Background: Despite treatment having improved through intensive surgical procedures and chemotherapy—and more recently, targeted therapies—ovarian cancer is the most fatal female cancer. As such, we wanted to analyze age-specific survival trends for ovarian cancer in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden over the past 50 years, with a special aim of comparing survival development between the age groups. Methods: We modelled survival data from the NORDCAN database for 1-, 5- and conditional 5/1-year relative (between years 1 and 5) survival for ovarian cancer from 1972 to 2021. Results: Young patients had a 70% 5-year survival while the survival was only 30% for the oldest patients. Conditional survival showed that survival between years 1 and 5 did not improve for patients older than 60 years throughout the 50-year period, during which time the gaps between the youngest and the oldest patients widened. Conclusions: Improvement in 1-year survival was so large that it masked the modest development between years 1 and 5, resulting in a widening age disparity in 5-year survival. The current treatment practices, which appear increasingly effective for younger patients, have not helped remedy the large age differences in ovarian cancer survival. Early detection methods and therapeutic innovations are urgently needed, and aged patients need a special focus. Full article

In recent years, the rapid growth of on-demand delivery services, especially in food deliveries, has spurred the exploration of innovative mobility solutions. In this context, lightweight autonomous vehicles have emerged as a potential alternative. However, their fleet-level behavior remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we have developed an agent-based model and an environmental impact study assessing the fleet performance of lightweight autonomous food delivery vehicles. This model explores critical factors such as fleet sizing, service level, operational strategies, and environmental impacts. We have applied this model to a case study in Cambridge, MA, USA, where results indicate that there could be significant environmental benefits in replacing traditional car-based deliveries with shared lightweight autonomous vehicle fleets. Lastly, we introduce an interactive platform that offers a user-friendly means of comprehending the model’s performance and potential trade-offs, which can help inform decision-makers in the evolving landscape of food delivery innovation. Full article

Lycium barbarum, commonly recognized as goji berry or wolfberry, is highly appreciated not only for its organoleptic and nutritional properties but also as an important source of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolics, and various other non-nutritive compounds. These constituents give it a multitude of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, the precise biochemical mechanisms responsible for its anticancer effects remain unclear, and the comprehensive composition of goji berry extracts is often insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical pathways modulated in breast cancer cells by an ethanolic extract of Lycium barbarum fruit (LBE). Following metabolomic profiling using UHPLC-HRMS/MS, we assessed the antitumoral properties of LBE on different breast cancer cell lines. This investigation revealed that LBE exhibited cytotoxic effects, inducing a pro-oxidant effect that triggered pyroptosis activation through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent activation of the P-IRE1α/XBP1/NLRP3 axis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, LBE did not display cytotoxicity toward healthy human cells but demonstrated antioxidant properties by neutralizing ROS generated by doxorubicin. These findings underscore the potential of LBE as a highly promising natural extract in cancer therapy. Full article

Cancer represents a significant threat to human health, and traditional chemotherapy or cytotoxic therapy is no longer the sole or preferred approach for managing malignant tumors. With advanced research into the immunogenicity of tumor cells and the growing elderly population, tumor immunotherapy has emerged as a prominent therapeutic option. Its significance in treating elderly cancer patients is increasingly recognized. In this study, we review the conceptual classifications and benefits of immunotherapy, and discuss recent developments in new drugs and clinical progress in cancer treatment through various immunotherapeutic modalities with different mechanisms. Additionally, we explore the impact of immunosenescence on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and propose innovative and effective strategies to rejuvenate senescent T cells. Full article

Grape marc is a by-product resulting from the winemaking industry that still contains beneficial compounds that can be valorized. Thus, we report here the possibility of using polyphenolic extracts of grape marc origin to obtain sun protection creams. The extractions were performed in ethanol and acetone solutions using pomace from different grape varieties (Merlot, Bläufrankisch, Fetească Neagră, Isabella) as a raw material. The obtained extracts were analyzed in order to determine the total phenolic content, the antioxidant activity, and the sun protection factor (SPF) via Mansur spectrophotometric assay. The best results were achieved using 70% ethanol in water as a solvent. The extracts with the highest potential photoprotective effects are from the Merlot variety (SPF_{spectrophotometric} = 7.83 ± 0.76). The sunscreens were prepared using the 70% ethanolic extract of the Merlot variety evaporated to dryness, redissolved in either distilled water or ethanol. The SPF estimated in vitro via the COLIPA method showed values of 14.07 ± 1.50 and 11.46 ± 1.32 for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively, when working with a cream to polyphenolic extract a ratio of 1/1 (w/w). At the same time, the use of aqueous polyphenolic extracts ensures the better stability of creams compared with the ethanolic ones. Full article

