Keywords: Oral health, diabetes, periodontal disease, caries, periodontitis.

Background: Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) uses occlusion during low-intensity resistance training (<50% of repetition maximum, 1RM) to reduce arterial blood flow and venous return, imposing greater metabolic stress but similar muscular hypertrophy and strength gains as high-intensity resistance training (HIRT). However, no study, to date, has incorporated BFRT in a collegiate strength and conditioning setting to assess ecological validity. We aimed to investigate the effects of adding 6-weeks of accessory BFRT or HIRT to NCAA Division III soccer players prescribed resistance training regimen on muscle strength and hypertrophy. Methods: Male and female (n=17) athletes were randomly assigned to complete biceps curls 2x/week under BFRT or control (HIRT), following the regularly scheduled strength training. Bicep strength (1RM) and circumference (BC) were assessed at weeks 0, 3, and 6. Results: In men, no significant interaction between time and condition was observed for BC (p=0.861), though condition (BFRT vs Control, p=0.025) and time (p=0.024) were significant. For 1RM, there was no significant interaction between time and condition (BFRT vs HIRT, p=0.067) or of condition (p=0.598), but there was a significant effect of time (p=0.004). In women, there was no significant interaction between time and condition (p=0.765) or of condition (p=0.971) on BC, but time was significant (p=0.045). For 1RM, there was no significant interaction between time and condition (p=0.227) or of condition (p=0.741), but time was (p=0.018). Conclusion: BFRT induced similar increases in muscle strength and hypertrophy as HIRT in soccer players, suggesting that BFRT could be incorporated into collegiate athlete training.

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

The life and work of Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J. is of radical vision, and revolutionary change. His dynamic life and works accompanied El Salvador and the Universidad Centroamericana through perhaps the most tumultuous years of the country’s history, yet there has been limited work done to examine his contributions. This paper shows how Ellacuría viewed the role of a Christian intellectual, and a Christian university within his philosophical and theological framework. I argue that Ignacio Ellacuría held, similarly to his soteriological views, that the intellectual must also be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of his/her work in a pattern of discipleship/martyrdom prefigured by his exemplars Christ and Socrates. It was this dedication to praxis and theory that western theology and philosophy had respectfully lost since their foundations which he sought to restore to a central role. In conclusion, the Christian intellectual and institution, according to Ellacuría, must use its voice and life in service of the people even to the point of martyrdom; he would argue, the implicit reason for Christian martyrdom and the crucifixion of Christ himself.

Carol Winkelmann, in her book ‘The Language of Battered Women’ describes not only the fact that domestic abuse is almost a daily occurrence in the lives of many women but that the language of religion and faith is often used by women in attempts to explain, understand and cope with such abuse . While religious belief and domestic violence may seem contradictory in terms of religious values of faith, virtue and love, research demonstrates that domestic violence in religious families and amidst religious congregations is prevalent. In fact, religious beliefs and practices are often embedded in cultural contexts and thus perpetuate patriarchal notions of dominance, power and submission. Abused Christian women, for example, are more likely to seek help from (male) ministers and others in positions of authority in their local church communities and are equally more likely to remain in or return to unsafe relationships, citing their religious beliefs to support their avoidance of ‘family break-ups’ because of abuse. What, then, is the response of ministers and church authorities to domestic abuse in their congregations? Despite recent calls for the training of pastors and other religious leaders in an understanding of domestic violence and in the recognition of appropriate, helpful responses, the language of some Christian churches can be seen to foster notions of submission so that women and pastors alike can appear confused concerning the experience of abuse. Religious congregations, while acting in love to help the poor and needy, for example, often fail to recognise domestic abuse amongst their own members and, indeed, such a topic can remain taboo in some church communities. Women, in turning to their pastors or other Christian leaders for help, can be silenced by the language of the religion itself, so that the role of wives and mothers may be seen to be submissive and the ‘keeper of the home’; to leave an abusive relationship may thus ‘break-up’ a home and imply failure of the woman to understand her role and fulfil her ‘maternal vocation’. On the other hand, religious beliefs offer victims of domestic violence both hope and comfort. Religious practices, such as prayer, liturgies and corporal (physical) works of mercy, can provide solace and practical assistance for women who suffer abuse. Domestic violence in religious congregations can be addressed within the context of the faith itself, with an emphasis on love and respect, helping women to understand their dignity with avenues of help so that the women can remove themselves and their children from abusive relationships, and the religious congregation and its leaders can call the partners to accountability. This paper seeks to outline a picture of domestic violence in religious congregations, specifically Christian church communities, by drawing on current research in the Western world. It then describes the language of some religious congregations that perpetuates domestic violence, with emphasis on contemporary studies in religious belief and domestic abuse. Finally, the paper makes some suggestions on how religious belief and practice can, in contrast to perpetuating abuse through norms, serve to assist women as victims of domestic violence, and how the connections between domestic violence and religious language or belief can be severed.

Taiwan’s auditors have suffered from processing excessive audit data, including drawing audit evidence. This study advances sampling techniques by integrating machine learning with sampling. This machine learning integration helps avoid sampling bias, keep randomness and variability, and target the risker samples. We first apply a Naive Bayes classifier to classify data into some classes. Next, a user-based, item-based, or hybrid approach is employed to draw audit evidence. The representativeness index is the primary metric for measuring the representativeness of audit evidence. The user-based approach denotes the selection of samples between two percentiles in a class as audit evidence. It may be equivalent to a combination of monetary and variable sampling methods. The item-based approach represents the choice of risky samples as audit evidence. It may be identical to a combination of non-statistical and monetary sampling methods. Auditors can hybridize those user-based and item-based approaches to balance representativeness and riskiness in selecting audit evidence. Three experiments show that sampling using machine learning integration has the benefits of drawing unbiased samples, handling complex patterns, correlations, and unstructured data, and improving efficiency in sampling big data. However, the limitations are the classification accuracy output by machine learning algorithms and the range of prior probabilities.

This article presents the development of a Faith-Informed Advocacy Model that integrates faith-based principles and values into advocacy efforts within Christian social work. Drawing from the intersection of Christian ethics and social work principles, this model provides a framework for Christian social workers to engage in advocacy work that is grounded in their faith and guided by ethical principles. The article includes case studies that illustrate the application of the model in real-world scenarios.

In this paper, inspired by recent articles of G. Anatriello and G. Vincenzi (see \cite{Ana}), and G. Cerda-Morales (see \cite{Cer1,Cer2}), we will introduce the third-order $\overline{h}$-Jacobsthal and third-order $\overline{h}$-Jacobsthal--Lucas sequences and their associated quaternions. The new results that we have obtained extend most of those obtained in \cite{Cer2}.

Metallic masters can be used as a metallic mold to replicate polymeric pieces with high resolution. Metallic masters with high resolution were created by photolithography technique and nickel electrodeposition technique. AZ 9260 photoresists and SPR 220-7.0 photoresists were used to coat metallic substrates and to compare results. Steel substrate and nickel substrate were used as the metallic substrate to compare results. Two different nickel electrodeposition protocols were used to compare results. In the conclusion section, was determined the best photoresist, metallic substrate, and nickel electrodeposition protocol to fabricate metallic masters.

Synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) is a low cost and ecofriendly route that brings great benefits over chemical and physical methods of synthesis. Our approach consisted of using aqueous extracts from treated waste of Manihot Esculenta (Cassava) as reducing, stabilizing and capping agents for the synthesis of NiO NPs. The results proved this approach might be a viable alternative. Extracts were mixed during 30 minutes with Ni(NO3)2.6H2O leading to NPs formation. NiO NPs were characterized through FTIR, XRD, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. NiO NPs showed different shapes and sizes around 5-10 nm in agreement with the particle size calculated by XRD Scherrer equation.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that, occasionally, may spread to the central nervous system (CNS), being the most common cause of sporadic encephalitis. One of the main neurovirulence factors of HSV-1 is the protein ICP34.5 that, although initially seemed to be relevant only in neuronal infections, it can also promote viral replication in non-neuronal cells. New ICP34.5 functions have been discovered during the recent years, and some of them have been questioned. This review describes the mechanisms of ICP34.5 to control cellular antiviral responses and debates its most controversial functions. One of the most discussed roles of ICP34.5 is autophagy inhibition. Although autophagy is considered a defense mechanism against viral infections, current evidence suggests that this antiviral function is only one side of the coin. Different types of autophagic pathways interact with HSV-1 impairing or enhancing the infection, and both the virus and the host cell modulate these pathways to tip the scales in its favor. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress on the interplay between autophagy and HSV-1, focusing on the intricate role of ICP34.5 in the modulation of this pathway to gain the battle against cellular defenses.

The endorsement from Christian circles in facilitating the rise of right-wing populism in Brazil, the United States, as well as the support and alliance of the Polish Catholic Church with the Law and Justice (PiS) government, is widely acknowledged. Embedded within the intricate fabric of multifaceted factors contributing to the surge of right-wing populism, the Culture War assumes a pivotal yet often underestimated role. Manifesting as a profound confrontation, the Culture War signifies an existential clash between contrasting perspectives concerning socio-cultural values grounded in religious scripture. Progressive endeavors strive to deconstruct longstanding norms, advocating for the ascendancy of post-materialistic ideals, while conservative domains portray an unwavering commitment to safeguarding national and religious socio-cultural values as sacrosanct. Both factions employ moral-ethical justifications in their respective pursuits, rendering the landscape of cultural discourse a nuanced tapestry of ideological contention. The influence of Christian doctrine on the conflict surrounding social justice, and the potential convergence between Christian doctrine and the positions of Populist right-wing movements on social justice issues, is underscored. By employing a singular case study focused on Portugal, owing to the nation's enduring relationship with Catholicism spanning from Monarchical times to the Republic and the Fascist Catholic regime, Portugal emerges as indisputably one of the most religious countries in the Western world, akin to Poland. Consequently, in theory, the support of the Portuguese Catholic Church for the nascent Populist right-wing and Christian-oriented party should be evident amidst the Culture War conflict, wherein conservative religious Christian values face existential challenge. However, the backing extended to CHEGA by both the Catholic Church and the Portuguese Episcopal Conference assumes an ambivalent and markedly diminished stance, diverging from the previously robust support observed in established center-right mainstream parties such as the PSD and CDS. Despite this reality and the absence of official support for CHEGA, numerous Christian politicians or activists have expressed endorsement or alignment with the right-wing party, departing from their former affiliations, primarily due to social justice concerns.

In Taiwan, mountainous areas account for approximately two-thirds of the total area. The steep terrain and concentrated rainfall during typhoons cause landslides, which pose a considerable threat to mountain settlements. Therefore, models for analyzing rainfall-induced landslide hazards are urgently required to ensure adequate land use in mountainous areas. In this study, focusing on Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, we developed a landslide hazard index (IRL) to land use. Using FORMOSA-2 and SPOT-5 satellite images, data were collected before and after four typhoons (one in 2009 and three in 2013). The ArcGIS random tree classifier was used for interpreting satellite images to explore surface changes and disasters, which were used to analyze slope disturbances. The product of the maximum 3-h rolling rainfall intensity and effective accumulated rainfall was used as a rainfall trigger index (IRT). Considering environmental and slope disturbance factors, an index of slope environmental strength potential (ISESP) was developed through logistic regression (LR). Landslide hazard to land use was estimated using IRT and ISESP. The average coefficient of agreement (Kappa) was approximately 0.71 (medium to high accuracy); the overall accuracy of slope environmental strength potential analysis was approximately 80.4%. At a constant ISESP, IRT increased with the increasing hazard potential of rainfall-induced landslides. Furthermore, IRT and ISESP were positively correlated with landslide occurrence. When large ISESP values occur (e.g., fragile environment and high land development intensity), small IRT values may induce landslides.

