Objectives: Because access to sleep recordings is limited, there is a need for new reliable diagnostic tools for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) diagnosis. A score calculated from a 30 minutes-home sleep videotape recording has already been proposed in 1996 with interesting results. The main objective of this pilot study was to assess the reliability of a similar score applied to reference PSG video recordings and calculated on two different time windows (30 and 10 minutes). Methods: Sixteen children suspected of OSAHS, aged between two and ten years, underwent video recording during overnight PSG. Video analysis was made during the second complete sleep cycle. A 30-minute risk score (RS30) and a 10-minute risk score (RS10) were established by analyzing seven parameters. The RS30 and RS10 were correlated with clinical examination data, a sleep questionnaire, the obstructive-apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) from synchronized PSG results. Results: There was a significant correlation between both the RS30 and RS10, the OAHI and ODI. A RS30 ≥ 6.09 was predictive of an OAHI ≥ 5 per hour with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 90%. A RS10 ≥ 6.50 was predictive of an OAHI ≥ 5 per hour with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusion: A risk score based on PSG video recordings shows a good correlation with PSG results, confirming previous reports. Further work should focus on applying this risk score to home sleep video recordings for the diagnosis of pediatric OSAHS.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) also named chronic lung disease, is one of the most important morbidities affecting preterm babies due to improved survivals of them. The disease also accounts significantly for mortality among premature infants. There are a large number of consequence of the disease, affecting the lung function trajectories that the survivor attains. What is more, BPD also has long-term respiratory complications. Throughout the world, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized as a disease with high morbidity and mortality. The disease has many causative factors including biological and environmental ones. Early life events such as BPD seem to be a predictor of early onset COPD. BPD and COPD have some commonalities in their pathogenesis, pathological features, clinical manifestations, pulmonary functions, and outcomes. Some similarities between the diseases are as follows. The environmental factors include in-utero exposure to maternal smoke, while biological factors include familial aggregation, higher occurrence among twins. Factors are associated with the pathogenesis of both diseases, pathological features and alveolar simplification, large alveoli with reduced compliance, clinical features and respiratory distress and pulmonary function and airflow resistance, reduced FEV1. In BPD survivors, there is attainment of less than maximally expected lung function as measured by FEV1, and these patients tend to develop COPD at much younger ages. Therefore, it is of great significance to further explore the association between BPD and COPD.

Early identification and treatment of perinatal listeriosis: A retrospective case analysisXiaoyu Chen1, Jing Li2, Ying Lu 1, Shuyue Li 1, Qi Li1 , Fan Wang 3*, Yakun Luo4, * and Qingliang Shao

Background: Sleep plays an essential role in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH); however, sleep patterns in this population are not well studied. This study aims to evaluate the sleep patterns and related risk factors among PLWH in Iran. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted with 1185 PLWH who attended Voluntary Counseling and Testing centers in 15 provinces in Iran between April 2021 and March 2022. The Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnea questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Insomnia Severity Index were used. A two-step clustering method was employed to identify the number of sleep clusters in PLWH. Results: The study found that 49.6% of PLWH had poor sleep quality, 21.15% reported sleepiness, and 42.7% had insomnia. Three sleep pattern clusters were identified: I. minor sleep problems (45.6%); II. sleep apnea, snoring at night, and sleepiness (27.8%), and III. poor sleep quality and insomnia (26.7%). Age (OR:1.03, 95%CI:1.01-1.05), academic education (OR:0.52, 95%CI:0.28-0.97), HIV duration, and CD4 (OR: 0.99, 95%CI:0.99-0.999) were associated with being in cluster two, while age (OR=1.02, 95%CI:1.007-1.04) and CD4 (OR=0.99, 95%CI:0.996-0.999) were associated with being in cluster three. PLWH with depression had higher odds of being in cluster three, and those with anxiety had higher odds of being in clusters two and three. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a significant proportion of PLWH have poor sleep quality, sleepiness, and insomnia. The identification of three distinct sleep pattern clusters underscores the need for increased attention and tailored interventions to address the specific sleep issues experienced by PLWH.

