Background: Mental capacity is a fundamental aspect that enables patients to fully par-ticipate in various healthcare procedures. To assist healthcare professionals (HCPs) in assessing patients' capacity, especially in the mental health field, several standardized tools have been developed. These tools include the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T), the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR), and the Competence Assessment Tool for Psychiatric Advance Directives (CAT-PAD). The core dimensions explored by these tools include Understanding, Appreciation, Reasoning, and Expression of a choice. Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate potential differences in deci-sion-making capacity within the healthcare context among groups of patients with bi-polar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Methods: A systematic search was conducted on Medline/Pubmed, and Scopus. Addi-tionally, Google Scholar was manually inspected, and a manual search of emerging re-views and reference lists of the retrieved papers was performed. Eligible studies were specifically cross-sectional, utilizing standardized assessment tools, and involving pa-tients diagnosed with BD and SSD. Data from the studies were independently extracted and pooled using random-effect models. Hedges g was used as a measure for outcomes. Results: Six studies were identified, with three studies using the MacCAT-CR, two studies the MacCAT-T, and one the CAT-PAD. The participants included 189 individuals with BD and 324 individuals with SSD. The meta-analysis revealed that patients with BD performed slightly better, and the difference was statistically significant, compared to patients with SSD, particularly in the domain of Appreciation (ES=0.23, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04, p=0.037). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for Understanding (ES=0.09, 95% CI: - 0.10 to 0.27, p=0.352), Reasoning (ES=0.18, 95% CI: - 0.12 to 0.47, p=0.074), and Expression of a choice (ES = 0.23, 95% CI: - 0.01 to 0.48, p=0.60). In the sensitivity analysis, furthermore, when considering only studies involving patients in symptomatic remission, the difference for Appreciation also resulted in non-significant (ES=0.21, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.46, p=0.102). (ES=0.21, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.46, p=0.102). Conclusions: These findings indicate that there are no significant differences between patients with BD and SSD during remission phases, while differences are minimal during acute phases. The usefulness of standardized assessment of capacity at any stage of the illness should be considered, both for diagnostic-therapeutic phases and for research and advance directives. Further studies are necessary to understand the reasons for the overlap in capacity between the two diagnostic categories compared in this study.

This study investigated the anatomical characteristics and pulp quality of tapped Styrax sumatrana wood to facilitate its further utilization. The transverse surface of the tapped S. sumatrana was light or greyish brown in the sapwood and reddish brown in the heartwood. The resin canals of the tapped wood were formed along the growth rings at the boundaries between the heartwood and sapwood. Furthermore, microscopic analyses revealed an irregular outline and rounded epithelial cells at the edges of the intercellular traumatic resin canal (TC). Approximately 8–16 epithelial cells surrounded the resin canals. The fibers in the tapped S. sumatrana were generally thin-walled, whereas those near the TC were thick-walled. Moreover, S. sumatrana were diffuse-porous and exhibited intermediately distinct or indistinct growth ring boundaries. The vessels were mainly in radial multiples and clusters of 3–5. In addition, they showed a diagonal-to-radial pattern arrangement and a few tangential bands. Deposits were observed in some vessels in the tapped part but were absent in the untapped part. The fiber length of the tapped S. sumatrana wood was classified as moderate to extensive and categorized as 2nd grade pulp quality. Finally, the cell walls were classified as thin to moderate.

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

(1) Background: This study evaluated the spatial position and anatomical characteristics related to impacted third molars by map-reading strategy using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). (2) Methods: To determine the positioning of impacted third molars on CBCT it was used Winter's and Pell & Gregory's classifications, and the presence of external root resorption in mandibular second molars were based on Herman´s classification. The relationship between the mandibular third molar root apex and the mandibular canal was also analyzed. Fisher’s exact test was used to comparative statistical analysis. The significance level considered was 5%. (3) Results: The results showed that according to Winter's classification, 48.06 % of impacted teeth were in the mesioangular position. Using Pell & Gregory's classification, 43.22% of the impacted molars were in the position B and C, and 54.2% of the teeth were class II. 69.7% of teeth showed an absence of contact between the root apex and the mandibular canal and there was no occurrence of external root resorption in the distal of second molar in 88.7%. (4) Conclusions: The map-reading strategy using CBCT scans for anatomical positions and characteristics of impacted third molars increases professional confidence and establishes a parameter of quality and safety in the surgical procedure for the patient.

Background: Bacteria can survive antibiotic exposure by mechanisms like tolerance without a shift in antimicrobial susceptibility. In this study, we investigated the presence of tolerance to three antimicrobials, ceftriaxone (CRO), azithromycin (AZM), and ciprofloxacin (CIP), in clinical isolates and WHO reference panel of N. gonorrhoeae and explored the prevalence between urogenital and anorectal infection sites. Methods: We examined 66 N. gonorrhoeae clinical isolates, evenly divided between anorectal and urogenital infection sites, using a modified tolerance disk (TD test) for three antibiotics. The isolates underwent a three-step incubation process wherein the isolates were exposed to an antibiotic disc for 20 hours of incubation (Step I), followed by the replacement of the antibiotic disc with a nutrient disc for overnight incubation (Step II) and additional overnight incubation with extra nutrients (Step III). Results: Four isolates were lost due to contamination. Of 62 clinical isolates, 7 exhibited tolerance to AZM, with 6 from anorectal and 1 from urogenital sites (p = 0.0496). Tolerance to CRO was observed in 11 isolates, which was significantly associated with the infection site, with 9 from the anorectum, and 2 from the urogenital site being tolerant (p = 0.02). Tolerance to CIP was found in 11 isolates, but was not significantly associated with the infection site. Tolerance was also detected in 8 (K, M, N, O, P, U, V, W) out of the 14 WHO (World Health Organization) reference strains, with varying patterns of tolerance to CRO (n=8), CIP (n=2) and AZM (n=1). Conclusion: This study identified CRO, AZM, and CIP tolerance in clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates. Significant variations in tolerance proportions between anorectal and urogenital infection sites, particularly for CRO, were observed. Additionally, tolerance was detected in WHO reference strains.

In rye, there is a considerable variety of grain color which is determined by the diversity of compounds localized in different parts of the grain (caryopsis) - pericarp, testa, and aleurone. The localization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was analyzed in 26 rye samples with identified anthocyanin genes, along with the analysis of CIE color coordinates. The Grain Scan program [1] was used to analyze images of individual grains. The localization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was studied on longitudinal and cross sections of grains using light microscopy and MALDI-imaging. The violet-grained samples contain anthocyanins in the pericarp, and the green-grained samples contain anthocyanins in the aleurone layer. The green, violet and yellow-grained rye, with the exception of two anthocyaninless mutants vi3 and vi6, shows the presence of proanthocyanidins in the brown-colored testa. Four main color groups of the rye grains (yellow, green, brown, violet) could be differentiated using the color coordinate h° (hue angle). Interspecies and intraspecies variability for the localization of colored flavonoids in cereal grains is discussed.

The meniscus is a meniscus-shaped fibrocartilage tissue located between the femur and tibia，it is mainly composed of meniscus cells and related extracellular matrix.The synovial limbus area of the knee joint capsule near the meniscus is divided into red areas with rich blood vessels and white areas with less blood supply according to the distribution of blood vessels,there is a transition zone called the red and white zone between the two;Red zone has better self-repair ability,The injury in this area can be treated by conservative treatment or surgical suture;Once the white area of the meniscus is torn and involves the free edge area,It is often necessary to partially remove the damaged meniscus.When most of the entire meniscus is severely torn and involved,not only the course of the disease is very long, but it cannot be repaired by sutures,Often a subtotal or total meniscus resection is required,whether it is a partial meniscus resection, a subtotal meniscus resection or a complete resection.In the later period, it may cause quadriceps atrophy and osteoarthritis (OA）.OA is a refractory multi-system disease,involve the patient’s peripheral joints,it has high disability and teratogenicity, and is very harmful to human health.Chondrocyte pyrolysis, degradation, and inflammation play a vital role in the destruction of OA articular cartilage and chondrocyte apoptosis.Meniscus stem cells have strong proliferation and differentiation ability,has become one of the hot spots in the field of meniscus repair,this article studies the role of meniscal stem cells in the development of OA.

The recent mountain pine beetle outbreaks have caused widespread mortality among lodgepole pine trees in western North America, resulting in a reduced population of surviving trees. While previous studies have focused on the cascading impacts of these outbreaks on the physiology and growth of the surviving trees, there remains a need for a comprehensive study into the interactions among various physiological traits and the growth in post-outbreak stands. Specifically, the relationship between chemical (primarily terpenes) and anatomical (mainly resin ducts) defences, as well as the allocation of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) to support these defence modalities, is poorly understood. To address these gaps, we conducted a field survey of surviving lodgepole pine trees in post-mountain pine beetle outbreak stands in western Canada. Our retrospective analysis targeted to determine correlations between the post-outbreak concentrations of monoterpenes, diterpenes, and NSCs in the phloem, and the historical resin duct characteristics and growth traits before and after the outbreak. We detected strong correlations between post-outbreak concentrations of monoterpenes and historical resin duct characteristics, suggesting a possible link between these two defence modalities. Additionally, we found a positive relationship between NSCs and the total concentrations of monoterpenes and diterpenes, suggesting that NSCs likely influence the production of these terpenes in lodgepole pine. Furthermore, historical tree growth patterns showed strong positive correlations with many individual monoterpenes and diterpenes. Interestingly, while surviving trees had enhanced anatomical defences after the outbreak, their growth patterns did not vary before and after the outbreak conditions. The complexity of these relationships emphasizes the dynamics of post-outbreak stand dynamics and resource allocation in lodgepole pine forests, highlighting the need for further research. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of conifer defenses and their coordinated responses to forest insect outbreaks, with implications for forest management and conservation strategies.

Background: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mo-DCs) play a vital role in the innate immune response by activating Th17 cells, which in turn release the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17. We hypothesised that following repetitive mechanical strain, tenocytes activate monocyte-derived dendritic cells, which in turn, drive the pathogenesis of tendinopathy. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine if monocyte-derived dendritic cells are upregulated in a human tendinopathy model. Method: Torn supraspinatus tendon and matched intact subscapularis tendon samples were collected from 7 patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Healthy control samples of subscapularis tendon were collected from 5 patients undergoing arthroscopic stabilization surgery. Tendon biopsy samples were evaluated immunohistochemically by quantifying the presence of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (CD11C and CD206). Results: Tendinopathic tendon samples exhibited significantly greater (2-3-fold) monocyte-derived dendritic cell expression when compared with healthy control tissue (P < .05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence for a monocyte-derived dendritic cell upregulation in early-stage human tendinopathy.

Background: The bacterium Capnocytophaga spp. is a part of the oral microbiome of dogs, which has zoonotic potential. This study aimed to assess factors that influence the prevalence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi and Capnocytophaga canimorsus in Wrocaw’s dog population. Methods: Molecular detection (PCR) involved 105 swabs, examining parameters such as oral cavity condition, underlying health issues, recent antibiotics, age, medications, material collection, and dog chews. Results: The study highlighted significant associations between the presence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi and oral cavity condition, material collection method, and use of dog’s chews. Conclusions: Correlations obtained in this study between the oral health of Wroclaw's dog population and the presence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi suggest its significance in the oral microbiome of dogs. Limitations, including the small sample size, highlight the need for more research to comprehensively understand additional factors that affect the prevalence of Capnocytophaga spp. in dogs

This study evaluated the hip joints of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) through imaging and macroscopic analyses and proposed a surgical approach for arthrotomy procedures in this species. The study used four samples fixed in 10% formaldehyde and six thawed carcasses. Radiographic and ultrasound examinations and anatomical dissection allowed the proposal of a surgical approach for the hip joint. The radiographic evaluation occurred with frog-legged ventrodorsal and lateral projections, and the ultrasound enabled joint soft tissue assessment. The articular elements represented similar characteristics to other domestic species. Some anatomical particularities of muscle groups were the intermuscular septum between the tensor fasciae latae and superficial gluteus muscles at the level of the greater trochanter of the femur, which provides lateral access to the femoral head and neck more conservatively. In conclusion, the anatomical particularities of radiographic positioning, the clinical applications of joint ultrasound, and the arrangement of muscle groups must be considered when evaluating and surgically accessing the hip joint of the giant anteater.

Cholera is a diarrheal disease prevalent in populations without access to clean water. Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae, which colonizes the upper small intestine in humans once ingested. A growing number of studies suggests the gut microbiome composition modulates animal behavior. Zebrafish are an established cholera model that can maintain a complex, mature gut microbiome during infection. Larval zebrafish, which have immature gut microbiomes, provide the advantage of high-throughput analyses for established behavioral models. We identified the effects of V. cholerae O1 El Tor C6706 colonization at 5 days post-fertilization (dpf) on larval zebrafish behavior by tracking startle responses at 10 dpf. We also characterized the larval gut microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. V. cholerae-infected or uninfected control groups were exposed to either an alternating light/dark stimuli or a single-tap stimulus, and average distance and velocity were tracked. While there was no significant difference in the light/dark trial, we report a significant decrease in distance moved for C6706-colonized larvae during the single-tap trial. This suggests that early V. cholerae colonization of the larval gut microbiome has a dampening effect on sensorimotor function, supporting the idea of a link between the gut microbiome and behavior.

Tussilago farfara L. is a traditional medicinal plant valued for its potentially health-promoting metabolites. Its herbal raw material has been recognized and used since ancient times and continues to be widely used in traditional medicine. Introducing these plants to in vitro cultivation is a challenging task, but once the protocol is developed, such cultures can provide an abundant and inexhaustible source of plant material. In this study, we report the successful induction and growth of vigorous T. farfara L. callus in vitro. Callus induction was achieved on solid media in darkness, whereas it appeared inefficient under light conditions and in suspension culture. We present a detailed description of callus growth kinetics, morphological analysis, photosynthetic activity and biochemical parameters (including protein content and photosynthetic pigments) supported by histological studies. Furthermore, we observed potential for organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. This method for in vitro propagation of T. farfara, along with callus culture maintenance, offers a wide range of applications in pharmacy and could benefit the environment by minimizing the depletion of natural populations of this species.

