This study aimed to elucidate the antibacterial efficacy and unique chemical compositions generated from plasma-activated water (PAW) when utilized a novel vaginal cleansing device. We conducted an analysis of antibacterial activity against probiotics and several chemical compositions including ions under various operational parameters of PAW, including electrical power (12 and 24 V), treatment duration (1, 10, and 20 min), and stay duration (immediate, 30 and 60 min). Our findings revealed that as treatment duration increased, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations increased and Cl−concentrations decreased. Higher electrical power and longer treatment duration resulted in increased HOCl levels, which acts to prevent the growth of general microorganisms. Notably, PAW exhibited no antibacterial effects against a type of probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri that produces lactic acid for vaginal health. This result demonstrated the ability of the vaginal cleaning device to generate ions, primarily HOCl and some cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+), thereby providing vaginal mucosa protecting and cleansing effects with the vaginal environment.

White spot lesions (WSLs), a side effect of orthodontic treatment, can result in reversible and unaesthetic results. Graphene oxide (GO) with a bioactive glass (BAG) mixture(BAG@GO) was added to Low Viscosity Transbond XT(LV) in a ratio of 1, 3, 5%. The composite’s characterization and its physical and biological properties were verified with scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD); its microhardness, shear bond stress (SBS), cell viability, and adhesive remnant index (ARI) were also assessed. Efficiency in reducing WSL was evaluated using antibacterial activity of S. mutans. Anti-demineralization was analyzed using a cycle of the acid-base solution. Adhesives with 3 or 5 wt.% of BAG@GO showed significant increase in microhardness compared with LV. The sample and LV groups showed no significant differences in SBS or ARI. The cell viability test confirmed that none of the sample groups showed higher toxicity compared to the LV group. Antibacterial activity was higher in the 48-hour group than in the 24-hour group; the 48-hour test showed that BAG@GO had a high antibacterial effect, which was more pronounced in 5 wt.% of BAG@GO. Anti-demineralization effect was higher in the BAG@GO-group than in the LV-group; the higher the BAG@GO concentration, the higher the anti-demineralization effect.

Accurate and consistent rainfall observations are vital for climatological studies in support of better planning and decision making. However, estimation of accurate spatial rainfall is limited by sparse rain gauge distributions. Satellite rainfall products can thus potentially play a role in spatial rainfall estimation but their skill and uncertainties need to be under-stood across spatial-time scales. This study aimed at assessing the temporal and spatial performance of seven satellite products (TARCAT (Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite and ground-based observations (TAMSAT) African Rainfall Climatology And Time series), Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM-3B43), Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Morphing (CMORPH), the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks- Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR), CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) using gridded (0.05o) rainfall data over East Africa for 15 years(1998-2012). The products’ error distributions were qualitatively compared with large scale horizontal winds (850 mb) and elevation patterns with respect to corresponding rain gauge data for each month during the ‘long’ (March-May) and ‘short’ (October-December) rainfall seasons. For validation only rainfall means extracted from 284 rain gauge stations were used, from which qualitative analysis using continuous statistics of Root Mean Squared Difference, Standard deviations, Correlations, coefficient of determinations (from scatter plots) were used to evaluate the products’ performance. Results revealed rainfall variability dependence on wind flows and modulated by topographic influences. The products’ errors showed seasonality and dependent on rainfall intensity and topography. Single sensor and coarse resolution products showed lowest performance on high ground areas. All the products showed low skills in retrieving rainfall during ‘short’ rainfall season when orographic processes were dominant. CHIRPS, CMORPH and TRMM performed well, with TRMM showing the best performance in both seasons. There is need to reduce products’ errors before applications.

This study focuses on the nuanced phenomenon of gendered parenting by exploring “how” and “when” maternal son preference associates with depressive symptoms among Chinese early adolescents. Focusing on 1,093 junior high school students from a relatively affluent city in western China, the research examined the mediating roles of mother-child attachment and father-child attachment, as well as the moderating role of school connectedness in the relationship between maternal son preference and depressive symptoms. The results revealed a noteworthy positive correlation between maternal son preference and depressive symptoms among female adolescents, with no significant association observed in males. In addition, mother-child attachment and father-child attachment mediated the relationship between maternal son preference and depressive symptoms, which supported the “spillover effect” and “crossover effect”. Moreover, moderation effect analysis indicated that higher level of school connectedness can buffer the effect of maternal son preference on girls’ depressive symptoms, while lower level of school connectedness can enhance the effect of maternal son preference on girls’ depressive symptoms. These insights help to enhance people's understanding of gendered parenting, emphasizing the enduring necessity of addressing son preference within the broader context of promoting gender equality.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) uses the cellular trafficking machinery to reach the cell nucleus and initiate a successful infection. The HPV capsid consists of two proteins: L1 (the major capsid protein) and L2 (minor capsid protein), and L2 is known to be responsible for trafficking the viral genome to the nucleus. From previous studies, we know that many cellular proteins interact with L2 and are involved in the trafficking process at different stages of the infectious entry process. To further investigate how HPV-16 achieves successful viral entry, we have performed a mass spectrometry analysis to identify novel interacting proteins that associate with incoming HPV-16 virions. We show that HPV-16 pseudovirions interact with a group of cellular cargo proteins (COPI), and here we confirm that this is mediated by the direct binding of L2, but not L1, to the COPB1 subunit. We also show that the ability of L2 to interact with COPB1 is conserved in both low- and high-risk HPV types. Furthermore, we also show that the interaction is essential for successful infection entry of multiple HPV types, thereby identifying a novel constituent of the infectious entry pathway of the HPV.

This paper deals with the study of the existence and non existence of solutions of a three parameter's family of nonlinear fractional differential equation with mixed-integral boundary value conditions. We consider the $\alpha$-Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative, with $\alpha \in (1,2]$. In order to deduce the existence and non existence results, we first study the linear equation, by deducing the main properties of the related Green's functions. We obtain the optimal set of parameters where the Green's function has constant sign. After that, by means of the index theory, the nonlinear boundary value problem is studied. Some examples, at the end of the paper, are showed to illustrate the applicability of the obtained results.

Understanding morphological and genetic diversity of forest trees is essential to facilitate their conservation, sustainable management and genetic improvement for addressing the economic and environmental demands and challenges. We have examined variation in morphometric seed and pod traits and seed germination of multipurpose and widely distributed forest tree Albizia lebbek (Indian siris) from 12 provenances covering the species’ range in northern India and its relationships with bioclimatic factors. Highly significant inter-provenance variation was observed in seed size (seed length (SL), seed width (SW), SW/SL, SL×SW), seed mass (1000 seed weight), pod size (pod length (PL), pod width (PW), PW/PL), seed germination, number of seeds per pod, and insect infected seeds (IIS). The provenance effect contributed a major portion to the total phenotypic variance. Morphometric variation in all traits except for IIS was not clinal related to longitude, latitude, altitude or rainfall. There was an indication of the presence of ecotypic variation. IIS showed clinal variation with significant negative correlation with latitude. Most seed size and pod size traits showed positive correlations with several temperature bioclimatic factors and negative correlations with several precipitation bioclimatic factors. Our results have significance for genetic improvement, population genetics and genomics studies and conservation and sustainable management of A. lebbek genetic resources.

To determine the mode of action of the effects of phytoalexins in soybeans, we analyzed enzyme inhibition kinetics using Michaelis–Menten plots and the Lineweaver–Burk plots. The results showed that glyceollin showed competitive inhibition, genistein showed noncompetitive, daidzein was uncompetitive, and luteolin showed a mixed mode of action. The Ki values were determined using a Dixon plot as: glyceollin, 18.99; genistein, 15.42; luteolin, 16.81; and daidzein, 9.99 μM, respectively. Furthermore, potential synergistic effects between glyceollin and the three designated polyphenols were investigated. A combination of glyceollin and luteolin (the ratio of 3:7 of glyceollin and luteolin) had synergistic effects on α-glucosidase inhibition according to combination index (CI)-isobologram equation. Collectively, these results showed that a combination of glyceollin and luteolin has the potential to inhibit α-glucosidase activity via a synergistic mode of action.

In Cameroon, Aedes mosquitoes transmit various arboviruses, posing significant health risks. We aimed to characterize the Aedes virome in southwestern Cameroon and identify potential core viruses which might be associated with vector competence. A total of 398 Aedes mosquitoes were collected from four locations (Bafoussam, Buea, Edea and Yaounde). Aedes albopictus dominated all sites except for Bafoussam where Aedes africanus prevailed. Metagenomic analyses of mosquitoes grouped per species into 54 pools revealed notable differences in eukaryotic viromes between Ae. africanus and Ae. albopictus, with the former exhibiting greater richness and diversity. Thirty-seven eukaryotic virus species from 16 families were identified, including six novel viruses with near complete genome sequences. Seven viruses were further quantified in individual mosquitoes via qRT-PCR. Although none of them could be identified as core viruses, Guangzhou sobemo-like virus and Bafoussam mosquito solemovirus virus were highly prevalent regionally in Ae. albopictus and Ae. africanus, respectively. This study highlights the diverse eukaryotic virome of Aedes species in southwestern Cameroon. Despite their shared Genus, Aedes species exhibit limited viral sharing, with varying viral abundance and prevalence across locations. Ae. africanus, an understudied vector, harbors a rich and diverse virome, suggesting potential implications for arbovirus vector competence.

This study proposes a short- and medium-term electricity consumption prediction algorithm by combining the GRU model suitable for long-term forecasting and the Prophet model suitable for seasonality and event handling. (1) Manufacturing Company B's Electricity consumption data and meteorological data in Naju, Jeollanam-do, South Korea are collected and preprocessed. (2) The preprocessed data proposes the Prophet model in the first step for seasonality and event handling prediction. (3) In the second step, seven multivariate data are experimented with GRU. Specifically, the seven multivariate data consist of six meteorological data and the residuals between the predicted data from the proposed Prophet model in Step 1 and the observed data. These are utilized to predict electricity consumption at 15-minute intervals. (4) Electricity consumption is predicted for short-term (2 days and 7 days) and medium-term (15 days and 30 days) scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the conventional Prophet model by more than 23 times and the modified GRU model by more than 2 times in terms of MAPE.

RNA interference is a highly conserved process in which non-coding small RNAs (sRNA) modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level influencing plant growth and development. Dicer-like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) are the core elements involved in gene silencing and their gene families have been explored in many plants. However, these genes and their response to abiotic stresses have not yet been well in wheat. In this study, 82 AGO, 31 DCL, and 31 RDR genes were identified and phylogenetic analysis of these proteins showed that clustered into ten, four and four clades respectively. RNA-seq analysis revealed constitutive expression of AGO1, AGO9, and DCL2 family expression analysis in tissues under normal and stress conditions, whereas RDR1 which is known to engage in siRNA biogenesis showed higher expression levels in wheat leaf tissues. Our findings build the foundation for comparative genomics analyses of RNA silencing elements in cereal crops, as well as new insights into the functional complexity of RNA silencing in wheat stress responses, which is critical for understanding the processes underlying wheat stress responses.

Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system such as brain-specific macrophages and also known to regulate the innate immune functions of astrocytes through secretory molecules. This conversation plays an important role in brain functions and homeostasis as well as in neuropathologic disease. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether astrocytes and microglia can cross-talk to induce microglial polarization and proliferation, which can be further regulated under the brain stroke-mimic microenvironment. Microglia in mixed glial culture increased their survival and proliferation and altered to the M2 microglia, whose role was provided by CD11b-GFAP+ astrocytes by showing approximately tenfold increase in microglia cell proliferation after the astrocyte reconstitution. Furthermore, GM-CSF stimulated microglial proliferation approximately tenfold and induced to CCR7+ M1 microglia, whose phenotype could be suppressed by anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, and Substance-P. Also, astrocyte in the microglia co-culture revealed A2 phenotype, which could be activated to A1 astrocyte by TNFα and IFNγ under the stroke-mimic condition. Altogether, astrocyte in the mixed glial culture stimulated the microglia proliferation and M2 polarization possibly through its acquisition of A2 phenotype, both of which could be converted to M1 microglia and A1 astrocytes under the inflammatory stroke-mimic environment. This study demonstrated that microglia and astrocyte can be polarized to M2 microglia and A2 astrocytes respectively through the cross-talk in vitro and provided a system to explore how microglia and astrocyte may behave in the inflammatory disease milieu after in vivo transplantation.

