Standard Weight Research Articles

Systematic screening of 42 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains for resistance, biofilm, and desiccation in simulated microgravity.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) presents significant challenges in healthcare, particularly for hospitalized and immunocompromised patients, including astronauts with dysregulated immune function. We investigated 42 clinical E. faecium isolates in simulated microgravity (sim. µg) using a 2-D Clinostat, with standard gravity conditions (1 g) as a control. Isolates were tested against 22 antibiotics and characterized for biofilm formation and desiccation tolerance. Results showed varied responses in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for seven antibiotics after sim. µg exposure. Additionally, 55% of isolates showed a trend of increased biofilm production, and 59% improved desiccation tolerance. This investigation provides initial insights into E. faecium's changes in response to simulated spaceflight, revealing shifts in antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and desiccation tolerance. The observed adaptability emphasizes the need to further understand VRE's resilience to microgravity, which is crucial for preventing infections and ensuring crew health on future long-duration space missions.

Using a length-weight relationship based on wild lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) for estimation of body condition of lumpfish in salmon cages.

The use of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) as cleaner fish in Atlantic salmon aquaculture has emerged as a promising solution to combat the issue of sea lice infestation, as they have proven effective under the right conditions. The aquaculture industry, however, is facing challenges in ensuring the welfare and survival of lumpfish in salmon cages. Part of the welfare monitoring of lumpfish is the estimation of body condition. Previous research on standard length-weight relationships for lumpfish has primarily relied on the growth patterns of lumpfish in salmon cages, which might not align with the natural growth patterns of the fish. In this study, we argue for another perspective: using the standard weight of wild lumpfish to estimate the body condition of lumpfish in salmon cages. We assert that this approach aligns more closely with the natural growth pattern of the fish and may offer a more accurate representation of their condition. Our findings show significant differences in growth patterns between wild lumpfish, which show positive allometric growth, and those in salmon cages, which show slightly negative allometric growth. The findings underscore the importance of using appropriate length-weight relationships for lumpfish in aquaculture to ensure an accurate assessment of their body condition.

Abstract 4125957: Feasibility and Acceptability of Behavioral Weight Loss Programs for Men in Trade and Labor Occupations

Objective: Men who work in trade and labor occupations experience high rates of obesity and related cardiovascular disease due to high rates of sedentary leisure time and poor diet. Despite this, they are underrepresented in weight control programs. This pilot randomized trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-month program tailored to this occupational group versus a non-tailored standard-of-care behavioral weight loss program. Methods: Men with overweight or obesity working in trade and labor occupations were randomly assigned to either a tailored program or the DPP Group Lifestyle Balance program delivered via 16 one-hour virtual group sessions. In-person assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Semi-structured interviews and self-report were used to assess the acceptability of the interventions. Feasibility was assessed using recruitment metrics and proportion group sessions and study assessments completed. Results: Participants (N = 28; median 44.0 years, interquartile range (IQR): 38.5-54.5), median 31.8 BMI, IQR 31.1-39.6) were recruited into the study over 7 months, and 71% and 79% were retained for assessments at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Overall, participants attended a median of 7 of the 16 group sessions (IQR 2.5-11.5). The tailored group completed a median of 11 of 16 weekly online progress reports (IQR 5-15). All participants reported that they would recommend the programs to other men and felt confident that they would continue using the strategies learned in the programs. Though the trial focused on feasibility rather than efficacy, median weight losses at 6 months were -3.0% in the tailored group (95% CI -9.3, -0.6) and -1.9% in the standard group (95% CI -7.4, 2.0). Conclusions: Results suggest that both the tailored and standard weight loss interventions were well received by this group, but engagement was low. Future research should focus on understanding how to increase engagement rather than exclusively tailoring the program to this occupational group to enhance this group's involvement with cardiovascular disease prevention programs.

