In this article, we give a brief review of the origin of the neutrino mass in some interesting non-linear supersymmetric models with R-symmetry. These models are able to address and solve the most important problems of the particle physics and provide mechanisms for neutrino mass generation and their mixing parameters in agreement with the current experimental data. Their prediction could be experimentally tested in the near future by collider experiments.

The research presented in this article is based on a strategic approach to a rural area in the mountainous region of Romania and is underwritten by specialists in the economy of mountainous regions in order to elaborate relevant solutions to complex problems relating to sustainable development. In essence, the research underlines and promotes the particularities of performing research for the identification and valuation of endogenous resources, that is, creating relevant strategic options for the durable development of the mountainous region, centered on the renewal of economic activities related to the existent endogenous resources, by using methods, work techniques, and instruments of strategic analysis. These factors are subordinate to the process of harmonization to the requirements of community development and environmental protection according to the new strategy for the development of the European Union 2020 (European Green Pact). This pact also emphasizes the necessity of involving the different factor categories of local accountability, promotion, activation, and the development of specific economic activities of different local contexts of sustainability. The research methodology used involves a case study whose complexity necessitated the use of quality and quantity research methods in order to underline specific elements of the rural area in the Romanian mountainous region. Specifically, we used a strategic diagnosis of the Romanian mountainous region using the PESTEL and SWOT models. In order to have relevant strategic options available, the continuity of research was achieved through the use of SOR analysis, creating a problem tree and an objectives tree.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation suffers from multiple serious issues, for example shading effects directly affect the performance of installed PV arrays. By studying these issues, it can play a key role in improving the limitations and performance of PV panels. The study of PV arrays under partial shading conditions is mentioned in many papers as a part of other studies and as an independent phenomenon. Therefore, it is essential to improve these studies and update them with new research and study this problem in detail to know how to limit the effects of partial shading irradiance conditions on PV arrays performances, including economical aspects. This paper proposes to study the effects of different partial shading irradiance conditions for a PV array in various configurations. The analysis is proved in detail through the simulation of the proposed PV array in the Matlab/Simulink environment. The obtained results show the performances of interconnected PV arrays under different partial shading irradiance and temperature conditions, including the solar array I-V and P-V characteristics. In addition, different PV array configurations with and without bypass and blocking protection diodes improve and minimize the effect of partial shading conditions and avoid the reductions in output power.

Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to identify an optimal treatment method for the removal of antibiotics from wastewaters. A series of supramolecular organic-inorganic magnetic composites containing Zn-modified MgAl LDHs and Cu-phthalocyanine as photosensitizer have been prepared with the scope to β-lactam antibiotics removal from aqueous solutions. The characterization of these materials confirmed the anchorage of Cu-phthalocyanine onto the edges of the LDH lamellae, with a negligible part inserted in the interlayer space. The removal of β-lactam antibiotics occurred via a concerted adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The efficiency of the composites was depending on i) the LDH: magnetic nanoparticle (MP) ratio, that is strongly correlated to the textural properties of the catalysts, and ii) the phthalocyanine loading in the final composite. A maximum of the efficiency was achieved with a removal of ~93% of antibiotics after 2h of reaction.

This study examines the effectiveness of a comprehensive psychomotor development program combined with adapted football training for adolescents diagnosed with intellectual disabilities in Romania. Twelve participants, with a mean age of 17.42 years underwent a carefully designed intervention program spanning 36 weeks. The program aimed to enhance fundamental movement skills, integrate these skills into specialized football training, and culminate in a Unified 7-a-side Football Match. Results indicate significant improvements in psychomotor skills, including static and dynamic balance, pulse processing speed, and identified stimuli. Moreover, the intervention positively impacted social interaction among participants. Statistical analysis, employing Pearson Correlation Analysis and Paired Samples t-Test (One-Sample), compared assessments. Results revealed significant differences between pre- and post-intervention measurements, providing robust evidence of the program's efficacy. The positive correlations between physical parameters and social interaction highlight the interconnectedness between physical fitness and social engagement. Our findings suggest that improvements in physical abilities may contribute to increased social interaction among children with intellectual disabilities, underscoring the holistic nature of our intervention, which addresses multiple dimensions of development simultaneously. The findings underscore the holistic benefits of integrating psychomotor development and adapted football programs for adolescents with intellectual disabilities, emphasizing the importance of promoting inclusive physical activities for their overall well-being.

The present work investigates primarily the morphology evolution of the body-centered-cubic (BCC)/B2 phases in AlxNiCoFeCr high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with increasing Al content, which has been neglected so far. There exist two types of microscopic morphologies of BCC and B2 phases in this HEA series: one is the weave-like morphology induced by the spinodal decomposition, and the other is the microstructure of a spherical disordered BCC precipitation on the ordered B2 matrix that appears in HEAs with a much higher Al content. The shape of coherent precipitates is found to be closely related to the lattice misfit between BCC and B2 phases, which is sensitive to Al. The mechanical properties, including the compressive yielding strength and microhardness of the AlxNiCoFeCr HEAs, are also discussed in light of the concept of the valence electron concentration (VEC).

This article aims to analyze music from a philosophical and theological perspective, using the principles of multi- and transdisciplinary methodology. After a brief introduction, which presents the main moments in the history of the musical phenomenon, a first chapter addresses the metaphysical dimension of music in classical composers. The second chapter shows the position of philosophers towards music, starting with Pythagoras and ending with Schopenhauer. The third chapter focuses on music theology in general, but also on the theology and metaphysics of music to the French philosopher of Romanian origin, Emil Cioran, who, after Augustin and Schopenhauer, wrote probably the deepest pages on the ontology of music. The last chapter refers to to the archetypal character of music.

A new trend in cow's milk has emerged in the market called type A1 and A2 milk. These products have piqued the interest of both consumers and researchers. Recent studies suggest that A2 milk may have potential health benefits, which is why researchers are investigating this product further. It is interesting to note that the A1 and A2 milk types have area-specific characteristics compared to breed-specific characteristics. Extensive research has focused on milk derivatives obtained from cow’s milk, primarily through in vitro and animal studies. However, few clinical studies have been conducted in humans, and the results have been unsatisfactory. New molecular techniques for identifying A1 and A2 milk may help researchers to develop new studies that can clarify certain controversies surrounding A1 milk. It is essential to exercise extreme caution when interpreting the updated literature. It has the potential to spread panic worldwide and have negative economic implications. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the new aspects of A1 and A2 milk in different research areas and clarify some aspects regarding these two types of milk.

This paper offers a theoretical and experimental examination of the concurrent production of electricity and heat using photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technology. The efficiency performance of the PV/T system is meticulously analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink software environments. Notably, the proposed PV/T system shows reliable performance, and its validity is confirmed through experimental validation on a test stand with a single PV/T panel positioned at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal and a 0-degree azimuth angle.

In a recent article, Smoom et al. identified an important amino acid variation in the helicase RTEL1 of the Algerian mouse (Mus spretus). Since the latter has telomeres five times shorter than the laboratory mouse (belonging to the Mus musculus species), they introduced this variation in laboratory mice, in order to obtain an engineered strain with human-length telomeres. Succeeding in doing this, they established the “Telomouse” strain. Here I demonstrate that, in reality, Mus spretus does not show this variation: the key amino acid is conserved in all rodent species, which all have human-length telomeres (including wild Mus musculus species). This finding in no way compromises the value of the research of Smoom et al. and the utility of the Telomouse strain. Rather, it raises the question of how the telomere length of Mus musculus (as a species) should be considered and the important consequences it has on studies on inter-species comparison.

As Li-ion batteries use is spreading, incidents in large energy storage systems (stationary storage containers, …) or in large-scale cell and battery storages (warehouse, recyclers, …), often leading to fire, are occurring on regular basis. Water remains one of the most efficient fire extinguishing agents for tackling those battery incidents and large quantities are usually necessary. Since bat-teries contains various potentially harmful components (metals and their oxides or salts, sol-vents…) and that thermal runway induced battery incidents are accompanied with complex and potentially multistage fume emissions (containing both gas and particles) the potential impact of fire run-off water on the environment should be considered and assessed carefully. The tests presented in this paper focus on the analysis of the composition of run-off waters used to spray NMC Li-ion modules under thermal runaway. It highlights that waters used for fire-fighting are susceptible to contain many metals, including Ni, Mn, Co, Li and Al mixed with other carbonaceous species (soot, tarballs) and sometimes undecomposed solvents used in the elec-trolyte. Extra-polation of pollutant concentrations compared with PNEC values showed that, for large scale incidents, run-off water could be potentially hazardous to the environment.

Innovative tissue engineering biomimetic hydrogels based on hydrophilic polymers have been investigated for their physical and mechanical properties. 5% to 25% by volume loading PHEMA-nanosilica glassy hybrid samples were equilibrated at 37°C in aqueous physiological isotonic and hypotonic saline solutions (0.15 and 0.05 M NaCl) simulating two limiting possible compositions of physiological extracellular fluids. The glassy and hydrated hybrid materials were characterized both for dynamo-mechanical properties and equilibrium absorptions in the two physiological-like aqueous solutions. Mechanical and the morphological modifications occurring in the samples have been described. The 5% volume nanosilica loading hybrid nanocomposite composition showed mechanical characteristics in the dry and hydrated states that were comparable to those of cortical bone and articular cartilage, respectively, and then chosen for further sorption kinetics characterization. Sorption and swelling kinetics were monitored up to equilibrium. Changes in water activities and osmotic pressures in the water-hybrid systems equilibrated at the two limiting solute molarities of the physiological solutions have been related to the observed anomalous sorption modes using the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter approach. The bulk modulus of the dry and glassy PHEMA-5% nanosilica hybrid at 37°C has been observed to be comparable with the values of the osmotic pressures generated from the sorption of isotonic and hypotonic solutions. The anomalous sorption modes and swelling rates are coherent with the difference between osmotic swelling pressures and hybrid glassy nano-composite bulk modulus: the lower the differences the higher the swelling rate and equilibrium solution uptakes. Bone tissue engineering benefits of use of tuneable biomimetic scaffold biomaterials that can be “designed” to act as biocompatible and biomechanically active hybrid interfaces are discussed.

This article presents a new method of segmenting images with gray levels. The method is based on determining several thresholds for separation of gray levels. The determination of these thresholds is done using the certainty of the neutrosophic information. The concept of this method can be stated simply: to choose the local maximums for the neutrosophic certainty.

This article presents a method of segmenting images with gray levels that uses Onicescu's information energy calculated in the context of the neutrosophic theory. Starting from the information energy calculation for complete neutrosophic information, it is shown how to extend its calculation for incomplete and inconsistent neutrosophic information. The segmentation method is based on calculation of thresholds for separating the gray levels using the local maximum points of the Onicescu information energy.

This article presents a new method of segmenting grayscale images by minimizing Shannon's neutrosophic entropy. For the proposed segmentation method, the neutrosophic information components, i.e., the degree of truth, the degree of neutrality and the degree of falsity are defined taking into account the belonging to the segmented regions and at the same time to the separation threshold area. The principle of the method is simple and easy to understand and can lead to multiple thresholds. The efficacy of the method is illustrated using some test gray level images. The experimental results show that the proposed method has good performance for segmentation with optimal gray level thresholds.

This paper proposes a novel data processing framework dedicated to bedload monitoring in underwater environments. After calibration, by integration the total energy in the nominal bandwidth, the proposed experimental setup is able to accurately measure the mass of individual sediments hitting the aluminum plate. This require a priori knowledge of the vibration trasients in order to match a predefined dictionary. Based on unsupervised hierarchical agglomeration of complex vibration spectra, the proposed algorithms allow to accurately localize the transients corresponding to the shocks created by sediment impacts on a steel plate.