The high dependence on light crude oil as the main source of energy in automobiles., industrial processes, source of raw material for various industrial synthesis have made the heavy crude more available in the world and open for research work on its potentials as a source of energy for the increasing population of the world in areas like energy source for powering big marine engines, energy source in heavy industrial machines e.t.c. Though the relatively unfavourable characteristics of heavy fuel oil such as; high viscosity, high probability of precipitating is a reasonable challenge to the possible utilization of heavy fuel as a source of energy in the areas highlighted above. These issues of heavy fuel oil are largely due to the presence of Asphaltene in it which is a large complex hydrocarbon in heavy fuel oil. Understanding the combustion potential of asphaltene is therefore an interesting and challenging problem that has attracted increasing attention from both academia and industry. This research work is aimed at carrying combustion studies on the Forcados (Ni-geria) heavy fuel fraction asphaltene HFFA extracted from Forcados crude Oil and examining its combustion characteristics with the view to examine it for future sweet heavy fuel generation for it source got low sulphur content, to ascertain the volatile composition, moisture and ash content. The HFFA extracted to determine physical characteristics of the HFFA extracted for fuel properties potentialities and this study was carried out to evaluate the chemical constituents of forcadous asphaltene lead-ing to the generaration of HFFA using GCMS. The Forcados asphaltene showed some good fuel properties when subjected to ce-tane number, API gravity, flash point and cloud point parameter test. Probing further with AAS for trace metal presence showed some high concentration on Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) indicating the potential for residual and soot formation after combus-tion. But still being a sweet asphaltene from Nigerian sweet crude source will be de-void of corrosive effect on machineries and heavy fuel engine if used to power it as in the case of high sulphur content in Venezuelan crude oil and some other world. The GCMS showed the decomposition of heavy crude asphaltene peaks and sig-naling the presence of heavy fuel fraction in the composition of the asphaltene while the FTIR and the UV-VIS identified the various functional groups in the compounds and the identification of signals that cannot be seen in the normal spectrum respec-tively.

This paper aimed to describe an atlas of the head of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), applying advanced imaging techniques such as MRI. Furthermore, by combining the images acquired through these techniques with anatomical gross sections, we obtained an adequate description of the structures that form the CNS and associated structures of this species. This anatomical information could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for the clinical evaluation of different pathological processes in porcupines such as abscesses, skull malformations, fractures, and neoplasia.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the attachment types of the tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) in Japanese fixed cadavers and to determine the attachment site area in three dimensions. We examined 100 feet from 50 Japanese cadavers. The TAT was classified according to differences in the number of fiber bundles as: Type I, with one fiber bundle; Type II, with two fiber bundles; and Type III, with three fiber bundles. The attachment site area of the TAT was measured using a three-dimensional scanner. Cases were Type II in 95% and Type III in 5%, with no cases of Type I identified. In Type II, mean attachment site areas were 85.2 ± 18.2 mm2 for the medial cuneiform bone (MCB) and 72.4 ± 19.0 mm2 for the first metatarsal bone (1MB), showing a significantly larger area for MCB than for 1MB. These findings suggest the possibility of ethnic differences in TAT attachment types and suggest that TAT attachments in Japanese individuals are highly likely to be Type II, with rare cases of Type III. Accurate measurement of attachment site areas is possible with appropriate three-dimensional measurements.

Understanding user challenges with light dosimeters is crucial for designing more acceptable devices and advancing light exposure research. We systematically evaluated the usability and acceptability of the lido (light dosimeter) by 29 participants who wore the dosimeter near the corneal plane of the eye for 5 days. Common reasons for not wearing the dosimeter included exercise, recharging, wet environments, public settings, and discomfort. Despite these issues, participants adhered to using the dosimeter, with high compliance (89% of recording time). Our findings reveal a significant discrepancy between mean melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (300 lxmEDI) and median values (51 lxmEDI). This discrepancy indicates that, for most of the time, participants experienced significantly lower light levels. Specifically, participants were exposed to light levels above 250 lxmEDI for only 14% of their wearing time. This highlights the need for increased exposure to recommended light levels. In the evening, participants' light exposure was below the recommended 10 lxmEDI for 58% of the wear time, which is in line with the guidelines for reducing light exposure before sleep. This study highlights the critical need for strategies to enhance daily light exposure, aligning better with circadian health recommendations.

The purpose of the study is to establish compliance of the design of the modernized car with the requirements for safe operation. An option has been proposed for upgrading a passenger wagon to a Mobile Diagnostic Complex for transporting a combined vehicle equipped with appropriate flaw detection equipment intended for rail diagnostics. The authors have established the most optimal option for locating the diagnostic vehicle on board the Mobile Diagnostic Complex (MDC) wagon, taking into account the additional load from the vehicle. To achieve this goal, the article developed a three-dimensional model of the supporting structure of the wagon body, proposed a methodology and presented the results of a study of the stress-strain state of the wagon body, taking into account the additional weight of the wagon. The article develops a methodology for studying the natural frequencies of vibrations of the wagon body and develops a three-dimensional model of the wagon for calculating dynamic indicators in the Universal Mechanism software package. Taking into account the previously carried out strength calculations, as well as in order to maintain the factory life cycle indicators of the supporting structure of the wagon body, it is recommended to use the model in the first version.

Hoof capability of domesticated, barefoot-kept horses and ponies traversing artificial environments remains undocumented. In this study, four equines were walked in-hand for 16 days, covering a distance of 50 km, over three solid surfaces. Subsequently, we conducted an assessment of hoof morphology. Hooves (n = 16) were radiographed before and after the trial, spaced 3 weeks apart, for sole depth measurement. External measurements of feet were recorded 24 hours before day 1 and repeated on day 9. Radiographs revealed increased sole depth in 11 hooves, notably at the palmar process, and some misalignment in certain phalanges. On day 9, after a 36-km distance, all hooves exhibited calloused soles and frogs, and required trimming. The front hooves of the horses had a pronounced, natural concavity. Hard surfaces were found to stimulate sole growth, with a portion of sole thickness preferentially accumulating within the dermal zone. Collectively, the maintenance of short trimming cycles to prevent misalignment, minimize hoof-wall loading and maintain a load-sharing system, may be necessary for barefoot-kept horses considering their rapid growth rate.

The rabbit is a popular animal model for human biomechanical research involving surgery at the hind limb. General anesthesia in rabbits is associated with significantly higher mortality rates than in dogs and cats. In addition, as prey animals, rabbits tend to mask signs of pain, making early detection particularly difficult. Regional anaesthesia, as an adjunct to general anaesthesia, may markedly reduce the need for systemic anaesthetic and analgesic drugs, limiting their associated side effects. In other species, a block of the sciatic (ScN) and the femoral nerves (FN) is usually applied in patients undergoing hind limb surgery. In phase 1 of this study, the ScN and the FN have been localized and an appropriate approach under sonographic guidance has been evaluated. In phase 2, a mixture of methylene blue and lidocaine have been administered to the ScN and the FN in 10 cadavers (20 hind limbs). Staining of the nerves was evaluated by dissection. Ultrasonographically, the ScN appeared as a binocular structure surrounded by a hyperechoic rim. The FN appeared as a hypoechoic structure in the dorsal part of the IPM, becoming hyperechoic/honey-comb-like in the ventral part. Both nerves could be successfully stained in all animals over a median length of 2.3 cm which was considered effective. This technique allows a feasible and accurate access to block of the ScN and the FN and may lead to successful analgesia in rabbits undergoing hind limb surgery.

Safe water is a global public health concern amid increasing scarcity and pollution. Bottled water production and consumption contribute to these problems. This study examines tap water consumption in Italy, assessing associated sociodemographic factors and related health outcomes such as obesity and self-perceived health status. Data from the Italian National Statistics Institute's "Aspects of daily life" survey (N=45,597) were analyzed. Covariates included education, age, gender, economic status, region, concerns about waste and climate change, consumption of carbonated drinks excluding water, alcohol consumption, consumption of vegetables, consumption of snacks, body mass index, and self-perceived health status. Bivariate analyses and mixed-effect logistic regression models explored the associations. People who drink tap water were 19,674 with a higher prevalence in people aged 45 to 59 old, people with a graduate/post-graduate degree diploma, with optimal economic resources, and concerned about waste production and climate change, coming from the North-East regions of Italy. Underweight people showed a higher prevalence of TW assumption as well as those who drink less than occasionally carbonated drinks, drink alcohol, consume vegetables more than once a day, and snacks less than once a week with a satisfying level perceived health status. Regressions showed that all age classes are less likely to drink tap water than people younger than 20 years old. The category with “inadequate” economic resources is more likely to consume tap water. Low educational classes show a low likelihood of consuming tap water as well as Islands. A concern about waste production and climate change is associated with an increased likelihood of assuming tap water. Tap water consumption was negatively associate with obesity but not with a satisfactory Self-perceived health status. Insights from this study can inform public health strategies.

To realize the utilization of peanut shell, this study investigates the combustion behavior, chemical kinetics, and thermodynamic parameters of peanut shell using TGA under atmospheric air. Results indicate that increasing the heating rate leads to higher ignition, burnout, and peak temperatures, as observed in the TG/DTG curves shifting to the right. Analysis of combustion performance parameters suggest that higher heating rates can enhance combustion performances. Kinetic analysis using two model-free methods, KAS and FWO, shows that the activation energy (Eα) ranges from 93.30 to 109.65 kJ/mol for FWO and 89.72 to 103.88 kJ/mol for KAS. The data fit well with coefficient of determination values (R2) close to 1. Pre-exponential factors using FWO range from 2.19×106 to 8.06×107 s–1, and for KAS range from9.72×105 to 2.25×107 s–1. Thermodynamic analysis indicates a low-energy barrier (≤ ±6 kJ/mol) between activation energy and enthalpy changes, suggesting easy reaction initiation. Furthermore, variations in enthalpy (ΔH), Gibbs free energy (ΔG), and entropy (ΔS) upon conversion (α) suggest that peanut shell combustion is endothermic and non-spontaneous, with the generation of more homogeneous or well-ordered products as combustion progresses. These findings offer a theoretical basis and data support for the further utilization of agricultural biomass.

As a new plant slope protection technology, living stumps can effectively improve slope stability. The current study attemptes to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the root system of living stumps and their reinforcement mechanism on slopes by carrying out a three-dimensional living stump slope modeling test. Using ABS materials, a 3D model of a living elm stump was created by 3D printing and a slope model test was carried out. The reinforcement mechanism of the living stump was studied through a combination of model testing and numerical simulation. The results indicate that, due to the presence of living stumps in the lower and middle parts of the slope, the maximum shear stress area of the soil moved to a deeper direction. The stress state of the soil around the living stump was effectively improved due to the existence of the lateral root system.Living stumps in the lower part of the slope cross the potential sliding surface and transferred the soil shear stress gradually to the root system through root-soil interaction. Moreover, the tap roots and lateral roots of living stumps form a robust spatial structure that bears the shear stress of soil together, thus increasing the stability of the slope.

The control of the fine particle emission from the coal-fired power plants has been a big challenge in china. Either the conventional electrostatic precipitator or the fabric filter has some shortages. The electrostatic precipitator is hard to keep high efficiency for the submicron particles. The fabric filter could keep high efficiency but with very high pressure drop. One solution is to combine them together. Several types of hybrid particle collectors (HPC) combining the electrostatic precipitator and the fabric filter together have been developed and applied in a number of projects in China. In recent years, numerical simulation technology has been widely used in the design of the collectors. In this paper, an unsteady numerical model is used to investigate the particle deposition characteristics in a scale hybrid collector. The fluid field is modeled by using incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with the RNG turbulence equations. The corona discharge is solved by using a finite volume method. The particle charging is modeled by using a filed-diffusing combined model. And an unsteady cake formation model is used to simulate the filtration process.

Background: In physiotherapy, a classic muscle-bone concept is used to translate basic and clinical anatomy. By defining the anatomical structures from superficial to deeper layers which frame the ArthroMyoFascial complex, our aim is to offer clinicians a comprehensive concept of fasciae within the muscle-bone concept. Method: Narrative review and ultrasound observation. Results: Based on literature and ultrasound skeletonization, the ArthroMyoFascial complex has been defined. This model clarifies fascial continuity at the joint level, describing anatomical structures from skin to deeper layers, including superficial fascia, deep fascia, myofascia including skeletal muscle fibers, and arthrofascia all connected via connective tissue linkages. This model enhances understanding of the muscle-bone concept within the larger ArthroMyoFascial complex. Conclusion: The ArthroMyofascial complex consists of multiple layers from superficial to deeper anatomical structures, namely the skin, superficial fascia, deep fascia, myofascia including muscle fibers, and arthrofascia, all linked within a connective tissue matrix. This model indicates that it is a force-transmitting system from the skin to the bone. This information is crucial for manual thera-pists, including physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and massage therapists, as they all work with fasciae within the musculoskeletal domain. Understanding fascia within the mus-cle-bone concept enhances clinical practice, aiding in therapeutic testing, treatment, reporting, and multidisciplinary communication, which is vital for musculoskeletal and orthopedic rehabilitation.

The Atlantic puffin is a medium-sized seabird with black and white plumage and orange feet. It is distributed mainly along the northern Atlantic Ocean and due, among other reasons, to human activities, it is in a threatened situation and classified as a vulnerable species according to the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In this study, we used a total of 20 carcasses of juvenile Atlantic puffins to perform anatomical cross sections and magnetic resonance images. Thus, an adequate description of the head was made, providing valuable information that could be helpful as a diagnostic tool for veterinary clinicians, who increasingly treat these birds in zoos, rehabilitation centers and even in the wild.

