The study explores the crucial role of current oscillation and neural alignment to amplitude-modulation frequency in phosphene induction through various forms of transcranial electric stimulation. Previous research has shown that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate phosphene perception. The application of tACS introduces rhythmic electric field changes and alternating polarity, making the oscillatory mechanism behind phosphene perception still unclear. To dissociate the effects of changing electric field vs. alternating polarity, the present study employs oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (otDCS) to eliminate the influence of polarity switching. We administered scalp electric stimulations using tACS and otDCS in anodal or cathodal polarities over the occipital lobe. All stimulations were conducted with sinusoidal (18 Hz) or amplitude-modulated (2 Hz AM embedded in an 18 Hz carrier) waveforms at threshold or suprathreshold intensities. The results revealed no difference between stimulation polarities, suggesting the importance of current oscillation rather than polarity alteration in phosphene induction. Furthermore, amplitude-modulated stimulation consistently produced slower phosphene flash rates, unaffected by intensity, indicating the dominance of amplitude-modulation frequency in phosphene perception. Our findings suggest (1) current oscillation, rather than polarity switching, is crucial for phosphene generation; (2) amplitude-modulation frequency effects on perception threshold, response time, and perceived flash rate are robust irrespective of the oscillatory stimulation protocols; (3) amplitude-modulation information is encoded in phosphene perception generation independently of the carrier frequency. This study provides direct evidence of the link between phosphene occurrence and oscillatory current activity, underscoring the robustness and independence of amplitude-modulation coding in visual perception.

Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Case ReportSahar Dashti1, Maryam Garousi1, Elahe Mirzaee1, Navid Abdi2, Mastaneh Sanei1**: Corresponding Author : email: Mastanehsanei@yahoo.com ,Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, IranUniversity of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran1: Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran2: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

In a sample 110 Mexican origin infants (M = 7.24; SD = 2.06; range, 3.78 - 13.04) we examine the bidirectional covariation of mother and infant positive and negative affect across the day. Further, we examine maternal emotion regulation as a potential moderator of the linkage between mother-infant affect, and infant-mother affect. Using an Ecological Momentary Assessment design, mothers reported on their positive and negative affect three times a day, for six days. Analyses employed a multi-level modeling approach to examine moment-to-moment covariation. Results indicated both mother and infant negative affect, and mother and infant positive affect to significantly covary. Interestingly, maternal emotional regulation did not moderate either the covariation of negative or positive mother-infant affect. These analyses represent one of the first examinations of daily covariation in mother-infant dyadic affect.

Allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergies are a burgeoning health challenge in the Asia-Pacific region. Compounding this, the region has become increasingly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The region has weathered extreme precipitation, intense heat waves, and dust storms over the recent decades. While the effects of environmental and genetic factors on allergic diseases are well understood, prevailing gaps in understanding the complex interactions between climate change and these factors remain. We aim to provide insights into the various pathways by which climate change influences allergic diseases in the Asia-Pacific population. We outline practical steps that allergists can take to reduce the carbon footprint of their practice on both a systemic and patient-specific level. We recommend that allergists optimise disease control to reduce the resources required for each patient's care, which contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We encourage the responsible prescription of metered dose inhalers by promoting the switch to dry powder inhalers for certain patients, at each clinician's discretion. We also recommend the utilisation of virtual consultations to reduce patient travel while ensuring that evidence-based guidelines for rational allergy management are closely adhered to. Finally, eliminating unnecessary testing and medications will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions in many areas of medical care.

The recombinant C-type lectin protein (r-CTL) derived from Toxocara canis larvae is thought to play a role in promoting regulatory T cells-dominant immune responses in toxocariasis. This study aimed to highlight the therapeutic potential of the r-CTL protein in ameliorate the disability scores of EAE by enhancing the regulatory T cells population. The recombinant C-type lectin was expressed in prokaryotic systems and purified through Ni-NTA spin columns. Balb/C57 mice were divided into six groups, with EAE induced in all groups except the healthy control group. Group I (n=10) received r-CTL treatment post EAE induction, Group II (n=10) underwent EAE induction only, Group III (n=5) received treatment with E. coli lysate proteins containing E. coli BL21 and plasmid pET32a without r-CTL after EAE induction, Group IV (n=5) received sterile PBS after EAE induction, Group V (n=5) served as the healthy control group, and Group VI (n=5) received only r-CTL treatment. The study’s findings revealed that r-CTL treatment significantly decreased disability scores in EAE-induced mice. There was a notable increase in the population of CD4+, CD25+, FOXP3+ regulatory T cells following r-CTL treatment. The gene expression levels of IL-10, FOXP3, and GATA3 were significantly elevated in the r-CTL treated group, while the expression of T-bet and RORγ genes was reduced. Treatment with r-CTL significantly mitigated cell infiltration and demyelination in both the spinal cord and brain. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the r-CTL protein may have promising applications in the treatment of MS and warrant further investigation into its therapeutic mechanisms.

Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most notorious pathogens, develops antibiotic resistance by formation of a thick layer of exopolysaccharides known as biofilms. Sortase A, a transpeptidase responsible for biofilm formation and attachment to the host surface, has emerged as an important drug target for development of anti-virulence agent. A number of sortase A inhibitors, both peptide and non-peptides are reported which involved the use of several experiments which may provide insights regarding binding affinity, specificity, safety and efficacy of ligands. In this review, we focus on the principles, pros and cons, and the type of information obtained from biophysical (FRET assay, Microscale Thermophoresis, Surface Plasmon resonance, CD spectroscopy etc.) and biological (Cell viability assay, biofilm formation assay, CLSM, Western blot analysis, in vivo characterization on mice etc.) methods for estimation of probable sortase A inhibitors, which might be helpful to the researchers who might be interested to delve into the development of sortase A inhibitors as a drug, to address the burning question of Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR).

Note: In general, in order to receive the electromagnetic wave in the space, the dimensions of the antenna must be in the order of the wavelength of the input to its surface. Due to the very small dimensions of nano sensors, nano antennas need to have a very high working frequency to be usable.The use of graphene helps to solve this problem to a great extent. The speed of propagation of waves in CNTs and GNRs can be 100 times lower than its speed in vacuum, and this is related to the physical structure, temperature and energy. Based on this, the resonance frequency of graphene-based nano-antennas can be two orders of magnitude lower than nano-antennas based on nano-carbon materials. It has been mathematically and theoretically proven that a quasi-metallic carbon nanotube can emit terahertz radiation when a time-varying voltage is applied to its sides. One of the most important parameters of any nano antenna is the current distribution on it. This  characteristic determines the radiation pattern, radiation resistance and reactance and many  important characteristics of the antenna.  Despite the possibilities of making nanotubes with a length of several centimeters, it is possible to  make electrical conductors with a length-to-width ratio of the order of 10^7. has it. At first glance, nanotube antennas  give us the impression that they are similar to Dipole antennas designed in  small dimensions. But in fact, it is not  the case in the main theory of Dipole antennas to determine the distribution of current on the antenna,  where the Dipole radius is larger than the skin depth and also  the resistance losses are so low that they can be ignored.

