Temporal lobe epilepsy is a common, chronic disorder with spontaneous seizures that is often refractory to drug therapy. A potential cause of temporal lobe epilepsy is primary brain injury, making prevention of epileptogenesis after the initial event an optimal method of treatment. Despite this, no preventive therapy for epilepsy is currently available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of anakinra, lamotrigine, and their combination on epileptogenesis using the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. The study showed that the treated and untreated animals showed no significant difference in the number and duration of seizures. However, the severity of seizures was significantly reduced after treatment. Anakinra and lamotrigine, alone or in combination, significantly reduced neuronal loss in the CA1 hippocampus compared to the control group. However, the drugs administered alone were found to be more effective for CA3 than their combination. The treatment alleviated the impairments in activity level, exploratory behavior and anxiety, but had a relatively weak effect on TLE-induced impairments in social behavior and memory. The efficacy of the combination treatment did not differ from that of anakinra and lamotrigine monotherapy. These findings suggest that anakinra and lamotrigine, alone or in combination, may have clinical utility in preventing epileptogenesis.

Febrile seizures in early childhood can lead to developmental disorders in the CNS. However, the specific mechanisms behind the impact of febrile seizures on the developing brain are not well-understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we employed a hyperthermic model of febrile seizures in 10-day-old rats and tracked their development over two months. Our objective was to determine the degree to which the properties of the hippocampal glutamatergic system are modified. We analyzed whether pyramidal glutamatergic neurons in the hippocampus die after febrile seizures. Our findings indicate that there is a reduction in the number of neurons in various regions of the hippocampus in the first two days after seizures. The CA1 field showed the greatest susceptibility, and the reduction in the number of neurons in post-FS rats in this area appeared to be long-lasting. Electrophysiological studies indicate that febrile seizures cause a reduction in glutamatergic transmission, leading to decreased local field potential am-plitude. This impairment could be attributable to diminished glutamate release probability as evidenced by decreases in frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and increases in pair-pulse ratio of synaptic responses. We also found higher threshold current causing hindlimb extension in the maximal electroshock seizure threshold test of rats 2 months after febrile seizures compared to control animals. Our research suggests that febrile seizures can impair glutamatergic transmission, which may protect against future seizures.

Even brief epileptic seizures can lead to activity-dependent structural remodeling of neural circuitry. Animal models show that the functional plasticity of synapses and changes in the intrinsic excitability of neurons can be crucial for epileptogenesis. However, the exact mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis remain unclear. We induced epileptiform activity in rat hippocampal slices for 15 min using a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) in vitro model and observed hippocampal hyperexcitability for at least 1 hour. We tested several possible mechanisms of this hyperexcitability, including changes in intrinsic membrane properties of neurons, presynaptic and postsynaptic alterations. Neither input resistance nor other essential biophysical properties of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons were affected by epileptiform activity. The glutamate release probability also remained unchanged, as the frequency of miniature EPSCs and the paired amplitude ratio of evoked responses did not change after epileptiform activity. However, we found an increase in the AMPA/NMDA ratio, suggesting alterations in the properties of postsynaptic glutamatergic receptors. Thus, the increase in excitability of hippocampal neural networks is realized through postsynaptic mechanisms. In contrast, the intrinsic membrane properties of neurons and the probability of glutamate release from presynaptic terminals are not affected in a 4-AP model.

This paper presents a study of human blood sera samples, collected in various regions of the Russian Federation, with regard to both vaccine and pandemic avian influenza viral strains. Just before the 2022-2023 epidemic season, herd immunity to seasonal influenza A viruses was reportedly lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since no stable circulation of A/H5Nx and A/H9N2 influenza in the human population was observed during this period, we believe 100% vaccination against seasonal influenza is necessary for employees of poultry farms and other organizations, closely connected to the breeding and processing of poultry. In addition to protection against seasonal influenza, vaccination can hamper the emergence of new viral variants, driven by genome reassortment, during simultaneous infection of humans with seasonal human and animal influenza viruses.

Febrile seizures (FS) are a relatively common early-life condition that can cause CNS developmental disorders, but the specific mechanisms of action of FS are poorly understood. In this work, we used hyperthermia-induced FS in 10-day-old rats. By recording local field potentials, we showed that the efficiency of glutamatergic synaptic transmission decreased 15 min after FS. This effect was transient, and after 2 days there were no differences between control and post-FS groups. During early ontogeny, the proportion of calcium-permeable (CP)-AMPA receptors in the synapses of principal cortical and hippocampal neurons is high. Therefore, rapid internalization of CP-AMPA receptors may be one of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Using the whole-cell patch clamp method and the selective CP-AMPA receptor blocker IEM-1460, we tested whether the proportion of CP-AMPA receptors changes. We have demonstrated that FS rapidly reduces synaptic CP-AMPA receptors in both the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. This process was accompanied by a sharp decrease in calcium permeability of the membrane of principal neurons, which we revealed in experiments with kainate-induced cobalt uptake. Our experiments show that FSs cause rapid changes in the function of the glutamatergic system, which may have compensatory effects that prevent excessive excitotoxicity and neuronal death.

The aim of this work is to compare two softwares (MAUD and TOPAS) based on the Rietveld algorithm and to test the concept of tolerance factor using the dissolution at high temperature of yttrium into BaTiO₃. In general, both softwares give up different values of the crystalline parameters however the trends are similar in most cases but the analysis of the strain and crystallite size in the BaTiO₃ crystals suggests that, in this particular case, MAUD offered results more consistent with the expected behavior. Using the crystalline parameters calculated by Rietveld, the tolerance factor values were obtained and these data suggest even better stability in the crystalline structure than that expected using theoretical parameters. Tolerance factor concept also indicates that Ti⁴⁺ should be preferred.

This paper addresses the analysis for the nonlinear vibration response of a rectangular tube with a flexible end and non-rigid acoustic boundaries. This is a further work of the linear structural acoustic problem in a well-known acoustic book. In fact, the acoustic boundaries of an enclosed space sometimes are non-rigid and the structural vibration responses are nonlinear. These two points are the focuses of this paper. The multi-level residue harmonic balance method is applied to this nonlinear structural acoustic problem. The results obtained from the multi-level residue harmonic balance method and numerical method are generally in good agreement. The effects of excitation magnitude, tube length, and phase shift parameter etc. are examined.

The high genetic diversity of the tomato and its high micronutrient content make this fruit very interesting from an economic and nutritional point of view. The genetic erosion suffered by this crop, due to breeding objectives based on yield and marketing, makes it necessary to return to the origins in search of the nutritional and organoleptic quality lost in traditional varieties. In this study, the agronomic, physical, organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of eighteen F1 hybrids obtained by crossing fourteen traditional varieties, previously selected for their quality, were studied to select genotypes of superior quality that could be candidates for new. All parameters studied were strongly influenced by genotype, showing a wide range between cultivars. Principal Component Analysis revealed the characteristics of each hybrid that made it stand out from the others. Some hybrids (H3, H4, and H6) stand out because of their high concentration of active compounds, others (H16, H15, H10, H17, H9, and H11) because of agronomic performance and high content of β-carotene, and H5 was the only one to contain chlorophyll in their ripe fruits. Finally, the evaluation index allowed the selection of five hybrids with interesting characteristics, combining good yield performance and high quality

Cutaneous mycoses are common infections whose treatment has become more complex due to increasing antifungal resistance and the need for prolonged therapies, hindering patient adher-ence and increasing the incidence of adverse effects. Consequently, the use of physical therapies, especially photodynamic therapy (PDT), has increased for the treatment of onychomycosis due to its antimicrobial capacity mediated by the production of reactive oxygen species. This study investigates the in vitro effect of the combination of blue light (448 nm) and red light (645 nm) with terbinafine on the cell viability of human keratinocytes and the production of reactive ox-ygen species. The combination of terbinafine and blue light exhibits a synergistic effect on the production of reactive oxygen species and a significant increase in the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme involved in the reduction of superoxide ions (O2-) and the genera-tion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Such effect could be useful in clinical practice to improve the response of cutaneous mycoses to pharmacological treatment, reduce their toxicity, and shorten their duration.

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.

Our previous studies showed that in patients with brain diseases neurotrophic factors in lacrimal fluid (LF) may change more prominently than in blood serum (BS). Since glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in control of neuronal networks in epileptic brain, we aimed to assess GDNF levels in LF and BS as well as BDNF, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and inflammation indices in BS of patients with focal epilepsy (PWFE), epilepsy and comorbid depression (PWFE+MDD) compared with major depressive disorder (PWMDD) and healthy controls (HC). GDNF levels in BS were similar in patients and HC and higher in PWFE taking valproates. GDNF levels in LF were significantly lower in all patient groups compared to controls, and independent of drugs used. LF and BS GDNF concentrations positively correlated in HC, but not patient groups. BDNF level was lower in BS of patients compared with HC and higher in PWFE+MDD taking valproates. Logistic regression models demonstrated that GDNF decrease in LF may be an important predictor of focal epilepsy. Probability of focal epilepsy can be evaluated using GDNF in LF and BDNF in BS; MDD - GDNF in LF, cortisol and TNF-α in BS; epilepsy with MDD - GDNF in LF, TNF-α and BDNF in BS.

In polymer-based dental composites, wear is a three-body wear system mainly abrasive, because of the food particles and wear products suspended in the oral cavity, which are transferred to the microcavities of the surface of the replacements. Due to this fact, the incorporation of nanodiamond as reinforcement in these polymer matrix composites, which promotes the creation of a solid lubricant tribofilm surface could be advantageous. When nanodiamond is added in contents of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 wt %, an increase in microhardness from 95 up to 420 %, compared to the one of neat BisGMA/TEGDMA, is observed. Additionally, the incorporation of a content of 1.6 wt % is enough to cause a diminution of ~78 % in the friction coefficient and a reduction of the specific wear rate and Archard’s coefficient of ~50 %. Nevertheless, the addition of relatively high contents reduces the effectiveness of photoinitiation and UV-curing, which is related to the scattering and absorption of UV radiation by ND.

An efficient approach to the previously unknown furo[2',3':2,3]pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline deriv-atives from readily available 1-R-1-ethynyl-2-vinylisoquinolines is described. The reaction fea-tures a simple procedure, occurs in hexaflouroisopropanol and does not require elevated tem-peratures. It has been found that the addition of glacial acetic acid significantly increases the yields of the target spirolactone products. Using trifluoroethanol instead of hexaflouroisopro-panol results into formation of pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolines.

Our objective was to investigate the effects of topically applied neuropeptide Y (NPY) on ischemic wounds. Initially, the animal model for ischemic wound healing was validated using 16 male Sprague-Dawley albino rats. In the intervention study, an additional 28 rats were divided into three groups: NPY (0.025%), the positive control insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I, 0.0025%), and the hydrogel carrier alone (control). The hydrogel was selected due to its capacity to prolong NPY release (p < 0.001), as demonstrated in a Franz diffusion cell. In the animals, an 8-mm full-thickness wound was made in a pedunculated dorsal ischemic skin flap. Wounds were then treated and assessed for 14 days, and procured at the end of the experiment for in situ hybridization analysis (RNAscope®) targeting NPY receptor Y2R and for meticulous histologic examination. Wound healing rates, i.e. the percentage wound area changes, did not show an increase with NPY (p = 0.938) but did with rhIGF-I (p = 0.039) compared to the control. Y2R mRNA was not detected in the wounds or adjacent skin but was identified in the rat brain (positive control). Light microscopic examination revealed trends of increased angiogenesis and enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration with NPY compared to control. An interesting secondary discovery was the presence of melanophages in the wounds. Our findings suggest the potential of NPY to enhance neovascularization under ischemic wound healing conditions, but further optimization of the carrier and dosage is necessary. The mechanism is elusive but likely involves NPY receptor subtypes other than Y2R.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a procedure that uses light to modulate cellular functions and bio-logical processes. Over the past decades, PBM has gained considerable attention for its potential in various medical applications due to its non-invasive nature and minimal side effects. This narrative review article examines the existing literature on PBM, encompassing research studies, clinical trials, and technological developments. This review highlights the mechanisms of action underlying PBM, including the interaction with cellular chromophores and the activation of in-tracellular signaling pathways. The evidence from clinical trials and experimental studies to evaluate the efficacy of PBM in clinical practice is summarized with a special emphasis on der-matology. Furthermore, advancements in PBM technology, such as novel light sources and treat-ment protocols, are discussed in the context of optimizing therapeutic outcomes and improving patient care. This narrative review underscores the promising role of PBM as a non-invasive therapeutic approach with broad clinical applicability. Despite the need for further research to develop standard protocols, PBM holds great potential for addressing a wide range of medical conditions and enhancing patient outcomes in modern healthcare practice.

