Insects are a conventional food in many cultures worldwide. Why therefore are they treated with aversion by the majority of people in Western countries? The aim of this work is to understand cultural norms and historical practices related to insects that can explain why in the countries of the West it is so difficult to accept them as a foodstuff, and why the disgust that they arouse is more common than in other regions of the world. Insects in Western countries are associated with negative experiences resulting from cultural and religious beliefs, traditions, stories, myths and individual experiences. Although there are species of insect that have positive associations, the high number of negative terms popularized the negative image of these creatures in people’s minds, as a result of which the concept of insects as a foodstuff arouses disgust in the culture of the West. Understanding the aversion to insects will contribute to the broader understanding of consumer attitudes, cultural influences on consumption, or potential shifts in food choices. It also can help develop strategies or methods that will assist in changing this reluctance and encourage the utilization of insects as a food source. Full article

Mangrove ecosystems are pivotal to the global carbon budget. However, there is still a dearth of research addressing the impact of regional mangrove land use and land cover change (LUCC) on carbon sequestration and its associated spatial distribution patterns. To investigate the impact of different development scenarios on the carbon storage capacity of mangrove ecosystems, we focused on Hainan Island. We used LUCC data from 2010 to 2020 from mangrove-inhabited regions. The Markov-PLUS model was applied to predict the spatiotemporal dynamics of mangrove coverage under the natural increase scenario (NIS) and the mangrove protection scenario (MPS) over the next 40 years. Carbon storage was estimated using the InVEST model based on field-measured carbon density data. The outcomes show the following: (1) The Markov-PLUS model, with an overall accuracy of 0.88 and a Kappa coefficient of 0.82, is suitable for predicting mangrove distribution patterns on Hainan Island. (2) Environmental factors were the main drivers of historical mangrove changes on Hainan Island, explaining 54% of the variance, with elevation, temperature, and precipitation each contributing over 13%. (3) From 2025 to 2065, the mangrove area on Hainan Island is projected to increase by approximately 12,505.68 ha, mainly through conversions from forest land (12.73% under NIS and 12.37% under MPS) and agricultural land (39.72% under NIS and 34.53% under MPS). (4) The carbon storage increment within Hainan Island’s mangroves is projected at 2.71 TgC over the whole island, with notable increases expected in the eastern, northern, and northwestern regions, and modest gains in other areas. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics and future trends of carbon storage in the mangroves of Hainan Island, offering invaluable guidance for the long-term management of mangrove ecosystems and the realization of carbon neutrality goals by 2060. Full article

In this work, we lay the foundations for computing the behavior of a quantum heat engine whose working medium consists of an ensemble of non-harmonic quantum oscillators. In order to enable this analysis, we develop a method based on the Schrödinger picture. We investigate different possible choices on the basis of expanding the density operator, as it is crucial to select a basis that will expedite the numerical integration of the time-evolution equation without compromising the accuracy of the computed results. For this purpose, we developed an estimation technique that allows us to quantify the error that is unavoidably introduced when time-evolving the density matrix expansion over a finite-dimensional basis. Using this and other ways of evaluating a specific choice of basis, we arrive at the conclusion that the basis of eigenstates of a harmonic Hamiltonian leads to the best computational performance. Additionally, we present a method to quantify and reduce the error that is introduced when extracting relevant physical information about the ensemble of oscillators. The techniques presented here are specific to quantum heat cycles; the coexistence within a cycle of time-dependent Hamiltonian and coupling with a thermal reservoir are particularly complex to handle for the non-harmonic case. The present investigation is paving the way for numerical analysis of non-harmonic quantum heat machines. Full article

Finding effective ecosystem services (ESS) management practices to counteract land degradation and poverty is becoming increasingly urgent in the Ethiopian highlands, where livelihood security is strongly dependent on local ESS, particularly those provided by water and soil. In this paper, we test the effects of widely implemented soil and water conservation (SWC) interventions on storm flow and sediment concentration in the Debre Mawi watershed (representative of watersheds in the upper Blue Nile basin and Ethiopian highlands). The SWC interventions were tested with a Parameter Efficient Distributed (PED) model. The PED model simulates saturation excess runoff from degraded and saturated valley bottoms, and base and interflow from hillsides. The model was calibrated with observed runoff and sediment data in a 95-ha subcatchment. We found that the PED model simulated the discharge and soil loss well by decreasing the proportion of degraded lands due to installing SWC practices. The results show that four years after the implementation of SWC practices, the infiltration of rainwater was improved in 53% of the degraded lands. Thus, installing SWC practices on hillsides where infiltration is limited is most beneficial and will result in greater water availability during the dry phase, especially in locations where volcanic dikes block the lateral flow. Full article

