For the complex structure of fibrous network materials, it is a challenge to analyze the network strength and deformation mechanism. Here, we identify a failure mode transition within the network material comprising brittle fibers and bonds, which is related to the strength ratio of the bond to the fiber. A failure criterion for this type of fibrous network is proposed to quantitatively characterize this transition between bond damage and fiber damage. Additionally, tensile experiments on carbon and ceramic fibrous network materials were conducted, and the experimental results show that the failure modes of these network materials satisfy the theoretical prediction. The relationship between the failure mode, the relative density of network and strength of the components is established based on finite element analysis of the 3D network model. The failure mode transforms from bond damage to fiber damage as increasing of bond strength. According to the transition of the failure modes in the brittle fibrous network, it is possible to tailor the mechanical properties of fibrous network material by balancing the competition between bond and fiber properties, which is significant for optimizing material design and engineering applications. Full article

This study aimed to synthesize molybdenum complexes coordinated with an aroyl hydrazone-type ligand (H₂L), which was generated through the condensation of 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde with benzhydrazide. The synthesis yielded two types of mononuclear complexes, specifically [MoO₂(L)(MeOH)] and [MoO₂(L)(H₂O)], as well as a bipyridine-bridged dinuclear complex, [(MoO₂(L))₂(4,4’-bpy)]. Those entities were thoroughly characterized using a suite of analytical techniques, including attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (IR-ATR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). Additionally, solid-state impedance spectroscopy (SS-IS) was employed to investigate the electrical properties of these complexes. The mononuclear complexes were tested as catalysts in the epoxidation of cyclooctene and the oxidation of linalool. Among these, the water-coordinated mononuclear complex, [MoO₂(L)(H₂O)], demonstrated superior electrical and catalytic properties. A novel contribution of this research lies in establishing a correlation between the electrical properties, structural features, and the catalytic efficiency of the complexes, marking this work as one of the pioneering studies in this area for molybdenum coordination complexes, to the best of our knowledge. Full article

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was coupled with an advanced statistical strategy combining the response surface method (RSM) and the propagation of error (PoE) approach to optimize and test the robustness of the co-firing of ammonia (NH₃) and coal in a fluidized bed reactor for coal phase-out processes. The CFD model was validated under experimental results collected from a pilot fluidized bed reactor. A 3^k full factorial design of nine computer simulations was performed using air staging and NH₃ co-firing ratio as input factors. The selected responses were NO, NH₃ and CO₂ emissions generation. The findings were that the design of experiments (DoE) method allowed for determining the best operating conditions to achieve optimal operation. The optimization process identified the best-operating conditions to reach stable operation while minimizing harmful emissions. Through the implementation of desirability function and robustness, the optimal operating conditions that set the optimized responses for single optimization showed not to always imply the most stable set of values to operate the system. Robust operating conditions showed that maximum performance was attained at high air staging levels (around 40%) and through a balanced NH₃ co-firing ratio (around 30%). The results of the combined multi-optimization process performance should provide engineers, researchers and professionals the ability to make smarter decisions in both pilot and industrial environments for emissions reduction for decarbonization in energy production processes. Full article

Background: Plant-based diets are not inherently healthy. Similar to omnivorous diets, they may contain excessive amounts of sugar, sodium, and saturated fats, or lack diversity. Moreover, vegans might be at risk of inadequate intake of certain vitamins and minerals commonly found in foods that they avoid. We developed the VEGANScreener, a tool designed to assess the diet quality of vegans in Europe. Methods: Our approach combined best practices in developing diet quality metrics with scale development approaches and involved the following: (a) narrative literature synthesis, (b) evidence evaluation by an international panel of experts, and (c) translation of evidence into a diet screener. We employed a modified Delphi technique to gather opinions from an international expert panel. Results: Twenty-five experts in the fields of nutrition, epidemiology, preventive medicine, and diet assessment participated in the first round, and nineteen participated in the subsequent round. Initially, these experts provided feedback on a pool of 38 proposed items from the literature review. Consequently, 35 revised items, with 17 having multiple versions, were suggested for further consideration. In the second round, 29 items were retained, and any residual issues were addressed in the final consensus meeting. The ultimate screener draft encompassed 29 questions, with 17 focusing on foods and nutrients to promote, and 12 addressing foods and nutrients to limit. The screener contained 24 food-based and 5 nutrient-based questions. Conclusions: We elucidated the development process of the VEGANScreener, a novel diet quality screener for vegans. Future endeavors involve contrasting the VEGANScreener against benchmark diet assessment methodologies and nutritional biomarkers and testing its acceptance. Once validated, this instrument holds potential for deployment as a self-assessment application for vegans and as a preliminary dietary screening and counseling tool in healthcare settings. Full article

