Passive Response Research Articles

Hamstrings passive and active shear modulus: Implications of conventional static stretching and warmup

PurposeThis study compares the acute effects of a static stretching and a warmup protocol on the active and passive shear modulus of the hamstring muscles. MethodsMuscle shear modulus was assessed at rest and during isometric contractions at 20 % of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). ResultsAfter stretching, the passive shear modulus pattern was not altered, while at 20 % MVIC the biceps femoris short head (BFsh) and semimembranosus showed a shear modulus increase and decrease, respectively, which resulted on BFsh-SM pair differences (pre: 3.8 ± 16.8 vs. post: 39.3 ± 25.1 kPa; p < 0.001; d = 1.66) which was accompanied by a decrease of 18.3 % on MVIC. Following the warmup protocol, passive shear modulus remained unchanged, while active shear modulus was decreased for the semitendinosus (pre: 65.3 ± 13.5 vs. post: 60.3 ± 12.3 kPa; p = 0.035; d = 0.4). However, this difference was within the standard error of measurement (10.54 kPa), and did not impact the force production, since it increased only 1.4 % after the warmup. ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the passive and active shear modulus responses of the individual hamstring muscles to static stretching are muscle-specific and that passive and active hamstring shear modulus are not changed by a standard warmup intervention.

Polygenic Scores for Adult Testosterone and SHBG Levels Are Associated With Reproductive Hormone Levels in Male Infants.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis's transient activity in infancy, i.e, minipuberty, is considered crucial for male reproductive function. Historically, minipuberty has been considered a passive response triggered by the withdrawal of placental steroids at birth. However, given its potential link to adult reproductive function, we hypothesize that minipuberty is a partially genetically regulated process, suggesting a link between the genetic architecture of reproductive hormone concentrations across lifespan. To investigate the association of UK Biobank Study-based polygenic scores (PGS) of adult total testosterone (T) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations with trajectories of reproductive hormones concentrations in male infants. Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (The COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, ClinTrial: NCT02784184). Individual PGSs in male infants derived from published literature were calculated for total T and SHBG. The associations with mean SD scores (SDS) of reproductive hormone concentrations in infancy were tested. Population-based. Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up (n = 109). Circulating reproductive hormone concentrations. T-PGSadult were significant associated with mean T-SDSinfancy, mean SHBG-SDSinfancy, and mean LH-SDSinfancy (P = .02, <.001 and .03, with r2 = 0.05, 0.21 and 0.04, respectively). SHBG-PGSadult was significantly associated with mean SHBG-SDSinfancy (P < .001, r2 = 0.18). T-PGSadult explained 5% and 21% of the phenotypic variation in infancy of mean T-SDSinfancy and SHBG-SDSinfancy, respectively. Our findings suggest that the genetic architecture underlying total T and SHBG in adults also associates with hormone concentrations and their trajectories during infancy.

Archaea-Inspired Switchable Nanochannels for On-Demand Lithium Detection by pH Activation.

With the rapid development of the lithium ion battery industry, emerging lithium (Li) enrichment in nature has attracted ever-growing attention due to the biotoxicity of high Li levels. To date, fast lithium ion (Li+) detection remains urgent but is limited by the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of conventional technologies based on passive response processes. In nature, archaeal plasma membrane ion exchangers (NCLX_Mj) exhibit Li+-gated multi/monovalent ion transport behavior, activated by different stimuli. Inspired by NCLX_Mj, we design a pH-controlled biomimetic Li+-responsive solid-state nanochannel system for on-demand Li+ detection using 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPBO) units as Li+ recognition groups. Pristine HPBO is not reactive to Li+, whereas negatively charged HPBO enables specific Li+ coordination under alkaline conditions to decrease the ion exchange capacity of nanochannels. On-demand Li+ detection is achieved by monitoring the decline in currents, thereby ensuring precise and stable Li+ recognition (>0.1 mM) in the toxic range of Li+ concentration (>1.5 mM) for human beings. This work provides a new approach to constructing Li+ detection nanodevices and has potential for applications of Li-related industries and medical services.

