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This paper compares the service quality between 4G and 5G New Radio (NR) among different sub-6 GHz frequency bands in an urban micro-cellular outdoor setting. An updated version of LTE-Sim is considered to obtain the exponential effective signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio in 4G while determining the modulation and coding scheme. System capacity is obtained by considering a video application at 3.1 Mb/s and the proportional fair (PF) scheduler while comparing 4G and 5G NR through system-level simulations (the 5G-air-simulator is considered for 5G NR). The modified largest weighted delay first (M-LWDF) scheduler is compared with the PF, though only in 4G. Optimal system performance is reached both in 4G and 5G NR for cell radii longer than two times the breakpoint distance (or beyond), which are preferable compared to the shortest values for the cell radius. We have learned that the packet loss ratio (PLR) is higher for the cell radii, R, shorter than breakpoint distance, $d'_{BP}$ . For $d'_{BP} \leq R \leq 1000$ m, the PLR first decreases and then increases. For a target PLR < 2%, in 4G, the highest maximum average goodput is obtained with the M-LWDF scheduler (10-25% increase). This maximum occurs at the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands for $300\leq R \leq 500$ m, while at 5.62 GHz the highest goodput occurs for the longest Rs. With 5G NR and the PF, the maximum average goodput increases, in our simulations, from $\approx ~14.1$ (in 4G) to 26.1 Mb/s (20 MHz bandwidth).

Incessant road failures in Nigeria have become an issue of serious concern in recent times as a large portion of states and federal budgets are dedicated to revamping road infrastructures. In this study, we examined the geotechnical properties of clay samples collected from Ntak Inyang along Calabar-Itu highway, in Itu LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria with the aim of ascertaining whether the earth material at the study location is suitable for road construction. We carried out proctor’s compaction test, sieve analysis, California bearing ratio test and Attenberg’s limit test to analyse the clay samples for moisture content, California bearing ratio, plasticity and plastic limit, dry density and particle sizes. Results obtained indicate that the clay sample has an optimum moisture content of 13.53 %, dry density value in the range: 1580 kgm-3-1650 kgm-3, plastic limit of 22.15 %, plasticity index of 23 %, liquid limit of 45.63 %, sieve of 43.36 % with particles less than 0.075 mm and no particle size up to 5.0 mm, California bearing ratios of 9.0 % at 10.0 % moisture content, 6.7 % at 12.0 % moisture content, 2.0 % at 14.0 % moisture content. Based on these results, the clay sample is regarded as a sub-grade material with the classification of A-7-6 according to AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) classification. These results make the sample unsuitable for road construction but qualify it as a potential raw material for production of ceramic wares and tiles.

Abstract A new Ancistrus species is described from Tapajós and Xingu river basins. It is distinguished from its congeners by the singular body color pattern, consisting of dark vermiculated stripes almost all over the body, and also by combination of features as a narrow head, large internostril distance, and absence of rows of enlarged odontodes on the lateral plates. In addition, the new species is distinguished from congeners that inhabit the rio Tapajós basin by the presence of a fully-developed adipose fin (vs. adipose fin absent in Ancistrus parecis and A. tombador, and vestigial adipose fin or absent in A. krenakarore). It differs from A. ranunculus, also from the rio Xingu, by the color pattern, smaller body size, smaller gill opening, and narrower cleithral width. The new taxon adds a new record to the list of species shared among the Xingu and Tapajós basins.

