Search Results (678)

To enhance yield and produce high-quality olive products, it is crucial to implement accurate and balanced fertilization programs. Like other crops, olive trees require the application of specific macro and micronutrients in addition to basic fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar fertilizer applications containing K as well as N, K, Ca, and B, in addition to basic fertilization, on the yield and quality parameters of the Gemlik olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Gemlik) variety, known for its high economic value and use in black table olives and oil production, during two consecutive seasons in 2021–2022. The research evaluated the effects on olive fruit yield, fruit nutrient content (N, Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn), oil yield, and quality. In addition to traditional basic fertilization (NPK fertilizer), foliar fertilizers containing K as well as N, K, Ca, and B nutrients were applied before flowering and after fruit set. These applications were organized using a randomized block design with three replicates, each consisting of three trees. The results showed that foliar fertilizer applications, in addition to basic fertilization, had a significant impact on the yield and quality parameters. Specifically, foliar K applications positively affected olive yield in the second year. Moreover, foliar fertilizer applications improved the fruit nutrient content, oil quality (K-232, K-270, peroxide, acidity, and total phenol), and oil composition (%). Therefore, it is recommended that foliar fertilizers are applied during similar periods under similar conditions. However, ensuring the continuity of an optimal fertilization management plan is crucial for olive, as it is a perennial plant. Full article

(1) With persistent symptoms emerging as a possible global consequence of COVID-19, the need to understand, diagnose, and treat them is paramount. This systematic review aims to explore the potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in effectively diagnosing long COVID. (2) The database PubMed and, to reduce selection bias, the AI research assistant Elicit, were used to find relevant publications in the period between February 2021 and March 2024. Included publications on OCT and OCTA analysis of participants with acute COVID symptoms, those after recovery, and participants with long COVID symptoms were organized in a table. Studies with participants under the age of 18, case reports, and unrelated studies, such as pure slit-lamp examinations and subgroup analyses were excluded. (3) A total of 25 studies involving 1243 participants and 960 controls were reviewed, revealing several changes in the posterior eye. Long COVID participants displayed significant thinning in retinal layers in the OCT, including the macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL). Divergent findings in recovered cohorts featured mRNFL reduction, GCL increase and decrease, and GCL-IPL decrease. Long COVID OCTA results revealed reduced vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), and deep capillary plexus (DCP). In recovered patients, SCP consistently showed a reduction, and DCP exhibited a decrease in five out of six publications. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was enlarged in five out of nine publications in recovered participants. (4) During various stages of COVID-19, retinal changes were observed, but a comparison between long COVID and recovered cohorts was aggravated by diverse inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as small sample sizes. Changes in long COVID were seen in most OCT examinations as thinning or partial thinning of certain retinal layers, while in OCTA a consistently reduced vessel density was revealed. The results suggest retinal alterations after COVID that are variable in OCT and more reliably visible in OCTA. Further research with larger samples is important for advancing long COVID diagnosis and management. Full article

This article reviews all the major stages in the origins of life, from the emergence of matter in the initial Big Bang to the modern, civilized human being. On an immaterial level, it is proposed and explained how consciousness necessarily takes precedence over matter. Next, we explain how consciousness, with its ability to process information, selected the water molecule to breathe life into the periodic table of elements. We also explain why the notion of entropy allows us to evolve, “Die Entropie der Welt strebt einem Maximum zu” (second principle), and, therefore, takes precedence over the notion of energy, which, on the contrary, encourages us to preserve what we have, “Die Energie der Welt bleibt konstant” (first principle). This is followed by a discussion of the importance of quantum coherence and the need to rely on a second quantization formalism for a proper understanding of the physical–biochemical properties of water. Moreover, throughout the argument developed on the best and most fundamental things science has to offer, care is taken to link this knowledge to the great philosophies of the West (Greece), the East (China and India), and even to practices of a shamanic nature (Africa and America). Hence, finally, we propose reconsidering all musical practice within the framework of the diapason of water at a frequency of 429.62 Hz, as well as all therapeutic practice on the basis of seven clearly identified and established frameworks of thought. Full article

