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Objective To report the use of a natural erection induced by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in the diagnosis and therapy of congenital penile anomalies as an alternative to artificial erection. Patients and methods From February 1991 to December 1995 a natural erection was induced in 672 patients (mean age 5.7 years, range 12 months-47 years) to diagnose and treat congenital anomalies, e.g. simple penile curvature, chordee with and without hypospadias, epispadias, micropenis, cripple penis, etc. The dose injected intracavernosally was dependent on the patient's age, penile size and response, and ranged from 0.5 to 15 μg. Results A natural dilatation of erectile tissue was achieved in all forms of penile anomalies except in seven patients who did not respond. The mean duration of erection was 80 min, but a prolonged erection, for up to 6 h, occurred in two patients. Conclusion The natural erection achieved by injecting PGE1 into the corpora cavernosa is a useful alternative to artificial erection in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital penile anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penile and urethral anomalies are common congenital disorders with some rare variations. For example, the floppy penis is dealt with in only a few publications with a small numbers of cases. Other anomalies have not been published at all, i.e., the ectopic penis. Some anomalies become apparent immediately at birth, others remain undiscovered until adolescence. To date there is no established classification system dealing with urethral and penile anomalies. Also, no established guidelines exist for diagnosing and treating these anomalies. Surgical corrections of penile and urethral anomalies should follow standardized procedures on the one hand, but must respect the individual anatomical situation on the other. Since genital anomalies are frequently part of a syndrome, interdisciplinary approaches are advisable. The following article presents a classification of penile and urethral anomalies. Since posterior urethral valves usually affect the bladder and upper urinary tract, this disorder is not included in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of process equipment is one of the inescapable tasks associated with the operation of process plants and, until relatively recently, it was implemented either on a routine basis or after the failure of equipment. Attitudes are changing and now many organizations are adopting methods for identifying incipient faults, so that maintenance can be scheduled before there has been a failure which would lead to loss of production and spoilage of raw material. These methods include schemes in which all the measurement signals in a plant are gathered and, in addition to providing the input to the various control systems, they are compared with model-based values for individual sections throughout the entire process, so that a warning or an alarm can be raised, according to the seriousness of the observed discrepancy. Although these methods represent a considerable advance on ‘routine maintenance’ and ‘repair after failure’, their effectiveness is limited by the quality and detail of the information that is gathered. Each process measurement should be regarded as a ‘window’ through which the operation of the process can be observed. However, the majority of existing process measurement systems have been designed to provide the input signal to a process control system, for which the primary requirement is a good average value. Typically, this is obtained by filtering out all the components of the sensor signal having frequencies greater than about 5 Hz, with the result that the ‘window’ is only translucent, rather than transparent, and much of the detailed information which is available at the interface between the process and the sensor is lost. If, on the other hand, the measurement system has a wide frequency response, then much of the information that is available at the interface between the process and the sensor can be gathered and analysed to provide a clear view of the operation and status of both the process and the measurement system. This concept involves two significant departures from the conventional approach to process measurements and to the utilization of measurement information. In the first place, the measurement systems should be designed to have the widest possible frequency response, so that the maximum information regarding the measured process parameter that is present at the interface between the process and the sensor is gathered. Secondly, instead of conditioning the primary sensor signal to provide a good average value for process control, it is analysed using well established techniques to provide not only the signal for process control but also information on which predictive maintenance procedures can be based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gardnerella is a key pathogen in bacterial vaginosis (BV), but the role of the different Gardnerella species remains unclear. We investigated the role of four Gardnerella species, as well as Fannyhessea vaginae , Lactobacillus crispatus and L. iners in BV. Methods: From 331 pregnant women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, BV was diagnosed using Nugent scoring and a cervicovaginal lavage was used to quantify G. leopoldii , G. piotii , G. swidsinskii , G. vaginalis, F. vaginae, L. crispatus and L. iners by qPCR. Univariate associations between these species and clinical outcomes were assessed. A logistic regression model and ROC curves were calculated to determine the best diagnostic marker for BV. Results: Here, L. iners (75.8%) was the most prevalent species and G. vaginalis (36.0%) the most common Gardnerella species. All investigated Gardnerella spp. were prevalent (50.9-57.9%) in women with (asymptomatic) BV. Univariate analysis revealed no significant associations with clinical symptoms of BV, while F. vaginae (positive Whiff test, high pH), G. vaginalis (high pH) and L. crispatus (low pH) were associated with signs of BV. G. piotii was associated with markers of urinary tract infection. Women with L. iners had higher odds of delivering preterm. ROC analyses showed that F. vaginae was the best marker for BV (AUC 0.81), and the combined model further increased the diagnostic performance (AUC 0.90). Conclusion: All Gardnerella species were involved in BV, although none were associated with the most important clinical symptoms of BV and none emerged as a superior molecular marker for BV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diatomite is a source of biologically available silicon but in feed industry its insecticide and anti-caking properties have been also widely recognized. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dietary diatomite-bentonite mixture (DBM) supplementation on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the bacterial microbiome of the broiler chicken gut. The trial was carried out on 960 Ross 308 broiler chickens divided into 2 experimental groups throughout the entire rearing period lasting 6 weeks. The birds were fed complete granulated diets without (group C) or with DBM (group E) in an amount of 1% from the 11 day of life. Two nutritionally balanced diets were used, tailored to the age of the broilers: a grower diet (from day 11 to 34) and a finisher diet (from day 35 to 42 of life). Results: Diatomite used in a mixture with bentonite significantly altered the microbiome. Restricting the description to species that comprise a minimum of 1% of all analyzed sequences, 36 species in group E (with diatomite) and 30 species in group C (without diatomite) were selected. Several bacteria species were identified in intestinal contents of chickens for the first time. Thirteen species occurred only in group E: Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Anaerobutyricum hallii, Anaerobutyricum soehngenii, Blautia producta ATCC 27,340 = DSM 2950, Gordonibacter pamelaeae 7-10-1-b, Helicobacter pullorum NCTC 12,824, Lactobacillus crispatus, L. helveticus DSM 20,075 = CGMCC 1.1877, Mucispirillum schaedleri, Phascolarctobacterium faecium, Phocaeicola coprocola DSM 17,136, P. massiliensis, and Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans. Conclusions: The findings highlight the intricate and potentially consequential relationship between diet, specifically diatomite-bentonite mixture supplementation, and gut microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peyronie’s disease is an acquired condition characterized by penile deformities caused by fibrosis of the penile tunica albuginea, leading to symptoms such as penile pain, erectile dysfunction, and other associated issues. Despite extensive research, the pathophysiology of this condition remains poorly understood, and standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols are lacking. While clinical guidelines from several professional societies exist, they do not consistently account for factors such as patient ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status. Thus, the Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology (KSSMA) aimed to develop recommendations tailored to clinical practice in Korea. These recommendations summarize the latest evidence, including clinical practice guidelines from various international professional societies, and represent the consensus opinion of an expert group within the KSSMA. They encompass all aspects of Peyronie’s disease, including the definition, diagnosis, non-surgical interventions, and surgical treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the persistent challenges of data loss and inefficient workflow integration between 3D digital design tools (Rhinoceros) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms (Revit) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. The study investigates how design integrity can be preserved during the transition between these platforms, focusing on ensuring compatibility while maintaining the original design intent. The research aims to answer the question: How can design integrity be preserved when transitioning from 3D design tools to BIM platforms while ensuring seamless interoperability? Using an inductive bottom-up approach, empirical data were collected from 35 student projects over three years at The American University in Cairo. Observations were used to classify challenges encountered in transitioning from Rhinoceros to Revit, synthesising the results into evidence-based best practices. Surveys and statistical analyses were conducted on the participants' (students') responses to validate the findings from the analysis and observations of their digital workflow experiences. This study fills a gap in existing literature, which often overlooks the technical integration between 3D design tools and BIM platforms during the creative design phase. The research offers practical solutions for improving workflow integration, reducing data loss, and enhancing collaborative efficiency. The findings are expected to impact both professional practice and education, offering pathways to more efficient design transitions and equipping students with skills to navigate digital design challenges in future AEC projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of '-omics' technologies to study bacterial vaginosis (BV) has uncovered vast differences in composition and scale between the vaginal microbiomes of healthy and BV patients. Compared to amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomic approaches focusing on a single or few species, investigating the transcriptome of the vaginal microbiome at a system-wide level can provide insight into the functions which are actively expressed and differential between states of health and disease. Results: We conducted a meta-analysis of vaginal metatranscriptomes from three studies, split into exploratory (n = 42) and validation (n = 297) datasets, accounting for the compositional nature of sequencing data and differences in scale between healthy and BV microbiomes. Conducting differential expression analyses on the exploratory dataset, we identified a multitude of strategies employed by microbes associated with states of health and BV to evade host cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs); putative mechanisms used by BV-associated species to resist and counteract the low vaginal pH; and potential approaches to disrupt vaginal epithelial integrity so as to establish sites for adherence and biofilm formation. Moreover, we identified several distinct functional subgroups within the BV population, distinguished by genes involved in motility, chemotaxis, biofilm formation and co-factor biosynthesis. After defining molecular states of health and BV in the validation dataset using KEGG orthology terms rather than community state types, differential expression analysis confirmed earlier observations regarding CAMP resistance and compromising epithelial barrier integrity in healthy and BV microbiomes and also supported the existence of motile vs. non-motile subgroups in the BV population. These findings were independent of the enzyme classification system used (KEGG or EggNOG). Conclusions: Our findings highlight a need to focus on functional rather than taxonomic differences when considering the role of microbiomes in disease and identify pathways for further research as potential BV treatment targets. CwG4qJAdVu5eAuU4jPyBus Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peloids are mixtures of clays, sediments, or peat with mineral–medicinal water or seawater, or salt-lake water used in spa therapy for different treatments, including dermatological ones. The origin of peloids can be natural; that is, they are formed in situ at the place where the thermal water emerges or on the shores of the sea or salt lake, or they are prepared ad hoc from high-quality materials, such as clays or peat. Peloids are also used as cosmeceuticals in skin care to treat different skin disorders and/or conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and other scaly disorders, sensitive skin, and acne. This review reports all available scientific data concerning the effects and specific activities of peloids in skin care and cosmeceuticals, providing a better understanding of the clinical and cosmetic benefits. Finally, the safety and regulation of peloids are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a model-independent search for the pair production of new bosons within a mass range of 0.21 < m < 60 GeV, are presented. This study utilizes events with a four-muon final state. We use two data sets, comprising 41.5 fb−1 and 59.7 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 and 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The study of the 2018 data set includes a search for displaced signatures of a new boson within the proper decay length range of 0 < cτ < 100 mm. Our results are combined with a previous CMS result, based on 35.9 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV collected in 2016. No significant deviation from the expected background is observed. Results are presented in terms of a model-independent upper limit on the product of cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance. The findings are interpreted across various benchmark models, such as an axion-like particle model, a vector portal model, the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, and a dark supersymmetric scenario, including those predicting a non-negligible proper decay length of the new boson. In all considered scenarios, substantial portions of the parameter space are excluded, expanding upon prior results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a model-independent search for the pair production of new bosons within a mass range of 0.21 < m < 60 GeV, are presented. This study utilizes events with a four-muon final state. We use two data sets, comprising 41.5 fb−1 and 59.7 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 and 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The study of the 2018 data set includes a search for displaced signatures of a new boson within the proper decay length range of 0 < cτ < 100 mm. Our results are combined with a previous CMS result, based on 35.9 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV collected in 2016. No significant deviation from the expected background is observed. Results are presented in terms of a model-independent upper limit on the product of cross section, branching fraction, and acceptance. The findings are interpreted across various benchmark models, such as an axion-like particle model, a vector portal model, the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, and a dark supersymmetric scenario, including those predicting a non-negligible proper decay length of the new boson. In all considered scenarios, substantial portions of the parameter space are excluded, expanding upon prior results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement is performed of Higgs bosons produced with high transverse momentum (pT) via vector boson or gluon fusion in proton-proton collisions. The result is based on a data set with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected in 2016–2018 with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The decay of a high-pT Higgs boson to a boosted bottom quark-antiquark pair is selected using large-radius jets and employing jet substructure and heavy-flavor taggers based on machine learning techniques. Independent regions targeting the vector boson and gluon fusion mechanisms are defined based on the topology of two quark-initiated jets with large pseudorapidity separation. The signal strengths for both processes are extracted simultaneously by performing a maximum likelihood fit to data in the large-radius jet mass distribution. The observed signal strengths relative to the standard model expectation are 4.9 − 1.6 + 1.9 and 1.6 − 1.5 + 1.7 for the vector boson and gluon fusion mechanisms, respectively. A differential cross section measurement is also reported in the simplified template cross section framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement is performed of Higgs bosons produced with high transverse momentum (pT) via vector boson or gluon fusion in proton-proton collisions. The result is based on a data set with a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected in 2016–2018 with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. The decay of a high-pT Higgs boson to a boosted bottom quark-antiquark pair is selected using large-radius jets and employing jet substructure and heavy-flavor taggers based on machine learning techniques. Independent regions targeting the vector boson and gluon fusion mechanisms are defined based on the topology of two quark-initiated jets with large pseudorapidity separation. The signal strengths for both processes are extracted simultaneously by performing a maximum likelihood fit to data in the large-radius jet mass distribution. The observed signal strengths relative to the standard model expectation are 4.9 − 1.6 + 1.9 and 1.6 − 1.5 + 1.7 for the vector boson and gluon fusion mechanisms, respectively. A differential cross section measurement is also reported in the simplified template cross section framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for light long-lived particles (LLPs) decaying to displaced jets is presented, using a data sample of proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13.6 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34.7 fb−1, collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2022. Novel trigger, reconstruction, and machine-learning techniques were developed for and employed in this search. After all selections, the observations are consistent with the background predictions. Limits are presented on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson to LLPs that subsequently decay to quark pairs or tau lepton pairs. An improvement by up to a factor of 10 is achieved over previous limits for models with LLP masses smaller than 60 GeV and proper decay lengths smaller than 1 m. The first constraints are placed on the fraternal twin Higgs (FTH) and folded supersymmetry (FSUSY) models, where the lower bounds on the top quark partner mass reach up to 350 GeV for the FTH model and 250 GeV for the FSUSY model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of drug‐resistant viruses and novel strains necessitates the rapid development of novel antiviral therapies. This need was particularly demanding during the COVID‐19 pandemic. While de novo drug development is a time‐consuming process, repurposing existing approved medications offers a more expedient approach. In our prior in silico screening of the DrugBank database, fidaxomicin emerged as a potential SARS‐CoV‐2 papain‐like protease inhibitor. This study extends those findings by investigating fidaxomicin's antiviral properties in vitro. Our results support further exploration of fidaxomicin as a therapeutic candidate against