Development assistance, donor–recipient dynamic, and domestic policy: a case study of two health interventions supported by World Bank–UK and Global Fund in China

BackgroundThis study views sustainability after the exit of development assistance for health (DAH) as a shared responsibility between donors and recipients and sees transitioning DAH-supported interventions into domestic health policy as a pathway to this sustainability. It aims to uncover and understand the reemergent aspects of the donor–recipient dynamic in DAH and how they contribute to formulating domestic health policy and post-DAH sustainability.MethodsWe conducted a case study on two DAH-supported interventions: medical financial assistance in the Basic Health Services Project supported by the World Bank and UK (1998–2007) and civil society engagement in the HIV/AIDS Rolling Continuation Channel supported by the Global Fund (2010–2013) in China. From December 2021 to December 2022, we analyzed 129 documents and interviewed 46 key informants. Our data collection and coding were guided by a conceptual framework based on Walt and Gilson’s health policy analysis model and the World Health Organization’s health system building blocks. We used process tracing for analysis.ResultsAccording to the collected data, our case study identified three reemergent, interrelated aspects of donor–recipient dynamics: different preferences and compromise, partnership dialogues, and responsiveness to the changing context. In the case of medical financial assistance, the dynamic was characterized by long-term commitment to addressing local needs, on-site mutual learning and understanding, and local expertise cultivation and knowledge generation, enabling proactive responses to the changing context. In contrast, the dynamic in the case of HIV/AIDS civil society engagement marginalized genuine civil society engagement, lacked sufficient dialogue, and exhibited a passive response to the context. These differences led to varying outcomes in transnational policy diffusion and sustainability of DAH-supported interventions between the cases.ConclusionsGiven the similarities in potential alternative factors observed in the two cases, we emphasize the significance of the donor–recipient dynamic in transnational policy diffusion through DAH. The study implies that achieving post-DAH sustainability requires a balance between donor priorities and recipient ownership to address local needs, partnership dialogues for mutual understanding and learning, and collaborative international–domestic expert partnerships to identify and respond to contextual enablers and barriers.

Quantity and quality: Dimensions and provisions of social support inform the role of social pain minimization in the discrimination-to-mental health relation among Black Americans

Introduction: Despite growing evidence that emotion invalidation, termed social pain minimization (SPM), contributes to discrimination's negative effect on mental health and suicidality (Benbow et al., 2022; Kinkel-Ram et al., 2021), it is unclear what elements of social support give rise to SPM. Is SPM related to social support quantity (e.g., the number of support providers and frequency with which people seek support)? Or, is social support quality (e.g., active versus passive destructive responses and threatened support needs) most central to SPM? This work addresses these questions and provides evidence that support quality rather than quantity shapes feelings of SPM and informs SPM's mediating role in the discrimination-to-mental health relation. Methods: With a cross-sectional correlational design, 232 Black participants (42.9% female; Mage = 34.86, SDage = 11.15) completed measures of daily discrimination, social support quantity and quality, SPM, and mental health. Results: At a bivariate level, indices of support quality, but not quantity, predicted SPM and mental health. However, when these indices of support quality were entered simultaneously in multiple regression, only passive destructive (PD) treatment and provisions of worth positively and negatively predicted SPM, respectively. Serial parallel mediation analysis further revealed that PD treatment and threats to self-worth fueled SPM's mediating role in the association between discrimination and mental health. Discussion: The results suggest that support quality, not quantity, sets the stage for SPM. Although many dimensions of support quality related to SPM, PD treatment and threats to self-worth had the strongest unique relationships to minimization. Moreover, these support dimensions contributed to SPM's mediating role in the link between discrimination and mental health. In discrimination's wake, PD responses and threatened self-worth increased SPM, which then undermined mental health.

