Primary Process Research Articles

Impact of COVID-19 on the primary level teaching-learning process in rural India

PurposeCOVID-19 outbreak impacts people globally. It is not simply a global health matter; it has a terrible influence on the social life of humans, counting the worldwide education structure and other phases of present social configurations. Therefore, the present study's objective is to identify the impact of COVID-19 on the online education approach in teachers' perceptions.MethodologyThe study performs a mixed research approach for evaluating the teachers' perspectives in the online education system. The quantitative data are collected with the support of a questionnaire from 175 respondents (Public School teachers), and in-depth telephonic interviews are conducted among 25 schoolteachers using a semi-structured questionnaire for qualitative data. The quantitative analysis is performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and the qualitative analysis is coded and analyzed thematically.FindingsThe quantitative results show that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the online teaching method; teachers' adaptation here seems low. In contrast, communication with school leaders is provided a clear view of online teaching methods. The key findings from the qualitative analysis show that the adaptation online education system is complex owing to various struggles. Some institutions facilitate training sessions to teach in a range of adopting the online education system. Finally, the teachers need help making students actively participate in online classes.DiscussionThe study conducts original survey through both interview and questionnaire. The results are determined through thematic and data analysis.

Optimization methods in powder metallurgy for enhancing the mechanical properties: A systematic literature review

Abstract Powder metallurgy offers several advantages over traditional manufacturing methods, such as improved material utilization and waste reduction. The powder metallurgy process involves four primary steps, metal powder preparation, mixing, compaction, and sintering, followed by secondary operations such as forging, rolling, and extrusion. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on refining the primary processes, neglecting secondary processes that could further enhance mechanical properties. A systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis method identified twenty-three relevant articles over a ten-year period, highlighting three main optimization methods, that are, the Taguchi method, Taguchi-based Grey Relational Analysis, and Response Surface Methodology. These methods effectively reduce experimental trials and optimize key parameters like compaction pressure and weight percentage, which significantly influence mechanical properties. The review emphasizes the key powder metallurgy process parameters that have a significant impact on mechanical properties, becoming the primary targets for optimization. It offers a focused examination of which process parameters require thorough investigation for optimization and the suitable optimization method to achieve optimal outcomes, whether for single or multiple responses, thereby enhancing the manufacturing process. However, inconsistencies in parameter significance across studies indicate the material-dependent nature of powder metallurgy materials. The review also identifies a gap in the literature regarding secondary process optimization and comparative analyses of optimization methods. Future research should explore optimizing secondary processes in powder metallurgy, conduct comparative studies of different optimization methods, and develop novel approaches for optimization to further enhance mechanical properties and process efficiency.

Quality Characteristics of Raspberry By-Products for Sustainable Production

Raspberry seeds are a by-product of berries, both from their primary processing, such as in juice production, and secondary processing, such as in oil extraction. These seeds contain plenty of valuable components such as crude fiber, proteins, fats, and vitamins. Quality characterization is the initial step toward using these seeds as a sustainable and functional food. The aim of studying raspberry seeds’ quality profile, both before oil extraction and after different processing methods (supercritical CO2, subcritical CO2, cold pressing, and hexane solvent), is to point out the benefits of this by-product and to raise consumer awareness about their health and well-being benefits. This study provides evidence that raspberry seeds have good physical parameters for use in other products as a functional food enrichment ingredient, such as in baked goods, offering considerable health benefits due to their high nutrient content. The weights, peroxide values, moisture content, nutritional energy values, and colors were determined before oil extraction to give initial seed values. The nutrient content and amounts of macroelements, P, K, Ca, and Mg, as well as microelements, B, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn, were determined in the tested variety ‘Polka’, both before and after oil extractions and using different methods. The raspberry seeds’ moisture was 9.2%, their peroxide content was 5.64 mEq/kg, their nutritional value was 475.25 Kcal., and their total weight was 2.17 mg (1000 units). The seeds contain 7.4% protein, 22.1% crude fiber, 11.0% crude fat and oil, and 2.8% sugar. We determined how different oil extraction methods influence the nutrient, micro-, and macro-component values. We concluded that the seeds contained the highest manganese (45.3 mg/kg), iron (29.2 mg/kg), and zinc (17.4 mg/kg) contents and the lowest content of copper (5.1 mg/kg). This research shows that raspberry seeds represent a potential natural food ingredient, and after oil extraction with subcritical or supercritical CO2 or cold pressing, they can be used as a sustainable and functional food.