In the British setting, the deployment of the phrase ‘doing god’ has become increasingly common to refer to an emerging trend whereby religion has acquired an increasingly prominent role in political spaces and discourses. This was particularly prominent while David Cameron was Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party. While historically, religion has not had a prominent place in either the former Prime Minister David Cameron. Here, the findings from critical analyzing a series of Cameron’s public pronouncements about religion—and Christianity in particular—is set out to try and better understand his own adherence to Christianity (the personal) how this intersected with his politics and role as Prime Minister (the political), and more importantly how this shaped his views about Britain being a Christian country (the national). Contextualised within the embryonic scholarly literature relating to the phenomenon of ‘doing god’ in the contemporary British setting, this article concludes by considering alternative and analogous frames through which greater elucidation of the true motivations of his pronouncements might be understood.

Probiotics are becoming more and more popular in the growing of fin and shellfish because these species are consumed worldwide and because different techniques are employed to maximize the productivity and efficiency of fin and shellfish. Probiotic Bacillus is one of the many types of probiotics that are used, but it stands out due to its superior qualities. For instance, because of its ability to sporulate, it can survive in harsh environments, produce antimicrobial substances, and is safe to feed to fish. The different species of Bacillus used in the farming of fin and shell fish were discussed in this review, along with the benefits of using Bacillus spp. as a good substitute in sustainable aquaculture to improve feed utilization, immune system response, stress adaptation, resistance to infectious diseases, tissue preservation integrity, and water quality. Additionally, we discussed the possible risks to safety that Bacillus poses when raising these significant species. For the purpose of future research and development regarding Bacillus application in aquaculture, a summary of the findings of recent studies about the advantages of applying Bacillus to enhance fin and shellfish aquatic animal culture has been provided.

La reflexión sobre la formación que necesitan los docentes panameños tiene poca tradición investigativa, aunque recientemente se han desarrollado programas de formación de docentes para enseñar matemáticas de acuerdo con las tendencias actuales en la enseñanza de esta materia. Este artículo explica uno de estos programas de formación de posgrado. Específicamente, se discuten los lineamientos para su diseño y algunos resultados de su segunda implementación. Entre los resultados más importantes para este artículo tenemos a) la creación de la plataforma así como el conjunto de tareas diseñadas, las cuales han sido utilizadas para la formación de posteriores promociones de docentes; b) Destaca el cambio en los criterios que orientan la práctica docente al final del programa, en relación con los criterios utilizados antes de la formación, destacando particularmente la relevancia que adquieren los aspectos emocionales y los relacionados con la interacción en este proceso.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the apicomplexa protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This disease is a health burden, mainly in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has proved to be an important molecule that could drive resistance against a variety of infections, including intracellular parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanozoma cruzi, among others. However, to date it has not been explored the role of DHEA on T. gondii. In here, we demonstrated for the first time the toxoplasmicidal effect of DHEA on extracellular tachyzoites. Ultrastructural analysis of treated parasites showed that DHEA alters the cytoskeleton structures, leading to the loss of the organelle structure and organization, as well as the loss of the cellular shape. In vitro treatment with DHEA reduces the viability of extracellular tachyzoites and passive invasion process. 2D SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that in the presence of the hormone a progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC) with a cytochrome b5 family heme/steroid binding domain-containing protein was expressed, while the expression of proteins that are essential for motility and virulence was highly reduced. Finally, in vivo DHEA treatment induced a reduction of parasitic load in male, but not in female mice.

This study aims to identify the model that best approximates the credit spread that should be fixed on debt instruments issued by both public and private companies, considering the particularities of the Mexican market. Five models were analyzed: Merton's [1], those proposed by Denzler et al., the one presented in this paper, which includes the conformable derivatives, taking as a reference the change of variable made by Morales-Bañuelos et al., and the Corporate Default Risk Model (DRSK) for Publics Firms of Bloomberg [4]. The required financial information was obtained from the Bloomberg platform, from which the probabilities of default, credit spreads, and credit ratings for each company in the sample under the model (DRSK) were extracted directly. Likewise, the program developed by Moody's K.M.V. was used to obtain the EDF (Expected Default Frequencies). It was concluded that the Modified Merton model approximates to a greater extent the credit spreads that fix on a prime rate on the loans granted to the Mexican non-financial companies.

Dipole antennas, fundamental components in wireless communication systems, have garnered significant attention due to their versatility and efficiency across various applications. This literature review explores the performance analysis of dipole antennas, focusing on recent advancements and methodologies from 2019 to 2024. Employing a systematic approach, the review synthesizes findings from multiple databases, emphasizing peer-reviewed studies that delve into dipole antenna designs and applications. Through meticulous data extraction, key parameters influencing dipole antenna performance, such as material properties and operating frequency, are identified and analyzed. Results highlight the widespread utilization of dipole antennas in wireless communication systems, including indoor positioning, mobile communication, and antenna calibration, among others. Discussions underscore the evolution of dipole antennas in base station environments and their role in filtering applications. The review concludes by emphasizing the continued relevance and evolution of dipole antennas, showcasing their adaptability and potential across diverse wireless communication contexts.

Proteomics in respiratory allergic diseases has such a battery of techniques and programs that one would almost think that there is nothing impossible to find, invent or mold. All these resources that we document here, are involved in solving problems in allergic diseases, both diagnostic, prognostic, treatment and immunotherapy development. The main perspectives, according to this version, are in three strands and / or lockout immunological system: 1) In blocking the diapedesis of cells involved, 2) modifications and blocking of paratopes and epitopes being understood by modifications to antibodies, antagonism or blocking them and 3) blocking FcεR1 receptors to prevent specific IgEs from sticking to mast cells and basophils. These tools and targets in the allergic landscape are, in our view, the prospects in the field.

Hot air frying is a new method of frying food, where the use of a small amount of oil is optional but recommended. The objective of this review was to know the state of the art of hot air frying technology, focusing on trends, and thus obtain new ideas for future work in this area of food. In conclusion, the availability of advanced devices will increase the demand for hot air fryers as demonstrated by the trend generating a great economic and social impact. This new technology not only provides health benefits, but also has environmental advantages. In addition, work focusing on food (i.e. tortilla chips, plantain chips, eggs and meats) is recommended, since there are not enough studies on the subject. Currently, research is being conducted on home fryers, so the use of fryers and their impact at the industrial level is a developing area that will require further research.

Reactions of Co(OAc)24H2O, N‚N'-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)oxalamide (L) and 4,4’-sulfonyldibenzoic acid (H2SDA) afforded four coordination polymers with the same mixed ligands, {[Co(L)(SDA)(H2O)2]·H2O·CH3OH}n, 1, {[Co(L)0.5(SDA)]·2H2O·0.5L}n, 2, {[Co(L)1.5(SDA)(H2O)]·H2O}n, 3, and {[Co2(L)1.5(SDA)2(H2O)2]·4H2O}n, 4, which have been structurally characterized by using single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1 – 4 are 2D layers, revealing the topologies of sql, 2,6L1, (4,4)Ia and 6L12, respectively, and demonstrating that the metal to ligand ratio, solvent system and reaction temperature are important in determining the structural diversity. Immersion of these complexes into various solvents show that the structural types govern the chemical stabilities of 1 – 4. Reversible structural transformation can be shown for complexes 1 and 2 upon solvent removal and adsorption, while those of 3 and 4 are irreversible.

Abstract Background: Periodontitis is associated with systemic chronic inflammatory diseases. There is limited evidence on the influence of anti-cytokine therapies on the periodontal condition and microbiome in the tooth pocket of such patients, so the aim of this study was to elucidate this issue. Methods: In this observational trial, the periodontal status and the gingival crevicular fluid of 13 patients with different chronic inflammatory diseases were obtained before initiation of anti-cytokine treatment and 14 weeks after. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing from a clinically healthy tooth and the deepest measured pocket. Results: In participants with advanced attachment loss at baseline, the clinical attachment level significantly decreased from 2.9 (2.3-3.4) to 2.4 (1.3-3.0) mm (p = 0.04), and the bleeding- on-probing index dropped from 19.4 (10.0-21.0) to 7.3 (6.9-9.9) mm (p = 0.02) without any further periodontal treatment. Shannon’s diversity index significantly increased in the deepest pockets of patients (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The data showed alterations in diversity of the subgingival microbiome and improvement of periodontal parameters over the course of the study, implying a shift towards a healthier condition after starting anti-cytokine therapy. Additional investigations are needed to analyze whether the administration of selective biologicals can improve periodontal conditions in patients with or without chronic inflammatory diseases.

We have introduced a sign operator of energy, analogous to the operator helicity, but in the direction of what we call energy vector. However, this energy vector needs a time vector. To give physical senses to the components of such a time vector, we try to explain the time dilation in special relativity and try to relate the components of the time vector to the tunneling times when an electron crosses a potential barrier.

Three different approaches show that, contrary to a longstanding conviction older than 160 years, the advance of Mercury perihelion can be achieved in Newtonian gravity with a very high precision by correctly analysing the situation without neglecting Mercury's mass. General relativity remains more precise than Newtonian physics, but Newtonian framework is more powerful than researchers and astronomers were thinking till now, at least for the case of Mercury. The Newtonian formula of the advance of planets' perihelion breaks down for the other planets. The predicted Newtonian result is indeed too large for Venus and Earth. Therefore, it is also shown that corrections due to gravitational and rotational time dilation, in an intermediate framework which analyzes gravity between Newton and Einstein, solve the problem. By adding such corrections, a result consistent with the one of general relativity is indeed obtained. Thus, the most important results of this paper are two: i) It is not correct that Newtonian theory cannot predict the anomalous rate of precession of the perihelion of planets' orbit. The real problem is instead that a pure Newtonian prediction is too large. ii) Perihelion's precession can be achieved with the same precision of general relativity by extending Newtonian gravity through the inclusion of gravitational and rotational time dilation effects. This second result is in agreement with a couple of recent and interesting papers of Hansen, Hartong and Obers. Differently from such papers, in the present work the importance of rotational time dilation is also highlighted. Finally, it is important to stress that a better understanding of gravitational effects in an intermediate framework between Newtonian theory and general relativity, which is one of the goals of this paper, could, in principle, be crucial for a subsequent better understanding of the famous Dark Matter and Dark Energy problems.

Three different approaches show that, contrary to a longstanding conviction older than 160 years, the advance of Mercury perihelion can be achieved in Newtonian gravity with a very high precision by correctly analysing the situation without neglecting Mercury's mass. General relativity remains more precise than Newtonian physics, but Newtonian framework is more powerful than researchers and astronomers were thinking till now, at least for the case of Mercury. The Newtonian formula of the advance of planets' perihelion breaks down for the other planets. The predicted Newtonian result is indeed too large for Venus and Earth. Therefore, it is also shown that corrections due to gravitational and rotational time dilation, in an intermediate framework which analyzes gravity between Newton and Einstein, solve the problem. By adding such corrections, a result consistent with the one of general relativity is indeed obtained. Thus, the most important results of this paper are two: i) It is not correct that Newtonian theory cannot predict the anomalous rate of precession of the perihelion of planets' orbit. The real problem is instead that a pure Newtonian prediction is too large. ii) Perihelion's precession can be achieved with the same precision of general relativity by extending Newtonian gravity through the inclusion of gravitational and rotational time dilation effects. This second result is in agreement with a couple of recent and interesting papers of Hansen, Hartong and Obers. Differently from such papers, in the present work the importance of rotational time dilation is also highlighted.