Note:  Since material parameters change significantly with frequency.  In particular, this means that model experiments with, for example, microwaves and larger metallic structures cannot replace experiments with metallic nanostructures at optical frequencies.Surface charge density fluctuations associated with surface nanoplasmons at the interface between a metal and a dielectric can cause strongly enhanced near-optical fields that are spatially confined near the metal surface.  Similarly, if the electron gas is confined in three dimensions, such as a small particle, the overall displacement of the electrons relative to the positively charged lattice leads to a restoring force, which in turn gives rise to the specific particle-plasmon. Resonance depends on the geometry of the particle.  In properly shaped (usually pointed) particles, localized charge accumulation associated with strongly enhanced optical fields can occur. The change of some properties such as conductivity in nanotransistors and electromagnetic properties in nanowires may occur in dimensions of only a few nanometers. Surface plasmon intensification in structures with nanometer dimensions is called local surface plasmon intensification. Patterning magnetic materials into arrays of nanoscale dots can result in a very strong and very controllable change in the polarization of light when a beam is reflected from the array.  This discovery can increase the sensitivity of optical components for telecommunication and biosensing applications. Coupling between light and magnetism in  electrical nanostructures of localized surface plasmons (Localized Surface Plasmon) results from quantum electronic nano interactions.  These interactions lead to magneto-optical effects that change properties, such as the polarization axis or intensity of light.  Interactions between light and matter are enhanced at the nanoscale.  This is a key motivation in the field of plasmonics, which leads to the construction of nanoelectronic devices based on the interaction of light with metal nanostructures. In the structure of electrical nanostructures of localized surface plasmons (Localized Surface Plasmon), a metal nanoparticle in nano size acts very much like an antenna for visible wavelengths.  Such antennas for us in many everyday devices that operate on much longer radio and microwaves   use a phenomenon called surface lattice resonance, in which all nanoparticles, tiny antennas, are coordinated in a The array radiates.The key to this is the assembly of magnetic nanoantennas on a length scale that matches the wavelength of the incoming light. In periodic arrays, nanoparticles strongly interact with each other and cause collective oscillations.  Such behavior is already observed in metal nanoparticles.Since the material parameters change significantly with frequency.  In particular, this means that model experiments with, for example, microwaves and larger metallic structures cannot replace experiments with metallic nanostructures at optical frequencies.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Individuals with axSpA are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which can be counteracted by physical activity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, but the effect on disease activity and the level of inflammation in axSpA has been less studied. With the aim of investigating how levels of inflammatory cytokines, myokines, and protein markers for bone metabolism are acutely affected by one bout of HIIT, we studied serum from individuals with axSpA and healthy controls (HC). Methods: Ten participants with axSpA and 11 age- and sex-matched HC performed a single HIIT bout on a cycle ergometer: 4x4 minutes intervals with three minutes active rest in between. Blood samples were taken before and one hour after the HIIT bout. Serum proteins (IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, TNF, CXCL-10, VEGF-A, BDNF, DKK-1, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, BMP-7, CRP) were analyzed with a Luminex system or ELISA. A two-way ANOVA was used for comparisons. Results: A main effect from baseline to one hour post HIIT showed that both groups had a significant increase in serum levels of IL-6. VEGF-A was significantly lower in the axSpA group but was not affected by the HIIT bout. BMP-7 increased in both groups after the HIIT. For the other proteins analyzed, there were no significant differences in serum concentrations between individuals with axSpA and HC, or within the two groups before and after one bout of HIIT. Conclusions: One acute bout of HIIT significantly increases the serum concentrations of IL-6 and BMP-7 after one hour in both individuals with axSpA and HC, whereas serum levels of other proteins investigated are not changed.

Silent Speech Recognition (SSR) based on Surface Electromyography (sEMG) is a voice interaction technology proposed for scenarios requiring silent operations. In this article, we abstract the SSR task based on sEMG into a short-term image sequence classification task. We perform time-frequency domain feature extraction and data reconstruction on the muscle activity segment data. Additionally, we analyze the temporal and spatial dimensions to capture the intrinsic correlation representation of muscle activity. We propose the SVIT-SSR model based on the Vision Transformer (VIT) framework. Finally, we design experiments to identify 33 types of typical silent speech commands in the SSR dataset. The results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves an accuracy of 96.67±1.15%, outperforming similar algorithms.

”A Case Report on Thornwaldt Cyst: An Uncommon Nasopharyngeal Anomaly in an Eighteen-Year-Old Male.”Dhiraj Chaurasia,1 Abdus Samad Ansari,1 Rishita Dallakoti,1 Season Shrestha,2 Inku Shrestha Basnet,21Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching HospitalCorresponding Author: Dhiraj Chaurasia ,Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital , Kathmandu 44600,Nepal ,Email address: dhirajchaurasia377@gmail.com

This paper derives a set of bulldozer dynamics to test a three-dimensional (3D) blade controller. This work was motivated by a desire to mimic how a human operator would control a bulldozer blade to build an autonomous system control module and by the lack of existing work on 3D bulldozer blade control. To that end, three-dimensional surface-to-track and surface-to-blade dynamics were derived to test the proposed 3D bulldozer blade controller in simulation. The track dynamics included considerations for track slip, while the blade dynamics accounted for non-symmetric mounds in front of the blade. The 3D bulldozer blade control effort was implemented using fuzzy logic to mimic a human operator's nonlinear modes of blade control, thereby following a Human Decision Making Model (HDMM). The inputs to the main portion of the control effort were the yaw, pitch, and roll errors between the blade's current orientation and the desired orientation. Accordingly, the outputs were the blade's yaw, pitch, and roll velocities. The pitch error, in particular, was tied to a separate fuzzy controller that outputted the desired cutting depth depending on the observed soil type, against tying back to the HDMM.

