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• The studied materials highlighted the extent of the relationships in areas of the Iberian inland, also connected to the Mediterranean world, during the iron age. • The ceramic characterisation showed only a main production, with two body fabrics, but both used to produce all ceramic types, either traditional or ceremonial, manufactured in local workshops. • The material knowledge of these inland communities provided them the suitable ability to understand the fashions and industrial uses of the coastal circuits to replicate the characteristic elements of the social elites of that time with adequate mastery. The archaeological site called El Pueyo de Marcuello (Huesca, Spain) is an Iron Age urban settlement, geographically situated in inland Iberia, and dated of the second half of the first millennium BCE. The nature and manufacture of their archaeological remains allow identifying this site as a contact point for relevant exchanges, with remarkable connections with Central and Western Mediterranean cultures. These cultural influences and exchanges were investigated through the characterisation of the ceramic objects found during the archaeological excavations. More than forty fragments were studied, including some of the most peculiar ceramic types, and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The petrographic observations of the thin-sections highlighted two ceramic fabrics, with a similar matrix and mineralogy, but the second one using sparite crystals of crushed calcite as intentionally added temper. The statistical treatment of the chemical data supported the identification of two main compositional subgroups; both included very similar low-calcareous clay bodies. All these data allowed for highlighting a main production, with two body fabrics, but both used to produce all ceramic types, either traditional or ceremonial. These objects could have been largely manufactured in local workshops. The materials from El Pueyo de Marcuello highlighted the extent of the relationships in areas of the Iberian inland, also connected to the rhythms of Mediterranean world, during the Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, tremendous technological advances have emerged in human motion analysis (HMA). How has technology for analysing human motion evolved over the past decades, and what clinical applications has it enabled? The literature on HMA has been extensively reviewed, focusing on three main approaches: Fully-Instrumented Gait Analysis (FGA), Wearable Sensor Analysis (WSA), and Deep-Learning Video Analysis (DVA), considering both technical and clinical aspects. FGA techniques relying on data collected using stereophotogrammetric systems, force plates, and electromyographic sensors have been dramatically improved providing highly accurate estimates of the biomechanics of motion. WSA techniques have been developed with the advances in data collection at home and in community settings. DVA techniques have emerged through artificial intelligence, which has marked the last decade. Some authors have considered WSA and DVA techniques as alternatives to "traditional" HMA techniques. They have suggested that WSA and DVA techniques are destined to replace FGA. We argue that FGA, WSA, and DVA complement each other and hence should be accounted as "synergistic" in the context of modern HMA and its clinical applications. We point out that DVA techniques are especially attractive as screening techniques, WSA methods enable data collection in the home and community for extensive periods of time, and FGA does maintain superior accuracy and should be the preferred technique when a complete and highly accurate biomechanical data is required. Accordingly, we envision that future clinical applications of HMA would favour screening patients using DVA in the outpatient setting. If deemed clinically appropriate, then WSA would be used to collect data in the home and community to derive relevant information. If accurate kinetic data is needed, then patients should be referred to specialized centres where an FGA system is available, together with medical imaging and thorough clinical assessments. • Gait analysis by stereophotogrammetry provides highly accurate biomechanics of motion. • Wearable sensors enable ecological data collection at home and in community setting. • Deep-learning video analysis can perform motion capture without instruments on subjects. • Several authors suggest more modern technologies shall replace traditional gait analysis. • We argue that these three technologies complement each other and shall be "synergistic". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The diffusion of microplastics in the food supply chain is prompting public concern as their impact on human health is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize microplastics in skim-milk powder samples (n = 16) from different European countries (n = 8) through Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode analysis. The present study highlights that the use of hot alkaline digestion has enabled the efficacious identification of microplastics in skim-milk powders used for cheesemaking across European countries. The adopted protocol allowed detection of 29 different types of polymeric matrices for a total of 536 plastic particles. The most abundant microplastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Microplastics were found in skim-milk powders in 3 different shapes (fiber, sphere, and irregular fragments) and 6 different colors (black, blue, brown, fuchsia, green, and gray). Results demonstrate the presence of microplastics in all skim-milk powder samples, suggesting a general contamination. Results of the present study will help to evaluate the impact of microplastics intake on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a non-pneumatic tire (NPT) specifically designed for military vehicles, such as the Humvee. Our aim was to enhance performance on challenging terrains crucial for mission success. We selected a novel X-shaped polygonal structure for the spoke design owing its exceptional load-carrying capacity and durability. The equivalent modulus, which is the key factor in spoke design, was analytically derived and formulated. This calculated modulus served as a benchmark for achieving the desired vertical stiffness of the NPT. We manufactured a prototype NPT and evaluated its mechanical properties by using a polyurethane (PU) spoke structure. Multiple finite element models of the novel NPT, considering different parameters such as the number of spoke sections, thickness, and modulus of elasticity, were developed while maintaining a consistent equivalent modulus value. Dynamic finite element analysis was then performed to assess the rolling performance of the NPT. We found that the maximum dynamic stress at the spoke was 2.387 MPa, which is 0.398 times the allowable yield strength of the PU spoke. This finding confirms the durability of the novel NPT under dynamic usage in military vehicles, with promising implications for overcoming challenging terrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Application of AI in the field of cultural heritage preservation and mediation. • Intelligent tool for an augmented audiovisual analysis of a video art archive. • Automated analysis of the archive using concepts of the poetics of video art. • The benefits of the intelligent tool are illustrated on archive of the Vasulkas. This article focuses on the development and application of intelligent software for image and sound recognition to perform iconographic and audiographic analyses of the work of video art pioneers Steina and Woody Vasulka (the Vasulkas). The AI epistemological tool Vasulka Live Archive is designed to provide unique results that benefit from the synthesis of automatic statistical analysis across the dataset and application of predefined categories that are the results of aesthetic evaluation of the Vasulkas' videos and inspired by terminology of video art aesthetics (Weibel, Krauss). The advantages of this AI tool reveal themselves particularly when the tool is used for transmedia analysis of the whole dataset (the Vasulkas' work) as the accuracy and completeness of its results are out of reach of an individual human researcher. We argue that this kind of AI tools can contribute to more exact and data-based findings on media art aesthetics, it can contribute to establishing a new field augmented iconology (Spratt) as well as expanding the sphere of AI tools application towards digital collections of experimental and conceptual art of 20th and 21st centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate linear measurements of the frontal sinus (FS) and sphenoid sinus (SS) for sex identification on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. A comparative CBCT analysis was conducted on 200 full field of view (FOV) scans taken as part of routine dental investigations. Dimensions of the bilateral frontal and sphenoid sinuses were measured. Intra- and interobserver reliability were calculated. Independent t tests were used to compare the various parameters between sexes. Stepwise discriminant function analysis was used to determine sex. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were also determined. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. A total of 200 CBCT scans were included in the study. The mean age (±SD) among males was 25.66 (±7.11) and that among females was 24.64 (±5.12). The ROC curve revealed that the right length of the frontal sinus showed the greatest accuracy in sex identification in comparison to other linear measurements of the FS and SS. The results of our study indicated that the equation obtained from stepwise discriminant function analysis can aid in sex determination with an accuracy of 76.5 %. Our findings support the sexual dimorphism of linear measurements of FS and SS. There was an improvement in the accuracy of sex prediction when the linear measurements of FS and SS were considered in combination rather than in isolation. The derived equation can be an adjunctive tool for sex identification for the representative population. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple methods are available for collecting health preference information. However, information on the design and analysis of novel methods is limited. This article aims to provide the first introduction into the design and analysis of multidimensional thresholding (MDT). We introduce MDT as a 2-step approach: First, participants rank the largest possible improvements in all considered attributes by their importance. Second, participants complete a series of systematically combined trade-off questions. Hit-and-Run sampling is used for obtaining preference weights. We also use a computational experiment to compare different MDT designs. The outlined MDT can generate preference information suitable for specifying a multiattribute utility function at the individual level. The computational experiment demonstrates the method's ability to recover preference weights at a high level of precision. While all designs in the computation experiment perform comparably well on average, the design outlined in the paper stands out with a high level of precision even if differences in relative attribute importance are large. MDT is suitable for preference elicitation, in particular if sample sizes are small. Future research should help improve the methods (e.g., remove the need for an initial ranking) to increase the potential reach of MDT. • Multidimensional thresholding (MDT) is a novel stated preference method that elicits acceptable trade-offs among multiple attributes at the individual level. This article provided the first introduction to the design and analysis of MDTs. In addition, the performance of 3 alternative design approaches was compared in computational experiments. • MDT uses a 2-step approach to estimate individual-specific multiattribute utility functions. First, individuals rank the largest possible improvement in attributes by their importance. Second, individuals complete a series of systematically designed thresholding exercises. The ranking and threshold data inform the boundaries of a feasible preference weight space. A hit-and-run sampler estimates the individual weight vector as the centroid of the feasible weight space. • The computational experiment demonstrated that MDT can recover multiattribute preference weights at a high level of precision across a wide range of scenarios (eg, large differences in relative attribute importance). This suggests that MDT can complement more commonly used stated preference instruments, especially when sample sizes are small. Future research should investigate how to incorporate categorical variables, eliminate the need for a ranking exercise, and relax current analytical assumptions (eg, linearity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Control of the iron state in iron-containing pharmaceuticals. • Mössbauer spectroscopy of iron-containing pharmaceuticals. • The iron valence state and iron-containing contaminations in pharmaceuticals. Various iron-containing medicaments, vitamins and dietary supplements are used or developed for treatment and prevention of the iron deficiency anemia which is very dangerous for human and may cause various disorders. From the other hand, blood losses, iron poor diet, microelements (co-factors) deficiency, metabolic failures, absorption problems, etc. can change the iron status and affect the health. These pharmaceuticals contain iron compounds in the ferrous and ferric states. It is known that ferrous salts are more suitable for the intestinal intake than ferric ones. On the other hand, pharmaceutically important ferritin analogues contain ferric hydrous oxides and appear to be effective for both injections and peroral administration. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is a unique physical technique which allows one to study various iron-containing materials including pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this technique was applied to study iron-containing pharmaceuticals for the analysis of the iron state, identification of ferric and ferrous compounds, revealing some structural peculiarities and for detection of aging processes in relation to the iron compounds. This review considers the main results of a long experience in the study of iron-containing pharmaceuticals by Mössbauer spectroscopy with critical analysis that may be useful for pharmacists, biochemists, biophysicists, and physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of text readability indicators and sentiment factors to asset pricing is practical in investment risk management yield pursuit. We analyzed the polarity of textual sentiment of Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in 10-Ks for firms in the U.S. by constructing Sentiment Entropy, a new sentiment indicator based on L&M Dictionary, which captures the same characteristics of positive and negative emotions from the perspective of polarity. The empirical results show that the polarity of sentiments increases investment risk measured by return volatility, which differs from the traditional one-way emotion indicator. We found through a mediator effect test that emotional polarity significantly increases investment risk by stimulating large changes in trading volume, which is consistent with conventional wisdom. Challenging conventional findings, we find that positive and negative emotions in disclosures may have homogenous effects on the market, providing inspirations for understanding the role of textual sentiment on investor behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commodities play a pivotal role in the global economy, and their dramatic price fluctuations can affect national security and global economic stability. This paper focus on the field of commodities, utilizing the Web of Science and CNKI databases. Based on the CiteSpace knowledge graph visualization analysis tool, it conducts a bibliometric analysis of the Chinese and English literature on commodity risk published from 2004 to 2023, aiming to reveal the keywords, emerging trends, major research institutions and their collaborative networks, trends in the issuance of articles, and major contributing countries, and authors. This analysis provides insights into the academic landscape of commodity risk and helps to identify future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometrics has permeated modern technology, particularly within mobile devices, integrating into daily life. From the 14th century, biometrics has served as a foundational method for security, aiding in criminal identification through physical characteristics records. Advancements in technology have propelled the evolution of precise and automated systems for analyzing facial, vocal, and ocular biometrics. Major tech companies have adopted biometrics as the primary mode of user authentication, catapulting biometric security into the forefront of cybersecurity discussions. Despite the promising future of biometrics, governments worldwide are grappling with the challenging task of regulating the handling of biometric data. Mismanagement of biometric data could pose significant security risks to both individuals and public safety. Therefore, it is crucial to implement comprehensive regulations and legislative reforms to safeguard privacy and security in the era of biometrics. Towards this goal, this paper contributes to the discourse by identifying security and privacy issues related to biometric data. It conducts a comprehensive analysis of current legal frameworks governing biometric data through the lens of the CIAAA (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Authenticity, and Accountability) security framework. Additionally, it highlights emerging trends and outlines the implications for future policymaking and technological advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is more accurate than two-dimensional (2D) MRE; however, it requires long-term acquisition. This study aimed to reduce the acquisition time of abdominal 3D MRE using a new sample interval modulation (short-SLIM) approach that can acquire all three motions faster while reducing the prolongation of echo time and flow compensation. To this end, two types of phantom studies and an in vivo test of the liver in three healthy volunteers were performed to compare the performances of conventional spin-echo echo-planar (SE-EPI) MRE, conventional SLIM and short-SLIM. One phantom study measured the mean amplitude and shear modulus within the overall region of a homogeneous phantom by changing the mechanical vibration power to assess the robustness to the lowered phase-to-noise ratio in short-SLIM. The other measured the mean shear modulus in the stiff and background materials of a phantom with an embedded stiffer rod to assess the performance of short-SLIM for complex wave patterns with wave interference. