Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is a popular method for parameter estimation in both applied probability and statistics but MLE cannot solve the problem of incomplete data or hidden data because it is impossible to maximize likelihood function from hidden data. Expectation maximum (EM) algorithm is a powerful mathematical tool for solving this problem if there is a relationship between hidden data and observed data. Such hinting relationship is specified by a mapping from hidden data to observed data or by a joint probability between hidden data and observed data. In other words, the relationship helps us know hidden data by surveying observed data. The essential ideology of EM is to maximize the expectation of likelihood function over observed data based on the hinting relationship instead of maximizing directly the likelihood function of hidden data. Pioneers in EM algorithm proved its convergence. As a result, EM algorithm produces parameter estimators as well as MLE does. This tutorial aims to provide explanations of EM algorithm in order to help researchers comprehend it. Moreover some improvements of EM algorithm are also proposed in the tutorial such as combination of EM and third-order convergence Newton-Raphson process, combination of EM and gradient descent method, and combination of EM and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm.

Fungal infections caused by Candida spp. are responsible for high hospital morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, there is a continuous search for new antifungal medicines, particularly ones with anti-Candida activity. This review analyzed articles published between 2002 and 2023 considering the anti-Candida activity of chemical compounds identified or isolated in plants of the Anacardiaceae family. In addition, the in-silico prediction of the isolated compounds described was performed. The analysis of 35 studies showed that extracts, essential oils, and compounds from the anti-Candida activity were frequently determined in vitro using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The most commonly tested species were Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. guilliermondii, respectively. Essential oils were the most used form (37% of the studies). The isolated compounds with antifungal effects include cardanol, estragole, trans-anethole, β-caryophyllene, myrcene, catechin-3-o-rhamnoside, β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, 24Z-isomasticadienolic acid, oleanolic acid, and oleanolic aldehyde. The in-silico evaluation of those isolated compounds revealed the compounds' drug-likeness and possible antifungal activity. However, some of them showed high toxicity. In conclusion, compounds from the Anacardiaceae family show promise for developing new therapeutic antifungal drugs, especially in combination with conventional antifungals.

Conobea scoparioides (Plantaginaceae) is an herbaceous plant known as "pataqueira" that grows wild in seasonally wet areas of the Amazon region. It is used for aromatic baths and anti-protozoan remedies by the Brazilian Amazon native people. The main volatile compounds identified in the essential oil of "Pataqueira" were the phenolic monoterpenes thymol and thymol methyl ether and their precursors, the monoterpene hydrocarbons α-phellandrene and p-cymene. A hydrotalcite synthesized from blast-furnace slag exhibited a 3:2 (Mg/Al) molar ratio, and this layered double hydroxide (LDH) was evaluated as a catalyst in converting the main monoterpenes of the "Pataqueira" oil. This action significantly increased thymol content, from 41% to 95%, associated with the percentual reduction of other main components, such as thymol methyl ether, α-phellandrene, and p-cymene. The LDH reaction showed a strong tendency towards producing hydroxylated derivatives, and its behavior was similar to the hypothetical plant biosynthetic pathway, which leads to the production of the monoterpenes of "Pataqueira" oil. Thymol and its derivatives are potent antiseptics applied in pharmaceutical and hygienic products as antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, among others. The present work reports a natural source with a high thymol content in aromatic plants from the Amazon, with evident economic value.

Multidrug Artemisin-resistant (ART-R) Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasites represent a challenge for malaria elimination worldwide. Molecular monitoring in the Kelch domain region (pfk13) gene allows tracking mutations in parasite resistance to artemisinin. The increase of illegal miners in Roraima Yanomami indigenous land (IYL) could favor ART-R parasites. Thus, the study aimed to investigate ART-R in patients from illegal gold mining in the YIL of Roraima, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied and blood was collected from 48 patients diagnosed with P. falciparum or mixed malaria (Pf +P. vivax). The DNA was extracted and the pfk13 gene was amplified by PCR. The amplicons were subjected to DNA Sangers sequenced; the entire amplified fragment was analyzed. Among patients, 96% (46) were from illegal mining areas of the YIL. All parasite samples carried the wild-type genotypes / ART-sensitive phenotypes. These data reinforce the continued use of ACTs in Roraima as well as the maintenance of systematic monitoring for early detection of parasite populations resistant to ART, mainly in areas exposed to the individual’s influx from mining areas, such as the YIL. This is especially true when the achievement of falciparum malaria elimination in Brazil is planned and expected by 2030.

Fumaric acid is a chemical building block with many applications, namely in the polymer industry. The fermentative production of fumaric acid from renewable feedstock is a promising and sustainable alternative to petroleum-based chemical synthesis. The use of existing industrial side-streams as raw-material within biorefineries potentially enable production costs competitive against current chemical processes, while preventing the use of refined sugars competing with food and feed uses and avoiding purposely grow crops requiring large areas of arable land. However, most industrial side streams contain a diversity of molecules that will add complexity to the purification of fumaric acid from the fermentation broth. A process for the recovery and purification of fumaric acid from complex fermentation medium containing spent sulfite liquor (SSL) as carbon source was developed and is herein described. A simple two-stage precipitation procedure involving separation unit operations, pH and temperature manipulation and polishing through the removal of contaminants with activated carbon allowed the recovery of fumaric acid with 68.3% recovery yield with specifications meeting the requirements of the polymer industry. Further, process integration opportunities were implemented that allowed minimizing the generation of waste streams containing fumaric acid which enabled increasing the yield to 81.4% while keeping the product specifications.

This paper presents an observer-based dynamic output feedback controller design procedure using Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) optimization for second-order systems with uncertainty and persistent perturbation in the states. Using linear-quadratic criteria, cost functions are minimized in a two-stage procedure to compute optimal state feedback gains, and observer gains are coupled into a dynamic output feedback optimal controller. The LMI set used in the two stages is matrix inversion-free, a key issue for polytope formulation when uncertainty is present. The approach is tested in a mobile inverted pendulum robotic platform, and the effectiveness is verified in this underactuated and undesensed case.

Nowadays, animal breeders look for effective innovations to care animal health. Use of probiotics, postbiotics, parabiotics and the other beneficial natural substances are dominated. Mundticin-like substance EM 41/3 is thermo-stable bacteriocin (postbiotic) with a broad antimicrobial spectrum. In this study its effect in broiler rabbits was assessed. Rabbits represent food-derived animal and they are also suitable animal model. The parameters tested were analyzed by validated methods. Administration of MLS EM 41/3 produced by non-autochthonous strain Enterococcus mundtii EM 41/3 lead to significant increase of parameter immunity-phagocytic activity, while it did not influence microbiota composition. It also did not influence blood biochemistry and no oxidative stress was noted. Moreover, higher growth parameters were noted and also stimulated hydrolytic activity. Finally, no negative influence on rabbit meat quality was noted. Postbiotic MLS EM 41/3 administration in feeding strategy seems to be contributing fact for rabbit health status maintaining.

This theoretical article reviews the model describing processes in social systems based on the analysis of their resource base. Application of the system theory can help to explain why some systems are aimed at prevention of type I errors, while other seek to decrease quantity of type II errors. Such differences are manifested in investment of resources either into deep interaction or into wide coverage. Some examples of such strategies in economic, market and production systems are provided in the article. The article introduces some provisions of the system theory in the context of the resource flows. The main indicators that are considered in this article are the characteristics of the sources of the exchanging flows of resources. Their relative frequency and quality are investigated, on the basis of which the most effective strategy of the system is derived, as a mechanism for redistributing resources. The rigor of the system's strategy depends on the magnitude of the difference in characteristics. It is explained how exactly it influences the exchange processes, that in reality systems do not interact simultaneously, and one of the opposite resource flows is always delayed. It is shown how the system strategy depends on the risks linked with interactions. Also, there are grounds for the need to accumulate resources, including in the situation of their surplus. The model helps also explain shift of economic centers throughout history. Additionally, there is an analogy between systems strategies and the competitive strategies described by M. Porter, and outsourcing versus integration.

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) can offer significant benefits to the construction sector, improving productivity, efficiency, collaborative efforts, and product quality while promoting safety and sustainability. However, research on the application of 4IR technologies in construction is scarce in developing countries. It is crucial to understand the ability of construction companies to adopt new technologies and identify factors influencing the success of technology implementation. In this study, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted with construction professionals to evaluate the level of technological development of the construction market in an emerging economy, assess the potential for innovation implementation, and identify factors that might influence technological development. Although respondents recognized the importance of digital transformation, the results showed that most innovations are in the early stages of implementation in the construction sector, particularly technologies that are essential for the consolidation of the 4IR. Understanding the factors underlying this reality can support the development of strategies to foster innovation and harness the advantages of the 4IR in the construction industry in developing countries.

This article presents description of social structures such as, for example, states, in the context of their consideration as systems. Moreover, it seeks to develop K. Marx’s model in terms of systematic approach, as well as to justify the application of the Fibonacci sequence to systems in general and, in particular, to social systems. The description covers a wide range of issues, ranging from the assertion of the basic principle of living systems as patterns in resources flows to description of functions of various aspects of states and their economics in terms of objective needs of such structures. In addition, this article justifies synergetic effect based on proposed model, and the way this effect is applied to state systems. Moreover, it includes the description of main changes of socio-economic formations throughout the history as a natural development of social systems, including possible modern stages. The fundamental tool of this description is description of essence of the mechanism of property rights and its formation options. The differences of two extreme directions of such development are also described on the basis of the objective factor of resource provision. Special attention is given to the concept of surplus value as a feature of social production systems.

This theoretical article provides a brief description of the model of living systems' functioning by defining them as resource flows patterns. It reviews the living systems growth limitation between their development cycles by the Fibonacci sequence. Besides, there are presented systems resource base criteria, necessary for accumulating the resources and their investment. The article also considers the conditions for the formation of various systems strategies. Then we reviewed the principles of elemental analysis of information by a person as a living system according to the considered model. The study also shows the possibility of forming priorities in analyzing information for 16 combinations as maximum. At that, it remains crucial to divide a human's information analysis between the two hemispheres of the brain. The described combinations of priorities in a person's information analysis are compared with the existing differential personality models, such as the big five personality traits, the Myers-Briggs type indicator, temperaments model and Honey and Mumford Learning styles.

In this paper, we propose a methodology for analyzing the near-field coupling between two surface mount device (SMD) inductors using a 3-dimensional electromagnetic (3D-EM) model. To develop the 3D-EM model, we first extract the effective permeability of core magnetic material in the SMD using the loss tangent in the equivalent circuit model. Then the effective permeability is used in the magnetic material for the 3D-EM modeling of SMD inductor. The validity of the proposed 3D-EM model is confirmed by comparing the impedance and S-parameters obtained from both measured and EM-simulated values for the two near-field coupled SMDs. Finally, the near-field coupling effects between the two adjacent SMD inductors are visualized in terms of magnetic coupling path visualization (CPV) using the proposed 3D-EM model, which demonstrates its usefulness for near-field coupling analysis.

There is a need for alternatives or complements to synthetic fertilizers to enhance agricultural sustainability. Applying organic amendments can play a significant role in this. Insect droppings show high potential, though studies evaluating their agronomic value have only recently begun to emerge. This study compared black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae frass with another organic amendment (Nutrimais) derived from composting forestry, agro-industrial, and domestic waste. The experiment also included ammonium nitrate at two rates [the same as the organic amendments, 50 kg ha–1 nitrogen (N) (FullR), and half that rate (HalfR)] and an unfertilized control. The study spanned two growth cycles of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in pots, followed by unfertilized oats (Avena sativa L.) to assess the residual effects of the fertilizing treatments. Mealworm larvae frass mineralized rapidly, with an apparent N recovery of 37.4% over the two lettuce growth cycles, indicating its high availability to soil heterotrophic microorganisms. The average dry matter yield (DMY) of lettuce was the highest among all treatments (12.8 and 9.8 g plant–1 in the first and second lettuce cycles), even compared to the FullR treatment (12.2 and 7.8 g plant–1), though without significant differences. Although mealworm larvae frass exhibited a high mineralization rate, the DMY cannot be attributed solely to N supply, as plants in the FullR treatment showed better N nutritional status. Mealworm larvae frass provided strong evidence of a plant biostimulant effect, not explained by the variables measured in this study. Black soldier fly larvae frass exhibited typical behavior of a moderately reactive organic amendment, while Nutrimais showed low reactivity, with a near-neutral mineralization/immobilization balance. The results suggest mealworm larvae frass is recommended for early maturing vegetable crops, whereas Nutrimais appears more suitable for perennial crops with low short-term nutrient requirements.

