Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by symptoms such as tremors, dementia, and bradykinesia. Early non-motor signs, including constipation and hyposmia, suggest a potential connection between PD and the gut. The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of PD, with unknown causes. While current treatments provide symptom relief, there are no therapies to slow the progression of the disease. The gut microbiota plays a role in inflammatory and immune responses and has been implicated in neurological disorders. The connection between gut microbiota and neurodegenerative disease remains unclear. In this paper, we aim to explore the potential link between gut microbiome dysbiosis in PD, focusing on constipation, which is an early symptom of the disease. Our review will examine the evidence that suggests the possibility of chronic intestinal inflammation that may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease and implicate further connections with other neurodegenerative diseases.

Canine Multiple System Degeneration (CMSD) is an early onset, progressive movement disorder affecting Kerry Blue Terriers and Chinese Crested dogs. The associated pathologic lesions include degeneration of the cerebellum, caudate nucleus and substantia nigra. CMSD is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait in both dog breeds. Previous linkage mapping localized the CMSD locus to a 15 MB region on canine chromosome 1 (CFA1). Next generation sequencing was used to generate whole genome sequences from DNA of an affected dog from each breed. The resulting sequence reads were aligned to the NCBI canine reference genome (build 3.1). Among the homozygous sequence variants within the CFA1 target region, a nonsense variant in exon 15 of SERAC1 was identified in the affected Kerry Blue Terrier, while in the Chinese Crested dog, a 4 bp deletion in the SERAC1 exon 4 acceptor splice site was found. RT-PCR showed that this deletion resulted in exon 4 skipping. Genotyping of large cohorts of Kerry Blue Terriers and Chinese Crested dogs for the respective breed-specific SERAC1 variants showed complete concordance between genotype and disease phenotype. Genotype-phenotype concordance was also observed in offspring generated by cross breeding between SERAC1-heterozygous Kerry Blue Terrier and Chinese Crested dogs, with only the compound heterozygotes exhibiting the disease phenotype, further confirming the recessive inheritance of CMSD. Variants in human SERAC1 are associated with disorders with a range of ages of disease onset and patterns of clinical signs, but that are all characterized by movement abnormalities similar to those of the dogs with CMSD. Canine CMSD could serve as a valuable model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying SERAC1-deficiency disorders and to evaluate potential therapeutic interventions.

Introduction: Cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis are very prevalent and considered a public health problem, as they are highly disabling and represent an economic burden. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) can be isolated from different tissues and have the immunomodulatory capacity to regulate local articular joint environment. This translational study aims to compare the cartilage restoration from MSCs from the synovial membrane (SM) and dental pulp (DP), by tissue engineered treatment in a Good Manufacturing Practices. Materials and Methods: A controlled experimental study in fourteen miniature pigs was performed, using scaffold-free Tissue Engineering Construct (TEC) from DP and SM MSCs, with 6 months follow-up. Total thickness cartilage defects were performed in both posterior knees. The defect was left empty on one side, and the other received TEC from DP (n=7) or from SM (n=7). MRI assessed morphology with the MOCART scoring system. T2 mapping assessed water and collagen fiber composition. Histology evaluated cartilage repair using the ICRS-2 score. Results: The mean MOCART value in the untreated group was 46.2 ± 13.4, while the group treated with TEC from SM was 65.7 ± 15.5 (p

Background/Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease with a steadily increasing prevalence, high mortality, social and economic costs. Furthermore, every hospitalisation for acute HF is associated with worsening prognosis and reduced life expectancy. In order to prevent hospitalisations, it would be useful to have instruments that can predict them well in advance. Methods: We performed a review on remote monitoring of heart failure through implantable devices.; Results: Precise multi-parameter algorithms, available for ICD and CRT-D patients, have been created, which also use artificial intelligence and are able to predict a new heart failure event more than 30 days in advance. There are also implantable pulmonary artery devices that can predict hospitalisations and reduce the impact of heart failure. proper organisation of transmission and alerts management is crucial for clinical success in using these tools. Conclusions: The full implementation of remote monitoring of implantable devices and in particular the use of new algorithms for the prediction of acute heart failure episodes represents a huge challenge but also a huge opportunity.

A simple and sensitive method for Cu²⁺ detection was developed using the Cu⁺-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as the reaction platform, and a portable blood glucose meter (PGM) as the detection method. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were labeled with glucose oxidase (GOx) and alkyne-functionalized and terminally thiolated ssDNA (C1). In the presence of Cu²⁺ and ascorbate, the functionalized AuNPs were captured onto MNPs modified with azide-functionalized ssDNA (C2) via the Cu⁺-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction. GOx on the AuNPs surface oxidized glucose (Glu) into gluconic acid and H2O2, reducing the Glu content in the reaction solution, which was quantitatively detected by the PGM. Under optimal conditions, the PGM response of the system showed a good linear relationship with the logarithm of Cu²⁺ concentration in the range of 0.05 to 10.00 μmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.03 μmol/L (3σ). In actual tap water samples, the spiked recovery rate of Cu²⁺ was between 92.30% and 113.33%, and the relative standard deviation was between 0.14% and 0.34%, meeting the detection requirements for Cu²⁺ in real water samples.

Soil compaction is a major environmental stress to root development and plant growth. Meanwhile, drought always results in increasing soil mechanical impedance, which in turn aggravates soil compaction stress. In this study, a column experiment with three levels of compaction stress (low, moderate, and severe, respectively) and two levels of soil water content (well-watered and drought, respectively) was established to investigate the effects of soil compaction combined with drought on soil pore structure, root development and maize growth properties. Results showed that soil compaction combined with soil water stress significantly affected the characteristics of soil pore structure. With the increase of soil compaction, the porosity, larger pores (> 500 μm), and the maximum pore diameter significantly decreased (P < 0.05) regardless of soil water status. Additionally, pore morphology and network parameters were also deteriorated under soil compaction with drought conditions. Soil compaction substantially affected root length, root volume, root surface area and root average diameter in the whole profile (p < 0.05). Compared to well-watered conditions, the effects of soil compaction on root characteristics under drought conditions was more obvious, which indicated that appropriate soil water content could alleviate compaction stress. Aboveground biomass and plant height showed a consistent trend with root traits under soil compaction stress regardless of water status. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations between most soil pore parameters and maize growth traits. In addition, soil compaction showed a significant effect on stomatal conductance and transpiration rate while soil water showed a significant effect on SPAD.

Keywords: Urban Heritage, Resilience, Urban Planning, Climate change, Urban Development, Sustainable Urban Development

This paper analyzes the experience of first-person shooter (FPS) players when the game difficulty is adjusted by personalizing their audio cue settings, considering the balance between player performance, modeled using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and prior data serving as designer preference. In addition, we investigate the reason why player experience changes according to in-game audio cues. Previous studies have proposed various dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA) methods for FPS games. However, few studies have considered the role of audio cues in the player experience. This paper compares the player experience of personalized enemy audio cue volume setting (GPR-DDA) and that of predetermined setting in an FPS game. Two comprehensive experimental phases, involving 80 participants, are conducted to assess the efficacy of GPR-DDA. The experience of our players is measured using questions taken from the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS) questionnaire and a final survey asking their open-ended feedback. A large language model (LLM) is used to analyze the natural language expressions of the players according to their native languages. To effectively have an LLM assist a limited number of qualified human evaluators in the classification of player responses, we develop an original procedure for this task. The GUESS results show that GPR-DDA can improve the player experience, and, in addition, the high consistency in the classification results over multiple runs of the selected LLM, as well as the similarity between its results and those of our human evaluators, reflect the reliability of the proposed LLM-assisted procedure.

Finding out an available car parking space has been one of the most crucial problems for the crowded cities, which causes such issues as traffic congestions, air pollutions, and stressful drivers. To mitigate the issues here, smart car parking management system (SPMS) solutions can be used which digitalise the parking processes and maximise the drivers’ productiveness. However, the existing SPMS solutions are either domain-specific or address the applications of particular techniques and technologies. None of the solutions in the literature propose any generic approach that can be re-used for the analysis and design of any SPMSs. In this paper, we propose a reference architecture (RA) for the SPMS product family. Performing comprehensive domain analysis, we provide a feature model of the common and varying features for SPMSs. We designed 4 architectural viewpoints, which are context, module, component&amp;connector, and allocation. Each viewpoint addresses a different concern and proposes a generic solution that can be re-used for any specific SPMSs. To validate our RA design, we used the commercial 4Park SPMS application and specified its architecture using our RA viewpoints. We strongly believe that our RA design for SPMSs can be useful for the SPMS domain who develop SPMS solutions.

Experimental studies and numerical analyses were conducted to estimate the laminar flame speeds of butyl ether, n-octane, iso-octane, and 1-octene at temperatures of 373 and 443 K and pressures ranging from 0.03 to 0.3 MPa in a constant-volume combustion chamber. Iso-octane had the slowest laminar flame speed whereas butyl ether had the highest. The LLNL model for large hydrocarbons and the Cai model for butyl ether were combined to describe the chemical kinetic mechanism for the test fuels. The simulation data calculated with the constructed model agree with the experimental data. The discrepancies in the laminar flame speeds of the four fuels were clarified from the perspectives of thermodynamics, diffusion, and chemical kinetics. The results reveal that the thermodynamics and chemical kinetics were dominant. Butyl ether had the highest laminar flame speed. This was attributed to it having the highest adiabatic flame temperature and a higher concentration of H and OH radicals, which have a high reactivity in a flame. Iso-octane produces the highest concentration of CH3, which inhibits flame propagation, so that it had the slowest laminar flame speed.

Acidic soils limit plant nutrient availability, leading to deficiencies and reduced crop yields. Agricultural liming agents address these issues and are crucial for deploying silicate amendments used in enhanced rock weathering (ERW) for carbon sequestration and emission reduction. Grower recommendations for liming agents are based on the liming index (LI), which combines the neutralizing value (NV) and fineness rating (FR) to predict a mineral’s acidity neutralization relative to pure calcite. However, the LI was originally developed for carbonate minerals, and its applicability to silicates remains uncertain, with studies often yielding inconclusive results on soil carbon and liming efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the liming efficiency of silicates. We determined the LI of five candidate ERW minerals (basalt, olivine, wollastonite, kimberlite, and montmorillonite) and compared them to pure calcite. Post-NV acid digestion, we characterized the minerals and soils, applying nonparametric statistical tests (Wilcoxon, Kendall) to correlate liming results with LI, dosage, and amendment methods. We developed an empirical model incorporating mineralogy and kinetics to explain silicate behavior in liming, considering soil, climate, and crop factors.

Everolimus 10 mg daily is approved to treat patients with advanced grade 1/2 neuroendocrine tumors (NET), although it may lead to significant toxicity. Grade 3 or higher drug-related adverse events and drug discontinuation occur in approximately one-fourth of the cases. However, phase I trials demonstrated that doses from 5 mg daily efficiently inhibit NET cell signaling. This multicenter retrospective study compared the time to treatment failure (TTF) in patients with NET who received a mean daily dose of 7 – 10mg (higher dose [HD]) or ≤ 6 mg (lower dose [LD]) of everolimus. Ninety-two patients were included: 74 (80%) in the HD group and 18 (20%) in the LD group. At a median follow-up of 4.2 years, the median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 9.2 months for HD and 7.2 months for LD (p = 0.85). TTF did not significantly differ between LD and HD (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.68 - 2.25; p = 0.47), even after adjusting for age at treatment initiation, NET grade, or treatment line. Everolimus doses from 5 to 6 mg/day seem to be equally effective as higher doses, but lower doses are potentially associated with less toxicity and costs. These findings support validation through a randomized clinical trial.

This study used a completely randomized design with a bifactorial arrangement in triplicate to evaluate dif-ferent concentrations of flavonoid extracts from orange (Citrus sinensis), onion (Allium cepa), tamarillo (So-lanum betaceum) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) peels in combination with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in fruit juices. The shells were dehydrated at 50-57 °C for 8 hours and pulverized. The dehydration yields were: orange (32 %), onion (13 %), tamarillo (14 %) and cocoa (34 %). Flavonoids were extracted with Soxhlet using 70% ethanol for 5 hours, concentrating with a rotary evaporator. They were quantified by UV spectrophotometry and the Folin-Ciocalteu method, being the highest in orange (300,75-372,60 mg Q/L) and onion (205,70-534,96 mg Q/L), while tamarillo presented the lowest, with possible errors in the measurement. Soluble solids losses ranged from 2,30 g (cocoa) to 5,27 g (orange). Cocoa and orange extracts showed greater potential as natural preservatives, inhibiting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in fruit juices, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, re-spectively.

