Search

High-precision Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite clocks are essential for LEO-augmented Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. Nowadays, high-precision LEO satellite clocks can be determined in real-time using a Kalman filter either onboard or on the ground, as long as the GNSS observations collected onboard LEO satellites can be transmitted to the ground in real-time. While various real-time and high-precision GNSS products are available nowadays in the latter case, their continuity and latencies in engineering reality are not as perfect as expected and will lead to unignorable impacts on the precision of the real-time LEO satellite clocks. In this study, based on real observations of Sentinel-3B, the impacts of different latencies and continuity of the real-time GNSS products on LEO real-time clocks are determined and discussed for two scenarios, namely the "epoch estimation" and "arc estimation" scenarios. The former case refers to the traditional filter-based processing epoch-by-epoch, and the latter case connects LEO satellite clocks from different rounds of filter-based processing under a certain arc length. The two scenarios lead to the "end-loss" and "mid-gap" situations. Latencies of the real-time GNSS products are discussed for the cases of orbit-only latency, clock-only latency, and combined forms, and different handling methods for the missing GNSS satellite clocks are discussed and compared. Results show that the real-time LEO satellite clock precision is very sensitive to the precision of real-time GNSS satellite clocks, and prediction of the latter becomes essential in case of their latencies. For the "end-loss" situation, with a latency of 30 to 120 s for the GNSS real-time clocks, the LEO satellite clock precision is reduced from about 0.2 to 0.28–0.57 ns. Waiting for the GNSS products in case of their short latencies and predicting the LEO satellite clocks instead could be a better option. For "arc-estimation", when the gap of GNSS real-time products increases from 5 to 60 min, the real-time LEO clock precision decreases from 0.26 to 0.32 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we introduce exterior isoclinism for crossed modules, extending the concept of isoclinism from groups to these 2-dimensional algebraic structures. Motivated by work on tensor and exterior products of nonabelian groups, we utilize nonabelian exterior products, exterior squares, and exterior centers to define this new equivalence relation. Additionally, we provide computational tools implemented in the GAPsystem to identify exterior isoclinism families of small groups and crossed modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Preoperative expectations play a major role in determining patient satisfaction after surgery. The aim of this study was to characterize patient’s preoperative expectations and postoperative perceptions of nerve gap repair surgery. Methods: We conducted a search of Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed articles that studied patient expectations, perceptions, and impressions of nerve gap repair in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies related to lumbar plexus radiculopathy, reimplantation, or patient satisfaction scores without patient testimony were excluded. Primary and secondary outcomes were patient’s preoperative expectations and postoperative perceptions of nerve gap repair surgery, respectively. Results: We included 11 studies evaluating a total of 462 patients. One study evaluated only patient expectations, six studies evaluated only patient perspectives, and four studies evaluated both. Patients were generally overly optimistic in their expectations of surgery. Postoperative satisfaction ranged from 82% to 86%, and 81% to 87% of patients would choose to undergo their surgery again knowing what they know now. Conclusions: Patient expectations in nerve gap repair are optimistic, and at times unrealistic. Patient satisfaction with nerve gap repair is high and subject to influence from preoperative education and postoperative outcomes of functional and sensory recovery. Clinical relevance: Surgeons should be aware that patient expectations of their postoperative outcomes can have substantial impacts on their perceived management and overall satisfaction. More emphasis should be placed on preoperative education and expectation management to optimize patient satisfaction.

Background and purpose: To achieve a successful root canal treatment, it is necessary to have a sealer with ideal characteristics that seal the permanent filling of the tooth canal. Over time, various sealers with different compositions have been introduced to increase the obturation quality of tooth root canals, and many studies are still ongoing to find the ideal sealer. This study aims to evaluate the obturation quality of Endoseal MTA sealer based on the void and spreader track in the root canal using intraoral digital radiography (PSP) and compare it with Adseal and MTA Fillapex. Materials and methods: This laboratory study was conducted on 36 central maxillary single-canal permanent human teeth with the same shape and in the pre-clinic of the dental school of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Root canal preparation was done with the Denco rotary system up to size F3 according to the manufacturer's instructions. During preparation, sodium hypochlorite 5.25% was used for washing, and finally EDTA 17% and sodium chlorite 5.25% were used to remove the smear layer. The teeth were dried with a paper cone. The samples were randomly divided into 3 groups and were filled with gutta-percha and sealers; MTA Fillapex, Endoseal MTA, and Adseal by lateral compaction method using Master Cone 35 and cone 20. After the sealers were set completely for 24 hours, PSP imaging was done with a parallel technique, buccolingually and mesiodistally, from the root canal of the teeth, and the presence of void and gaps in the form of spreader track in the three apical, middle and coronal regions, was evaluated with 3 independent observers. The data were evaluated with chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and items less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: In the current study, the obturation quality of MTA Fillapex, Endoseal MTA, and Adseal sealers was investigated on 36 teeth based on void and gap in the form of spreader track. These evaluations were done according to the direction and location of the sealers. In these evaluations, Adseal sealer had the lowest and MTA Fillapex had the most prevalence of spreader track prevalence, although these differences were not significant based on the chi-square test and there was no significant difference between the prevalence of Spreader track among the three sealers. The void was observed only in the Endoseal group in coronal (mean: 0.5) and apical (mean: 0.7) areas. The results of the Chi-square test showed that there was no significant relationship between the prevalence of void with coronal, middle, and apical sites in Endoseal (P

