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To understand changes in bedrock motion at the ground surface, frequency effects, and spatial distribution within the soil, it is important to look at how a site responds to earthquakes. This is important for soil–structure interaction in structural and geotechnical earthquake engineering. This study deals with the effect of classifying clays according to shear wave velocity (stiff/medium/soft) and nonlinearity in behavior (linear/nonlinear) on the analysis of the site response. A 3D soil model with a combination of free fields and quiet boundaries and advanced constitutive models for soil to obtain accurate results was used to conduct this study. A strong TABAS earthquake was used to excite the compliant base of the model after converting the velocity record of TABAS to an equivalent surface traction force using a horizontal force–time history proportional to the velocity–time history. This study reveals that the site response analysis is affected by the type of clay soil and the soil material behavior, with soft clay soil causing higher PGV and PGV values in the linear case and lower values in the nonlinear case due to soil yielding, which causes soil response attenuation. This results in extremely conservative and expensive building designs when linear soil behavior is adopted. On the other hand, the applied earthquake exhibits greater attenuation at longer frequencies and greater amplification at mid and short frequencies. However, at frequencies near the applied earthquake frequency, neither attenuation nor amplification occurs. Furthermore, nonlinear soil behavior is crucial for soil evaluation and foundation design due to higher octahedral shear strain and settlement values, especially in softer soils, resulting from extensive plastic deformation.

Concrete columns with hollow-core sections find widespread application owing to their excellent structural efficiency and efficient material utilization. However, corrosion poses a challenge in concrete buildings with steel reinforcement. This paper explores the possibility of using glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement as a non-corrosive and economically viable substitute for steel reinforcement in short square hollow concrete columns. Twelve hollow short columns were meticulously prepared in the laboratory experiments and subjected to pure axial compressive loads until failure. All columns featured a hollow square section with exterior dimensions of (180 × 180) mm and 900 mm height. The columns were categorized into four separate groups with different variables: steel and GFRP longitudinal reinforcement ratio, hollow ratio, spacing between ties, and reinforcement type. The experimental findings point to the compressive participation of longitudinal GFRP bars, estimated to be approximately 35% of the tensile strength of GFRP bars. Notably, increasing GFRP longitudinal reinforcement significantly improved the ultimate load capability of hollow square GFRP column specimens. Specifically, elevating the ratio of GFRP reinforcement from 1.46% to 2.9%, 3.29%, 4.9%, and 5.85% resulted in axial load capacity improvements of 32.3%, 43.9%, 60.5%, and 71.7%, respectively. Specifically, the GFRP specimens showed a decrease in capacity of 13.1%, 9.2%, and 9.4%, respectively. Notably, the load contribution of steel reinforcement to GFRP reinforcement (with similar sectional areas) was from approximately three to four times the axial peak load, highlighting the greater load participation of steel reinforcement due to its higher elastic modulus. In addition, the numerical modeling and analysis conducted using ABAQUS/CAE 2019 software exhibited strong concordance with experimental findings concerning failure modes and capacity to carry axial loads.

Impermeable paving surfaces constitute one of the main causes of the aggravation of the urban heat island phenomenon. The replacement of such surfaces with cool pavements represents an innovative and promising approach to mitigate this phenomenon. In this study, the investigated cool pavements allow to restrict the rise in the surface temperature by facilitating the evaporation of water through capillary pores. This process occurs from the water-supplied base to the surface exposed to solar radiation. The pavement's cooling potential is quantified by its surface temperature, influenced by various factors, including prevailing weather conditions, thermophysical properties of the pavement, and its initial temperature and saturation state. Within the scope of this research, the pavement’s qualification for its cooling potential is carried out based on the results of an experimental thermophysical characterization. The main objective is to identify the thermophysical properties governing the surface temperature of the pavement under external climatic conditions.To achieve this objective, 21 cement concrete pavements with different formulations are initially identified. These pavements are categorized into two series: the first (denoted as BS) comprises 8 pavements made from recycled sand and containing hydrophilic materials, while the second (denoted as BI) includes 13 pavements made from structural insulating concrete. The methods employed for pavement characterization are outlined, and the corresponding results, encompassing thermophysical properties measurements and surface temperature values, are presented. Analysis of these results reveals new correlations between thermophysical properties and surface temperature. These correlations highlight the coupling between pavement properties, that dictate surface temperature under real summer conditions, contingent on whether the pavement is draining or non-draining. Furthermore, a robust negative linear correlation (R2= 0.92) is identified between surface temperature and evaporation rate under controlled conditions. This underscores the pivotal role of evaporation in substantially regulating the surface temperature of both types of pavements.