Blooms of the harmful dinoflagellate Karenia brevis on the West Florida Shelf (WFS), Gulf of Mexico, are hypothesized to initiate in association with the colonial cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp. and benefit from dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) release derived from N₂-fixation by the cyanobacteria. Previous studies have detected DON release using direct experimental measurements, but there have been few studies that have followed nutrient release by in situ blooms of Trichodesmium and the associated plankton community. It was determined that long-term Trichodesmium spp. and Karenia brevis abundances on the WFS were related, following a 2-month lag. A separate Eulerian study of a Trichodesmium erythraeum bloom event was conducted over 9 days on the Great Barrier Reef. Concentrations of T. erythraeum increased over the course of the study, with coincident increases in dinoflagellate abundance and decreases in diatom abundance. Inside the bloom, concentrations of NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, and DON increased significantly. The copepod grazer Macrosetella gracilis also increased in abundance as T. erythraeum numbers increased, contributing to nutrient release. Copepod grazing rates were measured, and N release rates estimated. Together, these studies show that Trichodesmium blooms have consequences for dinoflagellate abundance at both seasonal and ephemeral scales via direct and indirect N release. Full article

Several strains of Trichoderma are applied in the field to control plant diseases due to their capacity to suppress fungal pathogens and control plant diseases. Some Trichoderma strains also are able to promote plant growth through the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In southern Thailand, the local rice variety “Chor Khing” is mainly cultivated in the Songkhla province; it is characterized by slow growth and is susceptible to sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Therefore, this research aimed to screen Trichoderma species with the ability to promote plant growth in this rice variety and enact biological control against R. solani. A total of 21 Trichoderma isolates were screened for indole compound production using the Salkowski reagent. The Z2-03 isolate reacted positively to the Salkowski reagent, indicating the production of the indole compound. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPCL) confirmed that Z2-03 produced IAA at 35.58 ± 7.60 μg/mL. The cell-free culture filtrate of the potato dextrose broth (CF) of Z2-03 induced rice germination in rice seeds, yielding root and shoot lengths in cell-free CF-treated rice that were significantly higher than those of the control (distilled water and culture broth alone). Furthermore, inoculation with Trichoderma conidia promoted rice growth and induced a defense response against R. solani during the seedling stage. Trichoderma Z2-03 displayed an antifungal capacity against R. solani, achieving 74.17% inhibition (as measured through dual culture assay) and the production of siderophores on the CAS medium. The pot experiment revealed that inoculation with the Trichoderma sp. Z2-03 conidial suspension increased the number of tillers and the plant height in the “Chor Khing” rice variety, and suppressed the percentage of disease incidence (PDI). The Trichoderma isolate Z2-03 was identified, based on the morphology and molecular properties of ITS, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and RNA polymerase 2 (rpb2), as Trichoderma breve Z2-03. Our results reveal the ability of T. breve Z2-03 to act as a plant growth promoter, enhancing growth and development in the “Chor Khing” rice variety, as well as a biological control agent through its competition and defense induction mechanism in this rice variety. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aims to bridge these gaps by utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015), examining the nuanced associations between milk consumption’s quantity, frequency, and type and the prevalence of dental caries. Materials and Methods: Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015), this study explores the association between milk consumption and the prevalence of dental caries in a sample of 4843 subjects (weighted n = 15,581), including 2856 males and 1987 females; weighted sample sizes were 6656 and 8925 for men and women, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed by evaluating the number of decayed, filled, and missing teeth. Results: The analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between increased milk consumption and the risk of developing dental caries, with an overall odds ratio of 1.653 (95% CI: 1.153–2.370, p < 0.05). The association was more pronounced in females, exhibiting an odds ratio of 1.865 (95% CI: 1.157–3.006, p < 0.05), and age was identified as a significant variable, particularly among participants aged 50 and above. In contrast, the relationship among the male group, though positive (odds ratio: 1.613, 95% CI: 0.991–2.625), was not statistically significant (p = 0.054). Conclusion: These findings suggest that milk consumption may be a potential risk indicator for dental caries, particularly among women, emphasizing the need for targeted dietary recommendations in dental health practices. Full article