This article presents the results of the consideration of the Bertrand paradox in terms of geometric probability theory. Although the method and conclusions of this article are straightforward, no equivalent studies were found when reviewing the relevant literature. This could be conditioned by the fact that the hypotheses presented in this research have low intuitive obviousness and, in contrast, could be due to the historically established agreement regarding the issue. This article shows that out of three classical solutions to the problem described by Bertrand, two methods are inconsistent with the claimed relative objectivity. Although the remaining solution (1/4) seems to be the most correct, we cannot claim that we have exhaustively ruled out all aspects that could reduce its adequacy to solve the problem.

Kininogens are multidomain glycoproteins found in the blood of most vertebrates. They are important in the blood coagulation cascade pathways - in intrinsic pathway activation leading to thrombin generation partially independently from tissue factor dependent extrinsic pathway, connecting blood coagulation with the kallikrein-kinin system. Nothing is known about the shape on atomic level therefore the endeavor to obtain the good-quality spatial structure of kininogens is important for a better understanding of their role in disease and treatment. Application of cryo-EM is important for solving the spatial structure of kininogens, drawing new frontiers in understanding the function and opening new pathways for drug development.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is recognized as the second most prevalent primary chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Clinically, PD is characterized as a movement disorder, exhibiting an incidence and mortality rate that is increasing faster than any other neurological condition. In recent years, there has been a growing interest concerning the role of the gut microbiome in the etiology and pathophysiology of PD. The establishment of a brain-gut microbiome axis is now real, with evidence denoting a bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiota through metabolic, immune, neuronal, and endocrine mechanisms and pathways. Among these, the vagus nerve represents the most direct form of communication between the brain and the gut. Given the potential interactions between bacteria and drugs, it has been observed that the therapies for PD can have an impact on the composition of the microbiome. Therefore, in the scope of the present review, we will discuss the current understanding of gut microbiome on PD and whether this may be a new paradigm for treating this devastating disease.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) results from infection by the protozoa Leishmania infantum and L. donovani. HIV-coinfected patients may have a relapsing course of VL, even after secondary prophylaxis with amphotericin B. This study investigated whether host factors would explain the relapses. First, susceptibility to amphotericin B of L. infantum isolates was evaluated in vitro. Then, clinical data and the lipid profile of patients with relapsing and non-relapsing VL were assessed. Susceptibility to amphotericin B was similar between the isolates. CD4+ lymphocytes were reduced in both patients in the first episode and with relapsing VL. Still, the strongest blood cell associated with relapses was low total lymphocyte counts. Total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and, uniquely, triglycerides of the six individuals in the first episode and 23 with relapsing VL were lower in relapsing patients than those in the first episode. Deceased patients had extremely low, low-density lipoprotein. After CD4+ decrease, lymphocyte CD8+ reduction seem to be the final stage of the immunological failure. The lower lipid concentrations appear to be secondary to the depletion of fat stores by inflammation-induced cachexia provoked by the co-occurrence of both diseases, which can finally lead to death.

A 9-year-old male child with autism and epilepsy presented with a sudden headache, fever, and seizures. A sequence of tests with clinical congruence determined chikungunya-associated encephalitis. He eventually recovered after medical intervention and physiotherapy.

The Pantanal region in the state of Mato Grosso suffers from intensive biomass burning at the dry season. A great volume of anthropogenic emissions affects the ecosystem, damaging the richest fauna and flora internationally recognized. The collect and characterization of natural aerosols is important to accompany the variations in the composition and concentration of these particles, this work determined the total mass concentration of fine inhalable particles, concentration of aerosol compound Black Carbon (BC) and the presence of 25 chemical elements in the samples. Maximum total mass inhalable fine (PM2.5) and BC concentration was, respectively, 83.66 μg m-3 and 4.52 μg m-3, and the median values of both was 36.62 ± 31.69 μg m-3 and 1.83 ± 1.65 μg m-3. The Pb element concentration demonstrated a great maximum value of 25 ng m-3, around twenty-one times bigger than a similar study realized ten years ago in the same area. The results indicate a low correlation between aerosols concentration and environmental parameters, nonetheless, we verify a considerable increase in concentration of PM2.5, BC and chemical elements S, K, Fe, Si and heavy metals compared with previous studies.

Condition-specific competition, when environmental conditions alter the outcome of competition, can foster the persistence of resident species after the invasion of a competitively superior invader. We test whether condition-specific competition can facilitate the areawide persistence of the resident and principal West Nile virus vector mosquito Culex pipiens with the competitively superior invasive, Aedes albopictus, in water from different urban container habitats. (2) Methods: We tested the effects of manipulated numbers of A. albopictus on C. pipiens survival and development in water collected from common functional and discarded containers in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The experiment was conducted with typical numbers of larvae found in field surveys of C. pipiens and A. albopictus and container water quality. (3) Results: We found increased densities of A. albopictus negatively affected the survivorship and development of C. pipiens in water from discarded containers but had little effect in water from functional containers. This finding was driven by water from trash cans, which allowed consistently higher C. pipiens survival and development and had greater mean ammonia and nitrate concentrations that can promote microbial food than other container types. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that the contents of different urban containers alter the effects of invasive A. albopictus competition on resident C. pipiens, that trash cans, in particular, facilitate the persistence of C. pipiens, and that there could be implications for West Nile virus risk as a result.

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been a widely used medical imaging tool for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract abnormalities like bleeding. But the CE captures a huge number of image frames that are time-consuming and tedious tasks for medical experts to diagnose manually. To address this issue, researchers focused on the computer-aided bleeding detection system to identify bleeding automatically in real-time. This paper presents a systematic review of the available state-of-the-art computer-aided bleeding detection algorithms for capsule endoscopy. The review was carried out by searching five different repositories: Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and ScienceDirect for all original publications on computer-aided bleeding detection published between 2001 and 2021. The PRISMA methodology was used to perform the review, and 112 full-texts of scientific papers were reviewed. The contributions of this paper are I) a taxonomy for computer-aided bleeding detection algorithms for capsule endoscopy is identified, II) the available state-of-the-art computer-aided bleeding detection algorithms including various color spaces (RGB, HSV, etc.), feature extraction techniques, and classifiers are discussed, and III) identify the most effective algorithm for practical use cases. Finally, the paper is concluded by providing future direction for computer-aided bleeding detection research.

Organic wastes and by-products from several activities, including food industries, farming, and animal husbandry, are a hygiene threat when aerobically decomposed. Therefore, their manage-ment is crucial for public health. In this direction, anaerobic digestion (AD) systems may be the solution by transforming waste into energy, which may decrease the environmental impact. However, their efficacy should be carefully examined. In this innovative study, we evaluated the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of liquid digestate (LD) retrieved from organic animal wastes in northern Greece using nanofiltration. Using treatment technologies including physical (solid-liquid separation, microfiltration and nanofiltration) and biological (anaerobic digestion), heavy metals and microbial (i.e., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis) concentrations reduced and nutrients were recovered. This work sets the basis for the efficient management of liquid digestate. Our method may enable the use of treated liquid digestate for unlimited irrigation water and other industrial applications of water. Apart from the sanitation process, the recovery of nutrients for soil fertilization seems to be a more sustainable way for fu-ture agricultural practices.

The marketing industry is rapidly evolving, necessitating educational programs to adapt and equip graduates with relevant skills and knowledge. This systematic literature review with bibliometric analysis (SLRBA) explores the integration of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in marketing education. PBL is an instructional strategy that empowers students to solve real-life problems by integrating theory and practice, thus fostering critical thinking and decision-making skills. Our review synthesizes data from 71 sources, highlighting the definition of PBL, strategies to promote its implementation in marketing education, and the benefits and challenges associated with this approach. The findings indicate that PBL enhances student engagement, provides hands-on experience, and prepares students for real-world marketing challenges. Strategies such as using social media, serious games, e-learning, and feedback mechanisms are discussed for their effectiveness in promoting active learning and student participation. Despite its advantages, PBL faces challenges such as resource intensiveness, student resistance, and information integrity issues. This review underscores the importance of PBL in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ultimately preparing marketing students to meet the demands of the industry. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and best practices for implementing PBL in marketing education.

Two decades after the antiretroviral therapy (ART) introduction, several challenges still prevail in maintaining people living with HIV (PLHIV), even with "Test and Treat" and/or "Rapid Start of ART" initiatives, as well as the scale-up of ART worldwide to promote access and adherence to treatment. This review examined articles on ART adherence in Africa between 2016 and 2023, published in English and indexed in PubMed. A total of 16 articles out of 2415 were eligible and included for analyses. Overall, ART adherence rates in SSA regions ranged from 43% to 84%. Rates in the centre of the SSA region ranged from 58% to 80%, in the north from 50% to 83%, in the south from 77% to 84%, in the west from 43% to 60% and in the east from 69% to 73%. Most African countries use the self-report to assess treatment adherence, although unreliable. The main factors with negative influence on ART adherence were comorbidities, lack of motivation, socioeconomic difficulties or side effects. Conclusion: Adherence to ART is a good indicator for controlling the spread of HIV. It is important to overcome the barriers that make it difficult to comply with ART and reinforce the factors that facilitate the accession of medication.

Soil moisture can be an important indicator of climate change in humid and semi-arid areas. This indicator can more efficiently propose different public policies related to climate change than just using precipitation and temperature data. Given the above, the objective of this study is to evaluate changes in soil moisture in the state of Pernambuco during the period 1961-2021, using the System of Hydrological Response Units for Pernambuco. In this study, two river basins in the state of Pernambuco that represent the different climatic conditions of the state will be chosen. The results show that in the coastal region, there is a tendency towards more saturated soils, and in the semi-arid region, there is a tendency towards drier soils. With these results, it is possible to conclude that public policy decisions for the economy, environment, and society must consider this vital water balance variable.

Centrifugal pumps are widely employed in the oil refinery industry due to their efficiency and effectiveness in fluid transfer applications. The reliability of pumps plays a pivotal role in ensuring uninterrupted plant productivity and safe operations. Analysis of failure history data shows that bearings have been identified as critical components in oil refinery pump groups. However, traditional reliability estimation theories may not apply when data is limited or subject to right censoring. This paper addresses the complexity of estimating the Weibull distribution parameters using the maximum-likelihood method under the abovementioned conditions. The likelihood equation lacks an explicit analytical solution, necessitating the use of numerical methods for resolution. The proposed approach presented in this article leverages the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm for estimating the Weibull distribution parameters. This method provides more accurate estimates of failure rates and probabilities by accounting for limited and censored data. The findings are demonstrated through a case study, showcasing the practical application of the proposed approach.

Dermal penetration is considered to mainly occur via passive diffusion. Therefore, a high concentration gradient of dissolved active ingredient between formulation and skin is needed to achieve an effective dermal penetration. The concentration gradient between formulation and skin can be changed by changing the amount of dissolved active ingredient in the formulation. In case of poorly soluble active ingredients this can be achieved by using nanosized drug material instead of larger sized material. The smaller size and the resulting larger surface increase the kinetic solubility and thus increase the concentration gradient of dissolved active ingredient between formulation and skin, which then results in an increased dermal penetration. In this study we demonstrated that the concentration gradient between formulation and skin can also be influenced by the number of particles being present in the formulation and by the dose (volume of formulation) applied to the skin. Particles of undissolved active ingredient are known to act as a reservoir by releasing dissolved molecules in the liquid phase of the formulation. It could now be demonstrated that the particles - once the liquid in which they are dispersed evaporates - can connect to the skin via an aqueous meniscus. The aqueous meniscus contains dissolved active ingredient and therefore creates a small local spot with a locally high concentration gradient and improved dermal penetration. Therefore, the dermal penetration can be increased with formulations that contain high amounts of particles. This can be achieved by applying formulations with high numbers of particles and/or by applying larger volumes of particle containing formulations to the skin.

Increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by improving agricultural practices, soil knowledge and implementing precision agriculture, is essential to reduce the overuse of fertilisers and increase nutrient retention. This study aimed to optimise N management in agriculture by establishing a critical N dilution curve (CNDC) and analysing variations in NUE and N nutrition index (NNI) among different crops under various treatments. Using a Bayesian model, the CNDC was determined as %Nc = 3.63 * PDM-0.71. The results presented that plant dry matter (PDM) and plant N content (PNC) varied significantly with crop type and sampling moments. Strong positive correlations are presented by PDM with N uptake (NUp) (0.89) and NNI (0.88), along with an inverse correlation with critical N concentration (-0.95). The study found that crops under irrigation conditions had higher NUp and higher NNI. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of key management decisions on the N nutritional status of annual ryegrass-based forage crops. The results highlight the critical role of accurate and conscious decision-making in improving NUE and crop yields, emphasising the complex interactions between biomass production and N dynamics in crops. The conclusions allow significant benefits to be realised, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Electron beam treatment of ZnS:Cu,Br (Cu activator content 0…0.6%wt.) radioluminescent phosphors as well as charge mixture with the electron energy 900 keV and absorbed dose of 600 kGy resulted in a enhancement of brightness up to 80%. The increased brightness is due to increase of content of wurtzite phase relative to sphalerite one with formation of wurtzite/sphalerite nanocomposite structure. Transformation of crystal structure is accompanied with corresponding change in content of active surface centers characteristic for sphalerite and wurtzite phases. A model describing surface centers of ZnS:Cu,Br radioluminescent phosphor is suggested.

This study analyzes the eating behavior and factors associated with the presence of disordered eating attitudes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted at a hospital in the Amazon region of Brazil. The Disordered Eating Attitude Scale reduced version (DEAS-s) was used to assess the risk of eating disorders and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) to characterize eating behavior. A total of 205 patients participated, with a mean age of 37.5 ± 8.6 years, the majority being female (93.7%; p<0.001), the mean BMI was 45.3±6.7 kg/m2. It was found that cognitive restraint had the highest mean (52.6±19.9; p<0.001). As for the DEAS-s, the question with the highest mean was "spending one or more days without eating or consuming only liquids to lose weight" (2.80±1.99). Female participants had a higher score in the emotional eating (p=0.016). Disordered eating attitudes showed a correlation with emotional eating and uncontrolled eating. These results suggest that candidates for bariatric surgery may have susceptibility to eating disorders. The importance of a multidisciplinary team in monitoring during the preoperative period is highlighted.

The physiological characteristics of liquid digestate retrieved from various biogas plants based in northern Greece are presented. Preliminary photocatalysis experiments on inoculated liquid di-gestate sampled showed that disinfection is possible when pre-treated digestate with a combination of centrifuge-flocculation-μFiltration after 5.5 hours of 0.7g/L suspended TiO2 under UVA illumination for the experimental conditions is used. A novel design photocatalytic nanofiltration reactor was implemented for disinfection experiments on pre-treated liquid digestate, giving promising results. This work sets the basis for the efficient operation and engineering application of technology collaboration with photocatalysis as the final step for liquid digestate sanitation and reusable water recovery.

Macromolecular assemblies, such as protein complexes, undergo continuous structural dynamics, including global reconfigurations critical for their function. Two fast analytical methods are widely used to study these global dynamics, namely elastic network model normal mode analysis and principal component analysis of ensembles of structures. These approaches have found wide use in various computational studies, driving the development of complex pipelines in several software packages. One common one has been conformational sampling through hybrid simulations incorporating all-atom molecular dynamics and global modes of motion. However, wide functionality is only available for experienced programmers with limited capabilities for other users. We have, therefore, integrated one popular and extensively developed software for such analyses, the ProDy Python application programming interface, into the Scipion workflow engine. This enables a wider range of users to access a complete range of macromolecular dynamics pipelines beyond the core functionalities available in its command-line applications and the normal mode wizard in VMD. The new protocols and pipelines can be further expanded and integrated into larger workflows together with other software packages for cryo-electron microscopy image analysis and molecular simulations. We present the resulting plugin, Scipion-EM-ProDy, in detail, highlighting the rich functionality made available by its development.

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (NPSEs) in Portugal stands out as a well-preserved region abundant in medicinal plants, particularly known for their pharmaceutical applications in diabetes prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores these plants' botanical diversity, traditional uses, pharmacological applications, and chemical composition. The NPSEs boast a rich diversity with 138 medicinal plants across 55 families identified as traditionally and pharmacologically used against diabetes globally. Notably, the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families are prevalent in anti-diabetic applications. In vitro studies reveal their significant inhibition of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and certain plant co-products regulate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin secretion. In vivo trials demonstrate anti-diabetic effects, including glycaemia regulation, insulin secretion, antioxidant activity, and lipid profile modulation. Medicinal plants in NPSE exhibit various activities beyond anti-diabetic, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and more. Chemical analysis identifies over fifty compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides responsible for their efficacy against diabetes. The findings underscore the potential of NPSE medicinal plants as anti-diabetic candidates, urging further research to develop effective plant-based anti-diabetic drugs, beverages, and supplements.

The goal of this work is to develop a sustainable value chain of carbonaceous adsorbents that can be produced from the solid fibrous digestate (SFD) of biogas plants and further applied in integrated desulphurisation-upgrading (CO2/CH4 separation) processes of biogas to yield high purity biomethane. On this purpose, physical and chemical activation of the SFD derived biochar was optimised to afford micro-mesoporous activated carbons (ACs) of high BET surface area (590-2300 m2g−1) and enhanced pore volume (0.57-1.0 cm3g−1). Gas breakthrough experiments from fixed bed columns of the obtained ACs, using real biogas mixture as feedstock, unveiled that the physical and chemical activation conclude to different types of ACs which are sufficient for biogas upgrade and biogas desulphurisation respectively. Performing breakthrough experiments at three temperatures close to ambient it was possible to define the optimum conditions for enhanced H2S/CO2 separation. It was also concluded that the H2S adsorption capacity is significantly affected by restriction to gas diffusion. Hence, the best performance was obtained at 50 oC and the maximum observed in the H2S adsorption capacity vs the temperature is attributed to the counterbalance between adsorption and diffusion processes.

For many years marine algae has been subject of numerous researches and as a source of natural products with antiviral activity, such as terpenes, alkaloids and sulphated polysaccharides. However, the anti-Zika virus (ZIKV) potential of algae has not been studied. In this study we evaluated extracts seven species of the three major classes of seaweeds (Phaeophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Rhodophyceae) against ZIKV. All seaweeds tested are native of the Brazilian coast, except for Kappaphycus alvarezii that can be cultivated. ZIKV a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has become a public health problem. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases and a strong association between ZIKV outbreak and the spread of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome and microcephaly. All seaweed extracts tested in this work inhibits ZIKV replication in a dose-dependent manner. Caulerpa racemosa, Kappaphycus alvarezii and Osmundaria obtusiloba extracts were able to inhibit viral replication at low concentrations with EC₅₀ values ranging from 1.38 to 1.98 µg/mL. We observed that O. obtusiloba presented a significant virucidal effect. Our results suggest that extracts of C. racemosa, K. alvarezii and O. obtusiloba presented very promising results, being excellent candidates for further studies, demonstrating that marine algae are an interesting source for the development of novel anti-ZIKV agents.

Land use and cover change (LUCC) is an important method to investigate the causes of global environment change. We utilized the emergy ecological footprint (EEF) model to construct a land-use change model to be used as a systematic measuring tool for monitoring sustainable development trends. In particular, we estimated the eco-security of the Cing-jing region as a case study so that responsible agencies can use it to maintain a balance between ecological preservation and tourism development. The results indicated the following: First, the ecological environment of the Cing-jing region satisfied the safety standard in 2008–2014; however, the related indices increased considerably. Second, the grey model predicted a decrease in 2015–2024 ecological carrying capacities of Cing-jing and a large increase in capita EFs, resulting in a larger ecological deficit and higher EFI. The eco-security from 2015–2024 was higher compared to 7 years ago and is predicted to reach the Grade 2 intermediate level in 2022; thus the Cing-jing region is gradually becoming ecologically unsustainable. Strengths of our study included the use of EEF theory in a quantitative analysis of slope lands for the effective evaluation of ecological security. Finally, we expanded our research to include ecological security issues.

Native and exotic fruits from the Amazon have varied characteristics, with aroma being a decisive factor in attracting and accepting them and their medicinal use as a nutraceutical supplement. This work aimed to analyze the chemical constituents of the volatile concentrates of some Myrtaceous fruit species sampled in the Brazilian Amazon. The fruit's pulps were subjected to simultaneous distillation-extraction, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze their volatile chemical composition. In the volatile concentrate of Eugenia stipitata (Araçá-boi) were identified α-pinene (17.5%), citronellyl butanoate (15.6%), and pogostol (13.5%) as primary constituents; in Eugenia uniflora (Ginja) were curzerene (30.5%), germacrone (15.4%), atractylone (13.1%), and (E)-β-ocimene (11.1%); in Myrciaria dubia (Camu-Camu) were α-pinene (55.8%), (E)-β-ocimene (13.1%), and α-terpineol (10.0%); in Psidium guajava (Goiaba) were (2E)-hexenal (21.7%), hexanal (15.4%), caryophylla-4(12),8(13)-dien-5-β-ol (10.5%), caryophyllene oxide (9.2%), and pogostol (8.3%); and in Psidium guineense (Araçá) were limonene (25.2%), ethyl butanoate (12.1%), epi-β-bisabolol (9.8%), and α-pinene (9.2%). The analyzed fruit species' volatile concentrates presented a significant diversity of constituents with a predominance of functional groups, such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and fatty acid derivatives, originating from the plant's secondary metabolism and representing significant importance regarding their nutritional and medicinal uses.

The addition of biocarriers can improve the biological processes appearing in a bioreactor since their surface allows the immobilization, attachment, protection, and growth of microorganisms. In addition, the development of a biofilm layer allows the colonization of microorganisms in the biocarriers. The structure, composition, and roughness of the biocarriers' surface are crucial factors that affect the development of the biofilm. In the current work, the aluminosilicate zeolites 13X and ZSM-5 were examined as the main building components of the biocarrier scaffolds, using bentonite, montmorillonite, and halloysite nanotubes as inorganic binders in various combinations. 3D printing was utilized to form pastes into monoliths that underwent heat treatment. The 3d-printed biocarriers were subjected to a mechanical analysis, including density, compression, and nanoindentation tests. Furthermore, the 3d-printed biocarriers were morphologically and structurally characterized using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K (LN2), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The stress-strain response of the materials being studied was obtained through nanoindentation tests combined with finite element analysis (FEA). These tests were also utilized to simulate the lattice geometries under compression loading conditions to investigate their deformation and stress distribution in relation to experimental compression testing. The results indicated that the 3d-printed biocarrier 13X/halloysite nanotubes was endowed with high specific surface area and extended mesoporous structure. Due to these assets, its bulk density was one of the lowest observed amongst the biocarriers derived from the various combinations of materials. The biocarriers based on the 13X zeolite exhibited the highest mechanical stability and appropriate morphological features. The 13X/halloysite nanotubes scaffold exhibits a moderate hardness value compared to the rest, while it presents the highest value of modulus of elasticity. In conclusion, Aluminosilicate zeolites and their combination with clays and inorganic nanotubes afford 3d-printed biocarriers of various textural and structural properties, which can be utilized to improve biological processes.

