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Background: Hamstring, being a two-joint muscle, tends to shorten over time, resulting in tightness, affecting performance in daily activities and is also capable of generating exaggerated posterior pelvic tilt, leading to decreased lumbar lordosis. Weak core muscles have been associated with hamstring tightness, and strengthening the core has been attempted in an effort to relax the hamstring tightness. It is believed that the hamstrings overact and over a period of time tightens, when the core is weak, to compensate for postural stability. Method: Thirty-three subjects, both male and females with and without hamstring tightness, were assessed for their core endurance through McGill's core endurance test battery. It was followed by active knee extension test to determine degree of hamstring tightness on both sides. Correlation between the two variables was statistically analyzed. Results: Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the collected data. A moderate positive but significant correlation (p = 0.02) was found between flexor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). A weak positive but significant correlation (p = 0.05) was found between extensor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). Correlation between the right and left lateral bridge with their respective side hamstring flexibility was negative and not significant (p = 0.916 (right lateral torso endurance); p = 0.339 (left lateral torso endurance)). Conclusion: Since there is a moderate positive but significant correlation between the flexion torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility and a weak positive but significant correlation between extension torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility, the core (flexor, extensor, and lateral) should be thought of as a whole unit when strengthening in order to maintain and improve hamstring flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Core musculature is important for efficiency during activities including running. Both abdominal muscle strength and endurance contribute to this efficiency. The purpose of this study is to determine what differences and relationships exist in abdominal muscle thickness, strength, and endurance among persons who are runners, active, and inactive. Hypothesis: Persons in the running group would show significantly greater abdominal muscle thickness, muscle strength, and muscle endurance compared with those in the nonrunning groups. Study Design: Quantitative cohort design. Level of Evidence: Level 2b. Methods: A total of 78 subjects aged 18 to 27 years were divided into 3 groups: runners, active, and inactive. Assessment included abdominal muscle thickness via diagnostic ultrasound (Mindray North America), strength using a static Isotrack dynamometer (JTech Medical), and abdominal muscle endurance using a side plank. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance, t tests, and Pearson's correlation coefficients and partial correlations was performed using SPSS Version 26 with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Significantly greater muscle thickness of internal obliques (IOs) at rest and during contraction was found in the running group compared with the active group, the active group compared with the inactive group, and the running group compared with the inactive group. There were no statistically significant differences in overall strength measured by dynamometry among the 3 groups. Plank time was significantly greater for the running group compared with the other 2 groups. Male participants were greater in all areas: strength, plank time as a measure of muscle endurance, and muscle thickness. Body mass index was significantly correlated with resting thickness, muscle endurance, and muscle strength. Conclusion: Persons who run, are active, and are inactive use their abdominal muscles differently. Runners have thicker IOs and better abdominal muscle endurance than the other 2 groups. Focusing on endurance training of the obliques may be beneficial for persons who run. Clinical Relevance: This research could contribute to developing core training programs to ensure runners target the correct abdominal muscles with the best type of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiota of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) play a crucial role in recycling various organic waste streams. This capability is linked to the presence of a potential common core microbiota in BSFL. However, subjective thresholds for defining core taxa and the difficulty of separating genetic and environmental influences have prevented a clear consensus in the literature. We analysed the gut bacterial communities of two genetically distinct BSF lines (wild type (WT) and lab-adapted line (LD)) raised on ten different diets based on common agricultural by-products and food waste in Southeast Asia. Results: High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that gut bacterial communities were significantly influenced by genetics (p = 0.001), diet (plant/meat-dominated; p = 0.001), larval age (p = 0.001), and the interactions between all three (p = 0.002). This led us to investigate both common core taxa and lineage-specific core taxa. At a strict > 97% prevalence threshold, four core taxa were identified: Providencia_A_732258, an unclassified genus within the family Enterococcaceae, Morganella, and Enterococcus_H_360604. A relaxed threshold (> 80% prevalence) extended the core to include other potential common core taxa such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and Scrofimicrobium. Our data suggest that Proteus, Scrofimicrobium, Corynebacterium, Vagococcus_B, Lysinibacillus_304693 (all LD), and Paenibacillus_J_366884 (WT) are lineage-specific rather than members of a common core (> 90% prevalence in either LD or WT, with prevalence significantly different between lines (p ≤ 0.05)). Positive correlations were observed between several core genera and larval performance in LD, typical of a highly optimized lab-adapted line. Interestingly, only members of the genus Providencia appeared to play a crucial role in most aspects of larval performance in both genetic lineages. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the gut microbiota of BSFL is influenced by genetic factors, diet composition, larval age, and their interactions. We identified a distinct lineage-specific core microbiota, emphasizing genetic background's role. Future studies should apply a standardized high prevalence threshold of at least > 90% unless there is a valid reason for relaxation or sample exclusion. The consistent association of Providencia spp. with larval performance across both genetic lines highlights their crucial role in the BSFL gut ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study documented the associations and variability of four prestige metrics for kinesiology-related journals. Four prestige metrics for the year 2022 were collected from three database services for 334 kinesiology-related journals. The prestige measures were highly skewed and had large variability, with medical journals having the highest values. There were strong nonlinear and heteroscedastic associations between all four prestige indicators, however rankings of top 10% journals based on these metrics had considerable disagreement between metrics. The substantial variability of journal prestige metrics was larger than the variation previously reported for scholar subjective perceptions of journal prestige. The prestige metrics provided inconsistent and unrealistically precise estimates of kinesiology journal prestige. Great care should be exercised in interpreting prestige metrics and scholar perceptions of journal prestige in diverse disciplines like kinesiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drilled cores provide first‐hand data for deposit research. The element compositions at different depths of cores are an important basis for evaluating the reserves of mineral deposits. Therefore, a dataset containing a complete drill core element content has great value on practicality. In this study, a pXRF analyser was used to measure the element contents in eight cores of the Xuancheng Qiaomaishan copper–sulphur deposit ZK16 + 02, ZK16 + 03, ZK16 + 04, ZK1804, ZK18 + 02, ZK1403, ZK1602, and ZK1604, and a geochemical dataset was obtained. The dataset includes