Background and Objectives: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about the psychological impact of disease-related anxiety on public health have risen. This study aims to compare general and death anxiety levels between acute coronary artery syndrome and COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 132 individuals, including acute myocardial infarction (MI), COVID-19 pneumonia patients, and healthy volunteers from Trakya University Hospital (Turkey), was analyzed. Validated scales like the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form, and Thorson–Powell Death Anxiety Scale (TPDAS) were employed. Demographic data such as age, gender, income levels, employment status, presence of a close relative with COVID-19, and whether participants followed COVID-19-related news were collected and compared across groups with significance level of 0.05 set for all analyses. Results: Among 41 COVID-19, 41 MI, and 50 healthy subjects, the pneumonia group showed highest COVID-19 anxiety (p = 0.01) and BAI scores (p = 0.008). Both COVID-19 and MI patients had significantly higher BAI and TPDAS scores compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Factors like female gender (p = 0.004), low education (p = 0.003), current employment (p = 0.008), and low income (p = 0.002) correlated with higher BAI scores. Low income (p = 0.001) and COVID-19 news exposure (p = 0.002) correlated with higher TPDAS scores. Males and married patients had lower anxiety scores (p = 0.008). High income, education, and employment reduced anxiety levels (p = 0.008). TPDAS scores decreased with higher income (p = 0.001), but increased in the MI group (p = 0.002) with COVID-19 news exposure. The multivariate linear regression analysis found that MI and COVID-19 pneumonia were associated with TPDAS; female gender, university education, and COVID-19 pneumonia with the Beck scale; and COVID-19 pneumonia with anxiety scores on the COVID-19 Anxiety scale. Conclusions: This research showcases differing anxiety patterns between illnesses such as MI and COVID-19 pneumonia amidst the pandemic, emphasizing the amplifying influence of media coverage on death-related anxieties. It underscores the imperative of targeted interventions and socioeconomic considerations in managing psychological consequences and formulating responsive public health strategies. Full article

Existing vehicle-road models used for road tracking do not take into account the side slip angle, which leads to a reduction in road tracking accuracy in scenarios where the vehicle is at a large side slip angle, such as an emergency lane change. Consequently, this study presents a path-tracking control technique based on the T-S fuzzy model of heading angle vehicle autonomy. In this paper, based on the yaw angle-based vehicle tracking model, a heading angle-based tracking model considering the side slip angle is constructed. Second, since the vehicle speed varies with time, this paper selects the membership function of the vehicle speed to establish the T-S fuzzy model of autonomous vehicle based on the yaw angle and heading angle, respectively, and ensures the robustness and stability over the whole parameter space by the linear parameter variation robust $H_{\infty }$ controller. Then, cost functions based on the yaw angle and heading angle augmented error systems are created separately to optimize the system’s overall performance. Ultimately, simulation and experimentation confirm that the algorithm for control, which is based on the fuzzy model of the heading angle vehicle, has superior autonomous trajectory performance. Full article

Background: Although rare, sinonasal cancers (SNCs) have a high occupational attributable fraction. Methods: We applied gender-based approaches to descriptive analyses, incidence, and patterns of exposures using the Italian National Sinonasal Cancer Registry (ReNaTuNS: Registro Nazionale Tumori Naso-Sinusali). Results: The study included 2851 SNC patients. SNC was diagnosed more often in men (73%) than in women (27%). The most frequent morphology in men was intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (33%), whereas in women, it was squamous cell carcinoma (49%). Nasal cavities were predominant in both genders (50%), ethmoidal sinus in men (24%), and maxillary in women (24%). Incidence rates were 0.76 (per 100,000 person-years) in men and 0.24 in women and increased by age, more evidently in men, peaking over 75 years in both. Occupational exposures to wood and leather dusts were the most frequent (41% for men, 33% for women). Few exposures were extra-occupational or domestic. Unlikely exposure was relevant in women (57%). Conclusions: The surveillance of SNC cases through a registry that allows for the identification of and compensation for this occupational disease is important in Italy, where numerous workers are exposed to carcinogens for SNC, without even being aware. Considering the rarity of the disease, particularly among women, the ReNaTuNS can provide a method to analyze gender differences. Full article