The color of carcass fat is an important factor in meat quality. To investigate the characteristics and changes in lipid metabolism of SAT in Mongolian cattle at 34 M of age compared with the control group, we evaluated the color, relative expression of genes associated with browning, and profiles of lipid metabolites by using qPCR and non-targeted lipidomics techniques. Overall, the yellowness value and relative expression of mitochondrial biogenesis–specific markers, thermogenic, UCP2, and beige adipocyte marker genes in the SAT of 34 M cattle were higher than those control (p < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, 172 significantly different lipids (SDLs) were identified. Triacylglycerols (TGs) and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) had high relative contents with abundant unsaturated fatty acids. The upregulation of TGs observed in the SAT of 34 M cattle mainly consisted of medium- and long-chain fatty acids. Pathway analysis demonstrated that 172 SDLs were primarily involved in glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, ether lipid, and sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, yellow fat of naturally grazed cattle was impacted by many factors such as lipid metabolism, browning genes expression and age. These findings provide new insight into the characteristics and metabolic pathways of adipose tissue in natural grazing Mongolian cattle.

In recent years, the rapid development of computer-aided planning and design technology has provided a new perspective for the study of complex problems such as the generation of architectural complex forms. This study focuses on how to apply parameterization technology to analyze and articulate traditional spatial form composition rules, aiming to minimize reliance on subjective human judgment in the protection and renewal design of the historical style of traditional villages. It aims to establish digital generative design tools to address the challenges of accurately inheriting and innovatively utilizing historical and cultural information in traditional settlements. It introduces how to rely on parameterization technology to analyze the spatial form composition rules, parameter extraction rules, and spatial reconstruction rules of traditional villages, facilitating the complete process from spatial features to parameterization rules, and then to the application of computational methods to deduce spatial features. It also includes case studies demonstrating the application of parameterization technology tools for village protection and explores the role of generative design tools in preserving the spatial style of these settlements.

Caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) is a gastrointestinal cancer biomarker that regulates epithelial development and differentiation. Absence or low levels of CDX2 have been associated with poor prognosis and proposed as a chemotherapy response predictor. Tumour tissue of 668 patients with stage I-IV colorectal cancer were stained for CDX2 and stratified into two subgroups according to expression levels. Statistical tests evaluated CDX2 relationship with survival and chemotherapy response. Of 646 samples successfully stained, 51 (7.9%) had low and 595 (92.1%) had high CDX2 levels. Low CDX2 staining was associated with poor differentiation, presence of lymphovascular or perineural invasion, and more common in colon and right sided tumours. Overall survival (p<0.001) and disease-free survival (p=0.009) was lower in low CDX2 expressing patients. Multivariable analysis validated CDX2 as an independent poor prognostic factor after excluding confounding variables. There was no statistically significant improvement in survival with adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer (p=0.11). In the rectal cohort, there was no relationship between CDX2 levels and therapy response. While confirming the prognostic utility of CDX2 in colorectal cancer, our study highlights larger studies are required to confirm utility as a predictive chemotherapy biomarker, especially in left sided and rectal cancers.

The impact of the agriculture net carbon effect is crucial for climate change mitigation, yet research on this topic in China is currently insufficient. In this study, the carbon balance ratio (CBR) is used to characterise the net carbon effect of agriculture, and the spatial Durbin model and threshold regression model were used to empirically analyse the CBR with a sample of 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2004 to 2019. The aim was to investigate the mechanism of the influence of the land management scale (SCALE) of farming on the CBR. The results of the study indicate that national farming generally has a net sink effect, with large changes in interannual fluctuations; the expansion of SCALE has an obvious role in increasing sinks and reducing emissions, and has a positive spatial spillover effect on CBR, with significant spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, as the SCALE expands, the direction of the influence of rural residents’ income and education level on CBR changes in the opposite direction, showing a significant non-linear relationship characteristic. However, in most areas, the SCALE threshold has not yet been reached, suggesting that the improvement in education levels can still offset the negative impact of economic income growth in the short term. The study recommends paying attention to the role of farmers’ human capital, changing production methods, and implementing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals to enhance the net sink effect of the farming industry, which would be achieved by increasing land management scale.

The North China Plain is among the regions most afflicted by ground fissure disasters in China. Recent urbanization has accelerated ground fissure activity in the three counties of the northern North China Plain, posing significant threats to both the natural environment and socioeconomic sustainability. Despite the increased attention, a lack of comprehensive understanding persists due to delayed recognition and limited research. This study conducted field visits and geological surveys across 43 villages and 80 sites to elucidate the spatial distribution patterns of ground fissures in the aforementioned counties. By integrating these findings with regional geological data, we formulated a causative model to explain ground fissure formation. Our analysis reveals a concentration of ground fissures near the Niuxi and Rongxi faults, with the former exhibiting the most extensive distribution. The primary manifestations of ground fissures include linear cracks and patch-shaped collapse pits, predominantly oriented in east-west and north-south directions, indicating tensile failure with minimal vertical displacement. Various factors contribute to ground fissure development, including fault activity, ancient river channel distribution, bedrock undulations, rainfall, and ground settlement. Fault activity establishes a concealed fracture system in shallow geotechnical layers, laying the groundwork for ground fissure formation. Additionally, the distribution of ancient river channels and bedrock undulations modifies regional stress fields, further facilitating ground fissure emergence. Rainfall and differential ground settlement serve as triggering mechanisms, exposing ground fissures at the surface. This research offers novel insights into the causative mechanisms of ground fissures in the northern North China Plain, providing valuable scientific evidence for mitigating ground fissure disasters during the urbanization process in the region.

The effect of wave forces on the structural safety of fixed oscillating water-column (OWC) devices is critical. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model of an oscillating water column (OWC) device is constructed using the computational fluid dynamics software OpenFOAM. Subsequently, the hydrodynamic performance of the numerical model is comprehensively validated. Finally, the hydrodynamic performance data are analyzed in detail to obtain meaningful conclusions. The results indicate that the horizontal wave force on the OWC device is approximately 6.6 to 7.9 times greater than the vertical wave force, whereas the lateral wave force is relatively small. Both the horizontal and vertical wave forces decrease as the relative water depth increases under a constant wave period and height. The horizontal wave force increases linearly with the wave height, whereas the vertical wave force increases with the square of the wave height. In addition, the highest dynamic water pressure is observed at the interface between the water surface and device, both within and outside the front wall of the gas chamber. The dynamic water pressure at different locations on the front chamber increases and subsequently decreases as the wave frequency increases.

China's cotton production has shown a concentration to the advantageous regions in recent years. Based on the relevant data of cotton production in China, the study measures the cotton production agglomeration levels of 16 major cotton-producing provinces from 1978 to 2020, summarizes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of cotton production agglomeration, and analyzes the factors influencing cotton production agglomeration using spatial econometric models. The results indicate that: Firstly, since the opening-up and reform, China's cotton production agglomeration levels have shown an overall upward trend, exhibiting periodic dynamic changes over time, and the spatial pattern reveals a dynamic regional gradient. Secondly, there is spatial correlation among the production scales of cotton in different provinces, with a trend resembling a "U" shape, and the agglomeration form shows a low-level convergence. Thirdly, technological level, policies, substitute industrial products and foreign trade are identified as important factors. The cotton production in each province is spatially correlated through these factors, and there is also a presence of spillover effects. In conclusion, the government should prioritize considerations of various influencing factors to formulate tailored support policies, promote large-scale production to enhance technological levels, and focus on policies aimed at improving the quality of cotton.

Tree decline resulting from climate change results in physiological weaknesses, attack by harmful pests and pathogen, and threatens forest ecosystem stability. In the work described here, the effects of drought on wood density, tree ring width, and variations in vessel morphology were investigated in Persian oak (Quercus brantii) in the forests of the Zagros Mountains, Ilam province, western Iran. Radial discs were cut from trunks of declined and healthy trees and wood blocks cut radially from the sapwood, heartwood, and juvenile core. Observations were made on transverse sections from the blocks using microscopy. In trees with decline symptoms, wood density was greater than the healthy trees. Furthermore, declining trees had the narrowest ring width, reduced vessel diameter, vessel area, and highest number of vessels and tylose in pith towards bark. It was concluded that changes in anatomical features are associated with the weakening of the trees and are components in declining tree health.

This paper investigates the energy dissipation level of a nonlinear vehicle suspension system. The suspension system is modelled as a mass-spring-damper system, which is designed using the output frequency response function (OFRF) method. This method enables the derivation of an explicit relationship, between the system output spectrum (or Performance metric) and the system nonlinear parameters of interest. The OFRF polynomial, of the energy dissipation level, was derived in terms of the nonlinear parameters of interest. The results obtained show that the OFRF model, of the energy dissipation level, could be used to estimate the amount of heat dissipated, for a set of design parameters. This has potentials of providing some insights, in the design of vibration-based energy harvesters, as some of the wasted heat energy could be converted to electrical energy.

Titanium alloys belong to the metal biomaterials that are one of the most widely used in medicine. In recent years, in order to reduce the use of vanadium, Ti6Al4V alloy is increasingly replaced by Ti6Al7Nb alloy. In addition, to ensure the best possible biocompatibility, its surface is subjected to appropriate modifications, for example, anodic oxidation. Despite the extensive use of anodic oxidation of titanium implants in orthopedics, there are few works focused on a detailed analysis of the chemical composition of the surface layers. In addition, the effect of treatments before anodic oxidation on the properties of the produced layer has not been analyzed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze in detail the chemical composition of the passive layer of Ti6Al7Nb alloy obtained by anodic oxidation preceded by sandblasting. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of the analyzed surface affecting biocompatibility were determined. For this purpose, surface observation, wettability and roughness tests, microhardness tests, electrochemical tests and phase composition analysis were carried out. In addition, the preclinical suitability, of the surface modified in this way, was evaluated by cytotoxicity tests.

Ultramafic rocks become promising candidates for carbon sequestration by enhanced carbon dioxide (CO2) mineralization strategies due to their highly CO2-reactive mineral composition and its abundant availability. This study reports a mineralogy and microtextures of a representative ultramafic rock from the Ma-Hin Creek in northern Thailand and observes evidence of CO2 mineralization occurring through the interaction between CO2 and the rock with the existence of water under ambient conditions. After sample collection, rock description was determined by optical petrographic analysis. The rock petrography reveals a cumulated wehrlite comprising over 50% olivine and minor amounts of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and chromian spinel. Approximately 25% of the wehrlite has altered to serpentine and chlorite. A series of CO2 batch experiments were conducted on six different rock sizes at a temperature of 40°C and pressure of 1 atm over five consecutive days. The post-experimental products were dried, weighed, and geochemically analyzed to detect changes in mineral species. Experimental results showed that product weight and the presence of calcite increased with reducing grain size. Additionally, the modal mineralogy of the wehrlite theoretically suggests a potential CO2 uptake of up to 53%, which is higher than the average uptake values of mafic rocks. These findings support the suitable rock investigation approach and the preliminary assessment of carbon mineralization potential, contributing to enhanced rock weathering techniques for CO2 removal that could be adopted by mining and rock supplier industries.

Agroforestry practices evolve with the development of basic and advanced facilities, changes in natural and artificial factors of land use change. The study aims to examine the socioeconomic characteristics and compare satisfaction levels across forest products and vegetable farming of the agroforestry community in Khost Province. Data were collected from 662 farmers and was analyzed using univariate Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variances (MANOVA). The results found that forest and vegetable products, including fruits, berries, herbs, mushrooms, wild animals, oils, wood, honey, okra, eggplant, carrot, cucumber, pine nuts, pepper, and timber has different impact in terms of satisfaction with basic and advanced facilities, knowledge about land use and impacts, natural and artificial factors of land use change, and positive and negative impact of land use change. The limitation of the study included an absence of exogenous factors in the model such as climate change, financial conditions, market fluctuations, regulatory system, an area in which the study is selected, research design, and current condition of endogenous factors. Overall, agroforestry practices can improve the socioeconomic development of agroforestry-dependent communities in Khost Province, Afghanistan. This study provided useful insights for policymakers and development practitioners to promote agroforestry practice adoption and improve the socioeconomic development of agroforestry-dependent communities. Future works could explore the implications of agroforestry practices on the socioeconomic development of other dependent communities in Afghanistan.

The continuous expansion of urban areas has significantly increased the coverage of impervious paved surfaces, leading to heightened heat absorption and the formation of urban heat islands (UHIs). This research centres on environmental footprint accounting and management to address the escalating UHI risks in the City of Salisbury, Adelaide, South Australia. To comprehend the extent of land use change over time, the study employs the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in conjunction with Landsat satellite maps. The satellite maps were also analysed for the historical land surface temperatures, exploring the correlation between land use change and land surface temperatures. This approach allows for exploring the correlation between land use transformations and UHI intensity. The research cross-referenced the satellite data with meteorological station records for verification, which led to identifying possible factors associated with the temperature change in the city. Furthermore, the research extends its scope by analysing aerial photography images of the city, enabling a comprehensive investigation of land cover contribution to UHI effects.

Plain lakes play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle of a watershed, but their interactions with adjacent rivers and downstream water bodies can create complex river-lake relationships, often leading to frequent flooding disasters. Taking Poyang Lake as an example, this paper delves into its interaction with the Yangtze River, revealing the spatiotemporal patterns of flood propagation within the lake and its impact on surrounding flood control measures. The aim is to provide insights for flood management in similar environments worldwide. This study employs a comprehensive approach combining hydrological statistical analysis and two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling, based on extensive hydrological, topographic, and socio-economic data. The results indicate that the annual maximum outflow from Poyang Lake is primarily controlled by floods within the watershed, while the highest annual lake water level is predominantly influenced by floods from the Yangtze River. The peak discharge typically reaches the lake outlet within 48 hours, with the peak water level taking slightly longer at 54 hours. However, water storage in the lake can shorten the time for the peak discharge to arrive. When converging with floods from the Yangtze River, the peak water level may be delayed by up to 10 days due to the top-supporting interaction. Furthermore, floods from the "Five Rivers" propagate differently within the lake, affecting various lake regions to differing degrees. Notably, floods from the Fu River cause the most significant rise in lake water level under the same flow rate. The top-supporting effect from the Yangtze River also significantly impacts the water surface slope of Poyang Lake. When the Yangtze River flood discharge far exceeds that of the "Five Rivers" (i.e., when the top-supporting intensity f value exceeds 4), the lake surface becomes as flat as a reservoir. During major floods in the watershed, the water level difference in the lake can increase dramatically, potentially creating a "dynamic storage capacity" of up to 840 million cubic meters.

