The high-temperature composite phase change materials (HCPCMs) were prepared from solid waste blast furnace slag (BFS) and NaCl-KCl binary eutectic salt to achieve efficient and cost-effective utilization. To ensure good chemical compatibility with chlorine salt, modifier fly ash (FA) was incorporated and subjected to high-temperature treatment for the processing of industrial solid waste BFS, which possesses a complex chemical composition. The HCPCMs were synthesized through a three-step process involving static melting, solid waste modification, and mixing–cold pressing–sintering. Then, the influence of the modification method and the amount of SiC thermal conductivity reinforced material on chemical compatibility and thermodynamic performance was explored. The results demonstrate that the predominant phase of the modified solid waste is Ca₂Al₂SiO₇, which exhibits excellent chemical compatibility with chlorine salt. HCPCMs containing less than 50 wt.% chloride content exhibit good morphological stability without any cracks, with a melting temperature of 661.76 °C and an enthalpy value of 108.73 J/g. Even after undergoing 60 thermal cycles, they maintain good chemical compatibility, with leakage rates for melting and solidification enthalpies being only 6.3% and 0.23%, respectively. The equilibrium was achieved when 40 wt.% of chloride salt was encapsulated upon the addition of 10% of SiC, and the incorporation of SiC resulted in an enhancement of thermal conductivity for HCPCMs to 2.959 W/(m·K) at room temperature and 2.400 W/(m·K) at 200 °C, with an average increase of about 2 times. The cost of the prepared HCPCMs experienced a significant reduction of 81.3%, demonstrating favorable economic performance and promising prospects for application. The research findings presented in this article can offer significant insights into the efficient utilization of solid waste. Full article

(1) Background: Hydrogen (H₂) may be a potential therapeutic agent for managing Long COVID symptoms due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, more scientific literature is needed to describe the effects of H₂ administration on treating symptoms. A study aimed to investigate the impact of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) administration on the fatigue and dyspnea of Long-COVID patients for 14 consecutive days. (2) Methods: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study, 55 participants were recruited, and 23 of them were excluded. A total of 32 eligible participants were randomized into a hydrogen-rich water (HRW) group (n = 16) and a placebo water (PW) group (n = 16) in which they were instructed to consume hydrogen-rich water or placebo water for 14 days, respectively. The participants completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), 30 s Chair Stand Test (30s-CST), Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Rating Scale (mMRC), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) before and after the intervention. A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the effects of HRW. Cohen’s d values were used to assess the effect size when significance was observed. The mean change with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was also reported. (3) Results: The effects of HRW on lowering FSS scores (p = 0.046, [95% CI = −20.607, −0.198, d = 0.696] and improving total distance in the 6WMT (p < 0.001, [95% CI = 41.972, 61.891], d = 1.010), total time for the 30s-CST (p = 0.002, [95% CI = 1.570, 6.314], d = 1.190), and PSQI scores (p = 0.012, [95% CI = −5.169, 0.742], d = 1.274) compared to PW were of a significantly moderate effect size, while there was no significant difference in mMRC score (p = 0.556) or DASS-21 score (p > 0.143). (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HRW might be an effective strategy for alleviating fatigue and improving cardiorespiratory endurance, musculoskeletal function, and sleep quality. Still, it does not ameliorate dyspnea among Long-COVID patients. Full article

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted increasing research interest, but their performance depends on both the choice of materials and the process used. The materials can typically be treated in solution, which makes them well suited for roll-to-roll processing methods, but their deposition under ambient conditions requires overcoming some challenges to improve stability and efficiency. In this review, we highlight the latest advancements in photonic curing (PC) for perovskite materials, as well as for hole transport layer (HTL) and electron transport layer (ETL) materials. We present how PC parameters can be used to control the optical, electrical, morphological, and structural properties of perovskite HTL and ETL layers. Emphasizing the significance of these advancements for perovskite solar cells could further highlight the importance of this research and underline its essential role in creating more efficient and sustainable solar technology. Full article