Spatial relations between tumor cells and host-infiltrating cells are increasingly important in both basic science and clinical research. In this study, we have tested the feasibility of using standard methods of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a multiplex staining system using a newly developed set of chromogenic substrates for the peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes. Using this approach, we have developed a set of chromogens characterized by (1) providing fine cellular detail, (2) non-overlapping spectral profiles, (3) an absence of interactions between chromogens, (4) stability when stored, and (5) compatibility with current standard immunohistochemistry practices. When viewed microscopically under brightfield illumination, the chromogens yielded the following colors: red, black, blue, yellow, brown, and green. By selecting compatible color combinations, we have shown feasibility for four-color multiplex staining. Depending on the particular type of analysis being performed, visual analysis, without the aid of computer-assisted image analysis, was sufficient to differentiate up to four different markers. Full article

Poultry producers’ attitudes towards biosecurity practices were assessed by using the ADKAR^® (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement) behavioral change model. Conventional poultry producers (n = 155) from different production types including broilers (n = 35), layers (n = 22), breeders (n = 24), turkeys (n = 19), ducks (n = 23), free-range broilers (n = 11), free-range layers (n = 11), and hatcheries (n = 10) from seven European countries were scored for each ADKAR element (1 = total absence to 5 = perfect fulfilment). Each country performed selected interventions (e.g., coaching, participatory meetings, etc.) to improve biosecurity compliance. After the interventions, significant change was observed in three of the four attitude elements. The overall mean scores ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ ± SD) obtained during the initial assessment (n = 130) were 4.2 ± 0.6 for Awareness, 4.1 ± 0.7 for Desire, 3.8 ± 0.8 for Knowledge, and 4.0 ± 0.7 for Ability, whereas after intervention, the scores were A = 4.3 ± 0.6, D = 4.2 ± 0.7, K = 4.1 ± 0.7, and Ab = 4.1 ± 0.7. The Reinforcement component was only evaluated after the change and obtained a score of 3.7 ± 0.7 on average. Identifying the elements influencing poultry producers and their behavior related to farm management decisions was useful in guiding our educational interventions to effectively change their behavior. Full article

Vaccinium duclouxii, a wild blueberry species native to the mountainous regions of southwestern China, is notable for its exceptionally high anthocyanin content, surpassing that of many cultivated varieties and offering significant research potential. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are versatile enzymes crucial for anthocyanin transport in plants. Yet, the GST gene family had not been previously identified in V. duclouxii. This study utilized a genome-wide approach to identify and characterize the GST gene family in V. duclouxii, revealing 88 GST genes grouped into seven distinct subfamilies. This number is significantly higher than that found in closely related species, with these genes distributed across 12 chromosomes and exhibiting gene clustering. A total of 46 members are classified as tandem duplicates. The gene structure of VdGST is relatively conserved among related species, showing closer phylogenetic relations to V. bracteatum and evidence of purifying selection. Transcriptomic analysis and qRT-PCR indicated that VdGSTU22 and VdGSTU38 were highly expressed in flowers, VdGSTU29 in leaves, and VdGSTF11 showed significant expression in ripe and fully mature fruits, paralleling trends seen with anthocyanin accumulation. Subcellular localization identified VdGSTF11 primarily in the plasma membrane, suggesting a potential role in anthocyanin accumulation in V. duclouxii fruits. This study provides a foundational basis for further molecular-level functional analysis of the transport and accumulation of anthocyanins in V. duclouxii, enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin metabolism in this valuable species. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities affecting ~25% of adults and is linked to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key drivers of MetS. Hesperidin, a citrus bioflavonoid, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on MetS are not fully established. We aimed to determine the optimal dose of hesperidin required to improve oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and glycemic control in a novel mouse model of MetS. Male 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar diet (HFSS; 42% kcal fat content in food and drinking water with 0.9% saline and 10% high fructose corn syrup) for 16 weeks. After 6 weeks of HFSS, mice were randomly allocated to either the placebo group or low- (70 mg/kg/day), mid- (140 mg/kg/day), or high-dose (280 mg/kg/day) hesperidin supplementation for 12 weeks. The HFSS diet induced significant metabolic disturbances. HFSS + placebo mice gained almost twice the weight of control mice (p < 0.0001). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) increased by 40% (p < 0.0001), plasma insulin by 100% (p < 0.05), and HOMA-IR by 150% (p < 0.0004), indicating insulin resistance. Hesperidin supplementation reduced plasma insulin by 40% at 140 mg/kg/day (p < 0.0001) and 50% at 280 mg/kg/day (p < 0.005). HOMA-IR decreased by 45% at both doses (p < 0.0001). Plasma hesperidin levels significantly increased in all hesperidin groups (p < 0.0001). Oxidative stress, measured by 8-OHdG, was increased by 40% in HFSS diet mice (p < 0.001) and reduced by 20% with all hesperidin doses (p < 0.005). In conclusion, hesperidin supplementation reduced insulin resistance and oxidative stress in HFSS-fed mice, demonstrating its dose-dependent therapeutic potential in MetS. Full article

