Colored varieties of turkeys, such as the broad-breasted Bronze, not currently subject to intensive breeding work, are kept only in amateur breeding and treated rather as ornamental poultry. They are raised in extensive systems, which undoubtedly affects the quality of the meat obtained. Consumers are looking for meat with specific and unique sensory qualities; hence, the interest in meat from turkeys with a slower-than-typical growth rate, such as the broad-breasted Bronze, is justified. The object of this research was to analyze the physicochemical properties and nutritional value (amino acid, fatty acid, and antioxidant profile) of the breast and thigh muscles of broad-breasted Bronze turkeys with regard to gender. It was shown that gender had little effect on muscle chemical composition, amino acid, and fatty acid content (p > 0.05), as well as most oxido-reduction indices. However, significant differences were noted in muscle quality traits such as color brightness (L*; turkeys > indors; p = 0.023), proportion of red (a*; turkeys < indors; p = 0.048) and yellow (b*; turkeys > indors; p = 0.039), and water absorption (turkeys < indors; p = 0.009). The type of muscle also had a significant effect on quality characteristics. Higher a*, b*, C*, pH, water absorption, and thermal leakage were shown in the femoral muscle (p < 0.001), while L* and h were higher in the pectoral muscle (p < 0.001). Turkey meat was characterized by a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA + PUFA ~68%), favorable FA index values, and low lipid oxidation indices. Thigh muscles (especially turkey) were more caloric, and contained significantly (p < 0.001) more fat and all major FA groups. Breast muscles (especially of turkeys) were characterized by a high protein content (about 25%) and a high proportion of essential amino acids. The data obtained indicate that broad-breasted Bronze turkeys can provide high-quality meat, and are an excellent option for meeting modern consumer needs. Full article

Modelling sea conditions is a complex task that requires a comprehensive analysis, considering various influencing factors. Observed and unobserved factors jointly play a role in the definition of sea conditions. Here, we consider finite mixtures of generalized linear additive models for location scale, and shape (GAMLSSs) to capture the effects of both environmental variables and omitted variables, whose effects are summarized using latent variables. The GAMLSS approach is flexible enough to allow for different data features such as non-normality, skewness, heavy tails, etc., and for the definition of a regression model not only for the expected values of the observed process but also for all the other distribution parameters, e.g., the variance. We collected data on multiple sea-related and environmental variables in Ancona (Italy) from two Italian networks: the Sea Level Measurement Network (Rete Mareografica Nazionale, RMN) and the Sea Waves Measurement Network (Rete Ondametrica Nazionale, RON). Our main outcomes were the meteorological tides (often also referred to as “residuals”) and the significant wave height. Atmospheric pressure and wind speed were considered as main drivers of the sea conditions, as well as the fetch associated with wind direction, linking these variables to the outcomes through the definition of multiple linear predictors in a regression framework. Our results confirm the importance of accounting for environmental variables and reveal that their effect is heterogeneous, where heterogeneity is modelled by three distinct mixture components, each capturing different sea conditions. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of sea state dynamics and provide evidence of a clustering structure characterizing different sea conditions. Full article

It has been observed that since the Early Qing Dynasty, the eastward spread of Western classics has been in decline; this article aims to looks at how Protestant missionaries helped to revive it in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. First, this study examines the circumstances that Protestant missionaries faced upon arriving in China and describes the challenges, opportunities, and issues they encountered when attempting to spread Western classics as part of their missionary effort. Second, this article reveals the strategies Protestant missionaries employed to revive the Western classics, with a focus on the utilization of the translated literature, press, and academic institutions. Third, this article explores the ways the spread of Western classics by the missionaries of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century outshone the achievements of their predecessors of the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Unlike the missions through secular knowledge in China, the spread of Protestantism in Korea took place in a more direct manner. This comparative study in the last section highlights the importance of each country’s endowment in terms of the method and effectiveness of missionary efforts. Full article