This study explores the public library service evaluation domain through user-generated content on Google Maps, highlighting digital feedback's significant yet underexplored potential in understanding public library patronage across Taiwan's six major cities. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study integrates Google Maps review content analysis with Social Network Analysis to delineate public perceptions and identify areas for service enhancement in public libraries. It innovatively leverages personal experiences extracted from over 60,000 Google Maps reviews to evaluate public library services in cities such as Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. The research taps into the National Library of Taiwan's National Library Statistics System to provide a robust analysis of library performance and user satisfaction, offering a novel perspective by emphasizing user-centric feedback from Google Maps as a primary data source. This approach provides quantitative data on library usage and geographic distribution and enriches our understanding of the qualitative experiences of library users. In analyzing the keywords from Google Maps reviews of public libraries, we categorize and interpret these under the three core LibQUAL+ dimensions—Affect of Service, Information Control, and Library as Place. The findings expose variances in perceived service quality among the cities, with Kaohsiung and Taichung receiving the highest accolades for service satisfaction. Simultaneously, the study identifies potential areas for improvement, particularly in cities with lower satisfaction ratings like Taipei. This personalized feedback illustrates the intimate relationship between public libraries and their communities, offering invaluable insights for policymakers and library management to enhance service delivery and user experience.

Persons high in the manipulative, misanthropic trait Machiavellianism make use of various forms of deception to attain their goals. A recent study demonstrated that different facets of Machiavellianism account for different kinds of deception (Blötner & Bergold, 2023; https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12559). Intelligence could be another predictor of deception production. This research examined the interactions between different facets of Machiavellianism and verbal reasoning to predict the production of empty, vague pseudo-information that is supposed to help achieve desired states or prevent undesired ones (co-called “bullshit”). In a sample of 525 participants, and consistent with the hypotheses, individuals with high scores in the goal-oriented facet of Machiavellianism produced “bullshit” more frequently to achieve certain goals if they also scored high in verbal reasoning. Thus, and opposing common assumptions, Machiavellianism is not sufficient to explain engagement in deceptive behavior as it only reflects the motivation to do so. Especially in the case of verbally expressed deception, verbal skills are also required to be successful.

This article conceptualises the link between firms’ value chains and distribution networks and the requirements for double materiality assessments in contemporary reporting regulations worldwide. The new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the standards for sustainability reporting issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), called IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, require companies to report their own direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as GHG emissions in their value chains and distribution networks (both scope 3). However, GHG emissions comprise just one dimension of information that is relevant to understand when assessing, managing and reporting the footprints and impacts of a firm and are, therefore, only a fraction of the key performance indicators (KPIs) related to ESG that should be disclosed. Through a case study, this article demonstrates the connection between the due diligence analysis of firms’ value chains and distribution networks, the analysis of the competitive parameters of the business model, the identified impacts, risks and opportunities, and the double materiality perspective. The double materiality perspective prioritises actions based on probability and significance, creating a natural space to identify KPIs. The article concludes by applying the REGS model and illustrating how it can assist firms in identifying relevant KPIs based on double-materiality assessments.

We show that the respective oversights in the von Neumann's general theorem against all hidden variable theories and Bell's theorem against their local-realistic counterparts are homologous. Both theorems unjustifiably assume the additivity of expectation values within hidden variable theories to derive their respective conclusions. However, for non-commuting observables, the equivalence of a sum of expectation values and the expectation value of the sum of measurement results, although respected within quantum mechanics, need not hold for hidden variable theories, regardless of specific characteristics such as local realism they may respect. Once this oversight is ameliorated from Bell's argument and local realism is implemented correctly, the bounds on the CHSH correlator work out to be +/-2\/2 instead of +/-2, thereby mitigating the conclusion of Bell's theorem. Consequently, what is ruled out by the Bell-test experiments is not local realism but the additivity of expectation values.

The novel coronavirus named by WHO and Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) as SARS-COV-2 is the etiological agent of the newly emerged Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 has become a pandemic threat as the WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern. Early and precise detection of the virus is important for effective diagnosis and treatment. Various testing kits and assays, including real-time reverse Transcriptase PCR, thermal screening guns, ELISA-based immunoassays, and Point-of-Care (POC), have been implemented or are being explored to detect the virus and/or characterise cellular and antibody responses to the infection. However, these approaches have inherent limitations such as non-specificity, high cost, characterize by long turnaround times for test results, and can be labour intensive. Aptamers, which are single-stranded oligonucleotides, generated artificially by SELEX (Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) may offer the capacity to generate high affinity bioprobes for monitoring relevant SARS-COV 2 and COVID-19 biomarkers. This article discusses the prospects of implementing aptasensing technologies for rapid point-of-care detection of SARS-COV-2.

In this paper, we work with a diffusion-perturbed risk model comprising a surplus generating process and an investment return process. The investment return process is of standard Black-Scholes type, that is, it comprises a single risk-free asset that earns interest at a constant rate and a single risky asset whose price process is modelled by a geometric Brownian motion. Additionally, the company is allowed to purchase noncheap proportional reinsurance priced via the expected value principle. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman approach, we derive a second-order Volterra integrodifferential equation which we transform into a linear Volterra integral equation of the second kind. We proceed to solve this integral equation numerically using the block-by-block method for the optimal reinsurance retention level that minimizes the ultimate ruin probability. The numerical results based on light- and heavy-tailed distributions show that proportional reinsurance and investments play a vital role in enhancing the survival of insurance companies. But the ruin probability exhibits sensitivity to the volatility of the stock price.

Three different approaches show that, contrary to a longstanding conviction older than 160 years, the advance of Mercury perihelion can be achieved in Newtonian gravity with a very high precision by correctly analysing the situation without neglecting Mercury’s mass. General relativity remains more precise than Newtonian physics, but Newtonian framework is more powerful than researchers and astronomers were thinking till now, at least for the case of Mercury. The Newtonian formula of the advance of planets' perihelion breaks down for the other planets. The predicted Newtonian result is indeed too strong for Venus and Earth. Therefore, it is also shown that corrections due to gravitational and rotational time dilation, in an intermediate framework which analyzes gravity between Newton and Einstein, solve the problem. By adding such corrections, a result consistent with the one of general relativity is indeed obtained. Thus, the most important results of this paper are two: i) It is not correct that Newtonian theory cannot predict the anomalous rate of precession of the perihelion of planets' orbit. The real problem is instead that a pure Newtonian prediction is too strong. ii) Perihelion's precession can be achieved with the same precision of general relativity by extending Newtonian gravity through the inclusion of gravitational and rotational time dilation effects. This second result is in agreement with a couple of recent and interesting papers of Hansen, Hartong and Obers. Differently from such papers, in the present work the importance of rotational time dilation is also highlighted.

Key performance indicators are essential for any company to enhance its competitiveness. How-ever, a common issue is the manual collection of production data using record sheets, which are later digitized on desktop computers and processed in Excel sheets. Shockingly, 41% of companies in Mexico have no plans for digitalization. This work aims to develop a Real-time Productivity Indicator Monitoring System using Industry 4.0 technologies for a medium-sized manufacturing firm specializing in die-cutting automotive parts. The Advanced Quality Planning methodology was applied to develop the Conceptual, Product, and Process Engineering and its validation. The experimental tests demonstrated a reliability level of 99.98%, which exceeded initial expectations. The primary contributions presented in this work are related to the development of algorithms, communication protocols, data analysis, and general optimization of the calculation process. The study's only limitation was the short experimentation time.

Rice, as a staple crop feeding billions, faces constant threats from various diseases jeopardizing global food security. Precise understanding of disease resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing resilient rice varieties. Traditional genetic mapping methods, such as QTL mapping, provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of diseases. However, the complex nature of rice diseases demands a holistic approach to gain accurate knowledge of it. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, enable a comprehensive analysis of biological molecules, uncovering intricate molecular interactions within the rice plant. Integration of various mapping techniques using multi-omics data has revolutionized our understanding of rice disease resistance. By overlaying genetic maps with high-throughput omics datasets, researchers can pinpoint specific genes, proteins, or metabolites associated with disease resistance. This integration enhances the precision of disease-related biomarkers with better understanding of their functional roles in disease resistance. Improvement of rice breeding for disease resistance through this integration represents a significant stride in agricultural science because better understanding of the molecular intricacies and interactions underlying disease resistance architecture leads to more precise and efficient development of resilient and productive rice varieties. In this review, we explore how the integration of mapping and omics data can give a transformative impact on rice breeding for enhancing disease resistance.

Sierra Madre Mountain Range (SMMR) is the backbone of Luzon Islands that contains high concentration of highly important ecological resources distributed among the 68 protected areas therewith. The present study aimed to assess the tree species composition and diversity in a secondary forest within the SMMR. A 2.25-km transect with 10 900-m2 was established to record tree species with a diameter at breast height of at least 10 cm. The findings revealed 148 individuals of trees from 38 morphospecies, 28 genera, and 20 families. Importance values unveiled the Aurora endemic Macaranga stonei Whitmore as the most important species in terms of the relative values of its abundance, frequency, and dominance. The area was also found to be home for 33 natives, 12 endemics, five IUCN threatened species, and nine Philippine threatened trees. Furthermore, the study site was also found to have a considerably high diversity with Shannon Weiner Index value of 3.269 and a relatively even distribution of individuals among species supported by the Simpson’s Evenness index value of 0.9453. Significant correlational relationships were also found among species richness, Shannon Weinder index, and Simpson’s Evenness index with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.881 to .934 all significant at p < .001. Lastly, the study was able to produce a distribution map necessary in implementing targeted conservation strategies. These findings provided valuable implications for future research and implementation of targeted and participatory biodiversity conservation and protection strategies.

Color can direct visual attention to specific locations through bottom-up and top-down mechanisms. Using Continuous Flash Suppression (CFS) as way to investigate the factors that gate access to consciousness, the current study investigated whether color also directly affected the timing of conscious perception. Low or high spatial frequency (SF) gratings with different orientations were shown as targets to the non-dominant eye of human participants. CFS patterns were presented at a rate of 10Hz to the dominant eye to delay conscious perception of the targets, and participants had the task to report the target’s orientation as soon as they could see it. With low-SF targets, two types of color-based effects became evident. First, when the targets and the CFS patterns had different colors, the targets entered consciousness faster than in trials where the targets and CFS patterns had the same color. Second, when participants searched for a specific target color, targets that matched these search settings entered consciousness faster compared to conditions where the target color was irrelevant and could vary from trial to trial. Thus, the current study demonstrates that color is a central feature of human perception and leads to faster conscious perception of visual stimuli through bottom-up and top-down attentional mechanisms.

In 2004, first absolute gravity (AG) measurements were performed on the mountain tops of Mt. Zugspitze (2 sites) and Mt. Wank (1 site), and at the Wank foot (1 site). Wank (summit height 1780 m) and Zugspitze (2960 m) are about 20 km apart from each other and belong geologically to different parts of the Northern Limestone Alps. Bridging a time span of 15 years, the deduced gravity variations for Zugspitze are in the order of 0.30 μm/s² with a standard uncertainty of 0.04 μm/s². The Wank stations (foot and top) show no significant gravity variation. The vertical stability of Wank summit is also confirmed by results of continuous GNSS recordings. Because an Alpine mountain uplift of 1 or 2 mm/yr cannot explain the obtained gravity decline at Zugspitze, the dominating geophysical contributions are assumed to be due to the diminishing glaciers in the vicinity. The modelled gravity trend caused by glacier retreat between epochs 1999 and 2018 amounts to -0.012 μm/s²/yr at both Zugspitze AG sites. This explains more than half of the observed gravity decrease. Long-term variations on inter-annual and climate-relevant decadal scale will be investigated in the future using as a supplement superconducting gravimetry (installed in 2019) and GNSS equipment (since 2018).