Gut microbiome-modulating agents (MMAs), including probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics, are shown to ameliorate type 1 diabetes (T1D) by restoring the microbiome from dysbiosis. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of MMAs on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and biomarkers associated with (T1D). A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, National Knowledge Infrastructure, WeiPu, and WanFang Data up to 30 November 2023. Ten randomized controlled trials (n = 630) were included, with study quality evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Random-effect models with standardized mean differences (SMDs) were utilized. MMA supplementation was associated with improvements in HbA1c (SMD = −0.52, 95% CI [−0.83, −0.20]), daily insulin usage (SMD = −0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−0.76, −0.07]), and fasting C-peptide (SMD = 0.99, 95% CI [0.17, 1.81]) but had no effects on FBG, CRP, TNF-α, IL-10, LDL, HDL, and the Shannon index. Subgroup analysis of HbA1c indicated that a long-term intervention (>3 months) might exert a more substantial effect. These findings suggest an association between MMAs and glycemic control in T1D. Further large-scale clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings with investigations on inflammation and gut microbiota composition while adjusting confounding factors such as diet, physical activity, and the dose and form of MMA intervention. Full article

The green and environmentally friendly cardanol epoxy resin has a bright application prospect, but its insufficient thermal/mechanical properties seriously hinder its application. Adding nanoclay to polymer matrix is an effective method to enhance the thermal/mechanical properties of material, but the dispersion and compatibility of nanoclay in epoxy resin remain to be solved. In this work, active Girard’s reagent clay (PG-clay) and non-active Girard’s reagent clay (NG-clay) were prepared by using acethydrazide trimethylammonium chloride (Girard’s reagent) as the modifier, and cardanol epoxy resin/G-clay nanocomposites were synthesized by the “clay slurry composite method”. The results showed that both PG-clay and NG-clay were dispersed in the epoxy matrix in the form of random exfoliation/intercalation, which effectively improved the thermal/mechanical properties of the composites. Tg of the cardanol epoxy resin has raised from 19.8 °C to 38.1 °C (4 wt.% PG-clay). When the mass fraction of clay is 4%, the tensile strength of the non-reactive NG-clay increases by 128%, and the elongation at break also increases by 101%. Simultaneously, the active PG-clay can participate in the curing reaction of epoxy resin due to the amino group, forming a chemical bond between the clay layer and the resin matrix and establishing a strong interfacial force. The tensile strength of the composite is increased by 970%, and the elongation at break is also increased by 428%. This research demonstrates that the cardanol epoxy resin/G-clay nanocomposite stands as a highly promising candidate for bio-based epoxy resin materials. Full article

Glucosamine–chitosan synthesized by the Maillard reaction was combined with montmorillonite to obtain a nanohybrid composite to immobilize horseradish peroxidase. The material combines the advantageous properties of clay with those of the chitosan derivative; has improved water solubility and reduced molecular weight and viscosity; involves an eco-friendly synthesis; and exhibits ion exchange capacity, good adhesiveness, and a large specific surface area for enzyme adsorption. The physicochemical characteristics of the composite were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to determine clay–polycation interactions. The electrochemical response of the different polyphenols to glassy carbon electrodes modified with the composite was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The sensitivity and detection limit values obtained with the biosensor toward hydroquinone, chlorogenic acid, catechol, and resorcinol are (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10² µA mM⁻¹ and (74 ± 8) nM; (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10² µA mM⁻¹ and (26 ± 3) nM; (16 ± 2) µA mM⁻¹ and (0.74 ± 0.09) μM; and (3.7± 0.3) µA mM⁻¹ and (3.3 ± 0.2) μM, respectively. The biosensor was applied to quantify polyphenols in pennyroyal and lemon verbena extracts. Full article

