This article introduces a new physically based Lyapunov function difinition, which can be used as acoustic energy for finite amplitude pressure oscillations in reacting systems especially in combustion chambers. Reacting flow is seen as an open, non-equilibrium (parameters are distributed unevenly locally) thermodynamic system. This Lyapunov function is defined as the maximum mechanical work, which could be extracted by a heat engine from studied system, if this system would be disconnected from inlet and outlet and from any other surrounding environment, and the engine could transfer to the surrounding environment only mechanical work.

The rate constants of elementary processes in the atom-diatom system O(³P)+H₂(v), including the processes of vibrational relaxation and dissociation, were studied using the quasi-classical trajectory method. All calculations were carried out along the ground potential energy surface (PES) ³A′′ that was approximated by a neural network. Approximation data were obtained using ab initio quantum chemistry methods at the extended multi-configuration quasi-degenerate second-order perturbation theory XMCQDPT2 in a basis set limit. The calculated cross sections of the reaction channels are in good agreement with the literature data. A complete set of state-to-state rate constants was obtained for the metathesis reaction, the dissociation and VT relaxation of the H₂ molecule upon collision with an O atom. According to this data Arrhenius approximations over a wide temperature range were obtained for the thermal rate constants of considered processes. Data obtained on the dissociation constants and VT relaxation of vibrationally excited H₂ molecules can be used in constructing kinetic models describing the oxidation of hydrogen at high temperatures or highly nonequilibrium conditions.

Hydrogen plays a key role in the transition to a carbon-free economy. One of the areas of hydrogen use is the substitution of hydrocarbon fuel in gas turbine engines and power plants. This review article discusses the features of hydrogen combustion and their influence on the characteristics of combustion chambers in comparison with methane. The paper presents both the results of a study of pure hydrogen or methane and methane-hydrogen mixtures with different hydrogen content. Among the main features, it is worth noting a smaller ignition delay time and higher laminar flame speed with a shift in its maximum value to a rich mixture, which significantly affects on flashback inside burners premixer, especially at elevated air temperatures. Another feature is the increased temperature of the flame, which can lead to an increase in the rate of nitrogen oxides formation. However, wider combustion concentration ranges contribute to the stable combustion of hydrogen at temperatures lower than those of methane. Along with this, it was shown that even at the same adiabatic temperature, more nitrogen oxides are formed in a hydrogen flame than in a methane flame, which indicates an additional mechanism for NOx formation in addition to the Zeldovich mechanism. The article also summarizes some of the results of a study on the effect of hydrogen on the occurrence of thermoacoustic instability, which depends on the initial nature of pulsations during methane combustion. The presented data will be useful both to engineers who are engaged in solving the problems of designing hydrogen combustion devices, and to scientists in this field of study.

We study and describe possibilities for arities of elementary theories and of their expansions. Links for arities with respect to Boolean algebras, to disjoint unions and to compositions of structures are shown. Arities and aritizabilities are semantically characterized. The dynamics for arities of theories is described.

The paper investigates the issues of transliteration of Russian toponyms in a city environment and studies the efficiency of the Technical Reference Manual for the Standardization of Geographical Names published by the United Nations group of experts. The paper demonstrates the feasibility of the UN and Russian official transliteration standards and compares the suggested theoretical models with the practical applications found on the street signs, labels, maps, and other sources of navigation. The author presents a comprehensive account of practical transcription methods used in Moscow and offers a solution to a number of issues and discrepancies between popular transliteration models and their real-life application.

Specific emissivity features of swamps and wetlands of Western Siberia were studied for changing seasonal conditions with the use of daily data of satellite microwave sounding. The research technique involved the analysis of brightness temperatures of the underlying surface at the test sites. Variations in seasonal dynamics of brightness temperatures were mainly caused by different rates of seasonal freezing of the upper waterlogged layer of the underlying surface and dielectric characteristics of water containing natural media (water body, soil, vegetation). We analyzed long-term trends in seasonal and annual dynamics of brightness temperatures of the underlying surface and estimated hydrological changes in the Arctic and Subarctic. The findings open up new possibilities for using satellite data in the microwave range for studying natural seasonal dynamic processes and predicting hazardous hydrological phenomena.

Using the fluorescent method in the modification of Krasnoyarsk State University, we study development (as chlorophyll content, ∑CHL) and photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton in seven large flat reservoir of the Volga River cascade (Russia) in August 2915–2017. In period of maximal warming of water, average ∑CHL varied in limits of 19.4–33.7 μg L–1 in the Upper Volga, 8.5–27.8 μg L–1 in the Middle Volga, and 5.2–11.3 μg L–1 in the Lower Volga. Photosynthetic activity coefficient (PhAC) varied mostly in limits of 0.12–0.59 with average of 0.22–0.38 and only in 2017 decreased to minimal <0.10 and average <0.20. The average PhAC values shows the normal physiological state of the phytoplankton of the Upper Volga during all periods of observation, occasional decrease of PhAC in the Middle Volga, and low photosynthetic activity in the Lower Volga. A decrease in the average ∑Chl and PhAC in 2017 was under cyclonic windy weather with a large amount of precipitation, low solar radiation, and large volume of flow. Trend towards a decrease in ∑CHL, like decrease in PhAC from the Upper Volga to the Lower Volga is explained by increasing in the flow rate and volume of runoff downstream the Volga River.

Using an original method for measuring weak radiothermal electromagnetic signals, experimental data were obtained on the analysis of dispersions of noise attractors of the radiobrightness temperature of aqueous solutions of NaCl, Al (NO₃)₃ at dilutions C1 (1:100) – C12 (12:100). The values of dispersions of noise attractors significantly differ from those for the control experiment with water. On the basis of the changed values of the noise attractors of the radiobrightness temperature, the values of the absorption coefficients of the solutions are calculated. The difference between the values of the solutions absorption coefficients and those for water is shown with a successive increase in their values with an increase in the degree of dilution. The difference between the values of the absorption coefficients of solutions of high dilutions and those for water is interpreted as a mechanism of cooperative interaction of ions with water molecules located outside the first hydration shell. A network of water molecules perturbed by ions contributes to the dielectric permittivity was obtained due to new properties at supramolecular interactions on the basis of dispersion interaction.

The diet and feeding behavior of South Polar Skuas (Stercorarius maccormicki) are well studied within the species' breeding range, but are poorly understood on the Haswell Islands. Goal: to establish how South Polar Skuas used the abundance of living resources of the Haswell Archipelago (66°31' S, 93°01' E, Davis Sea, Southern Ocean) under conditions of prolonged human activity. Methods: direct observations, study of pellets, spontaneous regurgitation and stomach contents of feathered birds. South Polar Skuas fed primarily on terrestrial resources. The dominant prey of skuas were vertebrates. Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) make up the bulk of the skuas’ diet in the pre-breeding and breeding periods. Surface feeding at sea was observed in the post-breeding period, when the availability of land-based food resources was reduced. Throughout history, kitchen waste supported the skuas population. Scavenging is the dominant strategy for obtaining food. Predation (primarily on Adélie Penguin eggs and chicks) is of minor importance. South Polar Skuas do not affect the breeding success of Emperor Penguins if they feed on frozen chicks and eggs in their colony. Skua predation influences breeding success of Adélie Penguins and fulmarine petrels, but the extent of the impact is unknown.

We prove an analog of the removable singularity theorem for bounded harmonic functions on stratified sets. The harmonic functions are understood in the sense of the soft Laplacian. The result can become one of the main technical components for extending the well-known Poincaré–Perron’s method of proving the solvability of the Dirichlet problem for the soft Laplacian.

The state of knowledge of properties of the Andromeda Galaxy (also known as M31) is reviewed. The spatial structure of the Andromeda Galaxy, its main source populations and the properties of its gas and dust are discussed. To understand the formation history of the Andromeda Galaxy, the critical issues of its star formation history and the gas streams and dwarf galaxies in its surrounding environment are reviewed. Emphasis is on recent studies with important earlier work described in the references provided here. It is important to understand the Andromeda Galaxy because it is the nearest large external galaxy and is close enough for high resolution studies. This allows the Andromeda Galaxy to be used as a template to understand more distant and less resolved galaxies in the universe.

Lead-based ternary chalcogenide thin films of the (PbTe)1-x(PbS)x system were obtained by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (PECVD) under conditions of a nonequilibrium low-temperature argon plasma of an RF discharge (40.68 MHz) at a reduced pressure (0.01 Torr). High-purity elements were directly used as starting materials – Pb, S and Te. Plasma-chemical synthesis was carried out on the surface of of c-sapphire and silicon substrate. The physicochemical properties of the films were studied by various analytical methods. The dependence of the Seebeck coefficient, resistivity, and power factor on the structural properties and composition has been studied. The thermoelectric characteristics were found to be dependent on the film composition. Upon the selection of optimal sulfur concentration one can increase the power factor as compared to single phase PbS ot PbTe films.

This study presents an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover change on the Kerch Peninsula over a period spanning three decades. Utilizing convolutional neural networks alongside satellite imagery analysis, we have mapped and quantified the changes in land use and cover, revealing significant trends and transformations within the peninsula's landscape. The research aims to elucidate the interplay between anthropogenic activities, climatic variations, and policy interventions in shaping land cover dynamics, thereby providing insights into the environmental and socio-economic impacts of these changes. Our findings indicate a marked increase in urban expansion at the expense of natural ecosystems, including forests and wetlands, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies. The study highlights the role of agricultural intensification and expansion in altering the peninsula's ecological balance and emphasizes the critical importance of integrating change analysis and prediction. By leveraging advanced remote sensing and GIS technologies, our analysis not only enhances the understanding of the complex dynamics driving land use and land cover change but also showcases the potential of predictive modeling in forecasting future land cover scenarios. The implications of this study extend beyond the Kerch Peninsula, offering valuable lessons for managing land use changes and conserving natural landscapes in similar regions globally.

New composite with core-shell structure based on magnesium hydride and finely dispersed aluminum powder with aluminum oxide shell was mechanically synthesized. We used magnesium chips to produce magnesium hydride and aluminum wire after exploitation to produce nano-sized aluminum powder. The beginning of the hydrogen release from composite occurred at the temperature of 117°C. The maximum desorption temperature from the MgH₂-EEWAl composite (10 wt.%) is 336°C compared to pure magnesium hydride – 417°C. The mass content of hydrogen in the composite is 5.5 wt.%. The positive effect of aluminum powder produced by the electric explosion of wires method on reducing the activation energy of desorption was demonstrated. Calculations showed that the activation energy of desorption for the composite is 106±1 kJ/mol, compared with pure magnesium hydride, whose activation energy was 155±2 kJ/mol. The results obtained make it possible to expand the possibility of using magnesium and aluminum waste for hydrogen energy.

The Kuznetsk Basin (Kuzbass) is one of the largest coal basins in Siberia and a reference area for the ancient Angaraland continent. The proximity of the Kuzbass and Siberian platform caused their biotic similarities in the Late Palaeozoic. However, due to biota endemism, the Kuzbass Upper Palaeozoic does not correlate directly with the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (ICC). This paper discusses radioisotopic (CA-ID-TIMS) dating of zircons from a volcanic tuff located in the Starokuznetsk Formation. This level matches the interval of the Balakhonka/Kolchugino (B/K) floral change in Kuzbass, i.e. the gradual replacement of cordaitoid-dominated wet forests (Balakhonka flora) by more arid fern-pteridosperm-cordaitoid assemblages (Kolchugino flora). New age (276.9 ± 0.4 Ma) directly correlates the Starokuznetsk Fm with the Upper Kungurian of the ICS. We compared the Kuzbass data with data of the Western Verkhoyanie, where Middle Permian ammonoids (Sverdrupites assemblage) occur in strata recording the B/K floral change. Available (ICC) and new datings indicate the lag between the B/K floral change in low (Kuzbass) and high (Verkhoyanie) latitudes of Angaraland. The B/K floral change in the Kuzbass began in the early Late Kungurian and was completed by the end of this age. In contrast, the B/K floral change in Verkhoyanie began at the end of the Late Kungurian and was completed in the Late Wordian. The delay in the floral changes at different latitudes of Angaraland suggests that existing interregional correlations need further improvement.