Customer Feedback Management Across Support Service Units in the University of the Cordilleras

Feedback from customers are essential inputs for an organization’s improvement specially when managed effectively, may it be in industries, businesses, or educational institutions. This study aimed to describe the procedure on managing customer feedback implemented by the various support service units in the University of the Cordilleras. The researcher utilized a qualitative research design. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview conducted online with twenty (20) office personnel selected through purposive sampling. They were from the Student Welfare Services, Libraries, Career Development Center, Guidance and Counseling Office, Medical Clinic, Registrar’s Office, Student Development and Welfare Office, Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Social Responsibility, Marketing Communications and Enrollment Services; and Accounting Office. The inductive thematic approach was used to analyze data which highlighted interesting themes identifying three (3) primary processes in managing customer feedback – 1) gathering feedback, 2) documentation and 3) addressing feedback. Feedback sources may include surveys, evaluations, and interviews via traditional or online methods. Documentation entails collating and classifying feedback, which then leads to the identification of actionable items. The research findings suggest that customer feedback management extends beyond mere data collection and documentation; instead, it requires actions, actual measures and continuous improvement efforts that are monitored and sustainable.

Dynamic trust security approach for edge computing-based mobile IoT devices using artificial intelligence

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) encompasses various applications such as smart cities, healthcare, and agriculture, which rely on a multitude of interconnected devices. These applications demand specific performance requirements, including low latency and sufficient bandwidth. Edge computing has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges associated with data flow processing. Particularly, in scenarios like smart cities, where a massive number of IIoT devices are deployed, edge computing serves as the primary data processing layer. However, the limited resources of edge computing, compared to cloud computing, pose significant security concerns for IIoT applications. In fact, this paper proposes a novel security system to secure the relation between the IIoT devices and edge computing. Dynamic Trust Security Approach (DTSA) leverages Artificial Intelligence to analyze, evaluate and enhance the security and privacy aspects of the IIoT devices’ interaction with edge computing. DTSA improve the security level of the IIoT system and improve the performance with more than 45% compare to the traditional method.

Mice with NOP2/sun RNA methyltransferase 5 deficiency die before reaching puberty due to fatal kidney damage

Background NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 5 (NSUN5) is an RNA methyltransferase that has a broad distribution and plays critical roles in various biological processes. However, our knowledge of the biological functions of NSUN5 in mammals is very limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the role of NSUN5 in mice. Methods In the present research, we built a mouse model (Nsun5-/- ) using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to investigated the specific role of NSUN5. Results We observed that Nsun5-/- mice had a reduced body weight compared to wild-type mice. Additionally, their survival rate gradually decreased to 20% after postnatal day (PD) 21. Further examination revealed the Nsun5-/- mice had multiple organ damage, with the most severe damage occurring in the kidneys. Moreover, we observed glycogen deposition and fibrosis, along with a notable shorting of the primary foot processes of glomeruli in Nsun5-/- kidneys. Furthermore, we found that the kidneys of Nsun5-/- mice showed increased expression of the apoptotic signal Caspase-3 and accumulated stronger DNA damage at PD 21. Conclusions In our study, we found that mice lacking NSUN5 died before puberty due to kidney fatal damage caused by DNA damage and cell apoptosis. These results suggest that NSUN5 plays a vital role in preventing the accumulation of DNA damage and cell apoptosis in the kidney.

Long-neglected contribution of nitrification to N2O emissions in the Yellow River

Rivers play a significant role in the global nitrous oxide (N2O) budget. However, the microbial sources and sinks of N2O in river systems are not well understood or quantified, resulting in the prolonged neglect of nitrification. This study investigated the isotopic signatures of N2O, thereby quantifying the microbial source of N2O production and the degree of N2O reduction in the Yellow River. Although denitrification has long been considered to be the dominant pathway of N2O production in rivers, our findings indicated that denitrification only accounted for 18.3% (8.2%–43.0%) of the total contribution to N2O production in the Yellow River, with 50.2%–80.2% being concurrently reduced. The denitrification contribution to N2O production (R2 = 0.44, p < 0.01) and N2O reduction degree (R2 = 0.70, p < 0.01) were positively related to the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. Similar to urban rivers and eutrophic lakes, denitrification was the primary process responsible for N2O production (43.0%) in certain reaches with high organic content (DOC = 5.29 mg/L). Nevertheless, the denitrification activity was generally constrained by the availability of electron donors (average DOC = 2.51 mg/L) throughout the Yellow River basin. Consequently, nitrification emerged as the primary contributor in the well-oxygenated Yellow River. Additionally, our findings further distinguished the respective contribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) to N2O emissions. Although AOB dominated the N2O production in the Yellow River, the AOA specie abundance (AOA/(AOA + AOB)) contributed up to 32.6%, which resulted in 25.6% of the total nitrifier-produced N2O, suggesting a significant occurrence of AOA in the oligotrophic Yellow River. Overall, this study provided a non-invasive approach for quantifying the microbial sources and sinks to N2O emissions, and demonstrated the substantial role of nitrification in the large oligotrophic rivers.