Ultralow-temperature fluids (such as liquid nitrogen, liquid CO₂) are novel waterless fracturing technologies designed for dry, water-sensitive reservoirs. Due to their ultralow temperatures, high compression ratios, strong frost heaving forces, and low viscosities, they offer a solution for enhancing the fracturing and permeability of low-permeability reservoirs. In this study, we focus on the combined effects of high-pressure fluid rock breaking, low-temperature freeze-thaw fracturing, and liquid-gas phase transformation expansion on coal-rock in low-permeability reservoirs during liquid nitrogen fracturing (LNF). We systematically analyze the factors that limit the LNF effectiveness, and we discuss the pore fracture process induced by low-temperature fracturing in coal-rock and its impact on the permeability. Based on this analysis, we propose a model and flow for fracturing low-permeability reservoirs with low-temperature fluids. The analysis suggests that the Leidenfrost effect and phase change after ultralow-temperature fluids enter the coal support the theoretical feasibility of high-pressure fluid rock breaking. The thermal impact and temperature exchange rate between the fluid and coal determine the temperature difference gradient, which directly affects the mismatch deformation and fracture development scale of different coal-rock structures. The low-temperature phase change coupling fracturing of ultralow-temperature fluids is the key to the formation of reservoir fracture networks. The coal-rock components, natural fissures, temperature difference gradients, and number of cycles are the key factors in low-temperature fracturing. In contrast to those in conventional hydraulic fracturing, the propagation and interaction of fractures under low-temperature conditions involve multifield coupling and synergistic temperature, fluid flow, fracture development, and stress distribution processes. The key factors determining the feasibility of the large-scale application of ultralow-temperature fluid fracturing in the future are the reconstruction of fracture networks and the enhancement of the permeability response in low-permeability reservoirs. Based on these considerations, we propose a model and process for LNF in low-permeability reservoirs. The research findings presented herein provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for understanding waterless fracturing mechanisms in deep reservoirs. Full article

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-inhibiting bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is the most devastating citrus disease, intimidating citrus production worldwide. Although commercially cultivated citrus cultivars are vulnerable to CLas infection, HLB-tolerant attributes have, however, been observed in certain citrus varieties, suggesting a possible pathway for identifying innate defense regulators that mitigate HLB. By adopting transcriptome and small RNAome analysis, the current study compares the responses of HLB-tolerant lemon (Citrus limon L.) with HLB-susceptible Shatangju mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Shatangju) against CLas infection. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant differences in gene expression between lemon and Shatangju. A total of 1751 and 3076 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified in Shatangju and lemon, respectively. Specifically, CLas infected lemon tissues demonstrated higher expressions of genes involved in antioxidant enzyme activity, protein phosphorylation, carbohydrate, cell wall, and lipid metabolism than Shatangju. Wet-lab experiments further validated these findings, demonstrating increased antioxidant enzyme activity in lemon: APX (35%), SOD (30%), and CAT (64%) than Shatangju. Conversely, Shatangju plants exhibited higher levels of oxidative stress markers like H₂O₂ (44.5%) and MDA content (65.2%), alongside pronounced ion leakage (11.85%), than lemon. Moreover, microscopic investigations revealed that CLas infected Shatangju phloem exhibits significantly more starch and callose accumulation than lemon. Furthermore, comparative sRNA profiles revealed the potential defensive regulators for HLB tolerance. In Shatangju, increased expression of csi-miR166 suppresses the expression of disease-resistant proteins, leading to inadequate defense against CLas. Conversely, reduced expression of csi-miR166 in lemon plants enables them to combat HLB by activating disease-resistance proteins. The above findings indicate that when infected with CLas, lemon exhibits stronger antioxidative activity and higher expression of disease-resistant genes, contributing to its enhanced tolerance to HLB. In contrast, Shatangju shows lower antioxidative activity, reduced expression of disease-resistant genes, significant ion leakage, and extensive callose deposition, possibly related to damage to plant cell structure and blockage of phloem sieve tubes, thereby promoting the development of HLB symptoms. Full article