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess similarity of elastograms in the rod-embedded phantom and liver between methods. The results of the phantom study changing the vibration power indicated that there was little difference between conventional MRE and short-SLIM. Moreover, the elastogram pattern and the mean shear modulus in the rod-embedded phantom in conventional SLIM and short-SLIM did not change for conventional MRE; the liver test also showed a small difference between the acquisition techniques. This study demonstrates that short-SLIM can provide MRE results comparable to those of conventional MRE. Short-SLIM can reduce the total acquisition time by a factor of 2.25 compared to conventional 3D MRE time, leading to an improvement in the accuracy of shear modulus estimation by suppressing the patient movements. • A new approach to MRE acquisition and processing for fast abdominal 3D elastic imaging. • Technique to reduce the acquisition time of 3D abdominal MRE by a factor of 2.25. • Improvement of accuracy of stiffness estimation by suppressing patient movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing processes for traceability is required in various industries to assure product quality during manufacturing, provide evidence on required processing conditions or facilitate product recalls. Commonly, radio-frequency identification (RFID) or code recognition techniques (e.g. Data Matrix) are applied to track the flow of workpieces through a manufacturing system and link processing data accordingly. Although the analysis of tracking data is well-examined, we still see a gap in the research on the trade-off between data acquisition, data analytics and data quality. Here, we present a framework to increase the value of existing data by enabling data analytics while addressing common pitfalls and reducing the costs of data management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The era of ubiquitously interconnected, intelligent, and self-driving automobiles approaches as contemporary vehicles undergo gradual enhancements in terms of security catalyzed by security analysis in various modules, algorithms, operating systems, and soft and hardware nodes. This work examines the application of a dynamic Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in real-time using a Renault T520 Heavy-duty truck. It assesses the effectiveness of the security analysis procedure and its execution, focusing on the quality of the analysis concerning data derived from experiment sources. The validation of the security implementation adheres to a unified inbound and outbound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesian cuisine, especially Bakso, is one of the trendy foods that many travelers try to consume. Among the variations of Bakso, Bakso Malang is one of the most popular variants that is much talked about in social media. The present study analyzes the sentiment text mining of Bakso Malang business on post covid period from a natural language processing (NLP) social perspective. The data was taken from scraping to social media by "bakso malang" keywords. A total of 331 lexicon-filtering Tweets were gathered in the middle of March 2023. The corpus data were analyzed by valance aware dictionary and sentiment reasoner (Vader) sentiment analysis. K-means conducted the cluster of expressions. The result shows the variation of sentiments expressed in social media by anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise with 1.21%, 1.21%, 4.83%, 32.33%, 3.02%, and 57.40%, respectively. Many contents were discussed with keywords of "malang", "bakso", "enak", "makan", "foodfess2", "mau", and "pengen". Behavioural insight shows joy expression when discussing Bakso Malang. Further insights and recommendations are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an impetus to decarbonize transportation sector and mitigate climate change. This study examines the effect of adopting hydrogen (H 2) as a fuel for Dubai Buses at different penetration scales on carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions reduction. A H 2 supply-chain system dynamics model is developed to conduct life cycle cost and environmental analysis and evaluate the efficacy of different carbon prices and subsidies. Gray, green and mixed H 2 production scenarios were considered. The results show that gray hydrogen reduces 7.1 million tons of CO 2 , which is half of green hydrogen buses. Replacing diesel fleet at end of lifetime with mixed hydrogen bus fleet was the optimal approach to promote green hydrogen at pump reaching $4/kg in a decade. This gradual transition reduces 62% of the well-to-wheel CO 2 emissions of the new bus fleet and creates mass for economies of scale as carbon prices and subsidies cannot promote green hydrogen alone. • Subsidies alone cannot commercialize green hydrogen as a fuel for public transport. • Trade-offs between cost and CO 2 reductions using green, gray and mixed hydrogen. • Mixed hydrogen in Dubai buses create a scale to lower cost and emissions. • Integrated approach from government, policy makers, and industries generate demand. • At large scale and in the long term, full green hydrogen transport is economical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of reporting checklists such as CONSORT aimed to enhance the clarity and transparency of the reporting of Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs). A benefit of clear reporting is to allow healthcare clinicians to assess both the study quality and trial findings and determine its applicability in the treatment of their patients. Despite this global initiative, the reporting of Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs) undertaken in both dentistry and orthodontics has been reported to sub-optimal in relation to several domains affecting the validity of the trial. Within the literature the adequacy of the statistical analysis undertaken in a trial has been questioned. The aim of this narrative review is to provide clinicians with an overview of the common statistical errors evident in published orthodontic Clinical Trials and to highlight the potential consequences on the interpretation of the trial findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructure of the Heliophysics discipline has promising components but with several missing gaps, drastically reducing research and development efficiency. Developing an online discovery and analysis software ecosystem will close several of these gaps. The five main focuses on this ecosystem should be Discovery, Implementation, Analysis, Reproducibility, and Sharing of results (DIARieS). In this paper, we give a detailed description of how the proposed software ecosystem should operate, and point out the large range of possible applications to benefit many disparate groups, such as researchers, operational staff, decision-makers, and educators. The infrastructure components and technological capabilities necessary for its completion are either currently available or in development, making such an ecosystem possible for the first time. One main focus of current infrastructure investments must be to adapt and connect these pieces together into a cohesive whole to increase our research and development efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lipases (EC number 3.1.1.3), capable of hydrolyzing triacylglycerols (TAGs) into glycerol and fatty acids, gained attention due to its diverse biotechnological applications. • Wheat is an important cereal crop of the genus Triticum , in which lipolytic activities are shown by embryo and aleurone lipids • In this study, 63 lipase genes were identified in wheat. Through phylogenetic tree analysis, two genes matched common clusters with known lipase sequences of Arabidopsis, Oryza , and Zea mays. • Sequence 000056_1AL showed optimum physico-chemical characters with catalytic activity in lipid metabolism and a better network with 8 functionally associated transcript proteins. • Domains present in the sequence 000056_1AL are TAG lipase, lipase class – 3, and phospholipase A1, which show broad substrate specificity of the particular protein. Lipases (EC number 3.1.1.3), capable of hydrolyzing triacylglycerols (TAGs) into glycerol and fatty acids, gained attention due to diverse biotechnological applications and are extensively used in industries like dairy, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food etc. Industrial use of microbial lipases is very costly, so an alternative seed lipase is used due to its low cost, specificity and ease of purification. Lipolytic activities in wheat (genus Triticum) are shown by embryo and aleurone lipids. The present study was undertaken to characterize the identified wheat lipase sequences with the help of bioinformatics tools. 63 wheat lipase genes were identified of which two genes matched common clusters with known lipase sequences of Arabidopsis, Oryza, and Zea mays through phylogenetic tree analysis. From STRING database (v11.0) analysis only one gene (ID: 000056_1AL) showed perfect 1st interaction networking. It depicted 8 functionally transcript partners with 9 nodes and 17 edges of which only 6 nodes have shown 2nd interaction. On further analysis, sequence 000056_1AL showed optimum physico-chemical characters with catalytic activity in lipid metabolism and a better network with 8 functionally associated transcript proteins. Domains present in the sequence 000056_1AL are TAG lipase, lipase class - 3, and phospholipase A1, which show broad substrate specificity of the particular protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric surgery is a developing specialty with increasing volume in Latin America. However, the research and scientific activity trends carried out in this region in recent years are unknown. This study aimed to analyze and visualize Latin American research in pediatric surgery from 2012 to 2021. Bibliometric cross-sectional study of scientific articles on pediatric surgery published by Latin American authors from 2012 to 2021 in Scopus was performed. Statistical and visual analysis was performed with R programming language and VOS viewer. 