SARS‐CoV‐2, given its promising in vitro antiviral activity and favorable safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective lifetime of the B s 0 meson in the decay B s 0 → J / ψK S 0 is measured using data collected during 2016–2018 with the CMS detector in s = 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. The effective lifetime is determined by performing a two-dimensional unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the B s 0 meson invariant mass and proper decay time distributions. The resulting value of 1.59 ± 0.07(stat) ± 0.03(syst) ps is the most precise measurement to date and is in good agreement with the expected value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective lifetime of the B s 0 meson in the decay B s 0 → J / ψK S 0 is measured using data collected during 2016–2018 with the CMS detector in s = 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. The effective lifetime is determined by performing a two-dimensional unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the B s 0 meson invariant mass and proper decay time distributions. The resulting value of 1.59 ± 0.07(stat) ± 0.03(syst) ps is the most precise measurement to date and is in good agreement with the expected value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diboson production in association with jets is studied in the fully leptonic final states, pp → (Z/γ*)(Z/γ*) + jets → 2ℓ2ℓ′ + jets, (ℓ, ℓ′ = e or μ) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Differential distributions and normalized differential cross sections are measured as a function of jet multiplicity, transverse momentum pT, pseudorapidity η, invariant mass and ∆η of the highest-pT and second-highest-pT jets, and as a function of invariant mass of the four-lepton system for events with various jet multiplicities. These differential cross sections are compared with theoretical predictions that mostly agree with the experimental data. However, in a few regions we observe discrepancies between the predicted and measured values. Further improvement of the predictions is required to describe the ZZ+jets production in the whole phase space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrochemical clusters are forms of industrialization that use compounds and polymers derived directly or indirectly from gas or crude oil for chemical applications. They pose a variety of short- and long-term risks to the environment and the people who live nearby. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between the degree of perceived technological risk and the emotional value generated by the contemplation of the petrochemical industry landscape in order to try to establish strategic lines of action to mitigate the perception of risk and improve the emotional well-being of the population. This study uses manipulated pictures and a Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) survey to assess changes in perception and emotional response in residents in Teheran (Iran). Key findings show an insignificant relationship between technological risk and landscape value perception in both original and manipulated pictures. However, taking into account that, in general, in manipulated pictures, there is a more significant relationship, designing the landscape could help to mitigate the technological risk perception. This study contributes to the broader discussion about industrialization and its environmental and social consequences. It emphasizes the importance of considering public perception when planning and developing industrial areas, so as to balance industrial functionality and environmental and aesthetic considerations for long-term urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research relevance is determined by the growing use of blockchain technology in various industries and the need to address technical challenges and security and fraud issues. The research aims to analyse the application of blockchain technology in various fields and identify key technical challenges and opportunities for fraud prevention. The study results confirm the great potential of blockchain technology in addressing key aspects of security, transparency, and efficiency in various fields. Blockchain can significantly improve quality and business processes in industries such as healthcare, finance, and agriculture. Technical challenges related to the scalability and security of blockchain technology were also identi- fied. Particularly in industries where data volumes are large and processing largescale transactions requires increased scaling, performance and speed issues may arise. Additionally, insufficient security mechanisms can compromise data integrity and lead to misuse. Fraud issues were also identified as a significant threat that requires further research and development. The results of the study highlight the importance of further development and development of new algorithms and approaches to ensure scalability, improve security, and develop mechanisms for detecting and preventing fraud in the context of blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To further test the application of topical steroids in boys referred to a paediatric surgical practice with pathological, non-retractable foreskins diagnosed as phimosis. Patients and methods This prospective study comprised two groups of 20 boys each (mean age 4.1 years, range 3-6) diagnosed as having phimosis; twice daily, a topical steroid (0.05% betamethasone cream) was applied on the narrowed preputial skin in the first group and a neutral cream (Vaseline) in the second (control) group. Patients were treated for 4 weeks and the retractability of the foreskin and any side-effects assessed. Results Good retraction of the foreskin was achieved in 19 patients treated with betamethasone cream and the response was unsatisfactory in 16 patients from the control group; these 16 boys and one 6-year-old boy treated with betamethasone were circumsized. There were no side-effects or problems after the application of either cream. Conclusion Treatment with 0.05% betamethasone cream is a simple and safe method for the treatment of phimosis in boys older than 3 years. An early operation is necessary in cases of genuine phimosis when 1 month of treatment with topical steroids has failed. We strongly support the saying, 'The fortunate foreskin of an infant boy will usually be left well alone by everyone but its owner'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of the charge-dependent two-particle angular correlation function in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of s NN = 8.16 TeV and lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV are reported. The pPb and PbPb data sets correspond to integrated luminosities of 186 nb−1 and 0.607 nb−1, respectively, and were collected using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The charge-dependent correlations are characterized by balance functions of same- and opposite-sign particle pairs. The balance functions, which contain information