This study was conducted to identify the actual degree of underdevelopment and spatial characteristics of rural areas in Korea, which are expected to face extinction due to population decline and aging. For this purpose, the spatial scope was set to Eup and Myeon areas classified as rural regions. To assess the degree of underdevelopment, previous studies were reviewed and analyzed to develop a comprehensive underdevelopment index, which was then applied to Eup and Myeon areas to classify them into growth regions, general regions, and depressed regions. Mapping the classified regions revealed that both growth and general regions were concentrated in the metropolitan area and southeastern regions, where Korea's population and resources are densely clustered. In contrast, depressed regions were found primarily in areas where agriculture is the main industry and in regions with unfavorable geographical conditions. This study is significant as it covers the entire nation of Korea, providing a method for identifying depressed regions and highlighting the regions that are developing. The findings can serve as fundamental data for the development of policies to address population decline in the future.

Water quality assessment in pastoral of Tibetan Plateau, which is water sources for about 40% of world's population and the runoff-yield area of Yellow rivers, is very important. In this paper, Xiahe county which belongs to Tibetan Plateau pastoral was investigated. Six parameters(via, chloride, COD, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, fluoride, sulfate) were selected to assess the water quality and health degree by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation methods. The hydrochemical type in surface water was of HCO3--Mg2+-Ca2+ type. The cations and anions in surface water were mainly from weathering and dissolution of carbonate rock. Results showed that the water quality in all 69 sampling sites was all of class Ⅰ. The integrated health degree reached more than 0.85 and the health rate were 100%. Although ammonia nitrogen was regarded as the main contamination factor, but it had a little effect on the entire body of water. Overall, the surface water qualities of most samples in Xiahe County was good condition.

(1) Background: in the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs), this work explores the repair direction of future cultivated land protection policies based on the Smith policy implementation model from the historical evolution to ensure that the cultivated land protection policy does not deviate during the implementation process. (2) Methods: this paper uses literature research and inductive deduction methods to sort out the evolution process of Chinese cultivated land protection policy, summarize the successful experience of transferring the focus of cultivated land protection in chronological order, and conclude the repair direction of Chinese cultivated land protection. (3) Results: although the Chinese cultivated land protection policy in the historical evolution has through three significant phases, there are still certain issues in the development trend of Chinese cultivated land protection policy based on regional division of labor for grain transportation and sales. (4) Conclusion: directly utilizing feedback from farmers as stakeholders will contribute to the maturity and improvement of cultivated land protection policies in the specific implementation of cultivated land protection policies.

More than 20 years after the discovery of the first anelloviruses (AVs), they still remain a mysterious group of viruses. To date, there is no clear understanding of their impact on the host organism, although information is emerging about their participation in various pathologies. However, it is well known that AVs are an important component of the human virome. In the current study we assessed the abundance of AVs in viromes from four nasal and pharyngeal samples from children with respiratory symptoms using a metagenomic approach. It is worth noting that three patients had known respiratory viruses and one did not have any. Regarding AVs, they were detected in all samples, namely Torque teno mini virus (TTMV). The greatest abundance and diversity of AVs (Torque teno virus (TTV), TTMV and Torque teno midi virus (TTMDV)) were shown in a diseased patient with an absence of respiratory viruses, which may indicate the potential involvement of AVs in the maintenance of respiratory symptoms. An activated immune system to combat the main pathogens, against the background of which the number of AVs decreases, is discussed as a possible reason for the reduced diversity of anellome in other patients. We also compared the results of the metagenomic approach and qPCR for major respiratory viruses, which were in agreement. In addition, metagenomic sequencing made it possible to obtain additional data on viral genomes in order to establish their taxonomic identification and characterize individual viral profiles in patients from the Siberian part of Russia.

Ankyloglossia is a condition of limited tongue mobility caused by a short lingual frenulum. The diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia are still controversial. The main clinical problem encountered during breastfeeding is difficulty in sucking and its clinical reflections. This study aims to evaluate the newborn population born regarding ankyloglossia and to determine the results of frenotomy. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study among newborns born in a tertiary hospital. We included all newborns born between January 1 and June 30, 2022. The study algorithm was determined before the defined dates and data were recorded during the screening period. The recorded data were retrospectively collected from the files. Within six months, 705 babies were born. Due to additional problems and other conditions that prevent breastfeeding, evaluable data of 207 (29.3%) infants could not be provided. Of the remaining 498 infants, 234 (33.2%) had ankyloglossia. Breastfeeding was unsuccessful before frenotomy in 12 Coryllos type-1 patients, and all had difficulty in sucking. Frenotomy was performed within the three-months follow-up period in all patients with complaints of inability to firmly grasp the breast, nipple slipping from the mouth, and nipple biting during the first 24 hours. In terms of breastfeeding problems, regardless of the anatomical typology, frenotomy can be performed safely in the early life with successful results. If deficiencies or difficulties in nursing is noticed in ankyloglossia patients even at the first control, frenotomy should be recommended in clinical conditions.

Paralyzed patients have always been ideal candidates for physiotherapy due to their body's inability to recover on its own. Regardless of the cause that led to the onset of paralysis (whether localized or generalized), physiotherapy helps these patients with devices and methods designed to restore their proper functioning of the body, as well as quality of life. Obtaining the standing position is the main stage in the therapeutic process, being the indispensable element for the entire protocol. The present study focused on the devices we developed over time, adapting them for each patient, depending on the degree of damage they presented and the possible associated pathologies. At the same time, we wanted these devices to be available for any therapist or even owner, being made of common materials, easy to find, but also affordable.

Interpore hydrates are the main occurrence forms of marine gas hydrates. Pore characteristics are a vital factor affecting the thermodynamic properties of hydrates and their distribution in sediments. Currently, the characterization of the pore system for hydrate-bearing reservoirs are little reported. Therefore this paper focus on the Krishna-Godavari Basin, via varies methods to characterize the hydrate-bearing sediments in the region. The results showed that X-ray Diffraction(XRD) combined with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)and Cast Thin Section (CTS) can better characterize the mineral composition in the reservoir, High Pressure Mercury Injection (HPMI) focused on the contribution of pore size to permeability, Constant Rate Mercury Injection(CRMI) had the advantage of distinguishing between pore space and pore throat, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Cryoporometry (NMRC) technique can not only obtain the pore size distribution of nanopores with a characterization range greater than Nitrogen Gas Adsorption (N2GA), but also quantitatively describe the trend of fluids in the pore system with temperature. As for pore system, Samples 58 and 68 all developed nanopores, the mineral distribution was relatively scattered, and they were rich in paleontological shells such as foraminifera, among which Sample 68 had more pyrite content, and abundant pyrite framboid was observed, which made the intergranular pore develop and provide more nanopores. Sample 58 has a high concentration of pore and throat, high pore connectivity, low pore curvature, and pores with a diameter of 10μm contributing to the main permeability, with an average pore radius of 2.495μm, whereas Sample 68 has poor pore connectivity, high curvature, and pores with a diameter of 1μm contributing to the main permeability, with an average pore diameter of 60 nm, which explains the obvious difference in permeability between the two samples.

Accurate assessment of shale gas reserves hinges on a detailed characterization of gas and water distribution within shale reservoirs. Despite its importance, the nanoscale behavior of water and methane in deep shale formations, especially under elevated temperatures and pressures, remains poorly understood. This study proposes a novel molecular modeling approach to represent the complex nanocomposite porous media found in deep shale matrices. Leveraging quantitative data from experimental analyses of shale pore composition, we developed a molecular model that accurately reflects the intricate pore-slit structure within a composite of kerogen and illite, common constituents of shale. Employing a hybrid grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulation technique, we investigated the micro-scale distribution and preferential adsorption sites of water and methane within the shale matrix. Our research further elucidates the impact of water on the pore structure of shale and delineates the co-occurrence patterns of water and methane. The simulations reveal that water and methane share similar adsorption preferences on kerogen surfaces, while methane does not exhibit specific adsorption preferences on water-bearing illite. We also find that the presence of water significantly alters the illite pore space, leading to a reduction in larger pore volumes and a concomitant increase in smaller pores. The decrease in methane content with increasing water content is more pronounced in the shrinkage cracks compared to the kerogen matrix pores and is particularly notable in the macropores of illite. The findings underscore the differential sensitivity of methane content to water levels across various shale pore types. These insights contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of gas and water distribution mechanisms in deep shale reservoirs, offering valuable support for the evaluation of deep shale gas resource potential.

Introduction: Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is the most common congenital face anomaly in the world of multifactorial etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of cleft palate. To identify associated risk factors to guide prevention and/or prenatal detection for early intervention and better health outcomes. To assess the rehabilitation protocols after operations in cleft palate. Design: Retrospective descriptive and clinical study. Patients: One hundred and three children with cleft palate treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery Clinic for Children and Young Adults, Department of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Warmia and Mazury, were included in the study. Methods: Records evaluation was conducted regarding sex, cleft type, mother occupation, parents education, histories of cleft in any of parents. The data were analyzed using R (R core team 2021) and the ordinal logistic regression analyses. Results: Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had 9.4 times higher odds of having bilateral cleft. While there was no evidence that children sex, order of birth, and body mass as well as risk of maternal toxicity at work or reporting infections or drugs toxicity had a significant effect on the dependent variable. Conclusions: Children of parents with cleft history and having low educated mothers had higher probability of bilateral cleft palate. Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had higher odds of having bilateral cleft. In literature, there is a lack of reports about rehabilitation in different operations methods in children with cleft palates.

With the increased use of simulation based training using animal models for the education of surgical and anaesthetic techniques, an increased understanding of the anatomy of such models and how they compare to humans is required. The transversus abdominis plane block is a regional anaesthetic technique that requires an understanding of the abdominal wall anatomy along with proficient ultrasound use. The current review aims to compare the anatomy of the abdominal wall across species, particularly focussing on the pertinent differences within the class of mammals, and secondarily, it aims to address the implications of these differences for simulation based training of the transversus abdominis plane block. To achieve this, the PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant literature. The mammalian abdominal wall differs in its musculature, vasculature or innervation from that of amphibians, birds or reptiles, however, among species of mammals, the structure of the abdominal wall follows a similar framework. Particular differences among mammals include the additional muscular layer of the panniculus carnosus found in most mammals other than humans, the variable arterial origins and dominant vascular supply of the abdominal wall and the number of thoracolumbar nerves innervating the abdominal wall. When using animal models for simulation based training, the pig is recommended for the transversus abdominis plane block given its closely homologous abdominal wall structure, availability and larger comparative size.

The partial discharge (PD) event in high voltage insulation releases energy, exerts mechanical pressure, and generates elastic waves. Detecting and locating these PD events through short-duration acoustic pulses is well-established, particularly in gas-insulated systems and oil-insulated transformers. However, its full potential remains untapped in solid insulation systems, where the propagation capability of acoustic pulse and the acoustic reflections pose fundamental challenges to the Acoustic Emission (AE) detection technique. This study investigates the influence of reflections and multiple paths on the propagating acoustic pulse in polymeric insulating materials using a finite element method (FEM) in COMSOL. It was observed that the reflections from the boundary influence the propagating pulse's shape, peak magnitude, and arrival time. An analytical MATLAB model further quantifies the impact of multiple propagation paths on the shape, magnitude, and arrival time of the pulse travelling in a cylinder. Additionally, a Perfect Matched Layer (PML) was implemented in the COMSOL model to eliminate reflections from the boundary, and it revealed that the acoustic pulse magnitude decreases with distance following the inverse square law. In essence, the models aid in measuring how reflections contribute to the observed signals, facilitating the precise identification of the source of the PD event in the tested system.

The degree of ore rock fragmentation of mine blasting is an important index for evaluating the effect of engineering blasting. In order to study the effect of millisecond delayed blasting on the internal fragmentation of the ore rock, LS-DYNA numerical simulation software was used to obtain the damage characteristics of the ore rock in the blasting area using the RHT model. The Mohr-Coulomb strength damage criterion was applied to analyze the internal stress state of the ore rock, and the effects of 25ms, 50ms and 75ms delay time conditions on ore rock fragmentation were studied. The results show that, within a certain range of delay time, the degree of rock fragmentation increases with the increase of delay time. The stress state in the ore rock due to blasting is strengthened with the increase of delay time in the direction of the blast hole, which shows that the stress concentration is strengthened from the excavation face to the interior of the ore rock. The damage and the degree of fragmentation show a characteristic relationship of 25ms＜50ms＜75ms, which is verified by carrying out blasting experiments on site.

The Giant Babax, an endemic bird in China and a nationally protected wildlife species of Class Ⅱ, is primarily distributed in southern and southeastern Tibet. To investigate the factors influencing nesting site selection, this study conducted research on nest characteristics and nesting site preferences at four sample sites around Lhasa from March to October 2023y, using systematic search methods, tracking methods, and sampling methods. The research findings are as follows: (1) The average nest depth was (7.70±1.47)cm, nest height was (19.58±2.97)cm, inner diameter was (10.64±1.73)cm, outer diameter was (24.65±4.8)cm, average weight was (162.3±13.5)g, and average nest spacing within the plot was 396.93m. (2) The nests of Giant Babax were predominantly found on vegetation such as Salix longistamina (38%), Hippophae gyantsensis (20%), Rosa sericea Lindl. (14%), and Populus szechuanica Schneid(11%). They showed a preference for artificial secondary forests as nesting sites. (3) Giant Babax exhibited a preference for habitats with robust trees that had high canopies while being distant from houses and roads, but close to water sources; moreover, the canopy of the nesting tree played a crucial role in their choice of nesting sites. (4) The reproductive success rate reached 76%, with key factors affecting it being the canopy coverage of the nesting tree and the number of helpers. These research results provide fundamental data support for population conservation efforts and ecological resource management strategies concerning the Giant Babax.

