The traditional aviary decontamination process involves farmers applying pesticides to the aviary’s ground. These agricultural defenses are easily dispersed in the air, making the farmers susceptible to chronic diseases related to recurrent exposure. Industry 5.0 raises new pillars of research and innovation in transitioning to more sustainable, human-centric, and resilient companies. Based on these concepts, this paper presents a new aviary decontamination process that uses IoT and a robotic platform coupled with ozonizer (O${}_3$) and ultraviolet light (UVL). These clean technologies can successfully decontaminate poultry farms against pathogenic microorganisms, insects, and mites. Also, they can degrade toxic compounds used to control living organisms. This new decontamination process uses physicochemical information from the poultry litter through sensors installed in the environment, which allows accurate and safe disinfection. Different experimental tests were conducted to construct the system. First, tests related to measuring soil moisture, temperature, and pH were carried out, establishing the range of use and the confidence interval of the measurements. The robot’s navigation uses a back-and-forth motion that parallels the aviary’s longest side because it reduces the number of turns, reducing energy consumption. This task becomes more accessible because of the aviaries’ standardized geometry. Furthermore, the prototype was tested in a real aviary to confirm the innovation, safety, and effectiveness of the proposal. Tests have shown that the UV + ozone combination is sufficient to disinfect this environment. Full article

With a huge capital and labor input influx, inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) projects have been shown to effectively mitigate water stress and ensure the water demand for social and economic development in the receiving area. Whether they have promoted the improvement of regional water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial for sustainable management of regional water resources. Targeting the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP), the largest and most ambitious inter-basin water transfer project in China, this study establishes quantitatively econometric models to analyze the impact of different water diversion projects, specifically the eastern route of the SNWTP (ER-SNWTP), middle route of the SNWTP (MR-SNWTP), and diversion from the main stream of the Yellow River (DYR), on the regional water consumption per unit of GDP; regional water stress, water use structure, economic structure, and urbanization level are used as control variables in different types of cities in the Yellow River Basin, and some intriguing results are found. While the overall water transfer project demonstrates a positive impact on water use efficiency, the effects of the three water transfer measures vary significantly. The ER-SNWTP does not exhibit a notable positive effect on regional water use efficiency, whereas the MR-SNWTP demonstrates a significant positive impact. Interestingly, the DYR has a notable negative influence on water use efficiency in developed cities. The water use structure, shaped by the pricing, scale, and policies of different projects, emerges as a pivotal factor in explaining these differences. Finally, this paper suggests that the impact of water transfer projects on the improvement of regional water use efficiency be viewed from a more comprehensive and developmental perspective. Full article

Background: Spheroids generated by tumor cells collected from malignant pleural effusion (MPE) were shown to retain the characteristics of the original tumors. This ex vivo model might be used to predict the response of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to anticancer treatments. Methods: The characteristics, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status, and clinical response to EGFR-TKIs treatment of enrolled patients were recorded. The viability of the spheroids generated from MPE of enrolled patients were evaluated by visualization of the formazan product of the MTT assay. Results: Spheroids were generated from 14 patients with NSCLC-related MPE. Patients with EGFR L861Q, L858R, or Exon 19 deletion all received EGFR-TKIs, and five of these seven patients responded to treatment. The viability of the spheroids generated from MPE of these five patients who responded to EGFR-TKIs treatment was significantly reduced after gefitinib treatment. On the other hand, gefitinib treatment did not reduce the viability of the spheroids generated from MPE of patients with EGFR wild type, Exon 20 insertion, or patients with sensitive EGFR mutation but did not respond to EGFR-TKIs treatment. Conclusion: Multicellular spheroids generated from NSCLC-related MPE might be used to predict the response of NSCLC to treatment. Full article

