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This study delivers a study to assess the performance of Mansur's nonlinear constitutive model to predict the load-deflection relationship of encased composite concrete beam experiencing monotonic flexural loading. The model is equipped with post-peak softening and fibre-induced ductility effect. The model was implemented in a hybrid modelling approach of ACI 318-19, considering a full plastic factor of 0.90 and AISC 360-16 provisions. Two full-scale experimental beams from previous literature studies were selected as sample beams for which the Mansur model described their behaviours. The obtained results were benchmarked by using statistical indicators of RMSE, NRMSE, MAPE, R², and Pearson’s R to the experimental data and the code-predicted results. The Mansur model could capture the nonlinear stiffness degradation more accurately compared to other code-predicted results, and it is more significantly accurate beyond the cracking stage. The most significant outcome from the study is the accurate prediction of the post-cracking behaviour of Beam Cb. 2 using the Mansur model, yielding RMSE = 6.41 kN and R² = 0.9812.

Phlorotannins play a role in biological functions to protect the cells against UV and oxidative damage in brown algae. We hypothesized that these compounds can function as photo-protectors and antioxidants in skin care formulations. Two types of extracts (water (FV-WE) and 67% v/v ethanol (FV-EE)) from Fucus vesiculosus were obtained with a phlorotannin content between 7−14% in dry extract. Exposure to sun light during growth was included as a factor on the phlorotannin content but did not influence the phlorotannin content. However, green colored F. vesiculosus had lower total phenolic content (TPC) (FV-WE = 6.9 g GAE 100 g−1 dw, FV-EE = 7.8 g GAE 100 g−1 dw) compared to those with a yellow/brownish color (FV-WE = 10.4–13.7 g GAE 100 g−1 dw, FV-EE = 11.2–14.0 g GAE 100 g−1 dw). UVA and UVB photo protective capabilities of the extracts through different biological effective protection factors (BEPFs) were evaluated using in vitro methods; the Mansur method for sun protection factor (SPF) and calculation of effective solar absorption radiation (%ESAR) to determine SPF and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) of the extract and in seaweed enriched lotion. The SPF was negligible, when evaluating FV-WE in lotion (10 and 20% w/w). Moreover, %ESAR of the FV-WE showed SPF and some UVA-PF, but not enough to give sufficient SPF in lotions (10% w/w). It was concluded that the concentration of UV protecting compounds in the extracts was too low to and that further fractionation and purification of phlorotannins is needed to increase the SPF.

Rheodreissena Geda et al. 2018, a recently described genus of Dreissenidae, is represented by living species that inhabit inland freshwaters of Brazil and Venezuela. The type species of Rheodreissena is R. hoeblichi (Schütt 1991a) described from the lower Orinoco basin, Venezuela. Three species are added in this study: R. lopesi (Alvarenga & Ricci, 1989) from the Tocantins and Xingu basins; R. cordilineata n. sp. from the Madeira, Trombetas and Xingu basins, and R. xinguana n. sp. from the Tapajós and Xingu basins. Those three species are recorded from Volta Grande, the stretch of the Xingu River impacted by the Belo Monte dam complex. All Rheodreissena typically attach in shallow clusters to clean, rocky substrates associated with rapids in the main channels of large clear water rivers. Species of Rheodreissena are distinguished by aspects of shell morphology and soft anatomy that presumably reflect adaptations to a rheophilic lifestyle. In Xingu and Tocantins populations of Rheodreissena, larval broods were observed in the ctenidial (R. lopesi and R. xinguana) and pallial cavities of females (all three species). Examples of pallial broods included a few prodissoconch-1 (D-shaped) larvae in R. xinguana n. sp., 24 larvae/juveniles representing three different stages (prodissoconch 1 and 2, dissoconch) in R. cordilineata and up to 65 larvae/juveniles representing the same three stages in R. lopesi. In R. cordilineata and R. lopesi, the prodissoconch is attached to the parental mantle via a modified velum (adhesivelum), and dissoconchs attain lengths of 800 µm and 987 µm, respectively. For larvae brooded in the pallial cavity, a biphasic growth pattern was demonstrated statistically in R. lopesi and determined by observation in R. cordilineata. Juveniles are presumably released gradually into the environment at the crawl-away dissoconch stage. Biphasic brooding (ctenidial and pallial) was previously described for the European cave-dwelling dreissenid species Congeria kusceri; differences between brooding in Congeria and Rheodreissena are noted. Various morphological and lifehistory traits of species of Rheodreissena are summarized and compared to the other living species of Dreissenidae: Mytilopsis leucophaeata, M. sallei, Dreissena polymorpha, D. rostriformis (ex. bugensis), and the three nominal species of Congeria.

