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Polyamines (PAs) are polycationic biogenic amines ubiquitously present in all life forms and are involved in molecular signaling and interaction, determining cell fate (e.g., cell proliferation, dif-ferentiation, and apoptosis). The intricate balance in the PAs’ levels in the tissues will determine whether beneficial
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Polyamines (PAs) are polycationic biogenic amines ubiquitously present in all life forms and are involved in molecular signaling and interaction, determining cell fate (e.g., cell proliferation, dif-ferentiation, and apoptosis). The intricate balance in the PAs’ levels in the tissues will determine whether beneficial or detrimental effects will affect homeostasis. It’s crucial to note that endoge-nous polyamines, like spermine and spermidine, play a pivotal role in our understanding of neu-rological disorders as they interact with membrane receptors and ion channels, modulating neuro-transmission. In spiders and wasps, monoamines (histamine, dopamine, serotonin, tryptamine) and polyamines (spermine, spermidine, acyl polyamines) comprise, with peptides and other sub-stances, the low molecular weight fraction of the venom. Acylpolyamines are venom components exclusively from spiders and a species of solitary wasp, which cause inhibition chiefly of iono-tropic glutamate receptors (AMPA, NMDA, and KA iGluRs) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The first venom acylpolyamines ever discovered (argiopines, Joro and Nephila toxins, and philanthotoxins) have provided templates for the design and synthesis of numerous analogs. Thus far, analogs with high potency exert their effect at nanomolar concentrations, with high se-lectivity toward their ionotropic and ligand receptors. These potent and selective acylpolyamine analogs can serve biomedical purposes and pest control management. The structural modification of acylpolyamine with photolabile and fluorescent groups converted these venom toxins into use-ful molecular probes to discriminate iGluRs and nAchRs in cell populations. In various cases, the linear polyamines, like spermine and spermidine, constituting venom acyl polyamine backbones, have served as cargoes to deliver active molecules via a polyamine uptake system on diseased cells for targeted therapy. In this review, we examined examples of biogenic amines that play an essential role in neural homeostasis and cell signaling, contributing to human health and disease outcomes, which can be present in the venom of arachnids and hymenopterans. With an empha-sis on the spider and wasp venom acylpolyamines, we focused on the origin, structure, derivatiza-tion, and biomedical and biotechnological application of these pharmacologically attractive, chemically modular venom components.
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An expected increase in the demand for aviation transport service will result in the deterioration of the environment and human health, respectively, due to extra greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concerns from EU institutions about the issue have led to legislation initiatives and,
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An expected increase in the demand for aviation transport service will result in the deterioration of the environment and human health, respectively, due to extra greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concerns from EU institutions about the issue have led to legislation initiatives and, later, to development of Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 for the reduction of GHG emissions via the substitution of fossil kerosene with an increasing share of sustainable components. Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFAs) are the most commercially acceptable sustainable alternative but their influence on aviation fuel properties needs to be further evaluated in terms of all required and extended properties, as per ASTM D1655. The main properties, together with the rarely reported upon existent gum, water separation, corrosion, and the electrical conductivity of HEFAs and their blends with fossil kerosene were quantitatively evaluated in this study. For every increase of 10% (v/v) of HEFAs, the following fuel properties improve: the freezing point decreases by 1.3 °C, the smoke point increases by an average of 3 mm, and the specific net energy increases by 0.08 MJ/kg. The acidity of HEFAs are an order of magnitude higher than that of conventional aviation fuel and, thus, close to the limit. The existent gum of the studied SAF is higher than that of fossil kerosene due to, most probably, the presence of non-evaporated residual material.