The main objective of the research was to determine neuromuscular control for different external loads, from 75% to 100% 1 RM (One Rep Max), during the flat bench press (BP) exercise performed with free weights and pneumatic loading. Despite extensive research on the internal structure of the BP exercise, few studies have examined the differences between muscular activity during the flat bench press movement between Free Weights and Pneumatic Loading. For this purpose, 10 male, trained subjects performed the BP exercise under two conditions with three different external loads (70%, 85%, and 100% 1RM), alternately with free weights and pneumatic loading. Pneumatic loading was performed on the Keiser Power Rack, where the pneumatic load was transferred as the resistance of the cables attached to the ground. EMG activity was recorded during the lifts for the following muscles: PM (Pectoralis Major), AD (Anterior Deltoid), Tblat, and TBlong (Triceps Brachii). The EMG signals were sampled at a rate of 1000 Hz. Signals were band-pass filtered with a cutoff frequency of 8 Hz and 450 Hz, after which the root-mean-square (RMS) was calculated. After completion of all the tests in a single day, 2–3 s evaluations of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) of the prime movers in the bench press movement (AD, PM, and TBlong) were performed according to SENIAM procedures. The results of the present study indicate that pneumatic loading provides a significantly different muscle activation pattern compared to a standard bar during a heavy-loaded BP exercise. The pneumatic load was superior in activating the AD and TB muscles compared to the standard bar during the BP exercise. Full article

The informational domain related to COVID-19 reflects the degree of uncertainty and pace of evolution of the pandemic. This places a burden on peoples’ searches for information to guide their choices, importantly including for COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, it is important for health communications that support vaccination campaigns to attenuate vaccine hesitancy to be accessible, including in terms of readability, and adapted to the evolving pandemic. This paper aims to understand internet searches on COVID-19 vaccination, specifically the mix of sources and readability of the sources over a two-year period (2021–2023) in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, for search results in English, as English is a main language for each of these locations. The sources accessed through online searches in June 2021 and May 2023 were categorized by type of source and whether they were from one of the focal locations or elsewhere. The readability of information from web-search results was assessed using a set of readability tests (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Grade level). Over the two-year period there was an increase in government sources and reduction in mass media sources with distinct local patterns. Local government sources increased in Singapore whereas foreign government and multi-lateral organization sources increased in Hong Kong, with the Philippines being an intermediate pattern. In contrast to the changing mix of sources, the readability tests indicate a low proportion of URLs scoring within recommended readability thresholds across locations and types of sources over the two years. Information on COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment is an important part of health communications that includes internet search. The paper contributes to understanding health communications during a pandemic, including mix of local and non-local sources and contingency on local social and health context. Full article

The archetypal symbols of Mazu’s statues and pictorial art are the mapping of a religious concept, a way of belief, and some programmed behaviours and rituals. They are also emotional imagery used to arouse the cultural awareness of international Chinese, inspire them to help and trust each other, to encourage and to comfort each other, to share weal and woe, and to always forge ahead. From the perspectives of historical memory, visual signs, and cultural identity, this paper explores the construction of archetypal symbols for the statues and images of Mazu. In addition, this paper generalizes the foundation and methods of this construction by analyzing the artistic forms and characteristics of the surviving Mazu images and statues and comparing the rules and regulations for making statues of other religions. Moreover, we consider the function of artistic signs that refer to and symbolize broader religious concepts and beliefs. The purpose of this work is to make the image of Mazu more visually present and strengthen cultural identity. Full article