Background: We evaluate the relationship between corneal nerve structure and function in a veteran population. Methods: 83 veterans (mean age: 55 ± 5 years) seen at the Miami Veterans Affairs (VA) eye clinic were included in this study. Each individual filled out questionnaires to evaluate ocular symptoms (5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire, DEQ5; Ocular Surface Disease Index, OSDI) and ocular pain (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS; Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory modified for the Eye, NPSI-Eye). The individuals also underwent an ocular surface examination that captured functional nerve tests including corneal sensation, corneal staining, and the Schirmer test for tear production. Corneal sub-basal nerve analysis was conducted using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images with corneal nerve density, length, area, width, and fractal dimension captured. IVCM and functional corneal metrics from the right eye were examined using correlational and linear regression analysis. Results: Most corneal structural metrics were not related to functional metrics, except for weak correlations between various IVCM metrics and tear production. In addition, corneal nerve fiber area was positively related to corneal sensation (r = 0.3, p = 0.01). On linear regression analyses, only the corneal fractal dimension remained significantly related to tear production (β = −0.26, p = 0.02) and only the corneal nerve fiber area remained significantly related to corneal sensation (β = 0.3, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Most corneal nerve structural metrics did not relate to functional metrics in our veteran population, apart from a few weak correlations between structural metrics and tear production. This suggests that using corneal nerve anatomy alone may be insufficient for predicting corneal function. Full article

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) is a prompt and non-invasive imaging modality helpful in detecting pathological abnormalities within the retina and the choroid. This narrative review and case series provides an overview on the current application of FAF in posterior and panuveitis. The literature was reviewed for articles on lesion characteristics on FAF of specific posterior and panuveitis entities as well as benefits and limitations of FAF for diagnosing and monitoring disease. FAF characteristics are described for non-infectious and infectious uveitis forms as well as masquerade syndromes. Dependent on the uveitis entity, FAF is of diagnostic value in detecting disease and following the clinical course. Currently available FAF modalities which differ in excitation wavelengths can provide different pathological insights depending on disease entity and activity. Further studies on the comparison of FAF modalities and their individual value for uveitis diagnosis and monitoring are warranted. Full article

Cell expansion in a discrete region called the elongation zone drives root elongation. Analyzing time lapse images can quantify the expansion in kinematic terms as if it were fluid flow. We used horizontal microscopes to collect images from which custom software extracted the length of the elongation zone, the peak relative elemental growth rate (REGR) within it, the axial position of the REGR peak, and the root elongation rate. Automation enabled these kinematic traits to be measured in 1575 Arabidopsis seedlings representing 162 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of Cvi and Ler ecotypes. We mapped ten quantitative trait loci (QTL), affecting the four kinematic traits. Three QTL affected two or more traits in these vertically oriented seedlings. We compared this genetic architecture with that previously determined for gravitropism using the same RIL population. The major QTL peaks for the kinematic traits did not overlap with the gravitropism QTL. Furthermore, no single kinematic trait correlated with quantitative descriptors of the gravitropism response curve across this population. In addition to mapping QTL for growth zone traits, this study showed that the size and shape of the elongation zone may vary widely without affecting the differential growth induced by gravity. Full article

