Nondipole effects occurring in the process of atomic ionization by an intense, mid‐infrared, counter‐rotating bicircular laser field are investigated using the strong‐field approximation with leading‐order nondipole corrections. The time integrals appearing in the expression for the differential ionization rate are computed in two ways: numerically, and by applying the saddle‐point approximation. The nondipole corrections introduce an asymmetry in the photoelectron momentum distribution along the field propagation direction. The asymmetry is quantified by the partial average value of the propagation‐direction momentum component of the photoelectrons and by the normalized difference of the differential ionization rates computed including and excluding the nondipole corrections. Using the saddle‐point approximation, it is investigated how the nondipole corrections change the solutions for direct photoelectrons and how this affects the momentum spectra. The impact of nondipole corrections increases with increasing photoelectron energy. Analysis of the complete photoelectron spectra including both direct and rescattered photoelectrons shows that, in the low‐energy region, a shift against the propagation direction occurs. The partial average of the propagation–direction momentum component in the rescattering region exhibits a plateau structure and also a local minimum structure that was recently observed in an experiment with a linearly polarized laser field (Lin et al., Phys Rev. Lett. 128, 023201 (2022)).

Scanning tunneling microscopy tip-induced deprotonation has been demonstrated experimentally and can be used as an additional control mechanism in electric-field induced molecular switching. The goal of the current work is to establish whether (de)protonation can be used to inhibit or enhance the electric field controlled thermal and photoisomerization processes. Dihydroxyazobenzene is used as a model system, where protonation/deprotonation of the free hydroxyl moiety changes the azo bond order, and so modifies the rate of electric field induced isomerization. Through the combined action of deprotonation and applied field, it was found that the cis-to-trans thermal isomerization barrier could be completely removed, changing the isomerization half-life from the order of several months. In addition, due to the presence of multiple isomerization mechanisms, electric fields could modify the isomerization kinetics by increasing the number of energetically viable isomerization pathways, rather than reducing the activation barrier of the lowest energy pathway. Excited state calculations indicated that the protonation state and electric field could be used together to control the presence of electronic degeneracies along the rotation pathway between S0/S1, and along all three pathways between S1/S2. This work provides insight into the mechanisms that enable the use of protonation state, light, and electric fields in concert to control molecular switches.

This study deals with the selection of a sustainable supplier on the example of the agribusiness company Mamex from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main problem of this research is the selection of a sustainable supplier as a part of the sustainable strategy of the Mamex company. One of the prerequisites is that suppliers must present sustainability principles in business by having an appropriate certificate. The results of the selection of sustainable suppliers are completed using a new hybrid fuzzy approach with the methods IMF SWARA (Improved Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) and fuzzy TRUST (multi-normalization multi-distance assessment) CRADIS (compromise ranking of alternatives from distance to ideal solution) methods. The innovative approach is reflected in the use of a combination of these methods, especially by combining the TRUST and CRADIS methods into one method. The IMF SWARA method shows that the most important main criterion is the economic criterion, while the least important is the social criterion. By applying the fuzzy TRUST CRADIS method, it is found that out of the observed six suppliers, the second supplier has the best indicators. These results are confirmed by other fuzzy methods: MABAC (multi-attributive border approximation area comparison), WASPAS (weighted aggregated sum product assessment), fuzzy SAW (simple additive weighting), MARCOS (measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution), ARAS (a new additive ratio assessment), and TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution). This research shows that applying more normalization when ranking alternatives reduces the influence of individual normalizations, and this approach should be used in future research.

Dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis are the most common inflammatory disorders of the eye surface. Although eye drops are the most usual prescribed dosage form, they are characterized by low ocular availability due to numerous barrier mechanisms of the eye. The use of biopolymers in liquid ophthalmic preparations has numerous advantages, such as increasing the viscosity of the tear film, exhibiting bioadhesive properties, and resisting the drainage system, leading to prolonged retention of the preparation at the site of application, and improvement of the therapeutic effect. Some mucoadhesive polymers are multifunctional excipients, so they act by different mechanisms on increasing the permeability of the cornea. Additionally, many hydrophilic biopolymers can also represent the active substances in artificial tear preparations, due to their lubrication and moisturizing effect. With the modification of conventional ophthalmic preparations, there is a need for development of new methods for their characterization. Numerous methods for the assessment of mucoadhesiveness have been suggested by the literature. This review gives an overview related to the development of mucoadhesive liquid ophthalmic formulations for the treatment of dry eye and allergic conditions.

Finance is integral to civilizational prosperity yet has impacted the global development of recent centuries, proved inherently inconsistent, and created multiple issues, i.e., inequalities. In this regard, Islamic finance (IF) offers solutions. Moreover, contemporary appraisals of the Integration of Knowledge (IoK) methodology represent a novel alternative to extant challenges and issues. The paper’s objectives are, therefore, to propose an IoK model of Islamic and conventional financial (CF) convergence with leverage to fintech and demonstrate the potential of the waqf sector for such convergence and its equivalent revival and reform along such methodological contours. This paper is a methodological contribution. However, library research, critical content analysis, and heterodox methods of concretization, synthesis, and transdisciplinary analytical reasoning substantiate the paper’s methodology. Islamic sources of knowledge, i.e., Qur’an, justify this study’s unorthodox methodology. A background depicts the CF problems and persistent issues that justify alternatives. It is followed by rationalizing IE development via IoK to converge IF and CF. The IoK model developed for IE development follows and is schematically demonstrated as novel findings of this paper to bridge the gap between IF and CF and leverage waqfs’ role and potential. Greater reference to waqf projects institutionalized implications for IF and integration with CF. Further, leveraging waqf and even fintech as an indicator of digitalization within the IoK model has implications for attaining the defined maqāṣid and developing IE genuinely. A conclusion summarizes and provides actionable recommendations linked with the IoK model’s objectives to reform extant IF and conventional practice based on sound Islamic philosophical foundations and maqāṣid-oriented envisioning of IE development.

This paper aims to propose a statistical model to assess pubertal growth spurt using the ratio of the anterior height projection to the posterior (Vba) of the fourth cervical vertebra body (C4) on cephalograms and to calculate the residual proportion of skeletal maturation and the time for the pubertal growth spurt to end for a given Vba. A sample of 538 cephalograms from healthy-living children aged between 5 and 15 years was analyzed. A segmented regression model was used to explain the different Vba stages relative to the pubertal growth spurt. In addition, the time to achieve skeletal maturation was evaluated for a given Vba between the beginning (Vba1) and the end (Vba2) of the pubertal growth spurt. A longitudinal sample of 25 males and 25 females was analyzed to validate the proposed method. The values of Vba corresponding to higher pubertal development rate ranged from Vba1 = 0.677 (95%CI, 0.644–0.711) to Vba2 = 0.966 (95%CI, 0.905–1.028) and from Vba1 = 0.669 (95%CI, 0.645–0.693) to Vba2 = 1.073 (95%CI, 1.044–1.101) in males and females, respectively. The validation process results showed that our model did not produce any incorrect forecasts. The proposed method estimates the beginning and the end of the pubertal growth spurt together with the residual proportion of skeletal maturation for a given Vba.

