This paper reports for the first time on a new layered magnetic heterometallic erbium telluride EuErCuTe₃. Single crystals of the compound were obtained from the elements at 1120 K using CsI as a flux. The crystal structure of EuErCuTe₃ was solved in the space group Cmcm (a = 4.3086(3) Å, b = 14.3093(9) Å, and c = 11.1957(7) Å) with the KZrCuS₃ structure type. In the orthorhombic structure of erbium telluride, distorted octahedra ([ErTe₆]⁹⁻) form two-dimensional layers ($\left\{{\left[\mathrm{E}\mathrm{r}{\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}1\right)}_{2/2}^e{\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}2\right)}_{4/2}^k\right]}^{-}\right\})_{\infty }^2$, while distorted tetrahedra ([CuTe₄]⁷⁻) form one-dimensionally connected substructures ($\left\{{\left[\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}{\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}1\right)}_{2/2}^e{\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}2\right)}_{2/1}^t\right]}^{5-}\right\}_{\infty }^1$) along the [¹⁰⁰] direction. The distorted octahedra and tetrahedra form parallel two-dimensional layers ($\left\{{\left[\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{E}\mathrm{r}{\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}}_3\right]}^{2-}\right\}_{\infty }^2)$ between which Eu²⁺ ions are located in a trigonal-prismatic coordination environment (${\left[{\mathrm{E}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}}_6\right]}^{10-})$. The trigonal prisms are connected by faces, forming chains ($\left\{{\left[{\mathrm{E}\mathrm{u}\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}1\right)}_{2/2}{\left(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{e}2\right)}_{4/2}\right]}^{2-}\right\}_{\infty }^1$) along the [¹⁰⁰] direction. Regularities in the variations in structural parameters were established in the series of erbium chalcogenides (EuErCuCh₃ (Ch = S, Se, and Te)) and tellurides (EuLnCuTe₃ (Ln = Gd, Er, and Lu)). Ab-initio calculations of the crystal structure, phonon spectrum, and elastic properties of the compound EuErCuTe₃ were performed. The types and wavenumbers of fundamental modes were determined, and the involvement of ions in the IR and Raman modes was assessed. The experimental Raman spectra were interpreted. The telluride EuErCuTe₃ at temperatures below 4.2 K was ferrimagnetic, as were the sulfide and selenide derivatives (EuErCuCh₃ (Ch = S and Se)). Its experimental magnetic characteristics were close to the calculated ones. The decrease in the magnetic phase transition temperature in the series of the erbium chalcogenides was discovered. Full article

Citrus is a subtropical fruit tree with high water requirements. This study aimed to determine the effects of water deficit on an orange orchard subjected to different water-saving strategies. The study was realised in an orange orchard in a semiarid area by adopting four different water management techniques: 100% crop evapotranspiration (control); SSDI—subsurface sustained deficit irrigation; RDI—regulated deficit irrigation; PRD—partial rootzone drying treatment during five growing seasons. The experimental design foresaw a randomised block design with six replicates per treatment (24 index plants). The results of the study showed that the water-saving strategies reduced irrigation water consumption by 25% (SSDI), 33% (RDI), and 49% (PRD) compared to the fully irrigated treatment without yield reduction, thus increasing water use efficiency. Mineral nutrition of the trees was slightly affected by irrigation treatments; element concentration in leaves was generally in the optimal range; only potassium showed values below the recommended leaf concentrations. Regarding fruit quality parameters, the vitamin C concentration in RDI showed significant differences with a value of 62.7 mg 100 mL⁻¹ compared to 58.5 mg 100 mL⁻¹ in the control. Plants subjected to SSDI and PRD strategies showed increased levels of pulp colour index with significant values of 10 and 9.90, respectively, compared to the control (8.44). By implementing targeted water management, citrus growers could save water and increase the ascorbic acid and sugar concentration in the fruits; anthocyanins also increased but not significantly. These findings open new market opportunities for citrus growers in marginal areas, where they cannot rely solely on producing citrus fruits to remain competitive. Full article