Extensive research has been conducted on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in association with various infectious diseases to understand the pathophysiology of the infection and potential co-infections. In tropical countries, exposure to local viruses may alter the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and coinfection. Notably, only a portion of the antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 proteins demonstrate neutralizing properties, and the immune response following natural infection tends to be temporary. In contrast, long-lasting IgG antibodies are common after dengue virus infections. In cases where preexisting antibodies from an initial dengue virus infection bind to a different dengue serotype during a subsequent infection, there is a potential for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and the formation of immune complexes associated with disease severity. Both SARS-CoV-2 and dengue infections can result in immunodeficiency. Viral proteins of both viruses interfere with the host’s IFN-I signaling. Additionally, a cytokine storm can occur after viral infection, impairing a proper response, and autoantibodies against a wide array of proteins can appear during convalescence. Most of the reported autoantibodies are typically short-lived. Vaccines against both viruses alter the immune response, affecting the course of viral infection and enhancing clearance. A comprehensive analysis of both viral infections and pathogenicity is revisited to prevent infection, severity, and mortality.

Fourier expansions by the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions showed improved convergence compared to the Fourier expansions by the classical trigonometric system due to the rapid decay of the corresponding Fourier coefficients. Based on this evidence, we investigate interpolations on a finite interval that are exact for the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions and show the same benefits. Further, we improve the convergence of the interpolations by applying the idea of quasi-periodicity, where the basis functions are periodic on a slightly extended interval. We show that those interpolations have much better convergence rates away from the endpoints of the approximation interval. Moreover, the interpolations are more accurate on the entire interval. We prove those properties for a specific case of the polyharmonic-Neumann eigenfunctions known as the modified Fourier system. For other basis functions, we provide evidence based on the results of numerical experiments.

We will outline the relationship between luminosity distance and cosmological redshifts, demonstrating that it is consistent with a new cosmological model recently proposed by Haug and Tatum [1], which appears to resolve the Hubble tension within the Rh = ct cosmology.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare is transforming chronic disease management and pandemic response, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with multiple chronic conditions. This review systematically examines the current applications of AI and IoT technologies in managing chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside their role in enhancing healthcare response during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, including enhanced glycemic control in diabetes management, early detection of cardiovascular anomalies, and a reduction in hospital admissions for chronic disease patients through AI-enabled remote monitoring. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including data security, algorithmic bias, and the high cost of implementing AI and IoT systems. This review explores future directions for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing the potential of multi-dimensional data integration, real-time predictive analytics, and personalized AI models to further revolutionize healthcare. Additionally, the accompanying Graphic Abstract visually illustrates how AI-driven insights, generated from IoT-enabled devices, are transforming healthcare delivery by facilitating real-time monitoring, personalized interventions, and proactive patient care. The article concludes with recommendations for addressing the technological, ethical, and regulatory challenges that must be overcome to fully realize the potential of AI and IoT in healthcare.

One of the greatest quests in physics in current times is the search for a grand unified theory – to bring all the forces of nature into one coherent explanatory framework. Despite two centuries of progress, both in comprehending the individual forces and formulating mathematical constructs to explain the existence and operation of such forces, the final step to unify the localised atomic and subatomic forces with gravity has proven to be elusive. The pursuit for an answer has been driving physicists to explore increasingly extraordinary ideas from string theory to various other options requiring multiple dimensions. There may be another approach, which instead looks afresh at our comprehension of the nature of matter. By changing our perspective, including altering how we interpret the mathematics underpinning entropy, it is possible to derive a provocative and compelling alternative solution, which not only allows for an appreciation of all the forces of nature including gravity within a singular explanatory construct but also resolves other puzzles, such as what causes entropy, why wave/particle duality and how to reconcile the physical with the social and life sciences. The outcome, however, challenges our whole understanding of the universe and fundamentally changes our relationship with matter.

Diet is considered a possible cofactor that affects the immune system and potentially could cause dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis and inflammation. This study aimed to review the evidence on specific diet composition effects on some immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) -rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [remission maintenance of Crohn´s disease and ulcerative colitis] and psoriasis- symptoms in adult patients. We conducted a rapid review of meta-analyses and Cochrane systematic reviews using PubMed, EMBASE, from inception to September 2024, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of meta-analyses was assessed using AMSTAR 2 rating. Three COCHRANE systematic reviews and eight meta-analyses Some specific composition diets have been shown to reduce symptoms in RA, IBD, and MS; and improve some activity parameters in IBD and RA; with critically low, or low levels of evidence. The reduction in inflammatory biomarker levels is unclear. This review updates the global dietary evidence to improve IMID symptoms, discusses the influences of dietary mechanisms, clarifies the weaknesses of clinical trials and dietary meta-analyses, with critically low, or low levels of evidence, and shows the need to use indexes such as DII, that allow diets to be classified for their content of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory foods, to better compare diet groups in clinical trials. The difficulty in obtaining high-level evidence in dietary studies is apparent, which may delay the application of the results.

Re-purposing wastewater is necessary to circumvent water shortage for vegetable farmers in urban areas and to reduce public health hazards associated with using contaminated water for irrigation. In this study, the efficiency of biochar filtration systems in removing contaminants from wastewater was investigated. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) and the cleaning mechanism of coconut biochar filtration systems were examined. The filtration systems were designed with biowastes, specifically coconut biochar, as an adsorbent to remove pollutants from wastewater. Two setups of bed, 40 cm and 30 cm thick, were examined under different HRTs. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging were used to ascertain the properties of the biochar that enhances the removal of pollutants in wastewater. For both setups, the removal of heavy metals (Lead, Pb and copper, Cu) as well as Total Coliform (TC) was judged satisfactory but appeared ineffective in removing E. coli.

Dementia is recognized as a disability under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). People with disabilities like dementia have the right to access specialized health and social care services, including interventions that support independence and community participation. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an evidence-based psychosocial intervention that improves cognition, communication, confidence and quality of life for people living with dementia (PLwD), but an implementation gap means that CST is often not available. We recruited trained CST practitioners (n=62; 91.9% female) to a mixed methods study to examine facilitators and barriers to the implementation of CST in Ireland. Statistical analysis showed that 54.8% of practitioners had run CST following training; ratings of intervention efficacy predicted the likelihood of running CST groups (p=0.006); and seeing the benefits of CST first-hand predicted that practitioners would run a greater number of CST groups (p=0.01). Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified three key themes of ‘resources’, ‘awareness and education’, and ‘acceptability of CST’. Overall, the results show that while CST is acceptable and deemed highly effective, resources and staffing often impede implementation. The results are discussed in the context of prioritising the rights of people with disabilities and recommendations are made around improving access to evidence-based supports.

Many natural areas are colonised by the invasive species Ailanthus altissima. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. A. altissima is one of the most widespread weed species in natural areas of temperate regions such as conservation parks, archaeological sites and communication corridors. Not many active ingredients are available to control this weed, being the most popular, the glyphosate, banned by many municipalities. In order to test the efficacy of alternative active ingredients, naturally occurring populations in Collserola Conservation Park of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) were treated with different herbicides using three different techniques. Aclonifen, metribuzin, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl and triclopyr mixed with 2.4-D, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid and clopyralid, were applied by stem injection, cut stump injection or basal bark techniques against trees of around 5 cm diameter. Both cut stump and stem injection gave almost total control of the trees while basal bark showed more varied results depending on the herbicide. Best control was achieved when flazasulfuron or triclopyr were present as active ingredients and poorer control was observed when using metsulfuron-methyl or isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl. Aclonifen showed no damage to the trees. Metribuzin worked better if the cut stump injection technique was used. These results showed that several alternatives are available to the use of glyphosate which is been banned for some uses due to environmental concerns.

Comparison of the gauge-invariant formulation for l=0,1-mode perturbations on the Schwarzschild background spacetime proposed in [K. Nakamura, Class. Quantum Grav. 38 (2021), 145010.] and a “conventional complete gauge-fixing approach” in which we use the spherical harmonic functions Ylm as the scalar harmonics from the starting point is discussed. Although it is often said that “gauge-invariant formulations in general-relativistic perturbations are equivalent to complete gauge-fixing approaches,” as the result of this comparison, we conclude that the derived solutions through the proposed gauge-invariant formulation and those through a “conventional complete gauge-fixing approach” are different. It is pointed out that there is a case where the boundary conditions and initial conditions are restricted in a conventional complete gauge-fixing approach.

Newton's classical dynamics accurately describes the motion of objects moving at speeds much less than the speed of light and has been extensively validated under these conditions. Any new dynamics formula must reduce to Newton's equations at low velocities. Einstein's theory of special relativity, which utilizes the Lorentz factor, provides a revised view of space-time and also conforms to Newton's equations for low speeds. However, the Lorentz factor assumes that the maximum anisotropy of the speed of light is zero, a condition not fully supported by experimental evidence. The Michelson-Morley Experiment, conducted at a speed far less than that of light, suggests that while the measured anisotropy is very small, it is not zero. This small value could imply the existence of undiscovered physical laws. To address this, we propose the Yuyunrui factor, which includes two hyperparameters, \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\), encompassing various possible models. In this framework, the Lorentz factor represents a special case with \((\alpha=0, \beta=1)\) and zero anisotropy. We categorize the \((\alpha, \beta)\) combinations into four broad types based on their scaling effects and describe these in detail. Future experiments at higher speeds will be essential to accurately determine the true value of the maximum anisotropy of the speed of light and to refine the proposed factor.

Theoretical physics addresses the fundamental principles of nature and the mysteries of the universe. In the last century, the theory of relativity challenged people's understanding of time and space, while quantum mechanics revealed various forms of energy. However, the concept of gravity remains elusive. All matter in the universe is composed of energy that can be converted into other forms, yet it is always conserved. However, achieving a state of equilibrium, represented by the equal sign, can be challenging to achieve on both macro and quantum scales. A phenomenon that can transition from one state to infinity is called collision and is essential for understanding natural phenomena and physical processes throughout the universe. In the study of general relativity cannot be three-dimensional problems to gain mathematical inspiration, understand the application of new dimensions. Here, we elucidate the nature of gravity, which inspires the solution of the Riemann hypothesis. Our results show that the conduction mode of dimensional energy is defined by Euler's formula. And a special mode of collision is derived which translates into vibration.

The interplay between wildfires and drought stress has significantly limited forest recovery in the Mediterranean ecosystem of central Chile. Since 2010, the region has faced a prolonged 'Mega Drought,' which intensified into a 'Hyper Drought' in 2019, with record-low precipitation and high temperatures, further constraining forest recovery amidst increasing wildfire frequency. This study evaluates short-term vegetation recovery across drought gradients in three sclerophyllous evergreen forests, analyzing Landsat time series (1987–2022) for 42 wildfires. Using the LandTrendr algorithm, we assessed post-fire forest recovery based on NDVI changes between pre-fire values and subsequent years. The results revealed significant differences in recovery across drought gradients and fire severity interactions. After five years, the xeric forest dominated by Quillaja saponaria and Lithrea caustica showed 89% recovery during the Mega Drought and 34% during the Hyper Drought. In contrast, the mesic forest dominated by Cryptocarya alba and Peumus boldus exhibited 28% recovery during the Mega Drought and 43% during the Hyper Drought. Degraded thorny shrublands showed the lowest recovery, averaging 23% under Hyper Drought and medium fire severity. These findings underscore the critical role of prolonged, severe drought in shaping forest recovery dynamics and highlight the need to understand these patterns to improve future forest resilience under increasingly arid conditions.

The P versus NP problem is a cornerstone of theoretical computer science, asking whether problems that are easy to check are also easy to solve. "Easy" here means solvable in polynomial time, where the computation time grows proportionally to the input size. While this problem's origins can be traced to John Nash's 1955 letter, its formalization is credited to Stephen Cook and Leonid Levin. Despite decades of research, a definitive answer remains elusive. Central to this question is the concept of NP-completeness. If even one NP-complete problem could be solved efficiently, it would imply that all problems in NP could be solved efficiently, proving P equals NP. This research proposes that EXACT CLOSURE, a notoriously difficult NP-complete problem, can be solved efficiently, thereby potentially establishing the equivalence of P and NP. This work is an expansion and refinement of the article "Note for the P versus NP problem", published in IPI Letters.

Permanent pacemaker implantation is a low-risk procedure. However, complications may occur with a rate of around 3-8%. We present a case where initial implantation resulted in complications that could have been avoided by meticulous assessment of lead position in different projections and early post procedure X-ray that would have delineated other serious complications. An eighty-seven-year-old female patient presented with syncope and documented high grade atrioventricular block. She had a dual chamber pacemaker implant, after which she had another episode of syncope with loss of pacing capture. This was rectified by ventricular lead repositioning that resulted in consistent ventricular pacing. A week later, she was re-admitted with worsening dyspnoea and fatigue. Chest X-ray (CXR) and CT revealed haemopericardium and haemothorax and she was treated with a chest drain and conservatively managed for pericardial effusion. She had a slow recovery and was discharged home after treatment with no further symptoms during follow up in pacing clinic. This case emphasises the importance of meticulous assessment during and after pacemaker implantation.

