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We investigate the degradation mechanisms of In0.2Ga0.8N/GaN light emitting diodes through combined experimental analysis and simulations. The devices were submitted to constant current stress at 100 mA. Depending on the measuring current level, two degradation trends were observed: at high test currents (e.g. 200 mA), a monotonic decrease in optical power was observed; at low test currents (e.g. 5 mA), an initial degradation was observed, followed by an improvement in device efficiency (positive ageing). For the first time, such recovery effect was analyzed and modeled, as due to the generation of charged defects at the InGaN/GaN interface, resulting in the increase in the injection efficiency at low bias levels. The role of interface defects was validated by means of numerical simulations, with good agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thoracic surgery is deeply intertwined with the principles of physics, which govern the tools and techniques used in various procedures. A thorough understanding of these principles is essential for the safe and effective use of surgical technology, advancing surgical techniques, and developing new medical devices. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of crucial physical principles relevant to thoracic surgery, such as radiosterilization, electrosurgery, fluid dynamics, endoscopic techniques, diffusion principles, and laser technologies. This manuscript aims to enhance thoracic surgeons' understanding of how physics underpins their practice by elucidating the connections between these principles and their medical applications. This multidisciplinary approach seeks to improve surgical outcomes by fostering a deeper appreciation of the fundamental science behind thoracic surgery, thereby encouraging innovation and the safe, effective use of advanced surgical technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the muscle thickness and prevalence of muscle atrophy of the biceps brachii/brachialis (BB) and quadriceps femoris (QF) in critically ill children using ultrasound (US). The prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil with children and adolescents of both sexes, aged 1 month to 12 years, on invasive mechanical ventilation for 24 h. US measurements were taken up to 24 h after admission, 72 h after, and weekly until discharge from the PICU. One hundred one patients were selected, of whom 97 underwent two evaluations, 68 three evaluations, and 26 four ultrasound evaluations. The median age was 6 months, with 63 (62.4%) < 1 year old. The most prevalent clinical diagnosis was respiratory diseases (70.3%). There was a reduction in BB thickness from 1 to 2 weeks (− 0.10 cm, p = 0.009) and in QF from 24 h to 2 weeks (− 0.20 cm, p = 0.013) and 72 h to 2 weeks (− 0.18 cm, p = 0.045). The prevalence of muscle atrophy (decrease > 10% in thickness) was 41.2% in at least one muscle group between 24 and 72 h, 39.7% between 24 h and 1 week, and 59.3% between 24 h and 2 weeks. The US allows the evaluation of BB and QF muscle thickness in critically ill children, and monitoring muscles during PICU hospitalization is important. The prevalence of muscle atrophy was 30.8% in the biceps brachii and 46.2% in the quadriceps femoris at the end of 2 weeks of PICU hospitalization, regardless of age and diagnosis. What is Known: • Ultrasound has emerged as a promising method, being a clinically valuable tool for bedside muscle monitoring in critical patients. • Using the ultrasound to measure the muscle thickness in adults has demonstrated good sensitivity for detecting muscle atrophy. However, this method has only been previously validated in few studies with small sample of pediatric patients. What is New: • Using the ultrasound, we observed that critically ill children experienced a loss of muscle thickness and muscle atrophy, especially during the second week of intubation. • The significant prevalence of muscle atrophy at the end of PICU hospitalization highlights the importance of ultrasound in identifying muscle loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The studies highlighted in this commentary demonstrate the significant role of wild-type IDH2 in both cancer progression and immune cell function. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), it was found that wild-type IDH2 is essential for tumor survival, as its inhibition leads to disrupted energy metabolism and reduced tumor growth. Additionally, inhibiting IDH2 in CD8+ T cells and CAR T cells enhances the differentiation of memory T cells, improving the efficacy of cell-based immunotherapies. These findings suggest that wild-type IDH2 is a promising therapeutic target, potentially impacting cancer treatment and immunotherapy by providing new avenues for therapy development. This research underscores the urgent need for specific inhibitors targeting wild-type IDH2, which could revolutionize cancer immunotherapy and broaden treatment options for various cancer types. The metabolic reprogramming characteristic of cancer cells, including the Warburg effect, has long been recognized as a hallmark of malignancy. This commentary explores three recent investigations focusing on the role of wild-type IDH2 in cancer and immune cell function. The first publication identifies wild-type IDH2 as a crucial factor in the survival of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, with its inhibition leading to disrupted energy metabolism, reduced tumor growth, and enhanced apoptosis. The second analysis examines the role of IDH2 in CD8+ T cells, revealing that its inhibition promotes the differentiation of memory T cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy of cell-based immunotherapies like CAR T cells. A third investigation supports these findings, demonstrating that IDH2 inhibition in CAR T cells reduces exhaustion, enhances memory T cell formation, and improves anti-tumor efficacy. Collectively, these reports highlight wild-type IDH2 as a promising therapeutic target, with potential applications as a two-edged sword in both cancer treatment and immunotherapy. The development of specific wild-type IDH2 inhibitors could offer new avenues for therapy, particularly in tumors reliant on IDH2 activity as well as in enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primarily used as ultrasound contrast agents, microbubbles have recently emerged as a versatile therapeutic vector that can be 'burst' to deliver payloads in the presence of suitably optimised ultrasound fields. Ultrasound‐stimulated microbubbles (USMB) have recently demonstrated improvements in treatment outcomes across a variety of clinical applications. This scoping review investigates whether this potential translates into the context of radiation therapy by evaluating the application of this technology across all three phases of radiation action. Methods: Primary research articles, excluding poster presentations and conference proceedings, were identified through systematic searches of the PubMed NCBI/Medline, Embase/OVID, Web of Science and CINAHL/EBSCOhost databases, with additional articles identified via manual Google Scholar searching. Articles were dual screened for inclusion using the Covidence systematic review platform and classified against all three phases of radiation action. Results: Overall, 57 eligible publications from a total of 1389 identified articles were included in the review, with studies dating back to 2012. Study heterogeneity prevented formal statistical analysis; however, most articles reported improved outcomes using USMB in the presence of radiation compared to that of radiation alone. These improvements appear to result from the use of USMB as either a biovascular disruptor causing tumour cell damage via indirect mechanisms, or as a localised treatment vector that directly increases tumour cell uptake of other therapeutic and physical agents designed to enhance radiation action. Conclusions: USMB demonstrate exciting potential to enhance the effects of radiation treatments due to their versatility and capacity to target all three phases of radiation action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1980s, the differences between the daily mobility patterns of men and women have attracted increasing interest from scholars and policymakers. Academic literature has revealed that women in advanced countries tend to travel shorter distances, make more daily trips, use cars less frequently, and are more willing to adopt sustainable travel behaviours than men. However, with changing family and labour market conditions, new trends are emerging, which open avenues for further investigation. Based on these premises, this study systematically reviews recent studies on women's daily mobility across urban and peri-urban areas of the Global North. The studies published in the last ten years are systematized by developing an analytical framework that facilitates synthesising research findings, identifying research gaps, outlining directions for further studies in the field, and providing insights to policymakers to design initiatives for fair and inclusive mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient empowerment and environmental sustainability may contribute to creating efficient and resilient healthcare models. Chronic kidney diseases call for a sustainable approach aimed at improving physical