This study assessed the acute effects of oral methylliberine (DynamineTM) supplementation on cognitive function and indices of well-being. This was a double-blind, randomized, within-subject crossover trial. 25 healthy men and women (33.5±10.7yr, 172.7±8.6cm, 73.3±11.0kg) underwent pretesting before ingesting methylliberine (100mg) or placebo (PLA) for 3 days. On the fourth day participants were tested before their 4th dose (baseline) and every hour post-ingestion for 3 hours. After a one-week washout period, participants repeated testing with the alternate investigational product. The testing battery consisted of vitals, Stroop test and Trail Making Test-B, and visual analog scales that assessed various indices of well-being. Mixed factorial ANOVA with repeated measures were used to assess all variables. There were significant (p≤0.050) interactions in concentration, motivation, and mood. Methylliberine improved concentration 1- and 3-hours, motivation 3 hours, and mood 1-, 2-, and 3 hours (p≤0.050). Methylliberine improved energy, sustained energy, and mood in all participants to a greater extent than PLA at 1-hour and 3-hours relative to baseline (p≤0.050). PLA improved motivation at 1- and 2-hours and mood at 2-hours (p≤0.050). Methylliberine improved concentration, well-being, and the ability to tolerate stress to a greater extent than PLA at 3-hours relative to baseline (p≤0.050). Women observed elevations in sustained energy 1- and 3-hours (p≤0.050) in methylliberine vs. PLA. Methylliberine had negligible influence on cognitive function, vitals (p>0.050), and no adverse events were reported. Methylliberine significantly improved subjective feelings of energy, concentration, motivation, and mood, but not cognitive function. PLA improved motivation and mood at hours 1 and 2, while methylliberine sustained benefits for longer. Methylliberine also improved concentration, well-being, and the ability to tolerate stress to a greater degree than PLA while having no detrimental effects on vital signs. Methylliberine also seems to have a positive impact on sustained energy in women.

Gymnema sylvestre is a pharmacological plant which has a rich source of bioactive compounds specifically gymnemic acid (GA) and phenolic compounds (PC) that used for pharmaceutical industries. Sources for naturally occurring bioactive compounds are limited, due to geographical and seasonal variations; on the other hand, it is commercially in demand. Biosynthesis of G. sylvestre phytochemicals through in vitro culture often enhanced by elicitation. The use of cell suspension cultures (CSC) has interested serious attention on the production of essential phytochemicals. The current study is aimed at improving the contents of GA and PC in G. sylvestre CSC using the copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). Callus was obtained on MS medium with 2.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.1 mg/L kinetin (KIN), phytoagar (8.0 g/L), and sucrose (30 g/L). The above medium devoid of agar was used for the initiation of CSC. The CSC was treated with three levels of CuO NPs (1, 3 or 5 mg/L) to enhance the production of GA and PC. The greatest amount of GA (89.25 mg/g dry cell mass, DCM), total phenolic (245.10 mg/g), and flavonoid (4.57 mg/g) in CSC were achieved when G. sylvestre cells were treated for 48 h with 3 mg/L CuO NPs. Also, the biomedical potential (antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities) were also high in the CuO NPs (3 mg/L) treated CSC extracts of G. sylvestre. CuO NPs elicitation of CSC significantly increased production of GA (9-fold), and PC than non-elicited CSC in G. sylvestre.

Background: We assessed the pertinence of yearly updating the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) risk classification in people with diabetes by quantifying the changes in the risk group and its accuracy in identifying those developing an ulcer (DFU) in a primary care setting. Methods: In our retrospective cohort study, we included all people with diabetes with a foot as-sessment registry between January 2016 and December 2018 in the Baixo Alentejo Local Health Unit. Foot-related data was collected at baseline after one and two years. DFU and/or death until December 2019 were registered. The proportion of people changing their risk status each year was calculated. Accuracy measures of the IWGDF classification to predict DFU occurrence at one, two, and three years were calculated. Results: A total of 2097 people were followed for three years, during which 0.1% died, and 12.4% developed a DFU. After two years, 3.6% of the participants had progressed to a higher-risk group. The IWGDF classification presented specificity values superior to 90% and negative predictive values superior to 99%. Conclusion: Foot risk status can be safely updated every two years instead of yearly. The IWGDF classification can accurately identify those not at risk of DFU.

Gelatin industry residues are increasingly used as fertilizer and soil conditioner. However, correct residue dosage is critical for grass development and minimizing environmental impacts. This randomized block design study determined adequate dosage of Mixed Gelatin Sludge (MGS) for Marandu grass production in wet/dry seasons in Brazil. Five MGS levels (0%–200% of required nitrogen) were compared to mineral fertilizer. Agronomic/productivity characteristics, bromatological composition, macro/micro-nutrient composition of leaves, and soil chemical attributes were evaluated. Agronomic/productivity characteristics were influenced by MGS dose in both dry/rainy seasons, except for leaf blade pseudostem ratio and percentage of leaves/pseudostem. Bromatological composition was influenced by MGS doses in dry/rainy seasons except for dry/mineral material quantities. Marandu leaf tissue chemical composition was significantly influenced by MGS dose, except for potassium, boron, and iron. Chemical composition of four soil layers between 0–50 cm influenced GMS dose, except for pH, organic matter, magnesium, copper, manganese, and zinc. GMS dose for Marandu production should be 200% of nitrogen (N) requirement. GMS application increased productivity/quality of Marandu grass. Macronutrients (N, phosphorus) and micronutrients (Ca, Mg, S, Cu, and Zn) increased in Marandu grass and in the soil (Ca, S, and Na). Increased sodium (Na) level was not limiting.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the roast time, weight loss and quality of coffee grain at four different roasting degrees, aiming to recognize and develop sustainable patterns to industrialize specialty coffees. Coffee (Coffea arabica L.), from eight producers, with scores between 80 and 83 from SCA classification, were used. Samples of 300 g were roasted in a cylindric rotative roaster, until the grains reached four different roasting profiles (Agtron scale 22.36, #33.64, #40.05, #59.92). Afterwards, analysis of roasting time, gas pressure, weight loss, and sensorial grades were accomplished. It was observed that samples roasted at #22.36 led to significant differences, regarding roasting time and weight loss. Furthermore, there is a significant difference at the sensorial grades of the coffee beverage. Comparing the roast degree #40.05 (standard used for specialty coffee) with the roast degree #22.36 (most used for commodities coffee), the first one has a gas consumption of 0.34 kg per coffee kg, whilst the second presented a gas consumption of 0.41 kg per coffee kg. Thus, from gas consumption, roast degree # 40.05 is the more sustainable option, along with the remaining parameters analyzed.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a rare viral disease initially discovered in Africa in 1958. Since its first identification, several outbreaks have occurred in various African nations. Recently, the global community has witnessed a resurgence in the number of Mpox cases reported worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the ongoing multi-country outbreak a public health emergency in July 2022. This study reports on the first cases of Mpox detected in Khartoum State, Sudan, outlining the epidemiology, preparedness, and public health response to this new challenge. A total of 55 suspected cases were identified, with two confirmed cases. The clinical manifestations observed in these cases align with the classic skin rash typical of Mpox, presenting alongside symptoms like fever, headache, and joint pain. The findings underscore the need for heightened surveillance, early detection, and timely intervention to prevent the domestic spread of Mpox and its potential impact on public health. Continued global efforts are needed to support effective screening, diagnostic, and control measures, ultimately enhancing preparedness and response in the face of this emerging disease.

Identifying anti-spike antibodies that exhibit strong neutralizing activity against current dominant circulating variants and antibodies that are escaped by these variants have important implications in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic solutions as well as in improving understanding of the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We characterized seven anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies for their binding activity, pairing capability and neutralization activity to SARS-CoV-2 and three variant RBDs (UK, SA and BR P.1) via lateral flow immunoassays. The results allowed us to group these antibodies into three distinct epitope bins. Our studies showed that two antibodies had broadly potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 and these variant RBDs and that one antibody did not neutralize the SA and BR P.1 RBDs. The antibody escaped by the SA and BR P.1 RBDs retained binding activity to SA and BR P.1 RBDs but was unable to induce neutralization. Further, we demonstrated that the lateral flow immunoassay can be a rapid and effective tool for antibody characterization, including epitope classification and antibody neutralization kinetics. From these studies, the potential contributions of the mutations (N501Y, E484K and K417N/T) contained in these variants’ RBDs on antibody pairing capability, neutralization activity and therapeutic antibody targeting strategy are discussed.

This research investigates the exposure of plant species to extreme drought events in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, employing an extensive dataset collected from 205 automatic weather stations across the region. Meteorological indicators derived from hourly data, encompassing precipitation, maximum and minimum air temperature, were utilized to quantify past, current, and future drought conditions. The dataset, comprising 10,299,236 data points, spans a substantial temporal window and exhibits a modest percentage of missing data. Missing data were excluded from analysis, aligning with the decision to refrain from imputation methods due to potential bias. Drought quantification involved the computation of the Aridity Index, the analysis of consecutive hours without precipitation, and the classification of wet and dry days per month. Mann-Kendall trend analysis was applied to assess trends in evapotranspiration and maximum air temperature, considering their significance. The hazard assessment, incorporating environmental factors influencing tree growth dynamics, facilitated the ranking of meteorological indicators to identify regions most exposed to drought events. The results revealed consistent occurrences of extreme rainfall events, indicated by positive outliers in monthly precipitation values. However, significant trends were observed, including an increase in daily maximum temperature and consecutive hours without precipitation, coupled with a decrease in daily precipitation across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. No significant correlation between vulnerability ranks and weather station latitudes and elevation were found, suggesting geographical location and elevation does not strongly influence observed dryness trends.

Exposure to malachite green (MG) may pose great health risks to humans, thus it is of prime importance to develop fast and robust methods to quantitatively screen the presence malachite green in environment. Herein application of extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) has been extended to the trace detection of MG within lake water and aquiculture water, due to the intensive use of MG as biocide in fisheries. This method has the advantage of obviating offline liquid-liquid extraction or tedious matrix separation prior to the measurement of malachite green in native aqueous medium. The experimental results indicate that the extrapolated detection limit for MG was ~3.8 ug L-1 (S/N=3) in lake water samples and ~ 0.5 ug L-1 in ultrapure water under optimized experimental conditions. The signal intensity of MG showed good linearity over the concentration range of 10–5000 ug L-1. Measurement of practical water samples fortified with MG at 0.01 and 0.1 mg L-1 gave a good validation of the established calibration curve. The average recoveries of malachite green in lake water and Carassius carassius fish farm effluent water were 114.9% (6.6% RSD) and 85.4% (9.2% RSD), respectively. Overall, the established EESI-MS/MS method has been demonstrated suitable for sensitive and rapid (<2 min per sample) quantitative detection of malachite green in various aqueous media, indicating its potential for online real-time monitoring of real life samples.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a vital process for depositing thin films of various materials with precise control over thickness, composition, and properties. Understanding the heat and mass transfer mechanisms during CVD is essential for optimizing process parameters and ensuring high-quality film deposition. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in the heat and mass transfer modeling for chemical vapor deposition processes. It explores innovative modeling techniques, recent research findings, emerging applications, and challenges in the field. Additionally, it discusses future directions and potential areas for further advancement in CVD modeling.

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

The ceramic sherds from approximately 20 samples of lead-glazed tableware, recovered from diverse archaeological sites, including three repurposed storage pits transformed into dumpsters within the medieval city of Santarém (13th-14th century), underwent a meticulous examination. This investigation utilized techniques such as micro-Raman, ground state diffuse reflectance absorption, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies, in addition to X-ray diffraction and stereomicroscopy. A parallel study was conducted on contemporaneous European ceramics (glazed sherds) sourced from archaeological sites dating back to the 13th-15th centuries in Saintonge (France), Ardenne, Zomergem, and Bruges (Belgium), as well as Surrey-Hampshire, Kingston, and Cheam (England). The colour of the ceramic bodies is predominantly white or whitish, with a few exhibiting a vivid red hue. Ceramic sherds with a light paste composition were likely crafted using kaolin clays as raw materials. Analyses of fabric, mineralogical, and elemental composition of the sherds suggest that the majority of Santarém's glazed ceramics were locally or regionally produced, potentially derived from a Pliocene kaolin-rich sand formation. However, this conclusion is not supported by the absence of discovered lead glaze kilns or workshops in Santarém for the late Middle Ages. A distinctive feature from the European workshop ceramics lies in the quartz temper content and fabric.