about the creation time of charged particle pairs and the development of collectivity, are studied as functions of relative pseudorapidity (∆η) and relative azimuthal angle (∆ϕ), for various multiplicity and transverse momentum (pT) intervals. A multiplicity dependence of the balance function is observed in ∆η and ∆ϕ for both systems. The width of the balance functions decreases towards high-multiplicity collisions in the momentum region < 2 GeV, for pPb and PbPb results. Integrals of the balance functions are presented in both systems, and a mild dependence of the charge-balancing fractions on multiplicity is observed. No multiplicity dependence is observed at higher transverse momentum. The data are compared with hydjet, hijing, and ampt generator predictions, none of which capture completely the multiplicity dependence seen in the data. The comparison of results with different center-of-mass energies suggests that the balance functions become narrower at higher energies, which is consistent with the idea of delayed hadronization and the effect of radial flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons, including CP -violation effects, has been conducted using its production and decay in the WW channel. This analysis is performed on proton–proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC during 2016–2018 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb - 1 . The different-flavor dilepton (e μ) final state is analyzed, with dedicated categories targeting gluon fusion, electroweak vector boson fusion, and associated production with a W or Z boson. Kinematic information from associated jets is combined using matrix element techniques to increase the sensitivity to anomalous effects at the production vertex. A simultaneous measurement of four Higgs boson couplings to electroweak vector bosons is performed in the framework of a standard model effective field theory. All measurements are consistent with the expectations for the standard model Higgs boson and constraints are set on the fractional contribution of the anomalous couplings to the Higgs boson production cross section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the origin and characteristics of occurrences of brine in the Amu Darya syneclise is important today, as it allows expanding our knowledge of the geological and climatic history of the region, as well as to influence our understanding of the processes associated with the formation of sedimentary rocks and their use in various scientific and industrial spheres. The aim of the study is to analyse the geological and geochemical characteristics of depositional deposits in the Amu Darya syneclise in order to identify links between these characteristics and hydrocarbon production processes. The study resulted in a detailed description of the geological structure of the brines, including their layered organization, texture, and mineral distribution. It was found that the brines in the Amu Darya syneclise are of ancient origin and indicate a long geological process of their formation. The main minerals characterizing the brines, such as gypsum, anhydrite, and halite, have also been identified through chemical analysis of the samples. The data obtained allow drawing conclusions about the antiquity and conditions of brine formation in the area, as well as suggesting possible changes in the geological and climatic history of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study included the use of technogenic ore formations from the metallurgical industry of the Republic of Armenia for hydrometallurgical treatment in laboratory conditions. In the course of the study, a new complex pyrohydrometallurgical technological method was proposed, which is designed to effectively extract metals in the form of concentrates from technogenic ore formations, and produce technical silicon dioxide from materials resistant to chemical reagents. Within the framework of this method, raw materials obtained from technogenic formations are melted using certain chemical reagents, after which the resulting melt is dissolved in an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid in specially created gel-like conditions. The reduced silicic acid then undergoes a purification process by dissolving in a weak aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to remove impurities, and then undergoes heat treatment in atmospheric air to convert into silicon dioxide. The metals contained in technogenic ore formations are separated into solid and liquid concentrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for “emerging jets” produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. This search examines a hypothetical dark quantum chromodynamics (QCD) sector that couples to the standard model (SM) through a scalar mediator. The scalar mediator decays into an SM quark and a dark sector quark. As the dark sector quark showers and hadronizes, it produces long-lived dark mesons that subsequently decay into SM particles, resulting in a jet, known as an emerging jet, with multiple displaced vertices. This search looks for pair production of the scalar mediator at the LHC, which yields events with two SM jets and two emerging jets at leading order. The results are interpreted using two dark sector models with different flavor structures, and exclude mediator masses up to 1950 (1950) GeV for an unflavored (flavor-aligned) dark QCD model. The unflavored results surpass a previous search for emerging jets by setting the most stringent mediator mass exclusion limits to date, while the flavor-aligned results provide the first direct mediator mass exclusion limits to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for Higgs boson pair (HH) production with one Higgs boson decaying to two bottom quarks and the other to two W bosons are presented. The search is done using proton-proton collisions data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC from 2016 to 2018. The final states considered include at least one leptonically decaying W boson. No evidence for the presence of a signal is observed and corresponding upper limits on the HH production cross section are derived. The limit on the inclusive cross section of the nonresonant HH production, assuming that the distributions of kinematic observables are as expected in the standard model (SM), is observed (expected) to be 14 (18) times the value predicted by the SM, at 95% confidence level. The limits on the cross section are also presented as functions of various Higgs boson coupling modifiers, and anomalous Higgs boson coupling scenarios. In addition, limits are set on the resonant HH production via spin-0 and spin-2 resonances within the mass range 250–900 GeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for “emerging jets” produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. This search examines a hypothetical dark quantum chromodynamics (QCD) sector that couples to the standard model (SM) through a scalar mediator. The scalar mediator decays into an SM quark and a dark sector