To measure associations between gardening with different compost amendments and the human gut microbiota composition, gardeners (n = 25) were provided with one of three types of compost: chicken manure (CM), dairy manure and plant material (DMP), or plant-based (P). Stool samples were collected before gardening (T1), after compost amendment (T2), and at peak garden harvest (T3). Compost and soil samples were collected. DNA was extracted, 16S rRNA libraries were established, and libraries were sequenced by Illumina MiSeq. Sequences were processed using mothur, and data were analyzed in R software version 4.2.2. Fast expectation-maximization microbial source tracking analysis was used to determine stool bacteria sources. At T2/T3, the gut microbiotas of P participants had the lowest Shannon alpha diversity, which was also the trend at T1. In stool from T2, Ruminococcus 1 were less abundant in the microbiotas of those using P compost as compared to those using CM or DMP. At T2, Prevotella 9 had the highest abundance in the microbiotas of those using CM compost. In participants who used CM compost to amend their gardening plots, a larger proportion of the human stool bacteria were sourced from CM compared to soil. Soil exposure through gardening was associated with a small but detectable change in the gardeners’ gut microbiota composition. These results suggest that human interactions with soil through gardening could potentially impact health through alterations to the gut microbiota. Full article

In this study, a double-input single-output bidirectional DC–DC converter is considered. This particular architecture allows less switches to be used than a conventional solution. A new feed-forward current control for this DC–DC converter with three switches is presented in this paper. The modulation technique proposed in the literature for the aforementioned converter leads to a consistent loss reduction at low load, exploiting the DCM. As a drawback, when using this control strategy, the dynamic response worsens significantly. To speed up the control, a feed-forward approach is designed and implemented using a simplified converter electrical model. The proposed strategy is compared with the conventional PI controller, and it is validated and verified through simulation results in the MATLAB/Simulink/PLECS environment and through experimental tests using a converter prototype. Full article

Prime-2-CoV_Beta is a novel Orf virus (ORFV)-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate expressing both the nucleocapsid and spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Beta strain. This candidate was shown to be safe and immunogenic in a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial. With the shift in the immune landscape toward the Omicron variant and the widespread vaccine- and/or infection-derived immunity, further pre-clinical research was needed to characterize Prime-2-CoV. Here, we quantified the humoral and cellular response to Prime-2-CoV_Beta in pre-immunized mice and compared the protective efficacy of mono- and bivalent variant-based Prime-2-CoV vaccine candidates in hamsters. Prime-2-CoV_Beta induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses in naïve animals but did not further boost antibody titers in the tested setting when given as repeat booster at short interval. We furthermore showed that Prime-2-CoV_Beta-based mono- and bivalent immunization strategies produced comparable immunogenicity and protection from infection. Our results highlight the potential of the Orf virus as a vaccine platform against SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other infectious viruses. Full article

The evaluation of the structural behaviour of a masonry Venetian church with a pointed barrel vault is presented in this paper through an analysis following the necessary steps of a monument study. With a detailed geometric model and material estimation, the finite-element method is used to investigate the influence of specific structural parts of the structure, like masonry buttresses and wall connections, on the structural behaviour. The operational modal analysis is used to identify the structure dynamically. The comparison of the eigenfrequencies, which are estimated by in situ measurements and finite-element modal analysis, is used to perform a model identification. The response spectrum analysis, the static analysis after the subsistence of some parts following strengthening proposals, and the transient analysis of specific seismic excitations are used for the evaluation of the structural behaviour. The purpose of the work is to highlight the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of a monumental complex structure, regardless of its scale. The coexistence of structural elements of different stiffnesses, such as vaults, elongated walls, buttresses, transverse walls with pediment and belfry, as well as the concha, affects the mechanical behaviour and the pathology of the structure, which is difficult to study with simplifying models. From the analysis, it is concluded that subsidence problems, combined with seismic actions, lead to the cracking of the masonry, while the existence of buttresses limits the extension of the damage and contributes to the stabilization of the structure. Full article

