A document by Samuel May. Click on the document to view its contents.

A new form of waypoint navigation controller for a skid-steer vehicle is presented, which consisted of a multiple input-single output nonlinear fuzzy angular velocity controller. The mem- bership functions of the fuzzy controller employed a trape- zoidal structure with a completely symmetric rule-base. No- tably, Hierarchical Rule-Base Reduction (HRBR) was incorpo- rated into the controller to select only the rules most influen- tial on state errors. This was done by selecting inputs/outputs and generating a hierarchy of inputs using a Fuzzy Relations Control Strategy (FRCS). Similar to some traditional fuzzy con- trollers, the system provided coverage for the global operat- ing environment. However, a rule for every possible combi- nation of variables and states was no longer necessary. Con- sequently, HRBR fuzzy controllers effectively increase both the number of inputs and their associated fidelity without the rule-base dramatically increasing. To contextualize the performance of the controller, a background on vehicle dy- namic modeling methodologies and an in-depth explanation of the related simulation model are provided. An examina- tion of the proposed controller is then completed employing test courses. The test courses examine the effects of steer- ing disturbance, phase lag, and overshoot as expressed in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Max Error (ME), and Course Completion Time (CCT). Finally, simulation and experimental results for the controller’s performance were compared with a state-of-the-art waypoint navigation vehicle controller, ge- ometric pure pursuit. The fuzzy was found to outperform the pure pursuit experimentally by 52.1 percent in RMSE, 26.8 percent in ME, and 1.07 percent in CCT, on average, validat- ing the viability of the controller.

Rationale Over the years, many techniques have been developed for honey adulteration detection. The several methods based on the AOAC have been admitted to the in-house method confirmed by Iranian Standard Organization (ISIRI). Besides the unprecedented fraud in honey, the scientific requirements to apply high-tech procedures. Therefore, unraveling these discrepancies requires comparisons between the elderly and novel methods. Methods The conventional methods determined different parameters such as reducing sugars before hydrolysis, sucrose amount, fructose to glucose ratio, Proline, and hydroxy methyl furfural. Applying novel IRMS technique determined δ13C values for glucose with high quality and quantity. The honey carbohydrates, such as glucose, fructose, disaccharide, and trisaccharide, were assessed using LC/IRMS. Results Based on these findings regarding the conventional and IRMS methods for testing samples. According to our results, the conventional method successfully passed 18 to 20 samples by ISIRI standards. However, the IRMS method showed different results, with only 2 out of 20 samples being original and pure without adulteration. Conclusion We collected twenty samples from various regions and examined them using two methods to determine their authenticity. The first method used is the C13 isotope and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), while the second method is based on conventional methods using ISIRI. After analyzing the results with Prism software, we found a statistically significant difference between the confidence level of the IRMS method and conventional methods, with a p-value less than 0.05.

The brain is the most formidable part of the body, and researchers have been delving deeply into this issue; however, many questions remain intact. As for Tonically Active Neurons(TANs), they can be active spontaneously without any synaptic inputs. This paper has set to investigate this type of neurons to realize their unique behavior’s mechanism more precisely. According to studies, it seems that there is a possibility of association between biophotons and the in-vitro tonic firing pattern of TANs. According to results, it seems that their spontaneous firing arises due to existence of photoreceptors in TANs and the possibility of their interpretation of emitted photons. To clarify the proposed hypothesis about the mechanism of tonic firing of TANs with regard to the available evidence, an electrical circuit has been designed to model their in-vitro tonic firing. The TANs’ model has simulated by MATLAB software, and results have compared with in-vitro TANs’ spontaneous firing patterns. In this model we just modulated Na density as the most common and efficient variable in making action potential in order to evaluate a basic possibility of this association. This paper is at the initial stage of this theory and required further evaluations to be able to claim this theory as an actual fact. However, this theory can widen our horizon in various aspects such as disorders like Parkinson’s disease and mechanisms like circadian rhythm if the proposed theory becomes validated at further studies when an ultimate model for TANs has made and investigated in practice.

