Number Of Contractions Research Articles

THE INSURANCE MARKET IN ROMANIA – MOTOR THRID PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE: COMMUNICATION ON DEVELOPMENTS, RISKS, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

The risks faced by the Romanian insurance market are significant and come from both the difficult global context and the internal dynamics. Paradoxically, however, the underdevelopment of the market, especially in the life insurance sector, and the dependence on the mandatory insurance type RCA, reduce the exposure of Romanian insurance companies to some risks, such as a fall in income or an increase in interest rates. In this context, the paper aims to make an estimate of the risks and challenges in the RCA insurance market for the coming years starting from a series of official data for these mandatory policies from 2019-2023. We find that compulsory car insurance stands out as a bright spot, comprising over 45% of total premiums. A small number of companies dominate the market, with the top 10 controlling roughly 60%. In the compulsory car insurance sector, there's a mix of growth and decline: voluntary premiums are rising, but the number of contracts is falling. Despite fewer claims, the average cost per claim has increased compared to the previous year. Overall, the results suggest that the dependence on mandatory insurance like RCA paradoxically shields Romanian insurance companies from certain risks.

Zmiany umów w sprawie zamówień publicznych w świetle wyroku Trybunału Sprawiedliwości Unii Europejskiej z 7 grudnia 2023 r.

The article deals with a judgment that is important from the perspective of interpreting the public procurement law on contract modifications, namely, the judgment of the CJEU of 7 December 2023. The judgment draws attention to at least two incorrect practices. First, “unforeseeable” circumstances, the occurrence of which may justify a contract modification, are sometimes interpreted too broadly. Second, contract modifications that are not made “explicitly” (by an agreement or annex modifying the contract) are not treated as contract modifications within the meaning of the regulations. The conclusions resulting from the judgment are a relevant signal for the entire public procurement market, a signal whose identification by participants in the public procurement market is mandatory. The article takes a closer look at the motives of the CJEU, as well as the implications of the ruling for participants in the public procurement market and empirical research. According to the author’s research, the contract modification rationale for the occurrence of “unforeseeable” circumstances is often used as a justification for contract modification. However, research supports the thesis that there are numerous cases in which it may be questionable to apply the rationale allowing contract modification due to the occurrence of “unforeseeable” circumstances. The correct interpretation of the CJEU judgment in question is all the more important in view of the above (the author’s research) and in terms of the potential increase in the number of public contracts (associated with the use of European Funds). Modification of a contract covered by EU funding in a manner that is not in compliance with the law may result in a 25% adjustment of the funding received.

A Novel Noise-Aware Classical Optimizer for Variational Quantum Algorithms

A key component of variational quantum algorithms (VQAs) is the choice of classical optimizer employed to update the parameterization of an ansatz. It is well recognized that quantum algorithms will, for the foreseeable future, necessarily be run on noisy devices with limited fidelities. Thus, the evaluation of an objective function (e.g., the guiding function in the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) or the expectation of the electronic Hamiltonian in variational quantum eigensolver (VQE)) required by a classical optimizer is subject not only to stochastic error from estimating an expected value but also to error resulting from intermittent hardware noise. Model-based derivative-free optimization methods have emerged as popular choices of a classical optimizer in the noisy VQA setting, based on empirical studies. However, these optimization methods were not explicitly designed with the consideration of noise. In this work we adapt recent developments from the “noise-aware numerical optimization” literature to these commonly used derivative-free model-based methods. We introduce the key defining characteristics of these novel noise-aware derivative-free model-based methods that separate them from standard model-based methods. We study an implementation of such noise-aware derivative-free model-based methods and compare its performance on demonstrative VQA simulations to classical solvers packaged in scikit-quant. History: Accepted by Giacomo Nannicini, Area Editor for Quantum Computing and Operations Research. Accepted for Special Issue. Funding: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers and the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Accelerated Research for Quantum Computing program under contract number DE-AC02-06CH11357. Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.0177 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2023.0177 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .

Postgraduate medical education in Public Health: the Italian scenario and a call to action

Abstract Introduction Public health training in Italy takes place within postgraduate medical training in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine. With 39 university schools of public health, spread across 17 of Italy’s 20 regions, the landscape is diverse. The government determines the number of available contracts annually. This study aims to provide an up-to-date analysis of the saturation of places in Public Health programmes, as well as an assessment of mobility trends between northern and southern Italy from 2017 to 2023. Methods Data on admissions, withdrawals and resignations were obtained from the Ministries of Universities and Health and from the archives of the ‘Associazione Liberi Specializzandi’ (ALS). Mobility was assessed as moving from the central-northern regions to the southern-islands of Italy, and vice versa, between registration with the Medical Council and specialisation programme enrollment. Results Between 2017 and 2023, a total of 2301 residents enrolled across Italy, out of 2953 available positions nationwide. During this period the number of available national places, increased from 180 to 576, impacting overall seat saturation. In 2017, 98.3% of positions were covered, compared to only 46.5% in 2023. Regarding the mobility trend, southern students attending northern schools increased from 8.3% in 2017 to 22.4% in 2023, while northern students attending southern schools decreased from 17.9% to 1%. However, the number of dropouts and withdrawals was higher in the North. Mobility students scored lower than non-mobility students nationally. Key messages • From 2017 to 2023, the number of residents enrolled increased, while the allocation rate decreased. There was a shift in mobility patterns, with more southern students moving north. • Addressing the identified inequalities and understanding the underlying factors driving mobility patterns is crucial for effective planning and allocation of resources.

Anti-nociceptive effect of STW 5-II in rodent models of stress and post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity

AimsVisceral hypersensitivity is a therapy-resistant hallmark of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Many IBS patients’ symptoms develop following an acute colitis, and most report that stress worsens symptoms. STW 5-II, a combination of six herbal extracts, is a clinically proven treatment for IBS, but the mechanism is uncertain. Here, we employ two well-characterized rodent models to test the hypothesis that STW 5-II attenuates chronic colonic hypersensitivity. Main methodsSeparate cohorts of male rats were used for each model of colonic hypersensitivity. The first model used repeated water avoidance stress (1hr/day for 10 days), while the second model used intracolonic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid to induce a short-lived colitis followed by post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity. Both models used sham treatment controls. Colonic sensitivity was quantified as the number of abdominal contractions to graded pressures (20–60 mmHg) of isobaric colorectal distension (CRD). Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) was assessed via immunohistochemistry in the brain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG). STW 5-II (10 ml/kg, p.o.) or vehicle (p.o.) was administered for 7 days, prior to CRD and pERK expression. Key findingsRats exposed to either model developed significant colonic hypersensitivity. Both models enhanced CRD-evoked pERK in DRGs, spinal cord, and brain. STW 5-II decreased colonic hypersensitivity and reduced CRD-evoked brain, spinal, and DRG pERK. SignificanceBoth models induced colonic hypersensitivity and enhanced pERK expression. STW 5-II inhibited colonic hypersensitivity and decreased noxious neuronal activation in both models, which could explain its clinically proven efficacy in relieving visceral hypersensitivity-related symptoms in IBS.

Impaired Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and Increased Levels of Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 Induced by Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure in Pregnant Rats: Evidence of Protective Effects with Sodium Nitrite Treatment in Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and is associated with increases in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and reductions in nitric oxide (NO) levels. Placental ischemia and hypoxia are hypothesized as initial pathophysiological events of PE. Nitrite (NO metabolite) may be recycled back to NO in ischemic and hypoxic tissues. Therefore, this study examined the sodium nitrite effects in an experimental model of PE. Pregnant rats received saline (Preg group) or sodium nitrite (Preg + Na-Nitrite group). Pregnant rats submitted to the placental ischemia received saline (RUPP group) or sodium nitrite (RUPP + Na-Nitrite group). Blood pressure, placental and fetal weights, and the number of pups were recorded. Plasma levels of NO metabolites and sFlt-1 were also determined. Vascular and endothelial functions were also measured. Blood pressure, placental and fetal weights, the number of pups, NO metabolites, sFlt-1 levels, vascular contraction, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the RUPP + Na-Nitrite rats were brought to levels comparable to those in Preg rats. In conclusion, sodium nitrite may counteract the reductions in NO and increases in sFlt-1 levels induced by the placental ischemia model of PE, thus suggesting that increased blood pressure and vascular and endothelial dysfunctions may be attenuated by sodium nitrite-derived NO.

Baseline cystometric parameters in conscious and anesthetized sheep: experimental data and systematic review.

