Having a comprehensive knowledge of phase equilibrium is advantageous for industrial simulation and design of chemical processes. For further acquisition of primary data to facilitate the separation and purification of waste oil biodiesel systems, a liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) tank is deployed for the ternary system of waste oil biodiesel + methanol + glycerin, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of the process. The phase equilibrium system was constructed under the influence of atmospheric pressure at precise temperatures of 303.15 K, 313.15 K, and 323.15 K. The equilibrium components of each substance were analyzed by employing high-temperature gas chromatography, a sophisticated analytical method that enables the identification and quantification of individual components of a sample. Moreover, the ternary liquid–liquid equilibrium data were correlated by implementing the NRTL and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models. Subsequently, the binary interaction parameters of the ternary system were derived by conducting regression analysis. The experimental data demonstrated that the presence of lower methanol content in the system resulted in nearly immiscible biodiesel and glycerol phases, which ultimately facilitated the separation of biodiesel and glycerol. Conversely, with the increase in methanol content, the mutual solubility of biodiesel and glycerol was observed to increase gradually. The results showed that the calculated values of the NRTL and UNIQUAC models aligned well with the experimental values. The root-mean-square deviations of the NRTL and UNIQUAC models at 313.15 K were 2.76% and 3.56%, respectively. Full article

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) impact millions of individuals in the United States, prompting thousands of nerve repair procedures annually. Nerve conduits (NC) are commonly utilized to treat nerve injuries under 3 cm but larger gaps still pose a challenge for successful peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR) and functional recovery. This is partly attributed to the absence of bioactive agents such as stem cells or growth factors in FDA-approved conduits due to safety, harvesting, and reproducibility concerns. Therefore, curcumin, a bioactive phytochemical, has emerged as a promising alternative bioactive agent due to its ability to enhance PNR and overcome said challenges. However, its hydrophobicity and rapid degradation in aqueous solutions are considerable limitations. In this work, a nanoscale delivery platform with tannic acid (TA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was developed to encapsulate curcumin for increased colloidal and chemical stability. The curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs) demonstrate significantly improved stability in water, reduced degradation rates, and controlled release kinetics when compared to free curcumin. Further, cell studies show that the CurNP is biocompatible when introduced to neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y), rat Schwann cells (RSC-S16), and murine macrophages (J774 A.1) at 5 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM of curcumin, respectively. As a result of these improved physicochemical properties, confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed superior delivery of curcumin into these cells when in the form of CurNPs compared to its free form. A hydrogen peroxide-based oxidative stress study also demonstrated the CurNP’s potential to protect J774 A.1 cells against excessive oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides evidence for the suitability of CurNPs to be used as a bioactive agent in NC applications. Full article

Urban natural spaces provide important ecosystem services and a wide range of health- and well-being-related benefits for their visitors. They are also essential spaces for biodiversity protection and promotion in a world of rising urbanisation rates and worsening impacts of climate change. However, these spaces are often underutilised by urban residents. When they are utilised, this usage often leads to some level of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Hence, understanding how to promote both use and biodiversity levels in urban natural spaces is critical. While various reports have studied the broad factors associated with urban natural space use, the specific relationship between biodiversity and use remains to be explored. This paper uses a Systems Thinking approach to unpack the complex relationship between urban natural space use and biodiversity and to help guide the design and management of these spaces in a way that promotes both use and biodiversity. With data collected from a systematic literature review, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was constructed and analysed. The CLD construction and analysis highlighted various key factors that play an important role in relating urban natural space use and biodiversity. Among these is the role of individual and social perceptions and values in determining how biodiversity levels will affect usage, and vice versa. The results were applied to a case study: the Thamesmead regeneration project undertaken by the social housing association Peabody. We made recommendations regarding Peabody’s biodiversity and green infrastructure plans for Thamesmead, presenting new design and maintenance techniques and assessing various existing techniques mentioned in the documents. Through the CLD analysis, we uncovered various unintended consequences from common design and maintenance techniques and discuss these trade-offs and relationships. Full article