The role of nitric oxide and hormone signaling in chronic stress, anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder

This paper provides a summary of the role of nitric oxide (NO) and hormones in the development of chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health conditions are prevalent globally and involve complex molecular interactions. Although there is a significant amount of research and therapeutic options available, the underlying mechanisms of these disorders are still not fully understood. The primary pathophysiologic processes involved in chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD include dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the intracellular influence of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) on transcription factors, an inflammatory response with the formation of nitrergic oxidative species, and reduced serotonergic transmission in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Despite the extensive literature on this topic, there is a great need for further research to clarify the complexities inherent in these pathways, with the primary aim of improving psychiatric care.

Processing Speed Partially Mediates Executive Function Impairments in Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease: Results from a Prospective Cohort Study

To assess processing speed, fine motor function, attention, and executive function (EF) impairments in adolescents with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent open-heart surgery during infancy. We administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery evaluating 5 EF domains: working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, fluency, and planning and primary neurodevelopmental processes (PNPs): processing speed, fine motor function, and attention. The sample included 100 adolescents with complex CHD from a previous University Children's Hospital Zurich study, with 104 healthy controls for comparison. We generated scores for each EF domain and computed an EF summary score. Group comparisons and associations were analyzed with multiple regression, accounting for parental education. Mediation analysis explored how PNPs mediate the effect between a CHD diagnosis and EF. In adolescents with complex CHD all EF domains and the EF summary score were impaired (β=0.20 to 0.37, all P<0.05). Furthermore, they exhibited slower processing speed (β=0.27, P<0.01) than healthy controls, with no differences in attention (β=-0.07, P=0.34) and fine motor function (β=0.08, P=0.34). Processing speed showed a strong association with the EF summary score (β=0.60, P<0.001) and partially mediated the relationship between CHD diagnosis and the EF summary score (β=0.37, 95% CI [0.24, 0.50], P<0.001). Adolescents with complex CHD show difficulties in EFs and processing speed. Notably, processing speed is strongly associated with EFs and partly accounts for EFs disparities between patients and healthy controls. Early detection and interventions for processing speed difficulties may improve EF outcomes in these patients.

Strategies for efficient enrichment of anaerobic ammonia bacteria in the activated sludge

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) is an economical and sustainable wastewater nitrogen removal technology, and its application in the mainstream process is the inevitable trend of the development of Anammox. However, how to effectively enriching Anammox bacteria from the activated sludge remains challenging and restricts its extensive applications. In this study, the rapid and efficient enrichment of Anammox bacteria was achieved by raising the reflux ratio and nitrogen loading rate (NLR) using conventional activated sludge as the inoculant. In the screening phase (days 1–90), the reflux ratio was increased to discharge partial floc sludge, resulting in the relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadiaceae increased from 0.04 % to 22.54 %, which effectively reduced the matrix and spatial competition between other microorganisms and Anammox bacteria. On day 90, the stoichiometric ratio of the Anammox process closely approached the theoretical value of 1: 1.32: 0.26, indicating that the Anammox reaction was the primary nitrogen removal process in the system. In the enrichment phase (days 91–238), the NLR increased from 0.43 to 1.20 kgN/(m3·d) and removal efficiency was 71.89 %, resulting in the relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadiaceae increased to 61.27 % on day 180. The reactor operated steadily from days 444 to 498, maintaining the nitrogen removal rate (NRR) of 3.00 kgN/(m3·d) and achieving successful sludge granulation with the particle size of 392.4 µm. In short, this study provided a simple and efficient approach for enriching Anammox bacteria from the activated sludge, supporting to start an Anammox process efficiently.