A 77-year-old-man with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II presented at our clinic for a routine ophthalmological exam. He complained of intermittent double vision. The ophthalmic examination revealed paralysis of III (n. oculomotorius) and VI (n. abducens) cranial nerves with ptosis, deficit in elevation and abduction of the left eye. The patient underwent urgent MRI imaging of the brain/orbits and paranasal sinuses, and urgent neurological assessment. MRI revealed a volume-occupying process, starting from the posterior wall of the left maxillary sinus with perineural diffusion and involvement of the homolateral trigeminal nerve, intracranial spread in the medial cranial fossa and involvement of the cavernous, sphenoidal sinuses and the orbital apex on the left side. Biopsy was performed, and the histology resulted in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma with intracranial spread. Full article

This study aims to analyze the changes in the agrifood supply chain (AFSC) configurations in Latin America (LATAM) imposed by the markets as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper analyzes the results of mobility trends, production rates, logistics performance, and the strategies developed by managers and decision makers of the organizations of the agro-industrial sector for supply chain configurations during the early stages of the pandemic in a food-exporting region that contributes 14% of the world’s production of agricultural and fishery products. Through a literature review of reports and scientific articles on the behavior of the pandemic published by international organizations, research centers, and researchers around the AFSC in LATAM, the impacts on logistical disruptions, configuration strategies, and disruptive technologies applied in Latin American agrifood supply chains during the lockdown are identified. As a result of this reconfiguration of the AFSC, the development of short supply chains and the digitalization of supply based on electronic commerce were the most used strategies during COVID-19 in LATAM. The results of this study show that Mexico, Chile, and Brazil maintained a prominent position as leaders in the different logistics indicators for the AFSC by developing strategies that include short supply chains and the digitalization of supplies based on electronic commerce. Finally, this study also highlights the imminent need to address new research and theories on the reconfiguration of the AFSC, which allows expanding analytical capabilities in organizations to face future risks and challenges that will enable the reconfiguration of the supply chain in the face of catastrophic scenarios such as COVID-19. Full article

Recent studies in turbomachinery have shown that the phase of acoustic wave reflection within an intake can have either positive or negative effects on the aeroelastic stability of fan rotor blades. However, the typical flow structures, such as the shock wave, within rotor blade passages with acoustic wave reflection remain unclear. The aim of this research was to address this gap by investigating how these flow structures impact blade aeroelastic stabilities with acoustic wave reflections. The focus of this study was the NASA Rotor 67 blade with an extended intake. Moreover, a bump is incorporated on the shroud at different distances from the fan to reflect acoustic waves of varying phases. Utilizing the energy method, variations in the aerodynamic work density on blade surfaces were calculated under different phases of reflected acoustic waves. Analysis indicates that the spatial position of the shock wave undergoes periodic changes synchronized with the phase of acoustic reflection, marking the first instance of such an observation. This synchronization is identified as the primary factor causing variations in the aeroelastic stability of blades due to acoustic wave reflection, contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanism behind acoustic flutter. The acoustic–vortex coupling at the blade tip leads to unpredictable variations in unsteady pressures on the blade suction surface, although its effect on blade aeroelastic stabilities is relatively limited compared to that of the shock wave. Full article