The strategic selection of suppliers and the allocation of orders across multiple periods have long been recognized as critical aspects influencing company expenditure and resilience. Leveraging the enhanced predictive capabilities afforded by machine learning models, direct lookahead models—linear programming models that optimize future decisions based on forecasts generated by external predictive modules—have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional deterministic and stochastic programming methodologies to solve related problems. However, despite these advancements, approaches implementing direct lookahead models typically lack mechanisms for updating forecasts over time. Yet, in practice, suppliers often exhibit dynamic behaviours, and failing to update forecasts can lead to suboptimal decision-making. This study introduces a novel approach based on parametrized direct lookahead models to address this gap. The approach explicitly addresses the hidden trade-offs associated with incorporating forecast updates. Recognizing that forecasts can only be updated by acquiring new data and that the primary means of acquiring supplier-related data is through order allocation, this study investigates the trade-offs between data acquisition benefits and order allocation costs. An experimental design utilizing real-world automotive sector data is employed to assess the potential of the proposed approach against various benchmarks. These benchmarks include decision scenarios representing perfect foresight, no data acquisition benefits, and consistently positive benefits. Empirical findings demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves performance levels comparable to those of decision-makers with perfect foresight while consistently outperforming benchmarks not balancing order allocation costs and data acquisition benefits. Full article

In recent years, hydrogel-based wearable flexible electronic devices have attracted much attention. However, hydrogel-based sensors are affected by structural fatigue, material aging, and water absorption and swelling, making stability and accuracy a major challenge. In this study, we present a DN-SPEZ dual-network hydrogel prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium alginate (SA), ethylene glycol (EG), and ZnSO₄ and propose a self-calibration compensation strategy. The strategy utilizes a metal salt solution to adjust the carrier concentration of the hydrogel to mitigate the resistance drift phenomenon to improve the stability and accuracy of hydrogel sensors in amphibious scenarios, such as land and water. The ExpGrow model was used to characterize the trend of the ∆R/R₀ dynamic response curves of the hydrogels in the stress tests, and the average deviation of the fitted curves ` was calculated to quantify the stability differences of different groups. The results showed that the stability of the uncompensated group was much lower than that of the compensated group utilizing LiCl, NaCl, KCl, MgCl<sub>2</sub>, and AlCl<sub>3</sub> solutions (` in the uncompensated group in air was 276.158, 1.888, 2.971, 30.586, and 13.561 times higher than that of the compensated group in LiCl, NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂, and AlCl₃, respectively;` in the uncompensated group in seawater was 10.287 times, 1.008 times, 1.161 times, 4.986 times, 1.281 times, respectively, higher than that of the compensated group in LiCl, NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and AlCl₃). In addition, for the ranking of the compensation effect of different compensation solutions, the concentration of the compensation solution and the ionic radius and charge of the cation were found to be important factors in determining the compensation effect. Detection of events in amphibious environments such as swallowing, robotic arm grasping, Morse code, and finger–wrist bending was also performed in this study. This work provides a viable method for stability and accuracy enhancement of dual-network hydrogel sensors with strain and pressure sensing capabilities and offers solutions for sensor applications in both airborne and underwater amphibious environments. Full article

Crop yield estimation plays a crucial role in agricultural production planning and risk management. Utilizing simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology for the three-dimensional reconstruction of crops allows for an intuitive understanding of their growth status and facilitates yield estimation. Therefore, this paper proposes a VINS-RGBD system incorporating a semantic segmentation module to enrich the information representation of a 3D reconstruction map. Additionally, image matching using L_SuperPoint feature points is employed to achieve higher localization accuracy and obtain better map quality. Moreover, Voxblox is proposed for storing and representing the maps, which facilitates the storage of large-scale maps. Furthermore, yield estimation is conducted using conditional filtering and RANSAC spherical fitting. The results show that the proposed system achieves an average relative error of 10.87% in yield estimation. The semantic segmentation accuracy of the system reaches 73.2% mIoU, and it can save an average of 96.91% memory for point cloud map storage. Localization accuracy tests on public datasets demonstrate that, compared to Shi–Tomasi corner points, using L_SuperPoint feature points reduces the average ATE by 1.933 and the average RPE by 0.042. Through field experiments and evaluations in a strawberry field, the proposed system demonstrates reliability in yield estimation, providing guidance and support for agricultural production planning and risk management. Full article

