Background: Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis) is a frequent etiology of heart failure. Inflammation and mineral metabolism are associated with myocardial dysfunction and clinical performance. Cardiac global longitudinal strain (GLS) allows function assessment and is associated with prognosis. Our aim was to describe possible correlations between GLS, biomarker levels and clinical performance in ATTR amyloidosis. Methods: Thirteen patients with ATTR amyloidosis were included. Clinical characteristics; echocardiographic features, including strain assessment and 6 min walk test (6MWT); and baseline inflammatory, mineral metabolism and cardiovascular biomarker levels were assessed. Results: Of the 13 patients, 46.2% were women, and the mean age was 79 years. TAPSE correlated with NT-ProBNP (r −0.65, p < 0.05) and galectin-3 (r 0.76, p < 0.05); E/E’ ratio correlated with hsCRP (r 0.58, p < 0.05). Left ventricular GLS was associated with NT-ProBNP (r 0.61, p < 0.05) (patients have a better prognosis if the strain value is more negative) and left atrial GLS with NT-ProBNP (r −0.73, p < 0.05) and MCP1 (r 0.55, p < 0.05). Right ventricular GLS was correlated with hsTnI (r 0.62, p < 0.05) and IL6 (r 0.881 p < 0.05). Klotho levels were correlated with 6MWT (r 0.57, p < 0.05). Conclusions: While inflammatory biomarkers were correlated with cardiac function, klotho levels were associated with clinical performance in the population with TTR-CA. Full article

In this contribution, a wearable microwave imaging system for real-time monitoring of brain stroke in the post-acute stage is described and validated. The system exploits multistatic/multifrequency (only 50 frequency samples) data collected via a low-cost and low-complexity architecture. Data are collected by an array of only 16 antennas moved by pneumatic system. Phantoms, built from ABS material and filled with appropriate Triton X-100-based mixtures to mimic the different head human tissues, are employed for the experiments. The microwave system exploits the differential scattering measures and the Incoherent MUSIC algorithm to provide a 3D image of the region under investigation. The shown results, although preliminary, confirm the potential of the proposed microwave system in providing reliable results, including for targets whose evolution is as small as 16 mL in volume. Full article

This study examines the influence of multipath errors on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements collected at ASG-EUPOS reference stations between 2010 and 2021. Multipath occurs when GNSS signals reflect off surrounding objects before reaching the receiver antenna, leading to positioning errors. In the case of reference stations, all available mitigation techniques were used to minimize the impact of multipath. However, it is still detectable and affects the measurement results. For carrier phase differential positioning, it increases the ambiguous search space, which results in a decrease in determining rover—reference station vector accuracy. The study employs two linear combinations (Code-Minus-Carrier and Multipath Pseudorange Observable) to quantify the multipath effect on both pseudorange and carrier phase measurements. Based on the research, it was found that the multipath values changed depending on the change of the receiver and the terrain around the reference stations. The study observed a gradual decrease in multipath errors from 2010 to 2021, likely due to technological advancements in receiver design. No significant increase in multipath errors was observed due to environmental changes around the stations, suggesting a minimal influence from new reflecting objects nearby. Based on the analyses conducted, it is also recommended to perform periodic tests to detect incorrect receiver configuration or operation. Full article

This paper presents an overview of the status and future prospects of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FC-EVs). As global concerns about emissions escalate, FC-EVs have emerged as a promising substitute for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. This paper discusses the fundamentals of fuel-cell technology considering the major types of fuel cells that have been researched and delves into the most suitable fuel cells for FC-EV applications, including comparisons with mainstream vehicle technologies. The present state of FC-EVs, ongoing research, and the challenges and opportunities that need to be accounted for are discussed. Furthermore, the comparison between promising proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies used in EVs provides valuable insights into their respective strengths and challenges. By synthesizing these aspects, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and facilitate decision-making for future advancements in sustainable FC-EV transportation, thereby contributing to the realization of a cleaner, greener, and more environmentally friendly future. Full article

