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A Python package to evaluate Wannier, Wannier–Stark, and EZ (both energy and location Z resolved) levels for quantum cascade lasers is presented. We provide the underlying theory in detail with a focus on the orthonormality and periodicity of the generated states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study explores the application of Al2O3-ZnO-Fe3O4/Water ternary nanofluids for enhanced thermal management in engineering applications, addressing the MHD Darcy–Forchheimer problem with an emphasis on optimizing cooling processes in a 2D-wavy cavity under various moving boundary conditions. Aimed at surpassing the limitations of conventional cooling fluids, the research employs the finite volume method within the OpenFOAM® framework to investigate the impact of nanofluid integration on heat transfer efficiency and entropy generation, utilizing partial heating and eight distinct boundary scenarios. By comparing the performance of ternary nanofluids against that of hybrid and mono nanofluids, we identify optimal conditions that significantly enhance cooling effectiveness, as evidenced by a 37% improvement in heat exchange efficiency over water. The findings demonstrate the superior performance of Al2O3-ZnO-Fe3O4/Water nanofluids in achieving higher average Nusselt numbers at low Darcy numbers, despite an increase in entropy. Optimal conditions were identified for the most favorable scenario involving the movement of cavity lids, based on the Nusselt number, specifically in Case 7 (ul1+ and ul2−). Decreasing the number of waves in the cavity enhances heat transfer and reduces irreversibility. Finally, the study shows that the influence of lid motion on skin friction significantly varies with Richardson numbers, and the use of nanofluids over pure water notably reduces skin friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we seek to explore the influence of stakeholders on environmental management practices in Malaysia's aviation industry. The data from this study was derived from interviewing 25 respondents in nine organisations within the aviation sector and was analysed using thematic analysis. We show that internal and external stakeholders significantly influence changes towards better environmental management practices. While internal stakeholders have contributed to better environmental management practices by changing their day-to-day practices within their functional role in the organisation, the external stakeholders have been the key actors that have significantly pushed the organisation to implement a proper environmental management system (EMS), particularly the role played by the regulatory authorities in ensuring compliance with environmental standards. We also highlight that the tension between economic and ecological elements may limit the extent of environmental practices carried out by the aviation sector; nonetheless, continuous engagement and pressure from the community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) may push the aviation sector to revisit their commitment to environmental practices beyond compliance activities to ecological standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the exploration of quantum resources within a two-qubit system composed of two 2-level atoms connected to distinct thermal baths. Various quantifiers are employed to evaluate different aspects of the system's quantum characteristics. Specifically, the ℓ 1 -norm and relative entropy of coherence ( ℓ 1 and r ) are utilized to gauge quantum coherence, while local quantum Fisher information (LQFI) is used to quantify non-classical correlations within the system. The findings suggest that the amount of quantum correlations and coherence decline as the spontaneous emission rate γ t and the mean thermal photon number n increase. However, it is observed that manipulating parameters defining the initial state of the two-level atoms system can enhance non-classical correlations and quantum coherence between the two atoms. Additionally, it is noted that these three key metrics entirely vanish in the asymptotic limit of time. Our research underscores the importance of precisely adjusting the parameters of the initial system state, which is prepared in an extended Werner-like state (EWL), to protect quantum resources shared between the two atoms from environmental influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large volume of water is bypassing oil and comes up without being able to push it out from the reservoir after organic material adsorption. This work investigates hydrophobicity effect on rock wettability, oil recovery, and relative permeability. The μXRF was used to characterize sand cores, and a contact angle goniometer to determine fluids contact angle. Oil recovery was evaluated by measuring the incremental oil volume recovered in a glass and PVC capillary designed micromodel. Relative permeability was studied using the steady state method, and the wettability was determined by the Amott method. The results show that cores are mainly composed of quartz 86.04%. Oil recovery was 30.50% for oil-wet state; where the wettability index was −0.283. Thereafter, it has been demonstrated that the surfactant solution increases the oil recovery with 23.54 ℅. Adsorption of surfactants on functional groups of PVC change the contact angle between water and PVC's surface from 112° to 39°, decrease the IFT and restore the water-wet state. PVC debris presents efficient new method to determine the water by pass effect on oil recovery. The findings of this study help for better understanding the surfactant-oil displacements during water flooding in light oil reservoirs with impaired wettability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study is to examine the IFLA Green Library Award, which is given to green libraries and projects that have implemented a green strategy contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fifty-one libraries from 31 countries worldwide received awards during this examination (2016 – 2023). The results found that Europe had the highest proportion, with 15 countries winning the award 23 times (45.10%). Public libraries received the highest percentage of awards (60.78%), followed by university and national libraries at 11.76%. Regarding the best practices adopted by the winning libraries, the findings revealed that “education and outreach” as a best practice was prioritized by libraries in their awards with 31.37%, followed by “energy efficiency” (15.69%) and “green spaces” (13.73%). This study will probably contribute to enhancing the awareness among libraries regarding the IFLA Green Library Award. Additionally, the result of this investigation may encourage various libraries in developing countries to adopt the best practices of libraries that won the award by developing their strategy to be green based on their capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis characterized by hemophagocytosis leading to uncontrolled inflammation; the most common etiology in secondary cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is viral infections, especially Epstein–Barr virus. Visceral leishmaniasis is a vectorborne protozoal disease caused by Leishmania donovani complex. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions, with 50,000–90,000 new cases annually. Case presentation: A 15-month-old Arab female was admitted to our hospital with 15 days of fever and decreased weight. On clinical examination, she had a markedly enlarged liver and spleen that were palpable 4 cm and 6 cm below the costal margin, respectively. The peripheral blood smear showed hypochromic microcytic anemia, poikilocytosis, reactive lymphocytosis, and mild thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration did not show malignancy or any other pathological findings. The patient was put on antibiotic therapy without improvement. Repeated bone marrow aspiration showed erythrophagocytosis; intracellular small round organisms looked like the amastigote form of Leishmania (Donovan bodies) with no evidence of malignancies. Her lab values showed ferritin greater than 500 ug/L, pancytopenia, and hypertriglyceridemia. The patient was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to visceral leishmaniasis. Conclusion: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to visceral leishmaniasis is an extensively rare phenomenon in the medical literature that causes challenges in diagnosis and management. Steroids should be used wisely to not cover the symptoms of infections or malignancy, and amphotericin B resistance should be kept in mind in unresponsive Leishmania cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Syzygium aromaticum and Coffea canephora are acknowledged for their outstanding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nerve-stimulant properties, showcasing potential in brain protection. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively review existing literature and assess the potential of using it to formulate a herbal tea blend for managing stress and anxiety. Methods: Data was retrieved from the Scopus database, and a bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer software. Results: Following a screening process, a total of 121 articles were identified, with S. aromaticum yielding a higher number compared to C. canephora. A detailed exploration of each plant revealed active components such as eugenol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, caffeine, mangiferin, and chlorogenic acids, each exhibiting stimulatory effects alongside antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The neuroprotective effects were attributed to the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation, coupled with the stimulation of neurotransmitters and hormones like dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, and adrenaline. Conclusions: The review showed that these plants positively affect mood and cognition by influencing the brain's pleasure system. This suggests the need for further research to combine these plant extracts for developing 'Tenang tea', a potential herbal blend for managing stress and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Armed conflicts are usually associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, with unpredictable workload, injuries and illnesses. Identifying emergency nurses' views of the core competencies required to enable them to work effectively in hospitals in areas of armed conflict is critical. It is important to inform the requisite standards of care and facilitate the translation of knowledge into safe, quality care. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify emergency nurses' perceptions of core competencies necessary to work in hospitals in the context of armed conflict. Method: A descriptive qualitative phase of a mixed‐method study using semi‐structured interviews with participants was conducted from June to July 2019. The COREQ guideline for reporting qualitative research was followed. Findings: A sample of 15 participants was interviewed. The participant perceptions provided a different perspective of core competencies required for emergency nurses in the context of armed conflict, culminating in four main areas: (i) personal preparedness , (ii) leadership, (iii) communication and (iv) assessment and intervention. Conclusion: This study identified emergency nurses' perceptions of their core competencies. Personal preparedness, leadership, communication, assessment and intervention were identified as contributing to calmness of character, confidence in care and cultural awareness for care in this setting and were essential for them to work effectively when managing victims of armed conflict in emergency departments. Implications for nursing practice and health policy: The findings of this study are important and novel because the researchers sought the perspectives of emergency nurses who have experience in receiving patients from armed conflict firsthand. The findings will inform policymakers in those settings regarding standard of care, education and drills for hospital nurses in optimizing armed conflict care response outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic degradation by bacteria can degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This study aimed to analyze the potential of Ambon Bay bacteria for microplastic degradation, the condition of microplastics after degradation, and identification of the potential for microplastic degradation. The results of isolation revealed as many as 20 bacterial isolates, which correlated with physicochemical conditions in the waters of Ambon Bay. Nine of them could degrade microplastics as indicated by the presence of a clear zone, namely KA1, KA2, KA3, KA4, KA5, KA9, KA10, KS6, and KS8. They were checked for biofilm formation, microplastic hydrophobicity, and percentage of microplastic weight reduction. Four isolates with the highest percentage of microplastic weight reduction on day 40 were KA1, KA2, KA3, and KA10 at 36.19%, 10.16%, 28.39%, and 17.07%, respectively. The results of LDPE microplastic degradation showed differences using field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM/EDS), attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATRFTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The