Camilla Guerrieri’s Portrait of Guidobaldo II della Rovere:Symbols of Honor and Power

The Altomani&Sons Collection owns a remarkable newly discovered portrait of Guidobaldo II della Rovere,Duke of Urbino(1514-1574),a historical military figure who was a condottiere,ruler of Urbino,Commander-in-chief of the Papal Estate,and Perfect of Rome,as well as a collector and patron of the Fine Arts.Camilla Guerrieri Nati(1628-1694),a seventeenth-century Italian painter from Fossombrone(in the province of Pesaro and Urbino),portrayed this heroic personage surrounded by emblems associated with his military courage and leadership,including his plumed burgonet helmet,metal gilded armor,a necklace with the golden fleece,and batons of secular and religious dominions.This oil painting on copper-considered a precious metal at the time-emphasizes the importance of the commission.The material and technique also reveals a unique artistic achievement in that it provides the painting with a smooth,reflective surface and vibrant coloration,symbolizing precious imagery.

Hypatia of Alexandria:A Fiercely Intelligent Woman

The novel Hypatia:Or New Foes With an Old Face by Charles Kingsley,published in 1853,provided valuable insight into Hypatia’s achievements and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her untimely demise.Kingsley’s novel portrayed a fiercely intelligent woman,Hypatia,who sparked the interest of many artists,particularly sculptors.They were eager to capture in their statues the personification of this remarkable ancient mathematician,philosopher,and scientist of ancient Egypt,Hypatia of Alexandria(355-415).This essay has two parts.The first provides a brief overview of Hypatia’s life and accomplishments.The second part focuses on four sculptures from the 19th century created by different artists:Hypatia(1873-1876)by the American Howard Roberts,Hypatia(1874)by the Italian Odoardo Tabacchi,Hypatia(1890)by Francis John Williamson,and Hypatia(1894)by Richard Claude Belt.The two latter works are by British sculptors.

Multimodal comparison of plasma proteins associated with blood-brain barrier impairment in Alzheimer’s disease

Background:Vascular impairment is one of the major contributors to dementia.We aimed to identify blood biomarkers suggestive of potential impairment of the blood-brain barrier(BBB)in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease(AD).Methods:We used administrative data from the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure Resource Center to study both inpatients and outpatients with AD.Plasma samples from healthy control and AD individuals were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and proteomics approaches to identify differentially expressed proteins.Bioinformatic analysis was applied to explore significantly enriched pathways.Results:In the same cohort of patients with AD,we found twice number of subjects with cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the two-year period after the onset of AD,compared to the number of subjects with cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the two-year period prior to AD onset.Different pathways related to BBB,like cell adhesion,extracellular matrix organization and Wnt signaling,were activated and differentially expressed proteins such as ADAM22,PDGFR-α,DKK-4,Neucrin and RSOP-1 were identified.Moreover,matrix metalloproteinase-9,which is implicated in causing degradation of basal lamina and BBB disruption,was significantly increased in the plasma of AD patients.Conclusions:Alteration of proteins found in AD subjects could provide new insights into biomarkers regulating permeability and BBB integrity.

Optimal Design of Porous Media in Solar Vapor Generators by Carbon Fiber Bundles

As a means of harvesting solar energy for water treatment,solar-driven vapor generation is becoming more appealing.Due to their entangled fibrous networks and high surface area,fibers can be used as building blocks to generate water vapor.In this paper,using a two-dimensional fiber bundle model,we studied the generation of solar vapor based on the fiber height,distance between fibers,and input sun radiation.The performance of solar absorption system was also evaluated by evaluating thermal and water management.Results showed a constant increase in solar vapor generation with an increasing fiber height and decreasing inter-fiber distance.However,the gain rate of using taller and more densely packed fiber bundles dwindled quickly.On the other hand,a shorter fiber had a higher evaporation rate per fiber height.The distance between fibers had a nonlinear effect on the fiber bundle evaporation rate.A new fiber bundle design was recommended with a fiber height of 15–20 mm and an inter-fiber distance of 1.5 mm.The results of this study can provide guidelines for future fiber bundle designs with increased efficiency,reduced cost,and versatile applications(i.e.,desalination,water purification,and power generation).