Our study focused on assessing the effects of three newly identified BRCA1 exon 11 variants (c.1019T>C, c.2363T>G, and c.3192T>C) on breast cancer susceptibility. Using computational predictions and experimental splicing assays, we evaluated their potential as pathogenic mutations. Our in silico analyses suggested that the c.2363T>G and c.3192T>C variants could impact both splicing and protein function, resulting in the V340A and V788G mutations, respectively. We further examined their splicing effects using minigene assays in MCF7 and SKBR3 breast cancer cell lines. Interestingly, we found that the c.2363T>G variant significantly altered splicing patterns in MCF7 cells but not in SKBR3 cells. This finding suggests a potential influence of cellular context on the variant’s effects. While attempts to correlate in silico predictions with RNA binding factors were inconclusive, this observation underscores the complexity of splicing regulation. Splicing is governed by various factors, including cellular contexts and protein interactions, making it challenging to predict outcomes accurately. Further research is needed to fully understand the functional consequences of the c.2363T>G variant in breast cancer pathogenesis. Integrating computational predictions with experimental data will provide valuable insights into the role of alternative splicing regulation in different breast cancer types and stages. Full article

Kunitz-type peptide expression has been described in the venom of snakes of the Viperidae, Elapidae and Colubridae families. This work aimed to identify these peptides in the venom gland transcriptome of the coral snake Micrurus mipartitus. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a high diversity of venom-associated Kunitz serine protease inhibitor proteins (KSPIs). A total of eight copies of KSPIs were predicted and grouped into four distinctive types, including short KSPI, long KSPI, Kunitz–Waprin (Ku-WAP) proteins, and a multi-domain Kunitz-type protein. From these, one short KSPI showed high identity with Micrurus tener and Austrelaps superbus. The long KSPI group exhibited similarity within the Micrurus genus and showed homology with various elapid snakes and even with the colubrid Pantherophis guttatus. A third group suggested the presence of Kunitz domains in addition to a whey-acidic-protein-type four-disulfide core domain. Finally, the fourth group corresponded to a transcript copy with a putative 511 amino acid protein, formerly annotated as KSPI, which UniProt classified as SPINT1. In conclusion, this study showed the diversity of Kunitz-type proteins expressed in the venom gland transcriptome of M. mipartitus. Full article

Underwater long-endurance platforms are crucial for continuous oceanic observation, allowing for sustained data collection from a multitude of sensors deployed across diverse underwater environments. They extend mission durations, reduce maintenance needs, and significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of oceanographic research endeavors. This paper investigates the closed-loop depth control of actuation systems employed in underwater vehicles, focusing on the energy consumption of two different mechanisms: variable buoyancy and propeller actuated devices. Using a prototype previously developed by the authors, this paper presents a detailed model of the vehicle using both actuation solutions. The proposed model, although being a linear-based one, accounts for several nonlinearities that are present such as saturations, sensor quantization, and the actuator brake model. Also, it allows a simple estimation of the energy consumption of both actuation solutions. Based on the developed models, this study then explores the intricate interplay between energy consumption and control accuracy. To this end, several PID-based controllers are developed and tested in simulation. These controllers are used to evaluate the dynamic response and power requirements of variable buoyancy systems and propeller actuated devices under various operational conditions. Our findings contribute to the optimization of closed-loop depth control strategies, offering insights into the trade-offs between energy efficiency and system effectiveness in diverse underwater applications. Full article

To test the hypothesis that a sleep-like quiescent state enhances memory consolidation in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, we interposed a period in which snails experienced either a quiescent, sleeping state or an active, non-sleeping state following escape behavior suppression learning (EBSL). During EBSL training, the number of escapes made by a snail from a container was significantly suppressed using an external aversive stimulus (punishment). After training, the snails were divided into two groups. One group of snails was allowed to move freely and to experience a sleep-like quiescent state for 3 h in distilled water. The other group was stimulated with a sucrose solution every 10 min to keep them active (i.e., non-sleeping). In the memory test, escape behavior was suppressed in the group that experienced the quiescent state, whereas the suppression was not observed in snails that were kept active. Additionally, the latency of the first escape in the memory test was shorter in the snails kept active than in those that experienced the quiescent state. Together, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that a sleep-like quiescent state enhances EBSL memory consolidation in L. stagnalis. Full article

