Background: Homologous Recombination (HR) is the most accurate repair pathway for double-strand breaks and replication fork disruption that is capable of faithfully restoring the original nucleotide sequence of the broken DNA. The deficiency in this mechanism is a frequent event in tumorigenesis. Therapies that exploit defects in HR have been explored essentially in breast, ovarian, pancreas, and prostate cancers, but poorly in colorectal cancers (CRC) although CRC ranks second in mortality worldwide. Methods: Tumor specimens and matched healthy tissues from 63 patients with CRC were assessed for gene expression of HR key components and MMR status, which were correlated with clinicopathological features, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Results: Enhanced expression of MRE11A, the gene encoding a key molecular actor for resection is significantly overexpressed in CRC, is associated with the occurrence of primary tumors particularly T3-T4 and is found in more than 90% of the right-side of CRC, the location with worst prognostic. Importantly, we also found that high MRE11A transcript abundance is associated with 16.7 months shorter OS and a 3.5 higher risk of death. Conclusion: Monitoring MRE11 expression could be used both as a predictor of outcome and as a marker to select CRC patients for treatments thus far adapted for HR deficient cancers.

Deep Learning is an extremely important research topic in Earth Observation. Current use-cases range from semantic image segmentation, object detection to more common problems found in computer vision such as object identification. Earth Observation is an excellent source for different types of problems and data for Machine Learning in general and Deep Learning in particular. It can be argued that both Earth Observation and Deep Learning as fields of research will benefit greatly from this recent trend of research. In this paper we take several state of the art Deep Learning network topologies and provide a detailed analysis of their performance for semantic image segmentation for building footprint detection. The dataset used is comprised of high resolution images depicting urban scenes. We focused on single model performance on simple RGB images. In most situations several methods have been applied to increase the accuracy of prediction when using deep learning such as ensembling, alternating between optimisers during training and using pretrained weights to bootstrap new models. These methods although effective, are not indicative of single model performance. Instead, in this paper, we present different topology variations of these state of the art topologies and study how these variations effect both training convergence and out of sample, single model, performance.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous, complex disease and the fifth most common cancer worldwide (about one million cases and 784 000 deaths worldwide in 2018). CG is lately diagnosed and guarantees a poor prognosis for GC (the 5-year survival rate is less than 20%, but in early detection can reach 90%). This study evaluated the transcriptional profile in tumor gastric samples to find genes highly expressed during tumor establishment and use the related proteins as targets to find new anticancer molecules. Data was collected at Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) bank to obtain 3 dataset matrices that analyze gastric tumor tissue versus normal gastric tissue, performed microarray using GPL570 platform, and from different sources. The genes found in silico analysis were confirmed in several lines of GC cells by RT-qPCR. The protein data bank was used to find the correspondent proteins. Then a structural-based virtual screening was done to find molecules, and docking analysis was done using the DockThor server. Our results of transcriptomic analysis, together with RT-qPCR, confirm the high expression of the genes AJUBA, FBXL13, CCDC69, CD80 and NOLC1 in GC lines. Based on that, the correspondent proteins were used in SBVS analysis. Five molecules, one each target, MCULE-2386589557-0-6, MCULE-7343047040-0-1, MCULE-5230409338-0-3, MCULE-9178344200-0-1 and MCULE -5881513100-0-29. All molecules have favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicological properties. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the molecules interact with proteins in critical sites for their activity. Using a virtual screening approach, a molecular docking study was performed for proteins encoded by genes that play important roles in cellular functions for carcinogenesis. Combining a systematic collection of public microarray data with a comparative meta-profiling, RT-qPCR, SBVS, and molecular docking analysis provided a suitable approach to find genes involved in GC and work the correspondent protein to strive for new molecules with anticancer properties.

Background: In the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey disposable e-cigarette devices are shown to be the most widely used e-cigarette devices amongst U.S. youth. In this paper we report the results of research designed to estimate the prevalence of use of BIDI® Stick branded e-cigarettes amongst youth (aged 13 to 17), and under-age young adults (aged 18 to 20) in the U.S. Methods: Cross sectional online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,215 youth (13 17 years) recruited via the IPSOS probability-based KnowledgePanel and 3,370 young adults aged 18 to 24 - amongst whom 1,125 were aged 18 to 20. Results: Amongst youth aged 13 to 17, 0.91% [95% CI: 0.44-1.68] or 190,000 [95% CI: 90,000-350,000] youth reported having ever used a BIDI® Stick branded product and 0.04% [95% CI: 0.00-0.38] or less than 10,000 youth reported currently using a BIDI® Stick branded product. Amongst those young adults aged 18 to 20, 3.90% [95% CI: 2.49-5.81] or 470,000 [95%CI: 300,000-700,000] reported having ever used a BIDI® Stick product whilst 0.60% [95% CI: 0.17-1.55] or 70,000 [95% CI: 20,000-180,000] reported they now use a BIDI® Stick product “every day” or “some days”. Conclusions: The low prevalence of youth and underage adult current use of the BIDI® Stick e cigarette suggests that this product is not responsible for the recent growth in the use of disposable e-cigarettes by youth within the U.S. as demonstrated by the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

In recent years, the prevalence of tobacco and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among adolescents has raised significant public health concerns worldwide. This study aims to investigate respiratory symptoms among Polish adolescents. We conducted an online survey among Polish school students from all provinces, collecting data over two months in Spring 2021. Students voluntarily complete the anonymous survey, answering questions about respiratory symptoms, smoking habits (both traditional and electronic cigarettes), and demographic information. Analysis focused on four subgroups: non-tobacco users, traditional cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, and dual users, totaling 10,388 pupils aged 12-18 years, predominantly attending secondary technical and comprehensive schools. A total of 10388 pupils participated in the study, 55.6 % (5778) of whom were girls and 44.4 % (4610) boys. Adolescents, who admitted using both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes experienced more frequent episodes of cough during the day (39.70%) and at night (18.40%) compared to their peers in other groups. Chest discomfort, including pain and pressure, was also reported more often by adolescents, who used e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes concurrently (27.60%) compared to their peers in other groups. Chest pressure was experienced less commonly by non-smoking adolescents (14.40%) than by smokers (18.90%). Higher severity of cough during the day and at night was observed in the group of adolescents using traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes concurrently compared to the other groups. The adolescents in the dual user group experienced more severe dyspnoea and wheezing compared to the other groups included in the comparison. The results of this study confirm the correlation between the occurrence of respiratory symptoms in adolescents who smoke cigarettes, use e-cigarettes and in dual users. The respiratory symptoms occur most frequently and are the most severe in the group of adolescents who use e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes

The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely grown horticultural crop in the world and is important for the economy of many countries. In the wine production chain, grape varieties play an important role as they directly influence the authenticity and classification of the product. Identifying the different grape varieties is therefore fundamental for quality control and inspection activities, as well as for regulating production. Currently, ampelography and molecular analysis are the main approaches to identifying grape varieties. However, both methods have limitations. Ampelography is subjective and prone to errors and is experiencing enormous difficulties as ampelographers are increasingly scarce. On the other hand, molecular analyses are very demanding in terms of cost and time. In this scenario, Deep Learning (DL) and Machine Learning (ML) methods have emerged as a classification alternative to deal with the scarcity of ampelographs and avoid molecular analyses. In this study, the most recent and current methods for identifying grapevine varieties using DL classification-based approaches are presented through a systematic literature review. The classification pipeline of the 31 studies found in the literature was described, highlighting its pros and cons. Most of the studies used DL-based models trained with leaf images acquired in a controlled environment at a maximum distance of 1.2 metres to classify grape varieties. In addition, there is a large gap between practical applications and the datasets used: a great lack of varieties, limited data acquired in the field and a lack of tests on plants under adverse conditions. Potential directions for improving this area of research were also presented.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis (FEO) are infections caused by melanized filamentous fungal agents, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Both infections pose significant challenges for the correct identification of the causative agent due to their morphological similarity, making conventional methods of morphological analysis highly subjective. Therefore, molecular techniques are necessary for the precise determination of these species. In this regard, this study aimed to contribute to a new methodology based on PCR-RFLP for the identification of agents causing CBM and FEO. Sequences from the ITS region were used to identify potential restriction enzyme sites in silico, followed by in vitro validation using the selected restriction enzymes. The obtained results were compared with species identification through morphological analyses and sequencing. The results demonstrated that the PCR-RFLP applied in this study accurately identified two major agents of chromoblastomycosis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora, as well as Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala dermatitidis, both causative agents of phaeohyphomycosis. In this context, the proposed assay can complement current methods for identifying these species, aiding in diagnosis, and contributing to the proper management of these infections.

This paper deals with an analysis of cartographical studies, the real estate cadastre, and its practical implementation, as well as the introduction of cartography into different education modules in university-level studies in Montenegro. There is a discussion of the development, production, and creativity in the fields of cartography and real estate cadastre over time, cartographical projection, scientific results, and recent changes such as advanced computer- and satellite-based technologies, GIS, cartographical visualization, and digital cartography. The impact of these changes on cartographical studies at the University of Montenegro is considered. Particular attention is given to analyses of cartography and the cadastre in institutions, and their connection with the development of cartography teaching modules of Geography, Geodesy and Geoinformatics at the University of Montenegro. The integrated analysis also covers the results of the questionnaire and the significance of the geo-topographical and cartographical heritage of Montenegro, with the aim of carrying these out. It can be seen that the tasks solved by using maps have tended to become more complex and that the cartographical methods employed in this have been always directed towards Montenegro’s most prominent and most urgent problems, including those that appear in the area of education.

In the bioprinting process, controlling the motion of bioprinters involves a computer-aided design (CAD) model, converting that model into g-code, and transmitting the motion commands to the bioprinters. The g-code file contains information about the motion of the axes and can be generated using various software. However, a challenge arises when using g-code between different bioprinters. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose a reliable method for analyzing the differences in 3D bioprinting devices by parameterizing a crucial variable for extrusion bioprinting: the E-value. Four bioprinters from three different manufacturers were used to investigate the extrusion behavior when subjected to the same E-value.

O26 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), possesses a unique pseudocapsule composed of polysaccharides identical to the O antigen in their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) membrane. Therefore, the impact of O26 polysaccharides on the immune evasion mechanisms of capsulated O26 EPEC was investigated. Our findings reveal that the concentration of GlcNAc, an immunodominant unit of O26 polysaccharides capable of activating the MBL (Mannose Biding Lecting) pathway of the complement system, was found to be lower in capsulated EPEC O26 compared to naked shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26 strain. It was noted that, unlike the naked STEC strain, the capsulated EPEC O26 strain was protected against lysis by the alternative pathway of the com-plement system by inhibiting C3b adhesion to its bacterial surface. Capsulated EPEC O26 strains were also able to avoid phagocytosis by macrophages. However, the immune evasion provided by the capsule was overcome in the presence of anti-O26 polysaccharide antibodies. Additionally, these antibodies were able to recognize O26 EPEC in the presence of biofilm and inhibit their adhesion to human epithelial cells. Overall, the results indicate that the O26 polysaccharides can generate an effective humoral immune response, making them promising antigens for the de-velopment of a vaccine against capsulated O26 E. coli

Musculoskeletal disorders are increasingly prevalent worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic burdens and diminished quality of life. Notably, patellar chondropathy (PC) is among the most widespread conditions affecting the joint structures, resulting in profound pain and disability. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have emerged as reliable, effective, and minimally invasive alternatives. Continuous research spanning from laboratory settings to clinical applications demonstrate the numerous advantages of both products. These encompass lubrication, anti-inflammation, and stimulation of cellular behaviors linked to proliferation, differentiation, migration, and the release of essential growth factors. Cumulatively, these benefits support the rejuvenation of bone and cartilaginous tissues, which are otherwise compromised due to the prevailing degenerative and inflammatory responses characteristic of tissue damage. While existing literature delves into the physical, mechanical, and biological facets of these products, as well as their commercial variants and distinct clinical uses, there is limited discussion on their interconnected roles. We explore basic science concepts, product variations, and clinical strategies. This comprehensive examination provides physicians with an alternative insight into the pathophysiology of PC as well as biological mechanisms stimulated by both HA and PRP that contribute to tissue restoration.

Given the rise in the number of cases and their recurrences, Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are one of the major burdens on public healthcare worldwide. Rapid, inexpensive and selective detection of Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), a major contributor to UTIs, is the need of the hour for effective treatment, given the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to improper diagnosis. Here we present a rapid, real-time, selective and label-free detection of UPEC using an integrated sensing platform based on Crossed Surface Relief Gratings (CSRGs) as nanoplasmonic sensors. Detection is achieved due to the unique Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based light energy exchange attributed to the CSRGs, allowing real-time sensing in a very narrow bandwidth of the incident light to pass where the SPR energy conversion occurs. The sensing ability of the platform is experimentally demonstrated by the detection of bulk Refractive Index (RI) changes, with a bulk sensitivity of 382.2 nm/RIU and a resolution in the order of 10-6 RIU. We demonstrate selective capture and detection of clinical concentration of UPEC, as opposed to other gram-negative bacteria, in real-time, a first for CSRGs. This work is particularly important for effective treatment of UTIs, allowing point-of-care diagnosis for economically disadvantaged regions around the world.

