The large production of non-degradable petrol-based plastics has become a major global issue due to its environmental pollution. Biopolymers produced by microorganisms such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are gaining potential as a sustainable alternative, but the high cost associated to their industrial production has been a limiting factor. Post-transcriptional regulation is a key step to control gene expression in changing environments and has been reported to play a major role in numerous cellular processes. However, limited reports are available concerning the regulation of PHA accumulation in bacteria, and many essential regulatory factors still need to be identified. Here, we review studies where the synthesis of PHA has been reported to be regulated at the post-transcriptional level, and we analyze the RNA-mediated networks involved. Finally, we discuss the forthcoming research on riboregulation, synthetic and metabolic engineering which could lead to improved strategies for PHAs synthesis in industrial production, thereby reducing the costs currently associated with this procedure.

The hazard and the carcinogenic risks due to the exposure to some potentially toxic elements by the Santiago Island (Cape Verde) population where calculated, considering soil ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact as exposure pathways. The topsoil of Santiago Island is enriched in Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn, Mn and Cd to upper crust values. Hazard indices (HI) were calculated for these metals and As exposures, of Santiago Island population and the calculations were performed for children and adults. For children HI are higher than 1 for Co, Cr and Mn. So there is indication of potential non-carcinogenic risk for children, due to the high Co (HI=2.995), Cr (HI=1.329) and Mn (HI=1.126), values in soils. For the other elements and for adults there is no potential non-carcinogenic risk. Cancer risk was calculated for As, Cd, Cr and Ni exposures, for adults and children and the results are always lower than the carcinogenic target risk of 1x10-6, for As, Cd, and Ni. However, cancer risk are higher than the carcinogenic target risk for Cr, for adults. Regarding As, for children the fraction due to Riskingestion represents 51.6%, while Riskinhalation represents 48.0% and Riskdermalcontact represents only 0.4% of total risk. For adults Riskinhalation represents 81.3%, Riskingestion represents 16.6% and Riskdermal contact represents 2.1%. These results reflect the higher daily ingestion dose for children and the higher inhalation rate and higher dermal contact surface for adults. For the other elements and for adults the cancer risk due to Cr, Ni and Cd inhalation is always higher than for children, reflecting the higher inhalation rate for adults.

We have studied the very large amount of literary works written by the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta to assess similarities and differences in her writings because she claims that most of them are due to mystical visions. We have used mathematical and statistical tools developed for specifically studying deep linguistic aspects of texts. The general trend indicates that the literary works explicitly attributable to Maria Valtorta differ significantly from her other literary works, that she claims are attributable to the alleged characters Jesus and Mary. Mathematically, they seem to have been written by different authors. The comparison with the Italian literature is very striking. A single author, namely Maria Valtorta, seems to be able to write texts so diverse to cover the entire mathematical range (suitable defined) of the Italian literature of seven centuries.

From a differential geometric perspective, information geometry (IG) aims to characterise the structure of statistical geodesic models. The research done for this paper offers a novel method for modelling the information geometry of a queuing system. From the perspective of IG, the manifold of the transient M/M/infinity queue is described in this context. The Fisher Information matrix (FIM) as well as the inverse of (FIM), (IFIM) of transient M/M/infinity QM are devised. In addition to that, new results that uncovered the significant impact of stability of QM on the existence of (IFIM) are obtained. Moreover, the Geodesic equations of motion of the coordinates of the underlying transient are obtained. Also, it is revealed that stable QM is developable (i.e., has a zero Gaussian curvature) and has a non-zero Ricci Curvature Tensor (RCT). Novel stability dynamics of transient M/M/iInfinity queue manifold is revealed by discovering the mutual dual impact between the behaviour of (RCT) and the stability(instability) phases of M/M/Infinity QM. Furthermore, a new discovery that presents the significant impact of stability of queue manifold and the continuity of the unique representation between M/G/1 queue manifold and Ricci Curvature Tensor (RCT). The information matrix exponential (IME) is devised. Also, it is shown that stability of the devised (IME) enforces the instability of M/M/ Infinity QM. More interestingly, novel relativistic info-geometric queueing theoretic links are revealed .

Due to the use of structural and seismic techniques an attempt has been made in this study to determine the hydrocarbon potential and future exploration in Pakistan's Lower Indus basin area and offshore region. In addition to the possibility of hydrocarbon accumulation, the major goals of this research are to analyze structural patterns in the subsurface of the study region, identify the horizons of various formations using surface seismic, and interpret seismic lines. Seismic data has been used to find and integrate the exposed Cretaceous/Tertiary basalt at Ranikot in the lower Indus basin to the well-known Deccan basalts of the Indo-Pak plate, which is the secondary goal of the current investigation. According to the interpretation of seismic data, the Indo-Pakistan plate has experienced rifting because of tectonic activity. Graben and horst structures have been identified in the study area horizon, which indicates that the area has undergone major structural and depositional changes. While faults provide a pathway for hydrocarbons to migrate from their source to reservoir rock, grabens are principally responsible for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. We further deduce that the prior exploration failures in the area were due to a lack of knowledge of the subsurface formations and structural trends, which are essential for characterizing the hydrocarbon play and trap features. Our results can be productive for the local hydrocarbon drilling projects as well as worldwide tectonic stratigraphy studies on passive continental edges.

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to the development of green public policies. We emphasize the significance of the System of Systems (SoSs) methodology, which concentrates on understanding and managing complex systems by contemplating their interdependencies and interactions as a single integrated system. Based on this perspective, we view green public policy as a system interacting with the energy, health, pollutants, and economic systems of the SoSs. We employ both Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) techniques as a method of systematic structural analysis to comprehend the relationships between the aforementioned systems. We provide a comprehensive literature review on the application of these soft operation research (SOR) techniques. We note that SOR methods are suitable for the formulation of effective and long-lasting public policies. Using an example, we demonstrate the primary advantage of DEMATEL and ISM, which is the establishment of easily comprehendible causal relationships between the systems in the SoSs.

The current work reports the upper bound of the state variable of the of the Pointwise Steady Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of non-stationary M/Ek/1 queueing system.

Extensive genome structure variation, such as copy number variations (CNVs) and presence/absence variations, is the basis for the remarkable maize genetic diversity; however, the effect of CNVs on maize herbivory defense remains largely underexplored. Here, we report that the naturally occurring duplication of the maize 9-lipoxygenase gene, ZmLOX5, leads to increased resistance of maize to herbivory by fall armyworms (FAW). Previously, we showed that ZmLOX5-derived oxylipins are required for defense against chewing insect herbivores and identified several inbred lines, including Yu796, that contained duplicated CNVs of ZmLOX5, referred to as Yu796-2×LOX5. To test whether introgression of the Yu796-2×LOX5 locus into the herbivore-susceptible B73 background that contains a single ZmLOX5 gene is a feasible approach to increase resistance, we generated a series of near-isogenic lines that contained either 2, 1 or 0 copies of the Yu796-2×LOX5 locus in the B73 background by six back crosses (BC6). Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) confirmed the successful introgression of the Yu796-2×LOX5 locus in B73. The resulting B73-2×LOX5 inbred line displayed increased resistance against FAW associated with increased expression of ZmLOX5, increased wound-induced production of its primary oxylipin product, the α-ketol, 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z),15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (9,10-KODA), and the downstream defense hormones regulated by this molecule, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (12-OPDA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Surprisingly, wound-induced JA-Ile production was not increased in B73-2×LOX5, resulting from the increased JA catabolism. Furthermore, B73-2×LOX5 displayed enhanced drought tolerance likely due to increased ABA and 12-OPDA content. Taken together, this study revealed that the duplicated CNV of ZmLOX5 quantitively contributes to maize antiherbivore defense and presents proof-of-concept evidence that the introgression of naturally occurring duplicated CNVs of a defensive gene into the productive, but susceptible, crop varieties is a feasible breeding approach for enhancing plant resistance to herbivory and tolerance to abiotic stress.

Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate five glacierized river basins that are global in coverage and vary in climate. The river basins included the Narayani (Nepal), Vakhsh (Central Asia), Rhone (Switzerland), Mendoza (Central Andes, Argentina), and Central Dry Andes (Chile) with a total area of 85,000 km2. A modified SWAT snow algorithm was applied in order to consider spatial variation of associated snow melt /accumulation by elevation band across each subbasin. In the previous studies, melt rates varied as a function of elevation resulting from an air temperature gradient while the snow parameters were constant throughout the entire basin. A major improvement of the new snow algorithm is separating the glaciers from seasonal snow based on their characteristics. Two SWAT snow algorithms were evaluated in simulation of monthly runoff from glaciered watershed: 1) the snow parameters are lumped (i.e. constant throughout the entire basin) and 2) the snow parameters are spatially variable based on elevation band-subbasin (i.e. modified snow algorithm). Applying the distributed SWAT snow algorithm improved the model performance in simulation of monthly runoff with snow-glacial regime, so that mean RSR decreased to 0.49 from 0.55 and NSE increased to 0.75 from 0.69. Improvement of model performance was negligible in simulation of monthly runoff from the basins with monsoon runoff regime.

Soil-borne Trichoderma spp. have been extensively studied for their biocontrol activities against pathogens and growth promotion ability with plants. However, the beneficial effect of Trichoderma on inducing resistance against insect herbivores has been considered only recently. Among diverse Trichoderma species, consistent with previous reports, we showed that root colonization by T. virens triggered induced systemic resistance (ISR) to leaf-infecting fungal pathogens. Whether T. virens induces ISR to insect pests has not been tested before. In this study, we investigated whether T. virens affects jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and defense against fall armyworm (FAW) and western corn rootworm (WCR). Unexpectedly, the results showed that T. virens colonization of maize seedlings grown in autoclaved soil suppressed wound-induced production of JA, resulting in reduced resistance to FAW. Similarly, the bacterial endophyte Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 suppressed systemic resistance to FAW due to reduced JA. Further comparative analyses of the systemic effects of these endophytes when applied into sterile or non-sterile field soil showed that both T. virens and P. chlororaphis 30-84 triggered ISR against hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola in both soil conditions, but only suppressed resistance to FAW in sterile soil. In contrast to the effect on FAW defense, T. virens colonization of maize roots suppressed WCR larvae survival and weight gain. This is the first report suggesting the potential role of T. virens as a biocontrol agent against WCR.

The current study characterizes the transient M/M/1 queue manifold info-geometrically, through devising Fisher Information matrix(FIM) and its inverse(IFIM). Additionally, the impact of stability on the existence of IFIM and explore the geodesic equations of motion has been revealed. More potentially, the paper discusses some info-geometric applications to Machine Learning are highlighted. Closing remarks with some challenging open problems combined with the next phase of research are given.

Titania is one of the most comprehensively studied nanostructures due to its widespread applications in production of catalytic, gas- sensing and corrosion- resistance materials [1]. M-polynomial of nanotubes has been vastly investigated as it produces many degree-based topological indices which are numerical parameters capturing structural and chemical properties. These indices are used in the development of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) in which the biological activity and other properties of molecules are correlated with their structure like boiling point, stability, strain energy etc of chemical compounds. In this paper, we determine M-polynomials of single-walled titanium (SW TiO2) nanotubes and recover important topological degree based indices of them to theoretically judge these nanotubes. We also use Maple to plot surfaces associated to different types of single-walled titanium (SW TiO2) nanotubes.

