Managing red–green–blue (RGB) lighting conditions within structures may evoke emotions and positively influence behavior. Intelligent RGB lighting systems based on environmental data measurements can substantially enhance the perception of comfort. This study presents a challenge that requires a holistic and integrated approach to implement an automatic RGB artificial lighting control system that can be utilized in various structures and indoor environments. Initially, the challenge spans the identification of environmental variables directly impacting comfort up to the careful selection of suitable sensors. The result is the development of a sophisticated and autonomous system that can adjust RGB lighting in real time, creating environments that are both comfortable and energy-efficient. This automated system fosters the creation of appropriate atmospheres across different contexts. The identification and monitoring of environmental variables are achieved through a neuro-fuzzy control mechanism, where fuzzy rules and membership functions are defined based on late positive potential timings and the influence of artificial lighting on human emotions. The outcomes from this study are an interconnected system capable of performing both online and offline operations to enable the monitoring of environmental variables and the efficient management of artificial lighting based on these metrics. A pilot study, with reference to an EEG wave registry system, yielded significant results. These tests had a statistically relevant result with an average frequency of approximately 9.8 Hz, indicative of a state of comfort among people. Despite a 10% deviation margin, 87% of measurements during the test remained consistent. This research study contributes to human behavior by fostering a relaxing environment and enabling a reduction in energy consumption through the use of efficient lighting. Moreover, the environment intention enables the creation of stimuli in three emotional states: activation, relaxation, and neutral, allowing behavioral adaptation to an intention to occur automatically in fluctuating environmental conditions. Full article

This work focuses on the efficient quantization of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Specifically, we introduce a method called non-uniform uniform quantization (NUUQ), a novel quantization methodology that combines the benefits of non-uniform quantization, such as high compression levels, with the advantages of uniform quantization, which enables an efficient implementation in fixed-point hardware. NUUQ is based on decoupling the quantization levels from the number of bits. This decoupling allows for a trade-off between the spatial and temporal complexity of the implementation, which can be leveraged to further reduce the spatial complexity of the CNN, without a significant performance loss. Additionally, we explore different quantization configurations and address typical use cases. The NUUQ algorithm demonstrates the capability to achieve compression levels equivalent to 2 bits without an accuracy loss and even levels equivalent to ∼1.58 bits, but with a loss in performance of only ∼0.6%. Full article

In this paper, we present an approach to the price-optimized charging of electric vehicles (EVs) based on energy flexibility. Fleet operators determine the minimum and the maximum power demand to charge EVs at a specific time and share this information as so-called power corridors (PCs) with an energy aggregator. The energy aggregator collects the predicted PCs from the fleet operators located in the same market area and aggregates the PCs. The energy provider periodically sends energy prices from the market to the energy aggregator, which purchases energy when its price is opportune. The energy aggregator calculates and delivers charge plans for each fleet operator involved and thus can pass along the purchase prices. The incentive design must ensure that fleet operators are better off by disclosing their flexibility data to the aggregator. This study can contribute to a new data-driven energy market communication system by providing insights on how to leverage the energy flexibility that EVs can offer to the energy system. Full article

In the realm of medical image analysis, the cost associated with acquiring accurately labeled data is prohibitively high. To address the issue of label scarcity, semi-supervised learning methods are employed, utilizing unlabeled data alongside a limited set of labeled data. This paper presents a novel semi-supervised medical segmentation framework, DCCLNet (deep consistency collaborative learning UNet), grounded in deep consistent co-learning. The framework synergistically integrates consistency learning from feature and input perturbations, coupled with collaborative training between CNN (convolutional neural networks) and ViT (vision transformer), to capitalize on the learning advantages offered by these two distinct paradigms. Feature perturbation involves the application of auxiliary decoders with varied feature disturbances to the main CNN backbone, enhancing the robustness of the CNN backbone through consistency constraints generated by the auxiliary and main decoders. Input perturbation employs an MT (mean teacher) architecture wherein the main network serves as the student model guided by a teacher model subjected to input perturbations. Collaborative training aims to improve the accuracy of the main networks by encouraging mutual learning between the CNN and ViT. Experiments conducted on publicly available datasets for ACDC (automated cardiac diagnosis challenge) and Prostate datasets yielded Dice coefficients of 0.890 and 0.812, respectively. Additionally, comprehensive ablation studies were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of each methodological contribution in this study. Full article