The Independent Component Analysis (ICA) has been recently introduced as a reliable alternative to identify canonical scattering mechanisms within Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) images. This manuscript addresses two important aspects when applying such methods on real data, namely speckle filtering and statistical classification with ICA. A novel PolSAR data processing framework is introduced by adjusting the Lee's sigma filter to the particular nature of the Touzi's polarimetric decomposition. In its current form, it allows the use of the ICA mixing matrix in the derived speckle filter. An extension of the Fromont at al. iterative segmentation is introduced, equally. This proposed framework is tested using P band airborne PolSAR data acquired for the ESA campaign TropiSAR campaign.

Lactoperoxidase (LP), which is a high-value minor whey protein, has recently drawn extensive attention from research scientists and industry due to its multi-function and potential therapeutic applications. In this study, the separation and optimization of two similar-sized proteins, LP and lactoferrin (LF) were investigated using strong cation exchange column chromatography. Optimization was started with central composite design based experiments to characterize the importance of different decision variables. The three variables used in the optimization were flow rate, length of gradient and final salt concentration in the linear elution gradient step. The obtained empiric functional model represented the effect of the significant factors on the yield as the objective function. Afterwards, the calibrated mechanistic model was employed to predict accurate optimal set of variables. The optimal operating points were found and the results were compared with validation experiments. Predictions respecting yield confirmed a very good agreement with experimental results while keeping purity, a product quality characteristic, equal or above to a predefined value.

Three-dimensional V₂O₅ hollow structures have been prepared through a simple synthesis strategy combining solvothermal treatment and a subsequent thermal annealing. The V₂O₅ materials are composed of microspheres 2–3 μm in diameter and with a distinct hollow interior. The as-synthesized V₂O₅ hollow microspheres, when evaluated as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, can deliver a specific capacity as high as 273 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.2 C. Benefiting from the hollow structures that afford fast electrolyte transport and volume accommodation, the V₂O₅ cathode also exhibits a superior rate capability and excellent cycling stability. The good Li-ion storage performance demonstrates the great potential of this unique V₂O₅ hollow material as a high-performance cathode for lithium-ion batteries.

A low-cost bio-mass-derived carbon substrate has been employed to synthesize MoS₂@carbon composites through a hydrothermal method. Carbon fibers derived from natural cotton provide a three-dimensional and open framework for the uniform growth of MoS₂ nanosheets, thus constructing hierarchically coaxial architecture. The unique structure could synergistically benefit fast Li-ion and electron transport from the conductive carbon scaffold and porous MoS₂ nanostructures. As a result, the MoS₂@carbon composites, when served as anodes for Li-ion batteries, exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 820 mAh g^-1, high-rate capability (457 mAh g^-1 at 2 A g^-1), and excellent cycling stability. The superior electrochemical performance makes the MoS₂@carbon composites to be low-cost and promising anode materials for Li-ion batteries.

This paper presents an optimized energy management strategy for Li-ion power batteries used on electric vehicles (EVs) at low temperatures. Under low-temperature environments, EVs suffer a sharp driving range loss resulted from the energy and power capability reduction of the battery. Simultaneously, because of Li plating, battery degradation becomes an increasing concern as temperature drops. All these factors could greatly increase the total vehicle operation cost. Prior to battery charging and vehicle operating, preheating battery to a battery-friendly temperature is an approach to promote energy utilization and reduce total cost. Based on the proposed LiFePO4 battery model, the total vehicle operation cost under certain driving cycles is quantified in the present paper. Then given a certain ambient temperature, a target temperature of preheating is optimized under the principle of minimizing total cost. As for the preheating method, a liquid heating system is also implemented on an electric bus. Simulation results show that the preheating process becomes increasingly necessary with a decreasing ambient temperature; however, the preheating demand declines as driving range grows. Vehicle tests verify that the preheating management strategy proposed in this paper is able to save total vehicle operation cost.

Weak interaction processes continue to be hot topics in fundamental physics research. In this paper, we briefly review some recent advances in the theoretical study of beta and double-beta decays that include both the nuclear and atomic part of these processes. On the nuclear side, we present a statistical approach for the computation of the nuclear matrix elements (NME) for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ). A range of NME values, the most probable value for NME, and the associated theoretical uncertainty are given. Correlations with other related observables are shown as well. On the atomic side, we first briefly review the methods used to get the electrons’ wave functions. Further, we use them for the computation of some relevant kinematic quantities such as Fermi functions, electron spectra and angular correlation between the emitted electrons. Then, we present applications of these calculations to the experimental data analysis related to the search of the Lorentz invariance violation in two-neutrino double-beta (2νββ) decay and description of the decay rates and decay rate ratios for allowed and unique forbidden electron capture (EC) processes.

For both conventional and renewable energy conversion processes, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to address more energy-related challenges in recent decades. Using CFD to investigate vertical-axis wind turbines has become more common in recent years. The main goals of this application have been to more accurately predict the turbine's performance and to comprehend the complicated nature of the complex turbulent flow. The Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) simulation for energy-generating applications has several intricate components. One of them is being aware of the chaotic flow that occurs during the first stages of the starting process, which influences overall effectiveness. In this article, the performance of the wind turbine was increased by using a passive flow control approach. The numerical research was carried out using Large Eddy Simulation for four alternative tip speed ratios in both cases, the classic and the optimized, equipped with a vortex trap on the exterior of the blades. The power and torque coefficient variations, as well as the velocity magnitude contours, show that the starting process may begin with a significant improvement in efficiency when flow control is used.

We give a simple proof of the Chen inequality for the Chen invariant $\underbrace{\delta (2,...,2)}_{k\mbox{ terms}}$ of submanifolds in Riemannian space forms.

The paper deals with the problems of direct kinematics related to a 2T6R robot, the direct kinematics of the plane mechanism of the robot. The direct kinematics of this proposed new robot help to study the movement, including the dynamic one, to determine the forces in the mechanism and to model the possible trajectories of the final effector point, thus determining the robot's working space and some of its multiple possible uses. Two totally different methods were used to verify the calculation relations, the results obtained by both methods being practically identical. The first method used is an original trigonometric method, and the second is an original geometrically analytical method.

Congestion not only represents a cardinal sign of heart failure but is also now recognized as the primary cause for hospital admissions, rehospitalizations, and mortality among patients with acute heart failure. Congestion can manifest through various heart failure phenotypes in acute settings: volume overload, volume redistribution, or both. Recognizing the congestion phenotype is paramount, as it implies different therapeutic strategies for decongestion. Complete decongestion is hardly achieved among patients with acute heart failure, as more than half still have residual congestion at discharge. Residual congestion is one of the strongest predictors of future cardiovascular events and poor outcomes. Through this review, we try to provide a better understanding of the congestion phenomenon among patients with acute heart failure by highlighting insights into the pathophysiology mechanisms behind congestion and new diagnostic and management tools to achieve and maintain efficient decongestion.

This study presents the synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of nitrogen-doped vanadium oxide (N-V2O3/C) as a cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), using a hydrothermal method. Compared to undoped V2O3/C, N-V2O3/C exhibits enhanced electrical conductivity, capacity, and electrochemical kinetics, attributed to the incorporation of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen. Initial charge-discharge cycles indicate phase transitions to amorphous vanadium oxides, enhancing conductivity. N-V2O3/C shows a high specific capacity of 168.4 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and remarkable reversibility, highlighted by the transient existence of intermediate species during cycling. Optimal electrochemical performance is achieved with a vanadium to nitrogen molar ratio of 2:3, indicating the significant impact of nitrogen doping concentration on the material’s efficiency. This work underscores the potential of N-V2O3/C as a superior cathode material for AZIBs.

Based on the need for real-time sag monitoring of Overhead Power Lines (OPL) for electricity transmission, this article presents the implementation of a hardware and software system for online monitoring of OPL cables and cable sag determination. The mathematical model based on differential equations and the methods of algorithmic calculation of OPL cable sag are presented. Considering that, based on the mathematical model presented, the calculation of OPL cable sag can be done in different ways depending on the sensors used, and the presented application uses a variety of sensors. Therefore, a direct calculation is made using one of the different methods. Subsequently, the verification relations are highlighted directly and, respectively, the calculation by the alternative method, which uses another group of sensors, to generate both a verification of the calculation and the functionality of the sensors, thus obtaining a defect observer of the sensors. The hardware architecture of the OPL cable online monitoring application is presented, together with the main characteristics of the sensors and communication equipment used. The configurations required to transmit data using the ModBUS and ZigBee protocols are also presented. The main software modules of the OPL cable condition monitoring application are described, which ensure the monitoring of the main parameters of the power line and the visualisation of the results both on the electricity provider's intranet using a web server and MySQL database, and on the Internet using an Internet of Things (IoT) server. This categorisation of the data visualisation mode is done in such a way as to ensure a high level of cyber security. Starting from the mathematical model of the OPL cable sag calculation, it goes through the stages of creating such a monitoring system, from the numerical simulations carried out using Matlab to the real-time implementation of this monitoring application. The main modules of the application software are: the software module for reading quantities from the sensor network through a ModBUS Input/Output (I/O) server, the software module for real-time calculation of the OPL cable sag, the software module for read/write operations based on MySQL type data, the software module for transferring data to the user's intranet through a web server, and the software module for viewing data by authorised users based on user and password through an IoT server. The development software environments used are Matlab and Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW).

The COVID-19 pandemic and tuberculosis have epidemiological similarities, being transmitted airborne, favored by direct contact, crowded environments and vulnerable biological status. We performed a retrospective study of 45 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis associated with COVID-19 (TB+COV+) compared to 45 cases with tuberculous monoinfection (TB+COV-), hospitalized during 2021-2022. The demographic characteristics were similar in the two groups, predominating men, a median age of 51 years, living in rural areas, medium level of education and smoking. Common symptoms of the two groups were cough, weight loss, profuse sweating, loss of appetite and hemoptysis, while fever, headache, myo-arthralgias and digestive symptoms characterized the TB+COV+ forms. The scores of radiological lesions in the TB+COV+ compared to TB+COV- group were significantly higher and persistent, revealing more frequent bilateral extensive lung lesions. There were no significant differences in the biological parameters between the two groups. Mortality was 2.2%, regardless of the association of COVID-19. The frequency of infections with Clostridioides difficile was higher in TB+COV+ cases. In conclusion, the co-infection of COVID-19 had an impact on the clinical and biological expression of tuberculosis diagnosed in a pandemic context.

Even though the current classic aerospace propulsion methods are greatly improved, some of the most modern methods have already been introduced, among which the propulsion with electric motors. Energy can be obtained from hydrogen burners, honeycomb burners to protect the burning of hydrogen that burns 10 times faster than conventional oil fuels or alcohols. Hydrogen storage is also done in honeycomb cell reservoirs. Getting solar photovoltaic power even during flight is not yet profitable or efficient, but it can be proposed in the future for lighter and/or spacecraft. A great desire is to dismantle water in hydrogen and oxygen directly on the aircraft, so the stored fuel is actually water and the one actually used is the hydrogen removed from the water. In this case, there is no need for hydrogen storage. And other modern methods of propulsion and energy acquisition are briefly presented in the paper.

Solvent-free, single-ion conducting electrolytes are sought after for use in electrochemical energy storage devices. Here, we investigate the ionic conductivity and how this property is influenced by segmental mobility and conducting ion number in crosslinked single-ion conducting polyether-based electrolytes with varying tethered anion and counter-cation types. Crosslinked electrolytes are prepared by the polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate, and ionic monomers. The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes is measured and interpreted in the context of differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A lithiated crosslinked electrolyte prepared with PEG₃₁DA and STFSI monomers is found to have a lithium ion conductivity of 3.2 × 10^-6 and 1.8 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 55 and 100 °C, respectively. The percentage of unpaired anions for this electrolyte was estimated at about 23% via Raman spectroscopy. Despite the large variances in metal cation – STFSI binding energies as predicted via DFT and large variations in ionic conductivity, STFSI-based crosslinked electrolytes with the same charge density and varying cations (Li, Na, K, Mg, and Ca) were estimated to all have unpaired anion populations in the range of 19 to 29%.