We performed a systematic review of studies that compared beta-lactams vs. beta-lactams plus aminoglycosides for the treatment of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients. Method: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies published up to October 2023, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam monotherapy with any combination of an anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside were included. Result: The all-cause mortality rate of combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with that of monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.16, high certainty of evidence). Infection-related mortality rates showed that combination therapy had a small positive impact compared with the intervention with monotherapy (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.05, high certainty of evidence). Regarding treatment failure, combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.03, low certainty of evidence). In the sensitivity analysis, the treatment failure data published between 2010 and 2019 showed better outcomes in the same beta-lactam group (RR 1.10 [95% CI, 1.01–1.19]). Renal failure was more frequent with combination therapy of any daily dosing regimen (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.60, high certainty of evidence). Conclusion: We found combining aminoglycosides with a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam did not spare the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Few studies included antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a detailed investigation of aminoglycoside serum levels, and studies that combined the same beta-lactams showed only a minimal impact with the combination therapy. In the future, studies that include the profile of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the monitoring of serum aminoglycoside levels will be required. Full article

Path planning for mobile robots is a key technology in robotics. To address the issues of local optima trapping and non-smooth paths in mobile robot path planning, a novel algorithm based on the NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) is proposed. The algorithm utilizes a search window approach for population initialization, which improves the quality of the initial population. An innovative fitness function is designed as the objective function for optimization iterations. A probability-based selection strategy is employed for population selection and optimization, enhancing the algorithm’s ability to escape local minima and preventing premature convergence to suboptimal solutions. Furthermore, a path smoothing algorithm is developed by incorporating Bézier curves. By connecting multiple segments of Bézier curves, the problem of the high computational complexity associated with high-degree Bézier curves is addressed, while simultaneously achieving smooth paths. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed path planning algorithm exhibited fewer iterations, superior path quality, and path smoothness. Compared to other methods, the proposed approach demonstrated better overall performance and practical applicability. Full article

Over the past decade, mRNA-based therapy has displayed significant promise in a wide range of clinical applications. The most striking example of the leap in the development of mRNA technologies was the mass vaccination against COVID-19 during the pandemic. The emergence of large-scale technology and positive experience of mRNA immunization sparked the development of antiviral and anti-cancer mRNA vaccines as well as therapeutic mRNA agents for genetic and other diseases. To facilitate mRNA delivery, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been successfully employed. However, the diverse use of mRNA therapeutic approaches requires the development of adaptable LNP delivery systems that can control the kinetics of mRNA uptake and expression in target cells. Here, we report effective mRNA delivery into cultured mammalian cells (HEK293T, HeLa, DC2.4) and living mouse muscle tissues by liposomes containing either 1,26-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-7,11,16,20-tetraazahexacosane tetrahydrochloride (2X3) or the newly applied 1,30-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-9,13,18,22-tetraaza-3,6,25,28-tetraoxatriacontane tetrahydrochloride (2X7) cationic lipids. Using end-point and real-time monitoring of Fluc mRNA expression, we showed that these LNPs exhibited an unusually delayed (of over 10 h in the case of the 2X7-based system) but had highly efficient and prolonged reporter activity in cells. Accordingly, both LNP formulations decorated with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀) provided efficient luciferase production in mice, peaking on day 3 after intramuscular injection. Notably, the bioluminescence was observed only at the site of injection in caudal thigh muscles, thereby demonstrating local expression of the model gene of interest. The developed mRNA delivery systems hold promise for prophylactic applications, where sustained synthesis of defensive proteins is required, and open doors to new possibilities in mRNA-based therapies. Full article

Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne virus that causes epidemics, is often misdiagnosed due to symptom similarities with other arboviruses. Here, a portable and integrated nucleic acid-based diagnostic device, which combines reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification and lateral-flow detection, was developed. The device is simple to use, precise, equipment-free, and highly sensitive, enabling rapid chikungunya virus identification. The result can be obtained by the naked eye within 40 min. The assay can effectively distinguish chikungunya virus from dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Zika virus, and yellow fever virus with high specificity and sensitivity as low as 598.46 copies mL⁻¹. It has many benefits for the community screening and monitoring of chikungunya virus in resource-limited areas because of its effectiveness and simplicity. The platform has great potential for the rapid nucleic acid detection of other viruses. Full article