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) is a tussock-forming forage species adapted to acid soils of Brazilian savannas and cultivated for grazing pastures. Four decades since its releasing, Planaltina prevails as the most commercialized cultivar of the species, even though the new cultivar BRS Sarandi could be a better alternative for Gamba grass-based farms by presenting greater leaf:stem ratio. The objective of this study was to evaluate the average daily live weight gain (ADG) of Nellore bulls (Bos indicus) for two Gamba grass cultivars – Planaltina and Sarandi. The experiment was conducted in Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil, during 3 years, namely 2018, 2018-2019 and 2020. The experimental design was completely randomized block with two treatments and three replicates, each one continuously stocked at three stocking rates (SR) - 1.3, 2.6 and 4 young bulls/ha. Canopy height (CH), forage mass (FM), plant-part proportion (leaf, stem and dead material) and nutritive value were evaluated. In 2018, mean ADG for Sarandi pastures was greater (0.690 kg/bull/d) than Planaltina (0.490 kg/bull/d) (P=0.0839). In the subsequent year (2018-2019), there was no effect of cultivar (P = 0.4089), while in 2020 the ADG was again affected by cultivar (P=0.0412), confirming the advantage of Sarandi (0.790 kg/bull/d) over Planaltina (0.650 kg/bull/d). In 2018 and 2020, the percentage of stems for Sarandi was about 3-6 pp lesser than for Planaltina (P

This systematic review and meta-analysis compile the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) supernatant against three common dairy product pathogenic bacteria. After screening and analysis of full papers, identified by searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, thirty-nine studies were regarded as relevant, and a total of 510 were extracted thereof. The effects of moderators, namely, pathogen’s concentration, susceptibility test method, agar type, incubation time and temperature, LAB supernatant pH and aliquot volume, on inhibition diameters were assessed by adjusting three pathogen-specific meta-regression models. Results showed that, in general terms, strains from the Enterococcus genus (15.90 ± 2.138 mm) displayed the highest inhibition values against L. monocytogenes, whereas Lacticaseibacillus strains were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus (11.89 ± 0.573 mm). Whereas the well diffusion test outperformed spot and disk diffusion tests; the pH of LAB supernatant resulted in high measurements of inhibition diameters (p

Fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is a potentially debilitating and fatal disease for which there is still a lack of knowledge, especially for specific regions of Brazil. The diagnosis is made through the observation of clinical manifestations, and despite its association with Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) as the etiological agent, the expression of the disease may also be related to immunological and environmental factors caused by anthropic degradation of the environment. Thus, this review aims to elucidate what is known about this disease globally and especially in various regions of Brazil, promoting a better understanding of its evolution, spatiotemporal prevalence and relationship with human activities. Furthermore, the review explores the molecular biology of ChHV5, including its genomic structure, replication cycle, and mechanisms of pathogenesis. The role of environmental factors, such as temperature and pollution, in modulating ChHV5 infection and FP development is also discussed. Additionally, the review summarizes current diagnostic methods for detecting ChHV5 infection in sea turtles, highlighting the importance of early detection and monitoring for effective disease management and conservation efforts. Finally, the review outlines future research directions aimed at improving our understanding of ChHV5 and developing strategies for FP control and prevention in sea turtle populations.

Assessing dietary inadequacies can contribute to understanding the nutritional vulnerabilities of a country. This study aimed to investigate nutrient intakes and micronutrient inadequacies in the Brazilian adult population, with an interest in different age subgroups. Cross-sectional study with 1812 individuals aged 19 to 65 years from a population-based study with a representative sample of Brazilian adults. Dietary intake was assessed by two 24-hour food recalls, and the probabilities of inadequate intake were estimated using the Dietary Reference Intake targets. Adequate macronutrient intake was over 99% for proteins, 84.7% for carbohydrates, and 80.7% for total fats. There was a high probability of inadequacy (above 90%) for vitamins D and E, but vitamin D inadequacy was very similar between sexes. In contrast, vitamin E was more likely to be inadequately consumed among women. A high probability of inadequacy (above 85%) of calcium and magnesium was found in the population, regardless of age group. Except for iron, the probability of inadequacy of other minerals increased with age. The results showed a relevant proportion of nutrient inadequacies, with those most at risk being women and older individuals, helping with better targeting and monitoring of public health policies that address nutritional problems in the population.

Sarcopenia is associated with clinical complications, which increase mortality. Effective sarcopenia risk screening in the elderly should be grounded in a comprehensive assessment, encompassing both nutritional status and medication use. Current screening tools, while emphasizing muscular per-formance, exhibit limited sensitivity in identifying elderly individuals at risk of sarcopenia. This cross-sectional study aimed to develop a sarcopenia risk screening tool, named Sarc-Global, with enhanced sensitivity, incorporating factors pertinent to the overall health of the elderly. Utilizing the criteria established by EWGSOP2 for diagnosing sarcopenia, we evaluated 395 communi-ty-dwelling elderly individuals. This evaluation served as a reference for assessing the efficacy of two validated questionnaires, Sarc-F and Sarc-CalF, and our newly developed Sarc-Global. Con-structed through multiple logistic regression, Sarc-Global integrates variables such as sex, age, medication use, body mass index, arm circumference, and handgrip strength – all significantly associated with sarcopenia (p

We have developed a family of N-alkyl-nitrobenzamides that exhibit promising antitubercular ac-tivities. These compounds are a simplification of the structure of known inhibitors of DprE1, an essential Mtb enzyme and an emergent anti-TB target. The compounds were obtained by a simple synthetic methodology and their antitubercular, cyto-toxicity and stability were studied. The most active compounds were the 3,5-dinitro and the 3-nitro-5-trifluoromethyl derivatives. Lipophilicity was shown to be a main parameter modulating activity within each family. The most active compound presented MIC of 16 ng/mL and had in-termediate lipophilicities. The activity was also studied in a macrophage model of infection. In this model the compounds with chain lengths of 6 and 12 carbon atoms presented the best results, ex-hibiting activity profiles comparable to isoniazid. Docking studies performed suggested that the fit of our highly active compounds to the DprE1 binding pocket was very similar to the literature compounds. Furthermore, the metrics used in the analysis were able to distinguish between the families of the highly and least active compounds. Assessment of susceptibility over multiple species and computational together with the structure of the compounds are complementary information that supports DprE1 as a likely target of action for this type of compounds.

Background: In this investigation, we explored the effects of pharmacological cholinergic stimulation on cardiac function and renal inflammation following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods: Adult male SHRs were randomized into three experimental groups: sham-operated; AMI+Veh (infarcted, treated with vehicle); and AMI+PY (infarcted, treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine bromide (PY) - 40 mg/kg, once daily for seven days). Rats were euthanized 7 or 30 days post-surgery. Clinical parameters were assessed on the day before euthanasia. Subsequent to euthanasia, blood samples were collected and renal tissues were harvested for histological and gene expression analyses aimed to evaluate inflammation and injury. Results: Seven days post-surgery, the AMI+PY group demonstrated improvements in left ventricular diastolic function and autonomic regulation, and a reduction in renal macrophage infiltration compared to the AMI+Veh group. Furthermore, there was a notable downregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression and an upregulation of anti-inflammatory gene expression. Analysis 30 days post-surgery showed that PY treatment had a sustained positive effect on renal gene expression, correlated with a decrease in biomarkers indicative of subclinical kidney injury. Conclusion: Short-term cholinergic stimulation with PY provides both cardiac and renal protection by mitigating the inflammatory response after AMI.

We consider boundary value problems for a nonlinear mass transfer model, which generalizes the classical Boussinesq approximation, under inhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions for the velocity and the substance’s concentration. It is assumed that the leading coefficients of viscosity and diffusion and the buoyancy force in the model equations depend on concentration. We develop mathematical apparatus of studying inhomogeneous boundary value problems under consideration. It is based on using of a weak solution of the boundary value problem and construction of liftings of the inhomogeneous boundary data. They remove the inhomogeneity of the data and reduce original problems to equivalent homogeneous boundary value problems. Based on this apparatus we will prove the theorem of the global existence of a weak solution to boundary value problem under study and establish important properties of the solution. In particular, we will prove the validity of the maximum principle for the substance’s concentration. We will also establish sufficient conditions for the problem data, ensuring the local uniqueness of weak solutions.

This paper introduces a new adaptation of the enthalpic lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) tailored to simulate the intricate dynamics of conjugate heat transfer in non-homogeneous media, showcasing considerable potential for enhancing heat exchanger designs. This approach expands upon the conventional enthalpic LBM framework by seamlessly incorporating tailored source terms, enabling precise representation of local and transient variations in the medium’s thermophysical properties. The resulting LBM model comprehensively captures the energy conservation equation, with exceptions made only for flow compressibility and viscous dissipation, thereby significantly augmenting its versatility in analyzing heat exchanger configurations. Verification tests, comprising assessments of both transient and steady-state solutions, unequivocally validate the accuracy of the proposed model, further bolstering its reliability for analyzing heat exchange processes within intricate heat exchanger geometries. To demonstrate its efficacy, simulations of conjugate heat transfer processes involving fluid natural convection within structured cavities were performed, imposing both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions to emulate scenarios encountered in practical heat exchanger operations. The findings yield compelling insights, particularly in the transient regime, revealing the beneficial impact of structured cavities on enhancing heat transfer processes. These insights inform potential design optimizations for heat exchangers. The results emphasize the potential of the modified enthalpic LBM approach to elucidate complex heat transfer phenomena in non-homogeneous media and structured geometries, offering valuable implications for heat exchanger engineering and optimization.

A non-Newtonian fluid model is used to investigate the two-dimensional pulsatile blood flow through a tapered artery with a stenosis. The mixed convection effects of heat and mass transfer are also taken into account. By applying non-dimensionalization and radial coordinate transformation, we simplify the system in a tube. Under the finite difference scheme, numerical solutions are calculated for velocity, temperature concentration, resistance, impedance, wall shear stress and shearing stress at the stenosis throat. Finally, Quantitative analysis is carried out.

Abstract: Delayed initiation of effective antifibrotic therapy in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) may influence the progression and outcome of the disease. This study analyzes the differences in the journey of patients with ILD in the Brazilian and Mexican health systems. An evaluative study was conducted in reference centers for interstitial lung diseases in Brazil and Mexico with a panel of four specialists. The patient's journey in both countries begins when the patient seeks medical care after observing a chronic respiratory symptom. In both countries, due to diagnostic complexity, these patients arrive at ILD referral centers at an advanced stage of the disease. Once diagnosis is established, the treatment onset differs between Mexico and Brazil. Antifibrotic drugs are not yet available by SUS in Brazil, and the purchase is unfeasible for most of the population, which forces specialists to only offer support to patients until the treatment can get the drug. In Mexico, antifibrotics have been available in health sectors since 2018. Brazil and Mexico have several similarities regarding the initial journey of the patient due to diagnosis difficulties, but the outcome tends to be different due to a difference in access to treatment with antifibrotics. For this reason, advancing health policies that ensure proper treatment for patients with ILD is crucial for the sustainability and reliability of the health system.

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, exploitable to extract energy from fossil fuels, biomasses as well as intermittent renewable energy sources and its generation from fossil fuels with CO₂ separation at the source is one of the most promising pathway for fossil fuels utilization. This work is focused on a particular configuration, called Reformer and Membrane Module (RMM), which alternates stages of Steam Reforming (SR) reaction with H2 separation stages to overcome the thermodynamic limits of the conventional SR. The configuration has numerous advantages with respect to the more studied and tested membrane reactors and has been tested on a pilot scale during a pilot-scale research project. Although the numerous modelling works appeared in the literature, the design features of the material exchanger (in the so-called RMM architecture) of different geometrical configurations have not been developed and the mass transfer correlations, capable of providing design tools useful for such membrane modules, are not available. The purpose of this work is therefore to apply a physical-mathematical model of the mass transfer, in three different geometries, considering both concentration polarization and membrane permeation, in order to: i) simulate the cited experimental results, ii) estimate the scaling-up correlations for the “material exchange modules”; iii) identify the mass transfer limiting regime in relation to the gas mass flow rate.