Objective: Lentinan has antiviral, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, stimulating interferon production, and other pharmacological effects. Previous animal experiments have shown that lentinan nasal drops can assist（Corona Virus Disease 2019，COVID-19) vaccine to induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies and can effectively resist the invasion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lentinan nasal drops in patients infected with COVID-19 through a dose-escalation study and a placebo-controlled trial. Methods: The study was divided into two phases: Phase I: a dose escalation trial in which 24 COVID-19 patients were enrolled, that is, 12 in the escalation dose group (50, 75, and 100 µg/day) and 12 in the standard treatment group. The aim was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of lentinan nasal drops. The second stage was a placebo-controlled study. The optimal dose group of the first stage was used as the therapeutic dose, and the sample size was expanded to verify the anti-COVID-19 efficacy of lentinan nasal drops. Results: In the dose-increasing study, lentinan nasal drops showed good safety, and no serious adverse reactions occurred. The virus shedding time of the 100 µg dose group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (7.75±1.71 VS 13.41±3.8 d) (p=0.01), and the 100 µg/day lentinan nasal drops were tolerated well. The results of the placebo-controlled study showed that compared with that in the placebo group, the time for COVID-19 antigen to turn negative was significantly shorter in the 100 µg lentinan nasal drop group (p=0.0298), but no significant difference was observed in symptom improvement between the two groups. In the placebo-controlled study, two patients experienced mild nasal discomfort with nasal drops, but the symptoms relieved themselves. Conclusion: Lentinan nasal drops are tolerated well and can shorten the time of virus clearance.

Title: Axonal Sensory-Motor Polyneuropathy in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report

IntroductionAs the digestive organ of the human body, the gastrointestinal tract maintains nutrient metabolism and is also actively involved in various stress responses following trauma, burns, or infection. Since it is the initial organ of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in critically ill patients [1], it has recently gained increasing attention. However, scientists generally pay more attention to upper gastrointestinal problems in critically ill patients, while lower gastrointestinal problems such as failure to void are frequently ignored. In the intensive care unit (ICU), prolonged bed rest, sedation and analgesia, use of vasoactive drugs, mechanical ventilation, and changes in feeding mode slow down intestinal peristalsis, leading to constipation.Reports have suggested that the incidence of constipation in ICU patients is as high as 83% [2]. Moreover, constipation is associated with various adverse outcomes such as prolonged mechanical ventilation time and increased ICU length of stay (LOS) [2-4]. Additionally, because defecation is infrequent, stool accumulation and long-term retention can easily cause bacterial proliferation, intestinal flora imbalance, and endotoxin and bacterial displacement. This may induce systemic inflammatory response syndrome and even MODS [5], putting patients’ lives at risk. Currently, there is no consistent procedure concerning drugs and the timing of bowel cleansing in critically ill patients. Clinically, when patients suffer from constipation or require bowel cleansing, they are generally offered bowel cleansing treatments such as Coloxyl or senna, enemas, or laxatives [6], which are often unsuitable. If the stool is in the ascending colon or the transverse colon, the enema cannot clean the stool and clinicians cannot tell whether the patient has impaired bowel peristalsis or difficult rectal defecation. In recent years, bedside ultrasound has gradually become more widely applied in gastrointestinal assessment. Ultrasonography of the gastric antrum, ascending colon, descending colon, and rectum allows the quick assessment of gastrointestinal motility and stool shape and location, so that targeted measures can be taken.Therefore, in this study, we developed a bowel cleansing program for ICU patients using intensive care ultrasound, aiming to accurately cleanse the bowel, reduce stool accumulation, and improve patient health outcomes.

