This is the first report on morpho-anatomical and phytochemical differentiation of 19 native populations representing different Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold subspecies (banatica (Borbás) Novák, dalmatica (Vis.) Franco, nigra, and pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) in the Balkans and Southern Carpathians. The 9 morpho-anatomical characteristics and 10 headspace volatiles of needles were analyzed with multivariate statistical analyses. The combination of results from all multivariate analyses with both types of markers revealed that P. nigra is differentiated into three groups within the studied area (the Dalmatian coast, Greece, and the rest of the Balkans with the Southern Carpathians). The first group included the population from an island in Dalmatia that corresponds to P. nigra subsp. dalmatica. The third group consisted of populations from continental Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria, which corresponds to P. nigra subsp. nigra. In light of the recent molecular data that indicated that the Greek populations (the second group) represent a distinct genetic lineage of P. nigra placed between the populations from the principal area (P. nigra subsp. nigra) and Turkey (P. nigra subsp. pallasiana), one can speculate that there is one more subspecies of P. nigra in this region that corresponds to populations from Greece. Extending our analyses to Asia Minor and Crimea could bring additional results that would be valuable for clarifying the intriguing issue of the diversification of P. nigra in the eastern part of its range. Full article

Background: Parents of children suffering from congenital heart disease experience high levels of stress and negative emotions. Therefore, recognition of parents’ emotional states and their ways of coping with it is becoming more and more important. Methods: The study group consisted of 154 parents of newborns and infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease, before and after cardiac surgery (partial or full). To assess parental negative emotions, the level of stress, and strategies of coping with it, standardized questionnaires, such as HADS-M, PSS-10, and COPE, were used. Results: Stress levels in parents were high and associated with negative emotions (anxiety, depression, irritability), as well as the choice of non-constructive coping strategies, which was observed especially in younger parents. Conclusions: Assessing parents’ stress levels and ways of coping with stress can improve family functioning and provide better development conditions for the child. Full article

In this paper, a detailed validation of the passive material properties of mice carotid arteries and constants of the Fung and Holzapfel hyperelastic material laws is conducted by means of static nonlinear FEM analyses. The response of the carotid arteries in an inflation test is studied here for the following mouse models: wild-type, mdx, sgcd−/−, Eln+/+, Eln+/−, Fbln5+/+, and Fbln5−/−. All FEM computations are conducted on models that have been preliminarily checked for their reliability. The results of the calculations, namely, the relation between the internal pressure and the artery outer diameter, are verified against experimental responses and the applicability of the laws is assessed. New sets of Holzapfel constitutive relation constants are proposed for Eln+/+ and Fbln5−/− mice. Finally, the problem of carotid artery buckling is also discussed. The buckling pressures of the arteries are predicted using FEM models and nonlinear static analyses. These values are compared with the reference experimental results, which allow for further validation of the constitutive relations. The research emphasizes that computations and numerical methods enable an accurate description of bioengineering processes and behaviors but only if the models used are appropriately validated. Full article

Regular railway inspections are crucial for maintaining their safety and efficiency. However, traditional inspection methods are complex and expensive. Consequently, there has been a significant shift toward combining remote sensing (RS) and machine learning (ML) techniques to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of railway defect monitoring while reducing costs. The advantages of RS-ML techniques include their ability to automate and refine inspection processes and address challenges such as image quality and methodological limitations. However, the integration of RS and ML in railway monitoring is an emerging field, with diverse methodologies and outcomes that the research has not yet synthesized. To fill this gap, this study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to consolidate the existing research on RS-ML applications in railway inspection. The SLR meticulously compiled and analyzed relevant studies, evaluating the evolution of research trends, methodological approaches, and the geographic distribution of contributions. The findings showed a notable increase in relevant research activity over the last five years, highlighting the growing interest in this realm. The key methodological patterns emphasize the predominance of approaches based on convolutional neural networks, a variant of artificial neural networks, in achieving high levels of precision. These findings serve as a foundational resource for academics, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of computer science, engineering, and transportation to help guide future research directions and foster the development of more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective railway inspection methods. Full article

