Insects are a conventional food in many cultures worldwide. Why therefore are they treated with aversion by the majority of people in Western countries? The aim of this work is to understand cultural norms and historical practices related to insects that can explain why in the countries of the West it is so difficult to accept them as a foodstuff, and why the disgust that they arouse is more common than in other regions of the world. Insects in Western countries are associated with negative experiences resulting from cultural and religious beliefs, traditions, stories, myths and individual experiences. Although there are species of insect that have positive associations, the high number of negative terms popularized the negative image of these creatures in people’s minds, as a result of which the concept of insects as a foodstuff arouses disgust in the culture of the West. Understanding the aversion to insects will contribute to the broader understanding of consumer attitudes, cultural influences on consumption, or potential shifts in food choices. It also can help develop strategies or methods that will assist in changing this reluctance and encourage the utilization of insects as a food source. Full article

In the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) state of tiltrotor aircraft, the inlet entrance encounters the incoming airflow at a 90° attack angle, resulting in highly complex internal flow characteristics that are extremely susceptible to gusts. Meanwhile, the flow quality at the inlet exit directly affects the performance of the aircraft’s engine. This work made use of an unsteady numerical simulation method based on sliding meshes to investigate the internal flow characteristics of the inlet during the hover state of a typical tiltrotor aircraft and the effects of head-on gusts on the inlet’s aerodynamic characteristics. The results show that during the hover state, the tiltrotor aircraft inlet features three pairs of transverse vortices and one streamwise vortex at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP). The transverse vortices generated due to the rotational motion of the air have the largest scale and exert the strongest influence on the inlet’s performance, which is characterized by pronounced unsteady features. Additionally, strong unsteady characteristics are present within the inlet. Head-on gusts mainly affect the mechanical energy and non-uniformity of the air sucked into the inlet by influencing the direction of the rotor’s induced slipstream, thereby impacting the performance of the inlet. The larger head-on gusts have beneficial effects on the performance of the inlet. When the gust velocity reaches 12 m/s, there is a 1.01% increase in the total pressure recovery (σ) of the inlet, a 25.72% decrease in the circumferential distortion index (DC60), and a reduction of 62.84% in the area where the swirl angle |α| exceeds 15°. Conversely, when the gust velocity of head-on gusts reaches 12 m/s in the opposite direction, the inlet’s total pressure recovery decreases by 1.13%, the circumferential distortion index increases by 14.57%, and the area where the swirl angle exceeds 15° increases by 69.59%, adversely affecting the performance of the inlet. Additionally, the presence of gusts alters the unsteady characteristics within the inlet. Full article

Purpose: To determine whether the 12-item state empathy scale could be modified reliably to measure empathy in healthcare professions students and to detect changes in their empathy owing to a single improvisation (improv) session. Methods: Three cohorts of students from two healthcare professions programs (total = 165 students) participated in an improv session. During the session, one of the researchers (BS) tasked the students with several improv activities. Participants’ self-reported state empathy scores were assessed at three time points (pre-improv, post-improv, and end of semester) using revised, in-class paper versions of the State Empathy Scale. Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed a single factor solution for the revised scale, justifying the creation of an overall state empathy score from the questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha reliability values averaged 0.87. Students’ mean empathy scores were higher directly after the improv session than directly prior to the session (p < 0.0001; effect size = r = 0.67, 0.55, and 0.79 for cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Conclusions: These findings show that a single one- or two-hour improv session can foster substantial increases in healthcare professional students’ state empathy for one another. Greater healthcare professional empathy and compassion foster better healthcare team cooperation and patient outcomes, so healthcare professionals and their students should engage in such empathy-enhancing activities at regular intervals throughout their training and careers. Full article

This study assessed the prevalence of myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration among Koreans over 40, utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII, 2018). We analyzed 204,973 adults (44% men, 56% women; mean age 58.70 ± 10.75 years), exploring the association between myopia and these eye diseases through multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results showed a myopia prevalence of 44.6%, cataracts at 19.4%, macular degeneration at 16.2%, and glaucoma at 2.3%, with significant differences across ages and genders. A potential link was found between myopia and an increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, but not with glaucoma. Additionally, a higher dietary intake of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals correlated with lower risks of these diseases, underscoring the importance of the diet in managing and preventing age-related eye conditions. These findings highlight the need for dietary considerations in public health strategies and confirm myopia as a significant risk factor for specific eye diseases in the aging Korean population. Full article