Due to the shear strain in the plane of the slab, the parts of the slab remote from the steel beam lag behind the part of the slab located in its proximity. This shear lag effect causes a non-uniform stress distribution across the width of the slab. As a result, several standards have introduced the concept of an effective flange width to simplify the analysis of stress distribution across the width of composite beams. Both the computed ultimate moment and serviceability limit states are directly impacted by the effective width. The effect of using a large number of contact points as shear connectors on the effective width of a steel beam flange has not been investigated. A three-dimensional finite element analysis is carried out in this paper. The ABAQUS software (version 6.14) is used for this purpose, where several variables are considered, including the surface area connecting the steel beam and concrete slab, the transverse space, and the number of shear connectors. It was discovered that the number of shear connectors on the steel beam flange has a major impact on the effective width. The many connectors work together to provide a shear surface that improves the effective width by lowering the value of the shear lag.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, affecting 3–5% of the global population and significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and healthcare resources. Alongside physical symptoms such as abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, many individuals experience psychological comorbidities, including anxiety and depression. Recent research has highlighted the critical role of the gut microbiota in IBS, with dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in microbial diversity, frequently observed in patients. The gut–brain axis, a bidirectional communication network between the gut and central nervous system, plays a central role in the development of IBS symptoms. Although interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have demonstrated potential in modulating the gut microbiota and alleviating symptoms, their efficacy remains an area of ongoing investigation. This review examines the interactions between the gut microbiota, immune system, and brain, emphasizing the need for personalized therapeutic strategies. Future research should aim to identify reliable microbiota-based biomarkers for IBS and refine microbiome-targeted therapies to enhance patient outcomes.

تقوم المحامل المغناطيسية على مبدأ استخدام المجال المغناطيسي لرفع الأعمدة الدوارة وبالتالي فإنها لا تحتوي على أي احتكاك أو تآكل مما يعطيها موثوقية عالية بالإضافة إلى السرعة التي من غير الممكن تحقيقها بواسطة المحامل الأخرى والتي يمكن تحقيقها بسهولة باستخدام هذه المحامل . كما أن استخدام هذه المحامل في الآلات الدوارة يؤدي إلى تقليل الاهتزاز في الآلة مما يحسن من عمر الآلة وبالتالي زيادة فترات الصيانة الدورية لها . يعتبر تصميم نظام التحكم لمثل هذه المحامل النقطة الأساسية في جودة عمل هذه المحامل حيث أن نظام التحكم يعمل على قراءة الانحراف في المحور الدوار ضمن المحمل ويقوم بضبطه من خلال تعديل شدة التيار المار في وشائعه مما يغير من شدة الحقل المغناطيسي المتولد وبالتالي يقوم باعادة المحور إلى وضع التوازن . إن ما قمنا به في هذا البحث هو تصميم نظام تحكم تقليدي ومتقدم لنموذج رياضي لمحور دوار مدعوم بمحمل مغناطيسي باستخدام برنامج MATLAB/SIMULINK لتقليل الانحراف في المحور الدوار ضمن المحمل وذلك للتقليل من التآكل والاهتراء في المحامل التقليدية وزيادة سرعة دوران هذه المحاور في الآلات حيث أظهرت النتائج أن استخدام نظام تحكم متقدم للمحمل المغناطيسي أدى لتخفيض الانحرافات في المحور بنسبة أكبر من نظام التحكم التقليدي.

Life-history traits have been identified as major indicators of mammals' susceptibility and exposure to viruses due to evolutionary constraints that link life-history speed with species’ ecology and immunity. Nonetheless, it is unclear where along the fast-slow continuum of mammalian life-history lies the greatest diversity of host species. Consequently, life-history patterns that govern host–virus associations remain largely unknown. Here we analyse the virome of 1350 wild mammals and detect the characteristics that drive species' compatibility with different groups of viruses. We highlight that mammals with larger body size and either very rapid or very slow life histories are more likely to carry different groups of viruses, particularly zoonotic ones. While some common life-history patterns emerge across carriers, eco-evolutionary characteristics of viral groups appear to determine association with certain carrier species. Our findings underline the importance of incorporating both mammals’ life-history information and viruses' ecological diversity into surveillance strategies to identify potential zoonotic carriers in wildlife.

يتضمن البحث الحديث عن أحد أشهر الوزراء في الدولة الموحدية، وقد ساهم في إدارة شؤون الدولة الموحدية وكان له دور بارز فيها، وهو الوزير أبو جعفر بن عطية، الذي تولى منصب الكاتب ثم الوزير، كما قاد الجيوش العسكرية في الأندلس، منذ بداية حكم عهد عبد المؤمن بن علي حتى أواخر عهده، و يعد الوزير أبو جعفر من أبرز رجال عهد عبد المؤمن وأكثرهم شهرة، رغم كونه وزير تنفيذ ليس له نفوذ واسع بسبب قوة الخليفة عبد المؤمن وهيمنته على الحكم، حيث برع في السياسة وقيادة الجيوش في المعارك، كما برع في الكتابة والأدب، فعرف عنه أنه كان أديباً وشاعراً. لقد ربط الكثير من الباحثين بين وشاية بعض كبار رجالات الدولة ومقتل الوزير أبو جعفر، إذ كان الوزير أبو جعفر بن عطية ضحية الغيرة الحاصلة من علية القوم على التقارب الذي كان بين الخليفة و الوزير، والذي أدى فيما بعد إلى اتهام الوزير بولائه للمرابطين، وبالتالي ابتعاد الخليفة عنه، ومقتله نتيجة ذلك.