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This article presents a hierarchical control framework for autonomous vehicle trajectory planning and tracking, addressing the challenge of accurately following high-speed, at-limit maneuvers. The proposed time-optimal trajectory planning and tracking (TOTPT) framework utilizes a hierarchical control structure, with an offline trajectory optimization (TRO)
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This article presents a hierarchical control framework for autonomous vehicle trajectory planning and tracking, addressing the challenge of accurately following high-speed, at-limit maneuvers. The proposed time-optimal trajectory planning and tracking (TOTPT) framework utilizes a hierarchical control structure, with an offline trajectory optimization (TRO) module and an online nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) module. The TRO layer generates minimum-lap-time trajectories using a direct collocation method, which optimizes the vehicle’s path, velocity, and control inputs to achieve the fastest possible lap time, while respecting the vehicle dynamics and track constraints. The NMPC layer is responsible for precisely tracking the reference trajectories generated by the TRO in real time. The NMPC also incorporates a preview algorithm that utilizes the predicted future travel distance to estimate the optimal reference speed and curvature for the next time step, thereby improving the overall tracking performance. Simulation results on the Catalunya circuit demonstrated the framework’s capability to accurately follow the time-optimal raceline at an average speed of 116 km/h, with a maximum lateral error of m. The NMPC module uses an acados solver with a real-time iteration (RTI) scheme, to achieve a millisecond-level computation time, making it possible to implement it in real time in autonomous vehicles.
Full article
U.S. trade protectionism has frequently risen recently, and trade policy fluctuations have become increasingly significant. In this context, examining the impact of U.S. trade policy uncertainty on China’s grain trade is of great significance to China’s response to changes in the international trade
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U.S. trade protectionism has frequently risen recently, and trade policy fluctuations have become increasingly significant. In this context, examining the impact of U.S. trade policy uncertainty on China’s grain trade is of great significance to China’s response to changes in the international trade situation, guaranteeing national food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. From the statistical data, the U.S. trade policy uncertainty and China’s grain imports primarily show a reverse trend, and China’s grain exports show a positive trend. To further explore the impact of U.S. trade policy uncertainty on China’s grain trade, this study selects the monthly data from July 2003 to December 2022. It conducts impulse response analysis by constructing a vector autoregressive model with stochastic volatility. It is found that the impact of U.S. trade policy uncertainty on China’s grain trade has prominent time-varying characteristics and point-in-time effects, and the impact on different kinds of grain is heterogeneous. In this regard, China needs to clarify the nature of the trade dispute between China and the United States, reasonably utilize the multilateral coordination mechanism of the WTO, coordinate the international and domestic markets, adjust the short board of grain trade, and safeguard the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture.
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This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the spading machine as a sustainable tillage tool at different depths of tillage on soil parameters. The spading machine was evaluated for two independent parameters: soil type and depth of cut. The observed
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This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the spading machine as a sustainable tillage tool at different depths of tillage on soil parameters. The spading machine was evaluated for two independent parameters: soil type and depth of cut. The observed dependent parameters were the bulk density of soil, mean clod size, soil strength, torque requirement, fuel consumption, and cost of operation. The bulk density varied from 1.18 to 1.39 g/cm3, the mean clod size between 12.72 and 68.37 mm, the soil strength between 69 and 4714.5 kPa, the torque requirement between 206 and 344.62 N-m, the fuel consumption between 13.60 and 21.83 l/ha, and cost of operation ranged between 2670.37 INR/ha (34.71 USD/ha) and 3635.87 INR/ha (47.27 USD/ha). It was observed that with the increase in tillage depth, the dependent parameters were also increasing, except the cost of operation varied nonsignificantly. In comparison to the spading machine, other primary tillage tools resulted in higher bulk density and fuel consumption, whereas mean clod size and cost of operation were reported higher except for the rotary tillage tool. Thus, the spading machine could be a sustainable tillage tool for long-term agricultural goals.
