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Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) operating in Dead-Ended Anode (DEA) mode present a promising alternative to traditional flow-through systems by simplifying design and reducing costs. However, their efficiency and durability are challenged by transient phenomena such as water accumulation, nitrogen buildup, and carbon corrosion throughout operation. This review investigates the dynamic behavior of DEA PEMFCs under dynamic operating states, aiming to improve their efficiency. By analyzing purge cycle optimization and transient response characteristics, we identify strategies to mitigate hydrogen loss, maintain voltage stability, and extend stack lifetime. The key findings indicate that precise purge scheduling and effective water management are critical for optimizing performance, with dynamic models providing insights into time-dependent processes. This study underscores the potential of DEA PEMFCs for high-efficiency applications provided transient effects are effectively managed.

Background: Endometrial Thickness (EMT) is considered an important prognostic factor in assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Thin endometrium (< 7 mm) is often associated with implantation failure and reduced pregnancy rates, although its precise impact remains controversial.Objective: This thesis summary evaluates the role of thin endometrium in FET cycles, discusses etiologies, diagnostic modalities, treatment approaches, and reviews available patient data.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 69 patients who underwent FET at Saveetha Medical College. Endometrial thickness was assessed via transvaginal ultrasound. Various treatment strategies including hormonal therapies (estradiol, progesterone), vasoactive agents, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), L-arginine, sildenafil citrate, vitamin E, pentoxifylline, and stem cell therapy were reviewed for their efficacy in improving endometrial receptivity.Results: Endometrial thickness < 7 mm correlated with lower pregnancy rates compared to patients with thickness ≥ 7 mm. Hormonal and adjuvant therapies reported varying degrees of success in improving EMT and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Vascularity, angiogenesis, and Doppler studies also demonstrated a significant association with endometrial receptivity.Conclusion: Thin endometrium remains a critical challenge in ART cycles. Multimodal therapeutic approaches may improve outcomes; however, larger prospective studies are required to establish standardized protocols. Our patient data support that even minimal increases in EMT can enhance implantation success.

The objective of this research was to estimate the energy potential of walnut pruning residues (biomass) as a renewable resource for use in greenhouse heating systems in the south-central region of the state of Chihuahua. To achieve this, data were collected on the weight of fresh firewood generated per tree based on trunk diameter, considering three common pruning methods practiced in the area. Additionally, the percentage of weight loss during the biomass drying process was determined, and the regional area cultivated with walnut trees was documented. Based on this information, the potential energy availability and the feasibility of its use as a sustainable energy source for the agricultural sector under controlled climate conditions were calculated.

Introduction: Hypertension is still one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease and death worldwide. Despite lifestyle modifications and medical treatment, blood pressure control rates remain suboptimal. The sympathetic nervous system plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of hypertension. Inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system leads to a reduction in blood pressure. In light of this, a catheter-based renal denervation procedure has been developed to selectively ablate the renal sympathetic nerves in order to lower blood pressure. Discussion: Renal denervation targets the afferent and efferent sympathetic nerves along the renal arteries. Interruption of the renal nerve fibers in the perivascular space reduces sympathetic-mediated renal vascular resistance, renin release, and sodium reabsorption. Consequently, the mechanisms driving systemic hypertension are gradually disrupted, and blood pressure falls over time. The current main methods of renal denervation are radiofrequency energy, ultrasound, and perivascular neurotoxin injection. Recent randomized sham-controlled trials have shown that renal denervation effectively and safely reduces blood pressure by approximately 5 to 10 mmHg in various hypertensive patients. It is important to have a multidisciplinary team of hypertension specialists and interventional experts to select appropriate patients for renal denervation. Shared decision-making is essential to consider hypertension-mediated organ damage, cardiovascular risk, and patient preferences. Conclusion: Catheter-based renal denervation is a relatively new treatment modality that provides meaningful and sustained reductions in blood pressure with an acceptable safety profile. Currently, it is recommended for patients with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension despite optimal lifestyle changes and medical treatment.

In order to provide theoretical foundation for forestation of Phyllostachys bambusoides f. shouzhu Yi, the site factors, and the morphological character and biomass of standard bamboo were investigated in 16 sample spots of bamboo forest in Liangping county, Chongqing City, and then the effects of site factors on the clonal growth was discussed. Three site factors as the slope position, altitude, species diversity, had significant effects on the clonal growth of the bamboo. The effects of the gradient, slope aspect, humus thickness, and soil thickness were little, but that of slope aspects was not significant. The altitude of above 800 m, the upper slope, the steep slope and slope, and the thin soil were not suitable for its clonal growth. The results showed that (1) the main site factors affecting the growth of P. bambusoides f. shouzhu were slope position, soil thickness and humus thickness; (2) The forestation site of P. bambusoides f. shouzhu should be selected at the flat ground and the gentle slope of the hills below altitude of 800 m, and the slope position of the forestation site should be selected at the mid and lower position of a hill; (3) Soil thickness and humus thickness should be kept at a suitable level; (4) The diversity of plant species in the bamboo forest should be kept at a suitable level for keeping its growth environment.