The streambed is the critical interface between the aquatic and terrestrial systems and hosts important biogeochemical hot spots within river corridors. Although the streambed characteristics are significantly different from those of its surrounding soil, the streambed itself has not been explicitly represented in watershed models. We developed an integrated hydrologic model that explicitly incorporated a streambed layer to examine the hydrological effects of streambed characteristics including hydraulic conductivity (K), layer thickness, and width on the exchange fluxes across the streambed as well as the streamflow at the watershed outlet. The numerical experiments were performed in the American River Watershed, a headwater, mountainous watershed within the Yakima River Basin in central Washington. Despite having a negligible effect on the watershed streamflow, an explicit representation of the streambed with distinctive properties dramatically changed the magnitude and variability of the exchange flux. In general, larger streambed K along with a thicker streambed layer induced larger exchange fluxes. The exchange flux was most sensitive to the streambed width or the mesh resolution of the streambed. A smaller streambed width (or a finer streambed resolution) increases exchange fluxes per unit area while reducing the overall exchange volumes across the entire streambed. The amount of baseflow decreased by 6% as the streambed width decreased from 250 m to 50 m. This finding is important because these hydrological changes may in turn affect the exchange of nutrients and contaminants between surface water and groundwater and the associated biogeochemical processes. Our work demonstrated the importance of representing streambed in fully distributed, process-based watershed models in better capturing the exchange flow dynamics in river corridors.

Emerging investigations have indicated that many plant polysaccharides may be beneficial in treating metabolic diseases. Hitherto, the therapeutic efficacies and the potential toxicity of polysaccharides extracted from Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) remains unexplored. This investigation studied on the in-vivo acute and sub-acute oral toxicological profile of the highest doses of C. nutans bioactive polysaccharides (CNBP) extracted from leaves using conventional toxicity methods. 39 healthy 8-10 weeks male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=3), were randomly assigned into: control, acute and sub-acute groups receiving 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/kg/day of CNBP extract respectively; acute groups received a single dose of CNBP extract; whereas the sub-acute groups received daily single doses of CNBP extract for 14 days. Oral administration of up to 3000 mg/kg of CNBP extract caused no abnormal toxicity signs during the 14 days. However, daily administration of 500 mg/kg or higher doses of CNBP extract for 14 days induced a mild degree of toxicity in the liver characterized by elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. The CNBP extracts exhibit therapeutic potential, exemplified by diuretic, natriuretic, anti-hypertensive, anti-tachycardia, reno-protective, and cholesterol lowering properties. Precaution should be taken when administrating the extracts at higher doses and longer durations.

Background: Characterize indications for pediatric palliative-intent proton radiation therapy (PIPRT). Procedure: We retrospectively reviewed patients ≤21 years who received PIPRT. We defined PIPRT as radiotherapy (RT) aimed to improve cancer related symptoms/provide durable local control in the non-curative setting. Mixed proton/photon plans were included. Adjacent reirradiation (reRT) was defined as a reRT volume within the incidental dose cloud of a prior RT target, whereas direct reRT was defined as in-field overlap with prior RT target. Acute toxicity during RT until first inspection visit was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. The Kaplan-Meier method, measured from last PIPRT fraction, was used to assess progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: 18 patients underwent PIPRT between 2014-2020. Median age at treatment start was 10 years (2-21). Median follow up was 8.2 months (0-48). Treatment sites included: brain/spine (10), abdomen/pelvis (3), thorax (3) and head/neck (2). Indications for palliation included: durable tumor control (18), neurologic symptoms (4), pain (3), airway compromise (2), and great vessel compression (1). Indications for protons included: reRT (15) (4 adjacent, 11 direct), craniospinal irradiation (4), reduction of dose to normal tissues (3). 16 experienced grade (G) 1-2 toxicity; 2 G3. There were no reports of radionecrosis. Median PFS was 5.3 months (95% CI 2.7-16.3). Median OS was 8.3 months (95% CI 5.5-26.3). Conclusions: The most common indication for PIPRT was reRT to provide durable tumor control. PIPRT appears to be safe, with no cases of high grade toxicity.