In this study, a constructed wetland–Fe₃O₄/granular activated carbon anode microbial electrolysis cell (CW-FMEC) was constructed to enhance denitrification in low COD/N ratio wastewater. The introduction of Fe₃O₄ boosted the expression of functional genes involved in the denitrification pathway, and the abundance of narG, nirS, and nosZ increased by 99.29%, 70.54%, and 132.18%, respectively, compared to CW. In addition, the content of c-type cytochromes (c-Cyts) and EPS were also enhanced in the CW-FMEC. The microbial communities study displayed that Thauera, Dechloromonas, and Arenimonas became the main genera for denitrification. The denitrification performance at different COD/N ratios was investigated in depth. Under optimal working circumstances, the CW-FMEC had an excellent nitrate removal rate (88.9% ± 1.12%) while accumulating nearly no NO₂⁻-N or NH₄⁺-N in the effluent. This study provides a new direction for the development of CW-MEC and accelerates its implementation. Full article

Semantic fluency impairment has been attributed to a wide range of neurocognitive and psychiatric conditions, especially in the older population. Moderate heritability estimates on semantic fluency were obtained from both twin and family-based studies suggesting genetic contributions to the observed variation across individuals. Currently, effort in identifying the genetic variants underlying the heritability estimates for this complex trait remains scarce. Using the semantic fluency scale and genome-wide SNP genotype data from the Long Life Family Study (LLFS), we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and epistasis network analysis on semantic fluency in 2289 individuals aged over 60 years from the American LLFS cohorts and replicated the findings in 1129 individuals aged over 50 years from the Danish LLFS cohort. In the GWAS, two SNPs with genome-wide significance (rs3749683, p = 2.52 × 10⁻⁸; rs880179, p = 4.83 × 10⁻⁸) mapped to the CMYAS gene on chromosome 5 were detected. The epistasis network analysis identified five modules as significant (4.16 × 10⁻⁵ < p < 7.35 × 10⁻³), of which two were replicated (p < 3.10 × 10⁻³). These two modules revealed significant enrichment of tissue-specific gene expression in brain tissues and high enrichment of GWAS catalog traits, e.g., obesity-related traits, blood pressure, chronotype, sleep duration, and brain structure, that have been reported to associate with verbal performance in epidemiological studies. Our results suggest high tissue specificity of genetic regulation of gene expression in brain tissues with epistatic SNP networks functioning jointly in modifying individual verbal ability and cognitive performance. Full article

The use of organic sources presents itself as a viable alternative to mitigate the excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers in agricultural practices. However, in the realm of pineapple cultivation, research exploring the synergy between chemical and organic fertilizers remains scarce. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the combination of chemical and organic fertilizers on the growth and yield of the MD-2 pineapple cultivar under two shade net conditions (installed 45 and 250 days after planting). The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, with the main plot being the shade net conditions and the sub-plots the five fertilization treatments, which were applied 18 times via drip irrigation (control, 100% chemical fertilization, 50% reduced chemical fertilization, organic fertilization, and a combination of 50% chemical fertilization with organic fertilization). The results showed that the early installation of shade netting 45 days after planting decreases the growth and yield of pineapple; thus, the use of shade netting at this age is not recommended. Regarding fertilization, the combination of 50% chemical fertilization with organic fertilization showed similar growth and yield values compared to 100% conventional chemical fertilization under both shade net conditions. Furthermore, this combination presented similar nitrate and potassium values in the plant and did not negatively affect malic acid content. Therefore, the use of organic fertilizers in pineapple cultivation is a promising strategy to reduce the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and it could also improve soil fertility. Full article

In this work, we aim to find physical evidence demonstrating the crucial role that the effective concentration of antioxidants (AOs) present at the interfacial region of emulsions has in controlling the inhibition of the lipid oxidation reaction. We prepared a series of antioxidants of different hydrophobicities derived from chlorogenic and protocatechuic acids. We first monitored, in intact emulsions, the (sigmoidal) production of conjugated dienes and determined the corresponding induction times, t_ind. Independently, we determined the effective concentrations of the antioxidants in the same intact emulsions. Results show that both the length of the induction periods and the antioxidant interfacial concentrations parallel each other, with a maximum at the octyl-dodecyl derivatives. The ratio between the interfacial antioxidant concentrations and the induction periods remains constant for all AOs in the same series, so that the rates of initiation of lipid oxidation are the same regardless of the hydrophobicity of the antioxidant employed. The constancy in the rate of initiation provides strong experimental evidence for a direct relationship between interfacial concentrations and antioxidant efficiencies. Results suggest new possibilities to investigate lipid peroxidation under non-forced conditions and are of interest to formulators interested in preparing emulsions with antimicrobial properties. Full article