The roles of rare and abundant microbial species in the primary succession of biological soil crusts are differentiated in metal tailings ponds with different states

Tailings ponds formed by long-term accumulation of mineral processing waste have become a global environmental problem. Even worse, tailings ponds are often simply abandoned or landfilled after they cease to be used. This allows pollution to persist and continue to spread in the environment. The significance of primary succession mediated by biological soil crusts for tailings pond remediation has been illustrated by previous studies. However, the process of primary succession may not be the same at different stages during the lifetime of tailings ponds. Therefore, we investigated the environmental differences and the successional characteristics of microbial communities in the primary successional stage of tailings ponds at three different states. The results showed that the primary succession process positively changed the environment of tailings ponds in any state of tailings ponds. The primary successional stage determined the environmental quality more than the state of the tailings pond. In the recently abandoned tailings ponds, abundant species were more subjected to heavy metal stress, while rare species were mainly limited by nutrient content. We found that as the succession progressed, rare species gradually acquired their own community space and became more responsive to environmental stresses. Rare species played an important role in microbial keystone species groups. Environmental ImplicationsTailings ponds from mining are distributed globally and cause many environmental hazards. The spontaneous primary succession within the tailings ponds is crucial for the ecological restoration of the area. Tailings ponds in different states (in operation or stopped using for different times) have different environmental characteristics. This determines that the primary successional processes may also be different. This has never been studied before. We explored the environmental characteristics of tailings ponds in different states. Differences in microbial community succession processes were also illustrated. This study contributes to the development of pollution control and remediation programs for tailings ponds under different operating states.

Unbiased Insights into the Multiplicity of the CYP46A1 Brain Effects in 5XFAD Mice Treated with Low Dose Efavirenz

CYP46A1 is the CNS-specific cholesterol 24-hydroxylase that controls cholesterol elimination and turnover in the brain. In mouse models, pharmacologic CYP46A1 activation with low dose efavirenz (EFV) or by gene therapy mitigates the manifestations of various brain disorders, neurologic and non-neurologic, by affecting numerous, apparently unliked biological processes. Accordingly, CYP46A1 is emerging as a promising therapeutic target; however, the mechanisms underlying the multiplicity of the brain CYP46A1 activity effects are currently not understood. We proposed the chain reaction hypothesis, according to which CYP46A1 is important for the three primary (unifying) processes in the brain (sterol flux through the plasma membranes, acetyl-CoA and isoprenoid production), which in turn affect a variety of secondary processes. We already identified several processes secondary to changes in sterol flux and herein undertook a multiomics approach to compare the brain proteome, acetylproteome, and metabolome of 5XFAD mice (an Alzheimer's disease model), control and treated with low dose EFV. We found that the latter had increased production of phospholipids from the corresponding lysophospholipids and a globally increased protein acetylation (including histone acetylation). Apparently, these effects were secondary to increased acetyl-CoA production. Signaling of small GTPases due to their altered abundance or abundance of their regulators could be affected as well, potentially via isoprenoid biosynthesis. In addition, the omics data related differentially abundant molecules to other biological processes either reported previously or new. Thus, we obtained unbiased mechanistic insights and identified potential players mediating the multiplicity of the CYP46A1 brain effects and further detailed our chain reaction hypothesis.

[Analysis of the Divalent Cation Blocking in Ion Channels by Crystal Structure and Molecular Dynamics Simulations].

Neural activity generates essential responses, such as thinking, memory formation, and muscle contraction. It is controlled by the well-coordinated activity of various cation-selective channels of the cell membrane. The divalent cation block plays an essential role in various tetrameric ion channels. For example, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors, which are tetrameric ion channels involved in memory formation, are inhibited by magnesium ions. Divalent cations are thought to bind in the ion pathway of the ion channel and as a consequence block the channel current, however, direct observation of such a block has not been reported yet. As a consequence, the behavior of these blocking divalent cations remains poorly understood. NavAb, a similar tetrameric sodium channel cloned from Arcobacter butzleri, is one of the most structurally analyzed tetrameric channels that is not inhibited by divalent cations. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism of the divalent cation block by reproducing the divalent cation block in NavAb. The X-ray crystal structure of divalent-cation-block mutants show electron density in the ion transmission pathway of the divalent cation blocked mutants, indicating that the mutations increasing the hydrophilicity of the inner vestibule of the pore domain enable a divalent cation to stack into the ion pathway. In molecular dynamics simulations, the stacked calcium ion repels the sodium ions near the channel lumen's entrance at the selective filter's bottom. These results suggest the primary process of the divalent cation block mechanism in tetrameric cation channels and suggest a process of functional acquisition in ion channel evolution.