Objetivo: Determinar a contribuição da biópsia percutânea com agulha cortante (Trucut) no diagnóstico das massas mediastínicas. Método: Revisão retrospectiva de 56 doentes com massas mediastínicas submetidos a biópsias com agulha cortante orientadas, mas não guiadas, pela tomografia computadorizada do tórax, no período de 1999 a 2008. Resultados: A biopsia percutânea com agulha cortante forneceu material adequado para o diagnóstico em 49/56 casos, com índice de positividade de 88%. Em 7/56, o material colhido foi insuficiente para definir o diagnóstico (12%). Este método foi capaz de definir o diagnóstico em 88% dos doentes: 23/56 (41%) linfomas; 12/56 (21%) timomas; 5/56 (3%) carcinomas tímicos; 3/56 (2%) carcinoma indiferenciado de pequenas células e 1/56 (0,6%) adenocarcinoma metastático, carcinoma epidermóide metastático, carcinoma neuroendócrino primitivo, plasmocitoma, teratoma, bócio. Após a biópsia, os doen tes foram submetidos a radiografia do tórax. Não houve nenhum tipo de complicação nestes doentes. Conclusão: A biópsia transtorácica com agulha cortante (Trucut) orientada, mas não guiada pela tomografia computadorizada, tem alto rendimento, esclrrecendo o diagnóstico na maioria dos portadores de massas mediastínicas e pode ser útil, evitando a toracotomia exploradora, nos casos de tumores do mediastino inoperáveis ou de tratamento quimioterápico.Aim: To determine the contribution of percutaneous biopsy with core cutting needle (Trucut) in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumours. Method: Retrospective review of 56 patients with mediastinal lesions who underwent percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy, oriented but not guided by computer assisted tomography of the thorax, 1999 - 2008. Results: Percutaneous biopsy with core cutting needle provided adequate material in 49/56, with a total positive sample rate of 88%. In 7/56 (12%) cases the material was insufficient to define the diagnosis. Percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy established a specific histological diagnosis in 88% of the patients: 23/56 (41%) lymphomas; 12/56 (21%) thymomas; 5/56 (3%) thymic carcinomas; 3/56 (2%) small cell carcinoma and 1/56 (0.6%) metastatic adenocarcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine primitive carcinoma, plasmocytoma, teratoma and goiter. All patients underwent thoracic X-ray after the procedure. No complications were found in these patients. Conclusion: Percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy (Trucut) oriented but not guided by computer assisted tomography of the thorax is an easy and safe procedure which can provide a precise diagnosis in the majority of mediastinal tumours and can prevent the need for exploratory thoracic surgery in cases which are medically treatable or non-resectable.

Resumo: Objetivo: Determinar a contribuição da biópsia percutânea com agulha cortante (Trucut) no diagnóstico das massas mediastínicas. Método: Revisão retrospectiva de 56 doentes com massas mediastínicas submetidos a biópsias com agulha cortante orientadas, mas não guiadas, pela tomografia computadorizada do tórax, no período de 1999 a 2008. Resultados: A biópsia percutânea com agulha cortante forneceu material adequado para o diagnóstico em 49/56 casos, com índice de positividade de 88%. Em 7/56, o material colhido foi insuficiente para definir o diagnóstico (12%). Este método foi capaz de definir o diagnóstico em 88% dos doentes: 23/56 (41%) linfomas; 12/56 (21%) timomas; 5/56 (3%) carcinomas tímicos; 3/56 (2%) carcinoma indiferenciado de pequenas células e 1/56 (0,6%) adenocarcinoma metastático, carcinoma epidermóide metastático, carcinoma neuroendócrino primitivo, plasmocitoma, teratoma, bócio. Após a biópsia, os doentes foram submetidos a radiografia do tórax. Não houve nenhum tipo de complicação nestes doentes. Conclusão: A biópsia transtorácica com agulha cortante (Trucut) orientada, mas não guiada pela tomografia computadorizada, tem alto rendimento, esclrrecendo o diagnóstico na maioria dos portadores de massas mediastínicas e pode ser útil, evitando a toracotomia exploradora, nos casos de tumores do mediastino inoperáveis ou de tratamento quimioterápico.Rev Port Pneumol 2009; XV (4): 589-595 Abstract: Aim: To determine the contribution of percutaneous biopsy with core cutting needle (Trucut) in the diagnosis of mediastinal tumours. Method: Retrospective review of 56 patients with mediastinal lesions who underwent percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy, oriented but not guided by computer assisted tomography of the thorax, 1999 â 2008. Results: Percutaneous biopsy with core cutting needle provided adequate material in 49/56, with a total positive sample rate of 88%. In 7/56 (12%) cases the material was insufficient to define the diagnosis. Percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy established a specific histological diagnosis in 88% of the patients: 23/56 (41%) lymphomas; 12/56 (21%) thymomas; 5/56 (3%) thymic carcinomas; 3/56 (2%) small cell carcinoma and 1/56 (0.6%) metastatic adenocarcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine primitive carcinoma, plasmocytoma, teratoma and goiter. All patients underwent thoracic X-ray after the procedure. No complications were found in these patients. Conclusion: Percutaneous core cutting needle biopsy (Trucut) oriented but not guided by computer assisted tomography of the thorax is an easy and safe procedure which can provide a precise diagnosis in the majority of mediastinal tumours and can prevent the need for exploratory thoracic surgery in cases which are medically treatable or non-resectable.Rev Port Pneumol 2009; XV (4): 589-595 Palavras-chave: Biópsia por agulha, biópsia com agulha Trucut, neoplasias do mediastino, mediastino/ /lesões, Key-words: Biopsy, needle, Trucut needle biopsy, mediastinal/lesions, mediastinal neoplasms