Investigating the Representative of Aquifer Transmissivity Determined by Passive Response Methods: A Comparison With Time‐Dependent Hydraulic Parameters Inferred From Different Stages of Pumping Tests

AbstractAquifer pumping tests represent a standard method for estimating hydraulic characteristics, with practitioners often focusing on late period drawdown data because these are less affected by within‐ and near‐borehole effects (e.g., borehole‐storage and skin effects). Alternatively, groundwater responses to natural forcing (e.g., barometric pressure and earth tides) provide a passive method for estimating aquifer parameters at a low cost. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared parameters calculated from different periods within a pumping test with those from passive methods. Herein, we compare the aquifer transmissivity estimated using both active and passive methods in two wells located in the Beetaloo Region of Northern Australia. The active method estimates aquifer transmissivity during three periods (i.e., the early, middle, and late periods) of an aquifer pumping test, while the passive method employs groundwater responses to barometric‐pressure and earth‐tide fluctuations. We find that the range of best‐fit aquifer transmissivity is 1.18 × 10−5–1.79 × 10−5 m2/s and 1.73 × 10−5–2.14 × 10−5 m2/s for OW1 and OW2, respectively. The transmissivity estimated from the barometric pressure response method is the largest. The aquifer transmissivity using barometric pressure responses are consistent with early‐ and middle‐period estimates. This suggests that barometric pressure responses are more sensitive to within‐ and near‐borehole effects. The scales of the tidal response method are smaller than those of the pumping test method.

Placental Transfer Efficiency of Neutralizing Antibodies on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination before and after Pregnancy in Mexican Women.

The protection of the neonate against pathogens depends largely on the antibodies transferred placentally from the mother; for this reason, maternal vaccination against emerging viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, is of vital importance. Knowing some of the immunogenic factors that could alter the placental transfer of antibodies could aid in understanding the immune response and neonatal protection after maternal vaccination. In this study, we analyzed the efficiency of the placental transfer of binding and neutralizing antibodies, as well as some factors that could alter the passive immune response, such as the trimester of gestation at the time of immunization, the number of doses received by the mother and the type of vaccine. Binding IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA, and the detection of neutralizing antibodies was carried out using flow cytometry. Our results show efficient transfer rates (>1), which are higher when maternal vaccination occurs during the third trimester of gestation. Antibodies are detectable in mothers and their neonates after 12 months of maternal immunization, suggesting than the vaccination against COVID-19 before and during pregnancy in the Mexican population induces a lasting neutralizing response in mothers and their newborns.

The Fbn1 gene variant governs passive ascending aortic mechanics in the mgΔlpn mouse model of Marfan syndrome when superimposed to perlecan haploinsufficiency.

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms arise from pathological tissue remodeling that leads to abnormal wall dilation and increases the risk of fatal dissection/rupture. Large variability in disease manifestations across family members who carry a causative genetic variant for thoracic aortic aneurysms suggests that genetic modifiers may exacerbate clinical outcomes. Decreased perlecan expression in the aorta of mgΔlpn mice with severe Marfan syndrome phenotype advocates for exploring perlecan-encoding Hspg2 as a candidate modifier gene. To determine the effect of concurrent Hspg2 and Fbn1 mutations on the progression of thoracic aortopathy, we characterized the microstructure and passive mechanical response of the ascending thoracic aorta in female mice of four genetic backgrounds: wild-type, heterozygous with a mutation in the Fbn1 gene (mgΔlpn), heterozygous with a mutation in the Hspg2 gene (Hspg2+/-), and double mutants carrying both the Fbn1 and Hspg2 variants (dMut). Elastic fiber fragmentation and medial disarray progress from the internal elastic lamina outward as the ascending thoracic aorta dilates in mgΔlpn and dMut mice. Concurrent increase in total collagen content relative to elastin reduces energy storage capacity and cyclic distensibility of aortic tissues from mice that carry the Fbn1 variant. Inherent circumferential tissue stiffening strongly correlates with the severity of aortic dilatation in mgΔlpn and dMut mice. Perlecan haploinsufficiency superimposed to the mgΔlpn mutation curbs the viability of dMut mice, increases the occurrence of aortic enlargement, and reduces the axial stretch in aortic tissues. Overall, our findings show that dMut mice are more vulnerable than mgΔlpn mice without an Hspg2 mutation, yet later endpoints and additional structural and functional readouts are needed to identify causative mechanisms.