To characterize cystometry in conscious and anesthetized sheep, including bladder response to sacral root electrical stimulation, thereby providing a baseline set of values. Single-fill cystometries were repeated in adult mule ewes both conscious (n = 5) and under general anesthesia (18) using a commercial system. Parameters including bladder capacity, detrusor (bladder) pressure, urethral opening pressure, bladder compliance, number of nonvoiding detrusor contractions, and bladder pressure change in response to electrical stimulation of the sacral roots under general anesthesia are reported. Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies relating to ovine cystometry, and a systematic review was conducted. In awake sheep, mean ± SD bladder capacity was 79.6 ± 32.2 mL, urethral opening pressure was 26.0 ± 10.7 cm H2O, and compliance was 3.5 ± 1.9 mL/cm H2O. Peak detrusor pressures during micturition reached 57.7 ± 28.3 cm H2O. In anesthetized animals, mean bladder capacity (endpoint, 50 cm H2O) was 333 ± 191 mL, and mean bladder compliance was 7.7 ± 4.9 mL/cm H2O. Values for these parameters from our systematic review are presented for comparison and reference. Electrical stimulation of the second and third sacral roots caused a greater increase in detrusor pressure than stimulation of the first and fourth sacral roots. We present a comprehensive set of data for normal cystometry parameters in sheep, including the first report of detrusor response to sacral root stimulation in anesthetized sheep. This report provides a valuable set of baseline values for a potential translational model of value to neurourologic research and may be a useful reference for clinicians.

КОМПЛЕКСНОЕ ЛЕЧЕНИЕ ПРИ АЦИДОЗЕ РУБЦА

A study on the effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment regimen for rumen acidosis in cows was conducted at the Ulanovo Residential Complex, Donskoy SAU. The proposed regimen included rumen lavage with a 2% sodium bicarbonate solution followed by administration of 500 g of magnesium oxide on the first day; 500 g of baking soda and 500 g of magnesium oxide dissolved in 10 l of warm water orally over the next two days; 1 l of rumen contents from a healthy cow; Oxylong 20 % retard intramuscularly at a dose of 1 ml per 10 kg of live weight once; Ringer-Locke solution - 800 ml intravenously for 3 days in a row; 5 % thiamine chloride solution intramuscularly 3 times a day at a dose of 5 mg/kg of live weight for 3 days in a row; feed additive «Bacell-MT» - 120 grams per head once a day with water individually for 5 days. The use of complex therapy aimed at reducing acidity, replenishing the deficiency of elements, microflora of the gastrointestinal tract helps to restore homeostasis of the body, which was manifested by the normalization of not only clinical and physiological indicators, but also an increase in the amount of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, the number of ciliates, a decrease in the acidity of the rumen contents, urine, feces. Normalization of the condition was accompanied by an increase in the number of rumen contractions to 3.7 ± 0.4 movements / 2 min., an increase in the pH of the rumen contents to 6.8 ± 0.4, urine to 7.0 ± 0.1, feces to 7.4 ± 0.1. The number of ciliates increased by 4.99 times, the families of Ophrуоsсоlecidae of the genus Entodinium (54.4 %), Diplodinium (32.6 %), Epidinium (7.2 %), Ophrуоsсоlex (5.8 %) were identified.

Efficacy of Dilapan S compared to foley balloon in preinduction cervical ripening—a noninferiority trial

The need for induction of labor is increasing in present obstetric practice. The available non-pharmacological methods for cervical ripening at term are Foley balloon and Dilapan-S. With the gaining popularity of Dilapan-S worldwide, there are very few clinical trials conducted in India to evaluate its effectiveness. To compare the efficacy of Dilapan-S and Foley balloons for pre-induction cervical ripening. This single-center randomized non-inferiority trial included primi- and multi-gravida women between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation and unfavourable cervix with a Bishop's score between 0 and 2. Using a random number table, patients were assigned to study Group 1 Dilapan-S and to control Group 2 Foley balloon. Dilapan-S or Foley balloon was inserted intracervically and assessed for dilation after 12 hours. Patients with unfavourable dilatation were further provided prostaglandins (PgE 1 and 2) for further augmentation of induction. Primary outcome measures included improvement in Bishop's score, and mode of delivery, followed by time to delivery from intervention, use of other augmentation methods, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. After screening, 296 patients with Bishop score less than 2, (148 in each group) were enrolled in the study. The number of patients who had vaginal delivery was comparable between both groups (p=.72), and so were the maternal outcomes. Two cases of cord prolapse occurred with Foley balloon. Group 2 showed significant improvement in Bishop's score (p<.001), and Group 1 had a significantly higher use of augmentation with PgE1 (p-.01) and PgE2 (p<.001). The number of contractions was significantly lower in Group 1 (p<.001), and contraction intensity was higher in Group 2. There was no significant difference in cesarean delivery for failed induction of labor between the groups (p=.72). Based on the primary outcome measure, Dilapan-S was found to be non-inferior to the Foley balloon. Dilapan-S is non-inferior to Foley balloon in achieving pre-induction cervical ripening in term pregnancies, and therefore Dilapan-S can be suggested as an alternative in clinical practice with minimal risks.