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Accurately identifying human key points is crucial for various applications, including activity recognition, pose estimation, and gait analysis. This study introduces a high-resolution dataset formed via the VICON motion capture system and three diverse 2D cameras. It facilitates the training of neural networks
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Accurately identifying human key points is crucial for various applications, including activity recognition, pose estimation, and gait analysis. This study introduces a high-resolution dataset formed via the VICON motion capture system and three diverse 2D cameras. It facilitates the training of neural networks to estimate 2D key joint positions from images and videos. The study involved 25 healthy adults (17 males, 8 females), executing normal gait for 2 to 3 s. The VICON system captured 3D ground truth data, while the three 2D cameras collected images from different perspectives (0°, 45°, and 135°). The dataset was used to train the Body Pose Network (BPNET), a popular neural network model developed by NVIDIA TAO. Additionally, a comparison entails another BPNET model trained on the COCO 2017 dataset, featuring over 118,000 annotated images. Notably, the proposed dataset exhibited a higher level of accuracy (14.5%) than COCO 2017, despite comprising one-fourth of the image count (23,741 annotated image). This substantial reduction in data size translates to improvements in computational efficiency during model training. Furthermore, the unique dataset’s emphasis on gait and precise prediction of key joint positions during normal gait movements distinguish it from existing alternatives. This study has implications ranging from gait-based person identification, and non-invasive concussion detection through sports temporal analysis, to pathologic gait pattern identification.
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The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as “natural” or
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The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as “natural” or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. However, the current literature has recognized smothering as an abnormal outcome with the potential to result in significant losses in cage-free poultry systems. Recent studies have specifically aimed to categorize the organization of smothering behavior and highlight its potential causes and consequences. In this study, literature review and bibliographic mapping, drawing on published articles and engagement with poultry farmers through extension and rural technical assistance, were employed. The findings indicate that smothering is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which the laying hens are kept. This study concludes that there is a critical need for more rigorous and detailed research to elucidate the nuances of avian behavioral physiology and assess the impact of production systems on animal welfare and the economic impacts on the flock. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of bird behavior in high-production environments and provides practical insights for the poultry industry.
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Intergenerational education mobility is a key dimension of social mobility and explores the extent to which educational attainment is transmitted across generations within a society. The implications of low education mobility concern both equity (everyone should have the same opportunities) and efficiency (it
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Intergenerational education mobility is a key dimension of social mobility and explores the extent to which educational attainment is transmitted across generations within a society. The implications of low education mobility concern both equity (everyone should have the same opportunities) and efficiency (it would be good for the economy and society if the most gifted and deserving young people were to study and not the children of the already educated). The literature identifies several drivers that can influence the level of social mobility in general and education mobility specifically, including characteristics of educational systems, public spending, degree of urbanisation, informal frictions, and beliefs. This paper seeks to identify ‘patterns of intergenerational education (im)mobility’ through a cluster analysis that takes into account the level of intergenerational mobility in education and a number of variables concerning its possible drivers, considering data on 82 countries (with different levels of development). The advantage of cluster analysis lies in the possibility of identifying regularities, but avoiding reasoning ‘on average’, i.e., safeguarding the possibility that different social patterns may exist. The results also allow us to speculate on possible policies to increase school mobility, highlighting, among other things, the ‘equalising’ role played by public spending on education.
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The use of plant-based preparations to replace chemical pesticides is a challenge for sustainable agriculture. Preparations from nettle (Urtica dioica L.) are good candidates, as the treatment of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with aqueous suspensions of nettle reduced symptoms
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The use of plant-based preparations to replace chemical pesticides is a challenge for sustainable agriculture. Preparations from nettle (Urtica dioica L.) are good candidates, as the treatment of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with aqueous suspensions of nettle reduced symptoms of halo blight disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Pph). The aim of the present work was to test if nettle infusions (Ui) have similar effects and find out what activity is behind this: antimicrobial, promotion of the natural defenses of plants, and/or antioxidant. To achieve this, Pph growth was tested in the presence of infusions of nettle leaves collected in two different years (Ui18 and Ui22), and we found that it was only weakly inhibited at high concentrations of Ui18. Interestingly, Ui22 promoted bacteria growth at all concentrations. Second, we estimated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to flagellin22 (flg22) in common bean leaf discs, since recognition of this bacterial peptide usually leads to ROS accumulation in tissues as a plant immune response. However, leaf discs that were preincubated in Ui showed no accumulation of ROS after flg22 treatment, suggesting that Ui can neutralize ROS production. Finally, in a Pph inoculation experiment of common bean plants grown in vitro, we observed that pretreatment of plants with Ui drastically reduced foliar oxidative damage and disease symptoms 6 h after inoculation. This effect was more noticeable for Ui22, which was related to the higher antioxidant activity found in this extract in comparison with Ui18. These results suggest that the protective properties of Ui are mainly due to the content of antioxidant bioactive compounds.
