Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) inevitably develop resistance through several biological mechanisms. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance to suboptimal EGFR-TKI doses, due to pharmacodynamics leading to inadequate drug exposure. To evaluate the effects of suboptimal EGFR-TKI exposure on resistance in NSCLC, we obtained HCC827 and PC9 cell lines resistant to suboptimal fixed and intermittent doses of gefitinib and compared them to cells exposed to higher doses of the drug. We analyzed the differences in terms of EGFR signaling activation and the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, whole transcriptomes byRNA sequencing, and cell motility. We observed that the exposure to low doses of gefitinib more frequently induced a partial EMT associated with an induced migratory ability, and an enhanced transcription of cancer stem cell markers, particularly in the HCC827 gefitinib-resistant cells. Finally, the HCC827 gefitinib-resistant cells showed increased secretion of the EMT inducer transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, whose inhibition was able to partially restore gefitinib sensitivity. These data provide evidence that different levels of exposure to EGFR-TKIs in tumor masses might promote different mechanisms of acquired resistance. Full article

We compared the effects of milk-feeding in 288 Holstein calves (72 per group) which were fed twice (2F) or thrice (3F) daily, with or without the addition of hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (G) supplemented in the starter food and in the daily diet up to the age of 9 months, on the calves’ metabolism, growth, health, and reproductive efficiency up to first pregnancy. The calves received 6 L of milk replacer (130 g/L) and had ad libitum access to water and textured calf starter with or without gluconate. Gluconate supplementation promoted a “catch-up” in growth in supplemented calves compared to their counterparts that did not receive gluconate. Gluconate appeared to reduce animal metabolic stress during key events, such as weaning and transfer into open-door pens, reducing fructosamine (352.61 vs. 303.06 in 3FG and 3F, respectively; p = 0.028) and urea (3F revealed the highest values compared with the other three groups: 19.06 for 3F vs. 13.9 (2F), 13.7 (2FG), and 14.3 (3FG), respectively, p = 0.002) from weaning onwards. The feeding of dairy calves with milk replacer three rather than two times per day tended to be associated with better health from weaning to 4 months old; parameters such as ultrasound lung score and calf health score improved over time (p < 0.001). Thrice-daily feeding with milk replacer tended to reduce the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy in heifers by 0.2 points (p = 0.092). We confirmed significant correlations between early health and growth parameters and reproductive efficiency and a positive correlation between body weight and average daily weight gain and the thickness of the back fat layer in young heifers (r = 0.245; p < 0.0001; r = 0.214; p < 0.0001 respectively). Our study was conducted on a commercial farm with reasonably effective animal management, so baseline welfare was likely satisfactory. Full article

A virtual marketplace or service-providing system must ensure minimal task response times. Varying working rates among the human workers in the system can lead to longer delays for certain tasks. The waiting time in the queue is crucially affected by the queueing architecture used in the system, whether global or local. Studies generally favor global queue systems over local ones, assuming similar processing rates. However, system behavior changes when workers are heterogeneous. In this research, we used simulation to compare the waiting times of tasks assigned to three categories of processing rates in both architectures and with various routing policies in local queues. We found that when using random tie-breaking, there was a correlation between waiting time duration and the proportion of tie-breaking events. Performance is improved when controlling these events using scheduling awareness of the workers’ processing rates. The global queue outperforms local queues when the workers are homogeneous. However, the push mechanisms that control the assignment processes and heterogeneity-aware algorithms improve local queue system waiting times and load balance. It is better than global queues when tasks are assigned to medium and fast workers, but it also enables specific slow workers’ assignments. Full article

The time-varying gravity field models derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission suffer from pronounced longitudinal stripe errors in the spatial domain. A potential way to mitigate such errors is to combine GRACE data with observations from other sources. In this study, we investigate the impacts on GRACE monthly gravity field solutions of incorporating the GPS data collected by the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission. To that end, we produce GRACE/GOCE combined monthly gravity field solutions through combination on the normal equation level and compare them with the GRACE-only solutions, for which we have considered the state-of-the-art ITSG-Grace2018 solutions. Analysis in the spectral domain reveals that the combined solutions have a notably lower noise level beyond degree 30, with cumulative errors up to degree 96 being reduced by 31%. A comparison of the formal errors reveals that the addition of GOCE GPS data mainly improves (near-) sectorial coefficients and resonant orders, which cannot be well determined by GRACE alone. In the spatial domain, we also observe a significant reduction by at least 30% in the noise of recovered mass changes after incorporating the GOCE GPS data. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratios of mass changes over 180 large river basins were improved by 8–20% (dependent on the applied Gaussian filter radius). These results demonstrate that the GOCE GPS data can augment the GRACE monthly gravity field solutions and support a future GOCE-type mission for tracking more accurate time-varying gravity fields. Full article