In order to be successfully executed, collaborative tasks performed by two agents often require a cooperative strategy to be learned. In this work, we propose a constraint-based multi-agent reinforcement learning approach called Constrained Multi-agent Soft Actor Critic (C-MSAC) to train control policies for simulated agents performing collaborative multi-phase tasks. Given a task with n phases, the first n-1 phases are treated as constraints for the final task phase objective, which is addressed with a centralized training and decentralized execution approach. We highlight our framework on a tray balancing task including two phases: tray lifting and cooperative tray control for target following. We evaluate our proposed approach and compare it against its unconstrained variant (MSAC). The performed comparisons show that C-MSAC leads to higher success rates, more robust control policies, and better generalization performance.

Background: Cancer metastasis is deemed to be the principal cause of cancer death worldwide. Cancer therapy is actively evolving, but cancer-related mortality is still fearful. Although the currently-used cancer protocols could show anti-cancer efficiency; these protocols still lack specific anti-metastatic components. Aim: To test the efficiency of adding a naturally-occurring chlorogenic acid (CGA) to the three commonly used chemotherapeutics, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and doxorubicin (DOXO), and cisplatin (CIS) in preventing metastatic potential on HepG2 cell line. Methods: After treating HepG2 with CGA alone or with 5-FU, DOXO, and CIS, the cellular lysate content of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), metalloproteinases (MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-12), nitric oxide (NO), migration scratch assay and the gelatinolytic activity against a non-treated group were estimated. Results: The treatment with CGA significantly reduced the levels of AFP and NO; along with the tested matrix metal­loproteinases, decreased gelatinolytic and migration activity in comparison to the non-treated HepG2 group (representative of hepatocellular carcinoma). CGA and CIS were more powerful than DOXO in the inhibition of cell migration (metastasis). However, the addition of CGA to CIS, DOXO, and 5-FU inhibited the cellular migration (metastasis) more than 5-FU alone. Conclusion: CGA showed a promising anti-metastatic activity when added to the studied chemotherapeutic drugs.

Ci sono molti algoritmi crittografici che permettono la ricerca su dati cifrati senza decifrarli, ognuno con proprie caratteristiche di applicabilità. Tra questi, ne abbiamo identificato uno interessante ma pubblicato con notazioni difficili da seguire. In questa nostra nota ne presentiamo una riscrittura di più agevole lettura.

C4 is one of three known photosynthetic processes of carbon fixation in flowering plants. It evolved independently more than 61 times in multiple angiosperm lineages and consists of a series of anatomical and biochemical modifications to the ancestral C3 pathway increasing plant productivity under warm and light-rich conditions. The C4 lineages of eudicots belong to seven orders and 15 families, are phylogenetically less clustered than those of monocots, and entail an enormous structural and ecological diversity. Eudicot C4 lineages likely evolved the C4 syndrome along different evolutionary paths. Therefore, a better understanding of this diversity is key to understanding the evolution of this complex trait as a whole. Compiling 1,207 recognized C4 eudicots species described in the literature and presenting trait data among these species, we identify global centres of species richness and of high phylogenetic diversity. Furthermore, we discuss climatic preferences in the context of plant functional traits. We identify two hotspots of C4 eudicot diversity: arid regions of Mexico/Southern United States and Australia, where several C4 eudicot lineages diversified independently. Further eudicot C4 hotspots with many different families and genera represented are in South Africa, West Africa, Patagonia, Central Asia and the Mediterranean. In general, C4 eudicots were abundant in deserts and xeric shrublands, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands. We found C4 eudicots to occur in areas with less annual precipitation than C4 grasses which can be explained by frequently associated adaptations to drought stress such as among others succulence and salt tolerance. We conclude that in most eudicot lineages C4 evolved in ancestrally drought adapted clades and enabled these to further spread in these habitats and colonise even drier areas.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may be involved both in the initial failure of viral clearance and in the subsequent development of severe clinical manifestations of COVID-19, essentially ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) with fatal respiratory failure. We present the gene expression of TLR 3, 4, and 7 in nasopharyngeal total RNA samples from 150 individuals positive for SARS Cov2 (DET) by molecular techniques of isothermal amplification (Neokit SA) and 152 SARS Cov2 non detectable (ND) ambulatory and hospitalized patients with a non-defined respiratory disease, and we compared with the symptomatology developed by all those patients. We analyzed 4 cohorts: 1-SARS Cov2 genome detected patients with severe to high symptomatology (n=107); 2-SARS Cov2 genome detected patients low to mild symptomatology (n=43); 3-SARS Cov2 genome non detected patients with severe to high symptomatology (n=109); and 4-SARS Cov2 genome non detected patients low to mild symptomatology (n=41). Our results not only contradict few previous study, it also corrects for sample size bias, showing no significant differences of expression for TLR3, TLR4 and TLR7 between SARS Cov2 DET and ND total cohort of patients (Non Paired T –Test p Value>0.1). When compared severity of symptoms -presence of symptoms from the COVID-19 12 WHO diagnosis symptoms- and gene expression, here we found significant positive correlation between severe symptomatology, and the number of symptoms and death for TLR4 and TLR7 for both DET and ND COVID-19 patients. When the cohort was construct with low/middle and severe symptoms, the Correlation Coefficient showed that expression of TLR4 and TLR7 was significantly amplified in those ND patients with severe symptomatology ( p Value= 0.00311) as well as for TLR3 in ND low to mild symptoms cohort of patients. We also showed and discussed the results obtained of these genes expression and the sex and age of patients. In summary, our data suggest that although our innate immune system with TLRs contributes to the elimination of viruses, it can also be associated with harm to the host due to persistent inflammation and tissue destruction. We confirmed that principally TLR4 and TLR7 could be involved not only in the pathogenesis of COVID‐19 but also in other respiratory diseases with same symptomatology. We agree with previous studies that treatments focus on TLR4 and TLR7 expression in inflammatory respiratory diseases could be a start point against severe symptoms development.