This study evaluates the accessibility of primary care physicians (PCPs) in Eastern Quebec using an enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) methodology. The E2SFCA methodology considers both the population supply of PCPs and the travel time between PCPs and dissemination areas, and was found to be effective in identifying possibly underserved areas. The availability of primary care services is contingent upon the presence of adequate road infrastructure, and populations residing in areas with limited access to main road networks may experience compromised access to primary care. The study concludes that the E2SFCA methodology can facilitate the identification of areas experiencing a shortage of PCPs, and this information can be used to inform the development of regional medical workforce programs and support the establishment of rural residency initiatives.

This work communicates line strength data and associated scripts for computation and spectroscopic fitting of selected transitions of the diatomic molecules AlO, C2, CN, OH, N2+, NO, and TiO. For ease of use, the scripts for data analysis are designed for inclusion in various software packages or program languages. The accuracy of the data is of the order of less than one picometer, suitable for analysis of laser-induced fluorescence and laser-plasma spectra. Selected results demonstrate the applicability of the program for data analysis in laser-induced optical breakdown spectroscopy primarily at The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Center for Laser Applications. Representative spectra are calculated and referenced to measured data records.

Riverine particulates dominate the transport of vital nutrients like Si, Fe or P to the ocean mar-gins, where they may increase primary production by acting as slow release fertilizer. Further-more, the supply of particulate surface area to the ocean is considered to be a major control or-ganic carbon burial. Taken together, these observations suggest a close link between the supply of riverine particulate material and the organic carbon cycle. To explore this link, we conducted microcosm experiments to measure the growth of the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii in the presence and absence of different types and concentrations of riverine particulate material. Results demonstrate a strong positive effect of riverine particulate material on diatom growth with increased total diatom concentrations and slowed post-exponential death rates with in-creasing particulate concentration. Moreover, SEM and optical microscope investigations con-firm that riverine particulates facilitates organic carbon burial through their role in the aggrega-tion and sedimentation of phytoplankton. The supply of riverine particulate material has been shown to be markedly climate sensitive with their fluxes increasing dramatically with increas-ing global temperature and runoff. This pronounced climate sensitivity implies that riverine particulates contribute substantially in regulating atmospheric CO2 concentrations through their role in the organic carbon cycle.

Traditional flood hazard analyses often rely on univariate probability distributions; however, in many coastal catchments, flooding is the result of complex hydrodynamic interactions between multiple drivers. For example, synoptic meteorological conditions can produce considerable rainfall-runoff, while also generating wind-driven elevated sea levels. When these drivers interact in space and time, they can exacerbate flood impacts; this phenomenon is known as compound flooding. In this paper, we build a Bayesian Network based on Gaussian copulas to generate the equivalent of 500 years of daily stochastic boundary conditions for a coastal watershed in Southeast Texas. In doing so, we overcome many of the limitations of conventional univariate approaches and are able to probabilistically represent compound floods caused by riverine and coastal interactions. We calculate the resulting water levels using a 1D steady-state hydraulic model and find that flood stages in the catchment are strongly affected by backwater effects from tributary inflows and downstream water levels. By comparing with a bathtub modeling approach, we show that simplifying the multivariate dependence between flood drivers can lead to an underestimation of flood impacts, highlighting that accounting for multivariate dependence is critical for the accurate representation of flood risk in coastal catchments prone to compound events.

Two new systematic authentication codes based on the Gray map over a Galois ring are introduced. The first introduced code attains optimal impersonation and substitution probabilities. The second code improves space sizes but it does not attain optimal probabilities. Besides it is conditioned to the existence of a special class of bent maps on Galois rings.

Resistance to therapy and disease progression are the main causes of mortality in most cancers. In particular, the development of resistance is an important limitation affecting the efficacy of therapeutic alternatives for cancer, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Signaling pathways are largely responsible for the mechanisms of resistance to cancer treatment and progression, and multiple myeloma is no exception. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) is downstream of several signaling pathways specific to treatment resistance and progression. Therefore, in recent years, developing therapeutic alternatives directed at p38 MAPK has been of great interest, in order to reverse chemotherapy resistance and prevent progression. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the role of p38, including recent advances in our understanding of its expression and activity as well as its isoforms, and its possible clinical role based on the mechanisms of resistance and progression in multiple myeloma.

In Indonesia, types of meat are still identified manually due to increasing prices for beef and buf-falo ahead of Idul Fitri. Traders mix beef with pork to thwart the beef scam. Haar wavelet and GLCM, GLCM with angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°, as well as matrices using contrast, correlation, energy, homogeneity, and entropy, are used in feature extraction. The following are the results of meat image classification testing using k-NN, Haar wavelet, and GLCM: The k-NN algorithm shows superiority in identifying fresh (99%), frozen (99%), and rotten (96%) meat texture images with the most fantastic accuracy results in every situation. Meanwhile, GLCM routinely provides good results, especially regarding the texture image of fresh meat (183.21) and rotten meat (115.79). However, despite delivering less throughput than k-NN and GLCM, Haar wavelets are still helpful, especially when dealing with fresh meat texture images (89,96).

Objective: To investigate fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical activity differences among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White elementary school children. Materials and Methods: This study included 194 children aged between 4 and 11 in kindergarten, 2nd, and 5th grades. For evaluable participants, t-tests were used to test potential differences in fitness or movement skills. The characteristics of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White were compared using the p-value to detect statistical differences in anthropometric, FMS, and fitness characteristics. To identify any noticeable differences, the means and standard deviations of each group were compared. Results: There were significant group differences across the participants in age, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI percentile, arm circumference, and waist circumference. In addition, there were significant differences between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White in catch, run, dodge, punt, and two-hand strike (all p’s <0.05). Lastly, there were significant differences between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White in pull-up, push-up, and sit-up (all p’s <0.05). Conclusion: Future studies should focus on decreasing obesity, increasing fitness, and FMS in elementary school children. Particularly, with Hispanic children whose FMS is negatively affected at such a young age, leading to eventual implications for their physical fitness and health in the future.

Infant foods and formulae may contain toxic substances and elements which can be neo-formed contaminants or derived from raw materials or processing. The content of minerals, toxic elements and hydroxymethylfurfural in infant foods and formulae were evaluated. The effect of storage temperature on HMF formation in infant formulae and its potential as a quality parameter was also evaluated. Prune-based foods contained the highest HMF content. HMF significantly increased when storage temperature was elevated to 30 ℃ for 21 days. All trace elements were present in adequate amounts while the concentration of nickel was higher when compared to those of other studies. The study indicates that HMF can be used as quality indicator for product shelf-life and that the concentrations of minerals and toxic elements vary greatly due to the diverse compositions of foods and formulae. Such contaminants need to be monitored as infants represent a vulnerable group compared to adults.

Biostimulants are materials that when applied in small amounts are capable of promoting plant growth. Nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials (NMs) can be considered as biostimulants since, in specific ranges of concentration, generally in small levels, they increase the plant growth. Pristine NPs and NMS have a high density of surface charges capable of unspecific interactions with the surface charges of the cell walls and membranes of plant cells. In the same way, the functionalized NPs and NMS, and the NPs and NMs with a corona formed after the exposition to natural fluids such as water, soil solution, or the interior of organisms, presents a high density of surface charges that interact with specific charged groups in cell surfaces. The magnitude of the interaction will depend on the materials adhered to the corona, but the high-density charges located in a small volume causes an intense interaction capable of disturbing the density of surface charges of cell walls and membranes. The electrostatic disturbance can have an impact on the electrical potentials of the outer and inner surfaces, as well as on the transmembrane electrical potential, modifying the activity of the integral proteins of the membranes. The extension of the cellular response can range from biostimulation to cell death and will depend on the concentration, size, and the characteristics of the corona.

To understand dynamics in climate change, informing policy decisions and prompting timely action to mitigate its impact, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the short-term trend of year-on-year CO2 emission changes across ten countries, considering a broad range of factors including socioeconomic, CO2-related industry, and education. This study uniquely goes beyond the common country-based analysis, offering a broader understanding of the interconnected impact of CO2 emissions across countries. Our preliminary regression analysis, using the ten most significant features, could only explain 66% of variations in the target. To capture emissions trend variation, we categorized countries by the change in CO2 emission volatility (high, moderate, low with upward or downward trends), assessed using standard deviation. We employed machine learning techniques, including feature importance analysis, Partial Dependence Plots (PDPs), sensitivity analysis, and Pearson and Canonical correlation analyses, to identify influential factors driving these short-term changes. The Decision Tree Classifier was the most accurate model, with an accuracy of 96%. It revealed population size, CO2 emissions from coal, the three-year average change in CO2 emissions, GDP, CO2 emissions from oil, education level (incomplete primary), and contribution to temperature rise as the most significant predictors, in order of importance. Furthermore, this study estimates the likelihood of a country transitioning to a higher emission category. Our findings provide valuable insights into the temporal dynamics of factors influencing CO2 emissions changes, contributing to global efforts to address climate change

Students have historically fared poorly on the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) mathematics exam. This study investigated senior high school students’ difficulties with studying Geometry in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Central Region, Ghana. Using the descriptive survey design, data were collected from 300 Senior High School Two (SHS 2) students using simple random sampling. Students responded to the questionnaire and a 30-item multiple-choice achievement test on geometry. Four geometry concepts students perceived difficult to study are Circle theorems, Perpendicularity of Tangent and radius of a circle, Angle between Tangent and a chord and Tangents from an external point. The reasons for the difficulty in studying geometry topics are the unavailability of instructional materials, the geometry topics being complex, and teachers not teaching geometry concepts to the students’ understanding. Students’ gender did not influence the learning of concepts in geometry at a 0.05 level of significance. There was an insignificantly weak positive correlation between the students’ performance and their perceived difficult geometry concepts. It was concluded that the Ministry of Education does not provide relevant instructional materials to the various schools to teach geometry concepts. Schools do not organise workshops and seminars for teachers on effectively teaching geometry concepts in mathematics.

Secure attachment, developed through consistent relationships with attachment figures in childhood, is a crucial factor in fostering healthy interpersonal relationships and a positive self-perception. This research aimed to assess how perceived security, as an indicator of secure attachment, predicts adult self-concept through the mediating effects of resilience and positive self-esteem. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and non-probabilistic study was conducted with 383 participants, of whom 76.2% were females, aged between 17 and 86 years (M = 28.52, SD = 12.23). Correlational analyses revealed significant positive associations between perceived security, self-concept, resilience, and positive self-esteem. Path analysis demonstrated that resilience and positive self-esteem sequentially mediate the relationship between perceived security during childhood and adult self-concept (Total Effect R2 = .34, F(1,381) = 193, p < .001; Indirect effect of sequential mediation b = .02, CI 95% [.01, .04]). Findings suggest that the ability to cope with ad-versity and personal acceptance underlie the impact of perceived security on self-concept. It is recommended to promote not only secure attachment in family interventions but also resilience and self-esteem in programs targeting adolescents, youth, and adults.