In order to ensure sustainable tourism development, it is currently becoming crucial to look into promotion of popular tourist destinations in Russia. This is due to a number of factors, including the acceptance of the credibility and importance of the concept of sustainable tourism, as well as the awareness of the necessity of taking into account a wide range of short- and long-term effects, external factors, and interdisciplinary aspects of the development of the Russian tourism industry. In the context of a local tourist destination during the economic crisis, the study aims to highlight some of the key economic elements of sustainable tourism. The decision to adopt a regional perspective is necessitated by the fact that many of the most crucial elements for the long-term sustainable development of the tourist complex are established at this level, including decision-making by businesses and authorities that are economically viable. The research focuses on the economic aspects to be considered while designing an overall strategy for the long-term development of regional tourist destinations in Russia. The authors define sustainable tourism from the viewpoint of economics. This understanding extends beyond the relatively limited framework of environmental and socioeconomic consequences of tourism development, affecting some less obvious economic aspects of a regional destination that directly relate to sustainable development.

The circadian and stress-realizing systems are interconnected, and the balance of their interaction determines the state of human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the modulating effect of activating the circadian system on heart rate variability in female medical students with high anxiety while performing a cognitive task. After 20 minutes of adequate stimulation of circadian photoreceptors with a monochromatic blue light, the cognitive task performance resulted in a decrease in sympathetic impact. During the session of using Blue Sky Pro glasses, a trend of increasing heart rate variability was observed in a state of relative rest (especially in the first 5 minutes). A comparative analysis of the parameters of the letter cancellation test before and after light exposure revealed a statistically significant increase in the indexes reflecting mental productivity, work accuracy, and concentration of attention. The results suggest an essential physiological role of the human circadian system in modulating the autonomic and psycho-emotional conditions, as well as cognitive functions of individuals with high anxiety. Our findings indicate the possibility of quickly correcting the balance in human systemic regulatory mechanisms using the activation of retinal circadian photoreceptors by blue light.

A new approach to the treatment of wound lesions, which are complicated by the presence of polyresistant microflora and a possible immunodeficiency background has been proposed. It involves treating the wound surface with high-intensity pulsed optical radiation of a continuous spectrum, continuously covering the entire UV range (from 200 to 400 nm), visible and near infrared region of the spectrum. A pulsed xenon lamp is used as a radiation source. A description of the design and technical characteristics of the developed device for high-intensity optical irradiation "Zarnitsa-A", which implements the proposed medical technology for wound therapy, is represented. The results of preclinical studies of the apparatus in vitro and in vivo are represented hereinafter. The article shows that the apparatus exposure has pronounced bactericidal and wound-healing properties. The apparatus action reliably provides higher rates of wound healing compared to the use of only a typical antibacterial and wound healing agent – “Levomekol” ointment.

The research reported on this paper was aimed at improving the overall efficiency of a PDO certified artisanal cheese production process. Being a PDO certified foodstuff by the EU, it is considered to have properties and qualities determined by the geographical environment in which is made, with its production taking place in a specific and determined geographical location, in this case the Serra da Estrela region. In that sense, the authors conducted a mapping according to a systemic perspective of the processes involved in the context of manufacturing and distribution of certified Serra da Estrela cheese. Numerous methods were used throughout the process, such as a systemic design analysis, and techniques derived from ethnographic methods, which led to the collection of data in the field and consequently provided the immersion of the researcher in genuine work situations. Critical points were identified and emphasized in the systemic map with the purpose of encouraging initiatives to address and overcome the gaps and inefficiencies detected. The systemic design analysis triggered the development of design work. Observations following an ethnographic approach identified ergonomic risks in cheese making during the process of cutting excess chips, fostering the emergence of musculoskeletal disorders at the wrist. A tool that fits best to the task at hand was developed. A prototype of the new tool enabled collecting feedback from use in the work context, in order to inform product development. The domains of agricultural production and microbiology, considering the specific microorganisms developed trough the ripening process of the cheese, turned out to be aspects of high importance for the issue under focus, contributing to a broader understanding of the ripening process and its risks, simultaneously improving the efficiency and success of cheese production. If it were not for the systemic analysis, which served as a link between the boundaries of distinct domains such as the risk of microorganism contamination, ergonomics, energy efficiency, legislation and regulation policies, transportation challenges and economic viability, approached throughout the research. Simultaneously creating bridges between them, the various problems might not have been detected in the first place, as they are usually addressed in specialized disciplines, predetermined by the restrictions of each specific area of knowledge. As a consequence of the development of this research, which was based on an analysis that sought to establish possible connections between various disciplines and tried to constantly maintain a holistic perspective, making new connections and observing the issues from a new angle, apart from the already established methodologies. All this allowed to lay out the seeds for the development of a plan to tackle the critical points identified by the systemic analysis reported in this paper.

This work addresses the problem of automatic head pose estimation and its application in 3D gaze estimation using low quality RGB--D sensors without any subject cooperation or manual intervention. The previous works on 3D head pose estimation using RGB--D sensors require either an offline step for supervised learning or 3D head model construction which may require manual intervention or subject cooperation for complete head model reconstruction. In this paper, we propose a 3D pose estimator based on low quality depth data, which is not limited by any of the aforementioned steps. Instead, the proposed technique relies on modeling the subject's face in 3--D rather than the complete head, which in turn, relaxes all of the constraints with the previous works. The proposed method is robust, highly accurate and fully automatic. Moreover, it does not need any offline step. Unlike some of the previous works, the method only uses depth data for pose estimation. The experimental results on the Biwi head pose database confirm the efficiency of our algorithm in handling large pose variations and partial occlusion. We also evaluate the performance of our algorithm on IDIAP database for 3D head pose and eye gaze estimation.

This paper explores ballot split by type and introduces universal measures of democratic power flow and accountable local representation. These measures allow definitive comparison of electoral systems between countries, and choice of a new electoral system within a country based on existing data and with minimum assumptions.

The Covid-19 coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is inactivated much faster on paper (3h) than on plastic (7d). By classifying materials according to virus stability on their surface, the following list is obtained (from long to short stability): polypropylene (mask), plastic, glass, stainless steel, pig skin, cardboard, banknote, cotton, wood, paper, tissue, copper. These observations and other studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may be inactivated by dryness on water absorbent porous materials but sheltered by long-persisting micro-droplets of water on waterproof surfaces. If such physical phenomenons were confirmed by direct evidence, the persistence of the virus on any surface could be predicted, and new porous objects could be designed to eliminate the virus faster.

In recent years, different deep learning frameworks were introduced for hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. However, the proposed network models have a higher model complexity and do not provide high classification accuracy if few-shot learning is used. This paper pre-sents an HSI classification method that combines random patches network (RPNet) and re-cursive filtering (RF) to obtain informative deep features. The proposed method first convolves image bands with random patches to extract multi-level deep RPNet features. Thereafter, the RPNet feature set is subjected to dimension reduction through principal component analysis (PCA) and the extracted components are filtered using the RF procedure. Finally, HSI spectral features and the obtained RPNet-RF features are combined to classify the HSI using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. In order to test the performance of the proposed RPNet-RF method, some experiments were performed on three widely known datasets using a few training samples for each class and classification results were compared with those obtained by other advanced HSI classification methods adopted for small training samples. The comparison showed that the RPNet-RF classification is characterized by higher values of such evaluation metrics as overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient (https://github.com/UchaevD/RPNet-RF).

In the global carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon emissions, both ‘natural’ and anthropogenic, are balanced by carbon uptake (i.e. sequestration) that mostly occurs via photosynthesis, plus a much smaller proportion via geological processes. Since the formation of the Earth about 4.54 billion years ago the ratio between emitted and sequestered carbon has varied considerably with atmospheric CO₂ levels ranging from 100,000 ppm to a mere 100 ppm. Over this time, a huge amount of carbon has been sequestered due to photosynthesis and essentially removed from the cycle, being buried as fossil deposits of coal, oil and gas. Relatively low atmospheric CO₂ levels were the norm for the past 10 million years, and during the past million years they averaged about 220 ppm. More recently, the Holocene epoch, starting ~11,700 years ago, has been a period of unusual climatic stability with relatively warm, moist conditions and low atmospheric CO₂ levels of between 260 and 280 ppm. During the Holocene, stable conditions facilitated a social revolution with domestication of crops and livestock leading to urbanisation and development of complex technologies. As part of the latter process, immense quantities of sequestered fossil carbon have recently been used as energy sources, resulting in a particularly rapid increase in CO₂ emissions after 1950 CE to the current value of 424 ppm, with further rises to >800 ppm predicted by 2100. This is already perturbing the previously stable Holocene climate and threatening future food production and social stability. Today, the global carbon cycle has been shifted such that carbon sequestration is no longer keeping up with recent anthropogenic emissions. In order to address this imbalance it is important to understand the roles of high-capacity carbon sequestration systems, such as natural forests and tropical croplands, and to devise strategies to facilitate net CO₂ uptake.

The X-ray emission from a supernova remnant (SNR) is a powerful diagnostic of the state of the shocked plasma, and, given a model, can be used to determine the energy of the explosion, the age of the SNR and the density of the surrounding medium. Observed properties are shock radius, electron temperature (kTe) and emission measure (EM) of the shocked-gas. The standard and XSPEC definitions have an important difference. The XSPEC definition is superior for SNRs, which have components with low hydrogen abundance. SNR model calculations are based on hydrodynamic solutions for fluid variables of density, pressure and velocity. The relations between fluid variables and kTe or EM depend on composition, ionization state and electron-ion temperature ratio (Te/TI). Here the effects of composition, ionization and Te/TI on standard and on XSPEC versions of kTe and EM are investigated.

The archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) observations of HZ Her/Her X-1 are analyzed here. The time periods for Anomalous Low States are refined. The 35-day X-ray lightcurve of Her X-1 is produced using 35-day phases determined with RXTE All-Sky Monitor (ASM) and Swift Burst Altert Telescope (BAT) data, with adjustments based on the RXTE/PCA data. The result is the highest sensitivity 35-day lightcurve of Her X-1. The RXTE/PCA data were separated into 8 differents states of the 35-day cycle: Main High (MH) turn-on, MH, MH decline, Low State (LS) 1, Short High (SH) turn-on, SH, SH decline, and LS2. Orbital lightcurves were created for each state, and the different states are compared. Eclipse data was extracted for each state to determine the changes of eclipse shape with 35-day phase. A scattering corona model was fit to the eclipses for the different 35-day states: this shows that the corona is present at all 35-day phases with similar intensity. We carried out a search for previously-reported dips with no absorption, but did not find any.

Inverse problems of recovering surface fluxes on the boundary of a domain from pointwise observations are considered. Sharp conditions on the data ensuring existence and uniqueness of solutions in Sobolev classes are exposed. They are smoothness conditions on the data, geometric conditions on the location of measurement points, and the boundary of a domain. The proof relies on asymptotics of fundamental solutions to the corresponding elliptic problems and the Laplace transform. The problem is reduced to a linear algebraic system with a nondegerate matrix.

Spraying various liquids (primarily aqueous solutions of various substances) is widely used in various technological processes. For most of them, high dispersibility and narrow droplet size distribution are essential. This facilitates ultrasonic spray technique. However, the higher the dispersity of droplets produced by ultrasonic spray, the lower the spray productivity. To solve this problem, we proposed a method of multistage spraying, consisting in generation of a large number of particles of large initial size (to ensure high productivity) and their subsequent destruction by propagation in a periodic ultrasonic field (to ensure small droplet sizes at high productivity). To experimentally determine the capabilities of this technique, a tubular emitter in the shape of a cylinder of stepped-variable cross-section was designed. Configuration of the ultrasonic field inside the emitter (22.2 kHz; 182 dB) implements three-stage spraying (the number of sputtering stages corresponds to the number of anti-nodes along the emitter axis). The effectiveness of proposed and developed technique suitable for generation of droplets sized less than 40 µm with performance exceeding the known ultrasonic spray techniques at least 10 times has been confirmed in the course of conducted research.