Multiple datasets related to pond and marine aquaculture have been published using diverse remote sensing technologies, yet a comprehensive dataset detailing spatial distribution on both land and sea sides is lacking. Firstly, a meticulous comparison of datasets which we selected related to aquaculture ponds and marine, ensuring consistency in trends. Subsequently, the datasets published by our team were edited and integrated to illustrate aquaculture activities on both sides of China’s coastal zone. Finally, a spatial differentiation of coastal aquaculture in major provinces was analyzed. This analysis also utilizes the types of coastline and statistical data, guiding coordinated resource management efforts. The results unveil a distinctive spatial distribution pattern, concentrating aquaculture in the northern regions—Bohai Sea, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Pearl River coasts in Guangdong. The provinces rich in aquaculture resources, such as Shandong, Guangdong, and Liaoning, exhibit extensive coastlines. However, remote sensing monitoring suggests an underestimation of Liaoning’s marine aquaculture compared to statistical yearbook data. Furthermore, southern provinces like Guangdong and Fujian exhibit significantly higher aquaculture output than Liaoning. Zhejiang leads in fishing output. The paper outlines the future development direction of coastal aquaculture, emphasizing a strategic, integrated land–sea approach for sustainable development. Full article

This research study focused on the effect of adding boric acid to epoxy resin in order to obtain a composite material with improved properties and performance. To this end, a fine powder of boric acid (H₃BO₃) was introduced into epoxy resin in different amounts, i.e., 0.5 g, 1.0 g, and 1.5 g. As the matrix of the epoxy composites, styrene-modified epoxy resin based on bisphenol A (BPA) (Epidian 53) was used. It was cross-linked with two types of curing agents, i.e., an amine (ET) and a polyamide (PAC). The mechanical properties of the obtained epoxy composites (in terms of compressive strength, compressive modulus, and compressive strain) were determined at room temperature in order to assess the effect of the addition of boron acid and of the type of curing agent employed to cure the epoxy on these characteristics. Calorimetric measurements were made to highlight any changes in the glass transition temperature (Tg) as a result of the addition of boric acid to epoxy resin. Finally, flammability tests were performed on both Epidian 53/PAC and Epidian 53/ET epoxy composites to analyze their fire behavior and consequently establish the effectiveness of the selected additive as a flame retardant. Full article

The challenge of reduced dental treatment and education infrastructure in the Tanzanian highlands affects the oral health situation of both the general population and local healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the oral health status of healthcare workers at Ilembula Lutheran Hospital (ILH), Tanzania, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 134 healthcare workers (62 women, 72 men; mean age 36.48 ± 9.56 years, range 19–59 years; median age 35.00 years) participated in this cross-sectional study, conducted from 12 February to 27 February. A dental examiner trained in oral health screening performed the oral health data collection. Data collection was performed by probability sampling using the Ilembula Data Collection Form—Oral Health (IDCF-Oral Health) questionnaire distributed in paper form. Ethical approval was obtained from the National Institute for Medical Research/Tanzania. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF/T) index proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used with the associated caries measurement method and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Details regarding edentulism, nutritional habits, and socio-economic factors were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression (α = 0.05). The average DMF-T index was 3.33 ± 0.82, with age, gender, meal frequency, and soft drink consumption significantly influencing the index. No evidence of dental plaque was detected in 43.3% of the participants. Of the participants, 32.8% required prosthetic treatment (Kennedy Class III), while 16.4% needed it for acute malocclusions. Oral hygiene products were used in 97% of cases. A total of 35.8% of the participants had an OHI-S score of up to 1.0, with (p < 0.001) age and (p < 0.001) sex having a significant influence on the index. The current oral health situation of healthcare workers at ILH shows a moderate need for restorative and prosthetic treatment in rural Tanzania. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no change in the need for dental treatment, which may be explained by the generally restricted access to dental healthcare in the investigated region. The development of an interdisciplinary oral health prophylaxis system could help to reduce the need for future treatments. Full article