Foi investigada a prevalência de anticorpos antileptospira em fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses, provenientes de 178 rebanhos de 22 municípios do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, bem como identificados fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram analisadas 2.573 amostras de soro sangüíneo por meio do teste de soroaglutinação microscópica perante 10 sorovares de leptospira. Títulos iguais ou superiores a 100 para um ou mais sorovares foram detectados em 1.801 fêmeas (98,8%) de 161 (96,5%) rebanhos. O sorovar Hardjo (65,6%) foi apontado como o mais provável, seguido do sorovar Wolffi (12,3%). Os resultados demonstram que a leptospirose bovina se encontra presente em todos os municípios estudados, com alta prevalência, tanto em animais como em rebanhos. Os fatores de risco identificados neste estudo e associados à infecção por bactérias do gênero lepstopira foram o tipo de exploração pecuária de corte e a raça Zebu.The prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies was estimated for female cattle aged 24 months or older. The sample comprised 178 herds from 22 counties in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The risk factors associated with the presence of infeccion were investigated. A total of 2,573 blood serum samples were tested against 10 leptospira serovars using the microagglutination test (MAT). Titers of 100 or higher for one or more serovars were detected in 1,801 females (98.8%) from 161 herds (96.5%). Serovar Hardjo (65.6%) was the most frequent, followed by serovar Wolffi (12.3%). These results suggest that bovine leptospirosis is widespread in all the counties under study, with a high prevalence both at the animal and the herd level. Beef farms and the Zebu breed were associated to the higher risk of herd infection by leptospiras.

In this article, the camera settings for high-speed imaging of the arc, metal transfer, and weld pool in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) are investigated. The results show that by only changing camera exposure times and the selection of narrow bandpass filters, images that reveal features of the arc such as the iron vapor-dominated region, metal transfer and weld pool behavior can be produced without the need for external light sources. Using the images acquired, the arc length was measured and the relationship between arc length and arc voltage is discussed. The results show that for low values of current, the measured welding voltage increases with increasing arc length; however, for high current values, the arc voltage increases even though the measured arc length becomes shorter. It is suggested that the increase in arc voltage for high values of welding current is due to the increased evaporation of the wire electrode which decreases the plasma temperature and consequently the arc plasma electrical conductivity.

Abstract An updated synthesis of cyanobacteria and algae information is presented for Brazil aiming to refine the data gathered to date and evaluate the progress of the biodiversity knowledge about these organisms in the country since the publication of the Catálogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil. The results of 2015 showed an increase of 1,250 species (35.7%) when compared to 2010, reaching a total of 4,747 species. The most diverse classes in species number were the Bacillariophyceae, Conjugatophyceae, Florideophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae and Euglenophyceae. Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae had the highest increase in species number in the five-year interval. The Southeast and South regions were the most diverse, however, the Northeast, with the states of Piauí and Sergipe, and the Central-west region, with Mato Grosso, Goiás and Distrito Federal, also stood out in the national algal biodiversity scenario. Despite the shortage of taxonomists and limited infrastructure, the results showed a significant improvement in the knowledge regarding the diversity of cyanobacteria and algae in the country during the study period, starting to even out regional geographical differences caused by subsampling.

