conduct a detailed study of an improved method specifically tailored for this purpose. This enhanced approach refines the classical Apriori method to effectively reveal potential associations between drugs/vaccines and AEs from post-marketing safety monitoring datasets, especially when AEs are rare. Detailed comparative simulation studies across varied settings, coupled with the application of the method to vaccine safety data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), demonstrate the efficacy of the improved approach. In conclusion, the improved Apriori algorithm is shown to be a useful screening tool for detecting rarely occurring potential safety signals from the use of drugs/vaccines using post-marketing safety data.

In this work, we analyzed non-Darcy two-component single-phase isothermal flow in naturally fractured tight gas reservoirs for enhanced gas recovery (EGR) and carbon dioxide storage as a possible application. We used the Peng-Robinson equation of state to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of the components, and we performed the discretization of the governing partial differential equations using the Finite Volume Method. This process leads to two subsystems of algebraic equations, which, after linearization and use of an operator splitting method, are solved by the Conjugate Gradient (CG) and Biconjugate Gradient Stabilized (BiCGSTAB) methods for determining the pressure and fraction molar, respectively. We include inertial effects using the Barree and Conway model, gas slippage via a more recent model than Klinkenberg’s and we use a simplified model for the effects of effective stress. We also utilize a mesh refinement technique to represent the discrete fractures. Finally, we implemented simulations to show the influence of inertial, slippage and stress effects on production in fractured tight gas reservoirs.

Mechanical response of composite structures concerning also natural frequencies is a function of material and geometrical describing plates and shells. In the present paper the optimization of those parameters is demonstrated. It is based on the formulation that uses the key-points (spline functions) and evolutionary algorithms. The numerical solutions dealing with the optimal design of axisymmetric cylindrical shells having variable radius are presented and discussed in details.

Studying the multi-function bacterial implications on the natural phytochemicals could be among the best solutions for producing clean-label functional juices. This study aimed to develop a high-quality mulberry juice with enhanced antioxidant capacity through fermentation. The juice was fermented using mono- and co-cultures of Lactobacillus casei (LC), L. plantarum (LP), L. paracasei (LPC), L. acidophilus (LA), and L. helveticus (LH) at different time intervals (24, 48, 72, and 96 h). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), flavonols, anthocyanins, and proan-thocyanidins were determined, along with the antioxidant activity assays and FTIR analysis. The results revealed significant changes in molecular interactions and functional group presence post-fermentation, indicating microbial incorporation's effect on the juice's functional profile. These changes were attributed to the formation of new compounds during fermentation, such as organic acids, alcohols, glycerol, and phenols, as evidenced by the FTIR spectra. Besides, LC-LA and LC-LPC co-culture treatments yield the most substantial stability in TPC, TFC, and TF after 48 h compared to 24 h and 72 h. After 48 h, the co-cultures of LPC-LH (1265.5 GAE/L) and LPC-LA (1145 GAE/L) were increased the TPC after 48 h than the single cultures. Conclusively, LC-LPC and LP-LPC co-culture fermentation was recommended as a cost-effective method to enhance the an-tioxidant potential and the overall phytochemical capacity of mulberry products. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the potential of fermented mulberry juice as a functional food with improved health benefits.

(1) Background: We aim to construct a machine learning (ML) algorithm to predict the risk of distant metastasis (DM) of T1 and T2gallbladder cancer (GBC); (2) Demographic and clinical pathological data of T1 and T2 GBC patients were extracted from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015 to develop seven ML algorithm models. Models were evaluated based on accuracy, precision, recall rate, F1- score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC); (3) Results:A total of 4371 patients were included in the study, of whom 764 (17.4%) developed DM. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, histology, tumor size, T and N stages were independent factors in GBC with DM. A novel nomogram was established to predict distant metastasis in early T stage GBC patients. Evaluation indicators of the best model Random Forest (RF) were as follows: accuracy (0.828), recall rate (0.862), precision (0.811), F1- score (0.836), and AUC value (0.913); (4) Con-clusions: The RF model constructed in this study could accurately predict distant metastasis in GBC patients, which may provide clinicians with more personalized clinical decision-making recom-mendations.