The negatively charged extracellular matrix plays a vital role in intervertebral disc tissues, providing specific cues for cell maintenance and tissue hydration. Unfortunately, suitable biomimetics for intervertebral disc regeneration are lacking. Here, sulfated alginate was investigated as a 3D culture material due to its similarity to the charged matrix of the intervertebral disc. Precursor solutions of standard alginate, or alginate with 0.1% or 0.2% degrees of sulfation, were mixed with primary human nucleus pulposus cells, cast, and cultured for 14 days. A 0.2% degree of sulfation resulted in significantly decreased cell density and viability after 7 days of culture. Furthermore, a sulfation-dependent decrease in DNA content and metabolic activity was evident after 14 days. Interestingly, no significant differences in cell density and viability were observed between surface and core regions for sulfated alginate, unlike in standard alginate, where the cell number was significantly higher in the core than in the surface region. Due to low cell numbers, phenotypic evaluation was not achieved in sulfated alginate biomaterial. Overall, standard alginate supported human NP cell growth and viability superior to sulfated alginate; however, future research on phenotypic properties is required to decipher the biological properties of sulfated alginate in intervertebral disc cells. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the intertemporal relationship between the non-performing loan ratio and bank lending and to analyze factors affecting loan growth using data from Mongolian commercial banks. There has been a lack of research on Mongolian banks’ lending behavior due to their short history. Thus, this paper investigates the effect of the non-performing loan ratio on total loan growth using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model with panel data. We used bank-related variables such as the loan-to-deposit ratio, provision-to-gross loan portfolio ratio, equity-to-asset ratio, and liquidity ratio, and economic variables such as the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, interest rate, and inflation rate. The results of this paper show that non-performing loans have a significant negative impact on total loan growth. The implication of this result is that non-performing loans affect banking efficiency, which, in turn, affects financial stability and the real economy. Moreover, high non-performing loans reduce banks’ profits. Also, this paper found that loss reserve and the liquidity ratio have a positive effect on total loan growth, while the effects of the loan-to-deposit ratio and the equity capital ratio were not found to be significant. Additionally, from a macro perspective, the inflation rate has a positive effect on the total loan growth rate, while the interest rate has a positive effect on total loan growth rather than a negative effect. And real gross domestic product (GDP) growth does not affect the total loan growth rate. Full article

This study investigated the antimicrobial effects of lactic acid (LA) (3%) and peracetic acid (PA) (300 ppm) on tilapia fillets (Oreochromis niloticus) by fogging (15 min) or by immersion (2 s) in a pool of Escherichia coli (NEWP 0022, ATCC 25922, and a field-isolated strain), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923 and a field-isolated strain), and Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 13311 and ATCC 14028), as well as the effects on the physicochemical characteristics of the fillets. Fogging was effective and the best application method to control S. Typhimurium regardless of the acid used, promoting reductions of 1.66 and 1.23 log CFU/g with PA and LA, respectively. Regarding E. coli, there were significant reductions higher than 1 log CFU/g, regardless of the treatment or acid used. For S. aureus, only immersion in PA showed no significant difference (p < 0.05). For other treatments, significant reductions of 0.98, 1.51, and 1.17 log CFU/g were observed for nebulized PA, immersion, and LA fogging, respectively. Concerning the pH of the samples, neither of the acids used differed from the control. However, treatments with LA, and fogging with PA, reduced the pH compared to immersion in PA. As for color parameters, L* and a* values showed changes regardless of the acid or method used, resulting in an improved perception of fillet quality. These results indicate that fogging and immersion are alternatives for reducing S. Typhimurium, E. coli, and S. aureus in tilapia fillets. Full article