Changes in food quality can dramatically impair zooplankton fitness, especially in eutrophic water bodies where cyanobacteria are usually predominant. Cyanobacteria are considered a food with low nutritional value, besides some species can produce bioactive secondary metabolites reported as toxic to zooplankton. Considering that cyanobacteria can limit survival, growth and reproduction of zooplankton, we hypothesized that the adverse effects of the dietary exposure of Daphnia species to saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria depend on the relative abundance of nutitious food source in the diet. Life table experiments were conducted with different diets: 1) without nutritional restriction, where neonates were fed with diets at a constant green algae (Monoraphidium capricornutum) biomass as a nutritious food source, and increasing cyanobacterial concentration (STX-producing Raphidiopsis raciborskii), and 2) with diets consisting of different proportions of M. capricornutum (nutritious) and R. raciborskii (poor food) at a total biomass 1.0 mg C L 1. In general, the presence of high proportions of cyanobacteria promoted a decrease in Daphnia somatic growth, reproduction and intrinsic rate of population increase (r) in both diets with more pronounced effects in the nutritionally restricted diet (90% R. raciborskii). Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of species/clone and treatments in both assays, with significant interaction between those factors only in the second assay. Regarding the grazing assay, only D. laevis was negatively affected by increased cyanobacterial proportions in the diet. In the life table assay with constant edible food, a reduction in the reproduction parameters and the intrinsic rate of population increase (r) of all species was observed, In conclusion, we found adverse effects of the toxic cyanobacterial strain R. raciborskii on Daphnia fitness, regardless of the constant amount of nutritious food available, proving the toxic effect of R. raciborskii and the nutritional quality of the food has a greater influence on the fitness of these animals.

An enormous interest in the development of efficient protocols for cellulose extraction has been demonstrated in the last years, however, they were usually based on non-sustainable chemical and thermal approaches. In this work we describe a new and more sustainable method for cellulose extraction from eucalyptus and pine tree wood waste products exclusively performed using microwave-assisted radiation. The methodology includes 3 main steps: i) alkaline treatment; ii) bleaching I, using H2O2; and iii) bleaching II, an acidic treatment. Samples obtained in each step were characterized by Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results were compared with those of starting materials, with the commercially available microcrystalline cellulose and with an industrial paper pulp. Results confirmed that for both type of wood wastes, cellulose was retained during the extractions procedures and that the removal of hemicellulose was achieved at the last step as seen by the FTIR spectra and TGA curves. The developed protocol is innovative since it constitutes an easy and quick approach to extract cellulose, from eucalyptus and pine tree wood waste using mild chemical and thermal conditions, microwave irradiation, and environmentally friendly purification steps. This approach offers the possibility of a future scale-up study to potentially apply the develop protocol to the extraction of cellulose in an industrial scale.

Abstract: The Inconel 625 is a nickel-based alloy has been widely used in the high-temperature application. The Inconel 625 exhibits unstable plastic flow at elevated temperature characterized by serrated yielding, known as Portevin-Le Chatelier effect. The aim of this work is to evaluate the mechanical properties at high temperatures of the Inconel 625. The tensile tests were performed in the temperature range of room temperature until 1000 °C and strain rate of 2x10^-4 to 2x10^-3 s^-1. The creep tests were performed in the temperature range of 600-700 °C, in the stress range of 500-600 MPa in a constant load mode. The surface fracture was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Serrated stress-strain behavior was observed in the curves obtained at 200 to 700 °C, which was associated with the dynamic strain aging effect. The yield strength and the elongation values show an anomalous behavior as a function of the test temperature. An intergranular cracking was observed specimen tensile tested at 500 °C that can be attributed to the decohesion of the carbides along the grain boundaries. The fracture surface of the specimen tensile tested at 700 °C showed the predominance of transgranular cracking with tear dimples with a parabolic shape.

A pattern of NK cell heterogeneity in each individual determines proliferative and functional responses of NK cells to activating stimuli. Obtaining the progeny of a single cell by cloning original population is one of the ways to study the NK cell heterogeneity. In this work, we used single cell sorting into a plate and stimulation by IL-2 and gene-modified K562 feeder cells expressing membrane-bound IL-21 (K562-mbIL21) that led to generation of phenotypically confirmed and functionally active NK cell clones. We applied two models of clone cultivation, which differently affected their phenotype, lifespan and functional activity. The first model, which included weekly restimulation of clones with K562-mbIL21 and IL-2, resulted in the generation of relatively short-lived (5-7 weeks) clones of highly activated NK cells. HLA-DR expression in the expanded NK cells correlated strongly with IFN-γ production. The second model, in which NK cells were restimulated mainly with IL-2 alone, produced long-lived clones (8-14 weeks) that expanded up to 10⁷ cells with lower ability to produce IFN-γ. Our method is applicable for studying variability in phenotype, proliferative and functional activity of the certain NK cell progeny in response to the stimulation, which may help in selecting NK cells best suited for clinical use.

In the recent years, tubular nanostructures have been related with immense advances in various fields of science and technology. Considerable research efforts have been centered on the theoretical prediction and manufacturing of non-carbon nanotubes (NTs), which meet modern requirements for the developing of novel devices and systems. In this context, diatomic inorganic nanotubes formed by atoms of elements from the 13th group of the periodic table (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl) and nitrogen (N), have received much research attention. In the present work, the elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride, aluminium nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride and thallium nitride nanotubes were numerically evaluated using the nanoscale continuum modelling approach (also called molecular structural mechanics). The elastic properties (rigidities, surface Young´s and shear moduli, and Poisson´s ratio) of nitride nanotubes are discussed with respect to the bond length of the corresponding diatomic hexagonal lattice. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical response of nitride compound-based nanotubes, covering a broad range from the well-studied boron nitride NTs to the hypothetical thallium nitride NTs.

This review explores the potential of microalgae as a sustainable and nutritionally rich alternative for mineral supplementation in poultry diets, addressing both the opportunities and challenges in this emerging field. Poultry nutrition, pivotal to the health and productivity of birds, traditionally relies on inorganic and organic mineral sources, which, while effective, raise environmental and economic concerns. Microalgae offer a promising solution with their high content of essential minerals, proteins, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. The review delves into the nutritional profile of various microalgae, highlighting their rich mineral content, crucial for physiological processes in poultry. It examines the bioavailability of these minerals and their impact on poultry health and productivity. Furthermore, it evaluates the environmental sustainability of microalgae cultivation and acknowledges the challenges in using microalgae in poultry diets, particularly in terms of the economic viability of large-scale production and the consistency of nutrient composition. It discusses the importance of rigorous safety assessments and regulatory compliance, given the potential risks of toxins and heavy metals. Overall, this analysis aims to provide a clear understanding of the role microalgae could play in poultry nutrition and address sustainability challenges in animal agriculture, while also considering future perspectives and advancements needed in this field.

Cotton is the most ubiquitous and profitable fiber with diverse industrial and domestic applications. Grown in over 100 countries, it has a global market value of about $40 billion and employs over 350 million people from fields to textile mills, contributing about 7% of total labor-force recruitment in developing economies. Cotton has an indeterminate growth habit and an extensive tap root system affected by soil physicochemical and environmental conditions. There is a consensus among experts that conventional cotton cultivation still has a long way to attain sustainability, which is essential if cotton will maintain its competitive edge over other natural and synthetic fibers like hemp, polyesters, and rayon. Despite several efforts already committed to growing cotton sustainably, sustainability has eluded cotton cultivation globally because of the intense farm inputs (freshwater, pesticides, and heavy-duty equipment) needs, especially in developing economies. Some of the technological advancements towards achieving the goal of sustainable cotton cultivation include the development of new varieties, improved irrigation and mulching and precision agriculture techniques, application of remote sensing and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) combined with image processing, and the introduction of autonomous and multi-purpose robotic platforms for growing and harvesting cotton. This review attempts to evaluate the successes already achieved by stakeholders in moving cotton towards sustainable production and identify areas where efforts are still needed to reach sustainable production and improved profitability goals for cotton with projections for future research directions.

Rapid emergence of evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants is an on-going challenge for COVID-19 vaccinology. Traditional virus neutralization tests provide detailed datasets of neutralization titers against the viral variants. Such datasets are difficult to interpret and do not immediately inform on the sufficiency of the breadth of antibody response. Some of these issues could be tackled using the antigenic cartography approach. In this study, we created antigenic maps using neutralization titers of sera from donors who received Sputnik V booster vaccine after primary Sputnik V vaccination and compared them with the antigenic maps based on serum neutralization titers of Comirnaty-boosted donors. Traditional analysis of neutralization titers against WT, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 showed a significant booster humoral response after both homologous (Sputnik V) and heterologous (Comirnaty) revaccinations against all the studied viral variants. However, despite this, a more in-depth analysis using antigenic cartography revealed that Omicron variants remain antigenically distant from WT, which is indicative of the formation of insufficient levels of cross-neutralizing antibodies. The implications of these findings may be significant when developing a new vaccine regimen.

In this study, we address the formidable challenge of solving large-scale Max-Cut problems (MCP). We introduce a rapid computational procedure utilizing a hybrid 1-flip/r-flip local search heuristic. This innovative strategy significantly reduces the computational time required for MCP problems while consistently generating solutions of exceptional quality. The paper presents substantial computational insights, showcasing the effectiveness of our approach on very-large-scale Max-Cut instances with varying densities. Our proposed heuristic is rigorously evaluated by comparing its performance against a quantum annealing solver, leveraging a multi-start Tabu Search framework. The results underscore the potency of this unique combination as an efficient and effective solution for large-scale QUBO problems. Notably, our hybrid heuristic consistently delivers high-quality solutions within the stringent CPU time limits of 600 seconds, demonstrating its efficacy across Max-Cut instances ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 variables. This research contributes to advancing the state-of-the-art in large-scale QUBO problem-solving, offering a powerful and time-efficient approach with broad applicability.

An exposition is undertaken to reveal the significant impact of the time-dependent root parameter, on the stability of Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary queueing system. This opens new grounds to stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems. Potential PSFFA applications of IoT are highlighted.

Abstract: As a low-input crop, Miscanthus offers numerous advantages that, in addition to agricultural applications, permits its exploitation for energy, fuel, and material production. Depending on the Miscanthus genotype, season, and harvest time as well as plant component (leaf versus stem), correlations between structure and properties of the corresponding isolated lignins differ. Here, a comparative study is presented between lignins isolated from M. x giganteus, M. sinensis, M. robustus and M. nagara using a catalyst-free organosolv pulping process. The lignins from different plant constituents are also compared regarding their similarities and differences regarding monolignol ratio and important linkages. Results showed that the plant genotype has the weakest influence on monolignol content and interunit linkages. In contrast, structural differences are more significant among lignins of different harvest time and/or season. Analyses were performed using fast and simple methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Data was assigned to four different linkages (A: b-O-4 linkage, B: phenylcoumaran, C: resinol, D: b-unsaturated ester). In conclusion, A content is particularly high in leaf-derived lignins at just under 70 % and significantly lower in stem and mixture lignins at around 60 % and almost 65 %. The second most common linkage pattern is D in all isolated lignins, the proportion of which is also strongly dependent on the crop portion. Both stem and mixture lignins, have a relatively high share of approximately 20 % or more (maximum is M. sinensis Sin2 with over 30 %). In the leaf-derived lignins, the proportions are significantly lower on average. Stem samples should be chosen if the highest possible lignin content is desired, specifically from the M. x giganteus genotype, which revealed lignin contents up to 27 %. Due to the better frost resistance and higher stem stability, M. nagara offers some advantages compared to M. x giganteus. Miscanthus crops are shown to be very attractive lignocellulose feedstock (LCF) for second generation biorefineries and lignin generation in Europe.

Mastitis-causing bacteria can establish persistent infections in the mammary gland of commercially important dairy animals despite the presence of strong specific humoral and cellular immune mechanisms. The aim of this study was to encapsulate vitamin D3 by complex coacervation with sulfur-saturated bovine lactoferrin-alginate using microbial transglutaminase-catalyzed crosslinking and investigate the oral administration of encapsulated vitamin D3 in blood serum biomarkers of the immune response in late-lactating dairy goats. Dairy goats (n = 18) in late lactation were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n = 6), after balancing weight. Dairy goats were orally administered with 0.35 mg vitamin D3/day in the unencapsulated form and 0.35 mg vitamin D3/day in the encapsulated powder form. Another group received the basal diet. The experimental period lasted 6 weeks. The blood serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH)-D3], lactoferrin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) were measured. The delivery of vitamin D3 to dairy goats resulted in a marked increase of 25-(OH)-D3 concentration in serum while the serum level of lactoferrin also increased. Alternatively, the serum levels of IgA and the immunomodulatory cytokine INF-γ were elevated following supplementation with the encapsulated vitamin D3. Overall, the capsules in the powder form used in this study kept vitamin D3 highly bioavailable.

