With the development of large-scale sky surveys, an increasing number of stellar photometric images have been obtained. However, most stars lack spectroscopic data, which hinders stellar classification. Vision Transformer (ViT) has shown superior performance in image classification tasks compared to most convolutional neural networks (CNNs). In this study, we propose an stellar classification network based on the Transformer architecture, named stellar-ViT, aiming to efficiently and accurately classify the spectral class for stars when provided with photometric images. By utilizing RGB images synthesized from photometric data provided by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), our model can distinguish the seven main stellar categories: O, B, A, F, G, K, and M. Particularly, our stellar-ViT-gri model, which reaches an accuracy of 0.839, outperforms traditional CNNs and the current state-of-the-art stellar classification network SCNet when processing RGB images synthesized from the gri bands. Furthermore, with the introduction of urz band data, the overall accuracy of the stellar-ViT model reaches 0.863, further demonstrating the importance of additional band information in improving classification performance. Our approach showcases the effectiveness and feasibility of using photometric images and Transformers for stellar classification through simple data augmentation strategies and robustness analysis of training dataset sizes. The stellar-ViT model maintains good performance even in small sample scenarios, and the inclusion of urz band data reduces the likelihood of misclassifying samples as lower-temperature subtypes. Full article

MF59 and AS03 are squalene emulsion-based vaccine adjuvants with similar compositions and droplet sizes. Despite their broad use in licensed influenza vaccines, few studies compared their adjuvant effects and action mechanisms side by side. Considering the majority of adjuvants act on dendritic cells (DCs) to achieve their adjuvant effects, this study compared MF59 and AS03-like adjuvants (AddaVax and AddaS03, respectively) to enhance antigen uptake, DC maturation, ovalbumin (OVA) and seasonal influenza vaccine-induced immune responses. Considering MF59 was reported to activate MyD88 to mediate its adjuvant effects, this study also investigated whether the above-explored adjuvant effects of AddaVax and AddaS03 depended on MyD88. We found AddaVax more potently enhanced antigen uptake at the local injection site, while AddaS03 more potently enhanced antigen uptake in the draining lymph nodes. AddaS03 but not AddaVax stimulated DC maturation. Adjuvant-enhanced antigen uptake was MyD88 independent, while AddaS03-induced DC maturation was MyD88 dependent. AddaVax and AddaS03 similarly enhanced OVA-induced IgG and subtype IgG1 antibody responses as well as influenza vaccine-induced hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers, whileAddaS03 more potently enhanced OVA-specific IgG2c antibody responses. Both adjuvants depended on MyD88 to enhance vaccine-induced antibody responses, while AddaVax depended more on MyD88 to achieve its adjuvant effects. Our study reveals similarities and differences of the two squalene emulsion-based vaccine adjuvants, contributing to our improved understanding of their action mechanisms. Full article

We aim to explore the prerequisites for corporate sustainability from the perspective of non-formal institutions such as culture. Specifically, we seek to investigate whether and how Chinese tea culture influences corporate social responsibility (CSR). We have developed an OLS regression model to examine the relationship between tea culture and CSR, and our findings indicate that local tea culture yields positive effects. To address endogeneity concerns related to this correlation, we employed the local geographic slope as an instrumental variable for tea culture. Subsequent research highlights that the female executive, serving as a mediator variable, represents the primary mechanism influenced by tea culture. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that tea culture exerts a more significant impact on small and medium-sized enterprises as well as state-owned enterprises. Overall, this research contributes to the literature on the determinants of CSR from the vantage point of informal institutions, offering a fresh perspective for exploring the economic ramifications of tea culture for both academia and practitioners. Moreover, it furnishes valuable insights for advancing the sustainable development of enterprises. Full article