The charge/discharge operation of the prosumer’s energy storage and the energy interaction between prosumers and MGs are chaotic from the overall point of the MG’s operation. It causes considerable resource waste and reduces the overall benefits of the MG with multi-prosumers. Therefore, a game theory-based optimal scheduling strategy for the MG with multi-prosumers combined into a PRCO is proposed in this paper. According to the prosumers’ complementary characteristics of ES utilization and energy production, prosumers can be integrated into the PRCO to obtain energy reciprocity by sharing ES with an ordered charge–discharge operation. Meanwhile, to improve the collaboration of prosumers and the overall efficiency of the MG, a game scheduling model is established with the MG as the leader and the PRCO as the follower. The ToU price incentive policy is implemented in the MG to maximize the operational benefits and reduce the difference between the valley and peak load. Meanwhile, the PRCO responds to the price policy and implements an ordered charge–discharge strategy of ES to optimize each member’s energy scheduling strategy and minimize the total costs. The PRCO revenues are distributed to prosumers based on the Shapley value method. The uniqueness and existence of Stackelberg equilibrium in the game model are proved. The simulations of a community MG show that the ordered charge–discharge operation of ES is achieved and the overall benefits of the system are improved. Full article

Ermp1 is a putative metalloprotease from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and a member of the Fxna peptidases. Although their function is unknown, orthologous proteins from rats and humans have been associated with the maturation of ovarian follicles and increased ER stress. This study focuses on proposing the first prediction of PPI by comparison of the interologues between humans and yeasts, as well as the molecular docking and dynamics of the M28 domain of Ermp1 with possible target proteins. As results, 45 proteins are proposed that could interact with the metalloprotease. Most of these proteins are related to the transport of Ca²⁺ and the metabolism of amino acids and proteins. Docking and molecular dynamics suggest that the M28 domain of Ermp1 could hydrolyze leucine and methionine residues of Amk2, Ypt5 and Pex12. These results could support future experimental investigations of other Fxna peptidases, such as human ERMP1. Full article

In this paper, experimental results about the performance of a Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Controller (TSFC) for an EV3 Ballbot Robotic System (EV3BRS) are reported. The physical configuration of the EV3BRS has the form of an inverted pendulum mounted on a ball. The EV3BRS is an underactuated robotic system with four outputs and two control torques. In this work, following the Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy control design methodology, the Parallel Distributed Compensation (PDC) approach is used in the design of the TSFC. The EV3BRS’s TS Fuzzy Model (TSFM) design comes from linearization of the nonlinear model around two operation points near the upright position of EV3BRS’s body. The Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) approach was used to obtain the feedback gains for every local linear controller, guaranteeing, via a conservative stability condition, the global asymptotic stability of the overall fuzzy control system. The main goal of the control task consists of maintaining the EV3BRS’s body at its upright position. Measurement and control data from and to the EV3BRS are transferred via telecontrol and telemetry. The appropriate performance of the controller design is corroborated via experimentation. Full article

LOX-1, ORL-1, or lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that binds and internalizes ox-LDL in foam cells. LOX-1 is the main receptor for oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). The LDL comes from food intake and circulates through the bloodstream. LOX-1 belongs to scavenger receptors (SR), which are associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The most important and severe of these is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the intimal layer of the endothelium. These plaques can evolve into complicated thrombi with the participation of fibroblasts, activated platelets, apoptotic muscle cells, and macrophages transformed into foam cells. This process causes changes in vascular endothelial homeostasis, leading to partial or total obstruction in the lumen of blood vessels. This obstruction can result in oxygen deprivation to the heart. Recently, LOX-1 has been involved in other pathologies, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, the development of atherosclerosis has been the most relevant due to its relationship with cerebrovascular accidents and heart attacks. In this review, we will summarize findings related to the physiologic and pathophysiological processes of LOX-1 to support the detection, diagnosis, and prevention of those diseases. Full article

The paper presents a critical review and new accomplishments on the equivalence of the first-order displacement-based zigzag theories for laminated composite and sandwich structures. Zigzag theories (ZZTs) have widely spread among researchers over the last few decades thanks to their accuracy in predicting the response of multilayered composite and sandwich structures while retaining the simplicity of their underlying equivalent single-layer (ESL) theory. The displacement field consists of two main contributions: the global one, able to describe the overall structural behaviour, and the local layer-wise one that considers the transverse shear continuity at the layer interfaces that describe the “zigzag” displacement pattern typical of multilayered structures. In the framework of displacement-based linear ZZTs, various assumptions have been made on the local contribution, and different theories have been deduced. This paper aims to provide a unified formulation for first-order ZZTs, highlighting some common aspects and underlying equivalencies with existing formulations. The mathematical demonstrations and the numerical examples prove the equivalence of the approaches to characterising local zigzag enrichment. Finally, it is demonstrated that the kinematic assumptions are the discriminants of the ZZTs’ accuracy. Full article