The nondestructive spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) technique determines the shear wave velocities along the wide wavelength range using Rayleigh-type surface waves that propagate along pairs of receivers on the surface. The typical configuration of source-receivers consists of a vertical source and three vertical receivers arranged in a linear array. While this approach allows for effective site characterization, laterally variable sites are often challenging to characterize. In addition, in a traditional SASW test configuration system, where sources are placed in one direction, the data are collected more on one side, which can cause an imbalance in the interpretation of the data. Data interpretation issues can be resolved by moving the source to opposite ends of the original array and relocating receivers to perform a second complete set of tests. Consequently, two different Vs profiles can be provided with only a small amount of additional time at sites where lateral variability exists. Furthermore, the testing procedure can be modified to enhance the site characterization during data collection. The advantages of performing SASW testing in both directions are discussed using a real case study. Full article

Modern challenges such as the liberalization of the railway sector and growing demands for sustainability, high-quality services, and user satisfaction set new standards in railway operations. In this context, railway infrastructure managers (RIMs) play a crucial role in ensuring innovative approaches that will strengthen the position of railways in the market by enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. Evaluating their performance is essential for assessing the achieved objectives, and it is conducted through a wide range of key performance indicators (KPIs), which encompass various dimensions of operations. Monitoring and analyzing KPIs are crucial for improving service quality, achieving sustainability, and establishing a foundation for research and development of new strategies in the railway sector. This paper provides a detailed overview and evaluation of KPIs for RIMs. This paper creates a framework for RIM evaluation using various scientific methods, from identifying KPIs to applying complex analysis methods. A novel hybrid model, which integrates the fuzzy Delphi method for aggregating expert opinions on the KPIs’ importance, the extended fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method for determining the relative weights of these KPIs, and the ADAM method for ranking RIMs, has been developed in this paper. This approach enables a detailed analysis and comparison of RIMs and their performances, providing the basis for informed decision-making and the development of new strategies within the railway sector. The analysis results provide insight into the current state of railway infrastructure and encourage further efforts to improve the railway sector by identifying key areas for enhancement. The main contributions of the research include a detailed overview of KPIs for RIMs and the development of a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model. The hybrid model represents a significant step in RIM performance analysis, providing a basis for future research in this area. The model is universal and, as such, represents a valuable contribution to MCDM theory. Full article

Abstract: In recent years, dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS) in transformer oils has caused many transformer failures around the world, and its removal has attracted more attention. In this work, nine imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were applied as effective, green desulfurization extractants for DBDS-containing transformer oil for the first time. The results show that the desulfurization ability of the ILs for DBDS followed the order of [BMIM]FeCl₄ > [BMIM]N(CN)₂ > [BMIM]SCN > [BMIM](C₄H₉O)₂PO₂ > [BMIM]MeSO₄ > [BMIM]NTf₂ > [BMIM]OTf > [BMIM]PF₆ > [BMIM]BF₄. Especially, [BMIM]FeCl₄ ionic liquid had excellent removal efficiency for DBDS, with its S partition coefficient K_N (S) being up to 2642, which was much higher than the other eight imidazolium-based ILs. Moreover, the extractive performance of [BMIM]FeCl₄ increased with an increasing molar ratio of FeCl₃ to [BMIM]Cl, which was attributed to its Lewis acidity and fluidity. [BMIM]FeCl₄ ionic liquid could also avail in the desulfurization of diphenyl sulfide (DPS) from model oils. The experimental results demonstrate that π−π action, π-complexation, and Lewis acid−base interaction played important roles in the desulfurization process. Finally, the ([BMIM]FeCl₄) ionic liquid could be recycled five times without a significant decrease in extractive ability. Full article

