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Conversion of Compositionally Diverse Plastic Waste over Earth-Abundant Sulfides
Seafaring and navigation in the Nordic Bronze Age: The application of an ocean voyage tool and boat performance data for comparing direct open water crossings with sheltered coastal routes
This study presents an “ocean voyaging tool” that combines predicted vessel performance data with agent-based simulations. This tool offers a new way to assess navigation and seafaring abilities in prehistory while also enabling the direct comparison between different type vessels and vessel configuration, navigational skills and propulsion. Results are filtered using certain limitations on safety (wind strength, wave height, light etc.) and navigational error. The method is here used to compare direct open water (c. 110 km) and coast hugging (c. 700 km) voyages between Jutland and south-west Norway in the Early Nordic Bronze Age, two areas that were closely connected from the Late Neolithic throughout the Bronze Age (c. 2350-1500 BC). Simulated results suggest that although the longer coastal route is usable all year round, direct open sea voyages, which included navigation out-of-sight-of-land for up to 50 km, were most likely undertaken. Such voyages would have necessitated boats capable of withstanding and maintaining directional control in ≤ 1 m waves and winds of up to 10 knots (5 m/s) at a minimum. Furthermore, these simulations highlight the comparable advantage of sail over paddling for transporting cargo over long distances (journeys of more than one days length).
Spatiotemporal coupling and regional differences analysis between agricultural land use efficiency and rural revitalization in the Yellow River Basin
Hydrogen-Vacancy-Induced Stable Superconducting Niobium Hydride at High Pressure
Trafficking of the telomerase RNA using a novel genetic approach
Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures situated at eukaryotic chromosome ends, vital for preserving genetic information during cell replication. Telomerase, a holoenzyme composed of telomerase reverse transcriptase and an RNA template component, is responsible for elongating telomeric DNA. The intracellular trafficking of the telomerase RNA (TER) varies, either staying in the nucleus or exiting to the cytoplasm, depending on the organism. For example, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the RNA template is exported to the cytoplasm, whereas in mammalian cells and protozoa, it remains within the nucleus. Aspergillus nidulans , a filamentous fungus, offers an outstanding model for investigating telomeres and telomerase due to its characterized telomerase components, exceptionally short and tightly regulated telomeres, and innovative heterokaryon rescue technique. To determine the pathway of telomerase RNA trafficking in A. nidulans , we leveraged its unique capabilities to exist in both uni- and multi-nucleate states within a heterokaryon. This involved creating a TER knockout A. nidulans strain ( TERΔ ) and examining the resulting colonies for signs of heterokaryon formation. Heterokaryons would imply the export of TER from one nucleus and its import into a TERΔ nucleus. Interestingly, the TERΔ strain consistently failed to produce heterokaryons, instead giving rise to likely diploid colonies. This surprising finding strongly implies that telomerase assembly predominantly takes place within the nucleus of A. nidulans , distinguishing it from the biogenesis and trafficking pattern observed in yeast.
The analysis of molten salt energy storage mode with multi-steam sources heating in thermal power unit peak shaving operation
Reversible Optical Control of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Activity and ERK Dynamics Using Azobenzene-Carrying DNA Aptamer Agonist
Accuracy of point-of-care nasopharyngeal Interleukin 6 and lung ultrasound in predicting the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants born before 30 weeks of gestation
Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common cause of morbidity in preterm infants, leading to long-term respiratory complications and risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Although it has a multifactorial etiology, local inflammation may play a major role. Objectives. We aimed to analyze the relationship between nasopharyngeal aspirate (NA) interleukin 6 (IL6) levels and clinical and imaging findings of BPD. Methods: Pilot study in preterm infants < 30 weeks. NA was collected at 7 days of life (DOL) and serial lung ultrasounds (LUS) were performed during admission. NA-IL6 levels were measured using an automated electrochemiluminescence immune-analyzer Cobas-e602 and an IL6 ELISA method. Results. Forty-two patients were studied. Infants with BPD had significantly lower gestational age and higher levels of NA-IL6 at DOL 7. Both methods showed good agreement: ICC = 0.937 (95%CI 0.908-0.957); p < 0.001) and Passing-Bablok Regression (R2 = 0.961). LUS score (AUC = 0.83) and NA-IL6 (AUC = 0.81) at DOL 7 predicted BPD. The AUC of NA-IL6 as a stand-alone marker of BPD was 0.808 (95% CI 0.67 – 0.94); p = 0.002, with 24 pg/ml being the best cutoff with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3%. A model including birth weight, LUS score at DOL7, NA-IL6 at DOL7, and days of mechanical ventilation predicted BPD with R2 = 0.600 (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Point-of-care assessment of NA-IL6 is feasible and reliable compared with a reference method and can be useful in managing BPD. Predictive models of BPD in the first week of life, including clinical, biological, and imaging biomarkers must be tested in larger cohorts.