Osteoporosis is a complex endocrine disease characterized by a decline in bone mass and microstructural integrity. It constitutes a major global health problem. Recent progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for the effective diagnosis of osteoporosis via radiographs. This review investigates the application of AI classification of osteoporosis in radiographs. A comprehensive exploration of electronic repositories (ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE) was carried out in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement (PRISMA). A collection of 31 articles was extracted from these repositories and their significant outcomes were consolidated and outlined. This encompassed insights into anatomical regions, the specific machine learning methods employed, the effectiveness in predicting BMD, and categorizing osteoporosis. Through analyzing the respective studies, we evaluated the effectiveness and limitations of AI osteoporosis classification in radiographs. The pooled reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of osteoporosis classification ranges from 66.1% to 97.9%, 67.4% to 100.0%, and 60.0% to 97.5% respectively. This review underscores the potential of AI osteoporosis classification and offers valuable insights for future research endeavors, which should focus on addressing the challenges in technical and clinical integration to facilitate practical implementation of this technology. Full article

The current study presents a non-random, quantitative experimental investigation detailing the steps required to accredit a non-regulated test method (referred to as its own) under the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard and the criteria set by the Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA). The focus is on the methodology employed to validate the test method, particularly emphasizing the precision of the measurement system, along with the total variation in and tolerance of its components. For the measurement analysis, repeatability and reproducibility (r&R) studies were conducted using a variance analysis method variant (ANOVA). This variant is highlighted for its ability to estimate deviations more accurately. Furthermore, the chosen model incorporates random effect measurements for all factors or components of system variation (operators, parts, interaction, and instrument). This approach demonstrates the reliability, accuracy, and precision of the proposed measurement system within the test method, leading to its subsequent accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 as a conformity assessment body. Full article

In this paper, we provide a blow-up criterion for the density-dependent incompressible magnetohydrodynamic system with zero viscosity. The proof uses the $L^p$-method and the Kato–Ponce inequalities in the harmonic analysis. The novelty of our work lies in the fact that we deal with the case in which the resistivity $\eta$ is positive. Full article

This paper presents an enhanced ground vehicle localization method designed to address the challenges associated with state estimation for autonomous vehicles operating in diverse environments. The focus is specifically on the precise localization of position and orientation in both local and global coordinate systems. The proposed approach integrates local estimates generated by existing visual–inertial odometry (VIO) methods into global position information obtained from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). This integration is achieved through optimizing fusion in a pose graph, ensuring precise local estimation and drift-free global position estimation. Considering the inherent complexities in autonomous driving scenarios, such as the potential failures of a visual–inertial navigation system (VINS) and restrictions on GNSS signals in urban canyons, leading to disruptions in localization outcomes, we introduce an adaptive fusion mechanism. This mechanism allows seamless switching between three modes: utilizing only VINS, using only GNSS, and normal fusion. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through rigorous testing in the Carla simulation environment and challenging UrbanNav scenarios. The evaluation includes both qualitative and quantitative analyses, revealing that the method exhibits robustness and accuracy. Full article

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exhibits distinct characteristics distinguishing it from the nuclear genome, necessitating specific analytical methods in genetic studies. This comprehensive review explores the complex role of mtDNA in a variety of genetic studies, including genome-wide, epigenome-wide, and phenome-wide association studies, with a focus on its implications for human traits and diseases. Here, we discuss the structure and gene-encoding properties of mtDNA, along with the influence of environmental factors and epigenetic modifications on its function and variability. Particularly significant are the challenges posed by mtDNA’s high mutation rate, heteroplasmy, and copy number variations, and their impact on disease susceptibility and population genetic analyses. The review also highlights recent advances in methodological approaches that enhance our understanding of mtDNA associations, advocating for refined genetic research techniques that accommodate its complexities. By providing a comprehensive overview of the intricacies of mtDNA, this paper underscores the need for an integrated approach to genetic studies that considers the unique properties of mitochondrial genetics. Our findings aim to inform future research and encourage the development of innovative methodologies to better interpret the broad implications of mtDNA in human health and disease. Full article