We examined PT parameters, geochemical peculiarities, and fluid sources of the Ulug-Sair ore occurrence attributable to class of intrusion-related gold deposits and according to ore mineral assemblages corresponding to Au-Bi type with wide Bi minerals (AgBiTe, Bi2Te2Se, Cu3,07BiS3, Bi), tellurides (Au and Ag), Se-tellurides (Ag and Bi), and selenides (Au, Ag, and Hg). We identified that ‘pre-gold’ quartz-tourmaline veins were deposited using an aqueous Mg-Na-K-chloride fluid with a salinity of 8–10 wt % NaCl eq. At 325–370 °C; host breasts were formed due to a CO2-water fluid containing CH4 and N2, with a salinity of 0,18–6,1 wt % NaCl eq. at least 200–400 °C. Gold-bearing mineral assemblages were formed at P ~ 0,75–1,0 kbar (~ 2,3–3 km) due to CO2-water chloride (Na-K±Fe, Mg) fluid with CH4, Na2SO4, and Na2B2O5, and salinities 1,7–12,5 wt % NaCl eq. during the decreasing temperatures from 360 up to 115 °C (gold-sulfide-quartz veins – 360–130 °С, and gold-telluride-sulfide-quartz veins – 330–115 °C) and variations fO2, fS2, fSe2, and fTe2. The isotopic composition of δ34SH2S fluid (-0,7…+2,5 ‰) indicates the juvenile or magmatic origin of fluid and ore elements. The δ34OH2O fluid indicates that, at an early substage, the formation of ore occurrence involved a fluid of magmatic or metamorphic origin (+7,3…+11,4 ‰), and, in the later substage, it mixed with meteoric waters (-2,3…+9,1 ‰).

In this paper, the authors consider the influence of the type of power supply and the internal parameters of the DC-DC converter on the stability of the system at constant power load. The stability of the system under consideration is important in the design and development of the power supply system for an autonomous consumer. Such a typical system can be a DC microgrid. In the work, when analyzing the stability of the system, the power source is not considered an ideal voltage source, but the active-inductive nature of the voltage source is taken into account, which is equivalent to using a synchronous machine with permanent magnets. The Rauss-Hurwitz algebraic criterion was used as a criterion for analyzing the stability of the system. This will make it possible to build and analyze the areas and boundaries of the system's stability. As a result, the areas and boundaries of the stability of the system were presented. The general trend towards the behavior of the zone of instability of the system was given. At the same time, dependences describing the boundaries of instability are presented, which are combinations of parameters of the DC-DC converter, beyond which the system becomes unstable. The presented definitions of the instability limits can be used as a corrective device of the control system to ensure the stability of the system in the upper limits of the power consumption.

A hydrothermal technique with microwave heating (200 °C, 2 hours, 2 magnetrons, 2.45 GHz) was modified to obtain UV-C luminescent LaPO4: Pr3+ colloidal nanorods for the potential use in X-ray cancer theranostics. For further possible biofunctionalization, a compound of tartaric acid formed under basic conditions was used as a coating and stabilizing agent to provide colloidal properties to the surface of nanoparticles in basic to neutral aqueous media, which was confirmed by zeta potential measurements. In addition, the colloidal properties and clustering processes of synthesized LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods in aqueous solutions with different pH values were studied in real time using a highly sensitive laser ultramicroscope operating according to the “light-sheet” scheme. A comparative analysis of the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and high-energy spectroscopy showed the different effects of synthesis parameters on the morphological, crystalline and luminescent properties of the obtained nanorods. Through optimization of the synthesis parameters, stable aqueous solutions of m-LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods with sizes less than 30 nm and an intensity of UV-C luminescence equal to 5-10% of the unmodified nanofibers were obtained.

Background There is a considerable overlap between clinical presentation of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) . Many of their common symptoms can be linked to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia). This study aimed to objectively assess autonomic function in patients with PCC and in patients with ME/CFS whose disease was not related to COVID-19. Methods Synchronous recordings of an electrocardiogram, continuous dynamics of blood pressure in the digital artery using the Penaz method and ultrasound pneumotachography with the spirography function were obtained with spiroarteriocardiorhythmography method in 34 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS, in whom the onset of the disease was not associated with COVID-19, 29 patients meeting PCC definition and 32 healthy controls. Heart rate variability (HRV), systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability (RV), respiration variability were assessed at rest and in tests with fixed respiratory rates. At rest, indicators of baroreflex regulation were additionally determined (baroreflex effectiveness index and baroreflex sensitivity). Results The total power, power of very low frequency, low-frequency and high-frequency of RR interval variability at rest as well as baroreflex effectiveness index in up-ramps of arterial blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity were significantly lower both in PCC and ME/CFS patients compared to HC. Several diagnostic prediction models for ME/CFS were developed based on HRV parameters. During slow breathing HRV parameters return to normal in PCC, but not in ME/CFS. Correlation analysis revealed a close relationship of HRV, RV parameters and baroreflex sensitivity with fatigue, but not with HADS depressive/anxiety symptoms in ME/CFS and PCC. Conclusion A similar pattern of HRV and baroreflex failure with signs of a pathological acceleration of age-dependant dysautonomia was identified in ME/CFS and PCC. The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed, in light of previously described relationship between inflammation, vascular pathology, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and autonomic dysfunction.

Background Oil palm (OP), Elaeis guineensis , is by far the most important global oil crop, supplying about 40% of total traded vegetable oil. Palm oils are key dietary components consumed daily by over three billion people, mostly in Asia, and also have a wide range of important non-food uses including in cleansing and sanitising products. Main body Oil palm is a perennial crop with a >25-year life cycle and an exceptionally small land footprint compared to annual oilseed crops. Oil palm crops globally produce an annual 81 million tonnes (Mt) of oil from about 19 million hectares (Mha). In contrast, the second and third largest vegetable oil crops, soybean and rapeseed, yield a combined 84 Mt oil but occupy over 163 Mha of increasingly scarce arable land. Despite this advantage, oil palm has acquired a poor environmental reputation, especially in Europe and North America, although soybean planting is now responsible for more deforestation. Oil palm crops face other challenges in the 2020s. On the demand side, these include changing consumer purchasing habits, threats to global trade systems, and diminishing demand for liquid fuels as transport systems become increasingly electrified. On the supply side, major issues include stagnant yields in ageing plantations, sluggish replanting of improved varieties, labour shortages, diseases and climatic/ environmental threats. The latter include the increasing incidence of new and existing pests/diseases and a general lack of climatic resilience, especially relating to elevated temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns. This review surveys the oil palm sector in the 2020s and beyond, its major challenges and options for future progress. Conclusions Oil palm crops face many future challenges, including emerging threats from climate change and new pests and diseases, that require more effective international collaboration. Nevertheless, new breeding technologies are providing the promise of improvements, such as much higher yielding varieties, improved oil profiles, enhanced disease resistance and modified crop architecture to enable harvesting mechanisation. The industry also needs to redouble its efforts to engage with global consumers in a constructive dialogue aimed at addressing its image problem and explaining the many benefits of its products.

Multiagent technologies give a new way to study and control complex systems. Local interactions between agents often lead to group synchronization also known as clusterization, which usually is a more rapid process in comparison with relatively slow changes in external environment. Usually, the goal of system control is defined by the behaviour of a system on long time intervals. When these time intervals are much longer than the time of cluster formation, clusters may be considered as new variables in a ``slow'' time model. We call such variables ``mesoscopic'' to emphasize their scale laying between the level of the whole system (macroscopic scale) and the level of individual agents (microscopic scale). Thus, it allows us to reduce significantly the dimensionality of a system by omitting considerations of each separated agent, so that we may hope to reduce the required amount of control inputs. Thus, we are often able to consider a system as a collection of ``flowing'' (morphing) clusters emerged form behaviour of a huge amount of individual agents. In this paper, we contrast such approach to the one where a system is considered as a network of elementary agents. We develop a mathematical framework for analysis of cluster flows in multiagent networks and use it to analyze the Kuramoto model as an attracting example of a complex networked system. In this model, a clusterization leads to sparse representation of dynamic trajectories in the whole quantized state space. With that in mind, compressive sensing allows to restore the trajectories in a high-dimensional discrete state space based on significantly lower amount of randomized integral mesoscopic observations. We propose a corresponding algorithm of quantized dynamic trajectory compression. It could allow us to efficiently transmit the state space data to a data center for further control synthesis. The theoretical results are illustrated for a simulated multiagent network with multiple clusters.

A novel group of conjugative plasmids of Pseudomonas is characterized. The prototype plasmid pPPUT-Tik1-1 (153663 bp), isolated from a permafrost strain of P. putida Tik1, carries a defective mercury transposon Tn501 and a streptomycin resistance transposon Tn5393. Ten plasmids and 34 contigs with backbone regions closely related to pPPUT-Tik1-1 have been found in Gene Bank. Two of these plasmids isolated from clinical strains of P. putida and P. fulva are almost identical to the ancient plasmid. A characteristic feature of this group of plasmids is the presence of two genes encoding the initiators of replication (repA1 and repA2). None of these genes has high similarity with plasmid replication genes belonging to known incompatibility groups. It has been demonstrated that while pPPUT-Tik1-1-like plasmids have homologous backbone regions they significantly differ by the molecular structure and the functional burden of their accessory regions. Some of the pPPUT-Tik1-1-related plasmids carry determinants of antibiotic resistance and/or heavy metal salts. Some plasmids are characterized by the ability to degrade xenobiotics. Plasmids related to pPPUT-Tik1-1 are characterized by a narrow host range and are found in various species of Pseudomonas genus. A group of shortened plasmids containing the same replication module, but without conjugation genes, were also found. These plasmids also contain other structural changes that strongly distinguish them from plasmids related to pPPUT-Tik1-1. The data obtained indicate the need for a complex approach to the classification of plasmids.

Autonomous driving navigation relies on diverse approaches, each with advantages and limitations depending on various factors. For HD maps, modular systems excel, while end-to-end methods dominate mapless scenarios. However, few leverage the strengths of both. This paper innovates by proposing a hybrid architecture that seamlessly integrates modular perception and control modules with data-driven path planning. This innovative design leverages the strengths of both approaches, enabling a clear understanding and debugging of individual components while simultaneously harnessing the learning power of end-to-end approaches. Our proposed architecture achieved 1st and 2nd place in the 2023 CARLA Autonomous Driving Challenge’s SENSORS and MAP tracks, respectively. These results demonstrate the architecture’s effectiveness in both map-based and mapless navigation.

Observations of the X-ray binary system Her X-1 by the AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope 1 (SXT) were carried out in 2020 through 2023 with the goals of measuring X-ray spectrum changes with the 35-day disk rotation phase and measuring eclipses at different 35-day phases. The four multi-day long observations were scheduled during: turn-on to Main High (MH) and MH rise; MH state; Short High (SH) state; and Low State (LS). 35-day phase was determined using monitoring observations with the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). Nine eclipses were observed at a range of 35-day phases, with at least one eclipse during each observation. Data with dips were separated from data without dips. The variation of X-ray spectral parameters vs. 35-day phase shows the following: eclipse parameters are nearly constant, showing that the scattering corona does not change with 35-day phase; dips show an increase in covering fraction but not column density compared to non-dip data; the 1 keV line normalization indicates an origin in a small region near the continuum emission region, likely the magnetospheric accretion flow from the inner disk onto the neutron star; and the change in blackbody normalization (area) shows that the emission region is much larger than the 1 keV emission region, and consistent with the inner edge of the accretion disk.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most commercially essential vegetable crops cultivated worldwide. In addition to the nutritional value, tomato is an excellent model for studying climacteric fruits' ripening process. Despite this, the available natural pool of genes that allows expanding phenotypic diversity is limited, and the difficulties of crossing using classical selection methods when stacking traits increase proportionally with each additional feature. Genetic engineering makes it possible to introduce changes in genes of interest without changing the allelic combinations characteristic of successful commercial varieties, to enhance the expression of existing genes, to create and transfer artificial and heterologous genes, and much more. However, this requires understanding the fundamental principles of the molecular interaction. Although the leading candidate genes for these components have been identified, a complete picture of their relationship has yet to be formed. The review summarizes the latest (2017-2023) achievements related to studying the ripening processes of tomato fruits. In this work, an attempt is made to systematize the results of various research and display the interaction pattern of genes regulating the process of tomato fruit ripening.