Revolutionizing Lng Plant Construction and its Comprehensive Comparative Analysis And Evaluation Of Modular Design Development Versus Stick-Built Approach For Enhanced Efficiency And Cost-Effectiveness,.Although the utilization of modularization concepts in the LNG industry remains limited, this study focuses on exploring their potential. It is worth noting that modular units typically incur higher costs compared to field erected units due to the additional requirements of structural steel and robustness for transportation purposes.Nevertheless, the increased cost of modularization can often be balanced by conducting the work at the fabrication site instead of on-field construction. This approach reduces the overall project cost by minimizing field construction expenses and shortening the construction schedule. The objective of this paper is to assess and compare LNG modularization options for a newly established LNG facility in comparison to a conventional stick-built plant used as the base case.:The paper delves into various topics related to LNG plant construction, such as the development of modular units, a comprehensive comparison of different options, evaluation of construction schedules and manpower requirements, logistics considerations, and a recommended approach for design and construction. The cost estimates and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) schedules are meticulously compared for each option. Additionally, an inshore/near shore gravity base structure (GBS) option is included for further comparison. It is crucial to emphasize that establishing general costs is not possible as each project is distinct and requires individual study and analysis.:Each project has unique characteristics, resulting in varying shapes of cost curves and break-even points. The outcomes of the feasibility evaluation play a crucial role in determining the extent to which the modular approach to construction is advantageous for the specific project at hand. The evaluation takes into consideration multiple factors to determine the potential benefits of adopting a modular construction approach, allowing decision-makers to make informed choices regarding the project's construction methodology

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the significance of password guessing techniques in both offensive and defensive strategies is paramount. Passwords serve as a crucial line of defense for both individuals and corporations, safeguarding their sensitive systems and data. Therefore, assessing the effectiveness of these access credentials is a critical task. However, existing research in this field often encounters limitations, such as a lack of sufficient training data and extended model training times. Current methods often struggle with limited training data and lengthy training times. This paper introduces BBPE-AE, a novel Auto Encoder Network (AE) designed for password guessing. BBPE-AE utilizes Byte-level Byte Pair Encoding (BBPE) to extract frequent tokens from password datasets without length restrictions, employing a dynamic window technique to capture complex patterns. Experimental results on Hotmail and Myspace datasets demonstrate exceptional performance, achieving high similarity rates (BLEU-Unigram: 0.90, BLEU-Bigram: 0.82 for Hotmail; BLEU-Unigram: 0.90, BLEU-Bigram: 0.81 for Myspace). BBPE-AE generates realistic passwords that meet HIBP (Have I Been Pwned) standards, minimizing duplication. These findings highlight the effectiveness of BBPE-AE in enhancing security by generating realistic passwords, ultimately safeguarding sensitive systems and data.

Post-training quantization is pivotal in deploying convolutional neural networks for mobile applications. Block-wise reconstruction with adaptive rounding, as employed in prior works like BrecQ and Qdrop, facilitates acceptable 4-bit quantization accuracy. However, adaptive rounding is time-intensive, and its constraint on weight optimization space curtails the potential for quantization performance. The optimality of block-wise reconstruction hinges on the quantization status of subsequent network blocks. In this investigation, we delve into the theoretical underpinnings of the limitations inherent in adaptive rounding and block-wise reconstruction. Our exploration leads to the development of a post-training quantization methodology, designated as AE-Qdrop. This algorithm operates in two distinct phases: block-wise reconstruction and global fine-tuning. The block-wise reconstruction phase introduces a progressive optimization strategy, superseding adaptive rounding, which not only augments quantization precision but also significantly improves quantization efficiency. To mitigate the risk of overfitting, we introduce a random weighted quantized activation mechanism. During the global fine-tuning phase, we account for interdependencies among quantized network blocks. The weight of each network block will be corrected with logit matching and feature matching. Extensive experiments validate that AE-Qdrop achieves high-precision and efficient quantization. For instance, in the case of 2-bit MobileNetV2, AE-Qdrop outperforms Qdrop by achieving a 6.26% enhancement in quantization accuracy and quintupling the quantization efficiency.

The principal minimum horizontal stress plays an important role in the study of reservoir characteristics, modeling of oil and gas reservoir, drilling, production and stimulating wells. However, it is currently not possible to measure the minimum horizontal stress along the wellbore as a geophysical parameter logging. Minimum horizontal stress is measured by leak-off test (LOT) at only several points in a well. In order to have the values all along the wellbore, experimental formulas were established to determine the minimum horizontal stresses for different fields. Then these formulas must be calibrated with LOT data whose number is usually limited, even sometimes unavailable. On the other hand, the empirical formulas of one field might not be accurate for another. This study presents a new approach to solve the problem of minimum horizontal stress estimation by a combination of artificial intelligence and geostatistics. The method consists of using artificial neural network (ANN) to build a model of minimum horizontal stress estimation from relevant parameters such as true vertical depth, pore pressure and vertical stress, then combined with Kriging interpolation to obtain the distribution in space of the minimum horizontal stress. Hence, this method can estimate the minimum horizontal stress with a limited amount of available data and therefore we do not need to drill new wells or to find empirical formulas for each survey area. The method was then applied in a case study involved real geomechanical dataset of Hai Thach - Moc Tinh field in Nam Con Son basin, Vietnam.

Typically, a diesel generator on the merchant ship, composed of a wound rotor synchronous generator and a four-stroke diesel engine, supplies electrical power to various loads. Recently, shaft generators for merchant vessels are increasingly replacing diesel generators to reduce CO2 emissions through fuel efficiency improvement. In particular, permanent magnet generators replace induction generators due to their high-efficiency characteristics at light loads. The surface-mounted permanent magnet can be a suitable rotor topology due to the relatively short constant power range. This generator can also operate as a motor according to the propulsion mode, so minimizing the harmonics of the induced voltage and the torque ripple is necessary. This paper proposes an alternative NdFeB magnet pole topology combined with the modular step-skewed rotor. The step-skewed rotor affects to reduce higher-order harmonics, and the modular pole reduces the permanent magnet assembly process and harmonics in voltage and torque. A 2-D finite element method is used to evaluate the harmonics of induced voltage and torque pulsation for the proposed topology. The topology shows harmonic minimization effect by comparing the characteristics of three flatted-bottom magnets. Compared to the tapered bread-loaf magnet, voltage harmonics to the 100th component are almost the same, and the torque ripple is reduced by more than 12% at the same residual flux density. The analysis method is verified by comparing test and analysis results for prototype machines with similar specifications.

In manufacturing chatter is an unwanted phenomenon that can lead to product quality reduction and tool wear. Real time chatter detection is key to preventing these issues and improving overall machining efficiency. In this paper we propose an unsupervised chatter detection method using autoencoders (AE) and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) clustering algorithm that uses internal signals of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. The proposed method starts by using an AE to extract features from raw internal signals collected from CNC machines. This step reduces the dimensionality of the data and captures the underlying patterns of chatter. Then the extracted features are fed into DBSCAN clustering algorithm which is a density based algorithm that groups similar data points and identifies outliers. We tested the proposed method with real world data collected from various CNC machines. The results show that our unsupervised chatter detection method has high accuracy, precision and recall, can detect chatter and distinguish it from normal machining. Also the method is robust to noise and can adapt to dynamic machining conditions. In summary our work presents an unsupervised chatter detection method using AE and DBSCAN clustering that uses internal signals of CNC machines. This method is a reliable and efficient solution for real time chatter detection so manufacturers can improve product quality, optimize machining process and reduce tool wear during machining.

As the demand for fossil fuels continues to rise and their availability becomes increasingly limited, it is crucial to explore innovative approaches to optimize fuel combustion in existing systems. Among various engines, diesel engines are heavily reliant on fluid motion within the engine cylinder, which plays a critical role in fuel-air mixing. This abstract focuses on the potential of dynamic mathematical model simulation for multi-compartment rotor compressed combustion engines, aiming to revolutionize power generation by enhancing fuel burning efficiency. By leveraging advanced simulation techniques, this research seeks to unlock new insights into fluid dynamics and optimize fuel-air mixing, leading to more efficient and sustainable energy utilization. Through this exploration, we aim to pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in the field of combustion engines, ultimately contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. In the realm of internal combustion engines, the fluid dynamics within the engine cylinder greatly influence the combustion processes and heat transfer. For compression ignition (C.I) engines, both the bulk gas motion and turbulence characteristics play vital roles in engine performance. This study focuses on enhancing the combustibility of the fuel-air mixture in C.I engines by modifying the engine design to induce turbulence through squish and tumble flows. The modification involves creating multiple compartments on the rotor crown, comprising three small chambers spaced 120º apart. By implementing this design, the aim is to optimize the fuel-air mixing and improve the overall combustion efficiency. Through comprehensive analysis and experimentation, we seek to revolutionize C.I engine technology and pave the way for more efficient and environmentally-friendly power generation. In this study, the performance of a compression ignition (C.I) engine with a multiple compartment rotor has been analyzed under motoring conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with FLUENT software. The obtained results have been compared with those of a base C.I engine. The analysis focused on the effects of the modified engine design on the tumble ratio and squish velocity, which are important parameters for fuel-air mixing and combustion efficiency. The results indicated a significant improvement with the modified engine, with a 35% increase in tumble ratio and a 31% increase in squish velocity compared to the base engine. These findings suggest that the modified engine design has the potential to enhance fuel-air mixing and combustion performance, leading to improved overall engine efficiency. This research presents promising insights into the optimization of C.I engine design and contributes to the development of more efficient and environmentally-friendly power generation technologies..

Hydraulic fracturing has enabled production from unconventional reservoirs in the U.S., but production rates often decline sharply, limiting recovery factors to under 10%. This study optimizes the CO2 huff-n-puff process for multistage-fractured horizontal wells in Wolfcamp A formation in the Delaware Basin. The potential for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration simultaneously was addressed using a coupled geomechanics-reservoir simulation. Geomechanical properties were derived from a 1D mechanical earth model and integrated into reservoir simulation to replicate hydraulic fracture geometries. The fracture model was validated using a robust production history matching. Fluid phase behavior analysis refined the equation of state, and 1D slim tube simulations determined a minimum miscibility pressure of 4300 psi for CO2 injection. After the primary production phase, various CO2 injection rates were tested from 1 to 25 MMSCFD/well, resulting in incremental oil recovery ranging from 6.3% to 69.3%. Different injection, soaking, and production cycles were analyzed to determine the ideal operating condition. The optimal scenario improved cumulative oil recovery by 68.8% while keeping the highest CO2 storage efficiency. The simulation approach proposed by this study provides a systematic workflow for evaluating and optimizing CO2 huff-n-puff in hydraulically fractured wells, enhancing the recovery factor of unconventional reservoirs.

To improve the adaptability of aerial reflective opto-mechanical structures to low-temperature environments, an optimized thermal control design is proposed. Firstly, the relationship be-tween conventional heating methods and axial/radial temperature differences of mirrors with different shapes is analyzed. Based on heat transfer analyses, it is pointed out that optimized thermal control design is necessary to ensure the temperature uniformity of the fused silica mirror and take into account the temperature level when working in low temperature environ-ments. A thermal control scheme based on temperature negative feedback variable power zone heating is proposed for the characteristics of aerial electro-optics systems. Using the thermal control scheme at low temperatures ensures that the average temperature of the mirror fluctu-ates slowly and slightly around 20℃. At the same time, the temperature differences within a mirror and between the primary mirror and the secondary mirror can be controlled within 5℃. Thereby, satisfactory image quality is obtained.

The time-resolved CIDNP method can provide information about degenerate exchange reactions (DEE) involving short-lived radicals. In the temperature range from 8 to 65°C, the DEE reactions of the guanosine-5’-monophosphate anion GMP(-H)- with the neutral radical GMP(-H)•, of the N-acetyl tyrosine anion NacTyrO- with a neutral radical NacTyrO• and of the tyrosine anion TyrO- with a neutral radical TyrO• were studied. In all the studied cases, the radicals were formed in the reaction of quenching triplet 2,2’-dipyridyl. The reorganization energies were obtained from Arrhenius plots. The rate constant of the reductive electron-transfer reaction in pair GMP(-H)•/TyrO- was determined at T = 25°C. Rate constants of GMP(-H)• radical reduction reactions with TyrO- and NacTyrO- anions calculated by the Marcus cross relation differ from the experimental ones by two orders of magnitude. The rate constants of several other electron transfer reactions involving GMP(-H)-/•, NacTyrO-/•, and TyrO-/• pairs calculated by cross relation agree well with the experimental values. The rate of nuclear paramagnetic relaxation was found for the 3,5 and β-protons TyrO• and NacTyrO•, the 8-proton GMP(-H)• the 3,4-protons DPH• at each temperature. In all cases, the dependences of the rate of nuclear paramagnetic relaxation on temperature are described by the Arrhenius dependence.

Characters are one of the most important elements in composing digital animation. The appear-ance and voice of a character should be designed to express the personality and values of the character. However, it is not easy for animation producers to harmoniously match the appear-ance and voice of a character. Advances in deep learning technology have made it possible to overcome this limitation. To achieve this, firstly, an audio-visual dataset of characters is required. In this study, we construct and verify a Korean audio-visual dataset consisting of frontal face im-ages of various characters and short voice clips. We developed an application that can automati-cally extract the frontal face image and a short voice clip of a character by collecting videos up-loaded to YouTube. Through this, a dataset consisting of a total of 1,522 face images and a total of 7,999 seconds of voice clips was built based on 490 characters. Furthermore, we automatically la-bel characters by gender and age to validate the dataset. The dataset built in this study is expected to be used in various deep learning fields, such as classification, generative adversarial networks, and speech synthesis.