449 articles were found. Observational studies (44.7%; n = 201), case reports (20.4%; n = 92) and narrative reviews (11.4%; n = 51) were found to be the most common study designs. The published articles were predominantly monocentric (73.1%; n = 328), only 17% (n = 76) involved authors from 2 or more countries, and mostly there was no collaboration with high-income countries (80.6%; n = 362). The Journal of Pediatric Surgery was the journal with the highest volume of articles published (n = 37). The most used terms were Laparoscopy, Complications, and Liver Transplantation, and the countries with the highest number of articles published were Brazil and Argentina. This study found a progressive increase in the scientific activity of Latin authors in pediatric surgery from 2012 to 2021. The evidence produced was mainly from observational studies and case reports, predominantly conducted in Brazil. Multinational and international collaboration was low; the most frequent topics of interest were laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery. IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) is an emerging materials processing technology. Owing to a number of merits, like reduced tooling, cycle time and cost and ability to produce sculptured profiles, in comparison to the traditional methods, the recent past has witnessed a growing interest in the application of SPIF to composite materials. This article authoritatively reviews the advancements in this area made since 2008. The review covers several aspects of the process including deformation characteristics, forming limits, failure modes forming forces, strain recovery, surface quality and analytical models. The current state of the technology and challenges are revealed, and many valuable findings are identified thereby setting guidelines for the process users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technologies have replaced many of the conventional managerial work areas. Blockchain, one of the newest head-turn technologies, is attempting to highlight this apparent tactic. Improvements in the supply chain and logistics are desperately needed. There is constant pressure on these sectors to develop and seek out better solutions because almost all businesses rely on them to function efficiently. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and publicly accessible nature, has provided answers to many of the problems that industry stakeholders are currently considering. The traceability, transparency, and openness of BCT are highlighted in this study as ways in which it benefits the supply chain sector. The top nations with publications about blockchain technology include China, the United States, Singapore, India, and Sweden. The rapid advancement of technology has made it necessary to stay current with the latest developments to stay ahead of the game. The main involvement of this work is a methodical, cyclical assessment of research and reference analysis to improve application and offer a better knowledge of the trajectory of these developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This concept analysis clarified "uncertainty in people with mental disabilities". The research was conducted using Walker & Avant's conceptual analysis methodology. Uncertainty in people with mental disabilities showed the defining attributes of "ambiguity," "unpredictability," "distrust," and "lack of insight into illness," of which "distrust" and "lack of insight" were unique to people with mental disabilities. Accordingly, it was defined as a state in which it is difficult to determine the treatment's timing because (1) the disease process is often too ambiguous to make a decision; (2) abnormal behavior can recur at any time while the patients are under treatment and in recovery; and (3) patients struggle to accept the illness, tend to distrust healthcare professionals and family, and show lack of knowledge, making them miss their treatment's timing and even making the expectation for recovery vague. The attributes of uncertainty in people with mental disabilities identified in this study confirmed that mental health professionals should proactively intervene to treat patients at an appropriate time and continuously manage them to prevent recurrence. The study findings can be utilized in mental health research and in developing interventions to reduce uncertainty in people with mental disabilities, helping them recover and integrate into the community. • Conduct a literature review, field research and analysis to confirm understanding of uncertainty in individuals with mental disabilities. • This new perspective highlights the issue with long-term hospitalization-based treatment and emphasizes the importance of recovery-oriented treatment that focuses on enabling people with mental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives within their communities. • To help people with mental disabilities recover and integrate into their communities, the study suggests developing an intervention program that reduces uncertainty and promotes continuity and activity of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the problem of low classification efficiency in existing algorithms that only consider single modal features of music or video, the author proposes a music emotion classification algorithm based on multimodal deep learning. Firstly, a two-dimensional audio Convolutional neural network is designed, which takes the audio Mel spectrum as the input to learn the audio characteristics of music; Secondly, a video neural network was designed to learn the spatiotemporal characteristics of music videos; Adopting multimodal fusion technology, we fused audio and video features and designed a multimodal deep learning classification algorithm to classify music emotions. In response to the lack of labeled music video datasets, the author constructed a diverse music video dataset. Based on this dataset, experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, and the impact of different optimizers on the performance of single mode classification models was compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that compared with a single modal sentiment classifier, a multimodal classifier can achieve the best classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of Internet information technology, data mining technology has been applied in various fields of China's social and industrial development, and has promoted the quality development of the industry [1]. Nowadays, people are widely influenced by Internet computer technology, and the application of computer technology has been indispensable in life, work and study. At the same time, data mining technology arises from Internet communication technology and is used as an important technical means of operation and development by various industries, especially the application of data mining technology in university software engineering teaching is becoming more and more widespread, but there are still many unavoidable problems that require scholars to pay more attention. The article analyzes and discusses the significance of applying data mining technology in software engineering [2] , and on this basis, the application path of data mining technology in software engineering database design is proposed, including: mining information, mining loopholes, mining execution records and open source. It is hoped that relevant technology users can efficiently apply data mining technology to make software engineering It is more reasonable and efficient, so that software engineering can be further developed. This paper presents the implementation and performance analysis of the teacher management decision-making system based on data mining, and introduces the implementation process of the system in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand protein aggregation and inherent particle formation in the biologics pipeline at Novartis, a cross-functional team collected and analyzed historical protein particle issues. Inherent particle occurrences from the past 10 years were systematically captured in a protein particle database. Where the root cause was identified, a number of product attributes (such as development stage, process step, or protein format) were trended. Several key themes were revealed: 1) there was a higher propensity for inherent particle formation with non-mAbs than with mAbs; 2) the majority of particles were detected following manufacturing at scale, and were not predicted by the small-scale studies; 3) most issues were related to visible particles, followed by subvisible particles; 4) 50% of the issues were manufacturing related. These learnings became the foundation of a particle mitigation strategy across development and technical transfer, and resulted in a set of preventive actions. Overall, this study provides further insight into a recognized industry challenge and hopes to inspire the biopharmaceutical industry to transparently share their experiences with inherent particles formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Energy crisis is one of the major challenges confronting African countries. Nigeria is one of the countries having a high energy deficit in Africa with rural areas being at the receiving end. Hence, people in several locations of the country depend largely on fossil fuels for their energy generation due to the energy supply problem being experienced in the country. Fossil fuel-based energy generation is highly environmentally-unfriendly hence, the use of renewable energy system is adopted as a viable alternative to solve the energy crisis. This work first reviews the energy status in rural Nigeria to describe the situation and the available energy resources. Three different energy scenarios – Grid only, PV only and the PV-Grid configurations were designed and simulated using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) tool for a village in Oyo state, Nigeria. The design of the energy systems is based on