BCG vaccination affects other diseases beyond tuberculosis by unknown—potentially immunomodulatory—mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that BCG vaccination administered during overt type 1 diabetes (T1D) improved glycemic control and affected immune and metabolic parameters. Here, we comprehensively characterized Ghanaian T1D patients with or without routine neonatal BCG vaccination to identify vaccine-associated alterations. Ghanaian long-term T1D patients (n = 108) and matched healthy controls (n = 214) were evaluated for disease-related clinical, metabolic, and immunophenotypic parameters and compared based on their neonatal BCG vaccination status. The majority of study participants were BCG-vaccinated at birth and no differences in vaccination rates were detected between the study groups. Notably, glycemic control metrics, i.e., HbA1c and IDAA1c, showed significantly lower levels in BCG-vaccinated as compared to unvaccinated patients. Immunophenotype comparisons identified higher expression of the T cell activation marker CD25 on CD8⁺ T cells from BCG-vaccinated T1D patients. Correlation analysis identified a negative correlation between HbA1c levels and CD25 expression on CD8⁺ T cells. In addition, we observed fractional increases in glycolysis metabolites (phosphoenolpyruvate and 2/3-phosphoglycerate) in BCG-vaccinated T1D patients. These results suggest that neonatal BCG vaccination is associated with better glycemic control and increased activation of CD8⁺ T cells in T1D patients. Full article

This article presents the four biotic indices used to assess the hydrological stability of small, fishless, lowland ponds in northern Poland’s post-glacial landscape. The assessment was based on the analyses of the relative abundance of selected macroinvertebrate taxa caught using standard and non-lethal methods. The indices were derived from a multi-year analysis of data on invertebrate composition, abiotic water parameters, and publicly available satellite data. This allowed for the reconstruction of hydrological stability, including fluctuations in water level and surface area, as well as the frequency of drying, in small water bodies in the 5–10 years before sampling. The numerical relationships between the parameters describing hydrological stability and the relative abundance of several invertebrate taxa were described. A multiple regression analysis showed that hydrological stability was generally more strongly related to faunal composition than the other abiotic parameters. The indices used in this study can be a useful tool, particularly in citizen science. It is important that their numerical bases can be easily modified depending on the local conditions. Full article

There is an unbalanced problem in the traditional laneway excavation process for coal mining because the laneway excavation and support are at the same position in space but they are separated in time, consequently leading to problems of low efficiency in laneway excavation. To overcome these problems, an advanced dual-arm tunneling robotic system for a coal mine is developed that can achieve the synchronous operation of excavation and the permanent support of laneways to efficiently complete excavation tasks for large-sized cross-section laneways. A dual-arm cutting robot (DACR) has an important influence on the forming quality and excavation efficiency of large-sized cross-section laneways. As a result, the relative kinematics, workspace, and control of dual-arm cutting robots are investigated in this research. First, a relative kinematic model of the DACR is established, and a closed-loop control strategy for the robot is proposed based on the relative kinematics. Second, an associated workspace (AW) for the DACR is presented and generated, which can provide a reference for the cutting trajectory planning of a DACR. Finally, the relative kinematics, closed-loop kinematic controller, and associated workspace generation algorithm are verified through simulation results. Full article

This study investigated lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) transfer in three dairy farming areas in the Mantaro river headwaters in the central Peruvian Andes and at varying distances from the mining complex at La Oroya. At each of these sites, the transfer of trace metals from the soil to raw milk was estimated, and a hazard assessment for lead and cadmium was carried out in scenarios of minimum, average, and maximum milk consumption in a Peruvian population aged 2–85. Pb and Cd were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Significantly, the concentrations of lead and cadmium were found to exceed the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization, with a positive geospatial trend correlated with the distance from mining activity. Both Pb and Cd were found to be transferred through the soil–pasture–milk pathway, with the primary source of Cd being phosphate-based fertilizers used in pasture improvement. Pb was found to be the most significant contributor to the Hazard Index (HI) with those under 19 years of age and over 60 recording an HI of >1, with infants being the most vulnerable group due to their greater milk consumption in relation to their body weight. A marginal increase in contamination was observed in the dry season, indicating the need for studies to be expanded over several annual cycles. Full article

The global reliance on oil and gas pipelines for energy transportation is increasing. As the pioneering review in the field of ultrasonic defect detection for oil and gas pipelines based on bibliometric methods, this study employs visual analysis to identify the most influential countries, academic institutions, and journals in this domain. Through cluster analysis, it determines the primary trends, research hotspots, and future directions in this critical field. Starting from the current global industrial ultrasonic in-line inspection (ILI) detection level, this paper provides a flowchart for selecting detection methods and a table for defect comparison, detailing the comparative performance limits of different detection devices. It offers a comprehensive perspective on the latest ultrasonic pipeline detection technology from laboratory experiments to industrial practice. Full article