The increasing use of electromedical equipment in hospital care services necessitates effective management of complex devices often unsupported by existing control systems. This paper focuses on developing a pool of evaluation indices for the Clinical Engineering Department (CED) of the ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda in Milano (Italy), aiming to enhance awareness of the economic value, assess operational units, and optimize maintenance processes. Leveraging business intelligence, this study identifies 18 key performance indicators (KPIs) across logistics, technical, and equipment management categories. An interactive dashboard, implemented using Power BI, facilitates dynamic analysis and visualization of these KPIs, providing insights into the maintenance efficiency and obsolescence of medical devices. It offers a comprehensive framework for ongoing monitoring and decision-making. The results showcase the potential of the developed KPIs and dashboard to enhance operational insights and guide improvements in the healthcare facility’s maintenance processes. Full article

Various factors influence wildfire probability, including land use/land cover (LULC), fuel types, and their moisture content, meteorological conditions, and terrain characteristics. The Adriatic Sea coastal area in Croatia has a long record of devastating wildfires that have caused severe ecological and economic damages as well as the loss of human lives. Assessing the conditions favorable for wildfires and the possible damages are crucial in fire risk management. Adriatic settlements and ecosystems are highly vulnerable, especially during summer, when the pressure from tourist migration is the highest. However, available fire risk models designed to fit the macro-scale level of assessment cannot provide information detailed enough to meet the decision-making conditions at the local level. This paper describes a model designed to assess wildfire risks at the meso-scale, focusing on environmental and anthropogenic descriptors derived from moderate- to high-resolution remote sensing data (Sentinel-2), Copernicus Land Monitoring Service datasets, and other open sources. Risk indices were integrated using the multi-criteria decision analysis method, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), in a GIS environment. The model was tested in three coastal catchments, each having recently experienced severe fire events. The approach successfully identified zones at risk and the level of risk, depending on the various environmental and anthropogenic conditions. Full article

The paper revisits the formulation of the second law in continuum physics and investigates new methods of exploitation. Both the entropy flux and the entropy production are taken to be expressed by constitutive equations. In three-dimensional settings, vectors and tensors are in order and they occur through inner products in the inequality representing the second law; a representation formula, which is quite uncommon in the literature, produces the general solution whenever the sought equations are considered in rate-type forms. Next, the occurrence of the entropy production as a constitutive function is shown to produce a wider set of physically admissible models. Furthermore the constitutive property of the entropy production results in an additional, essential term in the evolution equation of rate-type materials, as is the case for Duhem-like hysteretic models. This feature of thermodynamically consistent hysteretic materials is exemplified for elastic–plastic materials. The representation formula is shown to allow more general non-local properties while the constitutive entropy production proves essential for the modeling of hysteresis. Full article

This Special Issue collects some scientific pieces of the multifaceted research on the mast cell (MC), and it intends to highlight the broad spectrum of activity that MCs have, both in physiological conditions and in pathological states, focusing attention on some of them [...] Full article

The floodplain forests in West Kazakhstan’s Urals are challenging to study due to complex growth patterns. Existing tables estimate the trunk volume and wood size but lack comprehensive data for effective forest management. A developed research methodology focuses on creating growth and productivity models for forest-forming species across diverse forest types. Multidimensional linear growth models, with dummy variables for species and forest types, offer reliable insights into the average height and diameter changes at different ages. These models facilitate statistical analyses of asynchronous growth with high reliability. Three-level growth models detail regression lines for individual forest-forming species within specific forest types. This article illustrates the construction of a model for black poplar stands in a central floodplain’s medium-level conditions. Furthermore, it highlights the potential for a regional planting classification based on average height gradients at the base age of stands. The presented methodology aims to address the challenges in forest management and forestry in the region. Full article

Drying food stuffs and other materials belongs to one of the most commonly used feedstock processing techniques, featuring rather high energy consumption. The major disadvantage of conventional electric convective-type household dryers is substantial thermal energy emission into the environment with a wet exhaust, worked-out drying agent. Among other principal disadvantages common to all dryers of this type, the following have to be mentioned: spatial inhomogeneity of heating a product under processing and that of drying agent distribution due to its temperature reduction and relative humidity growth as it moves upwards. A block diagram and a breadboard model of a convective-type thermoelectric dryer employing a thermoelectric heat pump have been designed. In our approach, a product is treated with the help of a drying agent (normally, heated air) with partial exhaust-air recirculation and heat recovery. Laboratory studies of the drying process have been carried out using apple fruits as a test material in order to evaluate the power consumed for evaporation of 1 kg of water in the newly developed convective-type thermoelectric drying unit. Physical parameters of apple fruits before and after drying both in the thermoelectric drying unit and in a conventional series-produced convective-type domestic dryer have been reported. The energy efficiency of the newly designed drying unit has been compared with that of some series-produced samples. It has been found out that, unlike conventional convective-type dryers, the breadboard model of the developed thermoelectric drying unit features a smoother product drying process owing to the presence of side air channels and more effective drying agent path organization in the processing chamber. This conclusion was supported by the results of the carried out tests. Application of thermoelectric heat pumps with the function of the exhaust drying agent heat recovery will make it possible to reduce the drying agent heater installed capacity and the power consumed by the newly designed convective-type thermoelectric drying unit by up to 20% in the course of the drying process, compared to series-produced household convective-type dryers. Full article

