Background/Objectives: Periapical lesions (PLs) are frequently detected in dental radiology. Accurate diagnosis of these lesions is essential for proper treatment planning. Imaging techniques such as orthopantomogram (OPG) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging are used to identify PLs. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) software Diagnocat for PL detection in OPG and CBCT images. Methods: The study included 49 patients, totaling 1223 teeth. Both OPG and CBCT images were analyzed by AI software and by three experienced clinicians. All the images were obtained in one patient cohort, and findings were compared to the consensus of human readers using CBCT. The AI’s diagnostic accuracy was compared to a reference method, calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and F1 score. Results: The AI’s sensitivity for OPG images was 33.33% with an F1 score of 32.73%. For CBCT images, the AI’s sensitivity was 77.78% with an F1 score of 84.00%. The AI’s specificity was over 98% for both OPG and CBCT images. Conclusions: The AI demonstrated high sensitivity and high specificity in detecting PLs in CBCT images but lower sensitivity in OPG images. Full article

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have become one of the most important health problems. We aimed to assess whether international travel may facilitate their spread through the colonization of asymptomatic travelers. A cross-sectional study was conducted (November 2018 to February 2022). Pharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained from long-term travelers and recently arrived migrants from non-European countries, and an epidemiological survey was performed. Colonization by Gram-negative bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was determined by chromogenic media and MALDI-TOF-MS. Resistance mechanisms were determined by the biochip-based molecular biology technique. Risk factors for colonization were assessed by logistic regression. In total, 122 participants were included: 59 (48.4%) recently arrived migrants and 63 (51.6%) long-term travelers. After their trip, 14 (11.5%) participants—5 (8.5%) migrants and 9 (14.3%) travelers—had rectal colonization by one MDR bacterium. Escherichia coli carrying the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) CTX-M-15 was the most frequent. No participants were colonized by MRSA or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The only risk factor independently associated with MDR bacterial colonization was previous hospital attention [OR, 95% CI: 10.16 (2.06–50.06)]. The risk of colonization by MDR bacteria among recently arrived migrants and long-term travelers is similar in both groups and independently associated with previous hospital attention. Full article

Aquaculture is a strategic sector that aims to meet the increased demands for healthy food for current and future populations. However, this progression needs to be sustainable, which can potentially be achieved by the implementation of circular practices. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems promote the incorporation of circular principles. Nevertheless, the lack of harmonized definitions and standards impedes the quantification of these circular attributes. This study aims to explore the potential principles embedded in IMTA and the existing alternatives to quantify circularity. Two basic pillars (nutrient management and resource use efficiency) were identified as the most relevant circularity attributes for IMTA systems and were quantified through aquaculture-specific indicators. Bioremediation indicators, together with the efficiency indicators in terms of feed, water, energy, and infrastructure materials used, were selected to evaluate the circularity performance of four IMTA trials in three aquaculture facilities in Ireland, Brazil, and South Africa. Salmon, white shrimp, tilapia, abalone, and sea urchins were studied and cultivated together in various combinations with several low-trophic species in these IMTA trials to evaluate the improvement in circularity compared with corresponding monoculture conditions. The results showed an increase in circularity of up to 90% in terms of water recirculation, as well as bioremediation, which was improved by 80%–90%, providing evidence for the potential role of IMTA in the circularity transition. Full article

In this article, we introduce the multifractal conditional diffusion entropy method for analyzing the volatility of financial time series. This method utilizes a q-order diffusion entropy based on a q-weighted time lag scale. The technique of conditional diffusion entropy proves valuable for examining bull and bear behaviors in stock markets across various time scales. Empirical findings from analyzing the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) indicate that employing multi-time lag scales offers greater insight into the complex dynamics of highly fluctuating time series, often characterized by multifractal behavior. A smaller time scale like $t=2$ to $t=256$ coincides more with the state of the DJI index than larger time scales like $t=256$ to $t=1024$. We observe extreme fluctuations in the conditional diffusion entropy for DJI for a short time lag, while smoother or averaged fluctuations occur over larger time lags. Full article