α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist attenuates allergen-induced immediate nasal response in murine model of allergic rhinitis.

The expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits on various immune cells suggests their involvement in allergic rhinitis. However, how exactly they contribute to this pathogenesis is not yet confirmed. Our present study examined the therapeutic potential of GTS-21, an α7 nAChR agonist, for treating allergic rhinitis by employing its mouse models. GTS-21 treatment reduced allergen-induced immediate nasal response in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized model. However, nasal hyperresponsiveness or eosinophil infiltration elicited in either the OVA-sensitized or T helper 2 cell-transplanted model was not affected by GTS-21. GTS-21 did not alter allergen-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis response in anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-sensitized mice. This evidence implies GTS-21's potential to alleviate allergic rhinitis without perturbing T cells or mast cells.

THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF MIGRANTS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH

Introduction. In the global economy, people migrate between regions or countries in searching better life. The migration is beneficial for both the country of origin and the host country. Economic benefits consist in sending money by migrants’ home through various remittance channels such as commercial banks, cash money market, electronic transfers. That is why the lack of access to regular financial services is a significant challenge to the economic independence of migrants and their self-sufficiency. As a result, international humanitarian organizations are increasingly promoting the financial integration of refugees, their empowerment, integration into the host economy, promoting self-sufficiency and financial inclusion. This actualizes the scientific research of economic growth and financial inclusion of migrants, because a passive response to the problem threatens the harmonious development of regions that are actively involved into migration processes. The purpose of the article is the research with focus to analyze the constituent elements of economic growth in the conditions of migration flows increasing and to outline directions for strengthening the financial inclusion of migrants. Results. The constituent elements of economic growth in the conditions of financial inclusion of migrants were considered. It was provided a taxonomic analysis of the theories of migration, its motivation and attraction factors. The Ukrainian economy was analyzed under of migration flows growing, estimated the pace of its recovery and reconstruction due to international aid and remittances from migrants. It was evaluated the financial integration and financial inclusion of migrants in terms of the availability of basic financial services. The factors affecting the financial inclusion of migrants and preventing the receipt of financial services were identified. It was outlined the directions for strengthening the financial inclusion of migrants. Prospects. The subject of further scientific research is the research of the level of digital financial inclusion of migrants, which can become an effective tool for overcoming socio-economic problems and stimulating economic development.

A Study of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Educational Intervention Strategies for Students with Special Educational Needs

Abstract This paper first introduces the intervention path of artificial intelligence in special education. It then takes the deaf and hard-of-hearing people as the research object, adopts artificial intelligence technology, digitizes the speech signal, performs sound-rhyme syncopation, and constructs an interactive speech evaluation system using the HMM model as the evaluation basis. Finally, this paper discusses the effect of an interactive speech recognition model on special education interventions and describes the future development trend of combining artificial intelligence and special education. The results show that the subjects’ passive response to basic interactive speech in the baseline period showed a stable state, the interactive speech ability in the intervention period showed stable progress, and the subjects’ ability in the maintenance period remained at a high level. In the three periods, the posttest error rates of the experimental group testers on semantic recognition were 40%, 30%, and 10%, respectively, whereas the control group was 80%, 70%, and 65%, respectively, which shows that the semantic network training affected the improvement of the speech recognition ability of the 10 subjects. The mean values of the average error rate of the three stages of the experimental group were 7.53%, 2.44%, and 2.07%, and their average recognition times were 1566.73 seconds, 1051.30 seconds, and 463.55 seconds, respectively. The three-stage semantic recognition training significantly improves the subjects’ semantic recognition ability and reduces the recognition time. The integration of artificial intelligence and special education is critical for special education groups’ education and healing.