Given the documented wave-induced damage of elevated coastal decks during extreme natural hazards (e.g. hurricanes) in the last two decades, it is of utmost significance to decipher the wave-structure-interaction of complex deck geometries and quantify the associated loads. Therefore, this study focuses on the assessment of solitary wave impact on open-girder decks that allow the air to escape from the sides. To this end, an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) numerical method with a multi-phase compressible formulation is used for the development of three-dimensional hydrodynamic models, which are validated against a large-scale experimental dataset of a coastal deck. Using the validated model as a baseline, a parametric investigation of different deck geometries with a varying number of girders Ng and three different widths, was conducted. The results reveal that the Ng of a superstructure has a complex role and that for small wave heights the horizontal and uplift forces increase with the Ng, while for large waves the opposite happens. If the Ng is small the wave particles accelerate after the initial impact on the offshore girder leading to a more violent slamming on the onshore part of the deck and larger pressures and forces, however, if Ng is large then unsynchronized eddies are formed in each chamber, which dissipate energy and apply out-of-phase pressures that result in multiple but weaker impacts on the deck. The decomposition of the total loads into slamming and quasi-static components, reveals surprisingly consistent trends for all the simulated waves, which facilitates the development of predictive load equations. These new equations, which are a function of Ng and are limited by the ratio of the wavelength to the deck width, provide more accurate predictions than existing empirical methods, and are expected to be useful to both engineers and researchers working towards the development of resilient coastal infrastructure.

This paper is motivated by spatio-temporal pattern in the occurrence of Leishmaniasis in Afghanistan and the relatively high number of zero counts. We hold the view that correlations that arise from spatial and temporal sources are inherently distinct. Our method decouples these two sources of correlations, there are at least two advantages in taking this approach. First, it circumvents the need to inverting a large correlation matrix, which is a commonly encountered problem in spatio-temporal analyses. Second, it simplifies the modelling of complex relationships such as anisotropy, which would have been extremely difficult or impossible if spatio-temporal correlations were simultaneously considered. We identify three challenges in the modelling of a spatio-temporal process: (1) accommodation of covariances that arise from spatial and temporal sources; (2) choosing the correct covariance structure and (3) extending to situations where a covariance is not the natural measure of association. Moreover, because the data covers a period that overlaps with the US invasion of Afghanistan, the high number of zero counts may be the result of no disease incidence or lapse of data collection. To resolve this issue, a model truncated at zero built on a foundation of the generalized estimating equations was proposed.

To protect power lines, distance relays are used which can rely on a modified distance resistance. But usually the operating range of these relays changes as the network conditions change (network topology, load value, output value, etc.) and leads to false trips, By using methods that can process information and recognize patterns, for example, the use of micro and intelligent processor algorithms can use the new relays with high precision and thus provide adequate protection. In this study, a distance relay was modeled using a neural network, and it was observed that the neural relay had higher accuracy than the conventional relay. In addition to detecting the fault and its location, type and phase of the fault, three-stage simultaneous protection can be performed. As a result, the number of linear relays can be reduced by using relays based on neural technologies. An MLP (multilayer perceptron) neural network is used to model a sequence of distances.

The nature of the sustainability crisis is characterized by high levels of complexity, thus it is not amenable to be approached from the linearity or reductionist paradigm. Emergence is a multilevel phenomenon that is characterized by qualitative novelty and is recognized as an important attribute of complex systems produced by self-organized processes, unveiled from a holistic stance. This conceptual-analytical article explores the emergence phenomenon and questions whether it can be a way of enhancing the solution process to meet the sustainability challenges. Emergent properties or behaviors emerge only when the system parts interact in a wider whole. Moreover, a systemic approach is proposed as an intermediary component in the process of emergence of creative and wise solutions to the wicked problems of unsustainability. This requires observation and entails analyzing open systems as a whole and recognizing the impact of traversing macro- and micro- scales on causal and creative emergence. The study also emphasizes synergies between emergence and creativity aimed at sustainability. Sustainable development requires leapfrogging past conventional practices, in an accelerated way, and the emergence phenomenon at play between systems levels, coupled with purposefully structured creative processes, holds the potential for catalyzing sustainable development efforts.

The global demand for rubber is on a steady rise, which is driven by the increasing production of automobiles and the growing need for industrial, medical, and household products. This surge in demand has led to a significant increase in rubber waste, posing a major global environmental challenge. End-of-life tire (ELT) is a primary source of rubber waste, which possesses significant environmental hazards due to its massive stockpiles. While landfilling is a low-cost and easy-to-implement solution, it is now largely prohibited due to environmental concerns. Recently, ELT rubber waste has garnered considerable attention for its potential applications in civil engineering and construction. These applications not only enhance sustainability but also foster a circular economy between ELT rubber waste and the civil engineering and construction sectors. This review article concentrates on the recent research progress and challenges in the civil engineering applications of ELT rubber waste. It also discusses commercially available recycled rubber-based construction materials, their properties, testing standards, and certification. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time such a discussion on commercial products has been presented.

After the ban on tributyltin-based antifouling paints, DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octylisothiazol-3(2H)-one) became one of the most used antifouling biocides. DCOIT is a pseudo-persistent contaminant in port areas and is toxic to non-target species, but its ability to bioaccumulate and be transferred along the trophic chain remains unknown. This study aimed to preliminarily investigate the bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and biomagnification of DCOIT and SiNC-DCOIT (DCOIT immobilized in silica mesoporous nanocapsules) from the microalga Tetraselmis chuii to the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis during exposure experiments considering 24 h of uptake followed by 72 h depuration. Mussels rapidly internalized and metabolized both DCOIT and SiNC-DCOIT. The predator-prey biomagnification factors (BMFTL) suggested that both forms of the biocide can be trophically transferred, with higher concentrations of DCOIT and SiNC-DCOIT in mussels than in microalgae (BMFTL &gt; 1). However, the bioaccumulation and bioconcentration factors indicated a low bioaccumulation capability in the short term, suggesting that the depuration rate overcomes the uptake. Our findings contribute to the development of environmental risk assessments for DCOIT and SiNC-DCOIT, but do not exclude the possibility of DCOIT bioaccumulation in the long-term in areas with constant input of DCOIT. Further studies are needed to understand these processes under continuous exposure scenarios to DCOIT.

Online education allows learners to develop knowledge and skills flexibly and conveniently—such observation among students whose characteristics involve student engagement, self-regulation, and self-efficacy. However, studies to characterize Filipino online learners seem lacking. Thus, this study aimed to characterize science education tertiary students in the Philippines concerning their online student engagement (OSE), self-regulated learning (SRL), and online learning self-efficacy (OLSE). The unprecedented events brought by COVID-19 pandemic also urged the implementation of online modalities while there is no available information on students’ online learning profiles. Hence, researchers used a survey research employed through ex post facto approach to determine the effects of the demographic profile on OSE, SRL, and OLSE. The survey was participated by N=373 respondents who answered the questionnaire with informed consent administered via Google Forms. Results revealed that OSE indicators moderately characterized students, while SRL and OLSE indicators are true of them, substantiated by the overall mean M=3.85(SD=0.90), M=3.86(SD=0.92), and M=3.14(SD=0.73), respectively. Also, multivariate tests showed no significant effect among the independent groups (p&gt;0.05), except for gender and OLSE interaction (p&lt;0.05) so, only in OLSE was a significant difference found in gender. In conclusion, Filipino online learners are moderate across aspects of student engagement, self-regulation, and self-efficacy.

Abstract. The increasing frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) limits the chances of effective antibacterial therapy of staphylococcal diseases and results in development of persistent infection such as bacteremia and osteomyelitis. The aim of this study was to identify features of the MRSAST239 0943-1505-2016 (SA943) genome, that contribute to the formation of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal infections. The analysis was performed using comparative genomics data of the dominant epidemic S. aureus lineages namely ST1, ST8, ST30, ST36, ST239. SA943 genome encodes proteins that provide resistance to the host immune system, suppress immunological memory and form biofilms. The molecular mechanisms of adaptation responsible for development of persistent infection were as follows: amino acid substitution in PBP2 and PBP2a, providing resistance to ceftaroline; loss of a large part of prophage DNA and restoration of nucleotide sequence of beta-hemolysin, that greatly facilitates escape of phagocytosed bacteria from phagosome and formation of biofilms; dysfunction of the AgrA system due to the presence of psm-mec and several amino acid substitutions in the AgrC; partial deletion of nucleotide sequence in genomic island vSAβ resulting in the loss of two proteases of Spl - operon; deletion of SD repeats in SdrE amino acid sequence.

A mathematical model that comprehensively captures the real behavior of riverbed deformation, encompassing all pertinent effects, is developed. The underwater slope reformation process, with the generatrix aligned along the flow velocity in the model, is considered. A numerical model is introduced to calculate the flow involving a deformable bottom, and the model's validation is established through rigorous analysis of experimental findings. The research firmly confirms the suitability of the proposed mathematical and numerical model for describing deformations in uneven and unsteady river flows, including the movement of dredging slots and channel quarries. The model's minimal equation count and reliance on empirical constants demonstrate the model's efficiency. The model's predictions align strongly with experimental data, although optimal values of empirical coefficients vary slightly across different experiments. Hence, there is a call for further investigation to derive more universally applicable closure relationships for the model. The importance of validating the model with reliable field data and its potential extension to accommodate hydraulically diverse soils is emphasized. Such an extension is feasible due to the concentration transfer equation, enabling independent calculations for particle fractions of varying sizes as long as the total particle concentration in the stream remains within reasonable limits. This dedicated research contributes significantly to understanding riverbed deformations and advancing accurate modeling and management of riverine environments.

In this work, a simple and environmentally friendly process combining low pressure (vacuum) and mechanical compression is proposed to convert recycled polypropylene (PP) foams (28 kg/m3) into low density foams (90-131 kg/m3) having negative tensile and compressive Poisson's ratios (NPR). The effect of processing conditions (vacuum time, temperature, and mechanical pressure) was studied. Based on the optimized conditions, the tensile Poisson’s ratio of the resulting auxetic foams reached −1.50, while the minimum compressive Poisson's ratios was −0.32 for the same sample. The foam structure was characterized via morphological analysis (SEM) to determine any changes related to the treatment applied. Finally, tensile and compressive properties (Young's modulus, strain energy, energy dissipation and damping capacity) are also presented and discussed. It was observed that the mechanical properties of the resulting auxetic foams were improved compared to the original PP foam (PP-O) for all tensile properties in terms of modulus (19.9 to 59.8 kPa), strength (0.298 to 1.43 kPa) elongation at break (28 to 77%), energy dissipation (14.4 to 56.3 mJ/cm3) and damping capacity (12 to 19%). Nevertheless, improvements were also observed under compression in terms of energy dissipation (1.6 to 3.6 mJ/cm3) and damping capacity (13 to 19%). These auxetic foams can find applications in sport and military protective equipment, as well as any energy mitigation system.

The main development direction of energy efficiency technologies in construction is the creation of various materials with a complex structure and unique strength, thermal and other properties. The aerogel is a material with high porosity and excellent thermal insulation properties. This paper provides the state-of-the-art of aerogel applications for the additive manufacturing of energy efficient buildings. This work provides the experimental and numerical assessment results of thermal conductivity of aerogel-enhanced blanket, the experimental assessment results of thermal performance of aerogel-enhanced building structure, the experimental assessment results of the aerogel application as mixture powder component of the concrete mixture to printing building and the experimental assessment results of the aerogel application as parget powder component. Experimental results show the effect of aerogel powder component application: thermal conductivity decreased by 25%.

Global concerns of decreasing water availability and food security are being exacerbated by the increasing demand for food, water quality degradation, and climate change impacts. Rice is an essential crop for food security with paddy rice cultivation largely practiced using traditional flooding conditions. Water regimes and components of the soil water balance in paddy rice catchments affect uptake of water by rice roots. Paddy management, especially puddling, significantly affects soil hydrological properties, such as hydraulic conductivity, percolation, and seepage in the paddy rhizosphere. Improved knowledge of these interactions is vital for developing sustainable water management strategies in paddy fields. Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) practice contributes to sustainable water management, but little is known about effects of soil wetting and drying duration on gravitational soil water flow, moisture dynamics, and hydraulic conductivity in the rice paddy rhizosphere. These factors depend on soil type, rice variety, rooting conditions, and environmental factors, such as solar radiation and temperature. Here we examine the paddy cultivation environment and soil properties under traditional continuous flooding and AWD practice. Some studies indicate that the duration and frequency of wetting and soil drying under AWD practice in paddy fields affects soil hydraulic conductivity that alters the next cycle of water application. During droughts and short rainy seasons, rainfall, soil properties, and atmospheric conditions control soil moisture dynamics in paddy fields. Limitations and challenges of applying AWD in paddy soils, including the variation of hydrological properties and the need for frequent field manual monitoring of water level (WL) head, are discussed. Implications of AWD practice on yield, water use efficiency, soil hydrology, and reduction of methane emissions, are outlined along with opportunities to improve AWD integration within government policies, irrigation schemes, and adoption by farmers. Coupled crop models can provide important insights for sustainable agricultural water management.