Next-generation sequencing(NGS) for HIV drug resistance(DR) testing has an increasing number of applications for detection of Low-abundance drug resistant variants(LA-DRVs) as its features of quasispecies. However there is less information on detection performance in DR detection with NGS.To determine the feasibility of NGS technology in LA-DRVs detection for HIV-1 pre-treated patients.In this study,80 pre-treated patients’ samples accepted both NGS and Sanger sequencing(SS) in HIV-1 drug resistance testing. The results show that NGS presents higher sensitivity in mutation sites discovery at 5% threshold. NGS shows a satisfactory consistency comparing with SS in both protease inhibitors(PIs) and Integrase inhibitor(INSTIs), more than 90%. But worse consistency in Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NRTIs), only ranging from 61.25%-87.50%. The consistency of Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NNRTIs) between NGS and SS was around 85%. NGS shows the highest sensitivity of 91.3% at 5% threshold. The application of NGS technology in HIV-1 genotype resistance detection in different populations infected with HIV needs more documents and to be confirm further.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a refractory neurodegenerative disease characterized by the de-generation and loss of motor neurons, leading to death within five years of onset. There have been few effective treatments, making the development of robust therapies an urgent challenge. Genetic mutations have been identified as contributors to ALS, with mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which neutralizes the harmful reactive oxygen species superoxide, accounting for approximately 2% of all ALS cases. To counteract the toxic gain of function caused by SOD1 mutations, therapeutic strategies aimed at suppressing SOD1 gene expression have shown promise. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) is an arti-ficially synthesized short single-stranded DNA/RNA molecule that binds to target RNA to alter gene expression, representing a next-generation therapeutic approach. In 2023, tofersen became the first ASO drug approved by the FDA for ALS. Administered intrathecally, tofersen specifically binds to SOD1 mRNA, inhibiting the production of toxic SOD1 protein, thereby improving biomarkers of ALS. The long-term efficacy and safety of tofersen require further validation, and the development of more opti-mized treatment protocols is essential. A series of studies and therapeutic developments related to SOD1 mutations have advanced the understanding of ALS pathophysiology and significantly contributed to treatment strategies for central nervous system disorders. This review focuses on the overview of SOD1 mutations and the development process of tofersen, aiming to deepen the understanding of advancements in ALS research and discuss future challenges and directions for ASO therapy.

Wind power has emerged as a crucial substitute for conventional fossil fuels. The combination of advanced technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) and machine learning (ML) has given rise to a new generation of energy systems that are intelligent, reliable, and efficient. The wind en-ergy sector utilizes IoT devices to gather vital data, subsequently converting them into practical insights. The aforementioned information aids among others in the enhancement of wind turbine efficiency, precise anticipation of energy production, optimization of maintenance approaches, and detection of potential risks. In this context, the main goal of this work is to combine the IoT with ML in the wind energy sector by processing weather data acquired from sensors to forecast wind power generation. To this end, three different regression models are evaluated. The models under comparison include Linear Regression, Random Forest, and Lasso Regression, evaluated us-ing metrics such as coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R², mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). After examining a dataset from IoT devices that included weather data, the models provided substantial insights regarding their ca-pabilities and responses to preprocessing, as well as each model's reaction in terms of statistical performance deviation indicators. Ultimately, the preprocessing and the data analysis show that Random Forest regression is more suitable for weather condition datasets than the other two re-gression models. Both the advantages and shortcomings of the three regression models indicate that their integration with IoT devices will facilitate successful energy forecasting.

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent disease with a rapidly increasing incidence projected worldwide, affecting both industrialized and developing regions. Effective diabetes management requires precise therapeutic strategies, primarily through self-monitoring of blood glucose levels to achieve tight glycemic control, thereby mitigating the risk of severe complications. In recent years, there have been significant advancements in non-invasive techniques for measuring blood glucose using photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) as it shows great promise for the detection of glucose using the Infrared region (e.g. MIR & NIR) of light. A critical aspect of this method is the detection of the photoacoustic signal generated from blood glucose, which needs to be amplified through a photoacoustic resonator (PAR). In this work, an overview of various types of PARs used for noninvasive glucose sensing is reviewed, highlighting their operating principle, design requirements, limitations, and potential improvements needed to enhance the analysis of photoacoustic signals. This analysis will be helpful for the basic understanding and achieving the highly sensitive PAR required for noninvasive glucose monitoring.

This article delves into the psychological dimensions of peace as articulated in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient Indian scripture. Through its dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna, the Bhagavad-Gita presents profound insights into achieving inner peace, managing conflict, and fostering a peaceful society. The text aligns with contemporary psychological constructs such as self-realization, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and prosocial behavior. Additionally, it addresses how the teachings enhance social engagement and disengagement, as well as cognitive, affective, mental, and physical regulation. The Bhagavad- Gita's bidirectional question-answering approach motivates, reasoning, and rationality, decision- making and goal-directed behavior. This analysis demonstrates the relevance of these ancient principles in addressing modern psychological challenges, providing a holistic framework for understanding and cultivating peace. Ultimately, the treatise portrays peace as a reflection of safety, security, and social well-being, making its teachings profoundly relevant today.

Recommending products effectively based on historical transaction data and metadata is crucial for improving user satisfaction and increasing sales. This study presents a recommendation system evaluated using Mean Average Precision (MAP@12), leveraging a diverse dataset that includes apparel types, customer demographics, product descriptions, and images. Our approach integrates Mult-Recall methods and LightGBM Ranker, utilizing various recall strategies and advanced feature engineering techniques to enhance recommendation accuracy. By combining these advanced machine learning models and ensemble techniques, our proposed solution outperforms existing methods, providing a robust and efficient recommendation system tailored to diverse customer needs and product characteristics. This integrated approach not only addresses the challenges of data sparsity and cold start but also adapts to the dynamic nature of user preferences and market trends. The results demonstrate significant improvements in both recommendation precision and user satisfaction, highlighting the potential of our approach for real-world e-commerce applications.

Pre-trained language models (PLMs) have significantly advanced natural language processing (NLP), establishing the "pre-training + fine-tuning" paradigm as a cornerstone approach in the field. However, the vast size and computational demands of Transformer-based PLMs present challenges, particularly regarding storage efficiency and processing speed. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing a novel lightweight PLM optimized for accurately understanding domain-specific computer terminology. Our method involves a pipeline parallelism algorithm designed to accelerate training. It is paired with an innovative mixed compression strategy that combines pruning and knowledge distillation to effectively reduce the model size while preserving its performance. The model is further fine-tuned using a dataset that mixes source and target languages to enhance its versatility. Comprehensive experimental evaluations demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully achieves a balance between model efficiency and performance, offering a scalable solution for NLP tasks involving specialized terminology.

This numerical study investigates the impact of reaction temperature, molar ratio of CH4:CO2, and catalyst porosity (p) on H2 yield and H2 selectivity during biogas dry reforming over a Ni/Cr catalyst. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we conducted detailed simulations to elucidate the underlying reaction characteristics. Our findings reveal that increasing p significantly enhances H2 production and H2 selectivity, while simultaneously reducing CO selectivity. This effect is attributed to the improved mass transfer within the catalyst bed, leading to more efficient reactant conversion and product formation. Additionally, we observed a strong correlation between higher reaction temperatures and increased H2 yield and H2 selectivity, confirming the endothermic nature of the reforming process. By optimizing these operational parameters, our results suggest that Ni/Cr catalysts can be effectively employed for the sustainable production of H2 from biogas.

Metagenomic analysis of soil bacterial communities based on 16S rRNA reflects typical a community composition containing a low number of high abundance types and a very high number of low abundance types. Here, the formation of characteristic rank order functions of bacterial abundance is investigated by modelling the dynamics of soil bacterial communities assuming a succession of different bacterial populations that grow rapidly and decay more slowly. It was found that the characteristic shape of typical rank order functions is well reflected by the simulations. In addition, the model allowed to investigating strong disturbances of the soil, which could be expected in case of strongly changing local environmental conditions in the soil, e.g. by translocation and covering of soil material. Such events could lead to the formation of shoulders in the rank order functions. Abundance rank orders observed in case of some archaeological soil samples do indeed show such a shoulder and could be well interpreted by simulated rank order functions. As a result, it can be concluded that the investigations support the hypothesis, that abundance rank orders contain information about the temporal order of developing bacterial types in changing communities and thus store information about local environmental conditions in the past, including ancient human impacts on soil.

In the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have increasingly been applied to manufacturing, particularly additive manufacturing (AM), to enhance processes and production. This study provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art achievements in this domain, highlighting not only the widely discussed supervised learning but also the emerging applications of semi-supervised learning and reinforcement learning (RL). These advanced ML techniques have recently garnered significant attention due to their potential to further optimize and automate AM processes. The review aims to offer insights into various ML technologies employed in current research projects and to promote the diverse applications of ML in AM. By exploring the latest advancements and trends, this study seeks to foster a deeper understanding of ML’s transformative role in AM, paving the way for future innovations and improvements in manufacturing practices.

Lower urinary tract infections (L-UTIs) represent a significant clinical concern, particularly in outpatient follow-up settings within internal medicine and infectious disease practices. L-UTIs have been shown to correlate with elevated glycate-haemoglobin levels in patients with diabetes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this population. We hypothesized that the incidence of L-UTIs could be reduced through a prophylactic regimen combining probiotics and rifaximin, both known for their potential benefits in maintaining gut health and controlling bacterial overgrowth. In a retrospective cohort study involving 350 patients, including 155 individuals with diabetes (Group A) and 195 without diabetes serving as a control group (Group B), we evaluated the effectiveness of prophylaxis strategy. Over an 18-month follow-up period, we observed that the use of rifaximin combined with a multi-strain probiotic was associated with a statistically significant reduction in L-UTI episodes in both groups. Notably, this reduction was more pronounced in diabetic patients (Group A), suggesting that this population may benefit more from the prophylaxis regimen due to their higher baseline risk of infection. These findings support the potential efficacy of rifaximin and probiotics as a preventive strategy against L-UTIs, particularly in diabetic patients who are more susceptible to these infections. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to refine this approach, but these initial results indicate a promising avenue for reducing L-UTI burden in at-risk populations.

This paper explores the critical role of biomathematics in cancer research, focusing on how mathematical models enhance our understanding of tumor growth and optimize treatment strategies. It begins with an overview of cancer biology, highlighting the complexities of tumor dynamics and the molecular mechanisms driving growth. The paper then delves into various mathematical modeling approaches, including deterministic, stochastic, and agent-based models, illustrating their applications in predicting tumor behavior and treatment responses. Case studies demonstrate the real-world impact of these models on optimizing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Challenges such as data availability, model complexity, and clinical translation are discussed, alongside future directions in the field, including advances in computational power and personalized medicine. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the transformative potential of biomathematics in improving cancer treatment outcomes and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing the field.

Over the last few years there has been much effort put into the development and validation of stochastic models of the trajectories of swarming insects. These models typically assume that the positions and velocities of swarming insects can be represented by continuous jointly Markovian processes. These models are first-order autoregressive processes. In more sophisticated models, second-order autoregressive processes the positions, velocities and accelerations of swarming insects are collectively Markovian. Although it is mathematically conceivable that this hierarchy of stochastic models could be extended to higher orders, here I show that such a procedure would not be well-based biologically because some terms in these models represent processes that have the potential destabilize insect flight dynamics. This prediction is supported by an analysis of pre-existing data for laboratory swarms of the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius. I suggest that the Reynolds number is a finely tuned property of swarming, as swarms may disintegrate at both sufficiently low and sufficiently high Reynolds numbers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intradialytic concurrent (resistance-endurance) training combined with melatonin (MEL) supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Thirty-two hemodialysis (HD) patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Exercise (EX)-MEL, EX-Placebo (PLA), and Control (C)-PLA. Participants in the EX-MEL and EX-PLA groups underwent 12 weeks of concurrent training. Before nocturnal sleep, they ingested either 3 mg of MEL (EX-MEL) or a placebo (EX-PLA and C-PLA). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention to assess lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant biomarkers [ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol (THIOL)], total bilirubin (TBIL), uric acid (UA), biomarkers of muscle and liver damage [aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Gamma-glutamyltransferase (Gamma-GT)], and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Results: EX-MEL demonstrated a decrease of MDA (p

Biomimicry, though still emerging within the social sciences, offers promising insights for improving food security by drawing analogies from natural ecosystems and re-exploring traditional ecological knowledge. This paper argues that adopting nature-inspired strategies in urban agriculture can significantly enhance resilience against geoeconomic pressures, logistical disruptions, and disasters. As geopolitical tensions intensify, exacerbated by climate change, pandemics, and urbanization, the strategic use of food power is likely to become increasingly relevant, particularly impacting urban areas due to their high dependence on external food supplies. Urban agroecology, which inherently embodies biomimetic principles, is presented as a viable pillar for building more resilient and self-sustaining food systems. The paper explores how an urban agriculture approach grounded in biomimicry can serve as a critical mechanism for food security, especially in urbanized regions vulnerable to potential food power dynamics. Additionally, it examines current methods by which states and cities prepare for food supply challenges and highlights the untapped potential of urban food production as a strategic response to these vulnerabilities.

