With the continuous development of rural revitalization and urbanization in China, the sustainable transformation of traditional rural architecture has become increasingly important. This study takes the Thangka exhibition hall in rural Malkang, Sichuan Province, as the research object and proposes a Thangka exhibition hall architectural design centered around solar heating and aiming for near-zero energy consumption. The research method involves establishing a solar energy system model on the roof of the exhibition hall and utilizing solar angle and area calculation formulas along with simulation software to calculate the optimal installation angle and area of solar panels, with the aim of achieving indoor temperatures that meet Thangka protection requirements while achieving zero-energy heating. Preliminary results indicate that this solar-centric near-zero energy architectural design can effectively promote the increase in indoor temperature through solar thermal conversion. Additionally, through calculation and simulation, the optimal installation angle for the solar panels achieving zero-energy heating is determined to be 24.25 with an azimuth angle of −1.2. The optimum installation area for solar panels is 8.2 square meters in the showroom and 2.7 square meters in the storeroom. Among these, the solar panel area for the Thangka exhibition hall constitutes 4.12% of the total area and is required for maintaining Thangka protection temperature requirements throughout the year, while the solar panel area for the storage room constitutes 1.88% and is also needed for the same purpose. Studying the optimal installation angle and area of solar panels can transform the exhibition hall into a near-zero-energy building, meeting the temperature requirements for Thangka preservation and human thermal comfort, while also achieving optimal economic benefits. This provides guidance and a reference for promoting near-zero-energy buildings in rural areas. Full article

This study sought to investigate the vertical distribution pattern of the soil faunal community in a low-altitude mountain area. On 8 July 2022, a low hill was selected as the study area, and soil arthropods were collected through traps. The leaf litter, vegetation type, and distribution quantity of each sampling site were investigated while the soil faunae were collected. In addition, the soil’s physical and chemical parameters were measured. The results of a one-way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the soil properties, leaf litter, and plant quantities at different altitudes within the research area. A total of 1086 soil arthropods, belonging to five classes and ten orders, were collected during the study period. The dominant species of soil arthropods at different altitudes were significantly different. The dominant species in low-altitude areas were Armadillidium sp. and Aethus nigritus. However, Eupolyphaga sinensis and Philodromidae were the dominant species in high-altitude areas. The results of a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that the soil faunae at different altitudes were clustered into two communities: a high-altitude community and a low-altitude community. With the increase in altitude, the species richness of the soil arthropods gradually decreased, and their abundance showed a decreasing trend. A redundancy analysis (RDA) of the soil arthropods and environmental factors showed that soil moisture (p < 0.01), pH (p < 0.01) and defoliation (p < 0.05) had significant effects on the distribution of the soil fauna. The results of a Pearson correlation analysis indicated that different environmental factors had interactive effects on the distribution of the soil arthropods. The quantity and species richness of the soil arthropods in different sample lines were tested using a variance analysis. The results showed that there were significantly smaller quantities of soil arthropods in the sampling line closer to the trekking ladder. This indicates that human tourism, namely mountaineering activities, had a direct impact on the soil fauna. This study can provide a reference for and data support in the development of biodiversity conservation measures for forest parks in low mountain areas. Full article

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can alter adipose tissue function; however, the relative effects of plant and marine n3-PUFAs are less clear. Our objective was to directly compare the n3-PUFAs, plant-based α-linolenic acid (ALA) in flaxseed oil, and marine-based eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in high-purity oils versus n6-PUFA containing linoleic acid (LA) for their effects on the adipose tissue and oral glucose tolerance of obese rats. Male fa/fa Zucker rats were assigned to faALA, faEPA, faDHA, and faLA groups and compared to baseline fa/fa rats (faBASE) and lean Zucker rats (lnLA). After 8 weeks, faEPA and faDHA had 11–14% lower body weight than faLA. The oral glucose tolerance and total body fat were unchanged, but faEPA had less mesenteric fat. faEPA and faDHA had fewer large adipocytes compared to faLA and faALA. EPA reduced macrophages in the adipose tissue of fa/fa rats compared to ALA and DHA, while faLA had the greatest macrophage infiltration. DHA decreased (~10-fold) T-cell infiltration compared to faBASE and faEPA, whereas faALA and faLA had an ~40% increase. The n3-PUFA diets attenuated tumour necrosis factor-α in adipose tissue compared to faBASE, while it was increased by LA in both genotypes. In conclusion, EPA and DHA target different aspects of inflammation in adipose tissue. Full article