As the Anthropocene tightens its grip on the world, forests are facing escalating disturbance rates, tree mortality, degradation and risks of catastrophic collapses. A popular and controversial proposition is to enhance forests' response diversity by adding novel tree species with missing functional traits through forest assisted migration (FAM). Beyond tests of the survival and growth of southern species or provenances in colder regions and studies of the socio-ecological challenges facing FAM, little interest has been paid to the silvicultural system for FAM implementation. Yet, the topic could influence its biological success, social acceptability, and economic feasibility. For example, southern light-intolerant tree species introduced into northern uneven-aged forests may experience a lack of light availability. Likewise, implementing FAM in clearcuts raises social acceptability issues. The patch-cut system combines advantages of even- and uneven-aged systems useful for FAM; however, perhaps due to the difficulty of its operationalization, it is rarely used. We propose a new way to implement the patch-cut system, enabling from the get-go to plan the location and timing of treatment of each patch in a stand. We discuss the advantages that this revisited patch-cut system presents for FAM: (i) the testing of various planting environments, (ii) easy monitoring in an adaptative management context where each patch is a replicate of a repeated-measure experiment and (iii) low intensity planting for efficient future dispersion of species adapted to a changing climate. We end with a call for the development of an international network of FAM trials within the revised patch-cut system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: To achieve a successful root canal treatment, it is necessary to have a sealer with ideal characteristics that seal the permanent filling of the tooth canal. Over time, various sealers with different compositions have been introduced to increase the obturation quality of tooth root canals, and many studies are still ongoing to find the ideal sealer. This study aims to evaluate the obturation quality of Endoseal MTA sealer based on the void and spreader track in the root canal using intraoral digital radiography (PSP) and compare it with Adseal and MTA Fillapex. Materials and methods: This laboratory study was conducted on 36 central maxillary single- canal permanent human teeth with the same shape and in the pre-clinic of the dental school of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Root canal preparation was done with the Denco rotary system up to size F3 according to the manufacturer's instructions. During preparation, sodium hypochlorite 5.25% was used for washing, and finally EDTA 17% and sodium chlorite 5.25% were used to remove the smear layer. The teeth were dried with a paper cone. The samples were randomly divided into 3 groups and were filled with gutta-percha and sealers; MTA Fillapex, Endoseal MTA, and Adseal by lateral compaction method using Master Cone 35 and cone 20. After the sealers were set completely for 24 hours, PSP imaging was done with a parallel technique, buccolingually and mesiodistally, from the root canal of the teeth, and the presence of void and gaps in the form of spreader track in the three apical, middle and coronal regions, was evaluated with 3 independent observers. The data were evaluated with chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and items less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: In the current study, the obturation quality of MTA Fillapex, Endoseal MTA, and Adseal sealers was investigated on 36 teeth based on void and gap in the form of spreader track. These evaluations were done according to the direction and location of the sealers. In these evaluations, Adseal sealer had the lowest and MTA Fillapex had the most prevalence of spreader track prevalence, although these differences were not significant based on the chi-square test and there was no significant difference between the prevalence of Spreader track among the three sealers. The void was observed only in the Endoseal group in coronal (mean: 0.5) and apical (mean: 0.7) areas. The results of the Chi-square test showed that there was no significant relationship between the prevalence of void with coronal, middle, and apical sites in Endoseal (P<0.05). Conclusion: No difference was observed between the three sealers in the voids and gaps in the root canal. Based on the results of this study, the obturation quality of the above three sealers isn't different from each other. Although the presence of more void in Endoseal MTA sealer was not significant, it can indicate that the handling of this material is difficult, on the other hand, according to the manufacturer's recommendation, this sealer is recommended for single cone method and is not suitable for use in lateral compression method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This study investigates the impact of arsenic doping on the optical characteristics and electronic structure of zigzag (8, 0) and armchair (4, 4) gallium phosphide nanotubes using first-principles calculations based on the GaP1-xAsx system, where x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1. The electronic calculations showed that doping more arsenic atoms reduces the energy band gap for zigzag and armchair GaPAs nanotubes. PDOS analysis indicates that Ga-4p and P-3p orbitals play a significant role in determining the electronic properties of the GaP nanotube. The dominance of Ga-4p and P-3p orbitals in both the valence and conduction bands indicates their importance across the energy spectrum of the material. The complex dielectric function and absorption coefficient of zigzag and armchair GaP1-xAsx nanotubes are calculated for incident radiation with energies ranging from 1 to 6.2 eV. Optical results revealed that both zigzag and armchair GaPNTs exhibit strong absorption in the UV–visible regions due to electronic transitions between different Van Hove singularities. Also, due to quantum confinement effects, pure zigzag gallium phosphide nanotube exhibited two absorption edges at wavelengths (273 and 375 nm). These edges stand from the energy level's quantization in the nanotube construction, affecting the absorption characteristics. Substitutional doping by arsenic atoms changes the absorption edge to the long wavelengths due to decreased bandgap energy. Investigating electronic structures and optical properties of nanotubes proposes several advantages, such as understanding the doping effects on the nanotube structure and contributing to the direction of the experimental studies. These computational studies play a key role in developing the applications of nanomaterials. Methods: Calculations of density functional theory (DFT) are achieved via the SIESTA package. SIESTA is a powerful and effective tool for executing DFT calculations on a large system of atoms. It generates numerous output files covering detailed information about the electronic structure, optical properties, total energy, optimized geometry, and other computed properties. The generalized gradient approximation GGA with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof PBE functional was used. A vacuum region of 10 A0 was applied to avoid the interactions of adjacent nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil fungal communities play a key role in multiple functions and ecosystem services within forest ecosystems. Today, forest ecosystems are subject to multiple environmental and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., fire or forest management) that mainly lead to changes in vegetation as well as in plant-soil interactions. Soil pathogens play an important role in controlling plant diversity, ecosystem functions, and human and animal health. In this work we analyzed the response of soil plant pathogenic fungi to forest management in a Pinus pinaster reforestation. We started from an experimental design, in which forest thinning and gap cutting treatments were applied at different intensities and sizes, respectively. The fungal communities of plant pathogens in spring were described, and the effect of the silvicultural treatments was evaluated 5 years after their application, as were the possible relationships between soil plant pathogenic fungal communities and other environmental factors. Only a strong low thinning treatment (35% basal area) was able to generate homogeneous changes in soil pathogenic diversity. In the gaps, only the central position showed significant changes in the soil plant pathogenic fungi community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste scavenging is an important activity in developing countries aiding resource recovery and poverty reduction. Despite knowing the dangers posed by the activity, the waste scavengers’ occupational safety is to some extent compromised due to poor utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This study investigated the disparity between knowledge and practice of waste scavengers regarding occupational risks and safety measures in Yola urban area, through surveys and interviews with 405 participants across 55 dealers' depots. The study findings discovered 375 waste scavengers recognized the potential hazard associated with scavenging job, out of which only 41 were actually using PPEs regularly. While 30 claimed ignorant of the potential risks of the activity. This therefore categorized waste scavengers into three distinct groups in Yola urban area viz: Safe Scavengers" who possess the knowledge of dangers of scavenging and use one or more PPE regularly 41 (10.12%); “Knowledgeable non-PPEs users" who have the knowledge but do not use PPE 334 (82.47%); and "Unaware non-PPEs users" lacking both knowledge and PPE usage 30 (7.41%) mostly children. Null hypotheses were formulated where significant difference observed between Knowledgeable non-users and safety practice (p=0.016). On the other hand, no significant difference found between Safe Scavengers and safety practice (p=0.053); as well as Unaware non-users and safety practice (p=0.060). Pie chart clearly shows the knowledge/practice gap and three distinct group of the scavengers. Recommendation proposed involvement of scavengers’ middlemen and waste management authorities in developing comprehensive strategies that promote a culture of safety, provide training on safety practices, and ensure the availability of appropriate protective gear to narrow down the gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Identify potential barriers, delays, and missed opportunities in the prevention and diagnosis of childhood TB. Methods: Scoping review according to the PRISMA extension. The definitions considered for the selectionfollowedtheacronymPCCwherethepopulation(P) ischildrenunder18yearsofagewithTBdisease, the concept (C) refers tomissed opportunities for prevention and diagnosis, and context (C) is defined as a diagnosis of TB disease. The authors searched systematically in the databases; VHL/Lilacs, Medline via PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, andWebof Science, without date or language limitation. Results: Seven studies were included. In developed countries, with low disease burden, the main shortcoming is the delay in diagnosing bacilliferous adults in contact with young children. This problem is concentrated in the portion of the population with socioeconomic vulnerability. In underdeveloped countries, with a high burden of disease, the biggest challenge is tracking children who come into contact with bacilliferous patients. Conclusions: There are still many missed opportunities in the prevention and diagnosis of childhood TB. The positive legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken advantage of and the encouragement of scientific development in the management of infectious diseases should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetic dermatology is a key subspecialty of academic dermatology. As such, academic centers are expected to demonstrate excellence in the teaching of cosmetic dermatology skills to trainees, the clinical delivery of cosmetic dermatology services to patients, and the performance of clinical research that advances knowledge and uncovers new therapies in cosmetic dermatology. The Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatology (AACD), a newly formed medical professional society, includes as its principal aims the support of all of these areas. AACD is comprised of group of board-certified dermatologists who teach cosmetic and laser dermatology at US dermatology residency programs. An expert panel constituted by the AACD recently convened a workshop to review gaps pertaining to academic cosmetic dermatology. This panel considered needs and potential corrective initiatives in three domains: resident education, patient experience, and clinical research. The work of the panel was used to develop a roadmap, which was adopted by consensus, and which will serve to guide the AACD moving forward.