This paper proposes a method based on genetic algorithm (GA) for the security-constrained optimal dispatch of integrated natural gas and electricity networks, considering operating scenarios in both energy systems. The mathematical formulation of the optimization problem consists of a multi-objective function which aims to minimize both cost of thermal generation (diesel and natural gas) as well as the production and transportation of natural gas. The joint gas-electricity system is modeled by two separate groups of nonlinear equation, which are solved by the combination of Newton's method with the GA. The applicability of the proposed method is tested in the Belgian gas network integrated with the IEEE 14-bus test system and a 15-node natural gas network integrated with the IEEE 118-bus test system. The results demonstrate that the proposed method provides efficient and secure solutions for different operating scenarios in both energy systems.

Legume seed protein is an important source of nutrition, but it is less digestible than animal protein. Poor protein digestibility in legume seeds and seedlings may partly reflect defences against herbivores. Protein changes during germination typically increase proteolysis and digestibility, by lowering the levels of anti-nutrient protease inhibitors, activating proteases, and breaking down storage proteins (including allergens). Germinating legume sprouts also show striking increases in free amino acids (especially asparagine), but their roles in host defence or other processes are not known. While the net effect of germination is generally to increase the digestibility of legume seed proteins, the extent of improvement in digestibility is species and strain dependent. Further research is needed to highlight which changes contribute the most to improved digestibility of sprouted seeds. Such knowledge could guide the selection of varieties that are more digestible, and also guide the development of food preparations that are more digestible, potentially combining germination with other factors altering digestibility, such as heating and fermentation. Techniques to characterize the shifts in protein make-up, activity and degradation during germination need to draw on traditional analytical approaches, complemented by proteomic and peptidomic analysis of mass spectrometry identified peptide breakdown products.

We review a modern differential geometric description of the fluid isotropic motion and featuring it the diffeomorphism group structure, modelling the related dynamics, as well as its compatibility with the quasi-stationary thermodynamical constraints. There is analyzed the adiabatic liquid dynamics, within which, following the general approach, there is explained in detail, the nature of the related Poissonian structure on the fluid motion phase space, as a semidirect Banach groups product, and a natural reduction of the canonical symplectic structure on its cotangent space to the classical Lie-Poisson bracket on the adjoint space to the corresponding semidirect Lie algebras product. We also present a modification of the Hamiltonian analysis in case of the isotermal liquid dynamics. We study the differential-geometric structure of the adiabatic magneto-hydrodynamic superfluid phase space and its related motion within the Hamiltonian analysis and invariant theory. In particular, we construct an infinite hierarchies of different kinds of integral magneto-hydrodynamic invariants, generalizing those before constructed in the literature, and analyze their differential-geometric origins. A charged liquid dynamics on the phase space invariant with respect to an abelian gauge group transformation is also investigated, some generalization of the canonical Lie-Poisson type bracket is obtained.

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population explosion in sub-Saharan Africa escalate environmental Lead levels with subsequent elevation of blood Lead levels in children. Nutrition status, age, and genetics govern one’s susceptibility to Lead toxicity. This study expounded this susceptibility by relating blood Lead levels, d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase enzyme activity (ALAD), and genetic variations of proteins that code for ALAD enzyme in urban children of Uganda. Spectrophotometric analysis for blood Lead (BL), hemoglobin levels, and determination d-levels aminolevulinic acid dehydratase enzyme activity of the blood samples from 198 children were performed prior to a polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length digestion for ALAD polymorphism was done. Up to 99.5% of samples coded for the ALAD1 allele whereas 0.05% coded for ALAD2. Genotypes ALAD2-2 members had elevated BLL (mean 14.1 µg/dL) and reduced ALAD enzyme activity compared to others. This, therefore, implies that the majority of children hoard BL which may affect them later in life.

This article presents the results of technical and technological studies of the oil painting by the artist of German origin Werner Tübke “Hiroshima I" (1958). The creative heritage of the author has been little studied and represents scattered data on the technology of painting and artistic techniques. The aim of the work was to determine the artistic materials and painting technolo-gy described in his diaries, using the example of his only painting in Russia – “Hiroshima I". For this purpose, an integrated approach was used using non–invasive control methods - photo in the light of visible luminescence, infrared reflectography (IRR), radiography, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), as well as infrared-Fourier spectroscopy (FT-IR) and polarizing microsco-py using microprobes. As a result, the pigment composition of the painting layers was deter-mined, the painting technology was refined, and a previously unknown hidden portrait of Werner Tübke's father was revealed.

As of the end of 2022, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global HIV epidemic persists, with 39 million individuals living with the virus and 1.3 million new infections reported in that year. Opportunistic infections associated with AIDS claimed the lives of over 630,000 people in 2022, contributing to a cumulative death toll exceeding 40.4 million since the disease's emergence in 1981. Although advances in HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy have transformed the disease into a manageable chronic condition, issues like drug resistance, low compliance, and high treatment costs persist. Until a vaccine becomes available, a comprehensive approach involving prevention and therapy is essential, particularly for high-risk populations. Research shows that prevention strategies are more cost-effective than treatment. The development of antiretroviral drugs has also spurred the creation of antivirals for other infections. The emergence of COVID-19 vaccines has opened new avenues for HIV vaccine development, as lessons from vaccine platform technologies like mRNA, viral vectors, and protein subunits can be applied to HIV. This review explores the most promising prophylactic and therapeutic HIV vaccine trials, emphasizing the need for a multi-pronged approach combining vaccines with non-vaccine strategies. Though significant progress is anticipated, the road to a viable HIV vaccine remains long, especially for high-risk populations, such as medical workers, blood transfusion recipients, and drug users. The combinatorial approach, capitalizing on various aspects of immunity, may hold the key to defeating HIV in the future.

It is shown that the termination of the channeling of the fundamental radiation mode in the waveguide can be observed upon heating of an optical integrated circuit based on proton exchange channel waveguides formed in a lithium niobate single crystal. This process is reversible, but restoration of waveguide performance takes tens of minutes. The effect of the waveguide disappearance is observed upon rapid heating (5 °C/min) from a low temperature (minus 40 °C). This effect can lead to a temporary failure of navigation systems using fiber optic gyroscopes with modulators based on a lithium niobate crystal

Terrestrial LiDAR becomes more and more popular to estimate leaf and plant area density. Voxel-based approaches account for this vegetation heterogeneity and significant work has been done in this recent research field, but no general theoretical analysis is available. Although estimators have been proposed and several causes of biases have been identified, their consistency and efficiency have not been evaluated. Also, confidence intervals are almost never provided. In the present paper, we solve the transmittance equation and use the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), to derive unbiased estimators and confidence intervals for the attenuation coefficient, which is proportional to leaf area density. The new estimators and confidence intervals are defined at voxel scale, and account for the number of beams crossing the voxel, the inequality of path lengths in voxel, the size of vegetation elements, as well as for the variability of element positions between vegetation samples. They are completed by numerous numerical simulations for the evaluation of estimator consistency and efficiency, as well as the assessment of the coverage probabilities of confidence intervals. • Although commonly used when the beam number is low, the usual estimators are strongly biased and the 95% confidence intervals can be ≈±100% of the estimate. • Our unbiased estimators are consistent in a wider range of validity than the usual ones, especially for the unbiased MLE, which is consistent when the beam number is as low as 5. The unbiased MLE is efficient, meaning it reaches the lowest residual errors that can be expected (for an unbiased estimator). Also the unbiased MLE does not require any bias correction when path lengths are unequal. • When elements are small (or voxel is large), 103 beams entering the voxel leads to some confidence intervals ≈±10%, but when elements are larger (or voxel smaller), it can remain wider than ±50%, even for a large beam number. This is explained by the variability of element positions between vegetation samples. Such a result shows that a significant part of residual error can be explained by random effects. • Confidence intervals are much smaller (±5 to 10%) when LAD estimates are averaged over several small voxels, typically within a horizontal layer or in the crown of individual plants. In this context, our unbiased estimators show a reduction of 50% of the radius of confidence intervals, in comparison to usual estimators. Our study provides some new ready-to-use estimators and confidence intervals for attenuation coefficients, which are consistent and efficient within a fairly large range of parameter values. The consistency is achieved for a low beam number, which is promising for application to airborne LiDAR data. They entail to raise the level of understanding and confidence on LAD estimation. Among other applications, their usage should help determine the most suitable voxel size, for given vegetation types and scanning density, whereas existing guidelines are highly variable among studies, probably because of differences in vegetation, scanning design and estimators.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives, which has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. The interaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with cell membranes can affect their physicochemical properties, which, in turn, can cause a number of side effects in the use of these drugs. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy could be used to study the interaction of diclofenac with the membrane, if its spin-labeled analogs existed. This paper describes the synthesis of spin-labeled diclofenac (diclofenac-SL), which consists of a simple sequence of transformations such as iodination, esterification, Sonogashira cross-coupling, oxidation and saponification. EPR spectra showed that diclofenac-SL binds to in a lipid membrane composed of palmito-yl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). 2H electron spin echo spectroscopy (ESEEM) was used to determine the position of the diclofenac-SL relative to the membrane surface. It has been established that the average its depth of immersion corresponds to the 5th position of the carbon atom in the lipid chain.

Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopic studies allow for deep insights into the mechanisms and timescales of photophysical and photochemical processes. Extracting valuable information from these studies, such as reactive intermediates' lifetimes and coherent oscillation frequencies, is an example of the inverse problems of chemical kinetics. This article describes a consistent approach for solving this inverse problem that avoids the common obstacles of simple least-squares fitting that can lead to unreliable results. The presented approach is based on the regularized Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling for the strongly nonlinear parameters, allowing for a straightforward solution of the ill-posed nonlinear inverse problem. The software to implement the described fitting routine is introduced and the numerical examples of its application are given. We will also touch on critical experimental parameters, such as the temporal overlap of pulses and cross-correlation time and their connection to the minimal reachable time resolution.

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are an integral part in studying the properties of the Galaxy and its interstellar medium. For the current work, we explore the relation between the observed radio luminosities of SNRs and the physical properties of those SNRs. The physical properties of 54 SNRs are derived from their observed X-ray spectra. Then the observed radio emission is compared to predicted radio emission using the analytic model of . We find the model can be improved significantly by including an interstellar medium density dependence in the efficiency of particle acceleration and magnetic field amplification.

Since the emergence of the quantified self movement, users aim at health behavior change, but only those who are sufficiently motivated and competent with the tools will succeed. Our literature review shows that theoretical models for quantified self exist but they are too abstract to guide the design of effective user support systems. Here, we propose principles linking theory and implementation to arrive at a hierarchical model for an adaptable and personalized self-quantification system for physical activity support. We show that such a modeling approach should include a multi-factors user model (activity, context, personality, motivation), a hierarchy of multiple time scales (week, day, hour), and a multi-criteria decision analysis (user activity preference, user measured activity, external parameters). This theoretical groundwork, which should facilitate the design of more effective solutions, has now to be validated by further empirical research.

The necessary and sufficient conditions of existence of the nonlinear operator equations' branches of solutions in the neighbourhood of branching points are derived. The approach is based on reduction of the nonlinear operator equations to finite-dimensional problems. Methods of nonlinear functional analysis, integral equations, spectral theory based on index of Kronecker-Poincare, Morse-Conley index, power geometry and other methods are employed. Proposed methodology enables justification of the theorems on existence of bifurcation points and bifurcation sets in the nonstandard models. Formulated theorems are constructive. For a certain smoothness of the nonlinear operator, the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is analysed in the neighbourhood of the branch points and uniformly converging iterative schemes with a choice of the uniformization parameter enables the comprehensive analysis of the problems details. General theorems are illustrated on the nonlinear integral equations.