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted infection affecting 491 million individuals globally. Consequently, there is a great need for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Unfortunately, several vaccine clinical trials, primarily employing the glycoprotein D of HSV-2 (gD-2), have failed. The immune protection conferred by human anti-HSV-2 antibodies in genital infection and disease remains elusive. It is well-known that gD-2 elicits cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies, i.e., anti-gD-2 antibodies recognize gD in HSV-1 (gD-1). In contrast, anti-glycoprotein G in HSV-2 (mgG-2) antibodies are exclusively type-specific for HSV-2. In this study, truncated versions of gD-2 and mgG-2 were recombinantly produced in mammalian cells and used for the purification of anti-gD-2 and anti-mgG-2 antibodies from the serum of five HSV-2-infected subjects, creating a pool of purified antibodies. These antibody pools were utilized as standards together with purified mgG-2 and gD-2 antigens in ELISA to quantitatively estimate and compare the levels of cross-reactive anti-gD-1 and anti-gD-2 antibodies, as well as anti-mgG-2 antibodies in sera from HSV-1+2-, HSV-2-, and HSV-1-infected subjects. The median concentration of anti-mgG-2 antibodies was five times lower in HSV-1+2-infected subjects as compared with cross-reactive anti-gD-1 and anti-gD-2 antibodies, and three times lower in HSV-2 infected subjects as compared with anti-gD-2 antibodies. The pool of purified anti-gD-2 antibodies presented neutralization activity at low concentrations, while the pool of purified anti-mgG-2 antibodies did not. Instead, these anti-mgG-2 antibodies mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by human granulocytes, monocytes, and NK-cells, but displayed no complement-dependent cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that antibodies to mgG-2 in HSV-2-infected subjects are present at low concentrations but mediate the killing of infected cells via ADCC rather than by neutralizing free viral particles. We, and others, speculate that Fc-receptor mediated antibody functions such as ADCC following HSV-2 vaccination may serve as a better marker of protection correlate instead of neutralizing activity. In an mgG-2 therapeutic vaccine, our findings of low levels of anti-mgG-2 antibodies in HSV-2-infected subjects may suggest an opportunity to enhance the immune responses against mgG-2. In a prophylactic HSV-2 mgG-2 vaccine, a possible interference in cross-reactive immune responses in already infected HSV-1 subjects can be circumvented. Full article

In this paper, a 3-bit circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray is proposed. The array consists of 64 units in an 8 × 8 configuration, with each unit containing a circular metal patch loaded with phase-delay lines and eight PIN diodes. To independently control each unit, a corresponding DC control circuit was designed and tested with the array. In the bandwidth of 3.43–3.71 GHz, the circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray achieved a gain of 16 dB, an aperture efficiency of 27%, an axial ratio of ≤3 dB, an operating bandwidth of 8%, and a beam scanning range of ±60°. The circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray can also achieve a good dual-beam radiation performance after testing. The 3-bit circularly polarized reconfigurable reflectarray proposed in this paper offers several advantages, including low loss, high aperture efficiency, a wide beam scanning range, and excellent stability in wide-angle oblique incidence. It has potential applications in low-cost phased array, satellite communications, and deep space exploration. Full article