Background and Objectives: Neonates born from thawed embryo transfers tend to have a significantly higher birthweight compared to those from fresh embryo transfers. The aim of this study was to compare the crown-rump length (CRL) between thawed and fresh embryos to investigate the potential causes of different growth patterns between them. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study (July 2010–December 2023) conducted at the Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. In total, 3082 assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies (4044 embryos) underwent a routine scan at 11⁺⁰–13⁺⁶ gestational weeks and were included in the study. Maternal age, the type of embryo transfer (thawed vs. fresh, donor vs. their own oocytes), CRL, twin and singleton gestations were analyzed. Results: The mean maternal age in thawed was significantly higher than in fresh embryos (39.8 vs. 35.8 years, p-value < 0.001). The mean CRL z-score was significantly higher in thawed compared to fresh embryo transfers (0.309 vs. 0.199, p-value < 0.001). A subgroup analysis on singleton gestations showed that the mean CRL z-score was higher in thawed blastocysts compared to fresh (0.327 vs. 0.215, p-value < 0.001). Accordingly, an analysis on twins revealed that the mean CRL z-score was higher in thawed blastocysts (0.285 vs. 0.184, p-value: 0.015) and in oocytes’ recipients compared to own oocytes’ cases (0.431 vs. 0.191, p-value: 0.002). Conclusions: The difference in CRL measurements between thawed and fresh embryos may be a first indication of the subsequent difference in sonographically estimated fetal weight and birthweight. This finding highlights the need for additional research into the underlying causes, including maternal factors and the culture media used. Full article

Glucose, the primary energy substrate for fetal oxidative processes and growth, is transferred from maternal to fetal circulation down a concentration gradient by placental facilitative glucose transporters. In sheep, SLC2A1 and SLC2A3 are the primary transporters available in the placental epithelium, with SLC2A3 located on the maternal-facing apical trophoblast membrane and SLC2A1 located on the fetal-facing basolateral trophoblast membrane. We have previously reported that impaired placental SLC2A3 glucose transport resulted in smaller, hypoglycemic fetuses with reduced umbilical artery insulin and glucagon concentrations, in addition to diminished pancreas weights. These findings led us to subject RNA derived from SLC2A3-RNAi (RNA interference) and NTS-RNAi (non-targeting sequence) fetal pancreases to qPCR followed by transcriptomic analysis. We identified a total of 771 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Upregulated pathways were associated with fat digestion and absorption, particularly fatty acid transport, lipid metabolism, and cholesterol biosynthesis, suggesting a potential switch in energetic substrates due to hypoglycemia. Pathways related to molecular transport and cell signaling in addition to pathways influencing growth and metabolism of the developing pancreas were also impacted. A few genes directly related to gluconeogenesis were also differentially expressed. Our results suggest that fetal hypoglycemia during the first half of gestation impacts fetal pancreas development and function that is not limited to β cell activity. Full article

Morphological changes in canals are greatly influenced by sediment load dynamics, whose estimation is a challenging task because of the non-linear behavior of the sediment concentration variables. This study aims to compare different techniques including Artificial Intelligence Models (AIM) and empirical equations for estimating sediment load in Upper Chenab Canal based on 10 years of sediment data from 2012 to 2022. The methodology involves utilization of a newly developed empirical equation, the Ackers and White formula and AIM including 20 neural networks with 10 training functions for both Double and Triple Layers, two Artificial Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), Particle Swarm Optimization, and Ensemble Learning Random Forest models. Sensitivity analysis of sediment concentration variables has also been performed using various scenarios of input combinations in AIM. A state-of-the-art optimization technique has been used to identify the parameters of the empirical equation, and its performance is tested against AIM and the Ackers and White equation. To compare the performance of various models, four types of errors—correlation coefficient (R), T-Test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Taylor’s Diagram—have been used. The results of the study show successful application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and empirical equations to capture the non-linear behavior of sediment concentration variables and indicate that, among all models, the ANFIS outperformed in simulating the total sediment load with a high R-value of 0.958. The performance of various models in simulating sediment concentration was assessed, with notable accuracy achieved by models AIM11 and AIM21. Moreover, the newly developed equation performed better (R = 0.92) compared to the Ackers and White formula (R = 0.88). In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into sediment concentration dynamics in canals, highlighting the effectiveness of AI models and optimization techniques. It is suggested to incorporate other AI techniques and use multiple canals data in modeling for the future. Full article