Key clinical message:We described a type IIIb dens invaginatus, its root canal treatment and results on 3- and 12-months visits. Despite its significant challenges, proper endodontic therapy in such cases can cause positive prognoses and successful outcome.Keywords:Dens Invaginatus, Root Canal Therapy, Dens in Dente, Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Imaging1. IntroductionDens invaginatus (DI), also known as dens in dente, invaginated odontoma, dilated composite odontoma, dentoid in dente1, telescopic tooth and deluted compound odontoma2 is caused by an infolding of the enamel organ into the dental papilla prior to the calcification of the tooth.3 The invagination may be limited to the pulp chamber or be extended to the root and even the apex.1The prevalence of this developmental anomaly ranges 0.3-10%.4 DI can affect any primary or permanent tooth.5 Maxillary lateral incisors are the most affected teeth.2 The involvement of maxillary central incisors have been reported2 and it may rarely occur in canines and posterior teeth, though.4 DI may occur simultaneously with supernumerary teeth, but this is not a common phenomenon.4 Although environmental and genetic etiological factors have been reported, there is no consensus on its etiology.4 Oehlers described 3 types of DI based on its apically extension5 according to their radiographic features6 which is the most commonly used.3 The invaginatus in type I is limited to the crown;1 type II is defined as an invagination that goes beyond the cementoenamel junction making a blind sac through the root, communicating with the dental pulp or not;3 type III is referred to the enamel lined infolding that penetrates through the root, opening an independent lateral (also called type IIIa) or apical (also named type IIIb)6 foramen eventually and usually with no pulpal communication.3Increased risk of pulpal and periodontal diseases in associated with the progression of microorganism and their products through the coronal aspect of the invagination is the clinical significance of dens invaginatus.5 Although 2-dimensional images are used to diagnose DI,4 3-dimensional radiographies including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is recommended for managing severe types of DI.7 Several approaches for clinical management of different types of DI including restorative management, non-surgical root canal therapy, surgical treatment, intentional replacement or extraction have been described.8In this case report, we described a non-surgical management of type IIIb DI occurred in maxillary central incisor with two root canals view in 2-dimensional radiography simultaneously with impacted supernumerary tooth.2. Case presentationAn 18-year-old Iranian male was referred with the chief complaint of correcting the shape of his anterior tooth.Medical history revealed that there was no history of systemic disease, medication and allergic reaction. The patient was categorized in ASA1 group with no evidence of hereditary dental anomalies and no history of dental trauma, sinus tract or swelling. No pain was reported in accordance with the mentioned tooth. The patient oral hygiene was fair.Objective findings revealed normal extra oral exam, normal facial appearance, conical shaped tooth #8 and periodontium probing within a normal limit.Clinical evaluation as reported in table 1, confirmed normal response of tooth no. #8 to percussion and palpation test with no response to cold, heat and electric pulp tests.Periapical radiographic findings revealed periapical radiolucency with impacted supernumerary tooth and fully developed (dens invagination) tooth no. #8 (figure 1). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was prescribed for treatment planning (figure 2).According to the given medical and dental history, radiographic evaluation, objective findings and clinical evidences, diagnosis of type IIIb dens invagination with chronic apical periodontitis in pulpless and infected tooth no. #8 was made.Recommended treatment plan including nonsurgical root canal treatment and follow up and possible surgical intervention in the future and alternative treatment plan consist of orthodontic replacement supernumerary tooth or extraction and replacement with fixed prosthesis or implant were explained.According to consultation with the senior orthodontist, extraction of the supernumerary tooth was suggested in accordance with its shape and position.Treatment procedure for tooth no. #8 was done with 4 recall visits in 12 months.At first session, after local anesthesia with lidocaine2% and epinephrine 1/100000 (Persocaine-E; Darou Pakhsh; Iran) and access cavity preparation and the tooth isolation using rubber dam, access the mesial canal was done troughing the mesial part of the root by mueller bur (figure 3A). Working lengths was determined with an electronic apex locator and was confirmed radiographically. Root canals were prepared with hand K file (Mani; Japan) up to #40 and rotary file up to F3 (denco blue; China) simultaneously with passively ultrasonic irrigation using 5/25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Creamy Calcium hydroxide (Golchai; Iran) paste was placed to the canals with a lentulo spiral (Mani; Japan) for 10 days and access cavity was sealed with temporary restoration.At the second session, tooth no. #8 was asymptomatic and no pain was reported. After local anesthesia with lidocaine2% and epinephrine 1/100000 (Persocaine-E; Darou Pakhsh; Iran), removal of temporary filling and isolation using rubber dam, intracanal medicament was removed by copious irrigation with NaOCl combined with hand instrumentation and a final rinse with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (EDTA; Morvabon; Iran). Obturation was carried out using mineral trioxide aggregates (MTA) (MTA Angelus; Brazil), gutta-percha and sealer (AH-26; Dentsply Sirona; Germany). MTA was used as a plug at the apical of distal canal and the rest of distal and mesial canals were obturated using gutta-percha and sealer with warm vertical obturating technique. Access cavity was sealed with resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) (GC Fuji II LC; Japan) (figure 3B).Recall visits were set to control the healing process. 