You Only Look One (YOLO) and its variants have emerged as the most popular real-time object detection algorithms. They have been widely used in real-time smart transportation applications due to their low-latency detection and high accuracy. However, because of the diverse characteristics of YOLO models, choosing selecting the optimal model according to various applications and environments in smart transportation is critical. In this article, we conduct an empirical evaluation and analysis study for most YOLO versions to assess their performance in smart transportation. To achieve this, we first measure the average precision of YOLO models across multiple datasets (e.g., COCO, PASCAL VOC). Second, we analyze the performance of YOLO models on multiple object categories within each dataset, focusing on classes relevant to road transportation such as those commonly used in smart transportation applications. Third, multiple intersection-over-union (IoU) thresholds are considered in our performance measurement and analysis. By examining the performance of various YOLO models across datasets, IoU thresholds, and object classes, we make six observations on these three aspects while aiming to identify optimal models for road transportation scenarios. Thus, YOLOv5 and YOLOv8 outperform other models in all three aspects due to their novel performance features. For instance, YOLOv5 achieves stable performance thanks to its cross-stage partial darknet-53 (CSPDarknet53) backbone, auto-anchor mechanism, and efficient loss functions including IoU loss, complete IoU loss, focal loss, gradient harmonizing mechanism loss. Similarly, YOLOv8 outperforms others with its upgraded CSPDarknet53 backbone, anchor-free mechanism, and efficient loss functions like complete IoU loss and distribution focal loss.

Abstract: Imaging devices of less than 300,000 pixels are mostly used for sewage conduit exploration due to the petty nature of the survey industry in Korea. P articular ly , devices of less than 100,000 pixels are still widely used, and the environment for image processing is very bitter . Since the sewage conduit image s covered in this study ha ve a very low resolution (240 × 320 = 76,800 pixels), it is very difficult to detect cracks. Because most of the resolution of the sewe r conduit images are very low in Korea, this problem of low resolution was selected as the subject of study. Cracks were detected through a total of six steps of improving the crack in Step 2, finding the optimal threshold value in Step 3, and applying an algorithm to detect cracks in Step 5. Cracks were effectively detected by the optimal parameters in Steps 2 and 3 and the user algorithm in Step 5. Desp ite the very low resolution, the cracked image s showed 96.4% accuracy of detection, and the non cracked image s showed 94.5% accuracy . Moreover, the analysis was excellent in quality , also . It is believed that the findings of this study can be effectively u sed for crack detection with low resolution images.

We report an agent-based model to compare the effectiveness of simple and complex mobile dating application interfaces in generating matches for virtual users. We define the relative complexity of dating applications as the number of available features and dub this variable, the multiplicity. We replicate some of the most popular mobile dating applications through the generation of a synthetic population endowed with attributes, preferences, and behaviors drawn from literature. We treat our data as a network dataset and use a robust statistical procedure (MRQAP) to issue a valid and reliable comparison between simulated applications. We show how the quadratic assignment procedure can be used to compare network simulations rigorously. As a result, we observe a direct relationship between multiplicity and agent-level experiences and expectations in match generation. We also observe the emergence of divergent matching systems with minor rule changes as well as several expected properties of online dating systems. This work serves as a proof-of-concept in the integration of classical social network analysis methods with agent-based modeling to compare virtual designs and to enhance the policy-generation process of online social networks.

As human activities of the countries in the East Asia have been remarkably expanding over recent decades, various problems in relation to ships, such as oil spill and many other coastal marine pollution, are continuously occurring in the coastal region. In order to conserve marine resources and prepare for possible ship accidents in advance, the need for efficient ship management is increasing over time. Multi-satellite, multi-sensor, multi-wavelength or multi-frequency observations make it possible to monitor a variety of vessels in the coastal region. This study presents the results of ship detection methodology applied to multi-spectral satellite images in the seas around Korean Peninsula based on optical, hyperspectral, and microwave remote sensing. To detect ships from hyperspectral images with a few hundreds of spectral channels, spectral matching algorithms are used to investigate similarity between the spectra and in-situ measurements. In the case of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images, the Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) algorithm is used to discriminate the vessels from backscattering coefficients of Sentinel-1 SAR and ALOS-2 PALSAR2 images. The present ship detection methods can be extensively utilized for optical, hyperspectral, and SAR images for comprehensive coastal management purposes toward perpetual sustainability in the future.

Electrode is a key component in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and it needs significant improvement for practical implementation of MEC. For effective development of electrode technology, accurate and reproducible analytical methods are very important. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is an essential analytical method for evaluating electrode performance; however, it has not been firmly established yet in the MEC field. In this study, biological brush (BB), abiotic brush (AB), Pt wire (PtW), stainless steel wire (SSW) and mesh (SSM)) were tested to explore the most suitable counter electrode in different medium conditions. Coefficient of variation (CV) for Imax of LSV were comparatively analyzed. In BB-anode LSV, SSW (0.48%) and SSM (2.17%) showed higher reproducibility as a counter electrode. In SSM-cathode LSV, BB (1.76%) and PtW (2.01%) produced more reproducible results. In the Ni-AC-SSM-cathode LSV, PtW (3.54%) and BB (8.81%) produced more reproducible result. It shows electrode used in the operation is an appropriate counter electrode in the acetate-added condition. However, in the absence of acetate, PtW (1.24%) and BB (1.71%) produced more reproducible results in SSM cathode and PtW (0.61%) and SSW (1.21%) did in the Ni-AC-SSM-cathode, showing PtW is an appropriate counter electrode. These results also shows that PtW is an appropriate counter electrode in cathode LSV.

Accurate image registration is essential for eye movement compensation in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). The spatial resolution of an OCT instrument is typically anisotropic, i.e., different resolutions in the lateral and axial dimensions. When OCT images have anisotropic pixel resolution, residual distortion (RD) and false translation (FT) were always observed after image registration for rotational movement. In this study, RD and FT were quantitively analyzed over different degrees of rotational movement and various lateral and axial pixel resolution ratio (RL/RA) values. The theoretical analysis confirmed that the RD and FT increase significantly with the rotation degree and RL/RA. An image resizing assisting registration (RAR) strategy was proposed for accurate image registration. The performance of direct registration (DR) and RAR for retinal OCT and OCTA images were quantitatively compared. Experimental results confirmed that unnormalized RL/RA causes RD and FT, RAR can effectively improve the performance of OCT and OCTA image registration and distortion compensation.

Autoantibodies against specific lung cancer-associated antigens have been suggested for lung cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of anti-gen-autoantibody immune complex (AIC) against its free antigens for CYFRA21-1, ProGRP, NGAL, and NSE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In total, 85 patients with NSCLC and 120 healthy controls (HCs) were examined using a 9G DNA chip method. The ratios of AICs to their antigens and combinations of ratios consisting of two to four markers were calculated. The levels of AICs for CYFRA21-1, ProGRP, NGAL, and NSE were higher than their free antigens in all participants. The levels of each free antigen distinguished patients with NSCLC from HCs. The ratios of AIC to its antigen and seven combinations consisting of two to four ratios were significantly higher in patients with NSCLC than those in HCs. Excellent diagnostic performance was observed for all combination ratios (C4-1), with 85.9% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity at cutoff 3.51. Higher sensitivity was observed in the very early stages (0–I) and adenocarcinoma than in stages II–IV and other pathological types. The combination of all ratios of AICs and their antigens for all four markers is useful in the diagnosis of NSCLC.

The COVID-19 pandemic cost 7-8 million deaths worldwide, creating an unprecedented health and economic crisis. Affecting 700 million people globally, the magnitude of this pandemic is far from anything that humanity has encountered in recent times. A detailed investigation revealed that more than the SARS-CoV2 virus, the hyperactive immune system mediated injury as the real cause of mortality. Cytokine storm following viral infection leads to the surge of proinflammatory cytokines resulting in ARDS and lung injury. Anti-inflammatory intervention with anti-IL6 (anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (e.g., sarilumab, tocilizumab) and anti-IL-6 mAbs (i.e., siltuximab) and /or steroid-based approach lead to substantial protection and prevent death thereby implying the role of inflammation in COVID-19. In this short review, we summarized the dysregulated immune system in COVID-19 infection, investigating in detail the virus–host immune cross talks and presenting the possibilities of therapeutic intervention.

Antibiotics’ effect on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection still remains controversial. A prospective study of 257 children with MP pneumonia during a recent epidemic (2015-2016) was conducted. All MP pneumonia patients were treated with corticosteroids within 24-36 h after admission. Initially, oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg) or intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) (1-2 mg/kg) was administered for mild pneumonia patients, and IVMP (5 -10 mg/kg/day) for severe pneumonia patients. If patients showed persistent fever for 36-48 hours or disease progression, additive IVMP (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) was given. Eighty-five patients received only a broad-spectrum antibiotic without macrolide. The mean age and the male:female ratio were 5.6 ± 3.1 years, respectively. Seventy-four percent of patients (190/257) showed immediate defervescence within 24 h, and 95.7% (246/257) of patients showed defervescence within 72 h with improvements in clinical symptoms. Eight patients who received additive IVMP also showed clinical improvement within 48 h without adverse reactions. There were no clinical or laboratory differences between patients treated with a macrolide (n = 172) and without (n = 85). Early corticosteroid therapy might reduce disease morbidity and prevent disease progression in MP pneumonia patients without side effects, and antibiotics may have limited effects on MP infection.

As the number of older adults with dementia increases, early diagnosis and intervention are crucially important. The purpose of this study was to conduct dementia screening on older adults to determine whether there are differences in daily activities of living, depression, loneliness, social support, and life satisfaction between older adults at high-risk for dementia compared with low-risk older adults. We hypothesized a negative relationship between high-risk older adults and these factors. This study also hypothesized a moderating effect for social support on the relationship between daily living activities and life satisfaction. This study used a cross-sectional design with survey data. Participants were recruited at 15 public community health centers in South Korea. A total of 609 older adults (male 208, female 401) living in the community were screened for early dementia, and 113 participants (18.9 %) were assigned to the high-risk group. As hypothesized, participants in the high-risk group showed significantly more negative results ​​in terms of activities of daily living, depression, loneliness, social support, and life satisfaction compared with participants in the low-risk group. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the importance of early screening for dementia and policies for effective dementia prevention.

The ternary Bi2MoO6-reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-TiO2 catalyst were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. The improvement of the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of Bi2MoO6-rGO-TiO2 composite is 92.3% than the pure and binary photocatalyst. The effects of operational parameters like catalyst ratio, the different catalyst, different ratio rGO and different pH, have been analyzed. As prepared ternary photocatalyst is low Photoluminescence and high photocurrent density responsible, it exhibited that photon-induced electron and hole-recombination were suppressed and also charged separation is effective. The present study shows the rGO is an excellent electron transfer performance and enhanced the photocatalytic reaction stability.

Understanding the ionic channel network of proton exchange membranes, which dictate fuel cell performance, is crucial when developing proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, itis difficult to characterize due to complicated nano structure and differing changes to their structure with different amounts of water uptake. Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) can map surface charge distribution as nano special resolution by measuring the electrostatic force between a vibrating conductive tip and a charged surface under an applied voltage, . In this study, the ionic channel network of a proton exchange membrane is analyzed using EFM. A mathematical approximation model of the ionic channel network is first derived, to explain changes in force gradient on the surface using EFM. The phase lag of dry and wet Nafion under stepwise changes to bias voltage is then measured. Based on the model, variations in the ionic channel network of Nafion with different amounts of water uptake are analyzed numerically. The mean surface charge density of both membranes, which is connected with the ionic channel network, is calculated using the model. The results show that the difference between the mean surface charge of the dry and wet membranes is consistent with the variation in their proton conductivity.

Turbine generator operates with complex cooling system due to the challenge in controlling the peak temperature of the stator bar caused by ohm loss, which is unavoidable. Therefore, it is important to characterise and quantifies the thermal performance of the cooling system. The focus of the present research is to investigate the heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics of typical cooling system, so-called stator ventilation duct. A real scale model was built at its operating conditions for the present study. The direction of cooling air is varied to consider its operation condition, so that there are (1) outward flow and (2) inward flow cases. In addition, the effect of (3) cross flow (inward with cross flow case) is also studied. The transient heat transfer method using thermochromic liquid crystals is implemented to measure full surface heat transfer distribution. A series of Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis is also conducted to support the observation from the experiment. For the inward flow case, the results suggest that the average Nusselt number of the 2nd duct is about 30% higher than the 3rd duct. The trend is similar with the effect of cross flow. The CFD results are in good agreement with the experimental data.

To ensure the safety in aircraft flying, we aim use of the deep learning methods of nondestructive examination with multiple defect detection paradigms for X-ray image detection posed. The use of the Fast Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (Fast R-CNN) driven model seeks to augment and improve existing automated Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) diagnosis. Within the context of X-ray screening, limited numbers insufficient types of X-ray aeronautics engine defect data samples can thus pose another problem in training model tackling multiple detections perform accuracy. To overcome this issue, we employ a deep learning paradigm of transfer learning tackling both single and multiple detection. Overall the achieve result get more then 90% accuracy based on the AE-RTISNet retrained with 8 types of defect detection. Caffe structure software to make networks tracking detection over multiples Fast R-CNN. We consider the AE-RTISNet provide best results to the more traditional multiple Fast R-CNN approaches simpler translate to C++ code and installed in the Jetson™ TX2 embedded computer. With the use of LMDB format, all images using input images of size 640 × 480 pixel. The results scope achieves 0.9 mean average precision (mAP) on 8 types of material defect classifiers problem and requires approximately 100 microseconds.