Based on the assumption that the process of understanding is partly narrative, this study explores the potential benefits and limitations of using narrative writing in biology education. We investigate what contribution a student-centered narrative intervention can make to the conceptual understanding of protein biosynthesis in the context of viral infections and virus replication. After a teaching sequence on this topic, 68 secondary school students (M = 15.7 years, SD = 0.57 years) explained virus replication in a written text. One subsample (n = 46) was instructed to write a narrative text, while the other one (n = 22) was asked to write an expository (non-fictional) text. Our data analysis encompassed an analysis of the structural narrativity in the student texts, as well as a concept-related rating of the level of scientific correctness in three categories. A post-test questionnaire (35 items) was used to depict the learners’ viewpoints on their respective text production and the learning process that they experienced. Our findings indicate that most learners actually produced the text type they were supposed to, with exceptions in both sub-samples. As to the level of concept-related scientific correctness, we found no major differences between the two interventions. However, for two concepts, compartmentalization and levels of organization, the data indicate the significant advantage of the narrative intervention. We conclude from our results that to some extent, the effective learning properties of narrative texts, derived from the theoretical foundations, could indeed successfully be demonstrated in the field of virus replication. However, narrative text production is not equally beneficial for all aspects of the biological topic, and it also poses specific problems for some learners. Full article

Purpose: Given the emergence of PSMA-targeted diagnostic agents and therapeutics, we sought to investigate patterns of FOLH1 expression in RCC and their impacts on RCC outcomes. Methods: We conducted a pooled multi-institutional analysis of patients with RCC having undergone DNA and RNA next-generation sequencing. FOLH1-high/low expression was defined as the ≥75th/<25th percentile of RNA transcripts per million (TPM). Angiogenic, T-effector, and myeloid expression signatures were calculated using previously defined gene sets. Kaplan–Meier estimates were calculated from the time of tissue collection or therapy start. Results: We included 1,724 patients in the analysis. FOLH1 expression was significantly higher in clear cell (71%) compared to non-clear cell RCC tumors (19.0 versus 3.3 TPM, p < 0.001) and varied by specimen site (45% primary kidney/55% metastasis, 13.6 versus 9.9 TPM, p < 0.001). FOLH1 expression was correlated with angiogenic gene expression (Spearman = 0.76, p < 0.001) and endothelial cell abundance (Spearman = 0.76, p < 0.001). While OS was similar in patients with FOLH1-high versus -low ccRCC, patients with FOLH1-high clear cell tumors experienced a longer time on cabozantinib treatment (9.7 versus 4.6 months, respectively, HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35–0.93, p < 0.05). Conclusions: We observed differential patterns of FOLH1 expression based on histology and tumor site in RCC. FOLH1 was correlated with angiogenic gene expression, increased OS, and a longer duration of cabozantinib treatment. Full article

Hirschsprung disease is a life-long condition that can have a significant impact on both children and their families. This article explores the role of the clinical nurse specialist and the support they can provide from initial diagnosis through the patient’s surgical journey and right through to transition into adult services. Through the provision of education, training, signposting of social and psychological support, and linking in with community-based services, the clinical nurse specialist can help the child and family to limit that impact of the disease. Full article

The development of sustainable biofuels can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. This study analyzes bioethanol production from agro-forestry residual biomass, namely eucalyptus residues and corn stover. The study includes process simulation using Aspen Plus software, followed by economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) with the help of SimaPro software and by applying the environmental footprint (EF) 3.0 method. The economic analysis on the biorefinery’s economic viability, equipment, and production costs reveals a positive decision for bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues due to logistical and transportation costs. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) obtained was 2.19 €/L and 2.45 €/L for eucalyptus residues and corn stover, respectively. From the LCA with a functional unit of 1 MJ of ethanol, bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues results in a single score impact of 37.86 µPt, whereas for corn stover, it is 33.47 µPt. In the climate change impact category, the eucalyptus residues scenario has an impact of 0.264 kg CO₂ eq/MJ ethanol while corn stover leads to 0.254 kg CO₂ eq/MJ ethanol. In-situ enzyme production, heat integration, and the use of renewable energy sources were also analyzed. Combining in situ enzyme production with renewable energy sources lowers CO₂ equivalent emissions by 89% for both feedstocks, in comparison to the base-case scenario. Full article