Urbanization and climate change are two major challenges of the 21st century, and the effects of climate change, combined with the urbanization of coastal areas, increase the frequency of coastal flooding and the area exposed to it, resulting in increased risk of flooding and larger numbers of people and properties being vulnerable. An urban growth modeling system was used to simulate future growth scenarios along the coast of the Vendée region in western France, and the potential exposure to flooding with each scenario was evaluated. The model used was an Artificial Neural Network combined with a Markov Chain, using data obtained by the remote sensing and geographic information system techniques to predict three future urban growth scenarios: business as usual, environmental protection, and strategic urban planning. High-risk flood areas and future sea level projections from the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were then used to assess future flood risk under each growth scenario in the study area. According to the results, the different growth scenarios are associated with different development patterns, and the strategic urban planning scenario significantly reduces the risk of flooding compared to the other two scenarios. However, the rise in sea level considerably expands the areas vulnerable to flooding. Finally, the methodology adopted can be used to prepare for the impact of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate the risk of flooding in the future. Full article

There is a pressing need across various applications for efficiently compressing point clouds. While the Moving Picture Experts Group introduced the geometry-based point cloud compression (G-PCC) standard , its attribute compression scheme falls short of eliminating signal frequency-domain redundancy. This paper proposes a texture-guided graph transform optimization scheme for point cloud attribute compression. We formulate the attribute transform coding task as a graph optimization problem, considering both the decorrelation capability of the graph transform and the sparsity of the optimized graph within a tailored joint optimization framework. First, the point cloud is reorganized and segmented into local clusters using a Hilbert-based scheme, enhancing spatial correlation preservation. Second, the inter-cluster attribute prediction and intra-cluster prediction are conducted on local clusters to remove spatial redundancy and extract texture priors. Third, the underlying graph structure in each cluster is constructed in a joint rate–distortion–sparsity optimization process, guided by geometry structure and texture priors to achieve optimal coding performance. Finally, point cloud attributes are efficiently compressed with the optimized graph transform. Experimental results show the proposed scheme outperforms the state of the art with significant BD-BR gains, surpassing G-PCC by 31.02%, 30.71%, and 32.14% in BD-BR gains for Y, U, and V components, respectively. Subjective evaluation of the attribute reconstruction quality further validates the superiority of our scheme. Full article

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) stands as a perilous zoonotic affliction caused by the larvae of Echinococcus multilocularis. There is an imperative need to explore novel therapeutic agents or lead compounds for the treatment of AE. Asparagusic acid, characterized by its low toxicity and possessing antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-parasitic attributes, emerges as a promising candidate. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro efficacy of asparagusic acid against E. multilocularis. Morphological observations, scanning electron microscopy, ROS assays, mitochondrial membrane potential assays, and Western blot were used to evaluate the in vitro effects of asparagusic acid on protoscoleces. The effects of asparagusic acid on vesicles were assessed via PGI release, γ-GGT release, and transmission electron microscopy observations. CellTiter-Glo assays, Caspase3 activity assays, flow cytometry, and Western blot were used for an evaluation of the effect of asparaginic acid on the proliferation and apoptosis of germinal cells. The in vivo efficacy of asparagusic acid was evaluated in a murine AE model. Asparagusic acid exhibited a pronounced killing effect on the protoscoleces post-treatment. Following an intervention with asparagusic acid, there was an increase in ROS levels and a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential in the protoscolex. Moreover, asparagusic acid treatment resulted in the upregulation of PGI and γ-GGT release in metacestode vesicles, concomitant with the inhibition of germinal cell viability. Furthermore, asparagusic acid led to an enhanced relative expression of Caspase3 in the culture supernatant of both the protoscoleces and germinal cells, accompanied by an increase in the proportion of apoptotic germinal cells. Notably, asparagusic acid induced an augmentation in Bax and Caspase3 protein expression while reducing Bcl2 protein expression in both the protoscoleces and germinal cells. In vitro cytotoxicity assessments demonstrated the low toxicity of asparagusic acid towards normal human hepatocytes and HFF cells. Additionally, in vivo experiments revealed that asparagusic acid administration at doses of 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg significantly reduced metacestode wet weight. A histopathological analysis displayed the disruption of the germinal layer structure within lesions post-asparagusic acid treatment, alongside the preservation of laminated layer structures. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed mitochondrial swelling and heightened cell necrosis subsequent to the asparagusic acid treatment. Furthermore, asparagusic acid promoted Caspase3 and Bax protein expression while decreasing Bcl2 protein expression in perilesional tissues. Subsequently, it inhibited the expression of Ki67, MMP2, and MMP9 proteins in the perilesional tissues and curbed the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway within the lesion-host microenvironmental tissues. Asparagusic acid demonstrated a pronounced killing effect on E. multilocularis, suggesting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for the management of AE. Full article