The value of landscape, as part of collective heritage, can be acquired by GIS due to the multilayer approach of the spatial configuration. Proficiency in geospatial technologies in order to collect, process, analyze, interpret, visualize and communicate geographic information is being increased by undergraduate and graduate students, but in particular by those who are training to become geography teachers at secondary education. This training can be carried out through personalized learning and distance learning methodology. Personalized GIS education aims to integrate students and enhance their understanding of landscape. Some teaching experiences are shown whereby opportunities offered by WebGIS will be described, through quantitative tools and techniques that will allow this modality of learning and improve its effectiveness. Results of this research show that students, through geospatial technologies, learn landscape as a diversity of elements but also the complexity of physical and human factors involved. Several conclusions will be highlighted: i) the contribution of geospatial training to education for sustainable development; ii) spatial analysis as a mean of skills acquisition about measures for landscape conservation; iii) expanding and applying acquired knowledge to other geographic spaces and different landscapes.

Abstract: Nordic exercises aim to improve physical abilities and prevent injuries; However, it is not clear in what type of sports modalities to use it, so this study arises from the interest of ana-lyzing its effect in different sports modalities. Objective: To analyze Nordic exercises effects on the lower limbs, and their relationship with the explosive and absolute strength inherent to demands of different sports modalities (football, athletics, basketball, sport climbing, cycling and taekwondo). Method: quasi-experimental research, identifying 122 athletes (18±3 years old) from: football (n=24), athletics/speed (n=20), sport climbing (n=20), basketball (n=24), taekwondo (n=14) and cycling (n=20); classified into a control group CG (n=57) and an experimental group EG (n=65). Results: dominant absolute strength of the initial (12.4±0.51) and final (14.5±0.98) EG, in greater proportion in basketball (P= < 0.05); explosive strength of the initial (42.4±1.2) and final (45.8±1.5) EG, with a significant difference in all modalities between before and after (p≤0.05), except in cy-cling and taekwondo; no major changes were found in the GC. Conclusion: Nordic exercises are recommended as part of training to improve levels of explosive strength with emphasis on the modalities of football, basketball, athletics/speed and sport climbing, being applicable to increase absolute strength in basketball.

Landscape changes based on spectral responses allow showing plant cover changes through diversity, composition, and ecological connectivity. The spatial and temporal vegetation dynamics of the Bijagual Massif from 1986 to 2021 were analyzed as a measure of ecological integrity, conservation, and territory. The covers identified were high open forest (Hof), dense grassland of non-wooded mainland (Dgnm), a mosaic of pastures and crops (Mpc), lagoons (Lag), and bare and degraded lands (Bdl). The Bijagual Massif has 8,574.1 ha. In 1986, Dgnm occupied 42.6% of the total area, followed by Mpc (32.8%) and Hof (24.5%); by 2000, Mpc and Hof increased (43.7 and 28.1%, respectively), while Dgnm decreased (28%); by 2021, Dgnm was restricted to the northeastern zone and continued to decrease (25.2%), Mpc occupied 52.9%, Hof 21.7% and Bdl 0.1%. Of the three fractions of the connectivity probability index, only dPCintra and dPCflux contribute to ecological connectivity. Hof and Dgnm show patches with biota habitat quality and availability. Between 1986 and 2021, Dgnm lost 1,489 ha (41%) and Hof 239.5 ha (11%). Mpc replaced various covers (1,722.2 ha; 38%) in 2021. Bijagual has a valuable biodiversity potential limited by Mpc. Territorial planning and sustainable agroecological and ecotourism proposals are required due to the context of the ecosystems.

MXenes are two-dimensional nanomaterials isolated from MAX phases by the selective extraction of the A component —a p-block element. The MAX phase exfoliation energy, Eexf, is regarded as a chemical descriptor of the MXene synthesizability. Here we show, by density functional theory estimations of the Eexf values for 486 different MAX phases, that Eexf decreases i) when MAX is a nitride, ii) when going along a d series of the metal M component, iii) when going down a group of the p-block A element, as well as iv) when having thicker MXene phases. Furthermore, Eexf is found to bias, even to govern, the surface chemical activity, as evaluated here on the CO2 adsorption strength, so that more unstable MXenes, displaying larger Eexf values, display a stronger attachment of species upon.

The increasing popularity of porphyrins and hydroporphyrins for application in a variety of biomedical (photodynamic therapy, fluorescence tagging and imaging, photoacoustic imaging) and technical (chemosensing, catalysis, light harvesting) applications is also associated with the growing number of methodologies that enable their solubilization in aqueous media. Natively, the vast majority of synthetic porphyrinic compounds are not water-soluble. Moreover, any water-solubility imposes several restrictions on the synthetic chemist on when to install solubilizing groups in the synthetic sequence, and how to isolate and purify these compounds. This review summarizes the chemical modifications to render synthetic porphyrins water-soluble, with a focus on the work since 2000. Where available, practical data such as solubility, indicators for the degree of aggregation, and special notes for the practicioner are listed. We hope that this review will guide synthetic chemists through the many strategies known to make porphyrins and hydroporphyrins water soluble.

The strength of laser joined metal and plastic hybrids is based purely on adhesion. Unpolar plastics like polypropylene depend solely on the mechanical adhesion while polar plastics like polyamide 6.6 develop covalent bonds with the metal. In this research the influence of different surface metallizations on the lap shear strength of laser joined hybrids was investigated. Sandblasted AISI 304 was used as base metal and reference. Aluminum and titanium coatings were deposited by the means of Arc-PVD. Polypropylene and polyamide 6.6 were utilized as polar und unpolar plastics. The lap shear strength of all hybrids with polyamide 6.6 was higher than the polypropylene samples. For all investigated variations of the laser power, scanning speed and the cohesive and adhesive failure modes, the samples joined with the sandblasted AISI 304 showed the highest lap shear strength. The reduction in lap shear strength for the coated samples was due to the increased difference in thermal conductivity between the plastics and the coating materials. This lead to increased warping and residual stresses. It can be concluded that the thermal properties of the metallization in laser joined metal and plastic hybrids has a high impact on the lap shear strength.

Durability of concrete requires a dense microstructure which can be achieved by using self-compacting concrete (SCC). Both calcined clay (CC) and rice husk ash (RHA) are promising supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that can partially replace cement, but their use in SCC is critical due to their higher water demand and specific surface area (SSA) compared to cement. Empirical method of SCC design was adopted considering the physical properties of both CC and RHA. The influence of partially substituting cement at 20 vol-% with binary and ternary blends of CC and RHA were investigated. The fresh properties of SCC were investigated using a variety of tests. The time dependent workability was monitored by plunger method and flow resistance determined based on the rheological measurements of SCC. The evolution of the hydrate phases of the binder in SCC was determined by thermogravimetric analysis, while the durability was evaluated by rapid chloride migration test. Cement partial replacement with 20 vol-% CC has no significant effect on SCC fresh, time dependent, compressive strength and durability properties. 20 vol-% RHA on the other hand requires higher dosage of SP to achieve self-compactability and increased the viscosity of SCC. Its workability retention is only up to 30 min after mixing and exhibited higher flow resistance. It consumes more CH and improves compressive strength and chloride resistance of SCC. The ternary blending with CC and RHA yielded better fresh SCC properties compared to the binary blend with RHA, while an improved chloride penetration resistance could be achieved compared to binary CC blend.

The length of time it takes to experimentally make one-sided choppers, as found in the fossil record, bears a linear relationship to the knapping process of fabricating them. In addition, this temporal frame appears to be related to human heart rates measured as beats per minute, which act as a physiological metronome. We achieved these observations assuming that any paleolithic one-sided chopper has the information needed to estimate quantitatively the number of strikes on it. The experimental data allow us to establish the total timing needed for the standard fabricating of any one-sided chopper. We discuss issues derived from these experimental results, showing the evolution of human neurological abilities from 2.4 million years ago to the Modern period through the duration of time needed for making one chopper to that needed to play a 19th-century music score on a piano. Given that the neuronal and physiological distance between both actions differs by a factor of 6, we propose the concept of “technome” to measure human evolution by using methodological homogeneous metrics applied to these two human technologic objects, the chopper and the piano.

Heavy metals and organic pollutants are ubiquitous environmental pollutants affecting the quality of soil, water and air. Over the past 5 decades, many strategies have been developed for the remediation of polluted water. Strategies involving aquatic plant use are preferable to conventional methods. In this study, an attempt was made to provide a brief review on recent progresses in research and practical applications of phytoremediation for water resources with the following objectives: (1) to discuss the toxicity of toxic chemicals pollution in water to plant, animals and human health (2) to summarise the physicochemical factors affecting removal of toxic chemicals such as heavy metals and organic contaminants in aqueous solutions by aquatic plants; (3) to summarise and compare the removal rates of heavy metals and organic contaminants in aqueous solutions by diverse aquatic plants; and (4) to summarise chemometric models for testing aquatic plant performance. More than 20 aquatic plants specie have been used extensively while duckweed (L. minor), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (P. stratiotes) are the most common. Overall, chemometrics for performance assessment reported include: Growth rate (GR), Growth rate inhibition (% Inhibition), Metal uptake (MU), translocation/transfer factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), Percent metal uptake (% MU), Removal capacity (RC) and Tolerance index (TI) while absorption rate have been studied using the sorption kinetics and isotherms models such as pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin. Using modeling and interpretation of adsorption isotherms for performance assessment is particularly good and increases level of accuracy obtained from adsorption processes of contaminant on plant. Conclusion was drawn by highlighting the gap in knowledge and suggesting key future areas of research for scientists and policymakers.

Aim of this study was to examine the psycho-emotional and economic resilience of the widows of the Christians male victims of the suicide attacks on Roman Catholic and Christ churches in Youhanabad Lahore. A qualitative case study was conducted of the widows of to understand how they recovered from the loss. The study exuded that how the widows recovered from the loss of their husband’s with the help of their in-laws. Second, how widows met their economic needs by doing menial jobs, and with the help of aid provided by in-laws. Third, the help provided by the Churches. Living in a society with a Muslim concentration also affects the widows into Forced religion conversion. Furthermore, due to lesser check and balance on male orphans, they also get involved in various criminals’ activities to support their families. The conclusion was the factors helped the widows overcome the psycho-emotional loss and recover economically.

This study has been monitored for five years by Sentinel-2 satellite images, at different seasons of the year, of the fluctuations in the water level of the Gallocanta Lake (between the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain) considered a hypersaline and endorheic wetland, which has characteristics that make it unique in the geographical area in which it is located, as well as for the operation of the system. Rainfall in the area has a wide variation giving the maximums in the months of May and June and the minimums in January and February. There are considerable fluctuations in the water level from the almost total drying of the lagoon to the filling with a depth of approximately 3 meters.

In the present study, a five-year follow-up was performed by remote sensing of the calcium carbonate precipitation in La Gitana karstic lake (located on the province of Cuenca, Spain). The important role that calcium carbonate precipitation plays in the ecology of the lake is well known for its influence on the vertical migrations of phytoplankton, the concentration of bioavailable phosphorus and, therefore, the eutrophication and quality of the waters. Whiting take place between the months of July and August, and it can be studied at this time through its optical properties, with the main objective of offering updated data on a phenomenon traditionally studied and establishing possible relationships between abiotic factors such as temperature and/or rainfall. The atmospheric temperature data collected by the meteorological station suggest a possible relationship between the appearance of the white phenomenon and a pulse of previous maximum temperatures. On the other hand, no apparent relationship was found between rainfall and water bleaching.