Spectral features of the original and irradiated with electrons with E = 2 MeV GaP light emitting diodes (LEDs) were studied. Recombination lines of the exciton bound on the N isoelectronic center and on the pair complexes NN1 were detected. The change in the spectral composition of radiation when passing through a section of negative differential resistance is analyzed. Dose dependences of luminescence intensity were obtained for green GaP(N) and red GaP(Zn-O) LEDs. The maximum critical radiation dose was established, after which the LEDs lost their characteristic exciton emission mechanism. The results of the annealing of irradiated LEDs are given.

The Zagros Mountain range channels a significant volume of water towards the Persian Gulf basin due to the presence of gorges, diverting it from a potential southeast trajectory parallel to the Zagros folds. This study aimed to assess the water flow through the Zagros straits, utilizing 1:50,000 topographic and 1:100,000 geological maps, Iran's Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and various library sources. Hydrometric stations were used as the starting point and their associated sub-basins were delineated. The relationship between precipitation and elevation in each basin was analyzed to extract the precipitation layer of each sub-basin and calculate its average precipitation. Considering the sub-basin areas, the precipitation amount over a specific period was estimated and compared with the recorded discharges. The findings revealed that approximately 110,695 billion cubic meters of water were channeled to the Persian Gulf via the tidal currents of the Zagros Mountains. Notably, the sub-basins with lower discharge relative to the received precipitation, including Gilvan, Simre, Sartang Dolab, Qara Aghaj, and Dez, were situated to the east of the Zagros main thrust, while those with higher discharge were located to the west. This disparity in discharge on either side of the Zagros main thrust could be attributed to various mountain features, such as land surface slope, position in relation to incoming streams, karst, and faulting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission and its successor, GRACE-follow on (GRACE-FO), have played a vital role in climate research. However, the absence of certain observations during and between these missions has presented a persistent challenge. Despite numerous studies attempting to address this issue with mathematical and statistical methods, no definitive optimal approach has been established. This study introduces a practical solution using Linear Regression Analysis (LRA) to overcome data gaps in both GRACE data types—mascon and spherical harmonic coefficients (SHCs). The proposed methodology is tailored to monsoon patterns and demonstrates efficacy in filling data gaps. To validate the approach, a global analysis was conducted across eight basins, monitoring changes in total water storage (TWS) using the technique. The results were compared with various geodetic products, including data from the Swarm mission, Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation (IGG), Quantum Frontiers (QF), and Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) coefficients. Artificial data gaps were introduced within GRACE observations for further validation. This research highlights the effectiveness of the monsoon method in comparison to other gap-filling approaches, showing a strong similarity between gap-filling results and GRACE's SHCs, with an absolute relative error approaching zero. In the mascon approach, the coefficient of determination (R2) exceeded 91% for all months. This study offers a readily usable gap-filling product—SHCs and smoothed gridded observations—with accurate error estimates. These resources are now accessible for a wide range of applications, providing a valuable tool for the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the current practice, equipment availability, and training needs for managing childhood glaucoma in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire (Google Forms) was distributed through E-mails and social media platforms of pediatric ophthalmologists and glaucoma specialists who practice in Nigeria and manage glaucoma in children aged 0-16 years. Information concerning sociodemographic characteristics, type of practice, location of practice, years of practice, status, and preferred practices in the management of childhood glaucoma cataracts were obtained and analyzed with SPSS. Results: Thirty (23.3%) out of 129 eligible participants indicated they perform glaucoma surgeries in children. The majority (66.6%) had practiced as specialists for 10 years or less, and 70% were pediatric ophthalmologists. A third of the respondents practiced in the country's southwest region, with none in the Northeast region. The most common surgery performed for primary congenital glaucoma was combined trabeculotomy trabeculectomy, while trabeculectomy was the most common surgery performed for juvenile open-angle glaucoma. Two respondents reported performing glaucoma drainage device surgery and seven reported possessions of skills for goniotomy. All centers had trabeculectomy instrument sets, while three centers had facilities for endolaser cyclophotocoagulation, and only two centers had knives for goniotomy. Antimetabolites were routinely used for childhood glaucoma surgeries by 26 (86.7%) respondents, and the most common antimetabolite used was mitomycin (21; 80.8%). Conclusion: There is a need for the development of in-country training programs and the exchange of skills through collaboration among those providing glaucoma services within Nigeria to improve the care of children with glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral features of the original and irradiated with electrons with E = 2 MeV GaP light emitting diodes (LEDs) were studied. Recombination lines of the exciton bound on the N isoelectronic center and on the pair complexes NN1 were detected. The change in the spectral composition of radiation when passing through a section of negative differential resistance is analyzed. Dose dependences of luminescence intensity were obtained for green GaP(N) and red GaP(Zn-O) LEDs. The maximum critical radiation dose was established, after which the LEDs lost their characteristic exciton emission mechanism. The results of the annealing of irradiated LEDs are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the newness of a vehicle is currently significant concern for users and vehicle companies. The gap difference between interior and exterior trims plays a crucial role in the overall appearance of vehicles. Over time, the gap and flush parameters of these trims may change due to the movement of components, putting forward higher requirements for the assembly accuracy and reliability design of automotive products. This article presents a study where a test car is subjected to endurance vibration on a wheel-coupled vibration bench. Through measuring the changes in gaps and flushes between the exterior trim parts at different endurance mileage intervals, the variation patterns are obtained. Using dimensional engineering technology, the effects of durable vibration on the gaps and flushes of the vehicle's exterior trim parts were determined. This study provides a foundation for the design of new interior and exterior decoration parts in automobiles. It also offers valuable insights for product design, development, and quality improvement. Problems can be predicted in advance in the early stage of design, and closely coordinate various aspects of production and manufacturing to obtain products with higher standards, requirements, and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the disparities in pediatric neuro-oncology care between high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights the need for improved access to resources and specialized care in LMIC, where the majority of childhood cancer cases and deaths occur. The article discusses regional and international interventions aimed at improving pediatric cancer care and outcomes in the region, such as the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer and the Latin American Brain Tumor Board. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive care, timely diagnosis, and collaboration among healthcare providers to address the challenges in pediatric neuro-oncology in Latin America and the Caribbean. [Extracted from the article]