The association of alcohol intake with kidney stone disease (KSD) is not clear. We examined the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018 and used logistic regression analyses to determine the independent association between alcohol intake and prevalent KSD. 29,684 participants were eligible for the final analysis including 2,840 prevalent stone formers (SF). Mean alcohol intake was 37.0±2.4 g/day among SF compared to 42.7±0.9 among non-SF (p=0.04). Beer [Odds ratio (OR)=0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.94, p=0.01] and wine (OR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.96, p=0.03) intakes were strongly associated with lower odds of prevalent KSD while liquor intake had no association. The effect from beer was dose dependent with an OR of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20–0.57, p56g/day of beer to non-drinkers. Interestingly, the effect from wine was only significant among participants drinking moderate amount, with an OR of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.36–0.81, p=0.003) compared to non-drinkers. These effects were consistent in spline models. This study suggests that both moderate to heavy beer intake and moderate wine intake are associated with a reduced risk of KSD. Future prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship.

(1) Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have potential to impact long-term health outcomes. Understanding these interrelationships can inform the development of interventions to promote societal health (2) Methods: D/PMH was defined as a diagnosis of depression and/or more than 14 days of poor mental health in the previous month. Those reporting poor physical health for more than 14 days in the previous month or categorising their physical health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ were deemed to have PG/PPH. Seven categorical questions based on subscales in the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 were used to define PCEs.(3) Results: Increased ACEs exposure use significantly associated with increased odds of D/PHM (p&lt;0.001), increased odds of PG/PHH (p=0.010) and decreased odds of AR-SES (p&lt;0.001). Increased exposure to PCEs was significantly associated with decreased odds of D/PHM (p&lt;0.001), increased odds of PG/PHH (p&lt;0.001) and decreased odds of AR-SES (p&lt; 0.001). For all outcomes, exposure to PCEs reduced the strength of the association between ACEs and outcomes. (4) Conclusions: A positive dose response between the number of ACEs and adult D/PMH, PG/PPH and lower AR-SES exists within the Australian population. PCEs weaken this association, demonstrating their mitigating potential. PCEs promoted adult outcomes, irrespective of ACEs.

Leakage is important in groundwater cycle research and water resource management, the key is to construct the spatial distribution of aquitard. Influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors, the density of boreholes restricts the accuracy of aquitard structure. This paper explores the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) method to construct multi-layer aquitard structure in the hinterland of Songnen Plain, Northeast China, with limited boreholes, and compare it with Inverse Distance Weight (IDW) and Ordinary Kriging (OK) methods to evaluate the leakage. The KNN needs to first identify the eigenvalue-k of each layer, which is used to enhance the trainset to obtain the testset with a larger amount of sample data enhanced, and to make a prediction to obtain the 3-dimensional structure of aquitard. KNN is more accurate than the IDW and OK. The aquitrad structure obtained by the KNN is different from the IDW and OK, the thickness difference is 3.53%-54.00%, the area difference is 2.28%-23.91%, and the difference in leakage can be up to 24.51%. KNN also has a high degree of identification of aquitard edges, which can help the prevention of groundwater pollution. The results provide guidance for water balance analysis, borehole engineering design, water resources management and exploitation.

This study evaluates and contrasts the changes in vegetation cover over three decades in two forest areas in northern Mexico with different management statuses: one with sustainable forest exploitation and the other under protection as a Flora and Fauna Protection Area (FFPA). The hypothesis proposed that both areas would maintain or increase their vegetation cover since 1995. Using QGIS 3.32 “Lima” software and supervised and unsupervised classification methods, satellite images from the periods 1995-2008, 2008-2014, 2014-2021, and 1995-2022 were analyzed. The results showed that the Ejido El Largo y Anexos significantly increased forest areas and reduced grasslands due to sustainable management practices, with notable expansion of pine-oak and pine forests. In contrast, the Tutuaca Flora and Fauna Protection Area (FFPA) showed a notable loss of oak and oak-pine forests, suggesting ineffectiveness in its conservation policies. However, a lesser loss of Douglas fir forest was observed, indicating some effective protection efforts. The comparison reveals opposing dynamics: while Ejido El Largo y Anexos demonstrates success in sustainable management, the Tutuaca FFPA faces conservation challenges. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for active management approaches to maintain ecosystem cover and functionality.