Several clinical studies reported that the elevated expression of Chitinase-3-like 1 (CHI3L1) was observed in patients suffering from a wide range of diseases: cancer, metabolic, and neurological diseases. However, the role of CHI3L1 in AD is still unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that 2-({3-[2-(1-Cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl}culfanyl)-N-(4-ethylphenyl)butanamide, a CHI3L1 inhibiting compound, alleviates memory and cognitive impairment and inhibits neuroinflammation in AD mouse models. In this study, we studied the detailed correlation of CHI3L1 and AD using serum from AD patients and using CHI3L1 knockout (KO) mice with Aβ infusion (300 pmol/day, 14 days). Serum levels of CHI3L1 were significantly elevated in patients with AD compared to normal subjects, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis data based on serum analysis suggested that CHI3L1 could be a significant diagnostic reference for AD. To reveal the role of CHI3L1 in AD, we investigated the CHI3L1 deficiency effect on memory impairment in Aβ-infused mice and microglial BV-2 cells. In CHI3L1 KO mice, Aβ infusion resulted in lower levels of memory dysfunction and neuroinflammation compared to that of WT mice. CHI3L1 deficiency selectively inhibited phosphorylation of ERK and IκB as well as inhibition of neuroinflammation-related factors in vivo and in vitro. On the other hand, treatment with recombinant CHI3L1 increased neuroinflammation-related factors and promoted phosphorylation of IκB except for ERK in vitro. Web-based gene network analysis and our results showed that CHI3L1 is closely correlated with PTX3. Moreover, in AD patients, we found that serum levels of PTX3 were correlated with serum levels of CHI3L1 by Spearman correlation analysis. These results suggest that CHI3L1 deficiency could inhibit AD development by blocking the ERK-dependent PTX3 pathway. Full article

This paper brings a new insight into understanding the influence of macrocapsules in packing systems, which can be useful in designing the inert structure of self-healing concrete. A variety of tubular macrocapsules, in terms of types and sizes, was used to assess the capsules’ effect in the packing, together with various aggregate types and fractions. The voids ratios (U) of aggregate mixtures were evaluated experimentally and compared with the prediction via the particle packing model of Dewar. The packing of coarse particles was found to be considerably affected by the presence of macrocapsules, while no capsules’ effect on the packing of fine particles was attained. A higher capsule dosage and capsule aspect ratio led to a higher voids ratio. In the formulation of the inert structure, the packing disturbance due to capsules can be minimised by increasing the content of fine aggregates over coarse aggregates. Dewar’s model showed a good compatibility with experimental results in the absence of capsules. However, the model needed to be upgraded for the introduction of tubular macrocapsules. Accordingly, the effect of macrocapsules was extensively analysed and a ‘U model’ for capsules (with some limitations) was finally proposed, offering a high predicting accuracy. Full article

During neurotransmission, neurotransmitters are released less than a millisecond after the arrival of the action potential. To achieve this ultra-fast event, the synaptic vesicle must be pre-docked to the plasma membrane. In this primed state, SNAREpins, the protein-coiled coils whose assembly provides the energy to trigger fusion, are partly zippered and clamped like a hairpin and held open and ready to snap close when the clamp is released. Recently, it was suggested that three types of regulatory factors, synaptophysin, synaptotagmins, and complexins act cooperatively to organize two concentric rings, a central and a peripheral ring, containing up to six SNAREpins each. We used a mechanical model of the SNAREpins with two separate states, half-zippered and fully zippered, and determined the energy landscape according to the number of SNAREpins in each ring. We also performed simulations to estimate the fusion time in each case. The presence of the peripheral SNAREpins generally smoothens the energy landscape and accelerates the fusion time. With the predicted physiological numbers of six central and six peripheral SNAREpins, the fusion time is accelerated at least 100 times by the presence of the peripheral SNAREpins, and fusion occurs in less than 10 μs, which is well within the physiological requirements. Full article

A survey was conducted to analyze the discrepancies of the functional requirements of the façade system in residential units among 605 of the real-life public and 73 experts. Personal and housing information, resident life patterns, public façade usage behavior, and functional requirements were collected from the respondents. Both the public and experts recognized insulation as the main function of façade opening systems. More than 85% of the public and experts opened windows for ventilation, but ventilation was ranked 3rd amongst the public and 4th amongst experts in the main functions list of façade systems. The public cited the inflow of fine dust as the main reason for dissatisfaction with opening windows. In contrast, the experts cited a decrease in thermal comfort due to the inflow of external moisture as the reason for dissatisfaction with opening windows. The results showed that discrepancies exist between the public and experts’ perceptions of the main function of housing façade systems. Analyzing the common points and differences between the public and experts’ perception can help in developing façade system design and control technology. Full article