Optical materials with a tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are of great interest for applications in photonics and optoelectronics. In the present study, we explored the potential of generating an LSPR band with an ultra-broad range of over 1000 nm in gold nanoparticles (NPs), precipitated through a thermal treatment in ZnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glass. Using optical absorption spectroscopy, we demonstrated that the LSPR band’s position and shape can be finely controlled by varying the thermal treatment route. Comprehensive methods including Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to study the glass structure, while computational approaches were used for the theoretical description of the absorption spectra. The obtained results allowed us to suggest a scenario responsible for an abnormal LSPR band broadening that includes a possible interparticle plasmonic coupling effect taking place during the liquid–liquid phase separation of the heat-treated glass. The formation of gold NPs with an ultra-broad LSPR band in glasses holds promise for sensitizing rare earth ion luminescence for new photonics devices. Full article

To clarify the impact of continuous dark stress on lignin and cellulose synthesis in celery, shade-tolerant celery varieties were screened. Yellow celery variety ‘Qianhuang No.1’ and green celery variety ‘Qianlv No.1’ were separately grown in vegetable greenhouses. Dark treatments were applied using PVC shading sleeves for 4, 8, 12, and 16 d after celery had grown 10–13 true leaf blades. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying periods of dark treatment on the morphological characteristics, lignin accumulation, and cellulose accumulation in celery. The results showed that dark treatment led to celery yellowing, a reduced stem thickness, and an increased plant height. Analysis of lignin and cellulose contents, as well as the expression of related genes, showed that dark treatment caused down-regulation of AgLAC, AgC3′H, AgCCR, AgPOD and AgCAD genes, leading to changes in lignin accumulation. Dark treatment inhibited the expression of the AgCesA6 gene, thus affecting cellulose synthesis. Under dark conditions, the expression of AgF5H and AgHCT genes had little effect on lignin content in celery, and the expression of the AgCslD3 gene had little effect on cellulose content. Analysis of morphological characteristics, lignin accumulation and cellulose accumulation after different lengths of dark treatment demonstrated that ‘Qianlv No.1’ is a shade-tolerant variety in contrast to ‘Qianhuang No.1’. Full article

Soil organic carbon (SOC) measurements are an indicator of soil health and an important parameter for the study of land-atmosphere carbon fluxes. Field sampling provides precise measurements at the sample location but entails high costs and cannot provide detailed maps unless the sampling density is very high. Remote sensing offers the possibility to quantify SOC over large areas in a cost-effective way. As a result, numerous studies have sought to quantify SOC using Earth observation data with a focus on inter-field or regional distributions. This study took a different angle and aimed to map the spatial distribution of SOC at the intra-field scale, since this distribution provides important insights into the biophysiochemical processes involved in the retention of SOC. Instead of solely using spectral measurements to quantify SOC, topographic and spectral features act as predictor variables. The necessary data on study fields in South-East England was acquired through a detailed SOC sampling campaign, including a LiDAR survey flight. Multi-spectral Sentinel-2 data of the study fields were acquired for the exact day of the sampling campaign, and for an interval of 18 months before and after this date. Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) models were trained and tested on the spectral and topographical data of the fields to predict the observed SOC values. Five different sets of model predictors were assessed, by using independently and in combination, single and multidate spectral data, and topographical features for the SOC sampling points. Both, RF and SVR models performed best when trained on multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data together with topographic features, achieving validation root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) of 0.29% and 0.23% SOC, respectively. These RMSEs are competitive when compared with those found in the literature for similar models. The topographic wetness index (TWI) exhibited the highest permutation importance for virtually all models. Given that farming practices within each field are the same, this result suggests an important role of soil moisture in SOC retention. Contrary to findings in dryer climates or in studies encompassing larger areas, TWI was negatively related to SOC levels in the study fields, suggesting a different role of soil wetness in the SOC storage in climates characterized by excess rainfall and poorly drained soils. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that an alveolar recruitment maneuver can restore lung compliance to initial values after laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods: A total of 31 patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecological surgery were enrolled. Protective mechanical ventilation was applied, and the radial artery was catheterized in all patients. An alveolar recruitment maneuver (incremental and decremental positive end-expiratory pressure) was applied ten minutes after the release of pneumoperitoneum. The respiratory mechanics and blood gas results were recorded at eight different time points: after induction of anesthesia (T1), in the lithotomy position (T2), in the Trendelenburg position (T3), 10 and 90 min after insufflation of carbon dioxide (T4 and T5), in the supine position (T6), after desufflation (T7), and 10 min after an alveolar recruitment maneuver at the end of surgery (T8). Results: Pneumoperitoneum and the Trendelenburg position caused a decline of 15 units in compliance (T7 vs. T1; p < 0.05) compared to baseline. After the alveolar recruitment maneuver, compliance increased by 17.5% compared with the mean value of compliance at time T1 (T8 vs. T1; p < 0.05). The recruitment maneuver had favorable results in patients with low initial compliance (41.5 mL/cmH₂O, IQR: 9.75 mL/cmH₂O), high Body Mass Index 30.32 kg/m² (IQR: 1.05 kg/m²), and high initial plateau airway pressure (16.5 cmH₂O, IQR: 0.75 cmH₂O). Conclusions: Lung compliance does not return to initial values after performing laparoscopic gynecological procedures. However, after the release of pneumoperitoneum, an alveolar recruitment maneuver is beneficial as it improves compliance and gas exchange. Full article