technical and economic analyses, which provide the opportunity to compare the performances of the different scenarios. The study uses the monthly grid purchase (MGP), excess electrical production (EEP), and unmet electric load (UEL), net present cost (NPC), Levelized cost of energy (LCOE), annual operating cost (OC) and the salvage value (SV) for the comparison. The simulation results demonstrated that the PV-Grid system is best option for the village with the highest MGP, EEP, and UEL of about 34, 24, and 0.7 kW, respectively. The corresponding economic implications for the PV-grid configuration are NPC, LCOE, OC, and SV values of 73388.77, 0.1904, 1957.64, and 2,173.55 USD. The sensitivity analysis result revealed that the grid only and PV-grid are not as affected by a change in temperature compared to the PV only whose energy production, and EEP values decrease with an increase in temperature and the UEL parameter increases with an increase in the surrounding temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high-dose biologic drugs for subcutaneous injection often requires high-concentration formulations and optimizing viscosity, solubility, and stability while overcoming analytical, manufacturing, and administration challenges. To understand industry approaches for developing high-concentration formulations, the Formulation Workstream of the BioPhorum Development Group, an industry-wide consortium, conducted an inter-company collaborative exercise which included several surveys. This collaboration provided an industry perspective, experience, and insight into the practicalities for developing high-concentration biologics. To understand solubility and viscosity, companies desire predictive tools, but experience indicates that these are not reliable and experimental strategies are best. Similarly, most companies prefer accelerated and stress stability studies to in-silico or biophysical-based prediction methods to assess aggregation. In addition, optimization of primary container-closure and devices are pursued to mitigate challenges associated with high viscosity of the formulation. Formulation strategies including excipient selection and application of studies at low concentration to high-concentration formulations are reported. Finally, analytical approaches to high concentration formulations are presented. The survey suggests that although prediction of viscosity, solubility, and long-term stability is desirable, the outcome can be inconsistent and molecule dependent. Significant experimental studies are required to confirm robust product definition as modeling at low protein concentrations will not necessarily extrapolate to high concentration formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The images help in the different processes where a visual interpretation of a scene is required, in this sense we find many applications where images are used to analyze, interpret and classify certain objects within the image, there are different types of images generated by different sensors, in this paper describes a method to analyze the behavior of the muscle, mainly of the knee, when performing rehabilitation exercises, coupled with an optical image where you can see the state of the muscle and the location, the method proposed as a super position between optical and thermal images, with the intention of being able to know the state of the optical image and to have the same image with information of the behavior of the temperature, the super position that we propose is to have as a base the optical image and on placing the thermal image, the results that are presented are oriented in proposing a new way of analyzing data with thermal information of the behavior of the muscles, by means of a complex image with optical and thermal information, the method is an aid in the treatment of muscular recovery, with the benefits of being scalable and applicable to other muscles and parts of the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's email dependent world, cyber criminals often target organizations using a variety of social engineering techniques and specially crafted malicious emails. When successful, such attacks can result in significant harm to physical and digital systems and assets, the leakage of sensitive information, reputation damage, and financial loss. Despite the plethora of studies on the detection of phishing attacks and malicious links in emails, there are no solutions capable of effectively, quickly, and accurately coping with more complex email-based attacks, such as malicious email attachments. This paper presents the first fully automated malicious email detection framework using deep ensemble learning to analyze all email segments (body, header, and attachments); this eliminates the need for human expert intervention for feature engineering. In this paper, we also demonstrate how an ensemble framework of deep learning classifiers each of which are trained on specific portions of an email (thereby independently utilizing the entire email) can generalize better than popular email analysis methods that analyze just a specific portion of the email for analysis. The proposed framework is evaluated comprehensively and with an AUC of 0.993, the proposed framework's results surpass state-of-the-art malicious email detection methods, including human expert feature-based machine learning models by a TPR of 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct recycling of lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles aims to close the loop of battery manufacturing. This study presents a novel process-based life cycle assessment model for studying the environmental impacts associated with the direct recycling for closed-loop production of lithium ion battery relative to the conventional open-loop battery manufacturing. A 66 kWh NMC-graphite battery pack is analyzed using directly recycled NMC and graphite for the closed-loop manufacturing. The results show that the closed-loop manufacturing via direct recycling can reduce environmental impacts by up to 54% over the conventional open-loop manufacturing of lithium ion battery for electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A mathematical model of submerged floating tunnel(SFT) with elastic boundary and flexible joints under moving load was proposed. • The different cable support stiffness and joint flexural stiffness in SFT was considered in this model. • The factors affecting the maximum displacement and moment response of SFT were discussed. This paper proposed a new theoretical model for analyzing the submerged floating tunnel(SFT) under moving load, whose boundary at two ends was regarded as elastic constraint, and the anchor cable was simplified as the discrete spring support. Besides, the tunnel joint was simulated as a flexural spring to connect two adjacent tube segments. The modes and natural frequencies of the model were solved by transfer matrix method, and the dynamic response of the SFT under moving load was investigated by the modal superposition method, which was verified by comparing with the results obtained by the general FEM software. The influence of boundary conditions, dissimilarity of cable stiffness and joint flexural stiffness on the dynamic response of the SFT was analyzed. The difference of the response between the beam on elastic supports (BOES) and the beam on elastic foundation (BOEF) was compared. The results showed that the boundary conditions had little influence on the vibration response of SFT's intermediate spans, but had great influence on the displacement and bending moment of the side span. Besides, even in the case when the frequency differentials of the BOES and the BOEF were small (1.84%), the displacements of the two models also had significant difference. The disparity of the cable stiffness and joint flexural stiffness had great influence on the distribution of displacement and bending moment of SFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le terme « épistémologie » est apparu chez le métaphysicien écossais James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864), dans son ouvrage Epistemology or Theory of Knowing (1854). La généralisation de son usage n'interviendra qu'à partir de la fin du XIXe siècle dans les textes de philosophes et scientifiques anglais et continentaux, puis nord-américains. Les discussions des membres de la Société Médico-Psychologique, créée en 1852, n'ont été répercutées par les Annales Médico-Psychologiques qu'à partir de 1853. Les questions en lien avec l'Épistémologie étaient alors référées à la Philosophie de la connaissance ou à la Philosophie des sciences. Elle repose sur l'approche de l'Épistémologie comparative (G.G. Granger), historique et clinique, sur l'analyse critique du langage et leurs propres recherches. Les auteurs reprennent la partition chronologique proposée par G. Lantéri-Laura en montrant en parallèle l'évolution des questions traitées par la philosophie des sciences, puis par l'Épistémologie. Ils analysent successivement l'impact de la Philosophie des Sciences à la Société Médico-Psychologique au cours du XIXe siècle dans la période 1852–1902, puis l'ancrage de la tradition épistémologique à la Société Médico-Psychologique avec l'apport de Pierre Marchais, et l'intrusion de l'approche nord-américaine au début du XXIe siècle. Il est illusoire de rechercher une méthode scientifique unique, définitive, applicable dans toutes les situations, car l'objectif scientifique ne dispense pas du rapport au concret. Pour la psychiatrie, quelles que soient les connaissances présentées comme nouvelles, les problèmes resurgissent à partir de perspectives diverses, dans des contextes différents, car la dynamique propre au développement de chaque discipline ou sous-spécialité les réactualise