While gas nitriding of steel is currently used in industry, nitriding of aluminum alloys remains an open challenge. The main obstacle is aluminum’s high susceptibility to passivation. The oxide film provides an effective barrier to nitrogen diffusion. Attempts to overcome this problem have mainly focused on glow discharge nitriding using cathode sputtering of an oxide layer. The produced AlN layers exhibit no diffusion zone and show limited performance properties. In this work, the effect of hybrid treatment aimed at producing diffusion layers of nitrides other than AlN on aluminum alloys was investigated on the model system of iron nitride–aluminum substrate. Hybrid treatment combines an electrochemical process involving the removal of the aluminum oxide layer from the substrate, its subsequent iron plating, and a further gas nitriding in high-purity ammonia. The obtained results prove that the hybrid treatment allows the production, at 530 °C/10 h, of diffusion layers of Fe₃N iron nitrides on aluminum substrates with a nitrogen diffusion zone range in aluminum of ca. 12 µm. In alloys containing magnesium, its unfavorable effect on the nitrogen diffusion and the functional properties of the layers was observed. An interesting direction for further research is hybrid treatment of precipitation-hardened alloys without magnesium. Full article

The amount of heat input during welding impacts the weld’s thermal and mechanical behavior and the joint’s properties. The current study involved conducting AA 6061 and AZ31B Mg dissimilar welding, using friction stir lap welding (FSLW) and ultrasonic vibration-enhanced FSLW (UVeFSLW). The comparison and analysis of the welding load, the weld’s macro-microstructure, intermetallic compounds (IMCs), and joint properties were conducted by adjusting the process parameters. The study also examined the effect of ultrasonic vibration (UV) variations on welding heat input. The study demonstrated that it is possible to reduce the welding load by employing UV. Moreover, this impact becomes more pronounced as the welding heat input decreases. Additionally, the material flow in the weld, the width of the weld nugget zone, and the continuous IMC layer are significantly influenced by ultrasonic vibration, irrespective of the heat input during welding. However, the impact on large areas of irregular IMCs or eutectic structures is relatively small. Furthermore, achieving better joint properties becomes more feasible when a higher welding speed is employed for the Al alloy placed on top. Specifically, the impact of UV becomes more evident at higher welding speeds (≥220 mm/min). Full article

This purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between crack growth equations based on Elber’s original plastic wake induced crack closure concept and the fatigue threshold as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fatigue test standard ASTM E647-15el. It is shown that, for a number of conventionally manufactured metals, the function U(R), where R is the ratio of the minimum to maximum applied remote stress, that is used to relate the stress intensity factor ΔK to the effective stress intensity factor ΔK_eff is inversely proportional to the fatigue threshold ΔK_th(R). This finding also results in a simple closed form equation that relates the crack opening stress intensity factor K_o(R) to ΔK, K_max, and the fatigue threshold terms ΔK_th(R) and ΔK_eff,th. It is also shown that plotting da/dN as function of ΔK/ΔK_th(R) would appear to have the potential to help to identify the key fracture mechanics parameters that characterise the effect of test temperature on crack growth. As such, for conventionally manufactured metals, plotting da/dN as function of ΔK/ΔK_th(R) would appear to be a useful addition to the tools available to assess the fracture mechanics parameters affecting crack growth. Full article

In the rapidly evolving domain of conversational agents, the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into Chatbot Development Platforms (CDPs) is a significant innovation. This study compares the efficacy of employing generic and fine-tuned GPT-3.5-turbo models for designing dialog flows, focusing on the intent and entity recognition crucial for dynamic conversational interactions. Two distinct approaches are introduced: a generic GPT-based system (G-GPT) leveraging the pre-trained model with complex prompts for intent and entity detection, and a fine-tuned GPT-based system (FT-GPT) employing customized models for enhanced specificity and efficiency. The evaluation encompassed the systems’ ability to accurately classify intents and recognize named entities, contrasting their adaptability, operational efficiency, and customization capabilities. The results revealed that, while the G-GPT system offers ease of deployment and versatility across various contexts, the FT-GPT system demonstrates superior precision, efficiency, and customization, although it requires initial training and dataset preparation. This research highlights the versatility of LLMs in enriching conversational features for talking assistants, from social robots to interactive chatbots. By tailoring these advanced models, the fluidity and responsiveness of conversational agents can be enhanced, making them more adaptable and effective in a variety of settings, from customer service to interactive learning environments. Full article