Land use/land cover (LULC) and climate changes are two main factors directly affecting hydrologic conditions. However, very few studies in Vietnam have investigated changes in hydrological process under the impact of climate and land use changes on a basin scale. The objective of this study is to assess the individual and combined impacts of land use and climate changes on hydrological processes for the Nam Rom river basin, Northwestern Viet Nam using Remote Sensing (RS) and Soil and Water Assessment Tools (SWAT) model. SWAT model was used for hydrological process simulation. Results indicated that SWAT proved to be a powerful tool in simulating the impacts of land use and climate change on catchment hydrology. The change in historical land use between 1992 and 2015 strongly contributed to increasing hydrological processes (ET, percolation, ground water, and water yield), whereas, climate change led to significant decrease of all hydrological components. The combination of land use and climate changes significantly reduced surface runoff (-16.9%), ground water (-5.7%), water yield (-9.2%), and sediment load (-4.9%). Overall climatic changes had more significant effect on hydrological components than land use changes in the Nam Rom river basin during the 1992–2015. Under impacts of projected land use and climate change scenarios in 2030 on hydrological process of the upper Nam Rom river basin indicate that ET and surface flow are more sensitive to the changes in land use and climate in the future. In conclusion, the findings of this study will basic knowledge of the effects of climate and land-use changes on the hydrology for future development of integrated land use and water management practices in Nam Rom river basin.

Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) is a series of chemical reactions in aerobic organisms used to generate energy via the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fatty acids, and proteins. In the eukaryotic system, the TCA cycle completely occurs in mitochondria, while the intermediates of the TCA cycle are retained in mitochondria due to their polarity and hydrophilicity. Under conditions of cell stress, mitochondria become disrupted and release their contents, which act as danger signals in the cytosol. Of note, the TCA cycle intermediates may also leak from dysfunctioning mitochondria and regulate cellular processes. Increasing evidence shows that the metabolites of the TCA cycle are substantially involved in the regulation of immune responses. In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive systematic overview of the molecular mechanisms of each TCA cycle intermediate that may play key roles in regulating cellular immunity in cell stress and discuss their implications for immune activation and suppression.

Depending on the characteristics of the industrial area, toxicity evaluation of human body, risk assessment and health impact assessment may directly cause cancer due to air pollution. Environmental data collection is from August 2018 to January 31, 2019, and the average, minimum, and maximum values of air pollution data respectively. According to the global data on global trends using the Big Data, high blood pressure is confirmed at 33rd place in the world, and myocardial infarction among the environmental diseases is confirmed to be lower than Korea. Disease that occurred in Jeolla province industrial complex considering the characteristics of our country was identified as representative. Air pollutants are considered to be the causes of allergic diseases in Korea. PM10 was found to be higher than the control area (28.8804348 (㎍ / ㎥), 31.7065217 (㎍ / ㎥) and 32.8532609 (㎍ / ㎥). The mean concentrations of PM2.5 in the middle and high exposure areas were lower than those of the control areas, but the highest in the intermediate exposure areas was 16.5978261 (㎍ / ㎥), 16.1086957 (㎍ / ㎥) and 17.1847826 (㎍ / ㎥) respectively. The relationship between the major variables of environmental exposure in Yeosu was confirmed to be correlated with high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, cerebrovascular, diabetes, thyroid disease, sinus infection, anemia and pneumonia.

The problem of scheduling is an area that has attracted a lot of attention from researchers for many years. Its goal is to optimize resources in the system. The assigning task to the lecturer is an example of the timetabling problem, a class of scheduling. This study introduces a mathematical model to assign fixed tasks (the time and required skills to be fixed) to university lecturers. Our model is capable of generating a calendar that maximizes faculty expectations. The formulated problem is in the form of a multi-objective problem that optimal makes decisions require the trade-off presence of trade-offs between two or more conflicting objectives. To solve this, we use the Compromise Programming approach to multi-objective programming. We then proposed the new version of the Genetic Algorithm to solve the introduced model. Finally, the model and algorithm tested with real scheduling data collected at the Computing Fundamental Department, FPT University, Hanoi, Vietnam.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of lupin flake supplementation on the growth, plasma parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat composition of late-fattening Hanwoo steers. The steers (n = 40) were randomly divided into the four groups with 10 steers each: LP0 (Lupin flake 0%), LP3 (lupin flake 3%), LP6 (Lupin flake 6%), and LP9 (lupin flake 9%). The total digestible nutriant intake increased as the concentration of lupin increased (linear and quadratic effects; P < 0.05). The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance content in the strip loins decreased as lupin flake supplementation levels increased (linear and quadratic effects; P < 0.05), while carnosine levels increased linearly (P < 0.05). As the lupin flake supplementation level increased, anserine and creatinine contents increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05). Similarly, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) contents increased with increasing lupin flake supplementation levels in linear and quadratic effects (P < 0.001). Palmitoleic acid content increased significantly with increasing lupin flake supplementation level (linear and quadratic effects; P < 0.05). The content of oleic acid in the strip loin was not significant, but the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) (P < 0.05) and n-6/n-3 ratio (P < 0.05) increased. The results of this study indicated that although lupin flake supplementation did not markedly affect the growth, carcass characteristics, or meat composition of late-fattening Hanwoo steers, it exerted a positive effect on the flavor, taste profiles (anserine, creatinine, ATP, and AMP), hypotonicity(TBARS), and healthy meat production (UFA and n-6/n-3 ratio) related to beef.

In this study, the potential of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) containing LDIQK peptide and treadmill exercise to prevent cognitive decline was investigated along with the neuroprotective mechanisms. Cognitive dysfunction was induced in mice by 1 mg/kg scopolamine, followed by administration of WPH at 100 and 200 mg/kg and/or treadmill exercise at 15 m/min for 30 min five days per week. Both WPH administration and treadmill exercise significantly improved memory in mice with scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, which was attributed to several key mechanisms, including a reduction in oxidative stress based on decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde in the brain tissue and an increase in acetylcholine by increasing choline acyltransferase and decreasing acetylcholine esterase levels. Exercise and WPH also exerted neuroprotective effects by inhibiting the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, enhancing the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and inhibiting apoptosis by reducing the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in conjunction with downregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Moreover, the impact of WPH and treadmill exercise extended to the gut microbiome, suggesting a potential link with cognitive improvement. These findings suggest that both WPH intake and treadmill exercise are effective strategies for mitigating cognitive impairment, providing promising avenues for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Penile augmentation using filler injections is a growing trend; however, the foreign body reaction can cause complications such as ulcer and necrosis of the penis, which can requires reconstruction. The existing method of reconstruction of the penis focused on filling the deficit. We report a case involving a scrotal flap and autologous augmentation using a de-epithelialization technique for a soft tissue defect caused by delayed infection after a penile filler injection. The defect was reconstructed and an augmentation effect was achieved. The patient was a 41-year-old man who received an injection of Aquafilling® (Biomedica, Prague, Czech Republic) 7 years previously and developed a delayed infection. After debridement, the penile defect spanned the entire shaft, and the circumference of the penis was 7.5 cm. Using a bilateral scrotal flap technique, the inferior margins of both flaps were rolled inward after de-epithelialization to achieve autologous augmentation. No infection or flap necrosis occurred during the 3-month follow-up period after surgery. Additionally, the penis circumference was expanded to 12 cm, and the patient indicated that he was very satisfied with the result. This surgical technique can be widely applied as treatment for penile defects.

Cyanex 301 and LIX 63 can seletively extract Pd(II) over Pt(IV) from strong hydrochloric acid solutions. Therefore, solvent extraction experiments have been performed by extractant mixtures containing either Cyanex 301 or LIX 63 and the extraction behavior of Pd(II) was compared. Among the mixture of Cyanex 301, the highest synergistic enhancement coefficient was achieved by mixing Cyanex 301 and TOPO. However, it was very diffiuclt to strip the Pd(II) from the loaded mixture. Among the mixture of LIX 63, the mixture of LIX 63 and Alamine 336/TOPO enhanced the extraction of Pt(II). Although the synergistic coefficient by Cyanex 301 + TOPO was higher than that by LIX 63 + Alamine 336, the Pd(II) in the loaded mixture of LIX 63 and Alamine 336 was easily stripped by thiourea.

Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEV) hold non-invasive RNA biomarkers for genitourinary tract diseases. However, missing knowledge about reference genes and effects of pre-analytical choices hinder biomarker studies. We aimed to assess how pre-analytical variables (urine storage temperature, isolation workflow) affect diabetic kidney disease (DKD) -linked miRNAs or kidney -linked miRNAs and mRNAs (kidney-RNAs) in uEV isolates and to discover stable reference mRNAs across diverse uEV datasets. We studied nine raw and normalized sequencing datasets including healthy controls and individuals with prostate cancer or type 1 diabetes with or without albuminuria. We focused on kidney-RNAs reviewing literature for DKD-linked miRNAs from kidney tissue, cell culture and uEV/urine experiments. RNAs were analyzed by expression heatmaps, hierarchical clustering and selecting stable mRNAs with normalized counts (>200) and minimal coefficient of variation. Kidney-RNAs were decreased after urine storage at -20°C vs -80°C. Isolation workflows captured kidney-RNAs with different efficiencies. Ultracentrifugation captured DKD -linked miRNAs that separated healthy and diabetic macroalbuminuria groups. Eleven mRNAs were stably expressed across the datasets. Hence, preanalytical choices had variable effects on kidney-RNAs – analyzing kidney-RNAs complemented global correlation, which could fade differences in some relevant RNAs. Replicating prior DKD-marker results and discovery of candidate reference mRNAs encourages further uEV biomarker studies.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and feared complication of radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Recently, tissue engineering is being attempted for post-prostatectomy ED, with controlled interactions between cells, growth factors, and extracellular matrix (ECM) being important for nerve regeneration's structural integrity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of biomechanical ECM patch on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) morphology and behavior in bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) rat model. The ECM patch, made of decellularized human fibroblast-derived ECM (hFDM) and a biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, was tested with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on a bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) rat model. In vitro analysis showed that the hFDM/PVA + hBMSCs patches significantly increased neural development markers. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the rats treated with the hFDM/PVA patch had higher ICP/MAP ratio, a higher ratio of smooth muscle to collagen, increased content of nNOS, higher levels of eNOS protein expression, and a higher cGMP level compared to the BCNI group. These results indicate that the hFDM/PVA patch is effective in promoting angiogenesis, smooth muscle regeneration, and nitrergic nerve regeneration, which could contribute to improved erectile function in post-prostatectomy ED.

This manuscript critically reviews the design and delivery of spray-dried particles for the achievement of high total lung doses (TLD) with a portable dry powder inhaler. We introduce a new metric termed the product density, which is simply the TLD of a drug divided by the volume of the receptacle it is contained within. The product density is given by the product of three terms: the packing density (the mass of powder divided by the volume of the receptacle), the drug loading (the mass of drug divided by the mass of powder), and the aerosol performance (the TLD divided by the mass of drug). This manuscript discusses strategies for maximizing each of these terms. Spray drying at low drying rates with small amounts of a shell-forming excipient (low Peclet Number) leads to formation of higher density particles with high packing densities. This enables ultrahigh TLD (>100 mg of drug) to be achieved from a single receptacle. Emptying of powder from capsules is directly proportional to the mass of powder in the receptacle, requiring an inhaled volume of about 1 L for fill masses between 40 and 50 mg and up to 3.2 L for a fill mass of 150 mg.

Frailty, an age-related decline in homeostatic reserves, markedly proceeded during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. To continuously assess frailty status, a remote system is urgently required. We aimed to co-design/co-develop an online frailty check (FC) application alongside FC supporters who were facilitators in a pre-existing onsite FC program. The online FC included a screening measurement for sarcopenia and an 11-item questionnaire covering dietary, physical, and social behaviors. Using prototype applications, 55 opinions obtained from 32 FC supporters (median 74.0 years) were categorized and reflected refinement. Regarding the self-efficacy of FC supporters, a significant increase in social positioning was seen after the mock test (P=.031). For FC supporters and participants, the average system usability scale (SUS) score was 70.2±10.3 points, which was “marginally high” for acceptability and “good” for the adjective range. Multiple regression analysis showed that the SUS score was significantly correlated with online-onsite reliability but not online communication, even after adjusting by age, sex, education level, and ICT proficiency (b=0.400, 95% CI: 0.243-1.951, P=.013). Additionally, a significant association between onsite and online FC scores was observed (R=0.670, P=.001). Our online FC application was evaluated to be a valuable tool to practically assess frailty status remotely.