The steel industry is an important foundation of the national economy and the livelihood of the people, producing a large amount of carbon dioxide gas, accounting for about 70% of the carbon dioxide gas generated in the steel industry, which occurs during the ironmaking process. Therefore, the key technology to reduce the pollution and improve competitiveness is to increase the stability of blast furnace production and the quality of hot metal. Since the operation requirements for temperature control in the vanadium-titanium blast furnace are dramatically different compared to the traditional ones due to the low fluidity of vanadium-titanium slag, maintaining the required hot metal temperature within a narrow range with smaller fluctuations is essential. In addition, the adjustment parameters of the lower part have a significant influence on the tuyere combustion flame temperature during the daily operation of blast furnaces. At present, there is no relevant research on the online detection and analysis of vanadium-titanium blast furnace tuyere combustion flame temperature. In this study, the temperature of four tuyeres in a 500 m³ vanadium and titanium blast furnace at Jianlong Steel was detected by an online detection system. The tuyere combustion flame temperature was then calculated using colorimetric temperature measuring methodology at various times and at four distinct locations. After that, the calibration analyses, imaging parameter and the temperature tendencies in different directions of the blast furnace were investigated. This study not only offers new methods for understanding the regularity of operation and increasing the degree of visualization in vanadium and titanium smelting blast furnaces but also provides technical support for intelligent and low-carbon operation in blast furnaces. Full article

Remotely sensed images provide effective sources for monitoring crop growth and the early prediction of crop productivity. To monitor carrot crop growth and yield estimation, three 27 ha center-pivot irrigated fields were studied to develop yield prediction models using crop biophysical parameters and vegetation indices (VIs) extracted from Sentinel-2A (S2) multi-temporal satellite data. A machine learning (ML)-based image classification technique, the random forest (RF) algorithm, was used for carrot crop monitoring and yield analysis. The VIs (NDVI, RDVI, GNDVI, SIPI, and GLI), extracted from S2 satellite data for the crop ages of 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 days after plantation (DAP), and the chlorophyll content, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) meter readings, were incorporated as predictors for the RF algorithm. The RMSE of the five RF scenarios studied ranged from 7.8 t ha⁻¹ (R² ≥ 0.82 with Scenario 5) to 26.2 t ha⁻¹ (R² ≤ 0.46 with Scenario 1). The optimal window for monitoring the carrot crop for yield prediction with the use of S2 images could be achieved between the 60 DAP and 75 DAP with an RMSE of 8.6 t ha⁻¹ (i.e., 12.4%) and 11.4 t ha⁻¹ (16.2%), respectively. The developed RF algorithm can be utilized in carrot crop yield monitoring and decision-making processes for the self-sustainability of carrot production. Full article

The aim of the present study was to evaluate depressive-like, anxiety-like, and perseverative-like behaviors in a binge eating model. Juvenile Wistar rats, using the binge eating model, were compared to caloric restriction, induced stress, and control groups. Rats of the induced stress group presented binge-like behaviors in standard food intake in the second cycle of the experiment when compared to the caloric restriction group and the binge eating model group. Depressive-like behavior was observed in the binge eating model group with longer immobility time (p < 0.001) and less swim time (p < 0.001) in comparison to the control group. Anxiety-like behavior was observed by shorter duration of burying latency in the binge eating model group when compared to the induced stress group (p = 0.04) and a longer duration of burying time when compared to the control group (p = 0.02). We observed perseverative-like behavior by the binge model group, who made more entries to the new arm (p = 0.0004) and spent a longer time in the new arm when compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). Our results show differences in behaviors between the groups of rats studied. These results suggest that calorie restriction–refeeding, along with stress, may lead to depressive-like, anxiety-like, and perseverative-like behavioral changes in male Wistar rats. Full article

In this essay, Goethe’s early historical plays, Götz von Berlichingen, published in 1773, and Egmont, published only in 1787, are compared. So far, scholarly work has not recognized enough of the differences between both works. Goethe’s intellectual development from the young Storm and Stress writer of Götz to the publication of Egmont fourteen years later has not been considered sufficiently. Goethe’s development is clearly reflected in his protagonists’ deeds and intentions. Goethe’s Götz fights predominantly for his own rights and his family. Egmont aims higher; he is more concerned with the welfare state of society and reflects on political issues Götz is unable to consider. Moreover, Goethe takes, in both cases, poetic license to create a different picture of his protagonists’ failures than historical sources provide. This finally leads to the introduction of the term preclassic to differentiate between Götz and Egmont. Full article