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) possess appropriate bandgaps and interact via van der Waals (vdW) forces between layers, effectively overcoming lattice compatibility challenges inherent in traditional heterojunctions. This property facilitates the creation of heterojunctions with customizable bandgap alignments. However, the prevailing method for creating heterojunctions with 2D-TMDs relies on the low-efficiency technique of mechanical exfoliation. Sb₂Te₃, recognized as a notable p-type semiconductor, emerges as a versatile component for constructing diverse vertical p–n heterostructures with 2D-TMDs. This study presents the successful large-scale deposition of 2D Sb₂Te₃ onto inert mica substrates, providing valuable insights into the integration of Sb₂Te₃ with 2D-TMDs to form heterostructures. Building upon this initial advancement, a precise epitaxial growth method for Sb₂Te₃ on pre-existing WS₂ surfaces on SiO₂/Si substrates is achieved through a two-step chemical vapor deposition process, resulting in the formation of Sb₂Te₃/WS₂ heterojunctions. Finally, the development of 2D Sb₂Te₃/WS₂ optoelectronic devices is accomplished, showing rapid response times, with a rise/decay time of 305 μs/503 μs, respectively. Full article

Stroke management employs a variety of diagnostic imaging modalities, image processing and analysis methods, and treatment procedures. This work categorizes methods for stroke imaging, image processing and analysis, and treatment, and provides their taxonomies illustrated by a state-of-the-art review. Imaging plays a critical role in stroke management, and the most frequently employed modalities are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR). CT includes unenhanced non-contrast CT as the first-line diagnosis, CT angiography, and CT perfusion. MR is the most complete method to examine stroke patients. MR angiography is useful to evaluate the severity of artery stenosis, vascular occlusion, and collateral flow. Diffusion-weighted imaging is the gold standard for evaluating ischemia. MR perfusion-weighted imaging assesses the penumbra. The stroke image processing methods are divided into non-atlas/template-based and atlas/template-based. The non-atlas/template-based methods are subdivided into intensity and contrast transformations, local segmentation-related, anatomy-guided, global density-guided, and artificial intelligence/deep learning-based. The atlas/template-based methods are subdivided into intensity templates and atlases with three atlas types: anatomy atlases, vascular atlases, and lesion-derived atlases. The treatment procedures for arterial and venous strokes include intravenous and intraarterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. This work captures the stateoftheart in stroke management summarized in the form of comprehensive and straightforward taxonomy diagrams. All three introduced taxonomies in diagnostic imaging, image processing and analysis, and treatment are widely illustrated and compared against other state-of-the-art classifications. Full article

Soil salinization poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, necessitating innovative agronomic strategies to mitigate its impact. This study focuses on improving salt stress resistance in tomato plants through the application of silicon (Si) in roots. A greenhouse experiment was carried out under normal conditions (control, and 1 and 4 mM Si) and under salinity stress (salt control, and 1 and 4 mM Si). Various parameters were analyzed in leaves and roots. Under normal conditions, tomato plants grown in non-saline conditions exhibited some toxicity when exposed to Na₂SiO₃. As for the experiments under salt stress conditions, Si mitigated oxidative damage, preserving root cell membrane integrity. The concentration of malondialdehyde was reduced by 69.5%, that of proline was reduced by 56.4% and there was a 57.6% decrease in catalase activity for tomato plants treated with 1 mM Si under salt stress. Furthermore, Fe uptake and distribution, under salt conditions, increased from 91 to 123 mg kg⁻¹, the same concentration as that obtained for the normal control. In all cases, the lower dose produced better results under normal conditions than the 4 mM dose. In summary, this research provides a potential application of Si in non-fertigated crop systems through a radicular pathway. Full article

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants and phytochemicals as potential treatments for acne vulgaris. This condition, characterized by chronic inflammation, predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. Conventional treatment typically targets the key factors contributing to its development: the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes and the associated inflammation. However, these treatments often involve the use of potent drugs. As a result, the exploration of herbal medicine as a complementary approach has emerged as a promising strategy. By harnessing the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants and phytochemicals, it may be possible to address acne vulgaris while minimizing the reliance on strong drugs. This approach not only offers potential benefits for individuals seeking alternative treatments but also underscores the importance of natural remedies of plant origin in dermatological care. The primary aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of plants and their phytochemical constituents in the management of mild acne vulgaris. A comprehensive search of scientific databases was conducted from 2018 to September 2023. The findings of this review suggest that medicinal plants and their phytochemical components hold promise as treatments for mild acne vulgaris. However, it is crucial to note that further research employing high-quality evidence and standardized methodologies is essential to substantiate their efficacy and safety profiles. Full article