Prevention of COVID-19 Through Optimization of Tabi’at: A Unani Medicine’s Perspective

Background: Unani System of Medicine (USM) is one of the traditional systems of medicine practiced in India and the Indian subcontinent. It is a holistic system of health care based on inceptive principles applied by Hippocrates, Galen, and Ibn-e-Sina, the founders of present-day medicine. USM encompasses a distinct way of looking at the human body and it considers health to be the result of natural dynamic harmonious balance within the body. USM also recognizes the presence of inherent wisdom which is responsible for controlling all physiological functions, maintenance of health, restoration of health, and self-healing. This intrinsic ability of the body to restore health and the mechanism that activates the body’s healing process is called Tabi’at/ physis. The ultimate goal of prevention of disease can be obtained by optimization of tabi’at/physis, increasing the host defense. It can be achieved through the implication of asbab-e-sitta zarooriyah which includes some Unani Regimenal Therapies also, fostering change in lifestyle habits resulting in good health. Aims: In this raging pandemic all the therapeutic strategies are based on destroying the agent, breaking the means of transmission and immunization. Although we are leaving behind a huge gap in maintaining the host defense even though it has a crucial role in disease dynamics. In this paper, we have attempted to highlight the concept of tabi’at/Physis and its optimization to prevent this disease and its transmission. Methods: The authors had gone through classical Unani medical textbooks books related to the concept of tabi’at, asbab-e-sitta zarooriyah, and various modalities that help in health promotion and host defense. Important Unani medicine textbooks like Al Qanoon, Kamilus Sana’at, Kitab-al- Hawi, Al-asbab wa Alamat, Moalijat Buqratiya, Firdausul Hikmat and Kitabul Mansuri in addition to other published literature on the concerned subject was also reviewed for further clarification on the topic. Keywords: Unani System of Medicine, Tabi’at (physis), Host defense & Asbab-e- Sitta zarooriyah

Light acclimation interacts with thylakoid ion transport to govern the dynamics of photosynthesis

Understanding photosynthesis in natural, dynamic light environments requires knowledge of long-term acclimation, short-term responses, and their mechanistic interactions. However, the latter is poorly understood. We systematically determined light-environment effects on the thylakoid ion transport-mediated responses of photosynthesis during light fluctuations. Our analyses reveal daily light intensity as the main acclimatory driver that sculps photosynthetic capacity and thereby governs the activities of the thylakoid Cl- channel VCCN1 and the H+/K+ exchanger KEA3 during high light phases. We uncover high zeaxanthin accumulation as a response to fluctuating light environments, which delays the relaxation of energy dependent quenching (qE). KEA3 partly suppresses zeaxanthin accumulation over the day and thereby further accelerates the response of photosynthesis to low light periods. In summary, both light-environment factors, intensity and variability, modulate the function of thylakoid ion transport in dynamic photosynthesis with distinct effects on lumen pH, zeaxanthin accumulation, qE and photosynthetic light use efficiency.

Risk-Averse Stochastic Programming: Time Consistency and Optimal Stopping

This paper addresses time consistency of risk-averse optimal stopping in stochastic optimization. It is demonstrated that time-consistent optimal stopping entails a specific structure of the functionals describing the transition between consecutive stages. The stopping risk measures capture this structural behavior and allow natural dynamic equations for risk-averse decision making over time. Consequently, associated optimal policies satisfy Bellman’s principle of optimality, which characterizes optimal policies for optimization by stating that a decision maker should not reconsider previous decisions retrospectively. We also discuss numerical approaches to solving such problems.

THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF SAVING GROUNDWATER USE INFOGEOFRAMES IN HYDROGEOLOGY

Theoretical bases of information support of geological prospecting researches and works on use and protection of underground waters are considered. The methodology of information support is based on the principles of target infogeological structuring of the geological environment on the basis of traditional methods of formational analysis taking into account hydrogeological (hydrodynamic and hydrochemical) components. Prospects for the introduction of a system of frame organization of the geological environment in infogeological modeling are discussed. In the applied sense, research focuses on that part of the underground hydrosphere that is now or in the future able to meet the needs of mankind in drinking, mineral, technical, industrial, thermal waters. The principles of management of groundwater resources based on the ratio of renewable natural (dynamic resources, which make up the majority of open hydrodynamic systems in the zone of intensive water exchange), renewable manmade (artificial or disturbed resources) and non-renewable components (capacitive reserves and semi-closed structures). Accordingly, during the operation of deposits, not only the calculated value of the allowable level reduction but also the "allowable balance" of groundwater should be observed. It is also proposed to define and agree on the boundaries of deposits and boundary conditions. The latter should be responsible not only for the water intake production, but also to demonstrate the degree of hydrodynamic, hydrochemical, geological protection and the risk of quantitative and qualitative depletion. Groundwater extraction must be balanced by restoring their reserves, which can be achieved by combined alternate water use of surface and groundwater sources, the creation of infiltration basins and more. On this conceptual basis, a system of information support for research and work on the use and protection of groundwater is proposed, which in the long run should be as close as possible to world standards.