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by
Takashi Sonam Tashi Tanaka, Sheng Wang, Johannes Ravn Jørgensen, Marco Gentili, Armelle Zaragüeta Vidal, Anders Krogh Mortensen, Bharat Sharma Acharya, Brittany Deanna Beck and René Gislum
Drones2024, 8(6), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8060212 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
The phenotyping of field crops quantifies a plant’s structural and physiological characteristics to facilitate crop breeding. High-throughput unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing platforms have been extensively researched as replacements for more laborious and time-consuming manual field phenotyping. This review aims to elucidate
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The phenotyping of field crops quantifies a plant’s structural and physiological characteristics to facilitate crop breeding. High-throughput unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing platforms have been extensively researched as replacements for more laborious and time-consuming manual field phenotyping. This review aims to elucidate the advantages and challenges of UAV-based phenotyping techniques. This is a comprehensive overview summarizing the UAV platforms, sensors, and data processing while also introducing recent technological developments. Recently developed software and sensors greatly enhance the accessibility of UAV-based phenotyping, and a summary of recent research (publications 2019–2024) provides implications for future research. Researchers have focused on integrating multiple sensing data or utilizing machine learning algorithms, such as ensemble learning and deep learning, to enhance the prediction accuracies of crop physiological traits. However, this approach will require big data alongside laborious destructive measurements in the fields. Future research directions will involve standardizing the process of merging data from multiple field experiments and data repositories. Previous studies have focused mainly on UAV technology in major crops, but there is a high potential in minor crops or cropping systems for future sustainable crop production. This review can guide new practitioners who aim to implement and utilize UAV-based phenotyping.
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The research on bioplastics (both biobased and biodegradable) is steadily growing and discovering environmentally friendly substitutes for conventional plastic. This review highlights the significance of bioplastics, analyzing, for the first time, the state of the art concerning the use of agri-food waste as
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The research on bioplastics (both biobased and biodegradable) is steadily growing and discovering environmentally friendly substitutes for conventional plastic. This review highlights the significance of bioplastics, analyzing, for the first time, the state of the art concerning the use of agri-food waste as an alternative substrate for biopolymer generation using Haloferax mediterranei.. H. mediterranei is a highly researched strain able to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) since it can grow and produce bioplastic in high-salinity environments without requiring sterilization. Extensive research has been conducted on the genes and pathways responsible for PHB production using H. mediterranei to find out how fermentation parameters can be regulated to enhance cell growth and increase PHB accumulation. This review focuses on the current advancements in utilizing food waste as a substitute for costly substrates to reduce feedstock expenses. Specifically, it examines the production of biomass and the recovery of PHB from agri-food waste. Furthermore, it emphasizes the characterization of PHB and the significance of hydroxyvalerate (HV) abundance in the formation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) copolymer. The downstream processing options are described, and the crucial factors associated with industrial scale-up are assessed, including substrates, bioreactors, process parameters, and bioplastic extraction and purification. Additionally, the economic implications of various options are discussed.