périodiquement. The term epistemology was first used by the Scottish metaphysician James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864), in his book Epistemology or Theory of Knowing (1854). The generalization of its use will not occur until the end of the 19th century in the texts of English and continental philosophers and scientists, and thereafter in North America. The discussions of the members of the Société Médico-Psychologique , created in 1852, were not reflected in the Annales Médico-Psychologiques until 1853, and questions related to epistemology were then assigned to the fields of the philosophy of knowledge or the philosophy of science. This article is based on the approach of comparative epistemology (G.G. Granger), on an historical and clinical approach, on the critical analysis of language, and on the authors' own research. Epistemology is "a critical study of the principles, hypotheses and results of the various sciences, intended to determine their logical (non-psychological) origin, their value, and their objective significance." The authors employ the chronological score proposed by G. Lantéri-Laura by showing in parallel the evolution of the questions treated by the philosophy of science, then by epistemology. They analyze successively the impact of the philosophy of science on the Société Médico-Psychologique during the 19th century during the period of 1852–1902, then the anchoring of the epistemological tradition at the Société Médico-Psychologique due to the contribution of Pierre Marchais, and finally, the incursion of the North American approach at the beginning of the 21st century. It is illusory to seek a single, definitive scientific method, which is applicable in all situations, because the scientific objective does not dispense with the relationship to the concrete. For psychiatry, whatever knowledge is presented as new, problems arise from different perspectives, in different contexts, because the dynamics of the development of each discipline or sub-specialty are updated periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantar fasciitis is a common musculoskeletal complaint seen in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 articles published on the topic of plantar fasciitis. The Web of Science platform was used to search for articles on plantar fasciitis published between 1975 and 2021. Articles were subsequently ranked from the most to least cited. The top 100 studies were analyzed and their characteristics described. A total of 1859 articles were identified. The most cited article was "A retrospective case-control injuries analysis of 2002 running" published by Taunton JE et al in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2002. This article had a total of 910 citations. The mean number of citations per article in the top 100 was 139.95 (range 83-910). The majority of articles were published between the years 2000 to 2009 (n = 56). The USA had the highest number of publications (n = 55), while 'Foot and Ankle International' was the journal with the most publications in the top 100 (n =10). Plantar fasciitis is a well-studied topic. Despite this, however, a significant interest in plantar fasciitis research remains among clinicians and researchers evident by the high number of recent studies published on this topic. It is anticipated that these more recent studies will become highly cited over time and as such, this bibliometric analysis should be continuously updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Review of the scientific literature of isolation valves in water distribution networks. • Analysis and comparison of the contributions to the analysis, design and maintenance issues. • Insights from field experience concerning water utilities' practices in various countries. • Identification of future research trends. Isolation valves play a primary role in water distribution networks as their operation enables isolating the part of the network undergoing planned or extraordinary maintenance, in the context of rehabilitation or pipe break repairs, respectively. This paper presents a review of the current state of the art of isolation valves, with a focus on the problems of analysis, e.g., assessment of the performance of the network in segment isolation scenarios, design of optimal valve locations, and selection criteria/methods for identification of the valves to maintain. After describing and classifying the main scientific contributions, the paper proceeds by reporting the results of a survey to water utility staff in the United States, Italy, Portugal, and Iran, aimed at analysing the current practices adopted for the positioning and maintenance of isolation valves in real case studies. The paper ends with a discussion on the analysis of scientific literature and results of on-field surveys, highlighting critical points for potential future developments, including the connection between the design and maintenance of isolation valves, the trade-off between increasing validity and reducing complexity of reliability assessment methods, and more precise modeling of isolation valves systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimating seven nitrosamines in Olmesartan tablet using LC-MS/MS. • This study developed and validate a simple LC-MS/MS method. • Developed method was used to routine quality control analysis. • The specificity of the method was tested using Olmesartan tablet samples. This research summaries the development, optimization and validation of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for concurrent measurement of seven nitrosamines viz; NDMA, NDEA, NDIPA, NDPA, NEIPA, NMPA & NMBA in Olmesartan tablet. Controlling these nitrosamines at trace levels is imperative for ensuring the safety of drug substances and products for consumption. Various regulatory authorities stress the significance of utilizing highly sensitive analytical methods to precisely measure nitrosamines at trace levels. The method applied effective chromatographic separation and optimized parameters for mass spectrometric detection. Detection was carried out using APCI positive ion mode. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Thermo Accucore PFP column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 2.6 µ), with a simple gradient elution of mobile phase consisting of 0.1 % formic acid in water (mobile phase A) and methanol (mobile phase B). The total run time was 20 min, with a flow rate of 0.800 mL/min. The method was validated according to the International Council on Harmonisation (ICH Q2 (R2)) guidelines. The established method demonstrated excellent linearity (R2> 0.99) and sensitivity for all the nitrosamines. Detection and quantification limits were sufficiently low for trace nitrosamine levels having good S/N ratio. The method showed good accuracy in Olmesartan tablet samples, with recoveries ranges between 80 % to 120 %. The new analytical approach has exceptional repeatability and reliability, making it possible to precisely quantify the levels of seven nitrosamines in Olmesartan medoxomil tablets in a single analytical run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and validated a novel Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method to determine the degree of molar substitution (MS) for hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) as a reference, and investigated the factors influencing the MS assay. Through extensive screening of integration methods for candidate bands in the FTIR spectrum of HPCS using 20 HPCS samples with degrees of acetylation (DA) ranging from 0.003 to 0.139, we found that when using band area at 2970 cm−1 as a probe integral, the MS values obtained via the 1H NMR method exhibited linear correlations (R2 > 0.98) with at least 16 integral ratios derived from their FTIR spectra. The optimal reference bands with high reliability are located at 3440 cm−1 and 1415 cm−1, with R2 exceeding 0.99 and a MS range of 0.17–1.92. The band at 2875 cm−1 is less affected by the trace moisture present in HPCS samples than the others. The results of the method validation demonstrated a mean recovery of 98.9 ± 2.8 % and an RSD below 10 %, suggesting a simple, robust, and highly accurate and precise method. This method could be extendable for the determination of the MS of insoluble HPCS derivatives and other hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. [Display omitted] • FTIR determination of MS for HPCS was developed and validated using 1H NMR as a reference. • Sixteen integral ratios are simultaneously obtained totally for accurate MS assay. • Factors influencing the determination of MS using the FTIR method have been elucidated. • This method has the potential for use in purity identification and impurity analysis. • The FTIR method can be used for the determination of MS in other insoluble HPCS derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods are analysed for their vitamin content to support the verification of regulatory compliance or to generate food composition data. Many international reference methods for the analysis of vitamins in foods originate from the 1990s. Advances in nutrition science and analytical technology and the continuing evolution of statutory regulations necessitate the need of new or supplementary regulatory standards. We have evaluated recent developments in these areas and conclude that most current international reference methods are no longer fit-for-purpose to accurately determine vitamin content in foods and food supplements. We have made recommendations to consider new and/or updated reference methods and regulatory standards for the analysis of vitamins A, D, E, K, B 1 , B 2 , B 3, B 5 , B 6 , B 7 , B 9 , B 12 , C and carotenoids in foods and food supplements. This area of nutrients may benefit