Agricultural irrigation is the largest consumer of water in the United States. Many changes have occurred over the years, but we question the recent attention on efficiency. Comparing 2015 and 1985, we find that more land is being irrigated with less water: irrigation withdrawals fell by 14%, irrigated area expanded by 11%, and flood irrigation was substantially displaced by sprinkler and microirrigation systems. However, consumptive water use fell by only 1%, and return flows—an important part of the water balance that supports many downstream needs—declined by 39%. This gain in efficiency and loss in return flow, without any apparent saving of water, is the conflicting legacy of U.S. irrigation. We propose the links among irrigation efficiency, return flows, and consumptive water use as a central theme around which to organize future irrigation research, policy, and management. We call on state and federal agencies that fund research and adoption of improved irrigation practices to require accounting of all aspects of the water balance-including return flow-and promote sustainable, basin-scale water conservation.

Warming climate impacts aquatic ectotherms both directly, by altering individual vital rates, and indirectly through environmental feedbacks and declines in body size, a phenomenon known as the temperature-size rule (TSR). However, understanding the relative importance of these effects in shaping community responses to environmental change remains limited. We employ a tri-trophic food chain model with size- and temperature-dependent vital rates and species interaction strengths to explore the role of direct kinetic effects of temperature and TSR on community structure along resource productivity and temperature gradients. We find that community structure, including the propensity of sudden shifts, is primarily driven by the direct kinetic effects of temperature on vital rates and thermal mismatches between the consumer and predator species, overshadowing the indirect effects through the TSR. Overall, our study enhances the understanding of the complex interplay between temperature, species traits and community dynamics in aquatic ecosystems.

Integrated water-energy management is crucial for balancing socioeconomic and environmental objectives in multi-reservoir systems. Multipurpose reservoirs support clean energy production, recreation, navigation, and flood protection but also disrupt natural water flows and fish migration. As hydropower's role evolves with grid decarbonization, managing these tradeoffs becomes increasingly complex. An integrated model combining economic and environmental factors is essential to inform how to adapt hydropower operations effectively to complement decarbonization of the electric grid. However, existing literature lacks such comprehensive models. This study introduces an integrated water-energy optimization model using the Columbia River Basin (CRB) and Mid-Columbia (Mid-C) energy market as a case study. The model couples a simulation of operations of 48 CRB reservoirs with a unit commitment/economic dispatch model of the California and West Coast Power system (CAPOW). We employ Direct Policy Search (DPS) and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) to optimize four objectives: maximize economic benefits from energy production, minimize fossil fuel electricity generation, minimize environmental flow violations, and minimize peak flood levels. Our findings reveal that the integrated model discovers superior operational strategies compared to existing rules, with some policies outperforming current operations on all objectives simultaneously. Insights from the optimized policies include strategies for improved coordination of reservoir operations using storage and inflow data, and the strategic timing of water releases to ensure increased hydropower production leads to less fossil fuel dependence and greater revenue. These results highlight the potential of integrated models to enhance the sustainability of hydropower operations amid a transitioning energy landscape.

CHRONIC VIRAL INFECTIONS AND AL AMYLOIDOSIS: AN UNCOMMON ASSOCIATION

The higher moments of GARCH models are of great importance in asset pricing and risk management. An efficient approach for calculating the higher moments of GARCH models is of great interest to both academic researchers and practitioners. This paper investigates the higher moments of GARCH models with a general form and obtains the analytical formulas. A nice property with our method is that we do not have to assume the distribution of the asset return as it is totally data-driven. We first introduce the model, and then present the formulas for calculating the higher moments of this model. Both simulation analysis and empirical evidence are used to evaluate the performance of our approach, and the results confirm its efficiency and accuracy.

