AGCO (Netherlands)

Structural batteries (SBs) are gaining attention for their potential to improve lightweight, radiation-free designs in defense and transportation. Applications include aircraft, unmanned aerial-vehicles (UAVs), electric-vehicles (EVs), public transit, and vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) platforms, enhancing performance and maximizing spatial efficiency by integrating energy storage into structural components. The current study focuses on the electrochemical properties of commercial carbon-fiber-plate (CFP) candidate electrode-based sodium-ion structural batteries (NISBs), specifically investigating their dual-ion storage mechanism. This research provides an in-depth understanding of the electrochemical behavior of CFP|Na cells across two voltage ranges: 0.01–3.0 V and 3.0–5.0 V, paving the way for the development of CFP|CFP functional devices. Data from CFP|Na cells operating in the 3.0–5.0 V range demonstrated stable cycling performance; however, it also revealed a less-than-optimal Coulombic efficiency (CE) due to the complex dual-ion storage kinetics. CFP|Na cells perform well within the 0.01–3.0 V range, showing favorable kinetics during both sodiation and de-sodiation. It's worth noting that these cells require at least 30 discharge-charge cycles to achieve their peak performance. The CFP|CFP symmetric full devices, fabricated using cycled CFP electrodes, demonstrated promising capabilities with good capacity and discharge potential. However, discrepancies in performance metrics need to be addressed for better NISB development. This research evaluates the practical applications of CFP-based NISB systems in relevant fields.

BackgroundAlmost one third of patients with schizophrenia develop resistance to treatment (TRS), either in their first-episode or at later stages of illness after an initial response to antipsychotics (APs) (Siskind et al., 2022). Opportunities of treatment for patients with TRS are limited. The only drug that demonstrated superiority over other APs in TRS is clozapine, which is vastly underutilized due to its unfavourable safety profile. The superior efficacy of clozapine in TRS is believed to be owed to its unique mechanism of action: rather than being restricted to DA/5HT modulation, clozapine seems to act on multiple receptor systems (De Bartolomeis et al., 2022). The necessity of modulating non-monoaminergic targets is highlighted by findings of excessive glutamatergic activity, rather than increased dopamine synthesis, in TRS (Mouchlianitis et al., 2023).Evenamide, a new chemical entity, is a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker devoid of biological activity at >150 CNS targets, that normalizes excessive glutamate release without affecting its basal levels. Preclinical experiments in various animal models of psychosis have demonstrated benefits associated with evenamide, both when used as monotherapy and when combined with APs. Clinical benefits of evenamide as add-on to an AP in TRS patients were demonstrated in a pilot, phase 2, open-label, rater-blinded, 1-year trial (Anand et al., 2023); in addition, a phase 2/3, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with schizophrenia not adequately benefitting from a SGA showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements associated with evenamide add-on treatment for 4 weeks.Aims & ObjectivesThis study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fixed doses of 15 mg bid and 30 mg bid of evenamide as add-on treatment in patients with documented TRS receiving AP treatment but not adequately benefitting from a stable therapeutic dose of an SGA.MethodThis is a prospective, potentially pivotal, phase 3, international, 1-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study, with a primary efficacy endpoint at 12 weeks and long-term efficacy endpoints at 26 and 52 weeks. Eligible patients must have a diagnosis of TRS according to the TRRIP consensus guidelines (Howes et al, 2017). During the 6-week screening period and throughout the study, adherence to background AP(s) and evenamide will be confirmed through measurements of plasma levels. Psychiatric selection criteria include CGI-S of mildly to severely ill (3-6); BPRS total score ≥45, with a score ≥18 on core symptoms of psychosis, and PANSS total score ≥70. An Independent Eligibility Committee will determine patients’ eligibility. Patients improving ≥20% on the BPRS or ≥1 category on the CGI-S during the screening period will be excluded. Efficacy (PANSS, CGI-S/C, Q-LES-Q-SF, GAF, PSP scales) and safety (vital signs, ECG, lab tests, physical/neurological/eye exams, ESRS-A, CDSS, C-SSRS) will be evaluated at regular intervals.ResultsThe study will be initiated by the time of the congress. Results will determine whether treatment with evenamide as add-on to SGAs is associated with statistically significant and clinically important improvement in patients with TRS.Discussion & ConclusionsPositive results from this study would support the need for glutamate modulation for the optimal treatment of patients with schizophrenia not benefitting from SGAs.