Energies of the atomic and molecular orbitals belonging to one and two atom systems from the fourth and fifth periods of the periodic table have been calculated using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. The energies of selected occupied and unoccupied orbitals surrounding the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied orbitals (HOMOs and LUMOs) of each system were selected and used as input for our artificial intelligence (AI) software. Using the AI software, correlations between orbital parameters and selected chemical and physical properties of bulk materials composed of these elements were established. Using these correlations, the materials’ bulk properties were predicted. The Q² correlation for the single-atom predictions of first ionization potential, melting point, and boiling point were 0.3589, 0.4599, and 0.1798 respectively. The corresponding Q² correlations using orbital parameters describing two-atom systems increased the capability to predict the experimental properties to the respective values of 0.8551, 0.8207, and 0.7877. The accuracy in predicting materials’ bulk properties was increased up to four-fold by using two atoms instead of one. We also present results of the prediction of molecules for materials relevant to energy systems. Full article

Recent scholarship on the late medieval Pays de Vaud has allowed for a better understanding of the Reformation (1536) in this region, revealing it as a period marked not only by ruptures but also by significant adaptations and continuities. This article employs a trans-periodic approach to explore the material culture of the Eucharist, tracing its developments across the late medieval and Reformation periods. Key findings include the transition from stone altars to wooden communion tables, the contested continuity in the substance and shape of chalices, and the gradual shift from unleavened hosts to plain bread. These changes highlight a complex interplay of theological and practical concerns. The study provides a nuanced perspective on the Reformation in the Pays de Vaud, emphasizing the ongoing influence of medieval ecclesiastical reforms and the gradual nature of liturgical transformations. This analysis underscores the importance of material culture in understanding religious and cultural shifts during this pivotal period. Full article

The incidence of prostate, breast, and thyroid cancers has increased in China over the past few decades. Whether and how much these increases can be attributed to overdiagnosis are less understood. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of overdiagnosis among these three cancers in China during 2004–2019. The age-specific cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality in China were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases 2019. The lifetime risk of developing and that of dying from each cancer were calculated using the life table method. The proportion of overdiagnosis of a cancer was estimated as the difference between the lifetime risk of developing the cancer and that of suffering from the cancer (including death, metastasis, and symptoms caused by the cancer), further divided by the lifetime risk of developing the cancer. The highest possible values of these parameters were adopted in the estimation so as to obtain the lower bounds of the proportions of overdiagnosis. Sensitivity analyses assuming different lag periods between the diagnosis of a cancer and death from the cancer were performed. The results showed that the lifetime risk of developing prostate, breast, and thyroid cancer increased dramatically from 2004 to 2019 in China, while the increase in the lifetime risk of dying from these cancers was less pronounced. The proportions of overdiagnosis among prostate, breast, and thyroid cancers were estimated to be 7.88%, 18.99%, and 24.92%, respectively, in 2004, and increased to 18.20%, 26.25%, and 29.24%, respectively, in 2019. The increasing trends were statistically significant for all three cancers (all p < 0.001). In sensitivity analyses, the proportions of overdiagnosis decreased, but upward trends over time remained for all three cancers. In conclusion, the overdiagnosis of prostate, breast, and thyroid cancers in China increased from 2004 to 2019, with the highest proportion seen in thyroid cancer and the most rapid increase seen in prostate cancer. Multifaceted efforts by policy makers, guideline developers, and clinicians are needed to tackle this problem. Full article