Amid the array of challenges prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the policy response of governments proved vital. The U.S. states pursued varied policy approaches that demonstrated distinct divergences in impact. Particularly, contrasting state contexts produced markedly assorted frameworks for the delivery of public health services, which indicate potential effects for COVID-19 policy implementation. Using the rates of COVID-19 vaccinations as a measure of policy execution, the purpose of this study is to examine the political and administrative influences contributing to differences in COVID-19 public health policy outcomes among the U.S. states. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models included data sources of nationally representative information pertaining to state public health attributes of politics and administration during the height of the pandemic and vaccine campaign. The findings suggest that state political and fiscal orientations display significant associations with COVID-19 vaccination disparities, while other administrative indicators did not. The results signal important policy implications for the politics-administration dynamic within the COVID-19 pandemic and offer further understanding toward the roles of federalism and governance in future public health emergencies.

Among bryophytes, the Plagiochila genus represents a large group of leafy liverworts, with over 500 species. Plagiochilins A-to-X are sesquiterpenoids isolated from Plagiochila species. The lead compound plagiochilin A (Plg-A), endowed with anticancer and anti-parasitic properties, has been characterized as a potent mitosis inhibitor, acting selectively at the late stage of cytokinesis termed abscission. The compound perturbs the dynamic of microtubules, blocking cell cycle progression and triggering the death of malignant cells. Based on the compound mechanism of action and the analogy with other natural products bearing a dihydro-pyrone moiety, we postulated that Plg-A could bind to the pironetin site of α-tubulin. A molecular docking analysis has been performed to compare binding of all 24 plagiochilins to α-tubulin and to establish structure-binding relationships. The identification of Plg-E and Plg-G as the best binders in the series pointed out to the importance of the C13-OH or C=O group for α-tubulin recognition. This observation led to the testing of the natural product ester plagiochilin A-15-yl n-octanoate and the corresponding alcohol (Plg-OH), both identified as robust α-tubulin binders. The study provides a rational to explain potentially the mechanism of action of Plg-A and to guide the design of new derivatives.

This paper investigates if the polar groups induced by a plasma treatment can increase the lap shear strength of laser joined metal and plastic hybrids. Optimal laser joining parameters for cold-rolled AISI304 – Polyamide 6.6 and sandblasted AISI304 - Polypropylene hybrids are developed. The OWRK-method was utilized to identify the change in surface free energy of a low-pressure plasma treatment. Plasma treated samples were joined and tested. The fractured surfaces were investigated via light microscopy and SEM. The arithmetic means of the plasma treated hybrids lap shear strength with polyamide 6.6 varied slightly but all measured values were within the range of the untreated samples. The lap shear strengths of the polypropylene hybrids were significantly reduced. This was attributed to an overaging and the development of low molecular weight oxidized materials which lead to a weak boundary layer. No correlation between surface free energy and the lap shear strength could be found.

The feasibility of using zeolites, synthesized from components found in municipal solid waste fly ash (MSW-FA), as sorbents for the recovery of nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and heavy metals is critically assessed in this review. The inherent drawbacks of utilising a highly contaminated, variable, and relatively Al- and Si-dilute source such as MSW-FA to synthesize zeolites are discussed, and different methods to extract and decontaminate zeolite precursor materials from MSW-FA are considered. Ways to synthesize tailored zeolites and how their properties as well as the operational conditions impact the adsorption of cations such as ammonium and heavy metals are summarized. The use of surface-modified zeolites to adsorb nitrate and phosphate is also reviewed. And subsequently, approaches to utilise directly or recover for reuse the adsorbed compounds are considered, discussing potential challenges and mitigating measures related to leaching of unwanted compounds from the zeolites. Moreover, the possibility to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the zeolites for multiple adsorption cycles is considered. In the final chapter of the review a more general discussion of the main challenges and existing research gaps is provided, giving directions for recommended studies.

This paper aimed to describe an atlas of the head of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), applying advanced imaging techniques such as MRI. Furthermore, by combining the images acquired through these techniques with anatomical gross sections, we obtained an adequate description of the structures that form the CNS and associated structures of this species. This anatomical information could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for the clinical evaluation of different pathological processes in porcupines such as abscesses, skull malformations, fractures, and neoplasia.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global strategy that aims to obtain a more equitable and just world. These objectives are organized in 17 SDGs, which are detailed in 169 targets. Different international institutions have emphasized education's relevance to developing citizens who contribute to the SDGs' achievement for 2030. However, a review focused on Physical Education exclusively has not been performed yet. Therefore, the objective of this work is double. First, to analyze and select the specific goals of the SDGs that can be implemented in the subject of Physical Education. And second, to relate these specific goals to the different models based on Physical Education practices. This review showed how three institutional documents have previously related sport, physical exercise and physical education to the specific goals of the SDGs. Based on the search done, this document selects those goals that could be integrated into the educational context through Physical Education. The bibliographic and narrative analysis carried out in this research shows that of the 169 specific goals proposed in the SDGs, only 24 could be worked on in Physical Education. In addition, after this previous analysis, a proposal for the relationship between the practice-based models and these 24 goals is presented. The contributions made in this paper will allow teachers to establish links between PE sessions and SDGs while raising awareness to develop students who contribute to a more sustainable world.

I demonstrate that Bell's theorem is based on circular reasoning and thus a fundamentally flawed argument. It unjustifiably assumes the additivity of expectation values for dispersion-free states of contextual hidden variable theories for non-commuting observables involved in Bell-test experiments, which is tautologous to assuming the bounds of ±2 on the Bell-CHSH sum of expectation values. Its premises thus assume in a different guise the bounds of ±2 it sets out to prove. Once this oversight is ameliorated from Bell's argument, the bounds on the Bell-CHSH sum of expectation values work out to be ±2√2 instead of ±2, thereby mitigating the conclusion of Bell's theorem. Consequently, what is ruled out by the Bell-test experiments is not local realism but the additivity of expectation values, which does not hold for non-commuting observables in any hidden variable theories to begin with.

Using a safe subset of C++ is a promising direction for increasing the safety of the programming language while maintaining its performance and productivity. In this paper, we examine how close existing C/C++ code is to conforming to a safe subset of C++. We examine the rules presented in existing safe C++ standards and safe C++ subsets. We analyze the code characteristics of 5.8 million code samples from the Exebench benchmark suite and 5 modern C++ applications using a static analysis tool. We find that raw pointers, unsafe casts, and unsafe library functions are used in both C++ code at large and modern C++ applications. In general, C++ code at large does not differ much from modern C++ code, and continued work will be required to transition from existing C/C++ code to a safe subset of C++.

This article presents analysis of carbon Swan, C$_2$, laser-plasma emission records using line strength data, C$_2$-Swan-lsf, and the ExoMol astrophysical database. Line-strength data fitting of 0.25-nanometer spectral resolution ExoMol-computed spectra for a 6,000-Kelvin temperature C$_2$ Swan system, ${\rm d}\ ^3\,\Pi_{\rm g} \longrightarrow {\rm a} \ ^3\,\Pi_{\rm u}$, $\Delta {\rm v} = 0, \pm 1$, reveals a temperature of 5,640 Kelvin. The six per cent lower temperature is associated primarily with the accuracy of the transition wavelengths in the ExoMol vs. C$_2$-Swan-lsf data. The analysis of experiment data examines spectra that are recorded following laser-induced optical breakdown in carbon monoxide. The laser plasma data are recorded with 0.35-nm spectral resolution. The temperature inferences are elaborated when using non-linear fitting with both databases. The results show temperatures in excess of 6,000 Kelvin for the $\Delta {\rm v} = -1$ sequence, and for a time delay of 30\,$\upmu$s from laser plasma initiation. The accuracy of the C$_2$ Swan bands line strength data is of the order of 1 picometer. These line strength data are also utilized for analysis of laser-induced fluorescence experiments that employ a spectral resolution of 5.5 picometer, and a temperature of 2,716 Kelvin is inferred. Accurate C$_2$ databases show many applications in laboratory diagnosis and interpretation of astrophysical plasma records.

This work communicates analysis of aluminum monoxide, AlO, laser-plasma emission records using line strength data and the ExoMol astrophysical database. A nonlinear fitting program computes comparisons of measured and simulated diatomic molecular spectra. Predicted cyanide spectra of the AlO, ${\rm B}\ ^2\,\Sigma^+ \longrightarrow {\rm X} \ ^2\,\Sigma^+$, $\Delta {\rm v} = 0, \pm 1, \pm 2, + 3$ sequences and progressions compare nicely with 1 nanometer resolution experimental results. The analysis discusses experiment data captured during laser ablation of Al$_2$O$_3$ with 266-nm, 6-mJ pulses. The accuracy of the AlO line strength data is better than one picometer. This work presents as well comparison of the $^{27}$Al$^{16}$O line strength and of ExoMol data for spectral resolutions of 0.1nm and 0.07nm. Accurate AlO databases show a volley of applications in laboratory and astrophysical plasma diagnosis.

This work discusses diatomic molecular spectroscopy of laser-induced plasma and analysis of data records, specifically signatures of cyanide, CN. Line strength data from various databases are compared for simulation of the CN, B2Σ+⟶X2Σ+, Δv=0 sequence. Of interest are recent predictions using an astrophysical database, i.e., ExoMol, a laser-induced fluorescence database, i.e., LIFBASE, and a program for simulating rotational, vibrational and electronic spectra, i.e., PGOPHER. Cyanide spectra that are predicted from these databases are compared with line strength data that are in use by the author for the last three decades in the analysis of laser-plasma emission spectra. Comparisons with experimental laser-plasma records are communicated as well, and for spectral resolutions of 33 and 110 picometer. The accuracy of the CN line strength data is better than one picometer. Laboratory experiments utilize 308-nm, 35-picosecond bursts within an overall 1-nanosecond pulse-width, and 1064-nm, 6-ns pulse-width radiation. Experimental results are compared with predictions. Differences of the databases are elaborated for equilibrium of rotational and vibrational modes and at an internal, molecular temperature of the order of 8,000 Kelvin. Applications of accurate CN data include for example combustion diagnosis, chemistry, and supersonic and hypersonic expansion diagnosis. The cyanide molecule is also of interest in the study of astrophysical phenomena.

The typically qualitative treatment of evidence underlying different causal hypotheses that attempt to explain singular historic events is criticized. Instead of using ad hoc qualitative arguments, it is here advocated to use Bayes theorem to assess how well evidence either support or weaken a specific causal hypothesis. It is argued that such a practice will enable scientists who study singular historic events to discuss, compare and aggregate different beliefs in a meaningful way.

Cyber-Physical Systems form the new backbone of digital ecosystems. Their design can be coupled with engineering activities to facilitate dynamic adaptation and (re-)configuration. Behavior-oriented technologies enable highly distributed and while coupled operation of systems. Utilizing them for digital twins as self-contained design entities with federation capabilities makes them promising candidates to develop and run highly functional CPS. In this paper we discuss mapping CPS components to behavior-based digital twin constituents mirroring integration and implementation through subject-oriented models. These models, inspired by agent-oriented system thinking can be executed and increase transparency at design and runtime. Patterns recognizing environmental factors and operation details facilitate configuration of CPS. Subject-oriented runtime support enable dynamic adaptation and federated use.

It is shown through three different approaches that, contrary to a long-standing conviction, the orbit of Mercury behaves as required by Newton's equations with a very high precision if one correctly analyzes the situation in the framework of the two-body problem without neglecting the mass of Mercury.