The Birth and Custody of Infant Bacchus

This article discusses the visual aspects of the birth of Dionysus/Bacchus,the God of Agriculture,Revelry,and Wine,in classical art.It examines the historical and iconographic aspects of the infant Dionysus’s custody by two deities,Silenus and Mercury,in ancient classical art,particularly in Roman frescoes and sculptural reliefs,and its echoes in Italian Renaissance engravings.

Josefa deÓbidos’s Vedute:Discovering the Realms of Nature

Josefa Figueira de Ayala de Cabrera D’Óbidos was a renowned Baroque painter from Portugal who lived between 1630 and 1684.She was an accomplished artist and one of the most notable female artists of her time.Her works included both secular and religious themes,and she used a variety of mediums with great skill.Despite having different surnames,she signed her paintings under Josepha emÓbidos.This article concentrates on the artist’s landscapes(vedute)and integrated still-life paintings(bodegones).It delves into her capacity to depict the changing seasons through these themes.Josefa expertly combined Baroque tenebrism and illusionism with her love of Nature,highlighting both the physical and spiritual aspects of the natural world.Her paintings are visually captivating,with beautiful colors and intricate details.She incorporated emblematic and mystical symbolism,which added to their spiritual significance in portraying the flora and fauna of her homeland.

Giorgio Vasari’s Tondo for the Madonna of the Rosary: Angels With Roses, Emblems of Love

In 1569,Giorgio Vasari(1511-1574)completed painting an altarpiece of the Madonna of the Rosary and a Tondo of angels dispersing roses.The commission was for the private chapel of the Capponi family in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.In his Ricordanze(Book of Records),Vasari explained the commission as well as documenting the assistance of his favorite Florentine pupil,Jacopo Zucchi(1541-1590),in the completion of the commission.This essay focusses on Vasari’s design,location,and meaning of the Tondo and its emblematic symbolism of love through the rose motif.

Incorporating Lasso Regression to Physics-Informed Neural Network for Inverse PDE Problem

Partial Differential Equation(PDE)is among the most fundamental tools employed to model dynamic systems.Existing PDE modeling methods are typically derived from established knowledge and known phenomena,which are time-consuming and labor-intensive.Recently,discovering governing PDEs from collected actual data via Physics Informed Neural Networks(PINNs)provides a more efficient way to analyze fresh dynamic systems and establish PEDmodels.This study proposes Sequentially Threshold Least Squares-Lasso(STLasso),a module constructed by incorporating Lasso regression into the Sequentially Threshold Least Squares(STLS)algorithm,which can complete sparse regression of PDE coefficients with the constraints of l0 norm.It further introduces PINN-STLasso,a physics informed neural network combined with Lasso sparse regression,able to find underlying PDEs from data with reduced data requirements and better interpretability.In addition,this research conducts experiments on canonical inverse PDE problems and compares the results to several recent methods.The results demonstrated that the proposed PINN-STLasso outperforms other methods,achieving lower error rates even with less data.

A Review: Biosensor Progression in Glucose Monitoring for Patients with Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that can come to the surface at any point throughout a person’s life. Although Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes have different triggers that cause them to arise, a person can experience similar complications from either if not monitored and treated accordingly. Through the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, it was found that a significant way to monitor diabetes is through glucose levels in a person’s body. The research surrounding glucose monitoring dates to the mid-1800s, with the first successful reagent for glucose testing being developed in 1908. Since then, glucose sensing has become one of the most rapidly growing areas of research and development in biosensor technology, creating a competitive market for more advanced, accurate, and convenient glucose monitoring. This article reviews the history of biosensors used for glucose monitoring, and major advancements in biosensor technology to enhance performance and improve quality of life for patients with diabetes.