AI feedback and workplace social support in enhancing occupational self-efficacy: a randomized controlled trial in Japan
Electrochemical Control of Heterolytic and Homolytic Hydrogenation Pathways at a Palladium Surface
Mortality, loss to follow-up and advanced HIV disease following virologic success in West African HIV-2 patients
Background People living with HIV-2 are mainly found in West Africa and their identification and treatment have been impaired by diagnostic challenges and availability of effective antiretroviral treatment (ART). With the roll out of first line dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen, the situation may have improved, emphasizing the need for data on long-term treatment outcomes and advanced HIV disease among ART-experienced people living with HIV-2. Method A prospective cohort was initiated in 2012 in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. All adult patients from Côte d’Ivoire with an undetectable viral load, were included and followed up. HIV-2 viral load and CD4 counts were done during the routine follow-up visits and a detailed clinical assessment was done during the last follow up visit of the year 2018 corresponding to the censor date of the cohort. Outcomes were described as follow: in care (known alive and present during the last ART follow up visit), loss to follow-up (absent for more than 90 days and not reported dead), and dead (reported dead with a date of event). Advanced HIV disease followed WHO definition and virologic failure was define as viral load > 50 copies/mm3. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate mortality and Loss to follow-up probability. Results Among the 108 HIV-2 patients in virologic success in 2012, 95 agreed to participate and were enrolled in the “success cohort”. Their median age was 53 [47–60] years and all of them were receiving boosted-lopinavir-based ART regimen. Of the 95 participants, 65 (68.4%) remained in care, 20 (21.1%) were loss to follow-up and 10 (10.5%) were reported dead. The survival analysis retrieved a decreasing probability of remaining alive and in care over the time, moving from 90% to 80.7% and to 73.0% after 24, 48 and 72 months respectively. Overall, 36 (37.9%) patients presented with advanced HIV disease at their last visit, higher among those dead/ loss to follow-up compared to those remaining in care (60.0% vs 27.7%; p-0.003). Conclusion High advanced HIV disease rate was found in HIV-2 patients, six years after an initial virologic success. This emphasizes the need to enable the one-stop-shop model that allow an early management of opportunistic infections while integrating non-communicable diseases services in HIV-2 care.
Seismic and geomechanical characterization of Asmari formation using well logs and simultaneous inversion in an Iranian oil field
Dissecting the Effects of Cage Structure in the Catalytic Activation of Imide Chlorenium-Ion Donors
Prevalence and regional disparities of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh: Results from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data
Background While undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) presents a substantial global concern, there is a dearth of research examining its prevalence and characteristics specifically within the regional context of Bangladesh. The study focused on assessing the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh and examining regional disparities. Methods The study analyzed data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2017 and 2018. The analysis focused on 11,911 participants aged 18 and above. Prevalence rates of both diagnosed and undiagnosed DM were calculated across various demographic and regional factors. To understand the impact of socio-demographic and regional variables on diagnosed and undiagnosed DM, the study employed multinomial regression analysis. Results The study encompassed 11,911 participants with an average age of 39, of whom 57% were females. Among them, 333 individuals (2.8%) were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), while 667 participants (5.6%) had undiagnosed DM. The prevalence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed DM was notably higher in elderly, hypertensive, overweight or obese, and rural residents. Regression analysis indicated that individuals aged 70 and above faced 2.14 times more likely of diagnosed diabetes compared to those aged 30-39 (RRR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.35-3.58). Regarding residential regions, individuals from the city exhibited significantly higher prevalence rates for both diagnosed DM (RRR: 1.83; 95% CI = 1.31-2.57) and undiagnosed DM (RRR: 1.52; 95% CI = 1.18-1.95) compared to those from the rural of Bangladesh. Conclusion The high prevalence of undiagnosed DM in city areas suggests potential shortcomings in routine diabetes screening practices. Prioritizing screening, particularly for high-risk groups like older adults, individuals with elevated BMI, hypertension, and urban residents from the central region of the country, is crucial. These groups have elevated diabetes risk and face higher complications without timely detection and treatment. To address this issue, collaborative efforts among the Bangladeshi government, healthcare providers, and community organizations are imperative.