Cu, S, Fe, W, Mg, Al, Si, As, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Se, Ti, V, Cr, Ca, Cl, P, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pb, Th, U, and other 27 major and trace elements. Based on this dataset, the vertical variation pattern of main and trace element content in drill cores can be examined, the distributions of elements in full hole or exploration line profile can be drawn, and element correlation analysis and principal component analysis can be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The columnar-flow approximation allows the development of computationally efficient numerical models tailored to the study of the rapidly rotating dynamics of Earth's fluid outer core. In this paper, we extend a novel columnar-flow formulation, called Plesio-Geostrophy (PG) by including thermal effects and viscous boundary conditions. The effect of both no-slip and stress-free boundaries, the latter being a novelty for columnar-flow models, are included. We obtain a set of fully 2-D evolution equations for fluid flows and temperature where no assumption is made regarding the geometry of the latter, except in the derivation of an approximate thermal diffusion operator. To test the new PG implementation, we calculated the critical parameters for onset of thermal convection in a spherical domain. We found that the PG model prediction is in better agreement with unapproximated, 3-D calculations in rapidly rotating regimes, compared to another state-of-the-art columnar-flow model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of the magnetic power spectrum and the secular variation spectrum measured at the Earth's surface provides a timescale |$\tau _{\rm sv}(l)$| as a function of spherical harmonic degree l. |$\tau _{\rm sv}$| is often assumed to be representative of timescales related to the dynamo inside the outer core and its scaling with l is debated. To assess the validity of this surmise and to study the time variation of the geomagnetic field |$\dot{\boldsymbol {B}}$| inside the outer core, we introduce a magnetic timescale spectrum |$\tau (l,r)$| that is valid for all radius r above the inner core and reduces to the usual |$\tau _{\rm sv}$| at and above the core–mantle boundary (CMB). We study |$\tau$| in a numerical geodynamo model. At the CMB, we find that |$\tau \sim l^{-1}$| is valid at both the large and small scales, in agreement with previous numerical studies on |$\tau _{\rm sv}$|⁠. Just below the CMB, the scaling undergoes a sharp transition at small l. Consequently, in the interior of the outer core, |$\tau$| exhibits different scaling at the large and small scales, specifically, the scaling of |$\tau$| becomes shallower than |$l^{-1}$| at small l. We find that this transition at the large scales stems from the fact that the horizontal components of the magnetic field evolve faster than the radial component in the interior. In contrast, the magnetic field at the CMB must match onto a potential field, hence the dynamics of the radial and horizontal magnetic fields are tied together. The upshot is |$\tau _{\rm sv}$| becomes unreliable in estimating timescales inside the outer core. Another question concerning |$\tau$| is whether an argument based on the frozen-flux hypothesis can be used to explain its scaling. To investigate this, we analyse the induction equation in the spectral space. We find that away from both boundaries, the magnetic diffusion term is negligible in the power spectrum of |$\dot{\boldsymbol {B}}$|⁠. However, |$\dot{\boldsymbol {B}}$| is controlled by the radial derivative in the induction term, thus invalidating the frozen-flux argument. Near the CMB, magnetic diffusion starts to affect |$\dot{\boldsymbol {B}}$| rendering the frozen-flux hypothesis inapplicable. We also examine the effects of different velocity boundary conditions and find that the above results apply for both no-slip and stress-free conditions at the CMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the problem of dividing the cost of a facility when agents can be ordered in terms of the needs they have for it, and accommodating an agent with a certain need allows accommodating all agents with lower needs at no extra cost. This problem is known as the "airport problem", the facility being the runway. We review the literature devoted to its study, and formulate a number of open questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space efficiency in Singaporean tall buildings results from a complex interplay of historical, architectural, engineering, technological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. The city-state's innovative and adaptive approach has enabled it to overcome the challenges associated with skyscraper construction, leading to the development of some of the most advanced and sustainable high-rise structures in the world. However, there is currently a lack of detailed analysis on space utilization in Singaporean high-rise buildings. This study addresses this gap by examining 63 cases. The main findings of this research: 1. Residential functions, central core layouts, and prismatic shapes are the most frequent. 2. Concrete material with a shear-walled frame system is the preferred structural choice. 3. Average spatial efficiency is 80%, and the core-to-GFA (Gross Floor Area) ratio averages 17%. These metrics vary from a minimum of 68% and 5% to a maximum of 91% and 32%, respectively. These insights offer valuable guidance for Singaporean construction professionals, particularly architects, helping them make informed design decisions for high-rise projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusion\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTraditionally, a specific “core” exercise focus has been favoured for chronic low back pain (CLBP) which contrasts holistic exercise approaches. This study aims to explore the perceptions of exercise in people with CLBP and whether exercise itself can convey implicit messages regarding its use in CLBP management in the absence of a clinical narrative.Participants were asked about their CLBP history, views of exercise for CLBP, and current exercise behaviours through online semi-structured interviews. Then, participants watched the interviewer perform the deadlift, Jefferson curl, and bird dog and were asked if they thought each individual exercise was beneficial for CLBP, and why. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis through a critical realism and social constructivism lens.All participants (n = 16) viewed all exercises as beneficial for health and pain relief, but perceived efficacy varied. “Core” exercises were deemed crucial for CLBP relief, while spinal flexion and external load were often perceived as potentially injurious. Distrust towards healthcare practitioners also influenced exercise perceptions.People with CLBP perceive different exercises to either relieve pain or improve health. Healthcare practitioners can influence these perceptions, highlighting the need for consideration of exercise perceptions in clinical contexts.Exercise itself can convey implicit messages to people with chronic low back pain irrespective of an accompanying clinical narrative.‘Core’ exercises are perceived as beneficial whereas exercises involving spinal flexion or loading may be perceived as dangerous.Exercise for reducing pain is perceived as distinctly different from gym related exercises or other exercises for improving health.Healthcare practitioners must consider their client’s exercise perceptions when using exercise as an intervention for chronic low back pain.Exercise itself can convey implicit messages to people with chronic low back pain irrespective of an accompanying clinical narrative.‘Core’ exercises are perceived as beneficial whereas exercises involving spinal flexion or loading may be perceived as dangerous.Exercise for reducing pain is perceived as distinctly different from gym related exercises or other exercises for improving health.Healthcare practitioners must consider their client’s exercise perceptions when using exercise as an intervention for chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A controversy about the possibility of dynamic effects in nuclear screening has been around for several decades. On the one hand, there is the claim that there are no dynamic effects and that the classic Salpeter correction based on static Debye screening is all that is needed for astrophysical applications. The size of the correction is on the order of 5% in typical solar fusion reactions. On the other hand, numerical simulations have shown that there is a dynamical effect, which essentially cancels the Salpeter correction. The results of the numerical simulations were later independently confirmed. The astrophysical community, however, has so far largely ignored the possibility of dynamical screening. The present paper is meant to serve as a reminder of the controversy. Not only does the claim of an absence of a dynamical effect equally warrant an independent confirmation, but there is motivation for further investigation, such as the assessment of current laboratory experiments and a quantitative study of the dynamical effect in case it will turn out to be real. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The refinement and formalization of equilibrium concepts mark the establishment of game theory as a distinct discipline. The development of game theory has been centered around the fundamental properties of various equilibrium concepts. It is generally accepted that the nonexistence of equilibrium is seen as a negative outcome, impeding the advancement of equilibrium research. This holds true for economic research as well. This paper illustrates, through two examples from the literature on non-cooperative games and perfectly competitive markets, that sometimes valuable interpretations can be provided for the nonexistence of equilibrium. The first example examines the evolution of fashion phenomena through a network game based on matching pennies, where the nonexistence of equilibrium is used to interpret the emergence of fashion cycles. The second example discusses the matching problem between companies and workers in a perfectly competitive labor market, where the nonexistence of equilibrium is used to explain the phenomenon of early contracting. Additionally, we briefly introduce Shapley's insightful interpretation regarding the empty core in transferable utility cooperative games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of whether the present‐day mantle of Mercury is undergoing convection remains unresolved. We address this issue by estimating the minimum value of the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) temperature needed to support mantle convection and considering the time required to cool the mantle below this threshold. A simple mathematical analysis of the cooling of the core, based on the assumption of a quasi‐steady‐state thermal equilibrium of Mercury's mantle, shows that the CMB temperature falls to the critical temperature for cessation of convection roughly halfway through the planet's evolutionary history. To first order, the duration of subsolidus convection does not depend on the absolute value of the viscosity. It depends primarily on parameters that control the viscosity function, such as the stress exponent and the activation energy. Our results based on conventional assumptions suggest the absence of present‐day mantle convection in Mercury, which is consistent with numerical models of Mercury's thermal history. However, because of large uncertainties in the controlling parameters, the possibility of still ongoing mantle convection on Mercury cannot be ruled out. Plain Language Summary: We address the question of whether Mercury's mantle is currently convecting. We start by applying recent constraints on the onset of convection in fluids with variable viscosity to estimate the critical mantle temperature below which convection in Mercury's mantle stops. Then we derive simple formulas for the time required for the mantle to cool down to this critical temperature. These formulas allow us to analyze various factors controlling the cooling time and assess the conditions under which mantle convection may occur on Mercury today. Key Points: We constrain the critical conditions for the cessation of convection in Mercury's mantleWe derive approximate formulas for the time it takes mantle convection to cease during Mercury's evolutionMercury's mantle is likely not convecting at present; however, the uncertainties remain large [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider a production economy and adopt a cooperative approach to equilibrium analysis which allows each individual to cooperate with others and to form a coalition whose members have access to the available technologies. We investigate the behavior of the core defined with respect to preferences (preferences-core) and with respect to resources (resources-core). We introduce a measure of social loss with respect to the core of the production economy which characterizes the corresponding core allocations. Our definition of the core requires that coalitions proposing a deviation take into account the consequences that changes in production plans may have for the counter-coalitions (considerate dominance). Our characterization holds in the presence of consumption externalities and an optimistic or a pessimistic attitude of coalition agents with respect to the behavior of outsiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to ascertain the impact of Modified Pilates Exercises (MPE) and neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) on hemodynamic response in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Material and Method: We randomly assigned 18 CP children between expanded and revised gross motor function categorization system (GMFCS-E&R) I-III to study (MPE) and control (NDT) groups. Tests for core stability, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and the pressure biofeedback unit test (PBU) were conducted. Prior to and following the 6MWT and physiotherapy sessions, hemodynamic responses, including heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and blood pressure (BP), were assessed before (BPT) and after physiotherapy (APT). Results: There was a significant difference observed in the MPE group's BP (sistolic) of 6MWT (post) (p=0.006), the modified side bridge (MSBT) test (p<0.05), the sit-ups test (p=0.011), the pressure biofeedback unit test (p=0.024), and the abdominal fatigue test (AFT) (p=0.014) APT. The Modified Biering Sorensen Trunk Extensor Test (MBSTET) (p<0.001), MSBT (p=0.034), AFT (p=0.002), PBU (p=0.015), SUT (p<0.001), Modified Push Ups Test (MPUT) (p=0.018), BP (sistolic) of 6MWT (post) (p=0.007) following the walk, and RR (p=0.005) before and after 6MWT (p=0.006) in the MPE group were all significantly different APT, according to the initial measurements of the percentage changes. Conclusion: When compared to NDT, MPEs have a favorable impact on core stability muscles, transversus abdominus (TrAb) activity, and hemodynamic and respiratory responses in children with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hamstring, being a two-joint muscle, tends to shorten over time, resulting in tightness, affecting performance in daily activities and is also capable of generating exaggerated posterior pelvic tilt, leading to decreased lumbar lordosis. Weak core muscles have been associated with hamstring tightness, and strengthening the core has been attempted in an effort to relax the hamstring tightness. It is believed that the hamstrings overact and over a period of time tightens, when the core is weak, to compensate for postural stability. Method Thirty-three subjects, both male and females with and without hamstring tightness, were assessed for their core endurance through McGill’s core endurance test battery. It was followed by active knee extension test to determine degree of hamstring tightness on both sides. Correlation between the two variables was statistically analyzed. Results Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the collected data. A moderate positive but significant correlation (p = 0.02) was found between flexor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). A weak positive but significant correlation (p = 0.05) was found between extensor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). Correlation between the right and left lateral bridge with their respective side hamstring flexibility was negative and not significant (p = 0.916 (right lateral torso endurance); p = 0.339 (left lateral torso endurance)). Conclusion Since there is a moderate positive but significant correlation between the flexion torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility and a weak positive but significant correlation between extension torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility, the core (flexor, extensor, and lateral) should be thought of as a whole unit when strengthening in order to maintain and improve hamstring flexibility.

