The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of attenuation imaging (ATI) measurements using a linear probe on healthy volunteers and compare measurements with the conventional convex probe. Attenuation imaging measurements of the liver tissue were taken using ultrasound with a convex and a linear probe in 33 volunteers by two examining doctors, and the measurements were repeated 4–5 weeks later by one of them. The ATI values for the linear probe were in the range of the values for the convex probe for both examiners. Measurements did not change significantly for 32 out of 33 volunteers after 4–5 weeks when using the linear probe. The size of the region of interest (ROI) only impacted the ATI values for the convex probe; it did not affect the values taken with the linear probe. Healthy volunteers were measured, and their attenuation values were compared to those from a convex probe, commonly used in steatosis evaluation. When both probes were positioned in the same liver area, they showed good agreement in attenuation values, though depth significantly affected the measurements, with both probes providing different values at different depths. The study’s results aligned with previous research using the same system. Operator A and B’s results were compared, demonstrating similar ranges of values for both probes. The linear probe has been demonstrated to allow for superficial measurements and attain ATI values in line with that of the convex probe in the liver. Full article

Human safety is paramount in flood disasters. Current research indicates that the majority of fatalities in such disasters are due to people moving in water. Existing studies on human stability in floods have primarily focused on the static resistance of a standing posture against water flow, neglecting the realistic scenario where people need to move and attempt self-rescue in the aftermath of destabilization. This paper introduces an analysis of the stability during the self-rescue process following a fall in floodwaters, providing insights into the baseline risks of human impact in floods. The self-rescue process is defined as the recovery to a standing position after a fall, segmented into four postures: sitting, kneeling, squatting, and standing. Additionally, considering the significant variability of the current method ($D\times v$ water depth multiplied by flow velocity) used to assess human stability in floods, this research thoroughly investigates previously undefined parameters, including submerged volume, frontal area, wet friction coefficient, and flow resistance coefficient. This leads to the development of a physically meaningful self-rescue risk assessment formula, which is validated against previous studies for accuracy, with the aim of contributing new insights to flood risk management and public education. Full article

The expression of polysialic acid (polySia) on the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is called NCAM-polysialylation, which is strongly related to the migration and invasion of tumor cells and aggressive clinical status. Thus, it is important to select a proper drug to block tumor cell migration during clinical treatment. In this study, we proposed that lactoferrin (LFcinB11) may be a better candidate for inhibiting NCAM polysialylation when compared with CMP and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), which were determined based on our NMR studies. Furthermore, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) represent the most dramatic stage in the cell death process, and the release of NETs is related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, with proposed involvement in glomerulonephritis, chronic lung disease, sepsis, and vascular disorders. In this study, the molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibition of NET release using LFcinB11 as an inhibitor were also determined. Based on these results, LFcinB11 is proposed as being a bifunctional inhibitor for inhibiting both NCAM polysialylation and the release of NETs. Full article

A growing body of evidence indicates a significant decrease in support for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) within post-migration communities in Western countries. Addressing knowledge gaps and comprehending the factors associated with FGM/C discontinuation in these communities is crucial. The objective of this scoping review is to describe the effects of migration and cultural change on factors supporting FGM/C cessation in migrant communities. The review, from 2012 to 2023, included the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, Swisscovery, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and gray literature. Applying the PRISMA-ScR framework, we identified 2819 studies, with 17 meeting the inclusion criteria. The results revealed seven key factors shaping attitudes and behavior toward FGM/C abandonment: (1) legislation against FGM/C, (2) knowing that FGM/C is not a religious requirement, (3) enhancing education about the practice, (4) migration and cultural change, (5) awareness of the harmful effects of FGM/C, (6) a positive view of uncut girls, and (7) a sense of self-agency. These findings highlight factors on a social, community, interpersonal, and personal level that enhance the abandonment of the practice. Further research in the FGM/C field will gain more accuracy in understanding and accounting for these multilevel factors in post-migration settings, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions to promote the cessation of the practice. Full article