Axial Spondyloarthritis: an overview of the disease.

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated rheumatic disease that comprises two subsets, non-radiographic and radiographic axSpA, and belongs to a heterogeneous group of spondyloarthritides (SpA). Over the years, the concept of SpA has evolved significantly, as reflected in the existing classification criteria. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetic and immunological basis of axSpA, in studying the processes of chronic inflammation and pathological new bone formation, which are pathognomonic for the disease. As a result, new medication therapies were developed, which bring more effective ways for disease control. This review presents a brief overview of the literature related to these aspects of disease after summarising the available information on the topic that we considered relevant. Specifically, it delves into recent research illuminating the primary pathological processes of enthesitis and associated osteitis in the context of inflammation in axSpA. The exploration extends to discussion of inflammatory pathways, with a particular focus on Th1/Th17-mediated immunity and molecular signaling pathways of syndesmophyte formation. Additionally, the review sheds light on the pivotal role of cytokine dysregulation, highlighting the significance of the IL-23/17 axis and TNF-α in this intricate network of immune responses which is decisive for therapeutic approaches in the disease.

Analysis of the effectiveness of clustering algorithms for multimodal samples using computer simulation of an educational experiment

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of primary data processing of pedagogical experiments having a multimodal character. The purpose of the study is to identify the most effective and universal clustering algorithms for pedagogical experiments. Materials and Methods. The study used the method of modeling a pedagogical experiment. The analysis of 5 clustering algorithms is conducted. The effectiveness of clustering algorithms was evaluated based on the proportion of observations with clustering errors at various tolerance levels and the Jacquard similarity coefficient. Regression analysis was used to assess the influence of modeling parameters of a pedagogical experiment and indicators of descriptive statistics on the effectiveness of clustering algorithms. Results. The assessment of the effectiveness of various data clustering algorithms is provided, as well as a correlation and regression analysis of factors affecting clustering efficiency indicators was carried out. Conclusions. The most effective clustering algorithms for multimodal samples include the K-means algorithm and the agglomerative hierarchical algorithm. The results obtained in this research can be used for statistical analysis of pedagogical, psychological, sociological, biological and medical research data.

АНАЛИЗ МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ ПО ПОВЫШЕНИЮ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ И КАЧЕСТВА ЗЕРНА В ПРОЦЕССЕ ЕГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА И ХРАНЕНИЯ

The scientific article contains a review of scientific literature on the problems of ensuring the efficiency of grain production by improving its quality. Controlled and uncontrollable factors and conditions for ensuring grain quality are noted. Among the controllable factors and conditions, technical, technological, organizational and economic factors are stated; uncontrollable factors and conditions include solar insolation, daylight hours, temperature, and precipitation. It was revealed that the quality of grain and losses during storage are influenced by: climate, poor-quality grain cleaning, grain injuries, elevated temperature, high humidity, storage processing, technical integrity of the premises. The formation of quality at the stages of grain production is shown: preparation of seed, growing conditions, harvesting conditions, crop transportation, primary processing and storage. It is indicated that spring wheat of soft varieties, cultivated on farms in the Perm region, has a high internal market potential: high technological and baking properties, can be used for the production of flour and baking bread. The consumer properties of zoned varieties of winter and spring soft wheat are shown: the Irgina variety scored the most points (4.7 - 4.9 points), and the Iren variety took second place (4.4 - 4.7 points). The cost of flour obtained from processing grain with a natural weight of 750 g/l was calculated at 700,000 rubles, as well as the cost of flour obtained from processing grain with a natural weight of 760 g/l was calculated at 709,872 rubles; a deviation in the cost for grain quality account in the amount of 9872 rubles.