This paper presents a device for measuring and maintaining the constant water level in a tank. The device uses a capacity sensor to measure the water level. The sensor has a DC voltage output proportional to the water level in the tank. This voltage can be used in other automation too. The water level, in percentages, is displayed on a vu meter with 8 LEDs. The circuit for maintaining the constant level consists in a comparator with hysteresis. The level of the water is adjustable, using a reference voltage from a potentiometer (marked in percentages). The level of the water is compared with the prescribed level and the difference between them commands the start/stop of the water pump which supplies the tank through a relay. The device is powered by 220 V and is isolated from the environment.

(1) Background: The aim of the research was to present and emphasize the importance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures by presenting case reports. (2) Materials and Methods: The sample of respondents included 7 patients (4 males and 3 females, 2 athletes and 5 non-athletes), aged 25 to 58 years, with AT injuries, who were examined and treated at the Institute for Treatment and Rehabilitation "Niška Banja", Niš, Serbia. Ankle examinations with MRI were conducted using the Esaote O-scan 0.3 T machine. The examinations were performed without the application of a paramagnetic contrast agent and without the use of anesthesia. Results: The MRI method's sensitivity and overall diagnostic accuracy were excellent, with 100% true positives. In our study, the method accurately detected the presence, location, and severity of AT injuries in all cases. MRI is an important and reliable method for detecting AT injuries, classifying them, monitoring the course of recovery, and assessing the effects of therapy. Conclusions: An unrecognized or delayed diagnosis of an AT injury can lead to chronic changes. Timely diagnosis (clinical examination, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging) and appropriate treatment (conservative or operative) enable patients to return to normal activities, including sports. Unfortunately, the use of MRI is limited by restricted access and the cost of the examination.

The Golgi apparatus, long known for protein processing and vesicular trafficking, has recently emerged as an essential player in innate immune signaling pathways. This review article discusses our growing understanding of Golgi cells' roles in initiating and activating innate immunity pathways. We elaborate on the relevance of membrane connections between Golgi organelles and other organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, endosomes, and autophagosomes that facilitate efficient access to innate immune signal transduction and subsequent effector responses. Additionally, we discuss microbial strategies that exploit the Golgi while diminishing its associated innate immune responses. By providing greater illumination of its multiple functions and mechanisms of operation, this article offers invaluable insight into how protein processing impacts innate immunity and vice versa.

Radiotherapy using accelerated charged particles is rapidly growing worldwide. About 85% of the cancer patients receiving particle therapy is irradiated with protons, which have physical advantages compared to X-rays but similar biological response. In addition to the ballistic advantages, heavy ions present specific radiobiological features that can make them attractive for treating radioresistant, hypoxic tumors. An ideal heavy ion should have lower toxicity in the entrance channel (normal tissue), and being exquisitely effective in the target region (tumor). Carbon ions have been chosen because they represent the best combination in this direction. Normal tissue toxicities and second cancer risk are similar to those observed in conventional radiotherapy. In the target region, they have increased relative biological effectiveness and reduced oxygen enhancement ratio compared to X-rays. Some radiobiology properties of densely ionizing carbon ions are so distinct from X-rays and protons that they can be considered as a different “drug” in oncology, and may elicit favorable responses such as increased immune response and reduced angiogenesis and metastatic potential. The radiobiological properties of carbon ions should guide patient selection and treatment protocols to achieve optimal clinical results.

The metastatic disease is a complex and sequential process that involves the migration of tumor cells from the primary site to distant areas. This metastatic pathway is not always predictable. Therefore, this paper presents three rare cases of unusual metastases, due to their primary site: two metastases of a clear cell renal cell carcinoma, one gingival and one nasal, as well as a mandibular metastasis of a hepatocellular carcinoma. In all cases, an incisional biopsy was performed in order to sign out the diagnosis. After microscopical examination of morphological Hematoxylin and Eosin stained slides, for all cases, immunohistochemical reactions were performed to support the primary tumor site. Two cases had a previous histopathological diagnosis of a primary tumor, while for the third case, the metastatic lesion represented the first manifestation of the neoplastic disease, with an unfavorable prognosis.

Background: Trans-septal endocardial left ventricle lead placement is an alternative technique used capture the left ventricular endocardially but it is use is limited due lack of evidence, practice uptake and clinical trials. we evaluated the efficiency of the procedure, post procedural complication rate, rate of thromboembolic events as well as changes in echocardiographic parameters, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Results: TSLV lead implant is safe, improves ejection fraction, LVEDV, LVESV, LVIDd. Significantly reduces NTproBNP levels and NYHA class. Stroke rate was reported only in one patient (9%), noticeably, this particular patient was on DOAC rather than anti-vitamin K antagonists. In this group, patients, who were on Warfarin , were not reported to have any thrombo-embolic events. Discussion: Trans-septal endocardial LV lead implant in patients with a failed CS approach remains a viable alternative however, there is a higher risk of stroke amongst these patients, as well as more procedure related risk of complications compared to conventional CRT. The data analysis demonstrates that patients undergoing a TSLV lead implant due to a failed trans-venous approach have more advanced heart failure, defined by their higher NYHA class compared to conventional trans-venous CRT implant groups. Their pre TSLV implant, echocardiographic parameters are also worse compared to trans-venous CRT implant group

This study conducts a comprehensive review of the integration of Hybrid Electric Turbochargers in mass-produced road vehicles. The primary objective is to inform the readers about the potential advantages and innovative applications of HETs. Employing a SWOT analysis, the research compares the performance of HETs on thermal engines versus traditional turbochargers and HETs on thermal engines versus HETs on hybrid engines based on a synthesis of multiple research findings. The study elucidates the fundamental mechanics of turbochargers, emphasizing their inherent benefits. Additionally, it introduces a novel approach with the integration of the hy-brid-electric turbocharger, demonstrating its capacity, supported by practical examples. The in-corporation of turbochargers with energy recovery mechanisms, including HETs, is shown to significantly contribute to emissions reduction. Moreover, the electric drive facilitates the utili-zation of hybrid turbines, particularly on low-displacement engines, resulting in enhanced effi-ciency, torque, and liter power. In conclusion, the research underscores the potential of HETs to substantially mitigate the environmental impact of the transportation sector by reducing emis-sions and conserving energy. Their ability to optimize the fuel efficiency and power output of internal combustion engines, coupled with the feasibility of downsized engines, positions HETs as an attractive option for both manufacturers and consumers. However, it is acknowledged that the implementation of HETs is in its early stages, necessitating further research to comprehensively understand their environmental impact. Despite this, the promising positive impact on the en-vironment designates HETs as a technology deserving close attention in the forthcoming years.

Iodide is an essential micronutrient present in very small quantities in the human body, with a fundamental action for the adequate synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are critical for cell differentiation, growth and metabolism. In the form of iodide, iodine is widely distributed in the environment, although in an irregular manner, occurring in abundant amounts in the oceans and in coastal areas and scarcely found on islands and mountains. The diet is the main source of iodine, whose intake varies according to the amount present in soil and water and according to eating habits. Governmental policies have been adopted to satisfy and guarantee the necessary daily supply of iodine, such as fortification of industrialized salt for domestic iodine consumption or addition to the bread commonly consumed in a given region, or the offer of iodized oil to the population, or even iodine supplementation through medications. Iodide deficiency is the main avoidable cause of brain damage to fetuses and children, as well as retardation of psychomotor development. Thyroid hormones are almost universally involved in the development and proliferation of fetal neural tissue. Permanent lesions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum may occur, with loss of, or damage to the brainstem or spinal cord, affecting cortical areas that integrate highly specialized stimuli, which become poorly defined on an anatomical basis, including silent areas of the associative cortex. One of the more significant metabolic problems due to dietary iodine deficiency is the presence of goiter (increased volume of the thyroid gland). Thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent endocrine neoplasia affecting the human species and plasma iodine concentration is related to the development of specific subtypes of this neoplasia. An increased prevalence of follicular carcinoma, a more aggressive tumor, has been observed in areas of iodine deficiency, while the correction of this deficiency is associated with a higher prevalence of papilliferous carcinoma, a less aggressive form. CONCLUSION: An ideal plasma iodide concentration is necessary to insure the proper mental development of fetuses and young children and to minimize the aggressiveness of thyroid cancer from follicular cells in humans.

How much is the h-index of an editor of a well ranked journal improved due to citations which occur after his/her appointment? Scientific recognition within academia is widely measured nowadays by the number of citations or h-index. Our dataset is based on a sample of four editors from a well ranked journal (impact factor – IF – greater than 2). The target group consists of two editors who seem to benefit by their position through an increased citation number (and subsequently h-index) within journal. The total amount of citations for the target group is bigger than 600. The control group is formed by another set of two editors from the same journal whose relations between their positions and their citation records remain neutral. The total amount of citations for the control group is more than 1200. The timespan for which citations’ pattern has been studied is 1975-2015. Previous coercive citations for a journal benefit (increase its IF) has been signaled. To the best of our knowledge, this is a pioneering work on coercive citations for personal (editors’) benefit. Editorial teams should be aware about this type of potentially unethical behavior and act accordingly.

The modern age offers many challenges in terms of health related physical condition, such as new technologies, fast and stressful lifestyle, unhealthy diets, alarming statistics on physical activity, etc. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the existing problems, being necessary to answer the following questions: what is the fitness level of the population? and how important are physical exercises in human life? The purpose of this paper is to monitor the fitness level of a group of students, with the help of a new fitness test system, providing individualized feedback, guidance, or motivation to the subjects. Thus, we applied the new EFB system (European Fitness Badge), that evaluates certain components of physical condition in relation to health (endurance, strength, coordination, flexibility), on a group of 180 students, 78 male (43.3%) and 102 female (56.7%), with the average age m = 23.59 ± 7.38 years, from different specializations within the U.A.V. Arad. The subjects were divided into two groups: beginners - TP1 (N-93) and advanced - TP2 (N-87). The results showed significant differences in most components of overall fitness depending on the test profile (basic or advanced), demografic factors (sex and age), and student’s major (sport, economics, psychology, etc.), a stronger association between ABSI and overall fitness than BMI, and that test profile acts as mediator between demografic factors (sex and age) and fitness abilities. In conclusion this study evidenced tendencies toward differences between the groups of subjects based on the test profile. Also the advanced profile participant scores were higher than those of the basic profile participants. The results reflect as well a lower BMI and ABSI indexes for the advanced profile participants.

Recent advances in synthetic membranes allow their use in fields as diverse as food and agriculture, biotechnology, industrial wastewater treatment, and potable water production. Among the newly developed technologies, nanofiltration for liquids and more particularly for desalination of seawater or saline aquifers are actively pursued. However, current solid-state membranes performance is limited, which calls for the development of novel formulations for membranes offering both high permeability (ion and water flux) and ion differentiation (selectivity), usually considered antagonist features. We report the development of hybrid nanoporous membranes made of solid-state polymeric carbonate track-etched (PCTE) thin films in which biological ion channels such as Gramicidin A (GA), alpha-hemolysin (α-HL), and outer-membrane protein F (OmpF) aquaporin are confined and graphene oxide (GO) conjugated cobalt ion selective binding peptide motifs (Copep) are adsorbed, referring as bioinspired and biomimetic approaches, respectively. These solid-state nanoporous membranes are attracting widespread attention since they offer scalability, mechanical robustness, selectivity, controlled pore dimension and shape, for water sustainability. The ion permeability, ion diffusion coefficient and selective ion recognition are evaluated via nanofiltration, cell diffusion kinetics, and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy to gain insights into the role of key performance parameters including effective ion confinement in track-etched pores, rich surface chemistry, and peptide-induced channel for selective ion transport. These findings provide new avenues for artificial ion channels by synergistic combination of eco-friendly material design such as GO enabled by bio-molecular recognition chemistry.