Ageing is a normal, expected, and natural aspect of life. Ageing causes a body to change gradually or sequentially, increase health problems. The changing nature of our lifestyle has made ageing a prevalent issue. There are numerous chemical formulations available on the market today, but they all have drawbacks. Plant extracts those have antioxidant properties and rich source of flavonoids have ability to absorb UV rays these plants drawn attention as potential sunscreen ingredients recently. The aim of the current work is to examine the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) activity of various Pistia stratiotes leaf extracts. Sunscreens also contain chemical bases protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation, or light beams from the sun. Sometimes, exposure to these synthetic materials may result in skin hypersensitivity. Using plant-based creams and lotions is used to protect skin from chemical and photoallergic reactions. Using the Mansur formula, the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of Pistia stratiotes leaves was measured between 290 and 320 nm. The SPF values that were computed fell between 1.225 to 3.567. The ethanol extract of Pistia stratiotes leaves exhibited the highest SPF activity among the three extracts employed in this investigation, surpassing that of the other two extracts. The result may be due to the pro-oxidant effect of these chemicals, rather than their antioxidant effect. This study suggests that different ratios and combinations of the extracts could be utilized to create photoprotective products with synergistic or additive effects.

One of the most important causes of a reduction in power generation in PV panels is the non-uniform aging of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The increase in the current–voltage (I–V) mismatch among the array modules is the primary cause of this kind of degradation. There have been several array configurations investigated over the years to reduce mismatch power loss (MPL) caused by shadowing, but there have not been any experimental studies that have specifically examined the impact of various hybrid array topologies taking PV module aging into consideration. This research examines the influence of the non-uniform aging scenario on the performance of solar PV modules with various interconnection strategies. Experiments have been carried out on a 4 × 10, 400 W array with 12 possible configurations, including three proposed configurations (LD-TCT, SP-LD, and LD-SP), to detect the electrical characteristics of a PV system. Finally, the performances of different module configurations are analyzed where the newly proposed configurations (SP-LD and LD-SP) show 15.80% and 15.94% higher recoverable energy (RE), respectively, than the most-adopted configuration (SP). Moreover, among the twelve configurations, the SP configuration shows the highest percentage of MPL, which is about 17.96%, whereas LD-SP shows the lowest MPL at about 4.88%.

Despite recent advancements in the treatment of depression, the prevalence of affected individuals continues to grow. The development of new strategies has been required and emerging evidence has linked a possible antidepressant effect with dietary interventions. In this review, we discuss recent findings about the possible antidepressant effect of dietary interventions with an emphasis on the results of randomized controlled trials. A high consumption of refined sugars and saturated fat and a low dietary content of fruits and vegetables has been associated with the development of depression. There is evidence supporting a small to moderate beneficial effect of a Mediterranean-type diet in depression. In addition, new dietary protocols are being studied for their use as possible interventions, such as the ketogenic diet, Nordic diet, and plant-based diet. Lifestyle interventions surrounding diet and nutrition are a relatively affordable way to enhance response to treatment and to be employed as an adjunct in mental health care. Most studies, however, are limited by the difficulty in controlling for the placebo effect. Mediterranean-style diets seem to be the most promising as an adjunctive treatment for mood disorders. Larger randomized controlled trials that could assess predictors of response to dietary interventions are needed to establish a clear positive effect of diet and guide clinical care and nutritional recommendations concerning mental health care.