ABSTRACT Background: To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the foremost health concern for humankind in the new millennia. This paper aims to describe the related hospitalizations in Italy during the first two years of the health emergency. Design and methods: This is a retrospective, population-based study of Italian hospitalizations for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 period, extracted from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. The outcome variables considered include hospital admissions, costs, and length of stay, among other hospitalization-level variables. Costs were estimated through the charges associated with the Diagnosis-Related Group and Major Diagnostic Categories coding system, plus an additional cost attributed to COVID-19 admissions. To these charges was added an extra cost defined by the ministry of health. Results: In Italy, there were 357,354 hospitalizations for COVID-19 attributed to 298,856 patients in 2020 and 399,043 hospitalizations for COVID-19 attributed to 333,447 patients in 2021. COVID-19 patients faced a transfer rate thrice that of other patients. Hospitalizations were concentrated predominantly in the northern regions, particularly in the first year. Hospitalization rates varied by age in a sine wave pattern, peaking in the youngest and oldest age groups, with mortality rates escalating with age— tending to remain below 3% for those under 44 but surging to 40% in individuals over 75. The financial impact of COVID-19 hospitalizations was substantial, with total costs reaching €3.97 billion in 2020 and €4.99 billion in 2021. Costs per admission and per day also rose, from €11,112 and €807 in 2020 to €12,503 and €844 in 2021, respectively. Excluding the added financial burden of COVID-19, costs would have been notably lower. Hospitalizations involving continuous invasive mechanical ventilation were particularly costly (about 24.000 euros x admission), reflecting the significant resources required for these treatments. Conclusion: Implementing a protective pad around the entire health system that leverages networks of family doctors and nurses, connected in real time to the entire health system, can be crucial. Such a network, tasked with monitoring the local epidemiological situation, protecting vulnerable individuals also through telehealth visits, and establishing a triage system for infections in the initial phase, may effectively help in managing virus spread and protecting hospitals from unpredictable waves of admission demand. Strengthening primary health care could be a decisive factor for the future and enhance the system's resilience in facing new challenges.

Composite fiber materials are superior materials due to their high strength and light weight. Composites reflect the properties of their constituents, which is proportional to the volume fraction of each phase. There are different fiber reinforcement types and each affects it’s flexural, tensile and compression strength. When selecting a composite for a specific application, the forces excreted on the composite must be known in order to determine the reinforcement type. Unidirectional fiber reinforcement will allow very strong load resistance but only in one direction where as a random orientated fiber reinforcement can resist less load but can maintain this quota in all directions. These materials are said to be anisotropic. Certain composite fibers, taking into consideration there weights, are physically stronger than conventional metals. This research deals with the analysis of three composite materials with different reinforcement types, volume fraction and phase content. It was found that material A (glass epoxy) was the strongest in the longitudinal direction with a flexural strength of 534 MPa in the longitudinal and 420 MPa in the transverse direction. The flexural stresses of material B (glass silicone) and material C (glass polyester) where both found in the 120 to 135 MPa range. Differences were due to their differences in matrix composition and reinforcement type.

The objective of this study was to investigate the concentration and spatial distribution patterns of six potentially toxic heavy metal elements (Mn, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Ni) in bus station dusts in the Xifeng district of Gansu province, NW China. The contents were analyzed for Mn, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Ni by using S8 TIGER Brochures wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Geoaccumulation index (Igeo ), enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI) and integrated pollution index(IPI) were calculated to evaluate the heavy metal contamination level of bus station dusts. The results indicate that, in comparison with the background values of local soil, bus station dusts in Xifeng have elevated metal concentrations as a whole. The concentrations of heavy metals investigated in this paper are compared with the reported data of other cities. The results show that the arithmetic means of Mn, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Ni are 440.8, 137.9, 60.0, 42.8, 33.5 and 19.8mg kg−1 respectively. The mean values of Igeo reveal the order of Ni<Mn<Cr<Cu<Zn<Pb. The high Igeo and EF for Cu, Zn and Pb in bus station dusts indicate that there is a considerable Cu, Zn and Pb pollution, which mainly originate from traffic and industry activities. The Igeo and EF of Ni, Mn and Cr are low and the assessment results indicate an absence of distinct Ni, Mn and Cr pollution in bus station dusts. The assessment results of PI also support Cu, Zn and Pb in bus station dusts presented middle pollution, and IPI indicates heavy metals of bus station dusts polluted seriously.

Questions：SAP in mountainous cities of China serve as crucial carriers for species and wild food, constituting potential green infrastructure. These patches should be recognized as locally specific resources. This study investigates the transformation characteristics of the landscape patterns of SAP, along with their elements, across urban-rural gradients, providing foundational support for the planning of conservation and utilization strategies. Location: Yongchuan area of Chongqing in southwest China. Methods: The study investigated urban-rural gradient-based transformation of SAP. A four-direction transect space was selected and divided into uniform sample squares. Fragstats 4.3 calculated the landscape index of SAP, and Spearman correlation coefficients in SPSS were used to evaluate the influence of landform and artificial factors on agroforestry patch transformation. Results: 1) Patch area (PA), Plaque density (PD), and CLUMPY of SAP systematically transform, showing increased SAP areas and higher connectivity with greater distance from the city, resulting in reduced patch fragmentation. However, Edge density (ED) and Largest plaque index (LPI) exhibit irregular transformation patterns. 2) With increased distance from the city, woodland patch area and connectivity increase, leading to decreased fragmentation, dispersal, and lower fractal dimensions. Conversely, Cultivated land follows the opposite trend. garden land patch area, fractal dimension, fragmentation, and dispersal all increase, while connectivity decreases. 3) Landscape pattern transformations of SPA are significantly influenced by artificial factors. Woodland patches are influenced similarly by landform and artificial factors. In contrast, cultivated land and garden land patches are more significantly impacted by artificial factors. Conclusions: SAP exhibit differentiated conservation and utilization measures across urban-rural gradients. Small patches located far from urban centers may benefit from systematic conservation measures to prevent further fragmentation and erosion in peri-urban areas.

Expansion tube is ideal energy absorber which dissipates kinetic energy through plastic deformation and friction. There is an urgent need to understand the influence of key parameter, e.g. semi angle, tube material, and friction coefficient, on the mechanical response and energy absorption characteristics of expansion tube. In the present work, the material properties of the tubes were tested under quasi-static loading condition, and the numerical simulations were carried out by using commercial software ABAQUS. Based on the validated finite element simulation, all the semi angle, tube material, and friction have significant effects on the energy absorption capacity of expansion tube. The expansion tube with high tensile stress of parent material have high energy absorption capacity, while the specific energy absorption is linear with the tensile stress/density of tube material. This work would give a guidance to the structural design and parent materials selection for expansion tubes.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and osteoporosis are two of the most widespread metabolic disease in the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of DM among patients affected by osteoporosis and fragility fractures, and to search differences in clinical features. Methods: 713 patients belonging to CTO Bone Unit because of osteoporosis and fragility fractures were divided into two groups, according to the diagnosis of DM. The clinical and bone characteristics of patients were compared. Results: Prevalence of DM was 10.8%. When compared to patients without DM, the median age at the time of first fracture was similar (72 years ± 14 IQR vs 71 years ± 12 IQR); prevalence of combination of vertebral and hip fractures was higher (p=0.039), as well as prevalence of males, although not significantly (p=0.051). Bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites was higher in DM group; Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), instead, was significantly lower (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Patients with fragility fractures and DM more frequently show combination of major fractures with higher BMD levels. In these patients, TBS could be a better indicator of bone health than BMD and therefore should be used as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Objective To explore the endoscopic anatomical structures of lumbar surgery. Methods A total of 290 patients who underwent lumbar endoscopic surgery due to lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation from September 2020 to September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed in our hospital,179 patients had complete surgical video recordings, including 108 males and 71 females, aged from 19 to 65 years, with an average age of 41±16 years. The endoscopic structures through the intervertebral foramen and interlaminar space were independently identified by 3 doctors with more than 3 years of related surgery experience. When there were differences of opinions, the three doctors would discuss and come to a consensus. The probability, location, and neighboring structures of each specific structures were statistically analyzed. Results The anatomical structures observed through the lumbar foramen under endoscopy include muscles and ligaments attached to the superior articular process (SAP), main blood vessels inside the intervertebral foramen, blood vessels on the surface of IVD, and blood vessels on the surface of the dural sac and nerve root. The major anatomical structures observed through interlaminar space are multifidus, the conjugated ligament of ligament flavum and capsule ligament (capsule part of flavum ligaments), edges of the lamina, specific vessel bundle to facet with exit nerve root. Conclusion The anatomical structures under spinal endoscopy have certain characteristics, which are grossly different from those under open surgery. Familiarity with these anatomical structures has important clinical significance.

Through the geometric relationships and force analysis of the main components of the panto-graph on high-speed trains, coefficients of aerodynamic forces and lift transmission between the pantograph and main components under crosswind conditions were derived. Based on the aer-odynamic forces acting on the pantograph at different crosswind speeds, wind angles, and oper-ating speeds, the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph and main components was ultimately de-termined. The results indicate that the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph is mainly distributed on the bow structure, with the aerodynamic lift of the upper frame all being negative values, while the absolute value of the aerodynamic lift of the lower arm rod is the smallest. The oper-ating speed of the pantograph and the wind angle of the crosswind have a significant impact on the aerodynamic lift of the main components, while the impact of the crosswind speed is rela-tively small. At the same operating speed of the pantograph, the lower the corresponding crosswind speed, the smaller the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph. The aerodynamic lift of the pantograph tends to decrease gradually with the increase of crosswind speed, and the impact of crosswind speed decreases gradually with the increase of pantograph operating speed. A com-prehensive relationship formula between the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph and the oper-ating speed, crosswind speed, and wind angle is obtained, and the empirical formula for the contact force of the bow net and train operating speed is modified. The research results are of great significance and value for the study and application of lift forces on pantographs under crosswind conditions.

This study analyzes future hydrological droughts in LCKW using the SWAT model and data from 2010-2021, evaluating the Streamflow Drought Index (SDI) for 5, 10, 25, and 50-year return periods (RP) for 2029 and 2039 under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The model shows high accuracy (R² = 0.82, NSE = 0.78). Under RCP4.5, streamflow may increase by 34.74% and 18.74%, while RCP8.5 predicts significant decreases of 37.06% and 55.84%. Historical data reveal frequent short-term droughts during SDI-3, notably in 2014–2016 and 2020–2021, with SDI-6 indicating less frequent but severe droughts, especially in 2015 and 2020. Future projections under RCP8.5 suggest wors-ening drought conditions in 2029 and 2039, with critical drought periods from January to April and November. Wavelet analysis indicates a high risk of severe hydrological drought in LCKW due to low annual recurrence rates, with the highest drought severity over a 50-year RP. The study high-lights an increasing likelihood of frequent and severe droughts, particularly under high emission scenarios such as RCP8.5, which could result in significant water shortages and ecosystem disrup-tions. It emphasizes the significance of adaptive water resource management strategies in mitigating negative impacts on water security and ecosystem health.

Pore structure characterization and fractal analysis have great significance for understanding and evaluating tight limestone reservoirs. In this work, the pore structure of tight limestone is characterized combined with low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the fractal dimension of tight limestone pore structure is discussed based on LTNA and NMR data. The results indicate that the pores of tight limestone have H3 and H4 types, the pore size distribution (PSD) of H3 type is a wave distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm, and the PSD of H4 type is a unimodal distribution ranging from 2 to 10 nm. The transverse relaxation time (T2) spectrum of tight limestone shows single peak (DF), double peak (SF) and three peak (TF), and the T2 spectrums for micropores, mesopores and macropores range from 0.1 to 10 ms, from 10 to 100 ms, and greater than 100 ms, respectively. The LTNA fractal dimension of tight limestone (DL) ranges between 2.4446 and 2.7688, with an average of 2.5729, and the NMR fractal dimensions of micropores (DNMR1), mesopores (DNMR2) and macropores (DNMR3) are distributed between 0.3744 to 1.1293, 2.4263 to 2.9395 and 2.6582 to 2.9989, respectively. Moreover, there is no correlation between fractal dimension and permeability and porosity, a negative correlation between DL and average pore radius, a positive correlation between DL and specific surface area, and a positive correlation between DNMR2 and DNMR3 and micropore content, while DNMR2 and DNMR3 are negatively correlated with the content of mesopores and macropores.

Background. National surveys reported on variable prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to differences in characteristics of population, design, equations used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and definitions. The EH-UH 2 survey is the first study evaluating CKD prevalence, characteristics and awareness in Croatia. Methods. This was a cross-sectional nationwide observational study designed to assess the prevalence and cardio-kidney-metabolic risk factors in Croatia which included 1765 randomly selected subjects. We estimated the prevalence of CKD by means of albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR (CKD EPI equation). Comorbidities, anthropometric and social factors related to the prevalence of CKD were analyzed, and CV risk profile was evaluated. Results. The weighted prevalence of CKD (any stage), CKD stage ≥ G3A A2, and CKD defined only as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were estimated at 17.1%, 9.8% and 7.9%, respectively. The prevalence was higher in men than in women (11.8% vs. 7.9%; p 30 mg/g was 15.1%. Older age, male gender, diabetes, ePWV, and uric acid were independently associated with CKD prevalence. The awareness of CKD of 9.5%. Unaware were older with lower income, less educated, having more frequently diabetes, hypertension (less frequently controlled) and milder renal impairment. Conclusion. In Croatia, the estimated prevalence of CKD is high, being more frequently presented in men than in women. CKD patients have unfavorable CV risk profile. The awareness of CKD is very low reflecting poor health literacy in general population but also in health care workers.