The position accuracy of polishing tool affects the surface quality of the polished aspheric surface. The contact deformation among the polishing tool, abrasives and aspheric part can cause a displacement, in turn will cause a position error of polishing tool, this will lead to a significant change of the polishing force. In order to resolve this error, this paper proposed a method of normal displacement compensation for NC polishing system by controlling the polishing force. Firstly, the coupling principle between polishing force and position of polishing tool are expounded, the relationship between normal displacement and deformation is analyzed, based on Hertz theory, a model of normal displacement is established. Then, on the basis of decoupled polishing system developed, a normal displacement compensation method was proposed. Finally, a group of comparative experiments was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared with no displacement compensation, when the part was polished with normal displacement compensation method, the value of roughness decreases from 0.4µm to 0.21µm, and the unevenness coefficients of surface roughness decreases from 112.5% to 19%. The experimental results show that the polishing quality is improved greatly and the aspheric surfaces can be polished more uniformly with method proposed in this paper.

Haug and Tatum [1, 2] have recently outlined a possible path to solving the Hubbletension within Rh = ct cosmology models using a trial-and-error algorithm for redshift scaling, 1 specifically z = (R_h/R_t) − 1 and z = (R_h/R_t)^{1/2}-1 . Their algorithm demonstrates that one canstart with the measured CMB temperature and a rough estimate of H_0. Based on this approach, they nearly perfectly match the entire distance ladder of observed supernovae by identifying a single value for H_0. However, their solution is based on a simple numerical search procedure, which, although it can be completed in a fraction of a second on a standard computer, is not a formal mathematical proof for resolving the Hubble tension.Here, we will demonstrate that the trial-and-error numerical method is not necessary and that the Hubble tension can be resolved using the same Haug and Tatum type R_h = ct model through a closed-form mathematical solution. Furthermore, we will prove that this solution is valid for a much more general case of any cosmological redshift scaling consistent with: z = (R)h/R)t)^x − 1. Haug and Tatum have only considered the most common assumptions of x = 1 and x = 1/2 .Our solution involves simply solving an equation to determine the correct value of H0. This is possible because an exact mathematical relation between H_0 and the CMB temperature has recently been established, in combination with the linearity in an R_h = ct model. We also demonstrate that a thermodynamic form of the Friedmann equation is consistent with a wide range of redshift scalings, namely: z = (R_h/R_t)^x − 1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasm in the world and the second with the highest mortality rate. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes (mirSNPs) may be related to dysregulated miRNA expression in several neoplasms. This systematic review aims to investigate studies that investigate SNPs located in regions of miRNA genes that influence their expression and are associated with CRC, as well as their potential as biomarkers for the disease, based on the available literature. For this, searches were performed in public databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. The rigorous review of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the methodological quality of the studies were assessed sing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool. Of the 175 studies identified, 26 were considered eligible: 18 of them highlighted mirSNPs as potential biomarkers of risk and prognosis for CRC; 4 studies suggested a protective role; 1 study linked mirSNPs to treatment; and 3 studies found no relevant evidence. These results highlight the need for further research on this topic, since these variants have the potential to serve as biomarkers and may be useful in assessing risk, prognosis, and developing therapeutic strategies for patients with CRC.

Resistant no-reflow can be difficult to treat. Unfortunately, persistent no-reflow can increase cardiac adverse events. It can be very difficult to treat. Intracoronary injections of any vasoactive substances into the proximal coronaries cannot efficiently infuse the distal coronary bed. In this case, we report distal administration of very high doses of Adenosine in a native coronary artery for a severe life-threatening resistant no-reflow. Using an export catheter, we could reverse this complication within seconds. This case elaborates on the importance of giving high doses of vasoactive drugs as distal as possible in the coronary arteries for resistant no-reflow using an export catheter.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Being able to identify reliable biomarkers in easily available body fluids such as blood plasma is vital for the disease. To achieve this, we used a technique that applied human plasma to organotypic brain slice culture via microcontact print-ing. After a 2-week culture period, we performed immunolabeling for neurofilament and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) to visualize newly formed nerve fibers and oligodendro-cytes. There was no significant change in the number of new nerve fibers in the AD plasma group compared to the healthy control group, while the length of the produced fibers significantly de-creased. A significant increase in the number of MOG+ dots around these new fibers was detected in the patient group. According to our hypothesis, there are factors in the plasma of AD patients that affect the growth of new nerve fibers, which also affect the oligodendrocytes. Based on these findings, we selected the most promising plasma samples and conducted mass spectrometry us-ing a differential approach and we identified 3 putative biomarkers: aldehyde-dehydrogenase 1A1, alpha-synuclein and protein S100-A4. Our method represents a novel and innovative ap-proach to translate research findings from mouse models to human applications.

This study aimed to compare the effects of adding fermented feed to daily feed on slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds of cage chickens. Control group (CK) of the Guangxi Partridge chicken received a standard base diet (CK), pellets added with 10% fermented banana peel (Pe-10), 20% fermented banana peel (Pe-20), 10% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-10) and 20% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-20). The slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chicken in these groups were evaluated. The results showed that the chicken in Pe-10, Pe-20, Pu-10, and Pu-20 had pectoral muscle percentages, thigh muscle percentages, and total fatty acids content of chest meat higher than CK. The moisture content, meat color, carcass weight, total net weight, and abdominal fat percentages of the meat samples in these experimental groups were not remarkably different. The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chicken fed with the two concentrations of fermented banana peel and banana residue were significantly different from those in the control group. When the amount of fermented banana peel added to the daily feed increased from 10% to 20%, the flavor compounds in the chicken samples changed significantly. In conclusion, different proportions of fermented banana peels and dregs in diets can improve slaughter performance and chicken quality and affect its flavors.

The aims of the study were to analyze the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and arterial stiffness and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in individuals aged over 65, overall and by sex. Subjects were people over 65 years of age with a full record of all variables analyzed from the EVA, MARK and EVIDENT studies. Data from 1,280 subjects with a mean age of 69.52±3.58 years (57.5% men) were analyzed. MD was recorded with the validated 14-item MEDAS questionnaire used in the PREDIMED study. MetS was defined following the guidelines of the joint scientific statement from the Programa Nacional de Educación sobre el Colesterol III. Arterial stiffness was assessed with the VaSera VS-1500® device by measuring the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: The mean MEDAS score was 6.00 ± 1.90, (5.92 ± 1.92 in men, 6.11 ± 1.88 in women; p = 0.036). The mean CAVI value was 9.30 ± 1.11 (9.49 ± 1.05 men, 9.03 ± 1.13 women; p = &lt;0.001). The mean baPWV value was 15.82 ± 2.56 (15.75 ± 2.46 men, 15.92 ± 2.68 women; p = &lt;0.001). MetS was found in 51% (49% men, 54% women; p = 0.036). Subjects with MetS had lower MD adherence and higher arterial stiffness values than subjects without MetS. Overall, we found a negative association of MD score with the number of MetS components (β = -0.168), with glycemia (β = -0.007), triglycerides (β = -0.003), waist circumference (β = -0.018), CAVI (β = -0.196) and baPWV (β = -0.065), and a positive association with HDL cholesterol (β = 0.013). By sex, associations followed the same direction but without reaching statistical significance with blood glucose and triglycerides in women and with HDL cholesterol and waist circumference in men. Conclusion: Results indicate that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreases arterial stiffness and the percentage of subjects with MetS, although results differed in the association with MetS components by sex.

Background/Objectives: Informed consent for anesthesia poses both legal challenges and problems of understandable communication. Fulfilling all requirements through anesthesiologists directly interacting with patients is a time- and staff-consuming strategy. Given today's smart technologies, notably including virtual reality (VR), we explored in a prospective randomized study whether 'VR-assisted informed consent' could improve this situation. Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery were randomized. In the control group, informed consent was obtained via patient-specialist dialogs only. The patients in the study group, wearing a head-mount display, watched an 8-minute immersive 3D movie with standard explanations of general anesthesia, followed by a patient-specialist dialog to address open question. The time spent on the dialogs in both groups was evaluated as primary outcome variable. As secondary variables, we analyzed both a three-item Likert scale on patient satisfaction with the VR experience and cost differences between both groups. Results: Patient-specialist dialogs were carried on for median (IQR) durations of 93 (20–182) seconds in the study group versus 665 (261–829) seconds in the control group (P&lt;0.001). All patients exposed to VR rated this experience as favorable (87.5%) or neutral (12.5%). Based on anesthesiologists' incomes in the US and UK, our approach would reduce the staff expenditure for each patient-specialist dialog by median amounts of ≈40 or ≈11 US dollars, respectively (2× P&lt;0.001). Conclusions: 'VR-assisted informed consent' for anesthesia is well accepted by patients and reduces the time requirements for patient-specialist dialogs, thus pointing out a potential avenue towards increasing the work-time efficiency of anesthesiologists.

Probiotics, as defined by the World Health Organization, are live microorganisms that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits to the host. Although some countries have approved specific probiotic species for use in food, safety concerns may still arise with individual strains. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101), isolated from the gut of healthy infants, has demonstrated various probiotic effects and shown safety in prior 28-day animal feeding study. To further verify its safety and mitigate potential risks, we performed a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic safety evaluation in accordance with European Food Safety Authority guidelines for safety assessment through whole genome sequencing and related literature. In this research, minimum inhibitory concentration testing identified NTU 101's resistance to chloramphenicol; however, subsequent gene analysis confirmed no associated risk of resistance. Assessments of safety, including biogenic amine content, hemolytic activity, mucin degradation, and D-lactic acid production, indicated a low level of risk. Additionally, a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats revealed no toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, further supporting the strain's safety for consumption. Based on these comprehensive analyses, NTU 101 is considered safe for regular consumption as a health supplement.

In Morocco, cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women and the third in terms of mortality. The Moroccan Health Ministry introduced the Human Papillomavirus vaccine to the national immunization program in October 2022.The study aims to evaluate the knowledge, the satisfaction level, and acceptability of HPV infection and vaccine among Moroccan medical students. We conducted a cross-sectional study from September 2021 to July 2022 among medical students above 5th year across the nine Moroccan medical universities. We shared our questionnaire through Google Forms. The descriptive data analysis was made through Google Forms and excel, and the analytic analysis was made using GraphPad Prism 8.0. We collected 636 answers. The mean age was 24.2 +/- 1.4 years old with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.5. 3.3% (N=21) were vaccinated against HPV. The HPV infection knowledge mean score was 6.3 +/- 2 /11 (57.2% of good answers) and the vaccine knowledge mean score was 2.0 +/- 1,1 /5 (40% of good answers), with a training satisfaction rate of 7.3 +/- 2.6 /20 (36.5%). 85.8% of the participants (N= 546) were in favor of including the vaccine to the national immunization program. In conclusion, overall Moroccan medical students have an average knowledge of HPV infection and vaccine. The gap in HPV training should be filled especially in the era of the vaccine introduction. The majority of the students agree to make the vaccine mandatory, with superior rates than the other studies.

Background and Objectives: Zonulin (Zo) is a molecule that has been identified as an intestinal permeability marker in recent years. It has been previously linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, but its role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Zo and systemic inflammation (SI), endothelial dysfunction (ED), and especially renal functions, in patients with CKD. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-three participants were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups (patient and control), according to the presence of CKD. Results: A total of 104 patients with CKD (mean age: 58.9 ±1.4) and 59 control subjects (mean age: 59.0 ±1.1) were included, with similar age (p = 0.934) and gender (p = 0.196) between the groups. In the comparison analysis, plasma Zo levels in the CKD group (166.16 ± 53.54) were significantly higher than those in the control group (143.30 ± 60.92) (p < 0.001). In the correlation analysis, the serum Zo level showed a positive correlation with claudin-3 (r = 0.612, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.307, p < 0.001), and creatinine (r = 0.313, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (r = -0.320, p < 0.001) and TC (r = -0.074, p = 0.047). Additionally, according to a linear regression analysis, the Zo level was significantly associated with GFR after adjusting for age and SBP (β value = -0.918, p = 0.012). Conclusion: High serum Zo levels in patients with CKD reflected increased intestinal permeability and were associated with impaired renal function. Moreover, it was thought that Zo level could be associated with SI, but novel clinical studies are needed to elucidate its relationship with ED.

During the last few years, the world witnessed one of the worst calamities affecting humankind- the COVID-19 pandemic. We also witnessed the development of vaccines at an unprecedented pace against the SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent. India, which was one of the countries most impacted by COVID-19, developed its indigenous vaccine in addition to utilizing the ones developed by other countries. Initially, the antibody level and the neutralizing antibody titer against the pathogen were considered as the correlates of immune protection from the disease. The long-term protection from the pathogen is provided by the immune memory cells viz. T and B memory cells and their ability of efficient recall responses. In this regard, global research focused mainly on the mRNA-based vaccines. The studies on immune memory response, particularly- the B cell memory response bestowed by the vaccines given to Indians is relatively obscure. In this work, we examined the level of RBD specific memory B cells in the peripheral circulation of the study participants and the ability of B cells to secrete antigen-specific antibodies among Indians vaccinated with Covaxin (BBV152), Covishield (AZD1222), Corbevax (BECOV2D) and Sputnik Light as well as unvaccinated individuals. Our study revealed that Corbevax and Sputnik Light conferred better antibody-secreting cell (ASC) responses.