Automated tape placement (ATP) is an important automated process adopted for the fabrication of large composite components. Trajectory planning is the key link of ATP, which directly affects the precision and efficiency of the layup process and the quality of final products. Presently, most existing trajectory optimization methods for ATP focus on smooth surfaces. Nevertheless, as commercial CAD/CAM software generally uses NURBS (Non-uniform Rational B-Splines) for modelling, the difficulty of finding the solution and the low efficiency associated with the calculation process are inevitable. The discrete methods provide alternatives for designing layup trajectories, whereas their accuracy is seldom analysed. Furthermore, a path optimization algorithm for eliminating gap problems while preventing wrinkles on discrete models is rarely reported. In this paper, the adjustment of layup trajectories for ATP is considered on triangular meshes. First, the triangular mesh is reconstructed as a Nagata patch to recover the original geometry with good accuracy. Then, a numerical method for tracing desired paths on the Nagata patch set is provided and the computation efficiency is validated. Next, two optimization methodologies are proposed to improve the layup of composite tapes while avoiding wrinkles. Finally, the presented two strategies are examined on a discrete hyperbolic surface and a discrete freeform surface and some of the results are delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Anthropocene tightens its grip on the world, forests are facing escalating disturbance rates, tree mortality, degradation and risks of catastrophic collapses. A popular and controversial proposition is to enhance forests’ response diversity by adding novel tree species with missing functional traits through forest assisted migration (FAM). Beyond tests of the survival and growth of southern species or provenances in colder regions and studies of the socio-ecological challenges facing FAM, little interest has been paid to the silvicultural system for FAM implementation. Yet, the topic could influence its biological success, social acceptability, and economic feasibility. For example, southern light-intolerant tree species introduced into northern uneven-aged forests may experience a lack of light availability. Likewise, implementing FAM in clearcuts raises social acceptability issues. The patch-cut system combines advantages of even- and uneven-aged systems useful for FAM; however, perhaps due to the difficulty of its operationalization, it is rarely used. We propose a new way to implement the patch-cut system, enabling from the get-go to plan the location and timing of treatment of each patch in a stand. We discuss the advantages that this revisited patch-cut system presents for FAM: (i) the testing of various planting environments, (ii) easy monitoring in an adaptative management context where each patch is a replicate of a repeated-measure experiment and (iii) low intensity planting for efficient future dispersion of species adapted to a changing climate. We end with a call for the development of an international network of FAM trials within the revised patch-cut system.

In view of the heat transfer problems of gap flows near the shock-wave interference region of hypersonic vehicles, a two-dimensional model of the shock generator and gap was established. By using CFD technology, the internal flow heat transfer characteristics with shock waves in the front, middle and back of the gap were studied. The results showed that compared to the flow fields without shock wave, the vortex structure of the flow inside the gap changes obviously when the shock wave acts on the front and middle of the gap, resulting in a sharp increase in the flow intensity and heat inside the gap. However, when the shock wave acts on the rear part of the gap, the vortex structure inside the gap does not change significantly, and the far-end wall heat flux near the gap lip decreases locally, which is beneficial to the shape protection of the thermal protection structure. The results clearly indicated that it is necessary to avoid the position where shock wave acts on the front and middle part of gap in structural thermal protection design.