Breast cancer stands as the primary cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, often presenting with distant metastases upon diagnosis. Ovarian metastases originating from breast cancer represent a range of 3–30% of all ovarian neoplasms. Case Report: Herein, we present the histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical findings of a rare case involving mucin-producing lobular breast carcinoma metastasizing to an ovarian fibroma in an 82-year-old female previously diagnosed with lobular breast carcinoma. Histopathological examination of the excised tissues revealed a biphasic neoplasm characterized by tumor cells expressing AE-1/AE-3 cytokeratin, mammaglobin, GCDFP-15, inhibin, and calretinin. Positive mucin staining was observed using histochemical techniques, and reticulin fibers were demonstrated using the Gordon–Sweets technique. A final diagnosis of mucin-producing lobular breast carcinoma metastatic to a benign ovarian fibroma was rendered. Conclusion: The occurrence of metastatic breast carcinoma overlaid on an ovarian tumor represents a rare and diagnostically challenging scenario. Full article

Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) is an underutilized plant species that could benefit from the use of biostimulants to improve crop productivity and fruit quality. The scope of the present study was to appraise the influence of two biostimulants (Trichoderma atroviride and plant protein hydrolysate)—used either alone or combined—on the plant performance and economic profitability of two woodland strawberry genotypes (‘Alpine’ and ‘Regina delle Valli’). Overall, data showed that ‘Alpine’ had the highest productive performances, whereas ‘Regina delle Valli’ revealed the highest fruit qualitative traits. T. atroviride inoculation and V-PH application significantly boosted plant marketable yield (+20.5% for T. atroviride and +12.9% for V-PH), total sugars (+1.9% for Trichoderma and +1.4% for V-PH) and anthocyanins (+14.1% for T. atroviride and +9.8% for V-PH) compared to non-treated plants. Plants supplied with both biostimulants had a higher marketable yield (+34.8%), mean fruit weight (+6.0%), fruit dry matter (+13.8%), total sugars (+3.5%), ascorbic acid (+12.7%), flavonoid (+26.3%) and anthocyanins (+29.9%) compared to non-treated plants. Furthermore, our study revealed that the highest fruit polyphenol concentration was recorded in both genotypes treated with the combination of biostimulants and in ‘Regina delle Valli’ sprayed with V-PH, whereas the highest antioxidant activity was found in ‘Regina delle Valli’ fruit when plants were supplied with both biostimulants. Our study pointed out that the application of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants, especially in combination, might be a useful strategy for improving the performances of underutilized species and, therefore, encouraging their cultivation, valorization and economic profitability (+6208.3 EUR /ha when plants were exposed to both biostimulants). Full article

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a growing family of biophotonic imaging techniques, but in the literature there is a lack of easy-to-use tools to universally directly evaluate a device’s theoretical performance for a given metric. Modern computing tools mean that direct numerical modeling can, from first principles, simulate the performance metrics of a specific device directly without relying on analytical approximations and/or complexities. Here, we present two different direct numerical models, along with the example MATLAB code for the reader to adapt to their own systems. The first model is of photo-electron shot noise at the detector, the primary noise source for OCT. We use this firstly to evaluate the amount of additional noise present (1.5 dB) for an experimental setup. Secondly, we demonstrate how to use it to precisely quantify the expected shot noise SNR limit difference between time-domain and Fourier-domain OCT systems in a given hypothetical experiment. The second model is used to demonstrate how USAF 1951 test chart images should be interpreted for a given lateral PSF shape. Direct numerical modeling is an easy and powerful basic tool for researchers and developers, the wider use of which may improve the rigor of the OCT literature. Full article