Although trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2)-targeting drugs are already approved or under investigation in various solid tumors, the significance of Trop2 in lymphoma is unknown. Thus, our objective was to investigate the expression of Trop2 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through a systemic immunohistochemistry screening. We constructed a tissue microarray comprising tissue from 92 DLBCL patients, each diagnosed at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (2020–2022). Trop2-immunohistochemistry was carried out, and positive staining was deemed a specific membranous positivity. Four samples were derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive DLBCL, with one case of EBV-positive DLBCL following angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). Strong Trop2 immunostaining was detectable in 1 of 91 analyzable samples, originating from a patient with a composite EBV-positive DLBCL emerging from AITL. Therefore, we performed an additional database search to identify all cases of composite EBV-positive DLBCL emerging from AITL since 2015. Five additional cases were identified and stained for Trop2, revealing two cases with strong B-blast positivity. Our preliminary data imply that Trop2 appears absent in de novo DLBCL, whereas Trop2 is strongly expressed in cases of a rare variant of EBV-positive DLBCL. Further investigations are needed to confirm our results, particularly on the subset of EBV-positive DLBCL emerging from AITL. Full article

This work aimed to improve the oxygen transfer mass coefficient (k_La) in mixing reactors, first evaluating the effect of agitation and aeration and then evaluating the influence of the size and concentration of silica microparticles. Silicon dioxide synthesized via the sol-gel technique, commercial sand, and beach sand were characterized by particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, XRD, EDS, FTIR, TG/DTA, and BET. The particles presented average values of approximately 9.2, 76.9, 165.1, and 364.4 µm, with irregular surfaces and different roughness. Silica sol-gel is amorphous while beach and commercial sand have a crystalline structure consisting of silicon, oxygen, and carbon residues. Silica sol-gel presents a higher loss of mass and surface area than other silica microparticles, with a shallow mass loss and a smaller surface. Increasing aeration and agitation improves the k_La, as well as adding silica microparticles. The best k_La was found using silica microparticles with approximately 75 µm concentrations of 1.0 g L⁻¹ (silica sol-gel) and 2.0 g L⁻¹ (commercial and treated beach sand). All silica microparticles used in this work improve mass transfer performance in mixing bioreactors. Full article

This paper presents a comparative analysis of ausferritic ductile cast iron matrix obtained through heat treatment and in its raw state. Ausferrite without heat treatment was achieved by modifying the chemical composition, while nodular graphite was produced using Inmold technology. The presence of compacted graphite in the as-cast ausferritic cast iron was attributed to elements that impede the crystallization of nodular graphite. This study demonstrates that an ausferritic matrix in ductile cast iron can be achieved by incorporating molybdenum in conjunction with nickel or copper. Thermal and derivative analysis (TDA) revealed a minor thermal effect during the transformation of austenite into bainitic ferrite in as-cast ausferritic cast iron. Furthermore, the transformation of austenite in cast iron containing nickel was observed to occur at a temperature of approximately 60 °C higher than in cast iron with copper. The structure of bainitic ferrite platelets in as-cast ausferritic ductile cast iron resembled that of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI). It was revealed that the amount of austenite in as-cast ausferritic ductile cast iron is more than double that in ADI. The carbon content of austenite was estimated theoretically, revealing that alloying additives in the as-cast ausferritic ductile cast iron reduce the solubility of carbon in austenite, thereby significantly influencing the properties of the cast iron. Full article