Nitrogen plays a fundamental role as a nutrient for the growth of leaves and the process of photosynthesis, as it directly influences the quality and yield of corn. The importance of knowing the foliar nitrogen content through Machine Learning algorithms will help determine the efficient use of nitrogen fertilization in a context of sustainable agronomic management by avoiding Nitrogen loss and preventing it from becoming a pollutant for the soil and the atmosphere. The combination of machine learning algorithms with vegetation spectral indices is a new practice that helps estimate parameters of agricultural importance such as nitrogen. The objective of the present study was to compare random forest and neural network algorithms for estimating total plant nitrogen with spectral indices. Five spectral indices were obtained from remotely piloted aircraft systems and analyzed by mean, maximum and minimum from each sample plot to finally obtain 15 indices, and total nitrogen was estimated from the georeferenced points. The most important variables were selected with backward, forward and stepwise methods and total nitrogen estimates by laboratory were compared with random forest models and artificial neural networks. The most important indices were NDREmax and TCARImax. Using 15 spectral indices, total nitrogen with a variance of 79% and 81% with random forest and artificial neural network, respectively, was estimated. And only using NDREmax and TCARmax indices, 73% and 79% were explained by random forest and artificial neural network, respectively. It is concluded that it is possible to estimate nitrogen in forage maize with two indices and it is recommended to analyze by phenological stage and with a greater number of field data. Full article

It is not yet clear how adding silicon foliar fertilisation affects olive leaf (OL) phenolics and their potential to impact different cancer cells. Thus, we conducted a field trial to study the effect of foliar Si biostimulant fertilisation on the OL phenolic content of the ‘Leccino’ (LE) and ‘Istarska Bjelica’ (IB) cultivars. The experiment compared untreated Control (C) and three distinct levels of silicon (Si1, Si2, Si3) with Si concentrations of 0.55 g/L, 1.1 g/L, and 2.2 g/L, respectively. Si3 application resulted in the highest levels of oleuropein, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin-4-O-glucoside, rutin, and tyrosol compared to the C treatment. The polyphenols showed high cytotoxic activity in three cancer cell lines tested: cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), colon cancer (HCT116), and osteosarcoma (U2OS). The strongest inhibition of cell growth was observed in the HCT116 cell line. All cancer cells tested were more sensitive to treatment with polyphenols isolated from plants with added Si than those without added Si. The cytotoxic activity of the extracts on the healthy cell line RPE1 was similar to that on the cancer cell line HCT116 and U2OS. Full article

Humping is a common defect in direct energy deposition processes that reduces the geometric integrity of printed products. The available literature on humping detection is deemed reactive, as they focus on detecting late-stage melt pool spatial abnormalities. Therefore, this work introduces a novel, proactive indicator designed to detect early-stage spatiotemporal abnormalities. Specifically, the proposed indicator monitors the variability of instantaneous melt pool solidification-front speed (VIMPS). The solidification front dynamics quantify the intensity of cyclic melt pool elongation induced by early-stage humping. VIMPS tracks the solidification front dynamics based on the variance in the melt pool infrared radiations. Qualitative and quantitive analysis of the collected infrared data confirms VIMPS’s utility in reflecting the intricate humping-induced dynamics and defects. Experimental results proved VIMPS’ proactivity. By capturing early spatiotemporal abnormalities, VIMPS predicted humping by up to 10 s before any significant geometric defects. In contrast, current spatial abnormality-based methods failed to detect humping until 20 s after significant geometric defects had occurred. VIMPS’ proactive detection capabilities enable effective direct energy deposition control, boosting the process’s productivity and quality. Full article