No-show appointments in healthcare is a problem faced by medical centers around the world, and understand the factors associated with the no-show behavior is essential. In the last decades, artificial intelligence took place in the medical field and machine learning algorithms can work as a efficient tool to understand the patients behavior and to achieve better medical appointment allocation in scheduling systems. In this work, we provide a systematic literature review (SLR) of machine learning techniques applied to no-show appointments aiming at establishing the current state-of-the-art. Based on a SLR following the Kitchenham methodology, 24 articles were found and analyzed, in which the characteristics of the database, algorithms and performance metrics of each studies were synthesized. Results regarding which factors have a higher impact on missed appointment rates were analyzed too. The results indicate that the most appropriate algorithms for building the models are decision tree algorithms. Furthermore, the most significant determinants of no-show were related to the patients age, whether the patient missed a previous appointment, and the distance between the appointment and the patients scheduling.

The current work reveals the fine tuning between stability zones and randomness of GI/M/1 Pointwise Stationary Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) model of the non-stationary D/M/1 queueing system. More specifically, this clearly provides more insights into developing a contemporary PSFFA theory that unifies non-stationary queueing theory with chaos theory and fields in both theoretical physics and chaotic systems. This opens new grounds for stability analysis of non-stationary queueing systems. A notable application of GI/M/1 queueing model to achieve ultra-low latency of autonomous driving service is highlighted. Concluding remarks associated with future avenues of research are given.

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are economically important horticultural crops for industrial use. The drink (tea) obtained from them is used all over the world, and its functional activity is determined by the polyphenols content and composition. Its accumulation is regulated by the action of many environmental factors. This paper presents data on the different intensity (50, 75, and 100 µmol·m−2·s−1) and duration of light exposure on tea plant in vitro cultures. Changes in morphophysiological characteristics, accumulation of carbohydrates and polyphenols, including their monomeric (phenylpropanoids, flavanols) and oligomeric (proanthocyanidins) forms, were studied. The malondialdehyde and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b) contents were also analyzed. In the calli grown in light conditions, chloroplasts and anthocyanoplasts formation was noted, which was especially pronounced under the highest illumination intensity. A significant similarity between the growth of callus cultures, the carbohydrates and polyphenols accumulation at 50 and 75 µmol·m−2·s−1 was established. Which wasn’t characteristic of the calli grown at 100 µmol·m−2·s−1. The stress reaction absence in tea callus cultures has been demonstrated, which may be a consequence of the phenolic antioxidants’ accumulation in them. The obtained data evidence that their potential ability to accumulate primary (carbohydrates) and secondary (polyphenols) metabolites depends on the light exposure intensity and duration.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with neurological, degenerative, and inflammatory diseases. Brazil has regions with high prevalence rates. The prevalence among relatives of positive people is high, and intrafamily transmission causes the conservation of the infection for different generations. The investigation of epidemiological and molecular factors may clarify the factors associated with the efficacy of intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and molecular factors associated with intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1 in an endemic area of Brazil. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study investigated 72 relatives from 14 families with more than one infected. Epidemiological data were collected from all family members, and genetic sequencing was performed, phylogenetic analysis of 22 positive relatives. Results: The prevalence of HTLV-1 in families with infected people was 56.94% (41/72). Twelve vertical transmission routes and ten horizontal transmission routes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the absence of polymorphisms between infected mother and child sequences, while sequences of couples presented nucleotide divergence of up to 3%.among themselves. It was also identified in a family with an intrafamilial transmission with the occurrence of two viral strains. Conclusion: Molecular data confirmed intrafamilial transmission. They also indicated little genetic variability between the sequenced samples of family members and those deposited in GenBank used in this study. The absence of polymorphisms was observed in cases of vertical transmission, indicating a tendency to perpetuate identical sequences regardless of the time of acquisition of the infection.

This paper provides a new discovery that adds to the contemporary theory of modelling of non-stationary queues, by capturing analytically the behavior of the root parameter, for the G1/M/1 PSFFA model of non-stationary Ek/M/1 queue. Additionally, it has been also revealed that the resulting root parameter reduces to the PSFFA model of non-stationary queue. Potential applications of PSFFA to Computer engineering are provided. Some challenging open problems are addressed combined with closing remarks and future research directions.

Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology offers an alternative to conventional photovoltaic systems, focusing on the concentration of solar radiation through the optics of the system onto smaller and more efficient solar cells. However, the surface on which the solar beam is incident must remain oriented towards the position of the sun, which requires the use of large and heavy external elements known as solar trackers. In addition to their size, these elements must be as accurate as possible to avoid misalignment. To avoid the need of these solar trackers, the concept of tracking-integrated concentrating systems has been developed. This technology has been researched to make CPV systems accessible in places where conventional systems are not viable, such as building roofs or agrivoltaic fields. This review presents a detailed classification of the existing designs in the literature and providing an overview of this type of system. By eliminating the need for external solar trackers, tracking-integrated CPV systems offer a promising solution to increase the adoption of this technology. Therefore, it is expected that these systems will be a viable and effective option for solar power generation.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has proven to be effective in reducing the rate of recurrence and disease as secondary prevention (evidence-based intervention) in patients who have suffered from myocardial infarction (MI). CR is a multidisciplinary path in which the patient is followed pharmacologically, from a psychological, nutritional, nursing and physiotherapy point of view. Post-MI patients present a reduction in the performance of the diaphragm muscle, the main inspiratory muscle, and this condition can become a risk factor for further relapses or for the onset of heart failure. Despite the solidity of the international guidelines for CR, the latter are lacking in specifically indicating an evaluation and training path regarding the inspiratory muscles in post-MI patients who have not undergone cardiac surgery. The article reviews the information on the adaptation of the diaphragm post-MI and highlights the need for clearer indications for a rehabilitation process that gives importance to the diaphragm.

Brushless Synchronous Machines (BSM) are replacing conventional synchronous machines with static excitation in generation facilities due to the absence of sparking and lower maintenance. However, this excitation system makes challenging measuring electric parameters in the rotor. This fact highly difficult the detection of ground faults, which are the most common type of electrical fault in electric machines. In this paper, a ground fault detection method for BSM is proposed. It is based on an inductive AC/DC rotating current sensor installed in the shaft. In case of a ground fault in the rotating parts of the BSM, a fault current will flow through the rotor’s sensor, inducing voltage in its stator. Analyzing the frequency components of the induced voltage the detection of a ground fault in the rotating elements is possible. The ground faults detection method proposed covers the whole rotor and discern between DC and AC sides. To corroborate the detection method, experimental tests have been performed using a prototype of this sensor connected to laboratory synchronous machines achieving satisfactory results.

This study presents the development and pilot implementation of an assessment and shared deci-sion-making methodology called the Gezamenlijk Inschatten van Zorgbehoeften (GIZ), designed for youth (health) care professionals working with children and families. The three-phase approach included a needs assessment, development of the GIZ methodology, and pilot implementation in a preventive youth health care and youth care setting, involving parents, adolescents, and youth (health) care professionals. The needs assessment produced nine criteria that the GIZ methodology needed to meet. Based on these criteria, the GIZ methodology was developed and described using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). The pilot implementation demonstrated high client engagement, satisfaction, and feasibility in daily practice. The GIZ ap-proach promotes appropriate support for families by improving the joint assessment and shared decision-making process in youth (health) care. This study supports the implementation of GIZ in youth (health) care practice and highlights the need for further focus on implementation and sus-tainability.

In this work, we derive the spectral efficiency, secrecy outage probability, and bit error rate of a communication system assisted by a large intelligent surface (LIS). We consider a single-antenna user and an array of antennas at the transmitter side and the possibility of a direct link between transmitter and receiver. Additionally, there is a single-antenna eavesdropper with a direct link to the transmitter, which is modeled as a Nakagami-m distributed fading coefficient. The channels from transmitter to the LIS and from the LIS to the user may or may not have the line-of-sight (LoS) and are modeled by the Nakagami- m distribution. Moreover, we assume that the LIS elements perform non-ideal phase cancellation leading to a residual phase error that assumes a Von Mises distribution. We show that the resulting channel can be accurately approximated by a Gamma distribution whose parameters are analytically estimated using the moments of the equivalent signal-to-noise ratio. We also provide an upper bound for the error probability for M-QAM modulations. With the derived formulas, we analyze the effect of the strength of the LoS link by varying the Nakagami parameter, m.

We report on the occurrence of natural Magnesium Alumina Silicate Hydrate (M-(A)-S-H) cement at Feragen and Leka in eastern and western Trøndelag Norway, respectively. Both occurrences are located in the sub-arctic climate zone and form in glacial till and moraine material deposited on ultramafic rock during the Weichselian glaciation. Weathering of serpentinized peridotite dissolve brucite and result in a relative high pH alkaline fluid that subsequently reacts with the felsic minerals of the till (quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar) to form a cement consisting of an amorphous material or a mixture of nanocrystalline Mg-rich phyllosilicates, including illite. The presence of plagioclase in the till results in the enrichment of alumina in the cement, i.e., forms M-A-S-H instead of the M-S-H cement. Dissolution of quartz results in numerous etch-pits and negative quartz crystals filled with M-A-S-H cement. Where the quartz dissolution is faster that the cement precipitation, a honeycomb-like texture is formed. Compositionally the cemented till (tillite) contains more MgO and has a higher loss of ignition than the till, suggesting that the cement is formed by a MgO fluid that previously reacted with the peridotite. The M-(A)-S-H cemented till represent a new type of duricrust, coined magsilcrete. The study of natural Mg-cement provides information on peridotites as a Mg-source for Mg-cement and as a feedstock for CO2 sequestration.

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

This article presents a systematic mapping study dedicated to conduct a literature review on machine learning and IoT applied in the identification of diseases through heart sounds. This research was conducted between January 2010 and July 2021, considering IEEE Xplore, PubMed Central, ACM Digital Library, JMIR- Journal of Medical Internet Research, Springer Library, and Science Direct. The initial search resulted in 4,372 papers, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 papers were selected for full reading to answer the research questions. The main results are: of the 58 articles selected, 46 (79.31%) mention heart rate observation methods with wearable sensors and digital stethoscopes, and 34 (58.62%) mention care with machine learning algorithms. The analysis of the studies based on the bibliometric network generated by the VOSviewer showed in 13 studies (22.41%) a trend related to the use of intelligent services in the prediction of diagnoses related to cardiovascular disorders.

This paper investigates the search for an exact analytic solution to a temporal first-order differential equation that represents the number of customers in a non-stationary or time-varying

A total of 473 metabolites were identified from 4 sour cherry genotypes using UPLC-TOF-MS. Untargeted metabolomics revealed the dominant chemical groups present in sour cherries. PCA showed that the diversity in sour-cherry metabolites was due to the genotype differences indicating iditol, malic acid, chlorobenzene, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and pyroglutamic acid as the predominant contributors. The variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1.0) in partial least-squares–discriminant analysis described 20 biomarker metabolites, representing the cherry metabolome profiles. A heatmap of Pearson’s correlation analysis between the 20 biomarker metabolites and antioxidant activities identified seven antioxidant determinants that displayed the highest correlations with different types of antioxidant activities. This study of correlating metabolomics and antioxidant activities elucidated that the higher nutritional value and biological functions of select sour cherry genotypes can be useful for the development of nutraceutical and functional foods.

Bimetallic (or multimetallic) catalysis has emerged as a powerful tool in modern chemical synthesis, offering improved reaction control and versatility. This review focuses on the recent de-velopments in bimetallic sequential catalysis for the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles, essential building blocks in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. The cooperative action of two (and sometimes more) different metal catalysts enables intricate control over reaction pathways, enhancing selectivity and efficiency of N-heterocyclic compounds synthesis. By activating less reactive substrates, this multimetal catalytic strategy opens new synthetic possibilities for challenging compounds. The use of catalytic materials in bimetallic systems reduces waste and improves atom efficiency, aligning with green chemistry principles. With a diverse range of metal combinations and reaction conditions, bimetallic catalysis provides access to a broad array of N-heterocyclic compounds with various functionalities. This paper highlights the significant progress made in the past decade in this topic, emphasizing the promising potential of bimetallic catalysis in drug discovery and the fine chemical industries.