This work communicates laser-plasma experiments in a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. Time-resolved spectroscopy measures the first four Balmer series hydrogen lines together with selected neutral and ionized nitrogen lines. Optical breakdown plasma is generated in a 1:1 hydrogen:nitrogen mixture at ambient temperature and 0.27-atm pressure. Time-resolved spectroscopy records emitted radiation with spatial resolution along the slit height for the H_α, H_β, H_γ, and H_δ lines. For 13 selected time delays from 0.25 µs to 3.25 µs and 0.025 µ gate-widths, micro-plasma diagnostics is evaluated. Of interest are the peak-separation and width of H_δ and width of H_γ for electron densities in the range of 0.1 to 1.0×10¹⁷ cm^-3, and comparisons with H_β and H_α diagnostics. Integral inversions interrogate spatial distributions of the plasma expansion. Applications include laboratory and stellar astrophysics plasma diagnosis.

We received an Honorable Mention at the Gravity Research Foundation 2018 Awards for Essays on Gravitation by showing that a correct general relativistic interpretation of the Mössbauer rotor experiment represents a new, strong and independent, proof of Einstein's general theory relativity (GTR). Here we correct a mistake which was present in our previous computations on this important issue by deriving a rigorous computation of the additional effect of clock synchronization. Finally, we show that some recent criticisms on our general relativistic approach to the Mössbauer rotor experiment are incorrect, by ultimately confirming our important result.

This is a review of efforts to discover action principles for Hydrodynamics and Thermodynamics. The work began with a determined attempt to create sources for Einstein's equations that describe continuous matter - as opposed to point particles. This requires a relativistic action principle. This report is mainly about (non relativistic) Adiabatic Thermodynamics, non equilibrium thermodynamics based on the method of Gibbs. The main relations of classical thermodynamics can be derived from an action principle, in the classical global form and in the local form advocated by Callen. The entropy is defined as the negative derivative of the free energy (free energy density) with respect to the volume (density). This is integrated with an action principle for hydrodynamics that was known to Lagrange in 1760. It is strongly limited to irrotational velocity fields, nevertheless it provides the needed Lagrangian for a large part of thermodynamics. This is the subject of the first 3 sections. It includes a brief review of a new theory of mixtures. The most difficult part of the program has been the discovery of Conservative Hydrodynamics with the required four independent degrees of freedom, with general flows. We give an account of the genesis and the structure of this theory, then a tour of recent applications.

Optimal dividend payment under a ruin constraint is a two objective control problem which—in simple models—can be solved numerically by three essentially different methods. One is based on a modified Bellman equation and the policy improvement method (see Hipp C., 2003). In this paper we use explicit formulas for running allowed ruin probabilities which avoid a complete search and speed up and simplify the computation. The second is also a policy improvement method, but without the use of a dynamic equation (see Hipp C., 2003). It is based on closed formulas for first entry probabilities and discount factors for the time until first entry (see Hipp C., 2016). Third a new, faster and more intuitive method which uses appropriately chosen barrier levels and a closed formula for the corresponding dividend value. Using the running allowed ruin probabilities, a simple test for admissibility—concerning the ruin constraint—is given. All these methods work for the discrete De Finetti model and are applied in a numerical example. The non stationary Lagrange multiplier method suggested in (see Hipp C., 2016), Section 2.2.2 does also yield optimal dividend strategies which differ from those in all other methods, and Lagrange gaps are present here. These gaps always exist in De Finetti models, see (see Hipp C., 2017).

Alphavirus species are globally distributed zoonoses, primarily transmitted by arthropods. In Costa Rica, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are endemic. The objective of this study is to detect these viruses in brain samples from equines displaying nervous signs. For this purpose, four published universal RT-PCR methods were compared. The most sensitive and specific RT-PCR method was used to test a total of 70 brain samples, including 40 from bovines and 30 from equines, all exhibiting nervous signs. In the positive cases, eight different brain regions were extracted and tested using this RT-PCR. Positive cases were confirmed through sequencing. Among the four universal RT-PCR assays, Torii RT-PCR demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing VEEV and EEEV. Not all assessed brain regions showed DNA amplification. None of the bovine brains was positive and out of the 30 equine brain samples, only four tested positive, and sequencing confirmed two of these samples as VEEV subtype IE. Torii RT-PCR successfully detected VEEV in pools of the hip-pocampus, spinal cord, and basal nuclei, making these brain regions suitable for diagnosing this virus. None of the samples were positive for EEEV.

In this work, the wetting and evaporation behaviour of non-polar solvent droplets on thin soluble coatings is investigated experimentally. The wetting process on spin coated polymer layers by the solvent is captured using shadowgraphy. Initial spontaneous dynamic wetting as well as later stages of wetting are recorded and evaluated. Furthermore, structures obtained by wetting and subsequent evaporation of solvents on polymer coatings are studied by confocal microscopy. The solubility of the substrate has been varied by using polymers with different molecular masses. We observe that initial spreading dynamics does not depend on the molar mass in the studied range. However, we find a strong influence of the molar mass on the late stage wetting dynamics and on the surface structure after solvent evaporation.

Incident solar radiation (insolation) passing through the forest canopy to the ground surface is either absorbed or scattered. This phenomenon, known as radiation attenuation, is measured using the extinction coefficient (K). The amount of radiation at the ground surface of a given site is effectively controlled by the canopy’s surface and structure, determining its suitability for plant species.Menhinick’s and Simpson biodiversity indexes were selected as spatially explicit response variables for the regression equation using canopy structure metrics as predictors. Independent variables include modeled area solar radiation, LiDAR derived canopy height, effective leaf area index data derived from multi-spectral imagery, and canopy strata metrics derived from LiDAR point-cloud data. The results support the hypothesis that, 1.) canopy surface and strata variability may be associated with understory species diversity due to habitat partitioning and radiation attenuation, and that, 2.) such a model can predict both this relationship and biodiversity clustering.The study data yielded significant correlations between predictor and response variables and was used to produce a multiple-linear model comprising canopy relief, texture of heights, and vegetation density to predict understory plant diversity. When analyzed for spatial autocorrelation, the predicted biodiversity data exhibited non-random spatial continuity.

Background: The popularity of climbing via ferratas (VF) in the European Alps has increased a lot. We have analysed the pattern of injuries from accidents, which have occurred on VF, and First Aid (FA) knowledge from the persons on such alpine routes. The aim was to create specific FA courses for those who climb VF. Material and Methods: Incidences and FA knowledge of the alpinists were investigated by a questionnaire. Data included details of the individual’s alpine experience, accidents or any kind of medical emergency they have ever experienced. FA knowledge was evaluated by 18 multiple choice questions with 5 answers each. The questionnaire was based on those of previous studies but was slightly adopted for VF. For this data from rescue operations on VF were used. Finally every participant was asked to judge his FA knowledge by a Likert scale (1 to 5). Results: The collective consisted of 391 participants (28.4% women) with an average age of 41 years. A significant portion did no regular fitness training and in most cases the last FA training was years ago. Nobody had joined a specific FA course for climbers or mountaineers. The most common causes of emergencies were: weather conditions (19%), stumble (18.6%), falls (13.4%), and weariness and deficiency in concentration (13.4%). FA questions most often answered correctly were cardiac emergencies (49.6%), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) (43.2%), snow blindness (40.9%), injuries of the head (37.1%) and hemorrhagic shock (35.3%). Those most often wrong were injuries of the back (1.0%), injuries of the thorax (2.8%), frostbite (9.0%), acute mountain sickness (AMS) (4.1%) and strategy of rescue (4.1%). VF climbers show significant less FA knowledge than mountaineers in the Western Alps and trekkers. Conclusions: Data support the need of a specific FA training for VF climbers. Their FA knowledge does not fit with the demands in the mountains while some other knowledge they have is negligible on VFs (e.g. HACE). This is in accordance with earlier studies in “classic” alpine mountaineering and in trekking.

The development of new turbomachinery designs requires numerous time-consuming and computationally intensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. However, most of the generated high spatial resolution data remains unused at later development steps. That is also the case with automated optimization processes that use only a few integral values to determine objectives and constraints. Therefore the development of a data-driven AI model was initiated to ensure the potential of further use of the CFD data which is also used to train the AI model. The presented method subsequently provides a fast approximation of the 3D flow for new designs. In this paper, the structure of the developed AI model is presented and the approximation quality is analysed using a complex, state-of-the-art compressor test case. It is shown that the AI model can reproduce many characteristics of the 3D flow of new designs, and performance measures such as efficiency can be derived from these flow predictions. In addition, the complex test case revealed that greater design variation reduces the AI approximation quality which can lead to undesirable exploratory behaviour in an optimisation setup. Overall, the test case has shown promising results and has provided hints for further improvements of the AI model.

Background: Mitigating climate change requires fundamentally redesigned energy systems in which renewable energy sources ultimately replace fossil fuels such as natural gas. In this context, the question how and to which extent the gas sector can contribute to an increasingly climate-neutral future EU energy system is heavily debated among scholars, energy industry experts and policy makers. Methods: We take a two-step approach: We begin with a review of studies from energy industry and academia to discuss potential gas sector contributions from a holistic energy system design point of view; this is followed by a comprehensive discussion of technical potentials, micro-economic conditions and societal implications of renewable gas. We then enrich our findings with the results of an empirical focus group process. Results: The gas sector can not only contribute to balancing volatile renewable energy production but also enable the supply of renewable energy to end-users in gaseous form; based on existing infrastructure. This could reduce costs for society, increase public acceptance and ultimately speed up the energy system transformation. There is the theoretical technical potential to substitute major parts of natural gas with renewable gas of biogenic and synthetic nature. This, however, crucially requires a supportive policy framework like the one established for renewable electricity. Conclusion: Given the societal benefits and the competitiveness of renewable gas as compared to renewable alternatives, energy policy makers should incorporate renewable gas and the existing gas infrastructure in the future energy system framework. The objective should be an optimized interplay of various energy vectors and their infrastructure along the entire energy supply chain. This requires a level playing field for different renewable technologies across different policy areas and a form of public support that strikes the balance between facilitating the gradual substitution of natural gas by renewable gas while maintaining public acceptance for this transformation despite higher costs for end-users.: Given the societal benefits and the competitiveness of renewable gas as compared to renewable alternatives, energy policy makers should incorporate renewable gas and the existing gas infrastructure in the future energy system framework. The objective should be an optimized interplay of various energy vectors and their infrastructure along the entire energy supply chain. This requires a level playing field for different renewable technologies across different policy areas and a form of public support that strikes the balance between facilitating the gradual substitution of natural gas by renewable gas while maintaining public acceptance for this transformation despite higher costs for end-users.

Background: The study aimed to explore the association between the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) and in-hospital complication and mortality in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the Changhua Christian Hospital Clinical Research Database (CCHRD) between January 2015 and December 2022. 2402 patients were included, with the median PNI value set at 42.77. The restricted cubic spline model, Kaplan-Meier and ROC analysis for overall survival were used to evaluate the association of PNI with medical complications and mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to balance these clinical variables between groups, which could reduce potential bias to some extent. Results: PNI was significantly associated with in-hospital complications and 28-day and 90-day mortality in multivariate analysis. The main finding of our study is that a low PNI score at admission was independently associated with a poor ICH outcome. The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed higher survival rates in the high PNI group. PNI demonstrated sensitivity to predict medical complications and mortality based on ROC analysis. Conclusions Our study suggests that PNI could serve as a valuable marker for predicting medical complications and mortality in patients with spontaneous ICH.