Understanding Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces in Gel Polymer Electrolytes Using in-Operando Raman Spectroscopy

Gel polymer electrolytes hold enormous potential for advancing battery performance and technology, promising high energy densities and safe, rechargeable quasi solid-state batteries. GPEs offer higher ionic conductivities than solid electrolytes and enhanced safety in comparison to liquid electrolytes. A particular advantage of these electrolytes has been their ability to create robust electrode electrolyte interfaces that guide uniform deposition and stripping of lithium via their mechanical strength from the polymer and interface species that form during initial cycling.Herein we report that 1:1 dimethoxyethane (DME) and dioxolane (DOL) with lithium bistrifluoromethanosulfonyl imide (LiTFSI) and lithium nitrate entrapped in Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) gel polymer electrolytes have shown stability for up to 500 hours in lithium metal symmetric cells at 1 mAh/cm2 and performs at 5mAh/cm2 in dynamic symmetric cell cycling. To understand the fundamental interfacial phenomenon governing lithium deposition and growth in this system in-operando Raman was conducted on an anodeless Cu|PVDF-HFP|Li cell. Copper was sputtered onto the polymer electrolyte before assembly with a thickness of 20nm, providing an optically transparent electrode through which the Raman laser could pass through to detect interfacial species. We observe that PVDF-HFP acted as a chemically stable polymer electrolyte while Raman shifts associated with TFSI anions disappear near the electrode surface. The spectral and electrochemical data allow us to build a model for the growth and evolution of interfaces in an anodeless lithium metal battery cell with a GPE.Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. The SCGSR program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the DOE under contract number DE‐SC0014664. Figure 1

Impact of Fast-Charging Rates on Electrode Degradation in NMC/Gr Pouch Cells

With the rapid expansion of the electric vehicles market, fast charging lithium-ion batteries has become increasingly imperative and inevitable. However, as fast-charging technologies entering electric vehicle market, persistent challenges related to safety issue and cell degradation, such as lithium dendrite growth, thermal runaway etc. necessitate meticulous consideration. In this study, we investigated fast-charging rate effects on electrode degradation in 1.6 Ah pouch cells using LiNi0.5Mn 0.3Co 0.2O2 cathode and graphite anode provided by Nanoramic Laboratories. Our investigation involves a comparative analysis of the aging behavior of NMC/Gr cells subjected to various charging rates — 0.5C, 2C, 4C, and 6C. Notably, we observed that pouch cells charged at rates of 0.5C and 2C could persist 80% capacity retention over 1000 cycles while cells using 4C and 6C can survive no more than 400 cycles with 80% retention. Through a series of post-mortem characterizations, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), we scrutinized the harvested NMC and graphite electrodes. As expected, more dendrite formation was observed on graphite anodes with 4C and 6C fast charging rates. The deterioration of cell performance primarily resulted from the degradation of the graphite anode. This degradation could be attributed to distinct dendrite morphologies at the graphite anode under varying charging rates (see Fig. 1). In addition to dendrite formation on graphite electrodes, we observed more severe pulverization of NMC secondary particles under higher charging rates despite their lower cycle numbers. This investigation provides a comprehensive understanding of how NMC and graphite degrade under different charging rates, offering valuable insights into the practical impacts of charging rates on cell lifespan and highlighting potential challenges that need to be addressed.AcknowledgementThis material is based upon work supported by the U. S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Advanced Manufacturing Office, award number DE-EE0009111. Argonne National Laboratory is operated for DOE Office of Science by UChicago Argonne, LLC under contract number DE-AC02-06CH11357 Figure 1

(Invited) Fluorinated Linear Carbonate Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Fast-Charging, High Voltage, and Wide Operating Temperatures