This paper presents a summary of and introduction to research on high-altitude and subatmospheric combustion concerning turbine and scramjet engines. The investigation includes theoretical analysis, experimental studies, and numerical simulations. The analysis encompasses the flow field structure, fuel atomization, and combustion performance. Subsequently, recent research on the combustion performance of liquid fuels, solid fuels, and gaseous fuels under high-altitude and low-pressure plateau environments is reviewed. This includes an evaluation of flame height, flame temperature, combustion rate, fire spread rate, and heat radiation flux. Additionally, combustion performance prediction models for high-altitude environments based on experimental and theoretical analysis have been introduced. Lastly, issues in subatmospheric combustion in the aerospace and plateau fire fields are presented based on the current research. Full article

Daratumumab is being increasingly integrated into first-line multiple myeloma (MM) induction regimens, leading to improved response depth and longer progression-free survival. Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is commonly performed as a consolidation strategy following first-line induction in fit MM patients. We investigated a cohort of 155 MM patients who received ASCT after first-line induction with or without daratumumab (RVd, n = 110; D-RVd, n = 45), analyzing differences in stem cell mobilization, apheresis, and engraftment. In the D-RVd group, fewer patients successfully completed mobilization at the planned apheresis date (44% vs. 71%, p = 0.0029), and more patients required the use of rescue plerixafor (38% vs. 28%, p = 0.3052). The median count of peripheral CD34+ cells at apheresis was lower (41.37 vs. 52.19 × 10⁶/L, p = 0.0233), and the total number of collected CD34+ cells was inferior (8.27 vs. 10.22 × 10⁶/kg BW, p = 0.0139). The time to recovery of neutrophils and platelets was prolonged (12 vs. 11 days, p = 0.0164; and 16 vs. 14 days, p = 0.0002, respectively), and a higher frequency of erythrocyte transfusions (74% vs. 51%, p = 0.0103) and a higher number of platelet concentrates/patients were required (4 vs. 2; p = 0.001). The use of daratumumab during MM induction might negatively impact stem cell mobilization and engraftment in the context of ASCT. Full article

Biological control is a scientific management method used in modern agricultural production, and microbially derived biopesticides are one effective method with which to control weeds in agricultural fields. In order to determine the key genes for weed control by Trichoderma polysporum, transcriptome sequencing was carried out by high-throughput sequencing technology, and the strains of T. polysporum HZ-31 infesting Avena fatua L. at 24, 48, and 72 h were used as the experimental group, with 0 h as the control group. A total of 690,713,176 clean reads were obtained, and the sequencing results for each experimental group and the control group (0 h) were analyzed. In total, 3464 differentially expressed genes were found after 24 h of infection with the pathogen, including 1283 down-regulated genes and 2181 up-regulated genes. After 48 h of infection, the number of differentially expressed genes was 3885, of which 2242 were up-regulated and 1643 were down-regulated. The number of differentially expressed genes after 72 h of infection was the highest among all the groups, with 4594 differentially expressed genes, of which 2648 were up-regulated and 1946 were down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG, and the results showed that the up-regulated differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan; the degradation of aromatic compounds; methane metabolism; and other pathways. Among them, the PHA2, GDH, ADH2, and AROF genes were significantly enriched in the above-mentioned pathways, so they were hypothesized to play an important role in the synthesis of the herbicidally active substances of T. polysporum HZ-31. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the pathogenicity of T. polysporum to A. fatua L., and accelerate the development and utilization of new and efficient bioherbicides. Full article