Guido Reni’s Infant Bacchus: “In vino veritas”

This article delves into the significance of Guido Reni’s Infant Bacchus,created during the Italian Baroque period.By examining historical and iconographic elements,the study aims to interpret the symbolism depicted in the painting.The historical aspects include the birth of Dionysus or Bacchus in classical and Italian Renaissance imagery and literary and visual sources that influenced Reni’s solo painting.The iconographic components encompass the infant’s nude body,the child’s bodily functions,and the attributes associated with Bacchus,the God of Agriculture,Revelry,and Wine,such as the grapevines,grapes,ivy,glass flask,kantharos(wine cup),and wine barrel.The emblematic and cosmological associations of Bacchus’s divinity are considered as well.

Recurrent stroke admissions with vs without COVID-19 and associated in-hospital mortality: A United States nationwide analysis, 2020

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has been shown to increase the risk of stroke.However,the prevalence and risk of recurrent stroke in COVID-19 patients with prior stroke/transient ischemic attack(TIA),as well as its impact on mor-tality,are not established.AIM To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on in-hospital mortality,length of stay,and healthcare costs in patients with recurrent strokes.METHODS We identified admissions of recurrent stroke(current acute ischemic stroke admissions with at least one prior TIA or stroke)in patients with and without COVID-19 using ICD-10-CM codes using the National Inpatient Sample(2020).We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on mortality following recurrent stroke admissions by subgroups.RESULTS Of 97455 admissions with recurrent stroke,2140(2.2%)belonged to the COVID-19-positive group.The COVID-19-positive group had a higher prevalence of diabetes and chronic kidney disease vs the COVID-19 negative group(P<0.001).Among the subgroups,patients aged>65 years,patients aged 45–64 years,Asians,Hispanics,whites,and blacks in the COVID-19 positive group had higher rates of all-cause mortality than the COVID-19 negative group(P<0.01).Higher odds of in-hospital mortality were seen in the group aged 45-64(OR:8.40,95%CI:4.18-16.91)vs the group aged>65(OR:7.04,95%CI:5.24-9.44),males(OR:7.82,95%CI:5.38-11.35)compared to females(OR:6.15,95%CI:4.12-9.18),and in Hispanics(OR:15.47,95%CI:7.61-31.44)and Asians/Pacific Islanders(OR:14.93,95%CI:7.22-30.87)compared to blacks(OR:5.73,95%CI:3.08-10.68),and whites(OR:5.54,95%CI:3.79-8.09).CONCLUSION The study highlights the increased risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality in recurrent stroke patients with COVID-19,with a more pronounced increase in middle-aged patients,males,Hispanics,or Asians.

Link between irritable bowel syndrome,depression,and colorectal cancer risk in young patients:Age-matched nationwide populationbased study

BACKGROUND There exists a link between irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)and depression.Similarly,chronic depression is known to increase the risk of cancer in general.In this population-based analysis,we investigated the prevalence and the odds of colorectal cancer(CRC)in young-depressed patients with IBS.AIM To investigate the relationship between IBS and CRC in young,depressed patients using a nationally representative United States inpatient sample.METHODS The 2019 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify young(18-44 years)patients admitted with comorbid depression in the presence vs absence of IBS using relevant International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision,Clinical Modification codes.Primary endpoint was the prevalence and odds of CRC in age matched(1:1)youngdepressed cohort hospitalized with IBS(IBS+)vs without IBS(IBS-).Multivariable regression analysis was performed adjusting for potential confounders.RESULTS Age-matched(1:1)young-depressed IBS+(83.9%females,median age 36 years)and IBS-(65.8%females,median age 36 years)cohorts consisted of 14370 patients in each group.IBS+cohort had higher rates of hypertension,uncomplicated diabetes,hyperlipidemia,obesity,peripheral vascular disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,hypothyroidism,prior stroke,prior venous thromboembolism,anxiety,bipolar disorder,and borderline personality disorder(P<0.005)vs the IBS-cohort.However,prior myocardial infarction,acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,dementia,smoking,alcohol abuse,and drug abuse(P<0.005)are high in IBS-cohort.The rate of CRC was comparable in both cohorts[IBS+n=25(0.17%)vs IBS-n=35(0.24%)].Compared to the IBS-cohort,the odds ratio(OR)of developing CRC was not significantly higher[OR 0.71,95% confidence interval(CI)0.23-2.25]in IBS+cohort.Also,adjusting for baseline sociodemographic and hospital characteristics and relevant comorbidities,the OR was found to be non-significant(OR 0.89,95%CI 0.21-3.83).CONCLUSION This nationwide propensity-matched analysis revealed comparable prevalence and risk of CRC in youngdepressed patients with vs without IBS.Future large-scale prospective studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of depression and its treatment on CRC risk and outcomes in IBS patients.