The microstructure evolution, superplasticity, and room temperature mechanical properties of Ti-4%Al-1%V-3%Mo alloys modified with 0.01-2 wt.% boron were investigated. Increasing the boron content from 0 to 0.1 wt.% effectively refined prior β-grains, reducing a mean grain size from ~700 µm to ~210 µm. Whiskers of the TiB phase with a size in a range of 0.7-2.9 µm were observed after solidification and thermomechanical processing. Alloys with 0.01-0.1 wt.% boron exhibited similar superplastic elongations and strain rate sensitivity coefficient m of 0.4-0.5 at a strain rate of 1×10-3 s-1 and the elongation to failure decreased from 1000% at 875°С to 400-500% at 700°С. Along with this, the minor boron addition effectively decreased flow stress values, especially at 775 °C, that was explained by the acceleration of the recrystallization and globularization of the microstructure at the initial stage of deformation. Recrystallization-induced decrease in yield strength from 770 MPa to 680 MPa was observed with an increase in boron content from 0 to 0.1 wt.%. Heat treatment increased post-forming strength characteristics for the alloys with 0.01-0.1 wt.% boron by 90–140 MPa without ductility reduction. Alloys with 1-2 wt.% B demonstrated the opposite behavior. The grain refinement effect was not revealed, and prior β grain sizes were ~670-750 µm after solidification. Thermomechanical processing promoted the fragmentation of boride whiskers and the formation of near-spherical particles with a size of ~1 μm for the alloy with a eutectic concentration of 2 wt.% B. A high fraction of borides, ~5-11%, in the alloys with 1-2 wt.% B deteriorated the superplastic properties and drastically decreased ductility at room temperature. The alloy with 2 wt.% B demonstrated non-superplastic behavior and a low level of mechanical properties, meanwhile, the alloy with 1% boron exhibited high-temperature superplasticity at 875 °C with elongation of ~500%, and yield strength of 830 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 1020 MPa at a room temperature after 100% of superplastic deformation.

The Krudum granite body comprises highly fractionated granitic rocks ranging from medium-F biotite granites to high-F, high-P₂O₅ Li-mica granites. This unique assemblage is an ideal site to continue recent efforts in petrology to characterize the role of zircon, monazite and xenotime as hosts to REEs. The granitic rocks of the Krudum body analysed in this study were found to contain variable concentrations of monazite and zircon, while xenotime was only found in the high-F, high-P₂O₅ Li-mica granites and in the alkali-feldspar syenites of the Vysoký Kámen stock. For analysed monazites of all magmatic suites cheralite substitution was significant. The highest concentration of cheralite was found in monazites from the high-F, Li-mica granites and from the alkali-feldspar syenites. The proportion of YPO₄ in all analysed xenotimes ranges from 71 to 84 mol. %. Some xenotimes were found to be hydrated and the observed water content estimated from analytical data ranged from 5 to 11 wt. % H₂O. Analysed xenotimes were commonly enriched in HREEs (9.3– 19.5 wt. % HREE₂O₃) and thorite-coffinite and cheralite exchange was observed. Analysed zircons from granite suites of the Krudum granite body contained moderate Hf concentrations (1.0–4.7 wt. % HfO₂; 0.010–0.047 apfu Hf). The highest concentrations of HfO₂ were found in zircons from the high-F, high P₂O₅ Li-mica granites (1.2–4.7 wt. % HfO₂) and from the alkali-feldspar syenites (1.3–4.1 wt. % HfO₂). Zircons from the high-F, high-P₂O₅ Li-mica granites were often hydrated and fluorised. The concentrations of F in zircon from partly greisenised high-F, high-P₂O₅ Li-mica granites reached up to 1.2 wt. % (0.26 apfu F). In zircons from the alkali-feldspar syenites enrichment in P, which is not associated with a simultaneous enrichment in Y + REE, was also observed. Analysed zircons from the high-F, high P₂O₅ Li-mica granites were enriched in Y (up to 5.5 wt. % Y₂O₃; 0.10 apfu Y) and Sc (up to 1.17 wt. % Sc₂O₃; 0.03 apfu Sc).

Residual stress (RS) is the most challenging problem in metal additive manufacturing (AM) since the build-up of high tensile RS may influence the fatigue life, corrosion resistance, crack initiation, and failure of the additively manufactured components. While tensile RS is inherent in all the AM processes, fast and accurate prediction of stress state within the part is extremely valuable and would result in optimization of the process parameters in achieving a desired RS and control of the build process. This paper proposes a physics-based analytical model to rapidly and accurately predict the RS within the additively manufactured part. In this model, a transient moving point heat source (HS) is utilized to determine the temperature field. Due to the high temperature gradient within the proximity of the melt pool area, material experience high thermal stress. Thermal stress is calculated by combining three sources of stresses known as stresses due to the body forces, normal tension, and hydrostatic stress in a homogeneous semi-infinite medium. The thermal stress determines the RS state within the part. Consequently, by taking the thermal stress history as an input, both the in-plane and out of plane RS distributions are found from incremental plasticity and kinematic hardening behavior of the metal by considering volume conservation in plastic deformation in coupling with the equilibrium and compatibility conditions. In this modeling, material properties are temperature-sensitive since the steep temperature gradient varies the properties significantly. Moreover, the energy needed for the solid-state phase transition is reflected by modifying the specific heat employing the latent heat of fusion. Furthermore, the multi-layer and multi-scan aspects of metal AM are considered by including the temperature history from previous layers and scans. Results from the analytical RS model presented excellent agreement with XRD measurements employed to determine the RS in the Ti-6Al-4V specimens.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) to platinum-based compounds (PC) are on the rise, and their personalized and safe management is essential to enable first-line treatment of these cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of basophil activation test by flow cytometry (BAT-FC) and the newly developed sIgE-microarray and BAT-microarray in diagnosing IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to PC. 24 patients with DHR to PC (20 oxaliplatin and four carboplatin) were evaluated: 13 patients diagnosed as allergic with positive skin tests (STs) or drug provocation tests (DPTs), six patients diagnosed as non-allergic with negative STs and DPTs, and five patients classified as suspected allergic because DPTs could not be performed. In addition, four carboplatin-tolerant patients were included as controls. BAT-FC was positive in 2 of 13 allergic patients, with a sensitivity of 15.4% and specificity of 100%. However, the sIgE- and BAT-microarrays were positive in 11 of 13 DHR patients, giving a sensitivity of over 84.6% and a specificity of 90%. Except for one patient, all samples from the non-allergic and control group were negative for the sIgE- and BAT-microarrays. Our experience indicates that sIgE- and BAT-microarray could be helpful in the endophenotyping of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to PC and may provide an advance in decision-making for drug provocation testing.

Sustainability is a characteristic manifested in the ability to maintain the necessary level of performance for construction companies when risk factors arise during the implementation of investment and construction projects. The risk factors that arise during the implementation of in-vestment and construction projects differ in nature, degree of influence, and other characteristics. Ignoring these factors and measures to manage them often leads to critical consequences in the form of disruptions in the timing of work. Risk is a combination of the probability and consequences of the occurrence of adverse events. The article considers the concept of risk as a potential possibility of occurrence of adverse situations and related consequences when exposed to these factors. Risk factors are characterized by surprise, discreteness of changes, the presence of threshold values, upon reaching which a transition to a different mode of operation is required. The article discusses the risk factors arising at the construction stage, their classification. A methodology has been developed that includes conducting a survey in the form of a questionnaire in order to collect information about risk factors that affect the implementation of investment and construction projects. Experts with experience in the construction sector were involved in the survey. The processing of the survey results made it possible to assess the significance of various risk factors in investment and construction projects. Thus, statistical and expert methods were used in the study. The results showed that financial, technical, legal, economic, managerial and natural factors have the greatest impact on investment and construction projects. It is recommended to pay special attention to the listed factors when developing measures aimed at preventing risks and their consequences. The methodology described in the study can be used by construction companies in strategic planning. The analysis of the stability of construction companies, depending on their use of various ways to counteract risk factors, allowed us to develop a number of practical recommendations to reduce the impact of the studied factors on achieving the goals of investment and construction projects.

Background and Objectives. Prevalence of GERD is increased among individuals with obesity and RYGB is considered as the most effective procedure to control GERD and obesity. However, some patients continue to have GERD after RYGB. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and the risk factors of GERD after RYGB. Material and Methods. This prospective study included 180 patients operated with RYGB and followed for on average of 12.2 (0.6) years. 126 (70%) patients agreed to participate in online consultations and provided data on weight, GERD symptoms, filled GERD-HRQL, TFEQ-18 and GSRS questionnaires. Results. The average age before surgery was 42.7 (10.5) years and BMI was 45.2 (6.4) kg/m2. 128 (71.1%) were females and preoperative GERD was diagnosed in 74 (41.1%) patients. At 12 years follow-up the mean %EBMIL and %TWL were 60.37 and 25.73, respectively. The median %WR was 18.0 (39.0). The GERD was present in 30 (23.8%) patients, of whom 12 (40%) continued to have GERD symptoms and 18 (60%) developed de novo GERD. The GERD-HRQL score significantly decreased from 3.0 (8.0) at baseline to 2.0 (5.0) (p=0.028) at 12 years. GSRS Diarrhea and Indigestion median scores increased significantly, from 1.33 (0.67) to 1.5 (2.42) (p 3.2.

Multiple drugs administration is a common practice in hospitals and clinics. This is the case when heavy pathologies are treated. In this context, frequently, antivirals and antibiotics are co-administrated either simultaneously or sequentially ignoring potential incompatibilities. In this study, we focused on an antiviral (Acyclovir) and an antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) compatibility/incompatibility when they co-administrated with special interest on the effect of drugs ratio, pH and delay. By implementing robust HPLC method, we determined the main factors leading to potential modification of concentration of one of the two drugs in the mixture. The results showed that acyclovir is quantitatively recovered in all conditions related to pH, concentration and time (up to 24 hours). However, ciprofloxacin is strongly altered in acidic and basic conditions, the quantity of ciprofloxacin and time after mixing the two drugs. The most valuable piece of information is that the ratio of acyclovir/ciprofloxacin is crucial. The latter should be calculated and managed to provide at least two fold quantity of acyclovir versus ciprofloxacin in order to maintain the administrated doses and warrant efficient therapeutic effect.

The center of mass dynamics of human seated posture in a work environment under hypogravity (0<g<1) have rarely been investigated and it remains to be accomplished. The present study determined the difference in the body system of 32 participants working under simulated 1/6g (Moon) and 1g (Earth) for comparison reason using static and dynamic action measurements. This was based on analyzing the participant's center of mass before, during, and after the task when they started to get fatigued. According to this analysis, there is a positive relation (p<0.01) with a positive coefficient of correlation between CoM body shift down along the Y axis and gravity level for males and females. At the same time, the same positive relationship (p<0.01) between the tilt of the body back along the Z axis and the level of gravity was found only in females. This offers fresh perspectives for comprehending hypogravity. It can also improve workplace ergonomics, body stability, equipment design, and biomechanics.

C-C Chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is expressed on the CD4 T cell surface where CXCR4 and CCR5 expressions are controlled differently during the activation of T cells and with the binding of interleukin type-2 (IL-2). IL-2 can upregulate CCR1 and CCR2 in CD45R01 T cells and increase the T lymphocyte chemotaxis toward CC-chemokines. CD4+ T cells are either apart of the T helper 1 or Th1 lymphocytes that release interferon gamma (IFNγ) and lymphotoxin that provide cellular immunity to internal pathogens and T helper cells type 2 (Th2), which secrete interleukins 4 and 5 (IL-4 and IL-5). IL-4 and IL-5 cause an allergic and humoral immune response to parasites. Th2 lymphocytes use CCR3 chemokine receptors. CCR5 and CXCR3 chemokine receptors are specific for CD4+ Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes. CCR5Δ32 is a 32-base-pair deletion of the CCR5 gene. CCR5 is a co-receptor for the entrance of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). CCR5Δ32 creates a malfunction of the CCR5 protein that can prevent HIV-1 infection. However, the CCR5Δ32 32-base-pair deletion is not prevalent and predominant in many populations worldwide and there also exist more genetic variations of CCR5 known as CCR5-SNPs. An alternative polymorphism was identified based on the CCR5 gene that was identified as a A to G (A/G) point mutation. This point mutation is located at the 59029 locus on the promoter that lowers the expression rate of CCR5. Gurdol et al. found activity at the promoter of CCR5/590029G was 45% lesser than the CCR5/59029A. The genetic variations of CCR5 SNPs also include: 2459G>SNP of CCR5, C101X, CCR5 gene position at -2273, and the A to G SNP mutation found in two South African blacks. Therefore, more studies are needed to find more and varied chemokine polymorphisms that are present in many diverse populations in the world. The aim of this literature review is to describe the immense impact of CCR5 SNP mutations on viral infection susceptibility, on the pathogenesis of chronic conditions, to endorse the increased discovery of more novel CCR5 SNPs, and to show the significant potential of anti-CCR5 therapies to treat multiple diseased conditions.