Analysis and Optimization of Laser Beam Welding Parameters for Aluminium Composite (Al-Zn-Cu Alloy) by Grey Relational Optimization

Aluminium and its composites are widely used in production to enhance the strength of lightweight objects. In this study, an AA7075/SiC composite was fabricated using a stir casting route. Multi-objective optimization and finite element analysis were performed with various process parameters on a manufactured aluminium composite (AA7075 + SiC) undergoing a laser beam welding process. Four welding parameters, i.e., pulse frequency, power, welding speed (transverse), and wire size were taken for laser welding as per the L-9 orthogonal array for experimental study. Tensile strength, deflection, temperature distribution, Rockwell hardness (fusion zone), and Rockwell hardness (heat affected zone) were taken as output parameters after welding. The standard deviation objective weighting–grey relational optimization method optimized the process parameter. ANSYS APDL 23 software was utilized to simulate the entire laser welding method with a cylindrical heat source to predict the temperature distribution in the butt-welded plates. This software uses finite element analysis and gives a deviation of only 5.85% for temperature distribution with experimental results. This study helps to understand the effect of various parameters on the welding strength of the aluminium composite.

Pauli–Villars and the ultraviolet completion of Einstein gravity

Through use of the Pauli–Villars regulator procedure, we construct a second- plus fourth-order derivative theory of gravity that serves as an ultraviolet completion of standard second-order derivative quantum Einstein gravity that is ghost-free, unitary and power-counting renormalizable.

Impact of body weight and body mass index on clinical outcomes of edoxaban therapy in atrial fibrillation patients included in the ETNA-AF-Global registry

Abstract Background In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (pts) receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant therapy, extreme body weights, both obesity and low body weight, may impact clinical outcomes. Purpose To determine the impact of body weight and body mass index (BMI) on clinical outcomes in AF pts receiving edoxaban from the Global ETNA program (Europe [NCT02944019], Japan [UMIN000017011], Korea/Taiwan [NCT02951039], Hong Kong [NCT03247582] and Thailand [NCT03247569]). Methods ETNA-AF-Global, a multinational, prospective, observational study collected demographic and clinical outcomes data for AF pts receiving edoxaban. In this subanalysis, pts were categorised into the following body weight groups: ≤60kg, >60 to 80kg (reference body weight), >80 to ≤100kg and >100kg; and BMI groups: <18.5kg/m², ≥18.5 to <25.0kg/m² (reference BMI), ≥25.0 to <30.0kg/m², ≥30.0 to <40.0kg/m² and ≥40.0kg/m². Clinical outcomes at 2-year follow-up were compared across body weight and BMI groups. Results 26,805 pts were included in this analysis. Mean ± standard deviation body weight was 72.2 ± 18.1kg and mean BMI was 26.4 ± 5.0kg/m². 43.7% of pts were categorised into the >60 to 80kg reference body weight group. [other groups: ≤60kg, 28.1%; >80 to ≤100kg, 21.7%; >100kg, 6.5%] and 40.0% of pts into the ≥18.5 to <25.0kg/m² reference BMI group [other groups: <18.5kg/m², 3.0%; ≥25.0 to <30.0kg/m², 37.3%; ≥30.0 to <40.0kg/m², 18.0%; ≥40.0kg/m², 1.7%]. Clinical outcomes are shown in Fig. 1 as unadjusted hazard ratios vs. reference group according to weight and in Fig. 2 according to BMI. Among body weight groups, pts weighing ≤60kg had the highest annualised rates of any stroke or systemic embolic event (SEE; 1.24%), ischemic stroke (0.97%), all-cause death (3.96%), major bleeding events (1.49%), and major bleeding or clinical-relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding events (3.45%). Pts in the reference body weight group had the lowest annualised rates of all-cause death (2.81%). Annualised rates of major bleeding, major bleeding or CRNM bleeding events and any stroke or SEE were lowest in pts weighing >100kg. Among BMI groups, annualised rates of all effectiveness and safety outcomes were highest in pts with a BMI <18.5kg/m². Pts in the ≥25.0 to <30.0kg/m² BMI group had the lowest annualised rates of all-cause death (2.85%) and pts in the ≥18.5 to <25.0kg/m² BMI group had the lowest annualised rates of CV death (0.73%). Conclusions In the Global ETNA-AF program, clinical outcomes varied between different body weight and BMI subgroups. These findings highlight the need to consider the clinical implications of low body weight and/or low BMI, as AF pts who belong to these categories may be at higher risk of adverse outcomes during long-term anticoagulant treatment.Figure 1.Figure 2.

