We investigate models that can induce significant modifications to the couplings of first- and second-generation quarks with Higgs bosons. Specifically, we identify all simplified models featuring two vector-like quark states which can lead to substantial enhancements in these couplings. In addition, these models generate operators in Standard Model Effective Field Theory, both at tree-level and one-loop, that are constrained by electroweak precision and Higgs data. We show how to evade constraints from flavour physics and consider direct searches for vector-like quarks. Ultimately, we demonstrate that viable ultraviolet models can be found with first-generation quark Yukawa couplings enhanced by several hundred times their Standard Model value, while the Higgs couplings to charm (strange) quarks can be increased by factors of a few (few tens). Given the importance of electroweak precision data in constraining these models, we also discuss projections for future measurements at the Tera-Z FCC-ee machine.

A study was conducted on a sample of 305 participants, students of the Faculty of Security Sciences of the University of Banja Luka, representing the population of 19- to 20-year-old police trainees, to determine differences in motor skills based on body mass index (BMI). The diagnosis of body mass index (BMI) status as a basic measure for the assessment of physical and nutritional status was subjected to a cluster analysis to define six categories of participants hypothetically characteristic for the specificity of the population studied. In accordance with the health epidemiological standards of the World Health Federation, a universal categorization of BMI values was made: underweight individuals, normal weight individuals, overweight individuals or individuals with excessive body weight, preobese individuals (mild obesity), obese individuals (moderate obesity), and morbidly obese individuals (severe obesity). The central values of the isolated BMI clusters in the sample studied were as follows: BMI cluster 1 = 18.70 kg/m2, cluster 2 = 20.61 kg/m2, cluster 3 = 22.16 kg/m2, cluster 4 = 23.83 kg/m2, cluster 5 = 25.81 kg/m2, and cluster 6 = 27.38 kg/m2. In the first cluster, 8 participants were identified, representing 2.6 % of the population studied, in the second cluster 57 participants or 18.7 %, in the third cluster 68 participants or 22.3 %, in the fourth cluster 138 participants or 45.2 %, in the fifth cluster 22 participants or 7.2 % and in the sixth cluster 12 participants or 3.9 % of the population studied. The results of this study indicate that there are differences in motor skills variables between certain categories of participants: Standing Long Jump (MSDM) - assessing lower extremity explosive strength - and Cooper 12-Minute Run Test (MKUP) - assessing aerobic endurance, while the Maximum Number of Sit-ups (MPTR) variable - assessing dynamic core strength - is at the borderline of statistical significance.

This paper explores the integration of computer vision technologies to enhance traffic safety through the effective detection of car-pedestrian interactions. As urban environments become more congested, pedestrian safety remains a critical concern. The system’s performance was evaluated using real-life footage from vehicle-mounted cameras, as well as images and videos sourced from online platforms. These real-world scenarios enabled a detailed assessment of the system’s accuracy and efficiency in practical conditions. The study highlights the potential for significant improvements in traffic safety, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where over 38% of registered vehicles are older than 23 years, and nearly 62% exceed 14 years. The aging vehicle fleet heightens the risk of accidents, underscoring the need for advanced detection methods. The proposed system automates the identification of hazardous situations on roads, allowing timely responses from relevant authorities.

The dynamics in the global automotive industry are constantly evolving, opening pathways to new markets and technological paradigms. Advancements such as H2 and e-vehicles present clear opportunities but also entail challenges of uncontrolled development, particularly with the growing influence of China in the EU. Traffic accidents involving vehicles with electric propulsion pose specific challenges for investigators and analysts. Analyses reveal increased complexity and harmfulness of these accidents, emphasizing the need for new methods of investigation and damage assessment, as well as for tightening regulations. The production of e-vehicles faces financial challenges and technological demands. Production efficiency, including the use of one-piece chassis panels, is crucial for competitiveness in the market. The future of the automotive industry in the EU requires complex strategies focused on the development of e-vehicles for urban needs, H2 technology for freight trucks, and alternative fuels to ensure energy independence. Traffic safety is gaining importance, recognizing energy as a key factor in global security. Attitudes of countries like the Netherlands towards e-vehicles vary, with the issue of electric energy availability highlighted as significant. In this complex landscape of the automotive industry, contemplating the future requires a balance between technological innovation, safety, and sustainability.

Although the importance of the microbiome in the context of tick biology and vector competence has recently come into a broader research focus, the field is still in its infancy and the complex ecological interactions between the tick residential bacteria and pathogens are obscure. Here, we show that an environmentally acquired gut bacterium has the potential to impair Borrelia afzelii colonization within the tick vector through a secreted metalloprotease. Oral introduction of either Bacillus cereus LTG-1 isolate or its purified enhancin (BcEnhancin) protein significantly reduces B. afzelii burden in the guts of Ixodes ricinus ticks. This effect is attributed to the ability of BcEnhancin to degrade a glycan-rich peritrophic matrix (PM), which is a gut protective barrier essential for Borrelia survival. Our study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in determining tick vector competence and provides a deeper mechanistic insight into the complex network of interactions between Borrelia, the tick, and the tick microbiome.

Abstract Glioma is a rare and debilitating brain cancer with one of the lowest cancer survival rates. Genome-wide association studies have identified 34 genetic susceptibility regions. We sought to discover novel susceptibility regions using approaches that test groups of contiguous genetic markers simultaneously. We analyzed data from three independent glioma studies of European ancestry, GliomaScan (1,316 cases/1,293 controls), Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma Consortium (560 cases/2,237 controls), and Glioma International Case-Control Study (4,000 cases/2,411 controls), using the machine learning algorithm DEPendency of association on the number of Top Hits and a region-based regression method based on the generalized Berk–Jones (GBJ) statistic, to assess the association of glioma with genomic regions by glioma type and sex. Summary statistics from the UCSF/Mayo Clinic study were used for independent validation. We conducted a meta-analysis using GliomaScan, Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma Consortium, Glioma International Case-Control Study, and UCSF/Mayo. We identified 11 novel candidate genomic regions for glioma risk common to multiple studies. Two of the 11 regions, 16p13.3 containing RBFOX1 and 1p36.21 containing PRDM2, were significantly associated with female and male glioma risk respectively, based on the results of the meta-analysis. Both regions have been previously linked to glioma tumor progression. Three of the 11 regions contain neurotransmitter receptor genes (7q31.33 GRM8, 5q35.2 DRD1, and 15q13.3 CHRNA7). Our region-based approach identified 11 genomic regions that suggest an association with glioma risk of which two regions, 16p13.3 and 1p36.21, warrant further investigation as genetic susceptibility regions for female and male risk, respectively. Our analyses suggest that genetic susceptibility to glioma may differ by sex and highlight the possibility that synapse-related genes play a role in glioma susceptibility. Significance: Further investigation of the potential susceptibility regions identified in our study may lead to a better understanding of glioma genetic risk and the underlying biological etiology of glioma. Our study suggests sex may play a role in genetic susceptibility and highlights the importance of sex-specific analysis in future glioma research.

Pathological studies suggest that multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions endure multiple waves of damage and repair; however, the dynamics and characteristics of these processes are poorly understood in patients living with MS.