Background: Healthcare providers must possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest, basic life support (BLS) is the initial step in the life-saving process before the advanced CPR team arrives. BLS simulation training using manikins has become an essential teaching methodology in nursing education, enhancing newly employed nurses’ knowledge and skills and empowering them to provide adequate resuscitation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential effect of BLS simulation training on knowledge and practice scores among newly employed nurses in Jordanian government hospitals. Methods: A total of 102 newly employed nurses were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (n = 51) received standard training, and the experimental group (n = 51) received one full day of BLS simulation training. The training program used the American Heart Association (AHA)-BLS-2020 guidelines and integrated theoretical models such as Miller’s Pyramid and Kolb’s Cycle. Both groups were homogeneous in inclusion characteristics and pretest results. Knowledge and practice scores were assessed using 23 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The results indicated significant differences in knowledge scores, F(2, 182) = 58.514, p

شهد التاريخ الإسلامي عملية تكرار لظاهرة مجيء شخص يدعو إلى العودة إلى الدين الصحيح، وتوحيد الأمة حوله، والاحتكام إلى الشريعة، ورفع شعار الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر، والجهاد في سبيل الله, ومن أمثلة ذلك دعوة محمد بن تومرت الذي تسمى بالمهدي، وبدأ يدعو الناس إلى العودة بالإسلام إلى حالته الأولى، وعلى الرغم من جوهر دعوة ابن تومرت الديني، إلا أنها ما لبثت أن تحولت إلى دعوة سياسية، ونجحت بتأسيس دولة كبرى في المغرب العربي والإسلامي، وامتدت حتى شملت بلاد الأندلس. أدى ظهور الحركة الموحدية، ونجاحها في تأسيس دولة كبيرة، إلى ظهور حركات معارضة للسلطة السياسية القائمة، فسعى ابن تومرت ومن خَلَفَهُ من الحكام إلى انتهاج منهج جديد، قائم على عملية التمييز والمفاضلة، أو ما سمي بحملات الاعتراف، وأصبح هذا الأمر ظاهرة مذهبية وسياسية، انتهت إلى ترسيخ الحكم الموحدي، بعد الاعتماد على التطرف السياسي القائم على الإقصاء، وبالتالي فإن هذه العملية لا تميز الجانب الروحي للدين من الجانب الإيديولوجي أو السياسي له.

Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) represents an exceptionally durable construction material distinguished by its notable strength, ductility, and durability. Previous investigations have demonstrated a limited exploration of UHPC containing basalt fiber and waste glass as a substitute for cement. Current study concentrates on assessing the impact of incorporating waste glass powder (WGP) in lieu of cement, on the workability, mechanical properties, and microstructural attributes of this composite. The substitution involved three distinct proportions of waste pozzolanic glass powder: 10%, 20%, and 30%, measured by weight. A substantial number of test specimens, exceeding one hundred, was accurately prepared to inspect the engineering characteristics of five varied UHPC formulations. Experimental outcomes underline that the optimum UHPC compressive strength was recorded at the 28-day when employing a 0.75% basalt fiber content and replacing 20% of cement with waste glass. This investigation establishes the distinctive contribution of WGP pozzolanic constituents in enhancing the microstructure of UHPC.

This research article concentrates on process conditions in addition to improving color selections in polymer compounders and developing more accurate simulation models. The feed rate (FR), temperature (T) and screw speed (SS) are three processing variables that the research investigates using general trends (GTs) and Box–Behnken design (BBD) response surface methodology. The identical set of processing settings was tweaked at three separate phases independently of one another. This study uses the experimental design to investigate process parameters’ optimization while holding all other parameters constant. This design was given the name GT. To develop this design and its statistical optimization, this study used the software of the design expert method. A regression model was run in this design, which displayed collective as well as individual effects of the parameters on color images. The values of tri-stimulus color with the best optimization had the smallest proper color variance (dE*). To obtain information on pigment characteristics, an SEM image analysis was conducted, which aids in improving future designs and overcoming manufacturing issues that affect color fluctuation properties and waste reduction for various chemical grades, both of which enhance environmentally friendly processes.