Life history of Mexican species of the genus <i>Tlaloc</i> (Cyprinodontiformes, Profundulidae)

Fish of the genus Tlaloc are distributed from southern Mexico to Central America and are a distinctive example of the endemic fauna of the Mesoamerican highlands, which has been scarcely studied in Mexico. The present study provides basic life-history data for the species Tlaloc hildebrandi, T. candalarius, and T. labialis, which are native to the headwaters of the Grijalva-Usumacinta basin in southeastern Mexico. We collected 918 specimens to determine their Length-Weight Relationship (LWR), Relative Condition Factor (Kr), sex ratio, Gonadosomatic Index (GSI), fecundity, and size at first sexual maturity. Both sexes of all species had positive allometric growth, except for T. candalarius females (isometric). Mean Kr and sex ratio values differed significantly among species. Females’ GSI values differed significantly among species but were highest during the dry season in all three species. Absolute fecundity was positively correlated with standard length and weight. Sexual maturity was reached at different lengths among species. Based on these results, we suggest that all three species present an opportunistic life strategy, which is very common in fish of the order Cyprinodontiformes. These results represent a first contribution on the life-history of this group of fish and provide basic information that is fundamental to ensuring their conservation.

Optimal tongue weight selection criteria for light vehicle-trailer combinations

When towing a trailer, proper weight distribution between the vehicle and trailer axles is crucial for system stability and manoeuvrability. Therefore, drivers are strongly recommended to keep the tongue weight, the downward force applied by the trailer at the hitch, within 10–15% of the trailer's gross weight. Despite extensive searches, the current academic and technical literature appears to lack quantitative analyses justifying the standard tongue weight recommendations. This paper presents comprehensive analyses of the lateral behaviour characteristics of light vehicle-trailer combinations influenced by variations in tongue weight. Subsequently, it proposes two novel selection criteria for determining the optimal tongue weight from the perspectives of stability and consistency. The optimal tongue weights for the stability and consistency of the nominal vehicle-trailer system are identified as 22.61% and 48.61% of the trailer weight respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed criteria is verified through CarSim simulation experiments, assessing 3% settling time and Root-Mean-Square error of vehicle yaw rate.

Effect of Microgravity on the Metal Droplet Transfer and Bead Characteristics in the Directed Energy Deposition-Arc Process

Abstract Directed energy deposition-arc (DED-arc) is a viable method of metal 3D printing for manufacturing in-space under microgravity conditions. This study investigates the effect of reduced gravity on the droplet transfer in a gas metal arc welding (GMAW)-based DED-arc process. Single bead deposited using GMAW welding process under microgravity and standard terrestrial gravity (1 g) are compared. Microgravity was simulated in a drop tower where the experimental capsule was subjected to 2.5 s of free-fall. The experimental setup for GMAW welding process, including high-speed cameras and sensors, was present within the experimental capsule. Droplet frequency and diameter were measured and compared between microgravity and 1 g using the images obtained. Further, the impact of reduced gravity on weld bead geometry and the distribution of gas porosity was investigated. Microhardness analysis was also conducted on both 1 g and reduced gravity samples to assess variations in material hardness. A statistically significant difference in droplet diameter and frequency was found. This difference is attributed to the reduction in gravitational force. Upon analyzing the weld bead geometry, noticeable variations are detected in the contact angles and the reinforcement of beads formed under different gravity conditions. These differences are attributed to alterations in convection within the molten weld pool. The blowhole analysis revealed a noticeable trend, wherein reduced gravity facilitated the coalescence of gas porosity, resulting in larger diameters due to alterations in weld pool convection. There were no statistically significant changes observed in both microhardness and surface finish.