Immunomodulators and biologicals are essential in current IBD management, but are associated with increased risk of infections. Considering the growing number of treatment options, the benefit-risk balance of drugs is becoming increasingly important in clinical decision making. To date, post-marketing surveillance studies mainly focus on severe infections. As a result, data on mild and moderate infections are scarce. These infections take longer to clear in immunosuppressed patients and can substantially impact quality of life. We aimed to assess the incidence of all infections and identify risk factors for the development of infections in IBD patients. We previously developed and validated a Patient-Reported Infections Questionnaire (PRIQ), with excellent diagnostic accuracy, covering 15 infection categories with a 3-month recall period. The current prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study was performed between Jun, 1 2020 and Jul, 1 2021, enrolling consecutive IBD patients using the PRIQ implemented in myIBDcoach, an established telemedicine platform. Infection severity was defined as mild (self-limiting or topical treatment), moderate (oral antibiotics, antivirals or antifungals) or severe (hospitalization or IV treatment). Incidence rates (IR) were calculated for all infections, stratified for severity and subtype. Risk factors for infections were identified using multivariable logistic regression. In total, 629 IBD patients were included which completed 2391 PRIQs during 572 person-years (PY) of follow-up, resulting in 990 reported infections, corresponding to IRs of 17.3, 11.8, 5.1, and 0.4 per 10PY for all, mild, moderate, and severe infections, respectively (Tables 1-2). Upper respiratory tract (IR 26.9/100PY) and urinary tract infections (IR 14.8/100PY) were the most commonly reported mild and moderate infections (Table 3). Compared to patients without treatment, patients on immunosuppressives more frequently experienced infections of any severity (mild: IR ratio (IRR) 1.57 [95%CI 1.21-2.06] p<0.001, moderate: IRR 1.42 [95%CI 1.20-1.69] p<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, female sex (mild aOR 1.96; moderate aOR 1.71), smoking status (mild aOR 1.66; moderate aOR 1.86), higher BMI (moderate aOR 1.05), and more comorbidities (mild aOR 2.41; moderate aOR 1.82) were all significantly associated with the development of mild and moderate infections (Table 4). In this real-world prospective study, immune suppressive therapy was associated with mild and moderate infections of any kind in IBD patients. These infections particularly occur in females, smokers, patients with higher BMI and more comorbidities. This information should be considered in personalised treatment selection.

The selection of the most appropriate underground mining technology is not a simple process because it involves handling of a large amount of information about several potential methods. Multicriteria optimization approaches are proven useful tools for ranking alternatives, especially in cases where multiple complex criteria have to be considered simultaneously. An ore deposit is a complex system because of its geology, physical and mechanical properties, and hydrogeological conditions. As such, problem solving requires a heuristic approach and includes tasks involving expert judgement, intuition, estimation, and experience. Using a heuristic strategy to state a problem means that the analyst is placed in a position to apply past experience to a future situation and existing knowledge to new circumstances, as well as discover new avenues to creative problem solving. A complex algorithm was developed to pave the way to quality management of mining, by using the VIKOR method to rank various mining technologies relative to a set of criteria and select the optimum mining method that will primarily ensure profitable and safe mining.

Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) materials exhibit a broad palette of unique and superlative properties, including high electrical and thermal conductivities, paired with the ability to exfoliate or grow and transfer single layers onto a variety of substrates thanks to the relatively weak vdW interlayer bonding. However, the same vdW bonds also lead to relatively low thermal boundary conductance (TBC) between the 2D layer and its 3D substrate, which is the main pathway for heat removal and thermal management in devices, leading to a potential thermal bottleneck and dissipation-driven performance degradation. Here, we use first-principles phonon dispersion with our 2D–3D Boltzmann phonon transport model to compute the TBC of 156 unique 2D/3D interface pairs, many of which are not available in the literature. We then employ machine learning to develop streamlined predictive models, of which a neural network and a Gaussian process display the highest predictive accuracy (RMSE [Formula: see text] 5 MW m−2 K−1 and [Formula: see text] 0.99) on the complete descriptor set. Then we perform sensitivity analysis to identify the most impactful descriptors, consisting of the vdW spring coupling constant, 2D thermal conductivity, ZA phonon bandwidth, the ZA phonon resonance gap, and the frequency of the first van Hove singularity or Boson peak. On that reduced set, we find that a decision-tree algorithm can make accurate predictions (RMSE [Formula: see text] 20 MW m−2 K−1 and [Formula: see text] 0.9) on materials it has not been trained on by performing a transferability analysis. Our model allows optimal selection of 2D-substrate pairings to maximize heat transfer and will improve thermal management in future 2D nanoelectronics.