Modern concrete mix design is a complex process involving superplasticisers, fine powders, and fibres, requiring time and energy due to the high number of trial tests needed to achieve rheological properties in the fresh state. Concrete batching involves the extensive use of materials, time, and the testing of chemical admixtures, with various methodologies proposed. Therefore, in some instances, the required design properties (physical and mechanical) are not achieved, leading to the loss of resources. The concrete equivalent mortar (CEM) method was introduced to anticipate concrete behaviour at fresh and hardened states. Moreover, the CEM method saves time and costs by replacing coarse aggregates with an equivalent sand mass, resulting in an equivalent specific surface area at the mortar scale. This study aims to evaluate the performance of fibre in CEM and concrete and determine the relationships between the CEM and the concrete in fresh and hardened states. Steel and polypropylene fibres were used to design three series of mixtures (CEM and concrete): normal-strength concrete (NSC), high-strength concrete (HSC), high-strength concrete with fly ash (HSCFA), and equivalent normal-strength mortar (NSM), high-strength mortar (HSM), and high-strength mortar with fly ash (HSMFA). This study used three-point bending tests and digital image correlation to evaluate load and crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) curves. An analytical mode I crack propagation model was developed using a tri-linear stress–crack opening relationship. Post-cracking parameters were optimised using inverse analysis and compared to actual MC2010 characteristic values. The concrete slump is approximately half of the CEM flow; its compressive strength ranges between 78% and 82% of CEM strength, while its flexural strength is 60% of CEM strength. The post-cracking behaviour showed a significant difference attributed to the presence of aggregates in concrete. The fracture energy of concrete is 28.6% of the CEM fracture energy, while the critical crack opening of the concrete is 60% of that of the CEM.

تعد دولة الموحدين أحدى أهم إمبراطوريات التي قامت في المغرب الإسلامي في مرحلة القرون الوسطى، وذلك بعد نجاحها في القضاء على الحكم المرابطي سنة 541ه/1147م، ونجاحها في بسط سيطرتها على كامل شمال أفريقيا بأقسامها المختلفة (المغرب الأدنى والأوسط والأقصى)، ومن ثم امتدادها إلى بلاد الأندلس، وبذلك فقد أسس الموحدين دولة قوية مرهوبة الجانب، استطاعت الحفاظ على وحدتها السياسية والجغرافية لفترة طويلة من الزمن، نتيجة وجود نظام سياسي وإداري مركزي ومتشدد. وعلى الرغم من الاستقرار السياسي في الدولة الموحدية، إلا أن الامتداد الجغرافي الكبير، وانشغال الدولة بالحروب الخارجية، وبالتالي إهمال الخلفاء للشأن الداخلي، أدى إلى ظهور عدد من الاضطرابات والتمردات الداخلية، في مختلف مراحل الدولة، مما دفع السلطات الموحدية إلى تجهيز الجيوش للقضاء على تلك الثورات، وإيقاف خطرها، ولعل من أهم تلك الثورات التي جرت ثورة محمد بن عبد الله الماسي، فما هي أسبابها وأحداثها ونتائجها.

Background We aimed to identify patients with subphenotypes of postacute coronary syndrome (ACS) using repeated measurements of high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and growth differentiation factor 15 in the year after the index admission, and to investigate their association with long‐term mortality risk. Methods and Results BIOMArCS (BIOMarker Study to Identify the Acute Risk of a Coronary Syndrome) was an observational study of patients with ACS, who underwent high‐frequency blood sampling for 1 year. Biomarkers were measured in a median of 16 repeated samples per individual. Cluster analysis was performed to identify biomarker‐based subphenotypes in 723 patients without a repeat ACS in the first year. Patients with a repeat ACS (N=36) were considered a separate cluster. Differences in all‐cause death were evaluated using accelerated failure time models (median follow‐up, 9.1 years; 141 deaths). Three biomarker‐based clusters were identified: cluster 1 showed low and stable biomarker concentrations, cluster 2 had elevated concentrations that subsequently decreased, and cluster 3 showed persistently elevated concentrations. The temporal biomarker patterns of patients in cluster 3 were similar to those with a repeat ACS during the first year. Clusters 1 and 2 had a similar and favorable long‐term mortality risk. Cluster 3 had the highest mortality risk. The adjusted survival time ratio was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.44–0.93; P=0.018) compared with cluster 1, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.39–1.32; P=0.281) compared with patients with a repeat ACS. Conclusions Patients with subphenotypes of post‐ACS with different all‐cause mortality risks during long‐term follow‐up can be identified on the basis of repeatedly measured cardiovascular biomarkers. Patients with persistently elevated biomarkers have the worst outcomes, regardless of whether they experienced a repeat ACS in the first year.

تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى اختبار الاختلالات الهيكلية في أسعار الأسهم المدرجة في أسواق مجموعة من الدول العربية التي تواجه اضطرابات سياسية واقتصادية (سورية ولبنان ومصر والبحرين وتونس) وتحديد زمن هذه الاختلالات ومعنويتها خلال الفترة الزمنية (2010-2021). وقد طبّقت الدراسة اختبار ديكي-فولر الموسّع ADF إلى جانب عدد من اختبارات جذر الوحدة التي تأخذ بالاعتبار وجود اختلال هيكلي وهي: اختبار Zivot and Andrews (1992) واختبار Lee and Strazicich (2003). برهنت الدراسة على أن اختبارات جذر الوحدة التقليدية فشلت في تحديد استقرارية السلاسل الزمنية بدقّة نظراً لكونها لا تأخذ بالاعتبار وجود اختلالات هيكلية في السلسلة الزمنية كما هو الحال في الاختبارات المتقدمة لجذر الوحدة. وقد أظهرت النتائج أن الاضطرابات السياسية والاقتصادية التي حدثت في أسواق الدول المدروسة أدت إلى حدوث اختلالات هيكلية ذو دلالة معنوية في مؤشرات أسواق هذه الدول وهو ما أثر على مؤشرات وعوائد الأسهم المدرجة في هذه الأسواق. بالمقابل كان لأزمة كورونا COVID 19 أثر محدود على الأسواق المالية لهذه الدول.

A great number of reinforced concrete structures are approaching the end of their service life and they are strongly affected by progressive deterioration processes due to insufficient maintenance. A fundamental understanding of all damage phenomena acting together on reinforced concrete, RC, structures under service loads is a crucial step toward more sustainable structures. The present work aims to study the creep of RC beams in the cracked state. To achieve this objective, an analytical model was developed based on Bernoulli’s theory and the global equilibrium of the RC beam. A Newton–Raphson algorithm was also proposed to solve the non-linear equilibrium equations related to the non-linearity in the adopted materials models. The proposed model allows predicting the instantaneous and long-term behavior under any loading level up to the steel yielding, and it takes into consideration the effect of creep on the behavior of concrete both in tension and compression. In addition to the evolution of the deflection with time, the model is also able to follow the height of the compression zone as well as the evolution of crack’s height and width under any sustained service load. The comparison between analytical and experimental results found in the literature for long-term loaded beams showed a good agreement.

The bubbled slab, a type of reinforced concrete (RC) slab with plastic voids, is an innovative design that employs a biaxial distribution of voiding formers within the slab to reduce the slab’s self-weight while preserving a load-carrying capacity that is approximately comparable to that of solid slabs. This paper presents a new approach for figuring out the effective critical shear perimeter of voided slabs using the reduced-volume concept of concrete. This approach aims to reduce the coefficient of variation of the current design standards, namely the ACI 318-19 and Eurocode 2, for assessing the slabs’ resistance to punching shear. Our experimental program investigated the impact of voiding former patterns and the location of an opening near a column on the punching shear resistance of biaxial hollow slabs. The factors under consideration included the opening’s size, location, and distance from the loaded area, as well as the voiding formers’ placement concerning the critical shear boundaries. The results of experiments on 10 full-scale, 2000 × 2000 × 230 mm, reinforced concrete biaxial voided slabs with an opening are presented in this study. Two design expressions were used to estimate the biaxial hollow slabs’ shear strength. These expressions take into account the reduced volume of concrete and the distribution of voiding formers up to the section 4d from the periphery of the column. The proposed approach to determine the effective punching shear perimeter has the lowest coefficient of variation among the methods suggested by these standards. This indicates the validity of our proposed expressions. The coefficient of variation of the proposed expressions does not exceed 0.057.