Groundwater Potential Zone Delineation through Analytical Hierarchy Process: Diyala River Basin, Iraq

Groundwater recharge zone identification is vital for managing water resources, particularly in semi-arid and dry climates. Accurate and quantifiable assessment is necessary for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, and it is possible to carry this method out using modern techniques and technical standards. To identify likely groundwater locations in the Diyala River Catchment, Iraq, which serves as an example study basin, the current research examines a new methodology that employs a geographic information system, and an Analytical Hierarchy Process connected with remote sensing data. The technique of ArcGIS was employed to generate spatially distributed thematic layers of rainfall, lithology, slope, drainage density, land use/land cover, relief and soil. The raster data from these layers were then converted and categorized. The weights assigned to thematic strata depended on their significance relative to groundwater occurrence. A pairwise judgement matrix for the Analytical Hierarchy Process was used, with the categorized ranking, to assess the standardized weights of the layers under consideration. The layers for the formation of groundwater zones have then been placed using the overlay-weighted summation approach. Three regions, which are classed as excellent, good and moderate, have been identified on the resulting groundwater potential zones map, representing roughly 29, 69 and 2% of the basin’s total area, respectively. The study’s conclusions indicate that, in such a climate, the adopted strategy would produce favourable results to promote the organizing of opinions and the sustainable use of groundwater resources.

Validation of the Arabic translation of the vaccination attitudes examination (VAX) scale

Background and aimThe availability of concise and valid instruments for measuring vaccination attitudes across different countries or populations is limited. The 12-item four-subscale Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale designed to assess vaccination hesitancy has been validated in more than 15 languages.This study aimed to validate the Arabic translation of VAX. MethodsVAX was translated from Danish to Arabic following the Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures. The translated VAX was distributed to the citizens of Saudi Arabia in March 2023 through an online survey system and the authors' networks. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's α. Factorial structure was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Known-group validity was assessed based on COVID-19 vaccination status. ResultsResponses from 164 participants who fully answered the questionnaire were analyzed. The mean age was 40 years, 77 % were females, and 90 % were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with one-third receiving booster doses. CFA confirmed a well-fit four-factor structure. All items loaded well with their factors: standardized regression weight values ranged from 0.69 to 0.96. Correlations between the four factors ranged from 0.47 to 0.79. Cronbach α ranged from 0.874 to 0.930. As expected, the mean scores of all subscales were higher in those unvaccinated compared to those who were fully vaccinated as well as those fully vaccinated with a booster dose (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe Arabic translation of the VAX exhibited a well-defined factorial structure with good internal consistency reliability and known-group validity. It is a valuable tool for measuring vaccination hesitancy in Arabic-speaking countries or populations, enabling the comparison of vaccine hesitancy across different countries and cultures.

The MyoGravity project to study real microgravity effects on human muscle precursor cells and tissue