Lung cancer (LC) is a serious health problem worldwide. Survival outcomes have improved over time due to the widespread use of novel therapeutic agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Endocrine immune-related adverse events (e-irAEs) are common in LC patients treated with ICIs. We performed a retrospective study of patients with LC who received treatment with ICIs at a tertiary referral center between January 2014 and October 2023. In total, 983 LC patients were included in the study. E-irAEs presented at a median time of 4.1 months and included hypothyroidism (15.6%), hyperthyroidism (4.3%), adrenal insufficiency (0.4%), hypophysitis (0.4%), and diabetes mellitus (0.2%). These toxicities were not related to the duration of treatment or the type of ICIs. Most (97.6%) e-irAEs were mild (grade 1–2). Median overall survival (OS) was higher in LC patients who experienced e-irAEs (31.6 months) compared to those who did not (10.8 months). The difference remained statistically significant in the 3-month (HR: 0.42) and 6-month landmark analysis (HR: 0.51). The OS advantage was observed in both patients with NSCLC (HR: 0.36) and SCLC (HR: 0.27). Additional research is needed to validate the role of e-irAEs as an independent predictor of survival outcomes in patients with LC. Full article

Large-tow carbon fiber (LCF) meets the low-cost requirements of modern industry. However, due to the large and dense number of monofilaments, there are problems with uneven and insufficient infiltration during material preparation. The permeability of large-tow carbon fibers can be used as a two-scale expression of resin flow during infiltration, making it an important factor to consider. This paper provides support for the study of pore formation. A two-dimensional model of randomly bundled large-filament carbon fibers is generated based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) maps. Microstructure size parameters are obtained, and a semi-analytical model of the transverse permeability of large-filament-bundled carbon fibers is established. Permeability values are then obtained. The analysis shows that the monofilaments in the tow are arranged randomly, and their periodic arrangement cannot be used to calculate permeability. Additionally, the number of monofilaments in a carbon fiber tow of the same volume fraction affects the permeability of the tow. Therefore, the permeability model of large-tow carbon fibers is reliable. Full article

Candida auris has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical priority pathogen on its latest list of fungi. C. auris infections are reported in the bloodstream and less commonly in the cerebrospinal fluid and abdomen, with mortality rates that range between 30% and 72%. However, no large-scale epidemiology studies have been reported until now. The diagnosis of C. auris infections can be challenging, particularly when employing conventional techniques. This can impede the early detection of outbreaks and the implementation of appropriate control measures. The yeast can easily spread between patients and in healthcare settings through contaminated environments or equipment, where it can survive for extended periods. Therefore, it would be desirable to screen patients for C. auris colonisation. This would allow facilities to identify patients with the disease and take appropriate prevention and control measures. It is frequently unsusceptible to drugs, with varying patterns of resistance observed among clades and geographical regions. This review provides updates on C. auris, including epidemiology, clinical characteristics, genomic analysis, evolution, colonisation, infection, identification, resistance profiles, therapeutic options, prevention, and control. Full article

We investigated the impact of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy on treating bilateral human hip osteonecrosis, analyzing 908 cases. This study assesses factors such as tissue source and cell count, comparing core decompression with various cell therapies. This research emphasizes bone repair according to pre-treatment conditions and the specificities of cell therapy in osteonecrosis repair, indicating a potential for improved bone repair strategies in hips without femoral head collapse. This study utilized a single-center retrospective analysis to investigate the efficacy of cellular approaches in the bone repair of osteonecrosis. It examined the impact on bone repair of tissue source (autologous bone marrow concentrate, allogeneic expanded, autologous expanded), cell quantity (from none in core decompression alone to millions in cell therapy), and osteonecrosis stage and volume. Excluding hips with femoral head collapse, it focused on patients who had bilateral hip osteonecrosis, both pre-operative and post-operative MRIs, and a follow-up of over five years. The analysis divided these patients into seven groups based on match control treatment variations in bilateral hip osteonecrosis, primarily investigating the outcomes between core decompression, washing effect, and different tissue sources of MSCs. Younger patients (<30 years) demonstrated significantly better repair volumes, particularly in stage II lesions, than older counterparts. Additionally, bone repair volume increased with the number of implanted MSCs up to 1,000,000, beyond which no additional benefits were observed. No significant difference was observed in repair outcomes between different sources of MSCs (BMAC, allogenic, or expanded cells). The study also highlighted that a ‘washing effect’ was beneficial, particularly for larger-volume osteonecrosis when combined with core decompression. Partial bone repair was the more frequent event observed, while total bone repair of osteonecrosis was rare. The volume and stage of osteonecrosis, alongside the number of injected cells, significantly affected treatment outcomes. In summary, this study provides comprehensive insights into the effectiveness and variables influencing the use of mesenchymal stem cells in treating human hip osteonecrosis. It emphasizes the potential of cell therapy while acknowledging the complexity and variability of results based on factors such as age, cell count, and disease stage. Full article