Expanding the spectrum of short rib thoracic dysplasia case with a novel nonsynonymous and a synonymous variant in DYNC2H1Bilgesu Ak1: (bilgesuak22@gmail.com), Mete Akısü2(mete.akisu@ege.edu.tr), Asude Durmaz1(asudealpman@gmail.com), Mehmet Yalaz2(mehmet.yalaz@ege.edu.tr), Demet Terek2(demet.terek@ege.edu.tr), Ayca Aykut1(ayca.aykut@ege.edu.tr)Bilgesu Ak ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0422-68701 Department of Medical Genetics, Ege University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey2 Department of Neonatalogy, Ege University Hospital, Izmir, TurkeyEthics Approval:The study was approved by the biomedical ethics committee at Ege University Hospital.Consent Statement:Written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s parents, because patient is under 16, to publish this report in accordance with the journal’s patient consent policy.Data Sharing Statement:All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.Funding:No funding of any kind or funding source was provided during the implementation and execution of this study.Competing interests:The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Acknowledgements:The authors would like to thank the patient for participating in this study.Abstract:Short rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD), with or without polydactyly, also known as Verma-Naumoff/Saldino-Noonan syndrome, is a type of skeletal ciliopathy. Initially, the IFT80 gene was identified as the causative gene; however, half of the cases are caused by a homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation in the DYNC2H1 gene. Additionally, a digenic mutation involving DYNC2H1 and NEK genes can be responsible for the syndrome. Abnormalities in the skeletal system are essential, and visceral pathologies and metaphyseal findings help distinguish between different forms of SRTDs.In this case report, we present a male patient born in 2014 with phenotypic findings, including bitemporal narrowing, flattened nose, low-set and large uvula, constricted thorax, shortened upper and lower limbs, and clinodactyly in the second toes. There was no consanguinity between the parents, but there was a history of a deceased ex-sister with pulmonary hypoplasia and similar phenotypic findings. Whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis revealed a compound heterozygous mutation in the DYNC2H1 gene, consisting of a novel missense mutation c.6439G>T (p.Asp2147Tyr) and a synonymous mutation c.6477G>A (p.Gln2159=) in trans position. This report emphasizes the importance of considering synonymous variants and compound heterozygosity in patients with suspected diseases like short rib thoracic dysplasia, known for its genetic heterogeneity.Keywords: Short rib thoracic dysplasia; next-generation sequencing; clinical genomics; variant interpretation.Corresponding Author:Prof. Asude DurmazEge University Hospital Medical Genetics, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkeyasudealpman@gmail.comIntroduction:Massively parallel sequencing has facilitated the identification of genetic causes underlying various diseases, particularly skeletal pathologies. As a result, the discovery of new genes and pathways associated with clinical and skeletal disorders has become possible. The Nosology Committee of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society revised and updated the Nosology and Classification of Genetic Skeletal Disorders in 2019, which includes 461 diseases classified into 42 groups based on clinical, radiographic, and molecular phenotypic differences. Short rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD) with or without polydactyly type 3 belongs to class 9, which includes ciliopathies with major skeletal involvement.Short rib thoracic dysplasia, also known as Verma-Naumoff/Saldino-Noonan syndrome, is an autosomal recessive or digenic recessive syndrome mainly caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the dynein heavy chain, isotype 1B (DYNC2H1) gene, which is crucial for primary cilium function. Phenotypic findings include a constricted thoracic cage, short ribs, shortened tubular bones, and a ’trident’ appearance of the acetabular roof. Polydactyly can also be observed, and there is phenotypic overlap with other forms of SRTDs. The distinction between different forms of SRTDs is primarily based on concomitant visceral pathologies and metaphyseal findings, which may involve various major systems like the central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and genital systems. Due to its genetic heterogeneity, identifying biallelic pathogenic variants in presumed autosomal recessive cases can be challenging. Synonymous variants are often overlooked in bioinformatic analysis due to their high frequency and lack of impact on the amino acid sequence. However, investigating the pathogenicity of synonymous variants can improve the diagnosis in these cases inherited in an autosomal recessive or digenic recessive manner. Half of the cases were initially believed to be caused by mutations in the DYNC2H1 gene, but the gene’s large size (90 exons) and lack of mutational hotspots made genetic testing time-consuming and expensive. Consequently, clinical diagnosis was primarily relied upon. With the advancement of technology, whole exome sequencing (WES) has become the first-line method for identifying mutations in suspected cases. WES is a sensitive, specific, and cost-effective technique for mutation screening and gene discovery in SRTDs, providing a definitive diagnosis that allows for accurate patient counseling and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.Material and Methods:A 23-year-old woman (G2P1) in her 37th week of gestation, presenting with polyhydramnios, was admitted to the Ege University Hospital Women and Child’s Health department. A male baby weighing 2900 grams was born via C-section, and immediately after delivery, he experienced respiratory distress with an APGAR score of 3/7. Physical examination revealed tachypnea and intercostal retractions, along with phenotypic findings such as a narrow chest, short upper and lower limbs, bitemporal narrowing, flattened nasal root, low and large uvula, and clinodactyly in the second toes. Chest radiography showed a constricted thorax, short horizontally oriented ribs, short upper and lower limbs, and elevated clavicles. A skeletal survey revealed a narrow and elongated thorax, hypoplastic lungs, trident acetabulum, and short and thick bones in the arms and legs (Figure 1). Contrast-enhanced thoracic CT confirmed skeletal dysplasia and bilateral atelectatic areas in the lung parenchyma.