DNA is constantly damaged by various external and internal factors. In particular, oxidative damage occurs in a steady state, and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (oxodG) is known as the main oxidative damage. OxodG is a strong genotoxic nucleoside and is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and neurological diseases. However, a breakthrough method to detect the position of oxodG in DNA has not yet been developed. Therefore, we attempted to develop a novel method to detect oxodG in DNA using artificial nucleosides. Recently, we have succeeded in the recognition of oxodG in DNA by a single nucleotide elongation reaction using nucleoside derivatives based on a purine skeleton with a 1,3-diazaphenoxazine unit. In this study, we developed a new nucleoside derivative with a pyrimidine skeleton in order to further improve the recognition ability and enzymatic reaction efficiency. We, therefore, designed and synthesized 2′-deoxycytidine-1,3-diazaphenoxazine (Cdap) and its triphosphate derivatives. The results showed that it was incorporated into the primer strand relative to the dG template because of its cytidine skeleton, but it was more effective at the complementary position of the oxodG template. These results indicate that the new nucleoside derivative can be considered as one of the new candidates for the detection of oxodG in DNA. Full article

A phylogenetic tree can reflect the evolutionary relationships between species or gene families, and they play a critical role in modern biological research. In this review, we summarize common methods for constructing phylogenetic trees, including distance methods, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and tree-integration methods (supermatrix and supertree). Here we discuss the advantages, shortcomings, and applications of each method and offer relevant codes to construct phylogenetic trees from molecular data using packages and algorithms in R. This review aims to provide comprehensive guidance and reference for researchers seeking to construct phylogenetic trees while also promoting further development and innovation in this field. By offering a clear and concise overview of the different methods available, we hope to enable researchers to select the most appropriate approach for their specific research questions and datasets. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) leads to impaired postoperative recovery, possible side effects of opioid usage, and higher rates of chronic post-surgery pain (CPSP). Nevertheless, guidelines on perioperative pain management for VATS patients are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of intercostal catheters in combination with a single shot intraoperative intercostal nerve block (SSINB) in comparison to SSINB alone with respect to opioid consumption and CPSP. Methods: Patients receiving an anatomic VATS resection between 2019 and 2022 for primary lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 75 consecutive patients receiving an ICC and SSINB and 75 consecutive patients receiving only SSINB were included in our database. After enforcing the exclusion criteria (insufficient documentation, external follow-ups, or patients receiving opioids on a fixed schedule; n = 9) 141 patients remained for further analysis. Results: The ICC and No ICC cohort were comparable in age, gender distribution, tumor location and hospital stay. Patients in the ICC cohort showed significantly less opioid usage regarding the extent (4.48 ± 6.69 SD vs. 7.23 ± 7.55 SD mg, p = 0.023), duration (0.76 ± 0.97 SD vs. 1.26 ± 1.33 SD days, p = 0.012) and frequency (0.90 ± 1.34 SD vs. 1.45 ± 1.51 SD times, p = 0.023) in comparison to the No ICC group. During the first nine months of oncological follow-up assessments, no statistical difference was found in the rate of patients experiencing postoperative pain, although a trend towards less pain in the ICC cohort was found. One year after surgery, the ICC cohort expressed significantly less often pain (1.5 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Placement of an ICC provides VATS patients with improved postoperative pain relief resulting in a reduced frequency of required opioid administration, less days with opioids, and a reduced total amount of opioids consumed. Furthermore, ICC patients have significantly lower rates of CPSP one year after surgery. Full article