bacterial isolates identified were KA1 (Bacillus cereus), KA2 (Bacillus toyonesis), KA3 (Bacillus paramycoides), and KA10 (Escherichia coli). Indigenous bacteria from the waters of Ambon Bay have the potential to degrade LDPE microplastics, which causes structural changes, decreased crystallinity, weight, and C=C groups in microplastics after degradation, with bacterial isolate KA1 identified as Bacillus cereus showing the best potential with degradation of LDPE microplastics by 36.19%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropods play vital roles in ecosystem functions, yet their distribution is subjected to environmental factors. Hence, this study investigates the impact of habitat features on arthropod communities within cocoa smallholdings under different farming practices: agroforestry and monoculture systems. We conducted arthropod sampling using yellow sticky traps and assessed the habitat features at each plantation twice to capture temporal variations in arthropod populations. The study recorded 2945 individual arthropods belonging to eight different functional groups. The most abundant functional group was saprophagous, followed by phytophagous, parasitoid, predator, mycetophagous, frugivorous, palynivore, and nectarivorous group. Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs), we found that the abundance of phytophagous and predatory arthropods increases with leaf litter, while it decreases with saprophagous arthropods. Our findings suggest that tree-crop diversification within cocoa smallholdings can play a significant role in preserving higher arthropod biodiversity, particularly when these smallholdings remain free from chemical insecticide use. Canopy cover was also found to positively affect the variability of arthropods indicating that it is a crucial factor affecting arthropod biodiversity. This study underscores the significance of integrating agroforestry systems into cocoa production landscapes, particularly those utilizing agrochemicals, to support diverse arthropod communities and promote sustainable cocoa production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Peninsular Malaysia, Colletotrichum fioriniae, Colletotrichumfructicola, Colletotrichumscovillei, Colletotrichumsiamense and Colletotrichumtruncatum are the causative pathogens of chilli anthracnose. In the present study, the pathogenic variability and virulence levels of these five Colletotrichum spp. were evaluated. Isolates of C. fioriniae, C. fructicola, C. scovillei, C. siamense and C. truncatum were tested for pathogenicity using red and green Capsicum annuum and red and green Capsicumfrutescens. Pathogenicity tests were conducted using spore suspensions and mycelial plugs on wounded and nonwounded chilli fruits. All isolates tested on the wounded chilli fruits caused anthracnose symptoms with variable disease severity and virulence. In nonwounded chilli fruits, only isolates of C. scovillei (n = 7) and C. truncatum (n = 5) caused infection. C. fioriniae, C. fructicola, C. scovillei, C. siamense and C. truncatum showed variability in pathogenicity and virulence levels in red and green chilli fruits of Ca. annuum and Ca. frutescens. Pathogenicity tests on wounded and nonwounded chilli fruits can be used to identify pathotypes within anthracnose pathogen populations. This is important for strategizing the effective disease management of chilli anthracnose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affordances, the opportunities for action offered by the environment to an agent, are vital for meaningful behaviour and exist in every interaction with the environment. There is an ongoing debate in the field about whether the perception of affordances is an automated process. Some studies suggest that affordance perception is an automated process that is independent from the visual context and bodily interaction with the environment, whereas others argue that it is modulated by the visual and motor context in which affordances are perceived. The present paper aims to resolve this debate by examining affordance automaticity from the perspective of sensorimotor time windows. To investigate the impact of different forms of bodily interactions with an environment, that is, the movement context (physical vs. joystick movement), we replicated a previous study on affordance perception in which participants actively moved through differently wide doors in an immersive 3D virtual environment. In the present study, we displayed the same environment on a 2D screen with participants moving through doors of different widths using the keys on a standard keyboard. We compared components of the event‐related potential (ERP) from the continuously recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) that were previously reported to be related to affordance perception of architectural transitions (passable and impassable doors). Comparing early sensory and later motor‐related ERPs, our study replicated ERPs reflecting early affordance perception but found differences in later motor‐related components. These results indicate a shift from automated perception of affordances during early sensorimotor time windows to movement context dependence of affordance perception at later stages, suggesting that affordance perception is a dynamic and flexible process that changes over sensorimotor stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Design Method Findings Conclusion Amidst the mounting challenges posed by climate change, the healthcare sector emerges as a vital frontliner, with nurses standing as its linchpins. This review delves into the pivotal role of nurses in combatting the health consequences of climatic alterations, particularly within the nuanced environment of Saudi Arabia.A rapid literature review.Drawing from a rigorous analysis of 53 studies, our exploration revolves around the preparedness strategies formulated in response to Saudi Arabia's changing climate. The variables analysed included study design, sample size, focus area, geographical coverage and key findings related to nurse competencies. Data were collected using a structured data extraction form and analysed using thematic content analysis. Employing content analysis, we discerned essential domains: from grasping the health impacts of climate change to customizing care for the most susceptible populations and championing advocacy initiatives.Salient findings highlight nurses' profound understanding of both direct and secondary health implications of climate shifts. Additionally, the results emphasize the tailored interventions needed for vulnerable groups, capacity