This scientific paper explores the increasingly widespread use of collaborative robots in the industrial environment, highlighting them as a solution to challenges related to the high costs of human labour and the associated management difficulties. The authors focus on the process of defining requirements for the implementation of collaborative robots, providing strategies based on mathematical management models. This approach translates into significant benefits for companies, such as cost reduction, quality improvement, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the paper proposes an innovative mathematical model for assessing total costs, budgeting, profitability, and electric power consumption associated with the operation of collaborative robots. This model allows for a comparison between the costs involved in using human labour and those associated with collaborative robots, providing critical information for technological investment decisions. The efficiency of this mathematical model is demonstrated through a practical application, where collaborative robots were integrated into a production environment, and costs and efficiency were evaluated compared to the use of human labour. This scientific paper provides a systematic and efficient approach to implementing collaborative robots in industrial processes, benefiting from strategies based on mathematical management models and an original mathematical model for evaluating performance and associated costs.

This study is focused on the mechanical properties of WC-Co composites obtained via Selective Laser Sintering using PA12 as a binder. The as-printed samples were thermally debonded, and sintered, first in vacuum, and then sinter-HIPed at 1400oC, using 50 bar Ar, which has led to relative densities up to 66 %. Optical metallographic images show a microstructure consisting of WC, with an average grain size in the range of 1.4 – 2.0 µm, with isolated large grains, in a well-distributed Co matrix. The shrinkage of the samples was 43 %, with no significant shape distortion. The printing direction of the samples has a great impact on the transversal rupture strength (TRS). Nevertheless, the bending strength was low, with a measured maximum of 612 MPa. SEM images of the fracture surface of TRS samples show the presence of defects that constitute the cause of the low measured values. The hardness values position the obtained composites in the range of medium coarse classical cemented carbides. The results were also related to the amount of free Co after sintering, close to the initial one, as assessed by magnetic measurements, indicating a low degree of interaction with PA12 decomposition products.

In this study, Mg-Al and Mg-Al-Ni - layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were successfully synthesized for efficient removal of Mn²⁺ from synthetically wastewater. LDH adsorbents (Mg-Al and Mg-Ni-Al) were prepared by co-precipitation method. The formation of the layered double hydroxide, the adsorption of manganese on both LDH (Mg-Al and Mg-Ni-Al) were observed by XRD, SEM and EDX analysis. The various parameters such as the effect of shaking time, initial Mn²⁺ concentration, temperature were controlled and optimized to removal of Mn²⁺ from synthetic wastewater. The kinetics and adsorption isotherms for Mn²⁺ removal from wastewater were studied in batch mode. At temperatures of 10 °C and 20 °C the adsorption equilibrium was reached after 24 h. Adsorption isotherms of Mn²⁺ are well fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equation. The adsorption capacity of Mn²⁺ from synthetic wastewater of 80.607 mg/kg was obtained for (Mg-Al-Ni)-LDH. It is found that the adsorption kinetics is best described by the pseudo-second order model. These results prove that LDHs can be considered as a potential material for adsorption of Mn²⁺ from wastewater.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrinopathies, estimated to affect about 5.4% of the world's population around 2025. It is thought that nearly a third of diabetic patients have some type of skin condition. Frequently, the cutaneous effects of this heterogeneous syndrome are ac-curately detected late in the progressive form of the disease. The main objective of the present study was to identify the main cellular characteristics of the cutaneous microenvironment in exper- imentally induced diabetes mellitus. Skin fragments were harvested from adult white Wistar rats of both sexes, with the weight of 200 g, 12 weeks after streptozotocin diabetes was induced. In parallel with histopathological diagnosis by using hematoxylin and eosine staining, samples were processed by transmission electron microscopy technique and examined with a Philips CM100 microscope. In the apparently macroscopically unchanged tegument, photon microscopy revealed both progres ive thinning of the epidermis in the early stages of diabetes and a significant process of fibrosis and collagen hyalinization in the dermis. In addition, in the early stages, the electron microscopic study provided ultrastructural details characteristic of a senescent phenotype with reduced cell proliferation. The morphological changes in the skin may be the first signs of disruption of carbohydrate metabolism and in the case of established diabetes may reflect its progression and the efficacy of therapy.

We used LA-ICP-MS U-Pb data for detrital zircon to constrain the Maximum Depositional Age (MDA) and provenance of clastic sedimentary rocks of the Volyn-Orsha sedimentary basin, which filled an elongated (~625×250 km) depression in SW Baltica and attained ~900 m in thickness. Eighty-six zircons out of one hundred and three yielded concordant dates, with most of them (86 %) falling in the time interval between 1655 ± 3 and 1044 ± 16 Ma and clustering in two peaks at ca. 1630 and 1230 Ma. The remaining zircons yielded dates older than 1800 Ma. The MDA is defined by a tight group of three zircons with a weighted average age of 1079 ± 8 Ma. This age corresponds to the time of a clockwise ~90° rotation of Baltica and the formation of the Grenvillian – Sveconorwegian – Sunsas orogenic belts. Subsidence was facilitated by the presence of eclogites derived from subducted oceanic crust. The sediments of the Orsha sub-basin in the northeastern part of the basin were derived from the local crystalline basement, whereas the sediments in the Volyn sub-basin, extending to the margin of Baltica, were transported from the orogen between Laurentia, Baltica, and Amazonia.

Groove pancreatitis represents a chronic focal form of pancreatitis affecting the zone between the pancreatic head and the duodenal „C” loop, known as the groove area. This is a rare condition that affects the pancreatic periampullary part, including the duodenum and the common bile duct, associated usually with long-term alcohol and tobacco misuse and being more frequent in men than in women. The most common clinical symptoms of groove pancreatitis include weight loss, acute abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice. This report is about a 66 year old woman with a history of heavy smoking, presenting with weight loss, nausea, and upper abdominal pain. Contrast enhanced computed tomography revealed the existence of a chronic pancreatitis as well as the dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, a cyst of the pancreatic head and enlargement of the biliary tract. Conservatory treatment was initiated but with no improvement of symptoms. Since there was no indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, we decided to perform a pancreatoduodenectomy, as surgery appears to be the single effective treatment.

Reduced-order electrothermal models play a key role in the design and control of lithium- ion cell stacks, calling for accurate model parameter calibration. This paper presents a complete electrical and thermal experimental characterization procedure for coupled modeling of cylindrical lithium-ion cells in order to implement them in a prototype Formula SAE hybrid racing car. The main 4goal of the tests is to determine cell capacity variations with temperatures and discharge currents, to predict the open circuit voltage of the cell and its entropic component. A simple approach for the characterization of the battery equivalent electrical circuit and a two-steps thermal characterization method are also shown. The investigations are carried out on four commercial 18650 NMC lithium cells. The model demonstrated to predict the battery voltage at a RMS error lower than 20mV and the temperature to a RMS error equal to 0.5 ◦C. The authors hope that this manuscript can contribute to the development of standardized characterization techniques for such cells, while offering experimental data and validated models that can be used by researchers and BMS designers in different applications.

We report on the successful preparation of wet dressings hydrogels based on Chitosan-Poly(N-Vinyl-Pyrrolidone)-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(ethylene oxide) by e-beam cross-linking in weakly acidic media, to be used for rapid healing and pain release of infected skin wounds. The structure and compositions of hydrogels investigated according to sol-gel and swelling studies, network parameters, as well as FTIR and XPS analyses showed the efficient interaction of the hydrogel components upon irradiation, maintaining the bonding environment while the cross-linking degree increasing with the irradiation dose and the formation of a structure with the mesh size in the range 11-67 nm. Hydrogels with gel fraction above 85% and the best-swelling properties in different pH solutions were obtained for hydrogels produced with 15 kGy. The hydrogels are stable in the simulated physiological condition of an infected wound and show appropriate moisture retention capability and the water vapor transmission rate up to 272.67 g m-2 day-1, to ensure fast healing. The hydrogels proved to have a significant loading capacity of ibuprofen (IBU), being able to incorporate a therapeutic dose for the treatment of severe pains. Simultaneously, IBU was released up to 25% in the first 2h, having a release maximum after 8h.

This research investigates entrepreneurial attitudes among 415 students in the academic sports domain. Utilizing a 15-item questionnaire, participants were categorized into four groups based on their sports background: individual and team sports with competitive history, amateur athletes, and non-practitioners. The questionnaire exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.755). Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square Test of Homogeneity across criteria such as gender, competitive sports involvement, type of competitive sports, and engagement in amateur sports revealed significant differences in nine out of 60 comparisons. Furthermore, this study employs an explanatory approach to elucidate the distinctions among athletes, amateur, and non-athlete students in academic sports programs regarding assumption of responsibilities, proactive initiative, determination to establish their own businesses, perception of the comfort zone, and the perception of post-sports career adaptation. Additionally, a gender comparison is conducted concerning the perception of business risk, comfort and security in a stable workplace, and the applicability of sports-oriented approaches in business. These results provide valuable insights into how sports backgrounds shape entrepreneurial perspectives, thereby contributing to the development of customized entrepreneurial programs. Moreover, the study seeks to offer a nuanced comprehension of the diverse factors influencing the entrepreneurial attitudes and perceptions of students in sports academic programs.

Wound healing involves physical, chemical and immunological processes. Transient receptor potential (TRP) and other ion channels are implicated in epidermal re-epithelization. Ion movement across ion channels can induce transmembrane potential that leads to transepithelial potential (TEP) changes. TEP present in epidermis surrounding the lesion decreases and induces an endogenous direct current generating an epithelial electric field (EF) that could be implicated in wound re-epithelialization. TRP channels are involved in the activation of immune cells during the inflammatory phase of wound healing. The aim of the study was to review the mechanisms of ion channel involvement in wound healing in in vivo experiments in rodents (mice, rats, rabbits) and how can this process be influenced. This review used the latest results published in scientific journals over the last year and this year to date (1 January 2023–31 December 3000) in order to include the in-press articles. Some types of TRP channels, such as TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPA1, are expressed in immune cells and can be activated by inflammatory mediators. The most beneficial effects in wound healing are produced using agonists of TRPV1, TRPV4 and TRPA1 channels or by inhibiting with antagonists, antisense oligonucleotides or knocking down TRPV3 and TRPM8 channels.

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria (6-hydroxy-L-nicotine) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examined. A search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, limiting entries to those no later than July 2023, was conducted. The search focused specifically on articles pertaining to nicotine metabolites, memory, oxidative stress, cholinergic system activity, as well as enzymes or pathways related to nicotine degradation in bacteria. The preliminary search resulted in 696 articles, and following the application of exclusion criteria, 185 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion. This review focuses on experimental studies supporting nicotine catabolism in bacteria, and the chemical and pharmacological activities of nicotine and its metabolite 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine.