A document by Elisa Barraco. Click on the document to view its contents.

Users of software applications use Issue Tracking Systems (ITSs) to file enhancement reports, which leads to a large quantity of user requests. Indeed, these reports have become an important source for software requirements because they help to continuously improve software applications. Usually, developers and maintainers evaluate them and decide which user reports can be accepted. However, enhancement reports are continuously being raised one after another, which makes this process time-consuming and labor-intensive. Timely handling and implementation of these enhancement reports can effectively improve user satisfaction and product competitiveness. Thus, research has focused on automated methods for predicting which enhancement reports are likely to be approved, to maximum the value derived from user reports. However, reported results of existing approaches are typically not good enough for practical use. In this paper, we propose a novel creator-profile-based method to explore dependencies among enhancements to improve the prediction performance. Firstly, we define the concept of a creator profile, including a general method of how to generate creator profiles from the data set. Then we explain how to employ creator profiles to the problem of enhancement report approval prediction. Finally, we evaluate our approach on 40,551 enhancement reports collected from ITSs. The experimental results indicate that our proposed approach greatly improve on existing state of the art, especially in predicting approved reports. For cross-application prediction, the accuracy is 80.7%, while for non-cross-application prediction, the overall accuracy is 83.6%. That is, with the proposed approach, over 80% of user requests can be automatically identified for exacting valuable user requirements, which significantly reduces labor costs. Replication package is available at: https://anonymous.4open.science/r/approval_prediction-507E

Pulmonary artery sling is a rare congenital vascular anomaly in which the left pulmonary artery arises from the posterior aspect of right pulmonary artery and courses to the left behind the tracheal bifurcation and in front of the esophagus to reach the left lung hilum and forms a sling around the trachea. We are reporting a case of a two-month-old infant with biliary atresia referred for screening echocardiogram before surgical procedure. The patient had no history of respiratory distress or dysphagia. Echocardiography revealed aberrant left pulmonary artery arising from the right pulmonary artery with no pulmonary stenosis probably pulmonary artery sling. Diagnosis was confirmed on cardiac computed tomography angiography. On minor class of risk stratification patient was allowed to proceed for surgical procedure for biliary atresia as standard risk of anesthesia.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is associated with significant physical debility. Studies have suggested that physical activity can improve endurance and strength. However, studies have not yet investigated “prehabilitation,” exercise before HSCT, to improve functional outcomes. We describe the impact of exercise therapy on physical debility in children undergoing HSCT to inform implementation of prehabilitation. This review was conducted through a search of the electronic database PubMed. Articles included were those with original research, including randomized control trials, prospective studies, case controls, and retrospective studies. Eleven of the 191 resulted studies met our review criteria. None focused on prehabilitation, but instead on interventions during HSCT. Ten studies showed improvement or maintenance of strength, endurance, stretching, or aerobic fitness. This review shows that exercise therapy can positively affect outcomes in patients undergoing HSCT. Further investigations are needed to determine if prehabilitation has better results than concurrent exercise.