Thermal energy storage (TES) using phase change materials (PCMs) is one of the potential solutions for stockpiling thermal energy and utilizing it for different applications, which results in effective energy usage. The main drawback of organic PCMs in practical applications is poor heat transfer due to low thermal conductivity (TC). Therefore, investigations into nano-enhanced PCMs are being explored to improve their thermophysical properties. In this work, the various thermophysical characteristics of nano-enhanced lauryl alcohol as a PCM were investigated using carbon-based and metallic nanoparticles. The results indicated that the addition of nanoparticles improved its thermal properties and affected other physical properties, such as viscosity. The latent heat was degraded with the addition of nanoparticles. The results revealed that by adding MWCNTs and CuO nanoparticles, a maximum of 82.6% and 49.6% improvement in TC was achieved, respectively. The maximum drop in latent heat during melting and freezing for the PCM with MWCNTs was about 10.1% and 9.3%, respectively, whereas for the PCM with CuO, they were about 11% and 10.3%, respectively. The lowest supercooling for the PCM with MWCNTs and CuO nanoparticles was 8.6 and 8.3 °C, respectively. The present work confirms that nano-enhanced PCMs can be a potential material for storing thermal energy for various applications. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy introduces various interfering factors that, alongside individual variations, impact the assessment of thyroid function tests. This underscores the necessity of defining trimester-specific reference intervals for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Differences in population characteristics, including ethnicity, socio-economic factors, iodine prophylaxis, and obesity, emphasize the need to establish trimester-specific TSH ranges for women of reproductive age in the respective region or center. The aim of the present study was to establish first- and second-trimester-specific reference intervals for TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) in a relevant pregnant population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective monocenter analysis utilized the electronic database of Ob/Gyn Hospital “Dr. Shterev”, Sofia, Bulgaria. The analysis involved data from 497 pregnant and 250 non-pregnant women, all without evidence of thyroid dysfunction or a family history thereof, no indication of taking medication interfering with thyroid function, no evidence of levothyroxine treatment, and no history of sterility treatment. To establish the limits of the TSH reference range, the percentile method was applied using a bootstrapping procedure following the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC). Results: Trimester-specific reference intervals for TSH and FT4 in our center were established as follows: first trimester—0.38–2.91 mU/L, FT4-12.18–19.48 pmol/L; second trimester—0.72–4.22 mIU/L and 9.64–17.39 pmol/L, respectively. We also established the normal reference range for the non-pregnant control group, which is similar to that applicable in our laboratory. Conclusions: Our results differ from the fixed limits recommended by the American Thyroid Association, European Thyroid Association, and Endocrine Society Guidelines. Following the relevant established intervals would significantly impact timely diagnosis and therapy requirements for a substantial proportion of pregnant women. Full article

Cellular immunity is critical for the regulation of viral diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is generally considered immature in childhood. However, the details of cellular immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children are unclear. We assessed cellular immunity in eight children post-vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and 11 children after SARS-CoV-2 infection using the T-SPOT^®.COVID assay for the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. In the vaccinated group, the T-SPOT^®.COVID assay for the S protein yielded positive results in seven children. In the post-infection group, the assay for the N protein was positive for 5 of 11 children, with 3 of these 5 children requiring hospitalization, including 2 who needed mechanical ventilation. The T-SPOT^®.COVID assay is thus valuable for assessing cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2, and most children infected with SARS-CoV-2 may not develop such immunity unless the disease severity is significant. Full article

Satellite computing represents a recent computational paradigm in the development of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. It aims to augment the capabilities of LEO satellites beyond their current transparent relay functions by enabling real-time processing, thereby providing low-latency computational services to end users. In LEO constellations, a significant deployment of computationally capable satellites is orchestrated to offer enhanced computational resources. Challenges arise in the optimal allocation of terminal services to the most suitable satellite due to overlapping coverage among neighboring satellites, compounded by constraints on satellite energy and computational resources. The satellite service allocation (SSA) problem is recognized as NP-hard, yet assessing allocation methods through results allows for the application of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to obtain improved solutions, partially addressing the SSA challenge. In this paper, we introduce a satellite computing capability model to quantify satellite computational resources. A DRL model is proposed to address service demands, computational resources, and resolve service allocation conflicts, strategically placing each service on appropriate servers. Through simulation experiments, numerical results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method over baseline approaches in service allocation and satellite resource utilization, showcasing advancements in this field. Full article