22CrMoH was selected for the gear steel material in this work, and the temperature field change in the scanning electron beam was analyzed to determine the optimal scanning parameters and explored the effect of scanning electron beam pretreatment (Abbreviated as: SEBP) on gas-carburizing (GC) efficiency and organizational properties of gear steel. The results showed that the scanning electron beam caused the material to form a thermally deformed layer 110 μm thick, and it promoted the adsorption of carbon atoms on the surface and their inward diffusion. Under the same gas-carburizing conditions, the carburizing efficiency was improved, and the thickness of the carburized layer increased from 0.78 to 1.09 mm. Furthermore, the hardness of the GC specimens with the SEBP increased from 615 to 638 HV_0.05 at 0.1 mm of the sample surface, whereas the hardness of the cross-sectional region decreased gradually, indicating that the scanning electron beam enhanced the adhesion between the carburized layer and matrix zone. A comparative analysis of the microstructures of the GC specimens with and without the SEBP showed that the carbide particles in the surface layer of the samples become smaller and that of volume fraction of residual austenite reduced in size. In terms of the mechanical properties, the surface friction coefficient decreased from 0.87 to 0.46 μ and the GC specimen with the SEBP had a higher cross-sectional hardness gradient. Its friction coefficient was reduced from approximately 0.8 to almost 0.45 μ, and the wear amount of the specimens with SEBP was 47.7% of that of the matrix specimens. Full article

Using recycled concrete aggregates from construction and demolition wastes on structural concrete is a sustainable solution to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the detrimental effects of concrete production on the environment. This paper has collected much data from the literature to study fresh, mechanical properties and durability of concrete made of treated/untreated recycled aggregate (RA). Furthermore, the flexural and shear behavior of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) beams was studied. This study discussed the distinctions and similarities between reinforced RAC beams and reinforced natural aggregate concrete (NAC) beams. The results of this review’s analysis clearly show that reinforced RAC beams with different RAC ratios perform structurally on par with or slightly worse than reinforced NAC beams, demonstrating the viability of RAC for structural applications. Emphasis is placed on carefully choosing and adjusting material models for recycled aggregate concrete. Ultimately, guidelines for future inquiries in this field are delineated and deliberated upon. The review will be advantageous for academics and professionals who aim to acquire a comprehensive comprehension of the behavior of RAC beams. It addresses several practical concerns connected to the numerical modeling of these components, which have not been adequately covered in existing literature. Full article

Dupin cyclides are classical algebraic surfaces of low degree. Recently, they have gained popularity in computer-aided geometric design (CAGD) and architecture owing to the fact that they contain many circles. We derive algebraic conditions that fully characterize the Dupin cyclides passing through a fixed circle. The results are applied to the basic problem in CAGD of the blending of Dupin cyclides along circles. Full article

(1) Background: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV) are orbiviruses that cause hemorrhagic disease (HD) with significant economic and population health impacts on domestic livestock and wildlife. In the United States, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are particularly susceptible to these viruses and are a frequent blood meal host for various species of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) that transmit orbiviruses. The species of Culicoides that transmit EHDV and BTV vary between regions, and larval habitats can differ widely between vector species. Understanding how midges are distributed across landscapes can inform HD virus transmission risk on a local scale, allowing for improved animal management plans to avoid suspected high-risk areas or target these areas for insecticide control. (2) Methods: We used occupancy modeling to estimate the abundance of gravid (egg-laden) and parous (most likely to transmit the virus) females of two putative vector species, C. stellifer and C. venustus, and one species, C. haematopotus, that was not considered a putative vector. We developed a universal model to determine habitat preferences, then mapped a predicted weekly midge abundance during the HD transmission seasons in 2015 (July–October) and 2016 (May–October) in Florida. (3) Results: We found differences in habitat preferences and spatial distribution between the parous and gravid states for C. haematopotus and C. stellifer. Gravid midges preferred areas close to water on the border of well and poorly drained soil. They also preferred mixed bottomland hardwood habitats, whereas parous midges appeared less selective of habitat. (4) Conclusions: If C. stellifer is confirmed as an EHDV vector in this region, the distinct spatial and abundance patterns between species and physiological states suggest that the HD risk is non-random across the study area. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder, is prevalent among the elderly population. It is a complex trait with mutations in multiple genes. Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few drugs for AD treatment, a definitive cure remains elusive. Research efforts persist in seeking improved treatment options for AD. Here, a hybrid pipeline is proposed to apply text mining to identify comorbid diseases for AD and an omics approach to identify the common genes between AD and five comorbid diseases—dementia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, and Down syndrome. We further identified the pathways and drugs for common genes. The rationale behind this approach is rooted in the fact that elderly individuals often receive multiple medications for various comorbid diseases, and an insight into the genes that are common to comorbid diseases may enhance treatment strategies. We identified seven common genes—PSEN1, PSEN2, MAPT, APP, APOE, NOTCH, and HFE—for AD and five comorbid diseases. We investigated the drugs interacting with these common genes using LINCS gene–drug perturbation. Our analysis unveiled several promising candidates, including MG-132 and Masitinib, which exhibit potential efficacy for both AD and its comorbid diseases. The pipeline can be extended to other diseases. Full article