In the electric distribution systems, the “Smart Grid” concept is implemented to encourage energy savings and integration of the innovative technologies, helping the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) in choosing the investment plans which to lead the optimal operation of the networks and increasing the energy efficiency. In this context, a new phase load balancing algorithm was proposed to be implemented in the low voltage distribution networks with hybrid structures of the consumption points (switchable and non-switchable consumers). It can work in both operation modes (on-line and off-line), uploading information from different databases of the DNO which contain: the consumers’ characteristics, the real loads of the consumers integrated into the Smart Metering System (SMS), and the typical load profiles for the consumers non-integrated in the SMS. The algorithm was tested in a real network, having a hybrid structure of the consumption points, on a time interval by 24 hours. The obtained results were analyzed and compared with other algorithms from the heuristic (Minimum Count of Loads Adjustment algorithm) and the metaheuristic (Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithms) categories. The best performances were provided by the proposed algorithm, such that the unbalance coefficient resulted in the smallest value (1.0017). The phase load balancing led to the following technical effects: decreasing the average current in the neutral conductor with 94% and for the energy losses with 61.75 %, and increasing the minimum value of the phase voltage at the farthest pillar with the 7.14 %, compared to the unbalanced case.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndrome in human populations, associated with germline variants in MLH1, MSH2/EPCAM, MSH6 and PMS2 genes. The advent of next generation sequencing has proven a significant impact in germline variant detection in the causative genes; however, a large proportion of patients with clinical criteria still receive uncertain or negative results. PMS2 is the least frequent reported gene, associated with up to 15% of LS cases with late-onset disease and low penetrance phenotype; however, the proportion of PMS2-LS cases is considered to be highly underestimated. In this context, we consulted public available databases (ClinVar, LOVD) for missense and intronic PMS2 variants and performed an in silico analysis of the genomic sequence. Splicing bioinformatics tools proven effective in other genes were used to assess both the wild-type DNA sequence and reported genetic variants. Splicing alterations were predicted in silico and using GTEx short-read RNA expression data. Out of the 2384 missense variants discovered, 90% were classified with uncertain significance (VUS). 4.9% of missense variants were shown to have a potential splicing consequence (DS > 0.2) using SpliceAI. As described in the original publication, SpliceAI-visual was proven effective in annotation of short intronic variants (< 50 bp). Four short intronic variants were identified using SpliceAI-visual as potentially splicing disturbing, in spite of using a lower threshold (DS > 0.1). Moreover, we observed that Splicing Regulatory Elements (SREs) may play a fundamental role in alternative splicing in PMS2 gene, ESE motifs being overrepresented in highly expressed exons 5, 11 and 14. Computational analysis performed in our study serves as a valuable filtering step for guiding further RNA sequencing experiments. Additional functional data is necessary to evaluate the significance of our findings.

Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of ions across cell membranes, playing a key role in a range of biological processes. The high cost and time required for wet lab experiments to characterize ion channels has spurred the development of computational methods for this purpose. In our previous work, we demonstrated the effectiveness of protein language models for ion channel prediction, using a logistic regression classifier to distinguish ion channels from non-ion channels (TooT-BERT-C) and transporters from non-transporters (TooT-BERT-T). In this study, we build upon this approach by using a combination of classical machine learning classifiers and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with fine-tuned representations from ProtBERT, ProtBERT-BFD, and MembraneBERT to discriminate ion channels from non-ion channels. The results of our experiments demonstrate that TooT-BERT-CNN-C, a combination of the representations from ProtBERT-BFD and a CNN, outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods for predicting ion channels, with a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.86 and an accuracy of 98.35% on an independent test set.

First of all the paper presents a solid solution of piezoelectric ceramic that was synthesized according to the general formula Pb(1-x)Srx(Ti0.48Zr0.52)(1-y)NbyO3 with x = 0.05 and y = 0.02, using wet ceramic processing technology and using an oxide mix as prime material. The effects of dopants (Sr2+ and Nb5+) on phase constitution, on microstructure and on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties were determinate. The Zr/Ti ratio was chosen near the morphotropic phase boundary of the PZT system in studied composition. The XRD data revealed that the PZT doped composition had tetragonal perovskite structure. Secondly the paper presents the design of the novel piezo-motor based on a surface wave which translates the linear extension of different piezoelectric segments of a piezoelectric cylinder into a rotational bending movement. This rotational bending of the piezoelectric cylinder is then transformed into a continuous rotation of the rotor through a calculated contact. The design of the motor takes advantage of the high piezoelectric constants of the developed material in an optimal way in order to increase the energetic efficiency. A brief mathematical model of electromechanical answer of piezoelectric materials is presented as it was used in the modeling of the material during the numerical simulations.

In time, osteoarthritis (OA) generates the misalignment of the affected joint structures. However, due to the nature of bipedal gait, OA in the lower limb can also cause pathological gait patterns, which can generate instability and falls, with great consequence, especially in the aged population. With goniometry used to evaluate the range of motion of joints (ROM), we wanted to evaluate how gender impacts gait dynamics in OA patients. For this study we have compared 106 OA patients (male=32, female=74) to age matched controls. All participants had their right leg as dominant. Video recording of normal gait was analysed with a digital goniometry tool phone application, and the knee’s ROM was measured in midstance and midswing of the gait. During midstance, significant extension and flexion of the knee excursion have been observed in both males and females. During midswing, knee OA presents more differences, whereas subjects with hip and knee OA present changes on the dominant knee. Midstance changes suggest that the knee’s joint degenerative changes can be linked to hip OA secondary changes. Midswing changes in lower limb OA suggest a connection to the activities of daily life. Gender differences generated by OA must furthermore be studied in both lower limbs so that the best therapeutic approach can be chosen.

Background: Previous papers have developed a statistical mechanics of neocortical interactions (SMNI) fit to short-term memory and EEG data. Adaptive Simulated Annealing (ASA) has been developed to perform fits to such nonlinear stochastic systems. An N-dimensional path-integral algorithm for quantum systems, qPATHINT, has been developed from classical PATHINT. Both fold short-time propagators (distributions or wave functions) over long times. Previous papers applied qPATHINT to two systems, in neocortical interactions and financial options. Objective: In this paper the quantum path-integral for Calcium ions is used to derive a closed-form analytic solution at arbitrary time that is used to calculate interactions with classical-physics SMNI interactions among scales. Using fits of this SMNI model to EEG data, including these effects, will help determine if this is a reasonable approach. Method: Methods of mathematical-physics for optimization and for path integrals in classical and quantum spaces are used for this project. Studies using supercomputer resources tested various dimensions for their scaling limits. In this paper the quantum path-integral is used to derive a closed-form analytic solution at arbitrary time that is used to calculate interactions with classical-physics SMNI interactions among scales. Results: The mathematical-physics and computer parts of the study are successful, in that there is modest improvement of cost/objective functions used to fit EEG data using these models. Conclusions: This project points to directions for more detailed calculations using more EEG data and qPATHINT at each time slice to propagate quantum calcium waves, synchronized with PATHINT propagation of classical SMNI.

Plasma plays an important role in semiconductor processes. With the recent miniature and integration, the control of plasma became essential for the success in critical dimension of a few nanometers and etch narrow and deep holes with high aspect ratios. Recently, the etching process has reached physical limitations due to a significant increase in wafer surface temperature under the elevated amount of RF power, affecting not only the warpage phenomenon but also etching uniformity and etching profiles. Therefore, the plasma characteristics are identified using invasive single Langmuir probe (SLP) for wafer temperature diagnosis. Optical data is obtained through a non-invasive optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and the plasma parameters are derived to compare and verify with the SLP. Two variables, electron temperature and electron density, are substituted for the heat flux formula to derive the heat flux according to its location. Using a wafer-type temperature sensor, check the derived heat flux values and compare trends. Such studies are expected to be able to calculate heat flux values in real time, anticipate wafer temperatures, and solve existing problems.

Silver and gold nanoparticles are a promising tool for medical and industrial application, therefore, their ecotoxicity should be carefully examined. The effect of silver (12 nm) and gold (4.7) nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol on Spirulina platensis biomass growth and biochemical composition was investigated. The spirulina cultivation medium was supplemented with nanoparticles in concentration range 0.025-0.5 µM. Given concentrations stimulated spirulina biomass growth, while content of proteins, carbohydrates and auxiliary pigments was affected insignificantly by presence of nanoparticles in cultivation medium. The pronounced effect of gold nanoparticles at concentration 0.5 µM on the lipids content was observed. TEM images demonstrate that nanoparticles penetrate inside the cell, resulting in ultrastructural changes in cells.

This study aimed to obtain and characterize extracted hemp oil enriched in cannabidiol (CBD) by decarboxylation of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and to give new insights into its antioxidant and anticancer effects. Optimization of CBDA decarboxylation in hemp oil was performed, and CBD and CBDA contents and purities were determined by “flash chromatography”, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The antioxidant properties of CBD-enriched oil were investigated by Fe2+ chelating activity, Fe3+ reducing antioxidant power assay, O2− scavenging activity, HO− scavenging ability and lipid peroxidation inhibitory assay and its cytotoxicity, apoptosis- and oxidative stress-inducing effects on NHDF, MeWo, HeLa, HepG2 and HOS cells were determined. The CBD concentration in hemp oil was increased by CBDA soft decarboxylation optimized at 90°C, for 1 h and resulted oil was capable of reducing iron, scavenging free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in cell-free oxidative conditions. CBD-enriched oil promoted NHDF proliferation at up to 15 µg CBD/mL, while inducing apoptosis and ROS production and modulating antioxidant enzymes’ gene expression in cancer cells, being selective for osteosarcoma cells and induced apoptosis by p53- and ROS-independent mechanisms. CBD-enriched hemp oil demonstrated antioxidant properties in oxidative conditions and promoted normal fibroblasts’ proliferation, while inducing apoptosis and ROS production in cancer cells.

Background: This is a comparative analysis of upgrade to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) of an existing pacemaker implanted for bradyarrhythmia or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). International guidelines recommend an upgrade to CRT for both groups based on the same criteria; this may lead to a hypothesis of whether we are under-treating a population that would otherwise benefit more from a CRT than the other. Methods: So far, this is the largest multicentre retrospective study that includes in total, 151 (93 upgrades to CRT-P and 58 upgrades to CRT-D) participants who had an upgrade to a CRT device between January 2010 and January 2020. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analysed both, before and after an upgrade to CRT. Results: EF was greater in patients with PPM, both before and after upgrade. Moreover, the post upgrade increase in EF was significantly greater in patients with PPM. Patients with ICD have, on average, an NYHA class ranking greater than PPM patients, both before and after upgrade. Conclusions: These data show that the PPM group patients have a greater response to upgrade to CRT compared to those from the ICD group. It also demonstrates that patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy are better responders compared to those with ischaemic aetiology.

In this work we present the results obtained with an artificial neural network (ANN) which we trained to predict the expected output of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) process, while exploring a multi-dimensional parameter space. We argue on the utility and efficiency of the ANN model and demonstrate its ability to predict the outcome of HHG simulations. In this case study we present the results for a loose focusing HHG beamline, where the changing parameters are: the laser pulse energy, gas pressure, gas cell position relative to focus and gas cell length. The physical quantity which we predict here using ANN is directly related to the total harmonic yield in a specified spectral domain (20-40 eV). We discuss the versatility and adaptability of the presented method.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming more common in portable electronic devices due to their high energy density, lack of memory effect, and high charge and discharge rate capabilities. Li-ion batteries are a relatively new technology, first marketed in the early 1990s, and research and development work are ongoing to improve safety and increase capacity, charge/discharge rate, and lifetime [1]. In this paper, we review the types and characteristics of Li-ion batteries and summarize charging methods and safety considerations. Following, we design and fabricate Li-ion battery and highlight the steps of fabrication that ensure fast charge/discharge rates that give the battery more reliability and high energy density

Boron (B) is considered a prebiotic chemical element with a role in both the origin and evolution of life, as well as an essential micronutrient for plants, some bacteria, fungi, and algae. B has beneficial effects on the biological functions of humans and animals, such as reproduction, growth, calcium metabolism, bone formation, energy metabolism, immunity, brain function, and steroid hormones. In the future, naturally organic B (NOB) species may become promising novel prebiotic candidates. We included the most relevant works about NOB species, starting from our 30-year research experience. NOB-containing compounds have been shown essential for the symbiosis between different kingdoms. New insights into the essentiality of NOB species for healthy symbiosis between the human/animal host and the microbiota will determine the use of natural B-based nutraceuticals to target the colon (colonic foods). The mechanism of action (MoA) of NOB species is related to both the B signaling molecule [autoinducer-2–borate (AI-2B)], as well as the fortification of the colonic mucous gel layer with NOB species from the specific prebiotic boron-rich diet. Therefore, both microbiota and the mucous gel layer of the colon become the NOB species’ target. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the essentiality of the NOB species on the symbiosis between the microbiota and the human/animal host with the stated aim of highlighting the MoA and target of these species.