This paper presents findings from a spaceborne Earth observation experiment utilizing a novel, ultra-compact hyperspectral imaging camera aboard a 3U CubeSat. Leveraging the Offner optical scheme, the camera’s hyperspectrometer captures hyperspectral images of terrestrial regions with a 200 m spatial resolution and 12 nanometer spectral resolution across a 400 to 1000 nanometer wavelength range, covering 150 channels in the visible and near-infrared spectrums. The hyperspectrometer is specifically designed for deployment on a 3U CubeSat nanosatellite platform, featuring a robust all-metal cylindrical body of the hyperspectrometer, and a coaxial arrangement of the optical elements ensures optimal compactness and vibration stability. The performance of the imaging hyperspectrometer was rigorously evaluated through numerical simulations prior to construction. Analysis of hyperspectral data acquired over a year-long orbital operation demonstrates the 3U CubeSat’s ability to produce various vegetation indices, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A comparative study with the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 L2A data shows a strong agreement at critical points, confirming the 3U CubeSat’s suitability for hyperspectral imaging in the visible and near-infrared spectrums. Notably, the ISOI 3U CubeSat can generate unique index images beyond the reach of Sentinel-2 L2A, underscoring its potential for advancing remote sensing applications. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an early onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior. Family studies show that ASD is highly heritable, and hundreds of genes have previously been implicated in the disorder; however, the etiology is still not fully clear. Brain imaging and electroencephalography (EEG) are key techniques that study alterations in brain structure and function. Combined with genetic analysis, these techniques have the potential to help in the clarification of the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to ASD and help in defining novel therapeutic targets. To further understand what is known today regarding the impact of genetic variants in the brain alterations observed in individuals with ASD, a systematic review was carried out using Pubmed and EBSCO databases and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. This review shows that specific genetic variants and altered patterns of gene expression in individuals with ASD may have an effect on brain circuits associated with face processing and social cognition, and contribute to excitation–inhibition imbalances and to anomalies in brain volumes. Full article

Malachite is one of the most important copper-bearing oxide minerals; however, it shows poor floatability prior to sulfidization under the thiol collector system. This study investigated the reasons for the low recovery of malachite flotation without sulfidization. The results of adsorption capacity and contact angle test indicated that the malachite surface could adsorb a sufficient amount of the collector, obviously increasing the hydrophobicity of the malachite surface under static conditions. By measuring the amount of inorganic carbon in the flotation solution, it was found that the amount of inorganic carbon in the solution increased significantly when the thiol collectors were added into pulp, which could be attributed to the induced dissolution of the malachite surface by thiol collectors. Solubility tests further demonstrated that the copper ions released from the natural dissolution of malachite proved difficult in regard to reactions with thiol collector to form precipitates; however, the thiol collector induced the dissolution of malachite surface, and so the hydrophobic complexes’ copper-collector could not firmly adsorb on the mineral surface. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that thiol collectors do not adsorb stably on malachite surfaces. This was considered to be a substantial reason for the poor performance of malachite flotation without sulfidization. Full article

A reasonable allocation of production schedules and savings in overall electricity costs are crucial for large manufacturing conglomerates. In this study, we develop an optimization model of off-site industrial production scheduling to address the problems of high electricity costs due to the irrational allocation of production schedules on the demand side of China’s power supply, and the difficulty in promoting industrial and commercial distributed photovoltaic (PV) projects in China. The model makes full use of the conditions of different PV resources and variations in electricity prices in different places to optimize the scheduling of industrial production in various locations. The model is embedded with two sub-models, i.e., an electricity price prediction model and a distributed photovoltaic power cost model to complete the model parameters, in which the electricity price prediction model utilizes a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network. Then, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the optimization model. Finally, the production data of two off-site pharmaceutical factories belonging to the same large group of enterprises are substituted into the model for example analysis, and it is concluded that the optimization model can significantly reduce the electricity consumption costs of the enterprises by about 7.9%. This verifies the effectiveness of the optimization model established in this paper in reducing the cost of electricity consumption on the demand side. Full article