Background/Objectives: Head and neck free flap reconstructions are often required to treat tumors or extensive post-traumatic jaw defects. The facial artery is the standard receiving vessel for intraoral microvascular anastomoses. However, its use is associated with several disadvantages, such as lesions of buccal nerve branches or the parotid duct and variability in course and diameter. This study aims to investigate whether sublingual artery branches can be considered an alternative intraoral supply vessel to the facial artery to avoid these drawbacks. Methods: 12 formalin-fixed cadaveric heads with 24 sides were dissected. The sublingual artery's origin, course, branching pattern, and distribution were examined. In addition, the diameters of the branches of the sublingual artery were assessed to identify potential supply vessels for anastomoses. Results: In ten of the 24 cases (41.7 %), the sublingual artery originated from the lingual artery and nine cases (37.5 %) from the facial artery. The main trunk of the sublingual artery was present in the floor of the mouth in all cases (100 %) with a diameter of ≥ 0.9 mm in vitro (1 mm in vivo). In 15 of the 24 half heads (62.5 %), branches of the sublingual artery with ≥ 0.9 mm were identified in this space. Conclusions: The large diameter of the sublingual artery on the floor of the mandible suggests that this vessel or its branches could be considered alternative pedicles for intraoral anastomoses in mandibular microvascular free flap grafts.

Emulsifiers like egg yolk (EY) are necessary for the formation of mayonnaise, which is an oil-in-water type colloid. This study aimed to assess the potential of defatted soybean powder treated with supercritical carbon dioxide (DSF-SC) in enhancing the quality of plant-based may-onnaise as plant-based alternatives gain popularity. This study involved producing DSF-SC and comparing its quality attributes to those of mayonnaise made with varying amounts of control soy flour (CSF), DSF-SC, and EY. It was found that mayonnaise made with DSF-SC, with increased emulsifier quantity, showed better emulsion stability, viscosity, and smaller, more uniform particle size compared with CSF mayonnaise. Additionally, DSF-SC mayonnaise was overall rated higher in sensory evaluation. The addition of approximately 2% DSF-SC positively influenced the emul-sion and sensory properties of the vegan mayonnaise, making DSF-SC a promising plant-based alternative emulsifier for replacing animal ingredients.

Photovoltaic modules should pass series of tests and examinations, verifying the electrical and thermal characteristics of the module, before being released to the market, examining the properties of the modules should undergo appropriate durability and efficiency tests under real outdoor conditions with exposure to climatic conditions and under laboratory conditions. The performance of photovoltaic cells depends on many factors, such as solar irradiance, module operating temperature, installation location, weather conditions and module shading. In this paper, three selected photovoltaic modules were examined using a large-scale steady-state solar simulator. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the photovoltaic modules were experimentally tested and analyzed. The next step was to implement a three-layer artificial neural network model (MLP). The experimental data obtained in the previous step coupled with output data from MLP were then used in global sensitivity analysis (GSA). Experiments carried out on a large-scale stationary solar simulator showed differences between the values declared by the manufacturer and the values obtained from measurements of PV modules. The first module tested achieved the maximum power point greater than that specified by the manufacturer, while the other two showed power drops; it was 85-87% for the second module, and 95-98% for the third, respectively. The performed global sensitivity analysis (GSA) for the MLP model showed that the parameters: eff (22.9) and Voc/V (14.19) have the largest effect on the power-voltage relationship, while U (7.29) has the smallest effect. The usefulness of machine learning (ML) methods in the comparative analysis of PV modules has been proved.

The study employed simulation-based measurement approaches to evaluate and compare the performance of conventional networks to IRS-enhanced systems in terms of upstream spectral efficiency. The study discovered that applying IRS greatly improves coverage, or transmitting potency, for 6G services.

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

Trichiurus japonicus is the most productive fish caught in our country. In order to understand the seasonal distribution of Trichiurus japonicus in the central and southern parts of the East China Sea and Yellow Sea, three species distribution models were adopted, namely Random Forest Model, K-nearest neighbor algorithm and gradient ascending decision Tree model, based on the data of trawling surveys in the central and southern parts of the East China Sea and Yellow Sea from 2008 to 2009. Combined with variance inflation factor and cross-check, the distribution model of Trichiurus japonicus was screened and constructed to analyze the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of Trichiurus japonicus in the central and southern parts of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. The results showed that the random forest model had the advantages of fitting effect and prediction ability among the three models. The analysis of this model showed that the water depth, bottom water temperature and surface salinity had a great influence on the habitat distribution of Trichiurus japonicus. The relative resources of Trichiurus japonicus increased with the increase of bottom water temperature and reached the maximum at 23.8℃, and first increased and then decreased with the increase of water depth and surface salinity, reaching the maximum at 72 m and 31.2‰, respectively. The random forest model was used to predict the spatial distribution of Trichiurus japonicus in the East China Sea and the central and southern Yellow Sea during 2008-2009, and the results showed that the predicted results were close to the actual situation. The research results can provide reference for the exploitation and protection of Trichiurus japonicus resources in the East China Sea and the central and southern Yellow Sea.

This paper, from the perspective of Mode 3 of knowledge production, takes the important carrier of knowledge, scientific research papers, as the research object. The mainstream databases (SCIE and SSCI) are chosen as the data sources. Firstly, bibliometric methods are applied to analyze the cooperation status among the main bodies of paper production, including authors and their affiliated institutions, countries, and disciplines; secondly, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to construct a comprehensive evaluation model for the state of research cooperation in carbon neutrality. Based on the evaluation model, the cooperation characteristics of different disciplinary fields and the relationship between paper cooperation status and high-impact research papers are comparatively analyzed. At the same time, an analysis is conducted on the support from the government, the sponsorship from enterprises, and the participation of the public in the process of paper production. Finally, some suggestions are put forward on how to build an innovative ecosystem for carbon neutrality research from the perspective of Mode 3 of knowledge production.

This study investigates the spatial and temporal dynamics of Paomo restaurants in Xi'an's central urban area from 2012 to 2023, leveraging Point of Interest (POI) data through a series of sophisticated analytical techniques. Methods including nearest neighbor distance, kernel density estimation, and band set statistical analysis were employed to thoroughly examine the evolutionary patterns and key drivers influencing the spatial distribution of these eateries. Our results highlight a notable trend of expansion from the central city to the periphery, characterized by significant spatial agglomeration. Initially concentrated in the city center, the distribution of Paomo restaurants has progressively shifted towards multiple distinct cores, reflecting the dual influence of urban policy initiatives and the dynamics of market competition. Furthermore, the research identifies several pivotal factors shaping this spatial distribution, particularly transportation access, residential quality of life, and the availability of commercial services. These findings demonstrate the profound effects of urban spatial reconfiguration and socioeconomic development on the specialized catering industry. The insights gleaned from this analysis offer valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers, providing strategic recommendations for the spatial planning of specialty catering services to optimize urban layouts and foster sustainable economic progress.

Fast-growing teak is widely cultivated in Indonesia to address the supply and demand of teak trees. However, efforts still need to be made to evaluate the condition of standing teak trees during their growth period. Studies on nondestructive testing (NDT) of wood based on electrical properties through dielectric spectroscopy (DS) are recently being developed, especially for standing tree evaluation. The study aimed to analyze the dielectric value of a fast-growing standing teak tree at frequency ranges 250 kHz – 60 MHz and to understand the relationships between physical and anatomical properties. Dielectric spectroscopy data were collected directly on the trees 4, 5, and 7 years old using a capacitance measurement system. Meanwhile, physical and anatomical samples were taken using a Ø 0.5 cm increment borer. The results showed that fiber length (FL), lumen diameter (LD), and fiber wall thickness (FWT) were significantly different at each tree age. This research found the optimal dielectric frequency to discriminate the wood properties in standing trees. There is a weak relationship (R= 0.2) in predicting the anatomical wood properties, while moderate to strong relationships (R= 0.4 to R= 0.8) are found in predicting wood density based on the selected frequency and moisture content variables. Further analyses and data processing can be improved by finding significant variables in the capacitance measurement system.

The delineation of the clinical target volumes (CTVs) for radiation therapy is time-consuming, requires intensive training and shows high inter-observer variability. Supervised deep learning methods depend heavily on consistent training data, thus state-of-the-art research focuses on making CTV labels more homogeneous and strictly bounding them to current standards. International consensus expert guidelines standardize CTV delineation by conditioning the extension of the clinical target volume on surrounding anatomical structures. Training strategies that directly following the construction rules given in the expert guidelines or the possibility to quantify the conformance of manually drawn contours with the guidelines are still missing. 71 anatomical structures that are relevant for CTV delineation in head and neck cancer patients according to the expert guidelines were segmented on 104 CT scans to assess the possibility to automate their segmentation by state-of-the-art deep learning methods. nnU-Net models were trained to automatically segment those 71 structures on planning CT scans. We report the DICE, HD and sDICE for 71 + 5 anatomical structures for most of which no previous segmentation accuracies have been reported. For those structures, for that prediction values have been reported, our segmentation accuracy matched or exceeded the reported values. The predictions from our models were always better than those predicted by the TotalSegmentator. The sDICE with 2mm margin was larger than 80% for almost all structures. Individual structures with decreased segmentation accuracy are analyzed and discussed with respect to their impact on the CTV delineation following the expert guidelines. No deviation is expected to affect the rule-based automation of the CTV delineation.

Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine linked to their remarkable healing properties. Several species have chemical and anatomical similarities, often leading to confusion when they are used in folk medicine. This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the reported traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential of the Kalanchoe species. Published scientific materials were collected from the PubMed and SciFinder databases without restriction regarding the year of publication through April 2023. Ethnopharmacological knowledge suggests that these species have been used to treat infections, inflammation, injuries, and other disorders. Typically, all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes either as crude extract or juice. Botanical evaluation can clarify species differentiation and can enable correct identification and validation of the scientific data. Flavonoids are the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified from Kalanchoe species and can be correlated with some biological studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential). This review summarizes several topics related to the Kalanchoe genus, supporting future studies regarding other unexplored research areas. The need to carry out further studies to confirm the popular uses and biological activities of bioactive compounds is also highlighted.

The Shimensi super-large tungsten polymetallic deposit is located in Late Jurassic- Early Cretaceous Porphyry-Skarn tungsten ore belt in the south Yangtze metallogenic belt. There are 3 types of mineralization: veinlet-disseminated type, thick quartze vein type and hydrothermal crypto-explosive breccia type. Based on geological studies, this paper presents new petrographic, microthermometric, laser Raman spectroscopic and hydrogen and oxygen isotope research of the fluid inclusions from the deposit. The results show that there are five different types of fluid inclusions: liquid-rich inclusions, vapor-rich inclusions, pure liquid inclusions, pure vapor inclusions, and fluid inclusions containing a solid crystal. The homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusion range from 140℃-270℃, the salinities are 3%-5% NaCleq and the densities of ore-forming fluid range from 0.64 g/cm3 to 0.99 g/cm3. For the analyses of Laser Raman spectroscopic, the ore-forming fluids can be approximated by a Ca2+-Na+-SO42--Cl- fluid system with small amount of CO2, CH4 and N2. Otherwise, the datas of the pressure, pH and Eh show a fluid metallogenic environment of low pressure, weak acid and weak reduction. The values of the homogenization temperature in 3 types of orebodies suggest that the mineralization is characterized by the decrease of the temperature under the condition of the fluid immiscibility. The H-O isotope values are interpreted to indicate that the ore-forming fluids are mainly composed of magmatic water, and also the meteoric water was added with the process of the magma rising.

Populational aging is marked by chronic non-communicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). IL-10 and IL-1β are pleiotropic cytokines with multiple biological effects linked to metabolic disorders. This cross-sectional study assessed 193 participants' IL-10 and IL-1β serum levels regarding their role in developing MetS, clinical characteristics, and their IL1B rs1143627 and IL10 rs1800890 variants' genotype frequencies in a population over 60. IL-10 levels correlated weakly with HDL levels and fat mass and inversely with triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and estimated average blood glucose levels. IL-10 levels were also indirectly influenced by the patient's T2DM duration, lean mass amount, and bone mineral content. Participants with altered HDL, elevated serum glucose, raised HbA1c levels, or those over 80 had reduced serum IL-10 levels compared to those with normal levels or other age groups, respectively. Women also had higher serum IL-10 levels than men. Dissimilarity, IL-1β levels correlated directly only with the number of total leukocytes and segmented neutrophils, showing only significant variations with self-reported alcohol consumption. Our study also found that those with the IL10 AA genotype (lower IL-10 levels) had a significantly higher risk of developing MetS. These findings may help direct future research and more targeted therapeutic approaches in older adults.

Urban air pollution is a critical global environmental issue, necessitating an understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors for effective environmental protection and urban planning. This study introduced an advanced air quality assessment system that integrates environmental, socio-economic, and urban layout factors, addressing gaps in traditional models that often overlook the impact of urban spatial structures. Analyzing air quality data from Beijing's main urban area (2016-2020) alongside multi-source geographic data, the research develops a comprehensive evaluation system, incorporating 14 key driving factors. Employing Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR), the study quantitatively assessed the influence and spatial heterogeneity of these factors. Findings revealed an annual improvement in air quality, with a U-shaped seasonal pattern and significant spatial clustering (Global Moran’s I = 0.922). The MGWR model, in particular, provided a superior fit over GWR, effectively capturing the spatial variability of factors. Variables such as NDVI), economic output (GDP), and humidity space adjustment capability (HSAC) showed significant positive spatial impacts on air quality, while population density (POP), temperature (TEMP), and road density (RD) exhibited negative effects. These insights enhance the understanding of air pollution dynamics and aid in refining urban planning strategies.