The mechanism of ethylene (ET)–regulated salinity stress response remains largely unexplained, especially for semi-halophytes and halophytes. Here, we present the results of the multifaceted analysis of the model semi-halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (common ice plant) ET biosynthesis pathway key components’ response to prolonged (14 days) salinity stress. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of 3280 ice plant genes was altered during 14-day long salinity (0.4 M NaCl) stress. A thorough analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that the expression of genes involved in ET biosynthesis and perception (ET receptors), the abscisic acid (ABA) catabolic process, and photosynthetic apparatus was significantly modified with prolonged stressor presence. To some point this result was supported with the expression analysis of the transcript amount (qPCR) of key ET biosynthesis pathway genes, namely ACS6 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase) and ACO1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase) orthologs. However, the pronounced circadian rhythm observed in the expression of both genes in unaffected (control) plants was distorted and an evident downregulation of both orthologs’ was induced with prolonged salinity stress. The UPLC-MS analysis of the ET biosynthesis pathway rate-limiting semi-product, namely of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) content, confirmed the results assessed with molecular tools. The circadian rhythm of the ACC production of NaCl-treated semi-halophytes remained largely unaffected by the prolonged salinity stress episode. We speculate that the obtained results represent an image of the steady state established over the past 14 days, while during the first hours of the salinity stress response, the view could be completely different. Full article

Access to rural primary healthcare services has been broadly studied in the past few decades. However, most earlier studies that focused on examining access to rural healthcare services have conventionally treated spatial and non-spatial access as separate factors. This research aims to measure access to primary healthcare services in rural areas with the consideration of both spatial and non-spatial dimensions. The methodology of study is threefold. First, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G-2SFCA) method was adopted to measure spatial access to primary healthcare services. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate non-spatial access factors, including demographic condition, patient’s household income, healthcare insurance, education level, and patient satisfaction level with the services. After that, a comprehensive evaluation index system was employed to integrate both spatial and non-spatial access. The empirical study showed a remarkable disparity in spatial access to primary healthcare services. In total, 78 villages with 185,137 local people had a “low” or “very low” level of spatial access to both clinics and hospitals. For the non-spatial dimension, the results depicted that Songzi had significant inequalities in socioeconomic status (e.g., income, education) and patient satisfaction level for medical service. When integrating both spatial and non-spatial factors, the disadvantaged areas were mainly located in the eastern and middle parts. In addition, this study found that comprehensively considering the spatial and non-spatial access had a significant impact on results in healthcare access. In conclusion, this study calls for policymakers to pay more attention to primary healthcare inequalities within rural areas. The spatial and non-spatial access should be considered comprehensively when the long-term rural medical support policy is designated. Full article

Psychostimulants alter cellular morphology and activate neuroimmune signaling in a number of brain regions, yet few prior studies have investigated their persistence beyond acute abstinence or following high levels of voluntary drug intake. In this study, we examined the effects of the repeated binge-like self-administration (96 h/week for 3 weeks) of methamphetamine (METH) and 21 days of abstinence in female and male rats on changes in cell density, morphology, and cytokine levels in two addiction-related brain regions—the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and dorsal striatum (DStr). We also examined the effects of similar patterns of intake of the cocaine-like synthetic cathinone derivative 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or saline as a control. Robust levels of METH and MDPV intake (~500–1000 infusions per 96 h period) were observed in both sexes. We observed no changes in astrocyte or neuron density in either region, but decreases in dendritic spine densities were observed in PFC pyramidal and DStr medium spiny neurons. The microglial cell density was decreased in the PFC of METH self-administering animals, accompanied by evidence of microglial apoptosis. Changes in microglial morphology (e.g., decreased territorial volume and ramification and increased cell soma volume) were also observed, indicative of an inflammatory-like state. Multiplex analyses of PFC and DStr cytokine content revealed elevated levels of various interleukins and chemokines only in METH self-administering animals, with region- and sex-dependent effects. Our findings suggest that voluntary binge-like METH or MDPV intake induces similar cellular perturbations in the brain, but they are divergent neuroimmune responses that persist beyond the initial abstinence phase. Full article