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has attracted significant attention in recent years as it is an innovative approach to tumor treatment. It involves the utilization of sound waves or ultrasound (US) to activate acoustic sensitizers, enabling targeted drug release for precise tumor treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of SDT, encompassing its underlying principles and therapeutic mechanisms, the applications of nanomaterials, and potential synergies with combination therapies. The review begins by introducing the fundamental principle of SDT and delving into the intricate mechanisms through which it facilitates tumor treatment. A detailed analysis is presented, outlining how SDT effectively destroys tumor cells by modulating drug release mechanisms. Subsequently, this review explores the diverse range of nanomaterials utilized in SDT applications and highlights their specific contributions to enhancing treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the potential to combine SDT with other therapeutic modalities such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy is discussed. These combined approaches aim to synergistically improve therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects. In conclusion, SDT emerges as a promising frontier in tumor treatment that offers personalized and effective treatment options with the potential to revolutionize patient care. As research progresses, SDT is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of oncology by providing patients with a broader spectrum of efficacious and tailored treatment options. Full article

Kuwait stands as one of the hottest locations globally, experiencing scorching temperatures that can soar to 50 °C during the summer months. Conversely, in the winter months of December and January, temperatures may plummet to less than 10 °C. Maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors necessitates a substantial amount of energy, particularly during the scorching summer seasons. In Kuwait, most of the electrical energy required for functions such as air conditioning and lighting is derived from fossil fuel resources, contributing to escalating air pollution and global warming. To reduce dependence on conventional energy sources for heating and cooling, this article presents a case study to explore the potential of using geothermal energy for space heating and cooling in Kuwait. The case study involves utilizing a geothermal heat pump (water-sourced heat pump) in conjunction with a vertical-borehole ground heat exchanger (VBGHE). The mentioned system is deployed to regulate the climate in a six-floor apartment block comprising a small two-bedroom apartment on each level, each with a total floor area of 57 m². Two geothermal heat pumps, each with a cooling capacity of 2.58 kW and a heating capacity of 2.90 kW, connected to two vertical-borehole heat exchangers, were deployed for each apartment to maintain temperatures at 22 °C in summer and 26 °C in winter. The findings indicate that the estimated annual energy loads for cooling and heating for the apartment block are 42,758 kWh and 113 kWh, respectively. The corresponding electrical energy consumption amounted to 9294 kWh for space cooling and 113 kWh for space heating. The observed peak cooling load was approximately 9300 kJ/h (2.58 kW) per apartment, resulting in a power density of 45 W/m². Moreover, the HP system achieved a 22% reduction in annual electric energy consumption compared to conventional air conditioning systems. This reduction in electric energy usage led to an annual CO₂ reduction of 6.6 kg/m². Full article

Due to its effectiveness as a risk-hedging trading strategy in financial markets, futures arbitrage is highly sought after by investors in turbulent market conditions. The essence of futures arbitrage lies in formulating strategies based on predictions of future futures price differentials. However, contemporary research predominantly focuses on projections of single indicators for the subsequent temporal juncture, and devising efficacious arbitrage strategies often necessitates the examination of multiple indicators across timeframes. To tackle the aforementioned challenge, our methodology leverages a PSO Deep-ConvLSTM network, which, through particle swarm optimization (PSO), refines hyperparameters, including layer architectures and learning rates, culminating in superior predictive performance. By analyzing temporal-spatial data within financial markets through ConvLSTM, the model captures intricate market patterns, performing better in forecasting than traditional models. Multistep forward simulation experiments and extensive ablation studies using future data from the Shanghai Futures Exchange in China validate the effectiveness of the integrated model. Compared with the gate recurrent unit (GRU), long short-term memory (LSTM), Transformer, and FEDformer, this model exhibits an average reduction of 39.8% in root mean squared error (RMSE), 42.5% in mean absolute error (MAE), 45.6% in mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and an average increase of 1.96% in coefficient of determination (R2) values. Full article

This paper reports the successful fabrication of a new nanofibrous membrane, F-PI/PAN, through electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and fluorinated polyimide (F-PI). The nanofibrous membrane exhibits comprehensive properties for high-temperature filtration and robust PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of 2.5 microns or less) removal. The introduction of F enhances the hydrophobicity of the PI. The relationship between the hydrophobic performance and the filtration performance of particles is investigated. The chemical group of the composite membrane was demonstrated using FITR, while the surface morphology was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The TGA results indicated good thermal stability at 300 °C. Various ratios of F-PI membranes were prepared to characterize the change in properties, with the optimal mass ratio of F-PI being 20 wt%. As the proportion of F-PI increases, its mechanical and filtration efficiency properties and hydrophobicity become stronger. The contact angle reaches its maximum of 128 ± 5.2° when PAN:F-PI = 6:4. Meanwhile, when PAN:F-PI = 8:2, the filtration efficiency reaches 99.4 ± 0.3%, and the elongation at break can reach 76%. The fracture strength can also reach 7.1 MPa, 1.63 times that of the pure PAN membrane. Full article