Background: Neurocognitive functioning is an integral phenotype of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome relating to severity of psychopathology and outcomes. A neurocognitive battery that could be administered remotely to assess multiple cognitive domains would be especially beneficial to research on rare genetic variants, where in‐person assessment can be unavailable or burdensome. The current study compares in‐person and remote assessments of the Penn computerised neurocognitive battery (CNB). Methods: Participants (mean age = 17.82, SD = 6.94 years; 48% female) completed the CNB either in‐person at a laboratory (n = 222) or remotely (n = 162). Results: Results show that accuracy of CNB performance was equivalent across the two testing locations, while slight differences in speed were detected in 3 of the 11 tasks. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the CNB can be used in remote settings to assess multiple neurocognitive domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop variety mixtures can provide many benefits, including pathogen suppression and increased yield and yield stability. However, these benefits do not necessarily occur in all mixtures, and the benefits of diversity may be compromised by disadvantages due to increased crop heterogeneity. In-field development of mixtures by assembling many combinations of crop genotypes without prior expectation about which genotypes need to be combined to produce well-performing mixtures results in prohibitively large designs. Therefore, effective tools are required to narrow down the number of promising variety mixtures, and to then identify in experiments which of these deliver the highest benefits. Here, we first review current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying effects in ecological diversity experiments and in current agricultural applications. We then discuss some of the principal difficulties arising in the application of this knowledge to develop good variety mixtures. We also discuss non-conventional approaches to solve some of these issues. In particular, we highlight the potential and limitations of trait-based methods to determine good variety mixing partners, and argue that nontraditional traits and trait-derived metrics may be needed for the trait-based approach to deliver its full potential. Specifically, we argue that good mixing partners can be identified using modern genetic and genomic approaches. Alternatively, good mixtures may be obtained by combining varieties that respond differently to environmental variation; such varieties could easily be identified in standard variety testing trials. Preliminary analyses show that niche differences underlying the different environmental responses can indicate functional complementarity and promote mixture yield and yield stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that choroid plexus (ChP) enlargement occurs in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) and is associated with peripheral inflammation. However, it is unclear whether such an enlargement delineates a biologically defined subgroup of SSD. Moreover, it remains elusive how ChP is linked to brain regions associated with peripheral inflammation in SSD. A cross-sectional cohort of 132 individuals with SSD and 107 age-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical phenotyping to investigate the ChP and associated regions. A case-control comparison of ChP volumes was conducted, and structural variance was analyzed by employing the variability ratio (VR). K-means clustering analysis was used to identify subgroups with distinct patterns of the ventricular system, and the clusters were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, and immunological measures. The relationship between ChP volumes and brain regions, previously associated with peripheral inflammation, was investigated. We did not find a significant enlargement of the ChP in SSD compared to HC but detected an increased VR of ChP and lateral ventricle volumes. Based on these regions, we identified 3 clusters with differences in cognitive measures and possibly inflammatory markers. Larger ChP volume was associated with higher volumes of hippocampus, putamen, and thalamus in SSD but not in HC. This study suggests that ChP variability, but not mean volume, is increased in individuals with SSD, compared to HC. Larger ChP volumes in SSD were associated with higher volumes of regions previously associated with peripheral inflammation.

Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is well-established in arthroplasty to prevent periprosthetic joint infection. However, the optimal duration and dosing of SAP remain a matter of debate, as evidenced by ongoing discordance between recommendations and clinical practice, reflected in the heterogeneity and imprecision of national and societal guidelines. The evidence currently available regarding the duration of SAP is summarised and discussed, specifically the postoperative repeated administration of antimicrobials within the first 24 h. The evidence available suffers from limitations, specifically deficiencies in outcome assessments in the available randomised controlled trials. Observational studies suggest that a short postoperative prolongation (

Abstract Background Drug delivery to the brain is challenging due to the restrict permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Recent studies indicate that BBB permeability increases over time during physiological aging likely due to factors (including extracellular vesicles (EVs)) that exist in the bloodstream. Therefore, inspiration can be taken from aging to develop new strategies for the transient opening of the BBB for drug delivery to the brain. Results Here, we evaluated the impact of small EVs (sEVs) enriched with microRNAs (miRNAs) overexpressed during aging, with the capacity to interfere transiently with the BBB. Initially, we investigated whether the miRNAs were overexpressed in sEVs collected from plasma of aged individuals. Next, we evaluated the opening properties of the miRNA-enriched sEVs in a static or dynamic (under flow) human in vitro BBB model. Our results showed that miR-383-3p-enriched sEVs significantly increased BBB permeability in a reversible manner by decreasing the expression of claudin 5, an important tight junction protein of brain endothelial cells (BECs) of the BBB, mediated in part by the knockdown of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Conclusions Our findings suggest that engineered sEVs have potential as a strategy for the temporary BBB opening, making it easier for drugs to reach the brain when injected into the bloodstream. Graphical abstract