The operator of Chimney Rock Dam observed the emergence of increasing seepage at the toe of the dam when the water level in the reservoir exceeded a particular elevation. However, the source and the pathways of the seepage were not identified. To address this issue, integrated geophysical methods were employed to delineate the different units of the dam embankment and identify potential seepage zones and pathways. The methods utilized in this study included electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), self-potential (SP), and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). The ERT profiles revealed variations in the dam’s fill properties, including areas with anomalously low resistivity, interpreted as zones of relatively high moisture content. The two long SP profiles conducted along the dam embankment displayed similar spatial correlations with these low-resistivity zones, suggesting potential preferential seepage pathways. The SP map generated from a suite of parallel SP profiles conducted over the abutment depicts a pattern of positive background and negative potential anomalies, which may suggest fluid movement or seepage potential. The MASW profile along the top of the dam characterized an upper low shear-wave velocity layer corresponding to the top dry section of the embankment underlain by a higher shear-wave velocity layer, interpreted as saturated zone. The utilized geophysical methods successfully characterized the different materials of the embankment and identified zones of potential seepage. Full article

When the electromagnetic transient simulation of a large-scale power grid is carried out, because the simulation is limited by the scale of simulation software, it is necessary to divide the grid into internal and external grids, and the external grid is modeled with equivalent simplification. Aiming at resolving the difficulties of the traditional grid equivalence method, such as a cumbersome calculation process and harsh calculation conditions, a static grid equivalence method based on the genetic algorithm is proposed in this paper. The method first constructs an external grid equivalence network, which includes coupling branches between boundary nodes, and each boundary node is connected to the external grid equivalence power supply through the branches. Then, the external grid equivalence model is used to establish an optimization model for solving the equivalence network parameters based on the information of the internal network, the difference of the power input from the external grid to the boundary nodes before and after equivalence is used as the objective function, and the genetic algorithm is used to realize the iterative optimization of the objective function to obtain a set of optimal post-equivalence network model parameters so that the state variables of the internal power grid before and after the equivalence are matched. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified through simulation with the CERPI36V7 node system. Full article

This paper explores the life and teachings of the renowned Chinese Buddhist monk Master Hongyi (1880–1942), focusing on his transformative encounters with impermanence and their relevance for contemporary death education. Drawing upon historical records, personal writings, and the accounts of his contemporaries, this study traces Master Hongyi’s profound spiritual journey from intense grief and existential crisis to enlightened equanimity in the face of mortality. It examines how his skillful application of Buddhist practices enabled him to find meaning, purpose, and liberation amidst the challenges of aging, illness, and dying. Through an in-depth analysis of Master Hongyi’s wisdom and lived experience, this paper proposes the “Hongyi Model”, an innovative paradigm for integrating the spiritual, psychological, and artistic dimensions of his approach into modern death education. The findings underscore the transformative potential of Buddhist teachings for fostering a more authentic, meaningful, and spiritually grounded engagement with mortality, offering valuable insights for educators, counselors, and healthcare professionals working in end-of-life care. Full article