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Misfolding of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with SOD1 mutations. The development of antibodies specific for misfolded SOD1 deepens our understanding of how the protein participates in ALS pathogenesis. Since the term “misfolding” refers to various
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Misfolding of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with SOD1 mutations. The development of antibodies specific for misfolded SOD1 deepens our understanding of how the protein participates in ALS pathogenesis. Since the term “misfolding” refers to various disordered conformers other than the natively folded one, which misfolded species are recognized by specific antibodies should be determined. Here, we molecularly characterized the recognition by MS785-MS27, an antibody cocktail experimentally confirmed to recognize over 100 ALS-linked SOD1 mutants. Indirect ELISA revealed that the antibody cocktail recognized Zn-deficient wild-type and mutated SOD1 species. It also recognized conformation-disordered wild-type and mutated SOD1 species, such as unfolded and oligomeric forms, but had less affinity for the aggregated form. Antibody-reactive SOD1 exhibited cytotoxicity to a motor neuron cell model, which was blocked by Zn treatment with Zn-deficient SOD1. Immunohistochemistry revealed antibody-reactive SOD1 mainly in spinal motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice throughout the disease course, and the distribution after symptomatic stages differed from that of other misfolded SOD1 species. This suggests that misfolded/non-native SOD1 species exist as heterogeneous populations. In conclusion, MS785-MS27 recognizes various conformation-disordered SOD1 species lacking the Zn ion.
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Aiming at the problem of source-load uncertainty caused by the increasing penetration of renewable energy and the large-scale integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into modern power system, a robust optimal operation scheduling algorithm for regional integrated energy systems (RIESs) with such uncertain situations
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Aiming at the problem of source-load uncertainty caused by the increasing penetration of renewable energy and the large-scale integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into modern power system, a robust optimal operation scheduling algorithm for regional integrated energy systems (RIESs) with such uncertain situations is urgently needed. Based on this background, aiming at the problem of the irregular charging demand of EV, this paper first proposes an EV charging demand model based on the trip chain theory. Secondly, a multi-RIES optimization operation model including a shared energy storage station (SESS) and integrated demand response (IDR) is established. Aiming at the uncertainty problem of renewable energy, this paper transforms this kind of problem into a dynamic robust optimization with time-varying parameters and proposes an improved robust optimization over time (ROOT) algorithm based on the scenario method and establishes an optimal scheduling mode with the minimum daily operation cost of a multi-regional integrated energy system. Finally, the proposed uncertainty analysis method is verified by an example of multi-RIES. The simulation results show that in the case of the improved ROOT proposed in this paper to solve the robust solution of renewable energy, compared with the traditional charging load demand that regards the EVs as a whole, the EV charging load demand based on the trip chain can reduce the cost of EV charging by 3.5% and the operating cost of the multi-RIES by 11.7%. With the increasing number of EVs, the choice of the starting point of the future EV trip chain is more variable, and the choice of charging methods is more abundant. Therefore, modeling the charging demand of EVs under more complex trip chains is the work that needs to be studied in the future.
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Bacteria are a major cause of superficial eye infections, especially in children. The present study aimed to (i) determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of ocular bacterial pathogens recovered in 20 laboratories during the period 2020–2021 and (ii) compare these results to those from
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Bacteria are a major cause of superficial eye infections, especially in children. The present study aimed to (i) determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of ocular bacterial pathogens recovered in 20 laboratories during the period 2020–2021 and (ii) compare these results to those from three studies of the same design conducted in 2004, 2009, and 2015 in Germany. Cut-off values defined by EUCAST were used as breakpoints. A total of 1366 bacterial isolates were collected. The most frequent ocular specimens were conjunctival smears (54.3%). Susceptibility rates of Staphylococcus aureus (n = 594), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 178), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 149) to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and oxytetracycline were >90% each. Overall, only minor changes in resistance levels were observed in the period since 2004. Therefore, all tested antimicrobials can still be recommended for local therapy of ocular surface infections.