Abstract Background The gut microbiota of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) play a crucial role in recycling various organic waste streams. This capability is linked to the presence of a potential common core microbiota in BSFL. However, subjective thresholds for defining core taxa and the difficulty of separating genetic and environmental influences have prevented a clear consensus in the literature. We analysed the gut bacterial communities of two genetically distinct BSF lines (wild type (WT) and lab-adapted line (LD)) raised on ten different diets based on common agricultural by-products and food waste in Southeast Asia. Results High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that gut bacterial communities were significantly influenced by genetics (p = 0.001), diet (plant/meat-dominated; p = 0.001), larval age (p = 0.001), and the interactions between all three (p = 0.002). This led us to investigate both common core taxa and lineage-specific core taxa. At a strict > 97% prevalence threshold, four core taxa were identified: Providencia_A_732258, an unclassified genus within the family Enterococcaceae, Morganella, and Enterococcus_H_360604. A relaxed threshold (> 80% prevalence) extended the core to include other potential common core taxa such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and Scrofimicrobium. Our data suggest that Proteus, Scrofimicrobium, Corynebacterium, Vagococcus_B, Lysinibacillus_304693 (all LD), and Paenibacillus_J_366884 (WT) are lineage-specific rather than members of a common core (> 90% prevalence in either LD or WT, with prevalence significantly different between lines (p ≤ 0.05)). Positive correlations were observed between several core genera and larval performance in LD, typical of a highly optimized lab-adapted line. Interestingly, only members of the genus Providencia appeared to play a crucial role in most aspects of larval performance in both genetic lineages. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the gut microbiota of BSFL is influenced by genetic factors, diet composition, larval age, and their interactions. We identified a distinct lineage-specific core microbiota, emphasizing genetic background’s role. Future studies should apply a standardized high prevalence threshold of at least > 90% unless there is a valid reason for relaxation or sample exclusion. The consistent association of Providencia spp. with larval performance across both genetic lines highlights their crucial role in the BSFL gut ecosystem.

Abstract Drilled cores provide first‐hand data for deposit research. The element compositions at different depths of cores are an important basis for evaluating the reserves of mineral deposits. Therefore, a dataset containing a complete drill core element content has great value on practicality. In this study, a pXRF analyser was used to measure the element contents in eight cores of the Xuancheng Qiaomaishan copper–sulphur deposit ZK16 + 02, ZK16 + 03, ZK16 + 04, ZK1804, ZK18 + 02, ZK1403, ZK1602, and ZK1604, and a geochemical dataset was obtained. The dataset includes Cu, S, Fe, W, Mg, Al, Si, As, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Se, Ti, V, Cr, Ca, Cl, P, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pb, Th, U, and other 27 major and trace elements. Based on this dataset, the vertical variation pattern of main and trace element content in drill cores can be examined, the distributions of elements in full hole or exploration line profile can be drawn, and element correlation analysis and principal component analysis can be performed.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the fracture resistance and push-out bond strength of glass fiber post (GFP) with composite core and single unit post and core system luted with two different resin cements. Methods: Sixty-four mandibular premolars were chosen as the sample for the study. Sample preparation was done, and specimens were randomly divided into two groups (n = 32) each according to the type of post used: Group I – RelyX GFP, Group II – Edelweiss post and core. They were further subdivided in two subgroups based on luting cements: subgroup A: RelyX U200 Adhesive Resin cement and subgroup B: SoloCem resin cement. Fracture resistance was measured in half of the prepared specimens by subjecting a load of 1 mm/min. The load was subjected along the long axis of the tooth at an angle of 45° until failure occurred using the universal testing machine. Half of the samples were divided into three horizontal thirds, i.e., coronal, middle, and apical, and push-out bond strength was evaluated at a rate of 0.5 mm/min. The scores were subjected to statistical analysis using independent t-test and SPSS Version 22.0. Results: Group I showed nonsignificantly better fracture resistance than Group II irrespective of type of luting agent used. Subgroup B showed nonsignificantly higher fracture resistance than subgroup A irrespective of the post used. Subgroup B was nonsignificant better push-out bond strength than Subgroup A (P < 0.05). Push-out bond strength of Group II was significantly better than Group I irrespective of the luting agent. Conclusion: Fiber post showed nonsignificantly better fracture resistance than Edelweiss post and core system. SoloCem showed nonsignificantly better fracture resistance and push-out bond strength with Edelweiss than RelyX U200.

Single-leg landings with or without subsequent jumping are frequently used to evaluate landing biomechanics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of subsequent jumping on the external knee abduction moment and trunk and hip biomechanics during single-leg landing. Thirty young adult female participants performed a single-leg drop vertical jumping (SDVJ; landing with subsequent jumping) and single-leg drop landing (SDL; landing without subsequent jumping). Trunk, hip, and knee biomechanics were evaluated using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system. The peak knee abduction moment was significantly larger during SDVJ than during SDL (SDVJ 0.08 [0.10] N·m·kg−1·m−1, SDL 0.05 [0.10] N·m·kg−1·m−1, P =.002). The trunk lateral tilt and rotation angles toward the support-leg side and external hip abduction moment were significantly larger during SDVJ than during SDL (P <.05). The difference in the peak hip abduction moment between SDVJ and SDL predicted the difference in the peak knee abduction moment (P =.003, R2 =.252). Landing tasks with subsequent jumping would have advantages for evaluating trunk and hip control as well as knee abduction moment. In particular, evaluating hip abduction moment may be important because of its association with the knee abduction moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once correctly indicated, endodontic retreatment requires the preservation of dental components. Effective treatment of teeth with severe damage to the structure of the tooth relies not only on successful endodontic treatment but also on timely postendodontic tooth repair after the same endodontic. Furthermore, for teeth with intracanal posts, the evolution of endodontic procedures and materials has decreased the indication of surgical treatment. Underneath an undamaged crown is a typical clinical occurrence of broken coronal tooth structure. The tooth can be repaired with a post and core if the underlying root is in good condition, and then, the crown is refabricated. This article outlines a method for the aforementioned scenario that makes use of the current unbroken crown. The entire crown was later rescued, and a damaged post and core were also discovered in the canal. The retrieved metallic post was re-cemented in the post space then the undamaged crown was adjusted to fit it, and the opposing arch maintained occlusion. Next, a composite resin that can be dual-cured and built up was poured into the crown, molding it to fit onto the broken tooth. As we know, the core buildup material has a property of dual curing that means it can be self-cured as well as light-cured. Hence, we waited and allowed it to get set by itself chemically. Then, after we carefully removed the crown from over it, a brand-new composite resin core was discovered and adhered to the tooth structure after that we light-cured it for complete the setting process. After that, dual-cured core build-up composite resin was used to re-cement the crown to the core. Even after a year of follow-up, the method of strengthening the tooth’s core and restoring it with the current crown was shown to be effective.