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology holds great promise for livestock industry, life science and human biomedicine. However, the development and application of this technology is limited by the low developmental potential of SCNT embryos. The developmental competence of cloned embryos is influenced by the energy metabolic status of donor cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CPI, an oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor, on the energy metabolism pathways of pig fibroblasts and the development of subsequent SCNT embryos. The results showed that treatment of porcine fibroblasts with CPI changed the cellular energy metabolic pathways from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and enhanced the developmental ability of subsequent SCNT embryos. The present study establishes a simple, new way to improve pig cloning efficiency, helping to promote the development and application of pig SCNT technology. Full article

Photocatalysis is a fascinating process in which a photocatalyst plays a pivotal role in driving a chemical reaction when exposed to light. Its capacity to harness light energy triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to the formation of intermediate compounds, culminating in the desired final product(s). The essence of this process is the interaction between the photocatalyst’s excited state and its specific interactions with reactants, resulting in the creation of intermediates. The process’s appeal is further enhanced by its cyclic nature—the photocatalyst is rejuvenated after each cycle, ensuring ongoing and sustainable catalytic action. Nevertheless, comprehending the photocatalytic process through the modeling of photoactive materials and molecular devices demands advanced computational techniques founded on effective quantum chemistry methods, multiscale modeling, and machine learning. This review analyzes contemporary theoretical methods, spanning a range of lengths and accuracy scales, and assesses the strengths and limitations of these methods. It also explores the future challenges in modeling complex nano-photocatalysts, underscoring the necessity of integrating various methods hierarchically to optimize resource distribution across different scales. Additionally, the discussion includes the role of excited state chemistry, a crucial element in understanding photocatalysis. Full article

The controlled manufacturing of semiconductor photocatalysts is crucial to their development for drinking water treatment. In this study, TiO₂-coated meltblown nonwoven fabrics prepared via Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) are applied for the inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli). It is observed that in the presence of an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) light source (255 nm), 1.35 log E. coli inactivation is achieved. However, exposure to catalyst-coated fabrics in addition to the light source resulted in >4 log E. coli inactivation, suggesting a much higher rate of hydroxyl radical formation on the surface, leading to cell death. Full article

Green algae blooms of the genus Ulva are occurring globally and are primarily attributed to anthropogenic factors. At Los Tubos beach in Algarrobo Bay along the central Chilean coast, there have been blooms of these algae that persist almost year-round over the past 20 years, leading to environmental, economic, and social issues that affect the local government and communities. The objective of this study was to characterize the species that form these green tides based on a combination of ecological, morpho-anatomical, and molecular information. For this purpose, seasonal surveys of beached algal fronds were conducted between 2021 and 2022. Subsequently, the sampled algae were analyzed morphologically and phylogenetically using the molecular markers ITS1 and tufA, allowing for the identification of at least five taxa. Of these five taxa, three (U. stenophylloides, U. uncialis, U. australis) have laminar, foliose, and distromatic morphology, while the other two (U. compressa, U. aragoensis) have tubular, filamentous, and monostromatic fronds. Intertidal surveys showed that U. stenophylloides showed the highest relative coverage throughout the seasons and all intertidal levels, followed by U. uncialis. Therefore, we can establish that the green tides on the coast of Algarrobo in Chile are multispecific, with differences in relative abundance during different seasons and across the intertidal zone, opening opportunities for diverse future studies, ranging from ecology to algal biotechnology. Full article

Neutral-temperature district heating and cooling (NT-DHC) is a recent concept in the district heating sector. The current literature does not directly address the ability to create comprehensive master plans for NT-DHC systems and reliably model their performance. This research presents a new approach for the evaluation and planning of NT-DHC systems. The methodology involves the use of a knapsack optimization algorithm to perform a comprehensive analysis of the conditions that make the NT-DHC solution competitive against individual heating and cooling technologies. The algorithm determines the optimal combination of potential extensions that maximizes overall economic value. The results of a case study, which was conducted in Italy, show that NT-DHC is more suitable in dense urban areas, while air-to-water heat pumps are better suited for low heat density zones. This methodology aims to reduce the risks associated with energy demand and provide more certainty about which areas a network can expand into to be competitive. It is targeted at energy planners, utilities experts, energy engineers, and district heating experts who require assistance and guidance in the planning and early stages of designing a NT-DHC system. This method might enable pre-feasibility studies and preliminary design to determine the opportunities and limitations of a system of this kind from an economic and technological perspective. Full article