As a critical technological approach, multistage fracturing is frequently used to boost gas recovery in compact hydrocarbon reservoirs. Determining an ideal cluster distance that effectively integrates pre-existing natural fractures in the deposit creates a fracture network conducive to gas movement. Fracturing fluid leak-off also impacts water resources. In our study, we use a versatile finite element–discrete element method that improves the auto-refinement of the grid and the detection of multiple fracture movements to model staged fracturing in naturally fractured reservoirs. This computational model illustrates the interaction between hydraulic fractures and pre-existing fractures and employs the nonlinear Carter leak-off criterion to portray fluid leakage and the impacts of hydromechanical coupling during multistage fracturing. Numerical results show that sequential fracturing exhibits the maximum length in unfractured and naturally fractured models, and the leak-off volume of parallel fracturing is the smallest. Our study proposes an innovative technique for identifying and optimizing the spacing of fracturing clusters in unconventional reservoirs. Full article

Inflammation serves as a pivotal defense mechanism orchestrated by the innate immune system to safeguard cellular health against adversities. Nonetheless, dysregulated inflammatory responses can precipitate chronic inflammatory ailments, notably autoimmune disorders. Central to this process are various pathways, with studies highlighting the pivotal role of transcription factors within the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in disease onset and progression. This study concentrates on the p50 homodimer protein, a key transcription factor pivotal for the expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes. To explore potential inhibitors of p50, we conducted in silico procedures to investigate fifty-eight unexplored compounds, derived from plants indigenous to the Philippines. Initial screenings for compound feasibility, through drug-likeness analyses, yielded positive outcomes for 34 compounds. Subsequent docking analyses revealed six compounds exhibiting binding energies (ranging from −3.7 to −4.2 kcal/mol) akin to or lower than the positive control, dexamethasone (−3.7 kcal/mol). These compounds include eudesm-11-en-4α-O-β-D-3-tigoyloxy-6-deoxy-glucopyranoside, wadeiol, grandiflorolide, eudesm-11-en-4α-O-β-D-3-senecioyloxy-6-deoxyglucopyranoside, α-pinene-7β-O-β-D-2- acetylglucopyranoside, and (2aβ,3α,5aβ,6β,7α,8aα)-6-[2-(3-furanyl)ethyl]-2a,3,4,5,5a,6,7,8,8a,8b- decahydro-2a,3-dihydroxy-6,7,8b-trimethyl-2H-naphtho[1-8-bc]furan-2-one. Interaction analyses revealed a common engagement of amino acid residues within the p50 DNA binding pocket, notably Arg57, Tyr60, Glu63, Lys244, Ala245, Pro246, Lys275, Arg308, Gln309, and Phe310, through hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, alkyl, and pi–alkyl interactions. Pharmacophore analysis underscored aromatic rings, hydroxyl, methyl, and methylene groups as pivotal for non-covalent interactions with p50. Additionally, root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis demonstrated minimal residue fluctuations in p50 upon ligand binding compared to the ligand-free protein structure. In conclusion, the six shortlisted compounds exhibiting comparable binding affinities with dexamethasone hold promise as potential anti-inflammatory agents targeting the NF-κB p50 homodimer. Full article

The study aimed to investigate overt reading and naming processes in adult people with dyslexia (PDs) in shallow (transparent) language orthography. The results of adult PDs are compared with adult healthy controls HCs. Comparisons are made in three phases: pre-lexical (150–260 ms), lexical (280–700 ms), and post-lexical stage of processing (750–1000 ms) time window. Twelve PDs and HCs performed overt reading and naming tasks under EEG recording. The word reading and naming task consisted of sparse neighborhoods with closed phonemic onset (words/objects sharing the same onset). For the analysis of the mean ERP amplitude for pre-lexical, lexical, and post-lexical time window, a mixed design ANOVA was performed with the right (F4, FC2, FC6, C4, T8, CP2, CP6, P4) and left (F3, FC5, FC1, T7, C3, CP5, CP1, P7, P3) electrode sites, within-subject factors and group (PD vs. HC) as between-subject factor. Behavioral response latency results revealed significantly prolonged reading latency between HCs and PDs, while no difference was detected in naming response latency. ERP differences were found between PDs and HCs in the right hemisphere’s pre-lexical time window (160–200 ms) for word reading aloud. For visual object naming aloud, ERP differences were found between PDs and HCs in the right hemisphere’s post-lexical time window (900–1000 ms). The present study demonstrated different distributions of the electric field at the scalp in specific time windows between two groups in the right hemisphere in both word reading and visual object naming aloud, suggesting alternative processing strategies in adult PDs. These results indirectly support the view that adult PDs in shallow language orthography probably rely on the grapho-phonological route during overt word reading and have difficulties with phoneme and word retrieval during overt visual object naming in adulthood. Full article