Recent US Congressional hearings on UAPs have made the study of exotic propulsion systems a matter of serious academic study and indeed, military necessity. This speculative paper looks at the possibility that microscopic sources could produce gravitational radiation with minimal energy requirements, whilst trapping the electromagnetic radiation stress-energy from being emitted. It may be possible to form an array of these micro-emitters of sufficient strength, acting with collective phenomenon, to allow non-linearities and the formation of soliton waves suitable for a putative warp field. Interestingly we find no need for exotic matter or negative energy. Moving onto the Alcubierre metric we ponder if the field could actually be made to travel superluminally by a repetitive stepped process of, expanding space just ahead of the craft initially to speed-up the propagation of the field, via the Shapiro Delay, so that a second field propagates that contracts space aggressively; the net effect being space contracting ahead of the craft faster than light.

Cancer-derived extracellular exosomes (EXs) promote tumor metastasis. This study investigates novel EXs influencing tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in gynecologic cancer. Data from ES2-derived EXs on aggressive ES2 cells and ascites-derived mesenchymal-type ovarian carcinoma stromal progenitor cells (MSC-OCSPCs) were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and integrated with TCGA survival analysis. Two novel EXs, UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2, were identified in more aggressive ES2-derivatives and MSC-OCSPCs cells, but not in less aggressive SKOV3 cells. High UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2 expression in EOC tissues was associated with advanced-stage carcinoma (p&lt;0.01) and shorter overall survival (p&lt;0.01). Besides, high HIST2H3PS2 expression in endometrial cancer (EC) tissues was also associated with shorter overall survival (p&lt;0.001) in all stages and advanced stages (p&lt;0.0001). In vitro, SKOV3 cells overexpressing UBE2NL or HIST2H3PS2 exhibited significantly greater invasion ability than controls (p&lt;0.001), further enhanced by their respective EXs (p&lt;0.001). In contrast, ES2 knockdown UBE2NL reduced invasion ability than ES2 cells (p&lt;0.001). In vivo, mice injected with ES2/shUBE2NL cells had a higher survival rate (p&lt;0.001) and fewer disseminated tumors (p&lt;0.05); in contrast, those injected with SKOV3/HIST2H3PS2 cells showed greater tumor dissemination (p&lt;0.01) and more severe ascites (p&lt;0.05) than controls. Tumor dissemination increased in mice receiving SKOV3/HIST2H3PS2 cells with EXs than those controls (p&lt;0.05). These findings suggest that UBE2NL and HIST2H3PS2 expression and EXs contribute to tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in gynecologic cancer.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infection poses a serious yet underaddressed public health challenge in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The epidemiology of DENV in Ghana is not well understood despite heightened risks due to suitable climatic conditions and the presence of competent vectors. Aim: We aimed to systematically review studies reporting dengue virus seroprevalence in Ghana and pool estimates through meta-analysis. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed to search the literature using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to September 24, 2024. Studies presenting primary DENV seroprevalence data among Ghanaian populations were included. Quality was assessed using JBI tools. Meta-analyses estimated pooled prevalence with 95% CIs using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistic. Results: A total of 9 studies met the selection criteria, with 8 studies involving febrile patients and 1 involving blood donors. The pooled seroprevalence rates were 33% (95% CI: 16–50%) for IgG, 6% (95% CI: 0–12%) for IgM, 2% (95% CI: 0–3%) for DENV RNA, and 32% (95% CI: 0–68%) for IgG/IgM combined. Notably, the IgG seroprevalence exhibited substantial heterogeneity (I2=99%). DENV-2 and DENV-3 were the predominant serotypes identified. Conclusion: This review established the prevalence and circulation of DENV in serogroups in Ghana. Higher seropositivity and heterogeneity underscore the need for standardized large-scale surveillance to optimize disease characterization and guide control. Integrating dengue preven-tion into existing vector control programs could help reduce risks in Ghana.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a small, consisting of 104 residues, protein, which under physiological conditions exists mainly in hexameric form. It belongs to the positive acute-phase proteins, which means that its plasma concentration increases rapidly in response to injury, inflammation, and infection. The accumulation of SAA molecules promotes the formation of amyloid aggregates, which deposit extracellularly in many organs, causing their dysfunction. In our previous work, we successfully designed a peptidomimetic that inhibited the aggregation of amyloidogenic SAA fragments. In the present paper, we show how the same inhibitor, named saa3Dip, affects oligomerization and aggregation processes of MetSAA1.1 protein. The Thioflavin T assay showed that saa3Dip inhibits its fibrillization. The measurement of the internal fluorophore fluorescence (Trp) showed differences that occur in the tertiary structure of MetSAA1.1 in the presence of the inhibitor, which was also confirmed by CD spectra in the aromatic range. FTIR results suggested that saa3Dip can stabilize some fragments of the native structure of MetSAA1.1, which was confirmed by determining the melting temperature (Tm) of the protein-inhibitor complex. AFM images demonstrated that the presence of saa3Dip prevents the formation of large SAA aggregates. Our results suggest that saa3Dip stabilizes the native conformation of MetSAA1.1.

This paper aims to propose a novel SOS traffic and study its impact over Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Human-to-Human (H2H) traffic in Internet of Things environments specifically during disaster events. During such events (e.g., the spread COVID-19), SOS traffic, with its predicted exponential increase, will significantly influence all mobile networks. SOS traffic tends to cause many congestion overload problems that significantly affects the performance of M2M and H2H traffic. In our project, we developed a new Continuous-Time Markov Chains (CTMC) model to analyze and measure radio access performance in terms of massive SOS traffic that influences M2M and H2H traffic. Afterwards, we validate the proposed CTMC model through extensive Monte-Carlo simulations. By analyzing the traffic during an emergency case, we can spot a huge impact over the three traffic M2M, H2H, and SOS traffic. To solve the congestion problem while keeping the SOS traffic without any influence, we propose to grant the SOS traffic the highest priority over M2M and H2H traffic. However, by implementing this solution in different proposed scenarios, the system becomes able to serve all SOS requests, while only 20% of M2M and H2H traffic could be served in the worst-case scenario. Consequently, we can alleviate the expected shortage of SOS requests during critical events, which might save many humans and rescue them from being isolated.

As traditional cultural heritage education gradually reduces students' exposure to the physical environment, it is more difficult to stimulate students' awareness of and interest in local culture. The concepts of cultural preservation and sustainable development have not yet been effectively integrated into teaching. Therefore, this study developed an alternative reality game (ARG) combined with a learning scaffold to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the history and cultural heritage of Taiwan during the Japanese rule period through an immersive learning experience, and to explore and solve real-world problems in an interactive environment, which helped students understand the concepts of cultural preservation and sustainable development. The results of the study showed that the experimental group of students using the ARG integrated learning scaffold significantly outperformed the control group in terms of learning effectiveness and engagement. Students in the experimental group not only had a deeper understanding of the curriculum content, but also showed higher behavioral and emotional engagement. In addition, students' awareness of cultural preservation and sustainable development increased, which indicates that the materials developed in this study are effective in promoting their deeper understanding of local educational development and cultural identity. This study confirms that the combination of innovative technology and gamified instruction not only enhances students' learning effectiveness, but also promotes their understanding of cultural heritage. Future research should further optimize the use of technology to reduce the impact of operational difficulties on students' learning experience and explore how alternative reality game (ARG) technology can be used in more subject areas.

Background: IBD is a highly infectious disease of chickens found in all latitudes, due to the very high IBDV resistance to environmental conditions and commonly used disinfectants. Methods: The study was conducted to evaluate 3 IBD vaccination protocols in broiler chickens, in terms of their effectiveness (clinical observations and production performance of the flock), estimation of serological baseline values (with the use of two different commercial ELISA kits), and the degree of progression of BF lesions (histopathological lesion score - HLS) after vaccination with: (I) single vaccination using intermediate plus vaccine; (II) double vaccination with intermediate vaccine; (III) double vaccination with intermediate plus vaccine. Results: Birds on farms vaccinated with protocol II were characterized by the lowest antibody titers in both ELISA tests, and the lowest average HLS. Highest IDEXX titers were obtained in birds vaccinated with protocol III, while in the BIOCHEK test the highest titers were obtained for birds vaccinated with protocol I. Protocols I and III were characterized by similar HLS. Birds vaccinated with protocols I and III had higher immune uniformity. Conclusions: The estimated serological baseline values and the degree of HLS presents a clear picture of differences between different vaccination protocols and allows their adaptation for different farms depending on the current IBD epidemiological situation.

A novel nanomaterial was synthesized using natural ilmenite sand via a simple precipitation method, and its ability to remove dyes in wastewater was evaluated using methylene blue (MB). The nanomaterial was synthesized by neutralizing the acid leachate obtained by Ilmenite sand digestion, followed by drying at 180 °C. It was characterized by X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area analyzer. Synthesized nanoparticles are a composite of Fe3O4/Fe2TiO5/TiO2 with a surface area of 292.18 m2/g pore size distribution with an average pore size of 1.53 nm and pore volume of 0.202 cc/g. The maximum adsorption capacity of 24.573 mg/g was obtained at pH 10 for 10 mg of the nanomaterial used with 10 mg/L MB. Dye concentration was varied in the range of 10-25 mg/L with 5 mg/L increment where equilibrium adsorption capacities of 24.573, 31.012, 41.443, and 52.259 mg/g were obtained with 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/L, respectively. The adsorbent dosage varied as 10, 25, 45, 65, and 100 mg, and the highest adsorbent capacity of 24.573 mg/g was obtained with 10 mg of the adsorbent and 10 mg/L MB. Adsorption of MB followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with an adsorption capacity of 24.863 mg/g. The intraparticle diffusion model revealed that the MB adsorb in three different stages, and corresponding intra-particle diffusion constants of 1.50, 2.71, 3.38, and 4.41 g/mg min1/2 were calculated with the above dye concentrations. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamics parameters ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS were calculated to be -27.5521 kJ/mol at 298 K, 2.571 kJ/mol, and 0.101 kJ/mol, respectively, in the experiments carried out varying the temperature. Regeneration studies of the adsorbent were carried out for five cycles, indicating some activity loss after each cycle.

Background/Objectives: Bovine babesiosis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by ticks that causes important losses in livestock worldwide. Recent research performed on the drugs currently used to control bovine babesiosis reported several issues including drug resistance, toxicity impact, and residues in edible tissue, suggesting the need for developing novel effective therapies. The endochin-like quinolones ELQ-316 and buparvaquone (BPQ) act as cytochrome bc1 inhibitors and have been proven to be safe and efficacious against related apicomplexans, such as Plasmodium spp. and Babesia microti, without showing toxicity in mammals. The objectives of this study are investigating whether ELQ-316, BPQ and their combination treatment could be effective against Babesia bovis in an in vitro culture model, and comparing with imidocarb (ID), the routinely used drug. Methods: In vitro cultured parasites at starting 2% percentage of parasitemia (PPE) were treated with BPQ, ELQ-316, ID, and the combinations of BPQ+ ELQ-316 and ID+ ELQ-316 at drug concentrations that ranged from 25 to 1200 nM, during four consecutive days. Parasitemia levels were evaluated daily using microscopic examination. Data was compared using the independent Student's t-test and ANOVA test. Results: All drugs tested, whether used alone or in combination, significantly decreased the survival (p<0.05) of B. bovis in in vitro cultures. The combination of BPQ+ ELQ-316 had the lowest calculated inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) 31.21 nM (IC95%: 15.06 - 68.48) values, followed by BPQ, 77.06 nM (IC95%: 70.16- 86.01), ID+ELQ316 197 nM (IC95%:129.0 - 311.2), ID 635.1 nM (IC95%: 280.9 – 2119) and ELQ316 654.9 nM (IC95%: 362.3 – 1411). Conclusion: The results reinforce the higher efficacy of BPQ at affecting B. bovis survival, and the potential synergistic effects of its combination with ELQ-316, providing a promising treatment option against B. bovis.

In this paper, we focus on the influence of Riemann space-time curvature on the laws of electromagnetism, such as Gauss’s law, Maxwell-Amp´ere’s law, and Faraday’s law. Furthermore, we also introduce the work done on the unification of the gravitation and electromagnetic fields.