Three-way catalysts (TWCs) are widely used in vehicles to convert the exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines into less toxic pollutants. After around 8–10 years of use, the declining catalytic activity of TWCs causes them to need replacing, leading to the generation of substantial amounts of spent TWC material containing precious metals, including palladium. It has previously been reported that [NⁿBu₄]₂[Pd₂I₆] is obtained in high yield and purity from model TWC material using a simple, inexpensive and mild reaction based on tetrabutylammonium iodide in the presence of iodine. In this contribution, it is shown that, through a simple ligand exchange reaction, this dimeric recovery complex can be converted into PdI₂(dppf) (dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene), which is a direct analogue of a commonly used catalyst, PdCl₂(dppf). [NⁿBu₄]₂[Pd₂I₆] displayed high catalytic activity in the oxidative functionalisation of benzo[h]quinoline to 10-alkoxybenzo[h]quinoline and 8-methylquinoline to 8-(methoxymethyl)quinoline in the presence of an oxidant, PhI(OAc)₂. Near-quantitative conversions to the desired product were obtained using a catalyst recovered from waste under milder conditions (50 °C, 1–2 mol% Pd loading) and shorter reaction times (2 h) than those typically used in the literature. The [NⁿBu₄]₂[Pd₂I₆] catalyst could also be recovered and re-used multiple times after the reaction, providing additional sustainability benefits. Both [NⁿBu₄]₂[Pd₂I₆] and PdI₂(dppf) were also found to be active in Buchwald–Hartwig amination reactions, and their performance was optimised through a Design of Experiments (DoE) study. The optimised conditions for this waste-derived palladium catalyst (1–2 mol% Pd loading, 3–6 mol% of dppf) in a bioderived solvent, cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), offer a more sustainable approach to C-N bond formation than comparable amination protocols. Full article

Background: Aging and obesity are associated with insulin resistance (IR) and low-grade inflammation. Molecularly, IR is characterized by a reduction in glucose uptake and insulin signaling (IRS-1/Akt/AS160 pathway), while inflammation may result from upregulated NF-κB pathway after low Tyr-IκBα phosphorylation. Upregulated phosphatase activity of PTP1B is associated with impaired insulin signaling and increased inflammation. Plasma levels of palmitic acid (PA) are elevated in obesity, triggering inflammation and disruption of insulin signaling. Traditional medicine in Northern Chile uses oral infusions of Lampaya medicinalis Phil. (Verbenaceae) to treat inflammatory conditions. Significant amounts of flavonoids are found in the hydroethanolic extract of Lampaya (HEL), which may account for its biological activity. The aim of this work was to study the effect of HEL and PA on insulin signaling and glucose uptake as well as inflammatory marker expression in human adipocytes. Methods: We studied HEL effects on PA-induced impairment on insulin signaling, glucose uptake and inflammatory marker content in human SW872 adipocytes. HEL cytotoxicity was assessed in adipocytes at different concentrations (0.01 to 10 g/mL). Adipocytes were incubated or not with PA (0.4 mM, 24 h) with or without HEL (2 h pre-incubation), and then stimulated with insulin (10 min, 100 mM) or a vehicle. Phospho-IRS-1, phospho-Akt, phospho-AS160, phospho-NF-κB and phospho-IκBα, as well as protein levels of PTP1B, were assessed using Western blotting, and glucose uptake was evaluated using the 2-NBDG analogue. Results: At the assessed HEL concentrations, no cytotoxic effects were observed. PA decreased insulin-stimulated phospho-Akt and glucose uptake, while co-treatment with HEL increased such markers. PA decreased phospho-IRS-1 and phospho-Tyr-IκBα. On the other hand, incubation with HEL+PA decreased phospho-AS160 and phospho-NF-κB compared with cells treated with PA alone. Conclusion: Our results suggest a beneficial effect of HEL by improving PA-induced impairment on molecular markers of insulin signaling, glucose uptake and inflammation in adipocytes. Further studies are necessary to elucidate whether lampaya may constitute a preventive strategy for people whose circulating PA levels contribute to IR and inflammation during aging and obesity. Full article

Approximate models are a fast and most often precise tool for determining the effectiveness factor for heterogeneous catalysis processes that are realized in the real world. They are also frequently applied as robust transient models describing the work of a single catalyst pellet or as a part of a more complex model, for example, a reactor model, where mass balances for the gas phase and solid phase are necessary. So far, approximate models for diffusion and reaction processes have been presented for processes described by a single balance equation. In the present work, approximate models without the mentioned limitation are presented and discussed. In addition, simple rules are shown for the development of other complex approximate models without tedious derivation in the complex domain. The formulas considered in this work are typical long-time approximations of the transient process. The accuracy is good, especially in the range of small and intermediate Thiele modulus values. Full article