Comprehensive morphometric and hydrometeorological studies on Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico’s largest tropical karstic lake and a significant aquatic system of the Yucatán Peninsula, are lacking. This study provides a detailed analysis of its bathymetry, morphometry, and hydrometeorological characteristics. The lake’s main basin stretches more than 52.7 km in length, with widths varying from 0.18 km to 2.28 km. It has a volume of 554.4 million cubic meters, with an average depth of 8.85 m, reaching depths of up to 26 m in the north and featuring sub-lacustrine dolines in the south, with depths of 38 m, 48.5 m, and 63.6 m. The study reveals seasonal variations in surface water temperature, closely linked to air temperature (r = 0.89), and immediate responses of water levels to hydrometeorological events. Water level fluctuations also exhibit seasonal patterns that are correlated with regional aquifer conditions, with a lag of 2 months after seasonal rainfall. Interannual variability in rainfall and water levels was observed. From 2010 to 2012, rainfall consistently remained below its mean climatic value, due to a prolonged La Niña event, while the exceptionally wet conditions in 2020 were also associated with La Niña. Extreme and anomalous hydrometeorological events, such as those following tropical storm Cristobal in 2020, revealed the fragility of Bacalar Lagoon, causing a notable transformation in lake color and transparency, shifting it from its typical oligotrophic state to eutrophic conditions that lasted longer than a year. These color changes raise questions about the factors impacting ecological health in tropical karstic regions. Additional factors affecting water quality in the BL in 2020, such as deforestation, coastline changes, and urban growth, warrant further investigation. Our study can serve as a starting landmark. Full article

In this paper, we carry out some research on a predator–prey system with maturation delay, a stage structure for generalist predators and a Holling type-II functional response, which has already been proposed. First, for the delayed model, we obtain the conditions for the occurrence of stability switches of the positive equilibrium and possible Hopf bifurcation values owing to the growth of the value of the delay by applying the geometric criterion. It should be pointed out that when we suppose that the characteristic equation has a pair of imaginary roots $\lambda =\pm i\omega (\omega >0)$, we just need to consider $i\omega (\omega >0)$ due to the symmetry, which alleviates the computation requirements. Next, we investigate the nature of Hopf bifurcation. Finally, we conduct numerical simulations to verify the correctness of our findings. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max) is a vital food crop, serving as a major source of high-quality protein for human and animal consumption. Stem diameter is one of the primary determinants of the stem lodging resistance of a given plant, but there has been relatively little research to date focused on genes associated with this trait. To address this gap in the literature, 207 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) were generated in the present study through the crossing and backcrossing of the improved Suinong14 and the wild ZYD00006 soybean varieties. These CSSLs were then used for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with stem diameter in two-year field planting materials, leading to the identification of nine QTLs. Whole genome resequencing, RNA-seq, and qPCR were then used to evaluate candidate genes associated with stem diameter within these QTL intervals, ultimately leading to the selection of Glyma.04G004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Subsequent qPCR analyses revealed that Glyma.04g004100 was upregulated in soybean plants with larger stem diameters, and haplotype analyses yielded results consistent with these stem diameter data in the population used to conduct this study. In summary, a series of QTLs associated with stem diameter were identified in the present study, resulting in the establishment of Glyma.04g004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Together, these results offer a theoretical foundation for the future molecular-assisted breeding of lodging-resistant soybean varieties, and future functional research focused on Glyma.04g004100 may elucidate the molecular mechanisms and key signaling networks involved in soybean stem development. Full article

This study reports on the development of effective strain engineering strategies for the high-level bio-based production of coproporphyrin (CP), a porphyrin pigment compound with various applications, using Escherichia coli as a production host. Our approach involves heterologous implementation of the Shemin/C4 pathway in an E. coli host strain with an enlarged intracellular pool of succinyl-CoA. To regulate the expression of the key pathway genes, including hemA/B/D/E/Y, we employed a plasmid system comprising two operons regulated by strong trc and gracmax promoters, respectively. Using the engineered E. coli strains for bioreactor cultivation under aerobic conditions with glycerol as the carbon source, we produced up to 353 mg/L CP with minimal byproduct formation. The overproduced CP was secreted extracellularly, posing minimal physiological toxicity and impact on the producing cells. To date, targeted bio-based production of CP by E. coli has yet to be reported. In addition to the demonstration of high-level bio-based production of CP, our study underscores the importance of identifying key enzymatic reactions limiting the overall metabolite production for developing differential expression strategies for pathway modulation and even optimization. This investigation paves the way for the development of effective metabolic engineering strategies based on targeted manipulation of key enzymes to customize engineered strains for effective large-scale bio-based production. Full article