The development and utilization of wind energy is of great significance to the sustainable development of China's economy and the realization of the goal of "dual carbon". Under the typhoon system, the randomness and volatility of wind speed become an important basis for affecting the energy efficiency utilization and design of wind turbines. Therefore, based on wind speed and wind direction data at 10m, 30m, 50m and 70m heights of a wind power tower in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, this paper analyzes the change characteristics of wind speed and wind direction by using BFAST method and Hurst index. Based on typhoon body data, topographic data and mesoscale system wind direction data, the causes of the occurrence and development of wind speed and wind direction of wind tower are further analyzed, and a conclusion is drawn: (1) In BEAST method, there are 5, 5, 6 and 6 change points at the height of 10m, 30m, 50m and 70m respectively. Among them, the change points at the height of 10m, 30m and 50m all change before and after node 325, and the change time point at the height of 70m is inconsistent with other heights. Hurst index results show that the inconsistency at 70m altitude is stronger than that at other altitudes. (2) The wind direction sequence at 10m, 30m, 50m and 70m altitude is fitted by stages, and the direction of wind direction is SE-E-SE-SW-W-NW, where, At the height of 70m, the deviation of the fitting trend line from other altitudes is larger in the wind speed strengthening stage and weakening stage. (3) The wind speed at the height of 10m and 70m has different response degrees to the typhoon body. The correlation between the wind speed and the distance between the wind measurement tower and the typhoon near the center is stronger at the height of 10m than at the height of 70m. The surface type and the wind direction of the mesoscale system also have certain effects on the wind speed and direction. In this paper, the change characteristics and influencing factors of wind speed and direction of wind tower are studied, which provides methods and theoretical support for the study of short-term wind speed when typhoon passes through, and provides reliable support for the selection of wind power forecast indicators and the selection and design of wind turbines under extreme gale weather systems.

Brown rice is a familiar whole grain in Japan. We examined national trends in brown rice consumption among Japanese adults aged ≥ 20 years old, using individual-level data from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys conducted between 2012 and 2019. We employed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with brown rice consumption. The 95th percentile of daily brown rice intake remained at 0.0 grams throughout the study period. The percentage of brown rice consumers increased from 1.8% (95% confidence interval: 1.6–2.1) in 2012 to 2.3% (95% confidence interval: 1.8–3.0) in 2019. Compared with individuals who consumed only white rice, brown rice consumers had significantly higher mean intake levels of macronutrients, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Brown rice consumption was positively associated with certain sociodemographic characteristics (being female, older age, residing in a major city, living without very young children, and having higher education levels) and health behaviors (lower body mass index, engaging in regular exercise, and being a former or never smoker). Despite its potential nutritional benefits in balanced diets, only a small fraction of adults in Japan consume brown rice, indicating a need for further promotion, particularly among individuals with characteristics associated with brown rice consumption.

Pure titanium is limited to be used in biomedical applications due to its lower mechanical strength compared to its alloy counterpart. To enhance its properties and improve medical implants feasibility, advancements in titanium processing technologies are necessary. One such technique is equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) for its severe plastic deformation (SPD). This study aimed to surface modify commercially pure titanium using micro arc oxidation (MAO) technology and mineral solutions containing Ca and P. The composition and shape of the changed surface were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The weight % of Ca and P in the coating was determined using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and the corrosion resistance was evaluated through potentiodynamic measurement. The behavior of human dental pulp cell and periodontal cell behavior was also studied through a biomedical experiment over a period of 1-, 3-, and 7-days using trypsin as the culture medium and ELISA as the observation method. This study showed that the mechanical grain refinement method and surface modification significantly improved the biomechanical properties of commercially pure (CP) Titanium. Although the results showed variations in the absorbance values of cells cultured on different surfaces, this study provides valuable insights into pulp cell behavior and advances the field of biomedical research.

The alternating stress caused by periodic high-pressure injection and extraction in gas storage can potentially induce fault slippage, compromising the sealing integrity of faults within these facil-ities. Understanding the mechanical behavior of faults under alternating stress is crucial for en-suring the long-term stability and safety of gas storage operations. To explore the impact of fault dip angle and fault gouge strength on fault slip characteristics, fault samples were prepared with uniaxial compressive strengths of 20.1, 30.2, 42.4, and 51.4 MPa at two distinct dip angles. Triaxial compression experiments were conducted under alternating stress conditions corresponding to operational pressures at a specific gas storage in China. Results indicate that faults with dip angles of 30° and 45° tend to fail at their weakest points. Increasing strength of fault gouge shifts failure mechanisms from interfacial failure between gouge and surrounding rock towards internal gouge failure, often accompanied by shear failure across sections, resulting in characteristic "X"-shaped conjugate shear failures. The decrease in the ratio of bedrock strength to fault gouge strength elucidates the observed phenomena of initial reduction followed by increased fault deformation. Transition points for faults with 30° and 45° dips occur around the strength ratios of 1.7/1 and 1.2/1, respectively. Fault damage exhibits a negative correlation with fault gouge strength and a positive correlation with fault dip angle. Samples with higher strength fault gouge at a 30° dip angle generally incur less damage compared to those with lower strength fault gouge at a 45° dip angle. Moreover, higher maximum static friction coefficients denote greater fault resistance to slipping, with 30° faults consistently demonstrating superior resistance compared to 45° faults. Additionally, higher strength fault gouge consistently enhances slip resistance under identical dip angles.

The research on the excavation mechanical properties of underpass tunnels has already had certain results, but fewer of them consider the effects of dynamic and static loads on the excavation mechanical properties of underground tunnels at the same time, especially the lack of research cases of double-line highway tunnels with angled underpasses of existing railway tunnels. In this paper, based on the tunnel project of the new double-line Shiqian Highway Tunnel passing under the Hurong Railway at an oblique angle, the mechanical parameters of the rock body in the cross-tunneling area under the influence of static and dynamic load coupling are obtained by using the disturbance quantification coefficients and the Hoek-Brown criterion based on the method of over-advanced geological prediction and the investigation of the surrounding rock on the palisade face, and the engineering-scale finite element model is constructed and the mechanical characteristics of the excavation in the tunnel of the double-lane highway tunnel passing under the existing railroad under the influence of the static and dynamic loads are analyzed. The results show that: the new tunnel rock movement law for the top of the arch sinking, bottom plate bulging, side wall to move outward, the height and width of the arch and bottom plate arch with the tunnel excavation and increase, the side wall rock displacement effect is smaller; left and right lines of the tunnel disturbed area of the rule of change is similar; the existing tunnel bottom plate displacement is more than the top plate and the left and right side walls by the excavation of the time step influence is larger. Typical profile displacement is mainly determined by the distance from the excavation surface; the new tunnel in the four types of calculation conditions of the rock disturbance angle is the same; the existing tunnel roof and side wall Von Mises stress extreme occurs in the tunnel structure, the bottom plate there are pressure relief and pressure-bearing areas; based on the displacement control criteria, the recommended upper and lower step blasting method.

In order to study the adsorption process and adsorption characteristics of shale oil at the macro scale, the isothermal adsorption experiments of illite and kerogen on heptadecane (oil phase) solution were carried out by infrared spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The reaction mechanism of alkane solution concentration and temperature in the adsorption process was investigated. The adsorption characteristics of heptadecane on the surface and pores of illite and kerogen were elucidated by adsorption isotherm model and adsorption thermodynamic model. The results show that: The concentration of alkane solution contributes to the adsorption of illite and kerogen. As the concentration of the solution continues to increase, the adsorption rate gradually slows down. However, the temperature hardly affects the adsorption rate. At 25℃, 50℃ and 60℃, the adsorption process of illite on alkane solution is more consistent with Langmuir model and Freundlich model, respectively. The difference is that Langmuir model is suitable for describing the whole adsorption process of kerogen on alkane solution. 3) The adsorption process of illite and kerogen to heptadecane solution is an endothermic reaction. Heating helps to accelerate the migration rate of alkanes, which is conducive to the adsorption reaction. The research results clarify the adsorption characteristics of shale oil heavy components from the macro level, and fill the research gap in the application of solid-liquid isothermal adsorption physical experiments to the adsorption and occurrence of shale oil.

This study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in selected rural healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A retrospective review of clinical records from 456 patients, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2020, revealed that a statistically significant relationship between DR-TB types and age groups (Chi-square statistic: 30.74, p-value: 0.015). Younger adults (19-35 years) and middle-aged adults (36-50 years) are more frequently affected by RR-TB and MDR-TB, which are the most prevalent forms of DR-TB. Less common types, including Pre-XDR, XDR, and INH TB, were observed in smaller numbers. The study suggests that DR-TB imposes a heavy burden on the working-age population. Gender analysis shows that while the frequency of DR-TB differs between males and females, the percentage distribution of DR-TB types is relatively equal. Both genders are predominantly affected by RR-TB and MDR-TB, which together account for nearly 90% of cases. Pre-XDR, XDR, and INH-resistant TB are much less common, comprising only a small percentage of cases in both males and females. High-risk behaviors such as smoking and drinking are linked to a wider diversity of DR-TB types, while occupations like mining and prison work show higher rates of RR-TB and MDR-TB. In HIV-positive individuals, DR-TB is more common, but the distribution of DR-TB types between HIV-positive and negative groups shows no statistically significant difference. However, HIV-positive individuals have a 20% lower survival rate (65%) compared to HIV-negative patients (85%). Financial stability and comorbidities also significantly influence outcomes, with patients having stable income and fewer high-risk comorbidities experiencing better survival and treatment outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and strengthening healthcare infrastructure to improve DR-TB treatment outcomes in rural Eastern Cape.

Citrus waste has been used as a source of bioplastic research in different ways. Because the juice industry produces significant amounts of residue each year, it would be advantageous to use the byproducts in the creation of new materials. For many years, researchers have been investigating an environmentally friendly way to take citrus and other organic waste and turn it into polymers that may be used, for instance, to produce bio-based and biodegradable films for food packaging. The goal of this study is to create biofilms from orange (OW) and ginger waste (GW) using an ultrafine grinder and study the films' properties. Since pectin has the ability to gel and because cellulosic fibres are strong, citrus waste has been studied for its potential to produce biofilms. After being washed, dried, and milled, orange and ginger waste were shaped into films using a casting process. Tensile testing was used to determine the mechanical properties of biofilms, while dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine their thermal properties. As the number of grinding cycles increased, the suspension's viscosity increased from 29 to 57 mPa.s for OW and from 217 to 376 mPa.s for GW while the particle size in the suspension significantly decreased. For OW and GW films, the highest tensile strength was 17 MPa and 15 MPa, respectively. The maximum strain obtained among all films was 4.8%. All the tested films were stable up to 150°C, and maximum degradation occurs after 300°C.

Introduction: The image of the nurse is a source of concern because of its impact on recruitment to the profession, policy decisions about the profession, funding of nursing services, consumer use of nursing services and how the image of the nurse affects nursing practice. Aim: This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Nursing Attitudes Questionnaire (NAQ-IV). Methods: 564 persons between the years 2022 and 2023 with heterogeneous ages and occupations from Northern, Central and Southern Italy participated in the study. Cronbach's alpha, item versus total correlations, skewness and kurtosis were calculated; factor analysis was performed using principal axis factoring and the viramax rotation method. Results: The results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 on the scale and between 0.88 and 0.89 between the factors; all items tested for correlation between the item and the total and the criteria for variance in the responses. Factor analysis showed a 4-factor model explaining more than 59.91% of the variance, with the largest variance being explained by the 'Role & professionalism' factor (25.96%). Conclusion: These results allow for a discussion regarding the theoretical framework of the NAQ-IV and provide a reliable and valid instrument for the comparison of welfare, organisation of health services, role, professionalism, stereotypes, values, advocacy, motivation and perceived satisfaction with the figure of the nurse and nursing care.

The Eastern Kunlun Fault Zone (EKFZ) is located in a seismic blank area. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ to understand the relationship between fractures, fluids and earthquakes. It aids in establishing their induction mechanisms and assists in monitoring the earthquake precursors of the EKFZ. In this study, the main elements, trace elements, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and strontium isotopes of 23 varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ were analyzed. The results reveal the source of groundwater recharge, hydrochemical types, mineral saturation, and for a select few springs indicative of geothermal activity, collected geothermal reservoir temperatures. The study also explores the relationship between earthquakes and springs, identifying sensitive chemical indicators. Based on continuous monitoring at Maqu Station, we found that before the occurrence of the Maerkang Ms 6.0 earthquake, the concentration of Cl− rose by 2.9 times, and 46 days before the Gande earthquake (Ms = 4.7), the concentrations of Na+ and SO42− significantly increased. Finally, a conceptual model of the hydrogeochemistry of springs is presented to describe the groundwater circulation in the study area. This research is of great significance for the analysis of fluid geochemistry in this area and for assessing the seismic hazards of the EKFZ.

The goal of this work was to develop the acrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR) elastomer composites filled with hydroxyapatite (HAP), which were characterized with improved cure characteristics and burning resistance. Silane, i.e., (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane, ionic liquid, i.e., 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and surfactant, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, were used to improve the filler’s dispersibility in the elastomer matrix and to reduce the time and temperature of vulcanization. The effect of HAP and dispersants on the cure characteristics, crosslink density and physico-chemical properties of NBR composites was explored. The additives used, especially the ionic liquid and surfactant, effectively improved the dispersion of HAP in NBR matrix. The amount of HAP and the dispersant used strongly affected the cure characteristics and crosslink density of NBR. The optimal vulcanization time significantly increased with HAP content and was pronouncedly reduced when ionic liquid and surfactant were applied. In addition, ionic liquid and surfactant significantly lowered the onset vulcanization temperature, improved the crosslink density and hardness of the vulcanizates, while impairing their elasticity. HAP and dispersants did not significantly affect the damping properties and chemical resistance of NBR vulcanizates. Above all, application of HAP considerably enhanced the resistance of vulcanizates to thermo-oxidative aging and reduced their flammability compared to the unfilled NBR.

