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Energy transition in the electricity sector is central to limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. Countries around the world rely on official planning documents, such as strategies, special programs, and action plans, to guide these efforts. However, there are few systematic approaches and tools that can help policy makers determine comprehensiveness, coherence, consistency, and coordination when designing these planning documents. This represents a risk to meet energy transition and climate change goals if the relationships of policies and actions included in these documents are not addressed properly. To this end, this paper proposes an approach to model hierarchical relationships using the theory of change, while causal relationships are allocated using policy makers' experience (yet can also be exogenously allocated using other models). As a case study, this work investigates Mexico's energy transition policy of the electricity sector over the 2013–2018 period. The results show that Mexico's official planning documents lack a good design since most policies and actions are not articulated in the right sequence and privilege clean centralized and distributed generation and energy efficiency, while others related to the modernization of electrical grids and climate and environmental policies are barely included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coralligenous bioconstructions are a key Mediterranean ecosystem for their associated biodiversity and role in the blue carbon cycle. They are also sensitive to environmental alterations (e.g., climate change) and other anthropic impacts related to coastal anthropization (e.g., fishing activities). Marine-coastal zone protection, conservation programs and management strategies are essential to guarantee a good ecological status of the coralligenous habitat. In this context, environmental and ecosystem accounting are useful tools to measure natural capital stocks and ecosystem service flows associated with marine ecosystems, conveying their importance in scientific and policy contexts. Indeed, the importance of marine ecosystems is often overlooked due to the difficulty of expressing their value in common units, making it challenging for decision-makers to explore trade-offs between conservation and exploitation of marine ecosystems. In this study, a biophysical and trophodynamic environmental accounting model was used to assess the biophysical value of natural capital stocks of the coralligenous habitat in three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the Campania Region (Southern Italy): Punta Campanella, Santa Maria di Castellabate, and Costa degli Infreschi e della Masseta. The natural capital value per unit area associated with the coralligenous habitat ranged from 2.44 × 1012 to 4.72 × 1012 sej m−2 for Santa Maria di Castellabate and Punta Campanella, respectively. Despite the different intensive values of natural capital calculated for the MPAs, there were no significant differences both in the biomass values of the taxonomic groups and in the biomass-based Shannon diversity index. Additionally, the biophysical values were also converted into monetary units, with the aim of facilitating the understanding of the importance of natural stocks in socio-economic and political contexts. The economic equivalent of natural capital value refers to the total extent of the coralligenous habitat and ranged from about EUR 1 to 15 million for Costa degli Infreschi e della Masseta and Santa Maria di Castellabate, respectively. The results of this study could be useful for local managers and policy makers and may make them more likely to achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals in MPAs. This is the first study devoted to the assessment of natural capital value of coralligenous habitats. Future studies could complement the results of this study with biophysical and economic assessments of ecosystem service flows generated by coralligenous habitats, focusing on the role they play in human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of challenges like climate change, pollution, and depletion of fossil fuel reserves, governments and businesses prioritize renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Renewable energy forecasting models play a crucial role for energy market operators and prosumers, aiding in planning, decision-making, optimization of energy sales, and evaluation of investments. This study aimed to develop machine learning models for hydropower forecasting in plants integrated into Water Distribution Systems, where energy is generated from water flow used for municipal water supply. The study involved developing and comparing monthly and two-week forecasting models, utilizing both one-step-ahead and two-step-ahead forecasting methodologies, along with different missing data imputation techniques. The tested algorithms—Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average, Random Forest, Temporal Convolutional Network, and Neural Basis Expansion Analysis for Time Series—produced varying levels of performance. The Random Forest model proved to be the most effective for monthly forecasting, while the Temporal Convolutional Network delivered the best results for two-week forecasting. Across all scenarios, the seasonal–trend decomposition using the LOESS technique emerged as the most successful for missing data imputation. The accurate predictions obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of using these models for energy planning and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After tooth extraction, bone levels in the alveoli decrease. Using a bone substitute can help minimize this bone loss. The substitute can be sourced from a human or animal donor or synthetically prepared. In this study, we aimed to address the following PICOS question: In patients needing dental alveolar preservation for implant placement, how does alveolar preservation using a bovine hydroxyapatite bone xenograft with collagen compare to a xenograft without collagen in terms of changes in alveolar height and width, bone density, and the characteristics of the bone tissue observed in biopsies taken at 6 months? We evaluated two xenograft-type bone substitutes for preserving post-extraction dental sockets using tomography and microscopy to answer that question. A total of 18 dental alveoli were studied: 11 preserved with a xenograft composed of apatite (InterOss) and 7 with a xenograft composed of apatite–collagen (InterOss Collagen). Tomographic controls were performed at 1 and 6 months, and microscopic studies were performed on 13 samples. The biopsies were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted in the statistical analysis, revealing a significant increase in bone density over time (p = 0.04). Specifically, bone density increased from an average of 526.14 HU at 30 days to 721.96 HU at 60 days in collagen-free samples. However, no statistically significant differences in height or width were found between groups. The MANOVA results indicated that the overall model had a low predictive ability for height, width, and density variables (R-squared values were low), likely due to sample size limitations and the complexity of bone tissue dynamics. On the other hand, FTIR analysis revealed the presence of phosphate groups, carbonates, and amides I, II, and III, indicative of inorganic (hydroxyapatite) and organic (type I collagen) materials in the xenografts. TGA and DSC showed high thermal stability, with minimal mass loss below 150 °C. Finally, both xenografts were influential in alveolar bone regeneration after extraction without significant differences. The trend of increasing collagen density suggests an effect that requires further investigation. However, it is recommended that the sample size be increased to enhance the validity of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, reservoir computing (RC) has emerged as one of the most effective algorithms to model and forecast volatile and chaotic time series. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the uncertainty associated with the predictions made by RC models and to propose a methodology to generate RC prediction intervals. As an illustration, we analyze the error distribution for the RC model when predicting the price time series of several agri-commodities. Results show that the error distributions are best modeled using a Normal Inverse Gaussian (NIG). In fact, NIG outperforms the Gaussian distribution, as the latter tends to overestimate the width of the confidence intervals. Hence, we propose a methodology where, in the first step, the RC generates a forecast for the time series and, in the second step, the confidence intervals are generated by combining the prediction and the fitted NIG distribution of the RC forecasting errors. Thus, by providing confidence intervals rather than single-point estimates, our approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of forecast uncertainty, enabling better risk assessment and more informed decision-making in business planning based on forecasted prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban ecosystems, and the services they provide, are a key focus of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 11, which emphasizes making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Green infrastructure (GI) is crucial in enhancing citizens' quality of life and achieving this goal and it can be defined as a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas designed to deliver a range of ecosystem services (ESs). These infrastructures improve ecosystem functioning, protect biodiversity, promote health, support sustainable land and water management, and boost the local green economy. This paper explores the scientific literature on GI and their ESs in cities using bibliometric science. By combining the keywords "Green Infrastructures", "Ecosystem Services", and "Cities" with VOSviewer software (1.6.20 version), we analyzed trends over time. Results show growing attention to these topics, emphasizing human well-being, urban resilience, and sustainability. The study also highlights that focusing exclusively on either "Green Infrastructure in Cities" or "Ecosystem Services in Cities" leads to fragmented insights. A more integrated examination of these three domains offers a holistic view and underscores the importance of considering ecosystem disservices. The study further identifies key research directions, including the need for a comprehensive evaluation of diverse GI types, especially those that are under-researched, such as green roofs, sports areas, and wetlands, and the underexplored role of cultural ecosystem services. Additionally, future research should consider both the benefits and disservices of GI to support better urban planning decisions. Finally, integrating biophysical, social, and economic values of ESs is critical for providing more holistic insights and enhancing sustainable urban development. The novelty of this paper lies in its integrated, holistic approach to examining GI and ESs in urban areas, with a focus on ecosystem disservices, insufficient attention to specific GI types, and the role of cultural ecosystem services—each contributing to the creation of more resilient and sustainable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many cases, the etiopathogenesis of oral cavity diseases depends on the presence of variants in some genes. Being able to identify these variants defines the possibilities and limits of therapies. This multidisciplinary case describes several pathologies of the oral cavity in a young patient affected by type 1 diabetes. The patient presented with an impacted palatal canine. Further investigation revealed cervical root resorption of the upper right central incisor. Genetic testing was performed for interleukin, VDR receptor genes, and the evaluation of periodontopathogenic bacteria. The mutational analysis carried out for the VDR polymorphisms and the IL1A, IL1B, IL6, and IL10 polymorphisms showed the presence of pathogenetic variants. The results for bacterial load showed the presence of periodontal pathogenes. The first intervention was the intentional replantation of the incisor. The second intervention was the orthodontic recovery of the impacted canine, using light forces and a hybrid anchorage with a miniscrew. At the end of orthodontic treatment, a crack was found in the upper left first premolar, which was extracted. Throughout treatment, non-invasive periodontal interventions were performed periodically to control periodontal inflammation. This case is an example of the integration of genetic analyses into the multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with Ni, Cu, and NiCu alloy thin films were investigated for the first time for the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol in water solution under UV irradiation. Metallic co-catalysts were deposited on TiO2 nanotubes using magnetron sputtering. The influence of the metal layer composition and thickness on the photocatalytic activity was systematically studied. Photocatalytic experiments showed that only Cu-rich co-catalysts provide enhanced paracetamol degradation rates, whereas Ni-modified photocatalysts exhibit no improvement compared with unmodified TiO2. The best-performing material was obtained by sputtering a 20 nm thick film of 1:1 atomic ratio NiCu alloy: this material exhibits a reaction rate more than doubled compared with pristine TiO2, enabling the complete degradation of 10 mg L−1 of paracetamol in 8 h. The superior performance of NiCu-modified systems over pure Cu-based ones is ascribed to a Ni and Cu synergistic effect. Kinetic tests using selective holes and radical scavengers unveiled, unlike prior findings in the literature, that paracetamol undergoes direct oxidation at the photocatalyst surface via valence band holes. Finally, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) tests and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS) analysis were conducted to assess the degree of mineralization and identify intermediates. In contrast with the existing literature, we demonstrated that the mechanistic pathway involves direct oxidation by valence band holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Milk removal, more commonly known as weaning, is considered a major stressor in the early life of a calf. If improperly managed, it can negatively impact both the calf's performance and welfare. One of the most delicate aspects to address during a calf's growth is nutrition, both liquid and solid, so that the calf can develop the rumen compartment correctly without precluding natural behavior and, at the same time, preserving business costs. The weaning calf, in addition to milk, generally receives calf starters, a very palatable solid feed rich in concentrates, but no source of roughage, although several studies emphasize the importance of fibrous feeds even at this stage of the animal's life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on the behavior and welfare of weaning calves resulting from the provision of Total Mixed Ration (TMR) as a forage source in addition to calf starter administered ad libitum or in restricted quantities. TMR is a diet widely used in dairy cow breeding, obtained by chopping and mixing all types of feeds, i.e., forages, concentrates and other ingredients, in order to achieve a homogeneous ration composition. The results obtained from this study indicate that the administration of TMR without restrictions of starter allows the young calf to better express its natural behavior, suggesting a better state of well-being. Currently, in dairy farming, there is growing concern for the welfare of calves during the critical period between the separation from their dams and weaning. During weaning, rationed feeding is a practice used to improve feed efficiency and control the calves' growth, but it could also have negative consequences associated with hunger and feed restriction behavior. One such consequence could be the performance by calves of stereotyped behaviors indicative of poor welfare, such as non-nutritive oral behaviors. We hypothesized that making a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) available to calves, in addition to the standard pelleted starter diet, thanks to its structural and nutritional characteristics, could help to focus the oral behavior of the subjects towards nutritional activities and therefore limit the development of stereotyped behaviors, even when the amount of starter is restricted. To test this hypothesis, 30 female Holstein calves (equipped with an accelerometer based on an ear tag), were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a control diet (CTR) with an ad libitum calf starter but without TMR; Treatment 1 (TRT1) with both ad libitum calf starter and ad libitum TMR; Treatment 2 (TRT2) with ad libitum TMR and a restricted amount of a calf starter (50% of the intake starter of the control group day by day). All animals were kept in individual cages equipped with a slow-flow teat bucket apparatus for milk feeding and with access to separated buckets (one for drinking water, one for the starter, and one for the TMR) placed on the outside of the front gate of each cage. Sucking behavior, as well as resting, ruminating and activity behavior, was recorded individually from 7 days of life to weaning (63 d of age) by an automated monitoring system based on ear-tag accelerometers (SCR eSense, Allflex, Irving, TX, USA). The results showed that in the CTR group, there was a greater sucking activity compared to the TRT1 group (26.25 min/head/day vs. 16.83 min/head/day, p = 0.0181), while the TRT2 group showed intermediate values (20.41 min/head/day). We hypothesized that this increased sucking activity may be explained by the oral activity directed at sucking the Milk Bar tube observed only in CTR calves after complete consumption of available milk and could indicate a higher stress level than in the TRT1 group. The time spent resting was significantly lower for the CTR group compared to the TRT1 group (9.20 h/day vs. 11.15 h/day, p = 0.0049) while the TRT2 group was in an intermediate situation (10.65 h/day). Furthermore, the increase in time dedicated to rest observed in TRT1, in light of the good vitality of the calves shown by the daily patterns of resting behavior and daily activity, also seems to suggest an improvement in welfare conditions compared to calves receiving pelleted starter alone. Based on these results, we can deduce that providing TMR ad libitum in the diet of weaning calves could be an effective strategy to improve calf welfare due to the reduction in stereotyped oral activity. However, further studies are needed to establish threshold values useful for distinguishing physiological from pathological resting times in weaning calves raised in individual cages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pairs trading is a short-term speculation trading strategy based on matching a long position with a short position in two assets in the hope that their prices will return to their historical equilibrium. In this paper, we focus on identifying opportunities where mean reversion will happen quickly, as the commission costs associated with keeping the positions open for an extended period of time can eliminate excess returns. To this end, we propose the use of the local Hurst exponent as a signal to open trades in the cryptocurrencies market. We conduct a natural experiment to show that the spread of pairs with anti-persistent values of Hurst revert to their mean significantly faster. Next, we verify that this effect is universal across pairs with different levels of co-movement. Finally, we back-test several pairs trading strategies that include H < 0.5 as an indicator and check that all of them result in profits. Hence, we conclude that the Hurst exponent represents a meaningful indicator to detect pairs trading opportunities in the cryptocurrencies