function and mental health of patients and possibly contributing to the slowing down of the evolution toward the end stage of renal disease (ESRD) with a reduction of the environmental and economic impact. Summary: Multidisciplinary interventions should be implemented particularly, at the final stages when patients are exposed to sedentariness, reduced health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and the healthcare services to high costs, and participation in environmental pollution. Ecological strategies based on specific nutritional approaches, exercise, and environment should be designed and tested. In particular, the introduction to physical exercise represents a useful replacement therapy to counteract the hazards derived from the sedentary behavior of ESRD patients, with low physical function associated with poor clinical outcomes. A more active and healthy lifestyle, particularly in the natural environment, could impact HR-QoL, mental and physical well-being but also on socialization, with lower anxiety and fatigue stress levels. Otherwise, combining sustainable exercise models into the patient’s daily routine can be enhanced by the biophilic design called to reproduce a natural environment in the dialysis center. Finally, the involvement of the personnel and the health professionals in properly managing the exercise interventions and the related factors (location, modality, dose, intensity, and duration) might improve the patients’ participation. In particular, ecological programs should be broadly inclusive and aimed to target the lowest performing populations through minimal feasible doses of exercise. Key Messages: Moving toward an ecological framework of lifestyle change in the very advanced stages of kidney disease, the potential synergies between environment, diet, and exercise may improve the physical and mental health of the patients and reduce the impact of dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to develop a quantitative analysis of the worker's conflict in Argentina between 2006 and 2022 with special emphasis on the period opened in 2012. The analysis seeks to explain the trends and breaks in its evolution by integrating the economic, institutional, and political perspectives of the study of the conflict as moments of an analysis of power relations. This allows us to transcend the identification of correlations between variables to, based on the relationships found, insert the various dimensions of the process into a historical narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a wave, such as sound or light, scatters within a densely packed particulate, it can be rescattered many times between the particles, which is called multiple scattering. Multiple scattering can be unavoidable when trying to use sound waves to measure a dense particulate, such as a composite with reinforcing fibres. Here, we solve from first principles multiple scattering of scalar waves, including acoustic, for any frequency from a set of two-dimensional particles confined in a circular area. This case has not been solved yet, and its solution is important to perform numerical validation, as particles within a cylinder require only a finite number of particles to perform direct numerical simulations. The method we use involves ensemble averaging over particle configurations, which leads us to deduce an effective T-matrix for the whole cylinder, which can be used to easily describe the scattering from any incident wave. In the specific case when the particles are monopole scatterers, the expression of this effective T-matrix simplifies and reduces to the T-matrix of a homogeneous cylinder with an effective wavenumber k⋆. To validate our theoretical predictions, we develop an efficient Monte Carlo method and conclude that our theoretical predictions are highly accurate for a broad range of frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave remote sensing is significantly altered when passing through clouds or dense ice. This phenomenon is not unique to microwaves; for instance, ultrasound is also disrupted when traversing through heterogeneous tissues. Understanding the average transmission in particle-filled environments is central to improve data extraction or even to create materials that can selectively block or absorb certain wave frequencies. Most methods that calculate the average transmitted field assume that it satisfies a wave equation with a complex effective wavenumber. However, recent theoretical work has predicted more than one effective wave propagating even in a material which is statistically isotropic and for scalar waves. In this work we provide the first clear evidence of these predicted multiple effective waves by using high-fidelity Monte-Carlo simulations that do not make any statistical assumptions. To achieve this, it was necessary to fill in a missing link in the theory for particulate materials: we prove that the incident wave does not propagate within the material, which is usually taken as an assumption called the Ewald–Oseen extinction theorem. By proving this we conclude that the extinction length—the distance it takes for the incident wave to be extinct—is equal to the correlation length between the particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to evaluate the changes in the soil chemical attributes and their effects on the agronomic attributes of corn, after conversion from conventional tillage (PC) to no-tillage (SD), in a Inceptisol soil (Cambissolo Húmico alumínico léptico). In an experiment where PC and SD effects had been studied for 20 yr, main plots under PC were converted to SD and referred to as implemented SD (SDi) while plots under SD remained unaltered and were referred to as consolidated NT (SDc). The pH in water, exchangeable aluminum, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, extractable phosphorus, and total organic carbon (COT), were determined at the beginning of the experiment and after a 30-month period. The agronomic attributes of corn grown under SDi and SDc were also evaluated. At the end of the experiment, plots under SDi evidenced an increase in exchangeable aluminum and potassium and COT, and a decrease in pH and exchangeable calcium. Corn biomass accumulation in shoots and roots increased and higher grain yields were observed under SDc compared to SDi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a class of renormalizable quantum field theories with purely virtual particles that exhibits nonrenormalizable behavior in the high-energy limit of scattering cross sections, which grow as powers of the center-of-mass energy squared and seems to violate unitarity bounds. We point out that the problem should be viewed as a violation of perturbativity, instead of unitarity, and show that the resummation of self energies fixes the issue. As an explicit example, we consider a class of O(N) theories at the leading order in the large-N expansion and show that the different quantization prescription of purely virtual particles takes care of the nonrenormalizable behavior, making the resummed cross sections to decrease at high energies and the amplitudes to satisfy the unitarity bounds. We compare the results to the case of theories with ghosts, where the resummation cannot change the behavior of cross sections due to certain cancellations in the high-energy expansion of the self energies. These results are particularly relevant for quantum gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a cosmopolitan migratory, seasonal mysticete that frequents the Brazilian coast. Strands of specimens may occur during the migratory stay in the country. In 2021 and 2022, three live humpback whales stranded on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states in southern Brazil. After euthanasia, specimens were necropsied, and organs were thoroughly examined for lesions. Grossly, in all three cases, the liver exhibited multifocal, irregular, firm, white areas on the hepatic capsule, which extended into the parenchyma. On the cut surface, the livers were yellow to pale brown with orangish to greenish areas, the bile ducts were prominent, thickened, and severely dilated, and leaf-shaped flukes were found inside of them. Additionally, one case showed moderate atrophy of the right hepatic lobe. The histological findings included dilation of bile ducts, hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium, marked inflammatory infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils, and portal fibrosis. The parasite Brachycladium goliath was both morphologically and molecularly identified based on diagnostic key for trematodes and the original description of the species, and the amplification and sequencing of the ITS-2 region, respectively. Even though hepatic injury was not the primary cause of stranding, it may have contributed to the debilitation of the whales. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that reports M. novaeangliae as a definitive host of B. goliath and that describes the lesions caused by the parasite in cetaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-vax conspiracy theories are major drivers of “vaccine hesitancy”, a top-10 threat to global health according to the WHO. This paper investigates the interpretative mechanisms and discursive conditions of anti-vax discourse on Twitter (X), through the analysis of seven tweets posted by an anti-vax influencer. Mixed methods of discourse analysis are employed, focusing on the strategic character and potential social effects of discourse. As a set of relations, the code-text of anti-vax conspiracy theories is characterized by a conflict between authority and freedom. The archetype of the enemy is diffuse and composed of different elements (government, mainstream media, medical/scientific community) that are all totalized into one-and-the-same evil: “the authorities.” Overall, when facing the increasing deconstruction of epistemic authority on social media, the form (independently from content) with which anti-vax discourse seeks to provide argumentation (by framing identities and social relations in the shape of dichotomic oppositions) is fundamentally undesirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian soils generally exhibit low natural fertility, including forest soils. The study aims to evaluate the initial growth of Eucalyptus benthamii in the plateau region of Santa Catarina, with the application of organic and mineral fertilization sources. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, using a Haplic Cambisol. Each experimental unit consisted of a 2.5 dm³ soil pot. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with four treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of the following fertilizer sources: control (without fertilizer); mineral fertilizer (NPK 9-33-12, equivalent to 187 mg dm³); poultry litter at a dose equivalent to 2,200 kg ha-1; and eucalyptus wood ash at a dose of 5,500 kg ha-1. The quantity of each fertilizer was applied to provide the equivalent of 50 kg of P2O5 ha-1. Plant height, number of leaf pairs at 90 and 180 days, dry weight of aboveground and root parts, Dickson's quality index, and phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) levels in eucalyptus aboveground parts were evaluated. Fertilization with wood ash resulted in greater height at 90 days after establishment, being similar to mineral fertilizer and control at 90 days and similar to mineral fertilization. At 180 days, wood ash was superior to other fertilizer sources, being similar to mineral fertilization. Dry weight of aboveground parts, dry weight of roots, and N and P content in aboveground parts showed no differences among the fertilizer sources. Poultry litter fertilization inhibited the initial growth of the species; however, fertilization with wood ash could be an alternative for planting Eucalyptus benthamii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid particles secreted by almost all human cells into the extracellular space. They perform the essential function of cell-to-cell communication, and their role in promoting breast cancer progression has been well demonstrated. It is known that EVs released by triple-negative and highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells treated with paclitaxel, a microtubule-targeting agent (MTA), promoted chemoresistance in EV-recipient cells. Here, we studied the RNA content of EVs produced by the same MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells treated with another MTA, eribulin mesylate. In particular, we analyzed the expression of different RNA species, including mRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, snoRNAs, piRNAs and tRNA fragments by RNA-seq. Then, we performed differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), functional enrichment analysis, and miRNA-target identification. Our findings demonstrate the possible involvement of EVs from eribulin-treated cells in the spread of chemoresistance, prompting the design of strategies that selectively target tumor EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to produce beneficial effects in addiction disorders; however, due to its configurational complexity, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. Recent evidence suggests that EE, acting as a metaplastic agent, may affect glutamatergic mechanisms underlying appetitive memory and, in turn, modulate reward‐seeking behaviours: here, we have investigated such a possibility following a brief EE exposure. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to EE for 22 h and the expression of critical elements of the glutamate synapse was measured 2 h after the end of EE in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus (Hipp) brain areas, which are critical for reward and memory. We focused our investigation on the expression of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits, their scaffolding proteins SAP102 and SAP97, vesicular and membrane glutamate transporters vGluT1 and GLT‐1, and critical structural components such as proteins involved in morphology and function of glutamatergic synapses, PSD95 and Arc/Arg3.1. Our findings demonstrate that a brief EE exposure induces metaplastic changes in glutamatergic mPFC, NAc and Hipp. Such changes are area‐specific and involve postsynaptic NMDA/AMPA receptor subunit composition, as well as changes in the expression of their main scaffolding proteins, thus influencing the retention of such receptors at synaptic sites. Our data indicate that brief EE exposure is sufficient to dynamically modulate the glutamatergic synapses in mPFC‐NAc‐Hipp circuits, which may modulate rewarding and memory processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemoptysis associated with respiratory disorders are some findings of caudal vena cava thrombosis (CVCT) in cattle. Nevertheless, CVCT may be accompanied by a broad spectrum of clinical signs and gross lesions. This study reported the frequency of CVCT in cattle necropsied in Southern Brazil and described its clinical signs, as well as pathological findings. From a total of 1,976 postmortem examination reports in cattle in Southern Brazil, there were 30 cases (1.5%) of CVCT. In the clinical evaluation, the main clinical course was chronic (13/30), followed by peracute (7/30), acute (4/30), and subacute (5/30). Hemoptysis (17/30), dyspnea (8/30), and anorexia or hyporexia (7/30) were the most reported clinical signs. Septic thrombophlebitis of the caudal vena cava (24/30), hepatic abscesses (24/30), pulmonary hemorrhage (23/30), and embolic pneumonia (19/30) were the main lesions observed at the necropsy. We concluded that CVCT is a relevant cause of death in bovines from Santa Catarina state, mainly in adult dairy cows. The disease is characterized by a wide range of clinical signs and lesions, requiring attention from veterinarians for the correct diagnosis. Furthermore, the association between the clinical history, clinical signs, and lesions is essential for the diagnosis of CVCT in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The rate of concurrent endometrial cancer (EC) in women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) is not negligible. Furthermore, among women with EC, about 12% may have a high-risk disease requiring lymph node status assessment. Given that endometrial sampling cannot exclude EC in women with AEH, knowing variables that increase the risk of malignancy can be helpful in clinical practice. Some patient characteristics were associated with this occurrence, representing possible risk factors on which to adjust treatment planning. No prediction models with internal validation showed the impact of patient characteristics in predicting EC after a preoperative diagnosis of AEH. The present study, using regressions and artificial neural networks, found recurrent patient characteristics in women with EC. However, they likely do not contain good/optimal discriminating information. Future predictive models should include other individual factors (e.g., genotypic variables) to move toward more personalized medicine. Background: The rate of concurrent endometrial cancer (EC) in atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) can be as high as 40%. Some patient characteristics showed associations with this occurrence. However, their real predictive power with related validation has yet to be discovered. The present study aimed to assess the performance of various models based on patient characteristics in predicting EC in women with AEH. Methods: This is a retrospective multi-institutional study including women with AEH undergoing definitive surgery. The women were divided according to the final histology (EC vs. no-EC). The available cases were divided into a training and validation set. Using k-fold cross-validation, we built many predictive models, including regressions and artificial neural networks (ANN). Results: A total of 193/629 women (30.7%) showed EC at hysterectomy. A total of 26/193 (13.4%) women showed high-risk EC. Regression and ANN models showed a prediction performance with a mean area under the curve of 0.65 and 0.75 on the validation set, respectively. Among the best prediction models, the most recurrent patient characteristics were age, body mass index, Lynch syndrome, diabetes, and previous breast cancer. None of these independent variables showed associations with high-risk diseases in women with EC. Conclusions: Patient characteristics did not show satisfactory performance in predicting EC in AEH. Risk stratification in AEH based mainly on patient characteristics may be clinically unsuitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate Change disinformation is causing lasting damage to both sociopolitical spheres and our very own biosphere. The present article