Plate heat exchangers are widely used in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) field. Cross-corrugated triangular ducts are commonly employed in plate heat exchangers. Inserting baffles into the cross-corrugated triangular ducts can improve the heat transfer performance of the plate heat exchangers. This study focuses on intricate interdependencies among the flow channel apex angle, the trapezoidal baffle inclination angle, baffle position, and Reynolds number (Re) on heat transfer and pressure drop using response surface methodology (RSM) and computational fluid dynamic (CFD). To identify the factors that maximize the Nusselt number (Nu) and minimize friction factor (f), the RSM is used to design factors, conduct numerical studies, and establish regression equations. The results show that the apex angle, baffle angle, X-direction position, and Re have significantly affected Nu and f. Compared to a non-baffled channel with the same apex angle and Re conditions, the optimized channel enhances heat transfer by 1.54 times and has an almost identical pressure drop. The inclined baffle significantly enhances comprehensive performance at low Re. The synergistic effect of the heat transfer and pressure drop is most optimal when the apex angle of the flow channel is 90°, the trapezoidal baffle inclination angle is 52.5°, and the Re is 1000, with the baffle position at 0.625H in the X-direction. Full article

The study focuses on the four-strand tundish as the research object, aiming at the phenomenon of fewer strand casting (stable blockage) and sudden blockage of the tundish in industrial production. Numerical simulation methods are employed to compare the velocity vectors, flow fields, residence time distribution (RTD) curves, and outflow percentage curves under stable blockage and sudden blockage of the tundishes with a double-weir structure, U-shaped weir structure, and U-shaped weir structure with holes in the front. The results indicate that, after sudden blockage of the tundish strands, the flow field transitions from an unstable four-strand flow field to a stable three-strand flow field. Both the double-weir tundish and the U-shaped weir tundish reach a stable state after 200 s, while the U-shaped weir tundish with holes in the front reaches stability after 150 s. Additionally, compared to other structures, the tundish strands of the U-shaped weir with holes in the front are less affected by blockage, showing better consistency among strands and better adaptability under non-standard casting conditions. Full article

Carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites find extensive applications across various industries. However, their widespread use also generates significant waste, leading to resource depletion and environmental concerns. Studying the production of composite materials using recovered carbon fiber is imperative to mitigate the environmental impact associated with waste from carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites and optimize resource utilization. In this study, carbon fiber was reclaimed using the microwave pyrolysis–oxidation process. The reclaimed carbon fiber underwent a cutting process to produce shorter carbon fibers tailored to specific requirements, which were then used to fabricate composite plates reinforced with epoxy resin. The mechanical characteristics of the composite were analyzed, along with SEM, XPS, infrared, Raman, and contact angle analyses conducted on the recovered carbon fiber. The test findings suggested minimal variation in the surface morphology of the recovered carbon fiber materials. Post-recovery, an increase in the quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups was observed on the carbon fiber surface. Additionally, the contact angle between the carbon fiber surface and the epoxy adhesive decreased. The mechanical properties of the composite produced from the recovered carbon fiber decreased, including the impact strength, tensile strength, and bending strength, with the impact strength dropping by 24.14%, tensile strength by 15.94%, and bending strength by 8.24%, while maintaining overall reusability, thus paving the way for the comprehensive utilization of carbon fiber resources. Full article

Roof falls in coal mine roadways are the main causes of many casualties, shutdowns and production plan delays. To understand the relationship between the influencing factors of roadway roof fall accidents and the importance ranking of the accidents, we will reduce safety accidents in coal mines. To enable the timely prediction and control of roadway roof fall risks, based on the investigation of many roadway roof fall risk factors, 12 evaluation indexes such as the roadway roof rock thickness, geological conditions and roadway section shape were selected. An evaluation index system of roadway roof fall risks is constructed. A risk degree standard of roadway roof falls is proposed. The risk evaluation model of roadway roof falls was established by using the combination weight of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), entropy weight method (EW) and matter element extension theory. According to the principle of the maximum membership degree, the risk degree of roadway roof falls is determined. Based on Java Web, a risk assessment system for roadway roof falls was developed. We name the system Multiple Weight-Material Element Web (MW-MEW). The MW-MEW system was used to evaluate the risk degree of roof falls in the C9 return airway of the Xingu Coal Mine. Compared with the evaluation results of the AHP matter element extension model, it is found that the evaluation results of the MW-MEW system are more in line with the actual engineering conditions. The successful application of the MW-MEW system will provide new avenues for the quantitative evaluation of roof fall risks in coal mine roadways. Full article