market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power distribution of progressive power lenses provides usable regions based on power distribution analysis. However, recent studies demonstrated that these regions are not always used for certain tasks as predicted. This work determines the concordance between the actual region of lens use and compares it with the theoretically located regions. The pupil position of 26 subjects was recorded using an eye-tracking system (Tobii-Pro-Glasses 3) at distance and near-reading tasks while wearing a general use progressive power lens. Subjects were asked to read aloud a text showed on a screen placed at 5.25 m and 37 cm while looking though the central and lateral regions of the lens. The pupil position was projected onto the back surface of the lens to obtain the actual region of use for each fixation. Results showed that the actual region of use matched with the theoretically located. On average, the concordance between the actual and theoretical regions of use was 85% for a distance-reading task and 73% for a near-reading task. In conclusion, the proposed method effectively located the actual regions of the lens used, revealing how users' posture affects lens usage. This insight enables the design of more customized progressive lenses based on the areas used during vision-based tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) involves significant mood and energy shifts reflected in speech patterns. Detecting these patterns is crucial for diagnosis and monitoring, currently assessed subjectively. Advances in natural language processing offer opportunities to objectively analyze them. Aims: To (i) correlate speech features with manic-depressive symptom severity in BD, (ii) develop predictive models for diagnostic and treatment outcomes, and (iii) determine the most relevant speech features and tasks for these analyses. Methods: This naturalistic, observational study involved longitudinal audio recordings of BD patients at euthymia, during acute manic/depressive phases, and after-response. Patients participated in clinical evaluations, cognitive tasks, standard text readings, and storytelling. After automatic diarization and transcription, speech features, including acoustics, content, formal aspects, and emotionality, will be extracted. Statistical analyses will (i) correlate speech features with clinical scales, (ii) use lasso logistic regression to develop predictive models, and (iii) identify relevant speech features. Results: Audio recordings from 76 patients (24 manic, 21 depressed, 31 euthymic) were collected. The mean age was 46.0 ± 14.4 years, with 63.2% female. The mean YMRS score for manic patients was 22.9 ± 7.1, reducing to 5.3 ± 5.3 post-response. Depressed patients had a mean HDRS-17 score of 17.1 ± 4.4, decreasing to 3.3 ± 2.8 post-response. Euthymic patients had mean YMRS and HDRS-17 scores of 0.97 ± 1.4 and 3.9 ± 2.9, respectively. Following data pre-processing, including noise reduction and feature extraction, comprehensive statistical analyses will be conducted to explore correlations and develop predictive models. Conclusions: Automated speech analysis in BD could provide objective markers for psychopathological alterations, improving diagnosis, monitoring, and response prediction. This technology could identify subtle alterations, signaling early signs of relapse. Establishing standardized protocols is crucial for creating a global speech cohort, fostering collaboration, and advancing BD understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the percentage of bioceramic sealer penetration and maximum penetration sealer depending on the fluorescent staining method when evaluated with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In total, 42 single-rooted premolars were instrumented. Two groups of 20 teeth each were filled using the single cone technique. TotalFill BC Sealer® mixed with Rhodamine B was used for the first group and TotalFill BC Sealer® mixed with Fluo-3 for the second group. Two teeth made up the control group. All teeth were sectioned at 3 and 6 mm from the apex and were analyzed with CLSM. The canal perimeter where the tubular penetration happened and the maximum penetration of each sample were calculated. There were no significant differences between the two groups in either the apical or medial sections. In terms of maximum penetration, Rhodamine B had greater tubular penetration in the apical sections, and it had similar results to Fluo-3 in the medial sections. TotalFill BC Sealer® has a higher tubular penetration in the medial slices than in the apical slices regardless of the fluorescent stain used. Rhodamine B has higher results than Fluo-3 in terms of the percentage of sealer penetration and maximum penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "One Health" approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding antimicrobial resistance. This perspective is of particular importance in the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as it is not only a pathogen that affects humans but also persists in environmental reservoirs. To assess evolutionary selection for niche-specific traits, a genomic comparison of 749 P. aeruginosa strains from three environments (clinical, aquatic, and soil) was performed. The results showed that the environment does indeed exert selective pressure on specific traits. The high percentage of persistent genome, the lack of correlation between phylogeny and origin of the isolate, and the high intrinsic resistance indicate that the species has a high potential for pathogenicity and resistance, regardless of the reservoir. The flexible genome showed an enrichment of metal resistance genes, which could act as a co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes. In the plasmids, resistance genes were found in multigenic clusters, with the presence of a mobile integron being prominent. This integron was identified in several pathogenic strains belonging to distantly related taxa with a worldwide distribution, showing the risk of rapid evolution of resistance. These results provide a more complete understanding of the evolution of P. aeruginosa, which could help develop new prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with a soft tissue regenerative capacity can be produced using biopolymer scaffolds and nanomaterials, which allow injured tissue to recover without any side effects or limitations. Four formulations were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS), with silicon dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-SiO2) incorporated using the freeze-drying method at a temperature of −50 °C. TGA and DSC showed no change in thermal degradation, with glass transition temperatures around 74 °C and 77 °C. The interactions between the hydroxyl groups of PVA and CS remained stable. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the incorporation of NPs-SiO2 complemented the freeze-drying process, enabling the dispersion of the components on the polymeric matrix and obtaining structures with a small pore size (between 30 and 60 μm) and large pores (between 100 and 160 μm). The antimicrobial capacity analysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria revealed that the scaffolds inhibited around 99% of K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, and S. aureus ATCC 55804. The subdermal implantation analysis demonstrated tissue growth and proliferation, with good biocompatibility, promoting the healing process for tissue restoration through the simultaneous degradation and formation of type I collagen fibers. All the results presented expand the boundaries in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by highlighting the crucial role of nanoparticles in optimizing scaffold properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength, mass and function) in individuals with heart failure (HF) stands at a considerable level (approximately 20%), contributing to heightened mortality rates and diminished quality of life. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms involve the presence of low-grade inflammation and a disturbance of the anabolic–catabolic protein balance. The nutritional assessment of patients with HF is a key aspect, and diverse diagnostic tools are employed based on patient profiles (outpatient, inpatient and nursing home). The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria serves as a consensus for diagnosing malnutrition. Given that edema can impact body mass index (BMI) in patients with HF, alternative body assessment technical methods, such as bioelectrical vector impedance (BiVA), BIA (without vector mode), computer tomography (CT) or clinical ultrasound (US), are useful. Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of both aerobic and resistance physical exercises in ameliorating and preventing muscle wasting associated with HF. Dietary strategies emphasize the importance of protein intake, while certain micronutrients like coenzyme Q10 or intravenous iron may offer benefits. This narrative review aims to present the current understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of muscle loss in individuals with heart failure and its consequential impact on prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) administration is applied in the management of subjects affected by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Whilst this application is widely recognized and established alone or in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a similar strategy is empirically advocated in idiopathic male factor infertility (MFI). In this setting, FSH therapy has been used to increase sperm quantity, quality, and pregnancy rate when FSH plasma concentrations are below 8 IU/L and when the seminal tract is not obstructed. In the literature, several studies suggested that giving FSH to patients with idiopathic MFI increases sperm count and motility, raising the overall pregnancy rate. However, this efficacy seems to be limited, and about 10–18 men should be treated to achieve one pregnancy. Thus, several papers suggest the need to move from a replacement approach to an overstimulating approach in the management of FSH therapy in idiopathic MFI. To this aim, it is imperative to determine some pharmacologic markers of FSH efficacy. Furthermore, it should be useful in clinical practice to distinguish, before starting the treatment, among patients who might respond or not to FSH treatment. Indeed, previous studies suggest that infertile men who have normal levels of gonadotropins in plasma might not respond to FSH treatment and about 50% of patients might be defined as "non-responders". For these reasons, identifying predictive markers of FSH action in spermatogenesis and clinical markers of response to FSH treatment is a fascinating area of study that might lead to new developments with the aim of achieving personalization of the treatment of male infertility. From this perspective, seminal parameters (i.e., spermatid count), testicular cytology, genetic assessment, and miRNA or protein markers in the future might be used to create a tailored FSH therapy plan. The personalization of FSH treatment is mandatory to minimize side effects, to avoid lost time with ineffective treatments, and to improve the efficacy, predicting the most efficient dose and the duration of the treatment. This narrative review's objective is to discuss the role of the different putative factors which have been proposed to predict the response to FSH treatment in idiopathic infertile men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several studies have analyzed the composition of the male genital tract microbiota and its changes in infertility or in different situations associated with infertility. The aim of this narrative review is to obtain more insight on this topic; in particular, to describe actual evidence about changes in the semen microbiota in patients with infertility, male tract infections, or HPV infections. In semen, an increase in semen Prevotella spp. is associated with oligozoospermia and with obesity-associated asthenozoospermia; an increase in Pseudomonas is more frequently associated with asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia; a reduction in Lactobacilli spp. (namely in Lactobacillus crispatus) may represent a marker of low semen quality. However, an increase in Lactobacillus iners is considered a risk factor for a reduced sperm concentration. In patients with prostatitis, there is a reduction in Lactobacillus spp. and an increase in Streptococcus spp., opening important perspectives about the role of probiotic treatments in these patients. Finally, an increase in Fusobacteria spp. was observed in patients with an HPV infection. In the conclusion, we underline the interactions between the seminal and vaginal microbiota, so that further studies should focus on the "couple genital microbiota". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report for the first time on the mechanisms of action of the essential oil of Ruta graveolens (REO) against the plant pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. In particular, the presence of REO drastically affected the morphology of hyphae by inducing changes in the cytoplasmic membrane, such as depolarization and changes in the fatty acid profile where straight-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased by up to 92.1%. In addition, REO induced changes in fungal metabolism and triggered apoptosis-like responses to cell death, such as DNA fragmentation and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The production of essential enzymes involved in fungal metabolism, such as acid phosphatase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, was significantly reduced in the presence of REO. In addition, C. gloeosporioides activated naphthol-As-BI phosphohydrolase as a mechanism of response to REO stress. The data obtained here have shown that the essential oil of Ruta graveolens has a strong antifungal effect on C. gloeosporioides. Therefore, it has the potential to be used as a surface disinfectant and as a viable replacement for fungicides commonly used to treat anthracnose in the postharvest testing phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into novel anti-Helicobacter pylori agents represents an important approach for the identification of new treatments for chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, which are associated with a high risk of developing gastric carcinoma. In this respect, two series of azobenzenesulfonamides were designed, synthesized, and tested against a large panel of human and bacterial CAs to evaluate their inhibitory activity. In addition, computational studies of the novel primary benzenesulfonamides (4a–j) were performed to predict the putative binding mode to both HpCAs. Then, the antimicrobial activity versus H. pylori of the two series was also studied. The best-in-class compounds were found to be 4c and 4e among the primary azobenzenesulfonamides and 5c and 5f belonging to the secondary azobenzenesulfonamides series, showing themselves to exert a promising anti-H. pylori activity, with MIC values of 4–8 μg/mL and MBCs between 4 and 16 μg/mL. Moreover, the evaluation of their toxicity on a G. mellonella larva in vivo model indicated a safe profile for 4c,e and 5c,f. The collected results warrant considering these azobenzenesulfonamides as an interesting starting point for the development of a new class of anti-H. pylori agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tissue engineering is a promising alternative to repair wounds caused by cellular or physical accidents that humans face daily. In this sense, the search for new graphene oxide (GO) nanofillers related to their degree of oxidation is born as an alternative bioactive component in forming new scaffolds. In the present study, three different GOs were synthesized with varying degrees of oxidation and studied chemically and tissue-wise. The oxidation degree was determined through infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The morphology of the samples was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oxygen content was deeply described using the deconvolution of RS and XPS techniques. The latter represents the oxidation degree for each of the samples and the formation of new bonds promoted by the graphitization of the material. In the RS, two characteristic bands were observed according to the degree of oxidation and the degree of graphitization of the material represented in bands D and G with different relative intensities, suggesting that the samples have different crystallite sizes. This size was described using the Tuinstra–Koenig model, ranging between 18.7 and 25.1 nm. Finally, the bone neoformation observed in the cranial defects of critical size indicates that the F1 and F2 samples, besides being compatible and resorbable, acted as a bridge for bone healing through regeneration. This promoted healing by restoring bone and tissue structure without triggering a strong immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual Reality (VR) is and will be a key driver in the evolution of e-commerce, providing an immersive and gamified shopping experience. However, for VR shopping spaces to become a reality, retailers' product catalogues must first be digitised into 3D models. While this may be a simple task for retail giants, it can be a major obstacle for small retailers, whose human and financial resources are often more limited, making them less competitive. Therefore, this paper presents an analysis of low-cost scanning technologies for small business owners to digitise their products and make them available on VR shopping platforms, with the aim of helping improve the competitiveness of small businesses through VR and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The technologies to be considered are photogrammetry, LiDAR sensors and NeRF.In addition to investigating which technology provides the best visual quality of 3D models based on metrics and quantitative results, these models must also offer good performance in commercial VR headsets. In this way, we also analyse the performance of such models when running on Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro and Quest 3 headsets (Reality Labs, Reality Labs, CA, USA) to determine their feasibility and provide use cases for each type of model from a scalability point of view. Finally, our work describes a model optimisation process that reduce the polygon count and texture size of high-poly models, converting them into more performance-friendly versions without significantly compromising visual quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomatoes are well known for their impressive nutritional value among vegetables. However, the industrial processing of tomatoes generates a significant amount of waste. Specifically, 10% to 18% of the raw materials used in tomato processing become waste. This waste can seriously affect ecosystems, such as freshwater bodies, wetlands, rivers, and other natural environments, if not properly managed. Interestingly, tomato waste, specifically the skin, contains lycopene, a potent antioxidant and antimutagenic that offers a range of health benefits. This makes it a valuable ingredient in industries such as food and cosmetics. In addition, researchers are exploring the potential of lycopene in the treatment of various types of cancer. This systematic review, guided by the PRISMA 2020 methodology, examined studies exploring the possibility of tomato peel as a source of lycopene and carotenoids for cancer treatment. The findings suggest that tomato peel extracts exhibit promising anticancer properties, underscoring the need for further investigation of possible therapeutic applications. The compiled literature reveals significant potential for using tomato peel to create new cancer treatments, which could potentially revolutionize the field of oncology. This underscores the importance of continued research and