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of two anesthetic agents, alfaxalone and propofol, on maternal physiological parameters (heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and temperature) on either ovariohysterectomies or cesarean sections in bitches. A total of 34 healthy and pyometra-affected females (classified as ASA II), were induced with IV propofol (4 mg/kg), while 35 females, both healthy and pyometra affected, were induced with IV alfaxalone (1 mg/kg). For cesarean sections, females (ASA II) were induced with propofol (n = 14) or alfaxalone (n = 14). Additionally, the neonatal viability and modified Apgar score were recorded at 5, 60, and 120 min post-delivery. There were no significant differences in the physiological parameters when comparing the use of propofol and alfaxalone in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomies, regardless of their health status, nor when comparing cesarean sections. It was observed that bitches induced with propofol occasionally required an additional dose for maintenance of the anesthesia. Neonatal mortality rates were similar for both groups; however, alfaxalone was associated with higher neonatal viability as indicated by the Apgar scores. The findings suggest that both anesthetic protocols are effective and safe for use in canine reproductive surgeries, with no major differences in basic physiological parameters’ alteration or neonatal outcomes between the two agents. Full article

(1) Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of cancer but how these two diseases associate is still debated. The goal of this study was the assessment of the overall incidence of cancer among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM in Hungary. (2) Methods: A nationwide, retrospective, longitudinal study was performed using a Hungarian database. After exclusion of cases of age < 18 years, with gestational diabetes, with polycystic ovary syndrome, and with type 1 and prevalent type 2 diabetes mellitus, the incident T2DM (approx. 50,000 cases yearly) and for comparison, the diabetes-free Hungarian adult population (approx. 7,000,000 cases yearly) was included in the study. The primary endpoints were the overall and site-specific incidence and annual percentage change of the incidence of cancer in both populations. (3) Results: The overall incidence of cancer in patients amounted to 29.4/1000 and 6.6/1000 with or without T2DM, respectively, and the OR (95%CI) of cancer of the T2DM group was 4.32 (4.14–4.53), p < 0.0001. The risk of having cancer was age dependent. The incidence of cancer was declining in the non-diabetic but was unchanged in the T2DM population. The average lag time of diagnosing cancer after the detection of T2DM was 3.86 months. (4) Conclusions: Incident T2DM is associated with a significantly higher overall risk of incident cancer, with a reverse correlation of age. Newly registered T2DM patients were suggested to be screened for cancer within 6 months. Full article

This study addresses the challenge of performance degradation in waterjet pumps due to non-uniform suction flow. Utilizing the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) method, it decomposes and reconstructs the flow features within a waterjet pump under non-uniform inflow into a series of modes ranked in descending order of energy. By analyzing the modes with dominant energy, which contain complex information about the flow field, it is revealed that modes 1 and 2 predominantly represent the formation of a concentrated vortex, whereas modes 3 and 4 illustrate its spatial offset. Notably, in the hub section, mode 3 exhibits a delayed flow separation caused by the reduction of circumferential vortex (CV), with a consequent lift in blade loading at the leading edge and a higher head compared to mode 1. In the shroud section, the delayed flow separation in mode 3 suppressed reverse flow and the concentrated separation vortex (CSV) and then increased the blade loading, ultimately enhancing the pump head. The findings provide significant insights into optimizing waterjet pump performance by detailing the interactions between various flow structures and pump components, effectively filling a knowledge gap in applying dimensionality reduction techniques within the distorted flow fields of water jet pumps. Full article