The main objective of this exploratory study is to analyze the negative effects associated with the phenomenon of tokenism for Portuguese women in non-playing football roles, as well as their strategies for integration into a context where they are a minority and the social functions are dominated by men. To this end, we carried out semi-structured individual interviews with eight men and eight women, undertaking functions in the fields of coaching, psychology, medical team, planning, refereeing, and management in football organizations, and with their contents then subject to thematic analysis. Our analysis confirms how the football context strongly demarcates gender differences with women being more visible and leads to the stereotypical roles being associated with traditional femininity. The findings also observe how, in order to integrate, women align with the norms imposed by the dominant group (men) and accept being circumscribed to the spaces that hegemonic gender ideologies and practices attribute to them. Full article

The safety and immunogenicity of the two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen MVA-BN-Filo, Ad26.ZEBOV, 14 days apart, was evaluated in people without HIV (PWOH) and living with HIV (PLWH). In this observer-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, healthy adults were randomized (4:1) to receive MVA-BN-Filo (dose 1) and Ad26.ZEBOV (dose 2), or two doses of saline/placebo, administered intramuscularly 14 days apart. The primary endpoints were safety (adverse events (AEs)) and immunogenicity (Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein-specific binding antibody responses). Among 75 participants (n = 50 PWOH; n = 25 PLWH), 37% were female, the mean age was 44 years, and 56% were Black/African American. AEs were generally mild/moderate, with no vaccine-related serious AEs. At 21 days post-dose 2, EBOV glycoprotein-specific binding antibody responder rates were 100% among PWOH and 95% among PLWH; geometric mean antibody concentrations were 6286 EU/mL (n = 36) and 2005 EU/mL (n = 19), respectively. A total of 45 neutralizing and other functional antibody responses were frequently observed. Ebola-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were polyfunctional and durable to at least 12 months post-dose 2. The regimen was well tolerated and generated robust, durable immune responses in PWOH and PLWH. Findings support continued evaluation of accelerated vaccine schedules for rapid deployment in populations at immediate risk. Trial registration: NCT02598388 (submitted 14 November 2015). Full article

Establishing plant regeneration systems and efficient genetic transformation techniques plays a crucial role in plant functional genomics research and the development of new crop varieties. The inefficient methods of transformation and regeneration of recalcitrant species and the genetic dependence of the transformation process remain major obstacles. With the advancement of plant meristematic tissues and somatic embryogenesis research, several key regulatory genes, collectively known as developmental regulators, have been identified. In the field of plant genetic transformation, the application of developmental regulators has recently garnered significant interest. These regulators play important roles in plant growth and development, and when applied in plant genetic transformation, they can effectively enhance the induction and regeneration capabilities of plant meristematic tissues, thus providing important opportunities for improving genetic transformation efficiency. This review focuses on the introduction of several commonly used developmental regulators. By gaining an in-depth understanding of and applying these developmental regulators, it is possible to further enhance the efficiency and success rate of plant genetic transformation, providing strong support for plant breeding and genetic engineering research. Full article

Generalizability theory (GT) has been used throughout the scientific literature to ensure validity, reliability, and generalizability in different sport contexts. However, there is a small number of studies examining the measurement of psychological profiles in sport from this perspective. Therefore, this study’s main goal is the sources of variability and the optimal measurement design estimation for a good assessment of the psychological profile in track and field. The sample consisted of 470 participants (age: Average= 32.1; Standar Desviation = 13.5). The analysis of variance and generalizability component analysis has been performed in order to test the reliability and generalizability of the sample. The profile included the following variables: flow, motivation (from Self-Determination Theory and Achievement Goals), self-confidence, and psychological skills. Results confirm that the sample has a high degree of reliability and generalizability in all the tested models. So, a detailed study on the validity, reliability, and generalizability of samples and measures should be an inherent element in the practice of psychological counseling in sports. Full article