Patients with occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI) and no ST-elevation on presenting ECG are increasing in numbers. These patients have a poor prognosis and would benefit from immediate reperfusion therapy, but we currently have no accurate tools to identify them during initial triage. Herein, we report the first observational cohort study to develop machine learning models for the ECG diagnosis of OMI. Using 7,313 consecutive patients from multiple clinical sites, we derived and externally validated an intelligent model that outperformed practicing clinicians and other widely used commercial interpretation systems, significantly boosting both precision and sensitivity. Our derived OMI risk score provided superior rule-in and rule-out accuracy compared to routine care, and when combined with the clinical judgment of trained emergency personnel, this score helped correctly reclassify one in three patients with chest pain. ECG features driving our models were validated by clinical experts, providing plausible mechanistic links to myocardial injury.

The content of bioactive compounds in four brown and one red algae from the Adriatic Sea (Dictyota dichotoma, Gongolaria barbata, Ericaria amentacea, Sargassum hornschuchii and Ellisolandia elongata) is explored. The efficiency of two different extraction methods viz. ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) to obtain the extracts rich in phenolic compounds was compared. The effect of the extraction solvent to modulate the phenolic profile was assessed. In general, the mixture ethanol/water in an isovolumetric proportion showed the best results. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA), as well as the individual polyphenolic profile, were evaluated for five target algae. TPC values ranged between 0.2 mg GAE/g (for E. elongata) and 38 mg GAE/g (for S. hornschuchii). Regarding the quantification of individual polyphenols by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, the presence of a high number of hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (mainly of 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids) in all species was noted. In G. barbata their concentrations reached up to 500 mg/kg. IC50 values (ABTS assay) ranged between 44 mg/L (for S. hornschuchii) and 11,040 mg/L (for E. elongata). This work contributes to the in-depth characterization of these little-explored algae, showing their potential as a natural source of phenolic compounds.

Background Clear cell sarcomas (CCSs) are translocated aggressive malignancies, most commonly affecting young adults with a high incidence of metastases and a poor prognosis. Research into the disease is more feasible when adequate models are available. By establishing CCS cell lines from a primary and metastatic lesion and isolating healthy fibroblasts from the same patient, the in vivo process is accurately reflected and aspects of clinical multistep carcinogenesis recapitulated. Methods Isolated tumor cells and normal healthy skin fibroblasts from the same patient were compared in terms of growth behavior and morphological characteristics using light and electron microscopy. Tumorigenicity potential was determined by soft agar colony formation assay and in vivo xenograft applications. While genetic differences between the two lineages were examined by copy number alternation profiles, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy determined arginine methylation as epigenetic features. Potential anti-tumor effects of a protein arginine n -methyltransferase type I (PRMT1) inhibitor were elicited in 2D and 3D cell culture experiments using cell viability and apoptosis assays. Statistical significance was calculated by one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test. Results The two established CCS cell lines named MUG Lucifer prim and MUG Lucifer met showed differences in morphology, genetic and epigenetic data, reflecting the respective original tissue. The detailed cell line characterization especially in regards to the epigenetic domain allows investigation of new innovative therapies. Based on the epigenetic data, a PRMT1 inhibitor was used to demonstrate the targeted antitumor effect; normal tissue cells isolated and immortalized from the same patient were not affected with the IC_50 used. Conclusions MUG Lucifer prim, MUG Lucifer met and isolated and immortalized fibroblasts from the same patient represent an ideal in vitro model to explore the biology of CCS. Based on this cell culture model, novel therapies could be tested in the form of PRMT1 inhibitors, which drive tumor cells into apoptosis, but show no effect on fibroblasts, further supporting their potential as promising treatment options in the combat against CCS. The data substantiate the importance of tailored therapies in the advanced metastatic stage of CCS.

Detecting new and enlarged lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is needed to determine their disease activity. LeMan‐PV is a software embedded in the scanner reconstruction system of one vendor, which automatically assesses new and enlarged white matter lesions (NELs) in the follow‐up of MS patients; however, multicenter validation studies are lacking.