Curcumin is a naturally occurring hydrophobic polyphenolic compound with a rapid metabolism, poor absorption, and low stability, which severely limits its bioavailability. Here, we employed a starch–protein-based nanoparticle approach to improve the curcumin bioavailability. This study focused on synthesizing nanoparticles with a zein “core” and a carboxymethylated short-chain amylose (CSA) “shell” through anti-solvent precipitation for delivering curcumin. The zein@CSA core–shell nanoparticles were extensively characterized for physicochemical properties, structural integrity, ionic stability, in vitro digestibility, and antioxidant activity. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicates nanoparticle formation through hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions between zein and CSA. Zein@CSA core–shell nanoparticles exhibited enhanced stability in NaCl solution. At a zein-to-CSA ratio of 1:1.25, only 15.7% curcumin was released after 90 min of gastric digestion, and 66% was released in the intestine after 240 min, demonstrating a notable sustained release effect. Furthermore, these nanoparticles increased the scavenging capacity of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) free radical compared to those composed solely of zein and were essentially nontoxic to Caco-2 cells. This research offers valuable insights into curcumin encapsulation and delivery using zein@CSA core–shell nanoparticles. Full article

This article presents a computer vision-based approach to switching electric locomotive power supplies as the vehicle approaches a railway neutral section. Neutral sections are defined as a phase break in which the objective is to separate two single-phase traction supplies on an overhead railway supply line. This separation prevents flashovers due to high voltages caused by the locomotives shorting both electrical phases. The typical system of switching traction supplies automatically employs the use of electro-mechanical relays and induction magnets. In this paper, an image classification approach is proposed to replace the conventional electro-mechanical system with two unique visual markers that represent the ‘Open’ and ‘Close’ signals to initiate the transition. When the computer vision model detects either marker, the vacuum circuit breakers inside the electrical locomotive will be triggered to their respective positions depending on the identified image. A Histogram of Oriented Gradient technique was implemented for feature extraction during the training phase and a Linear Support Vector Machine algorithm was trained for the target image classification. For the task of image segmentation, the Circular Hough Transform shape detection algorithm was employed to locate the markers in the captured images and provided cartesian plane coordinates for segmenting the Object of Interest. A signal marker classification accuracy of 94% with 75 objects per second was achieved using a Linear Support Vector Machine during the experimental testing phase. Full article

The long-standing, unrestrained utilization of energy resources by China’s manufacturing sector has created irreversible obstacles to regional sustainable development. Consequently, the Chinese government has implemented a water resource tax policy in certain regions, with the aim of compelling manufacturing enterprises to adopt green and energy-saving innovations. This study used panel data from Chinese manufacturing companies listed on the A-share market from 2009 to 2020 and employed a double machine learning model to explore whether the water resource fee-to-tax reform can compel enterprises to enhance their tripartite green energy-saving innovation drive. These innovations consist of vision-driven and mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green management energy-saving innovations. Following a quasi-natural experiment, our findings revealed the following: (1) The water resource fee-to-tax policy promoted the internal coupling coordination of the triple-driven system. (2) The policy compelled progress in mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green energy-saving management innovations but hindered vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovations. (3) Within the internal systems of manufacturing enterprises, green energy-saving management innovations play a positive mediating role between the water resource fee-to-tax policy and the mission-driven green energy-saving technology innovation subsystem, but they lack a similar positive mediating mechanism for the vision-driven green energy-saving technology innovation subsystem. (4) The counterfactual framework verified that the mechanistic pathway “water resource fee-to-tax → green energy-saving management innovation → mission-driven/vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovation” could be further extended to other manufacturing enterprises not currently under policy compulsion. (5) In the interaction system between manufacturing enterprises and external markets, the development of marketization and financial technology positively regulated the promoting effect of the water resource fee-to-tax policy on mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green energy-saving management innovations, but it did not have a similar effect on vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovations. Full article