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are key solutions to clean energy. Their high energy densities have led to the dominance of LIBs in mobile devices and electric vehicles. However, traditional electrolyte limits their operation at high voltage and extreme environmental temperatures. Here, we designed a new multifunctional electrolyte, in which lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) is used as salt and fluorinated diethyl carbonate (DFDEC) is used as the major solvent. With this optimized electrolyte, the graphite||LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) full cells are capable of fast-charging and can deliver long-term cycling with a cutoff voltage as high as 4.5V. Specifically, the battery shows the capacity retention of 84.3% after 500 cycles with an average coulombic efficiency (CE) as high as 99.93%. Synchrotron-based characterization suggests the formation of anion derived, LiF-rich interphases on the surfaces of both graphite anode and NMC811 cathode. Thanks to the fast ion transport and stable interphase, the cell in the optimized electrolyte demonstrates stable cycling behavior within a wide operating temperature. At high temperature (60 ºC), the full cell delivers 88.8% of its initial capacity after 130 cycles at a high current density of 1C. At low temperature (-20 ºC), the optimized electrolyte enables a capacity retention of 90.9% after 100 cycles when charging and discharging at 0.2C.Acknowledgment: The work done at Brookhaven National Laboratory was supported by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technology Office of the U.S. DOE through Applied Battery Research for Transportation (ABRT) program under contract no. DE-SC0012704. The electrodes used in this study were produced at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) CAMP (Cell Analysis, Modeling and Prototyping) Facility, Argonne National Laboratory. The CAMP Facility is fully supported by the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). This research used beamline 7-ID-2 (SST-2) of the National Synchrotron Light Source II, U.S. DOE Office of Science User Facilities, operated for the DOE Office of Science by Brookhaven National Laboratory under contract number DE-SC0012704. SEM measurements for this manuscript were performed at Center for Functional Nanomaterials, a U.S. DOE office of Science User Facility, at Brookhaven National Laboratory under the contract number DE-SC0012704.

Probing Interfacial Degradation in Solid-State Batteries Using Machine Learning Force Fields

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are next-generation energy storage technologies with improved safety and potentially higher energy densities compared to conventional Li-ion batteries, which is enabled by using fast ion-conducting solid electrolytes (SEs). However, practical applications of SSBs are hindered by the electro-chemo-mechanical instabilities at interfaces within the SEs (grain boundaries (GBs)) and between SEs and the electrodes, which deteriorates Li transport and the chemical and mechanical integrity of the cell. To mitigate, fundamental understanding of the intrinsic physico-chemical properties at interfaces is required. To this end, we directly probe atomic structures of the interfaces and GBs by performing large-scale atomistic simulations, enabled by validated machine-learning force fields (MLFFs) and resolve the structure-property relationship at complex interfaces that governs Li-ion transport and stability of SSBs.In this talk, we will discuss the characteristics of garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) SE/LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode interfaces as well as the internal interfaces within the LLZO (GBs). It is observed from our simulations that the propensities for interfacial degradation strongly depend on the surface chemistry of LLZO and LCO. Doping LLZO is found to have a segregation effect at the LLZL GBs, here we will discuss its implication towards secondary phase formation and Li transport kinetics. At last, we will address the impact of interfaces on micro-crack propagation behavior in the LLZO-LCO system. In summary, our results reveal how atomic details of the dynamically evolving interfaces dictate the performance of SSBs, and provide guidance for processing and interface design to achieve desired performance .This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract number DEAC52-07NA27344. Authors acknowledge funding support from the Vehicle Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy and computational resource support from the Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE) program. This research used resources of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility supported under Contract DE-AC02-06CH11357.