Ce³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions doped Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ (CAS) phosphors were prepared by the solid-state reaction at 12800C for 1h. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed a tetragonal crystalline structure. The luminescent spectra of CAS: Ce³⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphors consist a board band with peaking at 420 nm corresponding to the luminescence of Ce³⁺ ions and narrow lines of Dy³⁺ ions. The energy transfer from Ce³⁺ ion to Dy³⁺ ion is presented and discussed

While the container crane is an important part of daily port operations, it has received little attention compared with other infrastructures, such as buildings and bridges. Crane collapse due to earthquake affects the operation of the port, and indirectly impacts the economy. This study proposes fragility analyses for various damage levels of the container crane that allow the port owner and partners to better understand the seismic vulnerability presented by container cranes. A large quantity of nonlinear time history analyses was applied for a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model to quantify the vulnerability of the container crane in considering the uplift and derailment behavior. The uncertainty of demand and capacity of the crane structures were also considered through random variables, i.e. elastic modulus of members, ground motion profile, and intensity. The results analyzed in the case of a Korean container crane showed that the probability of exceeding the first uplift with or without derailment is shown before the crane reaches the structure’s limit states. This means that under low seismic excitation, the crane might be derailed without any structural damage. But when the crane reaches the minor damage state, it is always coupled with a certain probability of uplift with or without derailment. This study also proposes the fragility curves developed for different structural periods to enable port stakeholders to assess the risk of their container crane.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 sets an ambitious target of leaving no one without adequate sanitation by 2030. The key concern is the lack of local human and financial capital to fund the collection of reliable information to monitor progress towards the goal. As a result, national and local records may be telling a different story of the proportion of safely managed sanitation that counts towards achieving the SDGs. This paper unveils such inconsistency in sanitation data generated by urban authorities and proposes a simple approach for collecting reliable and verifiable information on access to safely managed sanitation. The paper is based on a study conducted in Babati Town Council in Tanzania. Using a smartphone-based survey tool, city health officers were trained to map 17,383 housing units in the town. A housing unit may comprise of two or more households. The findings show that 5% practice open defecation, while 82% of the housing units have some forms of sanitation. Despite the extensive coverage, only 31% of the faecal sludge generated is safely contained, while 64% is not. This study demonstrates the possibility of using simple survey tools to collect reliable data for monitoring progress towards safely managed sanitation in the towns of global south.

This study investigates the impact of thin flame combustor design on hydrogen flame characteristics and combustion performance through numerical simulations. Variations in flame shape and combustibility between 100% methane and 100% hydrogen combustion are analyzed. Three combustor header shapes (flat, concave, and convex) are modeled to assess their influence on flame behavior. Results show distinct flow patterns, with concave headers promoting strong central flows and convex headers dispersing the flow outward. Temperature field analysis indicates that hydrogen flames have higher temperatures and shorter quenching distances compared to methane flames. A comparative analysis of combustion products is conducted to evaluate combustion performance and NOx emissions. Consequently, the concave header has high combustibility and increases temperatures and NOx fraction in hydrogen combustion.

In this paper, feasibility of the initial alignment of the gyro-free inertial navigation system (GF-INS) is investigated. Initial roll and initial pitch are obtained as the conventional INS since centripetal acceleration is very small. Relation between initial heading and accelerometers’ outputs of the gyro-free inertial measurement unit (GF-IMU) is derived. It is determined from the relation whether initial heading can be obtained in 15 GF-IMUs which have been presented in research literatures. The relationship between the accelerometer errors of GF-IMU and the initial heading error is derived. When gyros are additionally attached in one axis or two axes of the body frame, it is investigated that initial heading can be obtained. The initial heading error is also calculated from the accelerometer errors and the gyroscope errors. The results show that the initial heading from only accelerometer outputs of the GF-IMU cannot be used in the GF-INS since the error is too large. It can also be seen from the results that the initial heading can be used in the GF-INS if two gyroscopes are additionally attached to the roll and pitch axes of the body frame.

This study investigated clinical nurses’ knowledge and visual differentiation ability of the pressure injury classification system (PICS) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), additionally analyzing possible influencing factors. A convenience sample of 248 nurses took the PICS and IAD knowledge test (KT) and completed the visual differentiation ability test (VDAT), consisting of 21 photographs with clinical information. The overall mean score for correct answers was 12.65±2.90 points in PICS & IAD KT and 11.43±4.57 points in VDAT. Incorrect responses were most common for statements related to stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ, IAD for PICS & IAD KT, and deep tissue pressure injury (DTPI), unstageable, and stage Ⅲ for VDAT. Significant correlations were found between PICS & IAD KT and VDAT (r=.252, p<.001). Factors affecting scores for VDAT were the scores of PICS & IAD KT, debridement experience in nursing patients with PI, and the management frequency of PI and IAD. Results indicate that nurses have an overall understanding of PICS and IAD, but low visual differentiation ability regarding stage Ⅲ, DTPI, and unstageable PI. Continuing education is needed to further improve knowledge and visual differentiation ability for PICS and IAD.

Hydrogen energy is regarded as an auspicious future substitute to replace fossil fuels, because of its environmentally friendly characteristics and high energy density. In the pursuit of clean hydrogen production, there has been a significant focus on the advancement of effective electrocatalysts for the process of water splitting. Although noble metals like Pt, Ru, Pd and Ir are superb electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), they have limitations for large-scale applications, mainly high cost and low abundance. As a result, non-precious transition metals have emerged as promising candidates to replace their more expensive counterparts in various applications. This review focuses on recently developed transition metal phosphides (TMPs) electrocatalysts for the HER in alkaline media due to the cooperative effect between the phosphorus and transition metals. Finally, we discuss the challenges of TMPs for HER.

The novel COVID-19 disease is a contagious acute respiratory infectious disease whose causative agent has been demonstrated to be a new virus of the coronavirus family, SARS- CoV-2. Multiple studies have already reported that risk factors for severe disease include older age and the presence of at least one of several underlying health conditions. However, a recent physiopathological report and the French COVID-19 scientific council have postulated a protective effect of tobacco smoking. Thanks to a meta-analysis, we have been able to demonstrate the statistical significance in this regard of twelve series from China, France and in the US, reporting three different smoking status (current smoker,former smoker, with a smoking history) as well as disease severity (with respectively odds-ratio of 1.78 [1.08-3.10], 4.60 [3.13-7.17], 2.74 [0.63-5.89]). Subsequently and using a Bayesian approach we have established that past, and present smoking is associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes. Finally, we refute claims linking general population smoking status (N=O(10^8) or O(10^9)) to much smaller disease course series (N=O(10^4)). The latter point in particular is presented to stimulate academic discussion, and must be further investigated by well-designed studies.

The novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is a contagious acute respiratory infectious disease whose causative agent has been demonstrated to be a novel virus of the coronavirus family, SARSCoV-2. A recent pre-print study has showed a heme attack on the 1-beta chain of hemoglobin by COVID19. Beta-thalassemia results of a default in the hemoglobin beta- chain synthesis. 1,5% global population are heterozygotes for this disease. In this study, by a multiple linear regression, we have analyzed the evolution of COVID-19 infection in three Italian regions (Puglia, Sardinia, Sicilia) with different beta-thalassemic prevalences, in order to search a link. The results have showed that betathalassemic heterozygote population prevalence is correlated to immunity against COVID-19, by a regression. This paper is only for academic discussion, the hypotheses and conclusions needs to be confirmed by further research .

The effects of chemical composition and solidification rate on the solidification behavior of high-Cr white irons were investigated through directional solidification. Increasing the solidi-fication rate in hypoeutectic alloys caused the finer dendrite arm spacing as expected. The eutec-tic structure which formed in the interdendritic region comprised of M7C3 and austenite, how-ever, secondary dendrite arms of hypoeutectic alloys contained a few M7C3 particles that solidi-fied prior to the eutectic structure. The transition from cellular to dendritic solidification oc-curred at a solidification rate between 50 µm/s and 100 µm/s in a near eutectic alloy. In the near eutectic alloy with cellular solidification, a directionally arrayed in-situ composite of M7C3/austenite formed within the cell. Speckle-like feature appeared in the intercellular region due to M23C6 carbide precipitation during subsequent cooling after freezing. Like dendrite arm spacing in hypoeutectic alloys, the inter-speckle spacing and the inter-fibre spacing became finer with increasing solidification rate in the cellular solidification range.

It is currently difficult to obtain accurate fine dust information in residential areas due to the insufficient number of air quality monitoring systems and spatial imbalances. Therefore, a detailed particulate matter dispersion model including factors such as land use and meteorological information was developed in this study and used to create fine dust concentration distribution maps. The fine dust concentration distribution maps currently available to citizens were compared with those obtained by dispersion modeling, and population distribution data were employed to compare the populations exposed to fine dust according to the two methods. The results of the existing method and the developed particulate matter dispersion model differed significantly. For instance, the PM2.5 concentrations in Daejeon, South Korea, on February 17, 2018, were 56% “Good” and 44% “Moderate,” according to the existing method, while they were 31% “Good,” 26% “Moderate,” 28% “Unhealthy,” and 15% “Very Unhealthy,” according to the dispersion model. Furthermore, the existing method indicated that no portion of the population was exposed to poor fine dust concentrations, while the proposed model revealed that over 170 thousand people were exposed to such concentrations. These results on fine dust distributions will contribute to sustainable urban and environmental planning.

The number of patients with bone metabolic disorders including osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. These disorders often facilitate bone fractures, which seriously impact the patient’s quality of life and could lead to further health complications. Bone homeostasis is tightly regulated to balance bone resorption and formation. However, many anti-osteoporotic agents are broadly categorized as either bone forming or anti-resorptive, and their therapeutic use is often limited due to unwanted side effects. Therefore, safe and effective therapeutic agents are needed for osteoporosis. This study aims to clarify the bone protecting effects of oat bran water extract (OBWE) and its mode of action. OBWE inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by blocking c-Fos/NFATc1 through the alteration of I-κB. Furthermore, we found that OBWE enhanced BMP-2-stimulated osteoblast differentiation by the induction of Runx2 via Smad signaling molecules. In addition, the anti-osteoporotic activity of OBWE was also evaluated using an in vivo model. OBWE significantly restored ovariectomy-induced bone loss. These in vitro and in vivo results showed that OBWE has the potential to combat bone metabolic disorders including osteoporosis

The tricellular tight junction protein angulin-1/lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is associated with numerous signal transduction pathways that regulate gene expression, epithelial cell function, and morphogenesis. The impacts of particulate matter on LSR and asthma are not known. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the impacts of particulate matter as one of air pollution on LSR expression in asthma. To this end, we investigated the involvement of LSR in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in an ovalbumin (OVA) mouse model of asthma exposed to titanium dioxide (TiO2), and examined plasma LSR levels and their relationship with clinical variables in asthma patients and healthy controls. Plasma LSR levels were lower in asthma patients than in healthy controls. Although plasma levels of receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) were lower in asthma patients than in healthy controls, high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) levels did not differ between these groups. In asthma patients, LSR levels were correlated with the forced vital capacity percentage, ratio of forced expiration (first second)-to-forced vital capacity, white blood cell count, and blood lymphocyte proportion. In mice, LSR expression was significantly decreased in OVA mice compared with control mice, and changed in OVA mice exposed to TiO2. Transforming growth factor beta levels were increased in OVA mice compared with control mice, and changed in OVA mice exposed to TiO2. Overall, plasma LSR levels were decreased in asthma patients, and were influenced by exposure to air pollution. These findings suggest the involvement of LSR in the pathogenesis of asthma.

(1) Background: P-cadherin (CDH3) is a transmembrane protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of epithelial tissue and homeostasis. Its role in carcinogenesis remains a subject of debate, as its behavior can vary depending on the molecular context and the specific tumor cell model under study. In this study, we explored the role of P-cadherin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the mechanism underlying its function. (2) Methods: We analyzed P-cadherin expression in HNSCC patients using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. For in vitro functional analysis, we conducted proliferation, migration, invasion, and western blot assays after either suppressing or overexpressing P-cadherin. For in vivo functional analysis, we utilized mouse xenograft models. (3) Results: P-cadherin was significantly overex-pressed in tumor samples compared to normal samples in the TCGA-HNSCC cohort. P-cadherin knockdown resulted in decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion compared to control cells, while P-cadherin overexpression increased cell proliferation and migration in HNSCC cells. We discovered that c-Met functioned as an upstream regulator of P-cadherin. Surprisingly, we found that P-cadherin knockdown increased the phosphorylation of c-Met and STAT3. Combining P-cadherin siRNA with the c-Met inhibitor SU11274 resulted in a more effective reduction in HNSCC cell growth, both in vitro and in vivo, compared to either treatment alone. (4) Conclusions: Our study uncovered a previously unknown aspect of P-cadherin-mediated c-Met regulation. The enhanced activation of c-Met/STAT3 following P-cadherin inhibition could be responsible for the survival of resistant tumor cells. Therefore, dual inhibition of P-cadherin and c-Met may be a potentially effective approach for treating HNSCC.

REV-ERBα and its paralog, REV-ERBβ encoded by NR1D1 and NR1D2 genes, are key nuclear receptors that link the circadian timing system and metabolic homeostasis. Since heme is an endogenous ligand, REV-ERBs have been considered key components of the circadian molecular clock that can be pharmacologically targeted to treat various circadian rhythm-related diseases, such as cardiometabolic, inflammatory, and neuropsychiatric diseases, as well as cancer. REV-ERBs are believed to be functionally redundant and compensatory, although they often affect the expression of gene subsets in an isoform-specific manner. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the redundant and distinct roles of each isoform in controlling its target genes by comparing the transcriptome profiles of a panel of mutant U2OS human osteosarcoma cells in which either NR1D1 or NR1D2 was ablated. Indeed, our transcriptomic analyses revealed that most REV-ERB-regulated genes were controlled by redundant or even additive actions. However, the RNA expression profiles of each single mutant cell line also provided strong evidence for isoform-dependent actions. For example, REV-ERBα were more responsible for regulating the NF-κΒ signaling pathway, whereas a group of extracellular matrix components required REV-ERBβ to maintain their expression. We found that REV-ERBs have isoform-selective functions in the regulation of certain circadian output pathways, despite their overlapping roles in the circadian molecular clock. Thus, the development of isoform-selective REV-ERB modulators may help treat metabolic disturbances and certain types of cancer.