Supramolecular hydrogels based on low-molecular-weight compounds are a unique class of so-called “soft” materials, formed by weak non-covalent interactions between precursors at their millimolar concentrations. Due to the variety of structures that can be formed using different low-molecular-weight gelators, they are widely used in various fields of technology and medicine. In this study, we report for the first time an unusual self-assembly process of mixing a hydrosol obtained from L-cysteine and silver nitrate (cysteine–silver sol—CSS) with sodium halides. Modern instrumental techniques such as viscosimetry, UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, SEM and EDS identified that adding fluoride anions to CSS is able to form stable hydrogels of a thixotropic nature, while Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ lead to precipitation. The self-assembly process proceeds using a narrow concentration range of F⁻. An increase in the fluoride anion content in the system leads to a change in the gel network morphology from elongated structures to spherical ones. This fact is reflected in a decrease in the gel viscosity and a number of gel–sol–gel transition cycles. The mechanism of F⁻’s interaction with hydrosol includes the condensation of anions on the positive surface of the CSS nanoparticles, their binding via electrostatic forces and the formation of a resulting gel carcass. In vitro analysis showed that the hydrogels suppressed human squamous carcinoma cells at a micromolar sample concentration. The obtained soft gels could have potential applications against cutaneous malignancy and as carriers for fluoride anion and other bioactive substance delivery. Full article

The advancement of Augmented Reality (AR) technology has been remarkable, enabling the augmentation of user perception with timely information. This progress holds great promise in the field of interaction design. However, the mere advancement of technology is not enough to ensure widespread adoption. The user dimension has been somewhat overlooked in AR research due to a lack of attention to user motivations, needs, usability, and perceived value. The critical aspects of AR technology tend to be overshadowed by the technology itself. To ensure appropriate future assessments, it is necessary to thoroughly examine and categorize all the methods used for AR technology validation. By identifying and classifying these evaluation methods, researchers and practitioners will be better equipped to develop and validate new AR techniques and applications. Therefore, comprehensive and systematic evaluations are critical to the advancement and sustainability of AR technology. This paper presents a theoretical framework derived from a cluster analysis of the most efficient evaluation methods for AR extracted from 399 papers. Evaluation methods were clustered according to the application domains and the human–computer interaction aspects to be investigated. This framework should facilitate rapid development cycles prioritizing user requirements, ultimately leading to groundbreaking interaction methods accessible to a broader audience beyond research and development centers. Full article

Analyzing exhaled breath for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) offers a non-invasive diagnostic approach for various diseases. Despite its promise, the method faces challenges like sampling heterogeneity and high costs. Following the European Respiratory Society’s advocacy for methodological standardization, we developed the SPIRITAS (Standardized Product for Inexpensive Respiratory InvesTigation: A breath Sampler), a low-cost, disposable breath sampler. This study evaluates the SPIRITAS’s effectiveness in detecting targeted VOCs. We tested the SPIRITAS using the Peppermint Experiment, a standardized protocol that allows for comparison between different breath sampling and analytical practices by assessing the ability to detect five peppermint-specific VOCs after ingestion of a 200-milligram peppermint oil capsule. We included ten subjects and performed six breath samples per participant, including a baseline measurement taken before ingestion. We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate whether baseline values were significantly lower than the peak values of the targeted VOCs. Additionally, we conducted an experiment utilizing humidified medical-grade air to identify any VOCs attributable to the SPIRITAS setup itself. Results showed successful detection of four out of five targeted “peppermint-associated” VOCs: alpha-pinene (p ≤ 0.01), beta-pinene (p ≤ 0.01), menthone (p = 0.01), and menthol (p = 0.02), indicating significant differences between the baseline and peak values in the volunteers’ breath. However, detection of eucalyptol was inconsistent. In addition, we identified 16 VOCs that were released by the SPIRITAS, one of which remains unidentified. Our findings underscore the SPIRITAS’s potential for clinical applications, paving the way for broader biomarker research. The combination of ease of use, low cost, reduced risk of contamination, and standardization makes SPIRITAS very suitable for large-scale international studies. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the SPIRITAS’s effectiveness in detecting specific VOCs and identified 16 compounds originating from the SPIRITAS, ensuring that these compounds would not be mis-qualified as potential biomarkers in future clinical studies. Full article