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Background: Our previous studies have shown that scorpion venom heat-resistant synthesized peptide (SVHRSP) induces a significant extension in lifespan and improvements in age-related physiological functions in worms. However, the mechanism underlying the potential anti-aging effects of SVHRSP in mammals remains elusive. Methods: Following
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Background: Our previous studies have shown that scorpion venom heat-resistant synthesized peptide (SVHRSP) induces a significant extension in lifespan and improvements in age-related physiological functions in worms. However, the mechanism underlying the potential anti-aging effects of SVHRSP in mammals remains elusive. Methods: Following SVHRSP treatment in senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) or senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, behavioral tests were conducted and brain tissues were collected for morphological analysis, electrophysiology experiments, flow cytometry, and protein or gene expression. The human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) was subjected to H2O2 treatment in cell experiments, aiming to establish a cytotoxic model that mimics cellular senescence. This model was utilized to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and neuroinflammation associated with age-related cognitive impairment mediated by SVHRSP. Results: SVHRSP significantly ameliorated age-related cognitive decline, enhanced long-term potentiation, restored synaptic loss, and upregulated the expression of synaptic proteins, therefore indicating an improvement in synaptic plasticity. Moreover, SVHRSP demonstrated a decline in senescent markers, including SA-β-gal enzyme activity, P16, P21, SIRT1, and cell cycle arrest. The underlying mechanisms involve an upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity and a reduction in oxidative stress-induced damage. Furthermore, SVHRSP regulated the nucleoplasmic distribution of NRF2 through the SIRT1-P53 pathway. Further investigation indicated a reduction in the expression of proinflammatory factors in the brain after SVHRSP treatment. SVHRSP attenuated neuroinflammation by regulating the NF-κB nucleoplasmic distribution and inhibiting microglial and astrocytic activation through the SIRT1-NF-κB pathway. Additionally, SVHRSP significantly augmented Nissl body count while suppressing neuronal loss. Conclusion: SVHRSP could remarkably improve cognitive deficiency by inhibiting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, thus representing an effective strategy to improve brain health.
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank among the most prevalent bacterial infections in children. Probiotics appear to reduce the risk of recurrence of UTIs. This study aimed to evaluate whether probiotics containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus PL1 and Lactobacillus plantarum PM1 therapy prevent UTIs in the
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) rank among the most prevalent bacterial infections in children. Probiotics appear to reduce the risk of recurrence of UTIs. This study aimed to evaluate whether probiotics containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus PL1 and Lactobacillus plantarum PM1 therapy prevent UTIs in the pediatric population compared to a placebo. A superiority, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. In total, 54 children aged 3–18 years with recurrent UTIs or ≥one acute pyelonephritis and ≥one risk factor of recurrence of UTIs were randomly assigned (27 patients in each arm) to a 90-day probiotic or placebo arm. The age, sex, diagnosis, renal function, risk factors, and etiology of UTIs did not vary between the groups. During the intervention, 26% of children taking the probiotic had episodes of UTI, and it was not significantly less than in the placebo group. The number of UTI episodes during the intervention and the follow-up period decreased significantly in both groups, but the difference between them was insignificant. We observed a decrease in UTIs during the study of almost 50% in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Probiotics can be used as natural, safe prophylaxis for children with risk factors for UTIs in whom antibiotic prevention is not indicated.
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Recently, there has been a huge advancement in renewable energy integration in power systems. Power converters with grid-forming or grid-following topologies are typically employed to link these decentralized power sources to the grid. However, because distributed generation has less inertia than synchronous generators,
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Recently, there has been a huge advancement in renewable energy integration in power systems. Power converters with grid-forming or grid-following topologies are typically employed to link these decentralized power sources to the grid. However, because distributed generation has less inertia than synchronous generators, their use of renewable energy sources threatens the electrical grid’s reliability. Suitable control approaches for ensuring frequency and voltage stability in the grid-connected form of operation are established in this study, which offers dynamic, seamless power switching in the islanded mode of operation. In this research, effective Phase Locked Loop (PLL) techniques for grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) converters are designed to achieve a smooth transition from grid-tied to islanded mode of operation. In this work, PLL configurations are implemented while considering the active and reactive power, frequency, voltage, and current parameters of the system, and ensuring voltage and frequency stability. The simulation results in a microgrid network that ensures a smooth transition of power transfer while switching between modes of operation, and supports the voltage and frequency stability of the system.