In general, it is difficult to visualize internal ocular structure and detect a lesion such as a cataract or glaucoma using the current ultrasound brightness-mode (B-mode) imaging. This is because the internal structure of the eye is rich in moisture, resulting in a lack of contrast between tissues in the B-mode image, and the penetration depth is low due to the attenuation of the ultrasound wave. In this study, the entire internal ocular structure of a bovine eye was visualized in an ex vivo environment using the compound acoustic radiation force impulse (CARFI) imaging scheme based on the phase-inverted ultrasound transducer (PIUT). In the proposed method, the aperture of the PIUT is divided into four sections, and the PIUT is driven by the out-of-phase input signal capable of generating split-focusing at the same time. Subsequently, the compound imaging technique was employed to increase signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and to reduce displacement error. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed technique could provide an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) image of the bovine eye with a broader depth-of-field (DOF) and about 80% increased SNR compared to the conventional ARFI image obtained using the in-phase input signal. Therefore, the proposed technique can be one of the useful techniques capable of providing the image of the entire ocular structure to diagnose various eye diseases. Full article

Recycling is a cornerstone of waste management. Despite its significance and growing interest, the US recycling rate has stagnated at around 35% for more than the past decade. In this study, we investigate an effective waste collection method as well as factors that may negatively affect recycling program management as a proxy measure of the recycling rate. To this end, recycling program managers and coordinators were surveyed since they play a pivotal role in the flow of recyclable materials. We found a combination of curbside and drop-off recycling to be the most cost-effective, but when managers’ experience level is factored in, the perceived significance of the combination approach decreases. Concerning barriers to recycling, we found that market variability for recycled materials, insufficient public participation in waste collection, and knowledge of best practices are critical inhibiting factors. In addition, China’s complete ban on waste import by 2030, an organizational framing effect of recycling, and a strong need for public education and outreach activities about recycling have emerged as new problems for recycling. Our findings point out recycling systems that reduce those setbacks to improve recycling performance and increase the recycling rate. Full article

Cancer invasion is a requisite for the most malignant progression of cancer, that is, metastasis. The mechanisms of cancer invasion were originally studied using in vitro cell culture systems, in which cancer cells were cultured using artificial extracellular matrices (ECMs). However, conventional culture systems do not precisely recapitulate in vivo cancer invasion because the phenotypes of cancer cells in tumor tissues are strongly affected by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant cell type in the TME and accelerate cancer progression through invasion, metastasis, therapy resistance, and immune suppression. Thus, the reciprocal interactions between CAFs and cancer cells have been extensively studied, leading to the identification of factors that mediate cellular interactions, such as growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles. In addition, the importance of direct heterocellular adhesion between cancer cells and CAFs in cancer progression has recently been elucidated. In particular, CAFs are directly associated with cancer cells, allowing them to invade the ECM and metastasize to distant organs. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the direct heterocellular interaction in CAF-led cancer invasion and metastasis, with an emphasis on gastric cancer. Full article

The increasing adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as cloud computing and machine learning by robots that replace human workers, has posed serious challenges to employees’ career sustainability (CS), affecting their innovative work behavior (IWB). As the digitalization of the workplace continues to progress as normal, further investigations into the relationship between CS and IWB are urgently required. In response, we investigate the relationships among CS, IWB, human capital (HC), and user resistance (UR). Using data collected from 537 employees in Chinese high-tech enterprises, structural equation and regression analyses were performed. Our results reveal that (1) three dimensions of CS (career renewability, career flexibility, and career integrity) are positively related to IWB, while the fourth dimension of CS (career resourcefulness) exerts inverted U-shaped influences on IWB, and (2) there is a significant dual moderating effect between UR and HC on the four dimensions of CS and IWB, with the former demonstrating a negative effect and the latter showing a positive effect. These findings offer valuable insights for global managers and policymakers to more appropriately implement HR practices in this highly competitive international market. Adopting a conservation of resources theory (COR) framework and the Job Demands–Resources model (JD-R), we theoretically elucidate how different dimensions of CS serve as personal resources for IWB in the digitalized context, thereby enriching the literature on innovative behavior and career development. Full article

With the development of civil engineering, lightweight and high-strength materials, as well as large-span, low-frequency structural systems, are increasingly used. However, its self-oscillation frequency is often close to the stride frequency of pedestrians, which is easily affected by human activities. To study the effect of human activities on the dynamic response of structures, it is crucial to choose an appropriate anthropogenic load model. Considering the inter-subject and intra-subject variability of pedestrian walking parameters and induced forces in a crowd, we introduce the interaction rules between pedestrians based on the floor field cellular automata (FFCA). A stochastic crowd-loading model coupling walking parameters, induced forces between pedestrians, and induced forces between pedestrians and structures is proposed for simulating crowd-walking loads. The feasibility of the model is verified by comparing the measured response of a space large-span structure with the predicted response of the proposed stochastic crowd-loading model. The comfort level of the structure under different crowd densities was also evaluated based on the model. It was found that both random combinations of walking parameters and dynamic behaviors of pedestrians can cause significant differences in the structural response. Therefore, the crowd-loading model should consider the influence of pedestrian behavioral factors on the structural response. Full article