We propose a wave-like design on the surface of cathode channels (wave form cathode channels) to improve oxidant delivery to gas diffusion layers (GDLs) [1-2]. We performed experiments using PEMFCs combined with wave form surface design on cathodes. We varied the factors of the distance between wave-bumps (the Adhesive distance, AD), and the size of the wave-bumps (the Expansion ratio, ER). The ADs are 3, 4, and 5 times the size of the half-circle bump’s radius, and the ERs are 1/1.5, 1/2, and 1/3 times the channel’s height. We evaluated the performances of the fuel cells, and compared the current-voltage (I-V) relations. For comparison, we prepared PEMFCs with conventional flat-surfaced oxygen channels. Our aim in this work is to identify fuel cell operation by modifying the surface design of channels, and ultimately to find the optimal design of cathode channels that will maximize fuel cell performance.

Developing high performance HVAC system using natural refrigerants including carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been important in respect of environmental preservation and associated technologies. Thus studies to optimize the HVAC (heating ventilation air conditioner) system using natural refrigerants through clarifying the cycle performance characteristics are necessary. The CO₂ heat pump system using air and water sources was consisted to examine its performance characteristics, and by varying conditions of several factors that affect or characterize the system performance like the amount of refrigerant charge, EEV (electronic expansion valve) opening, and internal heat exchanger under cooling mode. The performance characteristics of CO₂ heat pump system were tested by using an air enthalpy calorimeter. In the case of the CO₂ heat pump system without internal heat exchanger, the opening of #3 EEV and #4 EEV was 60% and refrigerant charge amount was 5,600g. However, in the case of that with internal heat exchanger, the best performance was obtained when the opening of #2 EEV is 20%. From the present studies, it was observed that the performance variation and operational characteristics of the CO₂ heat pump system were affected by design factors like refrigerant charge amount, EEV opening, and internal heat exchanger and thereby, the configuration on an optimal operation conditions of the system was enabled.

In this paper, we aim to present real implementation cases where non-visible elements of environmental impact assessments (EIA), wind flow, are visualized using a 3D digital twin technology. The conventional EIA process serves as a crucial tool in the evaluation of potential environmental impacts prior to the initiation of development projects. This evaluation helps to establish a legal and institutional framework that seeks to minimize the adverse effects on the environment. However, traditional EIA methods present challenges, particularly for non-experts, in comprehending the results of assessments involving non-visible environmental factors such as noise, air quality, and wind flow. These elements are often represented in static images or numerical tables, limiting accurate understanding and engagement. Our proposed method, termed Digital Twin based EIA, addresses these limitations by leveraging digital twin technology. This advanced methodology allows for the visualization of non-visible environmental elements in a spatio-temporal dimension, providing a more interactive and comprehensive user interface/experience for both citizens and stakeholders. In this context, we present a unique case study that focuses on visualizing wind flow using this technology. This paper serves as an example of how digital twin platforms can enhance traditional EIA processes, offering a more immersive and informative experience. The evolution of EIA into the digital realm signifies an important step forward in fostering public understanding and engagement in environmental protection efforts.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) showed in vitro mesoderm-lineage differentiation and self-renew capacity. However, no comparative study was reported on the biological characteristics of stem cells derived from skeletal muscle (SM-MSCs), dermal skin (DS-MSCs), and adipose tissues (A-MSCs) from a single donor in camels. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of MSCs source on stem cell characteristics. We evaluated proliferation capacity and mesoderm-lineage differentiation potential from SM-MSCs, DS-MSCs, and A-MSCs. They showed spindle-like morphology after homogenization. The proliferation ability was no significant difference in all groups. Furthermore, the portion of the cell cycle and expression of pluripotent markers (Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog) were similar in all cell lines at passage 3. The differentiation capacity of A-MSCs into adipocytes was significantly higher than that of SM-MSCs and DS-MSCs. However, the osteoblast differentiation capacity of A-MSCs was significantly lower than that of SM-MSCs and DS-MSCs. Additionally, after osteoblast differentiation, the ALP activity and calcium content was significantly decreased in A-MSCs as compared to SM-MSCs and DS-MSCs. To the best of our knowledge, we primally established MSCs from the single camel and demonstrated their comparative characteristics including expression of pluripotent factors and proliferation, and in vitro differentiation capacity into adipocytes and osteoblasts.

In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting the night-time economy in Hanoi to achieve the sustainable development of this economy. We surveyed four selected groups of subjects: people, tourists, business establishments, and managers in Hanoi City, in which tourists were nationwide but have been on a night tour in Hanoi. We chose a nonrandom convenience sample. With the above sample size, the number of respondents was insufficient, so we selected districts with potential for night economic development including Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Dong Da, Nam Tu Liem, Ha Dong, and Gia Lam. We obtained 463 usable surveys. We processed and analyzed the data using SPSS Statistics 26.0 software. Our quantitative study included: (1) testing the suitability of the scale for the variables using Cronbach’s alpha, (2) analyzing the EFA factors to check the convergence of the observed variables and the separation between the independent variables, (3) checking the correlation to evaluate the problem of multicollinearity of the model; , and (4) performing regression analysis to evaluate the impact of the factors on night-time economic development in Hanoi City. The results showed that the variables positively impacted night-time economic development in Hanoi, but we found differences in the levels of their impact. Among the four factors, factor 3 (promotion and sharing) had the strongest impact on night-time economic development, followed by factor 2 (infrastructure and safety), factor 1 (institutions and environment), and factor 4 (nature and resources.)

Endometriosis is a complex chronic condition characteristic of chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, anxiety and fatigue. This can often lead to multimorbidity which is defined by the presence of two or more long term conditions. Delayed diagnosis of endometriosis is a crucial issue that leads to poor quality of life and clinical management. There are a variety of limitations linked to conducting endometriosis research including lack of dedicated funding. Additionally, accessing existing electronic healthcare records can be challenging due to governance and regulatory restrictions. Missing data issues are another concern that has been commonly identified among real-world studies. Considering these challenges, data science technique could provide a solution by way of using synthetic datasets that could be generated using known characteristics of endometriosis to explore the possibility of predicting multimorbidity. This study aimed to develop an exploratory machine learning model that can predict multimorbidity among women with endometriosis using real-world and synthetic data. A sample size of 1012 was used from two endometriosis specialized centres in the UK. In addition, 1000 synthetic data records per centre were generated using the widely used Synthetic Data Vault’s Gaussian Copula model based on patients’ records’ characteristics. Three standard classification models, Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF), were used for classification. The average accuracies for all three models (LR, SVM and RF), given as “model accuracy-centre1: accuracy-centre2” were found to be: LR 64.26%:69.04%, SVM 67.35%:68.61%, and RF 58.67%:73.76% on real-world data, and LR 69.9%:72.29%, SVM 69.39%:70.13, and RF 68.88%:74.62 on synthetic data, respectively. The findings of this report show machine learning models trained on synthetic data performed better than models trained on real-world data. Our findings suggest synthetic data holds great promise for shows value to conduct clinical epidemiology and clinical trials that could devise better precision treatments and possibly reduce the burden of multimorbidity.

The small dimensions of microfluidic channels allow for fast diffusive or passive mixing, which is beneficial for time-sensitive applications such as chemical reactions, biological assays, and the transport of to-be-detected species to sensors. In microfluidics, the need for fast mixing within milliseconds arises primarily because these devices are often used in fields where rapid and efficient mixing significantly impacts the performance and outcome of the processes. Active mixing with acoustics in microfluidic devices involves using acoustic waves to enhance the mixing of fluids within microchannels. Using sharp corners and wall patterns in acoustofluidic devices significantly enhances mixing by acoustic streaming around these features. The streaming patterns around sharp edges are particularly effective for mixing because they can produce strong lateral flows that rapidly homogenize liquids. This work presents extensive characterizations of the effect of sharp-edged structures on acoustic mixing in bulk acoustic wave (BAW) mode in a silicon microdevice. The effect of side wall patterns in different angles and shapes, their position, the type of piezoelectric transducer, and its amplitude and frequency have been studied. Following the patterning of the channel walls, a mixing time of 25 times faster was reached, compared to channels with smooth sidewalls exhibiting conventional BAW behavior. The average locally determined acoustic streaming velocity inside the channel becomes 14 times faster if sharp corners of 10° are added to the wall.

Rice bran (RB) is a promising food ingredient that can improve biological function. In this study, we investigated the effects of RB, both unfermented (RB30) and fermented (RBF30) with five different microorganisms on the neurobehavioral activity in zebrafish larvae. Analytical methods such as UV spectrum and MS scan were performed. Interestingly, niacin content, which is known to improve brain functions such as cognition and emotion, was found to be higher in RBF30 than in RB30. Furthermore, niacin content was highly increased in the RBF30-exposed fish, compared to those in control fish. Therefore, we profiled behavioral patterns and various neurochemistry in zebrafish larvae following supplementation with RBF30 as well as performed calcium imaging on Tg (huC:GAL4-VP16);(UAS:GCaMP7a) zebrafish larvae to determine the correlation of neural activity. RBF30 revealed greater stimulation of locomotor activity without negatively affecting decision-making behavior in zebrafish larvae, as compared to RB30 or niacin. Its behavioral activation is mainly linked with the elevations of neural activity and several neurochemicals such as serotonergic and dopaminergic systems that are implicated in the control of anxiety and stress. Taken together, these results suggest that RBF30 could be a food material that improve the behavioral health by modulating neural activity and brain neurochemistry.

Ecklonia cava (E.cava) can alleviate vascular dysfunction in diseases associated with poor circulation. E. cava contains various polyphenols with different functions, but few studies have compared the effects of these polyphenols. Here, we comparatively investigated four major compounds present in an ethanoic extract of E. cava. These four major compounds were isolated and their effects were examined on monocyte-associated vascular inflammation and dysfunctions. Pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol (PPB) significantly inhibited monocyte migration in vitro by reducing levels of inflammatory macrophage differentiation and of its related molecular factors. In addition, PPB protected against monocyte-associated endothelial cell death by increasing the phosphorylations of PI3K-AKT and AMPK, decreasing caspase levels, and reducing monocyte-associated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by decreasing the phosphorylations of ERK and AKT. The results of this study show that four compounds were effective for reduction of monocyte-associated vascular inflammation and dysfunctions, but PPB might be more useful for the treatment of vascular dysfunction in diseases associated with poor circulation.

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the most crowded city and economic hub of Viet Nam, has been experiencing land subsidence over the past decades. This effort aims to contribute the spatial distribution of subsidence in HCMC in its horizontal and vertical components using synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) time series. To this purpose, an advanced Persistent Scatterers and Distributed Scatterers (PSDS) InSAR technique was applied to two European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-1 datasets consisting of 96 ascending and 202 descending images, acquired from 2014 to 2020 over the HCMC area. A time series of 33 COSMO-SkyMed ascending images was also used for comparison. The combination of ascending and descending satellite passes is used to decompose the light of sight velocities into horizontal east-west and vertical components. Taking into account the presence of east-west horizontal motion, our findings indicate that the accuracy of the decomposed vertical velocity can be improved by up to 3 mm/year for Sentinel-1 data. The obtained results revealed that subsidence is most pronounced in the areas along the Sai Gon River, in the northwest-southeast axis, and in the southwest of the city, with a maximum value of 80 mm/yr, which is in accordance with the findings of the literature. The amplitude of east-west horizontal velocities is relatively small and large-scale eastward movement can be observed in the west of the city at a rate of 3-5 mm/yr. This confirmed that the displacement in Ho Chi Minh City area is mainly vertical downward. Together, these results reinforced the remarkable suitability of ESA's SAR Sentinel-1 for subsidence applications, even for non-European countries such as Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) and its variants are found in many fields, especially logistics. In this study, we introduced an adaptive method to a complex VRP. It combines multi-objective optimization and several forms of VRPs with practical requirements for an urban shipment system. The optimizer needs to consider terrain and traffic conditions. The proposed model also considers customers' expectations, shipper considerations as goals, and the common goal like transportation cost. We offered compromise programming to approach the multi-objective problem by decomposing the original multi-objective problem into a minimized distance-based problem. We designed a hybrid version of the Genetic algorithm with the Local Search algorithm to solve the proposed problem. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm with the Tabu Search algorithm, the original Genetic algorithm on the tested dataset. The results show that our method is an effective decision-making tool for the multi-objective VRP and an effective solver for the new variation of VRP.

Owing to the time-varying characteristics and nonlinearities of industrial processes, control has higher difficulties and results in challenges for advanced technology. In this paper, a self-tuning controller that includes a nonlinear proportional-integral-derivative (NPID) control function as well as a self-tuning function is proposed for first-order plus time delay (FOPTD) process control. The NPID control function is implemented using the nonlinear PID controller whose optimum parameters are adapted by a neural network (NN). The self-tuning function is able to identify the process dynamics using a short period of process behavior and tune NPID parameters based on the identified parameters. The advantage of the proposed method is validated with a set of simulation works on three processes and the comparison results are presented.