Modeling of Electric Double Layer to Analyze Reaction Kinetics

Electric double layers (EDLs) play a fundamental role in various electrochemical processes such as colloid dispersion, surface charging, and charge-transfer reactions. Increasingly, the role of EDLs on reaction kinetics is being studied (1). Despite the extensive history of EDL modeling, there remain challenges in accurate prediction of its structure. The characteristic length of EDL (nanometer scale) exceeds the grasp of typical ab-initio molecular-dynamic simulations in order to capture a whole picture of the statistical equilibrium. While continuum models offer a means to estimate the thermodynamic equilibrium of EDLs with substantially lower computational cost than molecular dynamics, state–of-the-art continuum models require parameter fitting(2) due to the lack of appropriate expressions for microscopic interactions.Herein, we propose a predictive multiscale continuum model of EDL that eliminates the empirical fitting and relies more on physical relations. This model computes the distribution of the electrostatic potential, electron density, and species’ concentrations by minimizing the total grand potential of the system. The grand potential is calculated from entropic energy, electrostatic energy, electron energy, solute-solute interactions, and electrode-solute interactions. These energy expressions include not only the terms from previous work(2), but also the microscopic interactions that are newly introduced in this work: polarization of hydration shells, electrostatic interaction in parallel plane toward the electrode, and ion-size-dependent entropy. The parameters that identify the electrode and electrolyte materials are obtained from independent experiments such as vacuum work function, bulk modulus, X-ray diffraction, and concentration-dependent dielectric constant. The developed model reproduces the trends in the experimental differential capacitance with multiple electrode and electrolyte materials (Ag (111)-NaF, Ag (111)-NaClO4, and Hg-NaF), which verifies the accuracy and predictiveness of the model in a system without significant specific electrode-electrolyte interactions. The difference in the capacitance between mercury and silver electrode was attributed to the difference in the electron stability in the metal that is parameterized from the material’s bulk modulus. Finally, extension of the model to systems with specific electrode-electrolyte interactions (e.g., Pt (111)-NaClO4) and the analysis of reaction kinetics will be introduced. Overall, the model framework and findings will provide insights into the EDL structures and guidance on how to tailor electrode-electrolyte interface for improved reaction kinetics. Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT) consortia, technology managers G. Kleen and D. Papageorgopoulos, under contract number DE-AC02- 05CH11231, as well as by a CRADA with Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. and by the Center for Ionomer-based Water Electrolysis (CIWE), a DOE Energy Earthshot Research Center. Reference: S. J. Shin, D. H. Kim, G. Bae, S. Ringe, H. Choi, H. K. Lim, C. H. Choi and H. Kim, Nat Commun, 13, 174 (2022).J. Huang, J Chem Theory Comput, 19, 1003 (2023).

High rate of gene family evolution in proximity to the origin of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in Inocybaceae.

The genomes of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi have a reduced number of genes encoding Carbohydrate-Active EnZymes (CAZymes), expansions in transposable elements (TEs) and small secreted proteins (SSPs) compared with saprotrophs. Fewer genes for specific peptidases and lipases in ECM fungi are also reported. It is unclear whether these changes occur at the shift to the ECM habit or are more gradual throughout the evolution of ECM lineages. We generated a genomic dataset of 20 species in the ECM lineage Inocybaceae and compared them with six saprotrophic species. Inocybaceae genomes have fewer CAZymes, peptidases, lipases, secondary metabolite clusters and SSPs and higher TE content than their saprotrophic relatives. There was an increase in the rate of gene family evolution along the branch with the transition to the ECM lifestyle. This branch had very high rate of evolution in CAZymes and had the largest number of contractions. Other significant changes along this branch included expansions in transporters, transposons-related genes and communication genes such as fungal kinases. There is a high concentration of changes in proximity to the transition to the ECM lifestyle, which correspond to the identified key changes for the gain of this lifestyle.

Treadmill running and mechanical overloading improved the strength of the plantaris muscle in the dystrophin-desmin double knockout (DKO) mouse.

Limited knowledge exists regarding the chronic effect of muscular exercise on muscle function in a murine model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here we determined the effects of 1month of voluntary wheel running (WR), 1month of enforced treadmill running (TR) and 1month of mechanical overloading resulting from the removal of the synergic muscles (OVL) in mice lacking both dystrophin and desmin (DKO). Additionally, we examined the effect of activin receptor administration (AR). DKO mice, displaying severe muscle weakness, atrophy and greater susceptibility to contraction-induced functional loss, were exercised or treated with AR at 1month of age and in situ force production of lower leg muscle was measured at the age of 2months. We found that TR and OVL increased absolute maximal force and the rate of force development of the plantaris muscle in DKO mice. In contrast, those of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle remained unaffected by TR and WR. Furthermore, the effects of TR and OVL on plantaris muscle function in DKO mice closely resembled those in mdx mice, a less severe murine DMD model. AR also improved absolute maximal force and the rate of force development of the TA muscle in DKO mice. In conclusion, exercise training improved plantaris muscle weakness in severely affected dystrophic mice. Consequently, these preclinical results may contribute to fostering further investigations aimed at assessing the potential benefits of exercise for DMD patients, particularly resistance training involving a low number of intense muscle contractions. KEY POINTS: Very little is known about the effects of exercise training in a murine model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). One reason is that it is feared that chronic muscular exercise, particularly that involving intense muscle contractions, could exacerbate the disease. In DKO mice lacking both dystrophin and desmin, characterized by severe lower leg muscle weakness, atrophy and fragility in comparison to the less severe DMD mdx model, we found that enforced treadmill running improved absolute maximal force of the plantaris muscle, while that of tibialis anterior muscle remained unaffected by both enforced treadmill and voluntary wheel running. Furthermore, mechanical overloading, a non-physiological model of chronic resistance exercise, reversed plantaris muscle weakness. Consequently, our findings may have the potential to alleviate concerns and pave the way for exploring the prescription of endurance and resistance training as a viable therapeutic approach for the treatment of dystrophic patients. Additionally, such interventions may serve in mitigating the pathophysiological mechanisms induced by physical inactivity.