In its first phase of exploitation, JT-60SA will be equipped with an inertially cooled divertor, which can sustain heat loads of 10 MW/m[sup 2] on the targets for a few seconds, which is much shorter than the intended discharge duration. Therefore, in order to maximize the duration of discharges, it is crucial to develop operational scenarios with a high radiated fraction in the plasma edge region without unacceptably compromising the scenario performance. In this study, the core and edge conditions of unseeded and neon-seeded deuterium H-mode scenarios in JT-60SA were investigated using METIS and SOLEDGE3X-EIRENE codes. The aim was to determine whether, and under which operational conditions, it would be possible to achieve heat loads at the targets significantly lower than 10 MW/m[sup 2] and potentially establish a divertordetached regime while keeping favorable plasma core conditions. In first analysis, an investigation of the edge parameter space of unseeded scenarios was carried out. Simulations at an intermediate edge power of 15 MW indicate that, without seeded impurities, the heat loads at the targets are higher than 10 MW/m[sup 2] in attached cases, and achieving detachment is challenging, requiring upstream electron densities at least above 4 χ 10[sup 19] m[sup -3]. This points toward the need for impurity injection during the first period of exploitation of the machine. Therefore, neon seeding simulations were carried out, performing a seeding rate scan and an injected power scan while keeping the upstream electron density at the separatrix at 3 χ 10[sup 19] m[sup -3]. They show that at 15 MW of power injected into the edge plasma, the inner target is easily detached and presents low heat loads when neon is injected. However, at the outer target, the heat fluxes are not lowered below 10 MW/m[sup 2], even when the power losses in the edge plasma are equal to 50% of the power crossing the separatrix. Therefore, the tokamak will probably need to be operated in a deep detached regime in its first phase of exploitation for discharges longer than a few seconds. In the framework of core-edge integrated modeling, using METIS, the power radiated in the core was computed for the most interesting cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the causes of permeability decline in porous reservoirs under decreasing reservoir pressure by comparing laboratory experiments with well test data. Well tests indicate a greater sensitivity of permeability to pressure changes in reservoir formations compared to laboratory conditions and for this remain unclear. Field studies of permeability changes in northern Perm oil fields were conducted alongside laboratory experiments on core permeability under pressure. Results showed that highly permeable samples exhibited the greatest decline in permeability during elastic deformations, with reductions of 6% for limestones and 20% for sandstones. The relationship between permeability and purely elastic deformations for both rock types was accurately described by a power law. By comparing coefficients from field and lab studies, the mechanism of permeability decline in field conditions was established. A model incorporating elastic and plastic deformations of porous reservoirs was developed. The model considers the localization of plastic deformations in horizontal and vertical low-permeability deformation bands. Findings indicate that highly permeable formations are more susceptible to deformation band formation, particularly in thicker layers. The decrease in permeability was found to correlate strongly with the formation thickness, likely due to the formation of transverse deformation bands in pore layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goatpox and sheeppox are highly contagious and economically important viral diseases of small ruminants. Due to the risk they pose to animal health, livestock production, and international trade, capripoxviruses are a considerable threat to the livestock economy. In this study, we expressed two core proteins (A4L and A12L) and one extracellular enveloped virion protein (A33R) of goatpox virus in a baculovirus expression vector system and evaluated their use as diagnostic antigens in ELISA. Full-length A4L, A12L, and A33R genes of the GTPV Uttarkashi strain were amplified, cloned into the pFastBac HT A donor vector, and introduced into DH10Bac cells containing a baculovirus shuttle vector plasmid to generate recombinant bacmids. The recombinant baculoviruses were produced in Sf-21 cells by transfection, and proteins were expressed in TN5 insect cells. The recombinant proteins were analysed by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by western blot, with expected sizes of ~30 kDa, ~31 kDa, and ~32 kDa for A4L, A12L, and A33R, respectively. The recombinant proteins were purified, and the immunoreactivity of the purified proteins was confirmed by western blot using anti-GTPV serum. The antigenic specificity of the expressed proteins as diagnostic antigens was evaluated by testing their reactivity with infected, vaccinated, and negative GTPV/SPPV serum in indirect ELISA, and the A33R-based indirect ELISA was optimized. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the A33R-based indirect ELISA were found to be of 89% and 94% for goats and 98% and 91%, for sheep, respectively. No cross-reactivity was observed with other related viruses. The recombinant-A33R-based indirect ELISA developed in the present study shows that it has potential for the detection of antibodies in GTPV and SPPV infected/vaccinated animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: A 3-D finite-difference solver has been developed and implemented for Boussinesq convection in a spherical shell. The solver transforms any complex curvilinear domain into an equivalent Cartesian domain using Jacobi transformation and solves the governing equations in the latter. This feature enables the solver to account for the effects of the non-spherical shape of the convective regions of planets and stars. Apart from parallelization using MPI, implicit treatment of the viscous terms using a pipeline alternating direction implicit scheme and HYPRE multigrid accelerator for pressure correction makes the solver efficient for high-fidelity direct numerical simulations. We have performed simulations of Rayleigh–Bénard convection at two Rayleigh numbers Ra = 105 and 107 while keeping the Prandtl number fixed at unity (Pr = 1). The average radial temperature profile and the Nusselt number match very well, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the existing literature. Closure of the turbulent kinetic energy budget, apart from the relative magnitude of the grid spacing compared to the local Kolmogorov scales, ensures sufficient spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent seismological studies of the Martian core revealed its relatively low density, suggesting the presence of large amounts of light elements including oxygen and carbon in addition to sulfur. In order to reveal crystallizing solids in the light-element-rich core of Mars, we performed high-pressure melting experiments on Fe-S-O-C alloys at 26–49 GPa using a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell. The liquidus phase relations in the Fe-S-O-C system were determined based on textural and chemical characterizations of recovered samples. The results show that Fe-S-O-C liquids crystallize FeO or Fe 3 C in the presence of small amounts of O or C in liquids. Accordingly the liquidus fields of Fe 3 S and Fe 2 S are small, and the quaternary eutectic point is found to be close to the Fe-Fe 3 S binary eutectic point. Under Martian core conditions, S-rich liquids have low liquidus temperatures to crystallize FeO or Fe 3 C compared to S-poor liquids. The pressure dependence of liquidus temperatures suggests that crystallization of Mars' core starts at the center upon cooling. According to the FeO-Fe 3 C cotectic surfaces and their liquidus temperatures, an FeO and/or Fe 3 C inner core is predicted unless the Martian core remains entirely liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a housing market of Shapley and Scarf, each agent is endowed with one indivisible object and has preferences over all objects. An allocation of the objects is in the (strong) core if there exists no (weakly) blocking coalition. We show that, for strict preferences, the unique strong core allocation "respects improvement"—if an agent's object becomes more desirable for some other agents, then