Delirium and agitation are common and challenging issues in the intensive care unit (ICU), leading to longer hospital length of stay, prolonged need of mechanical ventilation, and higher costs. These conditions also increase the risk of complications and mortality. In the ICU setting it is common to observe an inappropriate use of sedatives and antipsychotics to manage agitation without an accurate diagnosis. Although the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) has improved the reliability, accuracy, and specificity of delirium diagnosis, it is important to consider that delirium may be a symptom caused by a variety of diseases and medical conditions like sepsis rather than just a neurological problem. Antipsychotics, such as quetiapine, are often used in the ICU to manage these symptoms effectively. Quetiapine is a particularly valuable therapeutic option because of its capability to reduce agitation and delirium without significantly affecting the respiratory function, making it a safer choice for critically ill patients. This review explores quetiapine’s pharmacodynamics, side effects, efficacy, and recently described uses in the ICU. A comprehensive search was conducted across six major databases, and articles were assessed based on their relevance and quality. Our findings aim to provide a clear understanding of the application of quetiapine and its potential value in critical care settings.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting agricultural productivity. This research investigated the impact of mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), bacteria (PGPR), and their combination on pepper plants under salt stress (200 mM NaCl). Conducted in a controlled climate chamber, the study assessed plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, leaf weight, shoot fresh and dry weights, SPAD values, leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential, and mineral concentrations (Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn). AMF application significantly increased plant height (39.50 cm) compared to PGPR (37.75 cm) and the control (37.25 cm). While salt stress reduced plant height by 34.90%, AMF and PGPR mitigated these effects, with AMF improving height by 21.65% under saline conditions. AMF and PGPR positively influenced plant diameter, leaf number, and fresh weight. Physiological measurements, including SPAD values, RWC, and osmotic potential, showed that AMF+PGPR applications were most effective in increasing RWC. Nutrient analysis revealed reduced calcium and magnesium levels due to salt stress. In conclusion, AMF and PGPR enhanced pepper plants' growth and physiological responses under salt stress, indicating their potential to improve agricultural practices in saline environments.

Paroxysmal explosive activity at Etna volcano (Italy) became very common during the last three decades, rising concern on the civil protection authorities because of its tremendous impact on the local population, infrastructures, viability and air traffic. Between 4 July and 15 August 2024, during the peak of the touristic season when the local population doubles, Etna volcano gave rise to a sequence of six paroxysmal explosive events from the summit crater named Voragine. This is the oldest and largest of the four Etna’s summit craters and normally displays just degassing, with the previous explosive sequences occurred in December 2015 and May 2016. In this paper, we use thermal images recorded by the monitoring system maintained by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Etneo (INGV–OE) and an automatic routine previously tested in order to automatically define the starting and ending time of each episode, the duration, total volume of erupted fluids (gas plus pyroclastic material), erupted volume of pyroclastic material, time-averaged discharge rate (TADR), and height (maximum and average) of the lava fountains. These data allowed us to infer the eruptive processes and gain some insights on the evolution of the explosive sequences useful for hazard assessment.

In the dynamic and evolving tourism industry, engaging of stakeholders is essential for fostering innovation and improving service quality. However, tourism companies often struggle to meet expectations for customer satisfaction through interactivity and real-time feedback. While new digital technologies can address the challenge of providing personalized travel experiences, they can also increase the workload for travel agencies due to the maintenance and updates required to keep travel details current. Intelligent chatbots and other Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools can help mitigate these obstacles by transforming tourism and travel-related services, offering interactive guidance for both tourism companies and travellers. In this study, we explore and compare the main characteristics of existing responsive AI instruments, applicable in tourism and hospitality scenarios. Then, we propose a new theoretical framework for decision-making in the tourism industry, integrating GAI technologies to enable agencies to create and manage itineraries, and tourists to interact online with these innovative instruments. The advantages of the proposed framework are as follows: 1) providing a comprehensive understanding of the transformative potential of new generation AI tools in tourism and facilitates their effective implementation; 2) offering a holistic methodology to enhance the tourist experience; 3) unifying the applications of contemporary AI instruments in tourism activities and paves their further development. The study contributes to the expanding literature on tourism modernization and offers recommendations for industry practitioners, consumers, and local, regional, and national tourism bodies to adopt a more user-centric approach to enhancing travel services.

This paper examines the control challenges faced by underactuated Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) under ocean current disturbances. It proposes a Backstepping Integral Sliding Mode Control (BISMC) strategy to enhance their adaptability and robustness. The BISMC strategy integrates the system decomposition capability of the Backstepping Control method with the rapid response and robustness advantages of the Sliding Mode Control method, enabling the design of a heading controller and a double closed-loop depth controller. By introducing an integral component, the strategy eliminates steady-state errors caused by ocean currents, accelerating system convergence and improving accuracy. Furthermore, a saturation function is employed to mitigate output chattering issues. Simulation results demonstrate that the BISMC controller significantly enhances the control precision and anti-disturbance capabilities of AUVs under low-frequency ocean current disturbances, showcasing exceptional adaptive and self-disturbance rejection performance.

The transformative influence of digital engineering on photonic technologies is significant, es-pecially regarding advancements in laser processing through digital models, artificial intelli-gence (AI), and freeform optics. It presents a comprehensive review of how these technologies enhance efficiency, precision, and control in manufacturing processes. Digital models are pivotal for predicting and optimizing thermal effects in laser processing, thereby reducing material de-formation and defects. The integration of AI further refines these models, improving productiv-ity and quality in applications such as micro-machining and cladding. Additionally, the combi-nation of AI with freeform optics advances laser technology by enabling real-time adjustments and customizable beam profiles, which enhance processing versatility and reduce material damage. The use of digital twins is also examined as a key development in laser-based manu-facturing, offering significant improvements in process optimization, defect reduction, and sys-tem efficiency. By incorporating real-time monitoring, machine learning, and physics-based modeling, digital twins facilitate precise simulations and predictions, leading to more effective and reliable manufacturing practices. Overall, the integration of digital twins, AI, and freeform optics into laser processing marks a significant progression in manufacturing technology. These advancements collectively enhance precision, efficiency, and adaptability, resulting in improved product quality and reduced operational costs. The continued evolution of these technologies is expected to drive further advancements in manufacturing practices, offering more robust solu-tions for complex production environments.

Amidst the ongoing global challenge of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the quest for effective antiviral medications remains paramount. This comprehensive review delves into the dynamic landscape of FDA-approved medications repurposed for COVID-19, categorized as antiviral and non-antiviral agents. Our focus extends beyond conventional narratives, encompassing vaccination targets, repurposing efficacy, clinical studies, innovative treatment modalities, and future outlooks. Unveiling the genomic intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the WHO-designated Omicron variant, we explore diverse antiviral categories such as Fusion inhibitors, Protease inhibitors, Transcription inhibitors, Neuraminidase inhibitors, Nucleoside reverse transcriptase, and non-antiviral interventions like Importin α/β1-mediated nuclear import inhibitors, Neutralizing antibodies and convalescent plasma. Notably, Molnupiravir emerges as a pivotal player, now licensed in the UK. This review offers a fresh perspective on the historical evolution of COVID-19 therapeutics, from repurposing endeavors to the latest developments in oral anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatments, ushering in a new era of hope in the battle against the pandemic.

In this paper, we propose a mechanism analogous to the spontaneous symmetry breaking to explain quantum measurement. It is actually a supplement to the decoherence theory. We introduce the effective potential between eigenstates and show that a wave function in a superposition of several eigenstates reduces to a single eigenstate due to the spontaneous-symmetry-breaking-like kinetic effect.

The WFS1 gene was first identified in Wolfram Syndrome 1 (WS1), a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by severe and progressive neurodegenerative changes. WFS1's role in various cellular mechanisms, particularly in calcium homeostasis and the modulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and psychiatric sleep disorders. Because it is involved in maintaining ER balance, calcium signaling, and stress responses, WFS1 plays a multifaceted role in neuronal health. Numerous studies have shown that the absence or improper expression of WFS1 disrupts these cellular processes, leading to neurodegeneration and making neurons more vulnerable. In AD, WFS1 dysfunction is thought to contribute to the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles, thereby accelerating disease progression. Additionally, WFS1 plays an essential role in sleep regulation by influencing neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, which may explain the sleep disturbances frequently observed in neurodegenerative diseases. Due to its involvement in the pathological mechanisms of AD and sleep disorders, WFS1 is regarded as a potential early diagnostic marker for these diseases. Further research is required to fully elucidate WFS1’s role in the cellular pathway, perhaps facilitating the development of new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease and psychiatric sleep disorders.

The application of joint sensing and communications (JSACs) technology in air-ground networks, which include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offers unique opportunities for improving both sensing and communication performances. However, this type of networks are also sensitive to the peculiar characteristics of the aerial communications environment, which include shadowing and scattering caused by man-made structures. This paper investigates an aerial JSAC network and proposes a UAV-selection strategy that is shown to improve the communication performance. We first derive analytical expressions for the received signal-to-interference ratio for both communication and sensing functions. These expressions are then used to analyze the outage and coverage probability of the communication part, as well as the ergodic radar estimation information rate and the detection probability of the sensing part. Moreover, a performance trade-off is investigated under the assumption of a total bandwidth constraint. The presented results reveal the impact of shadowing severity and interference on the system’s performance.

Aim: This study aims to explore the collaborative networks in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) research by analyzing co-authorship patterns from 2000 to 2023. The objective is to identify key researchers, trends in collaboration, and the extent of interdisciplinary cooperation within the global MFS research community. Understanding these dynamics will inform the future direction of research in this field, emphasizing the need for a more integrated, interdisciplinary approach. Method: This study utilized network analysis techniques to evaluate 6,657 publications related to MFS research indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection between 2000 and 2023. The analysis was conducted using Python (Version 3.10.5) in the PyCharm development environment (Software Version 2022.1.3). The co-authorship networks were assessed using macro-level indicators such as network density (the ratio of actual to possible connections), clustering coefficient (degree of node clustering), number of components (distinct connected subgroups), and average path length (average distance between nodes). Micro-level indicators including degree centrality (importance based on the number of connections), closeness centrality (proximity to other nodes), and betweenness centrality (frequency of a node on the shortest paths between others) were also analyzed. Result: The network analysis revealed a persistent fragmentation within the MFS research community over the past two decades. While network density slightly increased from 0.0012 in the 2000–2009 period to 0.0016 in 2020–2023, the network remained disjointed with numerous disconnected components. Key contributors, such as Harry C. Dietz, Guillaume Jondeau, and Julie De Backer, demonstrated high centrality values, playing pivotal roles in shaping collaboration. The clustering coefficient remained high across all periods, indicating strong intra-group collaboration, yet underscoring the need for broader interdisciplinary partnerships.Conclusion: This study highlights the need for more integrated and cross-disciplinary collaboration in MFS research. Despite the significant contributions of central researchers, the overall fragmentation limits potential advancements. Fostering a more interconnected global network and encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation will be crucial to addressing the complex, multi-systemic nature of Marfan Syndrome and improving patient outcomes.

The vast majority of gecko species are capable of tail regeneration, but singular geckos of Correlophus, Uroplatus, and Nephrurus genera are unable to regrow lost tails. Of these non-regenerative geckos, the crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) is distinguished by ready availability, ease of care, high productivity, and hybridization potential. These features make C. ciliatus particularly suited as a model for studying the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying loss of tail regeneration capabilities. We report a contiguous genome of C. ciliatus with a total size of 1.65 Gb, a total of 152 scaffolds, L50 of 6, and N50 of 109 Mb. Repetitive content consists of 40.41% of the genome, and a total of 30,780 genes were annotated. Assembly of the crested gecko genome provides a valuable resource for future comparative genomic studies between non-regenerative and regenerative geckos and other squamate reptiles.

We perform first-principles Molecular Dynamics calculations to test the total attraction forces on a physisorbed molecule at a given temperature and ambient pressure and apply it to the hydrogen storage on the 2D material MoP2. We considered the pristine material and one with 12.5% of Mo vacancies. By optimization, we calculated a gravimetric capacity for pristine MoP2 of 5.72%, with an adsorption energy of ‒ 0.13 eV/molecule. We found 6.02% and ‒ 0.14 eV/molecule for the second case. Next, we apply our approach to know if the molecular hydrogen physisorption obtained by simple energy optimization exists for a given temperature and ambient pressure. We used this approach to determine the number of molecules adsorbed on the surface at a given temperature. Thus, we conducted a first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) calculation at temperature T1, using optimization as the initial system configuration. Subsequently, we performed a second FPMD calculation at a temperature T2 (with T2 ‹‹ T1), using the stable configuration of the first FPMD calculation as the initial configuration. We identified as adsorbed molecules at temperature T1, only those forced back toward the surface at temperature T2 due to kinetic energy loss at the lower temperature T2. The defective surface gave the best gravimetric capacity, ranging from 5.27% at 300 K to 6.02% at 77 K. The latter met the requirement from the US-DOE, indicating the potential practical application of our research in hydrogen storage.

Copper, along with gold, was among the first metals that humans employed. Thus, copper pol-lution of the world's water resources is escalating, posing a significant threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. It is crucial to develop a detection technology that is both low-cost and fea-sible, as well as ultra-selective and sensitive. This study explores the use of the NH2-Xxx-His motif-derived peptide from phage display technology for ultra-selective Cu2+ detection. Various Cu-binding M13 phage clones were isolated, and their affinity and cross-reactivity for different metal ions were determined. A detailed analysis of the amino acid sequence of the unique Cu-binding peptides was employed. For the development of an optical chemosensor, a peptide with an NH2-Xxx-His motif was selected. The dansyl group was incorporated during solid phase peptide synthesis, and fluorescence detection assays were employed. The efficacy of the Cu2+-binding peptide was verified through spectroscopic measurements. In summary, we de-veloped a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ detection based on a peptide sequence from phage display library that carries the N-terminal Xxx-His motif.