A family of silver(I) and copper(I) complexes containing carboxylate ligands were prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids and Ag₂O. The compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. In the solid state, the silver(I) salts are coordination polymers based on dinuclear silver species with bridging carboxylate ligands. The reaction of these silver salts with Ph₃P gives four-coordinate, tetrahedral bis(phosphine) complexes. Analogous copper(I) bis(phosphine) compounds were prepared by the reduction of copper(II) carboxylates with Ph₃P. Decomposition temperatures and thermal decomposition products were studied by TGA/DSC measurements. The metal compounds decomposed cleanly to their respective metals (silver or copper) at temperatures ranging from 206 to 338 °C. Full article

Human defense against infection remains a global topic. In addition to developing novel anti-infection drugs, therapeutic drug delivery strategies are also crucial to achieving a higher efficacy and lower toxicity of these drugs for treatment. The application of hydrogels has been proven to be an effective localized drug delivery approach to treating infections without generating significant systemic adverse effects. The recent emerging dynamic hydrogels further show power as injectable formulations, giving new tools for clinical treatments. In this review, we delve into the potential applications of dynamic hydrogels in antibacterial and antiviral treatments and elaborate on their molecular designs and practical implementations. By outlining the chemical designs underlying these hydrogels, we discuss how the choice of dynamic chemical bonds affects their stimulus responsiveness, self-healing capabilities, and mechanical properties. Afterwards, we focus on how to endow dynamic hydrogels with anti-infection properties. By comparing different drug-loading methods, we highlight the advantages of dynamic chemical bonds in achieving sustained and controlled drug release. Moreover, we also include the design principles and uses of hydrogels that possess inherent anti-infective properties. Furthermore, we explore the design principles and applications of hydrogels with inherent anti-infective properties. Finally, we briefly summarize the current challenges faced by dynamic hydrogels and present a forward-looking vision for their future development. Through this review, we expect to draw more attention to these therapeutic strategies among scientists working with chemistry, materials, as well as pharmaceutics. Full article

Structured light three-dimensional reconstruction is one of the important methods for non-contact acquisition of sparse texture object surfaces. Variations in ambient illumination and disparities in object surface reflectance can significantly impact the fidelity of three-dimensional reconstruction, introducing considerable inaccuracies. We introduce a robust method for color speckle structured light encoding, which is based on a variant of the De Bruijn sequence, termed the Homogeneous De Bruijn Sequence. This innovative approach enhances the reliability and accuracy of structured light techniques for three-dimensional reconstruction by utilizing the distinctive characteristics of Homogeneous De Bruijn Sequences. Through a pruning process applied to the De Bruijn sequence, a structured light pattern with seven distinct color patches is generated. This approach ensures a more equitable distribution of speckle information. Full article

The performance of technology companies listed on NASDAQ significantly impacts larger economic trends. Investors need specific information to navigate market volatility and make informed decisions in an increasingly complex marketplace. Furthermore, amidst the ongoing digital revolution, legislators and regulatory agencies must comprehend the operational dynamics of technology companies to develop frameworks that support innovation while maintaining market stability. Our study assesses the impact on the overall operational efficiency of NASDAQ-listed firms from 2011 to 2023, resulting from the interdependence of critical variables such as selling, general, and administrative expenses (SGA), cost of goods and services sold (COGS), and investments in research and development (R&D). Johansen’s cointegration methodology and pairwise Granger causality tests were employed to unveil long-term relationships, equilibrium adjustments, and causal relationships among the considered variables. The results provide critical insights into the strategic management of operational variables by the listed companies. The economic significance of the results obtained underscores the paramount importance of efficiently managing the cost of goods and services sold to achieve superior operating performance among these leading technology firms. Full article

In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, several risk factors contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction (ED), which can be described as an alteration in the cell structure or in the function of the endothelium. Among the well-known CKD-related risk factors capable of altering the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factors, we include asymmetric dimethylarginine increase, reduced dimethylarginine dimethylamine hydrolase enzyme activity, low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, alteration of calcium phosphorus metabolism, and early aging. In this review, we also examined the most important techniques useful for studying ED in humans, which are divided into indirect and direct methods. The direct study of coronary endothelial function is considered the gold standard technique to evaluate if ED is present. In addition to the discussion of the main pharmacological treatments useful to counteract ED in CKD patients (namely sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist), we elucidate innovative non-pharmacological treatments that are successful in accompanying the pharmacological ones. Among them, the most important are the consumption of extra virgin olive oil with high intake of minor polar compounds, adherence to a plant-dominant, low-protein diet (LPD), an adaptive physical activity program and, finally, ketoanalogue administration in combination with the LPD or the very low-protein diet. Full article