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BackgroundDrug repurposing has become a widely adopted strategy to minimise research time, costs, and associated risks. Combinations of protease inhibitors such as lopinavir and darunavir with ritonavir have been repurposed as treatments for COVID-19. Although lopinavir-ritonavir (LPV/r) and darunavir-ritonavir (DRV/r) have shown in vitro efficacy against COVID-19, the results in human studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, our objective was to compare the efficacy of LPV/r and DRV/r in COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary centre in Romania.Research design and methodsA clinical dataset from 417 hospitalised patients was analysed. Patients were assigned to the LPV/r, DRV/r, or control (standard-of-care) group based on clinical decisions made by the attending infectious disease specialists, aligned with national treatment protocols. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to compare in-hospital mortality and to identify factors associated with clinical improvement or fatal outcomes.ResultsBy day 10, more patients showed improvement with LPV/r and DRV/r (p=0.03 and 0.01, respectively), but only LPV/r was associated with improved survival compared to the control group (p=0.05). Factors associated with mortality included male gender (HR: 3.63, p=0.02), diabetes (HR: 2.49, p=0.03), oxygen saturation below 90% at admission (HR: 5.23, p

The ARCR_Pred study was initiated to document and predict the safety and effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) in a representative Swiss patient cohort. In the present manuscript, we aimed to describe the overall and baseline characteristics of the study, report on functional outcome data and explore case-mix adjustment and differences between public and private hospitals. Between June 2020 and November 2021, primary ARCR patients were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter cohort across 18 Swiss and one German orthopedic center. Baseline characteristics, including sociodemographic and diagnostic variables, were reported. Clinical scores and patient-reported outcome measures were assessed up to 24-month follow-up. After screening 2350 individuals, 973 patients with ARCR were included. Follow-up rates reached 99%, 95%, 89% and 88% at 6 weeks, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. While the proportion of massive tears was higher in the study population (44% vs. 20%, Std. Diff. = 0.56), there were no other major differences in key characteristics between enrolled and non-enrolled patients or in patients lost to follow-up. Functional scores improved over time, with positive changes rates ranging from 83% to 92% at 6-month, reaching 91% to 97% at 12- and 24-month follow-up. In linear mixed models, used to estimate the associations between baseline factors, hospital type and standardized 0-100 scores, marginal effects for time ranged from 20 to 30, 28 to 39 and 34 to 41 points at the 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-up, respectively. Except at the 12-month follow-up, where marginal effects for the interaction terms ranged from -5 to -4 points in the standardized scores, there were no consistent outcome differences between public and private hospitals. Increasing number of years of education was consistently associated with better scores, greater feelings of depression and anxiety, smoking and ASA group III-IV were consistently associated with worse scores. Tear severity showed a consistent negative association solely for the Constant-Score. The ARCR_Pred study shows high potential for generalizability to the population of patients undergoing an ARCR in Switzerland. Further analyses are needed to establish relevant clinimetrics for the Swiss population and to compare outcomes for surgical techniques, surgeon experiences profiles and post-operative management.

El Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo caracterizado por desafíos en la comunicación social y la conducta, que aparecen en etapas tempranas de la vida, y muestran una elevada heterogeneidad clínica. Presenta una alta heredabilidad, con causa multifactorial (factores medioambientales, epigenéticos y genéticos que alteren la neurogénesis y sinaptogénesis temprana). La prevalencia mundial se estima entre el 1-2%, aunque hay alertas de aumento de incidencia. Hay factores de riesgo relacionados con aspectos preconcepcionales, prenatales y postnatales tempranos. La identificación oportuna, el diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento precoz pueden mejorar el pronóstico. El médico de cabecera (pediatra o médico de familia) tiene un rol crucial en la detección, acompañamiento y seguimiento del paciente y su familia. El diagnóstico es clínico, se basa en la observación de la conducta, entrevista orientada al desarrollo, reportes de diversos ámbitos y un examen físico completo realizado por profesionales con experiencia. Las herramientas estandarizadas y los exámenes complementarios se deben solicitar según el juicio clínico. Se deben pesquisar condiciones asociadas como otros trastornos del neurodesarrollo, condiciones psiquiátricas, problemas médicos, sensoriales. El diagnóstico en mujeres presenta algunos desafíos por sesgo profesional y una presentación clínica diferencial. Se recomiendan intervenciones tempranas, implementadas de manera precoz y basadas en la evidencia científica. Deben orientarse a mejorar las habilidades en áreas con desafíos y aprovechar las fortalezas, minimizar las barreras y optimizar el ambiente. Los apoyos deben contribuir a mejorar el perfil de funcionamiento y la participación social.