HIV-1 is a complicated and perplexing virus. It infects T cells, reverse transcribes its RNA into DNA, utilizes its host DNA machinery to replicate its HIV-DNA, translates the HIV-DNA into proteins, assembles itself for a budding escape from the T cell, and rapidly mutates its conformation. Partially, due to its complexity, there remains no cure for HIV or AIDs. However, recently with the discovery of TALENs, the use of zinc fingers, and most of all the applications of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, has given researchers new hope in finding alternative gene therapies and treatments for diseases. With more focus on CRISPR-Cas9, this new and novel technology uses a guiding RNA, sgRNA, to lead a Cas9 nuclease to its target for deletion or to change that DNA site. CRISPR-Cas9 can delete point mutations and multiple DNA sites. Because CRISPR can alter DNA sequences, several scientists have conducted research into CRISPR, possibly treating more diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and even HIV. HIV-1 drew the focus of a researcher named Dr. Ebina in 2013 when he was the first to design and apply CRISPR-Cas9 to genes found in the binding sites of HIV-1, inhibiting HIV-1 gene expression. Since 2013, several other researchers have blocked HIV replication and infection through CRISPR-Cas9 targeting the receptors of T cells called the CC chemokine receptor 5 or CCR5. HIV-1 binds to the CD4 receptor of T cells, which consists of co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4. If CCR5 expression can be removed, the HIV virus cannot bind to T-cells, blocking the initial attachment stage, and discontinuing the infection. However, there remain obstacles and issues for the CRISPR deletion of CCR5 for treating HIV-1. The issues include: 1) finding new and safe methods of CRISPR-Cas9 delivery, 2) clearing the latent HIV reservoirs, 3) improving the sgRNA design to avoid off-target mutations or deletions, and 4) effectively analyze the viral escape of HIV from CRISPR-Cas9 modifications. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss possible techniques for removing the obstacles that can lessen the potential of CRISPR to delete CCR5, repressing HIV-1 into long-term remission or a functional cure.

The issue of actualization of labor interests as a motivational driver and one of the sources of labor productivity is little-studied in applied and organizational psychology. The study given in the paper fills some “blanks” of this problem. The leading approach to research is the motivational system proposed on the basis of theoretical analysis and the developed psychological model of labor interests. Using the methods of a special survey, questioning and interview guides, the analysis and comparative assessment of the labor interests of 50 candidates for the service manager position (entertainment and restaurant industry field) was conducted; as well as of 45 employees in this industry aged 18 to 25. The main results of the paper show the connection of labor interests with the company's personnel management system, namely with the processes of selection, adaptation, and training. It was revealed that the candidates selected for the service manager position were of primary group interest and financial incentive was secondary. At the same time, financial incentive contributed to the successful passage of the adaptation period. Occupational interests of employees depended on their education and job specifics. Career interests were influenced by the time spent with the company. The recommendations necessary for employers to create the conditions corresponding to the leading labor interests of employees were substantiated.

The paper provides information on significant contamination of real laboratory water with hydrophilic microimpurities. This fact suggests that researchers are practically dealing with microdispersed systems. However, this fact is usually neglected in the discussions of the causes of the anomalous properties of water. We will show that, when exposed to various factors of physical nature, water demonstrates reactions of the same type, namely, increased pH and electrical conductivity, reduced redox potential and viscosity, and enhanced bioavailability. Each exposure is accompanied by the destruction of aggregates of the dispersed phase and its transition to a fine-dispersed state. The relationship between this phenomenon and the change in the physicochemical properties of water is discussed.

The links between mindfulness, savoring positive experiences, and depressive symptoms have been well-established in the literature. Nevertheless, little has been done to disentangle the prospective relations among these constructs. Clarifying the longitudinal relations is crucial, as it enables researchers and practitioners to discern potential trajectories of mental health interventions. In this study, 180 emerging adults between 18 and 27 years old were recruited twice at 3 months apart to complete self-reported measures including mindfulness, savoring positive experiences, and depressive symptoms. Cross-lagged path analysis indicated that savoring the moment was predictive of mindfulness three months later, whereas depressive symptoms were predictive of both mindfulness and savoring the moment three months later, above and beyond the effects of age, gender, and family income. Additionally, mindfulness, savoring positive experiences, and depressive symptoms were significantly correlated at baseline. The present study evidenced short-term inversed effects of depressive symptoms on mindfulness and savoring the moment, as well as a positive effect of savoring the moment on mindfulness. Hence, interventions gearing towards symptom reduction of depression are likely to carry concurrent and prospective benefits of psychological functioning, namely the ability to be present in the moment and to savor. Taken together, reducing depressive symptoms may be crucial in fostering psychological well-being.

Fractal array antennas are multiband arrays having ultra wide band and space filling facility. But Side lobe levels and large number of antenna elements are the major designing challenges of these arrays. In this paper, design and analysis of octagonal fractal array antenna is investigated with Morse-Thue fractal density tapering technique (MTFDT). Due to the proposed technique, a remarkable improvement has observed in Side lobe levels and thinning of the elements can also be attained at the various iterations of octagonal fractal array antenna. These arrays are analyzed and simulated by MATLAB-15 programming.

The viability, productivity and survival of higher plants under the adverse factors influence are largely determined by the functional activity of the antioxidant system. The aim of our work was to investigate changes in formation of high-molecular (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) and low-molecular (phenolics, including flavanols and proanthocyanidins) antioxidants in callus culture of Camellia sinensis under influence of phenolic precursors (L-phenylalanine – 3 mM, trans-cinnamic acid – 1 mM, naringenin – 0.5 mM). According to the data obtained, precursors effect on tea callus cultures did not lead to significant increasing of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity in most cases. However, it led to the increased accumulation of the total phenolics content, as well as flavanols and proanthocyanidins contents. For C. sinensis callus cultures, the most promising regulator of phenolic compounds was L-phenylalanine, in the presence of which its content increased almost twice. Thus, the exogenous effect of various precursors is possible to use for the targeted regulation of the certain phenolics classes accumulation in plant cells.

It is shown that structuring at the microlevel is the intrinsic property of water and aqueous solutions. At room conditions water (including "ultrapure" one) and aqueous solutions are dispersed systems in which microcrystals of NaCl, surrounded by a layer of hydrated water (average diameter - 10-15 microns), are "elementary microparticles", which form the basis of the dispersed phase. Possible ways of formation of these microparticles and their evolution in the process of evaporation of unstructured part of water - dispersion medium - are considered. It is shown, in particular, that they are present in the air as aerosol contaminants. When the ionic strength of the solution increases, the water-salt particles coagulate, forming a new phase - coacervates, remaining on the substrate after evaporation of the liquid part of the water. The aggregates of coacervate structures, formed in a liquid medium, are disordered during heating, which can cause a change in a number of physicochemical properties of water at the temperatures of 50°-60°C range that have not been correctly explained in the framework of atomic-molecular concepts.

Powder mixture with given molar ratio Ca/P = 1.67 consisting of brushite (calcium hydrophosphate dihydrate) CaHPO4·2H2O, calcium oxalate monohydrate CaC2O4·H2O in form of whewellite and weddellite and some quantity of quasi-amorphous phase was obtained as a result of the interaction of hydroxyapatite powder Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with an aqueous solution of oxalic acid H2C2O4 at a molar ratio of Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2/H2C2O4 = 1:4 under mechanical activation conditions. This powder mixture was used to produce microporous monophase ceramics based on hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with aperient density of 1.25 g/cm3 after firing at 1200 oC. Microporosity of sintered ceramics was formed due to presence of particles with plate-like morphology, restraining shrinkage during sintering. Microporous ceramics based on hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 with roughness of the surface as a consequence of the created microporosity can be recommended as a biocompatible material for the bone defects treatment and as a substrate for bone cell cultivation.

In order to search possible residual minor phases in Y-Ba-Cu-O family, powdered mixtures of Y₂O₃ + BaCO₃ + CuO and, independently, superconducting compound YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x have been treated in evacuated cells and elevated temperatures.YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x was reduced to YBa₂Cu₃O₅ by use of the special home designed Taconis-Knudsen vacuum device. A subsequent doping by oxygen converts produced insulator YBa₂Cu₃O₅ to semiconductor or metal YBa₂Cu₃O_5+x (0<x<0.3). In addition to YBa₂Cu₃O₅, 0.05 volume percent of the minor delafossite phase Y₂Cu₂O₄ was being spotted in the powder mixture 1/2 Y₂O₃ + 2BaCO₃+6Cu₂O, heated up to 818 °C in an inert gas atmosphere. An attempt to prepare the insulating bulk delafossite samples was successful, and subsequent doping by oxygen produces novel metallic phases.

Gut bacteria play an important role in several metabolic processes and human diseases, such as obesity and its co-morbidities, like fatty liver disease, insulin resistance/diabetes and cardiovascular events. Among several factors, dietary patterns, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antimicrobials and non-dietary factors, such as stress, age, exercise and climatic conditions, can dramatically impact the human gut microbiota diversity and equilibrium. However, the effect of minor food constituents, including food additives and trace contaminants, on human gut microbiota has received less attention. Consequently, the present review aimed to provide an objective perspective of the current knowledge regarding the impacts of minor food constituents on human gut microbiota and consequently, on human health.

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

This study provides a comprehensive investigation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Argentinean Capsicum annum L. The research covers important aspects, including genotypic characterization, bacterial stress tolerance, adhesion ability, safety evaluation, and functional and technological properties. The predominant isolates were identified as Lactilactobacillus curvatus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Rep-PCR analysis grouped the isolates into 11 clonal groups. Lp. plantarum LVP 40 and LV 46; Levilactobacillus brevis LVP 41, Pediococcus pentosaseus LV P43, and Lt. curvatus LVP44, displayed both safety and resilience against adverse conditions such a slow pH, bile, and simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Moreover, the LAB strains exhibited high hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation percentages, NaCl tolerance, and substantial acidifying capacity. LAB supernatants demonstrated promising surfactant and emulsifying properties. Likewise, they differentially inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, showcasing their potential as antipathogenic agents. Noteworthy some strains displayed considerable co-aggregation with these pathogens, and several isolates showed an effective antimutagenic and detoxifying power, further emphasizing their multifaceted capabilities. Five pepper bacterial strains showcased probiotic properties, suggesting their potential for gut health enhancement. In summary, these LAB strains hold promise as vegetable fermentation starters, contributing to food safety and versatile applications in food science.

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

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most important constraints to potato production worldwide. There is an increasing occurrence of recombinant PVY strains PVYNTN and PVYN-Wi and a decline in the incidence of the nonrecombinant PVYO. We hypothesized that this may be due to the ability of these recombinant strains to antagonize and/or outcompete PVYO in mixed infections. To deter-mine this, we investigated interactions between PVYO and three recombinant PVY strains com-mon in North America: PVYNTN, PVYN-Wi, and PVYN:O. Overall, our study showed that these inter-actions are tissue dependent. Specifically, PVYNTN, the main causal agent of potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD), was found to be more adaptable than PVYO, especially in potato leaves due, at least in part, to the Ny gene that confers hypersensitive resistance (HR) to PVYO. Further-more, PVYN-Wi was found to repress PVYO in potato tubers but act synergistically in potato leaves. The PVYO-induced foliage necrosis in cultivar ‘Ranger Russet’ was observed to be more severe in plants co-infected by PVYN-Wi and PVYN:O, respectively, resulting in plant death. Strikingly, this PVYO -induced necrosis was suppressed by PVYNTN in doubly infected plants. These interactions may, at least partially, explain the decreasing incidence of PVYO in United States potato produc-tion regions, especially given that many cultivars contain the Ny gene, which likely limits PVYO enabling PVYNTN and PVYN-Wi to outcompete. We also found that replication and cell-to-cell movement of these PVY strains in tubers at 4C was similar to levels at ambient temperature.