The optical properties of the Nafion polymer membrane containing colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals embedded by diffusion have been studied. The CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals have a core/shell/shell appearance. A toluene solution was used to provide mobility of the active sul-fone groups of the Nafion membrane and to embed the nanocrystals inside the membrane. The kinetics of the process of nanocrystal embedding into the membrane matrix was studied using luminescence analysis, absorption spectroscopy and laser emission spectroscopy techniques. The diffusion of colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals into the Nafion proton exchange membrane resulted in a new molecular complex «Nafion-colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals». The pres-ence of new luminescence centers based on CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanocrystals in the membrane was registered using laser emission spectroscopy. Colloidal nanocrystals located in the Nafion ma-trix represent an analogue of a luminescent transducer. The lines contained in the luminescence spectrum of the membrane, which has been in solution with colloidal nanocrystals for a long time, registered upon its drying, show the kinetics of the formation of the molecular complex «Nafion membrane - nanocrystals». The luminescence spectrum of the membrane with nano-crystals contains additional intensity maxima that do not coincide with the spectral lines of the solvent and Nafion membrane. The intensity of the luminescence spectrum of the membrane with embedded nanocrystals is higher than the intensity of the secondary emission peak of the initial nanocrystals, which is important for the practical use of the complex «Nafion-colloidal nanocrystals» in optical systems.

The object of study is a transversely bent triangular plate made of orthotropic material fixed along the edges of the plate under the action of a uniformly distributed load. Fourth-order differential equilibrium equations with variable orthotropy parameters were used. The equations were approximated by finite differences for a grid of scalene triangles. This type of mesh accurately describes the boundary contour of the triangular-shaped plates. The boundary conditions for the mesh consider the orthotropy of the plate material. Seven standard finite-difference equations have been developed considering the boundary conditions along the three edges of the plate and the presence of three angles of an irregularly shaped triangle. A finite difference matrix is obtained. The matrix structure makes calculating a triangular plate at different base angles possible. The boundary conditions were varied in the form of rigid or hinged support of triangular plates. The calculation method considers the orthotropic parameters of the material in two mutually perpendicular planes. The adaptation of the numerical method to the calculation of orthotropic plates of arbitrary shape is described. Relationships are given for determining the rigidity characteristics of orthotropic materials. An algorithm for simple engineering calculation of triangular orthotropic plates is proposed, which makes it possible to perform accurate calculations in variant design.

We ascertain the in vitro Benznidazole (BZN) and Nifurtimox (NFX) susceptibility pattern of epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes of 21 T. cruzi strains, from patients, reservoir and triatomine bugs of various geographic origin. Using this panel of isolates, we compute the Epidemiological cut off value (CO_wt). Then, the frequency of the susceptible phenotype (Wild type) towards BZN and nifurtimox (NFX) within this set of strains belonging to 3 discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI, TcII, and TcV was deduced. We have observed that the susceptibility status of individual T. cruzi isolates toward BZN and NFX is related to the genetic background and to underlying factors probably related to the individual life trait history of each strain. Analyzing drug susceptibility in this conceptual framework would offers the possibility to evidence a link between isolates expressing a low susceptibility level (not wild-type) as define by the CO_wt value and none-curative treatment. It will also permit to tract drug-resistant parasites in T. cruzi population.

This study focuses on the modification of ion-exchange membranes by incorporating phosphorylated dendrimer into sulfonated polytetrafluoroethylene membranes to enhance specific selectivity between mono-/divalent ions, using the Ca2+/Na+ pair as an example. The research employs mechanical, physico-chemical, and electrochemical analyses to explore the effects of P-H20 incorporation on membrane properties. Bulk modification significantly increases membrane selectivity towards calcium ions (specific permselectivity coefficient rises from 1.5 to 7.2), while maintaining the same level of the limiting current density. Other findings indicate that bulk modification significantly changes the transport-channel structure of the membrane and alters the mechanism of over-limiting mass transfer. The over-limiting current for the pristine membrane is mainly due to non-equilibrium electroconvection, while modified membranes actively participate in the water-splitting reaction, leading to the suppression of the electroconvection. Despite this drawback, the decrease of the over-limiting potential drop results in a decrease in specific energy consumption from 0.11 to 0.07 kWh/mol. In the under-limiting current mode, the specific energy consumption for all studied membranes remains within the same limits of 0.02-0.03 kWh/mol.

The structural evolution and phase composition of multi-block thermoplastic polyurethanes, with different nature of the soft segments based on poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), were analyzed during in-situ thermal treatments. A combination of synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the influence of macrodiol nature and crystallization conditions on the polymorphic behavior of PBA. Using a new synthesis scheme, a relatively high degree of crystallinity for urethane blocks was achieved, which depends on the diisocyanate type in the structure of the soft segment. The hard segment domains impose geometrical constraints on PBA, thereby altering its crystallization process compared to the neat oligomer. Thus, crystallization after annealing at a low temperature (80 °C) is fast, predominantly yielding a metastable β-phase. When heated to 180 °C, which is higher than the hard-segment melting temperature, a phase-separated structure is observed. Subsequent crystallization is slower, favoring the formation of the stable α-PBA modification. The phase separation can be observed even after the hard block melting. A notably slow crystallization from an isotropic melt was documented after the disruption of phase separation at 230 °C.

Human influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause global pandemics and epidemics, which remain serious threats to public health because of the shortage of effective means of control. To combat the surge of viral outbreaks, new treatments are urgently needed. Developing new virus control modalities requires better understanding of virus-host interactions. Here we describe how IAV infection triggers cellular apoptosis, and how this process can be exploited towards development of new therapeutics, which might be more effective than the currently available anti-influenza drugs.

Background: The use of antitussives is a crucial issue in pediatrics and can lead to respiratory complications that can affect the prognosis. Objectives: to determine the frequency of respiratory complications associated with the use of an-titussives in pediatrics in a remote city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Method: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted between January 1, 2017 and De-cember 2022. Patients under 12 years of age with an acute cough were eligible. The parameters studied were treatment with cough suppressants and associated respiratory complications. Results: A total of 218 children suffered from an acute cough. The average age was 11 months 10, the sex ratio (H/F) was 126/92. In 30% of cases, children were treated with cough suppressants for an average of 7 days prior to admission. Respiratory complications were observed in 11% (23/218) of cases. The majority of these complications, 61% (14 of 23), had received antitussive treatment prior to hospitalization. Respiratory complications were associated with cough medications (p-value = 0.0012, relative risk (RR) = 3.66, IC90 [1.696; 7,873]). Acute respiratory distress was reported in 87% (20/23) of cases and was associated with the use of cough suppressants (p-value = 0.0065, RR: 3.060, IC90: [1.433; 6,485]). Conclusion: The use of antitussives in pediatrics poses a risk of acute respiratory distress in a remote city that does not have sufficient human and material resources for management. Keywords: cough, cough suppressants, pediatrics, complications, Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

This study assessed bio-equivalence of high-quality, plant-based protein blends versus Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) in healthy, resistance-trained men. The primary endpoint was incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of blood essential Amino Acids (eAAs) 4 hours after consumption of each product. Cmax and Tmax of blood leucine were secondary outcomes. Subjects (n=18) consumed three plant-based protein blends and WPI (control). Analysis of Variance model was used to assess for bio-equivalence of total sum of blood eAA concentrations. The total blood eAA iAUC ratios of the three blends were: [90% CI]: #1: 0.66 [0.58-0.76]; #2: 0.71 [0.62-0.82]; #3: 0.60 [0.52-0.69], not completely within the pre-defined equivalence range [0.80-1.25], indicative of 30-40% lower iAUC versus WPI. Leucine Cmax of the three blends was not equivalent to WPI, #1: 0.70 [0.67-0.73]; #2: 0.72 [0.68-0.75]; #3: 0.65 [0.62 – 0.68], indicative of a 28-35% lower response. Leucine Tmax for two blends were similar to WPI (#1: 0.94 [0.73-1.18]; #2: 1.56 [1.28-1.92]; #3: 1.19 [0.95-1.48]). The plant-based protein blends were not bio-equivalent. However, blood leucine kinetic data across the blends approximately doubled from fasting concentrations whereas blood Tmax data across two blends was similar to WPI. This suggests evidence of rapid hyperleucinemia, which correlates with a protein’s anabolic potential.

Biocides used in antifouling (AF) paints, such as 4,5-dichlorine-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazole-3-one (DCOIT), can gradually leach into the environment. Some AF compounds can persist in the marine environment and cause harmful effects on non-target organisms. Nanoengineered materials, such as mesoporous silica nanocapsules (SiNC) containing AF compounds, have been developed to control their release rate and reduce their toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of new nanoengineered materials, SiNC-DCOIT and a silver-coated form (SiNC-DCOIT-Ag), as well as the free form of DCOIT and empty nanocapsules (SiNC), on the sun coral Tubastraea coccinea. T. coccinea is an invasive species and can be an alternative test organism for evaluating the risks to native species, as most native corals are currently threatened. The colonies were collected from the Alcatrazes Archipelago, SP, Brazil, and acclimatized to laboratory conditions. They were exposed for 96h to different concentrations of the tested substances: 3.33, 10, 33, and 100 µg L-1 of free DCOIT; 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 µg L-1 of SiNC; and 74.1, 222.2, 666.7, and 2000 µg L-1 of SiNC-DCOIT and SiNC-DCOIT-Ag. The test chambers consisted of 500 mL flasks containing the test solutions, and the tests were maintained under constant aeration, constant temperature of 23 ± 2°C, and photoperiod of 12h:12h (light/dark). At the end of the experiments, no lethal effect was observed; however, some sublethal effects were noticeable, such as the exposure of the skeleton in most of the concentrations and replicates, except for the controls, and embrittlement at higher concentrations. Adults of T. coccinea were considered little sensitive to the tested substances. This resistance may indicate a greater capacity for proliferation of the species, which is favored in substrates containing antifouling paints, to the detriment of the native species.

Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti Parrot, 1917, the proven vector of Leishmania tropica Wright, 1903, the causative agent of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, is widely distributed in Morocco. Previous works using molecular markers (ITS2 rDNA and Cyt b mtDNA) have hy-pothesized the existence of multiple closely related populations of sandfly species (cryptic species) that would exhibit distinct vectorial capacities. In this work, descriptive characteristics of wings (size and shape of the right and left wings) were measured in samples collected from fourteen sta-tions in central Morocco. These analyses support the existence of distinct P. sergenti populations, enlightening significant phenotypic variations of P. sergenti’s wings, regarding their size and shape, depending on geographic origin. In addition, geomorphometric analyses of wing’s length, centroid size, alpha, and beta distances allowed clear discrimination of P. sergenti sub-populations. These data pinpoint the adaptative ability of P. sergenti to local environmental conditions. Additional studies are now required to further shed light on the genetic structure of P. sergenti populations in Morocco.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining host health and has a significant impact on human health and disease. In this study, we investigated the alpha diversity of gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients and analyzed the impact of COVID-19 variants, antibiotic treatment, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metformin therapy on gut microbiota composition and diversity. We used a culture-based method to analyze the gut microbiota and calculated alpha-diversity using the Shannon H' and Simpson 1/D indices. We collected clinical data, such as length of hospital stay (LoS), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). We found that patients with T2D had significantly lower alpha-diversity than those without T2D. Antibiotic use was associated with a reduction in alpha-diversity, while metformin therapy was associated with an increase. We did not find significant differences in alpha-diversity between the Delta and Omicron groups. Length of hospital stay, CRP levels, and NLR showed weak to moderate correlations with alpha diversity. Our findings suggest that maintaining a diverse gut microbiota may benefit COVID-19 patients with T2D. Interventions aimed at preserving or restoring gut microbiota diversity, such as avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use and promoting metformin therapy, may improve patient outcomes.

By means of X-ray computed microtomography (XCMT) the existence of a developed microporous structure having an average pore diameter of ~3.5 μm and pore content of ~1.1 vol.% has been revealed in unirradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It has been found that the combined action of gamma radiation (absorbed dose per PTFE of ~170 kGy) and high temperatures (327-350 °C) leads to the disappearance of the microporous structure and the formation of several large pores with sizes from 30 to 50 μm in the bulk of thermal-radiation modified PTFE (TRM-PTFE). It has been established by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis that the thermal-radiation modification of PTFE leads to an increase in the interplanar spacings, the degree of crystallinity and volume of the unit cell, as well as to a decrease in the size of crystals and the X-ray density of the crystalline phase in comparison with the initial polymer. It is assumed that the previously established effect of improving the deformation-strength and tribological properties of the TRM-PTFE can be due not only to the radiation cross-linking of polymer chains but also to the disappearance of the micropore system and to the ordering of the crystalline phase of PTFE.