Thermoelectric power can convert heat and electricity directly and reversibly. Low-dimensional thermoelectric materials, particularly thin films, have been considered a breakthrough for separating electronic and thermal transport relationships. In this study, a series of Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ thin films with thicknesses of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 μm have been fabricated by RF sputtering for the study of thickness effects on thermoelectric properties. We demonstrated that microstructure (texture) changes highly correlate with the growth thickness in the films, and equilibrium annealing significantly improves the thermoelectric performance, resulting in a remarkable enhancement in the thermoelectric performance. Consequently, the 0.5 μm thin films achieve an exceptional power factor of 18.1 μWcm⁻¹K⁻² at 400 K. Furthermore, we utilize a novel method that involves exfoliating a nanosized film and cutting with a focused ion beam, enabling precise in-plane thermal conductivity measurements through the 3ω method. We obtain the in-plane thermal conductivity as low as 0.3 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹, leading to a maximum ZT of 1.86, nearing room temperature. Our results provide significant insights into advanced thin-film thermoelectric design and fabrication, boosting high-performance systems. Full article

The cerebrovascular endothelial cells with distinct characteristics line cerebrovascular blood vessels and are the fundamental structure of the blood–brain barrier, which is important for the development and homeostatic maintenance of the central nervous system. Cre-LoxP system-based spatial gene manipulation in mice is critical for investigating the physiological functions of key factors or signaling pathways in cerebrovascular endothelial cells. However, there is a lack of Cre recombinase mouse lines that specifically target cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Here, using a publicly available single-cell RNAseq database, we screened the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1a4 (Slco1a4) as a candidate marker of cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Then, we generated an inducible Cre mouse line in which a CreERT2-T2A-tdTomato cassette was placed after the initiation codon ATG of the Slco1a4 locus. We found that tdTomato, which can indicate the endogenous Slco1a4 expression, was expressed in almost all cerebrovascular endothelial cells but not in any other non-endothelial cell types in the brain, including neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and microglial cells, as well as in other organs. Consistently, when crossing the ROSA26^LSL-EYFP Cre reporter mouse, EYFP also specifically labeled almost all cerebrovascular endothelial cells upon tamoxifen induction. Overall, we generated a new inducible Cre line that specifically targets cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Full article

Leaf spot disease is an extremely common disease in the growth process of maize in Northern China and its degree of harm is quite significant. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of maize leaf spot disease is crucial for reducing economic losses in maize. In complex field environments, traditional identification methods are susceptible to subjective interference and cannot quickly and accurately identify leaf spot disease through color or shape features. We present an advanced disease identification method utilizing YOLOv8. This method utilizes actual field images of diseased corn leaves to construct a dataset and accurately labels the diseased leaves in these images, thereby achieving rapid and accurate identification of target diseases in complex field environments. We have improved the model based on YOLOv8 by adding Slim-neck modules and GAM attention modules and introducing them to enhance the model’s ability to identify maize leaf spot disease. The enhanced YOLOv8 model achieved a precision (P) of 95.18%, a recall (R) of 89.11%, an average recognition accuracy (mAP50) of 94.65%, and an mAP50-95 of 71.62%, respectively. Compared to the original YOLOv8 model, the enhanced model showcased enhancements of 3.79%, 4.65%, 3.56%, and 7.3% in precision (P), recall (R), average recognition accuracy (mAP50), and mAP50-95, respectively. The model can effectively identify leaf spot disease and accurately calibrate its location. Under the same experimental conditions, we compared the improved model with the YOLOv3, YOLOv5, YOLOv6, Faster R-CNN, and SSD models. The results show that the improved model not only enhances performance, but also reduces parameter complexity and simplifies the network structure. The results indicated that the improved model enhanced performance, while reducing experimental time. Hence, the enhanced method proposed in this study, based on YOLOv8, exhibits the capability to identify maize leaf spot disease in intricate field environments, offering robust technical support for agricultural production. Full article

Given the importance of molecular structure in pharmacological activity and interaction with biological receptors, we conducted a study on the 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde hydrazone derivative of 5-methoxy-indole carboxylic acid (5MICA) and a newly synthesised analogue bearing a 2-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl ring using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. We studied the ability of the two compounds to scavenge hypochlorite ions using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence and their potential to modulate oxidative damage induced by iron on the biologically significant molecules lecithin and deoxyribose in order to evaluate possible antioxidant and prooxidant effects. The X-ray study revealed highly conserved geometry and limited rotation and deformation freedom of the respective indole and phenyl fragments. Interestingly, a conformational difference between the two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of 3b was found. The X-ray study revealed a combination of hydrogen bonding interactions, short contacts, and π–π stacking stabilizing the specific three-dimensional packing of the molecules of 3a and 3b in the crystal structures. The three-dimensional packing of the molecules of 3b produced a zigzag layering projected along the c-axis. Both compounds effectively decreased luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in model systems with KO₂-produced superoxide. They displayed opposite effects when applied in a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The hydrazones of 5MICA do not trigger a prooxidant effect or subsequent toxicity under conditions of iron-induced oxidative stress. The 3,4-dihydroxy-substituted derivative demonstrated excellent radical scavenging properties in all model systems, making it the lead compound for the development of compounds with combined neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. Full article