On the Pathways of Wind-Driven Coastal Upwelling: Nonlinear Momentum Flux and Baroclinic Instability

Abstract Wind-driven upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water is a key feature near the eastern boundaries of major ocean basins, with significant implications for the local physical environment and marine ecosystems. Despite the traditional two-dimensional description of upwelling as a passive response to surface offshore Ekman transport, recent observations have revealed spatial variability in the circulation structures across different upwelling locations. Yet, a systematic understanding of the factors governing the spatial patterns of coastal upwelling remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that coastal upwelling pathways are influenced by two pairs of competing factors. The first competition occurs between wind forcing and eddy momentum flux, which shapes the Eulerian-mean circulation; the second competition arises between the Eulerian-mean and eddy-induced circulation. The importance of nonlinear eddy momentum flux over sloping topography can be described by the local slope Burger number, S = αN/f, where α is the topographic slope angle and N and f are the buoyancy and Coriolis frequencies. When S is small, the classic coastal upwelling structure emerges in the residual circulation, where water upwells along the sloping bottom. However, this comes with the added complexity that mesoscale eddies may drive a subduction route back into the ocean interior. As S increases, the upwelling branch is increasingly suppressed, unable to reach the surface and instead directed offshore by the eddy-induced circulation. The sensitivity of upwelling structures to variable wind stress and surface buoyancy forcing is further explored. The diagnostics may help to improve our understanding of coastal upwelling systems and yield a more physical representation of coastal upwelling in coarse-resolution numerical models.

Color adjustable, mechanically robust, flame-retardant and weather-resistant TiO2/MMT/CNF hierarchical nanocomposite coatings toward intelligent fire cyclic warning and protection

Fire safety and protection are very important but still show a critical global challenge. Developing smart fire warning materials with combined passive flame retardancy and active fire alarm response is promising for reducing or avoiding serious fire disasters. Various nano-fillers (e.g., graphene oxide and MXene) based composite coatings have proven to be effective for monitoring critical fire risk of various combustible materials; however, they still show some shortages, for example, high cost, black color, poor weather resistance and complicated fabricating process. Here, we report a green, cost-effective and large-scale strategy for fabricating water-based 3D-titania/2D-montmorillonite/1D-celluose nanofiber (TiO2/MMT/CNF) hierarchical nanocomposite coatings with adjustable color, mechanical robustness, good flame retardancy, long-term weather resistance and sensitive fire cyclic alarming response. The formation of strong chemical bonding and hydrogen bonding interactions among polyethylene glycol molecules and multi-scale nano-fillers together with silane surface modification can produce good mechanical flexibility (folded crane), surface hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 152°) and exceptional flame resistance (good structure integrity after 120 s flame exposure). Notably, the optimized nanocomposite coatings exhibit ultrafast fire alarm response (<3.5 s) and stable fire cyclic alarming capability via the possible band transition of the TiO2 network under flame. Further, such color-adjustable nanocomposite coatings can be easily fabricated for large-scale production, and they show excellent stable flame retardancy and stable fire cyclic warning response even after more than one-year outdoor exposure. This work provides a promising and green fire-warning nanocomposite coatings with combined passive-active functionalities for fire warning and protection.

Role of Pre-Farrow Natural Planned Exposure of Gilts in Shaping the Passive Antibody Response to Rotavirus A in Piglets.