To improve efficacy and safety of sunscreen emulsions, UV‐filter skin permeation could be kept as low as possible by reducing UV‐filter content or changing emulsion composition. In this work, different lipid phase ratio (12, 14 and 16% w/w) were assessed for their ability to affect the technological and sensory properties of O/W emulsions in which bemotrizinol (BMTZ), a broad spectrum sunscreen agent, was incorporated free or loaded into nanostructured lipid nanocarriers (NLC) to reduce its release from the vehicle and, hence, its skin permeation. The following technological properties were evaluated in vitro by suitable methodologies: spreadability, viscosity, pH, occlusion factor, BMTZ release, sun protection factor (SPF). Sensory attributes were assessed by trained panelists in three different phases: before/during pick‐up, rub‐in, after application. Raising the lipid phase ratio led to an increase of viscosity and to a corresponding drop of spreadability while the incorporation of BMTZ‐loaded NLC determined a decrease of occlusion factor and an increase of SPF. No BMTZ release was observed from all emulsions. Sensory attributes were mainly affected by lipid phase ratio. These results suggest that lipid phase ratio and BMTZ incorporation into NLC could contribute to determine technological and sensory properties of O/W emulsions.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac arrhythmia caused by electrophysiological anomalies in the atrial tissue, tissue degradation, structural abnormalities, and comorbidities. A direct relation exists between AF and altered mitochondrial activity resulting from membrane potential loss, contractile dysfunction, or decreased ATP levels. This review aimed to elucidate the role of mitochondrial oxidative mechanisms in AF pathophysiology, the impact of mitochondrial oxidative stress on AF initiation and perpetuation, and current therapies. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews. PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, and Scopus were explored until June 2023 using "MESH terms." Bibliographic references from relevant papers were also included. Oxidative stress is an imbalance that causes cellular damage from excessive oxidation, resulting in conditions such as AF. An imbalance in reactive oxygen species production and elimination can cause mitochondrial damage, cellular apoptosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are intrinsically linked, and inflammatory pathways are highly correlated with the occurrence of AF. AF is an intricate cardiac condition that requires innovative therapeutic approaches. The involvement of mitochondrial oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of AF introduces novel strategies for clinical treatment.

The latest World Atlas of Desertification represents a turning point in the diagnosis of desertification. While it forgoes desertification mapping due to the intrinsic complexity of the phenomenon and the impossibility of measuring it using a single indicator, it introduces the Convergence of Evidence paradigm, which identifies socioeconomic and biophysical variables whose behavior allows pointing out those areas prone to desertification. The Spanish National Action Program Against Desertification (PAND), back to 2008, already implemented a similar approach to identify five “desertification landscapes” within Spain using both socio-economic and climatic information. The PAND was not only pioneering but also, unfortunately, accurate. Desertification in Spain has continued to worsen and the first two decades of the 21st century have consolidated an agri-food model whose dynamics have exacerbated the desertification processes identified in the PAND. Despite its scientific value, the PAND lacked a proper action plan and was completely detached from the diagnosis. As a result the diagnosis it provided was not followed by effective actions to halt desertification in Spain. The Spanish Government's recent declaration of climate and environmental emergency requires a new strategy to combat desertification. This commitment is an excellent opportunity to update the diagnosis of the situation and, more crucially, to unify the different desertification sectoral policies and actions under a single front. We provide here elements for a roadmap to be designed around the pressures, impacts, and drivers that define today's Spanish desertification landscapes to manage them effectively and avoid their further degradation.

Introduction: The objective of this study was: compare the continuous infusion of cefepime with the intermittent infusion in patients with sepsis caused by Gram negative bacilli (GNB). Methods: Randomized 1:1 multicenter double-blinded placebo-controlled study with allocation concealment. Multicenter study in Intensive Care Units of Colombia. Patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock and GNB suspected bacteraemia. Cefepime was administered for 7 to 14 days over 30 m intermittently every 8 h over 24 h plus continuous saline solution (0.9%) (G1) or 3 g administered continuously plus saline solution every 8 h (0.9%) (G2). Percentage of clinical response at 3, 7, 14 days, relapse at 28 days and mortality at discharge were measured. Results: The recruitment was stopped by suggestion of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), following an FDA alert about cefepime. Thirty-two patients were randomized, 25 received the intervention and GNB bacteremia was confirmed in 16 (9 G1 and 7 G 2). Favourable clinical response in days 3,7,14 was 88.8%, 88.8%, 77.8 % (G 1) and was similar for G 2 (85.7%). There were not relapses and deaths in G2 while in G1 one relapse and 2 deaths were observed. Conclusions: The results of this study support the use of cefepime for the treatment of Gram-negative infections in critically ill patients but we could not demonstrate differences between continuous or intermittent administration, because of the small sample size, given the early suspension of the study.

In recent years, advancements in brain science and neuroscience have significantly influenced the field of computer science, particularly in the domain of reinforcement learning (RL). Drawing insights from neurobiology and neuropsychology, researchers have leveraged these findings to develop novel mechanisms for understanding intelligent decision-making processes in the brain. Concurrently, the emergence of quantum computing has opened new frontiers in artificial intelligence, leading to the development of quantum machine learning (QML). This study introduces a novel model that integrates Quantum Spiking Neural Networks (QSNN) and Quantum Long Short-Term Memory (QLSTM) architectures, inspired by the complex workings of the human brain. Specifically designed for reinforcement learning tasks in energy-efficient environments, our approach progresses through two distinct stages mirroring sensory and memory systems. In the initial stage, analogous to the brain’s hypothalamus, low-level information is extracted to emulate sensory data processing patterns. Subsequently, resembling the hippocampus, this information is processed at a higher level, capturing and memorizing correlated patterns. We conduct a comparative analysis of our model against existing quantum models such as Quantum Neural Networks and their classical counterparts, elucidating its unique contributions. Through empirical results, we aim to underscore the effectiveness of our approach in optimizing energy consumption in practical scenarios.

Current VAT rules for cross-border e-commerce companies in the EU are not sustainable, because they are extremely complex and often opaque, due to the lack of tax harmonization. The aim of the research is to explore, using a qualitative method, what kind of harmonization would make the current legislation more uniform, simpler, more transparent, and easier to understand, without conflicting with the rules of any Member State. To this end, the aspects of the new platform regulation introduced on 1 July 2021 and its potential for expansion are assessed through information from possible sales models. The research suggests that the rules on platforms do not cover all possible sales models, which in our view imposes an unnecessary extra administrative burden on some businesses and makes their tax activities less transparent. In the light of the results of the research, we propose that the current EU platform regulation should be extended to cover B2B, B2C transactions and services. As a result of this suggested harmonization, a simpler, more transparent, uniform and sustainable tax system would contribute to the whitening of the economy, generating additional tax revenue for Member States.

This research proposes an algorithm to sign messages using the ElGamal asymmetric cryptosystem, called: Digital signature algorithm based on ElGamal, Diffie-Hellman protocol and the number π (DSAπ). This proposal has a high level of security like the DSA standard, in addition, execution times are reduced in relation to it. The Diffie-Hellman protocol and the number π were used in the construction of the digital signature algorithm in conjunction with the Hash-Sha-512 function. Some experiments are presented to provide evidence that the bits on the right side of the decimal point of π appear randomly, such as: a color image was constructed of a string of consecutive bits chosen at random, of the number π. Subsequently, parameters such as: entropy, correlation, discrete Fourier transform, goodness-of-fit test χ2 were evaluated. It is mentioned that an S-box 8×8 is involved in the signature. The sensitivity of the signature was measured, that is, when small changes are made to the sender’s private key, or small changes to the message. Finally, an image was constructed using the signatures of random texts, and subsequently the randomness of its pixels was obtained, to verify that there is no relationship between the different signatures.

Tabebuia aurea (Silva Manso) Benth. & Hook. f. The ex S.Moore (yellow ipe), belonging to the Bignoniaceae family, used in the popular for fever, inflammation and healing of skin wounds. The extract was prepared by maceration, using 70% ethanol. Through HPLC analysis, it was possible to identify substances, mainly phenolic, such as lapachol, present in Bignoniaceae. The phenolic content was 21.36 mg / Eag in the antioxidant activity, the effective concentration of 50% was 53.03 ± 1.14 µg / mL. The antimicrobial activity against S.aureus, E. coli and C. albicans was evaluated by microdilution in broth, which verified action against the tested microorganisms. Cell viability has been inhibited for tumor cells, although this has not been observed for normal cells. The LD50 against A.aegypti mosquito larvae was 3504.6 mg / L and there was no mortality in the concentration tested for the snail B.glabrata. Nontoxic or low toxicity for A. salina and T. molitor, respectively, and did not exhibit hemolytic action at concentrations of antibacterial effect. Given the above, it was concluded that the bark extract of the studied species has bioprospecting potential for the future development of antimicrobial products.

Vegetation identification using remote sensing is essential for understanding terrestrial ecosystems and monitoring climate change. This technology by providing high-resolution images of the Earth's surface from satellites, aircraft, and drones has revolutionized the way scientists study and un-derstand vegetation patterns, providing information on the distribution, structure, and health of plant communities in different regions and biomes. However, identifying vegetation in multi and hyperspectral images remains a difficult, time-consuming, and costly process. Traditional methods for vegetation mapping involve the in-terpretation of spectral indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), alt-hough they often suffer from limitations such as manual interpretation and limited spatial resolution of satellite images. Furthermore, machine learning techniques, artificial neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, and random forests have shown promising results in identifying and classifying vegetation cover from hyperspectral images. However, due to the need for per-son-nel with specialized expertise, their application on a large scale is still challenging. On the other hand, correlation methods between curves have emerged as powerful and simplified tool for comparing spectral signatures of hyperspectral image pixels and efficiently classifying vegetation in a study area. Pearson's correlation coefficient and spectral angle mapper are among the most common correlation methods used in vegetation mapping. These correlation methods, among many others available, offer an easily implemented and computationally efficient approach, making them particularly useful for applications in developing countries or regions with limited resources. In this article, a comparative study of correlation/distance metrics was conducted for the detection of vegetation pixels in hyperspectral images. The study allowed for the comparison of five distance and/or correlation metrics: direct correlation, cosine similarity, normalized Euclidean distance, Bray-Curtis’s distance, and Pearson correlation. The two metrics that yielded the best accuracy results in vegetation pixel detection were direct correlation and Pearson correlation. Based on the selected methods, a vegetation detection algorithm was implemented and validated on a hyper-spectral image of the Manga neighborhood in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The spectral library was utilized for image processing, while the numpy and scipy libraries in the Python programming language were used for the mathematical calculation of correlations. Both the study's approach and the implemented algorithm aim to serve as a reference for conducting detection studies of various material types in hyperspectral images using open-access programming platforms.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute hepatitis worldwide, accounting for approximately 25% of deaths among pregnant women. We previously reported that pregnancy serum facilitates HEV replication in vitro. However, the differences in host cells with HEV infection induced by pregnancy serum and fetal bovine serum (FBS) are unclear. In this study, differentially expressed proteins were identified in HEV-infected hepatoma cells (HepG2) supplemented with different sera by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation. Proteomic analysis indicated that HEV infection significantly induced 1014 differentially expressed proteins in HEV-infected HepG2 cells when supplemented with FBS compared with pregnancy serum. Further validation by Western blot confirmed that filamin A, heat-shock proteins 70 and 90, Cytochrome c, and Thioredoxin were associated with HEV infection. This comparative analysis provides an important basis to further investigate HEV pathogenesis in pregnant women and HEV replication.

(1) The purpose of this study was to compare the percentages of quarterly change for each of the variables analysed (height, weight, body fat percentage and muscle mass) as a function of the quarter in a sample of adolescent football players. (2) The sample consisted of young male football players of different categories belonging to a high-performance football academy, (more than 5 years in football and have spent 1 full year at the academy). (3) Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed for the anthropometric variable, P_value

Commercial classification is essential to spatially describe commerce. Although most of the proposed classifications have been classic functional analyses, rooted on qualitative studies, some recent classifications efforts are found to rely heavily on more quantitative methods, due eventually to increasing data availability and technological advancements. In this paper, a classification is proposed, using k-means clustering and a minimal set of variables (density, diversity and clustering) to derive the commercial structure of Lisbon. The classification is implemented for 1995, 2002 and 2010, using a 150m-sided square grid. The cross-sectional analysis of the results shows the rise of shopping-malls against city centre decline and gentrification, along with changes in cluster composition considering 9 different commercial categories (6 categories of retail, and restaurants, cafes and bars). These findings are in line with literature, thus supporting the obtained classification. Since the classification can be used to accurately describe the commercial structure of the city in different time periods, it is implied that it may also be generalized to different cities. Furthermore, the potential use of cluster membership in retail location models, which is an advantage of the proposed classification, could help strengthen the relationship between location modelling and commercial classification, thus reinforcing the role of commercial studies in urban planning and policymaking.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to further explore how e-loyalty and E-marketing influences E-trust and satisfy the demand by offering fresh perspectives based on research as well as emphasis on the factors influencing the E-trust such as culture as a mediator. This study not only contributed theoretically but also presented practical implementations. Design/methodology/approach: Online survey was used to obtain data by focusing the Hospitality sector (Hotel Industry) and verifying the conceptual framework. Data was collected in multiple time lags. Findings: Findings showed that the E-trust influenced by E-loyalty and E-Marketing. E-trust comes from the previous experiences, e-loyalty and e-marketing. Further, some trends such as culture influenced the e-trust. Research limitation/implications: The present study is quite suitable for those Researchers interested in learning more about the effects of E-loyalty and E-marketing on user E-trust and how to mitigate cultural influences can benefit from the current study. This research also has implications for those who wish to improve market allure and survival in digital world. This study focused on the hospitality sector (Hotel Industry) in China; however, the sector and geography could be altered to suit the needs of the study's participants. Practical implications: The present study delivers the practical guidelines which are quiet suitable for understanding the formation of E-loyalty, E-marketing, and E-trust through which specific E-marketing strategy can be designed to deal with the consumer’s E-loyalty and their expectations as per their Cultural perspective. At some particular regions/countries, cultural trends are more important than practical market. This research study practically showed that how culture changed the consumer set of mind. Originality/value: The relationship between E-loyalty, E-marketing, E-trust, specifically with the cultural influence in digital market has been the subject of few research.