Melt mixing is a convenient method to prepare polymer nanocomposites, but the extent of the dispersion of the solid filler reached is often limited, and may compromise the anticipated performance of these materials during service. Since the efficiency of extensional flows on dispersion is now well recognized, several mixers were designed with the aim of inducing both shear and extensional flow components. This work combines experimental and numerical data to better understand the kinetics of the dispersion of graphite nanoplates in a polypropylene melt, using a mixing device that consists of a series of stacked rings with equal outer diameter and alternating larger and smaller inner diameters, thus creating a series of converging/diverging flows. Numerical simulation of the flow using the opensource OpenFOAM software assuming both inelastic and viscoelastic responses predicted the velocity, streamlines, flow type and shear and normal stress fields for the mixer. Experimental and computed data were combined to determine the trade-off between the local degree of dispersion of the PP/GnP nanocomposite, measured as Area ratio, and the absolute average value of the hydrodynamic stresses multiplied by the local cumulative residence time. From considerations based on a theoretical approach to dispersion, the cohesive strength of the GnP agglomerates studied was estimated to be in the range 3 - 10kPa.

The solid particle erosion at room and elevated temperatures of pure and filled hot-curing epoxy resin on anhydride hardener was experimentally tested using accelerated method on special bench. Micro-sized dispersed industrial wastes were used as fillers: fly-ash from a power plant and spent filling material from a copper mining and processing plant. The results showed that the unfilled resin wear significantly decreases with increasing temperature, while the dependence on the temperature of the wear intensity at an impingement angle of 45o is linear inversely proportional, and at an angle of 90o non-linear. The decrease in wear intensity is probably due to an increase in elasticity (an increase in the fracture strain limit) because of heating. Solid particle erosion of the examined filled epoxy compounds is considerably higher than that of unfilled compounds at impingement angles of 90o and 45o. Filled compounds showed ambiguous dependences of intensity of wear from temperature (especially at an angle of attack 45o), probably, character of dependence is defined by a filler share and the structural features of the samples caused by distribution of particles of the filler. Intensity of wear of the considered compounds at impingement angles 90o and 45o has high direct correlation with density and the modulus of elasticity (i.e., increases with their increase), and low correlation with bending strength of the considered materials. The data set for determining the correlation between mechanical properties and wear included characteristics due to both compound filling and test temperature.

Diamond powders with inclusions of europium atoms were synthesized at high pressure (7.7 GPa) and temperature (1800oC) from a mixture of pentaerythritol, C(CH2OH)4, and pyrolyzate of diphthalocyanine (C64H32N16Eu) served as a special precursor. In prepared diamonds by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, we have found the concentration of Eu atoms of 51±5 ppm that is by two orders of magnitude greater than that in known natural and synthetic diamonds. X-ray diffraction, SEM, X-ray exited optical luminescence, Raman and IR spectroscopy have confirmed the formation of diamond monocrystals of high quality with em-bedded Eu atoms and a nitrogen content of ~500 ppm. Numerical simulation has allowed us de-termine the energy cost of 5.8 eV needed for the incorporation of a single Eu atom with adjacent vacancy into growing diamond crystal (528 carbons).

Non-Linear Simulation by Harmonic Balance Techniques of Load Modulated Power Amplifier Driven by Random Modulated Signals. Comparison with measured results.

The paper presents a method for estimating the inertia tensor components of a spacecraft that has expired its active life using measurement data of the Earth's magnetic field induction vector components. The implementation of this estimation method is supposed to be carried out when cleaning up space debris in the form of a clapped-out spacecraft with the help of a space tug. It is assumed that a three-component magnetometer and a transmitting device are attached on space debris. With the help of this measuring system, the parameters for the rotational motion of space debris are estimated. Then the known controlled action from the space tug is transferred to the space debris. Next, measurements for the rotational motion parameters are carried out once again. Based on the available measurement data and parameters of the controlled action, the space debris inertia tensor components are estimated. It is assumed that the measurements of the Earth's magnetic field induction vector components are made in a coordinate system which axes are parallel to the corresponding axes of the main body axis system. Such an estimation makes it possible to effectively solve the problem of cleaning up space debris, to calculate the costs of the space tug working body and the parameters of the space debris removal orbit. Examples of numerical simulation using the measurement data of the Earth's magnetic field induction vector components on the Aist-2D small spacecraft are given. The results of the work can be used in the development and implementation of missions to clean up space debris in the form of clapped-out spacecraft.

In this paper, the characterization of 3D printed materials that are considered in the design of multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for specialised purposes was carried out. The multirotor UAV system is briefly described, primarily from the aspect of system dynamics, considering that the airframe parts connect the UAV components, including the propulsion configuration, into a functional assembly. Three additive manufacturing (AM) technologies were discussed, and a brief overview was given of selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and continuous fiber fabrication (CFF). Using hardware and related software, 12 series of specimens were produced which were experimentally tested utilizing a quasi-static uniaxial tensile test. The results of the experimental tests are given graphically with displacement-force characteristics. In this work, the focus is on CFF technology and the testing of materials that will be used in the production of mechanically loaded airframe parts of multirotor UAVs. Furthermore, an overview was given in such a way that the specimens were grouped, and the mean values of the maximum stress were presented, so that the tested materials could be more easily compared with conventional materials, such as aluminum alloys.

In this paper, a multirotor UAV platform based on the PX4 ecosystem was discussed, which in combination with the MATLAB Simulink programming environment enables utilization in various aspects of mechatronic engineering education. Extensive testing of the UAV platform control module was performed, in order to enable implementation in engineering education. In the design phase of the educational platform, take-off-the-shelf components were selected and tested, and airframe parts were manufactured using rapid prototyping technologies. The proposed educational platform with four rotors was presented and tested. The learning outcomes of the undergraduate mechatronics professional study program according to the Croatian Qualifications Framework and related to the considered platform are shown. A preliminary framework of laboratory exercises for the field of mechatronic systems control is investigated.

The Bayer process is the maim method of alumina production worldwide. The use of low-quality bauxites for alumina production results in the formation of a significant amount of technogenic waste - bauxite residue (BR). The Bayer reductive method is one possible way to eliminate BR stockpiling, but it requires high-pressure leaching at temperatures higher than 220 °C. In this research, the possibility of boehmitic bauxite atmospheric pressure leaching at both the first and second stages or high-pressure leaching at the second stage with the simultaneous reduction of hematite was investigated. Bauxite and solid residue after NaOH leaching were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy methods. The first stage of leaching under atmospheric pressure with the addition of Fe(II) species in a strong alkali solution (330-400 g L–1 Na2O) results in a partial reduction of the iron minerals and an extraction of more than 60% of Si and 5-25% of Al (depending on caustic modulus of solution) after 1 h. The obtained desilicated bauxite was subjected to atmospheric leaching at 120 °C in a strong alkali solution (350 g L-1) or high-pressure leaching at 160-220 °C using the Bayer process mother liquor in order to obtain a concentrate with a magnetite content higher than 83 wt. %.

The phenomenon of coupling between light and surface plasmon polaritons requires specific momentum matching conditions. In the case of a single scattering object on a metallic surface, like a nanoparticle or a nanohole, the coupling between a broadband effect, i.e. scattering, and a discrete one such as surface plasmon excitation, leads to Fano-like resonance lineshapes. The necessary phase matching requirements can be used to engineer the light-plasmon coupling and to achieve a directional plasmonic excitation. Here we investigate this effect by using a chiral nanotip to excite surface plasmons with a strong spin-dependent azimuthal variation. This effect can be described by a Fano-like interference with a complex coupling factor that can be modified thanks to a symmetry breaking of a nanostructure.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells are crucial to control development of autoreactive T cell responses and prevention of autoimmunity. We have reported that NOD.CD11cStat5b-CA transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active form of Stat5b under the control of CD11c promoter are protected from diabetes and that Stat5b-CA-expressing DCs are tolerogenic and halt ongoing diabetes in NOD mice. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Stat5b-CA modulates DC tolerogenic function is not fully understood. Here, we used bone marrow-derived DCs from NOD.CD11cStat5b-CA transgenic mice (Stat5b-CA.BMDC) and found that Stat5b-CA.BMDC displayed high levels of MHC class II, CD80, CD86, PD-L1 and PD-L2 and produced elevated amounts of TGFβ but low amounts of TNF and IL-23. Stat5b-CA.BMDCs upregulated Irf4 and downregulated Irf8 genes and protein expression and promoted CD11c+CD11b+ DC2 subset differentiation. Interestingly, we found that the histone methyltransferase Ezh2 interacted with Stat5b-CA complex that bound GAS sequences in the Irf8 enhancer whereas Ezh2 did not interact with GAS sequences in the case of the Irf4 promoter. Injection of Stat5b-CA.BMDCs to prediabetic NOD mice halted progression of islet inflammation and protected against diabetes. Importantly, inhibition of Ezh2 in tolerogenic Stat5b-CA.BMDCs reduced their ability to prevent diabetes development in NOD recipient mice. Taken together, our data suggest that the active form of Stat5b induces tolerogenic DC function by modulating IRF4 and IRF8 expression through recruitment of Ezh2 and highlight the fundamental role of Ezh2 in Stat5b-mediated induction of tolerogenic DCs function.

Proper species identification from ancient DNA samples is a difficult task that sheds light on the evolutionary history of pathogenic microorganisms. The field of palaeomicrobiology has undoubtedly benefited from the advent of untargeted metagenomic approaches that use next-generation sequencing methodologies. Nevertheless, assigning ancient DNA at the species level is a challenging process. Recently, the gut microbiome analysis of three pre-Columbian Andean mummies [1](Santiago-Rodriguez et al. 2016) has called into question the identification of Leishmania in South America. Here, the metagenomic data filed in MG-RAST (Metagenomics RAST server) were used for a further attempt to identify members of the Trypanosomatidae family infecting these ancient remains. For this purpose, we used two metagenomic analysis tools. In the first step, data were analysed using the ultrafast metagenomic sequence classifier, based on exact alignment of k-mers (Kraken). In the second step, we used Bowtie2, an ultrafast and memory-efficient tool for aligning sequencing reads to long reference sequences. We then compared the output results. These approaches highlight some interesting findings on potential infections by human pathogenic trypanosomatids in these three pre-Columbian mummies.

: AlF3 has interesting electrophysical properties, due to which the material is promising for applications in supercapacitors, UV coatings with low refractive index, excimer laser mirrors, and photolithography. The formation of AlF3-based nano- and micro-wires can bring new functionalities to AlF3 material. AlF3 nanowires be used, for example, in functionally modified microprobes for scanning probe microscopy. In this work, we investigate the AlF3 samples obtained by the reaction of initial aluminum with aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution of different concentrations. All the samples were obtained under normal conditions. The morphology of the nanowire samples is studied by scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectra are obtained and analyzed with respect to the feedstock and each other.

: AlF3 has interesting electrophysical parameters, due to which the material is promising for applications in supercapacitors, UV coatings with low refractive index, excimer laser mirrors, and photolithography. The formation of AlF3-based nano- and micro-wires can bring new functionalities to AlF3 material. AlF3 nanowires be used, for example, in functionally modified microprobes for scanning probe microscopy. In this work, we investigate the AlF3 samples obtained by the reaction of initial aluminum with aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution of different concentrations. All the samples were obtained under normal conditions. The morphology of the nanowire samples is studied by scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectra are obtained and analyzed with respect to the feedstock and each other.

Oligo- and polyesters of polyglycerol and polyricinoleic acid are widely used as emulsifiers in various industries. Based on the condensation of glycerol and its oligomers with epoxidized derivatives of vegetable oils, new promising emulsifiers for oil-water systems were obtained. Complex structural and functional spectral analysis of synthesized substances showed that the main reactions leading to the formation of the desired products were the opening of epoxide cycles, the transesterification of esters and the condensation of fatty acid derivatives. The new combination of renewable raw materials is of undoubted interest for deeper vegetable oils chemical processing.