The preparation of transition metal salt ammine complexes having oxidizing anions is a great challenge due to the reaction between the ammonia and oxidizing anions during the synthesis of these materials. However, they have an important role in the development of new oxidants in organic chemistry and especially as precursors in the preparation of mixed metal oxides and alloys in controlled temperature thermal decomposition reactions. Therefore, the synthetic procedures to prepare the complexes of transition metal permanganate, pertechnetate, and perrhenate (VIIB group tetraoxometallates) salts with ammonia as ligand or co-ligand have been comprehensively reviewed. The available data about the structure and spectroscopic properties of these compounds, including the hydrogen bonds that act as redox reaction centers under their thermal decomposition are given and evaluated. Their thermal decomposition processes and products have been summarized. The available pieces of information about their role in organic oxidation reactions like the oxidation of benzyl alcohols, and regeneration of oxo-compounds from oximes and phenylhydrazones including the kinetics of these processes have also been collected.

New antiviral agents are essential to improving treatment and control of SARS-CoV-2 infections that can lead to the disease COVID-19. Antimicrobial peptoids are sequence-specific oligo-N-substituted glycine peptidomimetics that emulate the structure and function of natural antimicrobial peptides but are resistant to proteases. We demonstrate antiviral activity of a new peptoid (TM9) against the coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus (MHV), as a closely related model for the structure and antiviral susceptibility profile of SARS-CoV-2. This peptoid mimics the human cathelicidin LL-37, which has also been shown to have antimicrobial and antiviral activity. In this study TM9 was effective against three murine coronavirus strains, demonstrating the therapeutic window is large enough to allow use of TM9 for treatment. All three isolates of MHV generated infection in mice after 15 min of exposure by aerosol using the Madison aerosol chamber and all three viral strains could be isolated from the lungs throughout the 5-day observation period post-infection, with the peak titers on day 2. MHV-A59 and MHV-A59-GFP were also isolated from liver, heart, spleen, olfactory bulbs, and brain. These data demonstrate that MHV serves as a valuable natural murine model of coronavirus pathogenesis in multiple organs, including the brain.

In the past years, consumers have increased their interest to buy healthier food products, rejecting those products with more additives and giving preference to the fresh ones. Moreover, the current environmental situation has made society more aware of the importance of reducing the production of plastic and food waste. In this way and considering the Food Industry need of reducing the food spoilage along the food chain, edible coating has been considered as an eco-friendly food packaging that can replace traditional plastic packaging providing an improvement in the product’s shelf-life. Edible coating are thin layers applied straightaway on the food materials’ surface, that are made of biopolymers that usually incorporate other elements, such as nanoparticles or essential oils, to improve their physicochemical properties. These materials must provide a barrier that can prevent the pass of water vapor and other gasses, the microbial growth, the moisture loss, and the oxidation, so the shelf-life could be extended. The aim of this review was to compile the current data available to give a global vision of the formulation process and the different ways to improve the characteristics of the coats applied in both fruits and vegetables. In this way, the suitability of compounds in by-products produced during the Food Industry chain were also considered for the edible coating production.

Background: The practice of self-medication is common worldwide and is an important component of medical self-care. However, the practice can be dangerous and is linked to various risks for the patients and the entire community. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among Bangladeshi adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2021 among Bangladeshi adults (aged >19 years) using convenient sampling. A total of 1320 data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with self-medication practice (SMP). Results: Overall, 41% of adults in our survey reported SMP. The most common illnesses that prompted SMP were common cold/flu (66.4%), gastric problems (65%), and headache (64.4%). The most frequent reasons for SMP were to get better services (30.59%), perceive SMP without side effects (23.28%), and save time with effectiveness (14.56%). Potential risk factors included 10 years (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.04 - 3.50) and >12 years of schooling (AOR = 5.03; 95% CI: 2.27 - 11.15), being a businessman (AOR = 4.64; 95% CI: 1.74 - 12.37), having ≤6 family members (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.40 - 3.24), being a member of a social group (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.12), a health status check after every six months (AOR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.08 - 2.13), and current ill-health (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.87). Protective factors identified included ≤30 years of age (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.17 - 0.93), and practice of modern (AOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.22- 0.69) and herbal (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21- 0.97) healing types. Conclusion: More than one-third of the study participants reported practicing self-medication. Increasing the community’s awareness of the extreme consequences of SMP and not just the average experience might sway individuals away from SMP, and implementing strict jurisdiction could be a way to minimize the SMP.

A single paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: describe briefly the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: summarize the article’s main findings; (4) Conclusions: indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article, it must not contain results which are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.

.Various synthetic nematicides are currently used effectively in the control of plant parasitic nematodes. However, these nematicides have adverse effects on humans and the environment. Neem oil is eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic nematicides. The effectiveness of repeated neem oil application in suppressing the root-knot nematodes infestation in figs seedlings was therefore examined in this study, both in its natural form (10 ml/L) and in its nano-emulsion form (5 and 7 ml/L). The recorded reduction parameters of M. incognita were J2/250g soil, galls and egg masses / 5g roots of infected fig seedlings were measured at that time, and the effects of these natural additives were compared with the Fosthiazate (Krenkel 75%EC). The impact of such soil amendments on some typical plant parameters, the total microbial count of soil, and the overall enzymatic activity of the fig rhizosphere were also included. Obtained results revealed that the soil population density of root knot nematode suppressed by 80.3% , reduction of nematode egg masses (60.4%) due to the application of nano-emulsion of neem oil (at 7ml/L). Present work recommend the use of nano-emulsion of neem oil as one of the effective and eco-friendly means to reduce the root- knot nematode on fig .

The purpose of the present study was to compare heart rate (HR), blood lactate and training load between different CrossFit® workouts, with equalized total volume in men and women. The study included 23 individuals (13 men and 10 women) experienced in CrossFit® training, who performed two workouts with different training types (as many reps as possible - AMRAP and for time) but equalized volume. Measurements of lactate, HR and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were performed. The results showed that there was no HR interaction between workout time and sex (p = 0.822; η2 = 0.006] and between workout type and sex (p = 0.064, η2 = 0.803). HR significantly differed during each workout type (p <0.001, η2 = 0.621), but not between the two workout types (p = 0.552, η2 = 0.017). Lactate showed no difference between the workout types (p = 0.474, η2 = 0.768), although the training load was higher (p = 0.033, η2 = 0.199) in women when they performed AMRAP. Altogether, HR was not significantly different between training types or sex, while RPE, lactate and training load showed small differences depending on the group (women or men) or workout type (AMRAP or 'for time').

Evaluation of drug permeability using cell monolayers is an important in vitro assay in the process of drug development, to identify compounds with favourable pharmacokinetics that may proceed to in vivo studies. When allowed to differentiate on permeable filters for at least 21 days, monolayers of Caco-2 cells develop morphological and functional properties similar to those of the intestinal epithelium. Permeability through Caco-2 monolayers is thus particularly relevant to assess drug absorption after oral administration. The major drawback of this assay is its very low throughput, with the cell monolayers being used in a single permeability assay. We have previously proposed a protocol to allow the re-use of the Caco-2 monolayer on additional permeability assays during the stable period and shown that cell monolayer integrity is maintained. In this work we evaluate the effect of re-use on the permeability of several reference compounds that permeate through passive pathways and show that the cell monolayers can be re-used twice in additional permeability assays. Preliminary results were also obtained regarding active transport pathways, and a new methodology is proposed to quantify the contribution from passive and active transport. This is a major step towards the full validation of the re-use methodology proposed, which at least triplicates the throughput of this important in vitro assay.

We improved a magnetic scanning microscope for measuring the magnetic properties of minerals in thin sections of geological samples at submillimeter scales. The microscope is comprised of a 200 µm diameter Hall sensor that is 142 µm from the sample; an electromagnet capable of applying to the sample up to 500 mT dc magnetic fields over a 40 mm diameter region; a second Hall sensor arranged in a gradiometric configuration to cancel the background signal applied by the electromagnet and reduce overall noise in the system; a custom-designed electronics to bias the sensors and provide adjustment for background signal cancelation; and a scanning XY stage with micrometer resolution. Our system achieves a spatial resolution of 220 µm with noise at 6.0 Hz of »300 nT_rms/(Hz)^1/2 in an unshielded environment. The magnetic moment sensitivity is 1.3 × 10⁻¹¹ Am².^1/2 We successfully measured the representative magnetization of a geological sample using an alternative model that takes into account the sample geometry and identified different micrometric characteristics in the sample slice.

Primary Health Care is crucial in the healthcare system, being the first level of contact with health services for users and patients to take action using the available resources. Patient care units are created to facilitate direct user participation through the circuit of complaints, grievances, and suggestions, allowing the analysis of the population's unmet expectations and needs. To study complaints and grievances regarding the treatment and information received by users in the Santiago and Barbanza healthcare area during the year 2022. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, in which complaints filed by patients in the year 2022 in the Santiago and Barbanza healthcare area were analyzed. A total of 326 users who filed a total of 512 complaints were studied in the year 2022, with 358 (70.0%) related to treatment/information. The mean age was 33.5±16.2 years. 72.4% were women (n=236). A Pearson correlation was performed to establish whether there was a dependence between the number of healthcare visits in both primary care and hospital settings in 2022 and the number of complaints filed in the same year. Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.14; 95% CI (0.02 - 0.27), p=0.012. There is a correlation between the number of consultations and the number of complaints filed. Frequent users are more likely to file a complaint. However, there is no correlation between the number of consultations and the likelihood of filing a complaint regarding treatment/information. Therefore, there seems to be a good relationship between healthcare personnel and users, which impacts patient satisfaction.

Here we are concerning with two problems of a coupled system of random and stochastic nonlinear differential equations with two coupled systems of nonlinear nonlocal random and stochastic integral conditions. The existence of solutions will be studied. The sufficient condition for the uniqueness of the solution will be given. The continuous dependence of the unique solution on the nonlocal conditions will be proved.

The recent remarkable progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has renewed the discussion on the possibility of human-level AI. Despite the difficulty of the problem and the presence of many large gaps and challenges, most people working in the field think that human-level AI is achievable, but they disagree on the date. In this paper, I briefly discuss the possibility of human-level AI from the perspective of two traditions in the Islamic world, namely Kalam and Sufism, and despite their different mode of investigation, they converge to the same conclusion on this topic.

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a viable alternative for tackling the problems caused by rising consumption, including solid waste (SW). The present study conducted a meta-analysis of research published between 2012 and 2022 on CE and solid waste management (SWM). A bibliometric analysis was used from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. By studying the articles, we briefly discussed the connections between them and how one contributes to the evolution of the other. Some findings point to greater collaboration between Italy and Bolivia, followed by China and Malaysia. However, they move away from the traditional axes as the United States and Canada. In addition, it was found that the adoption of reuse and selective collection, in fact, allow the reduction of the volume of discarded materials. In this way, it was possible to conclude that a greater connection between CE and GRS makes it possible to optimize the useful life of landfills through the treatment of organic waste and recycling, to encourage waste picker cooperatives and selective collection programs, and to reduce the financial costs of the system as a whole, making it more durable and sustainable.

In the age of social media, images come from unreliable sources that may change their content to fit a narrative. Automated detection of forged images is a complex task, especially considering recent technological advances in image manipulation software. However, in the existing literature, it is possible to identify two general approaches adopted by detection methods, active and passive. Active techniques preemptively act on an image by inserting structures before any manipulation is made that can verify its authenticity. In contrast, passive methods analyze the content of an image in search of traces of manipulation. In this way, this research proposes a novel approach to image manipulation detection, combining two passive methods through neural networks, creating a generalist approach capable of detecting with greater accuracy than the methods that compose it. Furthermore, this work used a combination of four datasets available in the literature for training and evaluation. After training, the merged approach obtained an accuracy of 89.59% in the set of validation images, significantly higher than the model trained with only unaltered images, which obtained 78.64%, and the two other models trained using images with a feature selection method applied to enhance inconsistencies that obtained 68.02% for Error-Level Analysis images and 50.70% for the method using Discrete Wavelet Transform. In addition to the performance improvement, the proposed approach’s accuracy variation was lower than the other models.