building and disaster readiness. Crucially, our findings spotlight the significance of weaving cultural, ethical and regional threads into nursing strategies. By painting a comprehensive picture, we showcase the delicate balance of environmental evolution, healthcare dynamics and the unique socio‐cultural tapestry of Saudi Arabia.The results of our analysis revealed key competencies required for nurses, including the ability to address immediate health impacts, provide tailored care for vulnerable populations and engage in advocacy and policy formulation. In summation, nurses' multifaceted roles—from immediate medical care to research, advocacy and strategizing—underscore their invaluable contribution to confronting the health adversities sparked by climate change. Our review accentuates the essential contributions of nurses in tackling climate‐related health hurdles and calls for more nuanced research, policy adjustments and proactive measures attuned to Saudi Arabia's distinct backdrop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, B40 single mothers had difficult time raising their children alone without the help and support from her husband. However, the situation got worse when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the lives of B40 single mothers abruptly, especially economically. The majority of B40 single mothers have lost a source of income due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO). A qualitative study has been conducted to explore the economic challenges faced by B40 single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The informants of this study were selected based on purposive sampling with inclusive criteria such as working single mother, belonged to the B40 income category, had children who are still in school and became single mother due to divorce or death of husbands. The study has used the focus group discussion (FGD) as a data collection method. This focused group discussion has involved 20 B40 single mothers in Selangor who have subsequently been split into several smaller groups. The group discussions discovered three sub-themes of the economic challenges that B40 single mothers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic which are business closure, salary cuts and no emergency savings. The findings can be used as a reference for the future research or can be used by specific organisations to evaluate the mental health of B40 single mothers during the global crisis due to the economic challenges that they faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an updated quantitative analysis and prospective paleoenvironment reconstruction of the Tut oilfield, Shushan Basin, North Egypt to evaluate the hydrocarbon reservoirs in space and times for further development plans and modeling in the Tethyan region. Two sporomorph interval zones (Classopollis brasiliensis and Afropollis jardinus), and one total foraminiferal Range Zone (Thomasinella punica) are proposed. Three palynofacies assemblages are differentiated using cluster analysis of the different palynofacies parameters. The paleoenvironmental conditions during the Cenomanian were reconstructed. Palynofacies assemblage I of the Baharyia Formation suggests a marginally dysoxic-oxic basin environment with a common occurrence of ostracods and terrestrial organic matter, while palynofacies assemblage II reflects the high abundance of dinoflagellate cysts, suggesting a suboxic-anoxic middle neritic environment. Palynofacies assemblage III of the upper part of the Abu Roash G Member represents a relatively deep water inner-middle neritic environment. Three 3rd order significant sequences separated by two hiatus surfaces (Ce3 and Ce4) are described and correlated with the global eustatic sea-level. The hydrocarbon evaluation results show that the samples from the Abu Roash G Member contain oil-prone material of kerogen type II, while the samples of the Baharyia Formation are characterized by kerogen type III (gas-prone). Spore coloration analysis reveals that the samples from the studied units are too immature to produce gas or oil and are ineffective as sources of hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatoxin-a (ATX-a) is a neurotoxin produced by some species of cyanobacteria. Due to its water solubility and stability in natural water, it could pose health risks to human, animals, and plants. Conventional water treatment techniques are not only insufficient for the removal of ATX-a, but they also result in cell lysis and toxin release. The elimination of this toxin through biodegradation may be a promising strategy. This study examines for the first time the biodegradation of ATX-a to a non-toxic metabolite (Epoxy-ATX-a) by a strain of Bacillus that has a history of dealing with toxic cyanobacteria in a eutrophic lake. The Bacillus strain AMRI-03 thrived without lag phase in a lake water containing ATX-a. The strain displayed fast degradation of ATX-a, depending on initial toxin concentration. At the highest initial concentrations (50 & 100 µg L− 1), total ATX-a degradation took place in 4 days, but it took 6 & 7 days at lower concentrations (20, 10, and 1 µg L− 1, respectively). The ATX-a biodegradation rate was also influenced by the initial toxin concentration, reaching its maximum value (12.5 µg L− 1 day− 1) at the highest initial toxin concentrations (50 & 100 µg L− 1). Temperature and pH also had an impact on the rate of ATX-a biodegradation, with the highest rates occurring at 25 and 30 ºC and pH 7 and 8. This nontoxic bacterial strain could be immobilized within a biofilm on sand filters and/or sludge for the degradation and removal of ATX-a and other cyanotoxins during water treatment processes, following the establishment of mesocosm experiments to assess the potential effects of this bacterium on water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by inflammation, demyelinating and eventual neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. This can result in a variety of symptoms that markedly affect the patient's quality of life (QoL). One common manifestation of MS is voiding dysfunction. Therefore, this study was carried out to study the impact of voiding dysfunction on the QoL among MS patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 patients recruited from MS Outpatient Clinic of Neurology department at Zagazig University Hospitals and El Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital, they were diagnosed as MS as per the 2017 Revised McDonald Diagnostic Criteria. We studied the relation between QoL and voiding dysfunction in MS patients using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) as well as Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life (MusiQoL) scores. Results: Statistically significant differences were revealed between IPSS severity and all of activities of daily living (p=0.035), psychological wellbeing (p=0.007), symptoms (p=0.01), relation with friends (p=0.005), relation with family (p=0.037), coping (p=0.045) and MusiQoL index (p=0.004) (all were significantly lower in patients with moderate/severe IPSS score). Statistically significant negative correlations also were found between IPSS severity and all of psychological wellbeing (p=0.006), symptoms (p=0.011), relation with friends (p=0.025), relation with family (p=0.007), coping (p=0.014) and rejection (p=0.006), also highly significant negative correlations were revealed between IPSS severity with activities of daily living dimension score (p<0.001) and MusiQoL index (p=0.001). Conclusion: Various levels of severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) (mild, moderate and severe) were observed among MS patients, with mild LUTS being predominantly observed. Findings indicated that the severity of LUTS is closely linked with reductions in various QoL dimensions. Particularly, patients with moderate to severe LUTS reported significantly lower QoL scores, underscoring the profound impact of urinary dysfunction on their daily lives and overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia stands prominently among Asia's key cocoa‐producing countries. In the cocoa season of 2022–2023, Malaysia demonstrated its contribution to the industry, with an estimated production of around 364,000 tonnes of cacao bean grindings. Nonetheless, fungal diseases pose undeniable challenges to the cocoa sector. Extensive sampling conducted between September 2018 and March 2019 across multiple states in Malaysia revealed concerning symptoms of leaf blight and stem canker affecting Theobroma cacao plants. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize fungal species associated with leaf blight and stem canker of T. cacao in Malaysia through morphological, molecular and pathogenicity analyses. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses using multiple DNA regions (rDNA internal transcribed spacer [ITS], TEF1 and TUB2) were performed and identified 40 fungal isolates found in this study as Diaporthe tulliensis (17 isolates), Fusarium solani (seven isolates), Fusarium proliferatum (six isolates) and Neopestalotiopsis clavispora (10 isolates). Pathogenicity tests with mycelial plugs and wound treatments showed that D. tulliensis and N. clavispora were responsible for causing leaf blight whereas D. tulliensis, F. solani and F. proliferatum caused stem canker of T. cacao. The present study provides insights into disease aetiology and symptomatology that may be useful in planning effective disease management for the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are toxic specialized metabolites produced in several plant species and frequently contaminate herbal teas or livestock feed. In comfrey (Symphytum officinale, Boraginaceae), they are produced in two different organs of the plant, the root and young leaves. In this study, we demonstrate that homospermidine oxidase (HSO), a copper‐containing amine oxidase (CuAO) responsible for catalyzing the formation of the distinctive pyrrolizidine ring in PAs, is encoded by two individual genes. Specifically, SoCuAO1 is expressed in young leaves, while SoCuAO5 is expressed in roots. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout of socuao5 resulted in hairy roots (HRs) unable to produce PAs, supporting its function as HSO in roots. Plants regenerated from socuao5 knockout HRs remained completely PA‐free until the plants began to develop inflorescences, indicating the presence of another HSO that is expressed only during flower development. Stable expression of SoCuAO1 in socuao5 knockout HRs rescued the ability to produce PAs. In vitro assays of both enzymes transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana confirmed their HSO activity and revealed the ability of HSO to control the stereospecific cyclization of the pyrrolizidine backbone. The observation that the first specific step of PA biosynthesis catalyzed by homospermidine synthase requires only one gene copy, while two independent paralogs are recruited for the subsequent homospermidine oxidation in different tissues of the plant, suggests a complex regulation of the pathway. This adds a new level of complexity to PA biosynthesis, a system already characterized by species‐specific, tight spatio‐temporal regulation, and independent evolutionary origins in multiple plant lineages. Significance Statement: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are involved in the chemical defense of comfrey against herbivores and are synthesized in roots and young leaves. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and various biochemical experiments, we show that pyrrolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis in the two different organs of comfrey is realized by two different paralogs of homospermidine oxidase, revealing another aspect of biosynthetic complexity in plant specialized metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to the mathematical analysis of a COVID‐19 two‐strain epidemic model. The COVID‐19 mathematical model described the infection forces of each strain by a nonmonotonic incidence function. First, we establish the well‐posedness of the COVID‐19 stochastic model in terms of existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution. After that, we investigate the results of the stochastic extinction and persistence in mean of the COVID‐19 disease. The findings show that both strains of COVID‐19 pandemic extinct, when the basic reproduction number is less than unity. If the latter is not achieved, then the infection related to the strain with higher stochastic basic reproduction number will persist. Additionally, both strains can persist at the same time, if their related stochastic basic reproduction numbers are both greater than one. Finally, various numerical simulations are carried out in order to validate the theoretical findings concerning the extinction and persistence in mean of the disease. As an application of our work, we have chosen to compare our deterministic and stochastic results with COVID‐19 clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning and remote sensing techniques are widely accepted as valuable, cost-effective tools in lithological discrimination and mineralogical investigations. The current study represents an attempt to use machine learning classification along with several remote sensing