A noteworthy advancement within the discipline of q-special function analysis involves the extension of the concept of the monomiality principle to q-special polynomials. This extension helps analyze the quasi-monomiality of many q-special polynomials. This extension is a helpful tool for considering the quasi-monomiality of several q-special polynomials. This study aims to identify and establish the characteristics of the 2-variable q-Hermite–Appell polynomials via an extension of the concept of monomiality. Also, we present some applications that are taken into account. Full article

This study aims to enhance urban sustainability by analyzing the spatial distribution and underlying causes of vacant homes in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. Various statistical methods were employed to analyze date concerning the number of vacant stores, population changes, land use complexity, and the physical characteristics of land and buildings; these factors were found to influence the prevalence of vacant homes across Asan. Additionally, it was found that distinct factors differentially affect specific regions, such as old downtown areas versus rural villages. This indicates that reducing vacant homes in these areas requires distinct policies tailored to the unique circumstances of each region. For instance, in old town areas, small lot ratios and land use complexity are significant, while in rural villages, the average number of floors and land use complexity play a major role. This study highlights the diverse factors influencing the prevalence of vacant homes and suggests that to effectively address this issue, policies should be developed that are tailored to the unique characteristics of each area, categorized at both the city and local levels. Full article

Loneliness has become a pressing topic, especially among young adults and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a randomized controlled trial with 253 healthy adults, we evaluated the differential efficacy of two 10-week app-delivered mental training programs: one based on classic mindfulness and one on an innovative partner-based socio-emotional practice (Affect Dyad). We show that the partner-based training resulted in greater reductions in loneliness than the mindfulness-based training. This effect was shown on three measures of loneliness: general loneliness assessed with the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, state loneliness queried over an 8-day ecological momentary assessment in participants’ daily lives, and loneliness ratings required before and after daily practice. Our study provides evidence for the higher efficacy of a mental training approach based on a 12 min practice conducted with a partner in reducing loneliness and provides a novel, scalable online approach to reduce the increasing problem of loneliness in society. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different drying methods on bioactive compounds and to analyze their composition in Verbascum sinaiticum (V. sinaiticum) leaf extracts using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. V. sinaiticum is traditionally used as an herbal medicine, yet it has undergone limited scientific investigations regarding its secondary metabolites. V. sinaiticum leaves were dried using oven dryers at 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C, as well as a freeze dryer. The leaves were then extracted using 50% and 70% aqueous ethanol and 100% aqueous solutions. The results showed that the highest contents of TPC and TFC were observed when 70% aqueous ethanol was used during freeze drying, reaching 181.73 mg GAE/g dw and 78.57 mg CE/g dw, respectively. The strongest correlations were observed between the TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity (0.9082), followed by TPC and ABTS assays (0.8933) and TPC and DPPH (0.8272). In the FTIR analysis, freeze drying exhibited a lower intensity of the phenolic -OH functional groups, contrasting with significant denaturation observed during oven drying at 70 °C. Metabolite analysis identified 29 compounds in V. sinaiticum leaves, further confirming the presence of 14 phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including kaempferol, catechin, gallic acid, and myricetin derivatives, consistent with the experimentally observed antioxidant capacity. This study highlights the impact of drying methods on the bioactive composition of V. sinaiticum and underscores its potential as a source of antioxidants for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

The skeletal muscles account for approximately 40% of the body weight and are crucial in movement, nutrient absorption, and energy metabolism. Muscle loss and decline in function cause a decrease in the quality of life of patients and the elderly, leading to complications that require early diagnosis. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) offers non-invasive, high-resolution visualization of tissues. It has emerged as a promising alternative to invasive diagnostic methods and is attracting attention as a tool for assessing muscle function and imaging muscle diseases. Effective imaging of muscle function and pathology relies on appropriate radiopharmaceuticals that target key aspects of muscle metabolism, such as glucose uptake, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and the oxidation of fat and carbohydrates. In this review, we describe how [¹⁸F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([¹⁸F]FDG), [¹⁸F]fluorocholine ([¹⁸F]FCH), [¹¹C]acetate, and [¹⁵O]water ([¹⁵O]H₂O) are suitable radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging of skeletal muscles. Full article