CD8+ T cells in tumors are heterogenous and exist in multiple differentiation states. Evidence has proposed CD39 as a marker of exhausted and tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells. Here, we analyzed a subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells based on the expression of the immunosuppressive ATP ectonucleotidase CD39 and PD-1. Neoplasm-superficial biopsy and intratumoral EBUS-TBNA were used to assess the peripheral and central tumor microenvironment, respectively. CD39+CD8+ T cells dominantly accumulated in the peritumoral compartment of larger tumors and exhibited an exhausted phenotype compatible with PD-1 expression. Compared with CD39+CD8+ T cells, PD-1+CD39+CD8+ T cells are better biomarkers for predicting responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. Collectively, heterogenous distribution may be critical to elicit CD39 expression in lung cancer associated CD8+ T cells. Increased PD-1+CD39+CD8+ T cell levels within the peripheral TME can act as a candidate biomarker for lung cancer immunotherapy.

Organic Donor Acceptor (DA) complexes have emerged in recent years as materials of choice for the organic binary electronics. The reactivity de-scriptors derived from the conceptual DFT reveal imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines as potential donors. In view of this, four imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in 1:2 molar ratio to afford four new DA complexes. The spectral studies, namely IR, 1H, 13C, DEPT 135, 2D HMQC NMR, and HRMS were used to establish the structures. The UV-vis. spectroscopy reveals intramolecular charge transfer. All the four compounds fluoresce giving excitation emission fluorescence spectra with a red shift ranging from 64 to 151 nm and quantum yields from 0.004 to 16.35. Unexpectedly, nitro group in one of the products does not act as quencher; instead, it enhances the quantum yield to make it highest in this series. The products exhibit electrical conductivity which increases with temperature. The SEM and TEM images reveal distinct and homogenous surface morphology with holes which facilitate flow of electrons as manifested by electrical conductivity. The powder XRD and SAED results establish the polycrystalline nature of the products. The theoretical studies indicate an alternate donor acceptor stacking pattern.

L-Hexoses are key components of many biologically relevant natural products and pharmaceuticals. As rare sugars, L-hexoses are not readily obtained from natural sources. Access to L-hexose building blocks from commercially available and inexpensive D-sugars is highly desirable from the viewpoints of organic synthesis and drug discovery. As demonstrated by the convenient preparation of L-glucosyl, L-galactosyl, and L-mannosyl fluorides from readily available β-D-C-glucosyl, β-D-C-mannosyl, and β-D-C-galactosyl derivatives, we describe a novel and efficient approach to the demanding L-glycosyl fluorides. The transformation features the installation of anomeric hydroxymethyl group under mild conditions and head-to-tail inversion of sugar rings through radical decarboxylative fluorination of uronic acids. The power of this protocol is highlighted by the first assembly of a pentasaccharide repeating unit of Pseudomonas ATCC 31554 extracellular polysaccharide (S-88). This synthesis relies on the efficient extension of sugar chain at the sterically hindered hydroxy group and the facile introduction of L-mannosyl unit using L-mannosyl fluoride as glycosylating agent. The methods developed in this work would provide new tools to the arsenal of synthesis of L-sugar building blocks and of assembly of glycans containing L-sugar moieties.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) glass is a versatile and processible material that retains its porous nature while transitioning between liquid and solid states. Incorporating composites into MOF glass can enhance its functionalities, but the effect on its state conversion remains understudied. This research explores the impact of silver ions on the properties of ZIF-62 glass, revealing their influence on phase conversion at varying ligand concentrations. The presence of silver enhances gas separation processes, particularly improving CO2 and hydrocarbon separation selectivity compared to pure ZIF-62 glass. These findings provide valuable insights for composite integration and highlight the potential of Ag-doped ZIF-62 glass in gas separation applications. Furthermore, this work paves the way for processing functional Ag-doped ZIF-62 glass films, enabling diverse applications such as gas separation, film catalysis, and antimicrobial glass.