Cladding with a stick electrode is one of the oldest arc processes for adding a deposit on a base material. The process is suitable for outdoor working, but the disadvantages are low productivity and large dilution rates. In this work, a simple solution is proposed, which would enable cladding of a larger area with one pass and decrease the dilution rate at the same time—a new type of electrode was developed, exhibiting a rectangular cross-section instead of a round one.: Hardfacings, welded with E Fe8 electrodes according to EN 14 700 Standard were welded on mild steel S355 J2 base material with three different coated stick electrodes. The first one was a commercially available, standard, round hardfacing electrode, the second was the same, but with a thinner coating, and the third one was a newly developed rectangular electrode. All three types had equal cross-sections of the metallic core and the same type of coating. Manufacturing of the rectangular electrodes in the laboratory is explained briefly. One- and multi-layer deposits were welded with all three types. Differences were observed in the arc behavior between the round and rectangular electrodes. With the rectangular electrode, the microstructure of the deposit was finer, penetration was shallower, and dilution rates were lower, while the hardness was higher, residual stresses predominantly compressive, and the results of instrumented Charpy impact tests and fracture mechanics tests were better. Full article

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology, combined with chromatographic imaging algorithms, is commonly used for two-dimensional temperature and concentration measurements in combustion fields. However, obtaining critical temperature information from limited detection data is a challenging task in practical engineering applications due to the difficulty of deploying sufficient detection equipment and the lack of sufficient data to invert temperature and other distributions in the combustion field. Therefore, we propose a sparse projection multi-view synthesis model based on U-Net that incorporates the sequence learning properties of gated recurrent unit (GRU) and the generalization ability of residual networks, called GMResUNet. The datasets used for training all contain projection data with different degrees of sparsity. This study shows that the synthesized full projection data had an average relative error of 0.35%, a PSNR of 40.726, and a SSIM of 0.997 at a projection angle of 4. At projection angles of 2, 8, and 16, the average relative errors of the synthesized full projection data were 0.96%, 0.19%, and 0.18%, respectively. The temperature field reconstruction was performed separately for sparse and synthetic projections, showing that the application of the model can significantly improve the reconstruction accuracy of the temperature field of high-energy combustion. Full article

In the current COVID-19 landscape dominated by Omicron subvariants, understanding the timing and efficacy of vaccination against emergent lineages is crucial for planning future vaccination campaigns, yet detailed studies stratified by subvariant, vaccination timing, and age groups are scarce. This retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 cases from December 2021 to January 2023 in Catalonia, Spain, focusing on vulnerable populations affected by variants BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, and BQ.1 and including two national booster campaigns. Our database includes detailed information such as dates of diagnosis, hospitalization and death, last vaccination, and cause of death, among others. We evaluated the impact of vaccination on disease severity by age, variant, and vaccination status, finding that recent vaccination significantly mitigated severity across all Omicron subvariants, although efficacy waned six months post-vaccination, except for BQ.1, which showed more stable levels. Unvaccinated individuals had higher hospitalization and mortality rates. Our results highlight the importance of periodic vaccination to reduce severe outcomes, which are influenced by variant and vaccination timing. Although the seasonality of COVID-19 is uncertain, our analysis suggests the potential benefit of annual vaccination in populations >60 years old, probably in early fall, if COVID-19 eventually exhibits a major peak similar to other respiratory viruses. Full article

Understanding the relationship between the formation, structure, and functionality of catalyst layers is crucial for designing catalyst layers with specific high-current-density operations. In this study, we investigated the impact of the ionomer-to-carbon (I/C) ratio and solid content on transport properties. We conducted fuel cell performance and diagnostic measurements to demonstrate the combined effects of the I/C ratio and solid content on the mass transport, particularly oxygen transport. To elucidate the roles of the I/C ratio and solid content in catalyst layer formation, we utilized dynamic light scattering and rheological measurements. By analyzing the local and global structure of ionomer-Pt/C assemblages in the catalyst inks, we observed that the I/C ratio and solid content influence the competition between homo-aggregation and hetero-aggregation, the strengths of inter- and intra-cluster bonds, and the rigidity and connectivity of the particulate structure. Additionally, high-shear-application simulations tend to reduce the connectivity of the particulate network and induce cluster densification, unless the global structure is mechanically stable and resilient. Based on this understanding, we established the formation–structure–functionality relationship for catalyst layers, thereby providing fundamental insights for designing catalyst layers tailored to specific functionalities. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a condition with a multifactorial aetiology that affects the skin. It most often begins at preschool age and involves the skin. The disease’s main symptom is intense itching, which occurs especially at night and affects the child’s sleep, negatively impacting the quality of life of affected children and, consequently, their families. The difficulty in resting during the night leads to many problems during the day, particularly behavioural disorders and difficulties in paying attention at school, which results in learning impairment. The unexpected symptoms of AD are caused by pathophysiological processes that include many molecular pathways and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-31, IL-1, IL-2, TNF-a, and IL-6. Drawing on a comprehensive review of the literature in PubMed/MedLine, our review offers an in-depth exploration of both the psychosocial impacts of AD and the molecular processes that contribute to this disorder. Full article