A serious risk that harms the safe use of water and affects aquatic ecosystems is water pollution. This occurs when the water’s natural equilibrium is disrupted by an excessive amount of substances, both naturally occurring and as a byproduct of human activities, that have varied degrees of toxicity. Radiation from Cs isotopes, which are common components of radioactive waste and are known for their long half-lives (30 years), which are longer than the natural decay processes, is a major source of contamination. Adsorption is a commonly used technique for reducing this kind of contamination, and zeolite chabazite has been chosen as the best adsorbent for cesium in this particular situation. The purpose of this research is to investigate a composite material based on magnesium phosphate cement (MPC). Magnesium oxide (MgO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), and properly selected retarders are used to create the MPC. The optimal conditions for this composite material are investigated through the utilization of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, BET surface area analysis, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The principal aim is to enable innovations in the elimination of radioactive waste-contaminated water using effective cesium removal. The most promising results were obtained by using KH₂PO₄ as an acid, and MgO as a base, and aiming for an M/P ratio of two or four. Furthermore, we chose zeolite chabazite as a crucial component. The best adsorption abilities for Cs were found at Q_ads = 106.997 mg/g for S₂ and Q_ads = 122.108 mg/g for S₁. As a result, zeolite is an eco-friendly material that is a potential usage option, with many benefits, such as low prices, stability, and ease of regeneration and use. Full article

Aminopyralid (2-pyridine carboxylic acid, 4-amino-3, 6-dichloro-2-pyridine carboxylic acid) is an auxin herbicide that has been used widely to control broadleaf weeds in pasture and hay fields. With no post-application withdrawal time, aminopyralid absorbed into forage material can contaminate compost feed stocks such as hay, grass bedding material, and manure. Composts derived from such feed stocks raises concerns about after-effect injuries to sensitive crops by residual aminopyralids. Biochar (BC) additive may affect the composting process and immobilizes organic pollutants. This study examined the effect of composting dairy manure/sawdust 1:1 mixture containing 10 ppb (wet) of aminopyralid with 0%, 2%, 4%, and 10% (w/w) BC levels on chemical and biological characteristics of compost, residual aminopyralid concentration, and intensity of plant injury to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants after composting in 140 L plastic rotary drum reactors for two 6-month cycles. Biochar addition decreased organic matter degradation and intensified reduction in residual aminopyralid levels in a dose-dependent manner. Composting with BC concentrated more N, P, and K, caused mild plant injuries, and increased the above ground biomass compared to the no BC incorporation. Addition of BC for composting aminopyralid-contaminated dairy manure can increase the phyto safety level of compost while enhancing the key fertilizer values. Full article

This research introduces an experimental framework based on 3D acoustic and psycho-acoustic sensors supplemented with ambisonics and sound morphological analysis, whose objective is to study urban soundscapes. A questionnaire that highlights the differences between what has been measured and what has been perceiveSd by humans complements the quantitative approach with a qualitative evaluation. The comparison of the measurements with the questionnaire provides a global vision of the perception of these soundscapes, as well as differences and similarities. The approach is experimented within the historical center of the Tunisian city of Sidi Bou Saïd, demonstrating that from a range of complementary protocols, a soundscape environment can be qualified. This framework provides an additional dimension to urban planning studies. Full article