Microgravity (µG) experienced during space flights promotes adaptation in several astronauts’ organs and tissues, with skeletal muscles being the most affected. In response to reduced gravitational loading, muscles (especially, lower limb and antigravity muscles) undergo progressive mass loss and alteration in metabolism, myofiber size, and composition. Skeletal muscle precursor cells (MPCs), also known as satellite cells, are responsible for the growth and maintenance of muscle mass in adult life as well as for muscle regeneration following damage and may have a major role in µG-induced muscle wasting. Despite the great relevance for astronaut health, very few data are available about the effects of real µG on human muscles. Based on the MyoGravity project, this study aimed to analyze: (i) the cellular and transcriptional alterations induced by real µG in human MPCs (huMPCs) and (ii) the response of human skeletal muscle to normal gravitational loading after prolonged exposure to µG. We evaluated the transcriptomic changes induced by µG on board the International Space Station (ISS) in differentiating huMPCs isolated from Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies of a pre-flight astronaut and an age- and sex-matched volunteer, in comparison with the same cells cultured on the ground in standard gravity (1×g) conditions. We found that huMPCs differentiated under real µG conditions showed: (i) upregulation of genes related to cell adhesion, plasma membrane components, and ion transport; (ii) strong downregulation of genes related to the muscle contraction machinery and sarcomere organization; and (iii) downregulation of muscle-specific microRNAs (myomiRs). Moreover, we had the unique opportunity to analyze huMPCs and skeletal muscle tissue of the same astronaut before and 30 h after a long-duration space flight on board the ISS. Prolonged exposure to real µG strongly affected the biology and functionality of the astronaut’s satellite cells, which showed a dramatic reduction of responsiveness to activating stimuli and proliferation rate, morphological changes, and almost inability to fuse into myotubes. RNA-Seq analysis of post- vs. pre-flight muscle tissue showed that genes involved in muscle structure and remodeling are promptly activated after landing following a long-duration space mission. Conversely, genes involved in the myelination process or synapse and neuromuscular junction organization appeared downregulated. Although we have investigated only one astronaut, these results point to a prompt readaptation of the skeletal muscle mechanical components to the normal gravitational loading, but the inability to rapidly recover the physiological muscle myelination/innervation pattern after landing from a long-duration space flight. Together with the persistent functional deficit observed in the astronaut’s satellite cells after prolonged exposure to real µG, these results lead us to hypothesize that a condition of inefficient regeneration is likely to occur in the muscles of post-flight astronauts following damage.

The Impact of Lighting Regimen and Feeding Program during Rearing on Hy-Line Brown Pullets at the End of Rearing and during Early Lay

As hen body weight (BW) impacts egg weight (EW) and feed efficiency, egg producers prefer pullets of a specific size to enter the egg-laying cycle. Lighting and feeding programs were tested to achieve target Hy-Line Brown pullet BW. Three feeding programs were implemented: ad libitum (ad lib); feeding to achieve breed standard weight for age (BSW); and feeding to achieve 88% BSW (managed). The feeding programs were used with either control lighting (CL: 10 h light/d from 7 weeks of age (WOA)) or reduced lighting (RL: 9 h light/d from 4 WOA). One-hundred and fifty pullets were assigned to each feeding program by lighting treatment during rearing. At 16 WOA, 70 pullets from each treatment during rearing were moved to cages and onto ad libitum feeding under a step-up photoperiod reaching 16 h light/d at 33 WOA. The age and weight of the first egg, hen BW, feed intake (FI), egg production (EP), and EW were measured until 36 WOA. At 16 WOA, pullets reared with ad lib feeding under CL had higher BW and cumulative FI (CFI) compared to ad lib feeding under RL. The latter were the earliest to lay, and the managed pullets under CL were the last to lay. Control lighting and BSW independently generated the heaviest first eggs. At 36 WOA, BW, EW, CFI, and cumulative egg production (CEP) were highest following ad lib feeding during rearing, while rearing under CL generated higher BW and EW but lower CEP than RL. Hence, lighting and feeding programs throughout rearing can regulate pullet growth, FI, and hen performance throughout early lay.

Design and Implementation of Home Industrial-Based Automatic Granulated Food Weighing Machine

Automation activities are now required in manufacturing processes. This process can provide very effective and efficient performance results, particularly for industrial processes that require a specific standard, such as those used in the granulated food product industry, such as sugar, rice, coffee, and other products. Fast, sanitary packaging processes and standard weights are the main focus of the manufacturing process. This is not a significant barrier at the level of an established industry, whereas, in traditional processes, this is still the main impediment since automated weighing systems at reasonable prices are still challenging to come by in small and medium-sized businesses. This study proposes the development of a prototype weighing mode that can maintain the weight accuracy of powder materials (sugar, rice, and coffee) before they are placed in product packaging. The research employed the experimental method, utilizing a load cell sensor and a screw conveyor to precisely measure the weight of powder raw materials based on the user-specified size and parameters. It is also equipped with a data deviation memory. Some testing was conducted to ensure the accuracy of the prototype. Based on the test results, this system can work with an accuracy rate of 99.693% at parameters 120 grams and 99.677% when testing the weight of powder raw materials of 120 grams, 125 grams, and 175 grams, respectively.