This research presents a comprehensive bibliometric and sentiment analysis of nanocomposite literature from 1990 to 2024. Employing cutting-edge computational methods, the study delves deep into the progression of microstructural characterization, electrical properties, and mechanical behaviors of nanocomposites. The analysis utilizes advanced Boolean search strategies from the Scopus database, ensuring a thorough extraction of thematic content. The results explore various themes and insights, shedding light on trends evident in the Scopus database, particularly the prominence of research on nanocomposite microstructure, electrical attributes, and mechanical performance. The paper also offers textual analytics and bibliometric data, showcasing critical collaborative efforts and influential studies. Significant discoveries encompass the evolution of research language, shifts in thematic focus, and global contributions, providing a comprehensive perspective on the current landscape of nanocomposite research and its dynamic evolution. Moving forward, the "State-of-the-Art and Gaps Extracted from Results and Discussions" section of the paper delves into the most recent advancements in nanocomposite research. It delves into various types of nanocomposites, with a particular emphasis on their microstructural characteristics, electrical properties, mechanical dynamics, and the application of nanocomposite films. This section identifies key research themes, traces historical progress, and highlights emerging trends while underscoring the significance of collaboration and the influence of pivotal studies that have shaped the field. Lastly, in the "Literature Review Guided by Artificial Intelligence" section, the paper introduces a revised approach for researching nanocomposites through AI-guided techniques. This approach prioritizes articles published in 2023 based on citation frequency. Here, the focus is on exploring the relationship between nanocomposites and their electrical properties, emphasizing their fundamental interactions and impact on electrical characteristics. Various nanocomposite systems are covered, highlighting their composition, structure, and functionality. Findings from recent studies are integrated to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in this area. Notably, the sentiment analysis, anchored by an average sentiment score of 0.638771, underscores a positive trajectory in academic discourse, emphasizing the growing recognition of the potential of nanocomposites. The bibliometric exploration maps the intellectual domain, emphasizing pivotal research themes and the influence of crosslinking time on nanocomposite attributes. While this study is thorough, it acknowledges its limitations and advocates for broader database inclusion in future research endeavors. This work elucidates the prevailing trends in nanocomposite research, emphasizing the indispensable role of computational tools in comprehending this vast wealth of information.

This paper investigates the influence of sample size and layer height on the elastic modulus of samples 3D printed by fused filament fabrication (FFF). Cubic samples of different sizes from either a stiff thermoplastic polymer (polycarbonate (PC)) or a soft polymer (thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)) were printed at three different layer heights: 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.4 mm. The samples were imaged using micro-computed tomography to visualize porosity and tested under compression. The results indicate that the elastic modulus of TPU varied with sample size, demonstrating size effects due to high porosity. In contrast, PC samples had a low void volume fraction and did not demonstrate statistically significant size effects on the elastic modulus. The variations in elastic modulus due to layer height were statistically significant for both materials. The highest elastic modulus was observed at 0.2 mm layer height for both materials across different sample sizes, which can be attributed to low void volume fractions. The study develops process-structure-property relations for PC and TPU samples manufactured by FFF. It provides new insights into the design guidelines for FFF based on the size effects. The results indicate that variations in mechanical properties due to size effects must be considered during the design stage for TPU to accurately predict the material’s behavior. Additionally, the locations of the printed parts that are subjected to higher loads should be printed closer to the heated print bed due to the lower void volume fraction observed in the section of the samples printed adjacent to the heated print bed.

Lightning discharges in electric power networks generate voltage and current surges that are propagated through the electrical network causing damage and shutdowns in the electrical system. To protect the system against these phenomena, surge arresters are very effective and widely used by electrical utilities in their electric grids. This paper presents a methodology for optimized surge arrester allocation based on genetic algorithm (GA), creating a simulation environment in the software ATP (Alternative Transients Program) to implement the proposed methodology. The optimized allocation procedure is based on a fitness function that minimizes the cost of surge arresters and maximizes the number of protected equipment. To carry out this optimized arrester allocation procedure using ATP may demand too much processing time when running large distribution grids. To overcome this difficulty a procedure is proposed to obtain an overvoltage severity description of the grid and select the most critical electric nodes for the incidence of lightning discharges, in the GA allocation procedure. The case study is applied to the IEEE 123-bus electrical feeder to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.

Households and businesses are generating unprecedented levels of electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste), fueled by modernisation and rapid obsolescence. While the challenges imposed by e-waste are similar everywhere in the world, disparities in progress to deal with it exists; with developing nations such as South Africa lagging. The increase in e-waste generation increases the need to formulate strategies to manage it. This paper presents an overview of e-waste management on a global and South African scenarios with a specific case for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) waste management practices in South Africa. CRTs present the biggest problem for recyclers and policy makers because they contain hazardous elements such as lead and antimony. Common disposal practices have been either landfilling or incineration. The research into the South African practices with regards to CRT waste management showed that there is still more to be done to effectively manage this waste stream. This is despite clear waste regulatory frameworks in the country. However, recent developments have placed e-waste as a priority waste stream, which should lead to intensified efforts in dealing with it. Overall, these efforts should aim to maximise diversion from landfilling and to create value-addition opportunities, leading to social and environmental benefits.

Marmosets from the Callithrix genus (six species) are anthropoids distributed in many Brazilian biomes, but anthropogenic pressure is a risk for hybridization and virtually the extinction of some species. Despite this, only a few data are available on reproductive ecology, which is a gap in understanding the physiological modulation of the socio-sexual behavior of free-ranging marmosets. In this study, we characterized fecal concentrations of progesterone, estrogens, and glucocorticoids of six breeding and non-breeding females from two groups of free-ranging C. penicillata, which is the species with the largest geographical distribution and most important in hybridization studies. The fecal progesterone was significantly higher in females who gave birth than non-breeding females, which was linked to reproductive status. The levels of fecal estrogens and glucocorticoids did not differ between breeding and non-breeding females. The data are according to the few studies on steroid values of free-ranging and captive marmosets. This study shows the concentrations of progesterone and glucocorticoids in free-ranging C. penicillata for the first time. Overall, the high levels of progesterone associated with pregnancy in free-ranging C. penicillata as well as levels of estrogens and glucocorticoids close to those reported for other species, suggest a conserved pattern of hormonal secretion between Callithrix species that have been studied in captivity.

Authorities and governmental bodies strongly emphasize the importance of residents preparing for natural disasters, particularly underscoring the significance of readiness for geophysical hazards like earthquakes. In this study, which represents comparative quantitative research, the levels and predictors of the impact on preparedness for earthquake-induced disasters in South-Eastern Europe countries such as Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia are examined. Using the snowball sampling technique (online questionnaire), a survey of 1245 respondents (Montenegro (n = 400), North Macedonia (n = 345), and Serbia (n = 500) was conducted from February 2023 to February 2024. The paper is based on the central hypothesis that the most significant predictor of earthquake preparedness in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia is age, followed by gender and education. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the extent to which five scores of the subscales (household preparedness, community preparedness, disaster preparation, earthquake risk awareness, reinforced house) were associated with seventh demographic and socio-economic variables. In addition to the mentioned analysis, other statistical analyses such as T-test, one-way ANOVA analysis, and Pearson correlation were also utilized. The results indicate that age emerges as a predictor in various aspects of earthquake-induced disaster preparedness and awareness in most models, followed by education. These findings confirm the significance of respondents' age in determining levels of preparedness and earthquake awareness. Overall, in North Macedonia, respondents recorded the highest ratings (M = 3.52) for household preparedness for earthquakes, compared to Montenegro (M = 2.98) and Serbia (M = 3.26), where the lowest ratings were recorded. Research findings, taking into account cultural characteristics, can serve as a basis for the development of targeted interventions, strategies, policies, and programs aimed at improving the level of societal preparedness for earthquake-induced disasters.

The Herpotrichiellaceae family is an important group of dematiaceous filamentous fungi, associated with a variety of pathogenic fungal species causing Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and Phaeohyphomycosis (PHM), both with polymorphic clinical manifestations and worldwide incidence. Currently, the identification of this family and determination of the causative agent is challenging due to the subjectivity of morphological identification methods, necessitating the use of molecular techniques to complement diagnosis. In this context, genetic sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) has become the norm due to a lack of alternative molecular tools for identifying these agents. Therefore, this study aimed to develop PCR-Multiplex methodologies to address this gap. Sequences from the ITS and Large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA were used, and after manual curation and in vitro analyses, primers were synthesized for the identification of the aforementioned targets. The primers were optimized and validated in vitro, resulting in two PCR-Multiplex methodologies: one for identifying the Herpotrichiellaceae family and the bantiana clade, and another for determining the species Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora. Ultimately, the assays developed in this study aim to complement other identification approaches for these agents, reducing the need for sequencing, improving the management of these infections, and enhancing the accuracy of epidemiological information.

The development of biofuels and biodiesel industry specifically, has resulted in the generation of large amounts of glycerol as a surplus. The conversion of glycerol, into chemicals with indus-trial interest, through anaerobic fermentation using E. coli as a biocatalyst is an attractive alter-native to improve economic performance in the biodiesel industry, for example through the bi-otransformation of residual glycerol into ethanol. For 2019, the size of the global ethanol market was valued at $ 89.1 billion US dollar. Biodiesel can be produced from several materials like rapeseed, palm, soya, corn, palm kernel, frying oil or olive-pomace oil (OPO). The last, can be extracted from alperujo, byproduct of olive oil process. However, olive-pomace oil converting into biodiesel is not enough established to achieve a global olive-oil/biodiesel derived process with minimized waste generation. Traditionally biodiesel production process produces an equivalent of 10% by mass of glycerol as a waste or by-product. This work explores the conver-sion of residual glycerol into chemicals like ethanol and hydrogen with a focus on projecting raw material potential availability from OPO, contributing to the promotion of the use of biofu-els and biodegradable compounds.

This comparative study aims to investigate environmental awareness, knowledge, and safety among students in Montenegro and North Macedonia, considering the unique socio-cultural and environmental contexts of both countries. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews was employed to gather data from students in educational institutions across Montenegro and North Macedonia. The study assessed various factors, including students' awareness of environmental issues, their perceived level of knowledge, and their attitudes towards safety measures. A comprehensive series of 400 face-to-face interviews was carried out and these interviews encompassed 200 students from Montenegro and an equal number from North Macedonia, taking place at two esteemed academic institutions: The University of Montenegro in Podgorica and The University of St. Clement of Ohrid, Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia. Our hypothetical conceptual framework proposes that a combination of variables, including gender (H1), age (H2), year of study (H3), and rate of study (H4), significantly influences the attitudes of students from Montenegro and North Macedonia towards environmental awareness, safety, and knowledge. Research findings indicate significant variations in environmental awareness and knowledge perception among students in the two countries. While both Montenegro and North Macedonia face environmental challenges, differences in educational systems and socio-economic factors contribute to distinct attitudes and behaviors towards environmental issues and safety practices. This study sheds light on the importance of understanding regional differences in environmental awareness and knowledge perception among students. By identifying areas of strength and areas needing improvement, policymakers and educators can develop targeted interventions to enhance environmental education and foster a culture of sustainability in both Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Excess salt and inadequate potassium intakes are associated with high cardiovascular disease (CVD). In Montenegro, CVD is the leading cause of death and disability. There is no survey that has directly measured salt and potassium consumption in Montenegro. The aim is to estimate population salt and potassium intakes and explore knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (KAB), amongst the adult population of Podgorica. Random samples of adults were obtained from primary care centres. Participants attended a screening including demographic, anthropometric and physical measurements. Dietary salt and potassium intakes were assessed by 24h urinary sodium (UNa) and potassium (UK) excretions. Creatinine was measured. KAB was collected by questionnaire. Six hundred and thirty-nine (285 men, 25-65 years) were included in the analysis (response rate 63%). Mean UNa was 186.5 (SD 90.3) mmol/day, equivalent to 11.6g of salt/day, and potassium excretion 62.5 (26.2) mmol/day, equivalent to 3.2g/day. Only 7% of them had a salt intake below the WHO recommended target of 5g/day, and 13% ate enough potassium (>90 mmol/day). The majority (86%) knew that high salt causes ill-health. However, only 44% thought it would be useful to reduce consumption. Salt consumption is high, and potassium consumption is low, in men and women living in Podgorica.

Understanding and improving seismic resilience in regions prone to earthquakes is crucial for mitigating the effects of natural disasters. This study zeroes in on Montenegro, a region frequently affected by seismic activity, with the goals of critically evaluating current resilience levels, pinpointing key preparedness gaps, and assessing the efficacy of existing response strategies. Employing qualitative methods, the research involved semi-structured interviews with residents from Montenegro's most vulnerable areas, including Nikšić, Podgorica, Bar, Kotor, Cetinje, Budva, Herceg Novi, and Berane. These participants, selected for their firsthand experiences with significant earthquake impacts, contributed to a deeper understanding through discussions that aligned with a broad conceptual framework, exploring everything from the nuances of citi-zen resilience to local government responses and personal preparedness. The study aimed to gather in-depth views on community resilience during earthquakes, evaluate citizens' knowledge and preparedness for such disasters, and examine local governance strategies for enhancing seismic resilience. It revealed varying resilience levels across communities, with some displaying well-structured strategies while others showed notable deficiencies. The findings underscore the urgent need for community-specific preparedness programs and improvements in both structural and educational frameworks to enhance resilience. This research highlights the necessity of a comprehensive approach that includes detailed risk assessments, tailored preparedness training, and stronger public awareness efforts. Additionally, it emphasizes strengthening local governments' capabilities to enact and sustain effective response measures to ensure ongoing community resilience against future seismic challenges.