Bead-free nanofibrous scaffolds composed of PVOH/keratin/chitosan were prepared using electrospinning after optimising the process parameters using a Box–Behnken experimental design. Two quadratic models were developed to optimise the fibre diameter and the diameter of fibre beads considering the voltage, flow rate, spinning distance, and amount of biopolymer as independent variables. All independent variables were found to be significant in determining responses, although not all interactions among these were significant. The models were highly effective in describing responses, with an R² of 98.58 and 99.67%. The optimum conditions were determined to be 15.82 kV voltage, 0.25 mL/h flow rate, 105 mm spinning distance, and 30% biopolymers. The accuracy of the models was verified and found to be within an acceptable range. The bead-free nanofibrous scaffold exhibited no cytotoxicity to Human Aneuploid Immortal Keratinocyte (HaCaT) and Normal Human Dermal Fibroblast (NHDF) cell lines, enabling cell adhesion and proliferation. Both cell lines remained attached with perfect cell morphology when co-cultured on the scaffold for 30 days, indicating the scaffold’s potential for biomedical applications. Full article

The techniques used to detect and quantify cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) vary considerably in terms of detection sensitivity, from the most sensitive, based on radioisotopes and mass spectrometry (MS) with limits of detection (LOD) in fg mL⁻¹, to fluorescence (FL) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors with LOD values in the range of a few µg mL⁻¹. For accurate quantification of an analyte present at trace levels in complex biological matrices, a selective separation and enrichment step is required to overcome matrix interferences and ensure sufficient detection sensitivity. In this study, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) were used for the extraction and initial preconcentration of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). In the dependence of the magnetization on the H-field (hysteresis loop), no coercivity and remanence values were found at 300 K, indicating the superparamagnetic properties of the tested IONPs. Perfluorinated acids were used as amphiphilic agents to allow the sorption of cyanocobalamin onto the IONPs. FT-IR/ATR spectroscopy was used to confirm the sorption of cyanocobalamin on the IONPs. The influence of the addition of a homologous series of perfluorinated acids such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA), heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA), and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) to the extraction mixture was tested considering their type, mass, and time required for effective sorption. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm, described by the Freundlich and Langmuir equations, were analyzed. The maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) exceeded 6 mg g⁻¹ and was 8.9 mg g⁻¹ and 7.7 mg g⁻¹ for HFBA and TCAA, respectively, as the most efficient additives. After the desorption process using aqueous KH₂PO₄ solution, the sample was finally analyzed spectrophotometrically and chromatographically. The IONP-based method was successfully applied for the isolation of cyanocobalamin from human urine samples. The results showed that the developed approach is simple, cheap, accurate, and efficient for the determination of traces of cyanocobalamin in biological matrices. Full article

In this paper, the tempered $\mathsf{\Psi }$–Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative and the tempered $\mathsf{\Psi }$–Caputo fractional derivative of order $n-1<\alpha <n\in \mathbb{N}$ are introduced for $C^{n-1}$–functions. A nonlinear version of the second Henry–Gronwall inequality for integral inequalities with the tempered $\mathsf{\Psi }$–Hilfer fractional integral is derived. By using this inequality, an existence and uniqueness result and a sufficient condition for the non-existence of blow-up solutions of nonlinear tempered $\mathsf{\Psi }$–Caputo fractional differential equations are proved. Illustrative examples are given. Full article

Bats play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance, and studying their behaviors offers vital insights into environmental health and aids in conservation efforts. Determining the presence of various bat species in an environment is essential for many bat studies. Specialized audio sensors can be used to record bat echolocation calls that can then be used to identify bat species. However, the complexity of bat calls presents a significant challenge, necessitating expert analysis and extensive time for accurate interpretation. Recent advances in neural networks can help identify bat species automatically from their echolocation calls. Such neural networks can be integrated into a complete end-to-end system that leverages recent internet of things (IoT) technologies with long-range, low-powered communication protocols to implement automated acoustical monitoring. This paper presents the design and implementation of such a system that uses a tiny neural network for interpreting sensor data derived from bat echolocation signals. A highly compact convolutional neural network (CNN) model was developed that demonstrated excellent performance in bat species identification, achieving an F1-score of 0.9578 and an accuracy rate of 97.5%. The neural network was deployed, and its performance was evaluated on various alternative edge devices, including the NVIDIA Jetson Nano and Google Coral. Full article