Honey bees are vital organisms that provide ecological and economic value to humans. However, in recent years, the increase in honey bee losses due to various environmental factors, including pesticides, has become a growing concern. In Europe, neonicotinoid pesticides that are banned are being used without restrictions in the domestic setting, leading to ongoing damages as a result. Ongoing research is continually being conducted to demonstrate the risks associated with neonicotinoid pesticides. However, validation of the actual damages and impact in the field remains absent. Therefore, in this study, we observed changes in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies located near rice cultivation areas as they progressed beyond the rice pesticide application period. Furthermore, we collected honey bees exposed to the clothianidin and analyzed their stress-related gene expression. The results showed that the foraging behavior of honey bee colonies located near rice cultivation areas did not exhibit significant differences between the treatment site (Cheongyang and Gimje) and the control site (Wanju) during the experimental period. However, it was observed that the expression levels of stress-related genes in honey bees collected from the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control. Most of the stress-related genes were associated with detoxification processes in response to pesticides. As a result, pesticide treatment in proximity to rice cultivation areas did not cause direct damage to honey bees but had an indirect impact, suggesting the potential for ongoing chronic damage.

This research investigated the antihypertensive effects of tamarind products and compared their potentials based on their animal model’s data verified by molecular docking, multitarget interactions in network pharmacology, and dynamic simulation assays. The GC-MS characterized tamarind products were administered to the cholesterol-induced hypertensive Wistar albino rat models. Two-week-intervened animals were dissected to collect serum and organs which were respectively subjected to the analyses of hypertension-linked markers and tissue architectures. Lead biometabolites of tamarinds interacted with eight target receptors in molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies and they were tested for multitarget interactions using network pharmacological analyses. Results showed that serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP), Troponin I, and lipid profiles were maximally reinstated by the phenolic-enriched ripened sour over the sweet tamarind flesh extracts, but seed extracts had a smaller influence. Among the tamarind’s biometabolites, Gamma-sitosterol (ϒ-sitosterol) was found to be the best ligand in managing hypertension via the possible ligand-receptor interactions with the guanylate cyclase which displayed the best drug-likeliness through the highest binding energy -9.3 Kcal. Multitargeted interactions-based degree algorithm and phylogenetic tree of pathways showed 14 targeted genes, of which NR3C1, REN, PPARG, and CYP11B1 hub genes, were consistently modulated by the ϒ-sitosterol to reduce hypertension and related risk factors. The dynamic simulation study showed that the P-RMSD values of ϒ-sitosterol-guanylate cyclase were stable between 75.00 to 100.00 ns at the binding pocket. The findings demonstrate that ripened sour tamarind extract may be supplemented to be a more prospective antihypertensive target or nutraceuticals affirming through advanced preclinical and clinical studies.

The Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin (VG-TB) is confronting numerous challenges related to water security (WS), particularly in the face of the impacts of climate change. These challenges manifest in salinity intrusion, altered rainfall patterns, and reduced water supply in downstream areas. To assess the current state of water security in the basin, the study employed statistical analysis methods, Process Analysis Method (PAM), SMART, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to develop a comprehensive Assessment Framework for Water Security (AFWS) in the VG-TB. The AFWS encompasses five key dimensions, 17 indicators, and 28 variables, aligning with the UN-Water definition of water security and addressing the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) criteria for global water sustainability. It also adheres to the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) approach to water security assessment as outlined in the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) reports. This allows for the computation of a comprehensive Water Security Index (WSI) for specific regions, serving as a foundation for decision-making and policy formulation aimed at enhancing water security in the context of climate change and facilitating sustainable basin development in the future.

This paper presents a 32 GHz high power amplifier (HPA) with a design strategy to achieve a high-power output with reliable operation for the Ka-band deep space satellite communication in 150 nm GaN HEMT technology. The presented Ka-band HPA employs a cascaded two-stage common source amplifier topology, and the output stage is comprised of an 8-way power combining network in current mode. The interstage matching network is designed with the bandpass configuration utilizing capacitors and transmission lines to provide better stability at the low-frequency regime. The implemented Ka-band HPA achieved a peak power gain of 7.3 dB at 32 GHz and a 3 dB bandwidth was 3.5 GHz between 31.3 and 34.8 GHz. The saturated output power at the peak power added efficiency (PAE) of 19.3% was 38.2 dBm, and the output 1 dB gain compression point (OP1dB) was 27.4 dBm in the measurement. The designed HPA consumes an area of 19.35 mm^2 including RF signal, and DC pads

In this study, the effect of hot stamping forming process on the properties change of compound layer in Al–Si coated high-strength steel sheet with different thickness was investigated. The coating layer in hot stamped high-strength steel sheet was composed of a diffusion layer and a compound layer. As the hot stamping temperature and holding time for forming increased, the thickness of the compound layer in the Al–Si coated high-strength steel sheet increased. The thickness of coating layer with the hot stamping for 500 sec at 890, 910 and 950 °C was obtained 8.9, 11.8, and 20.6 micrometer, respectively. The thickness of coating layer with hot stamping for 180, 500 and 550 sec at 910 ^oC was obtained 5.7, 11.8, and 17.8 micrometer, respectively. The compound layer in hot stamped high-strength steel sheet with Al–Si coating layer consists of Al_5.4Fe₂ and Fe₂Si phases. In the compound layer, Al and Si were irregularly distributed.

Agricultural land fires have been linked to various and adverse impacts on ecosystems, food security and the agriculture sector. Understanding the patterns and drivers of agricultural land fires is essential for effective agricultural land fire management. The key objectives of this study were to (1) analyze the temporal and spatial patterns of agricultural land fires using satellite remote sensed data, (2) assess a range of environmental conditions that could drive the occurrence of agricultural land fires, (3) determine the best model for predicting agricultural land fires and (4) determine the relative contribution of each environmental condition variable on the best predictive model. We used both univariate and multivariate regressions for the fire prediction capability of four independent environmental conditions (fuel, weather, topographic and anthropogenic). Analysis of historical satellite data revealed that agricultural land fires were more frequent than forested land fires. Our analyses also revealed that fuel condition was the most important variable for predicting agricultural land fires followed by weather, topographic and anthropogenic conditions. This study provides a novel multivariate model for predicting agricultural land fires that harbors the potential to improve agricultural land fire management and reduce fire risk within the agricultural sector.

In this paper, we investigate the structural, microstructural, dielectric, and energy storage properties of Nd and Mn co-doped Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 [(Ba0.7Sr0.3)1-xNdxTi1-yMnyO3 (BSNTM) ceramics (x = 0, 0.005, and y = 0, 0.0025, 0.005, and 0.01)] via a defect dipole engineering method. The complex defect dipoles (MnTi"-VO∙∙)∙ and (MnTi"-VO∙∙) between acceptor ions and oxygen vacancies capture electrons, enhancing the breakdown electric field and energy storage performances. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and microscopic investigations of BSNTM ceramics revealed the formation of a tetragonal phase, increased oxygen vacancies, and reduced grain size with Mn dopant, respectively. The BSNTM ceramics with x=0.005 and y=0 exhibit a high dielectric constant of 2058 and a dielectric loss of 0.026 at 1 kHz. These values gradually decreased to 1876 and 0.019 for x=0.005 and y=0.01 due to the Mn2+ ions at Ti4+-site, which facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies, and prevents the decrease of Ti4+. In addition, the defect dipoles act as a driving force for depolarization to tailor the domain formation energy and domain wall energy, which provides a high difference between the maximum polarization of Pmax and remnant polarization of Pr (ΔP=10.39 µC/cm2). Moreover, the complex defect dipoles with optimum oxygen vacancies in BSNTM ceramics can provide not only a high ΔP but also reduce grain size, which together improve the breakdown strength from 60.4 to 110.6 kV/cm, giving rise to a high energy storage density of 0.41 J/cm3 and high efficiency of 84.6% for x=0.005 and y=0.01. These findings demonstrate that defect dipoles engineering is an effective method to enhance the energy storage performance of dielectrics for capacitor applications.

Anti-diabetic effects of Glycine soja seed extract (GS) on Type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model and human hepatocytes induced insulin resistance were investigated. 3 weeks old db/db mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) including two control groups and 3 GS treated groups with different doses. Oral administration of GS for 6 weeks to diabetic db/db mice reduced blood glucose level significantly in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% (300 mg/kg/day), 30.9% (150 mg/kg/day) and 21.1% (75 mg/kg/day). GS treatment also lowered significantly plasma level of HbA1c, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin, and increased that of adiponectin. GS treatment activated AMPK, and down-regulated GLUT2 in liver tissues of mice while up-regulated GLUT4 in muscle tissues of mice. In in vitro study with insulin resistance induced human hepatocyte, GS treatment increased glucose uptake and increased the activities of Akt and PPAR-γ in response to insulin. Treatment of GS appears to reduce blood glucose level by regulating energy metabolism positively through various metabolic pathways and reducing insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Anti-diabetic effects of Glycine soja seed extract (GS) on Type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model and human hepatocytes induced insulin resistance were investigated. 3 weeks old db/db mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) including two control groups and 3 GS treated groups with different doses. Oral administration of GS for 6 weeks to diabetic db/db mice reduced blood glucose level significantly in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% (300 mg/kg/day), 30.9% (150 mg/kg/day) and 21.1% (75 mg/kg/day). GS treatment also lowered significantly plasma level of HbA1c, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin, and increased that of adiponectin. GS treatment activated AMPK, and down-regulated GLUT2 in liver tissues of mice while up-regulated GLUT4 in muscle tissues of mice. In in vitro study with insulin resistance induced human hepatocyte, GS treatment increased glucose uptake and increased the activities of Akt and PPAR-γ in response to insulin. Treatment of GS appears to reduce blood glucose level by regulating energy metabolism positively through various metabolic pathways and reducing insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and the limited availability of fishmeal in aquafeeds have spurred the search for alternative protein sources. While plant-based ingredients have been integrated into commercial aquafeeds, they come with challenges, including low protein content, palatability issues, and the presence of antinutritional factors. In this context, fish silage, derived from fish waste and discarded fish, stands out as a promising alternative technology due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability attributes. The production of fish silage involves the addition of organic/inorganic acids or lactic acid bacteria to homogenized fish waste. This process yields a valuable mixture rich in peptides, free amino acids, and partially hydrolyzed proteins, offering significant nutritional benefits for animal diets. Beyond its nutritional advantages, fish silage contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the impact of waste disposal and enhancing the value of fish waste. The objective of this review is to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry in response to the increasing demand for high-quality feed nutrients. To achieve this, it includes an analysis of research results related to silage technology, an appraisal of the advantages and disadvantages of using fish silage as a feed additive, and a focus on emerging trends in this field.

A fern, Polypodium aureum, possesses a specialized spore-releasing mechanism like a catapult induced by quick expansion of vaporized bubbles. This study introduces lipid-coated perfluorocarbon droplets to enable repeatable vaporization-condensation cycles, inspired by the repeatable vaporization of Polypodium aureum. Lipid-perfluorocarbon droplets have been considered not to exhibit repeatable oscillations due to bubble collapse by low surface tension of lipid layers. However, a single lipid-dodecafluoropentane droplet with a diameter of 9.17 µm shows expansion-contraction oscillations over 4,000 cycles by changing lipid composition and applying low power of 1.7 MHz ultrasound to induce partial vaporization of droplets. The optimal combinations of shell composition, droplet fabrication, and acoustic conditions can minimize damage on shell structure and quick recovery of damaged shell layers. The highly-expanding oscillatory microbubbles provide a new direction for fuel-free micro or nanobots as well as biomedical applications of contrast agents and drug delivery.

Maternal hyperglycemia, induced by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), has detrimental effects on fetal vascular development, ultimately increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in offspring. The potential underlying mechanisms by which these complications occur are through functional impairment and epigenetic changes in fetal endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), however, remain less defined. We confirm that intrauterine hyperglycemia leads to impaired angiogenic function of fetal EPCs, as observed through functional assays of outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) derived from fetal EPCs of GDM pregnancies (GDM-EPCs). Notably, PCDH10 expression is increased in OECs derived from GDM-EPCs, which is associated with the inhibition of angiogenic function in fetal EPCs. Additionally, increased PCDH10 expression is correlated with hypomethylation of the PCDH10 promoter. Our findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to GDM can induce angiogenic dysfunction in fetal EPCs through altered gene expression and epigenetic changes, consequently increasing the susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases in offspring of GDM mothers.