The evolution and miniaturization of the technologies for processing, storage, and communication have enabled computer systems to process a high volume of information and make decisions without human intervention. Within this context, several systems architectures and models have gained prominences, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Grids (SGs). SGs use communication protocols to exchange information, among which the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) stands out. In contrast, this protocol does not have integration support with IoT systems that use some already consolidated communication protocols, such as the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP). Thus, this work develops the integration of the protocols OSGP and CoAP to allow the communication between conventional IoT systems and systems dedicated to SGs. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of this integration, with the minimum impact on the flow of commands and data, making possible the use of the developed CoAP-OSGP Interface for Internet of Things (COIIoT).

In the discussion on environmental policies, the notion of eco-efficiency is often used. Eco-efficiency is defined as the delivery of products and services with competitive values, while reducing the ecological impacts and satisfying human needs. In an environment of great competitiveness in which the companies operate, the improvements in the productive process is one of the differentiating factors for guaranteeing a strong competition. Also it is essential rationalizing energy consumption and natural resources. For this it is necessary to understand the main operations and dynamics of the company. This work presents an empirical study of a Portuguese company in the industrial sector. The problematic here presented is based on the company’s growing concern to reduce the amount of scrap produced. From the literature research that was performed, a strong dependence relation between the different variables in the extrusion process was found. The main objective of this work is to model the aluminium extrusion process, with the aim of minimizing the production of scrap. For this several variables involved in the process are taking into account. Using statistical techniques, in particular multiple linear regressions, it was possible to identify the importance of the variables under study for the scrap production.

In order to ensure the sustainability of the shipping industry and marine ecosystem of Montenegro, it is necessary that Montenegro becomes a full member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control. The reasons for doing so are numerous: the full adoption of standards stipulated by the Memorandum in relation to ship control; continuous keeping the pace with and development of new standards in compliance with turbulent changes in the maritime industry and operation (including the increasing scope of maritime transport); decrease in the number of detained ships which meet the requirements stipulated in international conventions and elimination of substandard ships in perspective; prevention of environmental pollution, sea and port incidents. This justified endeavour is supported by the fact that Montenegro is one out of two countries in Europe that are not the full members of the Paris MoU. Additionally, in this context it is necessary to emphasise the fact that the marine ecosystem of Montenegro makes an integral part of the world ocean. Accordingly, the improvement of the quality of national legislation which is compliant with international requirements is an imperative which has positive implications on the regional and global sustainability.

As participating molecules in nucleic acids, nucleotides also have signaling functions and act as second messengers in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the most common example being cyclic AMP (cAMP). In bacteria, a great interest has arisen in studying nucleotide signaling. It has been determined that cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), cAMP, and cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) participate in biological events such as bacterial growth, biofilm formation, sporulation, cell differentiation, motility, virulence, and other. Moreover, these cyclic-di-nucleotides (c-di-nucleotides) produced in pathogenic intracellular bacteria can affect eukaryotic host cells for infection. On the other hand, the nucleotide molecules pppGpp, and ppGpp are alarmones involved in regulating bacterial nutritional stress; they are also considered second messengers. These second messengers can be used as therapeutic agents because of their immunological functions on eukaryotic cells. In this review, different topics on the role of c-di-nucleotides as second messengers in different bacterial processes are addressed.

In order to monitor the diversity of terrestrial biomes, the Earth Exploration Satellite Services demand a high data rate for downlink transmissions while sharing their frequency spectrum with, and suffering interferences from, cellular Base Stations. Both highlight the dilemmas of spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) and spectral coexistence. Our research aims to mitigate interference on low orbit satellite downlinks using Cognitive Radio (CR) and Adaptive MODulation and CODing (MODCOD) techniques. To fulfill this: 1) we present CR approaches to enhance spectrum exploitation. Next, 2) we detail Adaptive MODCOD (ACM) technique to increase RF power and spectral efficiencies. Then, 3) we suggest the solution by combining 1) and 2). Afterwards, 4) we analyze it by monitoring the signal to interference plus noise ratio and the CR/MODCOD strategy. Finally, 5) we provide case studies to demonstrate the strategy’s effectiveness through the practical operation of satellite services, and 6) we conduct a bench test of the communication system.

Free-range sloths living in an urban environment is rare. In this study, human opinions, attitudes and interactions with a population of Bradypus variegatus in a public square were investigated. A questionnaire was applied to people in the square where the sloths reside, and informal, opportunistic observations of human-sloth interactions were made. 95% of respondents knew of the sloths’ existence in the square and 87.8% likes their presence. Opinions about population size differed greatly and younger people were concerned if the square was appropriate place for them. Some human-sloth interactions showed the consequence of lack of biological knowledge. People initiated all sloth-human interactions. The fact that sloths are strictly folivorous has limited their interactions with humans and consequently minimised negative impact of the human-animal interaction on their wellbeing. These results demonstrate that while there is a harmonious relationship between people and sloths, actions in environmental education of the square’s public could be beneficial for the sloths.

Taeniid infections pose a significant threat to both animal and public health, as certain tapeworms within this group can also infect humans, potentially leading to severe health conditions. Therefore, this calls for preventive and control measures, such as regular deworming of dogs. While the efficacy of deworming has been established in developed countries, there is a paucity of reported deworming practices in rural areas of developing countries, such as Tanzania. This study aims to understand determinants for helminth treatment-seeking behavior towards control of cestodial taeniid infections in rural settings in northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in agropastoral and pastoral areas of northern Tanzania. Comprehensive data from household surveys in selected sub-villages were collected to ascertain dog ownership, dog deworming practices, and the availability of dewormers. Analytical methods were employed to discern how various determinants influenced deworming practices among dog owners in these communities. Awareness of dewormers specifically formulated for dogs emerged as a pivotal factor affecting dog deworming practices. Dog owners who were informed about appropriate dog dewormers were nearly two times more likely to engage in deworming compared to those with limited knowledge (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.77 - 4.18, p < 0.001). A majority 32(51.6%, 95% CI: 38.7-64.3) acknowledged accessing dewormers for livestock within their wards. Praziquantel a potent dewormer on cestodes was least known to most dog owners 2(13%, 95% CI: 2.3-41.6). Praziquantel, a potent and common dewormer effective against cestodial taeniid infections, remains relatively unknown in rural areas of northern Tanzania. Therefore, more awareness on appropriate deworming agents against taeniids in dogs should be raised in rural dog-keeping communities.

Leishmania parasites are a group of kinetoplastid pathogens that cause a variety of clinical forms while maintaining cell communication by secreting extracellular vesicles. Emerging technologies have been adapted for the studies of Leishmania-host-cell interactions to enable broad scale analysis of parasite extracellular vesicles. Leishmania extracellular vesicles (LEVS) are naturally released spheroidal nanoparticles of polydispersed suspensions surrounded by a lipid layer of membrane. Although LEVs have increasingly gained in importance, much is still unexplained, including bioavailability and function in the complex molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. Considering the importance of LEVs in the parasite-host interaction and in the parasite-parasite relationships emerged during evolution, the current review aims at giving an overview of Leishmania summarizing knowledge and formulating guidelines for LEVs research. In the end, we report, direct methods for specific isolation of LEVs from promastigotes and amastigotes culture supernatant suitable for a range of different downstream applications increasing the compatibility and reproducibility to establish optimal and comparable isolation conditions and full LEVs characterization, and crucial immunomodulatory events triggered by this important group of parasites.

Leishmaniases are zoonotic vector-borne diseases caused by a wide variety of Leishmania species with complex transmission cycles involving different reservoirs, potential new hosts and vectors. Similarly, to other eukaryotes, Leishmania use released extracellular vesicles (LEVs) to play important initial interactions that are crucial to modulate the subsequent systemic immune response on the establishment of infection in humans and other important hosts like dogs. Recent studies in endemic areas of Brazil concluded that canine infections were predominantly due to L. amazonensis and not restricted to L. infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). Under these premises, the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis needs to be improved, including the identification of current etiological agent, the clinical differential diagnosis and the histopathologic features. In this way, the dual aim of that study is to register collected observations for the diagnosis of natural canine infections and to insert in vitro results in the field of LEVs that still research gaps to be filled to understand the mechanisms and biological aspects involving the parasite-host interactions. Therefore, the future studies of Parasitology research for both of these fields are very important for the interventions for the prevention, control, elimination and eradication worldwide.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type E (PTPRE) is a member of the “classical” protein tyrosine phosphatase subfamily and regulates a variety of cellular processes in a tissue-specific manner by antagonizing the function of protein tyrosine kinases. PTPRE plays a tumorigenic role in different human cancer cells, but its role in retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant eye cancer in children, remains to be elucidated. Etoposide resistant RB cell lines and RB patients display significant higher PTPRE expression levels compared to chemosensitive counterparts and the healthy human retina, respectively. PTPRE promotor methylation analyses revealed that PTPRE expression in RB is not regulated via this mechanism. Lentiviral PTPRE knockdown (KD) induced a significant decrease in growth kinetics, cell viability, and anchorage independent growth of etoposide resistant Y79 and WERI RB cells. Caspase-dependent apoptosis rates were significantly increased and a re-sensitization for etoposide could be observed after PTPRE depletion. In vivo chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays revealed decreased tumor formation capacity as well as reduced tumor size and weight following PTPRE KD. Expression levels of miR631 were significantly downregulated in etoposide resistant RB cells and patients. Transient miR631 overexpression resulted in significantly decreased PTPRE levels and concomitantly decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis levels in etoposide resistant RB cells, impacts mirroring PTPRE KD effects and indicating PTPRE regulation via this miR. Additionally, PTPRE KD led to altered phosphorylation of protein kinase SGK3 and - dependent on the cell line - also AKT and ERK1/2, suggesting potential PTPRE downstream signaling pathways. In summary, these results indicate an oncogenic role of PTPRE in chemoresistant retinoblastoma.

Whey proteins have excellent nutritional characteristics due to their levels of essential amino acids with high bioavailability. However, it has a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and a considerable polluting potential, thus food manufacturers have opted to add whey to food formulations. The demand for beverages containing vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, minerals, and bioactive compounds (antioxidants) with health benefits has increased and driven market growth. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a probiotic functional carbonated beverage from cheese whey and evaluate its microbiological, and physicochemical characteristics soon after the production and during storage. The viability and stability of probiotic, the microbiological characteristics, titratable acidity and sedimentation of the beverage were monitored during refrigerated storage for a month. The probiotic to be added to the formulation was established in a preliminary step. The production of this beverage proved to be a simple technology and the product was suitable for incorporation of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. The probiotic showed good viability and stability during storage. The microbiological quality of the beverage met the Brazilian legal standards. The pH and titratable acidity of the probiotic carbonated beverage remained stable during storage, and slight sedimentation was observed after one week of refrigerated storage.

Shear thickening fluids (STF) are a class of fluids whose viscosity significantly rises under external loads. The research on these fluids has been advancing in recent years regarding prospective practical applications, including developing impact-absorbing composites. Following the green agendas governments and legislators advocate, this study investigates the combination of STF and other sustainable materials. Cork is a naturally occurring cellular material with a negative carbon footprint and superior energy absorption properties. With varying concentrations of STF material, cork agglomerates were formed. Notably, the analysed blends are homogeneous, contrasting with previous literary works. A series of experiments were conducted in quasi-static and dynamic conditions to determine the various mechanical responses. STF appears to influence the mechanical behaviour of cork agglomerates by providing softer deceleration rates and dispersing more energy through disaggregation mechanisms.

Unmanned aerial vehicles serving as air base stations (UAV-BSs) are used in telecommunications, when the network is overloaded or unavailable, providing access to users on the ground. Due to its dynamics of providing access to networks in different altitudes, the electromagnetic signal of UAVs suffers losses along the path, thus facing several problems related to transmission, such as: attenuation, fading and distortion. In this work is proposed a 3D positioning strategy for UAVs, taking into account height, coverage radius and flight energy efficiency. Results show that the proposed algorithm is able to position the UAVs in suboptimal locations, providing network access for mobile users, maximizing the number of connected devices in the UAV-BS and saving energy, thus obtaining better performance than the approaches conventional.