Cities will face increasing challenges due to the impacts of global climate change, particularly in the form of cyclonic events, necessitating a deeper understanding and the establishment of effective response mechanisms at both institutional and citizen levels. In this research, we tested the efficiency of crowdsourcing in fostering participatory resilience and improving urban management. The main aim was to design novel and accurate proactive response strategies and mitigate the adverse effects of cyclonic wind events through volunteerism, citizen science, and urban science. To achieve this goal, as a case study, the municipality of Soledad, Colombia was used. This research employed a two-phase methodological approach: (i) initially evaluating the spatial distribution of emergency response resources, and (ii) developing a geo-referenced survey to map, systematize, and categorize data and outcomes. A total of three hundred and seventy-eight residents across five neighborhoods in Soledad, which have experienced a high frequency of atmospheric wind phenomena over the past two decades, were surveyed. The results indicate that the crowdsourcing mechanism effectively enhanced the empirical understanding of atmospheric wind events in Soledad, facilitating the establishment of a geo-referenced volunteer network for real-time responses. Additionally, this study shed light on previously undocumented challenges, in terms of reducing the number of people affected, and the actions that would lead to improved urban development to reduce the impacts of cyclonic events, emphasizing the significance of citizen science in the social construction of risk and disaster risk reduction (DDR) efforts. Full article

Plant-based proteins have gained popularity in the food industry as a good protein source. Among these, chickpea protein has gained significant attention in recent times due to its high yields, high nutritional content, and health benefits. With an abundance of essential amino acids, particularly lysine, and a highly digestible indispensable amino acid score of 76 (DIAAS), chickpea protein is considered a substitute for animal proteins. However, the application of chickpea protein in food products is limited due to its poor functional properties, such as solubility, water-holding capacity, and emulsifying and gelling properties. To overcome these limitations, various modification methods, including physical, biological, chemical, and a combination of these, have been applied to enhance the functional properties of chickpea protein and expand its applications in healthy food products. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively examine recent advances in Cicer arietinum (chickpea) protein extraction techniques, characterizing its properties, exploring post-modification strategies, and assessing its diverse applications in the food industry. Moreover, we reviewed the nutritional benefits and sustainability implications, along with addressing regulatory considerations. This review intends to provide insights into maximizing the potential of Cicer arietinum protein in diverse applications while ensuring sustainability and compliance with regulations. Full article

Developing high-performance and cost-competitive electrocatalysts have great significance for the massive commercial production of water-splitting hydrogen. Ni-based electrocatalysts display tremendous potential for electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, we synthesize a novel NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalyst in nanosheets array on high-purity Ni foam. By adjusting the Ni/Fe ratio, the microstructure, and even the behavior of the electrocatalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), changes significantly. The as-obtained material shows a small overpotential of 223 mV at 10 mAcm⁻² as well as a low Tafel slope of 48.9 mV·dec⁻¹ in the 1 M KOH electrolyte. In addition, it can deliver good stability for at least 24 h of continuous working at 10 mAcm⁻². This work proposes a strategy for engineering catalysts and provides a method for the development of other Ni-based catalysts with excellent performance. Full article

The role of aromatic amino acids in peripheral protein membrane binding has been reported to involve cation–π interactions with choline lipids. In this study, we have investigated the interactions of the model pentapeptide Ac-WL-X-LL-OH (where X = L, Y, F, or W) with the phospholipid membrane using solid-state NMR. The effect of guest residue X on the peptide-lipid interactome was complementary to the seminal report on the interfacial hydrophobicity scale by Wimley and White. We found that the phospholipids retained a lamellar phase in the presence of each of the peptides with an aromatic X residue, whereas the Leu peptide perturbed the bilayer to an extent where an additional isotropic phase was observed. The solid-state NMR ¹³C and ³¹P data provide additional information on the influence of these short peptides on the membrane that has not been previously reported. The magnitude of membrane perturbation was in the order of guest residue X = L > Y~F > W, which is consistent with the relative amino acid interfacial affinity reported by Wimley and White. Further work is, however, required to uncover the behavior of the peptide and localization in the membrane domain due to ambiguity of the ¹³C NMR data. We have launched efforts in this regard for the objective of better understanding the role of aromatic amino acids in peripheral membrane protein binding. Full article