Natural planned exposure (NPE) remains one of the most common methods in swine herds to boost lactogenic immunity against rotaviruses. However, the efficacy of NPE protocols in generating lactogenic immunity has not been investigated before. A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the dynamics of genotype-specific antibody responses to different doses (3, 2 and 1) of Rotavirus A (RVA) NPE (genotypes G4, G5, P[7] and P[23]) in gilts and the transfer of lactogenic immunity to their piglets. Group 1 gilts received three doses of NPE at 5, 4 and 3 weeks pre-farrow (WPF), group 2 received two doses at 5 and 3 WPF, group 3 received one dose at 5 WPF, and group 4 received no NPE (control group). VP7 (G4 and G5) and truncated VP4* (P[7] and P[23]) antigens of RVA were expressed in mammalian and bacterial expression systems, respectively, and used to optimize indirect ELISAs to determine antibody levels against RVA in gilts and piglets. In day-0 colostrum samples, group 1 had significantly higher IgG titers compared to the control group for all four antigens, and either significantly or numerically higher IgG titers than groups 2 and 3. Group 1 also had significantly higher colostrum IgA levels than the control group for all antigens (except G4), and either significantly or numerically higher IgA levels compared to groups 2 and 3. In piglet serum, group 1 piglets had higher IgG titers for all four antigens at day 0 than the other groups. Importantly, RVA NPE stimulated antibodies in all groups regardless of the treatment doses and prevented G4, G5, P[7] and P[23] RVA fecal shedding prior to weaning in piglets in the absence of viral challenge. The G11 and P[34] RVA genotypes detected from pre-weaning piglets differed at multiple amino acid positions with parent NPE strains. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the group 1 NPE regimen (three doses of NPE) resulted in the highest anti-RVA antibody (IgG and IgA) levels in the colostrum/milk, and the highest IgG levels in piglet serum.

Self-reported interoception and exteroception are atypical and excessively coupled in psychosis compared to healthy controls.

Although psychotic disorders are characterized by an impaired ability to discriminate internal and external worlds, the role of interoceptive and exteroceptive perceptions in determining this alteration is still unclear. This observational study aimed at investigating (a) increases/decreases in interoceptive and exteroceptive perceptions in patients with psychosis (PSY) compared to healthy controls (HC); (b) the association between interoception and exteroception in HC and PSY. Two hundred and ten HC and 72 PSY completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive awareness (MAIA, 8 domains) and the Adolescent-Adult Sensory Profile (AASP, 4 domains). MAIA/AASP differences were evaluated with MANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. MAIA and AASP scores were correlated to quantify the interoceptive-exteroceptive coupling as Spearman's rho coefficients. Subgroup analyses were performed dividing PSY in schizophrenia/schizoaffective versus other psychosis. Compared to HC, PSY showed increased mean scores in four MAIA and two AASP domains (Bonferroni-p < 0.01). The interoceptive-exteroceptive coupling followed two correlation patterns in HC. A first pattern displayed negative correlations between MAIA not-worrying and AASP sensory sensitivity/sensation avoidance, while the second pattern highlighted positive correlations between MAIA scores and AASP sensation seeking. The two correlation patterns between HC and other-PSY subgroup were similar. However, schizophrenia/schizoaffective PSY did not show positive correlations in the second pattern, rather displaying negative correlations between MAIA scores and AASP domains related to passive behavioral responses. Correlation values were more extreme in PSY subgroups, indicating stronger interoceptive-exteroceptive coupling compared to HC. This study demonstrates that interoception and exteroception are atypical and excessively coupled in psychosis compared to the general population.Clinical Trials Registration: Protocol Number 20210003663 (Pavia, Ethical Committee IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo).

Restraining China: Limits and potential of US alliances

The system of alliances is the only element of US power that has not diminished in relative terms throughout the past decades of China’s rise. The gap has narrowed between the hegemonic power and the rising power in the economic, technological, and military fields. However, the recent attempts of the United States to use it to counter Chinás growing international influence have yielded mixed results. This article contends the United States is more successful in shaping the responses of its allies when it employs proactive strategies rather than passive responses.