The research was aimed at comparing the fire characteristics of different types of pepper in the context of designing explosion prevention. The following characteristics were studied: explosion pressure pmax and Kst at selected concentrations, ignition temperature of the deposited dust layer from the hot surface and minimum initiation energy. The comparison of the chemical properties of the used types of pepper was performed using TG/DSC. Results of the measurements suggest that different types of peppers exhibit different explosion characteristics. Each of the samples reached the maximum value of the explosion pressure, and their rate of pressure rise increased at different concentrations. The volume of the explosion chamber used also influenced the explosion characteristics. It is a consequence of the fact that the explosion characteristics strongly depend on the mechanism of action of a particular igniter. The minimum effect on the safety characteristics was observed when measuring the minimum initiation energy and the minimum ignition temperature of dust layer from the hot surface. The results of the measurements suggest that different types of peppers exhibit different explosion characteristics. This information should then be considered in explosion prevention.

Cestrum parqui L'Herit. (Solanaceae family) is a species of forest shrub, self-incompatible and specialized in pollination, widespread in the subtropical area of the planet and now widely dis-tributed also in the Mediterranean area. The constituents of its leaves have antimicrobial, anti-cancer, insecticidal, antifeedant, and herbicidal properties. The spread of this species represents a valuable source of compounds with high biological value. Research on potential uses, under-standing of the nutritional and functional composition, and applications of C. parqui extracts is important and very promising for its commercial use. To date, there are some reports on the potential applications of C. parqui extracts as selective natural pesticides and for their potential phytotoxic role. Scientific knowledge and the use of extraction techniques for these components are essential for commercial applications. This article summarizes the research and recent studies available on the botany, phytochemistry, functional properties, and commercial applications of C. parqui as a biopesticide.

Intense climate change and rapid urbanization have increased the risk of urban flooding, seriously affecting urban economic and social stability. Enhancing the urban flood resilience (UFR) has required a new solution to cope with urban flood disasters. In this study, taking Yingtan city as an example, a system of indicators for evaluating UFR was constructed, with 17 representative indicators, comprising three subsystems: socio-economic, ecological and infrastructural. A hybrid (FAHP-EWM)-TOPSIS model was applied, to develop an index-based measurement to compare and evaluate UFR, and Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) was used to discover the main factors affecting UFR. In addition, the natural discontinuous method was innovatively used to divide the UFR grade interval into levels, and the grade change was evaluated based on the TOPSIS method. The results showed that (1) from 2010 to 2022, the UFR in Yingtan City increased by 80.69%, and the factors affecting UFR are highly correlated with urban infrastructure development. However, the ecological resilience in the subsystem showed a fluctuating downward trend, because of the influence of the surface area of lakes and rivers. (2) The grades of UFR for Yingtan City increased from Level III (2010 and 2016) to Level IV (2022), with local financial expenditures and the age structure of the population being the main factors currently limiting the development of UFR. The study provides a theoretical basis for the construction of an indicator system for assessing the UFR of Yingtan and proposes practical improvement directions for UFR.

"Suero costeño" a type of sour cream, is a traditional dairy product made mainly in the Colombian Caribbean region and has a variety of uses. The objective was to characterize the physicochemical and rheological properties of “suero costeño” produced in department of Córdoba-Colombia. Samples of " suero costeño " were obtained from local producers, characterized physicochemically (protein, fat, crude fiber, moisture, ash, carbohydrates, chlorides, pH and acidity), and rheologically (stationary tests), adjusting their behavior to the power-law model. The results show great variability in the physicochemical characteristics of the “suero costeño” made by the different artisanal producers, classifying it as a full-fat sour cream or light sour cream, and values of protein, pH and acidity similar to similar traditional dairy products from other countries, such as Reindeer sour cream and Curd or cottage cheese. “Suero costeño” can be classified as a pseudoplastic fluid and depending on the raw materials used and the production process, some present thixotropy, which may be the product of interactions between proteins and fats, which cause changes in the internal structure. Due to this great variability in its physicochemical and rheological characteristics, it is necessary to standardize the process of producing to improve the marketing of this Colombian culinary product.

Due to the long-term deformation settlement of foundations, issues such as damage and functional failure of buildings and structures have long been of concern in the engineering field. The creep of soil is one of the primary causes leading to long-term deformation of foundations. In this paper, the consolidation deformation, creep characteristics, and creep model of reconstituted saturated silty clay were studied by isotropic compression test and triaxial shear creep test. The results show that for the isotropic compression test, although the applied load adopts different stages of loading, as long as the final applied confining pressure is the same, the number of stages applied by the confining pressure has little effect on the final isotropic consolidation deformation of the sample and the triaxial undrained shear strength after creep. However, for the triaxial shear creep test, it is found that under the same final deviatoric stress, the final deviatoric strain of the sample is closely related to the number of loading stages of deviatoric stress. It shows that the more loading stages of the sample loaded with the same deviatoric stress, the smaller the final deviatoric strain, and the triaxial undrained shear strength of the sample after creep will increase. In addition, it is reasonable to determine the pore pressure dissipation of the sample to 95%((u0-u0)/u0=95%) as the main consolidation end time (tEOP) of the sample. The isotropic consolidation creep curves and the triaxial shear creep curves show certain nonlinearity. Then the logarithmic model and the hyperbolic model were used to fit the creep curves of the samples. It is found that the hyperbolic model has a better fitting effect than the logarithmic model, but for the triaxial shear creep test, the creep parameters of the sample change greatly. Therefore, studying the creep characteristics of soil under different pre-loading steps is of significant engineering importance for evaluating the long-term deformation of underground structures.

Abstract: A. baumannii exhibits resilience in harsh environments and progressively develops resistance to diverse antibacterial agents over time. This adaptability poses a significant challenge in treating an infection caused by this bacterium within healthcare settings. The presence of peptidoglycan, a crucial precursor for cell wall synthesis, contributes to this challenge. Peptidoglycan serves not only as a structural support in bacterial cells but also provides protection against adverse environmental conditions. The synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer involves a group of substrates such as N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), within a three-partitioned process occurring in the membrane, periplasmic space, and cytoplasm of each bacterium. Initiated in the cytoplasm and extending to the inner cell membrane, this synthesis starts with the production of nucleotide precursors. The first step involves the synthesis of UDP-GlcNAc, orchestrated by Glm (GlmS, GlmM, and GlmU) enzymes using fructose-6-phosphate. Subsequently, enzymes from the Mur family, namely MurB, MurA, MurD, MurC, MurI, MurF, and MurE, synthesize UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide (UDP-Mpp) from UDP-GlcNAc. Concurrently, on the cytosolic side, the production of membrane-surrounded undecaprenyl phosphate occurs, involving membrane-side proteins MraY and MurG in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan. This review emphasizes updated information on Mur family proteins, encompassing physicochemical properties, nature of binding site, number and type of binding site residues, functional domain details, three-dimensional structural aspects, and their functions within bacterial cells. Special attention is directed towards their enzymatic role in peptidoglycan biosynthesis due to the limited availability of precursors in the market. Additionally, the review provides a comprehensive summary of existing inhibitors and ongoing efforts in identifying new targeted inhibitors, recognizing these enzymes as potential candidates for antibacterial drug design and discovery.

Group A rotaviruses (RVA) have been identified as the leading cause of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) In Yunnan, China, despite the limited documentation on this issue within the country. Given the significant impact on animal health and welfare, further attention is warranted to comprehend the prevalence and epidemiology of this disease. In this study, we isolated RVA strains from NCD clinical samples to support RVA epidemic study and further disease control in Yunnan. Material and Methods: Ten fecal samples were obtained from calves with a single episode of neonate calf diarrhea from a farmer during a severe NCD outbreak. For the diagnosis of Group A rotavirus (RVA) infection, fecal reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed as the primary method. Subsequently, RVA isolation was conducted on MA104 cells, with inoculates being pretreated with trypsin TPCK to enhance viral infectivity. The isolated RVA strain was further confirmed through RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay. Results: RVA virus was isolated from clinical samples following six passages depended on trypsin treatment of inoculates. The sign of CPE detected consisted of increased cell granularity, obscure cell boundaries, cell rounding, and eventual degeneration and detachment of cells. Analysis of sequencing revealed that field isolates was of group A serotype. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ORF sequences of the VP4 and VP7 sequences segments indicated that the isolate was classified as the P[1] genotype. VP4 gene of strain YN-1 shares 75.2%-99.7% nucleotide identity of and 81.6%–99.7% amino acid identity with the complete VP4 sequences of the P[1]. The complete VP7 gene of YN-1 is 981 nucleotide long and encode 326 amino acids. The RotaC v2.0 analysis classified the sequence as the G8 genotype. The VP7 gene of strain YN-1 shares 88.5%-97.7% nucleotide identity and 94.2%-99.1% amino acid identity. Conclusion: This is the first study in China which reports the circulation of Group A NCD on cattle farms in the field. Our study constitutes a crucial and a necessary step allowing preventive and veterinary medicine to support RVA disease controls in Yunnan province, China.

The nozzle is the key element of the water jet generator for energy conversion. In order to explore the influence of the nozzle diameter on the pressure characteristics of the supercharged pulsed water jet plenum chamber, a supercharged pulsed water jet pressure acquisition system was established, and the Equations of motion and theoretical pressurization ratio equations of the supercharged pulsed water jet generator were established. The pressurization chamber pressure acquisition experiments under different nozzle diameters were carried out. The research results indicate that there is a critical nozzle diameter. When the nozzle diameter is less than the critical diameter, the pressure in the boost chamber is equal to the product of the driving pressure and boost ratio. As the nozzle changes, there is no significant change in the peak pressure and frequency of the boost chamber; When the nozzle diameter is greater than the critical diameter, there is a non-linear relationship between the boost chamber pressure and the driving pressure. As the nozzle diameter gradually increases, the actual boost ratio gradually decreases, and the peak pressure of the boost chamber further decreases. The nozzle diameter can no longer provide a load for the establishment of fluid pressure in the boost chamber. The research results provide a research basis for further controlling the pressure characteristics of the boost pulse water jet.

The article aims to present the results of research on anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste wafers (WF - control) and co-substrate system - waste wafers and cheese (WFC - control), combined with digested sewage sludge. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of the chitosan/perlite (Ch/P; 3:1) carrier material and to verify its effect on the directions of change of the bacterial microbiome, removal kinetics of organic matter and AD process efficiency. The experiment was conducted in a laboratory, in a periodical mode of operation of bioreactors, under mesophilic conditions. The results of analyses of morphological-dispersive, spectroscopic, adsorption, thermal and microbiological properties confirmed that the tested carrier material can be an excellent option to implement in biotechnological processes, especially in anaerobic digestion. The microstructural properties of the carrier were influenced by both components: perlite determined the development of the specific surface area, while chitosan shaped the porosity of the system. The thermal properties were determined by the less heat-resistant component, present in a threefold higher weight proportion, i.e. chitosan. The evaluation of quantitative and qualitative changes in the genetic diversity of bacterial communities, carried out using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), showed that the material has a modifying effect on the bacterial microbiome. Amount of bacteria from phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Campilobacterota, Chloroflexi, Euryarchaeota, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria decreased while Firmicutes, Synergistetes, and Thermotogae increased during the course of the experiment. The shapes of the FT-IR spectra indicated a dependence of the degradation rate on both the presence of the carrier and the cosubstrate system. Monitoring of the course of AD was carried out by measuring key parameters for the stability of the process: pH, VFA and VFA/TA ratio (volatile fatty acids/total alkalinity). As a result, an increase in the volume of biogas/methane produced, under the influence of the carrier, was recorded for WF-control by 12.05% and for WFC-control by 19.16%. The volume of methane for the WF-control increased from 351.72 m3 Mg-1 VS to 411.14 m3 Mg-1 VS, while for the cosubstrate sample it increased from 476.84 m3 Mg-1 VS to 518.08 m3 Mg-1 VS, confirming the validity of combining the respective cosubstrate with microbial carrier in anaerobic bioreactor.

Background and Objectives: Proteomics encompasses the exploration of protein composition, regulation, function, and pathways. Its influence spans diverse clinical fields and holds promise in addressing various women’s health conditions, including cancers, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disorders. However, no comprehensive summary of proteomics and menopausal health exists. Our objective was to summarize proteomic profiles associated with diseases and disorders in peri and postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane database, Elsevier, and ScienceDirect until 2022. A total of 253 studies were identified, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria to identify data of interest. These included study design, disease, and proteomics/proteins of significance as described by the authors. Results: The 41 studies, covered diverse areas including bone disorders (10 studies), cardiovascular diseases (5 studies), oncological malignancies (10 studies), and conditions such as obesity, nonalcoholic liver disease, the effects of hormone replacement therapy, and neurological diseases (16 studies). Results of our study indicate that proteomic profiles correlate with heart disease in peri- and postmenopausal women, with distinct sex differences. Furthermore, proteomic profiles significantly differed between women with and without osteoporosis. Additionally, patients with breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer exhibited notable variations in proteomic profiles compared to those without these conditions. Conclusions: Proteomics has the potential to enhance risk assessment and disease monitoring in peri- and postmenopausal women. By analyzing unique protein profiles, clinicians can identify individuals with heightened susceptibility to specific diseases or those already affected by established conditions. This review suggests that there is sufficient preliminary data for proteomics in peri- and postmenopausal women for early identification of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancers, in disease monitoring, and in tailoring individualized therapies. Rigorous validation studies involving large populations are essential before drawing definitive conclusions regarding the clinical applicability of proteomic findings.

The deposition of dust particles on solar panel modules constitutes a significant challenge, leading to a potential reduction in solar cell performance. This work tackles this issue by investigating the surface modification of a layer of transparent indium tin oxide (ITO), with a detailed analysis of the influence of its characteristics via different annealing conditions/processing. The ITO layer has been studied to enhance its characteristics for dust removal applications. Of particular note is that the developed ITO layer can be applied to dust removal using electrostatic or magnetic-based approaches. Thus, the correlation between annealing gas (using Argon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen), annealing temperature, and annealing ramping rate is explored with the obtained surface topography, as well as electrical and optical properties. The developed ITO layers annealed in the Argon medium at 600°C with an annealing ramping rate of 50°C/s showed smooth surface roughness, the highest electrical conductivity, and a relatively low refractive index. Such findings can play a crucial role in the future implementation of using the enhanced ITO layer for dust mitigation in solar panels, thus improving their long-term performance.