A novel interaction between the enzyme platelet-activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH) and certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as sulindac, celecoxib, diclofenac and nimesulide, has been uncovered by this in-silico research. PAF-AH is known for its critical role in maintaining the fluidity and functionality of cell membranes by hydrolysing phospholipids and removing oxidized fatty acids. Since tumour microenvironments are largely marked by inflammation and oxidative stress, the discovery that these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can bind to the active pocket of PAF-AH. Suggests that they may be able to modulate its activity and thereby influence its role in cancer pathogenesis. Such modulation could lead to significant anti-tumour effects, including the reduction of inflammation, the inhibition of angiogenesis and the suppression of metastasis, particularly in cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, and lung. However, in certain con-texts, this interaction may cause the opposite effect, leading to cancer development. Therefore, this study is a gateway for the development of therapeutic strategies based on PAF-AH modulation and highlights the importance of the tumour microenvironment in the assessment of potential effects of NSAIDs. Furthermore, this finding may guide the selection of NSAIDs for the anti-inflammatory treatment of cancer patients, ruling out in-discriminate use of drugs that may promote neoplastic progression. This may also indicate the potential for repositioning specific NSAIDs within cancer treatment, thereby contributing to more precise and personalized therapeutic approaches.

Gas-liquid mass transfer is a significant issue in most bioprocesses. More importantly, gas-liquid mass transfer limitation requires further attention during syngas fermentation (SNF). The gas-liquid mass transfer of gaseous substrates (CO, CO2, and H2) into the fermentation broth is a rate-limiting step in SNF that leads to low productivity and poor economic feasibility. Enhancing this process during SNF can result in high efficiency, better production of ethanol, as well as lower energy consumption. While pressure and power input are important factors for improving reactor design, adding magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the liquid phase is critical to achieving an enhanced gas-liquid mass transfer. The present study reviewed recent advances in the application of MNPs for an improved gas-liquid mass transfer during syngas fermentation. A brief overview of SNF and the effects of MNPs on SNF process are outlined. In addition, the hydrodynamic effect at the gas-liquid boundary is also seen as a mechanism in which nanoparticles increase mass transfer, and the mechanism is elucidated in detail.

To study the heat and mass transfer characteristics of an evaporative cooler for cooling high-temperature working fluids such as supercritical carbon dioxide, an experimental device of the evaporative cooler was built, and a corresponding test system was constructed. Then, the experimental study was carried out based on the orthogonal test method, and the law and extent of the influence of water flow in the tube, spray water flow rate, inlet water temperature in the tube, and air flow rate on heat dissipation, cooling efficiency, and heat and mass transfer coefficients have been obtained. The correlation equations of the heat and mass transfer coefficients were obtained by fitting the orthogonal experimental data, and the validity of the correlation equations was confirmed by the verification experiment.

In this work, we experimentally investigate mass and heat transport phenomena in a modular device while converting a solution salinity difference into a temperature difference. Operations occur under fixed total ambient pressure and without mechanical moving parts, thus realizing a fully static conversion. Provided that a constant salinity gradient can be imposed, the proposed device is able to generate a steady cooling capacity. Here, we purposely operate with environmentally benign and easily accessible sodium chloride water solutions only. A numerical model is finally elaborated, validated and used to explore a wider range of possible device configurations and operating conditions.

Published data or available literature on sustainable building plan-design, construction, performance, and renovation criteria have covered some stages or some parts of each stage. These data usually have been published partially in many different papers―there have not been any papers that published these data together. Hence, this paper aims to collectively review these data and publish them together. The collection and review of these data were carried out by our twenty-five team members who specialized in sustainable urban, architectural, and civil engineering and construction management. The gathered and reviewed outputs were combined and validated based on a general group consensus. This consensus decision-making proceeded through two major group meetings with several follow-up meetings. The first major meeting was to combine and improve the gathered reviewed sustainable building criteria for Cambodia. The second major meeting was to validate the improved reviewed sustainable building criteria for Cambodia. The several follow-up meetings were to discuss the relevance and importance of the validated data “criteria and their classifications and descriptions” in all stages and more focused on their importance and applicability to Cambodia. The collective reviewed data in this paper would be useful to researchers in the fields. They could also be useful collective knowledge and information for policymakers from governmental agencies and development partners, particularly for sustainable building and construction companies.

The presented work is aimed at studying the gas transport characteristics of polymeric hollow-fibre gas separation membranes. Such materials as: polysulfone (PSF), polyphenylene oxide (PFO), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetherimide with polyimide (PEI+PI) were studied on the example of air mixture separation. The values of the permeances of pure gases O2 and N2 and the mixed permeances of oxygen and nitrogen during air separation were obtained. Mathematical models of the gas separation process built on the basis of these values show significant discrepancies. To obtain a gas mixture with 95 mol.% nitrogen from air, taking into account the mixture permeance, 15.8% more PSF membrane area is required than taking into account the permeance of pure gases. For a PPO membrane this value is 13.9%, for PEI 19.8% less area is required, and for PEI+PI 15.9% less. In the design of industrial or semi-industrial membrane installations, such discrepancies can lead to significant errors, including technical and economic ones.

The steady-state, coupled heat and mass transfer from a fluid flow to a sphere accompanied by an exothermal catalytic chemical reaction on the surface of the sphere is analysed taking into consideration the effect of thermal radiation. The flow past the sphere is considered steady, laminar and incompressible. The radiative transfer is modeled by P₀ and P₁ approximations. The mathematical model equations were discretized by the finite difference method. The discrete equations were solved by the defect correction – multigrid method. The influence of thermal radiation on the sphere surface temperature, concentration and reaction rate was analysed for three parameter sets of the dimensionless reaction parameters. The numerical results show that only for very small values of the Prater number the effect of thermal radiation on the surface reaction is not significant.

This work probes the combined effects of magnetic field and viscous dissipation on heat field and examine the second law analysis (entropy generation) in an electrically conducting fluid under the effect of wall mass transfer over continuous stretched non-isothermal surface with variable viscosity. The viscosity of the fluid is assumed to be an inverse linear function of temperature. The governing equation for the problem are changed to dimensionless ordinary differential equations by using similarity transformation and solved numerically by using Rung Kutta and Shooting technique. Velocity, concentration and temperature distribution are obtained and used to compute the entropy generation and the Bejan number in the flow field. The effect of variable viscosity, Schmidt number, Hartman and Reynolds number on the velocity, concentration, temperature, entropy generation and Bejan number are studied and discussed.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions in partially ionized magneto-nano-liquid are investigated theoretically using finite element method (FEM). The effects of ions and electrons collisions on the transport of heat and mass are analyzed for both the cases of heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions. The simultaneous effects of dispersion of nanosized particles in partially ionized nano-liquid in the presence of magnetic field are also investigated. Through numerical experiments, it is noted that the temperature of partially ionized nano-liquid increases when electrons collision rate and ion collisions are increased. The transport rate of reacting species decreases when heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions strengths are increased. It is also observed that the effect of electron collisions on the flow in y-direction is the same to that of ion collisions on the flow in y-direction. Homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions have similar effects on concentration of chemically reacting species in qualitative sense. However, in quantitative sense, homogeneous chemical reaction has more significant effect on the concentration reacting species as compared to heterogeneous chemical reaction.

This study investigated the evolution of density, gas permeability and thermal conductivity of sugar maple wood during the thermo-hygro-mechanical densification process. The results suggested that the oven-dry average density of densified samples was significantly higher than that of the control samples. However, the oven-dry density did not show a linear increase with the decrease of wood samples thickness. The radial intrinsic gas permeability of the control samples was 5 to 40 times higher than that of densified samples, which indicated that the void volume of wood was reduced notably after the densification process. The thermal conductivity increased by 0.5 - 1.5% per percent increase of moisture content for densified samples. The thermal conductivity of densified wood was lower than that of the control samples. The densification time had significant effects on the oven-dry density and gas permeability. Both the densification time and the moisture content had significant effects on thermal conductivity, but their interaction effect was not significant.

The splitting method developed in a previous study for linear, multi – component, convection-diffusion mass transfer equations is extended to non-linear, multi-component, convection-diffusion mass transfer equations. The diffusion term is non-linear (the diffusion coefficients depend on chemical species concentrations). Theoretical results about the splitting error are presented, as well as numerical simulations for mixtures with n ≤ 5. The numerical experiments show second-order accuracy and stability for the present splitting algorithm.

The study of different forms of preconditioners for solving a system of nonlinear equations, by using Newton’s method, is presented. The preconditioners provide numerical stability and rapid convergence with reasonable computation cost, whenever chosen accurately. Different families of iterative methods can be constructed by using a different kind of preconditioners. The multi-step iterative method consists of a base method and multi-step part. The convergence order of base method is quadratic and each multi-step add an additive factor of one in the previously achieved convergence order. Hence the convergence of order of an m-step iterative method is m + 1. Numerical simulations confirm the claimed convergence order by calculating the computational order of convergence. Finally, the numerical results clearly show the benefit of preconditioning for solving system of nonlinear equations.

Drying grains in a fixed bed can be an interesting alternative to prevent undesirable breaks and fractures of solids due to mechanical shocks, something that cannot be avoided when drying in moving beds. A disadvantage of fixed bed drying is that there can be significant gradients in the critical variables if the layer of particulate solids is thick. This work shows that periodically changing the direction of drying air flow is an effective technique to reduce differences within the bed and allow better uniformity of the product. Drying in a thick layer of 10 cm of sorghum grains was carried out at 50 and 60oC for air flow velocity of 2.1 m.s-1. The results showed that despite increasing the total drying time, the technique actually allowed a significant decrease in the temperature gradients and moisture content of the sorghum grains. The change in direction of the air flow caused the drying front to be displaced, sometimes towards the top, sometimes towards the base of the bed. At 50oC, drying lasted a total of 240 min, bringing the sorghum grains to an average overall moisture content of 0.13 on a dry basis.

Snakebite envenomations (SBE) are a significant global public health threat due to their morbidi-ty and mortality. It is a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries. Brazil is in the top ten countries affected by SBE, with 32,160 cases reported in Brazil only in 2020, posing a high burden for this population. We describe the data structure of the Snakebite data on Notifiable Disease Information System (SINAN) made available by the Brazilian Minis-try of Health from 2007 to 2020. In addition, we also provide R scripts that allow a quick and automatic updating of data from the SINAN according to its availability. The data presented in this work is related to clinical and demographic information of SBE cases. Also, data on out-comes, laboratory results, and treatment is available. The database is available and freely acces-sible; however, preprocessing, adjustments, and standardization are necessary due to incom-pleteness and inconsistencies. Regardless of these limitations, it provides a solid basis for as-sessing different aspects and the national burden of envenoming.

The computational model that is able to estimate the temperature distribution inside a solid specimen during the film boiling phase of immersion quenching (water entry) process has been presented in paper, and it is based on the prescribed initial temperatures of the solid specimen and the liquid quenchant. In addition, the turbulence effects have to be considered using the assumed turbulence kinetic energy value, i.e., the “frozen turbulence” approach, that remains constant thorough the simulation. The studied material is nickel alloy, Inconel 600, for which the extensive experimental data is available. The work has been carried out using ANSYS Fluent computational fluid dynamics software and the methods for solution of Stefan problem by Eulerian two fluid VOF model.. A satisfactory agreement between the experimental and the calculated data has been achieved, yielding thereby the computationally obtained data that fits to a great extent to the prescribed error band of ± 10 % during the estimated film boiling phase of the immersion quenching process itself.

Lean body mass (LBM) is correlated with powerlifting performance in athletes competing in different bodyweight classes. However, it remains unknown whether changes in LBM are correlated with performance changes in powerlifters preparing for a competition. Aim of the study was to investigate the changes in LBM and performance in powerlifters preparing for a competition. Eight male powerlifters (age 31.7±9.8years, height 1.77±0.06m, weight 99.2±14.6kg) and three female powerlifters (age 32.7±16.3years, height 1.54±0.06m, weight 66.6±20.9kg), participated in the study. Athletes followed individualized periodized training programs for 12 weeks aiming to maximize their performance for the national championship. Maximum strength (1-RM) in squat, bench press, and deadlift, body composition, grip strength, anaerobic power, quadriceps’ cross sectional area and vastus lateralis muscle architecture were measured before and after the training period. Significant increases were found after the training period in squat (5.8±7.0%, P

High Education Institutions (HEI) play a key role in fostering sustainability since students will be future active society members. By providing them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address environmental challenges, they can contribute to increase sustainability in a long-term approach. With the effects of climate change strongly affecting water availability across planet, it is increasingly relevant to understand if higher education students are aware of this situation, to develop adequate measures to promote sustainable behaviors regarding water uses. This study aimed to assess students’ perceptions regarding water efficiency through a questionnaire submitted in 7 HEI in Portugal. Students recognized the importance of water with older students, women and science students demonstrating a greater awareness. Inspite of this 27% students do not know what the average water consumption in Portugal is and only 18% accurately reported the consumption range in Portugal. There is also a lack of knowledge (&gt;50% students) if common water efficiency measures are applied in their HEI. The main information sources identified by the students were “social communication” and “internet/social media”, revealing that water efficiency knowledge transfer in high education can be improved.