High-precision Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite clocks are essential for LEO-augmented Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. Nowadays, high-precision LEO satellite clocks can be determined in real-time using a Kalman filter either onboard or on the ground, as long as the GNSS observations collected onboard LEO satellites can be transmitted to the ground in real-time. While various real-time and high-precision GNSS products are available nowadays in the latter case, their continuity and latencies in engineering reality are not as perfect as expected and will lead to unignorable impacts on the precision of the real-time LEO satellite clocks. In this study, based on real observations of Sentinel-3B, the impacts of different latencies and continuity of the real-time GNSS products on LEO real-time clocks are determined and discussed for two scenarios, namely the “epoch estimation” and “arc estimation” scenarios. The former case refers to the traditional filter-based processing epoch-by-epoch, and the latter case connects LEO satellite clocks from different rounds of filter-based processing under a certain arc length. The two scenarios lead to the “end-loss” and “mid-gap” situations. Latencies of the real-time GNSS products are discussed for the cases of orbit-only latency, clock-only latency, and combined forms, and different handling methods for the missing GNSS satellite clocks are discussed and compared. Results show that the real-time LEO satellite clock precision is very sensitive to the precision of real-time GNSS satellite clocks, and prediction of the latter becomes essential in case of their latencies. For the “end-loss” situation, with a latency of 30 to 120 s for the GNSS real-time clocks, the LEO satellite clock precision is reduced from about 0.2 to 0.28–0.57 ns. Waiting for the GNSS products in case of their short latencies and predicting the LEO satellite clocks instead could be a better option. For “arc-estimation”, when the gap of GNSS real-time products increases from 5 to 60 min, the real-time LEO clock precision decreases from 0.26 to 0.32 ns.

Робота містить детальний огляд опублікованих в останні роки результатів досліджень гомоперехідних світлодіодів (СД), вирощених на основі твердого розчину GaP і GaAsP, а також гетероперехідних структур InGaN з квантовими ямами (КЯ). Для виявлення причини нестабільності світіння мікроплазми важливо проаналізувати електричні та спектральні характеристики досліджуваних структур. Метою дослідження було виявлення причини, що призводить до відхилення від типових залежностей I(U) та L(I) та виявлення можливих фізичних факторів, які лежать в основі виникнення аномалій світлодіодного випромінювання. Оригінальна частина базується на порівняльному аналізі експериментальних даних, отриманих при дослідженні електрофізичних і спектральних характеристик обох типів світлодіодів. Також наведено результати дослідження впливу радіаційних дефектів, внесених електронами з E = 2 МеВ, на основні та робочі параметри досліджуваних діодів. Збільшення диференціального опору гомоперехідних світлодіодів GaP і GaAsP за рахунок зниження температури і опромінення зумовлено захопленням носіїв струму глибокими домішковими рівнями, а також рівнями радіаційних дефектів. Значення бар’єрного потенціалу діодів при використовуваних дозах (Fmax = 1015 см – 2 для діодів GaP; Fmax = 2,64 см– 2 для діодів GaAsP) практично не змінюється. У гетероструктурних світлодіодах InGaN з квантовими ямами (hν = 505 нм) область НДЦ починається після охолодження до Т ≤ 130 К; його виникнення може бути пов'язане з ефектом резонансного тунелювання носіїв струму. Короткохвильові частини ліній випромінювання світлодіодів GaP, GaAsP і InGaN добре узгоджуються з класичним розподілом Гауса; довгохвильові розтягуються в бік довгохвильових, що зумовлено ефектом хвостів густини станів як у гомо-, так і в гетероперехідних структурах. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the clinical factors associated with the effectiveness of stapedotomy in improving hearing sensitivity in Taiwanese patients with otosclerosis. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 31 patients (36 ears) with otosclerosis undergoing stapedotomy performed by a single surgeon. Preoperative and postoperative hearing results were analyzed to identify factors associated with hearing outcomes after stapedotomy in the Taiwanese population with clinical otosclerosis. Results: Compared with preoperative pure tone averages (PTAs), stapedotomy significantly improved postoperative air conduction (AC) thresholds (P <.0001), bone conduction (BC) thresholds (P =.025), and air-bone gaps (ABGs; P <.0001). Postoperative closure of ABGs less than 10 or 20 dB was achieved in 16 (44.4%) and 33 (91.7%) of 36 surgical ears. Improvement in postoperative AC thresholds and ABGs and the size of preoperative ABGs were significantly correlated (r =.650, P <.001 and r =.745, P <.001, respectively). Gender-stratified analysis indicated a stronger correlation between improvement in postoperative AC thresholds and preoperative ABGs in male patients than in female patients (r =.893, P <.001 and r =.476, P =.014, respectively), and in postoperative and preoperative ABGs (r =.933, P <.001 and r =.626, P <.001, respectively). With the more stringent criteria for surgical success, factors including age (≤50 years), type (conductive, BC ≤25 dB), and degree (PTA ≤55 dB) of preoperative hearing loss led to more favorable outcomes. Conclusions: We reported evidence supporting a potential gender difference on hearing outcomes after stapedotomy in Taiwanese patients with otosclerosis. Age, type, and degree of preoperative hearing loss may affect the surgical success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes white mold (also called stem rot, Sclerotinia blight, etc.) in many economically important plants. It is a notorious soilborne fungal pathogen due to its wide host range and ability to survive in soil for long periods of time as sclerotia. Although host‐induced gene silencing (HIGS) was recently demonstrated to be an effective method for controlling white mold, limited gene targets are available. Here, using a forward genetics approach, we identified a RAS‐GTPase activating protein, SsGAP1, which plays essential roles in sclerotia formation, compound appressoria production and virulence. In parallel, as revealed by our knockout analysis, the SsGAP1 ortholog in Botrytis cinerea, BcGAP1, plays similar roles in fungal development and virulence. By knocking down SsRAS1 and SsRAS2, we also revealed that both SsRAS1 and SsRAS2 are required for vegetative growth, sclerotia development, compound appressoria production and virulence in S. sclerotiorum. Due to the major roles these RAS signalling components play in Sclerotiniaceae biology, they can be used as HIGS targets to control diseases caused by both S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. Indeed, when we introduced HIGS constructs targeting SsGAP1, SsRAS1 and SsRAS2 in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana, we observed reduced virulence. Taken together, our forward genetics gene discovery pipeline in S. sclerotiorum is highly effective in identifying novel HIGS targets to control S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop a benchmark method to identify best practices in higher education across the country, in relation with management practices of academic productivity gender gaps and their impact on family responsibilities. This paper uses a qualitative approach to collect relevant information from official web pages from sixteen international universities previously selected. All information related to best practices policies implemented in each university was charted and assigned to one of the following categories for further analysis: ranking, gender policies, gender gaps, academic productivity, and childcare responsibilities. Results from this study revealed that the main best practices implemented in the included universities were practices related to harassment prevention, gender equality at college admission, development of protocols, leadership training, scholarships for study and research programs, adequate infrastructure, childcare financial support, flexible work schedules, family leave policies, improvement of the work environment and the development of departments in charge of follow-up and regular assessment of the proposed strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peru has experienced significant growth but faces challenges with its infrastructure. Despite economic and population growth, competitiveness has not risen at the same pace. The importance of proper roads for economic development and the lack of planning have led the country to confront an infrastructure deficit. This deficit affects connectivity and the quality of the road networks, thereby influencing competitiveness. To bridge this gap, the PPP modality had been used, but challenges were encountered, ranging from the execution of works to maintenance issues. This research study pursues three main objectives: to describe the current landscape of road infrastructure in Peru; to present the Peruvian PPP system and the experience gained through implemented concession contracts; and to identify the critical success factors of Peruvian concessions and propose an evaluation methodology for future contracts. To achieve this, an empirical study of 16 operational road PPPs and a literature review of the most relevant international experiences on success variables for such contracts were conducted. The primary contribution of this study lies in presenting the Peruvian experience and identifying key success factors for this type of contracts in Peru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the effects of temperature on transfer characteristics, threshold voltage, ION/IOFF ratio, drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL), and sub-threshold swing (SS) in N-Channel Gallium Phosphide (GaP) Fin Fied Effect Transistor (FinFET). GaP-FinFET's temperature properties have been studied using the (MuGFET) simulation tool. Because of the lower ION/IOFF ratio, higher DIBL, and higher SS at higher temperatures, the results show a detrimental impact of increased working temperature on the use of GaPFinFET in electronic circuits, such as digital circuits and amplifier circuits. Furthermore, the best situation for using a transistor as a temperature nano-sensor is when it is in the ON state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of REDER: Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres is the property of Corporacion Gestion de Riesgos y Desastres (GRID-Chile) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The declaration of ‘Fruits Decade 2016/17–2026/27’ and the enaction of the ‘NepalGAP Scheme’ by the Government of Nepal has redirected increased public investments to promote apple production and marketability in the western high hills of Nepal. This study explores major good agricultural practices (GAP) related to orchard management, factors influencing their adoption intensity, and key underlying constraints to production using cross-sectional survey data from apple growers in Dolpa district, Nepal. The results showed that farmers mostly adopted GAP such as frequent weeding, intercropping, and nutrient management in apple orchards. Based on the negative binomial regression estimates, household characteristics such as gender of the orchard owner, experience, and number of literate household members were found influential in determining the GAP adoption intensity. The analysis of the problem severity index implied that apple production is mostly constrained by limited access to production inputs and transportation. The findings provide useful insights to the farmers and policymakers regarding the current scenario of GAP adoption along with the diversity of barriers that severely limits the realization of apple production potential in western Nepal.