ZrO2-YO1.5-TaO2.5(ZYTO) composite ceramic is considered to be the candidate of next generation of thermal barrier coatings as its excellent thermal stability and low thermal conductivity in high temperature, however, the mechanical properties and fracture tougheness of ZYTO system may be the shortcomings compared with the 8YSZ. In this study, ZYTO composite ceramics were successfully prepared by chemical coprecipitation reaction, the microsture of resulting composites were studied as a function of doping of M-YTaO4. Mechanical properties, including the density, porosity, hardness and Young's modulus, are determinate; the toughening mechanism were verified by the crack growth behavior of Vickers indentation test Results suggested that M-YTaO4 refines the fluorite phase grain and strengthens the grain interface in the composite ceramic. The thermal mismatch between the second phase and matrix produces residual stress in the bulk and affects the crack propagation behavior. With the increase of M-YTaO4 doping, the grain coarsening and ferroelastic domains are observed in the experiments. The ferroelastic domains with orthogonal polarization directions near crack tip evidences the ferroelastic toughening mechanism. The competition among these crack behaviors, such as cracks deflection, bridging and bifurcation, dominates the actual fracture toughness of the composite. The best toughening formula is determinate in the two-phase region and the highest fracture toughness is about to 3.1MPa·m1/2. Above all, mechanical properties of ZYTO composite ceramics look potential for thermal barrier coatings materials.

Superconducting split ring resonator arrays allow to overcome two main limitations affecting metallic metamaterial resonating in the Terahertz (THz) range: Ohmic losses and tunability of their optical response. In this work, we design and experimentally realize direct and complementary square arrays of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) split ring resonators working in the THz spectral range. The main purpose of this paper is to show how the metamaterial resonances can be tuned by temperature (T) when crossing the superconducting transition temperature Tc of YBCO. The tuning property can be quantified by describing the THz transmittance of the patterned YBCO films vs. T through a model of coupled resonators. This model allows us to estimate the THz resonances of split-ring arrays and their interaction, showing how the kinetic inductance Lk in the superconducting state is the main parameter affecting the metamaterial properties.

Background: Cytokines and chemokines are critical regulators of innate and adaptive immunities during viral infection. We examined innate and adaptive immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) at baseline and against controls. Methods: Twenty-seven cytokines were evaluated before treatment in 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC) [genotype1 (n=20), genotype2 (n=7), HCVRNA 5.72IU/ml] and 12 chronic hepatitis B(CHB) [e-antigen (Ag) (+) (n=5), e-Ag (-) (n=7), HBVDNA 6.191.31Logcopies/ml] and against controls(n=5). Results: Th1 and Th2 cytokines were significantly higher (p<0.05) in CHB than in CHC. The levels of IL-IL10 in CHC and CHB, and IL15 in CHC(genotype2) and CHB were significantly lower (p<0.05) than in controls. The levels of CXCL8 in CHC and CHB, IL12 in CHC and CHB [e-Ag (-)] and CXCL10 in CHC and CHB were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in controls. IFN-γwas higher in CHB than in controls. Conclusion: Cytokines levels differed between CHB and CHC before treatment. Innate immune responses were impaired in CHB with HBeAg(-) and CHC, but not in CHB with HBeAg(+) with high viral loads. Adaptive immune responses were impaired in CHB and CHC and appear to reflect the distinct state of virus-host immune interactions between CHB and CHC.

Stable suspensions of metal/metalloid oxide nanoparticles (Me-NPs) obtained by laser ablation of 99.99% pure elemental aluminum, titanium or silicon under a layer of deionized water were used separately, or in three binary combinations, or in a ternary combination to induce subchronic intoxications in rats. To this end, the Me-NPs were repeatedly injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 18 times during 6 weeks before measuring a large number of functional, biochemical, morphological and cytological indices for the organism’s status. In many respects, the Al₂O₃-NP was found to be the most toxic species alone and the most dangerous component of the combinations studied. Mathematical modeling with the help of the Response Surface Methodology showed that, as well as in the case of any other binary toxic combinations previously investigated by us, the organism’s response to a simultaneous exposure to any two of the Me-NP species under study was characterized by a complex interaction between all possible types of combined toxicity (additivity, subadditivity or superadditivity of unidirectional action and different variants of opposite effects) depending on which outcome a given type was estimated for and on effect and dose levels. With any third MeO-NP species acting in the background, the type of combined toxicity displayed by the other two remained virtually the same or changed significantly, becoming either more or less unfavorable. Various harmful effects produced by the [Al₂O₃-NP+TiO₂-NP+SiO₂-NP]-combination, including its genotoxicity, were substantially attenuated by giving the rats per os during the entire exposure period a complex of innocuous bioactive substances expected to increase the organism’s antitoxic resistance.

Vienna Atomic Line Database (VALD) contains data on atomic and molecular energy levels and parameters of spectral lines required for stellar spectra analysis. Hundreds of millions lines for fine spectral synthesis and for opacity calculations are collected in present version of VALD (VALD3). Critical evaluation of the data and the diversity of extraction tools support high popularity of VALD among users. The data model of VALD3 incorporates obligatory links to the bibliography making our database more attractive as publishing platform for data producers. The VALD data quality and completeness are constantly improving allowing better reproduction of stellar spectra. To illustrate continuous evolution of the data content we present a comparative analysis of the recent experimental and theoretical atomic data for Fe-group elements, which will be included in the next VALD release. This release will also include a possibility for extracting the line data with full isotopic and hyperfine structures.

Background and Objectives: Most individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms of COVID-19, which usually resolve after few days. Regardless of symptoms, infected people can transmit the virus to others especially on the first days of infection. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection; some individuals show persistent PCR-positivity after recovering from COVID-19. In this study, 12 individuals who showed persistence of COVID-19 symptoms and of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positivity were followed-up. Methods: nasopharyngeal samples were collected for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR; clinical and epidemiological data were analyzed. Results: that persistence of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity was associated with duration of symptoms (r_s 0.81338), which varied between one and 49 days, with 75% of the individuals reporting symptoms for more than two weeks; 83.33% of cases remained positive after two weeks of onset of symptoms, despite decreases in viral load. Conclusion: neither RT-qPCR test nor a symptom-based approach alone are sufficient to evaluate discontinuation of patient isolation; other factors such as viral loads and symptom severity should also be considered. Additional studies are needed to understand how RT-PCR-positivity is related to symptoms and the risk of viral transmission, and to better support isolation guidelines.

The famous Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) takes into account only business risk. In practice, companies use debt financing and operate at non–zero levels of leverage. This means that it is necessary to take into account the financial risk associated with the use of debt financing along with business one. The purpose of this paper is to simultaneously take into account the business and financial risk. A new approach to CAPM has been developed that takes into account both business and financial risk. We combine the theory of CAPM and the Modigliani–Miller (MM) theory. The first is based on portfolio analysis and accounting for business risks in relation to the market (or industry). The second one (the Modigliani–Miller (MM) theory) describes a specific company and takes into account the financial risks associated with the use of debt financing. The combination of these two different approaches makes it possible to take into account both types of risks: business and financial ones. We combine these two approaches analytically, while Hamada did it phenomenologically. Using the Modigliani–Miller (MM) theory, it is shown that the Hamada’s model, first model, used for this purpose half a century ago, is incorrect. In addition to the renormalization of the beta–coefficient, obtained in the Hamada model, two additional terms are found: the renormalized risk–free return and the term dependent on the cost of debt kd. A critical analysis of the Hamada model was carried out. The vast majority of listing companies use debt financing and are levered, and the Hamada model is not applicable to them in contrast to a new approach applicable to leveraged companies. Implemented a new approach to specific companies. A comparison of the results of the new approach with the results of the conventional CAPM is shown. Two versions of CAPM (market or industry) are considered.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) evolve via point mutations and reassortment of viral gene segments. The patterns of reassortment in different host species differ considerably. We investigated the genetic diversity of IAVs in wild ducks and compared it with the viral diversity in gulls. The complete genomes of 38 IAVs of H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H5N3, H6N2, H11N6 and H11N9 subtypes isolated from wild mallard duck and gull habitants of a pond in Moscow city, Russia were sequenced. The sequences were closely related to those of avian IAVs isolated in Sweden and the Netherlands. The analysis of phylogenetic trees showed that stable viral genotypes do not persist from year to year in ducks owing to frequent gene reassortment. For comparison, similar analyses were carried out using sequences of IAVs isolated in the same period from ducks and gulls in the Netherlands. Our results revealed a significant difference in diversity and rates of reassorment of IAVs in ducks and gulls.

Vanadium(IV) chalcogenide materials are of increasing interest for use in catalysis and energy conversion-related applications. Since no ternary compounds are yet known in the V–Se–Te system, we studied ternary VwSeyTe2–y (w = 1.10, 1.13; y = 0.42, 0.72) phases crystallizing in space group P3m1 (no. 164). Two single-crystal specimens with differing compositions of a solid solution were obtained using the ceramic method. All products were characterized by either single-crystal or powder X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters increase with rising tellurium content in accordance to the larger ionic radius of the tellurium anion compared to selenium. The chemical compositions were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Further, magnetic measurements revealed mostly antiferromagnetic properties. Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analyses in nitrogen atmosphere showed endothermic decomposition accompanied by the formation of VN. The results of this work can serve as a basis for the synthesis of new phases in the V–Se–Te and related vanadium chalcogenide systems.

A single-crystal of ytterbium-doped “mixed” yttrium-lutetium aluminium garnet with a stoichiometric composition of (Y0.601Lu0.233Yb0.166)3Al5O12 was grown by the Czochralski method and its structure, vibronic, spectroscopic and laser properties were studied. The stimulated-emission cross-section for Yb3+ ions was maximized to 2.53×10-20 cm2 at 1031 nm, the emission bandwidth is ~8 nm and the reabsorption-free luminescence lifetime of the 2F5/2 state is 1.063 ms. Pumped at 941 nm, the Yb-laser generated a maximum output power of 1.04 W at 1.03 and 1.05 μm with a high slope efficiency of 76.4% and a laser threshold of 76 mW. A continuous wavelength tuning over a range of 51.6 nm (1026.4 - 1078.0 nm) was also achieved. Power scaling is achieved using a 969 nm-diode pumped microchip cavity. A maximum output power of ~9 W is obtained at 1.05 μm with a slope efficiency of 76% and with an almost circular laser beam profile.

Compared to tin lead alloys, lead-free tin alloys have lower toxicity, making them more widely used. In this study, Sn-20Bi-0.3Al-xY solders alloys were prepared. The effects of the addition of Y on its microstructure, micro-hardness, wettability and mechanical properties was investigated. The result showed that the addition of Y had significant effect on the refinement of Sn-20Bi-0.3Al-xY. From the spreading tests results, Y increased the wettability of the solders, however when the fraction of Y gradually increased, the wettability reduced. The ultimate tensile and hardness of Sn-20Bi-0.3Al-xY solders alloys were increased as the content of Y increasing.

Use of probiotic lactobacilli has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate damage associated to exposure to toxic metals. Their protective effect against cationic metal ions, such as those of mercury or lead, is believed to stem from their chelating and accumulating potential. However, their retention of anionic toxic metalloids, such as inorganic arsenic, is generally lower. Through the construction of mutants in phosphate transporter genes (pst) in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains, coupled with arsenate [As(V)] uptake and toxicity assays, we determined that the incorporation of As(V), which structurally resembles phosphate, is likely facilitated by phosphate transporters. Surprisingly, inactivation in Lc. paracasei of PhoP, the tran-scriptional regulator of the two-component system PhoPR, a signal transducer involved in phosphate sensing, led to an increased resistance to arsenite [As(III)]. In comparison to the wild type, the phoP strain exhibited no differences in the ability to retain As(III), and there were no observed changes in the oxidation of As(III) to the less toxic As(V). These results reinforce the idea that specific transport, and not unspecific cell retention plays a role in As(V) biosorption by lactobacilli, while they reveal an unexpected phenotype for the lack of the pleiotropic regulator PhoP.