The next-generation communication systems demand integration of sensing, communication, and power transfer (PT) capabilities, requiring high spectral efficiency, energy efficiency, and low cost, while also necessitating robustness in high-speed scenarios. Integrated sensing and communication systems (ISACS) exhibit the ability to simultaneously perform communication and sensing tasks using a single RF signal, while simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) systems can handle simultaneous information and energy transmission, and orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) signals are adept at handling high Doppler scenarios. Combining the advantages of these three technologies, a novel cyclic prefix (CP) OTFS based integrated simultaneous wireless sensing, communication, and power transfer system (ISWSCPTS) framework is proposed in this work. Within the ISWSCPTS, the CP-OTFS matched filter (MF) based target detection and parameters estimation (MF-TDaPE) algorithm is proposed to endow the system with sensing capabilities. To enhance the system’s sensing capability, a waveform design algorithm based on CP-OTFS ambiguity function shaping (AFS) is proposed, which is solved by iteratively method. Furthermore, to maximize the system’s sensing performance under communication and PT Quality of Service (QoS) constraints, a semidefinite relaxation (SDR) beamforming design (SDR-BD) algorithm is proposed, solved using through SDR technique. Simulation results demonstrate that the ISWSCPTS exhibits stronger parameter estimation performance in high-speed scenarios compared to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), waveform designed by CP-OTFS AFS demonstrates superior interference resilience, and beamforming designed by SDR-BD strikes a balance in the overall performance of the ISWSCPTS.

Electricity load forecasting is a crucial undertaking within all the deregulated markets globally. In contemporary times, the transition from conventional electricity grids to Smart Grids constitutes an area where extensive research is conducted on a global scale. Among the research challenges, the investigation of Deep Transfer Learning (DTL) in the field of electricity load forecasting represents a fundamental effort that imparts generality to Artificial Intelligence applications, due to new capabilities, such as knowledge transfer and computational power reduction. In this paper a comprehensive study is conducted for day-ahead electricity load forecasting. For this purpose, three Sequence-to-Sequence (Seq2seq) Deep Learning (DL) models are used, namely the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and the Ensemble Learning Model (ELM), which is consisted of the weighted combination of the outputs of MLP and CNN models. Also, the study focuses on the development of different forecasting strategies based on DTL and emphasizing the way the datasets are trained and fine-tuning for higher forecasting accuracy. In order to implement the forecasting strategies using Deep Learning models, load datasets from three Greek islands, Rhodes, Lesvos, and Chios, are used. The main purpose is to apply DTL for day-ahead predictions (1-24 hours) for each month of the year for Chios dataset after training and fine-tuning the models using the datasets of the three islands in various combinations. After several trials, four DTL strategies are illustrated. In the first strategy (DTL Case 1), each of the three DL models is trained using only Lesvos dataset, while fine-tuning is performed on the dataset of Chios island, in order to create day-ahead predictions for Chios load. In the second strategy (DTL Case 2), data from both Lesvos and Rhodes concurrently are used for the DL model training period, and fine-tuning is performed on the data from Chios. The third DTL strategy (DTL Case 3) contains the training of the DL models using Lesvos dataset, and the testing period performed directly on the Chios dataset without fine-tuning. The fourth strategy is a Multi-task Deep Learning (MTDL) approach, which has been extensively studied in recent years. In MTDL, the three DL models are trained simultaneously on all three datasets and the final predictions are made on the unknown part of the dataset of Chios. In this paper, we explore the performance of DTL and compare the results with those produced with MTDL. The results demonstrated that DTL can be applied with high efficiency for day-ahead load forecasting. Specifically, the two cases with fine-tuning (DTL Case 1 and 2) outperformed MTDL in terms of load prediction accuracy. Regarding the DL models, all three exhibit very high prediction accuracy, especially in the two cases with fine-tuning. The ELM excels compared to the single models. More specifically, for conducting day-ahead predictions, it has been concluded that the MLP model presents best monthly forecasts with a MAPE of 6.24% and 6.01% for the first two cases, the CNN model presents best monthly forecasts with a MAPE of 5.57% and 5.60% respectively and the ELM model achieves best monthly forecasts with a MAPE of 5.29% and 5.31%, respectively, indicating the very high accuracy it can achieve.

Biohydrogen is a versatile energy carrier for the generation of electric energy from renewable sources. Hydrogenases can be used in enzymatic fuel cells to oxidize dihydrogen. The rate of electron transfer (ET) at the anodic side between the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzyme distal iron-sulfur cluster and the electrode surface can be described by the Marcus equation. All parameters for the Marcus equation are accessible from DFT calculations. The distal cubane FeS-cluster has a three cysteine and one histidine coordination [Fe₄S₄](His)(Cys)₃ first ligation sphere. The reorganization energy (inner- and outer-sphere) is almost unchanged upon a histidine-to-cysteine substitution. Differences in rates of electron transfer between the wild-type enzyme and the all-cysteine mutant can be rationalized by a diminished electronic coupling between the donor and acceptor molecules in the [Fe₄S₄](Cys)₄ case. The fast and efficient electron transfer from the distal iron-sulfur cluster is realized by a fine-tuned protein environment which facilitates the flow of electrons. This study enables the design and control of electron transfer rates and pathways by protein engineering.

Understanding the stability limit of crystalline materials under variable tensile stress conditions is of capital interest for their technological applications. In this study, we present results from first-principles density functional theory calculations that quantitatively account for the response of selected covalent and layered materials to general stress conditions. In particular, we have evaluated the ideal strength along the main crystallographic directions of 3C and 2H polytypes of SiC, hexagonal ABA stacking of graphite and 2H-MoS2. Transverse superimposed stress on the tensile stress was taken into account in order to evaluate how the critical strength is affected by these multi-load conditions. In general, increasing transverse stress from negative to positive values leads to the expected decreasing of the critical strength. Few exceptions found in the compressive stress region correlate with the trends in the density of bonds along the directions with the unexpected behavior. In addition, we propose a modified spinodal equation of state able to accurately describe the calculated stress-strain curves. This analytical function is of general use and can also be applied to experimental data anticipating critical strengths and strains values and providing informattion on the energy stored in tensile stress processes.

The most important plastic resins used for wire coating are Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Nylon, Polysulfone and Low-high density polyethylene (LDPE / HDPE). In this article,the coating process is performed using elastic-viscous fluid as a coating material for wire coating in a pressure type coating die. The elastic-viscous fluid is electrically conducted in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The governing non-linear equations are modeled and then solved analytically by utilizing an Adomian decomposition method (ADM). The convergence of the series solution is established. The results are also verified by Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM). The effect of different emerging parameters such as non-Newtonian parameters α and β, magnetic parameter M and the Brinkman number Br on solutions (velocity and temperature profiles) are discussed through several graphs. Additionally, the current result also compares with the published work already available in the literature.

Vaccination is an important method of immunological preventive care required for health management of all animal including fish. More particularly, immunization is important in in-land fisheries for the management of diseases in fish brood stocks and healthy seed production. According to the latest statistics in 2020, 90.3 million tonnes of captured fish production was achieved from the aquaculture sector. Out of the above, 78.8 million tonnes from marine and 11.5 million tonnes from inland waters aquaculture sectors. About 4% decline in fish production was achieved in 2020 than 2018 from inland fisheries sectors. On the other hand, the digestive protein content, healthy fats and nutritional values of fish products are comparitively more affordable as compared to other meat sources. In 2014, about 10% aquatic cultured animals were lost (costing &gt; 10 billion $ global annual loss) due to infectious diseases. Therefore, vaccination in fish especially in brood stocks is one of the most important approaches to stop such losses in the fisheries sector. Fish vaccines consist of either whole killed pathogens, subunit of a protein, a recombinant protein, DNA vaccines or live attenuated vaccines. Challenges existing are adaption of vaccination in fisheries sector, route of administration, use of effective adjuvants and most importantly lack of effective results. Use of autogenous vaccines, vaccination via intramuscular, intraperitoneal or oral routes, and most importantly adding vaccines in feed using top dressing methods or as a constituent in fish feed are now in emerging. These method shall lower the risk of using antibiotics in cultured water which in turn will reduce the environmental contamination.

The objective of this work is to analyze the improvement of heat transfer in trapezoidal fin heat exchangers using numerical simulation. Heat exchangers are essential components frequently used in contemporary electronic gadgets to effectively disperse heat produced by high-power components. Nevertheless, as electronic devices continue to advance and become more powerful, the heat transfer capacity of heat exchangers is facing more requirements, therefore requiring enhanced heat dissipation efficiency. Afterwards, various fin angles were adjusted, and the heat transmission efficiency was compared. Modifying the angles can significantly improve the effi-ciency of convective heat dissipation. Moreover, it has been found that employing an optimized trapezoidal fin structure can further enhance the efficiency of heat transfer. The results indicate that trapezoidal fin heat exchangers provide superior heat dissipation efficiency compared to conventional heat exchangers. This is important for enhancing the thermal dissipation capabili-ties of electrical gadgets, hence guaranteeing steady functionality and extending their longevity. Subsequent study might explore supplementary methods to boost heat transmission in different heat exchanger configurations in order to meet the growing requirements for heat dissipation.

This article discusses the application of thermal quality control methods for plant tissues. The purpose of the work is to determine the optimal parameters of thermal impact on a spherical-shaped plant control object, ensuring the detection of surface and subsurface defects. The authors of the work proposed mathematical models of the temperature field for a spherical body with defects and a flat sample when exposed to the thermal influence of a pulsed source. As a result of the use of mathematical models, the thermophysical characteristics of plant tissues of varying degrees of disease damage were obtained, which made it possible to simulate the temperature field of the control object and obtain an image of classified tissues. The developed recommendations made it possible to select the optimal parameters of the thermal effect on the test object.

Background Sarcopenia is a state with progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It is a serious complication occurring in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients which increases morbidity and mortality rate. Sarcopenia is diagnosed when loss of both compartments - muscle strength and skeletal muscle quality or quantity are present. However, there are still numerous patients, also with CKD, diagnosed as pre-sarcopenic individuals with low muscle strength and normal skeletal muscle quality or quantity and conversely, with correct muscle strength and decreased skeletal muscle mass, who are prone to develop sarcopenia in future life. It is crucial to examine numerous variables possibly associated with changes of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in terms of preventing the development of sarcopenia. The aim of the study was to investigate anthropometric and clinical correlates and sources of variation in both skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in advanced stages of CKD. Methods The study sample consisted of 84 non-dialysis dependent patients of both sexes (including 45.2% of women) with eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73m²: 26.2% with eGFR 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m², 65.5% with eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m² and 8.3% with eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m². Muscle strength was estimated by measuring hand grip strength (HGS) with the use of handheld hydraulic dynamometer. Muscle quantity was measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy using Body Composition Monitor. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was calculated according to Lin’s formula. Serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and albumin were measured. Results In bivariate analysis we found that ASM significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric variables such as body mass (r=0.903, p<0.001), NH weight (r=0.882, p<0.001), height (r=0.694, p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.701, p<0.001), lean tissue mass (LTM) (r=0.664, p<0.001), lean tissue index (LTI) (r=0.433, p<0.001), fat mass (r=0.614, p<0.001) and fat tissue index (FTI) (r=0.449, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variable such as hydration status (p<0.001). HGS significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric parameters such as body mass (r=0.319, p=0.003), NH weight (r=0.315, p=0.004), height (r=0.666, p<0.001), LTM (r=0.490, p<0.001), LTI (r=0.238, p=0.029), and ASM (r=0.501, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variables like uric acid (p=0.039) and urea (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and height, HGS remained significantly and negatively related with uric acid (β=-1.078, p=0.041) and hydration status (β=-0.805, p=0.042). Conclusions In CKD patients, ASM is determined mainly by anthropometric parameters but HGS - both by anthropometric and clinical variables specific for CKD.