Field Testing of Biohybrid Robotic Jellyfish to Demonstrate Enhanced Swimming Speeds

Biohybrid robotic designs incorporating live animals and self-contained microelectronic systems can leverage the animals’ own metabolism to reduce power constraints and act as natural chassis and actuators with damage tolerance. Previous work established that biohybrid robotic jellyfish can exhibit enhanced speeds up to 2.8 times their baseline behavior in laboratory environments. However, it remains unknown if the results could be applied in natural, dynamic ocean environments and what factors can contribute to large animal variability. Deploying this system in the coastal waters of Massachusetts, we validate and extend prior laboratory work by demonstrating increases in jellyfish swimming speeds up to 2.3 times greater than their baseline, with absolute swimming speeds up to 6.6 ± 0.3 cm s−1. These experimental swimming speeds are predicted using a hydrodynamic model with morphological and time-dependent input parameters obtained from field experiment videos. The theoretical model can provide a basis to choose specific jellyfish with desirable traits to maximize enhancements from robotic manipulation. With future work to increase maneuverability and incorporate sensors, biohybrid robotic jellyfish can potentially be used to track environmental changes in applications for ocean monitoring.

Numerical Analysis Technique for Stiffness Parameters Identification of Spatial Structures by Minimizing the Difference between the Calculated (Finite Element) and Natural Dynamic Characteristics

В статье приводится описание разработанной математически формализованной численно-аналитиче­ской методики идентификации параметров жесткости пространственных конструкций на основе минимизации расхождений расчетных и натурных динамических характеристик. Методика позволяет решать обратные некорректные динамические задачи параметрической идентификации жесткостных характеристик пространственных конструкций на основе инструментально выявленных частот и форм собственных колебаний значимой части спектра с применением современных численных методов моделирования механических систем и процедур нелинейного программирования, реализованных в универсальных программных комплексах ANSYS Mechanical и MATLAB. Методика основана на оригинальной формулировке задачи нелинейного программирования с ограничениями в виде неравенств для расчетных частот собственных колебаний. На начальном этапе, до старта минимизации, предусмотрено выделение приоритетных компонент минимизации, что позволяет решать динамические обратные задачи в условиях «контрастного» изменения значимой части спектра и кратно увеличить вычислительную эффективность процесса минимизации. Подход применим для исследования сложных расчетных схем. Методика может применяться как составная часть информационно-аналитико-математических моделей цифровых двойников (digital twins) на этапе валидации, идентификации математических моделей реальных, структурно сложных строительных объектов в составе современных систем динамического мониторинга.

Combined forest and soil management after a catastrophic event

At the end of October 2018, a storm of unprecedented strength severely damaged the forests of the eastern sector of the Italian Alps. The affected forest area covers 42,500 ha. The president of one of the damaged regions asked for help from the University of Padua. After eight months of discussion, the authors of this article wrote a consensus text. The sometimes asper debate brought to light some crucial aspects: 1) even experienced specialists may have various opinions based on scientific knowledge that lead to conflicting proposals for action. For some of them there is evidence that to restore a destroyed natural environment it is more judicious to do nothing; 2) the soil corresponds to a living structure and every ecosystem’s management should be based on it; 3) faced with a catastrophe, people and politicians find themselves unarmed, also because they rarely have the scientific background to understand natural processes. Yet politicians are the only persons who make the key decisions that drive the economy in play and therefore determine the near future of our planet. This article is an attempt to respond directly to a governor with a degree in animal production science, who formally and prudently asked a university department called “Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry” for help before taking decisions; 4) the authors also propose an artistic interpretation of facts (uncontrolled storm) and conclusions (listen to the soil). Briefly, the authors identify the soil as an indispensable source for the renewal of the destroyed forest, give indications on how to prepare a map of the soils of the damaged region, and suggest to anchor on this soil map a series of silvicultural and soil management actions that will promote the soil conservation and the faster recovery of the natural dynamic stability and resilience.