quark. As the dark sector quark showers and hadronizes, it produces long-lived dark mesons that subsequently decay into SM particles, resulting in a jet, known as an emerging jet, with multiple displaced vertices. This search looks for pair production of the scalar mediator at the LHC, which yields events with two SM jets and two emerging jets at leading order. The results are interpreted using two dark sector models with different flavor structures, and exclude mediator masses up to 1950 (1950) GeV for an unflavored (flavor-aligned) dark QCD model. The unflavored results surpass a previous search for emerging jets by setting the most stringent mediator mass exclusion limits to date, while the flavor-aligned results provide the first direct mediator mass exclusion limits to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for “emerging jets” produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. This search examines a hypothetical dark quantum chromodynamics (QCD) sector that couples to the standard model (SM) through a scalar mediator. The scalar mediator decays into an SM quark and a dark sector quark. As the dark sector quark showers and hadronizes, it produces long-lived dark mesons that subsequently decay into SM particles, resulting in a jet, known as an emerging jet, with multiple displaced vertices. This search looks for pair production of the scalar mediator at the LHC, which yields events with two SM jets and two emerging jets at leading order. The results are interpreted using two dark sector models with different flavor structures, and exclude mediator masses up to 1950 (1950) GeV for an unflavored (flavor-aligned) dark QCD model. The unflavored results surpass a previous search for emerging jets by setting the most stringent mediator mass exclusion limits to date, while the flavor-aligned results provide the first direct mediator mass exclusion limits to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions create a strongly interacting state of hot and dense quark–gluon matter that exhibits a remarkable collective flow behavior with minimal viscous dissipation. To gain deeper insights into its intrinsic nature and fundamental degrees of freedom, we determine the speed of sound in an extended volume of quark–gluon plasma using lead–lead (PbPb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 0.607 nb−1. The measurement is performed by studying the multiplicity dependence of the average transverse momentum of charged particles emitted in head-on PbPb collisions. Our findings reveal that the speed of sound in this matter is nearly half the speed of light, with a squared value of 0.241 ± 0.002 (stat) ± 0.016 (syst) in natural units. The effective medium temperature, estimated using the mean transverse momentum, is 219 ± 8 (syst) MeV . The measured squared speed of sound at this temperature aligns precisely with predictions from lattice quantum chromodynamic (QCD) calculations. This result provides a stringent constraint on the equation of state of the created medium and direct evidence for a deconfined QCD phase being attained in relativistic nuclear collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Fewer than one-fifth of all studies on gender-affirming care originate from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is the first systematic review to examine surgical demographics and outcomes following gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in LMICs. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, five databases were systematically searched for original studies and case series on GAS within LMIC settings. Excluded reports included animal studies, non-English language studies, secondary studies including reviews, individual case reports and conference abstracts. Results: This review includes 34 studies involving n = 5064 TGNB individuals. Most studies (22, 64.7%) were from upper-middle-income countries, followed by lower-middle-income countries (12, 35.3%). A total of 31 studies (91.2%) reported on post-operative outcomes. Of n = 5013 patients who underwent GAS, 71.5% (n = 3584) underwent masculinizing and 29.5% (n = 1480) underwent feminizing procedures. The predominant procedures were metoidioplasty (n = 2270/3584, 63.3%) and vaginoplasty (n = 1103/1480, 74.5%). Mean follow-up was 47.7 months. In patients who underwent metoidioplasty, 6.8% (n = 155) of patients experienced a complication and 6.3% (n = 144) underwent revision surgery. In patients who underwent vaginoplasty, 11.5% (n = 127) of patients experienced a complication and 8.5% (n = 94) underwent revision surgery. Of the studies (25/34, 73.5%) that reported on quality of life and post-operative satisfaction, the majority showed marked improvements in psychosocial and functional outcomes. Notably, no post-surgical regret was reported among the surveyed patients. Conclusions: Existing literature on GAS in LMICs remains scarce and is concentrated in select institutions that drive specific procedures. Our review highlights the low reported volumes of GAS, variability in surgical outcomes and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the role of apoptosis and its effects on cavernosal smoothmuscle (CSM) function after ischemic priapism (IP) in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Twelve adult Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups: The priapism and control groups. In all rats, erections were obtained by the vacuum method; however, in the priapism group, erections were maintained with a rubber band for 4 h to mimic priapism. After 14 days following this procedure, penile excision was performed and cavernosal tissues were investigated pharmacologically and histopathologically. Isometric tension changes due to several contractile and relaxant pharmacological agents were investigated with/without nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibition. Results: Isometric contraction and relaxation responses due to the agents applied did not differ between the groups. However, with NOS and GC inhibition, the cavernosal tissues relaxed less in the priapism group than in the controls (p<0.05). Histopathological evaluation of the tissues revealed that the average apoptosis rates were greater in the priapism group than in the controls in both the CSM (60.3% vs. 31.8%) and cavernosal epithelia (40.2% vs. 7%). Conclusion: IP induction caused fibrosis by the apoptotic process in rat CSM. After IP, apoptosis in endothelial tissue was more evident than that in smooth muscle tissue in the corpus cavernosum. IP is likely to affect the NO pathway, resulting in a decrease in the NO-dependent relaxation in the cavernosal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic and comprehensive understanding of stakeholder relationships is the key component for achieving social sustainability of brownfield regeneration (BR), which has not been recognized by existing researches. Based on the widely acknowledged idea of social networks, this paper proposes a systematic research framework for the analysis of stakeholder