Cascading landslides are specific multi-hazard events in which a primary movement triggers successive landslide processes. Areas with dynamic and quickly changing environments are more prone to this type of phenomena. Both the kind and the evolution velocity of a landslide depends on the materials involved. Indeed, rockfalls are generated when rocks fall from a very steep slope, while debris flow and/or mudslides are generated by fine materials like silt and clay after strong water imbibition. These events can amplify the damage caused by the initial trigger and propagate instability along a slope, often resulting in significant environmental and societal impacts. The Morino-Rendinara cascading landslide, situated in the Ernici Mountains along the border of the Abruzzo and Lazio regions (Italy), serves as a notable example of the complexities and devastating consequences associated with such events. In March 2021, a substantial debris flow event obstructed the Liri River, marking the latest step in a series of landslide events. Conventional techniques such as geomorphological observations and geological surveys may not provide exhaustive information to explain the landslide phenomena in progress. For this reason, UAV image acquisition, InSAR interferometry, and pixel offset analysis can be used to improve the knowledge of the mechanism and kinematics of landslide events. In this work, the interferometric data ranged from 3 January 2020 to 24 March 2023, while the pixel offset data covered the period from 2016 to 2022. The choice of such an extensive data window provided comprehensive insight into the investigated events, including the possibility of identifying other unrecorded events and aiding in the development of more effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, to supplement the analysis, a specific finite element method for slope stability analysis was used to reconstruct the deep geometry of the system, emphasizing the effect of groundwater-level flow on slope stability. All of the findings indicate that major landslide activities were concentrated during the heavy rainfall season, with movements ranging from several centimeters per year. These results were consistent with numerical analyses, which showed that the potential slip surface became significantly more unstable when the water table was elevated. Full article

The red spider mite, Tetranychus macfarlanei, is a serious pest of many cultivated crops in Bangladesh and other East-Asian and South-East Asian countries, in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic regions. Sublethal concentration of pesticides, such as LC₁₅ and LC₃₀ (the concentrations that result in 15 and 30 percent lethality, respectively) impact reproduction, behavior, development, and physiology. This study assessed the effects of different concentrations of spirotetramat, an insecticide that disrupts lipid production, on the biological traits of T. macfarlanei. The LC₁₅, LC₃₀, LC₅₀, and LC₉₀ values were 2.16, 6.57, 20.54, and 332.81 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. Sublethal concentrations (LC₁₅ and LC₃₀) slightly reduced female fecundity but did not significantly affect development duration, pre-oviposition, oviposition period, or longevity compared to the untreated control group. Life table parameters differed between the treated and control groups, with significant reductions in the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the net reproductive rate (R₀), and the finite rate of increase (λ) for LC₁₅ and LC₃₀. LC₁₅ and LC₃₀ had negative effects on the intrinsic rate of increase for females. This study demonstrated that lower lethal concentrations of spirotetramat compromised survivability and negatively impacted the life-table parameters of subsequent generations of T. macfarlanei. These findings highlight the importance of sublethal effects in pest control, offering valuable insights for developing more effective and sustainable integrated pest management strategies. Full article

Zinc is an essential micronutrient crucial in various biological processes of an organism. However, the effects of zinc vary depending on its chemical form. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the life history performances and hemolymph metabolism of Spodoptera litura exposed to different concentrations of dietary zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), utilizing two-sex life tables and untargeted metabolomics. The preadult survival rate of S. litura significantly decreased, while the preadult developmental period of S. litura was prolonged as the dietary ZnCl₂ concentration increased. However, the fecundity of S. litura at 50 mg/kg dietary ZnCl₂ was significantly increased. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) in S. litura in the control group (CK, no exogenous ZnCl₂ or ZnSO₄ added) and with 50 mg/kg dietary ZnCl₂ were significantly higher than those at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg. Dietary ZnSO₄ exerts a devastating effect on the survival of S. litura. Even at the lowest concentration of 50 mg/kg dietary ZnSO₄, only 1% of S. litura could complete the entire life cycle. Furthermore, as the dietary ZnSO₄ concentration increased, the developmental stage achievable by the S. litura larvae declined. High-throughput untargeted metabolomics demonstrated that both 100 mg/kg dietary ZnCl₂ and ZnSO₄ decreased the hemolymph vitamins levels and increased the vitamin C content, thereby helping S. litura larvae to counteract the stress induced by ZnCl₂ and ZnSO₄. Simultaneously, dietary ZnCl₂ obstructed the chitin synthesis pathway in the hemolymph of S. litura, thus extending the developmental period of S. litura larvae. These results indicate that low concentrations of Zn²⁺ positively impact populations of S. litura, but the effectiveness and toxicity of Zn depend on its chemical form and concentration. Full article