Aim: This retrospective analysis aimed to comprehensively review the design and regulatory aspects of bioequivalence trials submitted to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) since 2017. Methods: This was a retrospective, comprehensive analysis study. The Data extracted from the SFDA bioequivalence assessment reports were analyzed for reviewing the overall design and regulatory aspects of the successful bioequivalence trials, exploring the impact of the coefficient of variation of within-subject variability (CVw) on some design aspects, and providing an in-depth assessment of bioequivalence trial submissions that were deemed insufficient in demonstrating bioequivalence. Results: A total of 590 bioequivalence trials were included of which 521 demonstrated bioequivalence (440 single active pharmaceutical ingredients [APIs] and 81 fixed combinations). The majority of the successful trials were for cardiovascular drugs (84 out of 521 [16.1%]), and the 2 x 2 crossover design was used in 455 (87.3%) trials. The sample size tended to increase with the increase in the CVw in trials of single APIs. Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II and IV drugs accounted for the majority of highly variable drugs (58 out of 82 [70.7%]) in the study. Most of the 51 rejected trials were rejected due to concerns related to the study center (n=21 [41.2%]). Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the regulatory and design aspects of bioequivalence trials, and can inform future research and assist in identifying opportunities for improvement in conducting bioequivalence trials in Saudi Arabia.

The timescales associated with precipitation moving through watersheds reveal processes that are critical to understanding many hydrologic systems. Measurements of environmental stable water isotope ratios (δ 2H and δ 18O) have been used as tracers to study hydrologic timescales by examining how long it takes for incoming precipitation tracers become stream discharge, yet limited measurements both spatially and temporally have bounded macroscale evaluations so far. In this observation driven study across North American biomes within the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON), we examined δ 18O and δ 2H stable water isotope in precipitation (δP) and surface water (δQ) at 26 co-located sites. With an average 54 precipitation samples and 139 surface water samples per site, assessment of local meteoric water lines (LMWL) and local surface water line (LSWL) showed geographic variation across North America. Taking the ratio of estimated seasonal amplitudes of δP and δQ to calculate young water fractions ( Fyw), showed a Fyw range from 1% to 93% with most sites having Fyw below 20%. Calculated mean transit times (MTT) based on a gamma convolution model showed a range from 0.10 to 13.2 years, with half of the sites having MTT estimates lower than 2 years. Significant correlations (r) were found only between the Fyw and watershed area, longest flow length, and the longest flow length/slope, whereas the only significant correlation observed for MTT was with site latitude. The estimated Fyw and MTT provide information describing hydrologic processes at NEON sites, however limited correlations of Fyw and MTT with the environmental characteristics we analyzed demonstrate that these quantities are primarily driven by site or area specific factors. The analysis of isotope data presented here provides important constraints on isotope variation in North American biomes and the timescales of water movement through NEON study sites.

Climate forecasts for semi-arid landscapes suggest changes in seasonality and form of precipitation. These shifts are expected to alter the structure and function of grassland and steppe ecosystems and present challenges for land management and crop production in regions like the Northern Great Plains, North America. Precipitation in lower-elevation, semi-arid areas provides a local supply of soil water that drives biogeochemical cycling, agricultural production, and groundwater recharge. However, studies of the fate of precipitation are far less common in lower-elevation areas compared to studies of the fate of seasonal snowpack and runoff in alpine areas. This research uses isotopic composition of water (δ 18O and δ 2H) to explore the sources and fate of soil water in lower elevation areas of the Judith River watershed, in the headwaters of the Missouri River in Montana, USA. Extensive non-irrigated crop production in this area occurs on well-drained soils and depends on careful water management. Agricultural fertilization and organic matter mineralization have resulted in excessive nitrate leaching from cultivated soils into shallow aquifers and streams. Our observations indicate that colder precipitation contributes isotopically distinct water to cultivated terrace soils relative to downgradient groundwaters and streams. Riparian waters also exhibit isotopically distinct contributions from colder precipitation. Apparent contributions from colder precipitation in terrace and riparian soil waters suggest that snowmelt is an important component of water supply to these systems. In riparian waters, influence of evaporation is also evident, suggesting sufficient residence times and atmospheric exposure for local processing to occur. The evolution of isotopic composition from soils to shallow aquifers to stream corridors indicates source water partitioning as precipitation moves through a semi-arid agricultural landscape. Mixing processes apparent in landscape water isotopic compositions reveal source water dynamics that facilitate plant uptake, solute processing, and contaminant leaching.