Understanding host utilization by mosquito vectors is essential to assess the risk of vector-borne diseases. Many studies have investigated the feeding patterns of Culex mosquitoes by molecular analysis of blood-meals from field collected mosquitoes. However, these individual small-scale studies only provide a limited understanding of the complex host-vector interactions when considered in isolation. Here, we analyse the Culex blood-feeding data from 109 publications over the last 15 years to provide a global insight into the feeding patterns of Culex mosquitoes, with particular reference to vectors of currently emerging Culex-borne viruses such as West Nile and Usutu. Data on 29990 blood-meals from 70 different Culex species were extracted from published literature. The percentage of blood-meals on amphibian, avian, human, non-human mammalian, and reptilian hosts was determined for each Culex species. Our analysis showed that feeding patterns were not significantly explained by mosquito species-level phylogeny, indicating that external factors play an important role in determining mosquito feeding patterns. For Cx. quinquefasciatus, 'Cx. pipiens pooled', and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, feeding patterns were compared across the world's seven biogeographical realms. Culex tritaeniorhynchus, 'Cx. pipiens pooled' and Cx. quinquefasciatus all had significantly varied feeding patterns between realms. These results demonstrate that feeding patterns of Culex mosquitoes vary between species but can also vary between geographically distinct populations of the same species, indicating that regional or population-level adaptations are major drivers of host utilization. Ultimately, these findings support the surveillance of vector-borne diseases by specifying which host groups are most likely to be at risk. Author summary: Being aware of mosquito biting behaviour is essential to determine the threat of mosquito-borne diseases. Studying the feeding patterns of Culex mosquitoes is crucial as these mosquitoes are vectors of currently emerging or re-emerging arboviruses such as West Nile and Usutu. Feeding behaviour of Culex mosquitoes has been examined in many individual small-scale studies. These studies only focus on the feeding patterns in a specific area. To gain a more global understanding of these feeding patterns we analysed all available Culex blood-feeding data from the last 15 years. In summary, data on 29990 blood-meals from 70 different Culex species was collected. For each species the percentage of blood-meals on different host groups was determined. We analysed the relationship between feeding patterns and mosquito phylogeny, which showed that phylogeny alone could not explain feeding patterns. These results indicate that external factors such as land use and climate could play an important role in determining feeding patterns. A more in-depth analysis of the feeding patterns for three important vector species, Cx. quinquefasciatus, 'Cx. pipiens pooled', and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was done in different biogeographical realms. All three species showed different feeding patterns in the included realms. Thus, the same species can have different feeding patterns in different regions, indicating the importance of local surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, affecting 3–5% of the global population and significantly impacting patients' quality of life and healthcare resources. Alongside physical symptoms such as abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, many individuals experience psychological comorbidities, including anxiety and depression. Recent research has highlighted the critical role of the gut microbiota in IBS, with dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in microbial diversity, frequently observed in patients. The gut–brain axis, a bidirectional communication network between the gut and central nervous system, plays a central role in the development of IBS symptoms. Although interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have demonstrated potential in modulating the gut microbiota and alleviating symptoms, their efficacy remains an area of ongoing investigation. This review examines the interactions between the gut microbiota, immune system, and brain, emphasizing the need for personalized therapeutic strategies. Future research should aim to identify reliable microbiota-based biomarkers for IBS and refine microbiome-targeted therapies to enhance patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the post‐cracking behavior of mortars reinforced with synthetic polypropylene fibers. To three series of mortars, normal strength (NSM), high strength (HSM), and high strength with fly ash (HSMFA), short and long, was introduced at 0.6% and 1% by volume, respectively. Pre‐notched 4 × 4 × 16 cm were used for 3‐point flexural tests, and the digital image correlation (DIC) method was employed to assess the load‐CMOD curves. Based on the experimental curves, a tri‐linear stress‐crack opening (σ‐w) relationship was used to develop an analytical model for the Mode I crack propagation, and the inverse analysis method was applied to optimize the model's parameters. The obtained parameters were compared to the fib MC2010 characteristic values related to serviceability and ultimate limit states. The results show that short fiber‐reinforced mortars exhibit a softening behavior regardless of the fiber dosage after a rapid drop once the tensile strength has been achieved. The three mortars incorporating long fiber reinforcement exhibit a very high deformation capacity and hardening behavior. For NSM, fibers appear to be more effective than HSM and HSMFA. All materials achieve the ultimate fracture opening of 2.5 mm, as defined by the fib MC2010, except 0.6% long fiber‐reinforced HSMFA. Compared to the reference mixture (mixture without fibers), adding synthetic fibers to the mortar did not exhibit a significant environmental and health impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cool pavements represent an innovative and promising technique to mitigate the urban heat islands phenomenon. The cool pavements studied in this work, allow limiting the increase in the surface temperature, thanks to the evaporation of the water conducted through capillary pores. The cooling effect of the pavement is reflected by its surface temperature value. When pavements having the same initial conditions are exposed to the same weather conditions, their thermophysical properties control their surface temperatures. Therefore, this study focuses on an exhaustive thermophysical characterisation of a large number of concrete pavements