Sustained decline in birth weight and increased rate of preterm infants born small for gestational age in Japan.

Birth weights have continued to decline in Japan in recent years. However, secular trend changes such as the birth weight relative to the week of gestation remain to be explored. This study aimed to determine the trends over time in mean birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA) rate for each gestational week. We used a large dataset of 27,015,792 births obtained from birth certificates between 1997 and 2021. Births from 22 to 41 weeks of gestation were evaluated in six groups (22-24, 25-27, 28-31, 32-33, 34-36, and 37-41 weeks of gestational age). For each group, secular trend changes in the z-scores calculated from standard birth weight values were assessed. Time trends in the proportion of SGA and mean birth weight z-scores were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test and linear regression analysis. Binomial logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of gestational age, sex, primiparity, number of births, and maternal age on the likelihood of SGA. The mean birth weight of preterm infants continued to decrease, and the z-score for mean birth weight decreased linearly, falling to -0.7 at 25-27 weeks of gestation from 1997-2001 (first period) to 2017-2021 (final period). Maternal age continued to increase from the first period to the last period for all weeks of gestation. There was a linear increase in the SGA rate in preterm infants born at <34 weeks. Odds ratios for the likelihood of SGA were 1.3 times higher for maternal age ≥40 years than that for 25-29 years (95% CI: 1.29-1.33, p < 0.001). In Japan, there has been a continuous decline in birth weight and an increase in the rate of preterm SGA infants.

Growth performance and proximate composition of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fingerlings fed varying inclusion levels of ripe banana (Musa Sapientum) peel

The cost of fish feed is of great concern in fish farming. The growth performance and proximate composition of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed varying inclusion levels of ripe banana peels as a possibility of replacing soybean as a component of the fish feed were evaluated for a period of 12 weeks. 250 C. gariepinus fingerlings were acclimated for 2 weeks and fed to satiation morning and evening. Five isocaloric and nitrogenous diets were prepared from ripe banana peel thus: 0% (Control), 25% (T25), 50% (T50), 75% (T75) and 100% (T100) inclusion levels to replace equal weights of soybean, respectively. Some growth parameters such as standard length (SL), total length (TL) and weight were determined on weekly basis. The proximate compositions of the fish in each treatment and control were determined at the end of the experiment. The data generated were subjected to one way analysis of variance and considered significant at P≤0.05. From the results; the weight, SL and TL mean values measured in the control were significantly higher than other treatments in most of the weeks of the experiment. The highest weight in the control was 52.43±10.80g while the highest amongst other treatments was 30.67±6.69g obtained in T75 at the end of the 12 weeks. The ash content, crude fibre and fat contents were mostly significantly in T75 and T100. The highest moisture content (12.88±0.74%) was also obtained in T100. The crude protein content was significantly higher in the control than other treatments with 68.69±0.35% at the end of the 12th week. The results of this research has shown that banana peel can be included up to 75% level of inclusion as possible replacement for soybean in fish meal production and therefore, capable of reducing the cost of fish production incurred by farmer. For optimal performance, the crude protein content should be improved upon by inclusion of other cheap protein sources.

Construction of a Model for Evaluating the Operating Efficiency and Performance of State-Owned Enterprises Using Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation

State-owned energy, transportation, and telecommunications enterprises power many countries' economies and societies. Considering commercial and social objectives, SOE performance evaluation is complex. Rather than innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder satisfaction, financial factors have determined SOE's success. The present study simulates an SOE Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation approach to overcome the constraint. The model encompasses quantitative and qualitative performance. The proposed model prioritizes the whole evaluation aim and follows it with performance criteria and sub-criteria. This paper used the analytical hierarchy process with expert survey input to fine-tune the standard weights. Fuzzy logic addresses the uncertainty in qualitative analysis. This method performs traditional financial ratio analysis, balanced scorecard, and data envelope analysis