Introduction: Identifying the complexity of palliative care needs is a key aspect of referral to specialized multidisciplinary early palliative care (EPC) teams. The PALCOM scale is an instrument consisting of five multidimensional assessment domains developed in 2018 and validated in 2023 to identify the level of complexity in patients with advanced cancer. (1) Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the degree of instability (likelihood of level change or death), health resource consumption and the survival of patients according to the level of palliative complexity assigned at the baseline visit during a 6-month follow-up. (2) Method: An observational, prospective, multicenter study was conducted using pooled data from the development and validation cohort of the PALCOM scale. The main outcome variables were as follows: (a) instability ratio (IR), defined as the probability of level change or death; (b) emergency department visits; (c) days of hospitalization; (d) hospital death; (e) survival. All the variables were analyzed monthly according to the level of complexity assigned at the baseline visit. (3) Results: A total of 607 patients with advanced cancer were enrolled. According to the PALCOM scale, 20% of patients were classified as low complexity, 50% as medium and 30% as high complexity. The overall IR was 45% in the low complexity group, 68% in the medium complexity group and 78% in the high complexity group (p < 0.001). No significant differences in mean monthly emergency department visits (0.2 visits/ patient/month) were observed between the different levels of complexity. The mean number of days spent in hospital per month was 1.5 in the low complexity group, 1.8 in the medium complexity group and 3.2 in the high complexity group (p < 0.001). The likelihood of in-hospital death was significantly higher in the high complexity group (29%) compared to the medium (16%) and low (8%) complexity groups (p < 0.001). Six-month survival was significantly lower in the high complexity group (24%) compared to the medium (37%) and low (57%) complexity groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the PALCOM scale, more complex cases are associated with greater instability and use of hospital resources and lower survival. The data also confirm that the PALCOM scale is a consistent and useful tool for describing complexity profiles, targeting referrals to the EPC and managing the intensity of shared care. Full article

The fetal splenic artery pulsatility index is a parameter that reflects fetal well-being and has been used as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the splenic artery pulsatility index in gestational diabetes mellitus class A1 cases for intensive care unit admission. In this prospective case-controlled study, only sixty single pregnancy cases diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus class A1 were evaluated. Fetal splenic artery Doppler parameters such as peak systolic velocity, pulsatility index, resistivity index, and end-diastolic velocity were measured in all cases. The rate of requirements for the neonatal intensive care unit was noted. In cases requiring fetal intensive care, the fetal splenic pulsatility index was found to be statistically significantly lower than in healthy cases without it (0.94 ± 0.29 vs. 1.70 ± 0.53, respectively, p < 0.001, Student’s t-test). When the fetal splenic PI cutoff value was selected as 1.105 cm3, the sensitivity was calculated as 97.9% and the specificity as 58.3% for predicting the need for fetal intensive care (AUC 0.968, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.929–0.998). The use of a low fetal splenic artery PI parameter is a significant and good indicator for predicting the need for fetal intensive care according to the binary logistic regression analysis result (p = 0.006). This study suggests that evaluation of fetal splenic artery Doppler in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus may be used to predict neonates requiring a newborn intensive care unit. Therefore, it is recommended that obstetricians use this simple, rapid, and valuable evaluation of fetal splenic artery Doppler and alert the neonatologist that a newborn intensive care unit may be required. Full article

Mitochondrial diseases (MDs) affect 4300 individuals, with different ages of presentation and manifestation in any organ. How defects in mitochondria can cause such a diverse range of human diseases remains poorly understood. In recent years, several published research articles regarding the metabolic and protein profiles of these neurogenetic disorders have helped shed light on the pathogenetic mechanisms. By investigating different pathways in MDs, often with the aim of identifying disease biomarkers, it is possible to identify molecular processes underlying the disease. In this perspective, omics technologies such as proteomics and metabolomics considered in this review, can support unresolved mitochondrial questions, helping to improve outcomes for patients. Full article