Pipeline integrity is an important area of concern for the oil and gas, refining, chemical, hydrogen, carbon sequestration, and electric-power industries, due to the safety risks associated with pipeline failures. Regular monitoring, inspection, and maintenance of these facilities is therefore required for safe operation. Large standoff magnetometry (LSM) is a non-intrusive, passive magnetometer-based mea- surement technology that has shown promise in detecting defects (anomalies) in regions of elevated mechanical stresses. However, analyzing the noisy multi-sensor LSM data to clearly identify regions of anomalies is a significant challenge. This is mainly due to the high frequency of the data collection, mis-alignment between consecutive inspections and sensors, as well as the number of sensor measurements recorded. In this paper we present LSM defect identification approach based on ma- chine learning (ML). We show that this ML approach is able to successfully detect anomalous readings using a series of methods with increasing model complexity and capacity. The methods start from unsupervised learning with "point" methods and eventually increase complexity to supervised learning with sequence methods and multi-output predictions. We observe data leakage issues for some methods with randomized train/test splitting and resolve them by specific non-randomized splitting of training and validation data. We also achieve a 200x acceleration of support-vector classifier (SVC) method by porting computations from CPU to GPU leveraging the cuML RAPIDS AI library. For sequence methods, we develop a customized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture based on 1D convolutional filters to identify and characterize multiple properties of these defects. In the end, we report the scalability of the best-performing methods and compare them, for viability in field trials.

One of the possible mechanisms causing significant emissions of methane into the atmosphere within the Arctic shelf may be the decomposition of gas hydrates. Their accumulations within the Arctic shelf formed during Ice Age almost simultaneously with the formation of permafrost, which contributed to the emergence of a zone of stable existence of gas hydrates. The subsequent flooding of the Arctic shelf led to the degradation of the permafrost and the violation of the conditions for the existence of hydrates. To assess the state of the stability zone, methods of mathematical numerical modeling are used. Standard seismic methods are widely used to localize gas hydrates, but monitoring their physical state requires the development of fundamentally new approaches based on solving multiparameter inverse seismic problems. In particular, the degree of attenuation of seismic energy is one of the objective parameters for assessing the consolidation of gas hydrates: the closer they are to the beginning of decomposition, the higher the attenuation, and hence the lower the quality factor. Thus, the methods of seismic monitoring of the state of gas hydrates in order to predict the possibility of developing dangerous scenarios should be based on solving a multi-parameter inverse seismic problem. This publication is devoted to the presentation of this approach.

Since smart cities aim at becoming self-monitoring and self-response systems, their deployment relies on close resource monitoring through large-scale urban sensing. The subsequent gathering of massive amounts of data makes essential the development of event filtering mechanisms that enable the selection of what is relevant and trustworthy. Due to the rise of mobile event producers, location information has become a valuable filtering criterion as it not only offers extra information on the event described but also enhances trust on the producer. Implementing mechanisms that validate the quality of location information becomes then imperative. The lack of such strategies in cloud architectures compels the adoption of new communication schemes for IoT-based urban services. To serve the demand for location verification in urban event-based systems (DEBS), we have designed three different fog architectures that combine proximity and cloud communication. Moreover, we have successfully assessed their performance using network simulations with realistic urban traces.

Abstract: Agarose is known to form a homogeneous thermoreversible gel in aqueous medium over a critical polymer concentration. The solid-liquid phase transitions are thermoreversible but depend on the molecular structure of the agarose sample tested. Then, in a first step, the structure was characterised by 1H and 13C NMR in D2O and in DMSO which is a solvent of agarose whatever the temperature. A low yield in methyl substituent on the D-galactose unit was determined. Then, evolution of the 1H NMR spectrum was followed as a function of temperature in increasing and decreasing temperature process from 25 to 80°C. A large thermal hysteresis is obtained and discussed. It helps to interpret rheological behaviour. In fact, NMR signals are related to proton relaxation and especially to proton involved in H-bonds between water and -OH agarose for tightly bound water and agarose/agarose in chain packing. In a second step, water was exchanged against ethanol which is a non solvent of agarose. A stable gel was demonstrated and characterised by rheology to be compared with aqueous behaviour. Bound water playing the role of plasticizer is probably removed and the gel is much stronger (and brittle) in ethanol with a larger thermal stability. It is the first time that such gel is characterised without phase transition when passing from a good-solvent to a non-solvent. This extends the domains of application of agarose.

This paper addresses the problem of non-cooperative spectrum sensing in very low signal noise ratio (SNR) conditions. In our approach, detecting an unoccupied bandwidth consists to detect the presence or absence of a communication signal on this bandwidth. Major well known communication signals may contain hidden periodicities, we use the Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) to reveal the hidden periodicities. RQA is very sensitive to a reliable estimation of the phase space dimension m or the time delay τ. In view of the limitations of algorithms proposed in the literature, we have proposed a new algorithm to estimate simultaneously the optimal values of m and τ. The new proposed optimal values allow the states reconstruction of the observed signal and then the estimation of the distance matrix. This distance matrix has particular properties which we have exploited to propose the Recurrence Analysis based Detector (RAD). RAD can detect a communication signal in a very low SNR condition. Using Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, our experimental results corroborate the robustness of our proposed algorithm comparing to classical widely used algorithms.

Unicellular eukaryotes of the Trypanosomatidae family include human and animal pathogens that belong to the Trypanosoma and Leishmania genera. Diagnosis of the diseases they caused requires the sampling of body fluids (blood, lymph, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.) or organ biopsies (bone marrow, spleen, etc.), which are mostly obtained through invasive methods. Body fluids or appendages can be alternatives to these invasive biopsies but appropriateness remains poorly studied. To further address this question, we perform a systematic review on clues evidencing the presence of parasites, genetic material, antibodies, and antigens in body secretions, appendages, or the organs or proximal tissues that produce these materials. Paper selection was based on searches in PubMed, Web of Science, WorldWideScience, SciELO, Embase, Google. The information of each selected article (n=333) was classified into different sections and data were extracted from 77 papers. The presence of Trypanosomatidae parasites has been tracked in most of organs or proximal tissues that produce body secretions or appendages, in naturally or experimentally infected hosts. The meta-analysis highlights the paucity of studies on Human African Trypanosomiasis and a the absence on animal Trypanosomiasis. Among the collected data high heterogeneity in terms of the I² statistic (100%) is recorded. A high positivity is recorded for antibody and genetic material detection in urine of patients and dogs suffering leishmaniasis, and of antigen for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Data on conjunctival swab can be analyzed with molecular methods solely for dogs suffering canine visceral leishmaniasis. Saliva and hair/bristle showed a pretty good positivity that support their potential to be used for leishmaniasis diagnosis. In conclusion, our study pinpoints significant gaps that need to be filled in order to properly address the interest of body secretion and hair or bristle for the diagnosis of infections caused by Leishmania and by other Trypanosomatidae parasites.

We have developed deep learning models for automatic identification of the maternal heart rate (MHR) and, more generally, false signals (FSs) on fetal heart rate (FHR) recordings. The models can be used to preprocess FHR data prior to automated analysis or as a clinical alert system to assist the practitioner. Three models were developed and used to detect (i) FSs on the MHR channel (the FSMHR model), (ii) the MHR and FSs on the Doppler FHR sensor (the FSDop model), and (iii) FSs on the scalp ECG channel (the FSScalp model). The FSDop model was the most useful because FSs are far more frequent on the Doppler FHR channel. All three models were based on a multilayer, symmetric, GRU and were trained on data recorded during the first and second stages of delivery. The FSMHR and FSDop models were also trained on antepartum recordings. The training dataset contained 1030 expert-annotated periods (mean duration: 36 min) from 635 recordings. In an initial evaluation of routine clinical practice, 30 fully annotated recordings for each sensor type (mean duration: 5 h for MHR and Doppler sensors, and 3 h for the scalp ECG sensor) were analyzed. The sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy were respectively 62.20%, 87.1% and 99.90% for the FSMHR model, 93.1%, 95.6% and 99.68% for the FSDop model, and 44.6%, 87.2% and 99.93% for the FSScalp model. We built a second test dataset with a more solid ground truth by selecting 45 periods (lasting 20 min, on average) on which the Doppler FHR and scalp ECG signals were recorded simultaneously. Using scalp ECG data, the experts estimated the true FHR value more reliably and thus annotated the Doppler FHR channel more precisely. The models achieved a sensitivity of 53.3%, a PPV of 62.4%, and an accuracy of 97.29%. In comparison, two experts (blinded to the scalp ECG data) respectively achieved a sensitivity of 15.7%, a PPV of 74.3%, and an accuracy of 96.91% and a sensitivity of 60.7%, a PPV of 83.5% and an accuracy of 98.24%. Hence, the models performed at expert level (better than one expert and worse than the other), although a well-trained expert with good knowledge of FSs could probably do better in some cases. The models and datasets have been included in the Fetal Heart Rate Morphological Analysis open-source MATLAB toolbox and can be used freely for research purposes.

External quantum efficiency of industrial-grade green InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been measured in a wide range of operating currents at various temperatures from 13 K to 300 K. Unlike blue LEDs, the efficiency as a function of current is found to have a multi-peak character, which could not be fitted by a simple ABC-model. This observation correlated with splitting of LED emission spectra into two peaks at certain currents. The characterization data are interpreted in terms of non-uniformity of the LED active region, which is tentatively attributed to extended defects like V-pits. We suggest a new approach to evaluation of temperature-dependent light extraction and internal quantum efficiencies taking into account the active region non-uniformity. As a result, the temperature dependence of light extraction and internal quantum efficiencies have been evaluated in the temperature range mentioned above and compared with those of blue LEDs.

Recycled tire fibers (RTF) are currently one of the most abundant waste not being recovered due to several processing hurdles and the presence of high amounts of residual ground rubber particles (GR). Therefore, this study proposes a simple approach to separate most of rubber particles from fibers and to determine their rubber content using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/calcination. Afterwards, clean fiber (CF) and GR are used as fillers for recycled post-consumer low density polyethylene (rLDPE), and their effects on the physical properties are investigated. Accordingly, a series of composites with CF and GR is prepared at different filler concentrations (0-30%) via extrusion compounding before using compression molding and injection molding for comparison. In all cases, injection molding leads to higher strength and modulus, but lower elongation at break. The results show that incorporating 30 wt.% of CF into rLDPE yields a remarkable improvement in tensile strength (15%), tensile modulus (192%) and flexural modulus (142%). On the other hand, the incorporation of up to 30 wt.% of GR results in a reduction of both tensile strength and flexural modulus by 15%, confirming the critical role of the cleaning process for RTF in achieving the best results.

The aims of this study were to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among orthodontic patients between the ages of 15 and 17 years old compared to adolescents without orthodontic treatment. This cross-sectional study included 392 adolescents drawn from various French teaching hospitals. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment had a higher knowledge of oral health than adolescents without orthodontic treatment. The majority of adolescents for both groups (69%) claimed to brush their teeth twice a day. Regarding complimentary dental material, 81.9% of adolescents without orthodontic treatment never used an interdental brush and 78.8% never used dental floss. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, 48.5% never used interdental brush. Only 4% of adolescents without and 3% of adolescents with orthodontic treatment never consumed fizzy drinks, 4.9% and 3% never consumed sweets, 4% and 8.4% never ate fast-food. Adolescents without treatment consumed more sodas (p=0.04) and more fast food (p=0.03). Adolescents had insufficient knowledge of oral health. Health education programmes should be implemented to improve adolescents' knowledge and individual oral prophylaxis with interdental brushes.

The constant increase in volume and wide variety of available Internet of Things (IoT) devices leads to highly diverse software and hardware stacks, which opens new avenues for exploiting previously unknown vulnerabilities. The ensuing risks are amplified by the inherent IoT resource constraints both in terms of performance and energy expenditure. At the same time, IoT devices often times generate or collect sensitive, real-time data used in critical application scenarios (e.g. health monitoring, transportation, smart energy, etc.). All these factors combined make IoT networks a primary target and potential victims for malicious actors. In this paper, we present a brief overview of existing attacks and defense strategies against urban IoT networks. The goal of this work is twofold: First, it presents a summary of some of the common attack vectors and the corresponding solutions available in the research literature. Then, the paper lays out a theoretical plan and a corresponding pipeline of steps (i.e. development and implementation process) for the design and application of the solutions encountered throughout the course of the research efforts. The end goal of following this plan is the deployment of the proposed IoT security measures in a real-world urban IoT infrastructure.