The tomato (Licopersicon esculentum Mill.) is considered to be one of the products with the highest demand due to its nutritional value; however, it is susceptible to infection by fungi during its pre- and postharvest stages. In this research, three commercial products (1% Citrocover, 1% Citro 80, and 0.002% Microdyn) and two coatings based on 1.0% chitosan/0.1% lime or 0.1% orange essential oils were evaluated in vitro and on Saladette tomatoes that were previously inoculated with four postharvest fungi. The application of the commercial citrus-based product Citrocover was highly effective in reducing the in vitro development of Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, but not Rhizopus stolonifer. The sanitizer Microdyn promoted infections with most fungi. Citrus-based products were effective in reducing infections with A. flavus in the tomatoes during storage. Overall, mycotoxin production was very low for all treatments. The use of commercial citrus-based products and coatings did not alter the weight loss, firmness, or total soluble solid contents of the treated tomatoes. The changes observed were, rather, associated with the normal ripening process of Saladette tomatoes. The commercial citrus-based products satisfactorily controlled the in vitro growth of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Full article

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer and crop residue amendments are important agricultural practices that could increase soil health, fertility, and crop yield. Such practices may also change soil denitrification processes where contradictory observations have been reported on soil N₂O emissions with fewer studies on N₂ emissions due to its large atmospheric background concentrations limiting its soil-borne measurement. This study aims to investigate N₂O production and reduction of N₂ emissions under a conducive denitrifying environment (like anaerobic microsites, 80% WFPS, available N and C) after rice straw amendment and KNO₃ application to three different soil types (fluvo-aquic, black, and paddy soils). In this regard, three treatments for three different soil types were set consisting of (a) a non-amended treatment (control), (b) a KNO₃ treatment (KNO₃, 20 mM KNO₃), and (c) a straw plus KNO₃ treatment (2.5 g rice straw kg⁻¹ dry soil and 20 mM KNO₃), which were incubated under 80% WFPS. Moreover, direct N₂O and N₂ fluxes were measured over 17 days in the current incubation experiment with a robotized incubation system using a helium atmosphere. Results showed that rice straw amendment combined with N fertilizer increased both N₂O and N₂ fluxes compared with control or KNO₃ treatments in all three soil types. Overall, compared with the black and paddy soils, the N₂O and N₂ fluxes were higher in the fluvo-aquic soil, with a maximum of 234.2 ± 6.3 and 590.1 ± 27.3 g N ha⁻¹ from F_SK treatment, respectively, during the incubation period. The general trends in three soil types of both N₂O and N₂ emissions were control < KNO₃ < rice straw plus KNO₃ treatments. Straw amendment in combination with KNO₃ can stimulate a high denitrification rate (less N₂O and higher N₂), whereas their effect on stoichiometric ratios of N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) highly depends on soil nitrate concentration, oxygen level, soil moisture content, and labile C. The current study underscores that the rice straw amendment in combination with N fertilizer can trigger denitrification with less increment on soil N₂O but higher N₂ emissions under conditions favoring denitrification. Full article

Robust data normalization and analysis are pivotal in biomedical research to ensure that observed differences in populations are directly attributable to the target variable, rather than disparities between control and study groups. ArsHive addresses this challenge using advanced algorithms to normalize populations (e.g., control and study groups) and perform statistical evaluations between demographic, clinical, and other variables within biomedical datasets, resulting in more balanced and unbiased analyses. The tool’s functionality extends to comprehensive data reporting, which elucidates the effects of data processing, while maintaining dataset integrity. Additionally, ArsHive is complemented by A.D.A. (Autonomous Digital Assistant), which employs OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to assist researchers with inquiries, enhancing the decision-making process. In this proof-of-concept study, we tested ArsHive on three different datasets derived from proprietary data, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing complex clinical and therapeutic information and highlighting its versatility for diverse research fields. Full article

The reaction of (Z)-5-phenyl-1,3-di-p-tolylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol (1) with trimethylsilyl chloride in dichloromethane at ambient temperature gave a dimeric ether compound 2 in 30% yield. Subsequently, heating 2 in toluene under refluxing temperature rendered the title compound quantitatively. The structure of this tricyclic-fused compound was characterized using NMR, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. This unique linear tricyclic fused furan framework is reported for the first time. Full article