When implementing SVMs, two major problems are encountered: (a) the number of local minima increases exponentially with the number of samples and (b) the quantity of required computer storage, required for a regular quadratic programming solver, increases by an exponential mag-nitude as the problem size expands. The Kernel-Adatron family of algorithms gaining attention lately which has allowed it to handle very large classification and regression problems. Howev-er, these methods treat different types of samples (Noise, border, and core) in the same manner, which causes searches in unpromising areas and increases the number of iterations. In this work, we introduce a hybrid method to overcome these shortcomings, namely Optimal Recurrent Neu-ral Network Density Based Support Vector Machine (Opt-RNN-DBSVM). This method consists of four steps: (a) characterization of different samples, (b) elimination of samples with a low probability of being a support vector, (c) construction of an appropriate recurrent neural network based on an original energy function, and (d) solution of the system of differential equations, managing the dynamics of the RNN, using the Euler-Cauchy method involving an optimal time step. The RNN remembers the regions explored during the search process thanks to its recurrent architecture. We demonstrated that RNN-SVM converges to feasible support vectors and Opt-RNN-DBSVM has a very low time complexity compared to RNN-SVM with constant time step, and KAs-SVM. Several experiments were performed on academic data sets. We used several classification performances measures to compare Opt-RNN-DBSVM to different classification methods and the results obtained show the good performance of the proposed method.

The removal of metal ions by biosorption on inexpensive materials is still a challenge for environmental engineering research. In this study, marine green algae biomass (Ulva lactuca sp.) and the biochars obtained from this biomass, at 320 C (BC-320) and 550 C (BC-550), were used as biosorbents for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution. In addition to comparing the biosorption capacities, the determination of the thermodynamic parameters allows the choice of the most suitable material for the biosorption processes. The experimental results, obtained for Cu(II) ions biosorption on each biosorbent (algae biomass (AB), BC-320 and BC-550), at three different temperatures (10, 30 and 50 C) were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, while pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusions models were used to model the kinetic data. The biosorption of Cu(II) ions is best described by the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second kinetic model, regardless of the type of biosorbent. The maximum biosorption capacity (qmax, mg/g) depends on the temperature, but also on the type of biosorbent, and follow the order: BC-320 < AB < BC-550. Using the experimental isotherms, the thermodynamic parameters (G0, H0 and S0) for the biosorption of Cu(II) ions on each biosorbent were calculated. The analysis of the obtained values constitutes the main arguments in choosing BC-550 as the most effective biosorbent for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous media.

Based on the previous work done by Fujii et al., NdBaInO4 compounds present modest oxide-ion conductivities. Therefore, it has been an attractive system of significant interest. In this paper, the Ca element has been attempted to partially substitute for Nd and the total electrical conductivity has been successfully improved due to the generation of oxygen vacancies. The synthesis, crystal structure, density, surface topography and electrical properties of NdBaInO4 and Ca-doped NdBaInO4 have been studied respectively. NdBaInO4, 10% and 20% molar fraction of Ca doped NdBaInO4 were synthesized through solid state reaction and they were calcined at 1000 °C for 14 hours and sintered at 1440 °C,1430 °C and 1420 °C respectively. The crystal structure of them has been obtained from Le Bail refinement of the XRD pattern, giving the result of the monoclinic structure which belongs to P21/c space group. The size of particles processed with different ball milling time and surface topography have been detected by the scanning electron microscope. The total electrical conductivities of Nd1-xCaxBaInO4-x/2 (x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) were measured in the dry atmosphere by AC impedance spectroscopy and Nd0.9Ca0.1BaInO3.95 exhibited the highest total electrical conductivity and the lowest activation energy. What is more, the total conductivity of Nd0.9Ca0.1BaInO3.95 in the wet atmosphere at moderate temperature is relatively higher than that in the dry atmosphere while this phenomenon was not found in NdBaInO4. Therefore, the excess conductivity suggests that potential proton conduction may exist in wet atmospheres. In addition, Ca-doped NdBaInO4 were chosen for the oxygen isotope exchange which aims to obtain the diffusion coefficient and surface exchange coefficient, and Nd0.9Ca0.1BaInO3.95 shows the highest diffusion coefficient and D* decreases with the increase of the molar fraction of the Ca element.

Ion channels serve many cellular functions including ion homeostasis, volume regulation, signaling, nutrient acquisition, and developmental progression. Although the complex lifecycles of malaria parasites necessitate ion and solute flux across membranes, whole genome sequencing of the human pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, revealed remarkably few orthologs of known ion channel genes. Contrasting with this, biochemical studies have implicated channel-mediated flux of ions and nutritive solutes across several membranes in infected erythrocytes. Here, I review advances in the cellular and molecular biology of ion channels in malaria parasites. These studies have implicated novel parasite genes in the formation of at least two ion channels, with additional ion channels likely present at various membranes and parasite stages. Computational approaches that rely on homology to known channel genes from higher organisms will not be very helpful in identifying the molecular determinants of these activities. Given their unusual properties, novel molecular and structural features, and essential roles in pathogen survival and development, parasite channels should be promising targets for therapy development.

To date, zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been attracting extensive attention due to their outstanding properties and the potential to be the solution for next-generation energy storage systems. However, the uncontrollable growth of zinc dendrites and water-splitting issues seriously restrict the further scalable application. Over the past few years, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have been regarded as a promising alternative to address these challenges and facilitate the practical advancement of zinc batteries. In this review, we revisited the research progress of SPEs applied in zinc batteries in the past few years and focus on introducing cutting-edge polymer science and technologies that can be utilized to prepare advanced SPEs for high-performance zinc batteries. The operating mechanism of SPEs and the functions of polymers will be summarized. To highlight the polymer functions, SPEs are categorized into three types, respectively, homogenous polymer SPEs, hybrids polymer SPEs, and nanocomposites SPEs, which are expected to reveal the roles and principles of various polymers in zinc batteries. This review presents the current research progress and fundamental mechanisms of polymer-based SPEs in zinc batteries, outlines the challenging issues encountered, and meanwhile proposes potential solutions for future endeavours.

The generation and maintenance of membrane potential is a fundamental part of Membrane Pump Theory. One of the key points of this hypothesis is based on a natural or facilitated molecular diffusion through several types of ion channels and pumps like the Na/K ATPase. Following the principles of chemistry, electrostatics and geometry, it becomes clear that ion channels cannot function in this way. The ions channels cannot by their location have both a filter function and be ion concentrators, and the Na/K pump by its position in the membrane and by the proposed assumptions is not able to perform its regulatory function. The current model must absolutely be revised according to the current state of our knowledge and allow an advance in the understanding of the phenomena opening new research perspectives.

Ion channels contribute fundamental properties to all cell membranes. The ion channels are highly diverse in conductivity, structure, location and function. However, many of them can be regulated by common mechanisms, such as voltage or (de-)phosphorylation. Considering primarily pain-related ion channels, this review covers more novel and less known features of ion channel function, also with the aim to transfer knowledge between fields, which get inevitably more separate due to their size.

Magnetic nanoparticles are met across many biological species ranging from magnetosensitive bacteria, fishes, bees, bats, rats, birds, to humans. They can be both of biogenetic origin and due to environmental contamination, being either in paramagnetic or ferromagnetic state. The energy of such naturally occurring single-domain magnetic nanoparticles can reach up to 10-20 room k_BT in the magnetic field of the Earth, which naturally led to supposition that they can serve as sensory elements in various animals. This work explores within a stochastic modeling framework a fascinating hypothesis of magnetosensitive ion channels with magnetic nanoparticles serving as sensory elements, especially, how realistic it is given a highly dissipative viscoelastic interior of living cells and typical sizes of nanoparticles possibly involved.

The cell case temperature versus time profiles of a multistage fast charging technique (4C-1C-CV)/fast discharge (4C) in a 2.3 Ah cylindrical lithium-ion cell are analyzed using a 1D thermal model. Heat generation is dominated by the irreversible component associated to cell overpotential, although evidences of the reversible component are also observed, associated to the heat related to entropy from the electrode reactions. The final charging stages (i.e., 1C-CV) significantly reduce heat generation and cell temperature during charge, resulting in a thermally safe charging protocol. Cell heat capacity was determined from cell specific heats and cell materials thickness. The 1D model adjustment of the experimental data during the 2 min. resting period between discharge and charge allowed us to calculate both the time constant of the relaxation process and the cell thermal resistance. The obtained values of these thermal parameters used in the proposed model are almost equal to those found in the literature for the same cell model, which suggests that the proposed model is suitable for its implementation in thermal management systems.

First described in 1760 by the anatomist Morgagni, CoA is a congenital heart defect characterized by narrowing the aorta, typically distal to the left subclavian artery. It accounts for approximately 5-8% of all congenital heart diseases, with an incidence estimated at 4 per 10,000 live births. In 1944, the Swedish surgeon Clarence Crafoord achieved the first successful surgical CoA repair by performing an aortic end-to-end anastomosis on two patients aged 12 and 27 years old. Presently, the most prevalent techniques for surgical repair, particularly in infants and neonates with isolated coarctation, involve resection with end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) and the modified Crafoord technique (extended resection with end-to-end anastomosis (EEEA)). Subclavian flap aortoplasty (SCAP) is an alternative surgical option for CoA repair in patients under two years of age. In cases where the stenosis extends beyond resection and end-to-end anastomosis feasibility, patch aortoplasty (PP) employing a prosthetic patch can augment the stenotic region, especially for older patients. Despite advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, recoarctation remains a significant concern after surgical or interventional repair. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough analysis of coarctation management, covering the pioneering techniques introduced by Crafoord using head-to-tail anastomosis and now extending to the contemporary era marked by percutaneous interventions as well as the recoarctation rate associated with each type.

In this study, literature on pore structure and chloride ion diffusivity was collected to investigate the correlation of pore structure indicators with diffusivity. Good correlation between total porosity and chloride ion diffusivity was found when the samples did not contain admixture materials and diffusion test was conducted without acceleration. Pore diameter indicators did not correlate with diffusivity. The diffusivity of cement paste was reduced by admixture materials compared to that without admixture materials even if the total porosity is the same. On the other hand, the diffusivity of concrete was not reduced by admixture materials.

Evaluating the integrity of structures is an important issue in engineering applications. The use of vibration-based techniques has become a common approach to assessing cracks, which are the most often occurring damage in structural elements. When involving an inverse method, it is necessary to know the influence of the position and the geometry of the crack on the modal parameter changes. The geometry of the crack, both in size and shape, defines the damage severity (DS). In this study, we present a method (DS-SHC) used for estimating the DS for closed and open transverse cracks in beam-like structures by using the intact and damaged beam deflections under its weight and a Stochastic Hill Climbing (SHC) algorithm. After describing the procedure of applying DS-SHC, we calculate for a prismatic cantilever beam the severities for different crack types and depths. The results are tested by comparing the DS obtained with DS-SHC with those acquired from dynamic tests made using professional simulation software. We obtained a good fit between the severities determined in these two ways. Afterward, we performed laboratory experiments and find out that the severities obtained with the DS-SHC method can accurately predict the frequency changes due to the crack. Hence, these severities are a valuable tool for damage detection.