A new set of basis functions is presented. The foundation in mathematics is established. To reconstruct a signal, it is compared to the Fourier basis functions. The M-basis functions' potential applications are also presented.

In this study, the physical properties of briquettes produced from two different biomass feedstocks (sawdust and date palm trunk) and different plastic wastes were investigated, without using any external binding agent. The biomass feedstocks were blended with different ratios of two WEEE plastics (halogen-free wire and print circuit boards (PCB)) and automotive shredder residues (ASR). The briquettes production is studied at different waste proportions (10-30%), pressures (22-67 MPa) and temperatures (room-130 ˚C). Physical properties as density and durability rating were measured, usually increasing with temperature. Palm trunk gave better results than sawdust in most cases, due to its moisture content and the extremely fine particles that are easily obtained.

According to the World Health Organization, about 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability. Assistive Technology, in this context, contributes directly to the overcoming of difficulties encountered by people with disabilities in their daily lives, allowing them to receive education and become part of the labor market and society in a worthy manner. Assistive Technology has made great advances in its integration with Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) devices. AIoT processes and analyzes the large amount of data generated by IoT devices and applies Artificial Intelligence models, specifically Machine Learning, to discover patterns for generating insights and assisting in decision making. Based on a systematic literature review, this article aims at identifying the Machine Learning models used in multiple different research about Artificial Intelligence of Things applied to Assistive Technology. The survey of the topics approached in this article also highlights the context of such research, their application, IoT devices used, and gaps and opportunities for further development. Survey results show that 50% of the analyzed research address visual impairment, and for this reason, most of the topics cover issues related to computational vision. Portable devices, wearables, and smartphones constituted the majority of IoT devices. Deep Neural Networks represent 81% of the Machine Learning models applied in the reviewed research.

High incidence of epithelial malignancies in HIV-1 infection is associated with co-infection with oncogenic viruses, such as high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPVs), most often HPV16. A collaboration between HIV-1 and HR HPVs in the malignant transformation of epithelial cells exposed to both viruses have long been anticipated. Here, we delineated the effects on in vitro and in vivo properties of HPV16-infected cervical cancer cells of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Epidermoid carcinoma Ca Ski cells were made to express RT of HIV-1 clade A (RT_A) or Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) by lentiviral transduction, subclones with one or six copies of RT_A and six copies of GFP DNA were generated. Expression by subclones of GFP was assessed by flow cytometry, and of RT_A, by Western blotting. Cells were assessed for the levels of mRNA of the RT_A, E6 and its isoforms, and cellular factors characterizing oxidative stress, and EMT by the real-time PCR. Parameters of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration were assessed by Seahorse technology. Subclones were surveyed for the changes in cell cycle, doubling time, migration capacity, clonogenic activity and for the capacity to form tumors in nude mice. Ca Ski RT_A produced 20-55 fg of RT_A per cell. Expression of RT_A caused a proportional increase in the expression of E6*I isoform. In Ca Ski, RT_A suppressed mitochondrial respiration and oxygen consumption, and increased glycolysis. Compared to parental cells and GFP control, transcription in Ca Ski RT_A of epithelial (E-CADHERIN) state marker was increased, and of mesenchymal (VIMENTIN) decreased, indicating acquisition by cells of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype. While Ca Ski GFP and Ca Ski RT_A with one gene insert had reduced migration rate, decreased clonogenic activity in vitro, and diminished capacity to form tumors in nude mice, increase in RT_A copicity/expression mitigated these effects. Altogether, expression of HIV-1 RT_A gave Ca Ski cells the plasticity required to overcome negative effects of lentiviral transduction and potentially increased their tumorigenicity.

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are a group of steroid compounds derived from certain plants and animals. CTS are selective inhibitors of Na,K-ATPase, so for a long time they were widely used for medical purposes to treat heart failure and some other diseases. However, over time, doctors gradually began to refuse this group of drugs due to their narrow therapeutic range and a number of serious side effects. However, in parallel with the rise and fall of interest in CTS as a drug, interest in them as a single class of high-affinity Na,K-ATPase inhibitors has only increased. Numerous data on the effect of CTS on signaling cascades and cell viability made impelling a search for a rationale for the existence of such a subtle biological regulator. A large number of studies devoted to the potential use of CTS in the treatment of neurodegenerative, oncological, immune and other diseases "revitalized" the already "written off" group of the drugs. If initially the role of exogenous (mainly plant origin) CTS was studied, then by the 90s of the XX century the study of the role of endogenous CTS and their regulatory effects became a popular trend in biology and physiology. The role of endogenous CTS was studied in details in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases [1]. A large number of researchers have unanimously stated that endogenous CTS are very complex regulators of the development of pathological processes; however, the exact cause-and-effect relationship that would unambiguously explain the processes of synthesis, utilization, and the role of endogenous CTS has not yet been established. The effects of CTS in the frame of various regulatory schemes have been described, but the predominant number of studies was devoted to arterial hypertension, heart and renal failure, cancer [2–4], aging [5,6], and neuroinflammation. The effects of both endo- and exogenous CTS on blood cells and have been studied to a much lesser extent.

Mood and anxiety disorders affect pregnant people and their families at increased rates throughout the perinatal period. Geographic, financial, and social barriers persist in identification and access to care that preclude adequate diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for Black and Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPOC) who already experience increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes and faced structural barriers to accessing perinatal mental health care at baseline. The literature shows that integrated care can improve mental health outcomes and save billions of dollars in annual healthcare costs. This study evaluated a novel statewide integrated care effort designed to facilitate access to perinatal mental health care for OB/GYN patients. In addition to enrollment data, variables studied were maternal program satisfaction, retention rates, and preliminary maternal mental health outcomes. 285 patients were ever referred for care. Of this, we contacted 259 patients (91%) and enrolled 209 (72%). Of the 209, 48 were lost to follow up, while 107 remained enrolled at the time of data analysis. 54 patients met their treatment goals. 97% of individuals asserted they were satisfied with the services they received. Black race and public insurance predicted faster attrition from treatment; risk for interpersonal violence exposure and substance use were not related to attrition. Preliminary mental health outcomes showed significant decreases in anxiety and depression, with the most dramatic decreases in the first month of treatment. The MC3 Perinatal care program is a viable, patient-endorsed collaborative care model that increases access to perinatal mental health and facilitate access to outside resources.

Shiga toxin (Stx) produced by Escherichia coli is the main pathogenic factor of diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by obstruction of renal microvasculature by platelet-fibrin thrombi. It is well known that the oxidative imbalance generated by Stx induces platelet activation, contributing to thrombus formation. Moreover, activated platelets release soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) which in turn contributes to oxidative imbalance, triggering the release of reactive oxidative species (ROS) on various cellular types. The aim of this work was to determine if the interaction between the oxidative response and platelet-derived sCD40L participates in the pathogenic mechanism during HUS. Activated human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) by Stx2 induced platelets to adhere to them. Although platelet adhesion did not contribute to endothelial damage, high levels of sCD40L were released to the medium. The release of sCD40L by activated platelets was inhibited by antioxidant treatment. Furthermore, we found increased levels of sCD40L in plasma from HUS patients, which were also able to trigger the respiratory burst in monocytes, in a sCD40L-dependent manner. Thus, we concluded that platelet-derived sCD40L and the oxidative response are reciprocally stimulated during Stx2-associated HUS. This process may contribute to the evolution of glomerular occlusion and the microangiopathic lesions.

In this review, several cost-effective thin-film coating methods which include dip-coating, spin-coating, spray-coating, blade-coating, and roll-coating are presented. Each method has its set of advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of application. Not all of them are appropriate for large-scale production due to their certain limitations. That is why the coating method should be selected based on the type and size of substrate including the resolution of the required thin-films. The sol-gel method offers several benefits, such as simplicity in fabrication, excellent film uniformity, the capacity to cover surfaces of any size and over vast areas, and a low processing temperature. Nevertheless, these coating methods are somewhat economical and well managed in low-budget laboratories. Moreover, the produced thin-films are homogeneous and have low-surface roughness. Furthermore, some other thin-film deposition methods such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are also discussed. Since CVD is not restricted to line-of-sight deposition, a characteristic shared by sputtering, evaporation, and other PVD processes, many manufacturing methods favor it. However, these techniques require sophisticated equipment and cleanroom facility. We aim to provide the pros and cons of thin-film coating methods and let the readers decide the suitable technique for their specific application.

: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L) R. Br) is a subtropical grain and forage crop. It is privileged with several desirable forage attributes. Nevertheless, research on pearl millet is limited especially as a forage crop in the developing countries. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the field performance and stability of pearl millet genotypes for forage yield across seven environments. The study was conducted in seven environments (combination of locations and seasons) during 2016/2017-2018/2019 seasons. Twenty-five pearl millet genotypes, selected based on forage yield from a core collection of 200 accessions, were arranged in alpha lattice design with three replications. The parameters measured were fresh forage yield, days to flowering, plant height, number of culms m-2, leaf to stem ratio, and stem girth. The combined analysis revealed that environments, genotypes and their interaction had significant effects on all traits studied except the genotypic effect on stem girth. Across the seven environments, four genotypes (G14, G01, G12, and G22) out-yielded the check genotype in fresh matter yield by 20.7, 16.5, 11.0 and 9.8%, respectively. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that the genotype, environment and their interaction were highly significant (P≤0.001) for fresh matter yield. The results of AMMI Stability Values (ASV) and the genotype selection index (GSI) combined with the AMMI estimate-based selection showed that genotypes G14, G22 and G01 were the most stable and adapted genotypes and were superior to the check genotype. These results indicate that forage pearl millet varieties could be developed directly through evaluation of the wealth available collections or indirectly through hybridization in crop breeding programs.

In tropical areas, simultaneous transmission of several vector-borne diseases is common due to ecological factors that are shared by arthropod vectors. Malaria and dengue virus, transmitted by Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes, respectively, are among the top vector-borne diseases that cause significant morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. Notably, tropical areas often have suitable conditions for the co-existence of these mosquito species, highlighting the importance of identifying markers that accurately indicate the risk of acquiring each specific disease entity. Aedes are daytime-biting mosquitoes, while Anopheles preferentially bite during the night. These biting patterns raises the possibility of concurrent exposure to bites from both species. This pattern is important since mosquito saliva, deposited in the skin during blood feeding, induces immune responses that modulate pathogen establishment and infection. Previous studies have focused on characterizing such effects on the vector-pathogen interface for an individual pathogen and its mosquito vector. In this study, we evaluated associations between immune responses to salivary proteins from non-dengue and non-malaria vector mosquito species with clinical characteristics of malaria and dengue, respectively. Surprisingly, antibody responses against Anopheles antigens in dengue patients correlated with red blood cell count and hematocrit, while antibody responses against Aedes proteins were associated with platelet count in malaria patients. Our data indicate that concurrent exposure to multiple disease-carrying mosquito vectors and their salivary proteins with differing immunomodulatory properties could influence the transmission, pathogenesis, and clinical presentation of malaria, dengue fever, and other vector-borne illnesses.

Globally mangrove forests are substantially declining and a globally synthesized database of the drivers of deforestation and drivers’ interaction is scarce. Here we synthesized the key social-ecological drivers of global mangrove deforestation by reviewing about two hundred published scientific studies over the last four decades (from 1980 to 2021). Our focus was on both natural and anthropogenic drivers with gradual and abrupt impacts and their geographic ranges of effects and how these drivers interact. We also summarized the patterns of global mangrove coverage decline between 1990 and 2020 and identified the threatened mangrove species and their geographic ranges. Our consolidated studies reported a 8,600 km2 decline in the global mangrove coverage between 1990 and 2020 with the highest decline occurring in South and Southeast Asia (3870 km2). We could identify 11 threatened mangrove species, two of which are critically endangered (Sonneratia griffithii and Bruguiera hainseii). Our reviewed studies pointed to aquaculture and agriculture as the predominant driver of global mangrove deforestation though the spatial distribution of their impacts varied. Gradual climate variations, i.e. seal-level rise, long-term precipitation and temperature changes and driven coastline erosion, constitute the second major group of drivers. Our findings underline a strong interaction across natural and anthropogenic drivers with the strongest interaction between the driver groups aquaculture and agriculture and industrialization and pollution. Our results suggest prioritizing globally coordinated empirical studies linking drivers and mangrove changes and a global development of policies for mangrove conservation.