This investigation aimed to explore the impact of acute and regular physical exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in individuals with obesity. Using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study design (PICOS) approach, the inclusion criteria were defined as follows: i) population - individuals with overweight or obesity of any age or gender; ii) intervention - acute or chronic interventions involving aerobic or anaerobic methodologies; iii) comparator - for acute effect studies, pre- and post-evaluations served as comparators, while interventions included at least one experimental group or the inclusion of a control group; iv) outcome - BDNF variability concerning the applied methodology; v) study design - restricted to experimental studies exclusively. Conducted in August 2022, the searches were carried out on PubMed, Academic Search Complete, and Web of Science. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS) tool. Out of 98 potentially relevant articles, 16 met the eligibility criteria, encompassing 23 trials. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for both acute (I2 = 80.4%) and long-term effects (I2 = 88.7%). Additionally, RoBANS analysis indicated a low risk of bias for the included studies. The study's findings revealed a significant increase in the concentration of circulating BDNF in individuals with obesity compared to the control group following acute exercise. However, such an effect was not evident in the context of long-term physical exercise, with a small effect size (ES = 0.49) recorded in the latter scenario. The observed significant increase in BDNF levels post-acute exercise suggests a potential acute response mechanism contributing to the intricate interplay between exercise and neurotrophic factors in this population. Nevertheless, the absence of a similar effect in the context of long-term physical exercise implies a potential adaptation or ceiling effect. These findings underscore the importance of considering both the duration and nature of exercise interventions when exploring the neurobiological responses associated with obesity and exercise. The study provides valuable insights for future research and clinical implications in understanding the nuanced relationship between exercise, neurotrophic factors, and obesity.

The installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) increases demand and peak loads, potentially straining existing energy distribution infrastructure. Dispersed and inadequately planned placement of charging points (CPs) can disrupt the electrical grid, surpass contracted demand thresholds, and require infrastructure upgrades, thereby incurring unfeasible costs for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). In this context, it is necessary to recognize the role of business models in enabling effective electrification of the transportation sector. In response to these challenges, this paper introduces a novel e-mobility hub management strategy, tailored for implementation in the Brazilian context. The proposed strategy revolves around a microgrid configuration encompassing dispatchable and photovoltaic generation, a battery energy storage system (BESS), EVSE infrastructure, and local loads. Moreover, this centralized controller facilitates the implementation of dynamic pricing and demand-response mechanisms, integral to business models seeking to integrate EVSE into the distribution grid. To validate the efficacy of the proposed solution, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations of the microgrid system are conducted. These simulations, incorporating the centralized controller, serve as a tool for assessing system performance and viability before on-site equipment deployment. Finally, this paper concludes with the insights gleaned from test analysis and its discussion through a selection of the most expressive scenarios, including islanded and connected operation modes.

The scratch test consists in pushing a tool across the surface of a material at a given penetration depth or applied load. It has several applications in Science and Engineering including strength testing, damage and quality control of thin films and coatings. Despite numerous attempts in scientific literature, the application of scratch test to characterizations of fracture properties remains a heavily controversial topic. Therefore, this investigation arises as an experimental study in order to assess the fracture toughness using scratch test. A study on the effect of cryogenic treatment, performed after tempering, on fracture toughness, via scratch test experiments, of different tool steels has been made. A laboratory investigation on AISI D2, AISI M2 and X105CrCoMo18 steel confirms the possibility of increasing the fracture toughness by carrying out the cryogenic treatment after the usual heat treatment

The N-acylhydrazone function has been reported as a pharmacophore group of molecules with diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of the compound N'-(3-(1H-indol-3-yl)benzylidene)-2-cyanoacetohydrazide (JR19) in vivo. The study started with the carrageenan-induced peritonitis model, followed by an investigation of leukocyte migration using the subcutaneous air pouch test and an assessment of the antinociceptive profile using formalin-induced pain. To find out the likely mechanism of action, a preliminary molecular docking study was performed focusing on the crystallographic structures of NFκB, iNOS, and sGCs. The computational study revealed satisfactory interaction energies with the selected targets, and the same peritonitis model was used to validate the involvement of the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine expression in the peritoneal exudate of mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue. In the peritonitis assay, JR19 (10 and 20 mg/kg) reduced leukocyte migration by 59% and 52%, respectively, compared to the control group, with the 10 mg/kg dose used in subsequent assays. In the subcutaneous air pouch assay, the reduction in cell migration was 66%, and the response to intraplantar formalin was reduced by 39%, particularly during the inflammatory phase, suggesting that the compound lacks central analgesic activity. In addition, a reversal of the anti-inflammatory effect was observed in mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue, indicating the involvement of iNOS and sGC in the anti-inflammatory response of JR19. The compound effectively and significantly decreased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ, and this effect was reversed in animals pretreated with L-NAME, supporting a NO-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. In contrast, pretreatment with methylene blue only reversed the reduction in TNF-α levels. Therefore, these results demonstrate the pharmacological potential of the novel N-acylhydrazone derivative, which acts through the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine signaling, making it a strong candidate as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent.

Hox genes represent an important gene family that is involved in the segmentation pattern and identity of the segments during the formation of the body plan in metazoans. For many years, several studies have sought to establish a correlation between the evolution of these genes and the evolution of large groups of metazoans. Here, we use publicly available sequences of Hox gene clusters to reconstruct the evolutionary history of anterior Hox genes. We show that information harbored by these genes, in part, reflects the evolution and diversification of most animal archetypes, but in many cases, there were conflicts between the evolutionary history of some genes and the history of large groups, these cases may have occurred due to specific and similar selective pressures in relatively distant groups, which may have led to evolutionary convergences. Our findings also reveal that the evolution of Hox genes (and clusters) as a multigene family is consistent to a birth-and-death model constrained by development, where there is a trade-off between a relatively fast gene turnover and their central developmental roles

Objectives: This study aims to explore the use of murine models in peripheral nerve transection research, evaluating and synthesizing key methods for analyzing nerve regeneration to guide future research and clinical interventions. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted in February 2024, adhering to Cochrane and PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using Medline, Scielo, and Lilacs databases. The focus was on experimental studies of nerve regeneration in animal models post-transection. Only experimental clinical trials reporting nerve regeneration outcomes were included; studies lacking a comparator group or functional evaluation methods were excluded. Results: Out of 273 studies initially identified from MEDLINE, 19 were selected for detailed analysis. The average study included 32.5 subjects, with about 10.16 subjects per intervention subgroup. The predominant model was the sciatic nerve injury with a 10mm gap. The most common intervention involved unprocessed adipose-derived stem cells, utilized in 14 articles. Conclusions: The review underscores the significant potential of current methodologies in peripheral nerve regeneration, particularly highlighting the use of murine models and thorough evaluation techniques. These studies significantly contribute to our understanding of nerve regeneration processes and inform directions for future research.

Several pathotypes of enteric E. coli have been identified. The group represented by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is of particular interest. Raw milk and raw milk products are significant sources of STEC infection in humans; therefore, identifying pathogens at the herd level is crucial for public health. Most national surveillance programs focus solely on raw milk and raw milk cheeses that are ready for retail sale, neglecting the possibility of evaluating the source of contamination directly at the beginning of the dairy chain. In order to assess the viability of new molecular methodologies applied to raw milk filters enabling the identification of the presence of STEC serotypes in milk production and apply the same methods to identify the presence of these pathogens in calf feces we analyzed, through a commercial real-time PCR assay, a total of 290 samples coming from 18 different dairy herds; 88 bulk tank milk (BTM), 104 raw milk filters (RMF) and 98 calves’ feces samples. In total 3.4% of BTM, 41.4% of RMF and 73.4% of calves’ feces tested positive for stx presence, supporting our hypothesis that BTM is not a suitable matrix to assess the STEC presence at herd level, underestimating it. Our conclusion is that the surveillance program needs critical and extensive improvements such as RMF and calves’ feces analysis implementation in order to be more efficient in detecting and preventing STEC infections. The epidemiology of these infections and the characteristics of the pathogen clearly show how a One Health approach will be pivotal to improve our capabilities to control the spread of these infections.

Rotaviruses are highly infectious and typically transmitted by fecal-oral route via in the tropics and leading the cause of diarrheal deaths in children of developing countries, besides causing significant economic impacts like neonatal disease agents of domestic animals. This present report aims to present the clinical and diagnostic findings of two confirmed cases of rotavirus (RV) infection in orphaned Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775) and Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758), the first register of the infection by group A rotavirus in these species. Both felids were rescued in the Pará State Amazon Brazil by the IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), and treated by veterinarians into intensive care ward in a public Environmental Park of Belém city. After the adaptation period to the quarantine, these animals showed non-specific symptoms of acute fulminant gastroenteritis. Rotavirus group A antigen was identified in blood and faecal samples of L. tigrinus analyzed by immunochromatography (ICG) and immunoassay methods (ELISA) at the Virology Laboratory of the Institute Evandro Chagas. The animals died within few days during the clinical exacerbation unresponsive to current treatment, its necropsies and histopathological analysis were performed in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (UFRA). Despite the compatible pathologic findings of rotavirus infection in both animals, the atypical hemorrhagic character was a curious finding, considering the presumed etiology.

The method of regularized stokeslets is widely-used to model microscale biological propulsion. The method is usually implemented with only the single layer potential, with the double layer potential being neglected, despite this formulation often not being justified a priori due to non-rigid surface deformation. We describe a meshless approach enabling inclusion of the double layer which is applied to several Stokes flow problems in which neglect of the double layer is not strictly valid: the drag on a spherical droplet with partial slip boundary condition, swimming velocity and rate of working of a force-free spherical squirmer, and trajectory, swimmer-generated flow and rate of working of undulatory swimmers of varying slenderness. The resistance problem is solved accurately with modest discretization on a notebook computer with the inclusion of the double layer ranging from no-slip to free slip limits; neglect of the double layer potential results in up to 24% error, confirming the importance of the double layer in applications such as nanofluidics, in which partial slip may occur. The squirming swimmer problem is also solved for both velocity and rate of working to within a few percent error when the double layer potential is included, but the error in the rate of working is above 250% when the double layer is neglected. The undulating swimmer problem by contrast produces a very similar value of the velocity and rate of working for both slender and non-slender swimmers, whether or not the double layer is included, which may be due to the deformation’s `locally rigid body’ nature, providing empirical evidence that its neglect may be reasonable in many problems of interest. Inclusion of the double layer enables us to confirm robustly that slenderness provides major advantages in efficient motility despite minimal qualitative changes to the flow field and force distribution.

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP) represent a global clinical challenge, affecting 5-10% of women and leading to complications for both maternal well-being and fetal development. At the heart of these complications is endothelial dysfunction, with oxidative stress emerging as a pivotal causative factor. The reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is a vital indicator of this dysfunction, culminating in blood pressure dysregulation. In the therapeutic context, although antihypertensive medications are commonly used, they come with inherent concerns related to maternal-fetal safety, and a percentage of women do not respond to these therapies. Therefore, alternative strategies that directly address the pathophysiology of HDP are required. This article focuses on the potential of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, abundantly present in dark leafy greens and beetroot, as an alternative approach to treating HDP. The objective of this review is to discuss the prospective antioxidant role of nitrate. We hope our discussion paves the way for using nitrate to improve endothelial dysfunction and control oxidative stress, offering a potential therapy for managing HDP.

This study explores the perspectives and practices of architects regarding the reuse of wood in construction across five South-Central European countries: Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Montenegro. Based on a survey of architectural professionals, the research explores their attitudes, challenges, and motivations for using reclaimed wood, with a focus on circular construction principles. Key findings reveal unanimous agreement among re-spondents that both their profession and government entities inadequately support or promote wood reuse within the context of circular construction. While architects value reclaimed wood, there are country-specific variations. Environmental benefits, unique aesthetics, historical value, and sustainability are cited as primary motivators for reclaimed wood use. Additionally, re-spondents emphasize the ecological aspect as the most important consideration in wood product reuse, followed by economic and technological factors. Common concerns revolve around the long-term quality and maintenance of wood products. This research provides insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding reclaimed wood use in South-Central Europe, high-lighting the need for support mechanisms and increased awareness to advance circular construc-tion practices in the region. These findings can have implications for architects and investors by identifying market opportunities, promoting eco-friendly practices, and providing valuable in-sights for future building designs with a focus on reclaimed wood elements within circular con-struction.

Power semiconductor devices are essential from the operation point of view, size, efficiency and cost, these components are used in a myriad of applications, providing features that make them an important part of the system in which they are operating. This document analyzes and compares the basic structure, properties, design aspects, as well as temperature performance, stability and switching losses, present in devices on silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and new generation devices fabricated in gallium nitride (GaN) applied in renewable energy systems. The main objective is determinate the viability of the new generation components, which present a superior performance in view of an increase in efficiency, conductivity, decreases in switching losses, lower resistances and parasitic capacitances as well as higher operating frequency range. Therefore demonstrating the GaN components are a strong and viable candidate to solve some of the problems present in renewable energy systems.

Platelet and fibrin-rich orthobiologic products, such as autologous platelet concentrates, have been extensively studied and appreciated for their beneficial effects in multiple conditions. PRP and its derivatives, including PRF, have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in clinical and laboratory settings, particularly in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as OA. Although PRP and PRF have distinct characteristics, they share similar properties. The relative abundance of platelets, peripheral blood cells and molecular components in these orthobiologic products stimulate numerous biological pathways. These include inflammatory modulation, augmented neovascularization, and delivery of pro-anabolic stimuli that regulate cell recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, the fibrinolytic system, which is sometimes overlooked, plays a crucial role in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine by regulating proteolytic activity and promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells and MSCs in areas of tissue regeneration, such as bone, cartilage, and muscle. PRP acts as a potent signaling agent; however, it diffuses easily, while the fibrin from PRF offers a durable scaffolding effect that promotes cell activity. The combination of fibrin with hyaluronic acid, another well-studied orthobiologic product, has been shown to improve its scaffolding properties, leading to more robust fibrin polymerization. This supports cell survival, attachment, migration, and proliferation. Therefore, the administration of the "power mix" containing HA and autologous PRP + PRF may prove to be a safe and cost-effective approach in regenerative medicine.

