In the existing building stock, typically characterised by a high degree of irregularity, the effects of earthquakes are strongly dependent on the epicentre–structure direction and the angle of incidence of the seismic motion. However, the scientific community has not yet reached a unanimous consensus on the evaluation of the effects of seismic incidence angles. Therefore, this paper conducts an extensive investigation of the international literature on current methods to consider seismic directionality, systematically reviewing more than 80 publications on this topic. Following a brief overview of the problem and an analysis of the initial developments of the multidirectionality concept of seismic input, a state-of-the-art review is presented based on the considered analysis methods, specifically response spectrum analysis, nonlinear static analysis, and nonlinear response history analysis. Moreover, the adoption of multidirectional seismic input in popular codes and standards is presented and discussed. This study provides the first comprehensive synthesis of research on the seismic incidence angles across diverse building typologies, offering crucial insights for future code revisions and highlighting significant gaps in current analytical methods and standards, thereby setting a new direction for subsequent empirical investigations. Specifically, the extensive state-of-the-art review revealed that, until now, the evaluation of the angle of incidence was primarily conducted on existing reinforced concrete buildings with a limited number of storeys, analysed with nonlinear response history analysis. This underscores the need for future research to extensively investigate the impact of the angle of incidence on other types of construction typologies. Full article

This research focuses on 72 approved varieties of colored wheat from different provinces in China. Utilizing coefficients of variation, structural equation models, and correlation analyses, six agronomic traits of colored wheat were comprehensively evaluated, followed by further research on different dwarfing genes in colored wheat. Using the entropy method revealed that among the 72 colored wheat varieties, 10 were suitable for cultivation. Variety 70 was the top-performing variety, with a comprehensive index of 87.15%. In the final established structural equation model, each agronomic trait exhibited a positive direct effect on yield. Notably, plant height, spike length, and flag leaf width had significant impacts on yield, with path coefficients of 0.55, 0.40, and 0.27. Transcriptome analysis and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validation were used to identify three dwarfing genes controlling plant height: Rht1, Rht-D1, and Rht8. Subsequent RT-qPCR validation clustering heatmap results indicated that Rht-D1 gene expression increased with the growth of per-acre yield. Rht8 belongs to the semi-dwarf gene category and has a significant positive effect on grain yield. However, the impact of Rht1, as a dwarfing gene, on agronomic traits varies. These research findings provide crucial references for the breeding of new varieties. Full article

As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10–20% of people have experienced mid- to long-term effects following SARS-CoV-2 infection, collectively referred to as post-COVID-19 condition or long-COVID, including some neurovegetative symptoms. Numerous findings have suggested that the onset of these neurovegetative symptoms upon viral infection may be caused by the production of autoantibodies through molecular mimicry phenomena. Accordingly, we had previously demonstrated that 22 of the human proteins sharing putatively immunogenic peptides with SARS-CoV-2 proteins are expressed in the dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguous. Therefore, if molecular mimicry occurs following severe forms of COVID-19, there could be transitory or permanent damage in some vagal structures, resulting in a lower vagal tone and all the related clinical signs. We investigated the presence of autoantibodies against two proteins of vagal nuclei sharing a peptide with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein using an immunoassay test on blood obtained from patients with cardiorespiratory symptoms in patients affected by ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 (long-COVID), subjects vaccinated without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and subjects not vaccinated without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, putative autoantibodies were present in both long-COVID-19 and vaccinated groups, opening interesting questions about pathogenic mechanisms of the disease. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of resident dentists and new graduates regarding the etiology, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the main medical emergency conditions. The study included a sample of 152 new graduates and residents in the first, second, and third year of training in Prosthodontics and General Dentistry from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi, Romania. Their level of knowledge and the attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire with 24 questions, divided into four sections. The differences among groups were identified using the chi-square test (p < 0.05). A high level of knowledge was found among the three groups of subjects for the questions regarding the recognition of clinical signs in hypoglycemic crisis (88–100%), in anaphylactic shock (83.3–94.5%), and the treatment of angina pectoris (76.2–84.2%). In contrast, a low level of knowledge was found for the questions regarding pulse evaluation in the case of an emergency (26.3–35.7%), the parameters of normal breathing (28.9–43%), and the treatment of hypoglycemic crisis (27.8–44.8%). The study indicated that the dentists had a moderate understanding of dental office medical emergencies and preferred practical training over theoretical courses. Full article