Housing different animal groups in close-by facilities is common in wildlife centers. However, the impact on animal welfare is insufficiently studied in the literature. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of two adjacently housed chimpanzee groups to investigate how intergroup interactions may affect their behavior and, thus, their welfare. We recorded occurrences of abnormal and self-directed behaviors, two well-known indicators of stress in chimpanzees. Furthermore, we explored the social responses to said intergroup interactions by recording all inter- and intragroup affiliative and agonistic behaviors. Finally, we measured the number of vigilance occurrences that individuals directed towards other chimpanzees as an indicator of interest. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were used to assess whether and how social interactions between neighboring groups might influence their behaviors, taking gender, age, group, and intergroup participation into account. Our results suggest that intergroup interactions promoted the occurrence of affiliative behaviors between group members. However, intergroup interactions caused the chimpanzees to exhibit a higher number of abnormal and self-directed behaviors and increased vigilance towards their group members when agonistic intergroup interactions occurred. Thus, adjacent housing does impact the chimpanzees’ behavior and welfare and should be continuously monitored and assessed to promote and maximize welfare. Full article

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the length of the dry period (DL) and the risks of dystocia and stillbirths in Holstein cows. A total of 1072 healthy cows in lactations 1 and ≥2 were categorized based on the DL (mean: 58.07 ± 0.33 days) into three groups: short DL (<40 days; 13.0% of cows), medium DL (40–70 days; 60.1%), and long DL (>70 days; 26.9%). Dystocia occurred in 12.4% of cows, while stillbirths accounted for 4.1% of calves. The medium DL group had the highest number of unassisted calvings. The dystocia rates were 11.4% for cows with gestation (GA) ≤ 274 days; 6.0% for cows with GA = 275–282 days; and 19.9% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). In season 1 (November–April), dystocia occurred in 15.0% of cases compared to 8.8% in season 2 (May–October) (p < 0.001). The stillbirth rates ranged from 3.6% to 4.0% for cows with medium and long DLs; while those with a short DL had 5.8% (p < 0.05). The stillbirth rates were 5.2% for cows with GA ≤ 274 days; 3.2% for cows with GA = 275–282 days; and 5.1% for cows with GA ≥ 283 days (p < 0.001). Season 1 had a stillbirth rate of 4.8%, while season 2 had a stillbirth rate of 3.3% (p < 0.001). This research provides insights that could assist the dairy industry in making informed decisions to reduce the incidence rates of dystocia and stillbirths in cows. Full article

The reciprocating plate column is a kind of column with the plates driven by a geared motor, and it has advantages in regard to efficiency compared to traditional columns in the extraction process, however, it comes with an increase in energy consumption. A new type of reciprocating plate column driven by electro-permanent magnet technology (EPM) is proposed in this paper to obtain a better performance with lower energy consumption. The feasibility and performance of the proposed column is studied by numerical simulation and experiments with a kerosene–water system. The electro-permanent magnet chuck could provide a maximum amplitude of 12 mm in this study. Kerosene was used as the dispersed phase, and deionized water was used as the continuous phase, in a laboratory-scale 35 mm diameter reciprocating plate column driven by EPM. Hydrodynamic performance experiments were carried out with different flowrates of both phases and reciprocating frequencies. The experimental results show that the electro-permanent magnet chuck, which serves as the driving device of the reciprocating plate column, plays the role of adding energy and increasing the droplet breakage. In addition, the energy consumption of the reciprocating plate column with traditional geared motor and electro-permanent magnet chuck is calculated respectively. Compared with the traditional geared motor, the energy saving of the electro-permanent magnet chuck is as high as 98.55%. Full article