Exploring uterine contractility frequency in infertile population: A comparative study among different control groups with and without a C-section defect.

Women undergoing IVF who have had a previous c-section (CS) have a lower live birth rate than those with a previous vaginal delivery. However, the precise underlying mechanisms need clarification. Does a previous CS affect the pattern of uterine contractility?. Prospective evaluation in patients undergoing frozen blastocyst embryo transfer in medicated endometrial preparation cycles. Twenty patients were included in groups: A/nulliparous. B/previous vaginal delivery. C/ previous CS without a niche, whereas fifteen patients were recruited in group D (CS and a niche). Patients employed estradiol compounds and 800 mg vaginal progesterone. A 3D-scan was performed the transfer-day where uterine contractility/minute was recorded. Baseline characteristics (age, BMI, smoking, endometrial thickness) were similar. Mean frequency of uterine contractions/minute was similar between groups (1.15, 1.01, 0.92, and 1.21 for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively). There was a slight increase in the number of contractions in patients with a sonographic niche versus controls, not reaching statistical significance (p=0.48). No differences were observed when comparing patients with a previous C-section (regardless of the presence of a niche) to those without a C-section, either nulliparous (p=0.78) or with a previous vaginal delivery (p=0.80). The frequency of uterine contractions was similar between patients who achieved a clinical pregnancy and those who did not (1.19 vs. 1.02 UC/min, p=0.219, respectively). Our study found no significant difference in the frequency of uterine contractility between patients with or without a previous C-section or sonographic diagnosed niche. Further investigation is necessary to understand the physiological mechanisms affecting implantation in patients with isthmocele.

Acute Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Young Healthy Women: Initial Findings of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance muscle function in healthy individuals. However, it is unknown if tDCS associated with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) can improve pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF) in healthy women. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a single session of tDCS in PFMF compared with sham-tDCS in healthy women. A double-blind, cross-over, randomized clinical trial was conducted with healthy, nulliparous and sexually active women. PFMF was assessed by bidigital palpation (PERFECT scale) and intravaginal pressure by a manometer (Peritron™). Participants randomly underwent two tDCS sessions (active and sham) 7 days apart. The electrode was positioned equal for both protocols, the anode electrode in the supplementary motor area (M1) and the cathode electrode in the right supraorbital frontal cortex (Fp2). The current was applied for 20min at 2mA in active stimulation and for 30s in sham-tDCS. The tDCS applications were associated with verbal instructions to PFMT in a seated position. After each tDCS session PFMF was reevaluated. Twenty young healthy women (aged 23.4 ± 1.7years; body mass index 21.7 ± 2.2kg/m2) were included. No difference was observed in power, endurance, and intravaginal pressure of PFMF (p > 0.05). The number of sustained contractions improved from 3.0 (2.0-3.5) to 4.0 (3.0-5.0) after active-tDCS (p = 0.0004) and was superior to sham-tDCS (p = 0.01). The number of sustained contractions of PFM improved immediately after a single active-tDCS session, with a difference compared with the post-intervention result of sham-tDCS in healthy young women.