Positively charged polyelectrolytes hold significant potential as materials for creating antibacterial coatings. Water-soluble macromolecules can be easily deposited onto a treated surface through various techniques, forming a film that provides antimicrobial properties to the surface through electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes. The structural and molecular weight characteristics of the polymers play a crucial role in the physical and mechanical properties of the coatings. In this study, we investigated the properties of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and linear polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) coatings with different molecular weights of polymer samples to determine their suitability as stable coatings with antibacterial properties against foodborne bacteria. Using thermogravimetric analysis, dynamometry, and dynamic light scattering, we examined the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the macromolecules in water solutions and in coatings. Microbiological study was conducted to analyze the biocidal activity of the polycations in solutions and on the surface of coatings. Our findings showed that the moisture saturation of the polycationic coatings did not significantly depend on the chemical nature of charged groups or the molecular weight or architecture of macromolecules. Moreover, biocidal activity was not found to depend on the molecular weights of PEI and PDADMAC. However, the lowering of the molecular weight of polymers resulted in the loss of cohesive forces in the coatings and to dramatically loss of the stability towards wash-off with water. The diffusion coefficient (D0) of macromolecules was identified as a key parameter for the wash-off mechanism. Films formed by molecules with D0 below 1×10-7 cm2/s demonstrated high resistance to wash-off procedures. We demonstrated that PEI and PDADMAC samples with high molecular weights showed high antimicrobial activity towards L. monocytogenes. Our results highlight the importance of macromolecule characteristics in the development of new biocidal coatings based on polycations.

Metal toxicity in soils, along with water runoff, are increasing environmental problems that affect agriculture directly and, in turn, human health. In light of finding a suitable and urgent solution, research on plant treatments with specific compounds that can help mitigate these effects has increased, and thus the exogenous application of melatonin (MET) and its role in alleviating the negative effects of metal toxicity in plants, have become more important in the last few years. MET is an important plant-related response molecule involved in growth, development, and reproduction, and in the induction of different stress-related key factors in plants. It has been shown that MET plays a protective role against the toxic effects induced by different metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, B, Al, V, Ni, La, As, and Cr) by regulating both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant plant defense systems. In addition, MET interacts with many other signaling molecules, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and participates in a wide variety of physiological reactions. Furthermore, MET treatment enhances osmoregulation and photosynthetic efficiency and increases the concentration of other important antioxidants such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, polyamines (PAs), and carotenoid compounds. Some recent studies have shown that MET appeared to be involved in the regulation of metal transport in plants, and lastly, various studies have confirmed that MET significantly upregulated stress tolerance-related genes. Despite all the knowledge acquired over the years, there is still more to know about how MET is involved in the metal toxicity tolerance of plants.

This research paper is about to obtain new soliton solutions to the M-fractional (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear Westervelt model by utilizing $\exp_a$ function and modified simplest equation techniques. The gained solutions involving dark, bright, periodic, dark-bright and other solitons. These results have many applications in wave propagation of sound waves, high amplitude in medical imaging and therapy. Achieved results are verified by Mathematica tool and the effect of M-fractional derivative on the solutions is explained through 2-Dimensional, 3-Dimensional and contour plots. At the end, these techniques are simple, fruitful and effective to deal with nonlinear FPDEs.

The eugenol derivative, ethyl 4-(2-methoxy-4-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)phenoxy)butanoate 1, with promising insecticidal capability was encapsulated in liposomal formulations of egg-phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (Egg-PC:Ch) 70:30 and of 100% dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG). Compound-loaded Egg-PC:Ch liposomes exhibit small hydrodynamic diameters (below 100 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (88.8% ± 2.7%), higher stability and a more efficient compound release, being chosen for assays in Sf9 insect cells. Compound 1 elicited a loss of cell viability up to 80% after 72h of incubation. Relevantly, encapsulation maintained the toxicity of compound 1 towards insect cells, while it lowered toxicity towards human cells, thus showing the selectivity of the system. Structure based inverted virtual screening was used to predict the most likely targets and molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations were used to demonstrate that this molecule can form a stable complex with insect odorant binding proteins and/or acetylcholinesterase.

Buildings’ thermal energy needs are inherently linked to climate conditions. Consequently, it is crucial to evaluate how climate changes affect these energy demands. Despite extensive analysis, a comprehensive assessment involving a diverse range of building types has not been consistently conducted. The primary objective of this research is to perform a coherent evaluation of the influence of climate changes, construction element properties, and the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system type of control on the energy requirements of six buildings (residential, services, and commercial). The buildings are considered located in a temperate Mediterranean climate. Our focus is on the year 2070, considering three distinct climatic scenarios: (i) maintaining the current climate without further changes, (ii) moderate climate changes, and (iii) extreme climate changes. The buildings are distributed across three different locations, each characterized by unique climatic conditions. Buildings’ envelope features a traditional External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) serves as thermal insulation material. Two critical design factors are explored: EPS thickness ranging from 0 (no insulation) to 12 cm; and horizontal external fixed shading elements varying lengths from 0 (absence) to 150 cm. Six alternative setpoint ranges are assessed for the HVAC system control: three based on the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and three based on indoor air temperature (Tair). Results were obtained with a validated in-home software tool. They show that, even under extreme climate conditions, the application of thermal insulation remains energetically favorable, however its relative importance diminishes as climate severity increases. Then, proper insulation design remains important for energy efficiency. The use of external shading elements for glazing (e.g., overhangs, louvers) proves beneficial in specific cases. As climate changes intensify, the significance of shading elements grows. Thus, strategic placement and design are necessary for good results. The HVAC system’s energy consumption depends on the level of thermal comfort requirements, on the climate characteristics and on the building’s type of use. As climate change severity intensifies, energy demands for cooling increase, while energy needs for heating decrease. However, it’s essential to recognize that the impact of climate changes on HVAC system energy consumption significantly depends on the type of building.

Defects in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) are associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), manifested by atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Defective LDLR in hepatocytes leads to increased blood cholesterol level that damage vascular cells, especially endothelial cells, through oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the distinctions between endothelial cells from individuals with normal and defective LDLR are not yet fully comprehended. In this study, we obtained and examined endothelial derivatives of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) generated previously from conditionally healthy donors and compound heterozygous FH patients carrying pathogenic LDLR alleles. In normal iPSC-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-EC), we detected the LDLR protein predominantly in its mature form, while iPSC-EC from patients with FH display reduced level of mature LDLR and show abolished low-density lipoprotein uptake. RNA-seq of iPSC-EC with mutant LDLR revealed a unique transcriptome profile comprising downregulated genes related to monocarboxylic acid transport, exocytosis and cell adhesion, as well as upregulated signaling pathways of cell secretion and leukocyte activation. Overall, these findings suggest that LDLR defects increases susceptibility of endothelial cells to inflammation and oxidative stress. This, combined with elevated extrinsic cholesterol levels, may result in accelerated endothelial dysfunction, contributing to early progression of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular pathologies related to FH.

The misuse of antibiotics during the last decades led to the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogenic bacteria. This phenomenon constitutes a major public health issue. Consequently, the discovery of new antibacterials in the short term is crucial. Colicins, due to their antibacterial properties, thus constitute good candidates. These toxin proteins, produced by E. coli to kill enteric relative competitors, exhibit cytotoxicity through ionophoric activity or essential macromolecule degradation. Among the 25-colicin types known to date, colicin M (ColM) is the only one colicin interfering with peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Accordingly, ColM develops its lethal activity in E. coli periplasm by hydrolyzing the last peptidoglycan precursor, lipid II, into two dead-end products, thereby leading to cell lysis. Since the discovery of its unusual mode of action, several ColM orthologs have also been identified based on sequence alignments; all of the characterized ColM-like proteins display the same enzymatic activity of lipid II degradation and narrow antibacterial spectra. This publication aims at being an exhaustive review about what is currently known on this new family of antibacterial enzymes as well as on their potential use of food preservatives or therapeutic agents.

Rising consumer demand for more safety, healthy and fresh-like food has given new concepts for food packaging. Besides, the growing concern with environmental issues has increased the search for materials from non-petroleum sources and biodegradable ones. Thus, active films based on biopolymers loaded with natural active compounds have potential to be used as food packaging. However, there are a lot of lipophilic active compounds that are a problem to incorporate in hydrophilic matrices, such as polysaccharides and proteins. One way to overcome these challenges is adding these compounds encapsulated in O/W emulsions. The incorporation of emulsion in biopolymeric matrix has influence in the film properties, such as mechanical, barrier, optical, among other. In this way, this review aims to point out the main characteristics of the emulsions systems encapsulating active compounds and its influence in the film properties and to present and discus critically the recent advances in the area.

Clarifying the impact mechanism of digital transformation of enterprises on the M&A efficiency of listed companies can provide a factual basis for improving capital market regulatory policies. Taking the mergers and acquisitions of listed companies from 2007 to 2021 as a research sample, the influence mechanism of the digital transformation degree of companies on their M&A efficiency was studied. The research results show that the digital transformation of listed companies will improve their M&A efficiency. Digital transformation will reduce the degree of mispricing of stocks of M&A companies, curb conflicts between managers and agents of M&A companies, and improve their M&A efficiency. Further research finds that the promotion effect of digital transformation on M&A efficiency is more significant in non-state-owned companies, with a higher degree of financing constraint and high analyst attention. In the future, regulatory authorities should actively promote the digital transformation of listed companies, curb mispricing and management agency problems in the capital market with digital governance, and improve the efficiency of mergers and acquisitions in the capital market.

This study investigates the emergence of ertapenem-resistant, meropenem-susceptible (ErMs) among non-carbapenemase producing (NCP) and carbapenemase producing (CP) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. As mutations for ertapenem resistance establish the genetic background for non-carbapenemase meropenem resistance, there is a great need for antibiotic stewards and researchers to understand the determinants of a strain’s propensity to become resistant. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on clinical carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC) and K. pneumoniae (CRKP) across 5 hospitals in San Antonio, U.S. from 2012-2018. The majority of carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) were NCP (54%; 41/76). The blaCTX-M was found to be most prevalent among NCP isolates (p = 0.02). LC-MS/MS analysis of carbapenem hydrolysis revealed that blaCTX-M-mediated carbapenem hydrolysis, indicating the need to reappraise the term, “non-carbapenemase (NCP)” for quantitatively uncharacterized CRE strains harboring blaCTX-M. Antimicrobial susceptibility results showed that 56% of all NCPE isolates had an ErMs phenotype (NCPE vs. CPE, p &lt; 0.001), with E. coli driving the phenotype (E. coli vs. K. pneumoniae, p &lt; 0.001). ErMs strains carrying blaCTX-M, had approximately 4-fold more copies of blaCTX-M than ceftriaxone-resistant but ertapenem and meropenem susceptible (EsMs) isolates (3.7 v. 0.9, p &lt; 0.001). ErMs also carried more mobile genetic elements (MGEs), particularly IS26 composite transposons, than EsMs (37 vs. 0.2, p &lt; 0.0001). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated the absence of OmpC expression in NCP-ErMs E. coli, with 92% of strains lacking full contig coverage of ompC. Overall, this work provides evidence of a collaborative effort between blaCTX-M and OmpC in NCP strains that confer resistance to ertapenem but not meropenem. To thwart potential mismanagement of CRE infected patients, future efforts should focus on understanding the mechanism(s) underlying OmpC loss, developing rapid methods to detect blaCTX-M copy number variants, and targeted antimicrobials for NCPE and ErMs strains.