In recent years, online social networks have received important consideration in spatial modelling fields given the critical information that can be extracted from them for events in real time; one of the most latent issues is that regarding various natural disasters such as earthquakes. Although it is possible to retrieve data from these social networks with embedded geographic information provided by GPS, in many cases this is not possible. An alternative solution is to reconstruct specific locations using probabilistic language models, more specifically those based on Name Entity Recognition (NER), which extracts names from a user’s description about an event occurring in a specific place (e.g., a collapsed building on a specific avenue). In this work, we present a methodology to use twitter as a social sensor system for disasters. The methodology scores NER locations with a kernel density estimation function for different subtopics originating from a natural disaster and that maps them into a geographic space is proposed. The proposed methodology is evaluated with tweets related to the 2017 earthquake in Mexico.

In recent years, many libraries and archives have started digitizing their collections thus making maps by Indigenous peoples more easily available for scholars to study. While a number of these maps were discussed by G. Malcolm Lewis in the History of Cartography series (volume 2, book 3, Chapter 4: 1984), more have since been found and disseminated. These maps are critical in understanding the historic and current land tenure of Indigenous groups. Further, Indigenous claims to land can be seen in their connections via toponymy. European concepts of territory and political boundaries did not coincide with First Nation/American Indian views resulting in the mistaken view that Natives did not have formal concepts of their territories. Further, Tribes/First Nations with cross-border territory have special jurisdictional problems. This paper will illustrate how many Native residents were very spatially cognizant of their own lands, as well as neighboring nations’ lands, overlaps between groups, hunting territories, populations, and trade networks. Currently, the Sinixt First Nation provides a perfect example of how an Aboriginal people are inputting and using a GIS representation of their territory with proper toponymy and use areas.

Background and Objectives: In recent years Electronic scooters (E-Scooters) have gained popularity, whether for private use or as a publicly available transportation method. With introduction of these vehicles, reports of E-Scooter related accidents have surged, sparking a public debate and concern. Aim of this study was to analyse epidemiological data, characteristics and severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to E-Scooter accidents. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case series evaluated 28 patients who were admitted to three largest neurosurgery clinics in Riga, Latvia between time period from April to October in two separate years – 2022 and 2023 after an E-Scooter related accident. Data were collected on patient demographics, time of the accident, alcohol consumption, helmet use, type of TBI, other related injuries, treatment and assessment at discharge. Results: A total of 28 patients were admitted with TBI related to E-Scooter use, with median age 30 years (Q1-Q3, 20.25-37.25), four individuals under age of 18, majority (64%) were male. In 23 cases the injury mechanism was fall, in 5 cases collision. None were wearing a helmet at time of injury. Alcohol intoxication was evident in over half of the patients (51.5%), with severe intoxication (&gt;1.2ppm) in 75% cases among them. Neurological symptoms upon admission were noted in 50% of cases. All patients had intracranial trauma - 50% brain contusions, 43% traumatic subdural hematoma, almost 30% - epidural hematoma. Craniofacial fractures were evident in 71% of cases, fractures in other parts of body in 3 patients. 6 patients required emergency neurosurgical intervention. Neurological complications were noted in 2 patients, 1 patient died. Conclusions: E-Scooter related accidents result in a significant number of brain and other associated injuries, with notable frequency linked to alcohol influence and lack of helmet use. Prevention campaigns to raise awareness of potential risks and implementation of more strict regulations should be done.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) are recognized as entry proteins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and recently their Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) have been studied in different populations to elucidate the impact on disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic SNP of ACE2 (rs35803318) and TMPRSS2 (rs2070788) genes in COVID-19 patients from Northeast Brazil compared with global populations, as well as the expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL). For ACE2 (rs35803318), we found 92.6% CC, 3.4% CT, and 4.0% TT genotype carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Surprisingly, only the genotype frequencies of ACE2 SNP were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For TMPRSS2 rs2070788, we found 22.3% GG, 50.7% AG, and 27% AA genotype carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) revealed that rs35803318 was associated with an altered PIR gene expression, and rs2070788 was found eQTLs association only with lung tissue. No significant association was identified between the genotype distribution of SNPs and the 'patient's outcome. In conclusion, our results suggest that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 may not be protective factors for global populations, including the Brazilian population, since the presence of SNPs does not affect the 'patient's outcome as described by other studies.

A review on planar printed structures that are based on Matryoshka-like geometries is presented. These structures use the well-known principle of Matryoshka dolls that are successively nested inside each other. The well-known advantages of the planar printed technology and of the meandered nested Matryoshka geometries are combined to generate miniaturized, multi-resonance and/or wideband configurations. Both metal and complementary slot structures are considered. Closed and open configurations are analyzed. The working principles are explored do get physical insight of their behavior. Low cost and single layer applications as frequency selective surfaces, filters, antennas, and sensors, in the microwave frequency region, are reviewed. Potential future research perspectives and new applications are discussed.

Smart Grid systems have become popular and necessary for the development of a sustainable power grid. These systems use different technologies to provide optimized services to the users of the network. Regarding computing, these systems optimize electrical services by processing a large amount of data generated. However, privacy and security are essential in this kind of system. With a large amount of data generated, it is necessary to protect the privacy of users, because this data may reveal users’ personal information. Today, blockchain technology has proven to be an efficient architecture for solving privacy and security problems in different scenarios. Over the years, different blockchain platforms have emerged, attempting to solve specific problems in different areas. However, the use of different platforms fragmented the market, which was no different in the smart grid scenario. This work proposes a blockchain architecture that uses sidechains to make the system scalable and adaptable. We used three blockchains to ensure privacy, security, and trust in the system. To universalize the proposed solution, we used the OSGP protocol and smart contracts. The results show that architecture security and privacy are guaranteed, making it feasible for implementation in real systems. Although scalability issues regarding the storage of data generated still exists.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic foodborne virus with an annual infection prevalence of 20 million human cases, which seriously affects public health and economic development in both developed and developing countries. To better understand the epidemiology of HEV in the Centre of Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2023 with sera samples from wild ungulates. The seroprevalence and risk factors for HEV seropositivity were evaluated in the present study. Specifically, antibodies against HEV were determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that in the 650 sera collected from 298 wild red deer and 352 wild boars from Portugal, 9.1% red deer (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.312.9%) and 1.7% wild boar (95% CI: 0.63.3%) were positive for antibodies to HEV. Regarding age, the seropositivity in juvenile wild ungulates was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.273.72%) and 7.2% in adults (95% CI: 4.910.11%). Logistic regression models investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds of being seropositive was 3.6 higher in adults than in juveniles (95% CI: 1.7218.11%) and the risk was 4.2 higher in red deer than in wild boar (95% CI: 1.64–10.69%). Both wild ungulate species were exposed to HEV. The higher seroprevalence in red deer suggests that this species may have a major contribution to the ecology of HEV in the Centre of Portugal. Further research is important to understand how wildlife affects the epidemiology of HEV infection in Portugal.

Proteases represent common targets in combating infectious diseases including COVID-19. The 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) is a validated molecular target for COVID-19 and it is key for developing potent and selective inhibitors for inhibiting viral replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we discuss structural relationships and diverse subsites of 3CLpro, shedding light on the pivotal role of dimerization and active site architecture in substrate recognition and catalysis. Our analysis of bioinformatics and other published studies unveil a proposal of a novel catalytic mechanism for the SARS-CoV-2 polyprotein cleavage by 3CLpro, centering on the triad mechanism involving His41-Cys145-Asp187 and its indispensable role in viral replication. Recognizing Asp187 as a crucial component in the catalytic process underscores its significance as a fundamental pharmacophoric element in drug design. Next, we provide an overview of both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors, elucidating advancements in drug development observed in preclinical and clinical trials. By highlighting various chemical classes and their pharmacokinetic profiles, our review aims to guide future research directions toward the development of highly selective inhibitors, underscore the significance of 3CLpro as a validated therapeutic target, and propel the progression of drug candidates through preclinical and clinical phases.

Caudal autotomy is a dramatic adaptation used by many lizard species to evade predators. Most studies to date indicate that caudal autotomy impairs lizard locomotor performance. Surprisingly, some species bearing the longest tails show negligible impacts of caudal autotomy on sprint speed. Part of this variation has been attributed to lineage effects. For the first time, we model the effects of caudal autotomy on the locomotor performance of a gymnophthalmid lizard, Micrablepharus atticolus, characterized by a long and bright blue tail. To improve model accuracy, we incorporated the effects of several covariates. We found that body temperature, pregnancy, mass, collection site, and the length of the regenerated portion of the tail were the most important predictors of locomotor performance in Micrablepharus atticolus. However, sprint speed was unaffected by tail loss. Apparently, the long tail of M. atticolus is more useful when using undulation amidst the leaf litter and not when using quadrupedal locomotion on a flat surface. Our findings highlight the intricate relationships among physiological, morphological, and behavioral traits. We suggest that future studies about the impacts of caudal autotomy among long-tailed lizards should consider the role of different microhabitats/substrates on locomotor performance, using laboratory conditions that closely mimic their natural environments.

This work (in two parts) will review the recently developed predictive modeling methodology called “4th-BERRU-PM” and its applicability to energy systems as exemplified by an illustrative application to the Polyethylene-Reflected Plutonium (acronym: PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. The acronym 4th-BERRU-PM designates the “Fourth-Order Best-Estimate Results with Reduced Uncertainties Predictive Modeling” methodology, which yields best-estimate results with reduced uncertainties for the first fourth-order moments (mean values, covariance, skewness, and kurtosis) of the optimally predicted posterior distribution of model results and calibrated model parameters. The 4th-BERRU-PM uses the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) principle to incorporate fourth-order experimental and computational information, including fourth (and higher) order sensitivities of computed model responses to model parameters, thus incorporating, as particular cases, the results previously predicted by the second-order predictive modeling methodology 2nd-BERRU-PM, and vastly generalizing the results produced by extant data assimilation and data adjustment procedures. The 4th-BERRU-PM methodology encompasses the scopes of high-order sensitivity analysis (SA), uncertainty quantification (UQ), data assimilation (DA) and model calibration (MC). The application of the 4th-BERRU-PM methodology to energy systems is illustrated by means of the above-mentioned OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark, which is modeled using the neutron transport Boltzmann equation involving 21976 imprecisely known parameters, the solution of which is representative of “large-scale computations.” The model result (“response”) of interest is the leakage of neutrons through the outer surface of this spherical benchmark, which can be computed numerically and measured experimentally. Part 1 of this work illustrates the impact of high-order sensitivities, in conjunction with parameter standard deviations of various magnitudes, on the determination of the expected value and variance of the computed response in terms of the first four moments of the distribution of the uncertain model parameters. Part 2 of this work will illustrate the capabilities of the 4th-BERRU-PM methodology for combining computational and experimental information, up to and including forth-order sensitivities and distributional moments, for producing best-estimate values for the predicted responses and model parameters while reducing their accompanying uncertainties.

The epidemiological and clinical pathological aspects of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in five buffaloes (buffaloes 01 to 05) in the amazon biome are described. Epidemiological data were obtained during the clinical visit in which the animals with clinical signs compatible with polioencephalomalacia were submitted to a general and specific clinical examination of the nervous system. During the necropsy of the five animals, the intensity and location of the lesions were evaluated and fragments from different organs were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent to the Pathological Anatomy Sector of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro for histopathological examination. Of the five studied animals, all were of the Murrah breed, four male and one female, with ages ranging from two months to one year. Two buffaloes (buffalo 01 and 02) were from the municipality of Castanhal, Pará, kept in an extensive breeding system on Urochloa brizantha pasture. Buffaloes 03 and 04 belonged to a property located in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, Marajó Island, Pará, and buffalo 05 was from a property located in the municipality of Itaubal, state of Amapá, all of them were raised in an extensive system in flooded of native pasture. At the clinical examination, all buffaloes had a body score between 2.5 and 3 (scale from 1 to 5), and there was noted decreased alertness, postural changes, marked hypermetria when stimulated to move, total or partial blindness demonstrated by colliding to the corral structures, head pressing and circumduction of the hindquarters when supported on the forelimbs, opisthotonos, muscle tremors, convulsions, paddling movements, sialorrhea, decrease in palpebral and pupillary reflexes and eyeball rotation placing the pupillary slit in a vertical position. At necropsy, mild lesions characterized by edema and flattening of the cerebral convolutions were observed. Histopathological examination showed laminar necrosis of the cerebral cortex. The diagnosis of polioencephalomalacia was based on epidemiological, clinical-pathological, and histopathological findings, similar to findings in other ruminants. The cause of polioencephalomalacia in the studied buffaloes was not established, which indicates the need for further studies to elucidate this disease in the species, mainly in the Amazon region.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have experienced a significant surge in both civilian and military applications, owing to their versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, a negligent use or the operation with harmful intent of these aircraft poses a potential risk to public safety and the privacy of individuals. In response to this threat, counter-drone systems have been developed in recent years, including technologies to detect, position, and neutralize these aircraft. This paper presents a review of different existing commercial counter-drone systems, the technologies behind detection, tracking, and classification, as well as soft and hard kill mitigation.