The manuscript combines rational density functional theory simulations and experimental data to investigate the electrical properties of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The optimized geometries reveal a preference for one-row, two-row and three-row ring distributions. Band structure plots demonstrate an inverse correlation between the number of aromatic rings and band gap size, with a specific order observed across the PAHs. Gas phase simulations support these findings, though differences in values are noted compared to the literature. Introducing a two-row ring distribution concept resolves discrepancies, particularly in azulene. The B3LYP function successfully bridges theoretical and experimental gaps, particularly in large PAHs. The manuscript highlights the potential for designing electronic devices based on different-sized PAHs, emphasizing a multi-ring distribution approach and opening new avenues for practical applications.

Scientific evidence for the urgency of curbing the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance is incontrovertible. Yet, the translation of knowledge into effective design and implementation of action plans is hampered by gaps in perception, attitudes and practices in the human health, agriculture, and environmental sectors. To fill these gaps in regions where the disease burden attributable to antimicrobial resistance is heaviest, a cadre of One Health Stewards equipped with strategies to translate and meld global and local evidence for knowledge dissemination is deemed necessary. This opinion articulates a case for cultivating and deploying One Health Antibiotic Stewards according to specific actions within the environmental context of antibiotic resistance.

Gender equality tends to be considered an indicator for developed societies, but developing societies should also provide all the prerequisites (institutional, policy framework, resources, etc.) for achieving this objective. Gender gaps, which are highlighted in the National Development Strategy (NDS) – long visionary development document of the Republic of Moldova, adopted at the end of 2022, were analyzed in terms of the causes, but also the factors that determine them. However, the causes of gender inequalities in education, access to infrastructure, utilities, fair retirement pensions, human security have been omitted in the NDS. There are no records on the level of representation in public consultations of men and women. The version of the NDS adopted by the Government integrates aspects related to the gender perspective to a greater extent than the version of the document, placed for consultations on July 26, 2022 (which only analyzed the gaps in the incomes between women and men). Even if in the analysis of the situation the gender dimension is integrated to a more limited extent, then in the part of objectives, targets and policy directions (Results Framework), the gender perspective, materialized by reducing inequalities and inequities of opportunities and access to resources between women and men is present in all 10 general objectives.

According to the requirement of the installation of 3D printing technology,after the completion of the verification of materials and processes,the permissible value test of specimen level additive manufacturing materials and the additive manufacturing part-level test are begun. Due to the process characteristics of additively manufactured parts,there is usually a difference in the mechanical properties of X-Y direction and Z direction,and there is a difference in the isotropic characteristics of the same sex in the design of traditional metal parts,so it is necessary to test its mechanical properties in simulating the real flight state. Taking the additive manufacturing gust lock bracket as an example,the maximum load state in the operation process of the aircraft is calculated,and the most typical load direction for tooling test scheme design is selected. Before the test starts,the engineering calculation and software simulation are carried out to predict the failure mode and failure load. The results show that the results of software simulation and engineering calculation are accurate and effective,and the mechanical properties of the additive manufacturing titanium alloy gust lock bracket are stable,which can withstand the test of extreme working conditions,and meet the installation requirements.

Various efforts to overcome poverty have been carried out by the government but the number of poor people is still quite high. Based on the 1945 Constitution, the Indonesian government has a mandate to realize social welfare for all people. Well-being is characterized by the fulfillment of the material, spiritual, and social needs of citizens. In other words, prosperity can be achieved through poverty alleviation. In alleviating poverty, existing policies have not interpreted the poverty line based on division in Indonesia. This study analyzes more deeply the role of urban and rural poverty lines in the division of regions in Indonesia. The method used is descriptive statistics by grouping provinces into 7 categories of large islands in Indonesia. In addition, the MANOVA analysis method was also used in this study to answer the role of the region on the size of the poverty line. What is interesting about this study is the finding that regional differences play a significant role in influencing the size of the poverty line. This research also revealed the fact that the poverty line gap between regional categories is wide at a significance level below 0.05 in the MANOVA test of between subjects effects.