Background: Indian mustard, a key oilseed crop in India, is valued for its diverse culinary and health benefits. It faces significant challenges due to a wide range of abiotic stress wherein climate-induced water stress is one of them, which negatively impacts plant population, morpho-physiological growth and biochemical reactions. Thus not only the seed yield but also oil production is declining. Methods: The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of humic acid and sulfur on phenology, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation and oil yield in Brassica juncea under varying water regimes during the Rabi season of 2022-23 at the research farm of Lovely Professional University. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with a total of 16 possible combinations of water regimes and chemical treatments which include humic acid and sulfur. Result: The results indicated that most of the traits were noticed as statistically significant for both factors i.e. water regimes and chemical treatments at p=0.05%. Among the treatments, I3 (Three irrigation) and C3 (Humic acid + Sulfur) were detected as the most effective treatments in terms of percent increase/decrease, resulting highest value over the respective control. The highest % increase was noticed in the initial plant population, final plant population, days taken for maturity, oil content, the moisture content in oil, chlorophyll a, b, a+b and membrane stability index while the reduction in days taken for branching, days taken for the 50% flowering, relative density and malondialdehyde were noticed in the I3 and C3. Thus the findings suggest that the 3 irrigations in combination with humic acid and Sulfur can effectively ameliorate the morpho-physiological growth by increasing the chlorophyll contents, integrity of the cell wall and oil yield in Indian Mustard.

The history of the development of domestic printers such as Epson is described. At first Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd., which made watches in Nagano Prefecture, developed a machine called a printing timer for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and its subsidiary Shinshu Seiki Co., Ltd. (later Epson Corporation) made the EP-101 calculator printer based on the printing timer in 1968, which became a bestseller, and after 1975 it became a product of Shinshu Seiki. The brand name "Epson" was given, Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. later changed its name to Seiko Epson Corporation. Since the 1970s, Epson has grown rapidly by launching printers for PCs, becoming a global manufacturer of printers. Next, manufacturers other than Epson are described. It is stated that the spread of PCs changed the needs of printers and gave rise to world-class manufacturers such as Epson, Canon, and Brother, while manufacturers that made mainframe machines stopped production except for Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Finally, the causes of domestic manufacturers dominating the global market are discussed.

The relevance of the study. In the 40s and 50s of the twentieth century, cultural policy in both Ukraine and Poland was characterised by the growing pressure of the Soviet government on culture, the spread of utilitarianism and a propagandistic understanding of art. Exactly at such moments of crisis, society begins to look for a common ground on which each of its members could rely, something that could unite people, remind them of values as the basis of the existential selfdetermination of the individual and the nation. Returning to one's own roots through the activities of ensembles is one of these paths. This was one of the reasons for the development of choral art as an aspect of state strategy at that time. In addition, this method allowed the government to levelling the identity of the various nationalities that were part of the USSR. The formation of choral music was determined by state support for cultural projects. However, it should be pointed out that the activities of these collectives played an important role in the formation of the national choral school. The main objective of the study is to determine how the process of formation of folk choirs as well as vocal and choreographic ensembles took place in the 1940s and 1950s and to present a comparative analysis of the activities of two ensembles: Grigoriy Veryovka Ukrainian National Honoured Academic Folk Choir and The Stanisław Hadyna Song and Dance Ensemble «Śląsk», which will allow us to consider the problem from two perspectives: Ukrainian and Polish. The methodology includes a critical analysis of literary and historical sources, the method of the history of ideas (to trace the idea of creating academised folk melody-based ensembles that belonged to the official art in the period of the 1940s and 1950s in two different countries), the comparative method (to identify common and distinctive artistic and aesthetic principles of the ensembles‘ activities), and the complex method (to study the problem of the formation of professional folk ensembles in the mid-twentieth century in a holistic way). Results and conclusions. In conclusion, it can be stated that in both Ukraine and Poland, music of the twentieth century developed under the conditions of Soviet ideological pressure. Accordingly, the functioning of the ensembles was integrally connected with the historical, political, social, and cultural circumstances and realities of that time, which influenced not only the repertoire policy, intensive concert activity, but also the artistic style created.Therefore, in the Ukrainian concept, more emphasis was placed directly on the academic nature of singing and author's arrangements of folk songs. It is worth emphasising that the activities of the Ukrainian National Honoured Academic Folk Choir under the direction of Grygoriy Verevka as an academic official art form are a significant contribution to the development of professional folk choral performance, as well as to the professionalisation of choral education and the establishment of a national choral school, despite the presence of ideological elements in the repertoire. On the other hand, in Poland, and especially in Cieshyn Silesia, the ensemble was initially based on traditional culture - one of the key positions in the development of the Polish ensemble was the collection and presentation of various types of Polish folk songs and dances. At the same time, there was a process of attracting ideas of alternative spirituality, searching and creating new ideas, original artistic formulas that had not previously been present in the work of other Polish ensembles, and as a result, a new cultural perspective based on tradition but open to large-scale changes was created. The prospects for further research on this issue include the detailed study of the creative heritage of the founders of ensembles, the detection and analysis of all periods of the ensembles' activity with a focus on the present, and the identification of changes in the consciousness of national identity that occurred in the context of the history of the formation of these ensembles.