Choking and foreign body aspiration are significant causes of mortality and morbidity in young youngsters. This study aimed to investigate the effects of education programs on school students ' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards a choking person. This quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design included a total of 282 school students. The students were divided into an intervention group (n = 141) and a control group (n = 141). After both groups completed the pretest, the intervention group received an education program on first aid for a choking person. Then, both groups were subjected to a posttest at the end of the program. The descriptive and inferential statistics analyzed the data. There were no significant differences between the two groups within the study parameters at the pretest (P = > 0.05). However, at posttest, a significant difference was observed in the knowledge (p = 0.001), attitude (p = 0.024), and practice (p = 0.001) of the intervention group compared to the control group. The intervention group showed significant improvement in the students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding first aid for a choking person. We suggest a continuous training program to improve the competency of first aid for a choking person.

: Image guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) combines superficial radiation therapy (SRT) with full dermal visualization (FDV) via high resolution dermal ultrasound (HRDUS) for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The gold standard for IGSRT delivery includes a comprehensive cancer care model with support for the dermatologists by a multidisciplinary team. When delivered in this model, IGSRT can achieve cure rates of 99% for treatment of NMSC. This paper focuses on the benefits of IGSRT during therapy. Medical records from 7 dermatology clinics of 883 patients with 1,507 cases of NMSC treated with IGSRT be-tween 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. 92% of the NMSC lesions showed daily depth fluctuations, 60.32% of lesions did not require changes during therapy, and nearly 40% of lesions required at least one compensatory change during therapy. 83% of NMSC lesions were labeled high-risk based on the 2024 NCCN guidelines. Increasing and decreasing tumor depth measurements during IGSRT inform dermatologists when adaptive changes in energy (kV), TDF and dose will result in more efficacy and less toxicity, respectively.

Civil construction is one of the oldest known activities in humanity, reports indicate that builders of the Roman Empire already sought the reuse of materials. Currently, considering the depletion of the supply of natural resources, the recycling of solid waste from construction and demolition (CDW), not only provides new products, but also offers ecological and economic alternative. In this context, this research seeks new variables for the disposal of waste from construction and demolition having in the composition of artificial finishing stones an odd possibility to be analyzed. In this research was developed and analyzed a new composite from the construction and demolition waste using as a binder an orthophthalic polyester resin. The residue was sieved and separated by granulometry by the simplex centroid method, the best compacted mixture was determined statically by ANOVA and the Tukey test. The residue was characterized by X-ray fluorescence and the resin by infrared spectroscopy by Fourier transform. Artificial rock plates were produced with 85% residue and 15% resin, by mass, by vibro system, compression and vacuum, later were cut for mechanical, physical and chemical tests. Analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy of fractured compositions as well as grain sizes. The artificial stone with the best results presented density of 2,256 g/cm3, water absorption of 0.69%, apparent porosity of 1.55%; bending strength of 34.74 MPa and compression of 111.96 MPa; good results in the alterability and thermal tests. In this satisfactory scenario, the use of this waste in the composition of artificial rocks is promising because it directly meets the concept of sustainable development; replacing the concept of end-of-life of the linear economy, by new circular flows of reuse, restoration and renovation, in an integrated process the circular economy; as well as the quality of the final product with properties similar to the artificial rocks already marketed.

While microcredits are, by the development practitioners, repeatedly hailed as a useful measure of development policy, this empirical research in Bangladesh arrives at different results: the governing and disciplinary measures are necessary to trigger the best possible repayment success. Based on interviews with the microfinance beneficiaries, loan officers, and microfinance experts in Bangladesh, I chart some of the most frequently used governing and disciplinary techniques including fictitious proximity of loan officers, their fields of visibility and surveillance processes. The “success” of credit delivery is a neoliberal stance that ensures the ceaseless debt repayment process using the intentional and planned conduct, capitalizing social capital and credit honour reputation, surveillance over business enterprises, use of equivocal language and different forms of deception. The development strategy through microfinance in Bangladesh is a development “dispositif” with a changing shift in its declared social missions.

Biodiversity has become an issue of global anxiety over the past decades due to its rapid decline worldwide. Bangladesh as one of the most densely populated countries in the world is no more exception. The country, although, was once very rich in biodiversity, during the last few decades as a consequence of the rapid reduction in forest area, urbanisation, habitat modification, unsustainable natural resources use and collection and overall climate change it has decreased alarmingly. Of late, the government, as a signatory of various regional and international conservation treaties, has taken various initiatives to improve country’s dwindling biodiversity. This paper reviews the present situation of biodiversity in Bangladesh, management trends and major causes of biodiversity loss. A separate statutory body is fundamental to ensure conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits arisen from biodiversity in the country.

Critically ill patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) can present many abdominal conditions that need a prompt diagnosis and timely treatment because of their general frailty. Clinical evaluation and diagnostic tools like ultrasound or CT scan are not reliable or feasible in these patients. Bedside laparoscopy (BSL) is a minimally invasive procedure that allows surgeons to assess the abdominal cavity directly in the ICU, thus avoiding unnecessary exploratory laparotomy or incidence related to intra-hospital transfer. We conducted a review of the literature to summarize the state-of-the-art of BSL. Medline, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Scopus databases were utilized to identify all relevant publications. Indications, contraindications, technical aspects, and outcomes are discussed. The procedure is safe, feasible, and effective. When other diagnostic tools fail to diagnose or exclude an intra-abdominal condition in ICU patients, BSL should be preferred over exploratory laparotomy.

AI-based approaches are increasingly being used to revolutionize vaccine development for COVID-19. Small molecules, peptides, and epitopes are being collected for therapy discovery, which could also direct AI-based models, screening, or generation [1]. AI-based models are being used for drug discovery and vaccine development, and pre-existing data is being leveraged through machine learning approaches for COVID-19 drug discovery and vaccine development [1]. The best candidate targets for future treatment development are being identified and evaluated using AI-based models [1]. AI-based approaches can be used to overcome challenges in manufacturing, storage, logistics, and safety and efficacy issues related to different vaccine candidates for COVID-19 [2]. AI algorithms can help identify the best vaccine candidates for COVID-19 while considering the efficiency of antigenic peptides for immune response generation [2]. The presentation of antigenic peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules is the first step after COVID-19 vaccine administration for any vaccine-induced immune response [2]. Thus, AI-based models are being used to identify the best vaccine candidates for COVID-19 and to ensure that the vaccine-induced immune response is efficient and safe. The utilization of AI-based methods to address logistical, manufacturing, storage, safety, and efficacy issues regarding several COVID-19 vaccine candidates will be examined in this study. Additionally, while considering the effectiveness of antigenic peptides for the induction of an immune response, we will determine the best potential targets for the next treatment development and assess how AI-based models can help discover the best vaccine candidates for COVID-19. This research ultimately intends to offer insights into how AI-based techniques can transform COVID-19 vaccine development and how they can be applied to address vaccine development issues. In this paper, we focus on recent advances in using artificial intelligence to develop COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, as well as the potential of intelligent training in discovering COVID-19 therapeutics, highlighting potential challenges and solutions.

Bimetallic Ni/Cu core-shell and Cu-Ni heterostructural micro- and nanoparticles were prepared using two simple successive reduction procedures. Monometallic Ni and Cu particles were synthesized for comparison. The phase constitutions and morphological features of the particles were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. All the obtained mono- and bimetallic particles were applied as electrocatalysts in the electrohydrogenation of p-nitrophenol (p-NPh). An additional electrochemical reduction of copper cations during the hydrogen saturation of Cu-containing particles was established. Some of the prepared particles exhibited high catalytic activity with an increase in the hydrogenation rate of p-NPh by more than 3 times compared to its electrochemical reduction on the non-activated cathode, and p-NPh conversion yielded the maximum values. The main product of p-NPh electrocatalytic hydrogenation over Ni-Cu particles is p-aminophenol, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of many drugs. p-Aminophenol formation is confirmed by UV-Vis spectra.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify factors associated with late diagnosis and clinically monitor newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients. Method: Retrospective longitudinal study, based on secondary data from a specialized unit at a tertiary hospital. Data collection included sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and laboratory data of newly diagnosed HIV patients between 2015-2019. Data analysis adopted inferential statistical tests using the SPSS program, considering α ≤ 0.05. Results: 314 individuals were newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. 70.3% (208) had a late diagnosis, and 57.1% (169) were diagnosed very late. There was an association of the very late diagnosis with the variables sex and education and with origin, entry, occurrence of opportunistic diseases, use of ARV therapy, and death, associated with late and very late diagnosis, respectively. The results of the regression model indicate that males had 2.28 [95% CI 1.11 - 4.46] higher chances of having a late diagnosis compared to females. Conclusions: This study evidenced a high prevalence of late and very late diagnoses in newly diagnosed male HIV patients who presented with opportunistic diseases, requiring hospitalization, and having a significant risk of progressing to death.

This study delves into the performance evaluation of an avant-garde technology in mobile communications known as Large Intelligent Surface (LIS), poised to be an integral component of the sixth-generation (6G) networks. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to markedly augment the Signal-to-Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) by orchestrating signals originating from the base station through a network of digitally controlled reflectors meticulously engineered to modulate the phase of incoming electromagnetic waves. A LIS can establish a Line of Sight (LoS) within channels that inherently do not have a LoS. In addition, it can also be optimized to increase transmission security by ensuring that the signal reaches only the target users of the message with better quality. In this study, analytical expressions were derived to calculate the distribution parameters, the bit error probability, and the secrecy outage probability. These calculations consider the presence of an eavesdropper link, highlighting the potential of the LIS to increase the confidentiality of digital communication systems. The accuracy of the proposed formulas was demonstrated by showing how the performance of the LIS varies with different design parameters and environmental fading.

Sphingolipids play an important role in the development of diabetes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as in the development of both micro- and macro-vascular complications. Several reviews have been published concerning the role of sphingolipids in diabetes but most of the emphasis has been on the possible mechanisms by which sphingolipids, mainly ceramides, contribute to the development of diabetes. Research on circulating levels of the different classes of sphingolipids in serum and in lipoproteins and their importance as biomarkers to predict not only the development of diabetes but also of its complications has only recently emerged and it is still in its infancy. This review summarizes the previously published literature concerning sphingolipid-mediated mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes and its complications focusing on how circulating plasma sphingolipid levels and the relative content carried by the different lipoproteins may impact their role as possible biomarkers both in the development of diabetes and mainly in the development of diabetic complications. Further studies in this field may open new therapeutic avenues to prevent or arrest/reduce both the development of diabetes and progression of its complications.

In the present study, a multilayer high barrier thin blown film based on a polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) blend with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and composed of four layers, including a cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) barrier layer and an electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) hot-tack layer, was characterized in terms of surface roughness, surface tension, migration, mechanical and peel performance, barrier properties and disintegration rate. The results showed a material with a smooth surface. The overall migration test showed that the material was suitable for its use as a food contact layer. The addition of the CNC interlayer had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the system, drastically reducing the elongation at break and, thus, the flexibility of the material. However, the material retained its elastic modulus and tensile strength. The CNC coating had a negative impact on the peeling strength, weakening the inherently strong interlayer adhesivity of the electrospun PHBV fibers. The multilayer had a good barrier to water vapor, and especially to oxygen, with its permeance reduced by up to a 90 % when the CNC layer was present. Finally, the monolayer blend film disintegrated in a period of less than 55 days in a laboratory-scale composting experiment, while the multilayer system disintegrated in 60 days. Overall, the multilayer system formed a fully compostable structure with great potential for use in food packaging applications.