Computational insights into gas atomization of FeCoNiCrMoBSi high-entropy alloy: From droplet formation to rapid solidification

The intricate processes governing the gas atomization of molten metal droplets and their subsequent solidification hold paramount significance in materials science. Computational fluid dynamics simulations have emerged as indispensable tools for unraveling the complexities inherent in metal melt atomization. This study employed the volume of fluid method and the shear-stress transport k-ω turbulence model to simulate the primary atomization process of a FeCoNiCrMoBSi high-entropy alloy. Subsequently, the discrete phase model and Taylor analogy breakup model, based on the gas Weber number and incorporating primary atomization outcomes as initial conditions, were utilized to simulate droplet formation during the secondary atomization process. Analysis of the particle size distribution at the outlet of the geometric model demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental data for gas-atomized FeCoNiCrMoBSi high-entropy alloy powder. Furthermore, comprehensive characterization analyses were conducted to probe the phase constitution and structure of FeCoNiCrMoBSi powder produced by gas atomization. The results revealed that, irrespective of particle size, the powder exhibited a face-centered cubic structure and distinctive eutectic microstructural characteristics. The numerical simulation provided insights into the solidification process of secondary droplets by integrating inverse pole figure data for gas-atomized powder across varying particle sizes. The estimated cooling rate of secondary droplets ranged from 1.22 × 104 K/s to 2.64 × 105 K/s. These findings significantly advance the understanding of the gas atomization mechanism of the FeCoNiCrMoBSi high-entropy alloy, paving the way for the development of more efficient manufacturing processes for advanced materials.

Observation-based estimates of water mass transformation and formation in the Labrador Sea

Abstract The water mass produced during wintertime convection in the Labrador Sea (i.e. the Labrador Sea Water or LSW) is characterized by distinct thermohaline properties. It has been shown to exert critical impact on the property and circulation fields of the North Atlantic. However, a quantitative understanding of the transformation and formation processes that produce LSW is still incomplete. Here we evaluate the mean water mass transformation and formation rates in the Labrador Sea, along with their forcing attributions, in both density and thermohaline coordinates using observation-based datasets during 2014–2019. We find that while surface buoyancy loss results in an expected densification of the basin and thus LSW formation, interior mixing has an indispensable and more complex impact. In particular, mixing across density surfaces is estimated to account for 63% of the mean formation rate in the LSW layer (4.9 Sv) and does so by converting both upper layer and overflow layer waters into the LSW layer. In addition, mixing along density surfaces is shown to be responsible for the pronounced diathermohaline transformation (~ 10 Sv) west of Greenland. This is the primary process through which the cold and fresh LSW in the basin interior is exchanged with the warm and salty Irminger water in the boundary current. Results from this study underline the critical role of mixing (both across and along density surfaces) in determining the volume and properties of the LSW, with implications for better understanding and simulating deep water evolution under climate change.

Affective disorders in patients with epilepsy: primary process or consequence of paroxysmal activity?

The high prevalence of primary affective disorders in patients with epilepsy is beyond doubt. However, patients in this group are often identified as suffering from mood disorders that do not fulfil the criteria for primary mood disorders, such as recurrent depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder. The aim of this paper is to analyze the classification and clinical picture of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy and differential diagnostic approaches to identify primary affective disorders and secondary affective disorders in epilepsy. A set of diagnostic signs for the differential assessment of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy is presented. Research of affective pathology in patients with epilepsy and the development of strategies for its successful treatment are still needed.

ASSESSMENT OF THYROID FUNCTION AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDOSIS

Objective: The thyroid gland, with its high vascularity and low proliferation index of thyrocytes, is highly susceptible to storage diseases, however it has not been evaluated adequately in patients with in mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the function, morphology, B- mode, and Doppler ultrasonography features of the thyroid gland in pediatric and adolescent patients with MPS and to evaluate whether the thyroid gland is involved in this disease. Material and Methods: Thyroid hormone functions were measured in all patients, and B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler imaging were performed. Results: Eight boys and 17 girls with MPS were included in the study. Eight patients were diagnosed with MPS I, 2 with MPS II, 3 with MPS III, 3 with MPS IVA, and 9 with MPS VI. Nineteen patients were receiving enzyme replacement therapy, while three patients diagnosed with MPS III remained untreated due to the unavailability of treatment options. Thyroid hormone levels were within normal limits for all patients. B-Mode ultrasound imaging revealed slightly heterogeneous echo texture in only 2 (8%) patients, both with MPS VI. Except for one patient with MPS VI, all color Doppler assessments were within normal limits. Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that both thyroid function tests and thyroid gland morphology are normal in MPS through childhood and adolescence. Therefore, we believe that thyroid gland dysfunction does not play a crucial role in the development of symptoms such as growth retardation, dry skin, coarse facial features, and intellectual disability, which could potentially be attributed to thyroid dysfunction. Instead, we think that these findings are more likely attributed to the primary disease involvement process