Materials offering high energy density are currently desired to meet the increasing demand for energy storage applications, such as pulsed power devices, electric vehicles, high-frequency inverters, and so on. Particularly, ceramic-based dielectric materials have received significant attention for energy storage capacitor applications due to their outstanding properties of high power density, fast charge–discharge capabilities, and excellent temperature stability relative to batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and dielectric polymers. In this paper, we present fundamental concepts for energy storage in dielectrics, key parameters, and influence factors to enhance the energy storage performance, and we also summarize the recent progress of dielectrics, such as bulk ceramics (linear dielectrics, ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics, and anti-ferroelectrics), ceramic films, and multilayer ceramic capacitors. In addition, various strategies, such as chemical modification, grain refinement/microstructure, defect engineering, phase, local structure, domain evolution, layer thickness, stability, and electrical homogeneity, are focused on the structure–property relationship on the multiscale, which has been thoroughly addressed. Moreover, this review addresses the challenges and opportunities for future dielectric materials in energy storage capacitor applications. Overall, this review provides readers with a deeper understanding of the chemical composition, physical properties, and energy storage performance in this field of energy storage ceramic materials. Full article

To investigate the role of candidate genes for salt–alkali tolerance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), this study screened CsTAU1 in the glutathione pathway from previous transcriptome data for cloning and functional analysis. Clone cucumber CsTAU1 contains one 675 bp open reading frame, containing one GST-N-Tau domain and one GST-C-Tau domain, and is expressed in cytoplasm. After successfully constructing overexpression vectors of CsTAU1 (+) and CsTAU1 (−), they were transferred into cucumber varieties ‘D1909’ (high salt alkali resistance) and ‘D1604’ (low salt alkali resistance) for salt–alkali resistance identification. It was found that under salt–alkali stress, CsTAU1 (+)-overexpressing plants showed strong resistance to salt–alkali stress, while CsTAU1 (-)-overexpressing plants showed the opposite situation. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on other glutathione pathway-related genes in CsTAU1-overexpressing plants. The expression patterns of LOC101219529 and LOC105434443 were the same as CsTAU1, and the introduction of CsTAU1 (+) increased the chlorophyll, α-Naphthylamine oxidation, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT) content of cucumber. The research results provide a theoretical basis for cultivating salt–alkali-tolerant cucumber varieties. Full article

Covalent adaptable networks and vitrimers are novel polymers with dynamic reversible bond exchange reactions for crosslinks, enabling them to modulate their properties between those of thermoplastics and thermosets. They have been gathering interest as materials for their recycling and self-healing properties. In this review, we discuss different molecular simulation efforts that have been used over the last decade to investigate and understand the nanoscale and molecular behaviors of covalent adaptable networks and vitrimers. In particular, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo, and a hybrid of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo approaches have been used to model the dynamic bond exchange reaction, which is the main mechanism of interest since it controls both the mechanical and rheological behaviors. The molecular simulation techniques presented yield sufficient results to investigate the structure and dynamics as well as the mechanical and rheological responses of such dynamic networks. The benefits of each method have been highlighted. The use of other tools such as theoretical models and machine learning has been included. We noticed, amongst the most prominent results, that stress relaxes as the bond exchange reaction happens, and that at temperatures higher than the glass transition temperature, the self-healing properties are better since more bond BERs are observed. The lifetime of dynamic covalent crosslinks follows, at moderate to high temperatures, an Arrhenius-like temperature dependence. We note the modeling of certain properties like the melt viscosity with glass transition temperature and the topology freezing transition temperature according to a behavior ruled by either the Williams–Landel–Ferry equation or the Arrhenius equation. Discrepancies between the behavior in dissociative and associative covalent adaptable networks are discussed. We conclude by stating which material parameters and atomistic factors, at the nanoscale, have not yet been taken into account and are lacking in the current literature. Full article