The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging technique for a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) has attracted wide attention in the field of burden surface profile measurement. However, the imaging data are virtually under-sampled due to the severely restricted scan time, which prevents the antenna being exposed to high temperatures and heavy dust in the blast furnace (BF) for an extended period. In traditional SAR imaging algorithm research, the insufficient accumulation of scattered energy in reconstructing the burden surface profile leads to lower imaging precision, and the harsh smelting increases the probability of distortion in shape detection. In this study, to address these challenges, a novel rotating SAR imaging algorithm based on the constructed mechanical swing radar system is proposed. This algorithm is inspired by the low-rank property of the sampled signal matrix and the sparsity of burden surface profile images. First, the sparse FMCW signal is modeled, and the position transform matrix, calculated according to the BF dimensions, is embedded into the dictionary matrix. Then, the low-rank and sparsity priors are considered and reformulated as split variables in order to establish a convex optimization problem. Lastly, the augmented Lagrange multiplier (ALM) is employed to solve this problem under double constraints, and the imaging results are obtained using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). The experimental results demonstrate that, in the subsequent shape detection, the root mean square error (RMSE) is 15.38% lower than the previous algorithm and 15.63% lower under low signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions. In both enclosed and harsh environments, the proposed algorithm is able to achieve higher imaging precision even under high noise. It will be further optimized for speed and reliability, with plans to extend its application to 3D measurements in the future. Full article

This study explores olive flounder by-product Prozyme2000P (OFBP) hydrolysate as a potential treatment for age-related kidney decline. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death linked to iron overload and oxidative stress, is increasingly implicated in aging kidneys. We investigated whether OFBP could inhibit ferroptosis and improve kidney health. Using TCMK-1 cells, we found that OFBP treatment protected cells from ferroptosis induced by sodium iodate (SI). OFBP also preserved the mitochondria health and influenced molecules involved in ferroptosis regulation. In aging mice, oral administration of OFBP significantly improved kidney health markers. Microscopic examination revealed reduced thickening and scarring in the kidney’s filtering units, a hallmark of aging. These findings suggest that OFBP hydrolysate may be a promising therapeutic candidate for age-related kidney decline. By inhibiting ferroptosis, OFBP treatment appears to improve both cellular and structural markers of kidney health. Further research is needed to understand how OFBP works fully and test its effectiveness in more complex models. Full article

DNA assays for viral load (VL) monitoring are key tools in the management of immunocompromised patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. In this study, the analytical and clinical performances of the NeuMoDx™ CMV and EBV Quant Assays were compared with artus CMV and EBV QS-RGQ Kits in a primary hospital testing laboratory. Patient plasma samples previously tested using artus kits were randomly selected for testing by NeuMoDx assays. The NeuMoDx CMV Quant Assay and artus CMV QS-RGQ Kit limits of detection (LoDs) are 20.0 IU/mL and 69.7 IU/mL, respectively; 33/75 (44.0%) samples had CMV DNA levels above the LoD of both assays. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.9503; 20 samples (60.6%) had lower NeuMoDx CMV quantification values versus the artus kit. The LoD of the NeuMoDx EBV Quant Assay and artus EBV QS-RGQ Kit are 200 IU/mL and 22.29 IU/mL, respectively; 16/75 (21.3%) samples had EBV DNA levels above the LoD of both assays. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.8990. EBV quantification values with the NeuMoDx assay were higher versus the artus kit in 15 samples (93.8%). In conclusion, NeuMoDx CMV and EBV Quant Assays are sensitive and accurate tools for CMV and EBV DNA VL quantification. Full article

Effective monitoring of road fixtures is essential for urban safety and functionality. However, traditional inspections are time-consuming, costly, and error prone, while current automated solutions struggle with high initial setup costs, limited flexibility preventing wide adaptation, and reliance on centralized processing that can delay response times. This study introduces an edge AI-based remote road fixture monitoring system which automatically and continuously updates the information of the road digital twin (DT). The main component is a small-sized edge device consisting of a camera, GPS, and IMU sensors designed to be installed in typical cars. The device captures images, detects the fixture, and estimates their location by employing deep learning and feature matching. This information is transmitted to a dedicated cloud server and represented on a user-friendly user interface. Experiments were conducted to test the system’s performance. The results showed that the device could successfully detect the fixture and estimate their global coordinates. Outputs were marked and shown on the road DT, proving the integrated and smooth operation of the whole system. The proposed Edge AI device demonstrated that it could significantly reduce the data size by 80–84% compared to traditional methods. With a satisfactory object detection accuracy of 65%, the system effectively identifies traffic poles, stop signs, and streetlights, integrating these findings into a digital twin for real-time monitoring. The proposed system improves road monitoring by cutting down on maintenance and emergency response times, increasing the ease of data use, and offering a foundation for an overview of urban road fixtures’ current state. However, the system’s reliance on the quality of data collected under varying environmental conditions suggests potential improvements for consistent performance across diverse scenarios. Full article