exploration, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the scientific community’s contribution to this promising area of study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections represent a critical public health concern, highlighting the need for the development of effective antibiotics. Cefiderocol demonstrated potent in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly in strains that are resistant to other drugs. However, concerns regarding the emergence of drug-resistant strains persist. This study, conducted with 109 carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from the Spanish Hospital (Dr. Balmis, Alicante). The study evaluated susceptibility to cefiderocol in comparison to alternative antibiotics and including their susceptibility to bacterial inoculum, while assessing various testing methods. Our findings revealed high susceptibility to cefiderocol against carbapenem-resistant strains, with only 2 of 109 strains exhibiting resistance. Comparative analysis demonstrated superiority of cefiderocol towards alternative antibiotics. Both the E-test and disk-diffusion methods showed 100% concordance with the microdilution method in classifying strains as susceptible or resistant. However, 4.6% (5/109) of disc zone diameters fell within the technical uncertainty zone, so the E-test technique was found to be more useful in routine clinical practice. Additionally, escalating bacterial inoculum correlated with decreases in vitro activity, so this parameter should be adjusted very carefully in in vivo studies. This study underscores cefiderocol's potential as a therapeutic option for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. However, the emergence of drug-resistant strains emphasizes the critical need for a wise use of antibiotics and a continuous monitoring of resistance to antibiotics. Based on our in vitro data, further investigation concerning the impact of bacterial inoculum on drug efficacy is warranted in order to detect resistance mechanisms and optimize treatment strategies, thereby mitigating the risk of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A 90-day mortality predictive model for curative gastric cancer resection based on the Spanish EURECCA Esophagogastric Cancer database was externally validated using the GASTRODATA registry. The externally validated model showed a modestly worse performance compared to the original model, nevertheless maintaining its discriminating ability in clinical practice. Background: Radical gastrectomy remains the main treatment for gastric cancer, despite its high mortality. A clinical predictive model of 90-day mortality (90DM) risk after gastric cancer surgery based on the Spanish EURECCA registry database was developed using a matching learning algorithm. We performed an external validation of this model based on data from an international multicenter cohort of patients. Methods: A cohort of patients from the European GASTRODATA database was selected. Demographic, clinical, and treatment variables in the original and validation cohorts were compared. The performance of the model was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) for a random forest model. Results: The validation cohort included 2546 patients from 24 European hospitals. The advanced clinical T- and N-category, neoadjuvant therapy, open procedures, total gastrectomy rates, and mean volume of the centers were significantly higher in the validation cohort. The 90DM rate was also higher in the validation cohort (5.6%) vs. the original cohort (3.7%). The AUC in the validation model was 0.716. Conclusion: The externally validated model for predicting the 90DM risk in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy with curative intent continues to be as useful as the original model in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is the number one cause of morbidity in the United States and number two cause of death worldwide. There is a critical unmet medical need for more effective treatments of ischemic stroke, and this need is increasing with the shift in demographics to an older population. Recently, several studies have reported the therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived exosomes as new candidates for cell-free treatment in stoke. This review focuses on the use of stem cell-derived exosomes as a potential treatment tool for stroke patients. Therapy using exosomes can have a clear clinical advantage over stem cell transplantation in terms of safety, cost, and convenience, as well as reducing bench-to-bed latency due to fewer regulatory milestones. In this review article, we focus on (1) the therapeutic potential of exosomes in stroke treatment, (2) the optimization process of upstream and downstream production, and (3) preclinical application in a stroke animal model. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges faced by exosome therapy in future clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report on tests performed with an experimental apparatus prototype based on a broad-energy germanium detector aimed at investigating topical, foundational issues in quantum mechanics: i.e., possible violations of the spin-statistics connection and models of dynamical wave function collapse. Our recent phenomenological analyses demonstrated the importance of pushing the research of new physics signal, predicted in these fields, to an energy range below 10 keV. We describe the development of the dedicated data acquisition system and of the pulse shape discrimination algorithm, which have already allowed us to get a factor two improvement in the lower energy threshold. Future plans are discussed to further improve the lower energy threshold to the level of a few keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most frequent cause of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTSs) in elderly populations. Minimally invasive treatments of BPH are safe and effective and are gaining popularity among both professionals and patients. Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) has proven to be effective in Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) in terms of prostate volume reduction and LUTS relief. PAE entails the selective catheterization of the prostatic artery and later embolization of distal vessels with beads of various calibers. Universal consensus regarding the ideal particle size is yet to be defined. We retrospectively evaluated 24 consecutive patients (median age: 75 years; range: 59–86 years) treated with PAE at our institution from October 2015 to November 2022. Particles of different sizes were employed; 12 patients were treated with 40–120 µm particles, 5 with 100 µm, 5 with 100–300 µm and 2 with 250 µm. Technical success, defined as selective prostate artery catheterization and controlled release of embolizing beads, was achieved in all patients. Removal vs. retention of the urinary catheter at the first post-procedural urological visit was the main clinical objective. No major peri-procedural complications were recorded, with 56% of patients successfully removing the urinary catheter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, many studies have attempted to develop models to predict the recurrence of hepatocarcinoma after liver transplantation. Method: A single-centre, retrospective cohort study analysed patients receiving transplants due to hepatocarcinoma during the 20 years of the transplant programme. We analysed patient survival, hepatocarcinoma recurrence and the influence of the different factors described in the literature as related to hepatocarcinoma recurrence. We compared the results of previous items between the first and second decades of the transplantation programme (1995–2010 and 2010–2020). Results: Of 265 patients, the patient survival rate was 68% at 5 years, 58% at 10 years, 45% at 15 years and 34% at 20 years. The overall recurrence rate of hepatocarcinoma was 14.5%, without differences between periods. Of these, 54% of recurrences occurred early, in the first two years after transplantation. Of the parameters analysed, an alpha-fetoprotein level of >16 ng/mL, the type of immunosuppression used and the characteristics of the pathological anatomy of the explant were significant. A trend towards statistical significance was identified for the number of nodules and the size of the largest nodule. Logistic regression analysis was used to develop a model with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 35.7% to predict recurrences in our cohort. Regarding the comparison between periods, the survival and recurrence rates of hepatocarcinoma were similar. The impact of the factors analysed in both decades was similar. Conclusions: Most recurrences occur during the first two years post-transplantation, so closer follow-ups should be performed during this period, especially in those patients where the model predicts a high risk of recurrence. The detection of patients at higher risk of recurrence allows for closer follow-up and may, in the future, make them candidates for adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapies to transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, one of the main causes of death in the world is cancer; therefore, it is urgent to obtain a precocious diagnosis, as well as boost research and development of new potential treatments, which should be more efficient and much less invasive for the patient. Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) is an emerging cancer therapy using nanoparticles, which has proved to be effective when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery, or even by itself, depending on the type and location of the tumor's cells. This article presents the results obtained by using a previously developed economic homemade hyperthermia device with different types of magnetite nanoparticles, with sizes ranging between 12 ± 5 and 36 ± 11 nm and presenting different shapes (spherical and cubic particles). These magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by three different methods (co-precipitation, solvothermal and hydrothermal processes), with their final form being naked, or possessing different kinds of covering layers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) or citric acid (CA)). The parameters used to characterize the heating by magnetic hyperthermia, namely the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and the intrinsic loss power (ILP), have been obtained by two different methods. Among other results, these experiments allowed for the determination of which synthesized MNPs showed the best performance concerning hyperthermia. From the results, it may be concluded that, as expected, the shape of MNPs is an important factor, as well as the time that the MNPs can remain suspended in solution (which is directly related to the concentration and covering layer of the MNPs). The MNPs that gave the best results in terms of the SAR were the cubic particles covered with PEG, while in terms of total heating the spherical particles covered with citric acid proved to be better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Mexico produced approximately 24.2 million tons of white corn, generating 3.6 million tons of corn cob residue. The final disposal of corn cob poses an environmental challenge in certain regions. This study examines the technical–economic feasibility and the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of integrating a small-scale cogenerating gasifier fueled by corn cob into a nixtamalized corn flour manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). This integration enables the generation of heat and electricity from the produced synthesis gas. Moreover, the process yields residual carbon, which can be used as biochar for soil restoration and removing atmospheric CO2. This option holds significance for the corn flour agroindustry in Mexico, as, in 2021, it consumed approximately 601.9 GWh of electrical energy and 938,279 GJ of thermal energy from LP Gas in its manufacturing processes to produce 2.6 million tons of nixtamalized white corn flour. These processes contributed to a total emission of 410,232 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The findings of this study demonstrate a cumulative reduction of 51.7% in CO2 emissions, resulting in economic benefits of USD 85,401 in 2017 for a case study SME that annually produces 1039 tons of corn flour. This study reveals the integration of a gasifier–cogenerator system fueled by corn cob as an economically viable low-carbon technology in the corn flour manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in historic urban areas of European countries are generally clustered in an aggregate configuration and are often characterized by façade walls mutually interconnected with adjacent ones. As a result, the seismic performance of buildings in an aggregate configuration can be affected by the mutual interaction between the adjacent units. This interaction, often called the aggregate effect, could significantly influence the level of the seismic vulnerability of URM buildings in aggregate configuration toward in-plane and out-of-plane mechanisms, the latter being the object of the present paper. Traditional methods for assessing the seismic vulnerability of URM buildings neglect the interactions between adjacent buildings, potentially underestimating the actual vulnerability. This study aims to derive fragility curves specific for UMR buildings in aggregate configuration and proposes an innovative methodology that introduces the aggregate effect into an analytical approach, previously developed by the authors for isolated URM buildings. The aggregate effect is modeled by accounting for the friction forces arising among adjacent facades during the development of out-of-plane overturning mechanisms by considering different scenarios, based on how façade walls interact with neighboring structures (e.g., whether they are connected to transverse and/or lateral coplanar ones). The proposed approach is applied to a real case study of an Italian historical center. The obtained results demonstrate that the aggregate effect significantly influences the fragility curves of URM buildings arranged in aggregate configurations. This highlights the importance of considering this effect and the usefulness of the proposed approach for large-scale assessments of seismic vulnerability in historic urban areas, contributing to sustainable disaster risk prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posture analysis is important in musculoskeletal disorder prevention but relies on subjective assessment. This study investigates the applicability and reliability of a machine learning (ML) pose estimation model for the human posture assessment, while also exploring the underlying structure of the data through principal component and cluster analyses. A cohort of 200 healthy individuals with a mean age of 24.4 ± 4.2 years was photographed from the frontal, dorsal, and lateral views. We used Student's t-test and Cohen's effect size (d) to identify gender-specific postural differences and used the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) to assess the reliability of this method. Our findings demonstrate distinct sex differences in shoulder adduction angle (men: 16.1° ± 1.9°, women: 14.1° ± 1.5°, d = 1.14) and hip adduction angle (men: 9.9° ± 2.2°, women: 6.7° ± 1.5°, d = 1.67), with no significant differences in horizontal inclinations. ICC analysis, with the highest value of 0.95, confirms the reliability of the approach. Principal component and clustering analyses revealed potential new patterns in postural analysis such as significant differences in shoulder–hip distance, highlighting the potential of unsupervised ML for objective posture analysis, offering a promising non-invasive method for rapid, reliable screening in physical therapy, ergonomics, and sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ultrasonography has been widely used in the field of veterinary medicine as a diagnostic tool for all kinds of animals, especially as a method of early diagnoses of pregnancy. Ultrasonography plays an important role in marine mammal preventative medicine and it is useful to monitor the estrus cycle, abnormal pregnancies, embryonic resorption, or fetal abortion. A large amount of studies is available on normal appearance during the fetal development in most domestic species; however, there is a lack of data to facilitate optimum diagnostic possibilities in marine mammals. This study provides additional information on maternal ultrasonographic monitoring and fetus wellness in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) species, describing for the first time ultrasonographic findings from the ovulation up to the birth and the embryo and fetal organogenesis. Reproductive success is an important aspect of marine mammals' population health, as it is an indicator of the trajectory for the population into the future. The aim of this study is to provide additional relevant data on fetus–maternal ultrasonographic monitoring in sea lion species, in order to evaluate possible fetal distress or abnormalities. From 2018 to 2023, serial ultrasonographic scans of two healthy California sea lion females (16 ± 4 years old), kept under human care, were performed over the course of two pregnancies for each female. Animals were monitored from the ovulation to the delivery. Ultrasonography was performed weekly, and, during the last month, daily images were recorded using Logiq Versana Active, General Electric, with a 2–5 MHz curvilinear transducer, and Logiq V2, General Electric, with a 2–5 MHz curvilinear transducer. Right and left lateral recumbencies have been used during the examination. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study describing in detail the sea lion organogenesis and their correlation with the stage of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several genes are implicated in spermatogenesis and fertility regulation, and these genes are presently being analysed in clinical practice due to their involvement in male factor infertility (MFI). However, there are still few genetic analyses that are currently recommended for use in clinical practice. In this manuscript, we reviewed the genetic causes of qualitative sperm defects. We distinguished between alterations causing reduced sperm motility (asthenozoospermia) and alterations causing changes in the typical morphology of sperm (teratozoospermia). In detail, the genetic causes of reduced sperm motility may be found in the alteration of genes associated with sperm mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial proteins, ion transport and channels, and flagellar proteins. On the other hand, the genetic causes of changes in typical sperm morphology are related to conditions with a strong genetic basis, such as macrozoospermia, globozoospermia, and acephalic spermatozoa syndrome. We tried to distinguish alterations approved for routine clinical application from those still unsupported by adequate clinical studies. The most important aspect of the study was related to the correct identification of subjects to be tested and the correct application of genetic tests based on clear clinical data. The correct application of available genetic tests in a scenario where reduced sperm motility and changes in sperm morphology have been observed enables the delivery of a defined diagnosis and plays an important role in clinical decision-making. Finally, clarifying the genetic causes of MFI might, in future, contribute to reducing the proportion of so-called idiopathic MFI, which might indeed be defined as a subtype of MFI whose cause has not yet been revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to address the lack of research on the social dimension of sustainability, also known as social sustainability, in urban mobility projects, primarily in cities of the Global South. It proposes a strategy to partially assess social sustainability, focusing on accessibility, which is one