This study aims to test the prototype solar dryer using a hybrid drying mechanism. The study utilized direct and indirect drying models. The indirect drying used solar collectors. Solar collector serves to absorb heat captured by the black body inside. The solar collector media used are flat plates and corrugated plates. The hot air from the solar collector is blown and forced by the blower into the drying chamber. Blowers operate using electrical energy generated by solar panels. The experiment lasted for two days from 09.00 a.m. to 03.00 p.m. The observations focused on the temperature of the solar collector and the drying chamber as well as the output of electricity generated by the solar panels. The test results showed the highest temperature reached by the solar collector with a corrugated plate was 50.500C, while the flat plate was 49.600C. Furthermore, the highest electrical power produced by solar panel was 11.33 Watts.

Introduction: The Swiss Eosinophilic Esophagitis Cohort Study (SEECS) is a national cohort that was established in 2015 with the aim of improving quality of care of affected adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Between 2020 and 2022, paper questionnaires were gradually replaced by fully electronic data capture using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap®) software. We aim to provide an update of the SEECS 8 years after its launch. Methods: The SEECS prospectively includes adults (≥18 years of age) with EoE as well as patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and healthy control subjects (HC). Upon inclusion and follow-up (typically once every 12–18 months), patients and physicians complete REDCap® questionnaires, which are available in German, French, and English. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and biologic findings are assessed on the same day using validated instruments (EEsAI PRO for symptoms; EoE-QoL-A for QoL; EREFS for endoscopic activity; modified EoE-HSS for histologic activity). The SEECS biobank includes biosamples from patients with EoE, GERD, and HC. Results: As of July 2023, the SEECS included 778 patients (716 [92%] with EoE, 29 [3.8%] with GERD, and 33 [4.2%] HC; 559/778 [71.9%] were male). Mean age ± SD (years) at enrollment according to diagnosis was as follows: EoE 41.9 ± 12.9, GERD 53.6 ± 16.4, HC 51.7 ± 17.2. Concomitant GERD was found in 200 patients (27.9%) of the EoE cohort. Concomitant allergic disorders (asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, eczema) were present in 500 EoE patients (74.4%). At inclusion, 686 (95.8%) of EoE patients were on ongoing treatment (orodispersible budesonide tablet [Jorveza®] in 281 patients [41%]; budesonide or fluticasone syrup or swallowed powder in 290 patients [42.3%]; proton-pump inhibitors in 162 patients [23.6%]; elimination diets in 103 patients [15%]; and esophageal dilation at last visit in 166 patients [24.2%]). A total of 8,698 biosamples were collected, of which 1,395 (16%) were used in the framework of translational research projects. Conclusion: SEECS continuously grows and is operational using fully electronic data capture. SEECS offers up-to-date epidemiologic and real-world clinical efficacy data on EoE and promotes clinical and translational research.

The concept of clean and renewable energy is currently a focus developed continuously. One of the abundant sources of clean and renewable energy is water. A water turbine is a mechanism to generate electrical energy by utilizing the water flow. Pico or nano hydro turbines produce electrical energy by taking advantage of the flow of water that rotates the shaft of the electric generator. This experimental study aims to analyze the effect of differences in the number of blades on a Horizontal axis drag-type Savonius turbine mounted of water flow in a vertical pipe. The variations of blades number used in the study are 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The potential energy of the water is kept constant with a constant head of 2 meters. Four main parameters used as a benchmark for the performance of water turbines are rotor rotation, voltage, current and electrical power generated. The results showed that the rotor rotation, voltage, current, and generated electrical power decreased as the number of blades used increased. The water turbine of 3 blades produces the best performance compared to the other one. The magnitude of the rotor rotation, voltage, current, and electrical power generated is 846 rpm, 15.28 volts, 0.61 amperes, and 9.38 Watts, respectively.