techniques being applied to Landsat-8/9 satellite data to discriminate the various outcropping lithological rock units at the Duwi Shear Belt (DSB) area in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Multi-class machine learning classification, multiple conventional remote sensing mapping techniques, spectral separability analysis based on the Jeffries-Matusita (J-M) distance measure, fieldwork, and petrographic investigations were integrated to enhance the lithological discrimination of the exposed rock units at DSB area. The well-recognized machine learning classifier (Support Vector Machine—SVM) was adopted in this study, with training data determined carefully based on enhancing the lithological discrimination attained from various remote sensing techniques of False Color Composites (FCC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), along with the fieldwork data and the previously published geologic maps. High overall accuracy of the SVM classification was obtained, however, inspection of the individual rock unit classes' accuracies revealed lower accuracy for certain types of rock units which were also found associated with lower separability scores as well. Among the least separable rock units were; metagabbro rocks that showed high spectral similarity with the volcaniclastic metasediments rocks, and the metaultramafics of the ophiolitic mélange showed spectral attitude of high correlation to that of the Hammamat volcanosedimentary rocks. Target-oriented Color Ratio Composites (CRC) technique was implemented to better discriminate these hardly separable rock units. A final integrated geological map was obtained comprising the various discriminated Neoproterozoic basement rock units of the DSB area. The successfully mapped litho-units include; Meatiq Group (amphibolites, gneissic granitoids, and mylonitized granitoids), ophiolitic mélange (metaultramafics, metagabbro-amphibolites, and volcaniclastic metasediments), Dokhan volcanics, Hammamat sediments, and granites. An adequate description of these rock units was also given in light of the conducted intense fieldwork and petrographic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the linear finite element approximation of piezoelectric unilateral contact problem in a curved and smooth boundary domain. The unilateral contact conditions will be weakly imposed by the penalty method. We derive error estimates which depend on the penalty parameter and the mesh size. In fact, under regularity of the solution, we prove some convergence rate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are some natural products from plants that can prevent and treat disease. Metformin, a derivative of galegine, is the basic drug to treat diabetes. Moreover, this molecule has anticancer properties that inhibit cancer cell growth and proliferation. In this study, the main interactions of galegine and metformin with various cancer‐involved proteins, including mitochondrial alpha‐glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, yeast NADH dehydrogenase, and transforming growth factor‐β1, were surveyed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that each of the proteins makes complexes with the ligands via favorable non‐bonded interactions, especially hydrogen bond interactions. There is greater stability for complexes containing galegine based on the root mean square deviation results. The higher structure compactness is also found in galegine receptors than in metformin receptors. Calculation of ΔGbinding, using the MM/PBSA methodology, shows that the binding energy values for metformin and galegine in interaction with each of the receptors are almost the same, and galegine has similar binding properties with metformin in interaction with the studied protein receptors. Therefore, galegine, a natural ingredient with better binding properties to cancer‐involved proteins than metformin (with various side effects), can be applied as a new drug for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica (SiO2) plays a major key ingredient in producing products such as toothpaste, ceramics, and paints, to name a few, as it acts as a stabilizing agent, filler and additive. Due to its excellent properties, the use of high-purity SiO2 in industrial applications is favourable. Unfortunately, high-purity SiO2 is expensive. Tetraethyl Orthosilicate (TEOS) is an example of a SiO2 precursor that is costly and harmful, yet frequently employed. This paper provides a short review of the advantages of biowaste materials as SiO2 precursors and their role as fillers in the fabrication of superhydrophobic coating. Researchers nowadays are attempting to lower the expense of employing high-purity SiO2 by extracting silica from biowaste using many methods such as acid leaching and alkali treatment as this option is highly sustainable. The growth of agricultural industries is exponential due to the increase in biowaste production. Therefore, this is one of the ways to utilize the use of biowaste in combatting the environmental issues regarding excess biowaste and receding pure resources. SiO2 from biowaste also can be utilized as filler and used to develop superhydrophobic coating, providing numerous potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined the performance of recalling Arabic letters. Some studies suggest that the low recall performance of Arabic letters may be attributed to the inherent visual complexity of Arabic script, while others highlight poor visual attention abilities among Arabic readers.In this context, the presentstudy focuses on investigating immediate memory and the factors influencing its capacity among young Arabic readers. Immediate memory refers to the number of letters an observer can recall in a free recall task. Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of exposure time (50, 100, and 200 ms), letter spacing (0.04°, 0.36°, and 1°), and stimulustype (acquired vs. non-acquired). Acquired stimuli consisted of Arabic and Latin letters, whereas non-acquired stimuli included Amazigh letters. It is noteworthy that our participants had no prior exposure to the Amazigh language. The results revealed significant effects of exposure time, letter spacing, and stimulus type on performance in the free recall task. In light of these findings, the study provides a discussion of factors that may account for the low recall performance observed in previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthus ilicifolius (family Acanthaceae) is a well-known mangrove plant that is commonly found in India, Australia, and Southeast Asia countries. In this review, this plant is discussed to provide a comprehensive database on its ethnobotanical aspects, as well as phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities. The findings summarised that A. ilicifolius contains mainly flavonoids, alkaloids, and various glycosides. The phytochemicals isolated from the plant have been scientifically proven to possess medicinal properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-acne, anti-helminthic, anti-allergic, and anti-asthmatic properties. This study provides comprehensive and updated data on the phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities of A. ilicifolius's from various research. This information is important for future research exploration on the plant especially in the investigation of the efficacy and safety of the plant's compounds toward the application in treating diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Land Agency of Lampung Province (BPN) Regional Office in the Lampung region faces challenges in managing budget absorption due to a top-down planning process and lack of comprehensive planning documents. However, delays in completing certain works funded by Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) reveal ongoing challenges in prioritizing programs and ensuring comprehensive performance evaluation. These challenges require improvements in strategic management and budget synchronization to enhance accountability, effectiveness, and the quality of program and activity results. This research uses a qualitative approach using a case study strategy. The results of this research can provide practical and policy contributions to the Regional Office of the BPN Lampung province in an effort to optimize budget and output produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground hazards are a significant problem in the global economy, costing millions of dollars in damage each year. Railroad tracks are vulnerable to ground hazards like flooding since they traverse multiple terrains with complex environmental factors and diverse human developments. Traditionally, flood-hazard assessments are generated using models like the Hydrological Engineering Center–River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). However, these maps are typically created for design flood events (10, 50, 100, 500 years) and are not available for any specific storm event, as they are not designed for individual flood predictions. Remotely sensed methods, on the other hand, offer precise flood extents only during the flooding, which means the actual flood extents cannot be determined beforehand. Railroad agencies need daily flood extent maps before rainfall events to manage and plan for the parts of the railroad network that will be impacted during each rainfall event. A new approach would involve using traditional flood-modeling layers and remotely sensed flood model outputs such as flood maps created using the Google Earth Engine. These new approaches will use machine-learning tools in flood prediction and extent mapping. This new approach will allow for determining the extent of flood for each rainfall event on a daily basis using rainfall forecast; therefore, flooding extents will be modeled before the actual flood, allowing railroad managers to plan for flood events pre-emptively. Two approaches were used: support vector machines and deep neural networks. Both methods were fine-tuned using grid-search cross-validation; the deep neural network model was chosen as the best model since it was computationally less expensive in training the model and had fewer type II errors or false negatives, which were the priorities for the flood modeling and would be suitable for developing the automated system for the entire railway corridor. The best deep neural network was then deployed and used to assess the extent of flooding for two floods in 2020 and 2022. The results indicate that the model accurately approximates the actual flooding extent and can predict flooding on a daily temporal basis using rainfall forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth avulsion is a dental emergency that needs prompt treatment to minimise complications. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of avulsed tooth management among dental surgery assistants at the UKM Dental Polyclinic. This survey research design of a 19- item questionnaire was distributed to 59 dental surgery assistants (DSAs). The questionnaire consisted of demographic profile questions and questions regarding awareness and knowledge of tooth avulsion and its immediate management. The results showed that 78% of DSAs at the Institute know about first aid management of avulsed teeth, with the majority being taught during their training course. Moreover, 96.2% of the DSAs know what tooth avulsion is and recognise it as a dental emergency. Although 75% of the DSAs have never previously handled any avulsed tooth case, 50% are confident in advising the public on what to do with an avulsed tooth at the time of injury. As for the specific management questions of an avulsed tooth, the responses from the DSAs varied according to the questions, ranging from 50% to 85%. DSAs at the Institute have varying levels of awareness and knowledge regarding tooth avulsion. Therefore, regular education programmes on dental trauma and its management will help improve the DSAs’ current knowledge and ability to manage avulsion injuries better in emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous Hopfield network (CHN) is a common recurrent neural network. The CHN tool can be used to solve a number of ranking and optimization problems, where the equilibrium states of the ordinary differential equation (ODE) related to the CHN give the solution to any given problem. Because of the non-local characteristic of the "infinite memory" effect, fractional-order (FO) systems have been proved to describe more accurately the behavior of real dynamical systems, compared to the model's ODE. In this paper, a fractional-order variant of a Hopfield neural network is introduced to solve a Quadratic Knap Sac Problem (QKSP), namely the fractional CHN (FRAC-CHN). Firstly, the system is integrated with the quadratic method for fractional-order equations whose trajectories have shown erratic paths and jumps to other basin attractions. To avoid these drawbacks, a new algorithm for obtaining an equilibrium point for a CHN is introduced in this paper, namely the optimal fractional CHN (OPT-FRAC-CHN). This is a variable time-step method that converges to a good local minima in just a few iterations. Compared with the non-variable time-stepping CHN method, the optimal time-stepping CHN method (OPT-CHN) and the FRAC-CHN method, the OPT-FRAC-CHN