Enzymes reliant on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the metabolically active form of vitamin B6, hold significant importance in both biology and medicine. They facilitate various biochemical reactions, particularly in amino acid and neurotransmitter metabolisms. Vitamin B6 is absorbed by organisms in its non-phosphorylated form and phosphorylated within cells by pyridoxal kinase (PLK) and pyridox-(am)-ine 5'-phosphate oxidase (PNPOx). The flavin mononucleotide dependent PNPOx enzyme converts pyridoxine 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate into PLP. PNPOx is vital for both biosynthesis and salvage pathways in organisms producing B6 vitamers. However, for those depending on vitamin B6 as nutrient, PNPOx participates only in the salvage pathway. Transferring PLP produced by PNPOx to client apo-enzymes is indispensable for their catalytic function, proper folding and targeting to specific organelles. PNPOx activity deficiencies due to inborn errors lead to severe neurological pathologies, particularly neonatal epileptic encephalopathy. PNPOx enzymes from different organisms maintain PLP homeostasis through highly regulated mechanisms, including structural alterations throughout the catalytic cycle and allosteric PLP binding influencing substrate transformation at the active site. Despite shared features, species-specific regulations are evident among PNPOx enzymes.

We explore an idea put forward many years ago by Zeldovich and Novikov concerning the existence of compact objects endowed with arbitrarily small mass. The energy-density of such objects, which we call “Ghost stars”, is negative in some regions of the fluid distribution, producing a vanishing total mass. Thus, the interior is matched on the boundary surface to Minkowski space-time. Some exact analytical solutions are exhibited and their properties are analyzed. Observational data that could confirm or dismiss the existence of this kind of stellar object, is commented.

A semi–numerical approach proposed many years ago for describing gravitational collapse in the post–quasi–static approximation , , , , is modified in order to avoid the numerical integration of the basic differential equations the approach is based upon. For doing that we have to impose some restrictions on the fluid distribution. More specifically, we shall assume the vanishing complexity factor condition, which allows for analytical integration of the pertinent differential equations and leads to physically interesting models. Instead, we show that neither the homologous nor the quasi–homologous evolution are acceptable since they lead to geodesic fluids, which are unsuitable for being described in the post–quasi–static approximation. Also, we prove that, within this approximation, adiabatic evolution also leads to geodesic fluids and therefore we shall consider exclusively dissipative systems. Besides the vanishing complexity factor condition, additional information is required for a full description of models. We shall propose different strategies for obtaining such an information, which are based on observables quantities (e.g. luminosity and redshift), and/or heuristic mathematical ansatz. To illustrate the method, we present two models. One model is inspired in the well known Schwarzschild interior solution, and another one is inspired in Tolman VI solution.

The paper presents the reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions in the Gdansk, Bornholm and Arcona Basins of the Baltic Sea over the last millennium. A complex study (including geochemical, XRF, grain size, AMS and micropalaeontological analyses) of five sediment cores, retrieved by short gravity corer of Niemistö type, was performed. The cores are mainly represented by undisturbed silty muds of olive-grey and grey colours. The age models for the cores were built based on Pb distribution along the sediment sequences as radiocarbon dating resulted in excessively old age. Despite generally very low foraminiferal amount and diversity the increased inflow activity was reconstructed during the Medieval Climate Anomaly. The strongly positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index during this period led to a prevalence of westerlies over the Baltic region and stronger saltwater intrusions. In the recent sediments, the reconstructed inflow frequency demonstrates a decadal variability rather than the reduction, although, the general decline compared to the Medieval Climate Anomaly is seen.

In the current pilot study, we attempt to find out how double neurofeedback influences functional hemispheric asymmetry and activity. We examined 30 healthy participants (8 males; 22 females, mean age = 29; SD= 8). To measure functional hemispheric asymmetry and activity, we used computer laterometry in the ‘two-source’ lead-lag dichotic paradigm. Double biofeedback included 8 minutes of EEG oscillation recording with five minutes of basic mode. During the basic mode, the current amplitude of the EEG oscillator gets transformed into feedback sounds while the current amplitude of alpha EEG oscillator is used to modulate the intensity of light signals. Double neurofeedback did not directly influence the asymmetry itself but accelerated individual sound perception characteristics during dichotic listening in the preceding effect paradigm. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of double neurofeedback training on functional brain activity and asymmetry taking into account participants’ age, gender, and motivation.

We present a series of computer-assisted high resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) simulations to determine Moiré patters by induced twisting effects between slabs at rotational angles of 3°, 5°, 8°, and 16°, for molybdenum disulfide, graphene, tungsten disulfide, and tungsten selenide layered materials. In order to investigate the electronic structure, a series of numerical simulations using DFT methods was completed using CASTEP with a generalized gradient approximation to determine both band structure and density of states on honeycomb like new superlattices. Our results indicate metallic transitions when rotation approaches 8° with respect to each other for most of the two-dimensional systems that were analyzed.

Introduction: The primary objective of researchers in the biology of ageing is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ageing process while developing practical solutions that can enhance the quality of life for older individuals. This involves a continuous effort to bridge the gap between fundamental biological research and its real-world applications. Purpose: In this narrative review, we attempt to link research findings concerning the hormetic relationship between neurons and germ cells, and translate these findings into clinically relevant concepts. Methods: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, Embase, PLOS, Digital Commons Network, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library from 2000 to 2023, analyzing studies dealing with the relationship between hormetic, cognitive, and reproductive aspects of human ageing. Results: The process of hormesis serves as a bridge between the biology of neuron-germ cell interactions on one hand, and the clinical relevance of these interactions on the other. Details concerning these processes are discussed here, emphasizing new research which strengthens the overall concept. Conclusions: This review presents a scientifically and clinically relevant argument, claiming that maintaining a cognitively active lifestyle may decrease age-related degeneration, and improve overall health in ageing.

Introduction: Research studies have shown that workplace stress and physical immobility can have a multi-layered effect on the human body. It causes degrade our physical functioning, and also having negative effect on our performance. Yoga techniques have proved to be effective at various levels, including physical, mental, and emotional health. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a short-term Yoga protocol – Y break, for improved well-being and resilience to stress. It is intended to working population at work to de-stress, refresh, and refocus. Methods: This study was conducted as a single-arm, multi-centric, experimental pilot trial. Prominent yoga institutes in six metropolitan cities were engaged in this study. Participants practised specific yoga techniques for 5 minutes, twice a day, for 15 days. Pre & post-intervention data was collected along with feedback about the protocol. A self-report questionnaire, based on the Pancha kosha parameters, was used to record pre- and post-data. Results: The Statistical data analysis shown significant improvement in every parameter selected for the study. Conclusion: A five-minute yoga break can do wonders for the health-related parameters of the working population; therefore, it should be introduced in all organizations to improve the quality of life and work.

Zeolite Y with microporous and hierarchical structure containing Ti–Ni and Ti–Co oxides were obtained as active photocatalysts. Different Ti amounts (5, 10% TiO2) were supported, followed by loading of Ni or Co oxides (5 %). The X-ray diffraction evidenced the presence of TiO2 as anatase. N2 adsorption-desorption results showed type IV isotherms, for hierarchical zeolite Y samples, and a combination of type IV and I isotherms, for zeolite Y samples. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra showed shift of absorption band to visible with increasing of Ti loading and especially after Co and Ni addition. A significant effect of the support was evidenced for Ti and interaction with Co/Ni species. The zeolite Y support stabilizes Ti in the 4+ oxidation state while hierarchical zeolite Y support favored the formation of Ti 3+ species and oxidation of Co and especially of Ni to 3+. Photocatalytic activity, under UV and visible light, was evaluated in degradation of amoxicillin, used as a model test. The photocatalytic mechanism was investigated using ethanol, p-benzoquinone and KI as ·OH, ·O2- radicals and hole (h+) scavengers. The best results were obtained for the immobilized Ni-Ti species on hierarchical zeolite Y support.

INTRODUCTION: Achalasia is a pathology with an incidence of 1 in 100,000 inhabitants per year. There are very limited data on achalasia in the obese population, especially in those undergoing bariatric surgery. The approach of choice for cases of achalasia is fundoplication to correct the reflux; however, lacking a fundus due to a previous gastrectomy, an alternative that offers optimal results should be chosen. Here we present the surgical approach in a case of esophageal achalasia and a history of vertical sleeve gastrectomy, where we performed simultaneous Heller's cardiomyotomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, as well as the results obtained. CASE PRESENTATION: 44-year-old woman with no chronic degenerative diseases, with a previous record of vertical sleeve gastrectomy 5 years ago, who started 1 year and 5 months earlier with dysphagia to liquids, then to solids, in addition to weight loss of 10 kilograms in 4 months. The BMI before vertical sleeve gastrectomy was 32 kg/m2, her BMI at the time of admission was 20 kg/m2; she also presented regurgitation and generalized weakness. After analyzing the surgical options, it was decided to perform a Heller cardiomyotomy and a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The procedure turned out to be safe and successful in treating achalasia symptomatology, in addition to complete resolution of the reflux symptom.

In this paper, we have constructed a WKB approximation for graphene having a Y-shaped Kekul\'e lattice distortion and a special folding of the $\mbox{\boldmath$K$}$ and $\mbox{\boldmath$K$}^\prime$ valleys, which leads to very specific linear energy dispersions with two non-equivalent pairs of subbands. These obtained semi-classical results, which include the action, electron momentum and wave functions, are utilized to analyze the dynamics of electron tunneling through non-square potential barriers. In particular, we explore resonant scattering of an electron by a potential barrier built on Kekul\'e-distorted graphene. Mathematically, a group of consecutive equations for a semi-classical action have been solved by following a perturbation approach under the condition of small strain-induced coupling parameter $\Delta_0 \ll 1$ (a good fit to its actual value $\Delta_0 \backsim 0.1$). Specifically, we consider a generalized model for Kek-Y graphene with two arbitrary Fermi velocities. The dependence of the electron transmission amplitude on the potential profile $V(x)$ and band parameters of Kekul\'e-patterned graphene has been explored and analyzed in details.

Hormone changes across women's menstrual cycle may lead to changes in perception of chemical signals and hormonal responses to these cues. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of menstrual cycle phase on the effects of extracts of male axillary secretions (EMAS) in women. We tested healthy reproductive age and premenopausal women (n=29). EMAS/control solution was applied once in two hours either in the follicular or luteal phase, while collecting saliva samples for LH and cortisol monitoring. LH and cortisol concentrations were analyzed using EIA technique. PANAS and VAS were used to assess the mood. We observed a significant increase in the number of LH peaks (p=0.0447) and their amplitude (p=0.0469) when EMAS was applied in the follicular phase. The same application in the luteal phase lowered the amplitude of LH peaks (p=0.0382). EMAS application increases salivary cortisol level in reproductive age women relative to premenopausal women (p=0.0032). PANAS revealed changes in positive and negative affect after EMAS application. Our data indicate the significance of the menstrual cycle phase for EMAS effects on LH secretion, mood, but not on cortisol secretion in women.

Observations collected during cold season precipitation periods at Utquagvik, Alaska and at the mul-tidisciplinary drifting observatory for study of Arctic climate (MOSAiC) are used to statistically ana-lyze relations among the atmospheric water cycle parameters including the columnar supercooled liq-uid and ice amounts (expressed as liquid water and ice water paths, i.e., LWP and IWP), the integrated water vapor (IWV) and the near-surface snowfall rate. Data come from radar and radiometer-based retrievals and from optical precipitation sensors. While correlation between snowfall rate and LWP is rather weak, correlations coefficients between radar-derived snowfall rate and IWP are high (~ 0.8), which is explained, in part, by generally low LWP/IWP ratios during significant precipitation. Corre-lation coefficients between snowfall rate and IWV are moderate (~0.45). Correlations are generally weaker if snowfall is estimated by optical sensors, which is, in part, due to blowing snow. Correlation coefficients between near-surface temperature and snowfall rates are low (r<0.3). Results from the Alaska and MOSAiC sites are generally similar. These results are not very sensitive to the amount of time averaging (e.g., 15-minute averaging versus daily averages). Observationally-based relations among the water cycle parameters are informative about atmospheric moisture conversion processes and can be used for model evaluations.

In the research we consider a structure-fluid interaction of oscillating piezodevice and acoustic liquid. Such problem requires finding resonance or anti-resonance frequencies of the solid structure to use them in the latter frequency-response analyses step. After finite element discretization of the issue, we need to solve a generalized eigenvalue problem (GEP). The most efficient numerical method for solving the partial GEP is the shift-and-invert Lanczos method. Each step of this algorithm requires solving a large scale system of linear algebraic equations (SLAEs) with special properties. Various ways of ordering grid nodes lead to coefficient matrices with different structure. Several methods are compared in terms of efficiency. The results of the numerical experiments are presented.