Concrete prepared using Gobi sand and gravel instead of ordinary sand and gravel is referred to as Gobi concrete. In order to explore the effect of fibers on the frost resistance of Gobi concrete, as well as to enhance the service life of Gobi aggregate concrete in Northwest China, experiments were conducted with fiber types (polypropylene fibers, basalt fibers, polypropylene–basalt fibers) and fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%) as variable parameters. This study investigated the surface morphology, mass loss rate, and relative dynamic elastic modulus of fiber-reinforced Gobi concrete after different freeze–thaw cycles (0, 25, 50, 75, 100). Corresponding frost damage deterioration models were proposed. The results indicate that fibers have a favorable effect on the anti-peeling performance, mass loss rate, and dynamic elastic modulus of Gobi aggregate concrete. The improvement levels of different fiber types are in the following order: 0.1% basalt-polypropylene fibers, 0.2% polypropylene fibers, and 0.3% basalt fibers. Compared to Gobi concrete exposed to natural environmental conditions, the freeze–thaw cycle numbers increased by 343, 79, and 69 times, respectively. A quadratic polynomial damage model for fiber-reinforced Gobi concrete, using relative dynamic elastic modulus as the damage variable, was established and demonstrated good predictive performance. Full article

Tourism is one of the emerging branches of the economy, playing an important role in the development of specific economies within local communities. In this context, the perspectives of exploiting historical monuments, seen as raw material in the tourism industry, represent a desirable goal worth considering at the locality and territorial administrative unit level. The purpose of this study is to highlight the relationship between historical monuments, viewed as factors generating tourist motivation and tourism. This was made possible by conducting a spatial analysis (at the level of territorial administrative units and localities) of the defining criteria for historical monuments and tourism in Bihor County, Romania. The research methodology involved the use of multicriteria analysis to identify and establish the types of relationships between historical monuments and tourism, at a spatial level. The results of the study aimed to present an image of the spatial distribution of the characteristics of historical monuments and tourism, as well as to establish and depict spatial relationships between them, thus partially confirming the working hypothesis that the number and importance of historical monuments influence and determine tourist activity within a given area. Thus, although the studied area has 455 historical monuments, they are not exploited from a tourist point of view, with there being no strong relationships, except at the level of 19 territorial administrative units (18.8%), respectively, in 15 localities (3.3%). Among them, the obtained values stand out for the territorial administrative units of Oradea and Biharia, respectively, in the localities of Oradea and Beiuș. Full article

Acute pneumonia (AP), triggered primarily by pathogens like bacteria and viruses, is a leading cause of human mortality. Ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, plays a pivotal role in the treatment of AP. However, its therapeutic use is hindered by the need for high dosages and the associated cardiac and hepatic toxicities. In this study, we synthesized polyethylene glycol-modified cationic liposomes to encapsulate ribavirin (RBV-PCL) and formulated it into a spray, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of RBV through respiratory administration. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a compound known to induce AP models in animals, was utilized in our research. Successfully, we established an acute pneumonia model in mice using aerosol inhalation. Through animal experiments, we investigated the therapeutic effects of RBV-PCL on mice with AP. In vivo studies revealed promising results. RBV-PCL effectively prolonged the survival of mice with AP, significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and inhibited the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs and spleens of mice. These findings suggest that RBV-PCL can effectively suppress the inflammatory response in mice with AP, thus holding significant potential as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of acute pneumonia. Full article

This paper presents a methodology for generating virtual ground control points (VGCPs) using a binocular camera mounted on a drone. We compare the measurements of the binocular and monocular cameras between the classical method and the proposed one. This work aims to decrease human processing times while maintaining a reduced root mean square error (RMSE) for 3D reconstruction. Additionally, we propose utilizing COLMAP to enhance reconstruction accuracy by solely utilizing a sparse point cloud. The results demonstrate that implementing COLMAP for pre-processing reduces the RMSE by up to 16.9% in most cases. We prove that VGCPs further reduce the RMSE by up to 61.08%. Full article

Background: Patients who were infected with COVID-19 may experience Long COVID syndrome. We examined the effectiveness of physiotherapy on dyspnea, muscle strength, and functional status in Long COVID syndrome. Methods: The exercise group underwent an 8-week supervised physiotherapeutic program consisting of interval aerobic exercise and strengthening exercises, each lasting 30 min. The control group did not engage in any exercise. Dyspnea, muscle strength, and functional status were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention in both groups. Results: No significant baseline differences were found between the two groups. The exercise group demonstrated improvements compared to baseline in dyspnea, quadriceps muscle strength, and functional status. Specifically, there was a significant increase of 3.7 lifts in the 60-s sit-to-stand test (p = 0.01), an increase of 5.86 kg in right quadriceps muscle strength (p = 0.03), an increase of 8.26 kg in left quadriceps muscle strength (p = 0.01), and a decrease in dyspnea score by 0.95 points (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Similar studies have reported improvements in dyspnea, muscle strength, and functional status in the exercise group. However, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings. Full article