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has attracted increasing interest in industry and academia due to its capability to produce large and complex metallic components at a high deposition rate. One of the basic tasks in WAAM is to determine appropriate process parameters, which will directly affect the morphology and quality of the weld bead. However, the selection of process parameters relies heavily on empirical data from trial-and-error experiments, which results in significant time and cost expenditures. This paper employed different machine learning models, including SVR, BPNN, and XGBoost, to predict process parameters for WAAM. Furthermore, the SVR model was optimized by the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms. A 3D laser scanner was employed to obtain the weld bead’s point cloud, and the weld bead size was extracted using the point cloud processing algorithm as the training data. The K-fold cross-validation strategy was applied to train and validate machine learning models. The comparison results showed that PSO–SVR predicted process parameters with the highest precision, with the RMSE, R², and MAE being 1.1670, 0.9879, and 0.8310, respectively. Based on the process parameters produced by PSO–SVR, an optimal process parameter combination was chosen by taking into comprehensive consideration the impacts of power consumption and efficiency. The effectiveness of the process parameter optimization method was proved through three groups of validation experiments, with the energy consumption of the first two groups decreasing by 10.68% and 11.47%, respectively. Full article

Three ionic liquids (ILs) and three deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with identical counterparts, as well as their aqueous solutions, were prepared for the selective extraction of alginate from Sargassum tenerrimum, a brown seaweed. It was found that the ILs and their hydrated systems were only able to extract alginate from the seaweed directly, while the DESs were not, as confirmed by molecular docking studies. When the quality of the polysaccharide was compared to that produced using the hydrated IL system with the widely used conventional method, it was discovered that the physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the alginate produced using the ILs as solvents were on par with those produced using the conventional method. The ILs can be seen as acceptable alternative solvents for the simple extraction of the polysaccharide straight from the seaweed given the consistency of the extraction procedure used in conventional extraction processes. The hydrated ILs were discovered to be more effective than their non-hydrated counterparts. The yield was also maximized up to 54%, which is much more than that obtained using a traditional approach. Moreover, the ionic liquids can also be recovered and reused for the extraction process. Additionally, any residual material remaining after the extraction process was converted into cellulose, making the process environmentally friendly and sustainable. Full article

Background: Understanding self-concept in individuals with intellectual disabilities is crucial for tailored support and interventions. The research question driving this study is: What factors influence the self-concept of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and how is it assessed? Methods: Employing a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, studies from 1993 to 2024, which used diverse assessment tools such as the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Acceptance, Myself as a Learner Scale, and other self-report questionnaires, were analysed. Results: Factors influencing self-concept include diagnosis, age, gender, perception of control, school placement, and socioeconomic status. Internal factors like perception of control and external factors like societal attitudes interact to shape self-concept trajectories. Assessments reveal nuanced dimensions of self-perception, facilitating targeted interventions. Conclusions: Assessing self-concept among individuals with intellectual disabilities requires diverse evaluation methods. Insights gained inform tailored interventions to enhance well-being. Further research is needed to validate assessment tools across diverse populations. Recognizing the interplay of internal beliefs, external perceptions, and societal structures is crucial for empowering individuals to embrace their unique identities. Full article

Evolutionary algorithms exhibit flexibility and global search advantages in multi-UAV path planning, effectively addressing complex constraints. However, when there are numerous obstacles in the environment, especially narrow passageways, the algorithm often struggles to quickly find a viable path. Additionally, collaborative constraints among multiple UAVs complicate the search space, making algorithm convergence challenging. To address these issues, we propose a novel hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm called PPSwarm. This approach initially employs the RRT* algorithm to generate an initial path, rapidly identifying a feasible solution in complex environments. Subsequently, we adopt a priority planning method to assign priorities to UAVs, simplifying collaboration among them. Furthermore, by introducing a path randomization strategy, we enhance the diversity of the particle swarm, thereby avoiding local optimum solutions. The experimental results show that, in comparison to algorithms such as DE, PSO, ABC, GWO, and SPSO, the PPSwarm algorithm demonstrates significant advantages in terms of path quality, convergence speed, and runtime when addressing path planning issues for 40 UAVs across four different scenarios. In larger-scale experiments involving 500 UAVs, the proposed algorithm also exhibits excellent processing capability and scalability. Full article