The enhancement of the plant seed yield and quality represents the basis of the successful productivity of the deriving crop. The effect of single and combined foliar treatments of lettuce plants with sodium selenate and garlic bulb extract on seed yield and quality and on mature plant biochemical characteristics was investigated using four lettuce cultivars (Bouquet, Picnic, Moskovsky parnikovy and Cavalier). The seed production of plants treated with Se increased by 20–41%, compared to the untreated control plants, while the augmentation was as much as 10–23% and 17–27% under garlic extract and the joint application of Se and garlic, respectively. Garlic extract stimulated the accumulation of Se in lettuce seeds, which rose by 1.21–1.29 times compared to the Se-treated plants. The proline levels in lettuce seeds exceeded the corresponding values recorded in the control ones by 1.32–1.64 times in the case of the Se supply, 1.10–1.47 times upon garlic extract application and 1.09–1.31 times under the combined Se/garlic treatment. All the treatments given to lettuce plants increased the leaf weight by 1.10–1.30 times, compared to the untreated control. The seed Se levels positively correlated with the leaf weight (r = 0.621; p < 0.005), chlorophyll (r = 0.672, p < 0.002) and total antioxidant activity (AOA; r = 0.730, p < 0.001) of plants grown from these seeds. Positive correlations were also recorded between the seed proline content and lettuce plant leaf weight, chlorophyll and AOA (r = 0.868, 0.811 and 0.815, respectively, at p < 0.001). Lettuce yield was positively correlated with the leaf AOA, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content (r = 0.942, 0.921 and 0.665, respectively, at p < 0.001). The results indicate high prospects of Na₂SeO₄ and garlic extract application to seed-addressed lettuce plants, to improve seed productivity and quality, as well as lettuce yield and quality. Full article

The multi-frequency noisy vibration of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is a significant factor affecting the performance of shear probes mounted on the head of AUVs. Many efforts have been made to suppress mechanical radiation noise; however, conventional noise reduction methods have their limitations, such as mode mixing. In order to extract thorough information from the aliasing modes and achieve multi-frequency mode targeted correction, a multi-frequency noise reduction method is proposed, based on secondary decomposition and the multi-mode coherence correction algorithm. Weak impulses in aliasing shear mode are enhanced, and mixing frequencies are isolated for thorough decomposition. Noisy mechanical vibrations in the shear modes are eliminated with the use of the acceleration modes along the identical central frequency series. The denoised modes are used to reconstruct the cleaned shear signal, and the updated spectra are aligned with the standard Nasmyth spectrum. Compared with the raw profiles, the variation in the dissipation rate estimated from the corrected shear is reduced by more than an order of magnitude. Full article

Photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems are attracting a significant amount of attention in research because they can generate electricity outside of daytime hours, unlike photovoltaic (PV) systems, and can increase efficiency and collect additional energy by reducing the temperature of PVT panels. However, a somewhat lower amount of collected energy is used in the summer than in the winter, and research on this issue is lacking. In this study, first, we experimentally evaluated the performance of PV and PVT systems by season and verified the improvement in the performance of the PVT system. Second, experiments were conducted to verify the enthalpy reduction via mist cooling and dehumidification, and the temperature and humidity control effect via mist cooling and dehumidification was verified. Based on our research findings, we propose a model that can be integrated with indoor ventilation systems to increase the solar energy utilization of PVT systems. Using the PVT system, we improved the panel power generation efficiency by up to 5.89% and generated up to a 38.0% higher collection efficiency than that of the PV system. The air that passed through the PVT system was then subjected to mist cooling and dehumidification to reduce its temperature and increase its humidity, resulting in a 23.2% reduction in enthalpy. Full article