Obesity in adolescents is associated with non-communicable risk factors and diseases like metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which is the liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome. L-citrulline is a non-protein amino acid that has shown positive effects on the degree of steatosis in animals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of oral L-citrulline supplementation on liver function and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents with abdominal obesity and MAFLD. A prospective, double-blind clinical trial in adolescents with abdominal obesity was randomized into two groups: forty-two adolescents were supplemented with L-citrulline (6 g of L-citrulline/day) (n = 22) and placebo (n = 20) for eight weeks. The variables evaluated were anthropometry, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, L-citrulline, L-arginine, malondialdehyde, lipid profile, liver profile, urea, uric acid, and hepatic steatosis by ultrasound. After supplementation, the L-citrulline group had a decrease in liver fat accumulation (p = 0.0007); increases in body weight (p = 0.02), glucose (p = 0.03), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.03); and decreases in BMI (p = 0.002), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), HDL-C (p = 0.01), LDL-C (p = 0.002), and alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.05). L-citrulline for eight weeks decreases hepatic fat accumulation and LDL-C levels in adolescents with abdominal obesity and MAFLD. Full article

The aim of this study was to explore periodontal health among intellectually disabled individuals living in an institutional rehabilitation centre in the Al-Baha Region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024. Clinical oral examinations were carried out using the World Health Organization criteria for bleeding sites and the presence of periodontal pockets. Simplified oral hygiene and community periodontal indices were employed to evaluate participants’ oral health. A total of 89 participants, comprising both males and females with intellectual disabilities, were included in this study. Gender, severity of intellectual disability, type of additional physical disability, tooth brushing habits and oral hygiene status were significantly associated with the presence of periodontal disease. Additionally, poor oral hygiene, not brushing teeth and periodontal pockets of 4–5 mm and 6 mm or more were significantly more prevalent among individuals with severe and moderate intellectual disabilities (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of periodontal disease among the studied population was 54%. The odds of having periodontal disease were significantly higher in the severe intellectual disability group compared to the mild intellectual disability group (OR = 2.328, 95% CI = 1.430–3.631, p = 0.03). It was also found that intellectually disabled participants with additional physical disabilities suffered more from periodontal disease than those without additional physical disabilities (OR = 0.971, 95% CI = 0.235–4.023, p = 0.025). Overall, individuals with intellectual disabilities had a significant demand for periodontal care. This study highlighted the need for more organised preventive programmes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Dentists should be vigilant about improving periodontal health, focus on preventive programmes and provide comprehensive dental care with an emphasis on periodic recall and monitoring. Full article

The study of the mechanisms affecting the preparation parameters of carbonated steel slag is of great significance for the development of carbon sequestration materials. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the influence of moisture on CO₂ diffusion and particle cementation in steel slag, the effects of different water–solid ratios and water contents on the mechanical properties, carbonation products, and pore structure of steel slag after carbonation were investigated. The results show that increasing the water–solid ratio of steel slag can control the larger initial porosity and improve the carbon sequestration capacity of steel slag, but it will reduce the mechanical properties. The carbonation process relies on pores for CO₂ diffusion and also requires a certain level of moisture for Ca²⁺ dissolution and diffusion. Increasing the water content enhances particle cementation and carbonation capacity in steel slag specimens; however, excessive water hinders CO₂ diffusion. Reducing the water content can increase the carbonation depth but may compromise gelling and carbon sequestration ability. Therefore, achieving a balance is crucial in controlling the water content. The compressive strength of the steel slag with suitable moisture and initial porosity can reach 118.7 MPa, and 217.2 kg CO₂ eq./t steel slag can be sequestered. Full article