from globally harmonised definitions specifying what compounds to include or exclude for analysis, and applicable bioactivity factors. • Expression of multiple vitamin forms in foods requires updated reference methods. • Current methods may not include recently authorised vitamers for fortification. • Globally harmonised definitions for vitamin forms to include or exclude are needed. • Advanced analytical techniques are required to demonstrate regulatory compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat qualities of free-range chicken (Xuan-Zhou) (XZ-FRC) are closely associated with slaughter age and directly influence the economic benefits of supplier and consumer's preference. Understanding of the relationship between meat qualities and ages will be of prime important to explore a better slaughter age of XZ-FRC. In this study, the quality traits of breast and thigh muscles from XZ-FRCs at 9 to 14 wk were analyzed to establish a relatively reliable method for selecting a better slaughter age. The results showed that the effects of slaughter ages on color (CIE L *, a * and b * values), shear force, centrifugal loss, and flavor of XZ-FRCs were significant (P < 0.05). There were greater differences in meat qualities, whatever breast or thigh muscles, between same or different ages. Eleven feature indexes used for colligation evaluation of slaughter age were selected by combining the quality characteristics and data analysis. The score of colligation evaluation for XZ-FRCs at 12 wk was higher than that at 9 and 14 wk, suggesting that the 12 wk was an optimal slaughter age. This work would provide a reference method that helps the producers of livestock and poultry to select a better slaughter age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article provides an account of coastal and marine bird species contaminated with plastics in light of ingestion, taxonomy, feeding clusters, types, shapes, colours and lethal and sublethal effects. Bird species were found contaminated with plastics in 39 locations/countries across the seven continents. Global analysis shows that low, medium and high plastic ingestion occurred in bird species across the globe. Fulmars, shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses, gulls, and kittiwakes (all marine/seabirds) were found contaminated with plastics in several locations in the world. Bird species belonging to the Procellariidae, Laridae, Diomedeidae (by taxonomy), piscivorous, molluscivorous, and cancrivorous (by feeding habits) were most contaminated with plastics. Microplastic, mesoplastic and macroplastic (by sizes), PP, PE, PS, PET, PAN and PVC (by types), fragments, pellets, fibres, foams, sheets, threads, fishing lines and films (by shapes) and white, blue, green, black, clear, red and yellow (by colours) were the most common plastics ingested by birds. Several bird species contaminated with plastics fall within the critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable categories. The ingestion of plastics can cause direct harm to birds resulting in death. In addition, plastic-derived toxic chemical additives and plastic-adsorbed toxic chemicals would be an additional stressor causing both lethal and sublethal effects that can cause greater harm to the health of birds. Several measures are suggested to reduce plastic pollution in the environment to safeguard birds and the environment. [Display omitted] • Coastal and marine bird species were contaminated with plastics across the globe. • Low, medium and high plastic ingestion occurred in bird species. • Bird families and bird feeding habits affected plastic ingestion/intake in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the knowledge system in Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in Medical Construction Projects (MCPs). Specifically, it proposes knowledge graph analysis utilizing scient metric techniques and employs VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to analyze the consequence of relevant statistics from the literature concerning BIM medical construction projects (BIM-MCPs). In order to analyze the collaboration network, the analysis of the co-occurrence network, and the analysis of the co-citation network, 83 journal articles were gathered. The results obtained from the research indicate that (a) the intellectual framework of BIM-MCPs can be categorized into four distinct clusters. (b) The research focus in BIM-MCPs has evolved, including model development, frameworks, implementation, system integration, application throughout the entire lifecycle, emergency medical engineering project applications, and intelligent management of medical facilities and smart buildings. (c) Prospective directions for research are delineated in three distinct areas: enhancement of use for BIM Medical Facility Management (BIM-MFM), integration of BIM technology in sustainability assessment, and application of BIM technology in emergency medical engineering and smart medical construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals are a group of man-made commercial and synthetic products and an important mainstay of modern society. However, their presence in aquatic environments is identified as a potential risk, causing harm to living things even at low concentrations ranging from ng L−1 to μg L−1. Due to their pseudo-persistence, bio-accumulation, and low elimination rate by conventional treatments, the majority of these xenobiotic contaminants and their metabolites are routinely released into the environment by sewage treatment plants and last longer in an aquatic environment. This review aims to provide an extensive report and a current state of knowledge concerning various classes of pharmaceutical compounds (PCs). It also discusses the occurrence, the analytical methods for the determination of PC micro-pollutants, and the remediation methods noted in recent literature focusing on the most recent advances. In this context, this review highlights the statistical data regarding the status of PCs in detection, analysis, and removal methods in aqueous media. In addition, this review provides an overview of the conventional and advanced technologies for the removal of PCs from water sources, offering critical comments, and discussing the challenges related to improving existing technologies for sustainable and eco-friendly management of water resources. It likewise emphasizes the importance of the combination of different treatment methods to reach up to 100% PC removal. Finally, gaps in the literature were found, and recommendations for further research were also cited in accordance with this paper. To the best of our knowledge, this review paper is among the rare works that deal with both: i) the analysis of large varieties of PCs in different water matrices, ii) the removal and identification of target analytes and their by-products generated during the elimination processes, and iii) the possible degradation pathways proposed by different studies. [Display omitted] • Occurrence of PCs in different water matrices are discussed. • Analytical methods for identifying PCs in waters are elucidated critically. • Advanced treatment methods for PCs removal are systematically reviewed. • Performed analytical techniques for by-products identification are described. • Possible mechanistic ways of PCs elimination by AOPs are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the cognitive function and nutritional status of elderly patients with gastric cancer during perioperative period, and to analyze their correlation. Methods: Aged patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery in The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from March to October 2021 were selected as the subjects of this study. The monitoring data of cognitive function and nutritional status were retrospectively analyzed from 1 to 3 days before surgery, 1 and 3 days after surgery, 7 days after surgery (before discharge) and 30 days after surgery to analyze the correlation between cognitive function and nutritional status in elderly patients with gastric cancer. Results: the incidence of mild cognitive impairment in elderly patients with gastric cancer was 52.43 %, the visual space of the two groups' (mild cognitive impairment) ability of execution, name, attention, language, abstract thinking, delayed memory and cognitive function scores were lower than 1 set of directional force (cognitive function in normal group), statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The nutritional status of elderly patients with gastric cancer was lower than that of healthy elderly group at the same period (P < 0.05). The scores of visual spatial executive function, name, attention, delayed memory, orientation and total score of cognitive function in elderly gastric cancer patients were positively correlated with nutritional status (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The cognitive function and nutritional status of elderly patients with gastric cancer are both in a low state during treatment and a higher level of cognitive function can help patients maintain a more correct nutritional cognition, and the nutritional status of patients will be relatively better. There is a positive correlation between cognitive function and nutritional status in elderly patients with gastric cancer, which should be paid attention to in the treatment. • This study delves into the correlation between perioperative cognitive function and nutritional status in elderly patients with gastric cancer. • Moreover, their nutritional status is notably lower compared to healthy elderly individuals. • These insights underscore the importance of addressing cognitive and nutritional aspects in the care of elderly gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Advanced