Two unreported heteropolysaccharides, denoted as YCJP–1 and YCJP–2, were isolated from the herbs of Chloranthus japonicus. YCJP–1 was a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, rhamnose, and a minor proportion of uronic acids, with the molecular weight mainly distributed in the 74,475–228,443 Da range. YCJP–2 was mainly composed of glucose, mannose, and galactose, with the molecular weights ranging from 848 to 5810 Da. To further evaluate the anti-gastric cancer effects of C. japonicus, the inhibitory effects of the crude polysaccharide (YCJP) and the purified polysaccharides (YCJP–1 and YCJP–2) were determined using a CCK-8 assay and colon-forming assay on MGC-803 and AGS gastric cancer cell lines. Our results showed that YCJP, YCJP–1, and YCJP–2 possess prominent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MGC-803 and AGS cells, and the AGS cell was more sensitive to YCJP, YCJP–1, and YCJP–2. Moreover, YCJP–2 demonstrated superior anti-gastric cancer effects compared to YCJP–1. This could potentially be attributed to YCJP–2’s higher glucose content and narrower molecular weight distribution. Full article

To explore the contamination status and identify the source of the heavy metals in the sediments in the major inflow rivers of Dianchi Lake in China, sediment samples were collected and analyzed. Specifically, the distribution, source, water quality, and health risk assessment of the heavy metals were analyzed using correlation analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), the heavy metal contamination factor (C_f), the pollution load index (PLI), and the potential ecological risk index (PERI). Additionally, the chemical fractions were analyzed for mobility characteristics. The results indicate that the average concentration of the heavy metals in the sediment ranked in the descending order of Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > As > Ni > Cd > Hg, and most of the elements existed in less-mobile forms. The C_fwas in the order of Hg > Zn > Cd > As > Pb > Cr > Ni; the accumulation of Hg, Zn, Cd, and As was obvious. Although the spatial variability of the heavy metal contents was pronounced, the synthetical evaluation index of the PLI and PERI both reached a high pollution level. The PCA and CA results indicate that industrial, transportation, and agricultural emissions were the dominant factors causing heavy metal pollution. These results provide important data for improving water resource management efficiency and heavy metal pollution prevention in Dianchi Lake. Full article

The incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is expected to increase to 1.77 million cases by 2040. To improve treatment outcomes, GC patients are increasingly treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to curative-intent resection. Although NAC enhances locoregional control and comprehensive patient care, survival rates remain poor, and further investigations should establish outcomes assessment of current clinical pathways. Individually assessed parameters have served as benchmarks for treatment quality in the past decades. The Outcome4Medicine Consensus Conference underscores the inadequacy of isolated metrics, leading to increased recognition and adoption of composite measures. One of the most simple and comprehensive is the “All or None” method, which refers to an approach where a specific set of criteria must be fulfilled for an individual to achieve the overall measure. This narrative review aims to present the rationale for the implementation of a novel composite measure, Textbook Neoadjuvant Outcome (TNO). TNO integrates five objective and well-established components: Treatment Toxicity, Laboratory Tests, Imaging, Time to Surgery, and Nutrition. It represents a desired, multidisciplinary care and hospitalization of GC patients undergoing NAC to identify the treatment- and patient-related data required to establish high-quality oncological care further. A key strength of this narrative review is the clinical feasibility and research background supporting the implementation of the first and novel composite measure representing the “ideal” and holistic care among patients with locally advanced esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) and GC in the preoperative period after NAC. Further analysis will correlate clinical outcomes with the prognostic factors evaluated within the TNO framework. Full article