In Taiwan, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis chinensis) remains the only extant native wild cat species. Previous studies have suggested anthropogenic factors as a cause of their decline, mainly due to conflicts with local farmers. Adaptation strategies that generate co-benefits are key to achieving human–wildlife coexistence. However, an understanding of the local views on such strategies is currently lacking. In this study, we performed the first regional assessment of 10 adaptation strategies for human–leopard cat coexistence and examined the impact of the socio-demographic factors affecting farmers’ willingness to participate in these strategies based on quantitative interviews with 418 farmers in Miaoli County, employing an importance–performance analysis. We also present an integrated conceptual framework capturing five adaptation strategy domains and their resulting benefits, which lay the structural foundation for facilitating resilient coexistence. Our findings suggest that (1) respondents’ perceived importance and performance of adaptation strategies were significantly different; (2) respondents most agreed with improvements in the incorporation of local knowledge/skills into science and policy and the establishment of adaptive co-management with local associations/non-governmental organisations; and (3) respondents aged below 49 years, supportive of coexistence, who did not own poultry, and preferred local farmer organisations to facilitate coexistence, were more likely to participate in the proposed adaptation strategies. Our findings provide guidelines for the future direction of the conservation and management of leopard cats that help achieve harmonious coexistence in shared landscapes. Full article

As part of our continuing interest in the essential oil compositions of gymnosperms, particularly the distribution of chiral terpenoids, we have obtained the foliar essential oils of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (two samples), Thuja plicata (three samples), and Tsuga heterophylla (six samples) from locations in the state of Oregon, USA. The essential oils were obtained via hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques, including chiral gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. The major components in C. lawsoniana foliar essential oil were limonene (27.4% and 22.0%; >99% (+)-limonene), oplopanonyl acetate (13.8% and 11.3%), beyerene (14.3% and 9.0%), sabinene (7.0% and 6.5%; >99% (+)-sabinene), terpinen-4-ol (5.0% and 5.3%; predominantly (+)-terpinen-4-ol), and methyl myrtenate (2.0% and 5.4%). The major components in T. plicata essential oil were (−)-α-thujone (67.1–74.6%), (+)-β-thujone (7.8–9.3%), terpinen-4-ol (2.7–4.4%; predominantly (+)-terpinen-4-ol), and (+)-sabinene (1.1–3.5%). The major components in T. heterophylla essential oil were myrcene (7.0–27.6%), α-pinene (14.4–27.2%), β-phellandrene (6.6–19.3%), β-pinene (6.4–14.9%; >90% (−)-β-pinene), and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.7–11.3%). There are significant differences between the C. lawsoniana essential oils from wild trees in Oregon and those of trees cultivated in other geographical locations. The essential oil compositions of T. plicata are very similar, regardless of the collection site. There are no significant differences between T. heterophylla essential oils from the Oregon Coastal Range or those from the Oregon Cascade Range. Comparing essential oils of the Cupressaceae with the Pinaceae, there are some developing trends. The (+)-enantiomers seem to dominate for α-pinene, camphene, sabinene, β-pinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol in the Cuppressaceae. On the other hand, the (−)-enantiomers seem to predominate for α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, limonene, β-phellandrene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol in the Pinaceae. Full article

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder that impairs quality of life. Evaluating bowel motility via traditional methods, such as MRI and radiography, is expensive and inconvenient. Bowel sound (BS) analysis has been proposed as an alternative, with BS-time-domain acoustic features (BSTDAFs) being effective for evaluating bowel motility via several food and drink consumption tests. However, the effect of BSTDAFs before drink consumption on those after drink consumption is yet to be investigated. This study used BS-based stimulus–response plots (BSSRPs) to investigate this effect on 20 participants who underwent drinking tests. A strong negative correlation was observed between the number of BSs per minute before carbonated water consumption and the ratio of that before and after carbonated water consumption. However, a similar trend was not observed when the participants drank cold water. These findings suggest that when carbonated water is drunk, bowel motility before ingestion affects motor response to ingestion. This study provides a non-invasive BS-based approach for evaluating motor response to food and drink, offering a new research window for investigators in this field. Full article