Existing therapies for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), i.e. oral anticholinergics and botulinum toxin injections, can be associated with serious adverse effects or are not always sufficiently effective. Therefore, there is aneed for alternative safe and effective treatment options for NDO. Intravesical oxybutynin has been successfully used for several years as a prescription drug in adults and children with spinal cord injury and spina bifida. In 2019, VESOXX® (FARCO-PHARMA, Cologne, Germany) became the first registered intravesical oxybutynin product in Germany, which is indicated for the suppression of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in children from 6years of age and adults, who are managing bladder emptying by clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC), if they cannot be adequately managed by oral anticholinergic treatment due to lack of efficacy and/or intolerable side effects. Overall, there are limited data regarding therapy with intravesical oxybutynin, with the majority of publications being retrospective case series. To date, there are limited data on the efficacy and safety of the newly approved intravesical oxybutynin therapy (VESOXX®) in NDO patients. This noninterventional case series from daily routine treatment which evaluated the physician reports of 38patients suggests that intravesical oxybutynin effectively improves maximum detrusor pressure (Pdet max) by decreasing it by 59% from 51.94 cmH2O ± 26.12 standard deviation (SD) to 21.07 cmH2O ± 17.32 SD (P < 0.001, n = 34). Maximum bladder pressure (MBC) increased by 34% from 260.45 ml ± 200.26 SD to 348.45 ml ± 175.90 SD. Positive or similar effects compared to previous therapies were seen in bladder morphology, number of incontinence episodes, urinary tract infections and adverse drug effects. This case series demonstrates that intravesical oxybutynin is an important addition to current therapies for the treatment of NDO and it is also efficacious in the rare setting of other underlying diseases beyond spinal cord injury or spina bifida. The approved intravesical oxybutynin preparation VESOXX® may be auseful alternative for patients who do not respond to other therapies or suffered side effects.

Granular urea fertilizer applied at planting is prone to nitrogen (N) losses in certain environments. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) are developed to mitigate losses and optimize plant uptake. To determine the benefits of EEFs in grain yield and quality enhancement in Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat, an experiment was conducted from 2019 to 2022 at eight sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The effects of five N sources [urea; urea + urease inhibitor, N-( n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT); urea + nitrification inhibitor, nitrapyrin; urea + dual-inhibitor, NBPT + dicyandiamide; and polymer-coated urea, ESN® (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen®)] and four N rates (60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha−1) on CWRS wheat production were examined. Results indicated that N source affected grain yield in Dark Brown Chernozem soils but not in Black Chernozem or Dark Grey Luvisol soils. In Dark Brown Chernozem soils, a dual inhibitor increased grain yield by 3.1% and 3.9% relative to urea and polymer-coated urea, respectively, while all other EEFs attained similar results. The use of a dual inhibitor EEF led to greater net returns compared to urea and polymer-coated urea in the Dark Brown Chernozem soils. Grain protein concentration increased linearly with increasing N rate from 60 to 240 kg N ha−1. Generally, a rate of 120 kg N ha−1 was optimal for CWRS wheat grown in Canadian prairie conditions when coupled with EEFs, particularly a dual inhibitor, and grain yield and protein were often responsive.