the agent's allotment in the unique strong core allocation weakly improves. We extend this result to weak preferences for both the strong core (conditional on nonemptiness) and the set of competitive allocations (using probabilistic allocations and stochastic dominance). There are no counterparts of the latter two results in the two-sided matching literature. We provide examples to show how our results break down when there is a bound on the length of exchange cycles. Respecting improvements is an important property for applications of the housing markets model, such as kidney exchange: it incentivizes each patient to bring the best possible set of donors to the market. We conduct computer simulations using markets that resemble the pools of kidney exchange programs. We compare the game-theoretical solutions with current techniques (maximum size and maximum weight allocations) in terms of violations of the respecting improvement property. We find that game-theoretical solutions fare much better at respecting improvements even when exchange cycles are bounded, and they do so at a low efficiency cost. As a stepping stone for our simulations, we provide novel integer programming formulations for computing core, competitive, and strong core allocations. Funding: P. Biró gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, OTKA [Grant K143858] and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences [Grant LP2021-2]. F. Klijn gratefully acknowledges financial support from AGAUR–Generalitat de Catalunya [Grants 2017-SGR-1359 and 2021-SGR-00416] and the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación [Grants ECO2017-88130-P and PID2020-114251GB-I00] (funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (Barcelona School of Economics) [Grant CEX2019-000915-S]. Research visits related to this work were financed by COST Action [Grant CA15210 ENCKEP], supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), http://www.cost.eu/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remarkable progress has characterized the field of electrocatalysis in recent decades, driven in part by an enhanced comprehension of catalyst structures and mechanisms at the nanoscale. Atomically precise metal nanoclusters, serving as exemplary models, significantly expand the range of accessible structures through diverse cores and ligands, creating an exceptional platform for the investigation of catalytic reactions. Notably, ligand‐protected Au nanoclusters (NCs) with precisely defined core numbers offer a distinct advantage in elucidating the correlation between their specific structures and the reaction mechanisms in electrocatalysis. The strategic modulation of the fine microstructures of Au NCs presents crucial opportunities for tailoring their electrocatalytic performance across various reactions. This review delves into the profound structural effects of Au NC cores and ligands in electrocatalysis, elucidating their underlying mechanisms. A detailed exploration of the fundamentals of Au NCs, considering core and ligand structures, follows. Subsequently, the interaction between the core and ligand structures of Au NCs and their impact on electrocatalytic performance in diverse reactions are examined. Concluding the discourse, challenges and personal prospects are presented to guide the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts and advance electrocatalytic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sound localization behavior of the nocturnally hunting barn owl and its underlying neural computations is a textbook example of neuroethology. Differences in sound timing and level at the two ears are integrated in a series of well‐characterized steps, from brainstem to inferior colliculus (IC), resulting in a topographical neural representation of auditory space. It remains an important question of brain evolution: How is this specialized case derived from a more plesiomorphic pattern? The present study is the first to match physiology and anatomical subregions in the non‐owl avian IC. Single‐unit responses in the chicken IC were tested for selectivity to different frequencies and to the binaural difference cues. Their anatomical origin was reconstructed with the help of electrolytic lesions and immunohistochemical identification of different subregions of the IC, based on previous characterizations in owl and chicken. In contrast to barn owl, there was no distinct differentiation of responses in the different subregions. We found neural topographies for both binaural cues but no evidence for a coherent representation of auditory space. The results are consistent with previous work in pigeon IC and chicken higher‐order midbrain and suggest a plesiomorphic condition of multisensory integration in the midbrain that is dominated by lateral panoramic vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, various sandwich panels with different face-sheet materials and three types of aluminum honeycomb cores are fabricated, the covers are made of either aluminum or glass fiber reinforced epoxy, and the panel's quasi-static behavior was examined using three tests; flexural, edgewise, and flatwise. The cores used in the panels have different properties according to cell sizes and heights. All manufactured panels have the same thickness. The results were presented as curves and tables so that the variables influencing the panel's durability could be determined. Results showed that flatwise compressive strength increased for specimens using covers made of aluminum material than fiberglass by about 40%. Samples that employed cores with smaller cell sizes showed more compressive strength in the flatwise direction than specimens using larger cells of cores by about 15%. While compressive strength in a direction that is parallel to the face sheet showed higher values for specimens of a fiberglass cover than aluminum material covers by about 14%. Flexural strength has decreased by samples using covers made of fiberglass than aluminum material by about (40 -- 90) % depending on the face-sheet thickness and cell size. Specimens with epoxy-filled cores showed the maximum compressive strength values in all cases. During flexural and edgewise tests, de-bonding failure has occurred commonly in samples using aluminum skins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isomorphism holds that, ideally, a single meaning is expressed by a single form. However, despite long-standing support, the theoretical viability of the isomorphic principle has been called into question. There is widespread recognition that the coexistence of (near-) synonymous expressions--variation--is actually very common in language. In this study, we explore a possible path toward reconciling the theoretical notion of isomorphism with the observable fact of variation. To this end, we adopt an analogy to tool use inspired by Zipf (1949). Tools largely monopolize their core functional domains (e.g., for cutting, knives are overwhelmingly preferred over screwdrivers) but compete over more peripheral functions (for puncturing, knives and screwdrivers have more equal chances of selection). In the same way, we hypothesize forms can code a prototypically organized network of senses, whereby they largely monopolize the core but are more likely to come into competition with other forms in the periphery. To test this hypothesis, a case study is conducted on variation in the use of two prepositions: at and with. For each, a semantic core and periphery are established. Using a corpus consisting of parallel translations of the same source text, it is then tested whether translators are more likely to converge on the same preposition to express one of that preposition's core senses than to express one of its peripheral senses. This is the pattern one would expect if isomorphic pressure is stronger for semantic cores than for peripheries. The results are promising but inconclusive. They confirm that the sense most prone to competition is arguably the most peripheral but also reveal a surprisingly high level of competition for the spatial core use of at. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonplanar reinforced concrete (RC) core walls form the backbone of millions of mid- and high-rise buildings, resisting both gravity and lateral loads from wind and earthquakes. The latter inevitably induces torsional demands, even in the case of full plan-wise symmetric structures, which add to bending, shear, and axial deformations. Unfortunately, current international building codes are not applicable for the design of nonplanar sections governed by warping torsion rather than circulatory torsion. This lack of information and guidance in building codes has resulted in a very limited number of structures being designed to account for warping stresses, even though the latter can be of a similar order of magnitude to bending stresses and, therefore, of major significance. A simple procedure is herein presented to estimate the ultimate warping moment and ultimate torque of nonplanar RC sections based on "warping-equivalent" ultimate bending moments from sectional analysis. A circular and bilinear bending moment-torque interaction relationship is proposed and compared to the existing, albeit limited, experimental and numerical results available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate trunk muscle strength assessment seems very important to design and individualize training and rehabilitation programs in clinical and sport settings. Hand-held dynamometers (HHDs) are interesting alternatives to isokinetic dynamometers for assessing trunk isometric muscle strength because they are inexpensive instruments and easy to use. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to examine the reliability of two novel sitting tests for assessing trunk flexion and extension isometric strength using an HHD and their relationship with two other novel isometric tests that use an isokinetic dynamometer. Twenty-four female amateur athletes (age: 24.5 ± 2.64 years; body height: 164.45 ± 6.33 cm; body mass: 63.17 ± 10.35 kg) participated in this study. A test-retest design was carried out one-week apart to examine the reliability. The relationship and the degree of agreement between the HHD and the isokinetic dynamometer measurements were analysed using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis, respectively. In general, the reliability of all isometric strength tests was good, with ICCs ranging from 0.65 to 0.87 and typical error < 15%. Pearson correlations were moderate, with values of r = 0.47 (R² = 0.22) and r = 0.42 (R² = 0.18) for flexion and extension strength, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed no agreement between HHDs and isokinetic measurements. All trunk isometric tests using both, an isokinetic dynamometer and HHDs, provide reliable measurements for assessing trunk flexion and extension strength. According to the comparative analysis, both measurement types are different and cannot be used interchangeably. Health and sport professionals should choose the test that best suits the biomechanical characteristics required for functional goals or success in a given sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of a core is generalized to multiway networks. To determine the multiway cores, we adapted already-known algorithms for determining the generalized cores in one-mode and two-mode networks. A new node property, node diversity has been introduced. The newly introduced notions are illustrated with their application on two real-life networks—the European airport network and the Summer Olympic medals network. For the interactive inspection of the results, their 3D layout in X3D is supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain-related traits are pivotal in rice cultivation, influencing yield and consumer preference. The complex inheritance of these traits, involving multiple alleles contributing to their expression, poses challenges in breeding. To address these challenges, a multi-locus genome-wide association study (ML-GWAS) utilizing 35,286 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted. Our study utilized an association panel comprising 483 rice genotypes sourced from a northeast core set and a landraces set collected from various regions in India. Forty quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were identified, associated with four grain-related traits: grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain aroma (Aro), and length–width ratio (LWR). Notably, 16 QTNs were simultaneously identified using two ML-GWAS methods, distributed across multiple chromosomes. Nearly 258 genes were found near the 16 significant QTNs. Gene annotation study revealed that sixty of these genes exhibited elevated expression levels in specific tissues and were implicated in pathways influencing grain quality. Gene ontology (GO), trait ontology (TO), and enrichment analysis pinpointed 60 candidate genes (CGs) enriched in relevant GO terms. Among them, LOC_Os05g06470, LOC_Os06g06080, LOC_Os08g43470, and LOC_Os03g53110 were confirmed as key contributors to GL, GW, Aro, and LWR. Insights from QTNs and CGs illuminate rice trait regulation and genetic connections, offering potential targets for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic traveltime anomalies of waves that traverse the uppermost 100–200 km of the outer core have been interpreted as evidence of reduced seismic velocities (relative to radial reference models) just below the core–mantle boundary (CMB). These studies typically investigate differential traveltimes of SmKS waves, which propagate as P waves through the shallowest outer core and reflect from the underside of the CMB m times. The use of SmKS and S(m-1)KS differential traveltimes for core imaging are often assumed to suppress contributions from earthquake location errors and unknown and unmodelled seismic velocity heterogeneity in the mantle. The goal of this study is to understand the extent to which differential SmKS traveltimes are, in fact, affected by anomalous mantle structure, potentially including both velocity heterogeneity and anisotropy. Velocity variations affect not only a wave's traveltime, but also the path of a wave, which can be observed in deviations of the wave's incoming direction. Since radial velocity variations in the outer core will only minimally affect the wave path, in contrast to other potential effects, measuring the incoming direction of SmKS waves provides an additional diagnostic as to the origin of traveltime anomalies. Here we use arrays of seismometers to measure traveltime and direction anomalies of SmKS waves that sample the uppermost outer core. We form subarrays of EarthScope's regional Transportable Array stations, thus measuring local variations in traveltime and direction. We observe systematic lateral variations in both traveltime and incoming wave direction, which cannot be explained by changes to the radial seismic velocity profile of the outer core. Moreover, we find a correlation between incoming wave direction and traveltime anomaly, suggesting that observed traveltime anomalies may be caused, at least in part, by changes to the wave path and not solely by perturbations in outer core velocity. Modelling of 1-D ray and 3-D wave propagation in global 3-D tomographic models of mantle velocity anomalies match the trend of the observed traveltime anomalies. Overall, we demonstrate that observed SmKS traveltime anomalies may have a significant contribution from 3-D mantle structure, and not solely from outer core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the world, building excellent schools often relies on a certain school model. For example, models such as "Happy School", "Amazing School", "Cultural School", "Brand School", and "Student-Centered Schools" have been implemented quite successfully. The common purpose of these models is to create an excellent school; the core of these models is the core cultural values. Through studying the models, the article draws out the core cultural values to create an excellent school. Community culture, religious doctrines, laws, state management policies, and knowledge management are factors that influence school culture and are also mentioned. Based on that, a survey was conducted with 1,517 subjects including school managers, teachers, and parents of students at preschool, primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels representing four different regions of Vietnam. The results show that school managers can express very well the school's vision and mission but have a vague perception of the essence of school culture and the specific approach to building school culture. In management, school principals lack creative measures in both approaching general culture and in creating core cultural values for the school; the influence of the impacting factors has not been effectively utilized; therefore, the results of building excellent schools are very limited. Solutions to build excellent schools by creating