In this study, ten questions measuring distributive justice on classical Likert and neutrosophic Likert scales consisting of two subdimensions—distributive and procedural justice—were used. Participants responded to the same questions for both the classical Likert and neutrosophic Likert scales within a single survey, with the neutrosophic method applied, for the first time, to the questions included in the scale. The neutrosophic scale responses were answered in percentages to resemble natural language, and the answers received for each question were reduced to the range [−1, 1] to grade the agreement approach through a score function used in neutrosophic decision-making theory. In this study, the neutrosophic scale, a scaling method with strong theoretical foundations, was compared with the traditional Likert scale. The results of the statistical analyses (exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, neural network analysis, correlation analysis, paired samples t-test, and one-way and two-way ANOVAs) and evaluations of the scales were compared to measure organizational justice within a single study. In this article, the symmetric and non-symmetric properties of statistical analysis that are specific to this paper in addition to general symmetric and non-symmetry properties are discussed. These symmetric and non-symmetric features are conceptualized according to the features on which each statistical analysis focuses. Finally, although this study presents a new area of research in the social sciences, we believe that the neutrosophic Likert scale and survey approach will contribute to collecting detailed and sensitive information on many topics, such as economics, health, audience perceptions, advertising responses, and product, market, and service purchase research, through the use of score functions. Full article

The imbalance cost pass-through (ICPT) is a flexible component of the incentive-based regulation (IBR) that empowers power producers to adjust tariffs in response to variable fuel prices, thereby enhancing the economic resilience of electricity generation. In Malaysia, the Energy Commission has conducted biannual reviews of fuel and other generation costs. Any cost savings or increases identified during these reviews will be passed on to customers in the form of rebates or surcharges. Meanwhile, if an increment in the ICPT price signal can be provided to electricity providers and consumers, early preparation for operation budgeting can be realised, and energy management program development can be properly prepared. Due to this reason, this study proposes ICPT price forecasting for the electricity market in Peninsular Malaysia that will benefit the stakeholders. The study aims to construct an ICPT-related baseline model for the peninsular generation data by employing three forecasting methods. The forecasting performance is analysed using the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). In light of our findings, the ARIMA method is one of the most accurate forecasting methods for fuel prices compared to the moving average (MA) and LSSVM methods. The observed price differences between the ARIMA and LSSVM models for ICPT are minimal. The ICPT price for July–December 2022 and January–June 2023 is MYR 0.21/kWh for the ARIMA and MYR 0.18/kWh for LSSVM, which are close to the actual TNB’s ICPT tariff. As for forecasting, the ICPT price is expected to drop in the next announcement. The findings of this study may have a positive impact on the sustainability of the energy sector in Malaysia. Full article

Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory condition affecting millions of children globally, presents a significant health challenge. This review critically examines the developmental pathways of asthma in children, focusing on genetic, environmental, and early-life determinants. Specifically, we explore the impact of prenatal and postnatal factors such as maternal smoking, nutrition, respiratory infections, and allergen exposure on asthma development. Our analysis highlights the intricate interplay of these influences and their contribution to childhood asthma. Moreover, we emphasize targeted strategies and interventions to mitigate its burden, including genetic counseling for at-risk families, environmental modifications to reduce triggers, and early-life immunomodulation. By delving into these preventive measures and interventions, our review aims to provide actionable insights for healthcare professionals in developing tailored strategies to address the complexities of childhood asthma. In summary, this article offers a detailed examination of asthma development in children, aiming to enhance understanding and inform efforts to reduce its burden through targeted interventions. Full article