Although the water extract of Eucommia ulmoides leaf (WEE) promotes egg laying in hens, its palatability is poor. To improve the palatability of E. ulmoides leaf, probiotic fermentation was used, and fermented extract E. ulmoides leaf (FEE) was prepared using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The safety of FEE was investigated using a long-term toxicity test, and no oxidative damage, inflammatory reactions, or histological lesions were observed in the experimental rats receiving dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg, suggesting that FEE is suitable for long-term feeding. Subsequently, dietary supplementation of FEE (group C) in comparison with dietary supplementation of WEE (group B), as well as a control (group A), was applied in the hen industry. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition, egg flavor, and the gut microbiome were analyzed comparatively. Interestingly, the laying rate was observed to be four percentage points higher with dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg compared with the control and two percentage points higher compared with the dietary addition of WEE at the same dosage. Simultaneously, a slight upregulation in daily feed consumption was determined in the FEE-supplemented group compared with the blank control and the WEE-supplemented group, indicating that the inclusion of FEE stimulated the hens’ appetite. Moreover, variations in egg amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile components were obtained with either dietary addition, FEE or WEE, implying that dietary supplementation of the fermented and water-extracted E. ulmoides leaf extracts contributed to egg flavor change. Furthermore, variations in the gut microbiota were mediated by FEE, increasing the relative abundance of the genus Lactobacillus. These alterations in gut microbiota were tightly related to improved laying performance and egg flavor changes. Our results indicate that FEE is a better alternative feed additive in the hen industry than WEE. Full article

Research on actuarial risk management practices (ARMP) and insurance firm performance has revealed inconsistent results. Therefore, a mediating factor such as innovation is needed to bridge between them. Studies exploring the relationship between ARMP and innovation have been largely qualitative. This study offered a quantitative model focusing on the mediating role of e-service innovation between ARMP and firm performance. The hypothesized relationships were tested using a structural equation model (SEM), with a sample from 98 Indonesian insurance companies and WarpPLS 7.0 as the analytical tool. The results indicated that ARMP significantly influenced e-service innovation but was insignificant for firm performance. Furthermore, the findings highlighted the significant role of e-service innovation in insurance firm performance, which implied that e-service innovation acts as a mediator in the relationship between ARMP and firm performance. The practical application of the research findings makes them directly relevant and beneficial to the insurance industry, especially in Indonesia. Full article

Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herb whose rhizome (AR) is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine with immense market demand. The cultivation of Atractylodes lancea faces outbreaks of root rot and deterioration in herb quality due to complex causes. Here, we investigated the effects of Trichoderma spp., well-known biocontrol agents and plant-growth-promoters, on ARs. We isolated Trichoderma strains from healthy ARs collected in different habitats and selected three T. harzianum strains (Th2, Th3 and Th4) with the strongest antagonizing effects on root rot pathogens (Fusarium spp.). We inoculated geo-authentic A. lancea plantlets with Th2, Th3 and Th4 and measured the biomass and quality of 70-day-old ARs. Th2 and Th3 promoted root rot resistance of A. lancea. Th2, Th3 and Th4 all boosted AR quality: the concentration of the four major medicinal compounds in ARs (atractylon, atractylodin, hinesol and β-eudesmol) each increased 1.6- to 18.2-fold. Meanwhile, however, the yield of ARs decreased by 0.58- to 0.27-fold. Overall, Th3 dramatically increased the quality of ARs at a relatively low cost, namely lower yield, showing great potential for practical application. Our results showed selectivity between A. lancea and allochthonous Trichoderma isolates, indicating the importance of selecting specific microbial patches for herb cultivation. Full article