Transformer-based models have gained popularity in the field of natural language processing (NLP) and are extensively utilized in computer vision tasks and multi-modal models such as GPT4. This paper presents a novel method to enhance the explainability of transformer-based image classification models. Our method aims to improve trust in classification results and empower users to gain a deeper understanding of the model for downstream tasks by providing visualizations of class-specific maps. We introduce two modules: the “Relationship Weighted Out” and the “Cut” modules. The “Relationship Weighted Out” module focuses on extracting class-specific information from intermediate layers, enabling us to highlight relevant features. Additionally, the “Cut” module performs fine-grained feature decomposition, taking into account factors such as position, texture, and color. By integrating these modules, we generate dense class-specific visual explainability maps. We validate our method with extensive qualitative and quantitative experiments on the ImageNet dataset. Furthermore, we conduct a large number of experiments on the LRN dataset, which is specifically designed for automatic driving danger alerts, to evaluate the explainability of our method in scenarios with complex backgrounds. The results demonstrate a significant improvement over previous methods. Moreover, we conduct ablation experiments to validate the effectiveness of each module. Through these experiments, we are able to confirm the respective contributions of each module, thus solidifying the overall effectiveness of our proposed approach. Full article

Moringa oleifera leaves are rich sources of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) stands out as a promising technique for effectively extracting valuable compounds from natural sources. In this study, we aimed to optimize PLE parameters, such as temperature, extraction duration, and pressure, to maximize bioactive compound (polyphenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) yield from M. oleifera leaves and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. According to the outcomes of this research, the maximum achieved total polyphenol content was 24.10 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry weight (dw), and the total flavonoid content was increased up to 19.89 mg rutin equivalents (RtE)/g dw. Moreover, after HPLC-DAD analysis, neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, catechin and epicatechin, rutin, and narirutin were identified and quantified. As far as the optimum ascorbic acid content is concerned, it was found to be 4.77 mg/g dw. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three different methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the DPPH method, and the anti-hydrogen peroxide activity (AHPA) method, resulting in 124.29 μmol ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g dw, 131.28 μmol AAE/g dw, and 229.38 μmol AAE/g dw values, respectively. Lastly, the albumin denaturation inhibition was found to be 37.54%. These findings underscore the potential of PLE as an efficient extraction method for preparing extracts from M. oleifera leaves with the maximum content of bioactive compounds. Full article

With the growing recognition of sustainability and environmental protection, World Heritage Sites (WHSs) are becoming popular destinations among tourists. To promote heritage destinations in South Korea via social networking site (SNS) platforms, the importance of joint support from tourists to share their experiences should be emphasized. In this research, we aimed to assess the formation process of WHS tourists’ SNS intentions by adopting concepts of travel motivation and overall image. As a part of this study, a survey was conducted among 238 tourists currently living in South Korea who have visited WHSs within the country. The survey results showed that cultural, travel, and social motives led to the construction of the overall destination image. The overall image also affects SNS intention in a positive and significant regard. We also examined the mediating effect of overall image on the relationship between motives and SNS intention. The findings of this study provide further theoretical and practical contributions that can be used to help analyze tourists’ motivations and increase the number of international visitors to a particular country. Full article

Background/Objective: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) have been considered a promising treatment for several diseases, such as cardiac injuries. Many studies have analyzed their functional properties; however, few studies have characterized MSCs through successive culture passages. The main objective of this work was to analyze the phenotype and functionality of MSCs isolated from two different sources in five culture passages to determine if the culture passage might influence the efficacy of MSCs as a cell therapy treatment. Methods: Bone Marrow (BM)-MSCs were harvested from the femur of Wistar rats (n = 17) and Adipose Tissue(AT)-MSCs were isolated from inguinal fat (n = 17). MSCs were cultured for five culture passages, and the immunophenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry, the functionality was characterized by adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation assays, and cytokine secretion capacity was determined through the quantification of the Vascular Endothelial Growth-Factor, Fibroblast Growth-Factor2, and Transforming Growth-Factorβ1 in the cell supernatant. The ultrastructure of MSCs was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: BM-MSCs exhibited typical phenotypes in culture passages two, four, and five, and their differentiation capacity showed an irregular profile throughout the five culture passages analyzed. AT-MSCs showed a normal phenotype and differentiation capacity in all the culture passages. BM- and AT-MSCs did not modify their secretion ability or ultrastructural morphology. Conclusions: Throughout the culture passages, BM-MSCs, but not AT-MSCs, exhibited changes in their functional and phenotypic characteristic that might affect their efficacy as a cell therapy treatment. Therefore, the culture passage selected should be considered for the application of MSCs as a cell therapy treatment. Full article