Chronic immune activation in tuberculosis (TB) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (HIV/TB) modifies their clinical course. We prospectively measured osteopontin (OPN), full-length galectin-9 (FL-Gal9), and total-Gal9 (T-Gal9) levels in 32 patients with HIV/TB coinfection treated with anti-tuberculosis and antiretroviral therapies over 6–18 months to determine the amelioration of inflammatory conditions in response to the therapies. We observed a significant time-dependent decrease in FL-Gal9 in both pulmonary TB (PTB, n = 20) and extrapulmonary TB (EPTB, n = 12) patients. The levels of T-Gal9, OPN, and CRP decreased significantly after treatment in only PTB patients. We calculated the inflammatory score (INS) indicating immunologic recovery based on the decline in OPN, FL-Gal9, T-Gal9, and CRP levels. Baseline levels of T-Gal9 and OPN positively correlated with INS in all TB and only PTB patients, respectively, indicating that their levels predict better recovery. In contrast, FL-Gal9 levels at the second visit negatively correlated with INS in EPTB patients. The decrease rate in OPN levels at the second visit also correlated positively with INS in PTB patients. Women showed a higher INS and lower levels of FL-Gal9 than men. The patients with moderate grade severity on chest X-ray had higher CD4 cell numbers than those with limited grade severity. Monitoring these markers will help to predict and assess the response to therapy as well as to devise strategies to reduce the complications caused by chronic immune activation in patients with HIV/TB coinfection. Full article

The safety of cyclists, e-scooters, and micromobility devices in urban environments remains a critical concern in sustainable urban planning. A primary factor affecting this safety is the lateral passing distance (LPD) or dynamic proximity of motor vehicles overtaking micromobility riders. Minimum passing distance laws, where motorists are required to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 m when passing a cyclist, are difficult to enforce due to the difficulty in determining the exact distance between a moving vehicle and a cyclist. Existing systems reported in the literature are invariably used for research and require manual intervention to record passing vehicles. Further, due to the dynamic and noisy environment on the road, the collected data also need to be manually post-processed to remove errors and false positives, thus making such systems impractical for use by cyclists. This study aims to address these two concerns by providing an automated and robust framework, integrating a low-cost, small single-board computer with a range sensor and a camera, to measure and analyze vehicle–cyclist passing distance and speed. Preliminary deployments in Singapore have demonstrated the system’s efficacy in capturing high-resolution data under varied traffic conditions. Our setup, using a Raspberry Pi 4, LiDAR distance sensor, a small camera, and an automated data clustering technique, had a high success rate for correctly identifying the number of close vehicle passes for distances between 1 and 1.5 m. The insights garnered from this integrated setup promise not only a deeper understanding of interactions between motor vehicles and micromobility devices, but also a roadmap for data-driven urban safety interventions. Full article

Adams–Oliver syndrome is a rare inherited condition characterized by scalp defects and limb abnormalities. It is caused by variants in different genes such as ARHGAP31. Here, we used an interdisciplinary approach to study a family with lower limb anomalies. We identified a novel variant in the ARHGAP31 gene that is predicted to result in a truncated protein with a constitutively activated catalytic site due to the loss of 688 amino acids involved in the C-terminal domain, essential for protein auto-inhibition. Pathogenic variants in ARHGAP31 exon 12, leading to a premature protein termination, are associated with Adams–Oliver syndrome. Bioinformatic analysis was useful to elucidate the impact of the identified genetic variant on protein structure. To better understand the impact of the identified variant, 3D protein models were predicted for the ARHGAP31 wild type, the newly discovered variant, and other pathogenetic alterations already reported. Our study identified a novel variant probably involved in Adams–Oliver syndrome and increased the evidence on the phenotypic variability in patients affected by this syndrome, underlining the importance of translational research, including experimental and bioinformatics analyses. This strategy represents a successful model to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in syndrome occurrence. Full article

End-to-end learned image compression codecs have notably emerged in recent years. These codecs have demonstrated superiority over conventional methods, showcasing remarkable flexibility and adaptability across diverse data domains while supporting new distortion losses. Despite challenges such as computational complexity, learned image compression methods inherently align with learning-based data processing and analytic pipelines due to their well-suited internal representations. The concept of Video Coding for Machines has garnered significant attention from both academic researchers and industry practitioners. This concept reflects the growing need to integrate data compression with computer vision applications. In light of these developments, we present a comprehensive survey and review of lossy image compression methods. Additionally, we provide a concise overview of two prominent international standards, MPEG Video Coding for Machines and JPEG AI. These standards are designed to bridge the gap between data compression and computer vision, catering to practical industry use cases. Full article