method, produce the best local minima for random CHN instances and for the optimal feeding problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Ghana's land development and planning laws from a historical perspective. The methodology involves a documentary study of historical records to explore the evolution of these laws, spanning from the colonial period to the present. Through this approach it sheds light on significant milestones such as the 1988 local government changes, the land use decree's implementation by military juntas, and the identified deficiencies in the decree pertaining to physical planning. The expositions from this study show that Ghana has over the years adopted many land development and planning laws, that there is a visible demand for land among people and a desire by developers to use their land. The topic of planning is thus a significant area for stakeholders in Ghana. The study, therefore, recommends that, given the fact that land development and planning laws are here to stay, and that people are the primary drivers of social change, these laws should respect the culture and norms of the people, and should as well always incorporate active public engagement for stakeholders to feel a sense of ownership and belongingness in the entire process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge cloud technologies working in conjunction with AI-powered solutions can help surmount the challenges associated with the distributed execution of immersive services and contribute to delivering a positive end-user experience. Intelligent resource management, orchestration, and predictive systems can enhance service deployment, adapt to changing demands, and ensure seamless service operation. This paper introduces an innovative architectural paradigm that enables multi-domain edge orchestration for highly distributed immersive services by leveraging various AI solutions and technological tools to support multi-domain edge deployments. The proposed architecture is designed to function based on multi-level specification blueprints, separating high-level user-intent infrastructure definition from AI-driven orchestration and the final execution plan. This architectural design enables the incorporation of AI solutions to be conducted in a modular manner. Furthermore, the Application Management Framework provides a visual language and tool as an alternative to formal methods for creating intent blueprints. The proposed architecture is evaluated within the frame of an immersive virtual touring use-case scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This current study examines the magnetic behavior of a mixed CrI3 monolayer nanosystem using Monte Carlo simulations. The main objective was to examine the impact of variations in ferrimagnetic coupling parameters (JσS), external magnetic field (H) and crystal field (|D|) on the blocking temperature. The analysis reveals the emergence of a compensation temperature for |D| = 2 and 3. In addition, the hysteresis behavior analysis highlights how changes in JσS, D and T affect the magnetic behavior of the system. Decreasing JσS values show similar trends, with additional loops and magnetization plateaus attributed to negative JσS values. These results deepen our understanding of the magnetic property of CrI3 monolayer nanosystem and pave the way for applications in advanced magnetic materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual localization is critical to many applications in computer vision and robotics. To address single-image RGB localization, state-of-the-art feature-based methods match local descriptors between a query image and a pre-built 3D model. Recently, deep neural networks have been exploited to regress the mapping between raw pixels and 3D coordinates in the scene, and thus the matching is implicitly performed by the forward pass through the network. However, in a large and ambiguous environment, learning such a regression task directly can be difficult for a single network. In this work, we present a new hierarchical scene coordinate network to predict pixel scene coordinates in a coarse-to-fine manner from a single RGB image. The proposed method, which is an extension of HSCNet, allows us to train compact models which scale robustly to large environments. It sets a new state-of-the-art for single-image localization on the 7-Scenes, 12-Scenes, Cambridge Landmarks datasets, and the combined indoor scenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

21st century learning is a dynamic and interconnected educational environment that leverages technology, fosters collaboration, and supports continuous and personalized learning. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between learning outcomes, learning contents, delivery strategies, learning activities and assessment forms in Structured Technology-Enhanced Collaborative (ST-EC) Learning Environment. To fulfil the research purpose, we developed a questionnaire with sufficient reliability as an instrument to evaluate teachers' perspectives on five components in the ST-EC learning environment. The valid responses were collected from 240 primary school teachers. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis was used to examine the relationship between the constructs in the hypothesised model. Given that the structural model exhibited a good fit to the data (CFI = 1.934; IFI = 0.989; TFI = 0.912; and RMSEA = 0.063). The findings reveal the significant relevance of the model's constituent variables, offering valuable insights for government and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of communication technology-enhanced collaborative and constructivism learning activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote sustainable development of tourism, the role of the local community and their involvement are undeniable. This study aimed to discover different dimensions of the local community and assess their effects on perceived positive benefits and support for the sustainable development of tourism in Bangladesh by employing the Social Exchange Theory (SET). This study applied Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to a data set of 250 residents of two museums. In this study, three components of the local community specifically community awareness, community involvement, and community attachment were identified and validated while community awareness was newly derived. Findings revealed that all the dimensions had strong positive impacts on perceived positive benefits, and perceived positive benefits had strong positive influences on support for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]