According to cancer death rates for women worldwide, this form of cancer ranks fourth after breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancer, affecting around 570,000 women annually. About 270,000 women each year pass away from this illness, 85% of them are from underdeveloped nations where cervical cancer claims more lives than any other kind of cancer. In Romania, cervical cancer ranks fourth in terms of death, behind breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancers, and second in terms of incidence, behind breast cancer. Endometriosis in the cervical region is quite uncommon. Only a tiny fraction of women had the condition upon diagnosis. It might be challenging to detect cervical endometriosis since it rarely manifests any symptoms or markers. Women who are asymptomatic can manage the condition expectantly; however, if the symptoms return often, surgery may be required. As many patients have concurrent diseases such fibroids, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, and pelvic endometriosis, cervical endometriosis therapy appears to be straightforward. There ought to be surgical intervention. Symptomatic cervical endometriosis, such as irregular or post-coital bleeding, may be treated surgically using the LLETZ surgery or another cervical ablation approach. Background and Objectives: (1) To assess one's degree of knowledge on the signs, causes, and methods of preventing cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis, as well as screening for these conditions. (2) To ascertain how the responder behaves about cervical cancer screening and prevention, as well as endometriosis in the cervical region. Materials and Methods: A case report about cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis was conducted among a patient from Romania, Timisoara. Results: In this study, we report the patient with cervical endometriosis, although he was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer. Conclusions: Cervical cancer, a condition that can have serious repercussions on the patient's health, even if there is no clear picture of paraclinical investigations, to raise the suspicion of cervical endometriosis and not cervical cancer.

Background: Alongside their long-term effects - post-concussion syndrome (PCS) - mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are significant public health concerns. Currently, there is a lack of reliable biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring mTBI and PCS. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted by cells that have recently emerged as a potential source of biomarkers for mTBI and PCS due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and reflect the pathophysiology of brain injury. This study aimed to investigate the role of salivary exosomal biomarkers in mTBI and PCS. Methods: A systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines was conducted, and studies were selected based on their relevance to the topic. Results: Studies have shown that exosomal tau, phosphorylated tau (p-tau), amyloid beta (Aβ), and microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for mTBI and PCS. Specifically, elevated levels of exosomal tau and p-tau have been associated with mTBI and PCS, as well as with repetitive mTBI. Dysregulated exosomal miRNAs have also been observed in individuals with mTBI and PCS. Additionally, exosomal Prion cellular protein (PRPc), coagulation factor XIII (XIIIa), synaptogyrin-3, IL-6, and aquaporins have been identified as promising biomarkers for mTBI and PCS. Conclusion: Salivary exosomal biomarkers have the potential to serve as non-invasive and easily accessible diagnostic and prognostic tools for mTBI and PCS. Further studies are needed to validate these biomarkers and to develop standardized protocols for their use in clinical settings. Salivary exosomal biomarkers can improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of mTBI and PCS, leading to improved patient outcomes.

Background and Objectives: Sports medicine, orthopaedic and rehabilitation physicians use gait analysis and goniometry to evaluate and diagnose patients with neuro-musculo-skeletal diseases. Goniometry is a measuring method that shows the joint’s range of motion. Three-dimensional goniometry has been used in order to assess the patients in a kinematic manner, but they are not affordable, so, phone apps come handy to any orthopaedic or rehabilitation physician so we can have a clear image of the progress made by the patient after the rehabilitation program or should something happen and the patient cannot come to the facility, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, when some orthopaedic and most of the rehabilitation facilities have been temporarily closed. Midstance has been chosen as the moment of the gait evaluation in this paper since it has an important role in stability. The objective of this paper is to figure out if the measurements taken during midstance at the knee joint of the subjects can be statistically significant and used during usual examinations. Materials and Methods: Four groups of subjects: patients suffering from hip, knee, hip and knee osteoarthritis and a control group volunteered their participation, being asked to normally walk while their gait was recorded and uploaded into Angles App – a phone based videogoniometer. Results: Patients suffering from hip osteoarthritis have a higher knee angle on the right side than the ones suffering from knee osteoarthritis, hip and knee osteoarthritis and the control group. Female patients suffering from hip osteoarthritis also presented a more flexed knee than the ones suffering from knee osteoarthritis and the ones in the control group, the knee flexion presenting itself as a compensation mechanism. Conclusion: Video goniometry can help us make an orthopaedic, rehabilitation or neurology database for each assessment with constant updates of the evolution of the osteoarthritis patient’s treatment.

High concentrations of sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), calcium (Ca2+), and sulphate (SO42-) are fre-quently found in saline soils. Crop plants cannot successfully develop and produce because salt stress impairs the uptake of calcium, potassium, and water into plant cells. Different intracellular and extracellular ionic concentration changes by salinity, including those of calcium, potassium, and protons. These cations serve as stress signaling molecules in addition to being essential for ionic homeostasis and nutrition. Maintaining an appropriate K+: Na+ ratio is one crucial plant mechanism for salt tolerance, which is a complicated trait. Another important mechanism is the ability for fast extrusion of Na+ from the cytosol. Calcium is established as a ubiquitous secondary messenger, which transmits various stress signals into metabolic alterations that cause adaptive responses. When plants are under stress, the cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration can rise to 10 times or more from its resting level of 50-100 nanomolar. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are linked to the calcium alterations, and are produced by stress. Depending on the type, frequency and intensity of the stress, the cytosolic calcium signals oscillate, are transient, or persist for a longer period and exhibit specific "signatures". Both the input and efflux of Ca2+ from the cytosol affect the length and amplitude of the signal. According to several reports, under stress calcium alterations can occur not only in the cytoplasm of the cell but also in the cell walls, nucleus and other cell organelles and the calcium waves propagate through the whole plant. Here, we will focus on how wheat and other important crops absorb Na+, K+ and Cl- when plants are under salt stress, as well as how calcium, potassium, and pH cause intracellular signaling and homeostasis. Similar mechanisms in the model plant Arabidopsis will also be considered.

We propose novel spectrometer designs that aim to enhance the measured spectral range 1 of ions on a finite-sized detector. In contrast to the traditional devices that use uniform magnetic 2 field, in which the deflection of particles increases inversely proportional to their momentum, in a 3 gradient magnetic field, the deflection of particles will be decreased due to the reduction of the 4 magnetic field along their propagation. Low energy ions are particularly impacted, as they are 5 deflected less and are more likely to reach the detector compared to being driven out of it while 6 using a uniform magnetic field. By the means of a gradient magnetic field, the nonlinear dispersion 7 of ions in a homogeneous magnetic field can approach a nearly linear dispersion. Nonetheless, 8 the dispersion of low energy ions in a homogeneous magnetic field remains unnecessarily high. 9 In this article, we explore linear, quadratic, and higher-order field profiles in comparison to the 10 homogeneous field case. We discuss the employed methodology and present simulation results of 11 the spectrometer with an extended ion spectral range, focusing on the minimum detectable energy 12 (energy dynamic range) and energy resolution

The magnesium ion is an essential cation in the human body and participates in numerous physiological activities. A deficiency in magnesium ions is closely associated with tumor development, and supplementation with magnesium ions has been shown to partially inhibit tumor growth. However, the specific mechanisms by which magnesium ions suppress tumor proliferation remain unclear. Currently, studies have revealed that mitochondria may serve as a crucial intermediate link in the regulation of tumors by magnesium ions. Mitochondria might intervene in the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells by modulating energy metabolism and oxidative stress levels. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between magnesium ions and tumors, the mechanisms by which magnesium ions regulate mitochondrial function, and the theoretical basis and prospects of magnesium ion regulation of mitochondrial function for tumor treatment. This review aims to offer insights for clinical tumor treatment strategies involving magnesium ion intervention.

This contribution is an attempt to reconstruct the favorable atmosphere that prevailed in Lau-sanne in 1986-87 and provided the backdrop of our invention of two-dimensional ion cyclotron resonance mass spectroscopy (2D ICR-MS). To avoid a self-centered histoire d’ancien combattant, we shall try to emphasize the context, the contributions of key players within our nascent research group at UNIL and the established group of Tino Gäumann at EPFL, the role of external speakers, and the open atmosphere that was not yet polluted by bibliometrics, obsessive concern with im-pact factors, and top-down management of research. We shall also explain why the idea of 2D ICR-MS has been ignored for many years and still has a limited impact: different scientific cul-tures in the ICR and NMR communities, different concerns with fundamental vs. applied research, different status of theory and numerical simulations, different levels of commitment of instrument manufacturers, not to mention many theoretical problems that appear to be at least as challenging in ICR as in NMR.

Background: Since circa 1980, a model of neocortical interactions, Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions (SMNI) has been successful in calculating many experimental phenomena, including fits to electroencephalographic (EEG) data in attention tasks, using an importance-sampling code Adaptive Simulated Annealing (ASA). The SMNI model is developed in the context of classical path-integrals, which affords intuitive insights as well as direct numerical benefits, e.g., using the effective Action as a a cost/objective function for parameter fits to data. Objective: Previous authors have fit affective EEG data to neural-network models. This project seeks to use models based on physics and biology to fit this same data. Previous work showed improvements in fits to EEG for attention states; this project extends these methods to affective states. Method: Path integrals are used in both classical and quantum contexts. Classical path integrals are used to define a cost/objective function to fit data, and quantum path integrals are used to derive a closed-form analytic expression for Ca-ion waves in the presence of a magnetic vector potential which is generated by highly synchronous neuronal firings which give rise to EEG. ASA is used to fit EEG data. Results: The mathematical-physics and computer parts of the study are successful, in that cost/objective functions used to fit EEG data using these models are consistent with previous work published by other authors. However, since the SMNI model includes these quantum effects, this is another reason to continue examining these issues. The results here are consistent, not better, than previous work using neural-network models, albeit only one parameter was used here, instead of multiple filters and kernels used previously on such data. Conclusion: Although these quantum effects are highly speculative, explicit calculations have shown them to be consistent with experimental data, at least to date. The current supercomputer project extends this model to affective/emotion data. Results from several authors using neural-network approaches at individual electrode sites show some predictive capabilities; the results given here are consistent with these other results. However, since the SMNI model includes these quantum effects, this is another reason to continue examining these issues.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become indispensable energy storage devices for various applications, ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. The performance and reliability of LIBs depend on several key components, including the electrodes, separators, and electrolytes. Among these, the choice of binder materials for the electrodes plays a critical role in determining the overall performance and durability of LIBs. This review introduces polymer binders that have been traditionally used in the cathode, anode, and separator materials of LIBs. Furthermore, it explores the problems identified in traditional polymer binders and examines the research trends in next-generation polymer binder materials for lithium-ion battery as alternatives.

4-(thiazol-2-yldiazenyl)phenol (L₁) and 2-((4-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl)-5-nitrophenol (L₂) based on azo phenol were synthesised and used as selective colorimetric sensor for CN^- and AcO⁻ ion in DMSO/H₂O-HEPES (v/v; 1:1, pH–7.3 ± 0.2) and showed good sensitivity with large red shifts and nanomolar detection limit for CN^- and AcO^- ion. The stoichiometry of L₁ with CN⁻/AcO⁻ ion was found to be 1:1 and L₂ with CN⁻/AcO⁻ ion was found to be 1:2. Binding constant for L₁+ CN⁻, L₁ + AcO⁻, L₂ + CN⁻ and L₂ + AcO⁻ were calculated by B-H plot as 1.6 × 10³, 8.0 × 10², 8.4 × 10³ and 1.7 × 10² respectively. L₂ showed high selectivity towards CN⁻ ion with low detection limit of 81 nM and large binding constant. In addition, ¹H NMR titration and DFT studies also supported the deprotonation mechanism of receptors in the presence of selective anions.