The Paleogene system of the Zhuyi Depression exhibits a pronounced mechanical compaction background. Despite this compaction, remarkable secondary porosity is observed in deep clastic rocks due to dissolution processes, with well-developed hydrocarbon reservoirs persisting in deeper strata. We conducted a comprehensive study utilising various analytical techniques to gain insights into the dissolution and transformation mechanisms of deep clastic rock reservoirs in the steep slope zone of the Lufeng Sag. The study encompassed the collection and analysis of the rock thin sections, XRD whole-rock mineralogy, and petrophysical properties from seven wells drilled into the Eocene. Our findings reveal that the nature of the parent rock, tuffaceous content, dominant sedimentary facies, and the thickness of individual sand bodies are crucial factors that influence the development of high-quality reservoirs under intense compaction conditions. Moreover, the sustained modification and efficient expulsion of organic–inorganic acidic fluids play a main role in forming secondary dissolution porosity zones within the En-4 Member of the LF X transition zone. Notably, it has been established that the front edge of the fan delta, the front of the thin layer, and the near margin of the thick layer of the braided river delta represent favorable zones for developing deep sweet-spot reservoirs. Furthermore, we have identified the LF X and LF Y areas as favourable exploration zones and established an Eocene petroleum-accumulation model. These insights will significantly aid in predicting high-quality dissolution reservoirs and facilitate deep oil and gas exploration efforts in the steep slope zone of the Zhuyi Depression. Full article

This paper proposes a novel five-dimensional (5D) memristor-based chaotic system by introducing a flux-controlled memristor into a 3D chaotic system with two stable equilibrium points, and increases the dimensionality utilizing the state feedback control method. The newly proposed memristor-based chaotic system has line equilibrium points, so the corresponding attractor belongs to a hidden attractor. By using typical nonlinear analysis tools, the complicated dynamical behaviors of the new system are explored, which reveals many interesting phenomena, including extreme homogeneous and heterogeneous multistabilities, hidden transient state and state transition behavior, and offset-boosting control. Meanwhile, the unstable periodic orbits embedded in the hidden chaotic attractor were calculated by the variational method, and the corresponding pruning rules were summarized. Furthermore, the analog and DSP circuit implementation illustrates the flexibility of the proposed memristic system. Finally, the active synchronization of the memristor-based chaotic system was investigated, demonstrating the important engineering application values of the new system. Full article

Research on Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f. has primarily focused on populations in Northwestern Yunnan, with limited studies on pollination syndromes and insect behavior. In addition, it is geographically limited in its breeding system studies. Therefore, this study selected S. nepalense var. ciliatum from Liangwang Mountain (Yunnan, China) to investigate its pollination syndromes, florivory, and breeding systems. Field observations, dissecting microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and paraffin section techniques were employed. Results revealed the pollination syndrome was characterized by an out-crossing trend, such as bright color, a developed rostellum, nectaries in the spur, and food hairs. The color and nectar attracted flower visitors, and florivory was observed. Some flower visitors pollinated their companion species. Ants were identified as floral visitors for the first time in Satyrium, although substantial pollination was not observed. Ants might be potential pollinators. S. nepalense var. ciliatum displayed a mixed breeding system, including selfing, out-crossing, and apomixis, with apomixis being predominant in nature. It is suggested that the pollination syndrome, florivory, and pollination competition would contribute to its mixed breeding systems, particularly leading to the occurrence of apomixis. Full article

Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population. However, the pervasive problem of salinity is severely undermining rice production, especially in coastal and low-lying areas where soil salinization is widespread. This stress, exacerbated by climate change, necessitates the development of salt-tolerant rice varieties to ensure food security. In this study, an F_2:3 population (n = 454) from a cross of KDML105 and its chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) was used to identify genomic regions associated with salt tolerance at the seedling stage. Using the QTL-seq approach, a QTL significantly associated with salt tolerance was identified on chromosome 1. Annotation of candidate genes in this region revealed the potential regulators of salt tolerance, including MIKC-type MADS domain proteins, calmodulin-binding transcription factors, and NB-ARC domain-containing proteins. These and other identified genes provide insights into the genetic basis of salt tolerance. This study underscores the importance of using advanced genomics tools and CSSL populations in the study of complex traits such as salt tolerance in rice. Several candidate genes identified in this study could be used in further studies on molecular or physiological mechanisms related to the salt response and tolerance mechanism in rice. Additionally, these genes could also be utilized in plant breeding programs for salt tolerance. Full article