Current situation of family doctor contracting program: A survey of the perspective of general practitioners

BackgroundResearch on family doctor contract services has predominantly focused on residents, with limited attention to the general practitioners (GPs) regarding the current situation of family doctor team contracting. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the current status of family doctor contract services in primary health care facilities in Guangdong Province from the GPs' perspective and to identify factors influencing the number of people contracting with family doctor teams. MethodsA multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used to select GPs from primary health care facilities in Guangdong Province from July 5 to July 31, 2021. A self-developed survey questionnaire was used to collect data. The number of people contracted with family doctor teams under different characteristics of GPs and their teams was compared, and a two-level Logistic regression model was developed using R 4.2.2 software to determine the factors that influence whether enrollment numbers in family doctor teams exceed 2,000. ResultsA total of 3,252 valid responses were collected from family doctor teams with a contracting count above 100. In 2020, the median number of contracts per family doctor team, as reported by GPs, was 1,400(IQR = 2,499). Comparisons of the number of people contracted with family doctor teams among GPs of different genders, ages, educational levels, managerial positions, employment forms, years of professional experience, working facilities, practicing regions, training received, and annual income showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Variables including the number of team members, the population under jurisdiction, the intention for specialist doctors within the health group to join the team, the availability of hospital beds, and guidance from higher-level hospitals also exhibited significant variations (P < 0.05). Zero model fitting results highlighted that the distribution of contracted individuals was regionally clustered among the practicing regions of GPs (P < 0.05). The comprehensive analysis using a two-level Logistic regression model revealed several key findings: GPs holding a college diploma [OR (95 %CI) = 2.79 (1.84, 3.74)] or a vocational school/high school certificate [OR (95 %CI) = 2.83 (1.80, 3.86)] were more likely to manage teams with over 2,000 contracted individuals, compared to those with a master's degree or higher. GPs in managerial positions were less likely [OR (95 %CI) = 0.66 (0.33, 0.99)] to oversee teams exceeding 2,000 contracted individuals, in contrast to those without any managerial role. Formal employment status was associated with a higher likelihood [OR (95 %CI) = 2.02 (1.53, 2.51)] of managing larger numbers of contracted individuals compared to temporary employment. Team size showed a positive correlation with contracting capacity; teams with 4–6 members [OR (95 %CI) = 1.31 (1.05, 1.57)], 7–10 members [OR (95 %CI) = 2.06 (1.75, 2.37)], 11–19 members [OR (95 %CI) = 3.67 (3.31, 4.03)], and ≥20 members [OR (95 %CI) = 3.46 (2.74, 4.18)] were increasingly likely to surpass 2,000 contracted individuals. Teams managing larger populations—2,001–9,999 [OR (95 %CI) = 2.37 (2.12, 2.62)], 10,000–29,999 [OR (95 %CI) = 2.92 (2.65, 3.19)], and ≥30,000 [OR (95 %CI) = 2.86 (2.55, 3.17)]—were more likely to exceed 2,000 contracts compared to those managing ≤2,000 people. The absence of hospital bed resources within a team was positively associated [OR (95 %CI) = 1.38 (1.14, 1.62)] with surpassing the 2,000 contracted individuals threshold. ConclusionThe study findings suggest that a larger family doctor team size and larger population size of jurisdiction positively impact the capacity for contracting with family doctor teams. GPs with higher educational levels, managerial roles, and access to hospital bed resources possess a more profound understanding and control over family doctor contract service policies, leading to optimized management of contracted individuals. Compared to their temporarily employed counterparts, formally employed GPs within family doctor teams are more likely to engage in contracting activities.

Photobiomodulation improves acute restraint stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential application of photobiomodulation to irritable bowel syndrome. We established the following experimental groups: the Non-Stress + Sham group, which consisted of rats that were not restrained and were only subjected to sham irradiation; the Stress + Sham group, which underwent 1 hour of restraint stress followed by sham irradiation; and the Stress + Laser group, which was subjected to restraint stress and percutaneous laser irradiation bilaterally on the L6 dorsal root ganglia for 5 minutes each. The experiment was conducted twice, with three and two laser conditions examined. Following laser irradiation, a barostat catheter was inserted into the rat’s colon. After a 30-minute acclimatization period, the catheter was inflated to a pressure of 60 mmHg, and the number of abdominal muscle contractions was measured over a 5-minute period. The results showed that photobiomodulation significantly suppressed the number of abdominal muscle contractions at average powers of 460, 70, and 18 mW. However, no significant suppression was observed at average powers of 1 W and 3.5 mW. This study suggests that photobiomodulation can alleviate visceral hyperalgesia induced by restraint stress, indicating its potential applicability to irritable bowel syndrome.