3- and 12-month follow up evaluation revealed that the tooth no. #8 was asymptomatic and the periapical lesion was healed (figure 3C and 3D). It was permanently restored and supernumerary tooth was extracted.3. DiscussionDI is a developmental anomaly with the most prevalence of affected maxillary lateral incisors.8 Although, affected canines, premolars, molars and maxillary central incisors have also been reported.8 This malformation is classified into 3 groups6 and type III is more complicated compared to the others.9 A different treatment plan would be useful for each type of dens invagination.1 Despite uncommon communication with the pulp in type III,9pulpal disease or a periapical lesion has been reported in many cases.4 Thus, 3-dimensional radiography is essential to choose the best treatment plan.4In the present case, type IIIb dens invaginatus with necrotic pulp and periapical lesion was diagnosed in the right maxillary central incisor using CBCT.Non-surgical root canal therapy is the first line of clinical management in necrotic tooth affected with DI.2 According to the root canal morphology complexity and varieties including unreachable fines and intracanal communications, complex endodontic considerations, eradication of necrotic tissue using proper chemical and mechanical procedures for cleaning, shaping and obturation is mandatory in DI cases.1 Thus, the clinician should be well-informed regarding various techniques and materials.5 Although, the effect of mechanical and chemical root canal preparation on the reduction of the number of microbial organisms is significant, the use of a dressing between treatment sessions including calcium hydroxide as a popular and well-known intracanal medicament is mandatory to eliminate intracanal residual pathogens.10 Despite of its advantages, calcium hydroxide has negative effect on the sealing qualities during obturation.10 Thus, copious irrigation using NaOCl and EDTA prior to obturation is recommended to conquer the adverse effect of residual intracanal calcium hydroxide on the root canal filling.10 Moreover, for nonsurgical endodontic treatment of DI, the preferred approach is using MTA plug at the apical end and root canal obturation using lateral condensation or warm gutta-percha techniques.8 Various obturation materials including Biodentine, MTA and gutta-percha using different sealers have been suggested, though.2In the present case, scrolling the axial view of the tooth in CBCT revealed that the space between two roots had no connection to the canals. Thus, it had not been sealed with bioceramic material. MTA-Angelus was used for this purpose due to its short setting of 15 minutes.11A successful clinical and radiographic outcome was reported in the present case. Asymptomatic tooth with healed periapical lesion was reported in 3-month recall session.Despite its significant challenges, a proper endodontic therapy for DI cases may have positive long-term prognoses.1Conflict of interestsNoneDeclaration of patient consentThe patient has given his consent for his clinical information to be reported in the journal.AcknowledgmentNoneReferences1. Martins JNR, da Costa RP, Anderson C, Quaresma SA, Corte-Real LSM, Monroe AD. Endodontic management of dens invaginatus Type IIIb: Case series. Eur J Dent. 2016;10(4):561-5.2. Ghandi M, Ghorbani F, Jamshidi D. Nonsurgical management of a patient with multiple dens invaginatus affecting all maxillary incisors. Saudi Endodontic Journal. 2022;12(1):138-42.3. Alkadi M, Almohareb R, Mansour S, Mehanny M, Alsadhan R. Assessment of dens invaginatus and its characteristics in maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):19727.4. Zhu J, Wang X, Fang Y, Von den Hoff JW, Meng L. An update on the diagnosis and treatment of dens invaginatus. Aust Dent J. 2017;62(3):261-75.5. Pradhan B, Gao Y, He L, Li J. Non-surgical Removal of Dens Invaginatus in Maxillary Lateral Incisor Using CBCT: Two-year Follow-up Case Report. Open Med (Wars). 2019;14:767-71.6. González-Mancilla S, Montero-Miralles P, Saúco-Márquez JJ, Areal-Quecuty V, Cabanillas-Balsera D, Segura-Egea JJ. Prevalence of Dens Invaginatus assessed by CBCT: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Exp Dent. 2022;14(11):e959-e66.7. Cho WC, Kim MS, Lee HS, Choi SC, Nam OH. Pulp revascularization of a severely malformed immature maxillary canine. J Oral Sci. 2016;58(2):295-8.8. Yalcin TY, Bektaş Kayhan K, Yilmaz A, Göksel S, Ozcan İ, Helvacioglu Yigit D. Prevalence, classification and dental treatment requirements of dens invaginatus by cone-beam computed tomography. PeerJ. 2022;10:e14450.9. Mary NSGP, Sangavi T, Venkatesh A, Prakash V. Dens Invaginatus clinical diagnosis and management: A Review. European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine. 2020;7(5):2020.10. Raghu R, Pradeep G, Shetty A, Gautham PM, Puneetha PG, Reddy TVS. Retrievability of calcium hydroxide intracanal medicament with three calcium chelators, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, citric acid, and chitosan from root canals: An in vitro cone beam computed tomography volumetric analysis. J Conserv Dent. 2017;20(1):25-9.11. Hansen SW, Marshall JG, Sedgley CM. Comparison of intracanal EndoSequence Root Repair Material and ProRoot MTA to induce pH changes in simulated root resorption defects over 4 weeks in matched pairs of human teeth. J Endod. 2011;37(4):502-6.