Natural dyes have become a viable alternative to expensive and rare organic sensitizers because of their low cost, easy attainability, abundance of supply of raw materials and environmental friendliness. Chlorophyll, the most abundant pigment, can be extracted from plant leaves with simple and inexpensive methods, but it’s difficult to use as a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) sensitizer due to the absence of OH and COOH groups. The opposite is true for xanthophylls, a particular class of carotenoids that contain free hydroxyl groups and thus may be considered as potential DSSC sensitizers. In this work we describe a new and inexpensive method of chlorophyll extraction from leaves based on the use of a basic solvent that provides the creation of COOH groups, allowing chlorophyll binding on the TiO2 layer. This modified chlorophyll dye showed a higher DSSC efficiency level (0.72%) compared to xanthophylls, which had lower efficiency.

Plant hormones are versatile chemical regulators of plant growth. The concept of hormone ‘interaction’ [1] has gained much importance and several key players of hormonal network are uncovered for major plant hormones. The fact that hormones are structurally unrelated and their interaction elicits different genomic and non-genomic responses suggest hormone interaction involve co-regulation at multiple levels [2]. Recent studies suggest that hormonal interaction involves control over biosynthesis genes [3-6], key components of signalling pathways [7,8], hormone distribution [9,10], and interaction at the level of gene expression [11-13].

Background and aims: Iron deficiency is one of the most important health issues in adolescents, especially girls. Today, empowerment is considered an effective program to change behavior in chronic disease control. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the family-centered empowerment model on the empowerment indicators of student girls with iron deficiency anemia and their mothers.Methods: This is a two-group semi-experimental study conducted on 60 student girls along with their mothers, who were selected by a two-stage cluster random sampling method. Data was collected using a demographic information questionnaire and an adolescent and mother empowerment questionnaire. The intervention based on the family-centered empowerment model was implemented for the test group, and after 1.5 months, data from both groups were collected and analyzed with chi-square, independent t, and paired t-tests.Results: The results of the independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference between the student girls in the test and control groups after the intervention in terms of empowerment indicators (p < 0.05). The results of the independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference between the mothers in the test and control groups after the intervention in terms of ability indicators (p < 0.05), while before the intervention, this difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the implementation of the family-centered empowerment model not only increased the empowerment indicators of student girls with iron deficiency anemia but also had an effect on the empowerment of their mothers.

Extramedullary involvement, also known as Extramedullary Disease (EMD), represents a highly aggressive variant of plasma cell dyscrasias. It is characterised by the presence of plasma cell clones that proliferate independently of the bone marrow microenvironment. While EMD most commonly affects the skin and soft tissues, in cases of disease relapse, it may extend to internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, chest wall, pleura, and pericardium.The reported incidence of EMD varies. A comprehensive review of the literature indicates that in newly diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients, the incidence ranges from 0.5% to 4.5%. However, in relapsed or refractory MM, the incidence increases markedly, reaching between 3.4% and 14%. Prognosis remains poor, particularly when the paravertebral region is involved, as this often leads to vertebral body fractures that complicate treatment and worsen outcomes.Current data on therapeutic responses are primarily based on retrospective studies. Therefore, prospective trials are needed to more accurately assess the efficacy of various treatment regimens. This study presents a cohort of patients with paravertebral plasma cell tumours, with a specific focus on tumour location, associated vertebral fractures, available treatment strategies, and clinical responses following induction therapy.

In this work we used semi-isolated heart of the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea for the investigation of the pharmacological effects of extracts (aqueous, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8) from Nephrolepis exaltata L. leaves, a popular ornamental fern considered to be safe. The use of insects in experimental studies has grown due to the easy handling, proliferation/growing assuring its rapid obtention, and absence of ethical issues. An aqueous extract 0.2 % was obtained after maceration of 1 g N. exaltata leaves powder with 20 mL of distilled water (1:20). Diluted extracts in water were obtained to have the following proportion 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8. Experiments (n=4) consisted of 200 µL addition onto semi-isolated heart preparation of N. cinerea with concomitant heart beating counting. Aqueous, 1:1 and 1:2 extracts paralyzed completely the heart beatings of cockroachs (p<0.05 compared to saline control), but not 1:4 or 1:8, which showed only a slight decline (p>0.05 compared to saline control). A preliminary thin layer chromatography showed the presence of unidentified terpenoid in aqueous extract of N. exaltata. These pharmacological findings of N. exaltata can be exploited for future use as insecticide or as dose-dependently cholinergic agent.