The densification of solid wood is a well-studied technique that aims to increase the strength and hardness of the material by permanently compressing the wood tissue. To optimise the densification process in this study, a pre-treatment with sodium sulphite was used (delignification). With delignification prior to densification, one achieves higher compression ratios and better mechanical properties compared to densification without pre-treatment. The reactivity of syringyl (dominant in hardwoods) and guaiacyl (dominant in softwoods) lignin towards delignification is different. The influences of this difference on the delignification and densification of softwoods and hardwoods need to be investigated. This study aimed to densify wood after delignification and investigate how variations in chemical composition between coniferous and deciduous species affect the densification process. Scots pine and Eurasian aspen specimens with a similar initial density were investigated to study the influence of the different lignin chemistry in softwoods and hardwoods on the densification process. Both timbers were delignified with sodium sulphite and sodium hydroxide and subsequently densified. While the delignification was twice as efficient in aspen than in pine, the compression ratios were almost identical in both species. The Brinell hardness and compressive strength showed a more significant increase in aspen than in Scots pine; however, one exception was the compressive strength in a radial direction, which increased more effectively in Scots pine. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the microstructure of densified aspen and Scots pine, showing the crushing and collapse of the cells. Full article

The aim was to investigate how the congruence of odors and visual objects in virtual reality (VR) affects later memory recall of the objects. Participants (N = 30) interacted with 12 objects in VR. The interaction was varied by odor congruency (i.e., the odor matched the object’s visual appearance, the odor did not match the object’s visual appearance, or the object had no odor); odor quality (i.e., an authentic or a synthetic odor); and interaction type (i.e., participants could look and manipulate or could only look at objects). After interacting with the 12 objects, incidental memory performance was measured with a free recall task. In addition, the participants rated the pleasantness and arousal of the interaction with each object. The results showed that the participants remembered significantly more objects with congruent odors than objects with incongruent odors or odorless objects. Furthermore, interaction with congruent objects was rated significantly more pleasant and relaxed than interaction with incongruent objects. Odor quality and interaction type did not have significant effects on recall or emotional ratings. These results can be utilized in the development of multisensory VR applications. Full article

Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergen-induced immune response secondary to the binding of immunoglobulin-E (IgE) to sensitized mast cells. Approximately 40% of North Americans and 20% of the world’s population are impacted by some form of allergy and it continues to increase in prevalence, especially among children. Specified IgE antibodies can be found in almost all cases of exposure to seasonal or perennial allergens. Activation and degranulation of mast cells lead to increased tear levels of histamine, tryptase, leukotrienes, cytokines, and prostaglandins. The release of these factors initiates the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the conjunctival mucosa, which causes the late-phase reaction. Signs and symptoms of ocular allergies include itching, tearing, chemosis, and hyperemia, which can lead to decreased productivity and poor quality of life. Many treatment options are available to improve symptoms, including, mast cell stabilizers, antihistamines, dual-acting agents, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and other off-label treatment modalities. This review article provides an overview of different types of allergic conjunctivitis, its pathology and immunology, and recommended methods of treatment. Full article

Abiraterone acetate (AA) serves as a medication for managing persistent testosterone production in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, its efficacy varies among individuals; thus, the identification of biomarkers to predict and follow treatment response is required. In this pilot study, we explored the potential of circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) to stratify patients based on their responsiveness to AA. We conducted an analysis of plasma samples obtained from a cohort of 33 mCRPC patients before and after three, six, and nine months of AA treatment. Using miRNA RT-qPCR panels for candidate discovery and TaqMan RT-qPCR for validation, we identified promising miRNA signatures. Our investigation indicated that a signature based on miR-103a-3p and miR-378a-5p effectively discriminates between non-responder and responder patients, while also following the drug’s efficacy over time. Additionally, through in silico analysis, we identified target genes and transcription factors of the two miRNAs, including PTEN and HOXB13, which are known to play roles in AA resistance in mCRPC. In summary, our study highlights two c-miRNAs as potential companion diagnostics of AA in mCRPC patients, offering novel insights for informed decision-making in the treatment of mCRPC. Full article

Myeloid sarcoma, a rare extramedullary manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), can occur in various anatomic sites but seldom involves the gastrointestinal tract. We report the unusual case of a 49-year-old man with a history of AML who initially presented with abdominal pain and imaging findings suggestive of a paracolic abscess. However, the lesion rapidly progressed to a large descending colon mass with peritoneal involvement over five weeks. Surgical resection and histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma. This case highlights the potential of myeloid sarcoma to mimic an inflammatory colonic process at initial presentation prior to manifesting as an overt mass lesion. Although exceedingly rare, myeloid sarcoma should be considered in patients with a history of AML presenting with colon lesions, particularly in those with an aggressive clinical course. Early recognition may expedite appropriate treatment and prevent unnecessary procedures. This report also underscores the importance of correlating imaging findings with clinical history and histopathology findings to establish an accurate diagnosis. Full article