In this research paper, we investigate the controllability in the $\alpha$-norm of a coupled system of integrodifferential equations with state-dependent nonlocal conditions in generalized Banach spaces. We establish sufficient conditions for the system’s controllability using resolvent operator theory introduced by Grimmer, fractional power operators, and fixed-point theorems associated with generalized measures of noncompactness for condensing operators in vector Banach spaces. Finally, we present an application example to validate the proposed methodology in this research. Full article

Pavement performance models (PPMs) are utilized to predict pavement network conditions which is an essential part of any sustainable pavement management system (PMS). The reliability of a PMS and its outputs is proportional to the reliability of the PPM used. This article describes a mechanistic–empirical pavement performance model based on pavement response parameters—strains calculated in the pavement layers measured by tensometers embedded in the pavement surface and verified by calculations in the elastic half-space model and supplemented by empirical data from long-term pavement performance monitoring and accelerated pavement testing. Hence, the herein described PPM combines pavement serviceability evaluation, pavement bearing capacity, and the physico-mechanistic properties of paving materials. The analytical methods which were used to ascertain the physico-mechanistic characteristics, the material fatigue degradation model, and the surface degradation, unevenness in particular, are described. A comparison of the empirical PPM created in the last century used by the national road administrator to this day and the newly created PPM is presented. The comparison shows the difference in the calculated socio-economic benefits and subsequent cost–benefit analysis results. The comparison shows that the use of the old PPM may have produced false economic evaluation results that have led to poor decision making, partially explaining the unsustainable trend of road network management in our country. Full article

In Li Bai’s poems, the term yao or medicine is frequently employed as an idea-image. The meaning of yao can be further divided into four distinct types, each corresponding to its functions in different contexts. It represents the elixir found on Penglai Island, having the power to elevate a person to immortality; the elixir stolen from the Queen Mother of the West by Heng’E; the immortal herbs pounded by the Jade Rabbit; and the medicine used for treating diseases. In addition, Li Bai’s poems also contain elixir liquid (danye 丹液), potable gold (jinye 金液), and other substances referred to as yao. Unlike specific terms like “cinnabar,” these names are more general in nature. The medicines, their names, and the general terms in poems carry different emotional implications, e.g., his admiration for immortality, and a means to criticize his own time, to express his aspirations and lamentation over the passage of time. The “Yao” also serves as a symbol of healing and nourishment, especially in the context of friendship. All these points deserve to be meticulously explored. Full article

Planar reconstruction detects planar segments and deduces their 3D planar parameters (normals and offsets) from the input image; this has significant potential in the fields of digital preservation of cultural heritage, architectural design, robot navigation, intelligent transportation, and security monitoring. Existing methods mainly employ multiple-view images with limited overlap for reconstruction but lack the utilization of the relative position and rotation information between the images. To fill this gap, this paper uses two views and their relative camera pose to reconstruct indoor scene planar surfaces. Firstly, we detect plane segments with their 3D planar parameters and appearance embedding features using PlaneRCNN. Then, we transform the plane segments into a global coordinate frame using the relative camera transformation and find matched planes using the assignment algorithm. Finally, matched planes are merged by tackling a nonlinear optimization problem with a trust-region reflective minimizer. An experiment on the Matterport3D dataset demonstrates that the proposed method achieves 40.67% average precision of plane reconstruction, which is an improvement of roughly 3% over Sparse Planes, and it improves the IPAA-80 metric by 10% to 65.7%. This study can provide methodological support for 3D sensing and scene reconstruction in sparse view contexts. Full article