In this paper, based on our previous expertise on ceramic artifacts, several archaeometric methods applied to some samples collected from the Dudești archaeological site (Oltenia region, Romania) are reported for the first time in the literature. The chemical composition and microstructural and morphological characterization of these samples offer important conclusions about the processing conditions. Some specific techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wave-length-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), Optical microscopy (OM), stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, provide composition information about pigments and their decay processes. Additionally, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method helps to estimate pore sizes and specific surface areas. Thermal analysis (TGA) was used to establish details regarding the production technology and the raw materials source used to make the ceramics, too. The obtained results indicated that the ceramics are based on a paste of muscovite, feldspar, with high plasticity, quartz, melanterite, and calcite, the latter in very low concentrations. According to the obtained results, we could assume that non-calcareous clays are present in the investigated samples because calcium exists in low concentrations. Gypsum is present, too, in very low concentration, identified by the presence of sulfate group in WDXRF. In the same context, iron oxides significantly impact the firing atmosphere of iron-rich clay, resulting in blackening under reducing conditions and reddish coloration under oxidative conditions. Using hematite and gypsum as pigments further contributes to the color variations in the pottery. The consistent firing temperature range of 200-600 °C in Dudești pottery implies a standardized production process, the variation in color being dependent on the specific reducing/oxidative regime conditions. This relationship between clay composition and local sources suggests a connection to Neolithic pottery production in the region and their color depending on the reducing/oxidative regime conditions.

The study presents an assessment of climate suitability for outdoor leisure activities in Romania using the Holliday Climate Index (HCI) for the near future (2021-2040), focusing on unfavorable and good climate conditions. The analysis employs data from an ensemble model in the context of RCP45 and RCP85 climate change scenarios. The results indicate that the number of days with low weather suitability is decreasing in almost the entire country, especially during the warm season, while during the winter and spring extended regions may be characterized by a higher number of days favorable for outdoor activities than during the current climate. An estimation of the impact of climate changes on tourism flux in Romania is further carried out, suggesting that the increasing attractivity of climate conditions may lead to an increased number of tourist overnights in the near future, more pronounced in rural destinations.

Mucinous breast carcinoma is a rare subtype of mammary neoplasm encountered in medical practice. It represents approximately 1-6% of all breast cancers and is more common in postmenopausal women. There are two subtypes of mucinous breast carcinoma: pure and mixed. We report the case of a 73-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with mucinous pancreatic cystadenoma in 2007. She underwent a surgical procedure involving pancreatectomy of the body and tail, along with multiple known cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. In November 2019, during a clinical-biological evaluation for associated diseases, a mucinous carcinoma of the right breast was accidentally detected and later confirmed through further investigations. For treatment, a surgical procedure was performed involving lower right quadrantectomy with right axillary lymph node dissection. The postoperative clinical course was favorable. In conclusion, we present the case of a patient diagnosed with mixed mucinous breast carcinoma, without axillary lymph node invasion. Postmenopausal women with diabetes, overweight, and obesity have an increased susceptibility to breast cancer, with our patient having all these risk factors. To date, no study has demonstrated the genetic or radiation implication in the occurrence of mucinous carcinomas, nor the possible development of mucinous carcinomas in series in the same patient. Current data are insufficient to provide recommendations for the screening of malignant mucinous tumors in subjects with significant cardiometabolic risk factors.

Player’s performance in an intense sport such as basketball is known to be related to attributes like speed, agility, and power. This study presents a comparative analysis of associations between anthropometric assessment and physical performance in different age-group elite youth basketball players, while simultaneously identifying the predictors for speed and agility in these players. U14 (n=44), U15 (n=45) and U16 (n=51) players were tested for anthropometry, lower body power, speed, and agility. U16 players were found to be taller, heavier, more muscular than U14 and U15 players. Also, the U16 group showed better performance in all performance tests. Age had a significant positive correlation with countermovement (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) performance in U14 players, and a significant negative correlation with 10m and 20m sprint times in U15 group. CMJ and DJ emerged as the most significant predictors for sprint and agility variables, respectively. Body fat percentage was found to be a significant predictor for the speed and agility tests in all age groups, but a negative lower-body power predictor. Therefore, besides all sport-specific and fitness tests, it is essential to place emphasis on the percentage of body fat when designing players’ individualized training programs, and during team selection.

The design of binders plays a pivotal role in achieving enduring high power in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and extending their overall lifespan. This review underscores the indispensable characteristics that a binder must possess when utilized in LIBs, considering factors such as electrochemical, thermal, and dispersion stability, compatibility with electrolytes, solubility in solvents, mechanical properties, and conductivity. In the case of anode materials, binders with robust mechanical properties and elasticity are imperative to uphold electrode integrity, par-ticularly in materials experiencing substantial volume changes. For cathode materials, the se-lection of a binder hinges on the crystal structure of the cathode material. Other vital consid-erations in binder design encompass cost-effectiveness, adhesion, processability, and envi-ronmental friendliness. Incorporating low-cost, eco-friendly, and biodegradable polymers can contribute significantly to sustainable battery development. This review serves as an invaluable resource for comprehending the prerequisites of binder design in high-performance LIBs and offers insights into binder selection for diverse electrode materials. The findings and principles articulated in this review can be extrapolated to other advanced battery systems, charting a course for the development of next-generation batteries characterized by enhanced perfor-mance and sustainability.

The aim of this research involves investigating the elimination of nitrogen ions from groundwater through the application of dynamic permeable reactive barriers (PRB) utilizing A400-nZVI. The aim also implyies determining barrier parameters, as well as assessing the overall retention capacity of nitrogen ions through percolation with a potassium nitrate solution. The research involves obtaining zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), which were synthesized and doped onto an anionic resin support material (A400) through the reduction reaction of ferrous ions with sodium borohydride (NaBH4). This was achieved by preparing a ferrous sulfate solution, contacting it with the ion exchange resin at various solid-liquid mass ratios, and gradually adding sodium borohydride under continuous stirring in an oxygen-free environment to create the A400-nZVI barrier. The outcomes of this study, focusing on the development of permeable reactive barriers composed of nanovalent iron and ion exchangers, demonstrate significant potential in purification processes when appropriately dimensioned. The research specifically evaluated the efficacy of NO3- removal using the A400-nZVI permeable reactive barrier, conducting laboratory tests that simulated a naturally stratified aquifer with high nitrate contamination.

Lithium-ion batteries with improved energy densities have made understanding the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) generation mechanisms that cause mechanical, thermal, and chemical failures more complicated. SEI processes reduce battery capacity and power. Thus, a review of this area's understanding is important. It is essential to know how batteries degrade in EVs to estimate battery lifespan as it goes, predict, and minimize losses, and determine the ideal time for a replacement. Lithium-ion batteries used in EVs mainly suffer two types of degradation: calendar degradation and cycling degradation. Despite the existence of several existing works in the literature, several aspects of battery degradation remain unclear or have not been analyzed in detail. This work presents a systematic review of existing works in the literature. The results of the present investigation provide insight into the complex relationships among various factors affecting battery degradation mechanisms. Specifically, this systematic review examined the effects of time, side reactions, temperature fluctuations, high charge/discharge rates, depth of discharge, mechanical stress, thermal stress, and the voltage relationship on battery performance and longevity. The results revealed that these factors interact in complex ways to influence the degradation mechanisms of batteries. For example, high charge currents and deep discharges were found to accelerate degradation, while low temperatures and moderate discharge depths were shown to be beneficial for battery longevity. Additionally, the results showed that the relationship between cell voltage and State-of-Charge (SOC) plays a critical role in determining the rate of degradation. Overall, these findings have important implications for the design and operation of battery systems, as they highlight the need to carefully manage a range of factors to maximize battery performance and longevity. The result is an analysis of the main articles published in this field in recent years. This work aims to present new knowledge about fault detection, diagnosis, and management of lithium-ion batteries based on battery degradation concepts. The new knowledge is presented and discussed in a structured and comprehensive way.

Interactions between proteins and ions are essential for various biological functions like structural stability, metabolism, and signal transport. Given that more than half of all proteins bind to ions, it becomes crucial to identify ion-binding sites. Accurate identification of protein-ion binding sites helps us to understand proteins’ biological functions and plays a significant role in drug discovery. While several computational approaches have been proposed, this remains a challenging problem due to the small size and high versatility of metals and acid radicals. In this study, we propose IonPred, a sequence-based approach that employs ELECTRA (Efficiently Learning an Encoder that Classifies Token Replacements Accurately) to predict ion binding sites using only raw protein sequences. We successfully fine-tuned our pretrained model to predict the binding sites for nine metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, and K+) and four acid radical ion ligands (CO32−, SO42−, PO43−, NO2−). IonPred surpassed six current state-of-the-art tools by over 44.65% and 28.46% respectively in F1 score and MCC when compared on an independent test dataset. Our method is more computationally efficient than existing tools producing prediction results for a hundred sequences for a specific ion in under ten minutes.

Silicon has been proved to be one of the most promising anode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion battery. For the application in batteries, Si anode should have high capacity and must be industrially scalable. In this study, we have designed and synthesised a hollow structure to meet these requirements. All the processes are carried out without special equipment. The Si nanoparticles that are commercially available are used as the core sealed inside TiO₂ shell, with rationally designed void space between the particles and shell. The Si@TiO₂ are characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optimised hollow structured silicon nanoparticles, when used as anode in lithium-ion battery, exhibit a high reversible specific capacity over 600 mAhg-1. This excellent electrochemical property of the nanoparticles can be attributed to their optimised phase and unique hollow nanostructure.

With the rapid and continuous advancement and deployment of advanced energy storage de-vices, there has been significant interest in aqueous capacitors that possess non-flammable properties and high safety features. Consequently, extensive research efforts have focused on investigating zinc anodes and low-cost carbonaceous cathode materials. Despite these efforts, the development of high-performance zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs) still faces challenges such as limited cycling stability and low energy densities. In this study, we present a novel approach to address these challenges. We demonstrate the utilization of a three-dimensionally (3D) grown conductive porous carbon framework cathode coupled with zinc anode cells, which exhibit exceptional sta-bility and durability in ZICs. Our experiments reveal a remarkable cycling performance, with a capacity retention of approximately 97.3% and a coulombic efficiency of nearly 100% even after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. These findings signify significant progress in enhancing the performance of ZICs.

We present a compact polarimeter for 3He ions with special emphasis on the analysis of short-pulsed beams accelerated during laser-plasma interactions. We discuss the specific boundary conditions for the polarimeter, such as the properties of laser-driven ion beams, the selection of the polarization-sensitive reaction in the polarimeter, the representation of the analyzing-power contour map, the choice of the detector material used for particle identification, as well as the production procedure of the required deuterated foil-targets. The assembled polarimeter has been tested using a tandem accelerator delivering unpolarized 3He ion beams, demonstrating good performance in the few-MeV range. The statistical accuracy and the deduced figure-of-merit of the polarimetry are discussed, including the count-rate requirement and the lower limit of accuracy for beam-polarization measurements at a laser-based ion source.

We firstly discuss classical stability for a dynamical system of two ions levitated in a 3D Radio-Frequency (RF) trap, assimilated with two coupled oscillators. We obtain the solutions of the coupled system of equations that characterizes the associated dynamics. In addition, we supply the modes of oscillation and demonstrate the weak coupling condition is inappropriate in practice, while for collective modes of motion (and strong coupling) only a peak of the mass can be detected. Phase portraits and power spectra are employed to illustrate how the trajectory executes quasiperiodic motion on the surface of torus, namely a Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) torus. In an attempt to better describe dynamical stability of the system, we introduce a model that characterizes dynamical stability and the critical points based on the Hessian matrix approach. The model is then applied to investigate quantum dynamics for many-body systems consisting of identical ions, levitated in 2D and 3D ion traps. Finally, the same model is applied to the case of a combined 3D Quadrupole Ion Trap (QIT) with axial symmetry, for which we obtain the associated Hamilton function. The ion distribution can be described by means of numerical modeling, based on the Hamilton function we assign to the system. The approach we introduce is effective to infer the parameters of distinct types of traps by applying a unitary and coherent method, and especially for identifying equilibrium configurations, of large interest for ion crystals or quantum logic.