identifies the meaning-making mechanisms of Climate Change conspiratorial discourse on social media by analysing the YouTube video Why I Said Global Warming is the Biggest Fraud in History, which had reached more than 758,000 views (May 2023) before the channel was deleted (August 2023). A qualitative empirical semiotic analysis was carried out focusing on discourse in which Climate Change denial is understood as conspiracy theory, that is, a mode of interpretation. The analysed conspiracy discourse creates identities and shapes social relations in the form of dichotomic oppositions/conflicts between those who spread illegitimate information (the enemy) and those with access to the truth (a symbolic elite). In this context, the fragmentation of science into “real” and “fake” is as dangerous as the scientific community’s loss of authority. The analysis of this video shows how Climate Change is represented as a fraud and how possible policy responses to it are therefore represented as scams. The main effect of such discourse is deproblematization, for it provides people with reasons to reject proposals for actions that seek to mitigate the climate crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper follows the pathway of the fantasy concept in the Freudian and lacanian work, considering the link between it, the metapsychology basis and the psychoanalytic clinic. For this purpose, the paper returns to the concept in Freud, highlighting its insertion in the metapsychology, especially related to the dream, symptom and the sexual. Following Lacan, it will discuss the structural aspect of the fantasy - phantasm -, stressing its essential place in the end of the analysis. It's concluded that the phantasm is a permanent clinic operator to the treatment conduction, stating the structural condition that the phantasm unveil about the human condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Environmental enrichment (EE) is a non-pharmacological approach that has been shown to be effective in reducing food-taking in rats. Studies in human volunteers are still in their infancy, given the difficulty to translate the complexity of EE in clinical practice. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising methodological approach, but no study has yet applied it to model and test EE in humans. Objectives: The present study is the first to assess the effects of virtual EE on craving for palatable food. Methods: Eighty-one healthy volunteers (43 women) were divided into three groups: (i) exposure to a virtual EE (VR-EE), (ii) exposure to a virtual neutral environment (VR-NoEE), and (iii) without exposure to VR (No VR). Craving for palatable food at basal level and evoked by neutral and palatable food images was assessed before and after the VR simulation. Behavior during VR exposure and subjective measures related to the experience were also collected. Results: VR-EE group showed a significantly greater decrease in pre-post craving difference compared to No VR for all assessments and at basal level compared to VR-NoEE. Interestingly, an inverse correlation between craving and deambulation in the VR simulation emerged in VR-EE group only. Conclusions: The study highlighted the feasibility of exposing human subjects to an EE as a virtual simulation. Virtual EE induced effects on basal craving for food that suggest the potential for further improvements of the protocol to extend its efficacy to palatable food cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extratropical cyclones play an important role in shaping the weather and climate over vast regions across the globe. To effectively understand and manage the impact of these meteorological events, it is crucial to explore deeper into their structure and behaviour. Here, we have evaluated the characteristics and spatial distribution of extratropical cyclones that had their genesis in the Southern Ocean (SO) in the present climate, based on data from the HadGEM3‐GC3.1‐MM (HG3) global model and the ERA5 reanalysis. Both in winter and summer, cyclone tracks are spatially structured, forming a belt around the entire Antarctic continent, with greater concentration in the SO sector adjacent to the southern Pacific Ocean. The regions of the Somov, Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas exhibited a higher track density of moderate and strong cyclones, indicating a correlation with the strongest baroclinicity in these areas. In both datasets, the maximum occurrence of cyclogenesis was located over the regions of the Somov Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, making these regions very important in the general configuration of cyclones along the SO. Despite underestimating the total number of cyclones along the SO, the HG3 model showed a good ability to represent the main patterns of cyclonic activity around the Antarctic continent, as well as its average behaviour. Knowing the characteristics and the behaviour of extratropical cyclones in such an important area for global climate is essential for understanding their role in weather and future climate resulting from climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the influence of glazing on strength repair of lithium disilicate glass–ceramics after defect incorporation in different production processing phases. Materials and methods: Bar-shaped specimens (1 × 1 × 12 mm, n = 280; 20/group) made from different lithium disilicate ceramics (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar, "LD" or advanced lithium disilicate CEREC Tessera, Dentsply Sirona, "ALD") were exposed to 7 different protocols: crystallized without (c) and with glaze layer (cg), with a defect incorporated before crystallization without (ic) and with glaze layer (icg), with a defect after crystallization without (ci) or with glaze layer (cig), and defect incorporated after the glaze layer (cgi). The flexural strength was determined using the three-point bending test. Analysis of indented areas and fractured specimens was performed by scanning electron microscopy. Flexural strength data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey tests (α = 5%). Results: Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant influence of ceramic (p < 0.001; F = 55.45), protocol (p < 0.001; F = 56.94), and the interaction protocol*ceramic (p < 0.001; F = 13.86). Regardless of ceramics, defect incorporation as final step resulted in the worst strength, while defects introduced before crystallization did not reduce strength. Glaze firing after defect incorporation led to strength repair for ALD, whereas such an effect was not evident for LD. Conclusions: The advanced lithium disilicate must receive a glaze layer to achieve its highest strength. Defects incorporated in the pre-crystallized stage can be healed during crystallization. Defects should not be incorporated after glazing. Clinical relevance: Clinical adjustments should be performed on pre-crystallized or crystalized restorations that receive a glazer layer afterwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors' purpose was to examine the factors associated with penalty outcomes of male elite goalball. A total of 122 video-recorded matches from two Paralympic Games (i.e., 2012 and 2016) and the 2014 Goalball World Championship were assessed using notational analysis. Individual (n = 2), situational (n = 4), and performance variables (n = 7) were analyzed with good strength of agreement for intra- and interrater kappa index values. Their results showed that penalties play a very important role in the final score, composing around 25% of total goals in elite goalball matches. Winners were awarded on average with 62% of penalties and had 66% effectiveness compared with losers (31% and 53%) or drawers (8% and 52%). Based on the authors' findings, penalty takers should direct their throws at specific target sectors on the court, which could increase their rate of success to over 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical anomalies in polar ice core records are frequently linked to volcanism; however, without the presence of (crypto)tephra particles, links to specific eruptions remain speculative. Correlating tephras yields estimates of eruption timing and potential source volcano, offers refinement of ice core chronologies, and provides insights into volcanic impacts. Here, we report on sparse rhyolitic glass shards detected in the Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) ice core (West Antarctica), attributed to the 1.8 ka Taupō eruption (New Zealand)—one of the largest and most energetic Holocene eruptions globally. Six shards of a distinctive geochemical composition, identical within analytical uncertainties to proximal Taupō glass, are accompanied by a single shard indistinguishable from glass of the ~25.5 ka Ōruanui supereruption, also from Taupō volcano. This double fingerprint uniquely identifies the source volcano and helps link the shards to the climactic phase of the Taupō eruption. The englacial Taupō-derived glass shards coincide with a particle spike and conductivity anomaly at 278.84 m core depth, along with trachytic glass from a local Antarctic eruption of Mt. Melbourne. The assessed age of the sampled ice is 230 ± 19 CE (95% confidence), confirming that the published radiocarbon wiggle-match date of 232 ± 10 CE (2 SD) for the Taupō eruption is robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Valid