Due to environmental concerns, natural refrigerants and their use in refrigeration and air conditioning systems are receiving more attention from manufacturers, end users and the scientific community. The study of heat transfer and pressure drop is essential for accurate design and more energy efficient cycles using natural refrigerants. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the latest outcomes related to heat transfer and pressure drop correlations for ammonia, propane, isobutane and propylene and to investigate the current state of the art in terms of operating conditions. Available data on the existing correlations of heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop for natural refrigerants have been collected through a systematic search. Whenever possible, validity intervals are given for each correlation and the error is quantified. It is the intention of the authors that this could be a valuable support for researchers and an aid to design, with particular reference to heat pumps. A procedure based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was adopted, and the Scopus database was used to query the relevant literature. A total of 135 publications qualified for inclusion in the survey; 34 articles report experimental investigations for not usual geometric conditions. Of the 101 selected papers related to usual geometric conditions, N = 50 deal only with HTC, N = 16 deal only with pressure drop and the remainder (N = 35) analyse both HTC and pressure drop. Among the 85 HTC papers (N = 53) deal with the evaporating condition, N = 30 with condensation and only N = 2 with the heat transfer correlations under both conditions. Most of the 101 articles concern propane and isobutane. The high temperatures are less widely investigated.

The oscillating heat pipe (OHP) is a new member in the family of heat pipes, and it has great potential applications in energy conservation. However, the fluid flow and heat transfer in the OHP as well as the fundamental effects of inner diameter on them have not been fully understood, which are essential to the design and optimization of the OHP in real applications. Therefore, by combining the high-speed visualization method and infrared thermal imaging technique, the fluid flow and thermal performance in the OHPs with inner diameters of 1, 2 and 3 mm are presented and analyzed. The results indicate that three fluid flow motions, including small oscillation, bulk oscillation and circulation, coexist or, respectively, exist alone with the increasing heating load under different inner diameters, with three flow patterns occurring in the OHPs, viz. bubbly flow, slug flow and annular flow. These fluid flow motions are closely correlated with the heat and mass transfer performance in the OHPs, which can be reflected by the characteristics of infrared thermal images of condensers. The decrease in the inner diameter increases the frictional flow resistance and capillary instability while restricting the nucleate boiling in OHPs, which leads to a smaller proportion of bubbly flow, a larger proportion of short slug flow, a poorer thermal performance, and easier dry-out of working fluid. In addition, when compared with the 2 mm OHP, the increasing role of gravity induces the thermosyphon effect and weakens the 'bubble pumping' action, which results in a little smaller and bigger thermal resistances of 3 mm OHP under small and bulk oscillation of working fluid, respectively.

Mass hauling operations play central roles in construction projects. They typically use many haulers that consume large amounts of energy and emit significant quantities of CO₂. However, practical methods for estimating the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of such operations during project planning are lacking. This paper presents a detailed model for estimating the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of mass haulers that integrates the mass hauling plan with a set of predictive equations. The mass hauling plan is generated using a planning program such as DynaRoad in conjunction with data on the productivity of selected haulers and the amount of material to be hauled during cutting, filling, borrowing, and disposal operations. This plan is then used as input for estimating the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of the selected hauling fleet. The proposed model will help planners to assess the energy and environmental performance of mass hauling plans, and to select hauler and fleet configurations that will minimize these quantities. The model was applied in a case study, demonstrating that it can reliably predict energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and hauler productivity as functions of the hauling distance for individual haulers and entire hauling fleets.

Surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) is one of the most versatile technique to modify the surface properties of material. Recent developed metal free SI-ATRP makes such technique more widely applicable. Herein photo-induced metal-free SI-ATRP of methacrylates, such as methyl methacrylate, N-isopropanyl acrylamide, and N,N- dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, on the surface of SBA-15 was reported to fabricate organic-inorganic hybrid materials. SBA-15 based polymeric composite with adjustable graft ratio was obtained. The structure evolution during the SI-ATRP modification of SBA-15 was monitored and verified by FT-IR, XPS, TGA, BET, and TEM. The obtained polymeric composite showed enhanced adsorption ability for the model compound toluene in aqueous. This procedure provides a low cost, ready availability, and facile modification way to synthesize the polymeric composites without the contamination of metal.

Recently, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to act as precursors of secondary organic particles that react with ultraviolet rays in the atmosphere and contribute to photochemical smog, global warming, odor, and human health risks, highlighting the importance of VOC management. In this study, we measured VOC concentrations in various contexts including industrial and residential areas of Bucheon, Korea, through mobile laboratory and proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry methods to determine winter VOC concentrations, visualized the data based on spatial information, and used the results to develop an air quality management plan. For this purpose, global information system (GIS)-based air quality data and various environmental variables were comprehensively reviewed to assess spatial and temporal concentrations in three dimensions rather than in tables and graphs. Among VOCs, the levels of toluene, methanol, and n+i-butene were relatively high, with average concentrations of 48.3 ± 67.2, 34.4 ± 102.7, and 32.6 ± 57.7 ppb, respectively, at the end of the working day. The highest concentrations occurred near the Ojeong Industrial Complex. Mobile pollution sources are also a major driver of VOCs, highlighting the necessity of comprehensively reviewing traffic variables such as road level, estimated traffic volume, and average speed when identifying hotspots of air pollution. GIS-based visualization analysis techniques will improve the efficiency of air quality management.

This paper presents an innovative multi-agent, data-driven reinforcement learning (RL) approach to develop and utilize the thermal equivalent network model that represents the motor's thermal dynamics. A multi-agent reinforcement learning is designed and trained to adjust the model parameters using data from several motor driving cycles. To ensure the incoming driving cycle matches the historical data before employing the pre-trained RL agents, offline statistical analysis and clustering techniques are developed and used. Numerical simulations highlighted the RL agent's ability to develop strategies that effectively address the variability of driving cycles. The proposed RL framework showed its capability to accurately reflect the motor's thermal behavior under various driving conditions.

Sulfate, the main dissolved contaminant in acid mine drainage (AMD), is ubiquitous in watersheds affected by coal and metal mining operations worldwide. Engineered passive bioremediation systems (PBS) are low-cost technologies that remediate sulfate contamination by promoting (1) precipitation of sulfate-bearing compounds, such as schwertmannite and gypsum; and (2) microbially-mediated sulfate reduction (BSR) to sulfide with subsequent precipitation of sulfide minerals. In this study, chemical and sulfur isotopic data are used to infer multiple pathways for sulfate sequestration in the Tab-Simco PBS. By simultaneously monitoring sulfate concentrations and δ34SSO4 values at four sampling points across the PBS, we (1) identified that the organic layer within the bioreactor was the primary site of BSR processes contributing to sulfate sequestration; (2) observed seasonal variations of BSR processes; (3) estimated that initially the BSR processes contributed up to 30% to sulfate sequestration in the Tab-Simco bioreactor; and (4) determined that BSR contribution to sulfate sequestration continuously declined over the PBS operational lifetime. Together, our results highlight the utility of combining geochemical and microbial fingerprinting techniques to decipher complementary processes involved in sulfur cycling in a PBS as well as the value of adding the sulfur isotope approach as an essential tool to help understand, predict, prevent and mitigate sulfate contamination in AMD-impacted systems.

Cartoons in the era of digital media are among the most prevalent medium of entertainment for the children, parents also encourage them to view such contents to engage the children which make an area need to be explained exhaustively by adopting new approaches. There are lot of studies in the past conducted to explain the impacts of the cartoons on the children however, it is remarkable fact that there is lack of the studies in the literature which directly address the observation about the above mentioned impacts in view of the teacher’s. This study deals with the educational, emotional, behavioral and Religious etc. impacts of cartoons on kids in view of teachers of the primary schools as they are considered as the one who can observer these impacts in a profound way. of the of Multan. Different areas of impacts have been analyzed in this study by using survey technique and analysis is conducted and presented in the teacher’s views in this study to examine what they feel that how cartoons are effecting the personalities of the children.

. Protein cysteine S-glycosylation is a relatively rare and less well characterized post-translational modification (PTM). Creating reliable model proteins that carry this modification is challenging. The lack of available model or natural S-glycosylated proteins significantly hampers the development of MS-based methodologies for detecting protein cysteine S-glycosylation in real-world proteomic studies. There is also limited MS-sequencing data describing easier to create synthetic S-glycopeptides. Here, we present the results of an in-depth manual analysis of automatically annotated CID/HCD spectra for model S-glucopeptides. The CID spectra show a long series of y/b-fragment ions with retained S-glucosylation, regardless of the dominant m/z signals corresponding to neutral loss of 1,2-anhydroglucose from the precursor ions. In addition, the spectra show signals manifesting glucosyl transfer from the cysteine position onto Lys, Arg side chains, and a peptide N-terminus. Other spectral evidence indicates that the N-glucosylated initial products of transfer are converted into N-furanosylated (i.e., glycated) structures due to Amadori rearrangement. We discuss the peculiar transfer of the glucose oxocarbenium ion (Glc+) to positively charged guanidinium residue (ArgH+) and propose a mechanism for the gas-phase Amadori rearrangement involving a hydride ion shift.

Efficient gene transfer and expression tool is lacking for shrimps and shrimp cells. To solve this, this study has developed a shrimp DNA virus-mediated gene transfer and expression system, consisting of insect Sf9 cells for viral packaging, shrimp viral vector of pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS and baculoviral vector of Bacmid or Bacmid-VP28 encoding shrimp WSSV envelope protein VP28. The pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS vector was constructed by assembling the genomic DNA of shrimp infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), which had shortened inverted terminal repeats, into pUC19 backbone, and then an expression cassette of baculoviral polyhedron (PH) promoter-driven GUS reporter gene was inserted immediately downstream of IHHNV for proof-of-concept. It was found that the viral vector of pUC19-IHHNV-PH-GUS could be successfully packaged into IHHNV-like infective virions in the Sf9 cells, and gene transfer efficiency of this system had been evaluated and verified in three systems of Sf9 cells, shrimp hemolymph cells and tissues of infected shrimps, but GUS expression could be detected only in the cases when the viral vector was co-transfected or co-infected with a baculovirus of Bacmid or Bacmid-VP28 due to the Bacmid-dependence of PH promoter. Moreover, the packaging and infection efficiencies could be significantly improved when Bacmid-VP28 was used instead of Bacmid.

The enterprise software sector is experiencing a significant transformation driven by rapid technological progress and evolving business needs. An effective release management process is crucial for the solution providers and customers, as they incorporate the principles of Industry 4.0 and 5.0. With the growing dependence on software solutions and services, ensuring their quality, reliability, and security is highly necessary. The release management process incorporates strategic planning, regression testing, accurate deployment, and continuous monitoring of software updates. However, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) create a unique challenge to the release management process. The existing research needs to address the necessary adaptations for Industry 5.0, mainly in product-based software organizations, to the release management process without a change management system. After working with several software solution stakeholders, based on the responses from SaaS project stakeholders, we have presented a revised software release readiness workflow by incorporating a change management module. The preliminary result based on data over a limited period of time indicates that the revised workflow has the potential to improve the management of slippage, particularly by more effectively addressing NFR-related issues, thereby resulting in more predictable and reliable release cycles.

This article investigates the features of heat and mass transfer for the steady two-dimensional Williamson nanofluid flow across an exponentially stretched surface depending on suction/injection. The boundary conditions incorporate the impacts of the Brownian motion and thermophoresis boundary. The analysis of heat transfer is carried out for the two cases of prescribed exponential order surface temperature (PEST) and prescribed exponential order heat flux (PEHF). The ongoing flow problem is mathematically modeled under the basic laws of motion and heat transfer. The similarity variables are allowed to transmute the governing equations of the problem into a similarity ordinary differential equation (ODEs). The solution of this reduced non-linear system of ODEs is supported by the Homotopy analysis method (HAM). The combination of HAM arrangements is acquired by plotting the h-curve. In order to evaluate the influence of several emergent parameters, the outcomes are presented numerically and are plotted diagrammatically as a consequence of velocity, temperature and concentration pro les.