The Pauli exclusion principle (PEP), a cornerstone of quantum mechanics and whole science, states that in a system, two fermions can not simultaneously occupy the same quantum state. Several experimental tests have been performed to place increasingly stringent bounds on the validity of PEP. Among these, the series of VIP experiments, performed at the Gran Sasso Underground National Laboratory of INFN, is searching for PEP-violating atomic X-ray transitions in copper. In this paper, the upgraded VIP-3 setup is described, designed to extend these investigations to higher-Z elements such as zirconium, silver, palladium, and tin. We detail the enhanced design of this setup, including the implementation of cutting-edge, 1 mm thick, silicon drift detectors, which significantly improve the measurement sensitivity at higher energies. Additionally, we present calculations of expected PEP-violating energy shifts in the characteristic lines of these elements, performed using the multi-configurational Dirac–Fock method from first principles. The VIP-3 realization will contribute to ongoing research into PEP violation for different elements, offering new insights and directions for future studies. Full article

In the periodic table of the elements, ruthenium occupies an excellent position, just below iron. And like iron, it possesses several oxidation states, with +2 and +3 being the most common. Accordingly, ruthenium chemistry is extremely rich and well developed, and ruthenium complexes show excellent catalytic aptitude, tremendous redox capacity, and intriguing biological activity. However, in the design of sensors, the use of ruthenium complexes can be better exploited, as they possess valuable electro- and photochemical properties. Therefore, there is an opportunity here, and ruthenium-based complexes might become, one day, key players in sensing technology. Starting a new research project with ruthenium-based sensors ourselves, writing this review was essential to see the current state of research in the field, to better identify opportunities and to have an overview of state-of-the-art examples. Full article

Grapes are susceptible to mold and decay during postharvest storage, and developing new technologies to extend their storage period has important application value. Photodynamic technology (PDT) in concurrence with carbon dots (CDs) proposes an innovative and eco-friendly preservation strategy. We examined the effects of carbon dots combined with photodynamic treatment on postharvest senescence and antioxidant system of table grape. The compounding of photodynamic technology with a 0.06 g L⁻¹ CDs solution could possibly extend the postharvest storage period of grape berries. Through this strategy, we achieved a decreased rate of fruit rotting and weight loss alongside the delayed deterioration of fruit firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acid. As paired with photodynamic technology, CDs considerably decreased the postharvest storage loss of phenols, flavonoids, and reducing sugars as compared to the control group. Concurrently, it remarkably postponed the build-up of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anion (O₂^∙−), and malondialdehyde (MDA); elevated the levels of reduced ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); lowered the levels of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG); raised the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSSH/GSSG; encouraged the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL); and inhibited the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). Furthermore, it enhanced the iron reduction antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of grape berries. CDs combined with photodynamic treatment could efficiently lessen postharvest senescence and decay of grape berry while extending the storage time. Full article