Cardiovascular outcome in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients most prominently depends on aortic aneurysm progression with subsequent aortic dissection. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) prevent aneurysm formation in MFS mouse models. In patients, ARBs only slow down aortic dilation. Downstream signalling from the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is mediated by G proteins and β-arrestin recruitment. AT1R also interacts with the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) receptor, resulting in inflammation. In this study, we explore the targeting of β-arrestin signalling in MFS mice by administering TRV027. Furthermore, because high doses of the ARB losartan, which has been proven beneficial in MFS, cannot be achieved in humans, we investigate a potential additive effect by combining lower concentrations of losartan (25 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day) with barbadin, a β-arrestin blocker, and DMX20, a C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) blocker. A high dose of losartan (50 mg/kg/day) slowed down aneurysm progression compared to untreated MFS mice (1.73 ± 0.12 vs. 1.96 ± 0.08 mm, p = 0.0033). TRV027, the combination of barbadin with losartan (25 mg/kg/day), and DMX-200 (90 mg/kg/day) with a low dose of losartan (5 mg/kg/day) did not show a significant beneficial effect. Our results confirm that while losartan effectively halts aneurysm formation in Fbn1^C1041G/+ MFS mice, neither TRV027 alone nor any of the other compounds combined with lower doses of losartan demonstrate a notable impact on aneurysm advancement. It appears that complete blockade of AT1R function, achieved by administrating a high dosage of losartan, may be necessary for inhibiting aneurysm progression in MFS. Full article

Gut bacterial alterations have been previously linked to several non-communicable diseases in adults, while the association of mycobiome is not well understood in these diseases, especially in infants and children. Few studies have been conducted on the association between gut mycobiome and non-communicable diseases in children. We investigated gut mycobiome composition using 194 faecal samples collected at birth, 6 months after birth, and 18 months after birth in relation to atopic dermatitis (AD) and overweight diagnoses at the age of 18 or 36 months. The mycobiome exhibited distinct patterns, with Truncatella prevalent in the meconium samples of both overweight and non-overweight groups. Saccharomyces took precedence in overweight cases at 6 and 18 months, while Malassezia dominated non-overweight samples at 6 months. Saccharomyces emerged as a consistent high-abundance taxon across groups that had dermatitis and were overweight. We found a weak association between gut mycobiome and AD at birth and overweight at 18 months when using machine learning (ML) analyses. In ML, unidentified fungi, Alternaria, Rhodotorula, and Saccharomyces, were important for classifying AD, while Saccharomyces, Thelebolus, and Dothideomycetes were important for classifying overweight. Gut mycobiome might be associated with the development of AD and overweight in children. Full article

This study describes a laboratory model of a battery energy storage system (BESS) designed for testing algorithms aimed at reducing peak power consumption in railway traction substations. The system comprises a DC/DC converter and battery energy storage. This article details a laboratory model of a bidirectional buck-boost DC/DC converter, which is used to transfer energy between the battery energy storage and a DC line. It presents an analysis of DC/DC converter systems along with simulation studies. Furthermore, the results of laboratory tests on the DC/DC converter model are also provided. The control algorithm of the system in the traction substation is focused on reducing peak power, offering benefits such as lower charges for the railway operator due to the possibility of reducing contracted power requirements. From the perspective of the power grid, the reduction in power fluctuations and, consequently, voltage sags, is advantageous. This paper includes a description of a hardware simulator for verifying the system’s control algorithms. The verification of the control algorithms was performed through experimental tests conducted on a laboratory model (a hardware simulator) of the system for dynamic load reduction in traction substations, on a power scale of 1:1000 (5.5 kW). The experimental tests on the laboratory model (hardware simulator) demonstrated the effectiveness of the algorithm in reducing the peak power drawn from the power source. Full article

Pope Leo XIII’s publication of Aeterni Patris (1879) was a major factor in the great revival of Thomistic thought in the late 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries. Among the authors that took up the challenge implicit in the Pope’s document of bringing Aquinas and his thought into the intellectual debates of the times we find two interesting proposals. The first is that of Juan González Arintero, a Spanish Dominican, and the second one is that of Josef Donat, a Jesuit born and raised in the Austrian Empire. Arintero is mostly known in Catholic circles for his influential works on mysticism, but in fact he devoted much of his early work to the subject of evolution, and how it could interact with the Catholic faith in general, and with Thomism in particular. Donat is the author of a Summa Philosophiae Christianae, a collection that was widely read in Catholic seminaries well into the 20th century. In this paper we will focus on the differing ways in which these authors tackled the problems and questions presented by Darwinian evolutionism to the post-Aeterni Patris Thomism. Full article