The paper is focused on researching the behavior of heating companies in connection with current developments in the electricity market and flexibility in the context of market behavior. The work assesses the increase in profitability through the creation of a technical-economic model using an objective function with profit maximization. The paper objective is presented the procedure and methodology for creating a model using the basic scheme of production processes integrated into the system platform. The result of the work is a comparative analysis of modelled cases of implemented operation deployment according to a defined period and modelling modes in selected time series. The description of individual outputs demonstrates the economic advantage of using combinations of modes of combined electricity and heat production, and non-combined electricity and heat production, including the use of the heat suppression mode because of overproduction of electricity.

The combined ecological, geophysical, climatic, and social factors of the Northeast of Russia influence the organism from the early childhood being too intense for the functional systems. The purpose of the research is to study the emotional characteristics of adolescents of different ethnic groups in the northeast of Russia. Presented in the paper are results of the study that covered 826 adolescents (445 females and 381 males) at the age of 15–17, different by ethnic origin. We used standard methods of psycho-diagnostics. Our study has showed that the formation of the adolescents’ emotional sphere in the North is undoubtedly influenced not only by the climatic and socio-economic environmental factors but also by ethnic features. There are intergroup differences in the aggressiveness profile of older adolescents living in the remote settlement vs. the regional center. It is shown that high school students in the remote settlement of Evensk, compared to their peers in Magadan, regardless of gender and ethnicity, are characterized by more pronounced hostile and auto-aggressive reactions. In adolescents of the Aboriginal population, as compared with their age mate Caucasians, the indicators of impairment in the field of Neuro Psychic Adaptation, Situational and Personal Anxiety, and Social Frustration are significantly more pronounced.

In Malaysia, as in many parts of the world, vocational education and training (VET) is frequently perceived as the solution to improving the opportunities of youths who lack the resources, skills or motivation to continue with higher education. The focus of the study falls on the effectiveness of the apprenticeship scheme during the 10^th Malaysia Plan. This study may provide an opportunity to find out how the related parties react towards the apprenticeship scheme. This is important, as feedbacks are central to the success or failure of any scheme. It is expected that the relevant government bodies, private sectors, trainers and trainees will have a valuable insight on the progress this far and what need to be done in the future based on the outcome of the research. This study follows snowballing sampling method and gathers the information from apprentices from variety of industrial sectors. The findings indicate effectiveness at some types of training but lacks comprehensiveness and efficient use of resources and future direction, especially during the 10^th Malaysia plan period from 2011 to 2016. This exploratory research is a first chapter of the deeper study in this niche.

Removal of the proliferation component of gene expression by PCNA adjustment has been addressed in numerous survival prediction studies for breast cancer and all cancers in the TCGA. These studies indicate that widespread co-regulation of proliferation upwardly biases survival prediction when gene selection is performed on a genome-wide basis. In addition, removal of the correlative effects of proliferation does not reduce the random bias associated with survival prediction using random gene selection. Since most cancers become addicted to DNA repair as a result of forced cellular replication, increased oxidation, and repair deficiencies from oncogenic loss or genetic polymorphisms, we pursued an investigation to remove the proliferation component of expression in DNA repair genes to determine survival prediction. This translational hypothesis-driven focus on DNA repair genes is directly amenable to finding new sets of DNA repair genes that could potentially be studied for inhibition therapy. Overall survival (OS) prediction was evaluated in 18 cancers by using normalized RNA-Seq data for 126 DNA repair genes with expression available in TCGA. Transformations for normality and adjustments for age at diagnosis, stage, and PCNA metagene expression were performed for all DNA repair genes. We also analyzed genomic event rates (GER) for somatic mutations, deletions, and amplification in driver genes and DNA repair genes. After performing empirical p-value testing with use of randomly selected gene sets, it was observed that OS could be predicted significantly by sets of DNA repair genes for 61% (11/18) of the cancers. Interestingly, PARP1 was not a significant predictor of survival for any of the 11 cancers. Results from cluster analysis of GERs indicates that the most opportunistic cancers for inhibition therapy may be AML, colorectal, and renal papillary, because of potentially less confounding due to lower GERs for mutations, deletions, and amplifications in DNA repair genes. However, the most opportunistic cancer for inhibition therapy is likely to be AML, since it showed the lowest GERs for mutations, deletions, and amplifications in DNA repair genes. In conclusion, our hypothesis-driven focus to target DNA repair gene expression adjusted for the PCNA metagene as a means of predicting OS in various cancers resulted in statistically significant sets of genes.

The rapid development of algorithms for skeleton detection with relatively inexpensive contactless systems and cameras opens the possibility of virtual exercise therapy for patients with different complications. However, evaluation and confirmation of posture classifications is still needed. The purpose of this study was therefore to find the most accurate algorithm for automatic classification of human exercise movement. A Kinect V2 with 25 joints identification was used to record movements for data analysis. A total of 10 subjects volunteered for this study. Four algorithms were tested for the classification of different postures in Matlab. These were based on: total error of vector lengths, total error of angles, multiplication of these two parameters and simultaneous analysis of the first and second parameters. A base of 13 exercises was then created to test the recognition of postures by the algorithm, and to analyse subject performance. The best results for posture classification was shown by the second algorithm with an accuracy of 94.9%. The average correctness of exercises among the 10 participants was 94.2% (SD1.8%). The algorithms tested in this study therefore proved to be effective and could potentially form the basis for developing a system for remote monitoring of rehabilitation involving exercise.

The aim of this study is to explore the extent of English language teaching in Higher Institutions of Malaysia and investigate the current changes, trends and challenges in this niche. A sample of 100 English learners from public and private institutions participated in this study. Analysis of the responses indicated that English language is remaining to be difficult to master, due to speaking environment, proficiency of the teachers and other factors. However, the Government is on the right direction to improve this situation by following Common European Framework of Reference of Languages. As any other system, it takes time to put into realization and start up the mechanism. This observation carries a pedagogical perspective and includes the overview of the general picture based on Private, Public and Stand Alone English educational institutions. This study has highlighted the practical importance of British Framework of English learning and suggests to focus on emphasis of the learning process instead of a result.

An accumulating body of evidence suggests that physiological reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidases act as a redox signal to re-establish homeostasis, a capacity that progressively declines during aging, but is maintained in long-lived animals to promote healthy aging. In the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, ROS generated by dual oxidases (Duox) are important for extracellular matrix integrity, pathogen defense, oxidative stress resistance, and longevity. The Duox enzymatic activity is tightly regulated and under cellular control. Developmental molting cycles, pathogen infections, toxins, mitochondrial-derived ROS, drugs, and small GTPases (RHO-1) can activate Duox (BLI-3) to generate ROS, whereas NADPH oxidase inhibitors and negative regulators, such as MEMO-1, can inhibit Duox to generate ROS. Three mechanisms-of-action have been discovered for the Duox/BLI-3-generated ROS: 1) enzymatic activity to catalyze cross-linking of free tyrosine ethyl ester in collagen bundles to stabilize extracellular matrices, 2) high ROS bursts/levels to kill pathogens, and 3) Redox signaling activating downstream kinase cascades to transcription factors orchestrating oxidative stress- and immunity responses to re-establish homeostasis. Although Duox function at the cell surface is well established, recent genetic and biochemical data also suggests a novel role for Duoxs at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane to control redox signaling. Evidence underlying these mechanisms initiated by ROS from NADPH oxidases and their relevance for human aging are discussed in this review. Appropriately controlling NADPH oxidase activity for local and physiological redox signaling to maintain cellular homeostasis might be a therapeutic strategy to promote healthy aging.

After the global challenges posed by COVID-19, researchers strived to identify risk factors for severe cases, which lead to various complications - including death. Lifestyle modifications, such as implementing a healthy diet and recommended physical activity, have shown to be protective against severe COVID-19 cases. Despite an association of a plant-based diet with reduced COVID-19 severity, specific dietary characteristics have not been identified. Also, the methodology for measuring physical activity is variable, with studies overlooking the intensity or the habit components of physical activity. To bridge this gap, our study designed, validated, and applied a retrospective questionnaire with aims of exploring the relationship between lifestyle factors, specifically diet and physical activity, and severe COVID-19. We considered the intensity and years of physical activity habit, which is a limitation of other questionnaires. Results reveal associations of age and BMI with severe COVID-19. An excessive sugar diet was found to be associated with severe COVID-19 and increased symptom duration. We also observed an inverse relationship pattern of moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity across case severity, which is absent in walking PA. This study lays a foundation for research aiming to identify lifestyle factors that prevent severe COVID-19 cases.

The objective of this research was to study the dynamics of moisture and nutrition at the root zone and to quantify the variables linked to efficient water management in avocado orchards of mid and high-lands of Michoacán, México, in typical Andisols of low fertility with (A)C(w2) and C(w2) climates, respectively. Using the FDR (Frequency Domain Reflectometry) technology, the dynamics of soil moisture and salinity were recorded daily at four depths: 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, and 45-60 cm. The soil moisture balance model was used to determine actual evapotranspiration (ETr), crop coefficient (Kc), and water use efficiency (WUE). Results indicated that ETr is 66-73% of the total water at 0-30 cm depth; the fertilizer absorption is limited to 0-30 cm, being negligible at deeper layers. The water use efficiency is 4.4 to 5.6 kg of fruit m-3 of applied water, and the ratio of the water use index (ETr/irrigation sheet applied, ISA) is 0.65-0.70; while the annual avocado Kc is 0.72 in Cutzato and 0.78 in Tiamba. We concluded that avocado has a low water requirement, it does not cause leaching of nutrients and/or water, the absorption of water and nutrients mostly occurs at 30 cm depth, and from a hydrological point of view, the crop is environmentally friendly.

In this paper, inspired by Jleli and Samet [journal of inequalities and applications 38 (2014) 2 1–8] we introduce two new classes of auxiliary functions and utilize the same to define (q, y)R-weak 3 contractions. Utilizing (q, y)R-weak contractions, we prove some fixed point theorems in the setting 4 of relational metric spaces. We employ some examples to substantiate the utility of our newly proved 5 results. Finally, we apply one of our newly proved results to ensure the existence and uniqueness of 6 solution of a Volterra-type integral equation.

The conserved cyanobacterial protein PipX is part of a complex interaction network with regulators involved in essential processes that include metabolic homeostasis or ribosome assembly. Because PipX interactions depend on the relative levels of their different partners and of the effector molecules binding to them, in vivo studies are required to understand the physiological significance and contribution of environmental factors to regulation of PipX complexes. Here we have used the NanoBiT complementation system to analyse regulation of complex formation in Synechococcus elongatus between PipX and each of its two best characterized partners, PII and NtcA. Our results confirm previous in vitro analysis on regulation of PipX-PII and PipX-NtcA complexes by 2-oxoglutarate and on regulation of PipX-PII by the ATP/ADP ratio, showing the disruption of PipX-NtcA complexes by increased levels of ADP-bound PII in Synechococcus elongatus. The demonstration of a positive role of PII on PipX-NtcA complexes under the initial response to nitrogen starvation or the impact of a PipX point mutation on the activity of PipX-PII and PipX-NtcA reporters are further indications of the sensitivity of the system. This study reveals additional regulatory complexities in the PipX interaction network, opening the way to future research in cyanobacteria.

This study explores the perception of a “sense of place” among tourists visiting Hegra, an archaeological site in northern Saudi Arabia, through reviews on TripAdvisor. The 267 reviews reviewed on TripAdvisor between 2020 and 2023 were analyzed with the VADER sentiment po-larity analysis tool and object modeling using the NMF machine learning algorithm. The results highlight positive factors linked to the history and uniqueness of the place while showing some critical issues related to isolation, cost, privatization, and competitiveness. The originality of the research lies in the type of case study chosen, an archaeological site of a country that has recently opened its doors to tourism, and in the pragmatic nature of the investigation, oriented towards the search for possible solutions to be adopted in terms of heritage management based on the feedback received for the development of the tourist destination.

The purpose of our study is to determine the effectiveness of various types of psychocorrection measures: social and psychological training, a method of biological feedback and Sandplay for the indicators of childhood anxiety among younger schoolchildren. The study was conducted in the school of Magadan, North East of Russia (9-10 year old students, n = 43). We used a standardized method of Multidimensional Assessment of Child Anxiety which included 10 scales. The correction methods were used: socio-psychological training (SPT), biofeedback method (BFB), individual and group Sandplay. Students of group I (n = 12) participated only in the SPT. Students of group II (n = 11) participated in the SPT and underwent a course of training in self-regulation using the BFB method. In correction work with the students of group III (n = 20), the SPT, BFB, individual and group Sandplay were used. In group I, after the correction activities, a significant decrease in anxiety was observed in 3 of 10 scales (2, 6, 7; (p <0.05). In group II it was seen in 5 scales (1, 3, 6, 7, 8; p <0.05). In group III, a significant improvements took place in 7 scales (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10; p <0.01–p <0.05). The present study has shown the different efficacy of applying the remedial techniques separately and in combination. The use of methods in the complex enhances the impact on the types of the child anxiety.