The chytrid fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and B. dendrobatidis (Bd) are driving amphibian extinctions and population declines worldwide. They are thought to have originated in East/Southeast Asia, and hence Asia remains crucial for understanding the ecology of these pathogens. However, Bsal screening is relatively limited in this region, particularly in hotspots where Bd lineage diversity is high. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive survey across the Guangxi region of Southern China, now considered a Bd hotspot. We examined 1230 individuals from 38 amphibian species and 36 environmental water bodies sampled during mostly the middle spring and summer months of 2019-21. However, PCR testing revealed absence of Bsal in our samples. A subsequent niche modeling analysis for Bsal suggested that the bioclimatic conditions of much of the region may not be conducive to Bsal. Although our findings show absence of Bsal in the surveyed habitats, periodic monitoring in amphibians is still needed, particularly across seasons. This is because Bsal pathogenicity could increase at relatively lower temperatures, and Bsal may be partitioning its niche with Bd across seasons. Our results suggest that the climatic conditions of the karstic Guangxi plains and perhaps competition from other Bd lineages may suppress Bsal establishment in the region. Our study provide interesting insights into Bsal niche dynamics and the knowledge generated will facilitate the conservation efforts in amphibian populations devastated by chytrid pathogens across other regions of the world.

Yak (Bos grunniens) is a unique livestock animal originating from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. In the current study, we investigated the maternal genetic diversity, differentiation and phylogeny of wild yak population and four domestic yak breeds (Qinghai-Gaoyuan, Huanhu, Xueduo, and Yushu) in Qinghai, China by analyzing 166 mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene sequence variations. Our results indicated that the haplotype and nucleotide diversities of wild yak were 0.883±0.044 and 0.004±0.002, while the total haplotype and nucleotide diversities of four Qinghai domestic yak breeds were 0.646±0.040 and 0.003±0.001, respectively. Among the four Qinghai domestic yak breeds, the haplotype diversity was found to be highest in Yushu yak breed (Hd = 0.770±0.053), while the lowest was recorded in Huanhu yak breed (Hd = 0.501±0.088). Estimates of FST values showed a moderate genetic differentiation between wild yak and Huanhu yak (FST = 0.058) as well as that between Huanhu yak and Yushu yak breeds (FST = 0.052), but a weak genetic differentiation was observed between the other yak breeds/populations (-0.021＜FST＜0.037). Additionally, the clustering analysis based on RST values showed that Xueduo yak and Huanhu yak were clustered into one group, and each of the other three yak breeds/populations was separated into one group, respectively. Overall, the clustering relationship between wild yak and Yushu yak was closer. Maternal phylogenetic analysis showed that wild yak and four local yak breeds/populations in Qinghai represented in three maternal lineages (Mt-Ⅰ, Mt-Ⅱ, and Mt-Ⅲ), indicating three maternal origins in yak. Our study would provide valuable information for the conservation and utilization of wild yak and Qinghai domestic yak breeds.