measures of pain are helpful to adjust treatment plans in real time after total joint replacement (TJR). We enhanced the existing Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) with items related to pain at rest and movement, in specific reference to operative and nonoperative joints, creating the TJR-DVPRS. This manuscript is presented to validate the modified survey instrument. The aims of this psychometric study were to evaluate (1) the latent structure of the TJR-DVPRS, (2) the relationships among the pain dimensions represented on the TJR-DVPRS and the reference-standard Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (version 2, SF-MPQ-2), and (3) the responsiveness of these two measures before and after TJR. Materials and Methods This report involves a secondary analysis of pain surveys from 135 veterans undergoing TJR at one center who participated in a randomized trial. The study was approved by the institutional review boards from participating institutions. The TJR-DVPRS and SF-MPQ-2 were completed preoperatively, during postoperative day 1, and 6 weeks post-surgery. Standard psychometric evaluations included correlations, principal component analysis, and internal consistency of survey items and subscales, using preoperative baseline data as a frame of reference. Responsiveness analysis included assessing both effect size and thresholds of clinically important change for survey subscales using data from all three time points. Results Two reliable subscales were identified for the TJR-DVPRS, one including items about pain intensity and interference related to the operative joint (Cronbach's α = .809) and the other including two pain items on the nonoperative joint. Combining the subscales indicated a two-factor solution: The first valid factor entailed the four subscales of the SF-MPQ-2 and the TJR-DVPRS operative joint subscales, indicating that these subscales validly represent the same pain dimension. The second valid factor entailed the TJR-DVPRS subscale addressing the nonoperative joint. Responsiveness analysis following accepted psychometric methods demonstrated significant decreases in pain from the preoperative period to 6 weeks postoperatively for all subscales. The TJR-DVPRS and SF-MPQ-2 subscales were similarly responsive, except for the SF-MPQ-2 neuropathic and TJR-DVPRS nonoperative joint subscales, which were minimally responsive during the preoperative to 6-week period. Conclusions The TJR-DVPRS is valid for use among veterans undergoing TJR and poses significantly less respondent burden than does the SF-MPQ-2. The brevity and ease of use of the TJR-DVPRS make it a practical tool for use during surgical recovery to monitor pain intensity at rest and with movement in the operative joint, and to assess pain interference with activity, sleep, and mood. The TJR-DVPRS is at least as responsive as the SF-MPQ-2, but the SF-MPQ-2 neuropathic and TJR-DVPRS nonoperative joint subscales were minimally responsive. Limitations of this study include the small sample size, under-representation of women (which would be expected in the veteran population), and using only veterans. Future validations studies should include civilians and active military TJR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the principal cause of death in U.S. women. Peak oxygen uptake is strongly related to mortality and CVD. This study aimed to investigate the association between estimated peak oxygen uptake, determined using a moderate 1-km walking test, and all-cause mortality in female patients with stable CVD. Of the 482 women in our registry between 1997 and 2020, we included 430 participants in the analysis (aged 67 [34–88] years). A Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the variables significantly associated with mortality. On the basis of the peak oxygen uptake estimated using the 1-km walking test, the sample was subdivided into tertiles, and mortality risk was calculated. The discriminatory accuracy of peak oxygen uptake in estimating survival was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves. All results were adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates. A total of 135 deaths from any cause occurred over a median of 10.4 years (IQR=4.4–16.4), with an average annual mortality of 4.2%. Estimated peak oxygen uptake was a stronger predictor of all-cause mortality than demographic and clinical variables (c-statistic-0.767; 95% CI=0.72, 0.81; p <0.0001). The survival rate decreased from the highest tertile of fitness to the lowest. Compared with the lowest group, hazard ratios (95% CIs) for the second and third tertiles were 0.55 (0.37, 0.83) and 0.29 (0.16, 0.51), respectively (p for trend <0.0001). Higher peak oxygen uptake levels were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. The indirect estimation of peak oxygen uptake using the 1-km walking test is feasible and can be applied for risk stratification among female patients undergoing secondary prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the reliability of commercial ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) subjected to constant current stress is reported. Electrical, optical, and spectral analyses are carried out on UV‐C LEDs with an emission peak of 275 nm and a nominal optical power of 12 mW at 100 mA. Degradation tests are carried out at the maximum rated current, the double and at three times the maximum. The LED lifetime is found to be inversely proportional to the third power of the stress current density, indicating that the degradation mechanism might be activated by high‐energy electrons arising from Auger–Meitner recombination. Electrical characterization indicates an increase in defect‐related leakage, whereas the spectral analysis identifies a variation in two emission peaks which can be ascribed to a defect density increase in the active region and the p‐gallium nitride (GaN) layer of the LEDs. A final remark comes from the strong dependence of lifetime on operating current: increasing current to lower the number of LEDs in a system is not an optimized strategy. In fact, this has a substantial impact on system lifetime, thus lowering the total number of permitted disinfections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a member of the Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC), the University of Pittsburgh Mechanistic Research Center's research goal is to phenotype chronic low back pain using biological, biomechanical, and behavioral domains using a prospective, observational cohort study. Data will be collected from 1,000 participants with chronic low back pain according to BACPAC-wide harmonized and study-specific protocols. Participation lasts 12 months with one required in person baseline visit, an optional second in person visit for advanced biomechanical assessment, and electronic follow ups at months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 to assess low back pain status and response to prescribed treatments. Behavioral data analysis includes a battery of patient-reported outcomes, social determinants of health, quantitative sensory testing, and physical activity. Biological data analysis includes omics generated from blood, saliva, and spine tissue. Biomechanical data analysis includes a physical examination, lumbopelvic kinematics, and intervertebral kinematics. The statistical analysis includes traditional unsupervised machine learning approaches to categorize participants into groups and determine the variables that differentiate patients. Additional analysis includes the creation of a series of decision rules based on baseline measures and treatment pathways as inputs to predict clinical outcomes. The characteristics identified will contribute to future studies to assist clinicians in designing a personalized, optimal treatment approach for each patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of glazing technique and firing on the surface roughness and flexural strength of an advanced lithium disilicate (ALD) and lithium disilicate (LD). Methods: Eight groups of bar-shaped specimens (1 mm × 1 mm × 12 mm, N=160, 20/group) were manufactured from ALD (CEREC Tessera, Dentsply Sirona) and LD (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar). The specimens were then submitted to various posttreatments: crystallization (c), crystallization followed by a second firing (c-r), crystallization with glaze in one step (cg), and crystallization followed by a glaze layer firing (c-g). Surface roughness was measured by means of a profilometer, and flexural strength was determined using a three-point bending test. Surface morphology, fractography, and crack healing analysis were conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Results: Refiring (c-r) did not affect the surface roughness (Ra) while applying glaze at both cg and c-g procedures increased the roughness. ALDc-g (442.3 ± 92.5 MPa) promoted higher strength than ALDcg (282.1 ± 64.4 MPa), whereas LDcg (402.9 ± 78.4 MPa) was stronger than LDc-g (255.5 ± 68.7 MPa). Refiring completely closed the crack in ALD, but it had a limited effect on LD. Conclusions: Two-step crystallization and glazing improved ALD strength compared to the one-step protocol. Refiring and one-step glazing do not increase LD's strength, while two-step glazing has a negative effect. Clinical relevance: Besides both materials being lithium-disilicate glass ceramics, the glazing technique and firing protocol affected their roughness and flexural strength differently. A two-step crystallization and glazing should be the first choice for ALD, while for LD, glazing is optional and when necessary, should be applied in one-step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of Cesarean section (CS) deliveries has been increasing worldwide for decades. Brazil exhibits high rates of patient-requested CS deliveries. Prenatal care is essential for reducing and preventing maternal and child morbidity and mortality, ensuring women's health and well-being. The aim of this study was to verify the association between the level of prenatal care, as measured by the Kotelchuck (APNCU – Adequacy of the prenatal care utilization) index and CS rates. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on data from routine hospital digital records and federal public health system databases (2014–2017). We performed descriptive analyses, prepared Robson Classification Report tables, and estimated the CS rate for the relevant Robson groups across distinct levels of prenatal care. Our analysis also considered the payment source for each childbirth – either public healthcare or private health insurers – and maternal sociodemographic data. Results: CS rate by level of access to prenatal care was 80.0% for no care, 45.2% for inadequate, 44.2% for intermediate, 43.0% for adequate, and 50.5% for the adequate plus category. No statistically significant associations were found between the adequacy of prenatal care and the rate of cesarean sections in any of the most relevant Robson groups, across both public (n = 7,359) and private healthcare (n = 1,551) deliveries. Conclusion: Access to prenatal care, according to the trimester in which prenatal care was initiated and the number of prenatal visits, was not associated with the cesarean section rate, suggesting that factors that assess the quality of prenatal care, not simply adequacy of access, should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the interplay between electronic correlations and hybridization in the low-energy electronic structure of CaMn 2 Bi 2 , a candidate hybridization-gap semiconductor. By employing a DFT+U approach we find both the antiferromagnetic Néel order and band gap in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values. Under hydrostatic pressure, we find a crossover from hybridization gap to charge-transfer insulting physics due to the delicate balance of hybridization and correlations. Increasing the pressure above P c = 4 GPa we find a simultaneous pressure-induced volume collapse, plane-to-chain, insulator to metal transition. Finally, we have also analyzed the topology in the antiferromagnetic CaMn 2 Bi 2 for all pressures studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a certain phenomenon in the university environment: the mental suffering of its students. With empirical research with undergraduate students at the Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH-USP) between 2020 and 2021, the article aims to understand to what extent there is a specific interaction between mental health and the experience of discrimination associated with social markers of difference (race, class, gender, sexuality, among others) through the coexistence and narratives of these students. The aim is to apprehend the relational character of these sufferings that occur in the university environment and the complex ways in which such markers are intertwined in these narratives. It is based on the understanding that this phenomenon is not homogeneously established among students, but the combination of certain markers point to a greater susceptibility to psychic suffering, derived from specific precarious conditions of certain social groups as opposed to others in the university context and of the precariousness in the structures of inclusion and permanence in the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Professional and amateur athletes might have veneer restorations. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of mouthguards on veneered anterior restorations. Methods: A nonlinear dynamic analysis was performed to simulate conditions during an impact with or without a custom‐made mouthguard. Using a computer‐aided design (CAD) software, a slice of a human maxilla was designed containing an upper right central incisor. The model was composed of mucosa, cortical bone, trabecular bone, periodontal ligament, dentin, enamel, and pulp tissue. The enamel was prepared (feather design), restored with an indirect veneer (1.0 mm thickness), and duplicated to simulate both conditions with or without a mouthguard (4 mm thickness). Both models were subdivided into finite elements using the computer‐aided engineering (CAE) software. Frictionless contacts were used, and an impact was simulated in which a rigid sphere hit the model at 1 m s−1. Fixation was defined at the base of the bone. The elastic modulus of the veneer was assessed by using five different restorative materials (resin composite, hybrid ceramic, zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate, lithium disilicate, and zirconia). Von Mises stress, minimal principal stress, and maximum principal stress (in MPa) were obtained and plotted for visual comparison. Results: Von‐Mises results showed higher stress concentrations in the veneer's cervical labial region for models without a mouthguard. Observing the quantitative results for each model, the highest compressive (709 MPa) and tensile (58 MPa) stresses occurred in the situation without a mouthguard with a zirconia veneer, while the lowest occurred in resin composite veneer with a mouthguard (8 and 5 MPa). The mouthguard was able to reduce the stresses in the tooth structure and it also reduced the risk of fracture in all conditions. Conclusions: Mouthguards were beneficial in reducing the effects of dental trauma regardless of the restorative material used to manufacture the indirect veneer, since they act by dampening the generated stresses during the trauma event. Equal impact stresses on a mouthguard will lead to higher stresses in veneered teeth with more rigid restorative materials leading to a less protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lifetime of deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is still limited by a number of factors, which are mainly related to semiconductor defects, and still need to be clarified. This paper improves the understanding of UV LED degradation, by presenting an analysis based on combined deep-level transient spectroscopy (C-DLTS), electro-optical characterization, and simulations, carried out before and during a constant current stress test. The original results of this paper are (i) C-DLTS measurements allowed us to identify three traps, two associated with Mg-related defects, also detected in the unaged device, and one related to point defects that were generated by the ageing procedure. (ii) Based on these results and on TCAD simulations, we explain the variation in the forward I–V by the degradation of the p-contact, due to Mg passivation. (iii) On the other hand, optical degradation is ascribed to an increase in defectiveness of the active region and surrounding areas, which led to a decrease in injection efficiency, to an increase in non-radiative recombination, and to an increase in trap-assisted tunneling processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term stability of ultraviolet (UV)-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is of major importance for many applications. To improve the understanding in this field, we analyzed the degradation of AlGaN-based UVC LEDs and modeled the variation of electrical characteristics by 2D simulations based on the results of deep-level optical spectroscopy (DLOS). The increase in the forward leakage current observed during ageing was ascribed an increase in trap-assisted tunneling. The analysis of the degradation kinetics suggests the role of a defect diffusion process, possibly involving impurities coming from the p-type layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the impact of Mg-doping on the performance and degradation kinetics of AlGaN-based UV-C light-emitting diodes (LEDs). By comparing LEDs from three wafers with different nominal doping levels [Mg/(Al+Ga) ratio: 0.15%, 0.5%, and 1% in the gas phase during epitaxy] in the AlGaN:Mg electron-blocking layer (EBL), we demonstrate the following results: (i) A higher Mg-doping in the EBL results in a higher optical power at low current levels, which is ascribed to an increased hole injection efficiency. (ii) The reduction of the optical power follows a non-exponential trend, which can be reproduced by using the Hill's formula and is ascribed to the generation/activation of defects within the quantum wells. (iii) A higher Mg-doping in the EBL mitigates the degradation rate. An interpretation of the experimental data is proposed, assuming that hydrogen, which is present in and moving from the EBL, can reduce the rate of de-hydrogenation of point defects in the active region, which is responsible for degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meldonium (MID) is a synthetic drug designed to decrease the availability of L-carnitine—a main player in mitochondrial energy generation—thus modulating the cell pathways of energy metabolism. Its clinical effects are mostly evident in blood vessels during ischemic events, when the hyperproduction of endogenous carnitine enhances cell metabolic activities, leading to increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. MID has shown vaso-protective effects in model systems of endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose or by hypertension. By stimulating the endothelial nitric oxide synthetase (eNOS) via PI3 and Akt kinase, it has shown beneficial effects on the microcirculation and blood perfusion. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial dysfunction are major risk factors for glaucoma development and progression, and IOP remains the main target for its pharmacological treatment. IOP is maintained through the filtration efficiency of the trabecular meshwork (TM), a porous tissue derived from the neuroectoderm. Therefore, given the effects of MID on blood vessels and endothelial cells, we investigated the effects of the topical instillation of MID eye drops on the IOP of normotensive rats and on the cell metabolism and motility of human TM cells in vitro. Results show a significant dose-dependent decrease in the IOP upon topic treatment and a decrease in TM cell motility in the wound-healing assay, correlating with an enhanced expression of vinculin localized in focal adhesion plaques. Motility inhibition was also evident on scleral fibroblasts in vitro. These results may encourage a further exploration of MID eye drops in glaucoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic had dramatic effect on mental health, causing long-term psychiatricmorbidity. At present, there are no randomized trials reporting the effect of physical exercise on individuals with post- Covid-19 condition are available. The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence regarding the evidence on exercise as a treatment for anxiety and depression symptoms secondary to chronic diseases, which may be generalized to individuals suffering from the post- Covid-19 condition. Trials were included if they reported the effects of physical exercise programs on anxiety or depression symptoms in adults, either healthy or affected by chronic diseases. Outcomes were changes of anxiety or depression severity after an exercise-based intervention. Of the 2161 RCTs identified, eight out of 15 studies were included. Exercise was associated with greater improvements of depressive (SMD = −0.169; 95 % CI −0.302 at −0.003; p = 0.013) and anxiety symptoms (SMD = −0.263, 95 % CI −0.418 at −0.109; p = 0.001), compared with control interventions. Supervised exercise programs were effective against symptoms of anxiety or depression among individuals with chronich illnesses. Pending specific clinical trials, exercise may be considered for adoption among patients with the post Covid-19 condition. • The Covid-19 pandemic increased psycho-pathological disorders • Subjects with primary or secondary symptoms of anxiety or depression benefit from a supervised exercise program • Patients affected by post-Covid-19 condition may benefit from a supervised exercise-based rehabilitation program [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a long period during which the involvement of laypersons was considered undesirable in the Western tradition of science, we have recently witnessed numerous collaborations which suggest that the desirability of societal involvement in the scientific practice is becoming recognized. This article argues that the historical considerations that once led to this division in cognitive labour have been in transformation, having undergone diverse shifts. In a first instance, the exclusion of laypersons from science is analysed in terms of the key concepts of systematicity, universality, and authority. For that, two examples are given: the case of the British photographic survey and that of the American Museum of Natural History. Next, the dissolution of these barriers between scientists and laypersons is discussed and illustrated by examples: the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association in Austria, Fukushima nuclear monitoring stations, and the French Association of Muscular Dystrophy. It is concluded that, for science to be truly democratized, co-produced knowledge needs to be integrated in political decision-making processes, which is currently still lacking. Furthermore, since expertise can also be found in society, non-certified experts should work in conjunction with scientists, yet at the same time, the divide between experts and non-experts must be maintained. The inclusion of non-scientific experts in decision-making is fundamentally different from the inclusion of lay stakeholders. Hence, different participatory roles should be expected from stakeholders, experts, or scientists, and the most important challenge now is how to formally define such roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a nonlocal generalization of the Fisher–KPP equation, which incorporates logistic growth and diffusion, for a single species population in a viable patch (refuge). In this framework, diffusion plays an homogenizing role, while nonlocal interactions can destabilize the spatially uniform state, leading to the emergence of spontaneous patterns. Notably, even when the uniform state is stable, spatial perturbations, such as the presence of a refuge, can still induce patterns. These phenomena are well known for environments with constant diffusivity. Our goal is to investigate how the formation of winkles in the population distribution is affected when the diffusivity is density-dependent. Then, we explore scenarios in which diffusivity is sensitive to either rarefaction or overcrowding. We find that state-dependent diffusivity affects the shape and stability of the patterns, potentially leading to either explosive growth or fragmentation of the population distribution, depending on how diffusion reacts to changes in density. • We examine a nonlocal variant of the FKPP equation in a bounded domain. • We focus on exploring how heterogeneous diffusivity impacts pattern formation. • We investigate diffusivities with either positive or negative density dependence. • We show how each type of heterogeneity impacts pattern shape and stability. • Positive (negative) density dependence causes fragmentation (explosive growth). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore esterification processes via enzymatic catalysis, mathematical models represent an innovative and indispensable tool. This study aims to investigate the esterification process of monoterpene alcohols, specifically geraniol and citronellol, which are key components of citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon winterianus). The focus lies in understanding the complex dynamics of their reaction with cinnamic acid within an organic solvent system, employing the immobilized commercial lipase NS 88011 as the biocatalyst. The independent variables investigated in this study were as follows: temperature (50, 60, and 70 °C), enzyme concentration (1, 5, 10, and 15 %), agitation speed (50, 125, and 200 rpm), and the molar ratio of cinnamic acid to alcohol (geraniol/citronellol) (1:2, 1:3, 1:6, 1:9, and 1:12). The optimized conditions were found to be 10 % catalyst concentration, 60 °C, 50 rpm agitation speed, and a molar ratio of 1:3 (acid:alcohol). Under these conditions, the production yielded 7845 mg/L (52.3 %) of citronellyl cinnamate and 15089 mg/L (48.3 %) of geranyl cinnamate within 120 h of the reaction time. The best-fitting model that accurately described the reaction kinetics was determined to be the Ping Pong bi bi model. This research underscores the critical importance of systematic parameter optimization and the selection of kinetic models to enhance the efficiency of enzymatic esterification processes, thereby making a substantial contribution to the progress of the field of enzymatic catalysis. [Display omitted] • Study optimizes enzymatic esterification of geraniol and citronellol using lipase • Optimal esterification yields 52.3 % citronellyl and 48.3 % geranyl cinnamate • Research highlights parameter optimization in enzymatic esterification processes • Lower operational costs with reduced temperature and enzyme in ester production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a comprehensive approach to the dynamic modelling of Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) by means of Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAEs). CDPRs are usually modelled through a minimal set of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), often by making some simplification or just focusing on the unconstrained platform/end-effector dynamics. The alternative use of redundant DAEs provides several benefits since several non-ideal properties and peculiar operations of CDPRs can be easily and accurately modelled. To provide a comprehensive modelling frame, the typical components of a CDPR with rigid cables are here discussed and modelled by exploiting the concept of DAEs, which use redundant coordinates and embed kinematic constraints in the algebraic part of the equations. Through such advantageous features, it is possible to model swivelling guiding pulleys with non-negligible dimensions and mass. The use of rheonomous constraints is proposed as well, to represent in a simple way the effect of the movable exit-points, that are widely adopted in reconfigurable