Maize/peanut intercropping is practiced widely to increase land productivity and considered a sustainable way for using and saving resources through peanut’s complementary N source via biological N₂ fixation. Our study aims to understand how maize/peanut intercropping affects the nodulation of peanuts under water-limiting conditions and different nitrogen inputs. A two-year micro-plot experiment in 2015–2016 and a two-year field experiment in 2017–2018 were conducted to quantify nodulation in maize/peanut intercropping and sole peanut cropping under four N fertilization rates (N-free, low, medium, and high N) in rain-fed water-limited conditions. In the micro-plot experiment, intercropped peanuts increased nodule biomass compared to sole peanuts. The nodule number of intercropped peanuts was 51.6% (p = 0.001) higher than that of sole cropped peanuts, while nodule weights did not differ at high N fertilization rates and were lower in the no-N fertilization control. However, the results were different in the field experiment. Both the nodule number and single weight of the sole cropped peanut were 48.7% (p = 0.020) and 58.9% (p = 0.014) higher than that of the intercropped peanut. The ratio of the nodule weight to aboveground dry matter at the beginning peg in the dry year of 2017 was lower in intercropping than sole cropping, especially at low N fertilization rates. The potential increase in nodulation found in a well-controlled micro-plot environment might be limited by strong water and light competitions in field conditions. The results could contribute to the understanding of interspecific interactions in cereal/legume intercropping. Full article

The field of argument analysis has become a crucial component in the advancement of natural language processing, which holds the potential to reveal unprecedented insights from complex data and enable more efficient, cost-effective solutions for enhancing human initiatives. Despite its importance, current technologies face significant challenges, including (1) low interpretability, (2) lack of precision and robustness, particularly in specialized fields like finance, and (3) the inability to deploy effectively on lightweight devices. To address these challenges, we introduce a framework uniquely designed to process and analyze massive volumes of argument data efficiently and accurately. This framework employs a text-to-text Transformer generation model as its backbone, utilizing multiple prompt engineering methods to fine-tune the model. These methods include Causal Inference from ChatGPT, which addresses the interpretability problem, and Prefix Instruction Fine-tuning as well as in-domain further pre-training, which tackle the issues of low robustness and accuracy. Ultimately, the proposed framework generates conditional outputs for specific tasks using different decoders, enabling deployment on consumer-grade devices. After conducting extensive experiments, our method achieves high accuracy, robustness, and interpretability across various tasks, including the highest F1 scores in the NTCIR-17 FinArg-1 tasks. Full article

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a frequent gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infections, affecting more than 100 million patients annually worldwide. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli binds to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its co-receptor’s cluster of differentiation protein 14 (CD14) and myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), collectively known as the LPS receptor complex. LPCAT2 participates in lipid-raft assembly by phospholipid remodelling. Previous research has proven that LPCAT2 co-localises in lipid rafts with TLR4 and regulates macrophage inflammatory response. However, no published evidence exists of the influence of LPCAT2 on the gene expression of the LPS receptor complex induced by smooth or rough bacterial serotypes. We used RAW264.7—a commonly used experimental murine macrophage model—to study the effects of LPCAT2 on the LPS receptor complex by transiently silencing the LPCAT2 gene, infecting the macrophages with either smooth or rough LPS, and quantifying gene expression. LPCAT2 only significantly affected the gene expression of the LPS receptor complex in macrophages infected with smooth LPS. This study provides novel evidence that the influence of LPCAT2 on macrophage inflammatory response to bacterial infection depends on the LPS serotype, and it supports previous evidence that LPCAT2 regulates inflammatory response by modulating protein translocation to lipid rafts. Full article