Abstract: Aim: The aim in this study was to conduct a prospective survey regarding the socio-demographics and lifestyle risk factors for cancer of a population of Caribbean immigrants living in the U.S. Materials and Methods: The data were processed and analysed using SPSS software 27 and Excel. Crosstabulations were performed. The chi-square test was used to evaluate differ-ent hypotheses. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences in the country of birth of the Caribbean immigrants were found for sex (p = 0.038) and the cleanness of their neighbourhoods (p = 0.045). We found differences in occupations between men and women (p = 0.001). Men were less unemployed than women (p = 0.011). Sex also showed statistically significant differences in how easily the immigrants balanced their work and per-sonal life (p = 0.044). Age groups depicted differences in the physical health of the immigrants (p = 0.001). The use of alcohol and tobacco was not an important risk factor among participants (p = 0.529). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the sociodemographics risk factors for cancer among a population of Caribbean immigrants were significantly different between the sexes. However, the use of tobacco and alcohol showed insignificant differences among the immigrants.

The stems of Rubus idaeus L., a by-product of the fruit-food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of the polyphenolic compounds in R. idaeus stems. 7 cultivated raspberry varieties, 13 garden samples, including five well-known raspberry varieties and 13 wild raspberry samples from different locations in Estonia were analyzed. The HPLC-MS method detected 62 substances, of which 42 were identified, 12 were tentatively identified, and 8 compounds remained unknown. Protocatechuic acid pentoside was dominant in most varieties and in all garden and wild raspberry samples. Dihydroxybenzoic acid hexoside 1, p-coumaroyl quinic acid 1, quercetin 4’-glucuronide and p-coumaric acid glycoside were found in significant quantities. Correlations between the contents of individual compounds have been established. When studying the dynamics of polyphenolic compounds accumulation on the example of the GR1 sample during the year, it was found that the largest amount of them in raspberry stems accumulates in April, slightly less in January and October. Investigating the dependence of the accumulation of polyphenols on the parts of the stem, it was found that the upper parts have the highest phenolics content. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest approximately the upper third of the stem.

Objective: This study aims to construct an early risk warning model to predict the risk of treatment failure in patients undergoing sequential High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy following mechanical ventilation weaning. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 145 patients who received HFNC treatment in the Emergency Intensive Care Unit of the Third People's Hospital of Bengbu City from June 2018 to June 2023. A wide range of indicators including general information, comorbidities, laboratory test results, vital signs, disease-related scores, and oxygenation data were collected. Data analysis was performed using R software, starting with the Lasso regression to filter features related to treatment outcomes. Patients were divided into a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%) using random grouping software. The Random Forest algorithm was then employed to evaluate and rank the important features related to outcome indicators. The predictive efficiency and stability of the model were assessed through the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis, culminating in the construction of an early risk warning nomogram. Results: The study found that the Random Forest model exhibited high predictive accuracy in the training set (AUC=0.98) and good stability in the validation set (AUC=0.84). Key feature variables identified by the model, such as APACHE II score, BNP, NLR, mROX, and SOFA, were found to significantly impact the prediction of HFNC treatment failure. Based on these variables, an early warning nomogram was further developed, providing clinicians with a convenient and effective risk assessment tool. Conclusion: This study has constructed an early risk warning model based on the Random Forest algorithm, capable of effectively predicting the risk of HFNC treatment failure. The model's high predictive efficiency and stability offer strong support for clinical decision-making, contributing to personalized treatment and improved patient outcomes. Future research should aim to expand the sample size, perform multicenter validation, and explore the integration of the model into Clinical Decision Support Systems for real-time risk assessment and intervention.

The search for bioactive compounds for the treatment of several diseases has led to the study of endophytic fungi. Neoplastic diseases are among the most significant health concerns due to their high mortality rate, and there is a dearth of efficacious pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of cancer. Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is among those with the highest mortality rates in Brazil. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to identify compounds with cytotoxic activity from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Trichoderma sp. Isolation of the chemical compounds was conducted using chromatographic methods, while structural elucidation was achieved through the application of spectroscopic (NMR and UV) and spectrometric (MS) techniques. The fungus Trichoderma sp. was found to produce five distinct koninginins (A, B, C, E, and J). The organic phases of the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic potentials, respectively, through microdilution testing and the MTT method. In the cytotoxicity assay, both the AF extract and koninginin A demonstrated favorable outcomes, indicating their potential as promising anticancer therapeutic agents.

Bee colonies that belong to the biocenosis are constantly threatened by the bacterial larvae disease called American foulbrood, caused by Paenibacillus larvae. The current state of the law prevents the inclusion of pharmacotherapy in the treatment and the only control is based on physical eradication of infected colonies by order of the Vet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected bacteria with proven probiotic potential that could reduce American foulbrood pressure by promoting the development of the larvae microbiome that competes with and blocks the excessive proliferation and production of P. larvae endospores. The antimicrobial activity of inoculants of selected strains was studied: B. pumilus, B. licheniformis, S. narbonensis, L. fusiformis, L. brevis, B. megaterium against P. larvae ATCC 9545 and P. larvae CCUG 48973. Analyses were performed by the well-diffusion method according to EUCAST standards with modifications due to the specificity of the bacteria used. The largest zone of growth inhibition of P. larvae was confirmed with: S. narbonensis, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, medium activity was observed with L. brevis and B. pumilus. Negligible activity was shown by L. fusiformis. Differences were noticed in the resistance of indicator strains of P. larvae and between the media and carriers used.

This study aims to comprehensively understand the provision of skincare solutions for individuals living with HIV, focusing on the efficacy of existing treatments, challenges in accessing dermatological care, and the preferences of individuals living with HIV for personalized skincare solutions. The study triangulated data from structured surveys and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of individuals living with HIV, healthcare professionals, and experts in public health and social work, using a mixed-methods approach. The structured surveys provided specific data points, while the in-depth interviews and participant observations yielded rich, contextual insights. The results revealed a need for more personalized skincare solutions for individuals living with HIV, challenges in accessing dermatological care, and concerns regarding the efficacy of existing treatments. The integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative data provided a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing skincare solutions for this population. Conclusions drawn from the study emphasize the importance of tailored skincare interventions, improved access to dermatological care, and the need for collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and individuals living with HIV. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effectiveness of personalized skincare solutions and the exploration of innovative interventions integrating dermatological care and social support for individuals living with HIV.

Emotional competencies are a set of strategies to identify, comprehend, express and regulate emotions. They are particularly relevant in the educational context. In spite of their important, low emotional competencies have been reported in secondary students. This scoping review aims to synthesize the impact of emotional education programs on secondary students. The PRISMA Scoping method was used by using the Web Of Science, Scopus and Scielo databases. 23 studies were identified, out of which five articles were selected as they met the determined inclusion criteria. The main findings reveal significant improvement of emotional and social skills following school interventions. Specifically, progress was observed in areas such as emotional awareness, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills and emotional knowledge. The results highlight the efficacy of social-emotional learning programs in fostering social-emotional skills and psychosocial health of secondary education students. However, limitations, such as heterogeneity, were identified in the study of such research in Ibero-American countries.

Migrate is a verb representing a process where the intention of providing social services to migrants is to reduce their instability and discomfort. Consequently, social service providers are inclined to view migrants as pitiful, often also those to be feared, with migrants learning to form negative views of themselves, decreasing their mental health. Considering migration as a verb neglects the noun initiating the migration when the migrant is heading to a person, place, thing, event, or idea. In viewing migration as noun-dependent, the migrant is identifiable as self-directed in seeking aid rather than pitiful or inciting fear. This study aims to examine the types of nouns migrants conceptualize for guiding their migration based on a Google Scholar search of “[noun-type] to which [whom] migrants head in their migration” for each noun type regarding the four most highly cited reports published since 2020. The purpose is to determine the social services applicable to migrants in their self-direction regarding theoretical foundations that contrast problem-focused with emotion-focused coping. Viewing such migration nouns as essential migration signifiers encourages migrants’ favorable identification. In recognizing the intended self-direction of the migrant, their mental health is improved and is supportable through relevant and appropriately available social services.

Soil carbon is newly refined as ~32,000 Gt C (gigatonnes) over ten times previous totals. Soil organic carbon (SOC) of ~22,000 Gt C plus plants at ~2,400 Gt C in both above- and below-ground stocks hold 99% of Earth’s biomass. Occupying a topographic surface area of 25 Gha with mean depth 21 m, soil has more organic carbon than all plants, oceans, fossil fuels, or the atmosphere combined. Soils are both the greatest biotic carbon store and the most active CO2 source. Basic inventory is required for proper understanding and utilization of Earth’s natural resources, especially with increasing soil degradation and species loss. Values are raised considerably, the disparity due to lack of full soil depth survey, neglect of terrain and of other omissions. Herein new totals are determined for mineral soils, permafrost, and peats (of all forms and ages), to full depth (easily doubling shallow values) and allowing for terrain that is ignored in all terrestrial models (doubling most values again), plus SOC in recalcitrant glomalins (~30%) and friable saprock (+26%). Additionally, soil inorganic carbon (SIC), aquatic sediments and dissolved fractions are factored in. Soil biota (e.g. fungi, bacteria and earthworms) are similarly upgraded. Primary productivity, also upped for terrain, is confirmed at 220 Gt C/yr on land supported by C/O isotope fluxes. Priority issues of species extinction, humic topsoil loss, and excess atmospheric CO2 are all remedied by SOC restoration and biomass recycling via (vermi-)compost for use in 100% organic husbandry and adoption of wider practices of Permaculture based upon scientific observation of Nature.

Decreased solar radiation is one of the main issues of climate change. Decreased solar radiation reduced rice yield, while compound fertilization with silicate enhanced the yield. However, it is not fully understood regarding the fertilization effects on the yield, the emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide in paddy fields under decreased solar radiation. Field simulation experiments with shading were conducted in two consecutive years (2019 to 2020) at the Agrometeorological Station, Nanjing, China. An orthogonal experimental design with three factors and three levels was adopted in this study. The shading was set at 3 levels, i.e. no shading (S0), shading from flowering to maturity period (S1), and shading from tillering to maturity period (S2), with 64% of shading rate. The compound fertilization (as NPK) was set at 3 rates, i.e. 100 kghm-2 (F1), 200 kghm-2 (F2), and 300 kghm-2 (F3). The silicate supply was set at 3 levels, i.e. no silicate supply (R0), adding steel slag at 200 kg SiO2hm-2 (R1), and adding steel slag at 400 kg SiO2hm-2 (R2). The results showed that, shading significantly reduced rice yield. Compared with S0, S1 and S2 significantly decreased rice yield by 43.31-43.32% and 48.51-48.52%, respectively. Shading extremely reduced the cumulative CH4 emission. Compared with S0, S1 and S2 decreased the cumulative CH4 emission by 7.47%-15.21 and 52.15-57.72, but increased the cumulative N2O emission by 8.56%-26.25% and 54.80-57.59%, respectively. The compound fertilization significantly increased the cumulative CH4 and N2O emissions. Compared with F1, F2 and F3 increased the cumulative CH4 emission by 42.01-48.29% and 9.59-57.00%; and enhanced the cumulative N2O emission by 5.67-85.81% and 21.32-192.98%, respectively. Compared with control (R0), silicate supply generally decreased the cumulative CH4 emission by 20.1%-29.57, while increased the cumulative N2O emission by 8.58%-39.57% and 9.12%-48.00%, respectively. Shading (S1 and S2) decreased the total global warming potential (GWP) by 6.88%-13.69% and 47.58%-55.73%, while compound fertilization increased the total GWP by 43.91-49.05% and 10.36-59.70%, respectively. In general, shading and compound fertilization increased the greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 59.51%-60.62% and 33.13%-105.76%, while silicate application decreased the GHGI by 23.08%-50.50%, respectively. This study suggests that, controlling the fertilization amount was helpful in decreasing the GHGI, simultaneously ensuring rice yield under decreased solar radiation, with the optimal fertilization at 100 kg·hm-2 of compound fertilizer (as NPK) and 200 kg SiO2·hm-2 of steel slag in the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China.