Characteristics and advantages of adeno-associated virus vector-mediated gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases

Common neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system are characterized by progressive damage to the function of neurons, even leading to the permanent loss of function. Gene therapy via gene replacement or gene correction provides the potential for transformative therapies to delay or possibly stop further progression of the neurodegenerative disease in affected patients. Adeno-associated virus has been the vector of choice in recent clinical trials of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases due to its safety and efficiency in mediating gene transfer to the central nervous system. This review aims to discuss and summarize the progress and clinical applications of adeno-associated virus in neurodegenerative disease in central nervous system. Results from some clinical trials and successful cases of central neurodegenerative diseases deserve further study and exploration.

RING OPENING COPOLYMERIZATION OF SUCCINIC ANHYDRIDE-ETHYLENE OXIDE BY Al(Ⅲ) ORGANOMETALLIC CATALYSTS

Ring opening copolymerization of succinic anhydride (SA) with ethylene oxide (EO)was successfully carried out by using a series of aluminum-based catalyst in 1,4-dioxane at62±2℃. The results showed that in-situ AlR_3-H_2O (R=ethyl, iso-butyl) catalysts gavehigher molecular weight (M_w～10~4), while Al(OR)_3 catalysts gave the higher alternatingcopolymer structure with slightly lower molecular weight. The in-situ AlR_3-H_2O systemshave been evaluated in more detail for the reaction which showed the optimum H_2O/Almolar ratio to be 0.5. The copolymers with different composition (F_(SA)/F_(EO)= 36/64to 45/55 mol/mol) were synthesized by using different monomer feed ratio. The melt-ing point (T_m), glass transition temperature (T_g) and enthalpy of fusion (ΔH_f) of thesecopolymers are depended on the copolymer composition and in the range of 87～102℃,-12～-18℃, and 37～66J/g, respectively. The second heating scan of DSC also in-dicated that the higher alternating copolymer was more easily recrystallized. The onsetdecomposition temperature was more than 300℃ under nitrogen and influenced by thecopolymer composition.

Review of Microplastic Pollution in the Environment and Emerging Recycling Solutions

Microplastic pollution represents a side-effect stemming from a global plastic waste mismanagement problem and includes degraded particles or mass produced plastic particles less than 5 mm in largest dimension.The small nature of microplastics gives this area of pollution different environmental concerns than general plastic waste in the environment.The biological toxicity of particles,their internal components,and their surface level changes all present opportunities for these particles to adversely affect the environment around them.Thus,it is necessary to review the current literature surrounding this topic and identify areas where the study of microplastic can be pushed forward.Here we present current methods in studying microplastics,some of the ways by which microplastics affect the environment and attempt to shed light on how this research can continue.In addition,we review current recycling methods developing for the processing of mixed-plastic waste.These methods,including hydrothermal processing and solvent extraction,provide a unique opportunity to separate plastic waste and improve the viability of the plastics recycling industry.