This article examines private Palestinian Arabic periodicals established during the Second Ottoman Constitutional Era, shedding light on the shifts and transformations within the press market during this dynamic period. Its aim is to piece together the circulation and distribution patterns of these publications. The research explores various facets, such as subscriber statistics, the geographical distribution of readership, and the pricing strategies. Following the Young Turk Revolution, there was a great expansion in journalistic endeavours, resulting in the establishment of numerous periodicals based in the three urban centres of Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa. However, the ensuing years witnessed a gradual consolidation, so that by the outbreak of World War I, only a fraction of the Arabic periodicals founded earlier continued operations. These publications followed diverse trajectories: some folded quickly owing to the fierce competition and the multitude of challenges plaguing journalistic activities, while others experienced a gradual decline but managed to sustain operations for an extended period. By contrast, the most successful among them strengthened their position by attracting prominent advertisers, actively engaging with the crucial issues of the era, introducing innovative practices, and consistently expanding their readership base, ultimately reaching their peak at the outbreak of WWI.

The treatment of older patients with cancer is challenging owing to frailty and the presence of comorbidities, which complicate treatment decisions by impacting tolerance to therapeutic interventions, as well as poor representation of this patient population in clinical trials, leading to a lack of evidence-based data, especially in later lines of therapy. There is an urgent need for predictive models that could provide diagnostic and prognostic information relevant to older patients with cancer. Organoid technology has emerged as a promising frontier in cancer treatment, offering a versatile platform for personalized medicine and drug development. By recapitulating the three-dimensional (3D) architecture, cell-matrix interactions and tissue heterogeneity, organoid cultures provide an accurate representation of individual tumor properties, thus enabling the precise modeling of tumor behavior. Clinical trials have demonstrated a high predictive value and statistically significant correlation between the patient’s clinical response and tumor organoid response in different cancer types. The first ongoing Swiss registry study aims to apply organoid-based drug screening technology to identify optimal treatments in older cancer patients in the second or later therapy line setting. This study will help to identify optimal personalized treatment strategies while reducing unnecessary treatment-related toxicity and improving patient outcomes in this patient population. PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE **Peer reviewers:** Dr Andreas Hochstrasser, Hospital Thun, Thun, Switzerland Dr Bich Doan Nguyen-Sträuli, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland Received on April 22, 2024; accepted after peer review on October 23, 2024; published online on October 30, 2024.

The term intangible assets embraces a wide array of assets, resources and capabilities that contribute to the productive potential of firms, but which do not have physical substance. Most empirical studies simply use an aggregate measure of intangibles derived from data collated from firms’ financial statements (we refer here to recognized or written intangibles). But such a measure includes only some of the valuable intangibles that firms possess, and typically does not capture the value of many intangibles (e.g. managerial and organizational capabilities, market knowledge, trusted relationships) that are internally generated by the company. Yet it is likely that such unrecognized or non-written intangibles will have at least as important an impact on corporate performance as that of the written intangibles. We show empirically that the growth of both categories of intangible assets have significant effects on sales growth (our chosen measure of firm performance), and that the elasticity of firm performance with respect to the growth of written intangibles is significantly larger than the elasticity with respect to the growth of non-written intangibles. However, our analysis also reveals that the mean stock of non-written intangibles is three times larger than the stock of written intangibles, and that the mean growth of the non-written intangibles is three times faster than that of written intangibles.

The genetic inheritance of a tree species is fully expressed in the phenotype only when its ecological requirements are accomplished. Therefore, genetic tests provide the opportunity to simulate the change in the environment and determine the most suitable site conditions for specific populations. In light of the unpredictable climate conditions resulting from rapid environmental changes, the current study investigated possible signs of adaptation and productivity of European beech in the Romanian Carpathian region. For this purpose, the tree growth and stability performances, as well as the transfer effect, were examined in 17 international beech provenances tested in two different environments for 27 years. Growth and stability performances were evaluated using tree height (Th), breast height diameter (DBH), and survival (S). In the case of the transfer analyses, the ecodistance approach was applied. According to the results, the average of S was 13% higher in the Carbunari provenance trial, and DBH was higher in the Sacele trial by 15%, while no noticeable differences were registered for Th. The best-performing provenances were those originating from similar site conditions to the Romanian test sites, and the transfer function detected the sensitivity of beech provenances to increasing temperature. The general transfer response of provenances revealed a similar performance across sites and suggested that provenances exhibited adaptation and acclimation to the test environments from Romanian Carpathians.