Circular antenna arrays (CAAs) find extensive utility in a range of cutting-edge communication applications such as 5G networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced beamforming technologies. In the realm of antenna design, the side lobes levels (SLL) in the radiation pattern hold significant importance within communication systems. This is primarily due to its role in mitigating signal interference across the entire radiation pattern’s side lobes. In order to suppress the subsidiary lobe, achieve the required primary lobe orientation, and improve directivity, an optimization problem is used in this work. This paper introduces a method aimed at enhancing the radiation pattern of CAA by minimizing its SLL using a Hybrid Sooty Tern Naked Mole-Rat Algorithm (STNMRA). The simulation results show that the hybrid optimization method significantly reduces side lobes while maintaining reasonable directivity compared to the uniform array and other competitive metaheuristics. Full article

We investigated the occurrence of eight potential zoonotic viruses in 91 exotic companion mammals from pet shops in southern Italy via real-time PCR and end-point PCR. The animals were screened for aichivirus, sapovirus, astrovirus, hepatitis A, noroviruses (GI and GII), rotavirus, circovirus, and SARS-CoV-2. Among the nine species of exotic pets studied, only one rat tested positive for aichivirus. The high sequence similarity to a murine kobuvirus-1 strain previously identified in China suggests that the virus may have been introduced into Italy through the importation of animals from Asia. Since exotic companion mammals live in close contact with humans, continuous sanitary monitoring is crucial to prevent the spread of new pathogens among domestic animals and humans. Further investigations on detecting and typing zoonotic viruses are needed to identify emerging and re-emerging viruses to safeguard public health. Full article

Gel plugging agents have become one of the preferred methods for plugging in complex and severe loss conditions during drilling due to their good adaptability to loss channels. To address the common issue of poor temperature resistance in gel-based plugging agents, high-temperature-resistant gel plugging materials were synthesized through the molecular design of polymers, modifying existing agents. Based on the temperature and salt resistance of the aqueous solution of an acrylamide (AM)/N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) binary copolymer, temperature-resistant monomer sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) was introduced and reacted in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution. Using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator and crosslinking with N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), a gel plugging material resistant to 140 °C was synthesized. The structure, thermal stability, water absorption and expansion, and plugging performance of the gel were studied through hot rolling aging, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy scanning, sand bed experiments, and drag reduction experiments. The results show that the gel material has good thermal stability and water absorption and expansion at 140 °C, and its temperature-resistant plugging performance is excellent, significantly slowing down the loss rate of drilling fluid. This provides a basis for the further development of gel materials. Full article

Driven by the wave of artificial intelligence, the educational practice and application of robots have become increasingly common. Despite extensive coverage in the literature on various aspects of educational robots, there are still unexplored avenues, particularly regarding robotic support, robotic personality, and challenges in their applications. This study presented a systematic review of high-quality empirical research on the use of physical robots in educational settings. A total of 92 relevant papers from the Web of Science database were analyzed. Employing the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) framework, we investigated research questions across seven components, including the learning domain, teaching strategy, robot types, learning results, problems with using robots, robotic support, and robotic personality. The findings revealed that robots are most prevalently employed in language learning applications. When opting for teaching strategies, educators tend to favor those that incorporate physical interaction. Concurrently, humanoid robots emerge as the preferred choice among many. These robots, in human–robot interaction scenarios, often exhibit an agreeable personality. In terms of evaluating learning results, cognitive aspects like thinking, creativity, self-regulation, and inquiry ability are especially emphasized. Such results are frequently influenced by the informational and emotional support provided by robots. Nonetheless, challenges encountered by teachers, learners, and robots in this process are not to be overlooked. The findings of this study contributed to future applications of robotics in education. Full article

Humour and antisocial behaviour on the internet are under-researched. Online spaces have opened a gateway for new ways to express unrestrained humour (e.g., dark humour) and ways to behave antisocially (e.g., online trolling). The tendencies and motivations of those engaging with such humour and behaviour are yet to be clearly established and understood. The present study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the interplay between dark humour, online trolling, and dark personality traits. Participants (N = 160) completed an online survey consisting of trait scales to assess the Dark Tetrad, dark humour, and online trolling, as well as two online trolling tasks (enjoyment and ability) and two dark humour meme tasks (enjoyment and ability). The results confirmed relationships between the Dark Tetrad and the dark humour trait, and several Dark Tetrad traits were related to the enjoyment of and ability to produce dark humour. Furthermore, dark humour and online trolling were closely related. The findings also revealed that online trolls did not enjoy being trolled but did enjoy trolling, and this ability to troll is underpinned by sadism. These findings illustrate the potential dark psychological motivations for using dark humour, demonstrate that online trolling is infused with darker forms of humour, and provide deeper insights into online trolls. Full article