The process of coal-to-methanol conversion consumes a large amount of energy, and the use of the co-production method in conjunction with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology can reduce its carbon footprint. However, little research has been devoted to comprehensively assessing the carbon footprint of the coal-to-methanol (CTM) co-production system coupled with CCUS-enhanced oil recovery technology (CCUS-EOR), and this hinders the scientific evaluation of its decarbonization-related performance. In this study, we used lifecycle assessment to introduce the coefficient of distribution of methanol and constructed a model to calculate the carbon footprint of the process of CTM co-production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as CTM co-production coupled with CCUS-EOR. We used the proposed model to calculate the carbon footprint of the entire lifecycle of the process by using a case study. The results show that the carbon footprints of CTM co-production and CTM co-production coupled with CCUS-EOR are 2.63 t CO₂/tCH₃OH and 1.00 t CO₂/tCH₃OH, respectively, which is lower than that of the traditional CTM process, indicating their ability to achieve environmental sustainability. We also analyzed the composition of the carbon footprint of the coal-to-methanol process to identify the root causes of carbon emissions in it and pathways for reducing them. The work described here provided a reference for decision making and a basis for promoting the development of coal-to-methanol conversion and the CCUS industry in China. Full article

Microgreens are innovative vegetable products whose production and consumption are gaining popularity globally thanks to their recognized nutraceutical properties. To date, the effects of lighting conditions and growing substrate on the performances of Brassica carinata microgreens (indigenous to Africa) remain underexplored. The present study aimed at providing insights into the influence of different lighting treatments provided by LEDs, namely monochromatic blue (B), red (R), cool white (W) and a combination of three color diodes (B + R + W), and substrates (cocopeat, sand and cocopeat–sand mix (v/v) (1:1)) on the growth, yield and bioactive compounds of B. carinata microgreens. Seeds were germinated in dark chambers and cultivated in growth chambers equipped with LED lighting systems for 14 days under a fixed light intensity of 160 ± 2.5 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and photoperiod of 12 h d⁻¹. The best performances were associated with the spectrum that combined B + R + W LEDs and with substrate resulting from the cocopeat–sand mix, including the highest yield (19.19 g plant⁻¹), plant height (9.94 cm), leaf area (68.11 mm²) and canopy cover (55.9%). Enhanced carotenoid and flavonoid contents were obtained with B + R + W LEDs, while the B LED increased the total amount of chlorophyll (11,880 mg kg⁻¹). For plants grown under B + R + W LEDs in cocopeat, high nitrate levels were observed. Our results demonstrate that substrate and light environment interact to influence the growth, yield and concentration of bioactive compounds of B. carinata microgreens. Full article

Supply chain finance, as an important financial instrument supporting the sustainable development of the real economy, has attracted significant attention. In this paper, research is conducted on 3181 non-financial listed enterprises in the A-share market in China from 2012 to 2021. Multiple regression analysis is adopted to examine the relationship between supply chain finance and enterprise financialization, as well as the impact of the former on the latter and the underlying mechanisms at play. The research findings indicate that the supply chain finance model, led by core enterprises, tends to exacerbate enterprise financialization in China. The significant resource dependence of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on core enterprises acts as a moderating variable for supply chain finance and enterprise financialization. This dependence amplifies the stimulus of supply chain finance on the “financialization” of enterprises, demonstrates a pronounced moderating effect within state-owned enterprises, and strengthens over time when the core enterprises possess information advantages. The findings articulated herein contribute to the scholarly discourse, offering insights into the improvement of supply chain finance and the advancement of the real economy’s sustainable development via financial services. A good supply chain finance model should align with the requirements for the development of China’s real economy. It should provide not only financial assistance to enterprises but also foster a virtuous cycle within the industrial chain and encourage industrial production over financial investment. Full article

To improve the nutritional value of bread, as well as to satisfy consumers whose awareness of the importance of nutrition to preserve health is growing significantly, it is desirable to enrich bread and bakery products with functional components. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an evergreen tree that is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and belongs to the legumes group. As carob pulp contains a unique combination of polyphenolic compounds and dietary fibre, it can be a useful raw material for the production of enriched bakery products. In this work, the possibility of applying carob extract as a potential natural preservative and functional additive in the production of bread was investigated. With this aim, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5% of powdered carob extract (CP) were added to bread dough and the quality characteristics of the bread were examined. The microbiological quality of bread was significantly better in samples with the addition of CP, which was confirmed by the lower values of the total number of bacteria and the absence of the Bacillus cereus. The addition of up to 3.5% carob extract had no negative effect on the sensory quality of the bread. The brightness of the bread samples decreased (L*), while the proportion of the red tone (a*) increased, and the intensity of the yellow tone (b*) decreased with an increase in the proportion of CP. The amount of total phenols (0.27 mg GAE/g) for the sample with 3.5% CP in bread was significantly higher compared to the control sample (0.12 mg GAE/g). The total antioxidant activity also increased significantly with the increase in the proportion of CP. Therefore, the present study proves that powdered carob extract can be successfully included in the production of a healthy functional food. Full article