The variability and intermittency inherent in renewable energy sources poses significant challenges to balancing power supply and demand, often leading to wind and solar energy curtailment. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on enhancing Time of Use (TOU) electricity pricing strategies. We propose a novel method based on equivalent load, which leverages typical power grid load and incorporates a responsibility weight for renewable energy consumption. The responsibility weight acts as an equivalent coefficient that accurately reflects renewable energy output, which facilitates the division of time periods and the development of a demand response model. Subsequently, we formulate an optimized TOU electricity pricing model to increase the utilization rate of renewable energy and reduce the peak–valley load difference of the power grid. To solve the TOU pricing optimization model, we employ the Social Network Search (SNS) algorithm, a metaheuristic algorithm simulating users’ social network interactions to gain popularity. By incorporating the users’ mood when expressing opinions, this algorithm efficiently identifies optimal pricing solutions. Our results demonstrate that the equivalent load-based method not only encourages renewable energy consumption but also reduces power generation costs, stabilizes the power grid load, and benefits power generators, suppliers, and consumers without increasing end users’ electricity charges. Full article

This study presents the functionalization of silk fabric with SWCNT ink. The first step was the formation of a polydopamine (PDA) thin coating on the silk fabric to allow for effective bonding of SWCNTs. PDA formation was carried out directly on the fabric by means of polymerization of dopamine in alkali conditions. The Silk/PDA fabric was functionalized with SWCNT ink of different SWCNT concentrations by using the dip-coating method. IR and Raman analyses show that the dominant β-sheet structure of silk fibroin after the functionalization process remains unchanged. The heat resistance is even slightly improved. The hydrophobic silk fabric becomes hydrophilic after functionalization due to the influence of PDA and the surfactant in SWCNT ink. The ink significantly changes the electrical properties of the silk fabric, from insulating to conductive. The volume resistance changes by nine orders of magnitude, from 2.4 × 10¹² Ω to 2.3 × 10³ Ω for 0.12 wt.% of SWCNTs. The surface resistance changes by seven orders of magnitude, from 2.1 × 10¹² Ω to 2.4 × 10⁵ Ω for 0.17 wt.% of SWCNTs. The volume and surface resistance thresholds are determined to be about 0.05 wt.% and 0.06 wt.%, respectively. The low value of the percolation threshold indicates efficient functionalization, with high-quality ink facilitating the formation of percolation paths through SWCNTs and the influence of the PDA linker. Full article

The phenomenon of the oxidation and aging of asphalt binders affects the strength and durability of asphalt mixtures in pavements. Several studies are trying to improve the resistance to this phenomenon by modifying the properties of the binders with nano-particles. One material that shows promise in this field is zinc oxide (ZnO), especially in improving ultraviolet (UV) aging resistance. Few studies have evaluated the effect of these nano-particles on the thermo-oxidative resistance of asphalt binders, and, on hot-mix asphalt (HMA), studies are even more scarce and limited. Therefore, in the present study, the resistance to thermo-oxidative aging of an HMA manufactured with an asphalt binder modified with ZnO was evaluated. An asphalt cement (AC 60–70) was initially modified with 0, 1, 3, 5, 7.5, and 10% ZnO (percentage by weight of asphalt binder; ZnO/AC in wt%), and then exposed to aging in Rolling Thin-Film Oven tests (RTFOT) and a Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV). Penetration, viscosity, and softening point tests were performed on these binders, and aging indices were calculated and evaluated. Samples of HMAs were then manufactured using these binders and designed by the Marshall method, determining the optimum asphalt binder content (OAC) and the optimum ZnO/AC ratio. Control (unmodified) and modified HMA were subjected to short-term oven aging (STOA) and long-term oven aging (LTOA) procedures. Marshall, Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and resilient modulus (RM) tests were performed on these mixtures. LTOA/STOA results of the parameters measured in these tests were used as aging indices. In this study, ZnO was shown to increase the thermo-oxidative aging resistance of the asphalt binder and HMA. It also contributed to an increase in the resistance under monotonic loading in the Marshall and ITS tests, and under repeated loading in RM test. Likewise, it contributed to a slightly increasing resistance to moisture damage. The best performance is achieved using ZnO/AC = 5 wt%. Full article