Hepatitis E virus is a major etiological agent of chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed individuals. Studies on HEV in the context of liver transplantation have produced mixed results, most of the data coming from studies conducted in high-income countries. This was a prospective cohort study of liver transplant recipients in southeastern Brazil. Recipients were systematically followed for one year, with the objective of determining the prevalence, incidence, genotype, and natural history of HEV infection in this population. We included 107 liver transplant recipients and 83 deceased donors. Positivity for anti-HEV IgG was detected in 11 (10.2%) of the recipients and in eight (9.7%) of the donors. None of the patients tested positive for HEV RNA at baseline or during follow-up. There were no episodes of reactivation or seroconversion, even in cases of serological donor-recipient mismatch or in recipients with acute hepatitis. Acute and chronic HEV infections seem to be rare events in the region studied. That could be attributable to social, economic, and environmental factors. Our data indicate that, among liver transplant recipients, hepatitis E should be investigated only when there are elevated levels of transaminases with no defined cause, as part of the differential diagnosis of seronegative hepatitis after transplantation.

Oncogenic protein E6 from Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV-16) mediates the degradation of Membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted domain structure-1 (MAGI-1), throughout the interaction of its protein binding motif (PBM) with the Discs-large homologous regions 1 (PDZ1) domain of MAG1-1. Generic variation in the E6 gene that translates to changes in the protein’s amino acidic sequence modifies the interaction of E6 with the cellular protein MAGI-1. MAGI-1 is a scaffolding protein found at tight junctions of epithelial cells, where it interacts with a variety of proteins regulating signaling pathways. MAGI-1 is a multidomain protein containing two WW (rsp-domain-9), one guanylate kinase-like, and six PDZ domains. PDZ domains played an important role in the function of MAGI-1 and served as targets for several viral proteins including the HPV-16 E6. The aim of this work was to evaluate, with an in silico approach, employing molecular dynamics simulation and protein-protein docking, the interaction of the intragenic variants E-G350 (L83V), E-C188/G350 (E29Q/L83V), E-A176/G350 (D25N/L83V), E6-AAa (Q14H/H78Y/83V) y E6-AAc (Q14H/I27RH78Y/L83V) and E6-reference of HPV-16 with MAGI-1. We found that variants E-G350, E-C188/G350, E-A176/G350, AAa and AAc increase their affinity to our two models of MAGI-1 compared to E6-reference.

The mining industry is known for the intense environmental impacts it triggers, especially when it is developed in an open environment. Pit lakes are formed in depleted deposits and may be promising opportunities for use by society as well as troubling environmental liabilities. While these artificial basins are increasing numerically in many parts of the world, they are still little known researchers in the Environmental Sciences, which makes their environmental management challenging. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental quality of sediments from three deactivated open-pit gold mines, located in the Mara Rosa, Brazil, through chemical, ecotoxicological and genotoxicology analyses. For this purpose, we collected samples in the dry season boom, and subsequently, we analysed metals. In sequence, acute ecotoxicological and a genotoxicology test (comet assay) were developed with Danio rerio fishes, in concentrations of 3.12%; 6.25%; 12.5%; 25%; 50% and 100%, in addition to the control group. The results indicated that the three lakes are environmentally compromised, especially Lago Azul, whose waters and sediments are undergoing an intense process of geological conditioning. Our results did not verify the ecotoxicity of the sediments of any of the lakes, only behavioural alterations in the test organisms exposed to the concentrations of 25%, 50% and 100% of the samples obtained in the Lago Azul. About the sediments, DNA damage at Danio rerio was detected in the three investigated environments, although fishes kept in the water sampled at Lago Azul presented the most extension of DNA damages.

Thrombosis is characterized by the pathological formation of fibrin clots within a blood vessel, leading to the obstruction of blood flow. Fibrinolytic enzymes from microorganisms have exhibited promising effects to dissolve clots in a more efficient and safe way. Then, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass and fibrinolytic enzyme production of Tetradesmus obliquus under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions using different concentration of corn steep liquor (CSL). Different extraction and precipitating methods were tested, and the enzyme was purified by ion exchange chromatography. More advantageous culture condition was mixotrophic using 0.25% CSL, showing the highest values of biomass productivity (Px = 169.3 ± 44.36 mg∙L-1day-1) and specific growth rate (µmax = 0.17 ± 0.00 day-1), and significant fibrinolytic production (391.34 ± 40.03 U∙mg-1). Moreover, fibrinolytic activity was higher when extracted by homogenization and precipitated using acetone, which exhibited clear zone of fibrin degradation in the fibrinolytic plate assay. Additionally, the purified enzyme showed specific activity of 1176.90 ± 140.37 U∙mg-1 and molecular weight around 97 kDa. Finally, the enzyme has higher enzymatic activity than various fibrinolytic enzymes, and the obtained enzyme has potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent in thrombosis treatment. Additional studies are need to investigate the biochemical properties and biological profile of this enzyme.

In 2020, students of Pakistan had to adapt to the online environment for the very first time. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of medical, dental, and allied health students about online education in Pakistan. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was done to assess the level of acceptance of undergraduate students. A pre-validated questionnaire regarding demographics, past-experience of e-learning, advantages disadvantages of e-learning, and general perception of students towards e-learning was distributed. Descriptive statistics were computed for demographics, Mann-Witney-U test was used to compare the differences of perceptions between pre-clinical year and clinical years students. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare the results of three specialties of students. Chi-square was used to compare overall category-wise positive and negative responses of students. 1200 students participated in the study. The major advantage identified by all students was the ‘comfortable environment’ in which they studied online. The major disadvantage selected by preclinical year students was ‘anxiety due to social isolation’ and that chosen by clinical year students was ‘lack of patient interaction’. Overall, 72% of students had a negative perception of e-learning. Student-teacher training, student counselling sessions, and innovative techniques need to be introduced to enhance student engagement and reduce pandemic stress.

The rapid growth of the global wearable technologies market is projected to reach $61.30 billion by 2030 which reflects a shift towards personalised health monitoring embedded in everyday activities. This paper explores the potential of embroidered interdigitated transducer (IDT)-based sensors for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of human biomarkers, particularly glucose levels, in human sweat. The study employs innovative embroidery techniques to create flexible fabric-based sensors with gold-coated IDTs. Experimental results demonstrate the sensor’s capability to detect water droplets and glucose concentrations, showcasing promising applications for health monitoring. The embroidered IDT-based sensors offer a unique approach for seamless integration into clothing, paving the way for personalised, continuous health data capture.

Crocin, a glycoside carotenoid showing several health benefits, is mainly obtained from saffron (Crocus sativus L.), whose quality and content of phytochemicals can be strongly affected by environmental conditions. Therefore, in this work, the crocin content and the in vitro antioxidant activity of saffron extracts obtained from three different varieties (Greek, Sicilian, and Iranian saffron) were assessed. Crocin content in saffron extracts was quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of saffron extracts was evaluated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging test. The Maillard reaction was used to assess the anti-glycation activity. Although the Sicilian and Iranian saffron extracts contained higher amounts of crocin compared to the Greek one, ORAC values and % NO inhibition were higher for the Greek variety that showed a total phenolic content about two-fold greater than that of the other two extracts. Sicilian and Greek saffron had similar anti-glycation activities, while the Iranian saffron was less effective. These results suggest that the antioxidant activity of saffron extracts could be ascribed to their naturally occurring complex mixture of phytochemicals, deserving further investigations as supplement to prevent pathological conditions induced by radical species.

Statistical denoising techniques have been well studied, however many challenges still remain. This 9 article focuses on determining the least necessary number of significant samples in a statistical pop-10 ulation sampling, while minimizing the impact on the statistical detection of the fiber Bragg grating 11 (FBG) power spectra. This is achieved by using Bayesian decision making, small population statis-12 tics while excluding false detection. First, we investigate the impact of two-sided sliding window 13 technique applied near the cell under the test. The window size varies from 8 to 60 samples. The 14 considered maximum size of population sampling is connected with the number of wavelength 15 samples within the bandwidth of the symmetrical FBG power spectra peaks. Regarding the sym-16 metry of FBG power spectra peaks and the possible reduction of computational demands, we inves-17 tigate the impact of a one-sided sliding window. This enables to achieve less processing latency for 18 real time applications thus brings benefits to FBG-based fiber optical sensing. Both, two- and one-19 sided small population sampling techniques are then experimentally verified. Detection results are 20 analyzed in depth via calculating detection thresholds by using the small size window sliding along-21 side the waveband. From results achieved, it was found that the normality three-sigma rule does 22 not need to be followed while using the small population sampling. Experimental demonstrations 23 and analyses showed that the proposed concept of denoising and statistical threshold detection 24 based on the sliding window does not depend on the prior knowledge of probability distribution 25 functions of the FBG power spectra peaks level and background noise. We have also found that the 26 thresholds’ adaptability mainly depends on the statistical numerical characteristics of the above ad-27 ditive mixture of the FBG power spectra peaks signals and background noise.

In recent years, online social media information has been subject of study in several data science fields due to its impact on users as a communication and expression channel. Data~gathered from online platforms such as Twitter has the potential to facilitate research over social phenomena based on sentiment analysis, which usually employs Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning techniques to interpret sentimental tendencies related to users opinions and make predictions about real events. Cyber attacks are not isolated from opinion subjectivity on online social networks. Various security attacks are performed by hacker activists motivated by reactions from polemic social events. In this paper, a methodology for tracking social data that can trigger cyber attacks is developed. Our main contribution lies in the monthly prediction of tweets with content related to security attacks and the incidents detected based on ℓ1 regularization.

We provide here a current overview of marmoset (Callithrix) evolution, hybridization, species biology, basic/biomedical research, and conservation initiatives. Composed of two subgroups, the aurita group (C. aurita and C. flaviceps) and the jacchus group (C. geoffroyi, C. jacchus, C. kuhlii and C. penicillata), this relatively young primate radiation is endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, Caatinga, and Atlantic Forest biomes. Significant impacts on Callithrix within these biomes resulting from anthropogenic activity include: (1) population declines, particularly for the aurita group; (2) widespread geographic displacement, biological invasions, and range expansions of C. jacchus and C. penicillata; (3) anthropogenic hybridization; and (4) epizootic Yellow Fever and Zika viral outbreaks. A number of Brazilian legal and conservation initiatives are now in place to protect the threatened aurita group and increase research about them. Due to their small size and rapid life history, marmosets are prized biomedical models. As a result, there are increasingly sophisticated genomic Callithrix resources available and burgeoning marmoset functional, immuno-, and epi- genomic research. In both the laboratory and the wild, marmosets have given us insight into cognition, social group dynamics, human disease, and pregnancy. Callithrix jacchus and C. penicillata are emerging Neotropical primate models for arbovirus disease, including Dengue and Zika. Wild marmoset populations are helping us understand sylvatic transmission and human spillover of Zika and Yellow Fever viruses. All of these factors are positioning marmosets as preeminent models to facilitate understanding of facets of evolution, hybridization, conservation, human disease, and emerging infectious diseases.

Verminosis causes great damage to the producer, with reduced milk production and decreased development of young animals. The use of bioproducts are an alternative to control worms. This study evaluated the effects of oral administration of one commercial formulations, based on the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (Bioverm®) and experimental formulations D. flagrans associated with Pochonia chlamydosporia, on the control of worms in naturally infected cattle on February pasture to October 2021. Eighteen Holstein x Zebu cattle were divided into groups of six animals (group 1 Bioverm®, group 2 Association and control), separated into paddocks naturally infected with helminth larvae (L3). The parasite load was by means of fecal samples and pasture collection to determine L3 infestation. The study demonstrated low recovery of L3 in the pasture due to low rainfall during the experiment. The EPG was lower in groups 1 and 2 compared to the control in April, May and July, while in March the values were lower only in treatment 1 compared to the control. Individual or combined administration of fungal products reduced the presence of eggs and larvae in pastures at certain months of the year, indicating their effectiveness in the strategic control of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle.

Semisolid casting can provide excellent castings, but the nature of the pore-forming mechanisms has not been properly clarified. In the current communication, it was suggested that hydrogen precipitated during slurry making might have a decisive role in the formation of both gas and shrinkage porosity. Intensive stirring at the end of the slurry making process may act as a degassing step. Without the intense stirring, structures of primary slurry particles form around the hydrogen pores, strongly affecting pore formation and feeding during the intensification stage.

Modern organic synthesis is majorly focused on developing environmentally benign synthetic protocols by employing green chemistry principles. Accordingly, in our recent research work, we herein report the use of modified supramolecular host cyclodextrin as an effective solid based green catalyst for accessing structurally diverse and medicinally relevant pyrimidone architectures. The catalyst and the synthesized compounds 4 (a-r) were characterized using FT-IR, NMR and GC-Mass spectroscopy. Major highlights of the reported work include: atom economical process, extremely milder reaction conditions, operational simplicity, high isolated yields, and excellent catalyst turnover number. The molecular docking studies suggest that the compound 4n has the hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and π-pair interactions with the active site of active sites of CXT M 15 receptor.