of the key dimensions for conducting such an evaluation. To this end, a comparative analysis of three study cases is conducted in the capital cities of the Northern Central American Triangle (NCAT) before and after the construction of bus rapid transit (BRT) projects between 2000 and 2020. Accessibility is evaluated through equity and spatial efficiency indicators obtained through geographical information system (GIS) modeling, including layers representing transportation networks, populated areas, and locations of basic urban facilities. The result is an unprecedented assessment of accessibility in the NCAT capitals, which shows how the Guatemala City BRT project has improved the city's social sustainability by reducing access times to basic urban facilities, mainly public health clinics and educational facilities, and narrowing the inequality gap as compared to projects in San Salvador and Tegucigalpa, the other capital cities in the NCAT. Additionally, it is emphasized that this methodology can be replicated in the Global South while considering the scarcity of information and the use of open-source software in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the midst of the development of international frameworks for the dissemination of information on sustainability, the European Union published the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in order to meet user requirements on sustainability. To achieve its objectives, the Directive assigns large companies and investors a key role in the transmission of sustainability-related information, leveraging their capacity to influence. An increased separate use of the term "investor" has been noted in the sustainability-related literature regarding the overall "stakeholder" that contains it. Our research applies a methodology based on analysis of the content of the abstracts from 260 articles published prior to the approval of the CSRD, with the aim of identifying whether that separate use implied that investors' interests are concentrated on sustainability-related aspects. The results of the research concluded that there is no statistical significance between the separate, growing use of the term "investor" and a generalised use in the lexical field related to sustainability that might characterise the influence of investors. This work encourages future research directions to examine how the enactment of the CSRD may affect the trend in investor influence on the dissemination of sustainability-related information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid global urbanization has led to a growing urban population, posing challenges in transportation management. Persistent issues such as traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and safety risks persist despite attempts to mitigate them, hindering urban progress. This paper focuses on the critical need for accurate traffic flow forecasting, considered one of the main effective solutions for containing traffic congestion in urban scenarios. The challenge of predicting traffic flow is addressed by proposing a two-level machine learning approach. The first level uses an unsupervised clustering model to extract patterns from sensor-generated data, while the second level employs supervised machine learning models. Although the proposed approach requires the availability of data from traffic sensors to realize the training of the machine learning models, it allows traffic flow prediction in urban areas without sensors. In order to verify the prediction capability of the proposed approach, a real urban scenario is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitioning to more ambitious electrode formulations facilitates developing high-energy density cells, potentially fulfilling the demands of electric car manufacturers. In this context, the partial replacement of the prevailing anode active material in lithium-ion cells, graphite, with silicon-based materials enhances its capacity. Nevertheless, this requires adapting the rest of the components and harmonizing the electrode integration in the cell to enhance the performance of the resulting high-capacity anodes. Herein, starting from a replacement in the standard graphite anode recipe with 22% silicon suboxide at laboratory scale, the weight fraction of the electrochemically inactive materials was optimized to 2% carbon black/1% dispersant/3% binder combination before deriving an advantage from including single-wall carbon nanotubes in the formulation. In the second part, the recipe was upscaled to a semi-industrial electrode coating and cell assembly line. Then, 1 Ah lithium-ion pouch cells were filled and tested with different commercial electrolytes, aiming at studying the dependency of the Si-based electrodes on the additives included in the composition. Among all the electrolytes employed, the EL2 excelled in terms of capacity retention, obtaining a 48% increase in the number of cycles compared to the baseline electrolyte formulation above the threshold capacity retention value (80% state of health). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there have been crucial advancements in the diagnostic and treatment approaches, the mortality rate of infective endocarditis is still an ongoing challenge in clinical practice. [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging has recently proven its potential role in the early identification of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Due to radiomics' rising applicability, recent studies exhibit promising outcomes in the clinical setting. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of potential radiomic-based biomarkers of non-attenuation-corrected (NAC) [18F]FDG PET images for the diagnosis of PVE. An adequate pre-processing and segmentation of the prosthetic ring metabolic activity were performed. A reproducibility analysis prior to the image-based biomarkers' identification was conducted in terms of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) derived from the variations in the radiomic extraction configurations (bin number and voxel size). After the reliability analysis, statistical analysis was performed by means of the Mann–Whitney U Test to study the differences between the PVE groups. Only p values < 0.05 after the Benjamini Hochberg correction procedure for multiple comparisons were considered statistically significant. Eight ML classification models for PVE classification based on radiomic features were evaluated. Overall, 45.2% and 95.7% of the radiomic features showed a consistency ICC above 0.82, demonstrating great reproducibility against variations in the bin number and interpolation thickness, respectively. Variations in interpolation thickness demonstrated great reproducibility in absolute agreement with 80.0% robust features, proving a non-dependency relationship with radiomic values. In the present study, the utility of potential radiomic-based biomarkers in the diagnosis of PVE in NAC [18F]FDG PET/CT images has been evaluated. Future studies will be required to validate the use of this technology as a valuable tool to support the current PVE diagnostic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment is to perform the first measurement ever of the width and shift induced by the strong interaction to the 2 p → 1 s energy transition of kaonic deuterium. This ambitious goal implies a challenging task due to the very low X-ray yield of kaonic deuterium, which is why an accurate and thorough characterization of the experimental apparatus is mandatory before starting the data-taking campaign. Helium-4 is an excellent candidate for this characterization since it exhibits a high yield in particular for the 3 d → 2 p transition, roughly 100 times greater than that of the kaonic deuterium. The ultimate goal of the work reported in this paper is to study the performances of the full experimental setup in view of the kaonic deuterium measurement. This is carried out by measuring the values of the shift and the width for the 3 d → 2 p energy transition of kaonic helium-4, induced by the strong interaction. The values obtained for these quantities, for a total integrated luminosity of ∼31/ p b , are ε 2 p = 2.0 ± 1.2 (stat) ± 1.5 (syst) eV and Γ 2 p = 1.9 ± 5.7 (stat) ± 0.7 (syst) eV . The results, compared to the value of the shift measured by the SIDDHARTA experiment ε 2 p = 0 ± 6 (stat) ± 2 (syst) eV , show a net enhancement of the resolution of the apparatus, providing strong evidence of the potential to perform the challenging measurement of the kaonic deuterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal adhesion plaques (FAPs) play an important role in the communication between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and in cells' migration. FAPs are macromolecular complexes made by different proteins which also interact with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Because of these fundamental properties, FAPs and MMPs are also involved in cancer cells' invasion and in the metastatic cascade. The most important proteins involved in FAP formation and activity are (i) integrins, (ii) a complex of intracellular proteins and (iii) cytoskeleton proteins. The latter, together with MMPs, are involved in the formation of filopodia and invadopodia needed for cell movement and ECM degradation. Due to their key role in cancer cell migration and invasion, MMPs and components of FAPs are often upregulated in cancer and are thus potential targets for cancer therapy. Polyphenols, a large group of organic compounds found in plant-based food and beverages, are reported to have many beneficial healthy effects, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, we discuss the growing evidence which demonstrates that polyphenols can interact with the different components of FAPs and MMPs, inhibit various pathways like PI3K/Akt, lower focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and decrease cancer cells' invasiveness, leading to an overall antitumoral effect. Finally, here we highlight that polyphenols could hold potential as adjunctive therapies to conventional cancer treatments due to their ability to target key mechanisms involved in cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence is emerging about the value of textural features as powerful outcome predictors in cancer lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of [18F]FDG PET/CT conventional and textural parameters as survival predictors in patients with stage III and IV oropharyngeal cancer. The database includes 39 patients. Segmentation of the primary lesions was performed. A total of 48 features were extracted, comprising conventional parameters and textural features. A 2-year follow-up period to analyze the Overall Survival (OS) and Relapse-Free Survival (RFS) rates was defined. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were computed. Higher TLG (p = 0.001) and Surface (p = 0.001) are significantly related to better OS in Cox regression analysis after multiple-testing correction. Higher GLZLM_ZLNU (p = 0.001) is significantly related to greater relapse rates in RFS Kaplan–Meier analysis after multiple-testing correction. Quantitative [18F]FDG PET/CT image features, especially the TLG, have been confirmed as predictors of OS and RFS. Textural features, such as GLZLM_ZLNU, demonstrated a potential predictive value for the OS and RFS of the patients. RFS analysis suggest stabilization of patients adhering to the treatment, showing no relapse events after 20 months of follow-up. [18F]FDG PET/CT is a useful tool for predicting prognosis after chemoradiation therapy of oropharyngeal cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) are widely recognized as highly effective L-type calcium channel blockers with significant therapeutic benefits in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. 1,4-DHPs can also target T-type calcium channels, making them promising drug candidates for neurological conditions. When exposed to light, all 1,4-DHPs tend to easily degrade, leading to an oxidation product derived from the aromatization of the dihydropyridine ring. Herein, the elaboration of a quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPR) model was carried out by correlating the light sensitivity of structurally different 1,4-DHPs with theoretical molecular descriptors. Photodegradation experiments were performed by exposing the drugs to a Xenon lamp following the ICH rules. The degradation was monitored by spectrophotometry, and experimental data were elaborated by Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) methodologies to assess the kinetic rates. The results were confirmed by the HPLC-DAD method. PaDEL-Descriptor software was used to calculate molecular descriptors and fingerprints related to the chemical structures. Seventeen of the 1875 molecular descriptors were selected and correlated to the photodegradation rate by means of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) algorithm. The chemometric model is useful to predict the photosensitivity of other 1,4-DHP derivatives with a very low relative error percentage of 5.03% and represents an effective tool to design new analogs characterized by higher photostability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a risk factor for the onset of chronic diseases. One of the most promising approaches to treating obesity consists of reducing dietary fat absorption using extracts from plants because they contain phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids. Paliurus spina-christi, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, is one of the five species belonging to the Paliurus genus. Herein, the aerial parts of the plant were extracted with methanol through the pressurized cyclic solid-liquid extraction using the Naviglio extractor®. The extracts were analyzed with High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and investigated for their in vitro biological potential. The phytochemical analysis revealed that rutin has been shown to be the most abundant flavonoid component. The best antiradical activity was observed for the fruit extract with an IC50 value of 53.41 ± 1.24 µg/mL. This extract also has a better inhibitory capacity on lipid peroxidation evaluated at a different time of incubation. Potent lipase inhibitor activity of the extract from fruits was also demonstrated with in vitro experiments. This property can be attributed to a direct interaction of main components of P. spina-christi extract with the human pancreatic enzyme as demonstrated by the results of molecular docking experiments conducted on the crystallographic structures of lipase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer stands as one of the deadliest diseases in human history, marked by an inferior prognosis. While traditional therapeutic methods like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have demonstrated success in inhibiting tumor cell growth, their side effects often limit overall benefits and patient acceptance. In this regard, three different graphene oxides (GO) with variations in their degrees of oxidation were studied chemically and tissue-wise. The accuracy of the synthesis of the different GO was verified by robust techniques using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as conventional techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), RAMAN spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The presence of oxygenated groups was of great importance. It affected the physicochemical properties of each of the different graphene oxides demonstrated in the presence of new vibrational modes related to the formation of new bonds promoted by the graphitization of the materials. The toxicity analysis in the Hep-2 cell line of graphene oxide formulations at 250 µg/mL on the viability and proliferation of these tumor cells showed low activity. GO formulations did not show high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. However, the different graphene oxides showed biocompatibility in the subdermal implantation model for 30, 60, and 90 days in the biomodels. This allowed healing by restoring hair and tissue architecture without triggering an aggressive immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a severe disease that, in 2022, caused more than 9.89 million deaths worldwide. One worrisome type of cancer is bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing tumors, which occur more frequently in infants. This study shows an active interest in the use of graphene oxide and its derivatives in therapy against bone cancer. We present a systematic review analyzing the current state of the art related to the use of GO in treating osteosarcoma, through evaluating the existing literature. In this sense, studies focused on GO-based nanomaterials for potential applications against osteosarcoma were reviewed, which has revealed that there is an excellent trend toward the use of GO-based nanomaterials, based on their thermal and anti-cancer activities, for the treatment of osteosarcoma through various therapeutic approaches. However, more research is needed to develop highly efficient localized therapies. It is suggested, therefore, that photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and the use of nanocarriers should be considered as non-invasive, more specific, and efficient alternatives in the treatment of osteosarcoma. These options present promising approaches to enhance the effectiveness of therapy while also seeking to reduce side effects and minimize the damage to surrounding healthy tissues. The bibliometric analysis of photothermal and photochemical treatments of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide from January 2004 to December 2022 extracted 948 documents with its search strategy, mainly related to research papers, review papers, and conference papers, demonstrating a high-impact field supported by the need for more selective and efficient bone cancer therapies. The central countries leading the research are the United States, Iran, Italy, Germany, China, South Korea, and Australia, with strong collaborations worldwide. At the same time, the most-cited papers were published in journals with impact factors of more than 6.0 (2021), with more than 290 citations. Additionally, the journals that published the most on the topic are high impact factor journals, according to the analysis performed, demonstrating the high impact of the research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The member countries of the European Union (EU) have prioritized the incorporation of hydrogen as a key component of their energy objectives. As the world moves towards reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, alternative sources of energy have gained prominence. With the growing development of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), the establishment of an infrastructure for hydrogen production and the creation of a network of service stations have become essential. This article's purpose is to conduct a methodical review of literature regarding the use of green hydrogen for transportation and the planning of imperative infrastructure in the territory of the EU, specifically Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS). In order to increase the acceptance of fuel cell vehicles, a comprehensive network of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) must be built that enable drivers to refuel their vehicles quickly and easily, similar to gasoline or diesel vehicles. The literature review on this topic was conducted using the Web of Science database (WOS), with a variety of search terms proposed to cover all the key components of green hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure. The implementation of HRS powered by renewable energy sources is an important step in the adoption of fuel cell vehicles, and overcoming the obstacles that come with their implementation will require cooperation and innovation from governments, private businesses, and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]