On modeling the in vivo ventricular passive mechanical behavior from in vitro experimental properties in porcine hearts

Myocardium passive mechanical response has been a major topic of study for decades due to its major impact on cardiac physiology. Here, we propose a novel modeling methodology that integrates both in vivo and in vitro data to estimate the tissue mechanical parameters for a particular orthotropic hyperelastic model as those proposed by Costa and by Holzapfel & Ogden, although it can be easily extended to any other. In vitro biaxial and triaxial shear extension tests were conducted in biopsied samples and in vivo pressure-volume recordings were obtained. Left ventricle (LV) geometry was reconstructed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pressure gradients during ventricular inflation were recorded with the Catheter Conductance Method (CCM). Finally, a Finite Element (FE) in vivo LV model was implemented to get the material model parameters using an inverse approach that uses a minimization process combining both the in vivo and in vitro available data. Our results demonstrate that the parameters obtained solely from in vitro testing (IVT), or from in vivo passive inflation (IVV) do not provide satisfactory fits for both responses simultaneously (R2IVTtests=0.977,R2IVTPV=0.697 and R2IVVtests=0.687,R2IVVPV=0.995). On the contrary, the proposed combined in vitro &in vivo optimization process (MIN) converges to a solution that effectively captures both the in vivo and in vitro behaviors (R2MINtests=0.815,R2MINPV=0.992). Thus, this novel combined approach offers a comprehensive framework for accurately characterizing myocardial mechanical behavior. The obtained parameters can serve as a basis for further cardiac simulations and contribute to a better understanding of cardiac mechanics and function.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Inflammation, Immunonutrition, and Pathogenesis of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has claimed millions of lives worldwide in the past two years. Fatalities among the elderly with underlying cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and diabetes have particularly been high. A bibliometrics analysis on author's keywords was carried out, and searched for possible links between various coronavirus studies over the past 50 years, and integrated them. We found keywords like immune system, immunity, nutrition, malnutrition, micronutrients, exercise, inflammation, and hyperinflammation were highly related to each other. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the human immune system is a multilevel super complex system, which employs multiple strategies to contain microorganism infections and restore homeostasis. It was also found that the behavior of the immune system is not able to be described by a single immunological theory. However, one main strategy is "self-destroy and rebuild", which consists of a series of inflammatory responses: 1) active self-destruction of damaged/dysfunctional somatic cells; 2) removal of debris and cells; 3) rebuilding tissues. Thus, invading microorganisms' clearance could be only a passive bystander response to this destroy-rebuild process. Microbial infections could be self-limiting and promoted as an indispensable essential nutrition for the vast number of genes existing in the microorganisms. The transient nutrition surge resulting from the degradation of the self-destroyed cell debris coupled with the existing nutrition state in the patient may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Finally, a few possible coping strategies to mitigate COVID-19, including vaccination, are discussed.

Analisis kesulitan implementasi kurikulum merdeka di kelas XI BD di SMK N 1 Bangli

This research examines the challenges faced in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum within the context of Class XI BD at SMK N 1 Bangli. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the study engages teachers and students as subjects, employing observation, interviews, and document analysis for data collection. The findings underscore the presence of diverse student characteristics, facility limitations, and a primary emphasis on the development of soft skills as major obstacles. Despite teachers' creative efforts in adopting innovative teaching methodologies, the passive response from students necessitates modifications to lesson plans. Recommendations include facility enhancements, teacher training initiatives, personalized strategies for cultivating soft skills, and vital support from educational institutions and parents.

Using passive frequency response functions generated using the Operational Round Trip method to make vibration predictions at remote points

The Round Trip method was derived as a means to acquire point mobility frequency response functions at passive locations, where the term 'passive' specifies that no external known force has been applied. This allows frequency response functions to be generated at locations where the degree of freedom cannot be excited by conventional means. Vibration produced by operational sources can increase signal-to-noise ratios in large complex structures and improve the quality of the measured frequency response functions, where it can be challenging to effectively excite the system by conventional experimental means. In this study, the application of a modified version of the Round Trip method that is based on transmissibility functions, termed the Operational Round Trip method, has been investigated to determine whether forces generated by an operational source, such as a motor, could be used to generate frequency response functions at and between passive locations. Frequency response functions generated using this method have been coupled with the estimated blocked forces of an operational source to make response predictions at remote positions. Predicted responses were compared against measured responses and were shown to match those closely.