This study presents head losses (hL) and loss coefficients (K) obtained experimentally for schedule 40 PVC pipe elbows, with 90o and 45o in small commercial diameters of ½ to 1½ inches that are commonly used in small networks. The investigation was conducted on a system constructed with short pipes and fittings necessary to measure, direct, and control flow, as well as to evaluate pressure head losses at elbows. Simple water flow was used with rates of 0.342 to 0.980 lps (Q), which generated moderate Reynolds numbers (Re) of 13337 to 80221. It was found that hL showed dependence on the velocity head in all elbows, as well as that hL are greater as the diameter increases for same velocity head. The K values in the elbows tended to be constant when Q &gt; 0.75 lps, but for Q &lt; 0.75 lps the K coefficient increased inversely proportional to Q, becoming larger as the diameter increased. Likewise, the K coefficient tended to increase as Re decreased, while K tended to be constant as Re increased. The results of the experimental coefficient were compared against K values reported in the literature, where significant similarities and discrepancies were found.

Comparing to males, females require much more morphine to produce comparable levels of analgesia, suggesting a difference in the endogenous hyperalgesia and analgesia modulation between sexes. Aside from hormones, emerging evidence suggests sex-differential intrinsic neural regulation of pain generation and maintenance. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), up to 25 % of the population having visceral pain at any one time, and in the United States 10-15 percent of adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here we analyzed literatures on clinical reports of sex differences in visceral pain focusing on IBS, other form of bowel dysfunction and comorbidities, and summarized animal models that provided means to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms in sexual dimorphism of visceral pain. Neurons and nonneuronal cells (glia and immune cells) in the peripheral and central nervous systems all contribute to sex-dependent nociception and nociplasticity in the painful signal processing. Emotion is another factor in pain perception and appears to have sexual dimorphism.

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

Background. Neoplastic diseases and infections have become the leading causes of death in SLE in recent decades. Cancers and infections were also precipitating factors in the development of catastrophic APS. Case summary. We describe two patients: one of them had definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and melanoma and the other had definite systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with APS, melanoma, infiltrative tuberculosis and severe Herpes Zoster (HZ). Management of patients with SLE concurrent with APS is a rather difficult task in rheumatology practice. In addition to kidney damage and cardiovascular disease, infections and malignancies are a significant cause of death in this cohort. The risk of malignancy in SLE is of considerable interest, since the immune and genetic pathways underlying the pathogenesis of this disease, as well as the immunosuppressive therapy, can significantly alter the risk. Both patients still had reliable APS, confirmed by triple-positive aPL. Both were at high risk of thrombosis. Patients ' adherence to treatment with direct oral anticoagulants and relapse of thrombosis on the background of rivaroxaban were noted. Conclusion. The cases where cancer or tuberculosis develops in the presence of rheumatic diseases are not so common and complicate the possibilities of therapeutic approaches, limiting the use of drugs that are not regulated by clinical recommendations.

In this work, we report a series of undoped and 1% Ga or Y doped lanthanum manganite compounds which have been synthesized via sol-gel technique. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX). The XRD results confirmed a good crystallinity for all the studied samples and a change in the crystal structure of Ga or Y doped lanthanum manganite (Pm-3m space group) is observed compared to pristine sample (R-3c space group). Thermal analysis highlighted a different behavior of the doped samples compared to the undoped sample observed by the different mass loss in the analyzed temperature range. For these materials, it is shown for the first time that the static electrical conductivity, σDC of Ga or Y doped LaMnO3 compounds increases compared to the σDC pristine sample, and the thermal activation energy of the conduction EA,cond increases linearly with the temperature, for all three studied sample.

Silver particles are prepared by dewetting Ag films coated on glass using a fiber laser. The size of the particles is controlled in the range of 92 nm ~ 1.2 μm by adjusting the thickness of the Ag film. The structural properties and surface roughness of the particles are evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the antifungal activity of the Ag particles is examined using spore suspensions of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. It is shown that the particles with a size of 1.2 μm achieve 100% inhibition of the conidia growth of the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides after a contact time of just 5 min. Furthermore, the smaller particles also achieve a good antibacterial activity given a longer contact time. Similar results are observed in spore germination and pathogenicity tests performed on mango fruit and leaves. Overall, the results confirm that the Ag particles have an excellent antifungal effect on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to wreak havoc threatening the public health services and imposing economic collapse worldwide. Tailoring public health responses to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic depends on understanding the mechanism of viral replication, disease pathogenesis, and accurately identifying acute infections and mapping the spreading risk of hotspots across the globe. However, effective identification and isolation of persons with asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections remain the major obstacles to efforts in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 spread and hence the pandemic. Understanding the mechanism of persistent viral shedding, reinfection, and the post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is crucial in our efforts to combat the pandemic and provide better care and rehabilitation to survivors. Here we present a living literature review on SARS-CoV-2 viral persistence, reinfection and PASC. We also highlight potential areas of research to uncover putative links between viral persistence, intra-host evolution, host immune status, and protective immunity to guide and direct future basic science and clinical research priorities.

By using a two-stage physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and (W-PBET), the authors of this paper have estimated the bioaccessibility of metals (Pb and Fe) and their compounds in the GI tract of waterfowl and mammals. It has been shown that the metals (Pb and Fe) have low bioaccessibility; combined with the short time of shot exposition at the GI tract, this eliminates the risk of toxic effects in the case of shot ingestion by waterfowl. It has also been discovered that there is a significant difference in the bioaccessibility of metals and their compounds. A model was proposed and tested to predict the toxic effects of lead on biological objects depending on the threshold mass of consumption. This model takes into account data on the bioavailability of lead and regulatory values indicating dangerous concentrations of lead.

Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are a significant a challenge for medicine, as many species are resistant to multiple antibiotics and even to all of the antibiotics used. One of the approaches to develop new therapeutics to treat staphylococcal infections is the use of bacteriophages specif-ic to these bacteria or lysins of such bacteriophages capable to hydrolyze the cell walls of these bacteria. In this study, a new bacteriophage St_134 specific to Staphylococcus epedermidis was de-scribed. This small podophage belonging to the Andhravirus genus showed relatively wide host range and was able to infect more than 60 strain of Staphylococcus spp., including a clinical strain from the Staphylococcus aureus complex. Two genes encoding different phage lysins were identi-fied in the Ste134 genome. Both lysins LysSte134_1 and LysSte134_2 were produced in Escherichia coli cells. Endolysin LysSte134_1 was demonstrated catalytic activity against a wide panel of staphylococcal peptidoglycans (4 species, 6 strains), was active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis planktonic cultures and destroyed biofilms formed by clinical strains of S. aureus and S. epider-midis.

Effective waste elimination is critical for the success of construction projects. Although several studies have focused on various aspects of construction waste, limited efforts have investigated the dynamic effect of Making-Do (MD) practices on productivity, rework, defects, and materials wastage. From a lean construction perspective, this study aims to address MD waste using the Last Planner System (LPS) and BIM. First, the casual structure that can cause MD in construction projects was expressed in a casual loop diagram (CLD), and thematic analysis uncovered the strategies of LPS-BIM to eliminate MD identified by reviewing the literature. Secondly, twenty-five strategies from the LPS and BIM strategies to address MD using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were assessed. Subsequently, a system dynamics model (SDM) for investigating LPS-BIM strategies on MD decisions in a construction project was formulated based on the underlying causal loop diagrams and the mathematical relations among the variables. Finally, the model was applied to three projects, and simulations for four LPS-BIM scenarios were carried out. The findings show that dynamic interactions among diverse production planning and control factors are critical in evaluating MD impacts on a construction project. The results demonstrate that the LPS-BIM approach resulted in an average 43.8% reduction in the tasks performed with MD, 45.3% of constraints, 66.5% of construction waste, increasing 13.7% completion rate, and 29.3% cost reduction, demonstrating that LPS-BIM as a more efficient solution for MD mitigation and construction planning.

Biocompatibility of ceramic materials in CaO-P2O5 system was investigated using different methods, including in vitro and in vivo tests. Ceramics based on calcium pyrophosphate Ca2P2O7 were obtained by annealing cement-salt stone from highly concentrated hardening suspensions (HCHS). Cement-salt stone was prepared using powder mixtures of calcium citrate tetrahydrate Ca3(C6H5O7)2·4H2O and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O. These salts were mixed with each other in such a way that calcium pyrophosphate and calcium polyphosphate were present in the final ceramic product in the following weight ratios: Ca(PO3)2/Ca2P2O7 = 0/100; 5/95; 10/90 and 20/80. Distilled water was added to a homogenized powder mixtures of Ca3(C6H5O7)2·4H2O and Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O by a water/solid ratio of 0,5 by weight. The obtained suspensions were shaped using silicon molds and left to dry in air for a week. The phase composition of the obtained samples of cement-salt stone was represented by brushite CaHPO4·2H2O, monetite CaHPO4, calcium citrate tetrahydrate Ca3(C6H5O7)2·4H2O and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O. According to the XRD data, the phase composition of ceramic materials after annealing in the temperature range of 800-1000 0C was mainly represented by the β-Ca2P2O7 phase. In vivo tests shown that obtained ceramic materials can be recommended for regenerative treatments for bone defects.

Environmental darkness signal is transferred from the retina to the pineal gland triggering melatonin secretion. Melatonin influences the synthesis and release of the hypothalamic GnRH and the adenohypophyseal gonadotropin hormones and therefore, regulates testicular function in photoperiodic species. Besides the brain, direct actions of melatonin at the testicular level have also been described. Melatonin released from the pineal gland to the circulation is taken up by peripheral tissues including testes. Testicular synthesis of melatonin has also been reported. The two key somatic cell types in the testis, Leydig and Sertoli cells, express melatonergic receptors. Melatonin acts as a local modulator of the endocrine activity in Leydig cells. In Sertoli cells, melatonin influences the oxidation state and the energy metabolism, and consequently may regulate spermatogenesis. Melatonergic receptors were also described in testicular macrophages and mast cells of infertile patients. Whereas melatonin exerts anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects on testicular macrophages, it provides protective effects against oxidative stress in testicular mast cells. These data pinpoints melatonin as a key player in the regulation of testicular physiology (i.e. steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis) mostly in seasonal breeders. More importantly, melatonin is also involved in the modulation of testicular inflammatory and oxidant/anti-oxidant states in patients with idiopathic infertility.

Solar and wind resources available for power generation are subject to variability due to meteorological factors. Here, we use a new global climate reanalysis product, Version 2 of the NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2), to quantify interannual variability of monthly-mean solar and wind resource from 1980 to 2016 at a resolution of about 0.5 degrees. We find an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 11% for monthly-mean solar radiation and 8% for windspeed. Mean CVs were about 25% greater over ocean than over land, and, for land areas, were greatest at high latitude. The correlation between solar and wind anomalies was near zero in the global mean, but markedly positive or negative in some regions. Both wind and solar variability were correlated with values of climate modes such as the Southern Oscillation Index and Arctic Oscillation, with correlations in the Northern Hemisphere generally stronger during winter. We conclude that reanalysis solar and wind fields could be helpful in assessing variability in power generation due to interannual fluctuations in the wind and solar resource. Skillful prediction of these fluctuations seems to be possible, particularly for certain regions and seasons, given persistence or predictability of climate modes with which these fluctuations are associated.

The aim of this study was to create a novel machine learning (ML) algorithm for predicting the post-pubertal mandibular length and Y-axis in females. Cephalometric data from 176 females with Angle Class I occlusion were used to train and test 7 ML algorithms. For all ML methods tested, the mean absolute errors (MAEs) for the 2-year prediction ranged from 2.78-5.40 mm and 0.88-1.48 degrees, respectively. For the 4-year prediction, MAEs of mandibular length and Y-axis ranged from 3.21-4.00 mm and 1.19-5.12 degrees, respectively. The most predictive factors for post-pubertal mandibular length were mandibular length at previous timepoints, age, sagittal positions of the maxillary and mandibular skeletal bases, mandibular plane angle, and anterior and posterior face heights. The most predictive factors for post-pubertal Y-axis were Y-axis at previous timepoints, mandibular plane angle, and sagittal positions of the maxillary and mandibular skeletal bases. ML methods were identified as capable of predicting mandibular length within 3 mm, and Y-axis within 1 degree. Compared to each other, all of the ML algorithms were similarly accurate, with the exception of MLP regressor.