Life Cycle Assessment of Recycling High-Density Polyethylene Plastic Waste

Increasing production and use of various novel plastics products,a low recycling rate,and lack of effective recycling/disposal methods have resulted in an exponential growth in plastic waste accumulation in landfills and in the environment.To better understand the effects of plastic waste,Life Cycle Analysis(LCA)was done to compare the effects of various production and disposal methods.LCA shows the specific effects of the cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle scenarios for landfill,incineration,and mechanical recycling.The analysis clearly indicates that increasing recycling of plastics can significantly save energy and eliminate harmful emissions of various carcinogens and GHGs into the environment.As recycling increases,the need for virgin-plastic production can be greatly reduced.Furthermore,the results of this study may help improve current mechanical recycling processes as well as potential future recycling methods,such as chemical recycling.Concerns about the current recycling/disposal methods for plastics have brought increasing attention to the waste accumulation problem.However,with the current COVID-19 pandemic,plastic accumulation is expected to increase significantly in the near future.A better understanding of the quantitative effects of the various disposal methods can help guide policies and future research toward effective solutions of the plastic waste problem.

Barbara Longhi of Ravenna:A Devotional Self-Portrait

From the variety of types of portraiture,there evolved the imaging of a self-portrait as we see in Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Barbara Longhi of Ravenna(1552-1638).The self-portrait is a unique work of art,an intimate record of a sitter’s personality.It is an acknowledgment of worth,an exercise in technique,and a designator of era,style,and likeness.The self-portrait can be a study in expression,an impersonation of a virtue,or a document in a history of aging.As William Shakespeare noted in Hamlet,“[The self-portrait is]to show virtue her own feature,scorn her own image,and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.”In the sixteenth-century in Italy,artists often included themselves or their self-portraits in religious and secular scenes as a type of signature,as seen in the paintings of the Longhi family.In their many depictions of Saint Catherine of Alexandria,the Longhis composed two types of such images:a single-solo-image of the saint;and also her presence in a group with saints-a theme known as holy conversation.In her paintings,Barbara Longhi preferred to depict the solo image of Saint Catherine of Alexandria,using herself as a model for the figure of the saint or as a muse impersonating or personifying the saint’s virgo virtue.This essay is composed of two parts:(1)a brief explanation of the meaning of self-portraits in sixteenth-century Italy;and(2)a study of Barbara Longhi’s self-portraits as Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Off-Grid Photovoltaic System Design for Haiti School Project

In this paper a Photovoltaic (PV) system was designed for the Port-Margot School Solar Project in Haiti. This off-grid system consists of PV panels, inverter, battery storage and other components such as fuses, dc/ac disconnects and transformers [1]. Sizing the PV to fit on the roof was determined. The battery storage and inverter were chosen to be installed in the school building. The expected energy production was compared with data file from NASA website. The KW PV system was chosen to be the most effective and demonstrating renewable technologies and reducing the electrical load of the school.

Barbara Longhi’s Saint Agnes of Rome:Iconic Images of Purity and Virtue

Barbara Longhi of Ravenna(1552-1638)enjoyed creating small devotional paintings depicting holy saints,in particular Saint Agnes(c.291-304).This saint’s life and martyrdom was recorded by the Bishop of Milan,Saint Ambrose(339-397),a Doctor of the Church and theologian,in his book Concerning Virgins(374)and by Jacobus de Voragine,the Archbishop of Genoa,in his Golden Legend(Legenda Aurea,1275).The saint’s story continues to be imaged and recounted to the present day because she is an icon of a pure and virtuous adolescent female.Barbara Longhi,along with her father,Luca Longhi(1507-1580),painted several versions of Saint Agnes.In their many depictions they composed two types of images:a single-solo-image of the saint;and her presence in a group of saints-a theme known as holy conversation.In her paintings of Saint Agnes,however,Barbara Longhi preferred to depict the solo image of the saint as virgo,a young maiden of virtue.This essay is composed of two parts:(1)an account of the life and martyrdom of Saint Agnes;and(2)an iconographical interpretation of Barbara Longhi’s Saint Agnes of Rome.