Purpose Despite recent advancements in the treatment of depression, the prevalence of affected individuals continues to grow. The development of new strategies has been required and emerging evidence has linked a possible antidepressant effect with dietary interventions. In this review, we discuss recent findings about the possible antidepressant effect of dietary interventions with an emphasis on the results of randomized controlled trials. Recent findings A high consumption of refined sugars and saturated fat and a low dietary content of fruits and vegetables has been associated with the development of depression. There is evidence supporting a small to moderate beneficial effect of a Mediterranean-type diet in depression. In addition, new dietary protocols are being studied for their use as possible interventions, such as the ketogenic diet, Nordic diet, and plant-based diet. Summary Lifestyle interventions surrounding diet and nutrition are a relatively affordable way to enhance response to treatment and to be employed as an adjunct in mental health care. Most studies, however, are limited by the difficulty in controlling for the placebo effect. Mediterranean-style diets seem to be the most promising as an adjunctive treatment for mood disorders. Larger randomized controlled trials that could assess predictors of response to dietary interventions are needed to establish a clear positive effect of diet and guide clinical care and nutritional recommendations concerning mental health care.

Purpose of Review To provide an updated summary on the field of immunopsychiatry as it pertains to clinical and therapeutic translation in mood disorders (major depressive disorder [MDD] and bipolar disorder [BD]). Recent Findings An updated scoping review of a previous publication by Jones et al. identified five recently published RCTs that continue to explore the anti-depressive efficacy of established immunomodulating agents (minocycline, celecoxib, and aspirin). Consistent with our earlier scoping review, study results remain conflicting, and there is still insufficient support for the clinical utility of any anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of mood disorders. Summary Despite extensive evidence supporting a pathophysiological association between inflammatory activation and depressive symptoms, the repurposing of anti-inflammatory agents as novel antidepressant treatments is still an unrealized goal. As highlighted across scoping reviews, published clinical trials remain insensitive to the inherent heterogeneity of patients with mood disorders. We suggest that more nuanced methodological approaches, such as stratification of participants by inflammatory tone or clinical presentation, are required before real translational advances can be made.

Existing scholarship has largely focused on the violence of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) when analyzing their response to the Oslo Agreement and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) in the 1990s. The Islamist opposition’s contribution to Palestinian political thought has largely been ignored, however, although the prospects of Palestinian self-rule confronted the two movements with fundamental questions about social organization, governance, and the permissibility of democracy. I offer an analysis of key Hamas and PIJ texts from this period to demonstrate that Hamas and PIJ fundamentally differ in their analysis of the state and the organization of just society. While Hamas outlines a state-centric approach to governance through which Islamic values are enforced from above, PIJ perceives the state to be the greatest threat to the just organization of society. This article consequently dispels the myth that the two Palestinian Islamist movements had no significant ideological differences in the 1990s.

Purpose of Review Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cannabidiol improves depressive-like behaviors in animal models, raising its plausibility to be investigated as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Therefore, our aim is to review the available clinical data of cannabidiol in the treatment of mood disorders. Recent Findings There are no published randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the efficacy of cannabidiol in mood disorders, either alone or in combination with other cannabinoids. Similarly, there are no published trials with affective symptoms as the primary outcome. There are a few studies which investigated mood symptoms as secondary outcomes within medical conditions or non-mood disorder psychiatric conditions, and the results are conflicting due to the methodological differences between studies. Nevertheless, studies have found cannabidiol to be well-tolerated with few adverse effects such as diarrhea and somnolence. Summary There are no RCT data for the efficacy of cannabidiol in the treatment of MDD or BD, but few studies assessed its efficacy on mood symptoms as secondary outcomes in medical and non-psychiatric disorders populations with conflicting results. Thus, currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend cannabidiol as a treatment for mood disorders, and high-quality clinical trials are urgently needed.