CDPRs. Finally, the use of Natural Coordinates is proposed for representing spatial end-effectors and modelling some challenging operations such as its overturning or the picking of heavy objects. Numerical simulations and the comparison with the results provided by a benchmark software are shown to demonstrate the accuracy and the computational efficiency of the proposed approach. • Cable Driven Parallel Robots are modelled through Differential Algebraic Equations. • A comprehensive approach for numerical simulation is proposed. • Natural Coordinates are exploited to model spatial end-effectors. • Swivel pulley dynamics, cable failure and reconfigurability are modelled. • Some challenging robot operations can be effectively simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic foci lacking membranes, comprising non-translating messenger ribonucleoproteins, translational initiation factors, and additional proteins. Their formation is crucial for rapidly modulating gene expression in response to adverse environmental conditions, such as pollution and infections. Limited research has focused on investigating the molecular components of SGs in fish, with minimal exploration in Antarctic fish. This study characterises for the first time the transcript sequences of one key protein component of SGs, TIA-1 (T-cell intracellular antigen 1), in two Antarctic endemic fish species, i.e. Trematomus bernacchii and Chionodraco hamatus. The mRNA-binding protein TIA-1 acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression and its aggregation leads to the formation of SGs in response to cellular damage. The in vitro and bioinformatic analyses of the TIA-1 gene sequences of these two species highlighted interesting peculiarities, which include the transcription of alternatively spliced isoforms unique to the notothenioid lineage, potentially unlocking further insights into their unique adaptations to extreme environmental conditions. This is the first study to analyze tia-1 expression levels in different tissues of Antarctic fish species. Our key findings indicate that the TIA-1 gene is expressed at particularly high levels in the liver and spleen of C. hamatus , as well as in the heart and skeletal muscle of T. bernacchii. This suggests that those tissues play a significant role in the stress response mechanisms of the studied species. This study provides novel insights into the molecular adaptations of Antarctic fish, highlighting the potential importance of TIA-1 in their response to environmental stressors. The unique features of TIA-1 identified in these species may offer broader implications for understanding how Antarctic fish regulate gene transcriptions in their extreme environments. [Display omitted] • Three TIA-1 isoforms in Antarctic fish represent unique evolutionary adaptation. • In C. hamatus tia-1 was mainly expressed in liver and spleen. • In T. bernacchii tia-1 was mainly expressed in heart and muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments continue to narrowly equate improved well-being with economic growth, contrary to decades of development scholarship. The capabilities approach, instead, emphasizes freedom and what individuals are able to do and to be within society. However, it underplays structural determinants of social inequities and says little about violence, a dominant problem in metropolitan areas of Latin America. Framing our analysis around capabilities and theorizing on disadvantage, we examine experiences of inequity and violence in Manaus, a metropolis in the Brazilian Amazon. We show how the threat of physical violence is highly corrosive because it underpins a cluster of disadvantage that profoundly impacts central capabilities, including emotions, bodily integrity, and affiliation. Social isolation is commonplace because interactions are perceived as risks rather than pathways to mutual recognition. Violence begets violence in low-income neighborhoods and this constrains capabilities, causes shame and indignity, and limits potential for self-realization. Policy makers should address how disadvantaged people feel about themselves, relate to others, and are able to decide how to conduct their daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

È ora di portare a termine il movimento di progressiva inclusione delle persone LGBT+ nella comunità ecclesiale non riservando loro una “nicchia” pastorale, che alla fine non farebbe altro che confermare la loro non “omogeneità” con il resto “normale” del popolo di Dio. Dopo aver ripreso le affermazioni della comunità scientifica circa l’orientamento omosessuale e l’incongruenza di genere, l’autore ripercorre brevemente le indicazioni di Amoris laetitia circa i divorziati in seconda unione, per constatare come le medesime indicazioni possono valere anche per l’integrazione ecclesiale delle coppie LGBT+. Infine, dopo aver precisato la piena inclusione delle persone LGBT+ nelle varie articolazioni della pastorale ordinaria della comunità cristiana, vengono proposti alcuni suggerimenti pastorali perché questa inclusione sia predisposta e attuata pienamente. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This investigation evaluated the effect of two sintering modes of a translucent zirconia (Y‐TZP) on its surface roughness, topography, phase‐transformation (t → m), translucency and biaxial flexure fatigue strength. Materials and Methods: To do so, 50 Y‐TZP discs (Ø = 15 mm; thickness = 1.2 mm; IPS e.max ZirCAD LT) were prepared and divided into two groups: Standard mode (SM) and Fast mode (FM). Staircase fatigue testing was performed (piston‐on‐three balls set‐up, ISO 6872:2015), as well as surface roughness, profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM‐FEG), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), phase transformation (t → m) using X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), translucency parameter analysis (TP and TP00) and fractography. Results: The results showed no statistical significant differences for roughness parameters (p > 0.05, SM: Ra = 0.13 ± 0.02, Rz = 1.21 ± 0.26 and RSm = 24.91 ± 2.19; FM: Ra = 0.14 ± 0.03, Rz = 1.32 ± 0.25 and RSm = 24.68 ± 2.16) or flexural fatigue strength (SM: 512 (464–560) MPa; FM: 542 (472–611) MPa) between the groups. In addition, similarity in surface morphological features (SEM and profilometry), composition and phases (EDX and XRD) was observed between the firing protocols. Fractography showed that the failure origin occurred on the tensile side. Sintering mode did not affect the TP (F = 0.001, p = 0.97) and TP00 (F = 0.12, p = 0.72). Conclusions: Therefore, the fast‐sintering mode is suggested as a viable alternative to the standard mode since it does not influence the evaluated surface morphology, microstructure, fatigue strength and translucency of a translucent monolithic zirconia. Clinical Significance: The fast sintering mode is a viable alternative for zirconia without compromising its topography, microstructure, mechanical performance or translucency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a promising imaging method in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the employment of IRT as both a diagnostic method and an outcome measure in PAD patients in relation to any kind of intervention. On September 2022, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and gray literature were screened. Eligible articles employing IRT in PAD were screened for possible inclusion. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Twenty-one eligible articles were finally included, recruiting a total of 1078 patients. The IRT was used for PAD diagnosis/monitoring in 11 studies or to assess the effect of interventions (revascularization, pharmacological therapy, or exercise rehabilitation) in 10 studies. The analysis of the included papers raised high concerns about the overall quality of the studies. In conclusion, IRT as a noninvasive technique showed promising results in detecting foot perfusion in PAD patients. However, limits related to devices, points of reference, and measurement conditions need to be overcome by properly designed trials before recommending its implementation in current vascular practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mTOR is a signaling pathway involved in cell survival, cell stress response, and protein synthesis that may be a key point in sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction. Curcumin has been reported in vitro as an mTOR inhibitor compound; however, there are no studies demonstrating this effect in experimental sepsis. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the action of curcumin on the mTOR pathway in the heart of septic mice. Free curcumin (FC) and nanocurcumin (NC) were used, and samples were obtained at 24 and 120 h after sepsis. Histopathological and ultrastructural analysis showed that treatments with FC and NC reduced cardiac lesions caused by sepsis. Our main results demonstrated that curcumin reduced mTORC1 and Raptor mRNA at 24 and 120 h compared with the septic group; in contrast, mTORC2 mRNA increased at 24 h. Additionally, the total mTOR mRNA expression was reduced at 24 h compared with the septic group. Our results indicate that treatment with curcumin and nanocurcumin promoted a cardioprotective response that could be related to the modulation of the mTOR pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]