oxidation of NPs can be monitored by turbidity, TOC, COD, TEM and FTIR. • Turbidity and TEM analyses allow determining the conversion of the solids. • COD is an exceptional tool for evaluating the mineralization degree of NPs. • Morphology and particle size can be accurately determined by TEM and AFM. • Carbonyl index serves as a metric to monitor the oxidation progress on NPs surface. There is a growing interest in developing new targeted degradation technologies for the removal of micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) in water, corresponding to increased public concerns regarding their potential negative impacts on urban water systems, and consequently on human life quality. Recently, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have been proposed as promising treatment alternatives for effective degradation of NPs in water. However, the selection of appropriate analytical methods for monitoring these oxidation tests remains a challenge. Herein, the feasibility of different characterization strategies for monitoring the evolution of NPs in water upon oxidation tests was systematically studied using polystyrene (PS) NPs of different particle sizes (D 0 = 140, 252, 460, and 909 nm) as model plastic pollutants. To quantify NPs in water, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and turbidity measurements were assessed. Moreover, turbidity was correlated to the particle size and PS NPs concentration by developing a response surface. Among the analytical techniques employed to characterize the solid particles, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate morphology and particle size. Alternatively, the viability of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to determine particle size is discussed. Chemical surface modifications were explored by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). As a proof of concept, the degradation of PS NPs in water upon photo-Fenton oxidation was investigated at ambient conditions and fully characterized using the mentioned techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan, sourced from abundant chitin-rich waste streams, emerges as a promising candidate in the realm of future functional materials and chemicals. While showing numerous advantageous properties, chitosan sometimes falls short of competing with today's non-renewable alternatives. Chemical derivatization, particularly through N -alkylation, proves promising in enhancing hydrophobic functionalities. This study synthesizes fifteen chitosan derivatives (degree of substitution = 2–10 %) using an improved reductive amination method. Next, selective depolymerization through acid hydrolysis reduced the chain rigidity imposed by the polymer backbone. This facilitated unambiguous structural characterization of the synthesized compounds using a combination of common NMR techniques. Two potential side reactions are identified for the first time, emphasizing the need for detailed structural information to unlock the true potential of these derivatives in future applications. The increase in chain mobility induced by the selective depolymerization of aliphatic N -alkyl chitosan derivatives allows for an unambiguous NMR characterization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to analyze the impact of mental health on the academic performance of junior and senior students studying in a university setting during the 2022–2023 academic year, in the post-COVID period. The study was conducted in Beijing, China, with the participation of 600 students, including 300 first-year students and 300 fifth-year students. DASS (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale) and PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) questionnaires were employed to measure mental health. The DASS assesses symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while the PHQ-9 specifically evaluates depression severity. Academic performance was evaluated using a 12-point scale, which incorporated various criteria such as exam scores, coursework performance, and participation in extracurricular activities. The research was conducted across five faculties of the university from 2022 to 2023. In the study, fifth-year students demonstrated a higher level of mental health compared to first-year students, with an average DASS score of 27.1 and 24.2, respectively. Interestingly, despite this, first-year students achieved higher academic performance indicators, with an average score of 8.2 compared to 9.8 in fifth-year students. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between stress, depression, and anxiety levels with academic performance (stress: r = −0.25, p < 0.001; depression: r = −0.20, p = 0.003; anxiety: r = −0.18, p = 0.008). These findings highlight the critical importance of addressing students' mental well-being, particularly in later academic years. Recommendations include implementing support programs and developing online resources for students. • Fifth-year students exhibited higher levels of mental health compared to first-year students. • Despite better mental health, fifth-year students showed lower academic performance than first-year students. • No significant gender differences in mental health were observed among first-year students • It was indicated a significant association between stress, depression, and anxiety levels with academic performance. • Regression analysis identified mental health as a potential predictor of academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the process conditions, physicochemical properties, structural composition and activity of polysaccharides isolated from leechee peel (LPP) by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with enzyme and alkali solution extraction (ASE) were compared. The results showed that the total sugar content of LPP extracted by UAE accounted for 75.65 %, which was significantly higher than that extracted by alkali solution. The optimum conditions were as follows: extraction temperature of 68.78 ℃, ultrasonic enzymolysis time of 39.68 min, pectinase dosage of 4.03 %, solid–liquid ratio of 1:30 g/mL, and ultrasonic power of 360 W. The antioxidant activities and structure of leechee peel polysaccharide (LPP) prepared under different conditions were compared. It was found that UAE-LPP was an α-type polysaccharide containing 15.83 % uronic acid. Moreover, LPP extracted by UAE showed strong activity in anti-lipid peroxidation and reducing ability. Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic method is an effective means to improve the content and activity of natural plant polysaccharides, and this method has the advantages of short time-consuming, simple process and easy operation, which can greatly improve the utilization rate of polysaccharides and lay a theoretical and scientific basis for the development and utilization of LPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bird impact tests are performed on simple manufactured composite plates. • An FE impact model is constructed and simulated using the impact test results. • The results of the impact tests show good agreement with the FE model. • This method can increase the pace and decrease the cost of aircraft development. Collisions of aircraft with foreign objects are very common phenomena, so they must be anticipated, and their consequences must be individually checked. Since these incidents can result in severe engine damage and the engine is the aircraft's only thrust-providing system, the effect of bird strikes on engine air intakes and similar systems must be investigated and mitigated with special attention. Principally for tilt-rotor convertible aircraft, this effect is crucial in terms of operational safety, flight mechanics and overall aircraft control. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the durability of the composite air intake for a new tilt-rotor aircraft, which is experimentally verified on components of basic geometric shapes such as plate and cylindrical section. Based on computer-supported simulations, which are correlated with the basic tests, the consequences of the impact on the real air-duct were analysed and potentially dangerous regions were found. Sizing and optimisation was carried out and a design improvement proposal was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The open-source HYPEtools R package aims to address current challenges in hydrological modeling and data analysis by providing a suite of tools for data management, visualization, interpretation, and exploration. Originally developed as a supporting toolbox for the HYPE hydrological model, HYPEtools has since evolved into a standalone package with features ranging from diverse aggregation and evaluation routines to interactive apps and mapping. Specifically, functions are included for data manipulation and conversion, data summarization, plotting and mapping, and interactive data exploration. Two case studies are provided to highlight how HYPEtools can simplify hydrological workflows and analyses both independently of and within HYPE modeling contexts. First, HYPEtools is used for data exploration and mapping of water transfers in South Africa. Then, a case study for the Baltic Sea region of a pan-European HYPE model setup illustrates how HYPEtools can assist model calibration and validation. • HYPEtools is an R package for analysis and visualization of hydrological data. • HYPEtools supports development & calibration of hydrological models such as HYPE. • The package includes interactive features for mapping, plotting, & data exploration. • Interactive apps allow for evaluation of model outputs & data across large domains. • Case studies illustrate how HYPEtools can simplify typical workflows and analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]