A windowed averaged scheme is defined for general control systems. The same method is used to average costs in optimal control problems (OCPs). A numerical parameter α can be computed, which expresses the distance between the original system and the averaged system in a weak sense. The value of α is well defined for any system. Then, if we use the optimal control of the averaged OCP in the original OCP, the suboptimality of the control is bounded by an expression of the form C α 2 . This bound holds for any optimal control problem which satisfies the Legendre-Clebsch condition and such that the convexity parameter satifies a general inequation with respect to the numerical parameter α.

Biological invasions are recognized as one of the factors causing biodiversity loss. Incomplete reproductive isolation with a closely related species can result in hybridization when a non-native species is introduced into a new habitat. Management of hybrids is essential for biodiversity conservation; however, the distinction between the two species becomes a challenge in cases of hybrids with similar characteristics to native species. Although image recognition technology can be a powerful tool for identifying hybrids, studies have yet to utilize deep learning approaches. Hence, this study aimed to identify hybrids between native Japanese giant salamanders (Andrias japonicus) and non-native Chinese giant salamanders (Andrias davidianus) using EfficientNet and smartphone images. We used smartphone images of 11 native individuals (with 5 training and 6 test images) and 20 hybrid individuals (with 5 training and 15 test images). In our experimental environment, an AI model constructed with efficientNet-V2 showed 100% accuracy in identifying hybrids. In addition, highlighting the regions that influenced the AI model’s predictions using Grad-CAM revealed that salamander head spots are responsible for correctly classifying native and hybrid species. The results of this study revealed that our approach is one of the methods that enable the identification of hybrids, which was previously considered difficult without identification by the experts. Furthermore, since this study achieved high-performance identification using smartphone images, it is expected to be applied to a wide range of low-cost identification using citizen science.