Drought has emerged as a major challenge to global food and water security, and is particularly pronounced for Algeria, which frequently grapples with water shortages. This paper sought to monitor and assess the temporal and spatial distribution of drought severity across northern Algeria (excluding the Sahara) during the growing season from 2011 to 2022, while exploring the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) anomaly and climate variables (rainfall and temperature). Temporal NDVI data from the Terra moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite covering the period 2000–2022 and climate data from the European Reanalysis 5th Generation (ERA5) datasets collected during the period 1990–2022 were used. The results showed that a considerable portion of northern Algeria has suffered from droughts of varying degrees of severity during the study period. The years 2022, 2021, 2016, and 2018 were the hardest hit, with 76%, 71%, 66%, and 60% of the area, respectively, experiencing drought conditions. While the relationship between the NDVI anomaly and the climatic factors showed variability across the different years, the steady decrease in vegetation health indicated by the NDVI anomaly corroborates the observed increase in drought intensity during the study period. We conclude that the MODIS-NDVI product offers a cost-efficient approach to monitor drought in data-scarce regions like Algeria, presenting a viable alternative to conventional climate-based drought indices, while serving as an initial step towards formulating drought mitigation plans. Full article

This study primarily aimed to enhance the extraction of cutin from industrial tomato peel residues. Initially, the conventional extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, high-pressure homogenization (HPH) was introduced to improve extraction efficiency and sustainability. The optimization process focused on determining the optimal conditions for conventional extraction via chemical hydrolysis, including temperature (100–130 °C), time (15–120 min), and NaOH concentration (1–3%). The optimized conditions, determined as 130 °C, 120 min, and 3% NaOH solution, yielded a maximum cutin extraction of 32.5%. Furthermore, the results indicated that applying HPH pre-treatment to tomato peels before alkaline hydrolysis significantly increased the cutin extraction yield, reaching 46.1%. This represents an approximately 42% increase compared to the conventional process. Importantly, HPH pre-treatment enabled cutin extraction under milder conditions using a 2% NaOH solution, reducing NaOH usage by 33%, while still achieving a substantial cutin yield of 45.6%. FT-IR analysis confirmed that cutin obtained via both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction exhibited similar chemical structures, indicating that the main chemical groups and structure of cutin remained unaltered by HPH treatment. Furthermore, cutin extracts from both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction demonstrated thermal stability up to approximately 200 °C, with less than 5% weight loss according to TGA analysis. These findings underscore the potential of HPH technology to significantly enhance cutin extraction yield from tomato peel residues while utilizing milder chemical hydrolysis conditions, thereby promoting a more sustainable and efficient cutin extraction process. Full article

Coronaviruses (CoVs), a subfamily of Orthocoronavirinae, are viruses that sometimes present a zoonotic character. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the recent outbreak of COVID-19, which, since its outbreak in 2019, has caused about 774,593,066 confirmed cases and 7,028,881 deaths. Aereosols are the main route of transmission among people; however, viral droplets can contaminate surfaces and fomites as well as particulate matter (PM) in suspensions of natural and human origin. Honey bees are well known bioindicators of the presence of pollutants and PMs in the environment as they can collect a great variety of substances during their foraging activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of honey bees as bioindicators of the prevalence SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, 91 samples of honey bees and 6 of honey were collected from different apiaries of Campania region (Southern Italy) in four time periods from September 2020 to June 2022 and were analyzed with Droplet Digital RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 target genes Orf1b and N. The screening revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in 12/91 in honey bee samples and in 2/6 honey samples. These results suggest that honey bees could also be used as indicators of outbreaks of airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Full article

Spray dust reduction is one of the most economical and effective technologies for controlling coal dust in coal mining faces. We aimed to reproduce a spray dust reduction process in a simulation and investigate the mechanism by which the spray angle and airflow speed influence the dust reduction effect. Based on the DPM (discrete phase model) and the mixture model, we constructed a spray dust reduction evaluation model by considering two-way momentum coupling between the discrete phase and the continuous phase. The results showed that installing nozzles near the dust source (coal mining drum) significantly reduced the dust concentration at the coal mining face from 0.0005 kg/m³ to 0.0001 kg/m³. The increase in airflow speed and spray angle enhanced the horizontal transportation of droplets and dust, providing opportunities for the droplets to condense the dust; however, if the droplets have too large an angle, this will result in an insufficient concentration of droplets in the vicinity of the dust source. When the spray angle is 45°, increasing the airflow speed provides a better dust reduction effect. The nozzle position should also be set scientifically according to the airflow speed. Based on simulation results, a mathematical calculation model of spray dust reduction efficiency was constructed. These results can guide the key parameters of spray dust reduction systems, such as the installation position of the nozzle, the spray angle, and the airflow speed. This paper provides ideas for simulating spray dust reduction for other dust types. Full article