An improved CNN model in image classification application on water turbidity
η<sup>6</sup>-Benzene Tetra-Anion Complexes of Early and Late Rare-Earth Metals
Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Biophysical Properties of Type I Collagen Fibrils
Ionizing radiation is extensively employed in both diagnostic and therapeutic medical practices. The impact of this radiation on collagen, a primary structural protein in humans, remains underexplored, particularly at varying doses and hydration states. This study explores the impact of ionizing radiation on type I collagen fibrils at three radiation doses (diagnostic, therapeutic, and sterilization) and under two hydration conditions using an engineered acellular collagen membrane to reflect varying biological conditions. Techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), and Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were utilized to assess changes in mechanical properties, biochemical stability, and molecular structure respectively. Our results demonstrate that ionizing radiation alters the mechanical properties of collagen fibrils, notably indentation modulus, which reflects changes in stiffness or elasticity. These modifications depended on the hydration state at the time of radiation exposure; hydrated fibrils typically exhibited increased stiffness, suggesting enhanced cross-linking, whereas dehydrated fibrils showed reduced stiffness, indicative of structural weakening, possibly due to bond breakdown. Morphological changes were minimal, suggesting that radiation primarily affects the internal structure rather than the overall appearance of the fibrils. Biochemically, variations in fluorescence lifetimes highlighted changes in the collagen’s biochemical environment, dependent on the dose and hydration state. Despite these biochemical and mechanical changes, FTIR analysis indicated that the primary structure of collagen was largely preserved post-irradiation for all examined dose levels. These findings imply that radiation can modify the mechanical properties of collagen, potentially affecting tissue integrity in clinical settings. This could influence the management of radiation-induced conditions like osteoradionecrosis, fibrosis and cancer metastasis. Overall, our study underscores the need for further research into the effects of radiation on structural proteins to better understand and mitigate radiation-induced tissue damage.
Quantitative investigation of moisture migration during microwave drying of coal slime dough through simulation and tracer analysis
Abstract Moisture migration during the microwave drying process of coal slime is critical for improving drying efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Nevertheless, current methods for quantifying these migration behaviors remain insufficient. In this research, we employed a comprehensive approach that combines experimental investigations with multi-physical field simulations to quantitatively characterize the distribution and state of moisture within coal slime dough at different locations during microwave drying. The entire drying process was divided into three distinct stages based on temperature distribution: preheating, constant temperature, and reheating. During the preheating stage, as temperature rose, more than 74.1% of the initial water content within the central region of the slime dough underwent vaporization. creating a pressure gradient between the interior and exterior of the coal slime dough. In the subsequent constant temperature stage, over 45.5% of the remaining water content within the slime dough was driven to the surface by the pressure gradient, where it vaporized and diffused into the surrounding atmosphere. During the reheating stage, moisture was initially vaporized as steam and subsequently diffused into the atmosphere through inter-particle voids, due to the inherent difficulty in forming a continuous liquid bridge between particles at this stage. Furthermore, we examined the influence of particle size and dough diameter of coal slime on moisture migration and diffusion during microwave drying, thereby substantiating the diffusion mechanism. By integrating experimental and simulation data, this study provides a detailed understanding of the moisture migration mechanisms within coal slime dough during microwave drying. These findings are valuable for the design of efficient microwave drying technologies, particularly for drying materials with high-water content and viscosity, such as typical coal slimes and sewage sludge.