The WHO Unity Studies initiative engaged low- and middle-income countries in the implementation of standardized SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiological investigation protocols and timely sharing of comparable results for evidence-based action. To gain a deeper understanding of the methodological challenges faced when conducting seroprevalence studies in the Africa region, we conducted unstructured interviews with key study teams in five countries. We discuss the challenges identified: participant recruitment and retention, sample frame, sample and data management, data analysis and presentation to policy makers. Potential solutions to aid future implementation include preparedness actions such as the development of new tools, robust planning and practice.

Recent trends regarding GDM medication use have not been well described in prior literature. We identified pregnant patients enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid with a GDM diagnosis who a delivered in 2007 to 2019. We studied initial GDM medication use by delivery year (overall and by medication type). Over twenty percent of patients filled at least one prescription for GDM medication in the study period, with a significantly increasing prescribing trend over time. Starting in 2016, metformin replaced glyburide as the most common medication prescribed, which corresponds temporally with the emergence of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of different oral hypoglycemic medications and related changes in ACOG practice recommendations. These findings highlight how practice patterns have potential to shift quickly in response to evolving data.

Introduction Common Perinatal Mental Disorders affect women and children across the world. Rates are high in sub-Saharan Africa, however studies on interventions are limited. Highlighting existing and upcoming practice to support maternal mental health services is imperative. Method We conducted a systematic review, yielding a large array of papers covering 32 low- and lower-middle income countries across sub-Saharan Africa. No time limit was placed on publication and study protocols and results papers were included. Results Twelve articles from 8 different countries were included in our review; Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Most interventions took a psychotherapeutic approach, two included a pharmaceutical component. Half the studies detailed adapted approaches to ensure cultural acceptance. Effectiveness was limited; 3 studies showed a significant impact, only one of which had a large effect size. Conclusion Evidence remains limited and efforts should be made to support the implementation and generation of evidence in a wide variety of countries and contexts. Task-shifting was a common approach, though services were delivered at health facility level rather than in communities. Scaling-up effective holistic approaches to maternal mental health and child wellbeing remains an area of need.

Self-powered sensors have emerged as a promising solution to this challenge, offering a range of benefits such as low cost, high stability, and environmental friendliness. One of the most promising self-powered sensor technologies is L-S TENG, which stands for the liquid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator. In this review paper, the working principle with three basic modes has been briefly introduced firstly. After that, affecting parameters to L-S TENG are reviewed based on the properties of the liquid and solid phases. With different working principles, L-S TENG has designed a lot of structure that works as self-powered sensor for pressure/force change, liquid flow motion, concentration, and chemical detection or biochemical sensing. On the other hand, the continuous output signal of TENG plays an important role in a real-time sensor which is extremely necessary for the development of the Internet of Things.

A document by Wataru Kuroki. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Gustavo Moretta. Click on the document to view its contents.

Introduction: Recently, we showed that males high in trait self-control experience less dyspnoea and persist for longer in a carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing challenge than males low in trait self-control. As self-control can also vary within individuals (state self-control), the aim of the present study was to investigate whether prior self-control exertion influenced perceptions of dyspnoea and tolerance to a CO2 rebreathing task in healthy young males. We also used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess haemodynamic activity of the pre-frontal cortex as it is the primary brain region associated with exertion of self-control. Methods: Participants completed a congruent Stroop task (control condition) and an incongruent Stroop task (prior self-control exertion) followed by a CO2 rebreathing challenge until the limit of tolerance. Changes in oxyhaemoglobin (ΔO2Hb) and deoxyhaemoglobin (ΔHHb) from baseline, were assessed continuously in the Stroop task and CO2 rebreathing challenge. Dyspnoea intensity and unpleasantness were rated every 30s. Results: There was no effect of prior self-control exertion on perceptions of dyspnoea or tolerance time in the CO2 rebreathing challenge (all P > 0.05). Average ΔO2Hb from baseline was higher in the difficult Stroop task (prior self-control exertion, 4.25±1.80µM) than the easy Stroop task (control condition, 2.82±1.45µM, P = 0.011). During the subsequent CO2 rebreathing challenge, ΔO2Hb was attenuated following prior self-control exertion.(6.47±2.87µM) compared to the control condition (7.82±2.68µM, P = 0.012). Conclusions: Pre-frontal cortex oxygenation was lower in a subsequent CO2 rebreathing challenge following prior self-control exertion. There was no effect of prior self-control exertion on dyspnoea.