In the African cultural context and beyond, personal names are not just unique forms of identifying and individuating their bearers; they also provide relevant windows that resonate with the people’s worldviews, values, and cosmology. From a socio-onomastic perspective, this article examines the representation of people and their description in the Ibibio cultural namescape, which is a source of their traditional epistemology. Personal names are symbolic linguistic resources that contain information about the Ibibio universe of meaning, where people are placed at the centre of every social relationship. Drawing on ethnographic data sourced through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 30 participants who were name-givers, name-bearers and name-users, this study reveals that the Ibibio naming tradition provides a medium for the dissemination of its traditional cultural scripts, which capture community solidarity, support, security and a sense of belonging. This article concludes that the Ibibio anthroponymic culture reflects people as sources of empowerment. People provide the foundation for understanding the past and a path for reaching one’s life goals. This study offers significant entry points into the way the Ibibio act and react to the strength of its community and reinforces the belief that for the Ibibio, people-related regime of names is an important resource used to foster a positive sense of community and well-being. Full article

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease affecting humans and animals. Despite a lack of clarity about many details of parasite–intermediate host interactions, the nature of the immune responses triggered by hydatid infection has revealed new perspectives. This study discusses the latest advances in elucidating the immunologic mechanism of echinococcosis and its detection and potential approaches to enhance serodiagnosis accuracy. Moreover, nanobiosensors have been evaluated according to their potential to improve treatment efficiency and aid in an early diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis. The serum of an intermediate host can diagnose CE by analyzing antibodies induced by Echinococcus granulosus. Among the most notable features of this method are its noninvasive ability and high sensitivity, both of which make it an excellent tool for clinical diagnosis. Several serological tests, including ELISAs and immunoblotting, can detect these antibodies to assess the disease’s state and determine the treatment outcome. A thorough understanding of what cross-reactivity means and the stage of the disease are crucial to interpreting serological results. Nanobiosensors have also proven better than conventional biosensors in detecting hydatid cysts. Additionally, they are highly sensitive and versatile when detecting specific biomarkers, improving diagnostic accuracy. These immunomodulatory molecules, induced by E. granulosus, are a good candidate for diagnosing cystic echinococcosis because they alter intermediate host immune responses. Hydatid cyst detection is also enhanced through nanobiosensors, which provide better accuracy. Full article

Li–S batteries are positioned as a strong alternative for efficient energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density and their theoretical specific capacity (1675 mA h g⁻¹) compared to current Li-ion batteries; however, their commercialization is affected by the rapid decay of the specific capacity as a consequence of the different species of lithium polysulfides that are generated during the charge–discharge processes. The use of nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon materials has been shown to have the ability to confer electronic conductivity to sulfur and retain the lithium polysulfide species. However, there are not enough studies to help understand how the type of nitrogen precursor influences the development of specific nitrogen functionalities to favor the retention of lithium polysulfide species. This work seeks to determine the effect of the use of different nitrogen precursors on the structural changes of the mesoporous carbon materials prepared, and thus evaluate the electrochemical behavior of Li–S cells correlating the type of nitrogen functionality generated when the precursor is variated with the charge/discharge capacity developed during the cell operation. For this study, different carbon materials were prepared by the variation of the nitrogen source (melamine, ethylenediamine, and hexadecylamine) to obtain a N-doped mesoporous carbon with different distributions of nitrogen functionalities in its structure. The use of the primary amine ethylenediamine as a nitrogen precursor in the formation of structured carbon materials favored elemental sulfur infiltration into its pores, resulting in the maximum sulfur content within the pores and interacting with the carbonaceous matrix (78.8 wt.%). The carbon material prepared with this precursor resulted in a higher content of N-pyridinic functionality, which, combined with the high content of N-pyrrolic, resulted in the highest specific discharge capacity at 0.1 C after 100 cycles when compared to cells assembled with materials derived from the use of melamine and hexadecylamine precursors. The cell assembled with the electrode formed from ethylenediamine as a nitrogen precursor presented an initial discharge capacity of 918 mA h g⁻¹ with a Coulombic efficiency of ~83.4% at 0.1 C after 100 cycles. Full article