Abstract Background Patients diagnosed with complex hepato-pancreaticobiliary (HPB) conditions experience a challenging journey through the healthcare system. Patient navigation is commonly offered to patients and their caregivers throughout this process. Here, we report on the development and phase I testing of a prototype web-based dual (patient and provider) navigation application ‘PatientNav.’ Methods Evidence-based recommendations were determined through a needs assessment. The PatientNav app was designed to be a highly customizable tool based on the needs of the patients, the care team, and the characteristics of the institution. Our phase I pilot trial targeted adult patients who reported the capacity to use a mobile app or desktop website presenting to our HPB transplant clinic at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center over two months. Usability, functionality, and reliability testing were conducted by applying multiple strategies, including biometric data analysis, task completion, questionnaires, and interviews. Results Out of 22 patients, 18 (81.8%) completed the in-app survey whose responses were included in the analysis. The usability rate of PatientNav among patient app users was 95.4%. Among patient app users who completed the in-app survey questionnaire, 66.6% reported that the content in the PatientNav app was relevant. In terms of the app's reliability, none of the patient app users reported technical issues with accessing PatientNav throughout the study period. To further elucidate the characteristics of individuals who exhibited high usage of the PatientNav assigned task functions, we divided our cohort based on the median number of tasks used (N = 75 total tasks). The univariable comparison showed that high function users were older, with a median (IQR) age of 61.5 (57.8, 71.3) compared to 52.2 (34.5, 65.7) years among low function users. No differences were observed based on gender, racial distribution, living condition, or occupation. However, 41.7% of low function users had Medicare/Medicaid insurance, whereas all high function users had private or combined insurance. Conclusion Our phase I pilot study showed that PatientNav is a feasible, usable, and functional technological tool that enables patients with complex HPB diagnoses and their care team to interface in real-time using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). PatientNav is a reliable tool that can be used by clinical and support staff to help navigate patients through surgery and aftercare and by patients to assist in navigation and self-management. Trial registration The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; Registration number: NCT04892927; date of registration: 5/19/2021.

Anastomotic stricture is a common complication following repair of esophageal atresia with or without tracheo-esophageal fistula, affecting the long-term prognosis of survival. The traditional therapy includes serial esophageal dilation or repeated anastomosis with or without a gastric pull-up procedure. Here, we describe the case of an 11-month-old girl child who underwent repair of type C esophageal atresia but afterward experienced esophageal anastomotic stricture. In the event that the dilatations failed, the esophageal anastomosis had to be revised. Despite repeated corrective surgeries and extensive perioperative care, we were unable to save the child.

This work introduces an investigation of the surface roughness (Ra) during flat plate machining utilizing magnetic abrasive finishing process (MAF). In this study three parameters (Machining time, Mesh size, and Gap) were studied. The MAF tool is made from permanent magnet and the abrasive powder is consisting of 40% of SiC and 60% Fe powder with three Mesh size (100, 250, and 400 µm). The Taguchi L9 array was used in designing the experiments. The results show that the increasing machining time caused a decrease in Ra. The increase in mesh size and the gap will increase the surface roughness. The dominant factor that affect the surface roughness was the machining time due to enough time to machine the target surface.

Soil fungal communities play a key role in multiple functions and ecosystem services within forest ecosystems. Today, forest ecosystems are subject to multiple environmental and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., fire or forest management) that mainly lead to changes in vegetation as well as in plant-soil interactions. Soil pathogens play an important role in controlling plant diversity, ecosystem functions, and human and animal health. In this work we analyzed the response of soil plant pathogenic fungi to forest management in a Pinus pinaster reforestation. We started from an experimental design, in which forest thinning and gap cutting treatments were applied at different intensities and sizes, respectively. The fungal communities of plant pathogens in spring were described, and the effect of the silvicultural treatments was evaluated 5 years after their application, as were the possible relationships between soil plant pathogenic fungal communities and other environmental factors. Only a strong low thinning treatment (35% basal area) was able to generate homogeneous changes in soil pathogenic diversity. In the gaps, only the central position showed significant changes in the soil plant pathogenic fungi community.

Abstract Background A gap has been reported between healthcare professionals’ (hereafter “professionals”) recognition of preschool children’s diets and parents’ perception of concern. This study investigated the gap between the concerns reported by professionals and parents’ perceptions regarding health and dietary habits by age (18 months and 3 years) and gender in Japan. Methods The study design consisted of a cross-sectional, multilevel survey. The request letters were sent to all households with target children with the cooperation of local governments. After obtaining written informed consent from parents, questionnaires were distributed to them. The survey included 30 items on children's concerns about health and dietary habits. At the health checkup, parents indicated whether they were concerned in response to each item, and responded child’s height and weight and birth height and weight. Next, the professionals provided counseling to the parents at a health checkup. After that, the professionals noted their concerns in response to the same 30 items as those given to parents. The participation rates were 82.9% (18 months) and 82.8% (3 years). Data of 239 persons for 18 months and 223 persons for 3 years old were analyzed. In the statistical analysis, the items that were judged as concerning by professionals but not by parents were identified; likewise, the items that were of concern to parents but not to professionals were identified. Sensitivity, false negative rate, specificity, false positive rate, and Youden index were calculated to analyze the discordance rate for each item. Results Many parents in this study were concerned about the issues that professionals did not consider to be concerning. Moreover, the parents worried about more issues for 3-year-olds than for 18-month-olds. The items for which ≥ 10 professionals indicated concerns and with higher discordance between the professionals and parents for both boys and girls were “picky eating” for 18-month-olds and “inconsistent amount of food” for 3-year-olds. Conclusions The concerns that professionals have with respect to children's diets and the things that parents worry about show gaps. It might be necessary to provide professional counseling for parents to develop a correct understanding of their children’s dietary habits.