ANINTERNSHIP REPORT

Biosensors are valuable tools in accelerating the test phase of the design-build-test-learn cycle of cell factory development, as well as in bioprocess monitoring and control. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-based biosensors enable cells to sense a wide array of molecules and environmental conditions in a specific manner. Due to the extracellular nature of their sensing, GPCR-based biosensors require compartmentalization of distinct genotypes when screening production levels of a strain library to ensure that detected levels originate exclusively from the strain under assessment. Here, we explore the integration of production and sensing modalities into a single Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and compartmentalization using three different methods: (1) cultivation in microtiter plates, (2) spatial separation on agar plates, and (3) encapsulation in water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion droplets, combined with analysis and sorting via a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) machine. Employing tryptamine and serotonin as proof-of-concept target molecules, we optimize biosensing conditions and demonstrate the ability of the autocrine screening method to enrich for high producers, showing the enrichment of a serotonin-producing strain over a non-producing strain. These findings illustrate a workflow that can be adapted to screening for a wide range of complex chemistry at high throughput using commercially available microfluidic systems.

ANINTERNSHIP REPORT

Note: Theory, modeling and simulation  are widely used as a predictive design tool in the reproduction and manufacturing of dynamic molecules of SWCNT nanotubes and SWCNTs.General methods capable of multi-scale/multi-phenomenon molecular simulations will be developed for the design of SWCNT and SWCNTs  nanotubes  and new nanoscale systems and tools. Dynamic nanomolecular simulations will help in various fields such as biosensors, filter design, as well as identifying the dynamics of complex systems of single-layer and multi-layer nanotubes  .The aim of  the simulation methodology in the molecular nanodynamics of nanotubes  is to intervene in the arrangement of atoms or molecules and to use materials and systems with new abilities and  new tasks, which are all the result of the specific multiplication of molecules and particles. Nano is a device with small dimensions and nano structure.Deterministic molecular dynamics simulation: is a method used to  calculate the path of movement of atoms or molecules in multi-atom systems of more than ten atoms to several  billion atoms.Monte Carlo simulation (Stochastic): It is a numerical method that tries to reach the final equilibrium state of the system by sampling the nanomolecular state space with  importance. Based on probabilities, this method brings the configuration of the investigated system close to the minimum energy condition .Initio Ab molecular dynamics:  Initio Ab molecular dynamics or quantum molecular  dynamics performs the movement path of the atomic system by solving the Schrödinger equations and obtaining  information on the subatomic scale.

Note: Nanoelectronics technology has dedicated some very exciting materials to improve the sensing phenomenon.  The use of various nanomaterials, including nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanotubes, and nanowires, causes faster identification and reproducibility in a much better way.The unique properties of nanomaterials such as high electrical conductivity, better shock tolerance,  and sensitive responses such as versatile piezo-electric and color detection mechanisms are only results of the multitude of properties of nanomaterials.  Different types of biosensors are propagated based on different types of nanomaterials and their developmental and implicit aspects. Measurement of biological responses  has assumed great importance  in the current scenario of ever-dynamic environmental developments and altered hemostatic events occurring at the  in vivo  as well as  intracorporeal level  .  Analyzing the behavior of changing materials is of great importance in areas such as pharmaceutical diagnostics, food quality screening, and environmental applications.

This letter proposes a novel design method for resistive-resistive series of continuous modes (Res-Res SCMs) power amplifier (PA), which can extend the bandwidth of the SCMs PAs. Using a waveform engineering method, by introducing resistive part to the purely reactive second harmonic load of the series of continuous modes, overcoming the bandwidth limitation of traditional continuous PAs within one octave due to the inability to overlap between low band and high-order harmonics and high band fundamental waves. An ultra-wideband PA working across 0.4–3.1 GHz (154.3% bandwidth) is simulated and fabricated using a 10 W GaN HEMT device, the experimental results show that a drain efficiency of 63%−81.7% can be achieved with a saturated output power of 38.6−42.3 dBm in the desired design band.

Laughter has been studied by both philosophers and neuroscientists, yet the possible bridges between these two fronts of investigation is little explored. Bergson theorized about laughter and argued about its central social role. Human laughter, for Bergson, needs a social echo and brings malleability to social rigidity. We laugh, for instance, at what is mechanical where there should be flexibility. Critchley, a contemporary philosopher, agrees with Bergson and adds that humor also can change our views on social structures and situations. Based on these philosophical theories on humor and recent methodological advances in functional connectivity dynamics in neuroimaging, we advance an hypothesis for the relations between laughter, cognitive flexibility and brain metastability. Laughter can be interpreted as a social behavior that reframes the interaction context and modulates individuals brain dynamics instantiating cognitive flexibility. Finally, alongside curiosity, we argue that laughter is not only a subject but a tool to advancing neuroscience.