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Food quality assessment is becoming a global priority due to population growth and the rise of ionic pollutants derived from anthropogenic sources. However, the current methods used to quantify toxic ions are expensive and their operation is complex. Consequently, there is a need
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Food quality assessment is becoming a global priority due to population growth and the rise of ionic pollutants derived from anthropogenic sources. However, the current methods used to quantify toxic ions are expensive and their operation is complex. Consequently, there is a need for affordable and accessible methods for the accurate determination of ion concentrations in food. Electrochemical sensors based on potentiometry represent a promising approach in this field, with the potential to overcome limitations of the currently available systems. This review summarizes the current advances in the electrochemical quantification of heavy metals and toxic anions in the food industry using potentiometric sensors. The healthcare impact of common heavy metal contaminants (Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+, As3+) and anions (ClO4−, F−, HPO4−, SO42−, NO3−, NO2−) is discussed, alongside current regulations, and gold standard methods for analysis. Sensor performances are compared to current benchmarks in terms of selectivity and the limit of detection. Given the complexity of food samples, the percentage recovery values (%) and the methodologies employed for ion extraction are also described. Finally, a summary of the challenges and future directions of the field is provided. An overview of technologies that can overcome the limitations of current electrochemical sensors is shown, including new extraction methods for ions in food.
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Reinforced concrete interfaces, either cracks within monolithic elements or joints between concretes cast at different times may become critical under cyclic actions, due to stiffness and interface resistance degradation. Among the numerous parameters affecting the behavior of interfaces, this paper focuses on the
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Reinforced concrete interfaces, either cracks within monolithic elements or joints between concretes cast at different times may become critical under cyclic actions, due to stiffness and interface resistance degradation. Among the numerous parameters affecting the behavior of interfaces, this paper focuses on the effect of externally applied compressive stress. In conjunction with this parameter, the diameter of the reinforcing bars crossing the interface, their embedment length, and the anchorage of the interface reinforcement, by bond or using epoxy resin, are investigated. Roughened concrete interfaces crossed by reinforcing bars were subjected to cyclic shear slips, with or without compressive stress normal to the interface. The presented experimental results prove the beneficial effect of the external compressive stress on the ultimate shear resistance of interfaces, accompanied by the reduction of the effect of small embedment length of the interface reinforcement, due to its reduced contribution: the externally imposed compression leads to smaller crack openings at the interface, in most cases smaller than 0.40 mm, and to reduction of the reinforcement clamping effect. The shear resistance is activated at reduced shear slip values (0.20 mm–0.40 mm compared to 0.20–0.80 mm for interfaces under zero external compression), while the interface resistance degradation is also reduced (e.g., during the second load cycle, to 15% on average, compared to 30% for interfaces under zero external compression). Finally, an equation previously proposed by the authors is applied for the prediction of the shear resistance of interfaces under normal force, leading to satisfying accuracy.