by measuring their properties related to the cooling effect according to literature. In this context, this work covers an experimental study consisting of three stages and involving 21 concrete pavements of different formulations divided into two series. Firstly, the different studied pavements are identified. The second stage details the thermophysical characterisation of these pavements. In the third stage, they are simultaneously exposed to the solar radiation for three sunny summer days and their surface temperatures are monitored. The results obtained from this study show a wide range in the properties of the pavements, with an order of magnitude that can reach 2.107 for hydraulic conductivity and 3.7 for thermal effusivity. Furthermore, they reveal that the pavements can be divided into two types according to their ability to drain water, draining or non-draining pavements. The wide range in the results is mainly due to the different formulations that constitute the pavements, which provides importance and novelty to this study. Finally, this latter will constitute an appropriate database for two upcoming works. The first one will investigate the coupling of cool pavement's properties that controls its cooling effect under outdoor summer conditions. The second work will develop a numerical model of coupled heat and mass transfers that occur in this pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete columns with hollow-core sections find widespread application owing to their excellent structural efficiency and efficient material utilization. However, corrosion poses a challenge in concrete buildings with steel reinforcement. This paper explores the possibility of using glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement as a non-corrosive and economically viable substitute for steel reinforcement in short square hollow concrete columns. Twelve hollow short columns were meticulously prepared in the laboratory experiments and subjected to pure axial compressive loads until failure. All columns featured a hollow square section with exterior dimensions of (180 × 180) mm and 900 mm height. The columns were categorized into four separate groups with different variables: steel and GFRP longitudinal reinforcement ratio, hollow ratio, spacing between ties, and reinforcement type. The experimental findings point to the compressive participation of longitudinal GFRP bars, estimated to be approximately 35% of the tensile strength of GFRP bars. Notably, increasing GFRP longitudinal reinforcement significantly improved the ultimate load capability of hollow square GFRP column specimens. Specifically, elevating the ratio of GFRP reinforcement from 1.46% to 2.9%, 3.29%, 4.9%, and 5.85% resulted in axial load capacity improvements of 32.3%, 43.9%, 60.5%, and 71.7%, respectively. Specifically, the GFRP specimens showed a decrease in capacity of 13.1%, 9.2%, and 9.4%, respectively. Notably, the load contribution of steel reinforcement to GFRP reinforcement (with similar sectional areas) was from approximately three to four times the axial peak load, highlighting the greater load participation of steel reinforcement due to its higher elastic modulus. In addition, the numerical modeling and analysis conducted using ABAQUS/CAE 2019 software exhibited strong concordance with experimental findings concerning failure modes and capacity to carry axial loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand changes in bedrock motion at the ground surface, frequency effects, and spatial distribution within the soil, it is important to look at how a site responds to earthquakes. This is important for soil–structure interaction in structural and geotechnical earthquake engineering. This study deals with the effect of classifying clays according to shear wave velocity (stiff/medium/soft) and nonlinearity in behavior (linear/nonlinear) on the analysis of the site response. A 3D soil model with a combination of free fields and quiet boundaries and advanced constitutive models for soil to obtain accurate results was used to conduct this study. A strong TABAS earthquake was used to excite the compliant base of the model after converting the velocity record of TABAS to an equivalent surface traction force using a horizontal force–time history proportional to the velocity–time history. This study reveals that the site response analysis is affected by the type of clay soil and the soil material behavior, with soft clay soil causing higher PGV and PGV values in the linear case and lower values in the nonlinear case due to soil yielding, which causes soil response attenuation. This results in extremely conservative and expensive building designs when linear soil behavior is adopted. On the other hand, the applied earthquake exhibits greater attenuation at longer frequencies and greater amplification at mid and short frequencies. However, at frequencies near the applied earthquake frequency, neither attenuation nor amplification occurs. Furthermore, nonlinear soil behavior is crucial for soil evaluation and foundation design due to higher octahedral shear strain and settlement values, especially in softer soils, resulting from extensive plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel concrete-encased column (CE) using small circular steel tubes filled with cementitious grouting material (GFST) as the primary reinforcement instead of traditional steel bars. The research involved three different types of reinforcement: conventional steel bars, concrete-filled steel tubes with 30% of the reinforcement ratio of steel bars, and concrete-filled steel tubes with the same reinforcement ratio as steel bars. Twenty-four circular concrete columns were tested and categorized into six groups based on the type of reinforcement employed. Each group comprised four columns, with one subjected to concentric axial load, two subjected to eccentric axial load (with eccentricities of 25 mm and 50 mm, respectively), and one tested under lateral flexural loads. To validate the experimental results, finite element (FE) analysis was conducted using ABAQUS software version 6.14. The experimental findings for concentric load reveal that columns with the second type of reinforcement, concrete-filled steel tubes with 30% of the reinforcement ratio of steel bars exhibited a failure load 19% lower than those with steel bars, while columns with the third type of reinforcement, concrete-filled steel tubes with the same reinforcement ratio as steel bars achieved a failure load 17% greater than the traditional steel bars. The FE analysis demonstrates good agreement with the experimental outcomes in terms of ultimate strength, deformation, and failure modes.