Extracellular proteases are key factors contributing to the virulence of pathogenic fungi from the genus Candida. Their proteolytic activities are crucial for extracting nutrients from the external environment, degrading host defenses, and destabilizing the internal balance of the human organism. Currently, the enzymes most frequently described in this context are secreted aspartic proteases (Saps). This review comprehensively explores the multifaceted roles of Saps, highlighting their importance in biofilm formation, tissue invasion through the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and components of the coagulation cascade, modulation of host immune responses via impairment of neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage functions, and their contribution to antifungal resistance. Additionally, the diagnostic challenges associated with Candida infections and the potential of Saps as biomarkers were discussed. Furthermore, we examined the prospects of developing vaccines based on Saps and the use of protease inhibitors as adjunctive therapies for candidiasis. Given the complex biology of Saps and their central role in Candida pathogenicity, a multidisciplinary approach may pave the way for innovative diagnostic strategies and open new opportunities for innovative clinical interventions against candidiasis. Full article

UAV communications have seen a rapid rise in the last few years. The drone class of UAV has particularly become more widespread around the world, and illicit behavior using drones has become a problem. Therefore, localization, tracking, and even taking control of drones have also gained interest. Knowing the frequency of a target signal, its position can be determined (as the angle of arrival with respect to a fixed receiver point) using radio frequency-based localization techniques. One such technique is represented by the subspace-based algorithms that offer highly accurate results. This paper presents the implementation of the MUSIC algorithm on an SDR-based system using a uniform circular antenna array and its experimental evaluation in relevant outdoor environments for drone localization. The results show the capability of the system to indicate the AoA of the target signal. The results are compared with the actual direction computed from the log files of the drone application and validated with a professional direction-finding solution (i.e., Narda SignalShark equipped with the automatic direction-finding antenna). Full article

Background: The biomechanical analysis of spine and postural misalignments is important for surgical and non-surgical treatment of spinal pain. We investigated the examiner reliability of sagittal cervical alignment variables compared to the reliability and concurrent validity of computer vision algorithms used in the PostureRay^® software 2024. Methods: A retrospective database of 254 lateral cervical radiographs of patients between the ages of 11 and 86 is studied. The radiographs include clearly visualized C1–C7 vertebrae that were evaluated by a human using the software. To evaluate examiner reliability and the concurrent validity of the trained CNN performance, two blinded trials of radiographic digitization were performed by an extensively trained expert user (US) clinician with a two-week interval between trials. Then, the same clinician used the trained CNN twice to reproduce the same measures within a 2-week interval on the same 254 radiographs. Measured variables included segmental angles as relative rotation angles (RRA) C1–C7, Cobb angles C2–C7, relative segmental translations (RT) C1–C7, anterior translation C2–C7, and absolute rotation angle (ARA) C2–C7. Data were remotely extracted from the examiner’s PostureRay^® system for data collection and sorted based on gender and stratification of degenerative changes. Reliability was assessed via intra-class correlations (ICC), root mean squared error (RMSE), and R² values. Results: In comparing repeated measures of the CNN network to itself, perfect reliability was found for the ICC (1.0), RMSE (0), and R² (1). The reliability of the trained expert US was in the excellent range for all variables, where 12/18 variables had ICCs ≥ 0.9 and 6/18 variables were 0.84 ≤ ICCs ≤ 0.89. Similarly, for the expert US, all R² values were in the excellent range (R² ≥ 0.7), and all RMSEs were small, being 0.42 ≤ RMSEs ≤ 3.27. Construct validity between the expert US and the CNN network was found to be in the excellent range with 18/18 ICCs in the excellent range (ICCs ≥ 0.8), 16/18 R² values in the strong to excellent range (R² ≥ 0.7), and 2/18 in the good to moderate range (R² RT C6/C7 = 0.57 and R² Cobb C6/C7 = 0.64. The RMSEs for expert US vs. the CNN network were small, being 0.37 ≤ RMSEs ≤ 2.89. Conclusions: A comparison of repeated measures within the computer vision CNN network and expert human found exceptional reliability and excellent construct validity when comparing the computer vision to the human observer. Full article