Woodpeckers exhibit selectivity when choosing tree cavities for nest development in forest ecosystems, and fungi play a significant and important role in this ecological process. Therefore, there is a complex and intricate relationship between the various behaviors of woodpeckers and the occurrence of fungal species. Research into the complex bond between fungi and woodpeckers was undertaken to provide more information about this remarkable ecological relationship. Through the process of line transect sampling, woodpecker traces were searched for, and mist nets were set up to capture them. A total of 21 woodpeckers belonging to four species were captured. High-throughput sequencing of the ITS region was performed on fungal-conserved samples to enable an in-depth analysis of the fungal communities linked to the woodpeckers’ nests. Members of Ascomycota were the most abundant in the samples, accounting for 91.96% of the total, demonstrating the importance of this group in the forest ecosystem of this station. The statistical results indicate significant differences in the fungal diversity carried by woodpeckers among the different groups. Species of Cladosporium were found to be the most prevalent of all the detected fungal genera, accounting for 49.3%. The top 15 most abundant genera were Cladosporium, Trichoderma, Beauveria, Epicococcum, Hypoxylon, Penicillium, Nigrospora, Aspergillus, Oidiodendron, Cercospora, Talaromyces, Phialemo-nium, Petriella, Cordyceps, and Sistotrema. The standard Bray–Curtis statistical technique was used in a hierarchical clustering analysis to compute inter-sample distances, allowing for the identification of patterns and correlations within the dataset. We discovered that in the grouped samples from woodpeckers, there were differences in the diversity of fungal communities carried by four woodpecker species, but the less dominant fungal species were still similar. The findings highlight the need to consider these diverse ecological linkages in woodpecker research and conservation efforts. Full article

Fog computing (FC) is a distributed architecture in which computing resources and services are placed on edge devices closer to data sources. This enables more efficient data processing, shorter latency times, and better performance. Fog computing was shown to be a promising solution for addressing the new computing requirements. However, there are still many challenges to overcome to utilize this new computing paradigm, in particular, reliability and security. Following this need, a systematic literature review was conducted to create a list of requirements. As a result, the following four key requirements were formulated: (1) low latency and response times; (2) scalability and resource management; (3) fault tolerance and redundancy; and (4) privacy and security. Low delay and response can be achieved through edge caching, edge real-time analyses and decision making, and mobile edge computing. Scalability and resource management can be enabled by edge federation, virtualization and containerization, and edge resource discovery and orchestration. Fault tolerance and redundancy can be enabled by backup and recovery mechanisms, data replication strategies, and disaster recovery plans, with a residual number system (RNS) being a promising solution. Data security and data privacy are manifested in strong authentication and authorization mechanisms, access control and authorization management, with fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) and the secret sharing system (SSS) being of particular interest. Full article

The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater has been reported in several studies and similar research can be used as a proxy for an early warning of potential Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks. This study focused on profiling the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in wastewater samples obtained from facilities located in the Buffalo City Municipality. Raw samples were collected weekly using the grab technique for a period of 48 weeks. Ribonucleic acids were extracted from the samples, using the QIAGEN Powersoil Total RNA Extraction kit, and extracted RNA samples were further profiled for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. Furthermore, various environmental matrices were utilized to estimate the potential health risk to plant operators associated with exposure to SARS-CoV-2 viral particles using the quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) model. Our findings revealed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes with concentrations that ranged from 0.22 $\times {10}^3$ to 17.60 $\times {10}^3$ genome copies per milliliter (GC/mL). Different exposure scenarios were employed for the QMRA model, and the findings indicate a probability of infection (P(i)) ranging from 0.93% to 37.81% across the study sites. Similarly, the P(i) was highly significant (p < 0.001) for the 20 mL volumetric intake as compared to other volumetric intake scenarios, and high P(i) was also observed in spring, autumn, and winter for all WWTPs. The P(i) was significantly different (p < 0.05) with respect to the different seasons and with respect to different volume scenarios. Full article

Background: The objective of this study was to develop a practical staging method for reporting external carotid artery calcifications (ECACs) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, specifically to standardize reporting for oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 489 CBCT scans for the presence of ECACs. Two calibrated evaluators assessed the scans in all three orthogonal planes, using the axial plane to develop the staging system. Calcifications were graded on a scale from 0 to 5. Results: ECACs were found in 170 out of 489 scans (34.7%). There was a statistically significant increase in ECAC distribution with age progression. The prevalence of ECACs was similar between genders. Grade 1 calcifications were most common in the 51–60 age group, Grade 2 in the 61–70 and 71–80 groups, and Grades 3 and 4 in the 81–90 group. No Grade 5 calcifications were observed in any age group. The inter-rater reliability showed an excellent correlation in the identification and grading of ECACs. Conclusions: The proposed grading system enables oral and maxillofacial radiologists to quantitatively report ECACs, facilitating timely referrals to physicians for further evaluation and early intervention, thereby potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular events Full article