The functional characteristics of starch can be altered by shear force, which makes the impact on its microstructure of great importance to the food industry. This study investigated the effects of freeze-drying on the gel texture, pasting capabilities, and swelling power of starches made from sweet potatoes (SP), chickpeas (CP), and wheat (WS) combined with Cordia (CG) and Ziziphus gum (ZG). The samples were annealed in water without shearing and in a rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) for 30 min at 60 °C while being spun at 690 rpm. Both native and freeze-dried samples were mixed with 1% or 3% ZG and CG. After annealing, the starches were examined using a texture analyzer and RVA. The results showed that freeze-drying had a substantial (p > 0.05) impact on the starch granule, in addition to the effect of annealing. The peak viscosity of freeze-dried native CP and SP starches increased, but the peak viscosity of freeze-dried wheat starch decreased. The setbacks for CP and WS increased, whereas the setbacks for SP varied slightly. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that annealing in an RVA exhibited a substantially lower peak viscosity than annealing in a water bath; the RVA’s shearing effect may have been the cause of this difference. Cordia gum fared better than ZG in terms of peak viscosity, although ZG significantly reduced setback in comparison to CG. Among the various blends, the native WB sample had the lowest hardness (100 ± 4.9 g), while the freeze-dried WB SP sample had the greatest (175.5 ± 4.8 g). Shearing of starches broke up the granules into smaller pieces, which made them gel at lower temperatures. This could be a good thing when they are needed for food uses that require little cooking. Full article

Eagerly anticipated, 6G networks are attributed with a variety of characteristics by researchers. A pivotal characteristic of 6G networks is the deep integration of sensing and networking, along with intelligent network applications operating on top of this infrastructure. To optimally harness the data collected by sensors distributed across various locations, the training paradigm of the new generation of 6G intelligence applications aligns naturally with the federated-learning paradigm. The exposure of gradients in federated learning to inversion attacks is a critical concern. To address this, cryptography-based secure aggregation methods are commonly implemented to protect the privacy and confidentiality of gradients. However, the semantic meaninglessness of encrypted data makes it difficult to assess the correctness, availability, and source legitimacy of participants’ data. In this paper, we propose a data attack detection framework for cryptography-based secure aggregation methods in 6G intelligence applications that address the security vulnerabilities associated with encrypted data obscurity. We employ a suite of encrypted-data-auditing techniques to prevent data-aggregation errors, data poisoning, and illegal data sources. Additionally, we have compared a series of promising security methods, analyzed, and provided recommendations for the most suitable security approaches in specific 6G scenarios. Full article

A major Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogenic factor is the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin pneumolysin, binding membrane cholesterol and producing permanent lytic or transient pores. During brain infections, vascular damage with variable ischemia occurs. The role of ischemia on pneumolysin’s pore-forming capacity remains unknown. In acute brain slice cultures and primary cultured glia, we studied acute toxin lysis (via propidium iodide staining and LDH release) and transient pore formation (by analyzing increases in the intracellular calcium). We analyzed normal peripheral tissue glucose conditions (80 mg%), normal brain glucose levels (20 mg%), and brain hypoglycemic conditions (3 mg%), in combinations either with normoxia (8% oxygen) or hypoxia (2% oxygen). At 80 mg% glucose, hypoxia enhanced cytolysis via pneumolysin. At 20 mg% glucose, hypoxia did not affect cell lysis, but impaired calcium restoration after non-lytic pore formation. Only at 3 mg% glucose, during normoxia, did pneumolysin produce stronger lysis. In hypoglycemic (3 mg% glucose) conditions, pneumolysin caused a milder calcium increase, but restoration was missing. Microglia bound more pneumolysin than astrocytes and demonstrated generally stronger calcium elevation. Thus, our work demonstrated that the toxin pore-forming capacity in cells continuously diminishes when oxygen is reduced, overlapping with a continuously reduced ability of cells to maintain homeostasis of the calcium influx once oxygen and glucose are reduced. Full article

The combined production of three varieties of lettuce (romaine, iceberg, and red leaf) with flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) was tested in triplicate in three independent coupled aquaponic units with no thermal control. For this purpose, a total of 114 fish (2.5 kg/m³) were stocked in each fish tank (2 m³), and 92 lettuces were planted in the hydroponic unit (6 m²). As no thermal control was included in the design of the aquaponic system, water temperatures declined from maximum values of 20.4 °C to minimum values of 5.0 °C, which directly affected fish growth. However, the conditions imposed by the aquaponic system were suitable for promoting lettuce’s growth and external appearance, as no pests or leaf discoloration were noticed. Lettuce survival was similar among the three tested varieties (98.5 ± 1.7%). The yields for the romaine and iceberg varieties were 384 ± 100 g/lettuce and 316 ± 70 g/lettuce, respectively, and that for the red leaf variety was lower, at 176 ± 75 g/lettuce. Yield values ranged between 3.6 and 4.4 kg/m² depending on the replicate considered (4.0 ± 0.4 kg/m²). According to present results, each aquaponic unit required ca. 2.6–2.7 L of water per unit of lettuce produced. Full article