The intensification of extreme weather phenomena, ranging from torrential downpours to protracted dry spells, which trigger fluctuations at the groundwater level, poses a grave threat to the stability of embankments, giving rise to an array of concerns including cracking and differential settlement. Consequently, it is crucial to embark on research targeted at uncovering the settlement and deformation behaviors of pile-supported embankments amidst changes in water levels. In tackling this dilemma, a series of direct shear tests were carried out across a range of wet–dry cyclic conditions. The results confirmed that the occurrence of wet–dry cycles significantly impacted the resilience of silty clay. Additionally, it was observed that the erosion of cohesion and the angle of internal friction initially diminished sharply, subsequently leveling off, with the first wet–dry cycle exerting the most substantial influence on soil strength. Employing a holistic pile-supported embankment model, simulations revealed that variations in the groundwater level, fluctuations therein, varying descent rates, and periodic shifts in the groundwater level could all prompt alterations in soil settlement between embankment piles and could augment the peak tensile stress applied to geogrids. In summary, the orthogonal experimental method was utilized, indicating that, in terms of impacting embankment settlement under periodic water-level changes, the factors ranked in descending order were the following: pile spacing, pile length, embankment height, and the height of the groundwater table. Full article

Satellite imagery has become a widespread resource for modeling variability in lake surfaces. However, the extended monitoring of a lake’s perimeter faces significant challenges due to atmospheric obstacles that cannot be rectified. Due to the atmosphere’s everchanging opacity, only half of the acquired satellite images have reliable qualitative accuracy making it possible to identify a lake’s contour. Consequently, approximately 50% of the monthly lake outline values can be determined using remote sensing methods, leaving the remaining 50% unknown. This situation is applicable to three lakes in Morocco (Abakhan, Ouiouan, and Tiglmanine), the subjects of the current research for the period between 1984 and 2022. What can we do if, during a period of time in which we monitored the evolution of the surface of a lake by satellite means, we obtain only about 50% of the possible images? Shall we just settle for this and stop the analysis? Although it may be challenging to believe, the present study introduces two statistical methods for interpolating and validating the monthly values of the lake outline: the iterative ratio method based on the autocorrelation of the monthly water balance and the Kalman filter. We estimated the reconstruction errors of the missing values and validated the methodology using an inverse philosophy, reconstructing the initial data from the table of the simulation results. Given that the difference between the initial values and the reconstructed initial values resembles white noise or an AR (1) process with a low coefficient, we deemed the methodological approach acceptable. Several comparison criteria between the two interpolation methods were employed, yet determining the more appropriate one remains challenging. Based on our surface reconstruction method, Lake Abakhan, with an average area of 22 hectares, experienced significant fluctuations, ranging from a maximum of 34 hectares in 2010 to a minimum of 0.8 hectares in 2022. Lake Ouiouan, with an average area of 14 hectares, displayed much lower variation, with a maximum of 17 hectares in 2020 and a minimum of 6.5 hectares in 1988. Lake Tiglmanine showed a pattern similar to that of Lake Abakhan but with less pronounced fluctuations. With an average area of 6.1 hectares, its maximum was 9.2 hectares in 2011 and its minimum was 4.1 hectares in 1984. Full article

We present a corrosion internal state variable (ISV) damage model based upon the integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) hierarchical multiscale paradigm. Structure–property experiments for magnesium alloys were used where the only inputs were the volume fractions of each element of the periodic table. This macroscale ISV corrosion model finds its basis in Horstemeyer’s mechanical damage model, which includes three separate ISVs for damage nucleation, growth, and coalescence, as well as Walton’s inclusion of corrosion, which introduces five new ISVs for pit nucleation, growth, and coalescence, along with general corrosion and intergranular corrosion. While Walton’s corrosion ISVs are phenomenological in nature, herein we develop a multiscale physical basis for the corrosion ISVs. The parameters for the macroscale corrosion ISVs were garnered from the mesoscale Butler–Volmer equations. Pure magnesium with differing amounts of aluminum were used in corrosion tests to exemplify the different pitting, general corrosion, and intergranular corrosion rates, and the macroscale ISV model was calibrated with said data, in which the only inputs to the model are the volume percentages of the elements magnesium and aluminum. Although magnesium alloys were used to motivate and calibrate the model, the model is abstract enough to possibly capture other material systems as well. Full article