relationships, with a focus on the dynamic and networked nature of relationships. The relationship network of stakeholders in BR is considered from three aspects: identifying the stakeholders and relationships among them, quantifying stakeholder relationships, and analyzing relationships network structure. The proposed stakeholder relationships analysis framework uses empirical methods (i.e., interviews and surveys), rationalistic methods (i.e., fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and social network analysis (SNA)) to analyze stakeholder relationships. To demonstrate the usability of the proposed framework, we apply it to the BR in China. The results show that: (1) it is feasible to mine the relationships of stakeholders from the social network perspective; (2) from the individual network aspect, the government, developers, government are at the core of the network with the highest network centrality during the recycling and contamination treatment stage, the construction stage and the use stage, respectively; (3) from the local network aspect, different cohesive subgroups with strong linkages are formed throughout the life cycle of BR; (4) from the overall network aspect, the highest density of the use stage means that there is good cohesion among stakeholders at this stage; the centralization of the construction stage is the highest, indicating that the stakeholders have relatively concentrated network power and loose relationships. The paper puts forward suggestions for improving the network structure of stakeholder relationships, including strengthening the network relationship between the government and environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs), improving the monitoring efficiency and network status of news media, establishing a construction consulting platform that effectively serves the public and end-users, forming the alliances among end-users, the public and ENGOs and enhancing the relationship network stability. Overall, this study helps to clarify stakeholder relationships by providing a systematic framework to encourage better stakeholder engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for the central exclusive production of top quark-antiquark pairs (t t ¯ ) is performed for the first time using proton-tagged events in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 29.4 fb−1. The t t ¯ decay products are reconstructed using the central CMS detector, while forward protons are measured in the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. An observed (expected) upper bound on the production cross section of 0.59 (1.14) pb is set at 95% confidence level, for collisions of protons with fractional momentum losses between 2 and 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for the central exclusive production of top quark-antiquark pairs (t t ¯ ) is performed for the first time using proton-tagged events in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 29.4 fb−1. The t t ¯ decay products are reconstructed using the central CMS detector, while forward protons are measured in the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. An observed (expected) upper bound on the production cross section of 0.59 (1.14) pb is set at 95% confidence level, for collisions of protons with fractional momentum losses between 2 and 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for long-lived heavy neutrinos (N) in the decays of B mesons produced in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 41.6 fb−1 collected in 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, using a dedicated data stream that enhances the number of recorded events containing B mesons. The search probes heavy neutrinos with masses in the range 1 < mN < 3 GeV and decay lengths in the range 10−2 < cτN < 104 mm, where τN is the N proper mean lifetime. Signal events are defined by the signature B → ℓBNX; N → ℓ±π∓, where the leptons ℓB and ℓ can be either a muon or an electron, provided that at least one of them is a muon. The hadronic recoil system, X, is treated inclusively and is not reconstructed. No significant excess of events over the standard model background is observed in any of the ℓ±π∓ invariant mass distributions. Limits at 95% confidence level on the sum of the squares of the mixing amplitudes between heavy and light neutrinos, |VN|2, and on cτN are obtained in different mixing scenarios for both Majorana and Dirac-like N particles. The most stringent upper limit |VN|2 < 2.0 × 10−5 is obtained at mN = 1.95 GeV for the Majorana case where N mixes exclusively with muon neutrinos. The limits on |VN|2 for masses 1 < mN < 1.7 GeV are the most stringent from a collider experiment to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for long-lived heavy neutrinos (N) in the decays of B mesons produced in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 41.6 fb−1 collected in 2018 by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC, using a dedicated data stream that enhances the number of recorded events containing B mesons. The search probes heavy neutrinos with masses in the range 1 < mN < 3 GeV and decay lengths in the range 10−2 < cτN < 104 mm, where τN is the N proper mean lifetime. Signal events are defined by the signature B → ℓBNX; N → ℓ±π∓, where the leptons ℓB and ℓ can be either a muon or an electron, provided that at least one of them is a muon. The hadronic recoil system, X, is treated inclusively and is not reconstructed. No significant excess of events over the standard model background is observed in any of the ℓ±π∓ invariant mass distributions. Limits at 95% confidence level on the sum of the squares of the mixing amplitudes between heavy and light neutrinos, |VN|2, and on cτN are obtained in different mixing scenarios for both Majorana and Dirac-like N particles. The most stringent upper limit |VN|2 < 2.0 × 10−5 is obtained at mN = 1.95 GeV for the Majorana case where N mixes exclusively with muon neutrinos. The limits on |VN|2 for masses 1 < mN < 1.7 GeV are the most stringent from a collider experiment to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) of Majorana or Dirac type using proton-proton collision data at s = 13 TeV is presented. The data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Events with three charged leptons (electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons) are selected, corresponding to HNL production in association with a charged lepton and decay of the HNL to two charged leptons and a standard model (SM) neutrino. The search is performed for HNL masses between 10 GeV and 1.5 TeV. No evidence for an HNL signal is observed in data. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are found for the squared coupling strength of the HNL to SM neutrinos, considering exclusive coupling of the HNL to a single SM neutrino generation, for both Majorana and Dirac HNLs. The limits exceed previously achieved experimental constraints for a wide range of HNL masses, and the limits on tau neutrino coupling scenarios with HNL masses above the W boson mass are presented for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) of Majorana or Dirac type using proton-proton collision data at s = 13 TeV is presented. The data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Events with three charged leptons (electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying tau leptons) are selected, corresponding to HNL production in association with a charged lepton and decay of the HNL to two charged leptons and a standard model (SM) neutrino. The search is performed for HNL masses between 10 GeV and 1.5 TeV. No evidence for an HNL signal is observed in data. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are found for the squared coupling strength of the HNL to SM neutrinos, considering exclusive coupling of the HNL to a single SM neutrino generation, for both Majorana and Dirac HNLs. The limits exceed previously achieved experimental constraints for a wide range of HNL masses, and the limits on tau neutrino coupling scenarios with HNL masses above the W boson mass are presented for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search is presented for the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson (H) to a pair of new light pseudoscalar bosons (a), followed by the prompt decay of each a boson to a bottom quark-antiquark pair, H → aa → b b ¯ b b ¯ . The analysis is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. To reduce the background from standard model processes, the search requires the Higgs boson to be produced in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The analysis probes the production of new light bosons in a 15 < ma < 60 GeV mass range. Assuming the standard model predictions for the Higgs boson production cross sections for pp → WH and ZH, model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the branching fraction B H → aa → b b ¯ b b ¯ . The combined WH and ZH observed upper limit on the branching fraction ranges from 1.10 for ma = 20 GeV to 0.36 for ma = 60 GeV, complementing other measurements in the μμττ, ττττ and bbℓℓ (ℓ = μ, τ) channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A search is presented for the decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson (H) to a pair of new light pseudoscalar bosons (a), followed by the prompt decay of each a boson to a bottom quark-antiquark pair, H → aa → b b ¯ b b ¯ . The analysis is performed using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. To reduce the background from standard model processes, the search requires the Higgs boson to be produced in association with a leptonically decaying W or Z boson. The analysis probes the production of new light bosons in a 15 < ma < 60 GeV mass range. Assuming the standard model predictions for the Higgs boson production cross sections for pp → WH and ZH, model independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are derived for the branching fraction B H → aa → b b ¯ b b ¯ . The combined WH and ZH observed upper limit on the branching fraction ranges from 1.10 for ma = 20 GeV to 0.36 for ma = 60 GeV, complementing other measurements in the μμττ, ττττ and bbℓℓ (ℓ = μ, τ) channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To highlight the problem of the short vas deferens in a single stage or staged laparoscopic orchidopexy. Patients and methods From October 1992 to February 1996, 23 patients (mean age 4.9 years, range 12 months to 12 years) underwent a laparoscopic staged Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy. During the second stage (open surgery), a short vas deferens was found in three patients; two testes were located retrovesically and one was in the internal inguinal ring. Two testes could not be brought into the scrotum, but only to the inguinal region, and one testis was placed in the scrotum but under tension. Results The patients were followed for 12, 19 and 28 months; the testis under tension became fully atrophic. One of the two testes that could not be placed further than the inguinal canal developed marked hypotrophy, while the other 'survived'. Conclusion A laparoscopic staged Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy should not used in patients with a very short vas deferens; patients with such a short vas deferens are extremely rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Concerted efforts by scientists and researchers are still being made to ensure the medicinal plants will be available on a continuing basis as a result of their medicinal, pharmaceutical, food, and other uses and to meet the increasing demands for them globally. Satureja montana is one of the multi-use medicinal plants that was introduced to Egypt to study the effect of planting dates, nitrogen, phosphorus, and fertilizers, and their interaction on the production of fresh herb and essential oil. Planting in the autumn gave the highest fresh herb, with 55 kg of nitrogen/ha and 37 kg of phosphorus/ha fertilization. For the highest essential oil production, spring planting with 55 kg of nitrogen/ha and 74 kg of phosphorus/ha was used. Much of the knowledge on its use as raw material in traditional medicine has been reported. Also, this study's emphasis has been put on essential oil composition. This study highlights that the cultivated species belongs to S. montana L., a carvacrol chemotype. There is antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal activities shown by S. montana essential oil. Due to the limited information recorded about the influence of different agronomic factors on the plant, there needs to be agronomic studies conducted on S. montana, and a selection of the best ones in order to maximize its production. The rising demand for safe plant compounds and herbal products that contribute positively to human health is in line with current market trends. Plants belonging to the Satureja genus, particularly the aromatic medicinal S. montana L. from the Lamiaceae family, are well suited to these trends as they serve as pharmaceutical raw materials. This research aimed to assess the influence of sowing date and fertilization doses, as well as their interaction, on the fresh weight, essential oil content, and composition of S. montana. Experimental cultivation involved varying nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The second cut had the highest fresh weight and oil production compared to the first cut. The highest total plant biomass was achieved with autumn sowing and fertilization at 55 kg N/ha and 37 kg P/ha, whereas Spring sowing exhibited higher essential oil production, with the maximum oil % with 74 kg P/ha and oil yield after applying 55 kg N/ha and 74 kg P/ha. The GC-MS analysis revealed that carvacrol was the predominant compound, with it being recommended to grow S. montana in Spring at doses of 55 kg N/ha and 74 kg P/ha for the superior oil yield. Additionally, S. montana essential oil demonstrated notable biological and antimicrobial activity, positioning it as a potential alternative to chemical food preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]