Conjunctival melanoma (Co-M) is an aggressive, invasive eye and eyelid cancer. Its global inci-dence of ~1 in a million is increasing at a rate ratio of ~1.4, but this rises sharply in over 65-year-olds. Although rare, Co-M has a devastating impact on the lives of those who develop it. Co-M is often misdiagnosed or overlooked leading to vision loss either from destructive effects of the tumour or side effects of therapy, facial disfigurement from radical surgery, and death from metastases. Due to its rarity, there is limited evidence for diagnosis and management; hence, there is no standardised treatment and not all cases are referred to a specialised ocular oncology centre. Recent progress in cancer immunology and genetics have revolutionised treatment of cutaneous melanoma, which share some similarities to Co-M. A better understanding of Co-M and its precursor lesions is urgently needed to lead the development of novel targeted and immuno-therapies both for local tumour control and disseminated disease. This review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical overview of the current knowledge of Co-M, its epidemiology, pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, management, and recent advances in novel biological therapies for personalised treatment of this disease.

A fundamental aspect in the evolution of Time-to-Digital Converters (TDCs) implemented within Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), given the increasing demand for detection channels, is the optimization of resource utilization. This study reviews the principal methodologies employed for implementing low-resource TDCs in FPGAs. It outlines the foundational architectures and interpolation techniques utilized to bolster TDC performances without unduly burdening resource consumption. Low-resource Tapped Delay Line, Vernier Ring Oscillator, and Multi-Phase Shift Counter TDCs, including the use of SerDes, are reviewed. Additionally, novel low-resource architectures are scrutinized, including Counter Gray Oscillator TDCs and interpolation expansions using Voltage-Temperature-Consumption stable IODELAYS. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of each approach are critically assessed, with particular emphasis on resolution, precision, non-linearities, and, especially, resource utilization. A comprehensive summary table encapsulating existing works on low-resource TDCs is provided, offering a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the field.

We consider spontaneous quark transitions between the Λ0 baryon and its resonant states, and (anti)quark transitions between the neutral kaon K0 and the two heavy ηq-mesons (q = c, b). We use the measured differences in mass deficits to calculate the binding energy levels of valence c and b (anti)quarks in these transitions. In the process, we account for isospin energy release in K0 transitions and for the work done by the strong force in suppressing Coulomb repulsions in the charged Λc+-baryon. We find that the flips s→c and s¯→c¯ both release energy back to the strong field; and that the overall range of quark energy levels above their u-ground is 100-MeV wider than that of antiquark energy levels above their d¯-ground. The wider quark range stems from the flip s→b, which costs 283 MeV more (or 3× more) than the corresponding antiquark flip s¯→b¯. At the same time, transitions from the respective ground states to the s and s¯ states (or the c and c¯ states) point to a clear origin of the elusive charge-parity (CP) violation. The determined binding energy levels of (anti)quarks allow us to analyze in depth the (anti)quark transitions in Λ-baryons and B-mesons.

Background and objectives: Due to resistance and lack of treatment options, hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections are associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics and outcomes of patients with infections caused by multidrug resistant A. baumannii in a tertiary-care teaching hospital and to determine the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study including 196 patients with A. baumannii strains isolated from different clinical specimens in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in 2016, 2017 and 2020, 2021 was conducted. Data on patients’ characteristics, comorbid diseases, treatment, length of hospital and ICU stay, outcome were collected. To determine risk factors for in-hospital mortality, logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: There were 60 (30.6%) women 136 (69.4%) men with a mean age of 61.7 ± 16.6 years (range, 52–74). More than three-fourths (76.5%, n = 150) of the patients had at least one comorbid disease. The highest number of A. baumannii strains were isolated from patients hospitalized in ICUs (43.4%, n = 85). A. baumannii strains producing three types of β-lactamases were more frequently isolated from women than men (77.8 % vs. 22.2%, p = 0.006). Infections caused by A. baumannii strains producing two types of β-lactamases were significantly more often treated with combination therapy than infections caused by strains producing one type of β-lactamase (78.9% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.019). Patients with A. baumannii strains producing two different types of β-lactamases (AmpC plus KPC, AmpC plus ESBL, or ESBL plus KPC) stayed significantly shorter at the ICU compared to patients with A. baumannii strains not producing β-lactamases (median of 9, IQR 2–18, vs. median of 26, IQR 7–38, p = 0.022). Death occurred in 58.7% (n = 115) of patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that combination therapy, length of hospital stay of < 10 days after A. baumannii infection, age of > 58 years, and absence of co-infection were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Patients with infection caused by A. baumannii strains producing two different types of β-lactamases were more frequently treated with combination therapy. Mortality of patients with multidrug resistant A. baumannii infection was high, and it was associated with patient’s age, length of hospital stay after the diagnosis of A. baumannii infection, absence of co-infection, and combination treatment.