In the ex situ conservation of chondrichthyan species, successful reproduction in aquaria is essential. However, these species often exhibit reduced reproductive success under human care. A key aspect is that conventional sperm analyses do not provide insights into the functional competence of sperm. However, proteomics analysis enables a better understanding of male physiology, gaining relevance as a powerful tool for discovering protein biomarkers related to fertility. The present work aims to build the first proteome database for shark semen and to investigate the proteomic profiles of seminal plasma and spermatozoa from small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) related to the underlying adaptations to both natural and aquarium environments, thereby identifying the reproductive impact in aquarium specimens. A total of 305 seminal plasma and 535 spermatozoa proteins were identified. Among these, 89 proteins (29.2% of the seminal plasma set) were common to both spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In the seminal plasma, only adenosylhomocysteinase protein showed differential abundance (DAP) between wild and aquarium animals. With respect to the spermatozoa proteins, a total of 107 DAPs were found between groups. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis highlighted the primary functional roles of these DAPs involved in oxidoreductase activity. Additionally, KEGG analysis indicated that these DAPs were primarily associated with metabolic pathways and carbon metabolism. In conclusion, we have successfully generated an initial proteome database for S. canicula seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Furthermore, we have identified protein variations, predominantly within spermatozoa, between aquarium and wild populations of S. canicula. These findings provide a foundation for future biomarker discovery in shark reproduction studies. However, additional research is required to determine whether these protein variations correlate with reproductive declines in captive sharks. Full article

In this paper, water jet-guided laser (WJGL) drilling of ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{f}}/\mathrm{SiC}$ composites was employed and the effects of the processing parameters on the depth and quality of the micro-holes were systematically investigated. Firstly, the depth measurement showed that the increase in processing time and power density led to a significant improvement in micro-hole drilling depth. However, the enhancement of the water jet speed resulted in a pronounced decrease in the depth due to the phenomenon of water splashing. In contrast, the scanning speed, path overlap ratio, pulse frequency, and helium pressure exhibited less effect on the micro-hole depth. Secondly, the microstructural analysis revealed that the increase in power density resulted in the deformation and fracture of the carbon fibers, while the augmentation in water jet speed reduced the thermal defects. Finally, based on the optimization of the processing parameters, a micro-hole of exceptional quality was achieved, with a depth-to-diameter ratio of 8.03 and a sidewall taper of 0.72°. This study can provide valuable guidance for WJGL micro-hole drilling of ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{f}}/\mathrm{SiC}$ composites. Full article

There are currently no disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with dopaminergic neuronal loss. There is increasing evidence that endogenous dopamine (DA) can be a pathological factor in neurodegeneration in PD. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the key rate-limiting enzyme for DA generation. Drugs that inhibit TH, such as alpha-methyltyrosine (α-MT), have recently been shown to protect against neurodegeneration in various PD models. DA receptor agonists can activate post-synaptic DA receptors to alleviate DA-deficiency-induced PD symptoms. However, DA receptor agonists have no therapeutic effects against neurodegeneration. Thus, a combination therapy with DA receptor agonists plus TH inhibitors may be an attractive therapeutic approach. TH inhibitors can protect and promote the survival of remaining dopaminergic neurons in PD patients’ brains, whereas DA receptor agonists activate post-synaptic DA receptors to alleviate PD symptoms. Additionally, other PD drugs, such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and anticholinergic drugs, may be used as adjunctive medications to improve therapeutic effects. This multi-drug cocktail may represent a novel strategy to protect against progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration and alleviate PD disease progression. Full article