Partial discharge (PD) is a crucial and intricate electrical occurrence observed in various types of electrical equipment. Identifying and characterizing PDs is essential for upholding the integrity and reliability of electrical assets. This paper proposes an ensemble methodology aiming to strike a balance between the model complexity and the predictive performance in PD pattern recognition. A simple convolutional neural network (SCNN) was constructed to efficiently decrease the model parameters (quantities). A quadratic support vector machine (QSVM) was established and ensembled with the SCNN model to effectively improve the PD recognition accuracy. The input for QSVM consisted of the circular local binary pattern (CLBP) extracted from the enhanced image. A testing prototype with three types of PD was constructed and 3D phase-resolved pulse sequence (PRPS) spectrograms were measured and recorded by ultra-high frequency (UHF) sensors. The proposed methodology was compared with three existing lightweight CNNs. The experiment results from the collected dataset emphasize the benefits of the proposed method, showcasing its advantages in high recognition accuracy and relatively few mode parameters, thereby rendering it more suitable for PD pattern recognition on resource-constrained devices. Full article

Excessive and prolonged alcohol use can have long-term severe neurological consequences. The mechanisms involved may be complicated; however, new evidence seems to indicate the involvement of iron accumulation and neuroinflammation. Prolonged alcohol consumption has been linked to the accumulation of iron in specific regions of the brain. Evidence suggests that excess iron in the brain can trigger microglia activation in response. This activation leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, which can cause damage to neurons and surrounding brain tissue. Additionally, iron-induced oxidative stress and inflammation can disrupt the blood–brain barrier, allowing immune cells from the periphery to infiltrate the brain. This infiltration can lead to further neuroinflammatory responses. Inflammation in the brain subsequently disrupts neuronal networks, impairs synaptic plasticity, and accelerates neuronal cell death. Consequently, cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and decision-making are compromised. Additionally, chronic neuroinflammation can hasten the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, further exacerbating cognitive impairment. Therefore, alcohol could act as a trigger for iron-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. Overall, the mechanisms at play here seem to strongly link alcohol with cognitive decline, with neuroinflammation resulting from alcohol-induced iron accumulation playing a pivotal role. Full article

Simultaneous carotid artery stenosis (CS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common condition among patients with several cardiovascular risk factors; however, its optimal management still remains under investigation, such as the assumption that carotid disease is causally related to perioperative stroke and that preventive carotid revascularization decrease the risk of this complication. Synchronous surgical approach to both conditions, performing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) before coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) during the same procedure, should still be considered in selective patients, in order to reduce the risk of perioperative stroke during coronary cardiac surgery. For the same purpose, staged approaches, such as CEA followed by CABG or CABG followed by CEA during the same hospitalization or a few weeks later have been described. Hybrid approach with carotid artery stenting (CAS) and CABG can also be an option in selected cases, offering a minimally invasive procedure to treat CS among patients whom CABG cannot be postponed. When carotid intervention is indicated in patients with concomitant CAD requiring CABG, a personalized and tailored approach is mandatory, especially in asymptomatic patients, in order to define the ideal surgical strategy. The aim of this paper is to summarize the current “state of the art” of the different approaches to carotid artery diseases in patients undergoing CABG. Full article

The transportation sector is regarded as the main culprit in greenhouse gas emission in the urban network, particularly idling vehicles waiting at signalized intersections. Although autonomous vehicles can be a promising technology to tackle vehicle idling, their environmental benefits receive little attention compared with their safety and mobility issues. This study investigated the environmental benefits of autonomous vehicles equipped with an automatic idling control function based on the queue discharge time and traffic signal information transmitted from the traffic signal controller via V2I communication using microscopic mobility and emission simulation models, VISSIM and MOVES, in Haeundae-gu in Busan, Korea. This study found that the function contributes to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions by 23.6% for all-inclusive emission and 94.3% for idling emission, respectively. Moreover, total reduced idling time accounts for 47.6% of the total travel time and 94.3% of the total idling time, respectively. Consequently, the autonomous vehicles equipped with automatic vehicle idling control function under C-ITS can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption as well in the urban network. Full article