Within the dynamic realm of social media, the proliferation of harmful content can significantly influence user engagement and emotional health. This study presents an in-depth analysis that bridges diverse domains, from examining the aftereffects of personal online attacks to the intricacies of online trolling. By leveraging an AI-driven framework, we systematically implemented high-precision attack detection, psycholinguistic feature extraction, and sentiment analysis algorithms, each tailored to the unique linguistic contexts found within user-generated content on platforms like Reddit. Our dataset, which spans a comprehensive spectrum of social media interactions, underwent rigorous analysis employing classical statistical methods, Bayesian estimation, and model-theoretic analysis. This multi-pronged methodological approach allowed us to chart the complex emotional responses of users subjected to online negativity, covering a spectrum from harassment and cyberbullying to subtle forms of trolling. Empirical results from our study reveal a clear dose–response effect; personal attacks are quantifiably linked to declines in user activity, with our data indicating a 5% reduction after 1–2 attacks, 15% after 3–5 attacks, and 25% after 6–10 attacks, demonstrating the significant deterring effect of such negative encounters. Moreover, sentiment analysis unveiled the intricate emotional reactions users have to these interactions, further emphasizing the potential for AI-driven methodologies to promote more inclusive and supportive digital communities. This research underscores the critical need for interdisciplinary approaches in understanding social media’s complex dynamics and sheds light on significant insights relevant to the development of regulation policies, the formation of community guidelines, and the creation of AI tools tailored to detect and counteract harmful content. The goal is to mitigate the impact of such content on user emotions and ensure the healthy engagement of users in online spaces. Full article

This study examines the profitability and reliability of a virtual power plant (VPP) with the existence of a diesel genset (DG) in the day-ahead (DA) and intra-day (ID) power markets. The study’s unique contribution lies in integrating the VPP system with non-spinning reserve DG while limiting the DG operation via minimum running time and maximum number of switching times (on/off) per day. This contribution decreases the renewables’ uncertainty and increases the VPP’s reliability. Moreover, the study proposes an optimization model as a decision-making support tool for power market participants to choose the most profitable short-term market. The proposed model suggests choosing the DA market in 62% of time (from 579 days) based on estimated VPP power supply, and market prices. Even though there is uncertainty about VPP power supply and market prices, the division between the plan and actual profits is 1.8 × 10⁶ Japanese yen [JPY] per day on average. The share of surplus power sold from the mentioned gap is 5.5%, which implies the opportunity cost of inaccurate weather forecasting. The results also show that the reliability of the VPP system in the presence of a DG increases from 64.9% to 66.2% for 14 h and mitigates the loss of power load by 1.3%. Full article

Proppant transport and distribution law in hydraulic fractures has important theoretical and field guidance significance for the optimization design of hydraulic fracturing schemes and accurate production prediction. Many studies aim to understand proppant transportation in complex fracture systems. Few studies, however, have addressed the flow path mechanism between the transverse fracture and horizontal well, which is often neglected in practical design. In this paper, a series of mathematical equations, including the rock elastic deformation equation, fracturing fluid continuity equation, fracturing fluid flow equation, and proppant continuity equation for the proppant transport, were established for the transverse fracture of a horizontal well, while the finite element method was used for the solution. Moreover, the two-dimensional radial flow was considered in the proppant transport modeling. The results show that proppant breakage, embedding, and particle migration are harmful to fracture conductivity. The proppant concentration and fracture wall roughness effect can slow down the proppant settling rate, but at the same time, it can also block the horizontal transportation of the proppant and shorten the effective proppant seam length. Increasing the fracturing fluid viscosity and construction displacement, reducing the proppant density and particle size, and adopting appropriate sanding procedures can all lead to better proppant placement and, thus, better fracturing and remodeling results. This paper can serve as a reference for the future study of proppant design for horizontal wells. Full article

The Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Taskforce is a state, public, and private partnership of individuals, organizations, and community groups that leads statewide suicide prevention efforts in Hawaiʻi. The purpose of this evaluation was to identify the progress and barriers of the Taskforce to inform the upcoming 2025 Hawaiʻi Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan in the following areas: Hope, Help, Heal, Research and Evaluation, and Policy and Advocacy. Utilizing a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach, 18 key informants were interviewed, followed by a 13-question survey sent to the Taskforce member listserv. Results were analyzed using qualitative coding techniques and descriptive statistics. Interview findings contained six themes: importance of community relationships, interconnection of suicide prevention efforts, progress in diversifying training, organizational challenges, adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic, and funding challenges. Of the 34 survey respondents, most were involved in the area of Hope (91%). The respondents reported the area with most progress was Hope (87%), and the most important area to address was Help (41%). The majority (82%) of the respondents characterized the level of Taskforce communication as Excellent or Good. Interview and survey data corroborated each other and revealed new insights about the successes and barriers of the Taskforce and their progress in implementing the Strategic Plan. Recommendations included advocating for long-term funding for suicide prevention and building community relationships. Full article

Discussions about sustainability and entrepreneurship are often an “either/or” discourse. Many higher-education institutions offer sustainability education programs with the aim of enabling students to think and act sustainably without concrete tools for change. Similarly, many offerings in entrepreneurship fail to address sustainability issues. This article assumes a qualitative, constructivist, systems thinking approach to theorize and analyze the relationships between entrepreneurship and sustainability competencies and makes three contributions to theory and practice. First, it provides a thematic analysis of two important European competence frameworks—for sustainability (GreenComp) and entrepreneurial competencies (EntreComp)—and delineates their relationships. Second, through a case study of an experiential educational format, it offers three educational tools that integrate sustainability and entrepreneurial competencies. Third, it contributes to the growing field of research that combines sustainability and entrepreneurship education. The results of this paper are relevant for policymakers who want to combine sustainability and entrepreneurship in education, as well as for educators looking for methods to combine both competence frameworks. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small, non-coding RNAs, play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. These regulatory molecules are integral to many biological processes and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. This review aims to cover the current understanding of the multifaceted roles miRNAs assume in the context of HIV infection and pathogenesis. The discourse is structured around three primary focal points: (i) elucidation of the mechanisms through which miRNAs regulate HIV replication, encompassing both direct targeting of viral transcripts and indirect modulation of host factors critical for viral replication; (ii) examination of the modulation of miRNA expression by HIV, mediated through either viral proteins or the activation of cellular pathways consequent to viral infection; and (iii) assessment of the impact of miRNAs on the immune response and the progression of disease in HIV-infected individuals. Further, this review delves into the potential utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in HIV infection, underscoring the challenges and prospects inherent to this line of inquiry. The synthesis of current evidence positions miRNAs as significant modulators of the host-virus interplay, offering promising avenues for enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV infection. Full article

To avoid delay in oncological treatment, a 6-weeks norm for time to treatment has been agreed on in the Netherlands. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems resulted in reduced capacity for regular surgical care. In this study, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on time to treatment in surgical oncology in the Netherlands. Methods: A population-based analysis of data derived from five surgical audits, including patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer, colorectal cancer, upper gastro-intestinal, and hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) malignancies, was performed. The COVID-19 cohort of 2020 was compared to the historic cohorts of 2018 and 2019. Primary endpoints were time to treatment initiation and the proportion of patients whose treatment started within 6 weeks. The secondary objective was to evaluate the differences in characteristics and tumour stage distribution between patients treated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 14,567 surgical cancer patients were included in this study, of these 3292 treatments were started during the COVID-19 pandemic. The median time to treatment decreased during the pandemic (26 vs. 27 days, p < 0.001) and the proportion of patients whose treatment started within 6 weeks increased (76% vs. 73%, p < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusting for patient characteristics, no significant difference in post-operative outcomes between patients who started treatment before or after 6 weeks was found. Overall, the number of procedures performed per week decreased by 8.1% during the pandemic. This reduction was most profound for patients with stage I lung carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma. There were fewer patients with pulmonary comorbidities in the pandemic cohort (11% vs. 13%, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Despite pressure on the capacity of the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, a larger proportion of surgical oncological patients started treatment within six weeks, possibly due to prioritisation of cancer care and reductions in elective procedures. However, during the pandemic, a decrease in the number of surgical oncological procedures performed in the Netherlands was observed, especially for patients with stage I disease. Full article