The classification of goods involved in international trade in Brazil is based on the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM). The classification of these goods represents a real challenge due to the complexity involved in assigning the correct category codes especially considering the legal and fiscal implications of misclassification. This work focuses on the training of a classifier based on Bidirectional En-coder Representations from Transformers (BERT) for the tax classification of goods with NCM codes. In particular, this article presents results from using a specific Portuguese Language tuned BERT model as well results from using a Multilingual BERT. Experimental results justify the use of these models in the classification process and also that the language specific model has a slightly better performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and economies, necessitating the development of effective vaccines against the novel virus. Understanding the structure and function of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for rational vaccine design. The virus consists of several key proteins, including the spike protein, envelope protein, membrane protein, and nucleocapsid protein. The spike protein plays a crucial role in host cell entry by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on human cells. The replication of the virus within host cells is facilitated by various viral proteins, such as the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the main protease (Mpro). Rational vaccine design strategies for SARS-CoV-2 primarily focus on targeting the spike protein due to its role in host cell entry. However, developing vaccines against this protein is challenging due to its highly mutable nature and potential conformational changes. Alternative strategies involve using other viral proteins, such as the nucleocapsid protein, which is conserved and essential for viral replication. Considering T-cell responses in vaccine design is also vital as they play a vital role in controlling viral infections. Vaccines that elicit both antibody and T-cell responses are more likely to provide robust and durable immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Advancements in rational vaccine design for SARS-CoV-2 include mRNA-based vaccines, viral vector-based vaccines, and protein subunit vaccines. However, challenges remain in developing a universally effective vaccine, including the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and mutations that may affect the efficacy of existing vaccines. In conclusion, rational vaccine design for SARS-CoV-2 requires a comprehensive understanding of the virus's structure and function, targeting key viral proteins, and considering T-cell responses.

Seventy-two clavarioid specimens from Johannes Rick's collection at PACA and BPI were revised. Eleven taxa are presented. Illustrations of the microstructures are provided for nine taxa. The description of Scytinopogon robustus includes information from recently collected specimens and SEM photographs of the basidiospores. A new combination, Clavulina ridleyi, is proposed.

Microbial pigments have many structures and functions with excellent characteristics, such as being biodegradable, non-toxic, and ecologically friendly, constituting an important source of pigments. Industrial production presents a bottleneck in production cost that restricts large-scale commercialization. However, microbial pigments are progressively gaining popularity because of their health advantages. The development of metabolic engineering and cost reduction of the bioprocess using industry by-products opened possibilities for cost and quality improvements in all production phases. We are thus addressing several points related to microbial pigments, including the major classes and structures found, the advantages of use, the biotechnological applications in different industrial sectors, their characteristics, and their impacts on the environment and society.

Establishment of protected areas (PAs) is one of the key global conservation strategies that currently cover approximately 15% of the earth’s land surface. Globally, PA networks are designed to curb the growing anthropogenic pressures in areas with high biological diversity. Despite the importance of PAs in conserving the vanishing biodiversity and unique habitats, many of them are in critical condition due to poor governance thus functioning below the expected level. Moreover, in many developing countries, the PA coverage is below the global standard. Recognizing their contemporary role in conservation, governments have recently agreed to expand the global PA coverage to 17% by the year 2020 (Aichi target 11). This book with eight chapters from different regions of the world provides an overview of the PAs governance, institutional mechanisms, conservation benefits, limitations and challenges associated with their respective policy discourse, integrated management, and functional attributes. Protected areas expect to to play an important role in the long rn in conservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems particularly in countries where population pressure and habitat loss are high. Regular intervention, political commitment, and effective governance are essential for the sustainability of PAs across the world. Here, we also attempted to shed some light on future development clues for the sustainable management and monitoring of PAs worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on global health, notably the virus's association with autoimmune illnesses. Autoimmune illnesses occur when the immune system of the body targets healthy cells, causing damage and inflammation. The potential impact of COVID-19 on autoimmune disorders, the hazards of COVID-19 vaccinations for persons with autoimmune diseases, and the potential risks of COVID-19 vaccines are all discussed in this essay. COVID-19 can cause autoimmune illnesses by causing inflammation, organ and tissue damage, and molecular mimicry, in which the immune system mistakenly assaults healthy cells for the virus. However, not everyone infected with COVID-19 develops autoimmune disorders. While some research has found a link between COVID-19 and autoimmune illnesses, this does not always suggest causation. Other factors, such as genetics and environment, may also play a role in the emergence of autoimmune illnesses. COVID-19 can aggravate existing autoimmune disorders by causing the immune system to attack healthy cells, making management more difficult and increasing the risk of consequences. People with autoimmune disorders, on the other hand, may not be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than the general population. Some research has found that persons with autoimmune disorders are more likely to have severe COVID-19, whereas others have found no difference. COVID-19 vaccinations may represent dangers to persons with autoimmune illnesses since they contain antigens that can activate the immune system. Furthermore, due to their already overactive immune systems, some vaccines may not perform as well for people with autoimmune disorders, and some people with autoimmune diseases may have severe reactions to immunizations, producing inflammation and other symptoms. COVID-19 may not be any more hazardous to those with autoimmune illnesses than it is to the general population. The connection between COVID-19 and autoimmune disorders is complicated and under investigation. While some research implies that people with autoimmune disorders have a higher risk of severe COVID-19, others demonstrate no difference in death rates between them and the general population. There are also counterarguments that COVID-19 can induce and exacerbate autoimmune disorders, as well as worries about COVID-19 vaccine hazards for people who have autoimmune diseases. More research is required to completely understand the influence of COVID-19 on autoimmune illnesses, as well as the dangers and benefits of vaccinations for these people.

Since HIV was first identified, and in a relatively short period of time, AIDS has become one of the most devastating infectious diseases of the 21st century. Classical antiretroviral therapies were a major step forward in disease treatment options, significantly improving the survival rates of HIV-infected individuals. Even though these therapies have greatly improved HIV clinical outcomes, antiretrovirals (ARV) feature biopharmaceutic and pharmacokinetic problems such as poor aqueous solubility, short half-life and poor penetration into HIV reservoir sites, which contribute to the sub-optimal efficacy of these regimens. To overcome some of these issues, novel nanotechnology-based strategies for ARV delivery towards HIV viral reservoirs have been proposed. The current review focus on the benefits of using lipid-based nanocarriers for tuning the physicochemical properties of ARVs to overcome biological barriers upon administration. Furthermore, a correlation of these properties and the potential therapeutic outcomes has been established. Biotechnological advancements using lipid nanocarriers for RNA interference delivery for the treatment of HIV infections were also discussed.

The incidence of gastrointestinal diseases (cancer in particular) has increased progressively with considerable morbidity, mortality, and a high economic impact on the healthcare system. Dietary intake of natural bioactive phytochemicals showed to have cancer-preventing and therapeutic effects. This includes the cruciferous vegetable derivative phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a bioactive compound from watercress. PEITC antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties are of particular importance. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of PEITC as a potential natural nutraceutical or an adjuvant against oxidative/inflammatory-related disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. We also discuss the safe and recommended dose of PEITC. Besides, we establish a framework to guide the research and development of sustainable methodologies for obtaining and stabilizing this natural nutraceutical for industrial use. This is a topic that still needs more scientific development, but with the potential to lead to a viable strategy in the prevention of cancer and other associated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The aim of our study was a comprehensive comparative assessment of the effect of consumption of 1 and 2% cholesterol as part of a standard diet with and without regular moderate physical activity on the main biomarkers of lipid and cholesterol metabolism, as well as the intestinal microbiota of male Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups according to body weight and Open Field test results: Control (n=10), 1% Chol (n=10), 2% Chol (n=10), 1% Chol + RUN (n=10) and 2% Chol + RUN. The cholesterol was additionally added in the amount of 1g or 2g/100g, respectively, to the diet of animals. The rats of experimental groups 1% Chol + RUN and 2% Chol + RUN were subjected to regular (2 days a week) physical activity on a Treadmill. In rats of four experimental groups, when compared to the Control, a response of 39 indicators was revealed. The largest number of changes in biomarkers - 29 (statistically significant, p

Hoechst 33342 (H33342) is a fluorescent probe that is commonly used to stain DNA of living cells. To do so, it needs to interact with and permeate through cell membranes. The pH of biological media may vary quite significantly and this influences H33342 ionization state, and may change its rate of permeation through biomembranes. In this work, we address the effect of pH in the association of H33342 with lipid bilayers using a combined experimental and computational approach. The partition of H33342 to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid membranes was experimentally quantified using fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to select the most stable isomer of H33342 for the overall charges 0, +1, and +2, expected to predominate across the 5 &lt; pH &lt; 10 range. The interaction of these isomers with POPC bilayers was then studied by both unrestrained and umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations. While probe insertion occurs for all ionization states, with similar overall equilibrium location, orientation was found to depend on the probe charge, with the neutral form lying mostly parallel and the doubly charged displaying a significant tilt relative to the membrane plane. Both experimental results and computational free energy profiles indicate that the partition coefficient of H33342 displays a small variation over a wide pH range, not exceeding one order of magnitude. The enthalpy of interaction is negative and is larger at lower pH values. This suggests efficient hydrogen bonding between the probe and the lipid, namely for the protonated +2 form. The relatively high lipophilicity obtained for the charged species contrasts with the decrease in their general hydrophobicity as estimated from water and octanol partition. This highlights the distinction between lipophilicity and hydrophobicity, and the importance of considering association with lipid bilayers when predicting the affinity for biomembranes.

Indoor residual spray (IRS), mainly employing pyrethroid insecticides, is the most common intervention to prevent malaria transmission in many regions of Latin America; the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) has been more limited. Knockdown resistance (kdr) is a well-characterized target-site resistance mechanism associated with pyrethroid and DDT resistance. Most mutations detected in acetylcholinesterase-1 (Ace-1) and voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) genes are non-synonymous, resulting in a change of amino acid leading to non-binding of the insecticide. In the present study, we analyzed target-site resistance in Nyssorhynchus darlingi, the primary malaria vector in the Amazon, in multiple malaria endemic localities. We screened 988 wild-caught specimens of Ny. darlingi from three localities in Amazonian Peru and four in Amazonian Brazil. Collections were conducted between 2014-2021. Criteria were Amazonian localities with a recent history as malaria hotspots, primary transmission by Ny. darlingi and the use of both IRS and LLINs as interventions. Fragments of Ace-1 (456 bp) and VGSC (228 bp) were amplified, sequenced and aligned with Ny. darlingi sequences available in GenBank. We detected only synonymous mutations in the frequently reported Ace-1 codon 280 known to confer resistance to organophosphates and carbamates, but detected three non-synonymous mutations in other regions of the gene. Similarly, no mutations linked to insecticide resistance were detected in the frequently reported codon (995) at the S6 segment of domain II of VGSC. The lack of genotypic detection of IR mutations by sequencing the Ace-1 and VGSC genes from multiple Ny. darlingi populations in Brazil and Peru could be associated with low-intensity resistance, or possibly the main resistance mechanism is metabolic.

This paper discusses domestic problem of waiting hot water for the shower use till it reaches satisfactory temperature, which result a lot of wastage in fresh water. The outcome from research survey shows that there is no satisfactory solution till now as all solutions were either expensive or with no effective results. Local small inline electric heater equipped with fuzzy logic controller is proposed in this paper to be installed just before the showerhead to measure the water temperature and flow before the showerhead, as control input-variables, and decide the operating voltage of the heater, as control output-variable (MISO). MATLAB Simulink is used to model the proposed system. Different test cases are simulated to prove the performance and the safe operation of the system. Techno-economic study is carried out to determine the “Direct Benefits” and “Indirect Benefits” that can be achieved if such system is implemented in wide range. Azerbaijan data is taken as an example to calculate the economic benefits. The results show important benefits not only for economy but also for climate and the reduction of CO₂ gas emission. Different economic indices are provided to be an easy reference for decision makers and project managers.

Research in various fields of evolutionary biology has shown that divergence in gene expression is a key driver for phenotypic variation. An exceptional contribution of cis-regulatory evolution has for instance been found to contribute to morphological diversification. In the light of these findings, the analysis of genome-wide expression data has become one of the central tools to link genotype and phenotype information on a more mechanistic level. However, in many studies, especially if general conclusions are drawn from such data, a key feature of gene regulation is often neglected. With our article, we want to raise awareness that gene regulation and thus gene expression is highly context dependent. Genes show tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression. We argue that the regulatory context must be considered when studying evolution of gene expression.