In the last decade, many aerial photographic archives have started to be digitized for multiple purposes, including digital preservation and geoprocessing. This paper analyzes the effects of professional photogrammetric versus consumer-grade scanners on the processing of analog historical aerial photographs. An image block over Warsaw is considered, featuring 38 photographs acquired in 1986 (Wild RC10, Normal Aviogon II lens, 23 × 23 cm format) with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 4 cm. Aerial triangulation (AT) and dense image matching (DIM) procedures are considered, analyzing how scanning modalities are important in the massive digitization of analog images for georeferencing and 3D product generation. The achieved results show how consumer-grade scanners, unlike more expensive photogrammetric scanners, do not possess adequate recording quality to ensure high accuracy and geometric precision for geoprocessing purposes. However, consumer-grade scanners can be used for time and cost-efficient applications where a partial loss of data quality is not critical. Full article

Cocoa is the third most important global agricultural export commodity. However, because it is a crop sensitive to climatic change, there has been an active search for cocoa substitutes worldwide. Roasted jackfruit seeds were previously described as having a chocolate aroma and are affordable and accessible. In this study, we characterized and identified by SPME-GC-O and SPME-GC-MS the aroma profile of cocoa-based beverages formulated with jackfruit seed flour as a natural cocoa substitute. Our analysis tentatively identified 71 odor-active aroma descriptors with some similarities between formulations. Overall, 15 odor-active aromas were present in all beverages. The formulation containing only cocoa/chocolate showed the following aroma descriptors: cocoa, hazelnut, peanut butter, earthy, and roast, which are mostly related to the presence of 2,3-dimethylpyrazine and 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine. The fermented beverage had a content of complex pyrazines such as 2,3,5-trimethyl-6-isopentylpyrazine and methylpropylpyrazine. Our data indicated that both the control and fermented beverages showed a similar aromatic profile, mainly earthy, pyrazine, and chocolate. Qualitative similarities in the pyrazine content were observed between the fermented jackfruit seed flour and cocoa beverages. In conclusion, fermented jackfruit seed flour can be incorporated into cocoa-based beverages as a natural chocolate substitute, offering the potential to elevate the chocolate aroma. Full article

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) have a greater suicide risk than the general population. In this study, we employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore whether Chinese individuals with different phases of BD differed at the levels of suicidal ideation. We recruited 517 patients. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24), and manic symptoms were evaluated using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The extent of suicidal thoughts was determined through the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The scores of HAMD and YMRS were used to perform LPA. LPA categorized participants into three classes: one exhibiting severe depressive and mild manic symptomatology, another showing severe depressive and severe manic symptomatology, and the third one displaying severe depressive and intermediate manic symptomatology. Suicidal ideation levels were found to be remarkably elevated across all three classes. Additionally, the three classes showed no significant differences in terms of suicidal ideation. Our research confirms the link between depressive symptoms and suicide, independent of the manic symptoms. These findings carry meaning as they provide insight into the suicide risk profiles within different phases of BD. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a technology that can replace internal combustion vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel low-viscosity lubricants that can serve as potential transmission fluids for electric vehicles. Thus, this work analyzes the influence of both SiO₂ and SiO₂-SA (coated with stearic acid) nanomaterials on the tribological behavior of a paraffinic base oil with an ISO VG viscosity grade of 32 and a 133 viscosity index. A traditional two-step process through ultrasonic agitation was utilized to formulate eight nanolubricants of paraffinic oil + SiO₂ and paraffinic base oil + SiO₂-SA with nanopowder mass concentrations ranging from 0.15 wt% to 0.60 wt%. Visual control was utilized to investigate the stability of the nanolubricants. An experimental study of different properties (viscosity, viscosity index, density, friction coefficient, and wear) was performed. Friction analyses were carried out in pure sliding contacts at 393.15 K, and a 3D optical profilometer was used to quantify the wear. The friction results showed that, for the SiO₂-SA nanolubricants, the friction coefficients were much lower than those obtained with the neat paraffinic base oil. The optimal nanoparticle mass concentration was 0.60 wt% SiO₂-SA, with which the friction coefficient decreased by around 43%. Regarding wear, the greatest decreases in width, depth, and area were also found with the addition of 0.60 wt% SiO₂-SA; thus, reductions of 21, 22, and 54% were obtained, respectively, compared with the neat paraffinic base oil. Full article