The high antigenic variability of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) represents a challenge for developing prophylactic strategies, stressing the need of research into vaccines offering broad protection against a range of virus strains. Here, the heterotypic cross-reaction using different vaccine schemes against serotype O strains was studied, evaluating the impact of revaccination, antigen dose, and incorporation of additional FMDV serotypes. Naïve cattle were immunized with seven distinct FMDV vaccines, receiving three doses of the same formulation at 0, 28 and 56 days post-primary vaccination (dpv). Serum samples were collected up to 70 dpv and tested by a virus-neutralizing test against serotype O strains from South American and two strains representative two Asian lineages. Our results showed that vaccines containing the ME-SA topotype O1/Campos strain developed cross-neutralizing responses against the two Asian viruses after the first vaccination. In contrast, significant heterotypic neutralizing antibody titers against the homologous topotype strain were only found after the second immunization, indicating that the phylogenic relationship may differ from the antigenic profiles for these two viruses. The amount of the O1/Campos strain and the revaccination were essential factors for neutralization against the homologous and heterologous type O FMDV viruses. The strain composition of the vaccine was only relevant for cross-neutralization against one of the Asian strains, suggesting potential intra-serotypic divergences for this pattern.

Considerable attention has recently been given to the contribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the healthcare sector to climate change, which represents 4-6% of emissions worldwide. GHGs used in medical practice are regularly released into the atmosphere and contribute to elevation in global temperatures that produce detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of their global warming potential (GWP) characteristics and clinical uses, many of which have evaded scrutiny from policy makers due to their medical necessity, is needed. Of major interest are volatile anesthetics, analgesics, and inhalers, as well as fluorinated gases used as tamponades in retinal detachment surgery. In this review, we compare estimates of these gases’ GHG emissions in metric tons CO₂ equivalent (MTCO₂e) and their relative GWP. Notably, the anesthetics desflurane and nitrous oxide contribute the most emissions out of the major medical GHGs, equivalent to driving 12 million gasoline-powered cars annually in the US. Retinal tamponade gases have markedly high GWP up to 23,500 times compared to CO₂ and long atmospheric lifetimes up to 10,000 years, thus bearing the potential to contribute to climate change long-term. This review provides the basis for discussions on examining the environmental impacts of medical gases with high GWP, determining whether alternatives may be available, and reducing emissions while maintaining or even improving patient care.

The complex structure of the plant cell wall makes it difficult to use the biomass produced by biosynthesis. For this reason, the search for new strains of microorganisms capable of efficiently degrading fiber is a topic of interest. For these reasons, the present study aimed to evaluate both the microbiological and enzymatic characteristics of the fungus Curvularia kusanoi L7strain. For this, its growth in different culture media was evaluated. Wheat straw mineralization was evaluated by gas chromatography assisted by infrared spectroscopy. The production of endo- and exoglucanase, laccase and peroxidase enzymes in submerged solid fermentation of wheat and sugarcane bagasse were characterized. The strain efficiently mineralized raw wheat straw, showing a significant decrease in signals associated with cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the infrared spectra. High enzyme productions were achieved in submerged solid fermentation of both substrates, highlighting the high production of endoglucanases in sugarcane bagasse (2.87 IU/mL) and laccases in wheat (1.64 IU/mL). It is concluded that C. kusanoi L7 is an ascomycete with a versatile enzyme production that allows it to exhaustively degrade complex fibers such as raw wheat straw and sugar cane bagasse, making it a microorganism with great potential in the bioconversion of plant biomass.

Imipramine hydrochloride (IMP), a tricyclic antidepressant used for major depression, enuresis, and neuropathic pain, is limited by gastrointestinal complications, low oral bioavailability (44%), and complex dosing requirements. This study aimed to explore a novel non-invasive nasal delivery system using chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs) embedded in an in situ gel to address the limitations of oral IMP administration. Cs NPs loaded with IMP were synthesized via ionic gelation and assessed for precision in drug concentration using a validated HPLC method. The particles were integrated into a thermoresponsive polymer, Pluronic F127, to form an in situ gel suitable for nasal administration. The formulation was characterized for gelation temperature, duration, viscosity, mucoadhesive strength, and overall gel robustness. Drug release kinetics and the controlled release mechanism were studied using ex vivo permeation tests with Franz diffusion cells and nasal sheep mucosa. The optimized nanoparticle formulation (F4-50) exhibited a consistent PS of 141.7±2.2 nm, a ZP of 16.79±2.1 mV, and a high encapsulation efficiency of 67.71±1.9%. The selected in situ gel formulation, F4-50-P1, demonstrated a gelation temperature of 33.6±0.94°C and a rapid gelation time of 48.1±0.7 seconds. Transform-attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) confirmed the compatibility and effective encapsulation of IMP within the formulation. The release profile of F4-50 included an initial burst release followed by a sustained release phase, with F4-50-P1 showing improved control over the burst release. The flux rates were 0.50±0.01 mg/cm²/h for F4-50 and 0.33±0.06 mg/cm²/h for F4-50-P1, indicating effective permeation. The developed chitosan nanoparticle-based in situ gel formulation provides a promising approach for the controlled release of IMP, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance while mitigating the disadvantages associated with oral delivery.

The natural compounds PSK and PSP have antitumor and immunostimulant properties. These pharmacological benefits have been documented in vitro and in vivo, although there is not information in silico which describes the action mechanisms at molecular level. In this study, the inverse docking method was used to identify the interactions of PSK and PSP with two local databases: BPAT with 66 antitumor proteins, and BPSIC with 138 surfaces and intracellular proteins. This led to the identification interactions and coincidences of PSK and AB680 inhibitor in the active site of CD73. It was also found that PSK bonds to CD59 interacting with amino acids APS22 and PHE23, which coincide with the rlLYd4 internalization inhibitor. With the isoform of K-RAS protein, PSK bonded to the TYR32 amino acid at switch 1, while with BAK it bonded to the region of the α1 helix, while PSP bonded to the activation site and the C-terminal and N-terminal ends of that helix. In Bcl-2, PSK interacted at the binding site of the Venetoclax inhibitor, showing coincidences with amino acids ASP111, VAL133, LEU137, MET115, PHE112, and TYR108; while PSP had coincidences with THR132, VAL133, LEU137, GLN118, MET115, APS111, PHE112, and PHE104.

In this review, recent advances in the combination of CRISPR-Cas systems with graphene-based electrolyte-gated transistors are discussed in detail. In a first part, the functioning of CRISPR-Cas systems is briefly explained, as well as the most common ways to convert their molecular activity into measurable signals. Besides optical means, conventional electrochemical transducers are also developed. However, it seems that the incorporation of CRISPR/Cas systems into transistor devices could be extremely powerful, as the former provides molecular amplification, while the latter provides electrical amplification; combined, the two could help to advance in terms of sensitivity and compete with conventional PCR assays. Today, organic transistors suffer from poor stability in biological media, where graphene materials perform better by being extremely sensitive to their chemical environment while being stable. The need for fast and inexpensive sensors to detect viral RNA arose on the occasion of the COVID-19 crisis, but many other RNA viruses are of interest, such as dengue, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, West Nile fever, Ebola, polio, for which detection means are needed.

Reliable detection of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in edible and used cooking oil (UCO) is crucial for the sustainable production of food and biodiesel. In this study, a variety of sunflower oils (crude, cold pressed, extra virgin, refined, and UCO) were examined using different methods of DNA extraction and PCR amplification to develop an efficient technology for the identification of sunflower in oils. DNA extraction kits such as NucleoSpin Food, DNeasy mericon Food, and Olive Oil DNA Isolation as well as modified CTAB method were found to be able to isolate amplifiable genomic DNA from highly processed oils. Novel uniplex, double, and nested PCR systems targeting the sunflower-specific helianthinin gene were developed for efficient identification of sunflower. New sunflower DNA markers were revealed by uniplex PCRs. The combination of modified CTAB and nested PCR was demonstrated as a reliable, rapid, and cost-effective technology for detecting traces of sunflower in 700 μl of highly processed oil, including refined and used cooking oil. The study will contribute to both the food industry and the energy sector as developed methods can be used for oil authenticity testing in food and biodiesel production.

Primary hyperparathyroidism represents the third more prevalent endocrine disease in general population consisting of an excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone from one, more frequently, or more of the parathyroid glands, leading to a dysregulation of calcium homeostasis. Schematically, its development occurs primarily by pathophysiological events with genetic mutation, at germline and/or somatic level, that favor the neoplastic transformation of parathyroid cells, and promoting their aberrant proliferation, and mutations determining the shift of PTH "set-point”, thus interfering with the normal pathways of PTH secretion, and leading to a “resetting” of Ca2+-dependent PTH secretion or to a secretion of PTH insensitive to changes in extracellular Ca2+ levels. Familial syndromic and non-syndromic forms of primary hyperparathyroidism are responsible for approximately 2-5%, of primary hyperparathyroidism cases and most of them are inherited forms. The history of the genetic/molecular studies of parathyroid tumorigenesis associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 Syndrome (MEN1) represents a fascinating topic and model to understand genetic-epigenetic-molecular aspects underlying the pathophysiology of primary hyperparathyroidism, both in relation to the syndromic and non-syndromic forms. This minireview aims to take a quick and simplified look at the MEN1-associated parathyroid tumorigenesis, focusing on the molecular underlying mechanisms. Clinical, epidemiological, and observational studies, as well as specific guidelines, molecular-genetics studies, and reviews, have been considered. Only studies submitted to PubMed in English language were included, without time constraints.

Introduction: Variants of COVID-19 are responsible for 700 million infections and 7 million deaths worldwide. Vaccinations have high efficiency in preventing infection and secondary benefits of reducing COVID-19 hospital admissions, attenuating disease severity and duration of illness. Conflicting reports were published regarding COVID-19 among PLWH. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 morbidity, hospitalization and the magnitude of immunological response to sequential BNT 162b2 mRNA vaccines in PLWH regarding demographic and clinical factors. Results: Our retrospective study included 784 PLWH who had at least one anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody test between March 2021 and October 2021. Half of our patients (392) had CD4 cells count above 500 cells/µl, 40.2% (315) had 200<CD4<500 cells/µL and only 9.8% (77) had CD4 <200 cells/µL at their last laboratory workup. The mean age was 50.2±12.2 years. About 90% of our patients were given at least two doses of the BNT 1626b2 Pfizer vaccines, about 60% received three doses of the vaccine. About a quarter of our patients (27.3%) had COVID-19 infection. Only 6 patients required hospital admission. All six patients recovered from COVID-19 infection. Titers of COVID-19 antibodies were lower for patients with CD4 cells count of less than 200 cells/ µL in the first, second and third serological tests with statistical significance. In a multinomial logistic regression the influence of other factors such as age, sex, previous COVID-19 infection on first COVID-19 antibodies titers was not significant. Conclusions: PLWH are responsive to COVID-19 vaccines. As was expected, patients with higher CD4 cells count have higher titers of COVID-19 antibodies and less severe illness. Age, sex and previous COVID-19 infection did not significantly affect antibodies titers according to our study. Larger prospective studies with control groups are needed to further characterize immunologic response to COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH.

Nanobubbles, gas-filled entities that possess a size of less than , have notably emerged as critical components within various domains such as environmental science and medicine, primarily due to their remarkable stability and distinctive diffusion characteristics that differentiate them from larger bubbles. This comprehensive study meticulously explores the diffusion rates and stability of hydrogen and oxygen when encapsulated in oxyhydrogen nanobubbles, specifically within aqueous environments, utilizing the Chapman-Enskog theory, which is a well-established framework for understanding gas diffusion processes, alongside a modified Arrhenius equation to effectively evaluate activation volume and stability parameters. The findings from this investigation reveal that the diffusion processes of both gasses experience a significant reduction in rate due to the influence of high internal pressure, as well as the molecular interactions occurring with water, whereby hydrogen is observed to exhibit a marginally accelerated diffusion rate in comparison to oxygen. It is crucial to understand that elements like surface charges, zeta potential, and the idea of activation volume significantly influence the enduring stability of nanobubbles, particularly in specific environmental scenarios that could boost their longevity. These significant findings pose a challenge to classical diffusion models, thereby suggesting a promising potential for the sustained application of nanobubbles in various fields such as water treatment processes and therapeutic medical interventions. Future research endeavors should prioritize the refinement of theoretical models while also aiming to experimentally validate the mechanisms of stability that have been observed across a range of diverse applications to further substantiate these findings.

This paper proposes a design for a platform-based Multi-phase Interleaved Synchronous Buck Converter (MISBC) using Silicon (Si) based Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs). A custom platform was developed to compare the theoretical performance of a MISBC circuit simulated with Multisim and compared it with a prototype that was built at Western Sydney University. The work disclosed in this manuscript describes some steps adopted during the selection of each component and technical considerations taken during the design of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The platform designed has a maximum power output of 260 Watts, with a buck reduction of the nominal voltage from 97 Volts to 24 Volts at a maximum switching frequency of 50 kHz. This switching frequency is achieved with an open-loop circuit configuration coupled with synchronized signal generators, used to validate the dead band required between the activation of each MOSFET implemented in a half bridge configuration. A summary of the results based on the duty cycle required to achieve the buck voltage desired highlights the advantages of each operating mode of the MISBC circuit, where the theoretical performance is compared against the data acquired during functional evaluations of the prototype, allowing further interpretations towards the optimal control algorithm required to maximize the performance output of MISBC circuits.