Pigments within polysaccharides pose significant challenges when analyzing their structural characteristics and evaluating their biological activities, making decolorization a crucial step in purifying these biomolecules. In this research, a novel approach using ultrasound-assisted static adsorption with macroporous resins was employed to decolorize polysaccharides extracted from seedless chestnut rose (Rosa sterilis S. D. Shi) fruit (RSP). Among the fourteen tested resins, AB-8, D101, D4020, HPD100, and S8 were identified as the most effective, demonstrating superior decoloration efficiency and polysaccharide recovery. Further examinations of RSPs treated with these five resins revealed distinct effects on their uronic acid levels, monosaccharide makeup, molecular weight, surface structure, and hypoglycemic properties. The RSP treated with HPD100 resin stood out for having the highest uronic acid content, smallest particle size, and lowest molecular weight, leading to the most notable inhibition of α-glucosidase activity through a mixed inhibition model. The application of HPD100 resin in the decolorization process not only potentially preserved the macromolecular structure of RSP but also enhanced its hypoglycemic efficacy. These findings provide a solid theoretical basis for further exploring RSP as a component of functional foods, underscoring the effectiveness of the ultrasound-assisted resin adsorption method in polysaccharide purification. Full article

On 21 May 2023, a hidden eruption occurred at the Southeast Crater (SEC) of Etna (Italy); indeed, bad weather prevented its direct and remote observation. Tephra fell toward the southwest, and two lava flows propagated along the SEC’s southern and eastern flanks. The monitoring system of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia testified to its occurrence. We analyzed the seismic and infrasound signals to constrain the temporal evolution of the fountain, which lasted about 5 h. We finally reached Etna’s summit two weeks later and found an unexpected pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposit covering the southern lava flow at its middle portion. We performed unoccupied aerial system and field surveys to reconstruct in 3D the SEC, lava flows, and PDC deposits and to collect some samples. The data allowed for detailed mapping, quantification, and characterization of the products. The resulting lava flows and PDC deposit volumes were (1.54 ± 0.47) × 10⁶ m³ and (1.30 ± 0.26) × 10⁵ m³, respectively. We also analyzed ground-radar and satellite data to evaluate that the plume height ranges between 10 and 15 km. This work is a comprehensive analysis of the fieldwork, UAS, volcanic tremor, infrasound, radar, and satellite data. Our results increase awareness of the volcanic activity and potential dangers for visitors to Etna’s summit area. Full article

Small-cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (SCNCC) is a rare yet aggressive gynecological malignancy associated with dismal clinical outcomes. Its rarity has led to a limited number of retrospective studies and an absence of prospective research, posing significant challenges for evidence-based treatment approaches. As a result, most gynecologic oncology centers have limited experience with this tumor, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive review and summary. This article systematically reviews the pathogenesis, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics, prognostic factors, and clinical management of gynecologic SCNCC. We specifically focused on reviewing the distinct genomic characteristics of SCNCC identified via next-generation sequencing technologies, including loss of heterozygosity (LOH), somatic mutations, structural variations (SVs), and microRNA alterations. The identification of these actionable genomic events offers promise for discovering new molecular targets for drug development and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, we delve deeper into key clinical challenges, such as determining the optimal treatment modality between chemoradiation and surgery for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I phase patients within a precision stratification framework, as well as the role of targeted therapy within the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the management of SCNCC. Finally, we anticipate the utilization of multiple SCNCC models, including cancer tissue-originated spheroid (CTOS) lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), to decipher driver events and develop individualized therapeutic strategies for clinical application. Full article

Inspired by the principles of quantum mechanics, we constructed a model of students’ misconceptions about heat and temperature, conceptualized as a quantum system represented by a density matrix. Within this framework, the presence or absence of misconceptions is delineated as pure states, while the probability of mixed states is also considered, providing valuable insights into students’ cognition based on the mental models they employ when holding misconceptions. Using the analysis model previously employed by Lei Bao and Edward Redish, we represented these results in a density matrix. In our research, we utilized the Zeo and Zadnik Thermal Concept Evaluation among 282 students from a private university in Northeast Mexico. Our objective was to extract information from the analysis of multiple-choice questions designed to explore preconceptions, offering valuable educational insights beyond the typical Correct–Incorrect binary analysis of classical systems. Our findings reveal a probability of 0.72 for the appearance of misconceptions, 0.28 for their absence, and 0.43 for mixed states, while no significant disparities were observed based on gender or scholarship status, a notable difference was observed among programs (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with the previous literature, confirming a prevalence of misconceptions within the student population. Full article