Due to limited infrastructure and remote locations, rural areas often need help providing reliable and high-quality network connectivity. We propose an innovative approach that leverages Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) architecture to enhance reliability in such challenging rural scenarios. Our study focuses on cases in which network resources are limited to network solutions such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and a Low-Earth-Orbit satellite connection. The SD-WAN implementation compares three tunnel selection algorithms that leverage real-time network performance monitoring: Deterministic, Random, and Deep Q-learning. The results offer valuable insights into the practical implementation of SD-WAN for rural connectivity scenarios, showing its potential to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas. Full article

As a classical combinatorial optimization problem, the traveling salesman problem (TSP) has been extensively investigated in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research. Due to being NP-complete, it is still rather challenging to solve both effectively and efficiently. Because of its high theoretical significance and wide practical applications, great effort has been undertaken to solve it from the point of view of intelligent search. In this paper, we propose a two-stage probe-based search optimization algorithm for solving both symmetric and asymmetric TSPs through the stages of route development and a self-escape mechanism. Specifically, in the first stage, a reasonable proportion threshold filter of potential basis probes or partial routes is set up at each step during the complete route development process. In this way, the poor basis probes with longer routes are filtered out automatically. Moreover, four local augmentation operators are further employed to improve these potential basis probes at each step. In the second stage, a self-escape mechanism or operation is further implemented on the obtained complete routes to prevent the probe-based search from being trapped in a locally optimal solution. The experimental results on a collection of benchmark TSP datasets demonstrate that our proposed algorithm is more effective than other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms. In fact, it achieves the best-known TSP benchmark solutions in many datasets, while, in certain cases, it even generates solutions that are better than the best-known TSP benchmark solutions. Full article

Background: In the EV-301 trial, enfortumab vedotin prolonged survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma previously treated with platinum-based therapy and programmed cell death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor. However, real-world Asian data are limited, and potential prognostic markers are non-existent. We aimed to investigate potential prognostic markers for enfortumab vedotin therapy in Asian patients. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 61 Japanese patients treated with enfortumab vedotin therapy at our hospital and affiliated hospitals between January 2019 and September 2023. Results: Enrolled patients (38 men, 23 women; median age 74 [IQR: 68–79] years) had bladder cancer (26 patients) or upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (35 patients). Fifty-four patients reported adverse events (grade >3 in 12). Skin disorders, pruritus, and neuropathy were common adverse effects. The median overall survival was 17.1 months (95% confidence interval: 10.0–not applicable). In multivariate analysis, the C-reactive protein level was an independent marker predicting favorable overall survival with enfortumab vedotin. Patient characteristics did not differ between C-reactive protein-high and -low groups. Conclusions: Our study provides real-world data showing that enfortumab vedotin prolonged survival in Asian patients similar to the EV-301 trial. Additionally, the C-reactive protein level might be considered a prognostic marker of enfortumab vedotin therapy in such patients. Full article

The Dutch housing market comprises three sectors: social-rented, private-rented, and owner-occupied. The contemporary market is marked by a shortage of supply and a large subsidised social sector. Waiting lists for social housing are growing, whereas households with incomes above the limit do not or cannot leave the social sector. Government policy and market regulations change frequently, not least for political reasons. In view of commonly recognised problems in the housing market, this article considers the ‘internal demand’ of those households that are dissatisfied with their current residence. We examine the effects of regulatory policy by means of an exploratory agent-based simulation. The results provide perspectives on how internal demand is impacted by regulations in a housing market that is suffering from a shortage, and allow decision makers to weigh the pros and cons of policy measures. Full article

The analysis and simulation of water quality in distribution networks is a complex issue of great concern today. The analysis of the evolution of water age as a simple indicator of water quality in the network is of great interest in both the design and operation phases. Understanding the factors that have the strongest influence on water quality is key to developing adequate strategies aimed at preserving it. This paper first analyses the factors with the biggest influence on the tank’s water age to support the selection of the most appropriate configuration from the point of view of water quality during design phases. Then, the main considerations when modelling tanks following the different mixing models considered in Epanet are presented. Also, real tank behaviour is characterised through field measurements and Epanet simulations in order to determine the best-fitting mixing model. Full article