The tailored thermal heat-treatment process for Ti-6Al-4V alloy manufactured by laser–arc hybrid additive manufacturing can achieve desired microstructures and excellent mechanical properties for components. The effects of different heat treatment regimens on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy manufactured by laser–arc hybrid additive manufacturing are investigated in this study. Utilizing optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we analyze the variations in microstructure with changes in heat-treatment parameters and explore the reasons for the changes in mechanical properties under different solutions’ treatment temperatures and cooling rates. The microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated via laser–arc hybrid additive manufacturing was primarily composed of Widmanstätten α plate structures and a small amount of acicular martensite α′ within columnar β grains that grew outward from the substrate along the deposition direction. Following solution treatment and aging heat treatment, the microstructure transitioned to a typical high-performance net basket structure with significantly reduced α plate thickness, leading to noticeable enhancements in sample ductility and toughness. Specifically, when the solution treatment and aging treatment regimen was set at 950 °C for 1 h, followed by air cooling, and then aging at 540 °C for 6 h with subsequent air cooling, the average grain size decreased by a factor of two compared to the as-deposited samples, while the impact toughness increased by 66.7%. Full article

Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells in most of the patients affected by prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa). However, PSMA expression has also been demonstrated in the endothelial cells of newly formed vessels of various solid tumors, suggesting a role for PSMA in neoangiogenesis. In this scenario, gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) or fluoro-18 (¹⁸F)-labeled PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) may play a role in tumors other than PCa, generally evaluated employing other radiopharmaceuticals targeting different pathways. This review aims to investigate the detection rate of PSMA-PET compared to other radiopharmaceuticals (especially [¹⁸F]FDG) in non-prostate tumors to identify patients who may benefit from the use of such a theragnostic agent. Methods: We performed a bibliographic search on three different databases until February 2024 using the following terms: “positron emission tomography”, “PET”, “PET/CT”, “Prostate-specific membrane antigen”, “PSMA”, “non-prostate”, “not prostate cancer”, “solid tumor”, “FDG”, “Fluorodeoxyglucose”, “FAPi”, “FET”, “MET”, “DOPA”, “choline”, “FCH”, “FES”, “DOTATOC”, “DOTANOC”, and “DOTATATE”. Only original articles edited in English with at least 10 patients were included. Results: Out of a total of 120 articles, only 25 original articles comparing PSMA with other radiotracers were included in this study. The main evidence was demonstrated in renal cell carcinoma, where PSMA showed a higher detection rate compared to [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT, with implications for patient management. PSMA PET may also improve the assessment of other entities, such as gliomas, in defining regions of early neoangiogenesis. Further data are needed to evaluate the potential role of PSMA-PET in triple-negative breast cancer as a novel therapeutic vascular target. Finally, unclear applications of PSMA-PET include thyroid and gastrointestinal tumors. Conclusions: The present review shows the potential use of PSMA-labeled PET/CT in solid tumors beyond PCa, underlining its value over other radiopharmaceuticals (mainly [¹⁸F]FDG). Prospective clinical trials with larger sample sizes are crucial to further investigate these possible clinical applications. Full article

This study evaluated the environmental impact and overall benefits of incorporating humus composites in the anaerobic co-digestion of kitchen waste and residual sludge. The life cycle assessment method was used to quantitatively analyze the environmental impact of the entire anaerobic co-digestion treatment process of waste, including garbage collection, transportation, and final product utilization. Moreover, the comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact, energy-saving and emission-reduction abilities, and economic cost of using humus composites in the anaerobic co-digestion treatment process was conducted using a benefit analysis method. The results showed that the anaerobic co-digestion of kitchen waste and residual sludge significantly contributed to the mitigation of global warming potential (GWP), reaching −19.76 kgCO₂-eq, but had the least impact on the mitigation of acidification potential (AP), reaching −0.10 kgSO₂-eq. In addition, the addition of humus composites significantly increased the production of biogas. At a concentration of 5 g/L, the biogas yield of the anaerobic co-digestion process was 70.76 m³, which increased by 50.62% compared with the blank group. This amount of biogas replaces ~50.52 kg of standard coal, reducing CO₂ emissions by 13.74 kg compared with burning the same amount of standard coal. Therefore, the anaerobic co-digestion treatment of kitchen waste and residual sludge brings considerable environmental benefits. Full article