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Objectives: Compare the effects of greater occipital nerve (GON) and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blocks on headache intensity and duration, number of headache days, and disability in patients with episodic migraine. Methods: In this prospective single-blind randomized study, patients with episodic migraine
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Objectives: Compare the effects of greater occipital nerve (GON) and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blocks on headache intensity and duration, number of headache days, and disability in patients with episodic migraine. Methods: In this prospective single-blind randomized study, patients with episodic migraine were randomly divided into two groups: GON and SPG block groups. Patients received blocks once a week for 4 weeks, and once a month for 2 months. The number of headache days, the headache duration, numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, and number of acute medical treatments were assessed before the procedures and 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after the procedures. Disability was evaluated using the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire at baseline and 3 months after treatment. This study protocol is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06243874.). Results: 19 patients in the GON block group and 18 patients in the SPG block group were evaluated. Significant improvements in pain severity, headache duration, number of headache days, and the need for acute medical treatment were observed in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months compared to baseline in the two groups (p < 0.001). There were significant improvements in the MIDAS scores in the third month (p < 0.001). The GON block group showed a greater reduction in headache intensity, duration, number of headache days, and MIDAS scores compared to the SPG block group in the 3rd month (p < 0.001). Conclusions: GON block reduces headache duration, intensity, the number of headache days, and the need for acute medical treatment much more than SPG block in patients with episodic migraine.
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The flavour anomalies are a set of experimental deviations from the Standard Model (SM) predictions in several observables involving decays of bottom quarks. In particular, tensions between theory and experiment in measurements involving a bottom quark decaying into a strange quark and a
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The flavour anomalies are a set of experimental deviations from the Standard Model (SM) predictions in several observables involving decays of bottom quarks. In particular, tensions between theory and experiment in measurements involving a bottom quark decaying into a strange quark and a pair of muons have motivated much theoretical work to explore possible new physics explanations. This review summarises the tumultuous evolution of these tensions, focusing on the most recent experimental results and their implications for physics beyond the SM. We also discuss the prospects for future measurements and tests of the flavour anomalies at the LHC and other facilities.
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Carbon nanomaterials are in high demand owing to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. This study employed a mixture of CH4, H2, and N2 to create carbon nanostructures on a single-crystal diamond using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition
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Carbon nanomaterials are in high demand owing to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. This study employed a mixture of CH4, H2, and N2 to create carbon nanostructures on a single-crystal diamond using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) under high-power conditions. By controlling the substrate surface and nitrogen flow rate, carbon nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and carbon pompons could be selectively deposited. The results obtained from OES, SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the nitrogen flow rate and substrate surface conditions were crucial for the growth of carbon nanostructures. The changes in the plasma shape enhanced the etching effect, promoting the growth of carbon pompons. The CN and C2 groups play vital catalytic roles in the formation of carbon nanotubes and nanowires, guiding the precipitation and composite growth of carbon atoms at the interface between the Mo metal catalysts and diamond. This study demonstrated that heterostructures of diamond–carbon nanomaterials could be produced under high-power conditions, offering a new approach to integrating diamond and carbon nanomaterials.
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The development of renewable energy and the construction of a comprehensive energy system with multiple complementary energy sources have gradually become the main direction of China’s energy development. As the penetration rate of renewable energy increases, the intermittent and fluctuating output of wind
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The development of renewable energy and the construction of a comprehensive energy system with multiple complementary energy sources have gradually become the main direction of China’s energy development. As the penetration rate of renewable energy increases, the intermittent and fluctuating output of wind and solar power has a more significant impact on the system. This article conducts research on the optimization configuration of integrated energy system (IES) considering photovoltaic output uncertainty under a ladder carbon trading mechanism. Firstly, a two-stage distributed robust optimization (DRO) configuration model for integrated energy system is established. In detail, a deterministic model aimed at minimizing investment costs is given in the first stage and an uncertainty model aimed at minimizing operating costs in the probability distribution of the worst scenario is built in the second stage. Then, a data-driven distributed robust optimization method is adopted to deal with the uncertainty of photovoltaic output using MATLAB software (R2020A). Finally, the column and constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm is used to solve the problem, and the optimal investment capacity and cost results of the integrated energy system considering demand response under a ladder carbon trading mechanism are obtained. Through analysis, the proposed method achieves a 5.54% reduction in carbon emission costs while maintaining nearly unchanged investment costs, thus balancing economic and environmental benefits. Additionally, the CCG algorithm can effectively improve computational efficiency and guarantee the optimality of the solution.
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