Autotransplantation is a successful technique to replace compromised teeth. This study presents a computer-guided surgical approach for preparing the receiving socket for a mature mandibular third molar donor tooth with a wait-and-see approach instead of prophylactic endodontic treatment. A 42-year-old woman developed root resorption of tooth 3.7. Extraction of 3.7 and autotransplantation of 3.8 was planned, following a 6-week orthodontic phase for periodontal ligament activation and teeth mobilization. Due to the different root morphology between the compromised and donor teeth and the high mandibular bone density, the receiving socket preparation was performed using guided surgery templates. Two surgical splints were designed with a surgical planning software. Tooth 3.7 was extracted, the recipient site was guided-milled, and tooth 3.8 was transplanted into the new socket in approximately one second of extra-alveolar time. The rapidity of the extra-alveolar time facilitated complete healing without resorting to root canal treatment. Five-year radiological control does not show any periapical lesion or root resorption. The surgical procedure for tooth autotransplantation is fundamental: it must be as atraumatic as possible to preserve the periodontal ligament of the tooth and the receiving socket, and the dentist must minimize the extra-alveolar time. Guided surgery is a reliable solution to combine all these aspects. Full article

The introduction and subsequent range expansion of the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is part of a rising trend of troublesome biological invasions happening in China. This detrimental amphibious invasive species has strong adaptability. After its introduction and spread, it established its own ecological niche in many provinces of China, and its range has continued to expand to more areas. Previous studies recorded the introduction time of bullfrogs and calculated the changes in their genetic diversity in China using mitochondria, but the specific introduction route in China is still unknown. Expanding upon previous research, we employed whole-genome scans (utilizing 2b-RAD genomic sequencing) to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and microsatellites within Lithobates catesbeianus to screen the genomes of these invasive amphibian species from eight Chinese provinces and two U.S. states, including Kansas, where bullfrogs originate. A total of 1,336,475 single nucleotide polymorphic loci and 17 microsatellite loci were used to calculate the genetic diversity of bullfrogs and their migration pathways. Our results suggest that the population in Hunan was the first to be introduced and to spread, and there may have been multiple introductions of subpopulations. Additionally, the genetic diversity of both the SNP and microsatellite loci in the Chinese bullfrog population was lower than that of the US population due to bottleneck effects, but the bullfrogs can adapt and spread rapidly. This study will offer crucial insights for preventing and controlling future introductions into the natural habitats in China. Additionally, it will assist in devising more precise strategies to manage the existing populations and curtail their continued expansion, as well as aim to improve clarity and originality while mitigating plagiarism risk. Full article

Tajikistan holds the eighth position globally in terms of hydropower potential, estimated at 527 terawatt-hours (TWh), with a technically exploitable capacity of 317 TWh. Only 4–6 percent of this immense potential is currently utilized. In this paper, employing a combination of the Johansen cointegration test, vector autoregression, and the Granger-causality test on annual data from 1993 to 2021, we examine the causality relationship between electricity production and key macroeconomic variables, including gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, exports, imports, final consumption, capital investment, and employment, in Tajikistan. The empirical findings reveal a positive unidirectional causality from electricity production to exports and imports. A positive bidirectional or feedback causality is found between electricity production and variables such as GDP, GDP per capita, final consumption, and employment. No causality relationship between electricity production and variables such as trade openness and capital investment is observed. The exploration of complex causal relationships between electricity production and key macroeconomic variables in Tajikistan, as revealed in this study, offers a modest yet meaningful addition to academic discourse. It presents insights that may inform policymakers and stakeholders, albeit with a recognition of the limitations inherent in the findings. These insights could potentially guide the formulation of sustainable development strategies and shed light on the underutilized potential of the country’s hydropower resources. Full article

The reconstruction of patients who possess multi morbid medical histories remains a challenge. With the ever-increasing number of patients with diabetes, infections, and trauma, there is a consistent need for promotion of soft tissue healing and a reliable substrate to assist with every aspect of soft tissue reconstruction, as well as the loss of fascial domain. Several proprietary products filled some of these needs but have failed to fulfill the needs of the clinician when faced with reconstructing multiple soft tissue systems, such as the integument and the musculoskeletal system. In this paper we discuss the use of decellularized human dermis (DermaPure^®, Tissue Regenix, Universal City, TX, USA) through which a unique human tissue processing technique (dCELL^® technology, Tissue Regenix, Universal City, TX, USA) and the creation of multiple product forms have proven to exhibit versatility in a wide range of clinical needs for successful soft tissue reconstruction. The background of human tissue processing, basic science, and early clinical studies are detailed, which has translated to the rationale for the success of this unique soft tissue substrate in orthoplastic reconstruction, which is also provided here in detail. Full article