Genes from Perilla frutescens and Ocimum basilicum were introduced into N. tabacum L. var. HHY via distant hybridization, and the new-type tobacco varieties “Zisu” and “Luole” were developed, with noticeable differences in chemical composition. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and its pathogenesis is complex. In the present study, 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely, the control, “HHY”, “Zisu” and “Luole”, and then exposed to fresh air/cigarette smoke (CS) for 30 days and 60 days. The COPD model was constructed, and their health hazards were compared and evaluated. CS from different tobacco varieties influenced rats in varying degrees at the tissue, cell and molecular levels. The rats in the “HHY” group showed obvious symptoms, such as cough and dyspnea, which were less severe in the “Zisu” and “Luole” groups. Pathological and morphological analyses, including scores, MLI, MAN, WAt/Pbm and WAm/Pbm, showed that “Zisu” and “Luole” caused less damage to the airways and lung parenchyma than “HHY”. Significant increases in the numbers of total leukocytes and neutrophils in the BALF were found in “HHY” compared to those in “Zisu” and “Luole”. Moreover, they caused less oxidative stress and apoptosis in lung tissues, as reflected by indicators such as ROS, MDA, T-AOC, GSH, the apoptotic index and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax. “Zisu” and “Luole” even altered the ratios of MMP-9/TIMP-1 and IFN-γ/IL-4 in lung tissues to a lesser degree. These differences between CS-exposed rats may be closely related to the altered expression of Nrf2, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK. Changes in chemical composition via introducing genes from some medicinal plants may be an attractive strategy for tobacco harm reduction. Full article

Nuclear power is a high-quality clean energy source, but nuclear waste is generated during operation. The waste continuously releases heat during disposal, increasing the adjoining rock temperature and affecting the safety of the disposal site. Basalt is widely considered a commonly used rock type in the repository. This study of basalt’s mechanical characteristics and damage evolution after thermal damage, with its far-reaching engineering value, was conducted by combining experimental work and theory. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted on basalt exposed to 25 °C, 500 °C, 700 °C, 900 °C, and 1100 °C conditions, and acoustic emission (AE) equipment was utilized to observe the acoustic emission phenomenon during deformation. This study was carried out to examine the mechanical characteristics, the sound emission features, the progression of damage laws, and the stress–strain framework of basalt after exposure to different types of thermal harm. As the temperature rises, the rock’s maximum strength declines steadily, the peak strain rises in tandem, the rock sample’s ductility is augmented, the failure mode changes from shear to tensile failure, and cracks in the failure area are observed. At room temperature, the acoustic emission signal is more vigorous than in the initial stage of rock sample loading due to thermal damage; however, after the linear elastic stage is entered, its activity is lessened. In cases where the rock approaches collapse, there is a significant surge in acoustic emission activity, leading to the peak frequency of acoustic emission ringing. The cumulative ring count of acoustic emission serves as the basis for the definition of the damage variable. At room temperature, the damage evolution of rock samples can be broken down into four distinct stages. This defined damage variable is more reflective of the entire failure process. After exposure to high temperatures, the initial damage of the rock sample becomes more extensive, and the damage variable tends to be stable with strain evolution. The stress–strain constitutive model of basalt deformation is derived based on the crack axial strain law and acoustic emission parameters. A powerful relationship between theoretical and experimental curves is evident. Full article

The use of alternative fuels remains an important factor in solving the problem of reducing harmful substances caused by vehicles and decarbonising transport. It is also important to ensure the energy efficiency of vehicle power plants when using different fuels at a sufficient level. The article presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies of the conversion of diesel engine to alternative fuels with hydrogen admixtures. Methanol is considered as an alternative fuel which is a cheaper alternative to commercial diesel fuel. The chemical essence of improving the calorific value of alternative methanol fuel was investigated. Studies showed that the energy effect of burning an alternative mixture with hydrogen additives exceeds the effect of burning the same amount of methanol fuel. The increase in combustion energy and engine power is achieved as a result of heat from efficient use of the engine exhaust gases and chemical conversion of methanol. An experimental installation was created to study the work of a converted diesel engine on hydrogen–methanol mixtures and thermochemical regeneration processes. Experimental studies of the energy and environmental parameters of diesel engine converted to work on an alternative fuel with hydrogen admixtures have shown that engine power increases by 10–14% and emissions of harmful substances decrease. Full article

In the present article, we build the excitedcoherent states associated with deformed $su(1,1)$ algebra (DSUA), called photon-added deformed Perelomov coherent states (PA-DPCSs). The constructed coherent states are obtained by using an alterationof the Holstein–Primakoff realization (HPR) for DSUA. A general method to resolve of the problem of the unitary operator was developed for these kinds of quantum states. The Mandel parameter is considered to examine the statistical properties of PA-DPCSs. Furthermore, we offer a physical method to generate the PA-DPCSs in the framework of interaction among fields and atoms. Finally, we introduce the concept of entangled states for PA-DPCSs and examine the entanglement properties for entangled PA-DPCSs. Full article