core cultural values are proposed in the context of Vietnam and can be referenced for countries with similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a core and spectrum allocation algorithm for elastic optical networks based on multi-core fibers. In this context, the fragmentation and crosstalk mitigation algorithm (FraCA) is proposed. FraCA implements mechanisms to reduce spectral fragmentation and inter-core crosstalk in the network, proving efficient when compared with six other algorithms reported in the literature. The numerical results show that when compared with the most competitive of the six algorithms, FraCA achieves a gain of request blocking probability of at least 16.87%, a gain of bandwidth blocking probability of at least 43.95%, and a mean increase in spectral utilization of at least 4.36%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the individual and collective scientific contributions carried out by the Triple Helix (University, Industry, and Government) in the areas that are considered of significant impact on innovation, such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the leading economies of Latin American, a zone with limited innovation systems and has experienced many changes in its political and economic structure in recent years. Three cooperative game theory metrics (core, shapley value, and nucleolus) were used to model each player's individual and collective strength to create and maintain synergy. Bibliometric information on STEM areas was collected from the innovation systems of Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina; all this information was gathered from the Web of Science for ten years (2010–2020). The findings highlight that while universities play a central role in all four countries, government and industry involvement varies, with notable individual government participation in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico; this scenario reflects that research is often conducted in isolation, marked by agility rather than collaborative efforts, frequently impeded by the extensive time required for organization and navigating bureaucratic processes. In contrast, Chile's approach to collaboration, integrating government, industry, and universities, stands out for its efficient synergy and communication; it leverages the universities' deep expertise, ensuring a balanced and effective participation in research across all sectors. This analysis reveals the diverse dynamics and collaborative patterns in these Latin American countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the problem of sharing medical resources through patient referrals for hospitals in a medical consortium. We address two main issues. One is to derive the optimal patient referral strategy for the consortium to minimize the total costs of the consortium; the other is to determine a fair cost allocation scheme to ensure the stability of the medical consortium. We first consider a general setting wherein patients can be referred between any two hospitals in the medical consortium. Then, we extend our analysis to the special setting wherein patient referrals are only allowed between hospitals in different categories. We formulate the patient referral problem as a convex optimization problem, and discuss the properties of the optimal patient referral strategy. We apply the framework of cooperative game theory to allocate the total costs arising from the medical consortium to the member hospitals. We propose a dual-price cost allocation scheme and show that it is in the core of the corresponding cooperative game. Numerical studies are conducted to further examine the proposed cost allocation schemes and to investigate the impact of parameters on the efficiency of a medical consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovative integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into textiles through microencapsulation presents a transformative approach to developing thermally regulated fabrics. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of microcapsules containing a coconut oil core and an ethylcellulose shell, and their application on cotton fabrics coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. The dual-layer system involving microcapsules and nanofibers is designed to enhance the thermal insulation properties of textiles by regulating heat through the absorption and release of thermal energy. The microencapsulation of PCMs allows for the effective incorporation of these materials into textiles without altering the fabric's inherent properties. In this study, the coconut oil serves as the PCM, known for its suitable phase change temperature range, while ethylcellulose provides a robust shell, enhancing the microcapsules' structural integrity. The application of a PVA nanofibers layer not only strengthens the thermal regulation properties but also protects the microcapsules from release while the fabric is manipulated, thereby prolonging the functional life of the fabric. Comprehensive testing, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirms the successful application and durability of the microcapsules on the textiles. Thermal imaging studies demonstrate the fabric's enhanced capability to maintain a consistent temperature, highlighting the potential of this technology in applications ranging from smart clothing to energy-efficient building materials or automotive isolation. The integration of PCMs in textiles via microencapsulation and nanofiber technology marks a significant advancement in textile engineering, offering new opportunities for the development of smart and sustainable materials. The study demonstrates the promising potential of integrating PCMs into textiles using microencapsulation and nanofiber technologies. Despite the initially modest insulation improvements, the methodology provides a robust foundation for further research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pyrus has a long history in Sardinia (Italy), where two wild pear species (P. spinosa Forssk. and P. pyraster (L.) Burgsd.) and Pyrus communis L. cultivars are extensively distributed. Even if neglected, these taxa represent well-adapted key resources for redesigning sustainable farming systems. This report aims at shedding light on the phenolic fingerprint and antioxidant properties of wild pear fruits and comparing their traits with those of the studied pear cultivar germplasm (PCG). Fruits of wild pear species were collected, and flesh, peel, and core subsamples were analyzed. Moreover, available data from previous research on PCG were analyzed. The contents of total phenolics (TotP), total flavonoids (TotF), and condensed tannins (CT), as well as the antioxidant capacity, were similar in the flesh of the two wild species. However, P. spinosa had significantly higher values of TotP (89 g GAE kg−1 DM) and CT (33 g DE kg−1 DM) in the peel. Eleven individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the fruit flesh, 14 in both peel and core. For both wild species, arbutin and chlorogenic acid were the main phenolic compounds, followed by the quercetin glycosides. Comparing the antioxidant capacity and TotF fruit flesh values of wild pears with those of PCG, the latter resulted up to 15-fold lower. The wild types showed unique metabolite profiles. Results support novel insights on the phytochemicals of wild pear fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents new results of laboratory studies, along with a summary of previously obtained ones. An analysis of the development of reserves in the experimental area was carried out with recommendations for improving the efficiency of its oil recovery processes in the amount of 10-30% of the pore volume of the experimental area. New conditions for injection with a limited supply of carbon dioxide are considered. The results of oil recovery modeling, using CO2 and water rims, are presented. The increase in oil recovery for reservoirs D1 and D2 was determined, and a forecast was made for the value of additional oil production per ton of carbon dioxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential games with additive payoffs are considered. A new approach to constructing the characteristic function for such games is defined. Properties of optimality principles such as the core and the Shapley value constructed by applying the new characteristic function are studied. The solutions obtained are demonstrated by means of an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]