The aim of this study is to compare the properties of refractory concrete made with thermally treated and untreated steel slag. Five concrete compositions were prepared and investigated in the present work. The first mixture, referred to as the reference, was formulated using dolomite aggregates, whereas the second and third mixtures were developed by replacing natural coarse aggregate with 50 and 100% by weight of thermally untreated steel slag, respectively. The same replacement ratio (50% and 100%) of thermally treated steel slag was used to produce the fourth and fifth mixtures. Specimens of each specimen were placed in a furnace and heated to 400 °C and 800 °C. The mass loss for all the specimens heated to 400 °C was about 8%, while the reference suffered the maximum mass loss at 800 °C, which was 21.6%. The mixture with a 100% substitution of thermally treated steel slag produced the maximum compressive strength when compared to other mixtures at a temperature of 800 °C. The compressive strength of the M5 mixture was 18 MPa versus 10.87 MPa for the reference mixture. Additionally, optical microscope examination of specimens containing thermally treated steel slag revealed less damage than that observed in mixtures with dolomite.

Artificial intelligence techniques have lately been used to estimate the mechanical properties of concrete to reduce time and financial expenses, but these techniques differ in their processing time and accuracy. This research aims to develop a new procedural binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (NPBPSO) by making some modifications to the binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (BPSO). The new software has been created based on some fresh state properties (slump, temperature, and grade of cement) obtained from several ready-mix concrete plants located in Aleppo, Syria to predict the density and compressive strength of the regional concrete mixtures. The numerical results obtained from NPBPSO have been compared with the results from BPSO and artificial neural network ANN. It has been found that BPSO and NPBPSO are both predicting the compressive strength of concrete with less number of iterations and more accuracy than ANN (0.992 and 0.998 correlation coefficient in BPSO and NPBPSO successively and 0.875 in ANN). In addition, NPBPSO is better than BPSO as it prevents the algorithm from falling into the problem of local solutions and reaches the desired optimal solution faster than BPSO. Moreover, NPBPSO improves the accuracy of obtained compressive strength values and density by 30% and 50% successively.

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is an endogenous inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase that modulates lipid levels, coronary atherosclerosis risk, and nutrient partitioning. We hypothesize that loss of ANGPTL4 function might improve glucose homeostasis and decrease risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigate protein-altering variants in ANGPTL4 among 58,124 participants in the DiscovEHR human genetics study, with follow-up studies in 82,766 T2D cases and 498,761 controls. Carriers of p.E40K, a variant that abolishes ANGPTL4 ability to inhibit lipoprotein lipase, have lower odds of T2D (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.85-0.92, p = 6.3 × 10-10), lower fasting glucose, and greater insulin sensitivity. Predicted loss-of-function variants are associated with lower odds of T2D among 32,015 cases and 84,006 controls (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.99, p = 0.041). Functional studies in Angptl4-deficient mice confirm improved insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. In conclusion, genetic inactivation of ANGPTL4 is associated with improved glucose homeostasis and reduced risk of T2D.

A more comprehensive map of viral host ranges can help identify and mitigate zoonotic and animal-disease risks. A divide-and-conquer approach which separates viral, mammalian and network features predicts over 20,000 unknown associations between known viruses and susceptible mammalian species.

Routes of virus transmission between hosts are key to understanding viral epidemiology. Different routes have large effects on viral ecology, and likelihood and rate of transmission; for example, respiratory and vector-borne viruses together encompass the majority of rapid outbreaks and high-consequence animal and plant epidemics. However, determining the specific transmission route(s) can take months to years, delaying mitigation efforts. Here, we identify the vial features and evolutionary signatures which are predictive of viral transmission routes and use them to predict potential routes for fully-sequenced viruses in silico and rapidly, for both viruses with no observed routes, as well as viruses with missing routes. This was achieved by compiling a dataset of 24,953 virus-host associations with 81 defined transmission routes, constructing a hierarchy of virus transmission encompassing those routes and 42 higher-order modes, and engineering 446 predictive features from three complementary perspectives. We integrated those data and features to train 98 independent ensembles of LightGBM classifiers. We found that all features contributed to the prediction for at least one of the routes and/or modes of transmission, demonstrating the utility of our broad multi-perspective approach. Our framework achieved ROC-AUC = 0.991, and F1-score = 0.855 across all included transmission routes and modes, and was able to achieve high levels of predictive performance for high-consequence respiratory (ROC-AUC = 0.990, and F1-score = 0.864) and vector-borne transmission (ROC-AUC = 0.997, and F1-score = 0.921). Our framework ranks the viral features in order of their contribution to prediction, per transmission route, and hence identifies the genomic evolutionary signatures associated with each route. Together with the more matured field of viral host-range prediction, our predictive framework could: provide early insights into the potential for, and pattern of viral spread; facilitate rapid response with appropriate measures; and significantly triage the time-consuming investigations to confirm the likely routes of transmission. Author summary: Routes of virus transmission–the mechanism(s) by which a virus physically gets from an infected to an uninfected host, are crucial to understanding how viral diseases spread among animals and plants. Here, we uncover the evolutionary signatures which can predict the transmission routes a virus uses to move from one host to another, enabling us to identify any unobserved routes for known viruses and even predict potential routes of newly emerged viruses. We first compile a comprehensive dataset of virus-host associations. Using this dataset, we employ a multi-perspective machine learning approach to achieve high predictive performance. Our framework ranks viral features by their significance in prediction, revealing genomic evolutionary signatures linked to each route. Our approach could provide early insights into viral spread patterns, facilitating prompt response efforts to new outbreaks and epidemics, and streamline laboratory investigations. Overall, our study represents a step forward in our ability to anticipate and mitigate the impact of emerging infectious diseases on human, animal, and plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]