The Han River Estuary (HRE), Yellow Sea, forms part of the border between South Korea and North Korea, and these two countries are militarily hostile. Since the HRE has quite excellent ecological integrity, the task of preserving it well is emerging as important. Thus, the South Korean Government is attempting to preserve the ecological integrity of the HRE through interstate cooperation. By employing contingent valuation, this study delves into South Korean households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for this preservation. One thousand households nationwide were sampled and surveyed through face-to-face individual interviews. Annual household income tax was selected as the payment vehicle. Dichotomous choice questioning was chosen as the WTP induction method. A spike model was selected as a method for modelling a WTP of zero. The main results showed statistical significance. Annual WTP per household and national WTP were obtained as KRW 4487 (USD 3.92) and KRW 125.75 billion (USD 109.83 million), respectively. When a 10-year payment period and a 4.5% discount rate were adopted, the value was KRW 766.14 billion (USD 669.12 million). South Korean households placed considerable value on the preservation of the ecological integrity of the HRE through interstate cooperation. Full article

Bimetallic composites have a wide range of application prospects in various industries. Different bonding temperatures, as one of the influencing factors, directly affect the bonding effectiveness as well as the performance and application of the materials. Using metallurgical bonding techniques ensures a strong bond at the interface of bimetallic materials, resulting in high-quality composite pipe billets. This paper describes an Incoloy825/P110 steel bimetal composite material made by the solid–liquid composite method. By utilizing ProCAST 14.5 software for simulation and deriving theoretical formulas, an initial range of temperatures for bimetallic preparation has been tentatively determined. And this temperature range will be utilized for on-site experiments to prepare bimetallic samples. After the preparation process is completed, samples will be selected. The influence of the external mold temperature on the interface bonding of Incoloy825/P110 steel solid–liquid composite material is studied using an ultra-depth three-dimensional morphology microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Through research, the optimal preheating temperature range for the solid–liquid composite outer mold of Incoloy825/P110 bimetallic composite material has been determined. The casting temperature of the inner mold has a significant impact on the interface bonding of this bimetal composite material. As the casting temperature of the inner mold increases, the interface thickness gradually increases. At lower temperatures, the interface thickness is lower and the bonding is poorer. At higher temperatures, melting may occur, leading to coarse grains at the interface. When the temperatures of the inner and outer molds are within a certain range, a new phase appears at the interface. Indeed, it increases the strength of the interface bonding. Due to co-melting of the bimetal near the interface, element migration occurs, resulting in increased Ni and Cr content at the interface and enhanced corrosion resistance. Full article

Assessing immune responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) after liver transplant in patients on immunosuppressive therapy remains challenging. In this study, employing ELISPOT assays, 52 liver-transplant recipients were evaluated for antiviral T-cell activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), measuring interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion upon stimulation with CMV-specific peptides (CMV peptide pool, CMV IE-1, and pp65 antigens). Parameters such as stimulation index, mean spot size, and mean spot count were measured. The study found that heightened immunosuppression, especially with prednisolone in triple therapy, significantly dampened CMV-specific immune responses. This was demonstrated by decreased IFN-γ production by CMV-specific T-cells (CMV peptide pool: p = 0.036; OR = 0.065 [95% CI: 0.005–0.840], pp65 antigen: p = 0.026; OR = 0.048 [95% CI: 0.003–0.699]). Increased immunosuppression correlated with reduced IFN-γ secretion per cell, reflected in smaller mean spot sizes for the CMV peptide pool (p = 0.019). Notably, shorter post-transplant intervals correlated with diminished antiviral T-cell IFN-γ release at two years (CMV peptide pool: p = 0.019; IE antigen: p = 0.010) and five years (CMV peptide pool: p = 0.0001; IE antigen: p = 0.002; pp65 antigen: p = 0.047), as did advancing age (pp65 antigen: p = 0.016, OR = 0.932, 95% CI: 0.881–0.987). Patients with undetectable CMV antigens had a notably higher risk of CMV reactivation within six months from blood collection, closely linked with triple immunosuppression and prednisolone use. These findings highlight the intricate interplay between immunosuppression, immune response dynamics, and CMV reactivation risk, emphasizing the necessity for tailored immunosuppressive strategies to mitigate CMV reactivation in liver-transplant recipients. It can be concluded that, particularly in the early months post-transplantation, the use of prednisolone as a third immunosuppressant should be critically reconsidered. Additionally, the use of prophylactic antiviral therapy effective against CMV in this context holds significant importance. Full article