The severity of pulpitis is a crucial factor in determining the suitable treatment. There are no clear objective indicators to assess the stage of pulp inflammation that could be used in clinical practice. The change in blood pH of the pulp during the inflammatory phase could hypothetically serve as an indicator of the pulp inflammation severity. The aim of this study was to assess the pH values in the pulpal blood of mature teeth in patients with symptomatic pulpitis, in comparison with the healthy controls. The study included patients with symptoms of pulpitis in premolar or molar teeth (Test group; n = 24, mean age 36.04, SD 7.10), and healthy controls (Control group, n = 6, mean age 24.5, SD 5.94) referred for extraction of premolars or third molars, for orthodontic reasons. The pulpal blood was taken at the opening of the endodontic access cavity, and the pH value was measured in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 27.0 program with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The Mann–Whitney test for dependent samples was performed to evaluate the statistical difference between the groups. The patients with symptomatic pulpitis had significantly decreased pulpal blood pH compared to the healthy controls (p ≤ 0.05). The mean pulpal blood pH was 7.27 (SD 0.06) and 7.40 (SD 0.02) in Test and Control groups, respectively. In the Test group, the pulpal blood pH values were significantly lower in the patients who had symptoms for 3 days or more (7.25, SD 0.05) than in those who had symptoms for up to 3 days (7.33, SD 0.03) (p < 0.001). The pH value of the pulpal blood gradually declines in cases of symptomatic pulpitis, along with increasing duration of the symptoms. Full article

Bridges may undergo structural vibration responses when exposed to seismic waves. An analysis of structural vibration characteristics is essential for evaluating the safety and stability of a bridge. In this paper, a signal time-frequency feature extraction method (NTFT-ESVD) integrating standard time-frequency transformation, singular value decomposition, and information entropy is proposed to analyze the vibration characteristics of structures under seismic excitation. First, the experiment simulates the response signal of the structure when exposed to seismic waves. The results of the time-frequency analysis indicate a maximum relative error of only 1% in frequency detection, and the maximum relative errors in amplitude and time parameters are 5.9% and 6%, respectively. These simulation results demonstrate the reliability of the NTFT-ESVD method in extracting the time-frequency characteristics of the signal and its suitability for analyzing the seismic response of the structure. Then, a real seismic wave event of the Su-Tong Yangtze River Bridge during the Hengchun earthquake in Taiwan (2006) is analyzed. The results show that the seismic waves only have a short-term impact on the bridge, with the maximum amplitude of the vibration response no greater than 1 cm, and the maximum vibration frequency no greater than 0.2 Hz in the three-dimensional direction, indicating that the earthquake in Hengchun will not have any serious impact on the stability and security of the Su-Tong Yangtze River Bridge. Additionally, the reliability of determining the arrival time of seismic waves by extracting the time-frequency information from structural vibration response signals is validated by comparing it with results from seismic stations (SSE/WHN/QZN) at similar epicenter distances published by the USGS. The results of the case study show that the combination of dynamic GNSS monitoring technology and time-frequency analysis can be used to analyze the impact of seismic waves on the bridge, which is of great help to the manager in assessing structural seismic damage. Full article

The soft superficial tissues of the face are against gravity through an intricate network of ligaments and ligamentous attachments. The aim of this investigation is to delineate the relationship between the muscular, fibrous, and vascular components of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face (SMAS) at the level of its periosteal fixation areas from advanced radiological and novel biomarkers’ perspectives. These areas represent key points underlying skin aging and the longevity of restorative surgery results. Methods: This study was carried out on 37 surgical specimens, excised from patients admitted for surgery. On the excised specimens, we used special immunohistochemical techniques, such as markers for collagen type III, angiogenesis, vascular endothelium (I-CAM2) and muscle fibers (MYH2). We performed a micro-CT evaluation of these 37 specimens. Results: The results of this study showed different radiologic and IHC characteristics of the means of periosteal fixation of the SMAS. Evidence of morphohistological and radiological peculiarities of the retaining ligaments highlights new data for future functional studies of these structures. Our research must be continued with larger groups of subjects and through detailed methodological studies of vascular microperfusion and could represent an important new step in biotissue engineering and the customization of surgical techniques involving the sub-SMAS layers. Full article