Prime numbers are the atoms of mathematics and mathematics is needed to make sense of the real world. Finding the Prime number structure and eventually being able to crack their code is the ultimate goal in what is called Number Theory. From the evolution of species to cryptography, Nature finds help in Prime numbers. One of the most important advances in the study of Prime numbers was the paper by Bernhard Riemann in November 1859 called “Ueber die Anzahl der Primzahlen unter einer gegebenen Grösse” (On the number of primes less than a given quantity). In that paper, Riemann gave a formula for the number of primes less than x in terms the integral of 1/log(x) and the roots (zeros) of the zeta function defined by: Where ζ(z) is a function of a complex variable z that analytically continues the Dirichlet series. Riemann also formulated a conjecture about the location of the zeros of RZF, which fall into two classes: the "trivial zeros" -2, -4, -6, etc., and those whose real part lies between 0 and 1. Riemann's conjecture Riemann hypothesis [RH] was formulated as this: [RH] The real part of every nontrivial zero z* of the RZF is 1/2. Proving the RH is, as of today, one of the most important problems in mathematics. In this paper we will provide a proof of the RH. The proof of the RH will be built following these five parts: PART 1: Description of the RZF PART 2: The C-transformation PART 3: Application of the C-transformation to in Re(z) 0 to obtain ζ(z)=X(z)-Y(z) PART 4: Analysis of the values of z such that X(z)=Y(z), and |X(z)|=|Y(z)|, that equates to ζ(z)=0 Proof that |X(z)|=|Y(z)| only if Re(z)=1/2 Conclude that ζ(z)=0 only if Re(z)=1/2 for Re(z) 0 PART 5: We will also prove that all non-trivial zeros of ζ(z) in the critical line of the form are not distributed randomly. There is a relationship between the values of those zeros and the Harmonic function that leads to an algebraic relationship between any two zeros.

The rational fabrication of low-dimensional materials with a well-defined topology and functions is an incredibly important aspect of nanotechnology. In particular, the on-surface synthesis (OSS) methods based on the bottom-up approach enable facile construction of sophisticated molecular architectures unattainable by traditional methods of wet chemistry. Among such supramolecular constructs especially interesting are surface-supported metal-organic networks (SMONs), composed of low-coordinated metal atoms and π-aromatic bridging linkers differing in size, shape and functionalization scheme. In this work, the lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation technique was used to extract the chemical information encoded in a family of Y-shaped positional isomers coadsorbed with trivalent metal atoms on a flat metallic surface with (111) geometry. For this purpose the investigated tritopic molecules/metal atoms were carefully mapped on a triangular lattice as interconnected/isolated segments with appropriatelly embedded anisotropic interactions. Depending on the intramolecular distribution of active centers (functional groups) within the simulated molecular bricks, we observed the metal-directed self-assembly of two-dimensional (2D) openwork patterns, aperiodic mosaics and metal-organic ladders. The obtained theoretical findings could be especially relevant for the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experimentalists interested in a surface-assisted construction of complex nanomaterials stabilized by directional coordination bonds.

The Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZe) is a global distortion of Cosmic Microwave Bckground (CMB) spectrum as result of its interaction with a hot electron plasma in the intracluster medium for large gravitational virialized structures such as galaxy clusters. Furthermore, this hot gas of electrons emits X-Rays due to its fall in the gravitational potential well of the cluster. The analysis of SZe and X-Ray data, provide a method for calculating distances to galaxy clusters at any redshift (Angular diameter distance (d_A) and gas mass fraction (f_gas)). On the other side, many of these galaxy clusters produce a Strong Gravitational Lens effect (SGL), which has become an useful astrophysical tool for cosmology. We use these cosmological tests, in addition to the more traditional ones (SNIa, CMB, BAO), to constraint alternative models of dark energy (ωCDM, CPL, IDE, EDE) and study the history of expansion through the cosmographic parameters (H(z), q(z), j(z)). Using Akaike and Bayesian Information Criterion (AIC, BIC) we find that the ωCDM and ΛCDM models are the most favored by the observational data. In addition, we found that at low redshift appears an peculiar behavior of slowdown of aceleration, which occurs only on dynamical dark energy models using only galaxy clusters (d_A,clusters + f_gas).

Background: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in domestic animals is one of the problems of modern veterinary. Treating with standard techniques using chemotherapeutic agents not always leads to a positive result of therapy; moreover, many drugs produce adverse side effects. Methods: Low level laser therapy, in particular, intravenous laser blood illumination (ILBI) has a pronounced and long-lasting impact on the immune system of animals. The combined technique including ILBI-635 (635 nm, 2 mW, 5 min) and LUVBI^® (365 nm, 2 mW, 3 min) every other day provides a positive change in clinical status of cats with allergic dermatitis after the 3rd-4th treatment session. Results: The increased level of erythrocytes and hemoglobin was identified in the course of treatment, and it indirectly indicates increased blood transport activity, which improves trophic provision and microcirculation. A double reduction of leukocytes and a significant decrease of neutrophil cells indicate the immunomodulatory effect of LILI (low-intensity laser illumination). The increase in the percentage of lymphocytes and the decrease of eosinophils and monocytes against the background of basophil concentrations deviations within physiological concentration result in the reduction of inflammatory mediators expression that induce itching. The reduction of total IgE concentration 32 times against control on the 7th day of treatment correlates with the decrease in the quantitative content of peripheral blood eosinophils, indicating the decrease in severity of an allergic process. Conclusion: LLLT is recommended against the background of standard drug therapy to achieve quick clinical outcome together with a long-lasting prolonged effect.

Bacteria’s ability to withstand the detrimental effects of antimicrobials may take the form of resistance or tolerance with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and the mutant selection window as salient concepts. Isolates exposed for 30 days to different concentrations of selected antibiotics, biocides, and heavy metals, singly and in combination, were additionally exposed to very high (15 × MIC) concentrations of ampicillin., and their tolerance was calculated the time to kill 99.9% of the isolate population (MDK99.9). These values were increased by 30 to 50% in test isolates compared to the untreated control. BAC 10-exposed isolates had the highest tolerance increase, and the tolerance appeared to originate from two sources, i.e., stochastic persistence and genetic-induced persistence, involving multiple genes using diverse mechanisms. The mutant selection window of the isolates to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and oxytetracycline also slightly increased compared to the control, indicating the amplification of persister cells during the 30-day exposure. These findings indicate that bacterial exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of environmental chemical stressors may not always result in the development of antimicrobial resistance but could initiate this process by selecting for persisters that could evolve into resistant isolates.

The effects of rare earth Y content on the microstructure and high-temperature oxidation properties of 47Fe-36Ni-15Cr-1.5Mn alloy at 1000°C were investigated. The results show that 47Fe-36Ni-15Cr-1.5Mn alloy oxidizes at 1000°C under laboratory atmospheric pressure to form an oxide film layer dominated by Cr2O3 and (Fe, Ni, Mn) Cr2O4 spinel, and the oxidation curve of the alloy follows the parabolic law. After the addition of rare earth Y, rare earth phases precipitated along the grain boundaries in the alloy, and the more Y content, the more precipitated phases in the grain boundaries. The alloy with added rare earths was oxidized at a high temperature of 1000 °C for 2160 min, the oxidation law still followed the parabolic law, while the rare earth phase at the grain boundary reacted with the oxygen atoms infiltrated from the outside to generate a rare earth Y-rich oxide residing at the boundary between the grain boundary and the precipitated phase of the alloy. Add 0.5 wt.% rare earth Y 47Fe-36Ni-15Cr-1.5Mn-0.5Y alloy 1000 ° C high temperature oxidation of the formation of spinel oxide crystalline particles, dense and complete oxide film layer, the surface of the addition of a small amount of (0.5 wt.%) rare earth Y after the refinement of the oxide particles, and in the alloy grain boundaries in the form of oxides reside in the alloy to inhibit the cations in the matrix and the oxygen negative ions. and oxygen-negative ions in the alloy matrix, improving the antioxidant performance of the alloy. With the further increase of rare earth Y, during the oxidation of the alloy at high temperature, the precipitation phase at the grain boundary promotes the inward diffusion of oxygen, resulting in the deterioration of the antioxidant property of the alloy.

Byers Peninsula is considered one of the largest ice-free areas in Maritime Antarctica. Since 2006, the Spanish Polar Program has taken part in a large number of environmental studies involving effects of climate changes in lives cycles, limnology and microbiology. Soils from maritime Antarctica are generally weakly developed and have chemical, physical and morphological characteristics strongly influenced by the parent material. However, biological activity during the short Antarctic summer promotes intense transference of nutrients and organic matter in areas occupied by different species of birds and marine mammals. To mapping and monitoring those areas with high biological occupation, could be very useful to have models of edaphic properties prepared from satellite images. In this approach, Deep Learning and Linear Regression models of soil properties and spectral indexes as explicative variables were performed. We training models of soil properties closely related to biological activity such as Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and the iron fraction associated with organic matter (Fe). We tested the best approach to model the spatial distribution of DOC, Fe and pH by training models of Linear Regression and Deep Learning over Sentinel2 and WorldView2 images. The most robust models were used to track possible areas with ornithogenic soils as well as areas of the Byers Peninsula that could support the highest biological development.

This work presents the results of a comprehensive physico-chemical and biological study of hu-mic substances samples – an extract of humic and fulvic acids. The performed loss on drying test showed a 22 times different dry matter content between EHS and FA. The morphology and dis-tribution of particles in the dry residue of the samples assessed using the methods of optical and digital microscopy demonstrated differences in the qualitative features of the microstructures of their surfaces and granulometries. Shimadzu X-ray fluorescence spectrometry revealed Si (8.1 and 1.7%), P (33.5 and 2.7%), S (4.3 and 59.5%), K (1.35 and 2.5%), Ca (10.9 and 3.2%), Mn (0.27 and 0.06%), Fe (11 and 0.05%), Cu (0.16 and 0.45%), Zn (0.06 and 0.02%) in the dry residues of the EHS and FA samples, respectively. A high intensity of the X-ray fluorescence signal for Fe atoms in the EHS sample was demonstrated. The FT-IR spectra for EHS and FA are characterized by simi-lar vibration frequencies that are characteristic of the chromone derivatives (1-benzopyran-4-one). The UV absorption spectrum is characterized by max = 281 nm for FA. The EHS solution showed a fluorescence maximum at em = 560 nm at ex = 280 nm. Using the DLS method, nanoparticles of 1 nm and 200 nm were detected in EHS and FA diluted solutions, which are likely to condition the biochemical and physical properties of humic acids. Using the Spiro-tox-test method, the absence of the toxic effect of humic acids on the cell model of ciliates Sp. am-bigua was established. When the cell model was incubated in a solution of a toxicant of the fluo-roquinolone group, a decrease in toxicity was demonstrated when diluted with the EHS solu-tion. The results of the study of the antiviral activity of EHS and FA showed that the study ob-jects in the culture of Vero-E6 cells, in doses non-toxic to cells, suppress the reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus both in the study of the virucidal effect and in the study of the antiviral activ-ity according to the therapeutic and prophylactic model scheme of injection. The results obtained suggest that standardized drugs based on humic acids may open up new perspectives in their biomedical application as antiviral drugs.

In addition to nucleic acids, various viral proteins are involved in the assembly of virion. If it is possible to create a biologically active agent that leads to the degradation of one of the key proteins for virus assembly and/or destroys the viral factory, then this agent will effectively cope with virus replication. One of these key proteins for the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the nucleocapsid protein (N-protein). As such a bioactive agent, we offer a modular nanotransporter (MNT) developed by us, which, in addition to an antibody mimetic to the N-protein, contains an amino acid sequence for the attraction of the Keap1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. This should lead to the subsequent degradation of the N-protein. We have shown that functional properties of modules within the MNT permit its internalization into target cells, endosome escape into the cytosol, and binding to the N-protein. Using flow cytometry and Western blot, it was demonstrated that significant degradation of N-protein is observed when A549 and A431 cells transformed with N-protein are incubated with the developed MNTs. The proposed MNTs open up a new approach for the treatment of viral diseases.