Improving mimetic gravity with non-trivial scalar potential: Cosmology, black holes, shadow and photon sphere

It is not easy to treat the spacetime with horizon(s) in the standard mimetic gravity. The solution to this problem has been presented in Nojiri and Nashed (2022), where it was suggested to modify the Lagrange multiplier constraint.In this paper, by using the improved formulation, we investigate the cosmology and black holes in mimetic gravity with scalar potential and in the scalar mimetic F(R) gravity. The inflationary era and dark energy epoch for the above theories are presented as specific examples from the general reconstruction scheme which permits to realize any universe expansion history via the choice of the corresponding scalar potential or function F(R). Two black hole solutions including the Schwarzschild and Hayward ones are constructed. The shadow and the radius of the photon sphere for the above black holes are found. The explicit confrontation of the black hole shadow radius with the observational bounds from M87∗ and Sgr A∗ objects is done. It is demonstrated that they do not conflict with Event Horizon Telescope observations.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for simple and nondestructive durian fruit maturity assessment

Accurately predicting durian maturity is a critically unresolved worldwide issue. Farmers currently determine durian ripeness based on their own observation and experience leading to inconsistencies in harvest timing. This reliance on human judgment often results in premature or overripe harvests, impacting fruit quality, yield, and market value. Existing technological solutions, such as sensors are often complex and require specialized expertise, hindering their adoption by farmers and consumers. Developing sensors that can accurately measure durian ripeness without damaging the fruit, are easy to use, and affordable remains a challenge. We introduce a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for on-site, safe matching to meet the demands of durian maturity evaluation. The μPAD automatically collected peduncle fluid without destroying the durian fruit for dual detection of total sugar and amino acid. For determining total sugar including sucrose, glucose, and fructose, several enzymatic steps were reduced to a single step of invertase for sucrose hydrolysis before total reducing sugar was measured using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) generation. Kinetics study of invertase on the μPAD showed Vmax and Km values of 1.42 mM min−1 and 2.17 mM, respectively, that agreed with the direct study of sucrose conversion. To increase device reliability, amino acid was also simultaneously measured with sugar using the simple ninhydrin test with the addition of SnCl2. The developed sensor provided LODs of 3.50, 3.10, 3.30 μM, and 0.02 mg mL−1 for glucose, fructose, sucrose, and amino acid respectively. The μPADs were able to nondestructively discriminate between the mature and immature durians, showing high linear correlation with the standard dry weight method. The development of this μPAD technology has the potential to revolutionize durian cultivation practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the overall sustainability and profitability of the durian value chain, and can be further developed for maturity tests of other fruits.

Real-Life Effectiveness of iGlarLixi (Insulin Glargine 100 U/ml and Lixisenatide) in People with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) According to Baseline HbA1c and BMI.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of baseline body mass index (BMI) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on the effectiveness and safety of initiating iGlarLixi (insulin glargine 100 U/ml and lixisenatide) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in routine clinical practice. We pooled patient-level data from 1406 people with inadequately controlled T2D, initiating a 24-week iGlarLixi treatment. Analysis sets were based on baseline BMI and HbA1c. In the BMI set, 894 (64%) people had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and 510 (36%) a BMI < 30 kg/m2; in the HbA1c set, 615 (44%) people had an HbA1c >9%, 491 (35%) between 8 and 9%, and 298 (21%) < 8%. After initiating iGlarLixi, HbA1c decreased in all participants, with the greatest least-squares mean reduction at 2.15% from baseline to week 24 in those with baseline HbA1c > 9% (using a mixed model for repeated measures). Overall, mean ± standard deviation body weight decreased by 1.9 ± 4.8 kg, with the most prominent loss of 2.6 ± 4.9 kg recorded in people presenting with obesity. Reported hypoglycemia rates were low across all groups. Initiation of iGlarLixi in people with uncontrolled T2D is effective and safe in clinical practice, across different baseline HbA1c and BMI categories.