Ehsan Ameri 1, Ali Farhadi Mahali2 , Mojtaba Tabari3 Background: Improving the quality of visit services in laboratories of medical-teaching centers of universities of medical sciences plays a major role in providing better services to patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the policy of improving the quality of visit services of the reform plan in laboratories of medical-teaching centers in Golestan province. Methods: The present research was cross-sectional and had a descriptive-analytical type. A total of 384 staff in the diagnostic laboratories were selected for the study using a simple random sampling method. The data collection tool included a 35-item researcher-made questionnaire. Results: There was a gap between the current and desired status of the fourth axis of the health system reform plan. The gap was about -0.01, indicating that there was a gap between the current and desired status and it was related to the supervision department according to the respondents in the target statistical population. Conclusion: The implementation of this plan was effective in improving the quality of visit services in laboratories of medical-teaching centers in Golestan province but this effectiveness did not meet the goals of the fourth axis of the reform plan. Therefore, the factors, which caused a lack of supervision among the executive departments of laboratories of medical-teaching centers in Golestan province, should be removed for increasing the effectiveness of this plan.

Background: Emergency Trauma Score (EMTRAS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and Glasgow Age Pressure (GAP) are used to determine the patient status, and to predict the intervention and prognosis.Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between mortality and trauma severity scores (EMTRAS, RTS, and GAP) in multiple trauma patients.Methods: In this study, patients who had referred to the Emergency Department of Mustafa Kemal University Hospital due to multiple trauma within a one-year period were evaluated retrospectively. The hospital is located in the central district of Hatay, Antakya in the Republic of Turkey, 680 km from the capital, on the Syrian border. Its population is 1,5 million. Antakya is located as the central district of Hatay with population of 400,000. Demographic data, trauma type, nationality, vital parameters [pulse, peripheral oxygen saturation (SO2), respiratory count, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP)], physiological scoring systems (GCS, RTS, GAP and EMTRAS), and mortality states of the patients were reviewed. Data were analysed by SPSS 21, and the effect of current parameters on short-term (in the emergency service) and long-term (30 days) mortality was examined.Results: Three hundred and thirty-three multi-trauma patients were enrolled into the study. The median age of the patients was 31 (IQR: 22) years; 88.3% (294) of the patients were male. The exitus rate was detected as 7.8% in the emergency service and 26.4% within one month. GCS, RTS and GAP values of the patients who have died in the emergency service and within one month were significantly lower; however, the EMTRAS level was significantly higher in these patients (p

Relevance. Modern approach to development of oil and gas fields. Digitalization and automation of hydrocarbon production allow not only to reducing the response time to possible deviations from the operating level of production, but also quickly making decisions on its further normalization. The use of modern software to create a reservoir model using the material balance method allows you to calculate current and predicted reservoir pressures depending on the amount of selected and injected fluid. With high-quality adaptation, the integration of the reservoir model, wells and collection system, in its turn, allows you to correctly approach the choice of a field development system, as well as correctly assess the possible potential of the field. Forecast calculations performed on an integrated model can form the basis for budget planning, as well as the basis for carrying out geological and technical activities on wells, commissioning new wells, and modernizing equipment and infrastructure. Moreover, group optimization calculation allows us to maximize additional oil production, taking into account all geological and technical constraints. Aim. Formation and analysis of an approach to setting up a reservoir model by adapting parameters using the material balance method; formation of a solution for adapting the integrated model, reconciliation of the results with actual data; carrying out an optimization calculation and obtaining additional oil production. Methods. Adjustment and adaptation of reservoir models using the material balance method; adjustment and adaptation of the integrated model of a field/group of fields; calculation of the forecast for a period of 30/90 days; optimization calculations. Results. The obtained results make it possible to adapt the components of the integrated model with an accuracy of ±5 %, which makes it possible to simulate the operating mode of the field. As a result of the analysis, tuning criteria were identified, and the minimum required set of parameters for a qualitative adaptation of the reservoir model and the collection system was presented. The effectiveness and accuracy of the tool are also proven by comparing actual data on operating modes with synthetic ones. Based on the work done, it can be concluded that the use of the integrated model shows us a high convergence with real data, which allows us to optimally approach the field development mode. Moreover, an optimization calculation was carried out to obtain additional oil production using the proposed solution, and a forecast for oil production for a period of 90 days was calculated, which was later confirmed when compared with actual data.

Polymers based on glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and isocyanate present molecular structures dependent on NCO/OH molar ratio and diisocyanate reactivity. In this study, GAP polymers are obtained from a reaction with aromatic (toluene diisocyanate, TDI) or aliphatic (isophoranediisocyanate, IPDI) diisocyanates, varying the NCO/OH molar ratio from equimolar to 2.5. The increment in NCO/OH molar ratio increases the gel fraction in GAP/TDI polymers up to 90 wt%, along with a progressive growth in their glass transition temperature (Tg), which rises 10 °C from NCO/OH equimolar to 2.5. In opposition, in the GAP/IPDI polymers, the maximum gel fraction is 20 wt%, and the Tg value practically does not change in NCO excess. Infrared spectroscopy shows the predominant presence of urethane groups in polymers containing up to 2.0 NCO/OH molar ratio; however, at 2.5, urethane and allophanate characteristic bands are present in both polymers. That reactivity is controlled by chemical kinetics since the activation barrier of the reaction between the GAP and TDI is 10 kcal.mol‑1 lower than in the corresponding reaction with the IPDI. This difference results from the sum of the higher hyperconjugative interactions, approximately 65%, and the lower steric hindrance, about 35%, in the activated complex containing the TDI.

Massive GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9orf72 and the resulting loss of C9orf72 function are the key features of ~50% of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia cases. However, the biological function of C9orf72 remains unclear. We previously found that C9orf72 can form a stable GTPase activating protein (GAP) complex with SMCR8 (Smith-Magenis chromosome region 8). Herein, we report that the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex is a major negative regulator of primary ciliogenesis, abnormalities in which lead to ciliopathies. Mechanistically, the C9orf72- SMCR8 complex suppresses the primary cilium as a RAB8A GAP. Moreover, based on biochemical analysis, we found that C9orf72 is the RAB8A binding subunit and that SMCR8 is the GAP subunit in the complex. We further found that the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex suppressed the primary cilium in multiple tissues from mice, including but not limited to the brain, kidney, and spleen. Importantly, cells with C9orf72 or SMCR8 knocked out were more sensitive to hedgehog signaling. These results reveal the unexpected impact of C9orf72 on primary ciliogenesis and elucidate the pathogenesis of diseases caused by the loss of C9orf72 function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]