In response to the low accuracy exhibited by the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), we propose an enhanced Differential Evolution and Bayesian Optimization Algorithm (DE-BOA) . This algorithm integrates the global search capability of the differential evolution algorithm with the local search capability of the Bayesian optimization algorithm, which enables a more comprehensive exploration of the vector solution space. A comparative analysis of various types of rainfall events is conducted. For model calibration and validation, a drainage subzone in Jinshazhou, Guangzhou City, is selected as the research subject. In total, 20 specific rainfall events are selected, and the DE-BOA algorithm outperforms the manual calibration, differential evolution algorithm, and Bayesian optimization algorithm regarding model calibration accuracy. Furthermore, the DE-BOA algorithm exhibits robust adaptability to rainfall events characterized by multiple peaks and higher precipitation levels, with Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficient values surpassing 0.90. This study’s findings could hold significant reference value for dynamically updating model parameters, thereby enhancing the model simulation performance and improving the accuracy of the urban intelligent water management platform.

Many dehazing methods have been presented by many researchers either on single hazy images or multiple images like videos. With the increasing volume of hazy image datasets, recent literature about dehazing is mostly based on deep learning methods. Although, deep learning models perform better than traditional methods on the validation data of the specific dataset which they are trained with, the generalization performance of deep learning models is generally poor. Another important bottleneck for deep models is the training cost in terms of time and hardware requirements. In this study, traditional DCP method is improved by taking into account the amount of haze and refining the transmission and air light used in atmospheric light scattering model of haze. Results of this study shows that proposed method is superior and/or competitive to traditional DCP method and state of the art deep learning models in terms of the visual quality of the dehazed image.

Increasingly, researchers have operationalized AAI derived attachment representations as reflecting individual differences in secure base script knowledge (AAIsbs)—the degree to which individuals show awareness of the temporal-causal schema that summarizes the basic features of seeking and receiving effective support from caregivers when in distress. In a series of pre-registered analyses, we used AAI transcripts recently re-coded for AAIsbs and leveraged a new follow-up assessment of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development cohort around age 30 years (479 currently partnered participants) to assess and compare the links between AAIsbs and traditional AAI coding measures in late adolescence and self-reported romantic relationship quality in adulthood. Higher AAIsbs predicted better dyadic adjustment scores in adulthood, above and beyond other AAI-derived coding measures, and sociodemographic and cognitive functioning covariates. Findings extend previous evidence pointing to the predictive significance of AAIsbs for multiple adult functioning domains.

An attractive specification of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is its operating with wind at various directions. In order to achieve higher performance of these turbines, modeling of a curved-blade VAWT by the modified double multiple streamtube (DMST) method and optimizing this wind turbine are performed. Power coefficient and total normal force were selected as two objective functions. Then, a 3m height curved-blade VAWT type is optimized by Genetic Algorithm multi-objective optimization. Minimizing the normal force acting on turbine blades as the second objective function was not observed in open literatures. The amount of normal force is crucial in structural design of VAWT because it generates both the bending moment on blades and forces on supporting arms of VAWT. Another innovation of this study is to consider the shape coefficient parameter that determines the shape of the rotor geometry as a design variable in optimization procedure. Optimum values of design variables for the wind turbine were: selecting an elliptical rotor geometry, pitch angle -1.4º, diameter/height 1.3, blade aspect ratio 19.8 and tip speed ratio 4.3 and selecting three blades which could provide power coefficient of 0.49 and normal force of 158.7 N.

This study examined the relationship between empathy, social dominance and resource control in children during their first school year. Ninety-two, 4-5-year-old children completed assessments of verbal ability and empathy; their class teachers completed questionnaires assessing social dominance, resource control strategy (prosocial and coercive) and resource control success for each participating child in their class. Resource control strategies were differentially associated with empathy. Prosocial resource control strategy was positively associated with affective empathy. Coercive resource control strategy was also positively associated with affective empathy, but only at high levels of cognitive empathy. The effect of affective empathy on resource control success and social dominance was no longer significant when the resource control strategies (prosocial and coercive) were taken into account. Results support previous theoretical contentions that empathy may play an important role in resource-directed behaviour in early childhood and that resource-directed behaviour is associated with resource control success and social dominance.