We enhanced the agro-hydrologic VegET model to include snow accumulation and melt processes and the separation of runoff into surface runoff and deep drainage. Driven by global weather datasets and parameterized by Land Surface Phenology (LSP), the enhanced VegET model was implemented in the cloud to simulate daily soil moisture (SM), actual evapotranspiration (ETa), and runoff (R) for the conterminous United States (CONUS) and the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). Evaluation of the VegET model with independent data showed satisfactory performance, capturing the temporal variability of SM (Pearson correlation r: 0.22–0.97), snowpack (r: 0.86–0.88), ETa (r: 0.41–0.97), and spatial variability of R (r: 0.81–0.90). Absolute magnitudes showed some biases, indicating the need of calibrating the model for water budget analysis. The seasonal Landscape Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (L-WRSI) for CONUS and GHA showed realistic depictions of drought hazard extent and severity, indicating the usefulness of the L-WRSI for the convergence of evidence toolkit used by the Famine Early Warning System Network to monitor potential food insecurity conditions in different parts of the world. Using projected weather datasets and landcover-based LSP, the VegET model can be used not only for global monitoring of drought conditions, but also for evaluating scenarios on the effect of a changing climate and land cover on agriculture and water resources.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) represent a subtype of glia giving rise to oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). While OPCs are highly proliferating during development, they become relatively quiescent during adulthood, when their fate is strictly influenced by the extracellular context. In traumatic injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions including those of autoimmune origin, oligodendrocytes undergo apoptosis, and demyelination starts. Adult OPCs become immediately activated, they migrate at the lesion site and proliferate to replenish the damaged area, but their efficiency is hampered by the presence of a glial scar, a barrier mainly formed by reactive astrocytes, microglia, and the deposition of inhibitory extracellular matrix components. If, on one hand, glial scar limits the lesion spreading, it also blocks tissue regeneration. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing astrocyte or microglia activation and shifting them toward a neuroprotective phenotype have been proposed, whereas the role of OPCs has been largely overlooked. In this review, we have considered glial scar from the perspective of OPCs, analysing their behaviour when lesions originate and exploring the potential therapies aimed at sustaining OPCs to efficiently differentiate and promote remyelination.

The civil construction industry is one of the sectors that most consume natural resources in the world and, consequently, one of that generate more waste. Thinking about constructive techniques that generate less impact on the environment is vital to ensure sustainable development. In this scenario, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been presented as an internationally recognized approach, that assesses the potential impact of products and services on human health and the environment, throughout its entire life cycle. Aimed to identify construction techniques and vertical closing systems that generate less impact and consumption of natural resources, the impacts generated by the life cycle of the three vertical closing systems most applied in construction sites in Brazil were compared: ceramic brick masonry system (CBr); concrete block masonry system (CBk); and structural blocks masonry system (SBk). The SBk proved to be the least impacting to the “Resource Scarcity”, “Damage to Human Health”, and “Damage to the diversity of Ecosystems” interesting areas. This performance is directly related to the use of cement CPIII type and also by the fact that the SBk consumes less concrete and mortar than the others. Already the "Water Consumption" area, the CBk was the least impacting due to the lower consumption of electricity during its life cycle. The reliability of the results was proven through a sensitivity analysis of the normalization and characterization factors, which consisted of comparing the results obtained by applying two different methodologies. It is believed that the LCA study carried out can assist in the decision-making process regarding the choice of the most sustainable construction method.

Enterococci are gastrointestinal commensals whose hardiness allowed them to colonize very diverse environments, including soils, water, food and feed. This ability to overcome adverse conditions makes enterococci problematic once they colonize hospital niches. Together with the malleability of their genomes, the capacity to acquire and disseminate determinants of antibiotic resistance have contributed to convert what was once just another opportunistic pathogen into a first-class clinical problem. This review discusses the dimension of the emergence of enterococcal resistance to key antimicrobial agents, the dissemination of this resistance and its significance in terms of public health, with the aim of raising the awareness to the need to devise and implement monitoring programmes and effective antibiotic usage guidelines.

The River Habitat Survey (RHS) is a method for assessing the conditions of a river channel and valley, taking into account hydromorphological factors, and assessing the degree of naturalness or the degree of anthropogenic alteration within the channel and valley based on physical and landscape data. The hypothesis tested in this study was that the quality of river habitats demonstrated using the RHS should translate into the composition of their fauna. We investigated aquatic bugs (Heteroptera Aquatica), which are a group with considerable dispersal abilities and, at the same time, composed of stenotopic species associated with a particular environment as well as of eurytopic elements inhabiting a wide range of environments (REF). The research was carried out in a small lowland river, the River Krąpiel (north-western Poland) at 6 sites with 43 sub-sites included. Our analyses suggest the RHS method can predict the composition and quality of the aquatic bug fauna inhabiting a given river. Indicators of river habitat quality (HQA and RHQ) will be associated with different habitat types depending on the geographic location and type of river, once indicating habitats associated with the mainstream river and mineral substrate (mountain and small lowland rivers) and at other times habitats covered by vegetation with relatively slow water flow (large and medium lowland rivers). Therefore, RHS may be a good method for estimating the water bug fauna, linking it to the size and character of the river.

Most research on colostrum quality and colostrum management focuses on maternal IgG transfer to the newborn calf. However, in addition to being a source of antibodies, colostrum has other components that influence passive immune transfer, nutrition, gut maturation, and thermoregulation. In this review, the constituents in the bovine colostrum, as well as their variation, are explored and it is discussed the biological role of colostrum on the newborn calf. Protein is the nutrient in higher concentration and fat is the nutrient with the most variation. There is a pronounced amplitude in the total solids content of colostrum, but the average concentration does not vary much between studies (24.7%). Bovine colostrum major components can vary with several factors, such as the region, season, breed, dry period length, and nutritional aspects of the dam. Bioactive components, cells, and microbiome variability are less understood, besides IgG. Regardless, they play crucial distinct roles in the physiological development of the newborn. However, a multi-interactive effect between these components, cells, and microorganisms is more likely to occur. Recently researched components in colostrum like miRNA, nucleo(t)sides, the milk fat globule membrane, oligosaccharides, minor proteins, and the microbiome are examples of promising interest areas of study.

Cratylia argentea is a leguminous shrub with a great potential for livestock feeding in tropical areas. However, time consuming and labor-intensive methods of chemical analysis limits the understanding of its nutritive value. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a low-cost technology that has been widely used in forage crops to fasten the assessment of its chemical composition. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models to assess crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and dry matter (DM) of Cratylia based on NIRS and partial least square analysis. A total of 155 samples were harvested at different maturity levels and used for model development, whereas 107 were used for calibration and 48 for external validation. The cross-validation presented Root Mean Square Error of Prediction of 0.77, 2.56, 3.43, and 0.42; a Ratio of Performance to Deviation of 4.8, 4.0, 3.8, and 3.4; an R2 of 0.92, 0.92, 0.87, and 0.84 for CP, NDF, ADF, and DM, respectively. Based on the obtained results, we conclude the ability to predict chemical parameters of Cratylia with the current model was accurate. This way, livestock producers and researchers may use it to fasten the assessment of Cratylia’s nutritive value.

In a bid to resolve lingering problems in cosmology, more focus is being tilted towards cosmological models in which physical constants of nature are not necessarily real constants, but varying with cosmic time. In this paper we have study cosmology in nonlinear electrodynamics with the Newton's gravitational constant $G$ not a constant but vary in form of power-law of the scale factor of the universe. The evolution of the scale factor $a (t)$ is studied in this model which depends on nonlinear electrodynamics fine tuning term of $\alpha$. Then we check the stability of the model using the speed of sound.

The adverse relationship between viral hepatitis and pregnancy in developing countries was seen as a reflection of retrospective biased hospital-based data collection by the West. However, the discovery of HEV from an epidemic of non-A, non-B hepatitis in Kashmir and documenting increased incidence and severity of hepatitis E in pregnancy from a house-to-house survey unmasked the unholy alliance. Among the family of HEV’s, genotype (gt)-1, with a unique ORF4-encoded protein enhancing viral polymerase activity and viral replication, is the sole HEV that shows this adverse relationship. The epidemics caused by HEV-gt1 and not by HEV-gt2 show adverse relationship with pregnancy. The pathogenesis of the unholy alliance is complex and at present not well understood. Possibly multiple factors play a role in causing severe liver disease in the mother including: infection, replication and damage to the maternal-foetal interface by HEV-gt1; vertical transmission of HEV to foetus causing severe foetal/neonatal hepatitis; and combined viral and hormone related immune dysfunction of diverse nature in the mother promoting viral replication. Management is multidisciplinary and needs a close watch for the development and management of ALF. Preliminary data suggest beneficial maternal outcomes by early termination of pregnancy in patients with lower grades of encephalopathy.

This paper reports on the optimization of thin-film coating assisted self-sustainable off-grid hybrid power generation systems for cattle farming in rural areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a lower middle-income country with declining rates of poverty among its 160 million people due to persistent economic growth in conjunction with balanced agricultural improvements. Most of the rural households adopt a mixed farming system by cultivating crops and simultaneously rearing livestock. Among the animals raised, cattle are considered as the most valuable asset for the small/medium-scale farmers in terms of their meat and milk production. Currently, along with the major health issue, the COVID-19 pandemic is hindering the world’s economic growth and has thrust millions into unemployment; Bangladesh is also in this loop. However, natural disasters such as COVID-19 pandemic and floods, largely constrain rural smallholder cattle farmers from climbing out of their poverty. In particular, small and medium-scale cattle farmers face many issues that obstruct them from taking advantage of market opportunities and imposing a greater burden on their families and incomes. An appropriate measure can give a way to make those cattle farmers’ businesses both profitable and sustainable. Optimization of thin-film coating assisted self-sustainable off-grid hybrid power generation system for cattle farming is a new and forward-looking approach for sustainable development of the livestock sector. In this study, we design and optimize a thin-film coating assisted hybrid (photovoltaic-battery-generator) power system by using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER, Version 3.14.0) simulation tool. An analysis of the results has suggested that the off-grid hybrid system is more feasible for small and medium-scale cattle farming systems with long-term sustainability to overcome the significant challenges faced by smallholder cattle farmers in Bangladesh.

Objective: To evaluate the direct costs of treating patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in outpatient care, from a hospital and Unified Health System (SUS) perspective. Methods: Observational study with data collection by microfunding, carried out with patients diagnosed with neuromyelitis optics, treated at a university hospital, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Mann-Whitney tests were performed to measure cost differences between patient groups by disease severity and analysis perspective. Results: Nine individuals with a median age of 48 years (IQR 30 - 59 years) were included. The median total costs for patients with greater severity from the perspective of the SUS and the hospital were R$ 21,638.22 (IIQ: R$ 15,614.63; R$ 25,985.32) and R$ 32,094.11 (IIQ: R$ 25,610 .60; R$ 38,617.25) respectively. For patients with moderate severity the median was R$ 7,339.85 (IIQ: R$ 6,235.45; R$ 11,912.05) from the SUS perspective and R$ 11,505.80 (IIQ: R$ 7,339.85; R$ 22,424.76) from the perspective of the hospital, where the use of medications had a major impact. Conclusion: The main cost drivers were medicines, especially those used off-label, and procedures.

This work presents the mathematical framework of the Second-Order Comprehensive Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis Methodology for Response-Coupled Forward/Adjoint Linear Systems (abbreviated as “2nd-CASAM-L”), which enables the most efficient computation of exactly obtained mathematical expressions of first- and second-order sensitivities of a generic system response with respect to functions (“features”) of model parameters. Subsequently, the first- and second-order sensitivities with respect to the model’s uncertain parameters, boundaries, and internal interfaces are obtained analytically and exactly, without needing large-scale computations. Within the 2nd-FASAM-L methodology, the number of large-scale computations is proportional to the number of model features (defined as functions of model parameters), as opposed to being proportional to the number of model parameters, which are considerably more than the number of features, being incomparably more efficient and more accurate than any other methods (statistical, finite differences, etc.) for computing exact expressions of response sensitivities (of any order) with respect to the model’s features and/or primary uncertain parameters, boundaries, and internal interfaces. The application of the 2nd-CASAM-L methodology is illustrated using a simplified energy-dependent neutron transport model of fundamental significance in nuclear reactor physics.

Remote sensing datasets are increasingly being used to provide spatially explicit large scale evapotranspiration (ET) estimates. The focus of this study was to estimate and thematically map on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) of the Wonji Shoa Sugarcane Estate using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) and Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) algorithms. The results obtained revealed that the ranges of the daily ETa estimated on January 25, February 26, September 06 and October 08, 2002 using SEBAL were 0.0 - 6.85, 0.0 – 9.36, 0.0 – 3.61, 0.0 – 6.83 mm/day; using SSEB 0.0 - 6.78, 0.0 – 7.81, 0.0 – 3.65, 0.0 – 6.46 mm/day, and SSEBop were 0.05 - 8.25, 0.0 – 8.82, 0.2 – 4.0, 0.0 – 7.40 mm/day, respectively. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values between SSEB and SEBAL, SSEBop and SEBAL, and SSEB and SSEBop were 0.548, 0.548, and 0.99 for January 25, 2002; 0.739, 0.753, and 0.994 for February 26, 2002;0.847, 0.846, and 0.999 for September 06, 2002; 0.573, 0.573, and 1.00 for October 08, 2002, respectively. The standard deviation of ET_a over the sugarcane estate showed high spatio-temporal variability perhaps due to soil moisture variability and surface cover. The three algorithm results showed that well watered sugarcane fields in the mid-season growing stage of the crop had higher ET_a values compared with the other dry agricultural fields confirming that they consumptively use more water. Generally during the dry season, ET_a is limited to water surplus areas only and in wet season, ET_a was high throughout the entire sugarcane estate. The evaporation fraction (ETrF) results also followed the same pattern as the daily ET_a over the sugarcane estate. The total crop and irrigation water requirement and effective rainfall estimated using the Cropwat model were 2468.8, 2061.6 and 423.8 mm/yr for January 2001 planted and 2281.9, 1851.0 and 437.8 mm/yr for March 2001 planted sugarcanes, respectively. The mean annual ET_a estimated for the whole estate were 107 Mm³, 140 Mm³, and 178 Mm³ using SEBAL, SSEB, and SSEBop, respectively. Even though the algorithms should be validated through field observation, they have potential to be used for effective estimation of ET in the sugarcane estate.