This study presents PlanteSaine, a novel mobile application powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) models explicitly designed for maize, tomato, and onion farmers in Burkina Faso. Agriculture in Burkina Faso, like many developing nations, faces substantial challenges from plant pests and diseases, posing threats to both food security and economic stability. PlanteSaine addresses these challenges by offering a comprehensive solution that provides farmers with real-time identification of pests and diseases. Farmers capture images of affected plants with their smartphones, and PlanteSaine's AI system analyzes these images to provide accurate diagnoses. The application's offline functionality ensures accessibility even in remote areas with limited internet connectivity, while its messaging feature facilitates communication with agricultural authorities for guidance and support. Additionally, PlanteSaine includes an emergency alert mechanism to notify farmers about pest and disease outbreaks, enhancing their preparedness to deal with these threats. An AI-driven framework, featuring an image feature extraction phase with EfficientNetB3 and an artificial neural network (ANN) classifier, was developed and integrated into PlanteSaine. The evaluation of PlanteSaine demonstrates its superior performance compared to baseline models, showcasing its effectiveness in accurately detecting diseases and pests across maize, tomato, and onion crops. Overall, this study highlights the potential of PlanteSaine to revolutionize agricultural technology in Burkina Faso and beyond. Leveraging AI and mobile computing, PlanteSaine provides farmers with accessible and reliable pest and disease management tools, ultimately contributing to sustainable farming practices and enhancing food security. The success of PlanteSaine underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing pressing challenges in global agriculture

This article introduces a novel nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called Frilled Lizard Optimization (FLO), which emulates the hunting behavior of frilled lizards in their natural habitat. FLO draws in-spiration from the sit-and-wait strategy observed in frilled lizards during hunting. The underlying theory of FLO is presented and mathematically formulated in two phases: (i) an exploration phase, simulating the frilled lizard's attack towards prey, and (ii) an exploitation phase, simulating the lizard's retreat to the top of the tree after feeding. To assess FLO's efficacy in solving optimization problems, the algorithm's performance is evaluated across fifty-two standard benchmark functions, encompassing unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, fixed-dimensional multimodal, and the CEC 2017 test suite. Comparative analyses with twelve existing metaheuristic algorithms are conducted. The simulation results reveal that FLO, distinguished by its adeptness in exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during search process, outperforms competing algorithms. Additionally, FLO is implemented on twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing real-world optimization applications.

The Neurovascular Unit (NVU), comprised of glia (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia), neurons, pericytes and endothelial cells, is a dynamic interface ensuring physiological functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), that gets affected and contributes to the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases and is primarily related to the activation state of perivascular microglia and astrocytes, which constitute two of its major cellular components. Our studies focus on monitoring in real time the morphological changes of perivascular astrocytes and microglia, as well as their dynamic interactions with the brain vasculature, under physiological conditions and following systemic neuroinflammation triggering both microgliosis and astrogliosis. To this end, we performed 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2P-LSM) for intravital imaging of the cortex of transgenic mice visualizing the dynamics of microglia and astroglia following neuroinflammation induced by systemic administration of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results indicate that following neuroinflammation the end-feet of activated perivascular astrocytes lose their close proximity and physiological crosstalk with vasculature, an event that most possibly contributes to a loss of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) integrity. At the same time, microglial cells get activated with more frequent contacts of the blood vessels. These dynamic responses of perivascular astrocytes and microglial are peaking at 4 days following LPS administration, however they still persist at a lower level 8 days after LPS, revealing incomplete reversal of inflammation affecting the glial properties and interactions with the NVU.

This study explores the near-surface dispersion mechanisms of contaminants in coastal waters, leveraging a comprehensive method that includes using dye and drifters as tracers, coupled with diverse observational platforms like drones, satellites, in-situ sampling, and HF radar. The aim is to deepen our understanding of surface currents' impact on contaminant dispersion, thereby improving predictive models for environmental incident management, including pollutant releases. Rhodamine WT dye, chosen for its significant fluorescent properties and detectability, along with drifter data, allowed us to investigate the dynamics of near-surface physical phenomena such as the Ekman current, Stokes drift, and wind-driven currents. Our research emphasizes the importance of integrating scalar tracers and Lagrangian markers in experimental designs, revealing differential dispersion behaviors due to near-surface vertical shear caused by the Ekman current and Stokes drift. The elongation direction of the dye patch aligns with the Ekman current direction during slow current conditions. Analytical calculations of vertical shear, based on the Ekman current and Stokes drift, closely matched those derived from tracer observations. Over a 7-hour experiment, the vertical diffusivity of near-surface water was observed at 2×10-4 m2/s, and the horizontal eddy diffusivity of the dye patch and drifters reached the order of 1 m2/s and at a 1000m length scale. Particle tracking models demonstrate that while HF radar currents can effectively predict the trajectories of tracers near the surface, incorporating near-surface currents, including Ekman current, Stokes drift, and windage, is essential for a more accurate prediction of the fate of surface floats.

Citrus peel has been used in Asian traditional medicine for the treatment of cough, asthma, and bronchial disorders. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of quercetogetin (QUE), a polymethoxylated flavone isolated from the peel of citrus unshui is poorly understood. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and the molecular mechanisms of QUE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. QUE inhibited the production of NO and prostaglandin E2 by suppressing the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. QUE suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. QUE also inhibited the translocation of the nuclear factor kappa B subunit, p65, into the nucleus by interrupting the phosphorylation of IκB-α in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Based on the finding that QUE significantly decreased p-ERK protein expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, we confirmed that suppression of the inflammatory process by QUE was mediated through the MAPK pathway. This is the first report on the strong anti-inflammatory effects of QUE, which is a compound that can potentially be used as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.

To analyze the effects of CYP3A5 polymorphism on liver function after LT and to characterize the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus after conversion from a twice-daily regimen to a once-daily extended-release formulation. A prospective open-label study included 60 stable liver transplant recipients who underwent 1:1 conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus to once-daily tacrolimus. All participants were genotyped for CYP3A5 polymorphism. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 02882113). Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the CYP3A5 expressor group and 32 in the non-expressor group. Although there was no statistical difference, incidence of liver dysfunction was higher in the expressor group than in the non-expressor group when converted to once-daily extended-release tacrolimus (P=0.088). No biopsy-proven acute rejection, graft failure, and mortality were observed in either group. The decrease in dose-adjusted trough level (- 42.9% vs. - 26.1%) and dose/kg-adjusted trough level of tacrolimus (- 40.0% vs. - 23.7%) was significantly greater in the expressor group than in the non-expressors after the conversion. The absorption of the tacrolimus in the non-expressor group was slower than in the expressors. In line with this observation, the AUC for once-daily tacrolimus correlated with Cmin in the non-expressors and Cmax in the expressors. Determination of CYP3A5 genotype in liver transplant recipients might be helpful in prediction of tacrolimus pharmacokinetics after conversion from a twice-daily regimen to a once-daily formulation.

Patients from regions without stem cell transplant (SCT) facilities often seek treatment abroad and return home for post-transplant care. While extensive data exists on GVHD and its risk factors, the prevalence of GVHD in international SCT patients returning to countries without transplant facilities, where multiple factors compromise post-transplant care, is not well documented. We screened 149 transplant recipients and analyzed data from 91 who received transplants abroad and were followed at our center from January 2019 to December 2022. This observational study used data from electronic medical records (EMR) and employed descriptive statistics, inferential tests, and relative risk calculations with forest plots to analyze GVHD prevalence and key risk factors. Of the recipients, 31.8% were residents from nine countries living in the UAE, and 67.2% were UAE citizens. Adults comprised 48.3% of the recipients, and 51.7% were pediatric. Hematological malignancies were the most common indication (49%), primarily in adults. Siblings were the majority of donors (52.6%), followed by related donors (23.09%), and unrelated donors (8.9%). Most (69.2%) received HLA-identical transplants followed by 21.9% who received haploidentical. Among adults, 62.2% developed GVHD, compared to 26% of pediatric patients. Recipients with related HLA-identical donors had a 50% GVHD prevalence, while those with unrelated identical donors had 71%. The overall GVHD prevalence was 50% among the 87.9% who received allogeneic SCTs. Despite favorable factors, GVHD prevalence remains high. Larger multicenter studies are needed to identify and assess the impact of contributing factors.

We previously found a novel a new sirtuin (SIRT) inhibitor MHY2256 that exerts anticancer activity through p53 acetylation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Here, we investigated the anticancer activity of MHY2256 against hormone-related cancer, which is an endometrial cancer with poor prognosis. We found that MHY2256 markedly reduced cellular proliferation at low concentrations against Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells. The IC50 values of MHY2256 were much lower than that of salermide. Furthermore, MHY2256 significantly reduced the protein expression and activities of SIRT1, 2, and 3 with similar effects as salermide, a well-known SIRT inhibitor. Particularly, MHY2256 markedly inhibited tumor growth in a tumor xenograft mouse model of Ishikawa cancer cells. During the experimental period, there was no significant change in the body weight of mice treated with MHY2256. Detailed analysis of the sensitization mechanisms of Ishikawa cells revealed that late apoptosis was largely increased by MHY2256. Additionally, MHY2256 increased G1 arrest and reduced cell cyclic-related proteins, suggesting that apoptosis by MHY2256 was achieved by cellular arrest. Particularly, p21 was greatly increased by MHY225656, suggesting that cell cycle arrest by p21 is a major factor in MHY2256 sensitization in Ishikawa cells. We also detected a significant increase in acetylated p53, a target protein of SIRT1, in Ishikawa cells after MHY2256 treatment. In a mouse xenograft model, MHY2256 significantly reduced tumor growth and weight without apparent side effects. These results suggest that MHY2256 exerts its anticancer activity through p53 acetylation in endometrial cancer and can be used for targeting hormone-related cancers.

Abstract: Cancer survivors are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between particulate matter (PM) and CVD risk among cancer survivors (alive >5 years since diagnosis) is unclear. We investigated the risk of CVD among 40,899 cancer survivors within the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Exposure to PM was determined by assessing yearly average PM levels obtained from the Air Korea database from 2008 to 2011. PMs with sizes <2.5 (PM2.5), <10 (PM10), or 2.5-10 (PM2.5-10) μm in diameter were compared, with each PM level exposure further divided into quintiles. Patients were followed up from January 2012 to date of CVD event, death, or December 2017, whichever came earliest. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression by PM exposure levels. Compared with cancer survivors in the lowest quintile of PM2.5 exposure, those within the highest quintile had a greater risk for CVD (aHR 1.31, 95% CI 1.07-1.59). Conversely, increasing PM10 and PM2.5-10 levels were not associated with increased CVD risk (p for trend 0.078 and 0.361, respectively). Cancer survivors who reduce PM2.5 exposure may reduce their risk of developing CVD.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have gained significant attention in recent times due to their suitability to a wide variety of civil, military and societal missions. Development of an unmanned amphibious vehicle integrating the features of a multi-rotor UAV and a hovercraft is focus of the present study. Components and subsystems of the amphibious vehicle are developed with due consideration on aerodynamic, structural and environmental aspects. Finite element analysis (FEA) on static thrust conditions and skirt pressure are performed to evaluate the strength of structure. For diverse wind conditions and angles of attack (AOA), computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis is carried out to assess the effect of drag and suitable design modification is suggested. A prototype is built with a 7 kg payload capacity and successfully tested for stable operations in flight and water-borne modes. Internet of Things (IoT) based water quality measurement is performed in a typical lake and water quality is measured using pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity and electrical conductivity (EC) sensors. The developed vehicle is expected to meet functional requirements of disaster missions catering to the water quality monitoring of large water bodies.

Surgical techniques are gaining attention for treating physical diseases in aquaculture and aquarium fish. Sturgeon is a suitable species for surgical experiments due to its industrial significance. Maintaining homeostasis is crucial during surgical procedures, and the liver plays a major role in immune regulation. High temperature is suggested to improve physiological activity and wound healing. This study investigated differences in hepatectomy sturgeons' tolerance and histopathological responses of internal organs. Moreover, this study investigated the effects of high temperature on wound healing and hematopoietic recovery in fish undergoing surgical procedures. The liver condition was found to play a pivotal role in the analysis, and cortisol levels were affected by anesthesia. The results showed that high temperature facilitated hematopoietic recovery and wound healing, but excessive induction of physiological activity caused damage. Managing high temperatures and liver condition induced a remarkable improvement in wound healing. However, anesthesia itself can be a significant stressor for fish, and wound healing requires a greater amount of energy. Further research is needed to understand the stress factors caused by surgical procedures and anesthesia and to promote animal welfare in fisheries products.

This study was to investigate and assess salivary biomarkers as a means of diagnosing periodontitis. A total of 121 subjects were included: 28 periodontally healthy subjects, 24 with stage I, 24 with stage II, 23 with stage III, and 22 with stage IV periodontitis. Salivary proteins including active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), pro-MMP-8, total MMP-8, C-reactive protein, secretory immunoglobulin A and planktonic bacteria including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas nigrescens, Parvimonas micra, Campylobacter rectus, Eubacterium nodatum, Eikenella corrodens, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Actinomyces viscosus were measured from salivary samples. The performance of the diagnostic models was assessed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under the ROC curve (AUC) analysis. The diagnostic models were constructed based on the subjects’ proteins and/or microbial profiles, resulting in two potential diagnosis models, which achieved better diagnostic powers with an AUC value &gt; 0.750 for the diagnosis of stage II, III, and IV periodontitis (Model PC-I; AUC: 0.796, sensitivity: 0.754, specificity: 0.712) and for the diagnosis of stage III and IV periodontitis (Model PC-II; AUC: 0.796, sensitivity: 0.756, specificity: 0.868). This study can contribute to screening for periodontitis based on salivary biomarkers.