The purpose of this work is to define optimal growth conditions for batch culture of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira maxima and the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, Isochrysis galbana and Nannochloropsis gaditana. Thus, we study the effect of three variables on algae growth: i.e., inoculum:culture medium ratio, light:darkness photoperiod and type of culture medium, including both synthetic media and wastewaters. The results showed that the initial inoculum volume did not affect the amount of biomass at the end of the growth (14 days), whereas an excess (18 h) or defect (6 h) in the number of hours of light is determinant for its development. The contribution of nutrients from different culture media modified the growth of the different species. A. maxima was favoured in seawater enriched with Guillard's F/2 as well as C. vulgaris and N. gaditana but in fresh water medium. I. galbana had the greatest growth in the marine environment enriched with Walne’s media. Nitrate was the limiting growth reagent at the end of the exponential phase of growth for C. vulgaris and N. gaditana, while iron was for A. maxima and I. galbana. All species demonstrated their capability to grow in effluents from a wastewater treatment plant and they efficiently consume nitrogen, especially the three microalgae species.

This article describes the impact of restricting the air intake in industrial 250 m3 WEMCO flotation cells at Los Pelambres concentrator. The influence of this air restriction on the hydrodynamic and metallurgical performance of this type of machine was evaluated. The experiments were conducted in single flotation cells and in entire rougher banks. In all cases, the gas holdup was measured to estimate the effectiveness of the obstruction system to decrease the air concentration. In single cells, axial profiles for solid percentage and particle size were evaluated. In addition, a mass balance was conducted to assess the copper recovery and concentrate features. In individual cells, the air restriction led to a decrease in the gas holdup. However, this slight change was enough to obtain a more stable froth zone and a better solids suspension. The latter was observed as a higher P80 below the pulp-froth interface, a less diluted pulp at this level, a slightly higher Cu recovery, and a coarser concentrate product. A mineralogical analysis of the concentrate sample also showed the presence of coarser liberated Cu-sulfide particles. The results in single cells suggested an improvement in the recovery of coarse particles by a more intense solids suspension. The air intake was also restricted in 3 rougher banks to assess the impact of the air obstruction on the overall performance of the respective circuit. Eleven out of fourteen cells were operated with air restriction, which led to a significant recovery improvement of 0.9%-1.6% (absolute) with a 95% confidence level. Size-by-size mass balances were also conducted for the rougher circuits, which proved that the recovery improvements were justified by the simultaneous increase in the recovery of coarse and fine particles. Thus, a restriction of the air intake showed that the decrease in the gas holdup (and in the bubble surface area flux) was compensated by a better solids suspension and a higher turbulence in the impeller. The former promotes the recovery of coarse particles, whereas the latter improves the interaction between bubbles and fine particles. Further developments are being made to implement a regulatory control strategy to control the air intake in self-aspirated flotation cells, and to use this approach for optimizing industrial flotation banks.

In many practical applications, it is more convenient to characterize the quality of production processes or service operations throughout the count of nonconformities. In the context of SPC, nonconformities are usually assumed to appear according to the binomial probability model. The conventional way for monitoring nonconformities involves Shewhart-type control procedures based on both constant and time-varying sample sizes. In this article, an EWMA scheme is proposed for monitoring the fraction of nonconforming items with time-varying sample sizes. The proposed control chart is referred to as the EWMAG-B and can be easily adapted to work with a constant sample size by fixing it at a needed value. By means of simulation, it was found out that the EWMAG-B chart outperforms the conventional p control chart in Phase II while detecting changes in the process level is wanted.

Aqueous dispersions of magnetic nanocomposites have been proposed as draw electrolytes in forward osmosis. One possible approach for the production nanocomposites based on magnetite nanoparticles and sodium polyacrylate, is the synthesis of the magnetic iron oxide by coprecipitation or oxidative precipitation in presence of an excess of the polymer. In this work we explored the effect of the polymer proportion on the nanomaterials produced by these procedures. The materials obtained were compared s with the obtained by the coating of magnetite nanocrystals produced beforehand with the same polymer. The samples were characterized by chemical analysis, photon correlation spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and magnetometry. The general trend observed is that part of the polymer is incorporated to the magnetic material during the synthesis heavily modifying its texture, with a drastic reduction of the particle size and magnetic response. The aqueous dispersions of the nanocomposites were highly stable with hydrodynamic size roughly independent on the polymer proportion. Their osmotic pressure proportional to the concentration of the polyelectrolyte, was similar than the generated by the equivalent amount of free polymer in the case of samples generated by oxidative precipitation and smaller in the case of samples generated by coprecipitation. Finally the possibilities of using these materials as draw electrolytes in forward osmosis will be briefly discussed.

Objective: This study aims to establish a link between primary healthcare service accessibility among rural populations and the principle of territorial equity, a pivotal aspect of regional development strategies. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of primary healthcare service accessibility in rural Quebec, integrating theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence on territorial, regional, and community development. Through this approach, we sought to comprehend the nuanced dynamics and mechanisms contributing to territorial equity enhancement. Results: Our findings indicate that refining developmental strategies through community-driven approaches and regional initiatives can foster territorial equity. Moreover, employing sophisticated methodologies to measure primary healthcare service accessibility can promote territorial equity, emphasizing community development. Conclusion: Enhancing access to primary healthcare services and employing advanced assessment methodologies are essential for advancing territorial equity and supporting regional development initiatives. This underscores the critical importance of prioritizing healthcare accessibility in rural areas to achieve equitable development outcomes.

This work investigates spatial and temporal distributions of hydroxyl, OH, in laser-plasma in laboratory air at standard ambient temperature and pressure. Of interest are determination of temperature and density of OH and establishment of a correlation of molecular OH emission spectra with shadow graphs for time delays of 50 to 100 microsecond, analogous to previous work on shadow graph and emission spectroscopy correlation for cynaide, CN, in gas mixtures and for time delays of the order of 1 microsecond. Wavelength- and sensitivity- corrected spatiotemporal data analysis focuses on temperature inferences using molecular OH emission spectroscopy. Near-ir radiation from a Q-switched laser device initiates optical breakdown in laboratory air. The laser device provides 6 nanosecond, up to 850 milli Joule pulses at a wavelength of 1064 nanometer, and focal irradiance in the range of 1 to 10 Tera Watt per centimeter-squared. Frequency doubled beams are utilized for capturing shadow graphs for visualization of the breakdown kernel at time delays in the range of 0.1 to 100 microsecond. OH emission spectra of the laser plasma, spatially resolved along the slit dimension, are recorded in the wavelength range of 298 nm to 321 nm, and with gate widths adjusted to 10 microsecond for the intensified charge-coupled device that is mounted at the exit plane of a 0.64 m Czerny-Turner configuration spectrometer. Diatomic OH signals occur due to recombination of the plasma and are clearly distinguishable for time delays larger than 50 microsecond, but are masked by spectra of N2 early in the plasma decay.

The interpretation of optical spectra requires thorough comprehension of quantum mechanics, especially understanding the concept of angular momentum operators. Suppose now that a transformation from laboratory-fixed to molecule-attached coordinates, by invoking the correspondence principle, induces reversed angular momentum operator identities. However, the foundations of quantum mechanics and the mathematical implementation of specific symmetries assert that reversal of motion or time reversal includes complex conjugation as part of anti-unitary operation. Quantum theory contraindicates sign changes of the fundamental angular momentum algebra. Reversed angular momentum sign changes are of heuristic nature and are actually not needed in analysis of diatomic spectra. This work addresses sustenance of usual angular momentum theory, including presentation of straightforward proofs leading to falsification of the occurrence of reversed angular momentum identities. This review also summarises aspects of a consistent implementation of quantum mechanics for spectroscopy with selected diatomic molecules of interest in astrophysics and in engineering applications.

Controversial hypotheses to explain consciousness exist in many fields of science, psychology and philosophy. Recent experimental findings in quantum cognition and magnetic resonance imaging have added new controversies to the field, suggesting that the mind may be based on quantum computing. Quantum computers process information in quantum bits (qubits) using quantum gates. At a first glance, it seems unrealistic or impossible that the brain can meet the challenges to provide either of these. Nevertheless, we show here why the brain has the incredible ability to perform quantum computing and how that may be realized.

Land degradation and climate change are among the main threats to the sustainability of ecosystems worldwide. Therefore, the restoration of degraded landscapes is essential to maintain the functionality of ecosystems, especially those with greater social, economic and environmental vulnerability. Nevertheless, policy-makers are frequently challenged by deciding on where to prioritize restoration actions, which usually includes to deal with multiple and complex needs under an always short budget. If these decisions are not taken based on proper data and processes, restoration implementation can easily fail. To help decision-makers taking informed decisions on where to implement restoration activities, we have developed a semiautomatic geospatial platform to prioritize areas for restoration activities based on ecological, social and economic variables. This platform takes advantage of the potential to integrate R coding, Google Earth Engine cloud computing and GIS visualization services to generate an interactive geospatial decision-maker tool for restoration. Here, we present a prototype version called "RePlant alpha" which was tested with data from the Central Zone of Chile. This exercise proved that integrating R and GEE was feasible, and that the analysis, with at least six indicators and for a specific region was also feasible to implement even from a personal computer. Therefore, the use of a virtual machine in the cloud with a large number of indicators over large areas is both possible and practical.

This study examined how practice distribution schedules influenced accuracy and efficacy in the tennis serve. 24 recreational players were randomized into two experimental groups. Both groups carried out 4 series of 10 services per session during 12 sessions. Massed practice group did not rested between services and rested 10 seconds between series. Distributed practice group rested 10 seconds between services and 30 seconds between series. The accuracy and efficacy were registered and computed based on the 2D digitalization. The learning and retention were tested in a post-test and retention test. The learning program increased the efficacy in the post-test in both groups (p =.001 massed group; p =.015 distributed group). On the retest, the group of massed practice decreased efficacy (p =.021). In accuracy, the group of massed practice reduced its performance in the post-test (p =.015). The effects of the program on the accuracy in the retention test were not observed. It is concluded that this type of sports learning programs, applied at a recreational level, can provide a rigorous approach that contributes with guarantees to the learning of tennis.

The introduction of organic and inorganic substances to the environment is a result of human activities such as agriculture, domestic and industrial wastewater which leads to pollution. Treatment processes of these wastewaters are being conducted globally to eliminate easily settled materials and recover nutrients in an attempt to release clear and apparently clean effluent into natural waters. Lack of removing inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients is the greatest cause of eutrophication in water bodies which inhibits the life of other organisms as well as pose a threat to human life and loss of the economy. Different technologies have been applied and are being developed to recover nutrients as well as heavy metals from wastewater to meet the permissible limits before discharging effluents. Wastewater treatment using microalgae offers an opportunity to provide tertiary bio-treatment and production of valuable biomass. Microalgae use the available inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth which are then harvested for various uses. Additionally, they have the ability to remove heavy metals and some toxic compounds. The main specific microalgae species in this study is the Chlorella sorokiniana with the Aequorea victoria jellyfish This paper reviews some of the wastewater treatment processes and focus on the use of microalgae and some of the shortcomings of the technologies and how they can be improved to achieve maximum nutrient recovery economically with low energy demand.

Unraveling the genetic diversity of creole breeds is central to understanding their value and importance for conservation and improvement in diverse production environments in America. In most of its countries, information on attributes of many livestock breeds is scanty and do not support well-informed decision-making upon relevant management strategies. This study aimed at investigating the “Paisanita” cattle breed, a landrace breed adapted to different ecological regions of Guatemala. For this purpose, a total of 47 adult females belonging to 4 different geographical areas of the country were analysed on the basis of 24 quantitative traits. Results showed no differences between areas and so, the possible presence of ecotypes was discarded. This conclusion helps the objectives of conservation, and future monitoring of “Paisanita” cattle.