Background and objective: The symptoms of most neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), usually do not occur until substantial neuronal loss occurs. This makes the process of early diagnosis very challenging. Hence, this research used variant call format (VCF) analysis to detect variants and novel genes that could be used as prognostic indicators in the early diagnosis of prodromal PD. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), and we analyzed prodromal patients with gVCF data collected in the 2021 cohort. A total of 304 participants were included, including 100 healthy controls, 146 prodromal genetic individuals, 21 prodromal hyposmia individuals, and 37 prodromal individuals with RBD. A pipeline was developed to process the samples from gVCF to reach variant annotation and pathway and disease association analysis. Results: Novel variant percentages were detected in the analyzed prodromal subgroups. The prodromal subgroup analysis revealed novel variations of 1.0%, 1.2%, 0.6%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.4% for the genetic male, genetic female, hyposmia male, hyposmia female, RBD male, and RBD female groups, respectively. Interestingly, 12 potentially novel loci (MTF2, PIK3CA, ADD1, SYBU, IRS2, USP8, PIGL, FASN, MYLK2, USP25, EP300, and PPP6R2) that were recently detected in PD patients were detected in the prodromal stage of PD. Conclusions: Genetic biomarkers are crucial for the early detection of Parkinson’s disease and its prodromal stage. The novel PD genes detected in prodromal patients could aid in the use of gene biomarkers for early diagnosis of the prodromal stage without relying only on phenotypic traits. Full article

A perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based microfluidic device with cross-junction microchannels was fabricated with the purpose of producing uniform droplets. The microchannels were developed using CO₂ laser engraving. PFPE was chosen as the main material because of its excellent solvent resistance. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was mixed with PFPE to improve the hydrophilic properties of the inner surface of the microchannels. The microchannels of the polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device had a blackened and rough surface after laser engraving. By contrast, the inner surface of the microchannels of the PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic device exhibited a smooth surface. The lower power and faster speed of the laser engraving resulted in the development of microchannels with smaller dimensions, less than 30 μm in depth. The PFPE and PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic devices were used to produce uniform water and oil droplets, respectively. We believe that such a PFPE-based microfluidic device with CO₂-laser-engraved microchannels can be used as a microfluidic platform for applications in various fields, such as biological and chemical analysis, extraction, and synthesis. Full article

The ship-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system was an approach to solve the problem of pollution caused by excessive energy consumption during navigation. However, PV systems used on ships faced problems such as small installation areas, which prevented PV power generation from being utilized on a large scale. This article proposes a space-saving photovoltaic double-skin façade (PV-DSF) window system, which could be used in conjunction with ships to address the insufficient ship-mounted photovoltaics. In this paper, we propose a space-saving photovoltaic double-skinned façade (PV-DSF) window system that could be used in conjunction with a ship to solve the problem of insufficient space for onboard photovoltaics. According to the working principle of the system, we established a mathematical model corresponding to the actual heat transfer process and, at the same time built up a corresponding experimental test rig for thermoelectric performance measurement, and verified the accuracy of the proposed mathematical model based on the experimental results. Finally, the effect of different parameters on the performance of the system and the energy performance of the system on board the ship was discussed using a mathematical model. The simulation data showed that the increase of solar radiation intensity, wind speed, and PV coverage had a positive effect on the system’s power generation, while the ambient temperature had a negative effect. The system, in combination with a passenger ship, was able to provide 53.2 kWh of annual electricity generation and reduced CO₂ emissions by 17 kg. Full article

During the 2008 financial crisis, central banks (such as the Fed) adopted a quantitative easing (QE) policy to stimulate their countries’ economies and overcome severe economic and financial recessions. However, apart from stimulating the economy by issuing a substantial amount of currency to purchase long-term bonds and suppress interest rates, QE policy also contributed to a boom in the real estate and construction sectors. Therefore, this study employs data envelopment analysis to measure the business performance (BP) of construction companies, and explore the impact of QE policy on the BP of construction companies, between 2004 and 2015, using hierarchical regression. We also examine the moderating role of the debt ratio on the relationship. Focused on publicly listed construction companies in Taiwan, this research reveals three encouraging findings. Firstly, QE policy indeed enhanced the BP of Taiwanese construction companies. Secondly, performance improvements in construction companies due to QE policy show a time-diminishing trend, suggesting the importance of seizing the initial policy benefits of QE implementation. Lastly, construction companies with appropriate financial leverage may exhibit better BP. These findings can provide valuable insights for relevant government entities and decision-makers in the industry for policy and investment decisions. Full article